Brandt

Meaning: (Sword, Torch, Fiery Torch, Beacon, Dweller on a Burned Clearing, topographic name for someone who lived in an area that had been cleared by fire, Middle High German Brant (from Brennen 'to Burn').)

Origin: (Middle High German, Old Norse, Scandinavian, Old English)

Pronunciation: (BRahNT)

Gender: Male

I saw this on TV but I forget where but I thought it was pretty nice when I saw its spelling on the screen so I decided to add this to my list. The meanings are all nice and strong as is the name in general. It seems a name that would do well in a fairy tale retelling or perhaps in a story with a strong German mythology in it.

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.

Eloisa

Meaning: (Healthy, Famous Warrior, Hale, Wide, Hearty, Sound, Safe, Whole, Wood, Forest, Fame, Loud, Italian form of Eloise.)

Origin: (French, Old German, Italian, Spanish, Latin, Scandinavian)

Pronunciation: (e-lo-EE-zah, eh-loh-EE-sah, eh-Low-IY-Saa)

Gender: Female

I think this is pretty and has several different meanings which make it a diverse meaning name which many authors would love. It is also a nice change from Eloise, which is much more common. It seems a name I could see on a character living in a beautiful mountain location, like Swiss Mountains or something.

Gunnar

Meaning: (Lighter, Battler, Warrior, Fight, Army, Battle Strong, Derived from the Old Norse Gunnarr, which is from the word Gunnr (War, Strife, Battle). The name Gunnar was borne by several interesting characters in Norse Legend, one of whom was the son of Giuki and Grimhild. He was the brother of Gudrun and the husband of Brynhild. Also known as 'Roland.' The name Gunnar means fighter, soldier, and attacker, but mostly is referred to by the Viking saying which means Brave and Bold warrior (gunnr "war" and arr "warrior").)

Origin: (Norse, Scandinavian, Swedish, Danish, Norse Mythology, German)

Pronunciation: (GOO-nar, GOON-ar, GUW-N-er, GAHN- aaR, GUH-ner)

Gender: Male

I was reading a novel called, “Listen for the Whisperer” by Phyllis A. Whitney last month and the main male character was named Gunnar. I came to like the name a lot and I had no problems with pronunciation at all. I immediately knew it as GOO-nar. Americans may hear this as GUH-ner though but I prefer the correct pronunciation as it sounds much better and stronger. GUH-ner sounds like GUN-er and thus excuse me sounds a tad bit redneck like.

The meanings are strong and this strikes me as such a masculine brave name even had I not known the meanings. It has a nice old history of use and I do love Viking names. All in all I love it and would love to see this name used a bit more often.

Erica / Erika / Erykah

Meaning: (Forever Strong, Complete Ruler, Honorable Ruler, Eternal Ruler, One Ruler, Ever Kingly, Ever Powerful, Powerful, Regal, Latinate feminine form of Eric, and also a flower name, as the Latin word Erica means "heather". Scandinavian name revived in the 19th century.)

Origin: (Norse, Scandinavian, Swedish, Latin, English, Teutonic)

Pronunciation: (AIR-a-ka, ER-i-kə (English), EH-ri-kə, Eh-rik-AH, Eh-RI-kah)

Gender: Female

I already added the male version Eric *see on list of posts*. But I decided to add the feminine version as its own post after I had seen the name Erica and Erykah a few times. I like best the spelling Erika and Erykah. It did at one time seem very popular and for that reason I am still not a fan but the meanings are wonderful and anyone who reads my name posts will know I am in love with names that have Royal meanings. It does seem very regal and for that reason I like it a bit.

Dahlia

Meaning: (From the Valley, Flower named for 18^th Century Swedish Botanist Anders Dahl.)

Origin: (Norse, Swedish, Scandinavian, English)

Pronunciation: (DAH-lee-ə, DAL-yah, DAL-yə)

Gender: Female

I had a character name come to me and the first name is Dahlia with the nickname Dahl pronounced like Doll. I don’t know who the character will be but I loved the name and so I decided to add it to my blog. Also if you go to my Book Worm Blog you’ll see that I made a Purple Dahlia Barrette and I put pictures of it on there, here: http://tabularasacoker.blogspot.com/2015/05/take-look-at-my-purple-dahlia-flower.html

The flower itself is beautiful and the name has an interesting history of use, especially with The Black Dahlia reference to the mysteries brutal murder of Elizabeth Short in 1947 Los Angeles. Because of the murder and such the name sometimes can be seen as a negative but since so much times has passed I think maybe the younger generation won’t have heard of it much, if at all.

Ashe

Meaning: (Ash Tree Town, Ashe name is a variant of Ash, tree name: the ash tree was common both in England and Scandinavia. Ashe is a Yoruba word meaning Power, Command, and Authority; it is the ability to make whatever one says happen. Often summarized as “so be it”, “so it is”, or “so mote it be”.

This surname, of Anglo-Saxon origin, is either a topographical name for someone who lived near a prominent ash tree, deriving from the Olde English pre 7th Century "oesc" meaning "ash", or it may be a locational name from some minor place so named. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names in the small communities of the Middle Ages, and locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually in search of work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. The name dates back to the early 13th Century (see below), and further recordings include: John de le Es in the 1273 Subsidy Rolls of Norfolk; Ralph de Asche in the 1296 Subsidy Rolls of Sussex; and Joan atte-Eshe in the 1345 Subsidy Rolls of Norfolk. Variations in the idiom of the spelling include: Ash, Ashe, Aysh, Asch, Asche, Aish and Esh, Esch and Esche. Katherine Ash married John Ryce at St. Margaret's, Westminster, London, on October 4th 1601. Christopher Ash, an early emigrant to the New World was resident in Virginia in 1622, and John Ash (1723 - 1798) was the first physician of the General Hospital Birmingham and held various posts in the Colleges of Physicians. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard del Eshe, which was dated 1221, witness in the "Assize Court Rolls of Worcestershire", 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.

Read More: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Ashe)

Origin:  (English, Irish, Scandinavian, Yoruba)

Pronunciation: (Ash-AY, AESH, ah-SHAY)

Gender: Uni-Sex

This name I think I saw on Heroes of Cosplay too but not sure. I really do love names with Ash in it so this just added an E at the end that I kind of really like. It at first can look like Ash trying too hard or just a waste of an E at the end but I think it gives it an exotic out of the rain forest, sexy vibe, lol. Though the name has a nice old world flair as well with a nice long history. So either way you look at this name it has a good ability to be a pretty cool characters name.

Bode

Meaning: (Sheltered, Messenger, Shelter, Herald, One Who Brings News, In the 16th century, Bodey was an English saint.)

Origin: (Scandinavian, German, French)

Pronunciation: (BOWD, BOH-dee)

Gender: Male

Not sure if it is spelled this way or not but that actress Megan Fox had another boy not long ago and named him Bode. I only heard it and didn’t see how they spelled it and really didn’t google it in case they spelled it crazy. So the meanings are very nice and strong and the name seems a very strong one. Also since it was used in some form since the 16^th Century this could be used in many different eras. It is a short, sweet, to the point kind of name, which I like a lot.

Astrid

Meaning: (Devine Strength, Fair, Beautiful Goddess, Beautiful as a Goddess, Use in the English-speaking world is influenced by 20th-century Queen Astrid of the Belgians.)

Origin: (Old Norse, Scandinavian)

Pronunciation: (AS-trid, AHS-trid (Germany), AHS-tree (Norway), AH-strid (Swedish), AH-stree (Norwegian), AHS-trit (German))

Gender: Female

So I was watching one of those Locked Up prison shows and one of the inmates was named Astrid. Now I have seen Astrid only one other time on the movie Oleander. I think the meanings are beautiful and it has a nice use as well as royal use which might be a good reason for an author to use this name. I however have not been a huge fan of this name. It seems a hippie outer space name to me for some reason. It is lovely and beautiful don’t get me wrong but I don’t think I will use this name, but I never say never and I didn’t set up this blog for me only. I am sure an author will find this name perfect and I would indeed love to read a story where this is a name just to see how it is used.

Merryn

Meaning: (Joyful, Lighthearted, Of the Sea, Star of the Sea, Pearl of the Sea, Beloved of Amun, Pregnant Mother, Variant of Merry, A traditional name from Cornwall, Used since the Middle Ages, it was originally used as a man’s name. St. Merryn is the name of a village in Cornwall and the name may have originally been given to girls born here.)

Origin: (Old Cornish, Old English, Latin, French, Scandinavian, Egyptian)

Pronunciation: (MEH-rin, MEER-uhn, MEH-RihN)

Gender: Female

I was looking up the meaning of a name and saw this one. I have decided to use it as the name of my main characters ancestress in my current novel I am writing. I had never seen this name before but I really like it. The meanings are beautiful and it is interesting in its look.

Valkryie

Meaning: (Chooser of the Slain, In Norse mythology, the Valkyries would swoop down on the battlefield and carry away the souls of the fallen. Mythology: the attendants of Odin who guide the heroes slain in battle to the feasting hall on Valhalla. Frey’s Priestesses. Is one of a host of female figures who decide who will die in battle. Selecting among half of those who die in battle (the other half go to the goddess Freyja's afterlife field Fólkvangr), the valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin. There, when the einherjar are not preparing for the events of Ragnarök, the valkyries bear them mead. Valkyries also appear as lovers of heroes and other mortals, where they are sometimes described as the daughters of royalty, sometimes accompanied by ravens, and sometimes connected to swans.)

Origin: (Scandinavian, Norse Mythology, Norse)

Pronunciation: (Val-keer-ee, val-ker-ee, val-kuh-ree, Go to this site and run your cursor over the name Valkyrie to hear how it is said: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=valkyrie)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I never thought this would ever be used as a person’s name. I found evidence though that some people have named their daughters Valkryie. I found this name of interest as it has a close association to Odin *see on list of posts* which is one of my characters names. The Norse mythology just like Odin is very interesting. Also its association to Ragnarök as mention was particularly interesting as one of my characters is named Ragnar *see on list of posts* also Ravens play a key role in my novel so I think Valkyrie may have a use in my current novel.

I think as a name it is interesting and kind of pretty. The meanings are a bit scary but I would rather it be a characters name then a real live person’s name, but to each there own.

Odin

Meaning: (Inspiration, Frenzy, Devine Creative Inspiration, To Blow, To Inspire, Anglicized form of Old Norse Óðinn which was derived from óðr "inspiration, rage, frenzy". It ultimately developed from the early Germanic *Woðanaz. In Norse mythology Odin was the highest of the gods, presiding over art, war, wisdom and death. He resided in Valhalla, where warriors went after they were slain. Odin was the chief god of Norse mythology, identified with art and culture, war, and the dead. The Norse warriors known as Vikings fought without fear, believing Odin would receive them into Valhalla, the heroes' paradise, if they died in battle.)

Origin: (Norse Mythology, Old Norse, Scandinavian)

Pronunciation: (O-din, OH-din, OWDihN)

Gender: Male

I have used this as the name of a main characters son’s name. I really love this name. The Norse mythology is very interesting as well. I decided to use this name because the child’s father Havelock *see on list of posts* and uncle Ragnar *see on list of posts* have Viking or Nordic names so I found Odin fitting. It is a very strong name with good strong meanings. The pronunciations are super easy and the name looks interesting as well. 

Taryn

Meaning: (Thunder, From a High Rocky Cliff, Of the Earth, Tender/Innocent, Rocky Hill, Thunder, Earth, Rock, The Reaper, Wild Goat, To Carry, Young, Queen, Little Princess, Combination of Tara and Erin or a form of Taran/Terran.)

Origin: (English, Welsh, American, Scottish, Gaelic, Irish, Norse, Celtic, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, Sanskrit, Roman, Scandinavian)

Pronunciation: (TA-rin, TARE-en, TARE-in)

Gender: Female, Possibly Uni-Sex

I like the look of this name. It has a great many meanings but they are all really good and interesting. I forget where I saw this name but I think I was looking up another name and I saw this one. I think it is easy, cute, pretty and seemingly pronounceable by many different people.

Elsa

Meaning: (My God is a Vow, God’s Promise, God is My Oath, Joyful, Short form of Elisabeth. Literary: name of the lioness in the book “Born Free” by Joy Adamson, which was made into a movie.)

Origin: (Hebrew, Scandinavian)

Pronunciation: (EL-sah)

Gender: Female

I was reading something about Disney’s new animated movie Frozen. One of the Princesses is named Elsa. I have seen this name before but never really cared for it but I saw no reason not to add it here on my blog. It is also a variant of Elisabeth *see Elizabeth on list of posts*. It is a decent name with good meanings. It is short and easily pronounced so that is a major plus for some authors.

 

Rydell

Meaning: (Horseman, Rider, Variant of Ryder.)

Origin: (English, Scandinavian, African)

Pronunciation: (RYE-dell, RIHDahl)

Gender: Uni-Sex

Reminds me of Rydell High in movie Grease. I was watching something about a new band of all siblings and the only girl was named Rydell. It’s a lovely name in my opinion. It is a variant of Ryder *see on list of posts.* It doesn’t seem to look alike but it is and if you don’t like one you can always use the other one for a characters name. It seems a punk like name, like it could fit on a bad boy or bad girl character that is very punkish.

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.

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.   

Anika / Anneka

Meaning: (Grace, Favour, Sweet Faced, Gracious, Merciful, Diminutive form of Anne. Popular among African Americans at the end of the 20^th Century.)

Origin: (African Hausa, Scandinavian, Hebrew, English, German, Dutch)

Pronunciation: (AH-ne-kah, aa-NAY-Kaa, AEN-iy-Kaa, AHN-nee-kah, Ahn-ihk-uh)

Gender: Female

I have used this name before, the spelling Anneka, and I really like it. I first saw this as the name of an African American actress. I love the pronunciation and the look of this name. It has a unique and rare look. The meanings are lovely and beautiful.

Aza

Meaning: (Reflect, Think, Strong, Comfort, One Who Provides Comfort, Born in the Morning)

Origin: (Arabic, Japanese, Scandinavian)

Pronunciation: (AH-Z-aa)

Gender: Female

I often recommend the book Fairest by Gail Carson Levine on Yahoo Answers. The main character of the book is named Aza. It is a short name and the meanings are absolutely beautiful. I really love this name.

Annalise / Annaliese

Meaning: (Grace, Favor, Graced with God’s Bounty, Favored Grace, Graceful Light, Scandinavian combination name composed of Anne (Gracious, Full of Grace) and Liese (God is my Oath), Variant of Annalisa.)

Origin: (Latin, German, Scandinavian, Danish, Hebrew, French, English)

Pronunciation: (a-nə-LEES, AHN-ah-liese, ae-N-aa-LIY-Saa- or AE-N-ah-Liy-Z)

Gender: Female

I was looking at something the other day and I saw this name. I have seen this name before because of this actress I used to see on T.V all the time but I never really looked into this name. It has good meanings and it’s a name that is used but is still unique sounding.