Rinehart

Meaning: (Great Judgment, Wise, Bold, Courageous, Brave-Hearted, is the Americanized spelling of the German surname Reinhardt. The Reinhardt surname is of pre 7th century Germanic origins. It is a German and Jewish surname that comes from a male personal name Raginhard, composed of the elements ragin, meaning Counsel, with Hard, Hardy, Brave, Strong. Recorded in some forty spelling forms from Reynard, Reinhard, Renhard and Reignard, to Reinaert, Raardot, and Reintsema, this interesting surname is ultimately of pre 7th century Germanic origins. However spelt it derives from the male personal name "Raginhard", composed of the elements "ragin", meaning counsel, with "hard", hardy, brave, strong. The given names "Rainardi" and "Rainart" are noted in the Domesday Book of Norfolk (1086). This name was borne by the cunning fox in the popular medieval cycle of beast-tales, with the result that from the 13th Century the Old French "goupil", fox, was replaced by the modern form "renard", fox. This suggests that the surname may also have originated as a nickname for crafty individuals, referring to the fox's reputation for cunning. The surname is first recorded in the early 13th Century (see below), and recordings of the surname from medieval times include Heinrch Reinhard of Bonnigheld, Germany, in the year 1286, and Heinrici reinhart of Homburg, Germany, in 1315. Church register recordings in England include: the christening of Beatrice, daughter of James Reynard, on July 29th 1571, at St. Botolph without Aldgate; city of London. The first recorded spelling of the family name anywhere in the world is shown to be that of Elias Reynardi, which was dated 1205, at St. Benet Holme, Norfolk. This was during the reign of King John of England, known by the nickname of "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. 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/Reinhart )

Origin: (English, Germanic, Americanized, Danish, Norwegian)

Pronunciation- (rahyn-hahrt)

Gender: Uni-Sex

There is a street near my place of worship that is named Rinehart and so I added it to my list for the reason I’ve seen this name used in variant spellings for characters before. The meanings are strong and the look is very strong as well and I believe with this name it would do well as a surname but also a middle name but if spelled differently then would be ok as a first name. It has a nice history of use and good background so it could be used in different genres and different backgrounds.

Olaf / Olav / Olof

Meaning: (Relic; Ancestral Heritage. From the Old Norse name Áleifr meaning "Ancestor's Descendant", derived from the elements Anu "Ancestor" and Leifr "Descendant". St. Olaf is the patron saint of Norway, and there were many kings in Scandinavia named Olaf. The name has long been used in Scandinavian countries. It was introduced into England by the Vikings before the Norman Conquest, and later saw a revival in the 19th century from Scandinavian immigrants in the USA.)

Origin: (Norwegian, Old Norse, Scandinavian, Danish, German, Dutch, Polish)

Pronunciation: (O-lahf (German, Dutch), OW-LaeF (English), OW-LaaF (Dutch, German))

Gender: Male

When I was looking at the blog Blog of Characters run by Apolla 13 she had added this name to her blog as part of adding names from Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events novels. If you care to look at her blog it is https://apolla13.wordpress.com/ .When I see and hear this name I think of the fun loving snow man from the movie Frozen. The meanings I like a lot and it’s a nice older foreign looking name. It seems like the name Otto *see on list of posts* to me, short, easily pronounced and has a sexy appeal to it. Like I can see a handsome buff guy with a hot accent and rock hard abs when I see this name, lol, way too specific there but I am a writer so I think all out, lol! ;~) I prefer the spelling Olaf or Olav whereas Olof seems off putting to me.

Elysande

Meaning: (Ely: Jehovah is God, High, Ascent, Name of a river in South Wales and a cathedral and town in Cambridgeshire, England. Also possibly a variant of Eli. Sande: Defender of Men, Protector of Mankind, Shining Upon Man, Sand, Sandy Plain, and Sande is a variant form of Alexandra (Greek): Latinate feminine version of Alexander. Sande is also a derivative of Cassandra (Greek).)

Origin: (German, Hebrew, English, Greek, Norwegian)

Pronunciation: (Ely: EE-liy, IYLay Sande: SAEND Elysande: EE-liy-SAEND, IYLay-SAEND)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I forget where I saw this name but when I saw it I really liked it but like a lot of names now I had to break up the parts of the names to get the meanings. This reminds me of names I’ve seen ending in Sande as well like Melisande *see on list of posts*. The meanings are nice and strong. The pronunciation is pretty good and easy enough.

I think it is a nice name but I am not enamored with it but I do think it is pretty and reminds me of a Goddesses name or maybe someone from Greek Mythology.

Embla

Meaning: (From an Elm, Meaning uncertain, perhaps related to Old Norse almr "elm". In Norse Mythology Embla and her husband Ask were the first humans. They were created by three of the gods from two trees.)

Origin: (Norse Mythology, Icelandic, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish)

Pronunciation: (EM-blah (Icelandic, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish), EHM-blah (Swedish))

Gender: Female, Possibly Uni-Sex

I was on Pearson’s Renaissance Shoppe website and a commenter had this name. So since then I have used it as the name of my main character Sawa *see on list of posts* mother in a short story I wrote and entered in this years Nelson Algren Literary Awards Short Story Contest, fingers crossed that I win or am a runner up or finalist at least! :~) Sawa and Embla’s last name is Almund *see on list of posts*.

When I saw the name Embla I thought it looks like Ember *see on list of posts* a bit and so that is why I really liked it. However Embla’s meaning is not at all connected to Ember but that doesn’t really matter. I think Embla looks a bit Scottish or Irish but the Origin is not Scottish or Irish at all which makes me rethink all I know about the Origins of names, lol. Mans origins Norse mythology was pretty interesting, it reminded me of a few other mythological stories about mans origins. It’s a nice older name but with a youthful freshness about it as well and a great meaning and its unique but not too crazy looking.

Tobias

Meaning: (The Goodness of God, In England it became popular after the Protestant Reformation.)

Origin: (Greek, Hebrew, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, English)

Pronunciation: (to-BEE-ahs (German), tə-BIE-əs (English), Tah-BAY-ahS (English), Tow-BIY-aaS (German), toh-BIY-əs)

Gender: Male

I was watching the Divergent movie (also a book) and the main male character Four had a real name which was Tobias. I love the name and the meanings. I also like the long history of use of this name. The obvious nickname will be Toby but that’s cool.

When I see this name I see a knight or peasant in medieval times. This has a very on a pilgrimage look or a I will save the fair maiden look which I love in a way but would also look great in the modern era as well. So a very diverse name.

Anja

Meaning: (Grace of God, Gracious, Full of Grace, Diminutive of Anna.)

Origin: (Russian, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Croatian, Serbian, German, Portuguese)

Pronunciation: (AHN-yə, AHN-ya, AHN-yah, AHN-zha (Portuguese))

Gender: Female

I was either reading the yearbook published by Jehovah’s Witnesses or the Watchtower by Jehovah’s Witnesses and saw this name. The meanings are pretty and the name is unique. It was interesting to me that it is a derivative of Anna. It is a pretty name but I am afraid it may not be so memorable to me. If I saw this in a novel at least I know now how to pronounce it.

Grethel

Meaning: (Pearl, She Who Reigns Over the Earth, Variant of Greta, Pet form of Margaret.)

Origin: (Norwegian, Old Greek, German)

Pronunciation: (GREHTHAHL)

Gender: Female

I was reading a yearbook published by Jehovah’s Witnesses and it had an example about a person named Grethel. I love the name a lot really. It looks a bit unique to me but it’s really just similar to Gretel just with an H in it. As usual this is a name that is a pet form of another name and the two names to me look nothing alike, lol.

The meanings are lovely, though She Who Reigns Over the Earth I am not sure is an actual meaning. I went to a website for baby names that I usually don’t go to and this I assumed was the meaning. Though when I searched my own name it said my name meant The Queen of Beauty and my name doesn’t at all mean that. So I am not sure the meaning She Who Reigns Over the Earth is the actual meaning of Grethel, though I thought it was so beautiful I added it. If you want the really authentic meaning than Pearl is it, which is lovely and beautiful on its own.

Moya

Meaning: (Bitter, Sea of Bitterness, Rebelliousness, Wished for Child, To Swell, Exceptional, Variant of Maia (Greek) Great, Mother, Also English form of Moira and Mary.)

Origin: (Irish, Celtic, Norwegian, Spanish, Hebrew, Egyptian)

Pronunciation: (MOYah)

Gender: Female

A few months ago I was watching re-runs of the sci-fi TV show Farscape. The living ship the crew resided on was called Moya. I love that show and I also love many of the names on the show. I have already added Aeryn *see on list of posts* and Chiana *see on list of posts*. Aeryn also is on my Favorite Female Name List.

The meanings are generally good and I like the variants so you can switch either of these names for the variants if you wish. Moya seems to me a name I could see on a Pacifica Islander or something. Since it was in a sci-fi / fantasy TV show it could of course fit right back in a sci-fi / fantasy novel setting.

Lykken

Meaning: (Good Fortunate, Happiness)

Origin: (Danish, Norwegian)

Pronunciation: (LICK-en, LUU-keh-en, LUY-key-en, luka-en, Luukeh-en)  

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

I forget where I saw this name but I think it is a variant of Lykke which I have seen more often but I like Lykken but I pronounce it all wrong as I pronounce it LIE-ken like Lycan, lol! I think the meanings are wonderful and it is definitely a name that is not seen by English speakers.

Aslaug

Meaning: (God, Promise, Vow, Betrothed Woman, One Who is Devoted to God, Scandinavian Mythology: Warrior Queen who was married to Ragnar.)

Origin: (Old Norse, Icelandic, Norwegian)

Pronunciation: (AHS-lowg, AHSLAO-G)

Gender: Female, possibly Uni-Sex

I saw the TV series Viking advertised, though I don’t watch it I saw the information for it and this was one of the characters. There is quite an interesting mythology history to this name which bears looking up. I couldn’t put it all here as there is much to it but definitely an intriguing myth revolving around this name. Aslaug has a connection I will say to Ragnar *see on list of posts* which Ragnar is a character name I have used in the current novel I am writing. Aslaug has lovely meanings and a unique look to English speakers but is quite common in Norway, Iceland, ect. With such a long history of use it could be used in many different eras.

Maisa

Meaning: (Table, Variant of Mesa, Variant spelling of Majsa)

Origin: (Spanish, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, Norwegian)

Pronunciation: (MAY-sah)

Gender: Female

I forget where I saw this but I think it was on a TV show. It is pretty but reminds me of a mess hall because of the variant Mesa and the meaning table, LOL. I think this is another really pretty exotic name that has a good look and is easily pronounceable.

Ragnar

Meaning: (Strong Army, Judgment Warrior, Army Rule, Related to German and Scandinavian names like Reginald and Rainer.)

Origin: (Old Norse, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Scandinavian, German)

Pronunciation: (RAG-nahr, R-AW-NG-n-ah-r, RAA-JHNaa-R)

Gender: Male

I saw the TV series Viking advertised and apparently one of the main characters is named Ragnar. I have recently decided to use this name in one of my short stories. It is a very strong masculine name that I really do love.