Indigo

Meaning: (Blue Dye, Blue Dye from India)

Origin: (Greek, English, English Nature Name)

Pronunciation: (in-dih-goh, in-di-goh)

Gender: (Uni-Sex)

I have a novel idea for a few years now that has a main character named Indigo and when I was thinking of a name to add I realized I haven’t added Indigo and I wondered why because it is such a cool name. It has a nature based meaning and honestly the color itself is a beautiful blue purple so it would be a cool name if associated with a character based on a physical attribute like indigo colored eyes or hair or something, not to say that a name has to be based on a physical attribute but it could. A fun thing would be to pair it with other color/plant names like Periwinkle *see on list of posts*, Lilac *see on list of posts*, Lavender *see on list of posts*, Rose ect. All in all I like this name and can’t wait to bring my edgy girl Indigo to the page, she’s going to be a fun one, lol!

Bianco

Meaning- (White, Bright, Shining, Beautiful)

Origin- (Italian, Old High German)

Pronunciation- (bee-ANG-ko, bee-AHNK-oh)

Gender- (Male, Uni-Sex)

Here is a seemingly male version of the name Bianca *see on list of names* which is an alternative to Blanche *see on list of names* so all would do well male and female on a character. I really think Bianco is kind of a rugged name with nice meanings and a nice older history. All in all I really do like this name and would love to see it used.

Cato

Meaning- (Intelligent, Shrewd, All Knowing, Wise, Good Judgement, 2^nd Century Roman Statesman)

Origin- (Latin, Ancient Roman)

Pronunciation- (cah-toe, kAI-toh)

Gender-(Male, Uni-Sex)

So I was looking for more unique names and came across this rather old but still very unused and unique name of Cato. Then I remembered I had heard this in the Hunger Games movies and was like well might as well add it. I do like the meanings and the age of the name but it’s a little too short and harsh sounding for me to want to use it in a novel or to even see it much in a novel. It would maybe do well as a secondary characters name or even a surname. I do think it would be cool paired with a surname ending in O I have one in mind but keeping to myself incase I decide to use it, lol!  

Darby

Meaning- (Deer Farm, Deer Settlement, From the Deer Estate, Free from Envy, it is a place name and surname)

Origin- (Old English, Irish, Norse)

Pronunciation- (DAR-bee)

Gender- (Female, Uni-Sex)

I was looking up unique girls names and came across this one. It reminds me of Derby and or Derbyshire but it is a cute name and seems unique having once been a place name and surname. The meanings are sweet and the over all looks is nice. I can see preppy character being named this, think Buffy and Darby lol!

Cassia

Meaning: (Cinnamon, Cassia Spice which is a variety of Cinnamon)

Origin: (Greek, Latin)

Pronunciation: (cas-ee-uh, KAH-sha, KASS-ya)

Gender: (Female, Uni-Sex)

I have seen this name used a bit more of late and I really do like it. I have used the other variant Keziah *see on list of posts* before which I love but this version seems more feminine and softer in its look. Either way I love the meaning and the all around look and it fits in the past and present and future so it is versatile.

Aeliana

Meaning: (Sun, feminine form of Aelianus)

Origin: (Latin, Ancient Roman)

Pronunciation: (ee-lee-AHN-a, ie-lee-AHN-a)

Gender: (Female, Uni-Sex)

I have the name Eliana *see on list of posts* already on here and actually love it a lot and Anthony and I would love Eliana to be the name of a future daughter we hope to have some day. Now when I saw Aeliana I think it is lovely and very much fits in a historical novel. Its really pretty. I prefer Eliana but I like Aeliana for a character lol.

Eirlys

Meaning: (Snowdrop)

Origin: (Welsh, English) 

Pronunciation: (EY-RLihS) 

Gender: (Female, Uni-Sex) 

I was looking for a snow related name to change one of my characters last names to in an already finished novel from a few years ago. I found this one and it fits the theme of the name and it fits the origin of the fantasy nation they are from as they have many Welsh and Old English names. I think this name reminds me of another character in the novels name Eirwyn *see on list of posts* and both I love the look and meaning and pronunciations so much! I intend to look into more welsh names soon. This name reminds me of a beautiful maiden bright and crisp as her name sake.

Rysa

Meaning: (Laughter, variant of Risa)

Origin: (Latin)

Pronunciation: (RihSAH)

Gender: (Female, Uni-Sex) 

I have the variant Risa *see on list of posts* already on this blog but I came across this variant and I think I almost prefer it better. They seem with the change of one letter to be different names all together and I like that. Plus one seems when looked at more masculine and one more feminine, to me anyway. I think the meaning is very lovely and beautiful. It is a short and sweet name and not too hard to wrap your mind around when read. 

Melyonen

Meaning: (A modern Cornish vocabulary name meaning Violet, Born of the Sea)

Origin: (Cornish, Old Welsh) 

Pronunciation: (mel-YON-en, mel-YONN-en) 

Gender: (Female, Uni-Sex) 

I think of a maiden that lives in a sea side village in the middle ages or a fantasy realm being named this. It is very pretty and seems to roll well off the tongue when said or at least for me. The meanings are pretty and I think it would be cute if the character was nicknamed Mely or Melly kind of like Nelly. I have a story I think this would be absolutely perfect in! 

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.

Nagisa

Meaning: (Seashore, Lull, Sand, Messenger, Envoy)

Origin: (Japanese)

Pronunciation: (NAA-JHiy-Saa, nah-gee-suh)

Gender: Uni-sex  

My boyfriend Anthony likes an Anime show called “Clannad” and the main female character has this as one of her names. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again I absolutely love Japanese names as the meanings are so nice! The meanings of Nagisa are so pretty and the whole name looks like a sweet very ethereal name. I put her pronunciation as nah-gee-suh as that’s how I heard the name from my boyfriend and heard it when I watched a few episodes of “Clannad” so I used the similar spelled name Natisa *see on list of posts* pronunciation as a guide for Nagisa’s pronunciation. This is a very lovely name and I wouldn’t mind seeing or hearing it a bit more.

Hazen

Meaning: (Sandy Meadow, From the Hedge Enclosure, Smooth, Beautiful, from Hasin, a pet form of a Germanic personal name, Haso, derived from haswa 'Gray', 'Black'; or from the plural of Haas.)

Origin: (Dutch, Germanic, Old English, Sanskrit)

Pronunciation: (HHEYZAHN, HAY-zən)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I forget where I saw this name but when I saw it I thought it was unique and pretty cool looking. It has really lovely meanings and has a look like Hazel in a way so maybe twins or siblings Hazel and Hazen would be cool. All in all I like this name and would love to see it used more often in novels.

Tudor

Meaning: (God’s Gift, Gracious Gift, Welsh form of the Old Celtic name Teutorigos, meaning “Ruler of the People” (cognate with Theodoric). As a surname it was borne by five monarchs of England beginning with Henry VII in the 15^th Century.)

Origin: (Welsh, Celtic, Greek)

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

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

Again this is not a name I would have thought of as a given name but the other day I was looking around and some professor on C-Span had the given name Tudor and I was like what I’ve never seen that before. The meanings are very beautiful and strong. Most people know of the monarchs in England with this surname so they should be familiar with the pronunciation though I still can’t see this as a given name for some reason. I did a report in my last year of high school many years ago on Tudor architecture which I found to be interesting, just thought I’d say that, lol.

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.

Claremont

Meaning: ('Cler' or 'Clair' meaning 'Bright' or 'Clear', plus 'Mont', a Hill i.e., a Prominent Hill Standing out from a Plain.)

Origin: (Old French)

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

Gender: Uni-Sex

This is the name of a street near my place of worship and when I was driving by the other day I came to really see this name and said it is nice and decided to add it to this blog. The meanings are very pleasant and the look of the name itself is very posh and sophisticated. I can see a very gorgeous blonde woman in a red coat walking down a very picturesque European city street in the snow being named this, weird I know, lol. All in all this is a very lovely name.   

Eiliwedd

Meaning: (Saint Eluned (Welsh: Eiliwedd; Latin: Almedha or Elevetha), also known as Aled and by other names, was a 5th- or 6th-century virgin martyr from modern Brecon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Eluned )

Origin: (Welsh, Welsh Mythology)

Pronunciation: (eh-lee-eye-wed, ee-ah-lah-wedd, ee-ah-lah-weth)

Gender: Female, Possibly Uni-Sex

I saw this name when I was looking up the name Brychan *see on list of posts*. Eiliwedd was the daughter of King Brychan. I think this is a pretty interesting looking name and the information I found about it was interesting and it has a long history of use that would make it great in a Historical Fiction novel.

Now the pronunciation I am not sure about at all and could find no pronunciation except for the first part Eili and so I did my best with the pronunciation and on the last one this name being Welsh I am assuming Wedd is sounding like weth slightly, not sure if I have that right at all. If anyone knows the real pronunciation please leave a comment in the comment section of this post and please let me know what it is.

Charlton

Meaning: (Peasants' Settlement. Derived from a surname and place name based on the Old English Free Men's Town. Famous bearers: American actor Charlton Heston.)

Origin: (Old English, Germanic)

Pronunciation: (CHAHRL-tən, KAHRL-tən, CH-AARLTahN, to hear how this name is pronounced go to this site and run your cursor over this name to hear how it is pronounced: http://howjsay.com/pronunciation-of-charlton )

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

A friend of a friend of mines name is Maureen *see on list of posts* and the funny thing is she is married to a man named Charlton. Both their names are also names of famous older actor and actress from classic movies, Maureen O’Hara and Charlton Heston! I’ve added Charleston *see on list of posts* before but never Charlton. I like the meanings as they have significance to another era of fighting for what you believe in kind of thing. Though an older classic name like Maureen Charlton doesn’t to me sound like a name that would fit as well in a historical fiction novel, though it could fit in a historical fiction novel I don’t like it as much in one.

Ashton

Meaning: (Ash Tree Town, “the man who lives at the farm or dwelling near the ash tree". Transferred use of the surname meaning “Belonging to Ashton.” The name originated from the English place-name, which is composed of the elements æsc (Ash Tree) and tūn (Town, Settlement, Village, and Enclosure)

Origin: (Old English)

Pronunciation: (ASH-tən, ASH-tuhn)

Gender: Uni-Sex

Last month I mentioned my other friend Cameron *see on list of posts* having the middle name Irie *see on list of posts* well I have another friend named Kameron *see on list of posts*, two different guys and one spelled the traditional way with a C and the other spelling it the non-traditional way with a K. To find the names it’s put as Cameron / Kameron on this blog. Anyway this Kameron has Ashton as his middle name. When I learned that it made me view the first and middle name Kameron Ashton as a very preppy name and made me think too of actor Ashton Kutcher, lol! I don’t mean it to sound like I am downing Ashton as a preppy name I am simply pointing out that Ashton hasn’t been put up on my blog until now because it’s a little too common and preppy. I do however have Aston *see on list of posts* because at the time I put that one up I wasn’t ready to add Ashton quite yet and Aston was as close looking to Ashton for my taste at the time.

Now I am seeing preppy names as slightly handsome and sexy in a way and preppy to me goes outside of prep schools. To me it seems it could be noble / royal names, like Lord Ashton, that seem a little snooty / preppy but kind of hot in the same regard. I am so complicated on what I like and don’t like and I am in a yes / no with preppy names such as Ashton but anyway I do like the name Ashton. I like the meanings and I’ve actually had names on this blog with this same meaning before. It also has a nice older history at least as a last name. All in all I like it and at least it’s simple and pronounceable as that is a plus to any authors out their contemplating using this name as their characters name. And also this would work on both genders.

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.

Tymber

Meaning: (Wood, variant of Timber.)

Origin: (English, English Nature Name)

Pronunciation: (Tim-bur, Tim-ber, TAM-ber, TAYMB-er)

Gender: Female, possibly Uni-Sex

I was watching an episode of Law & Order: SVU (Special Victims Unit) and in that episode one of the main abused characters sisters was named Tymber and I really kind of love it with a Y instead of an I. The meanings are normal and decent and it has a very cool nature look and is easily pronounceable if one can realize Tymber is actually Timber with a Y. For some reason I see a character of nobility being named this or perhaps a fairy or woodland prominent creature being named this. I can see a logger naming his child Tymber, lol! Can you imagine someone being named Tymber being a huge hugger, tree hugger, lol!