Essex

Meaning: (Regional name for someone from the county of Essex, which is named from Old English east 'East' + Seaxe 'Saxons'. In England the surname is now particularly common in Birmingham. Place name: a county in England that gave its name to many towns in America. There was a kingdom of Essex in Anglo-Saxon England. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex )

Origin: (Old English, Middle English, Anglo-Saxon)

Pronunciation: (es-sex, go to this link and run your cursor over the name to hear how it is pronounced: http://howjsay.com/pronunciation-of-essex )

Gender: Uni-Sex

The other day I saw some celebrity named their child Essex and I wouldn’t think this would be a first name as I know it as a county name in England but apparently it is a surname so it’s no surprise I guess to be used as a given name. It has a decent meaning and the name is pretty strong and recognizable by a lot of people so it should be easy enough to pronounce. It’s a very preppy name but it has an appeal in a way.

Tinsdale

Meaning: (Tin: A Great Thinker, the Latin name stannum originally meant an alloy of silver
and lead Dale: Little Valley, From an English surname which originally belonged to a person who lived near a dale or valley.)

Origin: (Croatian, Latin, Old English, Middle English, Gaelic)

Pronunciation: (Tin: teen, ten Dale: DAY-əl, DAYL Tinsdale: teens-DAY-əl, teens-DAYL, tens- DAY-əl, tens-DAYL)

Gender: Uni-Sex

This is the last name of Christopher’s girlfriend on the TV series Gilmore Girls which I love watching re-runs of.  I had to break up the name to get meanings for them but all the meanings are really nice especially A Great Thinker. This would be interesting if used as a first name as maybe the character is named for a family last name. I can see a brainy book reader type with this name that then gets caught up in a wonderful adventure and falls for a bad boy type, lol.

Alouette

Meaning: (Lark, Bird name. Familiar from the children's song, "Alouette, gentille alouette, je te plumerai", which is actually a threat to pluck all the feathers from the poor bird. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alouette_(song) )

Origin: (French, Middle English)

Pronunciation: (Ah-low-ett-ah, ah-loo-ett, ah-loo-ett-tuh, al-oo-et-uh (English), ah-loo-et-uh (English))

Gender: Female

When I was looking at the blog Blog of Characters run by Apolla 13 she had added this name to her blog, a lot of the names on her blog are ones on mine but some I’ve never heard of before and so if I love them I add them to my blog. If you care to look at her blog it is https://apolla13.wordpress.com/

Alouette is a lovely beautiful name with a lovely meaning. I had never heard this name before nor did I know it was a popular older children’s song. I looked it up and found the Wikipedia page link I added above to be of interest as it gives the lyrics in French and English and then the lyrical meanings to the song. I only found the pronunciations on Yahoo Answers and a dictionary site.

My mom grew up in the time where this song was popular and so she knows the pronunciation really well and knows how to sing the song in the original French. When she was a little girl her dad was stationed in Paris, France for a while and so she knows French. So I wish I could record her saying it and put it here but that would take too long.

Warren

Meaning: (Gamekeeper Defender, Watchman, Park Warden, A warren was originally a game preserve. The word is now used to describe human dwellings that appear like the haphazard tunnels of a rabbit. Transferred use of the surname meaning “Dweller at or Keeper of a Game Preserve”. The name is derived from the Old French Warenne (A Warren, a Game Preserve). From an English surname which was derived either from Norman French warrene meaning "Animal Enclosure", or else from the town of La Varenne in Normandy. This name was borne by the American president Warren G. Harding (1865-1923). The name was used in the late 19th century.)

Origin: (Old English, Middle English, Old French, Old German)

Pronunciation: (WAWR-ən, WAWR-in, WAHR-in)

Gender: Male

My list is backed up for a while so I am finally getting to these names. Back during NaNoWriMo 2015 I had posted about it and a fellow blogger Apolla 13 commented about her experience with it and then told me a bit about the story she chose to write about. So for all of my posts for March I will be doing some of the names of her characters for the story she wrote for NaNoWriMo 2015 as I really like many of these names and have yet to add them so I am adding them now.

Apolla 13 one main character is named this. The twin sister of Warren is Cole *see on list of posts*. I always thought Warren was a bit boring or bland but the meanings are really cool and I never knew them before. I really love the meanings behind this word turned name. It has a nice old history of use which is great for a Historical Fiction novel.

I thought that this was interesting, “The word is now used to describe human dwellings that appear like the haphazard tunnels of a rabbit.” I’ve never heard of that before but I find that is intriguing and would be cool if used like that in an urban decay post apocalyptic novel.

I have been thinking of a story about a bizarre mysterious preserve and I would love to write about it and this would be a perfect name for that story, for either a character or maybe in reference to a game preserve. I am not sure I would use this name though as I don’t like to use names of people I know in my novels but I mean it’s happened before so it’s not a rule for me or anything.

I have an uncle named Warren but I always seem to say it like WORN like worn out but that’s probably because of the way I heard it. He’s from Texas and with the accent there and the Missouri accent I have mingled with the Texas one as my parents lived in Texas and I learned to talk from them seems to have mingled together. Either that or we have cut it down and the pronunciation just stuck. So when I say it like WORN I don’t even think of it being spelled Warren anymore which is weird. So I hope everyone has a better time pronouncing this like one of the proper ways listed above under pronunciation. I unfortunately will keep saying it WORN no doubt unless I retrain myself to pronounce it the proper way.

Fanthorpe

Meaning: (Fan: From France, Bee Thorpe: Hamlet or Small Village, This is an ancient name of Anglo-Saxon and Old Scandinavian origin, and is a locational surname from any of the places in England named with Old Norse or Old Danish element "thorp", or the rarer Olde English pre 7th Century "throp". Generally, "thorp(e)" in a place name indicates that it was an area of Danish settlement. The word means a small hamlet or village that grew by colonisation from a larger settlement, and was originally an outlying farm dependent on a nearby village. In the modern idiom there are a number of variant forms of the surname, ranging from Thorpe, Thorp, Tharp and Turp, to Thro(u)p, Thrupp and Thripp. Thomas Thorpe (died 1461) was speaker of the House of Commons from 1431 - 1452. Francis Thorpe (1595 - 1665), who was educated at Cambridge was a witness at Stafford's trial and became a colonel in the parliamentary army, and was later appointed judge for the northern circuit and delivered a "charge" at York justifying Charles 1's execution and also refused to try the northern insurgents. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William de Torp, which was dated 1158, in the "Pipe Rolls of Northumberland", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling. http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Thorpe )

Origin: (Latin, Chinese, Middle English)

Pronunciation: (fan-THORP, FAHN-thorpe, if you want to hear how Thorpe is pronounced then got to this site and run your cursor over the word to hear how it is said: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=Thorpe )

Gender: Uni-Sex

I was reading a Phyllis A. Whitney novel a few months back and this was a place in the novel. I have been putting off adding it as the name has no definite meaning until I separated the parts of the name, Fan and Thorpe. The meanings are decent and the name looks interesting but would look even better if used as just a surname.

This name is very foreign and unique and seems an outer space like name to me, like “I’ll meet you on planet Fanthorpe mate. The shipments in of 1000 hexes of gents jooce, so game on.” That was an awful line, lol, so no need to tell me that sucked lol!

Almond / Almund

Meaning: (Defender of the Temple, from Old English Æ {dh} elmund, ‘Noble Protection’, variant of Allman ‘German’, assimilated by folk etymology to the vocabulary word denoting the tree. This interesting and unusual surname is of Old French and Anglo-Saxon origin, and has two possible sources. Firstly, it may be from the English name for someone from Germany, derived from the Anglo-Norman French "aleman", German, or "alemayne", Germany, from the Late Latin "Alemannus" and "Alemannia", from a Germanic tribal name, probably meaning simply "all the men". In some cases the reference may have been to the Norman region of Allemagne, to the south of Caen, which was probably so named from Germanic settlers there.

The second source is from the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name "Athelmund", composed of the elements "athel", noble, and "mund", protection. There is no evidence of any connection with the almond nut or tree. The personal name was first recorded as "Almund" and "Ailmundus" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and the surname was first recorded in the late 13th Century (see below). William and Awdry (as written) Almond were some of the earliest settlers in the New World, leaving London on the "Abigall" in June 1635, bound for New England. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Ailmun, which was dated 1279, in the "Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire", during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.)

Origin: (Anglo-Saxon, Middle English, Old English, German, Nordic, Old Swedish)

Pronunciation: (AOL-MahND, AHL-muhnd)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I was looking at names and somehow I saw this as a name. I mean Almond I think the nut but Almund does look kind of cool and doesn’t make me think nut. The meanings are pretty strong and it has a pretty long history of use as well. I think this would be a cool surname or first name if used right. I would think it cool to see a character named this. It would give a rare unique charm to the character and would be amazing to see how an author would make it fit so right. 

Just this month I used Almund as the surname of my main character in one of my short stories. The first name of my main character is Sawa and is on my list to be added in a few months. As for Almund I thought it went well with Sawa and seemed to balance the unique looking name Sawa with a more common last name, plus the last name goes well to describe her job and heritage.

Twila

Meaning: (Wildflower, Light in Dark Places, Morning Star, Early Evening, Double Woven, Woven with a Double Thread, Perhaps based on the English word Twilight, or maybe from a Cajun pronunciation of French étoile "star". It came into use as an American given name in the late 19th century.)

Origin: (Middle English)

Pronunciation: (TWIE-lə, TWY-lə, TWAYLaa)

Gender: Female

I started watching a movie called Summer’s Moon. It has Twilight actress Ashley Green in it. I regret watching the movie as it was crazy disturbing but Ashley Greens characters mother is named Twila. I really came to like the name.

It reminds me of Twilight and I am not the only one. A lot of naming forums have said it being similar to Twilight is a downfall for them as it leads to being saying Twilight so you must be a fan of the novel Twilight by Stephanie Myers. Personally I think of the Twilight hour and how beautiful and majestic it often is and has been described or portrayed in movies, novels, plays, art, etcetera.

I love the other meanings though as well. Wildflower gives a view of a carefree beautiful old soul in a young body kind of character. Light in Dark Places makes me think Fantasy or Sci-Fi a character who is the light in a dark situation. Morning Star is beautiful and emits a very out of this world feel.

All in all it is beautiful and I think it is majestic even with the Twilight connection. In a few years people will forget about Twilight novel and it won’t destroy Twilight or Twila for anyone.

Farrah

Meaning: (Joyful, Good Looking, Pleasant, Lovely One, Ironsmith, From the English Wor “Fair”. Farah in Arabic means “Joy, Happiness”. English Surname.)

Origin: (Middle English, Arabic)

Pronunciation: (FARE-ah, FAR-uh, Fair-ah, FAA-RRaa, EHR-aa)

Gender: Female

I saw this name when I watched one of those 16 and Pregnant shows but I still didn’t care for the name. I also heard the name because of actress Farrah Fawcett. I do really like the meanings and it’s a really beautiful name. It is growing on me and I am sure it will soon be on my favorites list. It has a good exotic look and it’s easily pronounced.

Laney / Lanie

Meaning: (Torch, Bright Light, Path, Roadway, Variant of Laine, Lainey, and Lane.)

Origin: (Middle English, Hawaiian)

Pronunciation: (LAYN-ee, LAY-nee, LEY-Niy)

Gender: Female

I am planning on writing a short story soon where my main character is named Laney. It is a cute name with good meanings. I first saw this name in the movie She’s All That with Freddie Prinze Jr. He plays a senior in high school that makes a bet that he can turn an un-cool teen into the prom queen in 6 weeks. The teen he has to transform is named Laney.

Perna

Meaning: (One who dealt in Pearls, Portuguese: habitational name from any of several places named Perna in Portugal. Catalan and Portuguese: from perna ‘leg’; possibly a nickname for someone with long legs, or with a deformed or missing leg.)

Origin: (Italian, Latin, Middle English, Norman, Portuguese)

Pronunciation:  (PUR-nuh, PER-nuh, per-NAH)

Gender: Female

I was watching an episode of Stargate: Atlantis and one of the scientists on one of the worlds they visit were named Perna. I think the name is exotic and pretty. The name has a pretty decent meaning and is easily pronounced in my opinion.

Spencer

Meaning: (Someone Who Gives Out Goods, Dispenser of Provisions, Butler, Steward, Occupational Name, Familiar since the 1930’s primarily due to actor Spencer Tracy.)

Origin: (Middle English, English, Old French)

Pronunciation:  (SPEN-ser, SPEHNS-er)

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

I used to live next door to a guy who’s name was Spencer. He had a crush on me and asked me out once. I haven’t added this name before now because this guy kind of put me off the name which is not fair to the name or any other Spencer’s out there. It has a decent meaning and is a very handsome sounding name. I think a pretty boy in novel could be named this. It has a good look and is easily pronounced.

Currer

Meaning: (Leather Worker, Currer Bell is the pseudonym used by Charlotte Brontë's, The three sisters chose masculine-sounding pseudonyms. This interesting surname, with variant spellings Currier and Curryer, derives from the Old French "conreeur" a currier, one who curries leather, from the Latin "coriarius", a tanner, from "corium", leather, and would have originated as an occupational surname for a "leather-dresser". The surname is first recorded in the mid 13th Century (see below), and other early recordings include: Henry le Coureer, who appears in the Calendar of Letter Books of the City of London (1281), and William le Coureour, who appeared there in 1314. Recordings of the surname from London Church Registers include: Johne Currer, who married Ruthe Rowsse on October 4th 1614, at St. Stephen's, Coleman Street; Marie Currer, who married Nathaniell Snelling on May 11th 1630, at St. Gregory by St. Paul's; and the marriage of Elizabeth Currer and Nicholas Bennett on May 1st 1649, at St. Peters, Paul's Wharf. A famous namebearer was Frances Mary Richardson Currer (1785 - 1861), a book-collector, who possessed a library of fifteen thousand volumes. She printed "Extracts from the Literary and Scientific Correspondence of Richard, M.D.", in 1835. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard le Curur, which was dated 1256, witness in the "Assize Court Rolls of Northumberland", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling. http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/currer)

Origin: (Latin, Old French, English, Middle English)

Pronunciatiuon: (kur-er)

Gender: Male, Uni-Sex

Charlotte Bronte is one of my favorite classical novelists. She and her sisters were forced tow rite under masculine names. Hers was Currer Bell. Her sister Emily and Anne wrote under Ellis and Acton *See Ellis and Acton on the list of posts.* As I said under Acton I think women like them made it possible for woman to break into a male dominated career. There lives were short but I respect what they achieved and what they went through. As for the name Currer it’s rare and I like it. It has an old fashioned feel though obviously. It has a decent meaning and a good look and sort of easy pronunciation.

Franklin / Frankeleyn

Meaning: (Freeman, Free Landowner, Transferred use of the surname, which is from the Middle English Frankeleyn (a freeman, a landowner of free but not noble birth). The word is derived from the French, franc (free). A famous bearer of the surname was Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), an American statesman, inventor, scientist and philosopher. The name has commonly been given in his honour in the United States. It also received a boost during the term of American president Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945). This interesting old status name has its origins in the feudal system of medieval England. It derives from the Middle English "frankelin", from the Anglo-Norman French "franc" meaning free, in the sense of liberal and generous, plus the Germanic suffix "ling". The status of the Franklin varied somewhat according to time and place in medieval England; in general, he was a free man and a holder of fairly extensive areas of land, a gentleman ranked above the main body of minor freeholders, but below a knight or a member of the nobility. The surname dates back to the late 12th Century, (see below). One, Luke le Franckeleyn is registered in the Cambridgeshire Feet of Fines (1234). In the modern idiom the name has six spelling variations, Frankling, Francklyn, Francklin, Franklen, Franklyn and Franklin. On February 11th 1560, George Franklin married Agnes Hills, at St. Dionis Backchurch, London. The American statesman and scientist Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), was of British descent. His father, a maker of soap and candles, had emigrated in about 1682, from Ecton, Northamptonshire, to Boston, where his son was born. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ralph Frankelein, which was dated 1195, in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, during the reign of King Richard 1, known as "The Lionheart", 1189 - 1199. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.)

Origin: (English, Middle English, French)

Pronunciation: (FRANGK-lin, FRANK-lin, FRANK-luhn)  

Gender: Male

I use to love that kids show Franklin when I was a little kid. The other day I heard of someone named Franklin. It’s an old name and I really don’t hear this often. I mean I hear of Frank’s but not Franklin too much. It has nice meanings and is easily pronounced. It has a nice long history and would do nice in a Historical Fiction Novel. 

Medley / Medlee

Meaning: (Recorded in a number of spellings including Madeley, Medley, Medlay, Meadley and Midley, this is a surname of English origins. It has several possible originations. Firstly and most probably it is locational and originates from Medley, a place in Oxfordshire on the River Thames. This name is composed of the old English elements "middel-eg", meaning the island in the middle of the river, or it may be from the village of "Madeley", with two villages in the counties of Shropshire and Staffordshire, or Madley in Gloucestershire. These are all named after the old personal name of the pre 7th century "Mada" meaning good, and "leah", a wood or clearing in a wood. Finally it is possible that the name may derive from the old French word "medlee", meaning combat or conflict, and one which became a nickname and hence a surname for an aggressive person! Early examples of the surname recording include: Thomas Medlay in the Post Mortem lists of the year 1419, whilst the rax records known as the "Feet of Fines" of Warwickshire mention Benedict Medley in 1496, and Christopher Medelay was listed in the Coroners Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1504. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Simon atte Middele. This was dated 1273, in the historical record known as Kirby's Quest for the county of Somerset, during the reign of King Edward 1st of England, 1272 - 1307. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling. http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Medley )

Origin: (Middle English, French)

Pronunciation: (med-lee, Med-uh-lee, Go to this site and run your cursor over the name Medley to hear how it is said:  http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=medley)

Gender: Female, Possibly Uni-Sex

This is another name I saw in my old year book I was flipping through. I knew a girl named Medlee. When I was in school I thought it was a weird name. Of course back then I wasn’t into names especially unique ones as much as I am now. When I saw this in my old year book I thought to add this on my blog. It has decent meanings and has a unique look and pronunciation.

Liberty

Meaning: (Freedom, Free, Independence, This meaning name surfaces at historical moments when Americans contemplate their Freedoms. Lots of little Liberties were born at the end of WWI; during the 1976 bicentennial celebration; and again in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. The name’s message speaks with equal power to people at both ends of the political spectrum. In Roman Mythology, Libertas was a Goddess who personified the concept of Liberty.)

Origin: (English, Middle English, Latin)

Pronunciation: (LI-ber-tee, LIH-ber-tee)

Gender: Female

I was watching a movie the other day and the main woman in the movie was named Liberty but she went by Libby. I have heard in other movies and T.V series where there was people named Liberty. I kind of like it, it definitely has grown on me.

Fayne

Meaning: (Glad, Shining, Recorded in many forms including Fain, Fane, Fayne, Faynes, Vain, Vaines, Vanes, and Vayne, this is a famous and noble English surname. However its origins are at best very confused, and from several sources including possibly France and Wales. The first and most likely source is that it was originally a nickname for a "well disposed person". As such this was a derivative of the Old English pre 7th century word "foegen", the Middle English 12th century "fein or fayn", and according to the New English Dictionary of 1883 quoting from an Elizabethan source "Fayne promys makyth folys Fayne", which roughly translates as a person permanently opposed to fools! The word as Fayn was also used as a given name in the Middle Ages and there is also a slight chance that for some nameholders it derives from the Welsh word "fain", meaning slender. However to add to the confusion there is also a place in La Manche, Normandy called "Vains", and it is probable that some namebearers are from this locational source, and may well have come over with the Normans in the invasion of 1066. It is said that Sir John Vane who was knighted at the battle of Poitiers, wrote his name as Fane on his will dated April 16th 1488. He was the ancestor of the Vane family, Earls of Darlington, and the Fane family, Earls of Westmorland! The first recorded spelling of the family name is possibly that of William le Vain. This was dated 1242, in the tax rolls of the county of Worcestershire, during the reign of King Henry 111rd of England, 1216 - 1272. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling. http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Fayne
Nickname from Middle English fein, fayn, fane ‘glad’, ‘well disposed’ (Old English fægen). The word seems also to have been occasionally used as a personal name in the Middle Ages, from which the surname may derive in some instances. http://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=fayne
Fayne is a variation of Faina (Russian).)

Origin: (Old Greek, Old English, Middle English)

Pronunciation: (Fey-N)

Gender: Female

Variation of Faina *See on list of posts*. I was reading a book Drangonwell Dead by Laura Childs

8^th in the Tea Shop Mystery series a few weeks ago. Fayne was a character in the book that was set up for murdering a man though she didn't. I really liked it and I like the many meanings. It's pretty and interesting. I had never seen this name before I read the book.

Paige

Meaning: (Page, Attendant, Young Helper, Young Child, Transferred use of the English surname which is derived from the Anglo-French Page (A Page, A Boy Attendant), The name Paige, originally spelled Page, was first used as an occupational surname for people who were young servants known as "pages." The name can be traced to Middle English, and derives from the Italian paggio and ultimately from the Greek paidion or pais, meaning "boy." The surname was established in England and Ireland, as early as the 16th century. Alternatively, the surname Paige or Page may be traced to Germanic ancestry. In Germany, Page was an occupational surname for someone who sold horses. The name was derived from a Middle Low German word that meant "horse." Usage as a first name may have begun as a transference of the surname, perhaps when there were no male heirs to carry the name on, or else to simply commemorate an ancestor who held this occupation. Though the spelling Page may occasionally be used for boys, Paige is commonly considered a girl's name. A page in medieval households was usually a young boy whose service was the first step in his training as a knight. Use may possibly indicate an ancestor who was a page.)

Origin: (Middle English, French, Italian, Greek, Germanic)

Pronounciation: (PAYJ, Page)

Gender: Female

When I was in Elementary School I was picked on by a few girls (like a lot of people I suppose) anyway one of the girls Abby (I only remember her name as it was the name of a friend I later had and still have and it was a pretty easy name to remember). This girl had a baby sister named Paige. At the time I was like 8 or 9 years old when her sister was born and I thought it was a funny name. Plus at the time I thought the name was spelled Page, LOL. Now I have heard this name a few times and it's actually a name that is growing on me. It's cute, has good meanings, and is easily pronounced. It would be a cute name for a book character.

Bray

Meaning: (Cry Out, Borderland, Brick Layer, Broad, Wide)

Origin: (Middle English, Old French, Celtic)

Pronunciation: (brAI, BREY)

Gender: Male


I have added female names with Brae or Bray somewhere with in them and I said I would add Bray alone as a male name. Now I have gotten around to it. I have always like the name Bray since I was in my teens and I watched this show that had this guy named Bray in it. He was brave and he was one of my favorite characters in the show. Anyway I like how the name Bray is short, easy to say with a decent meaning. It isn't as showy as some names but that may be good. Make a character with a simpler name speak for it's self.

Ellesmere

Meaning: (Ellis Pond, "Mere" is related to the word "marine" that came to mean a pond or a swamp. Recorded in a number of spellings including: Ellesmere, Elesmere, Elsmere, Elsmer, Elsmore and even Elismere, this is an English surname. It is locational and originates either from the town of Ellesmere in the county of Shropshire or Ellesmere Port, in the county of Cheshire. The Shropshire town has produced most nameholders although the surname is equally well recorded in both regions. The Shropshire place name is first recorded in the famous Domesday Book of 1086 in the spelling of Ellesmeles, which according to Ekwalls "Place names of England" means "Elli's lake" with Elli being an early personal name. However given the questionable spelling it is possible that a more logical explanation lies in the Old Norse word "elri" meaning alder trees, and hence the lake amongst the alders. Locational surnames were usually given to peoiple as easy identification and after they left their original homesteads. In this case early examples of the name recording taken from surviving church registers of the 17th century include David Elsmore, at the church of St James, Clerkenwell, in the city of London, on June 1st 1616, Samuel Elsmore, whose daughter Elizabeth was christened at St Mary's church, Shrewsbury, on February 19th 1618, and Elizabeth Elsmere, who married Annelsey Bailey, at St Lukes, Chelsea, on February 14th 1754. Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Elsmere#ixzz1kuUT6ueu)

Origin: (Middle English)

Pronunciation: (Elle-us-meer, Ellis-meer, ell-esm-ere, EHLZMIHR, Go to this site and run your cursor over Ellesmere to hear how it is said: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=ellesmere)

Gender: Male Name, possibly Uni-Sex

I was looking up a name the other day and saw this name. It reminds me of a location in a sci-fi / fantasy book or something. I definitely like the look, meaning, info I found on this name and the pronunciation. There is little I don't like. This would make a cool character name or location name.

Rosebrae or Rosebray

Meaning: (Rose = A Flower, A Rose + Brae / Bray = A Hill, Hillside, Slope, Cry Out, Borderland)

Origin: (Scottish, Gaelic, Middle English, Old French, Old English, Latin)

Pronunciation: (Rose: ROHZ Brae/Bray: brAI, so ROHZbrAI)

Gender: Female

I was up visiting my sister, brother-in-law and nephew this last weekend and we went by the old neighborhood where me and my sister grew up. There was a street name a few blocks away called Rosebrae. I had forgotten about that street. I really liked the look of Rosebrae. It has two names I love (Rose & Brae) and they are combined. I thought about it and Rosebray I think I even like more. I have loved the name Bray since I watched this T.V show years ago. Of course Bray was a male characters name and Bray does seem masculine but when put with Rose it is instantly feminized. Rosebrae and Rosebray give off a different feeling with the different spellings and I love that about these names.

I might actually add a post for Bray the masculine form later.