Leon

Meaning: (Lion, The Lion is a figure in art and religious symbolism of many cultures; symbolizing Kingliness and Grandeur and Courage. Fierce or Brave Warrior.)

Origin: (French, Latin, Spanish, German, Polish, Slovene)

Pronunciation: (LEE-awn (English), LE-awn (German, Polish, Slovene)) 

Gender: (Male) 

So Anthony and I were driving to visit a friend and we saw a location with the first part being Leon and so were joking about naming a future son this. We do however really like this name. It has strong meanings and the cool thing is the first part is like my dad’s name Leonard. It seems a name fit for a courageous prince or king on a noble quest. Paired with another strong name and a title it will be a name that will make the character one fit to be reckoned with.

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.

Jacek

Meaning: (Alas, Modern form of Jacenty (yah-TSEN-ti) Polish form of Hyacinthus. Saint Jacenty was a 13^th Century Dominican monk from Krakow who was said to have taken missionary journeys throughout Europe and Asia. Hyacinthus is Latinized form of the Greek name ‘Υακινθος (Hyakinthos), which was derived from the name of the hyacinth flower. In Greek legend Hyakinthos was accidentally killed by Apollo, who caused a lily to arise from his blood. The name was also borne by several early saints, notably a 3rd-century martyr who was killed with his brother Protus.)

Origin: (Polish, Old Greek, Latin, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (YAH-tsek, YAA-SeyK, JAY-sek)

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

This was the name of a Lockup Raw World Tour inmate. I like watching Lockup Raw sometimes and there was a World Edition showing prisons in different countries and I was watching it. The guy was obviously not such a great citizen but his name was cool. A good alternative to Jacek or vice versa could be Jace *see on list of posts*.

It has a great history of use and the look and meaning is decent. It has an interesting mythology to the meaning of its forms as well. I think I see a strong determined character being named this.

Hubert

Meaning: (Mind, Bright, Spirit, Shining Intellect, Intelligent, Famous, Bright Heart, derived from the Germanic elements hug "Heart, Mind" and beraht "Bright". Saint Hubert was an 8th-century bishop of Maastricht who is considered the patron saint of hunters. The Normans brought the name to England, where it replaced an Old English cognate Hygebeorht. It died out during the Middle Ages but was revived in the 19th century.)

Origin: (Germanic, English, Dutch, French, Polish)

Pronunciation: (HYOO-bərt (English), HOO-bert (German), HUY-bərt (Dutch), uy-BER (French), HUW-bert (Polish), HEW-bert, HYOO-bert)

Gender: Male

This was one of the triplet little brothers of Princess Merida *see on list of posts* from Pixars Brave. The other two are Hamish *see on list of posts* and Harris. It’s a great Scottish name and the meanings are really quite nice and I love it. The meanings remind me of Hugo *see on list of posts*. It would be cool to have character brothers be named Hubert, Hamish, Harris, and Hugo. It has a great history of use and a really good look to the name in general.

Florian

Meaning: (Flowering, Flower, Blossom, From the Latin word Flos, given name borrowed from the ancient Roman name Florianus, a derivative of Florus. Saint Florian, a martyr of the 3^rd Century, is the patron saint who was martyred under the Roman Emperor Diocletian. He is the patron saint of Poland and Upper Austria, and of Firefighters. Masculine form of Flora, from a Roman clan name. The name was used, albeit rarely, by English speakers since the medieval period.)

Origin: (Latin, German, Polish, French)

Pronunciation: (FLO-ree-ahn (German), FLAWR-yahn (Polish), FLOR-ee-an, FLOH-ree-ehn, FLOW-Riy-aaN (German), FLAOR-YaaN (Polish))

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

I think this is a strong name. I was reading a yearbook published by Jehovah’s Witnesses and it had an example about a person named Florian. It’s a great old name. I was watching the Disney Movie Descendents a few weeks ago and in the movie Prince Benjamin’s middle name he admits to Mal *see on list of posts* is Florian. This is not a name I would use on most of my characters but I would love to see how this could be used by other authors and maybe someday I too will find a way to use it.

Also though it is Masculine I could see this perhaps used on a female character, if it’s pulled off right. There are lots of names that seem male that are used for females, so this could be one of them.

Casimir

Meaning: (Proclamation of Peace, Keeping the Peace, Declaration of Peace, Peaceful, Destroyer of Peace, Famous Destroyer (of Peace)". Associated with Poland for her famous 11th-century king, who brought peace to the nation. Also a saint's name (15th century). Several Polish kings have borne this name, including Casimir III the Great and Saint Casimir, a patron saint of Poland and Lithuania. The name was imported into Western Europe via Germany, where it was borne by some royalty.)

Origin: (Polish, Slavic, English)

Pronunciation: (KAA-Ziy-Mih-R, KAH-zee-meer, KAZ-i-meer)

Gender: Male   

I was trying to find dark and light names for a character but I came across this name which I decided not to use in my story but decided to add to my blog. The meanings are very nice and strong. The meanings remind me of the name Vladimir *see on list of posts*. The name has a long history of use and has a handsome strong look. All around I like it a lot.

Olesia

Meaning: (Man’s Defender, Defending Men, Holy, Diminutive form of Olga. Variation of Alexandra and Aleksander.)

Origin: (Greek, Russian, Polish)

Pronunciation:  (ow-LAH-SHuw, o-LEH-see-ah, O-lee-see-ah)

Gender: Female

I saw this name on the TV series Stargate Atlantis; it was the name of one of the alien cities the Stargate team went to. It does look very alien and exotic and I love it. It is beautiful and the meanings are nice.

Zenon

Meaning: (From Zeus, Gift of Zeus, Hospitable, Guest, Host, Variant of Zenas and Zeno.)

Origin: (Greek, Ancient Greek, Polish, French, Spanish, German)

Pronunciation: (ZE-nawn, ZEHNaoN)

Gender: Female, Possible Uni-Sex

When I was younger I loved the Disney movies Zenon: Girl of the 21^st Century, Zenon: the Zequel, and Zenon: Z3. It was movies based off a book series about an adventurous always gets into trouble girl who lives on a space station. Her name is Zenon. I always thought it fit in a futuristic setting but actually the name is old fashioned. I think the meanings are really lovely.

Celia

Meaning: (Heaven, Sky, Blind, Musical, From Caelia, feminine form of the Old Roman Family name Caelius, probably from “Caelum” meaning “Heaven”, Sometimes also used as a short form of Cecelia. Celio is the masculine form. The name was not used in the middle ages, and was introduced to the English- Speaking world as the name of a character in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” (1599). Made popular in the 1940’s by actress Celia Johnson. )

Origin: (Latin, English, Italian, Polish, Scandinavian, Spanish)

Pronunciation: (SEEL-yah, SIYLiyah (English), SIYLYah (English), CHEHLYaa (Italian), THEHLYaa (Spanish), SEHLYaa (Spanish-Latin American))

Gender: Female

I was watching Law and Order: SVU and one of these ladies on the show had a baby who she named Celia. I think it is a pretty cute name. It is short, easily pronounceable and has decent meanings. It is a name that’s been in use for a nice long time but is still really nice in the modern era.   

Lila / Lilah

Meaning: (Dark-Haired Beauty, Night, Dark Beauty, Derived from the Arabic Leila (Night, Dark Beauty) or the Persian Leila (Dark-Haired). Its use in England began with George Byon’s “The Giaour” (1813). Short form of Delilah (Hebrew) "lovelorn, seductive". Feminine form of Lyle: From the Island.)

Origin: (Indian, Arabic, Persian, Polish, Hebrew)

Pronunciation: (LIY-lə, LIE-lah, LYE-lah, lee-LAH, LEE-lah)

Gender: Female

I have had this on my list for a while but since I have added the similar meaning name Layla *See on list of posts* I decided I wasn't going to add it but I decided though a few weeks ago to add it when I heard it when I was down in St. Charles. I was in the rest room and I saw this woman who kept wrangling in her cute little toddlers, a boy and girl who were I would say a year or two apart in age. I never heard her sons name but she kept calling the little girl when she ran out the bathroom door while she was trying to wash her hands. The little girls name was Lila. It is a super cute name with beautiful meanings. It's an exotic sounding name as well. It's a bit old fashioned but making it well in the modern era.

Aurelia

Meaning: (Golden, Golden Haired, Feminine form of Aurelio. Name of several minor early saints. Revived as a given name in the 17th century. A name derived from aurum (gold)

Origin: (Latin, Ancient Roman, Italian, Polish, Romanian)

Pronunciation: (aw-REEL-yah, oh-REE-lee-ə, ow-REL-yah)

Gender: Female


I think this name is absolutely beautiful. The only downfall is I have seen so many people pronounce it several different ways. But other than the pronunciation issues this is a beautiful name with a beautiful meaning and it is so classic but seems still fresh and modern.

Jedrek

Meaning: ("A Strong Man", Manly, Strong, Warrior)

Origin: (Greek, Polish)

Pronunciation: (JED-rik)

Gender: Male

I have used Jedrek before in one of my stories. I really like the strong masculine meaning and that this name is a name you don't hear very often.

Jadzia

Meaning: (Beautiful and Strong (Unknown Origin), Jade, War Battle (Polish), Female Warrior (Germanic), and Princess (Polish)

Origin: (Polish, Germanic)

Pronunciation: (jahd ZEE ah)

Gender: Female

I used this as the name of one of my main characters I love the meaning and look and sound of the name. I first heard it on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine A.K.A Star Trek: DS9. Jadzia Dax called more often just Dax. Her first name was Jadzia. I loved the name when I heard it.

Damien

Meaning: (To Tame, Subdue, Saint Damian was martyred with his twin brother Cosmo in Syria early in the 4th century. They are the patron saints of physicians. Due his renown, the name came into general use in Christian Europe. Another saint by this name was Peter Damian, an 11th-century cardinal and theologian from Italy.)

Origin: (Greek, English, Polish)

Pronunciation: (DAY-mee-ən (English), DAHM-yahn (Polish))

Gender: Male

Damien I have used as a character name. The only down side is this name has been used a lot recently in both books and on T.V. Nice name for any era.

Gabriel

Meaning: (Able-Bodied One of God, This name has been used occasionally in England since the 12th century. It was not common in the English-speaking world until the end of the 20th century.)

Origin: Hebrew, Biblical, English, French, German, Polish

Pronunciation: ga-bree-EL (French), GAHP-ree-el (German), GAY-bree-əl (English), GAHP-ryel (Polish)

Gender: Male

A really nice biblical name and a strong meaning. It could be used on a strong but peaceable character.

Sebastian

Meaning: (Revered, From the Latin name Sebastianus which meant "from Sebaste". Sebaste was the name a town in Asia Minor, its name deriving from Greek σεβαστος (sebastos) "venerable" (a translation of Latin Augustus, the title of the Roman emperors). Saint Sebastian was a 3rd-century Roman soldier martyred by arrows after it was discovered he was a Christian. Due to the saint's popularity, the name came into general use in medieval Europe, especially in Spain and France. It was also borne by a 16th-century king of Portugal who died in a crusade against Morocco.)

Origin: (Greek, German, Polish, English)

Pronunciation: (ze-BAHS-tee-ahn (German), sə-BAS-chən (English), se-BAHS-tyahn (Polish)

Gender: Male

I have used this name in a novel before as well. As you can see from the meaning it is an old fashioned name but it is still used to this day. I think of The Never Ending Story Movies when I hear and see the name Sebastian. I can see an author/writer using this name for a Prince or as someone of importance.