Padme

Meaning: (Lotus Blossom, From the Tibetan chant, “Om Mani Padme Hum”, meaning “The Jewel is in the Lotus”. Name of a fictional “Star Wars” Queen, Padme Amidala, who was the secret wife of Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader) and the mother of Luke & Leia.)

Origin: (Persian)

Pronunciation: (PAD-may, pad-MAH)

Gender: Female

I was watching a bit of Star Wars III the other day. I have always thought Queen Padme Amidala was such a cool character and she had such pretty names. So I decided to add Padme. It is a pretty name with lovely meanings. It has a beautiful foreignness to it.

Ceridwen / Ceridwyn

Meaning: (Blessed Song, Blessed Poetry, White, Fair, Fair Poetry, From “Cerdd Gwen”. Celtic Mythology: Name of the Goddess of Poetic Inspiration. Also supposedly the name of the mother of the legendary Sixth Century Welsh Hero Taliesin.

In Welsh Medieval legend, Ceridwen was an enchantress. She is the mother of a hideous son, Morfran, and a beautiful daughter, Creirwy. Her husband was Tegid Foel, and they lived near Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid) in North Wales. Medieval Welsh Poetry refers to her as possessing the cauldron of Poetic Inspiration (Awen) and the Tale of Taliesin recounts her swallowing her servant Gwion Bach who is then reborn through her as the poet Taliesin. In 19^th Century literature and etymology the name Ket, Ked and variants were assumed to relate to the Goddess Ceridwen. The earliest documented permutation of the name KERDWIN is Cyrridven, which occurs in the Black Book of Carmarthen. It was rarely used in the medieval period, but saw a revival in the 19^th Century.)

Origin: (Welsh, Welsh Mythology, Celtic Mythology)

Pronunciation: (ke-RID-wen, Keh-RIHDWehN)

Gender: Female

I was researching the Welsh name Ceri *see on list of posts* and this name came up. So you could either use Ceri as a full name or have a character named either Ceridwen or Ceridwyn (my favorite spelling) and be nicknamed Ceri. I love the meanings and the mythology is interesting. I think it is a beautiful name with a wonderful look. I could see the pronunciation tripping up a reader but if maybe there is a pronunciation guide with the book people would be fine. 

Eos

Meaning: (Dawn, This was the name of the Greek Goddess of the Dawn, Roman equivalent of Aurora. In Greek Mythology, Eos is a Titaness and the Goddess of the Dawn, who rose each morning from her home at the edge of the Oceanus.)

Origin: (Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek)

Pronunciation: (EE-aws (English), E-os (Ancient Greek), IYaoS)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I was watching 2011’s syfy movie Red Faction: Origins, the other day and saw this name. It was the name of one of the towns. It is a simple yet beautiful name. I am also thinking of using this name as a race name for one of my future novels. The meanings are lovely and the mythology is interesting. It is also a nice alternative for those that don’t like the name Aurora.  

Tallulah

Meaning: (Abundance, Lady, Princess, Bubbling Water, Leaping Water, Related to the Choctaw word for Water, “Oka”. The Choctaws lived near the Tallulah Waterfall, which derives its name from the Hitchiti (Creek) Indian word for “Town”. The name also possibly derives from a Gaelic name meaning “Fruitful Woman”.)

Origin: (Native American)

Pronunciation: (Tuh-Loo-La, TAH-loo-lah)

Gender: Female

I had never been a huge fan of this name. I first saw it as the name of British actress Tallulah Riley, in 2005’s Pride & Prejudice. I however have now looked into it and I do like it a lot. The meanings are pretty and it’s seemingly pronounceable by many different people no matter there accent and heritage. On my fathers side we come from the Choctaw Indian heritage, so I am particularly drawn to this name. It would be cool to use this as a nod to my heritage. That being said I don’t love it enough to ever name a future child this, except if it was a middle name. I might however use it as a future characters name. It is lovely, unique and has a good look to it.

Miranda / Myranda

Meaning: (Worthy of Admiration, She Who Must be Admired, Derived from Latin mirandus meaning “Admirable, Wonderful”. The name was created by Shakespeare. In Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” (1611), Miranda is an innocent girl raised and educated on an isolated island by her magician father. It did not become a common English given name until the 20^th Century. This is also the name of one of the moons of Uranus.)

Origin: (Latin, English)

Pronunciation: (mer-ANN-dah, me-RAN-da, mee-RON-dah)

Gender: Female

I was watching Ravenswood the TV series the other day and one of the main characters is named Miranda. I have also used this name as one of my characters names in the novel I am currently writing, but I spelled it Myranda. I like the lovely meanings and the easy pronunciation. It’s also a very old name dating back to at least 1611.

Caleb

Meaning: (Faith, Devotion, Whole Hearted, Heart, Dog, Biblical: Caleb, a companion of Moses and Joshua, was noted for his astute powers of observation and fearlessness in the face of overwhelming odds; his devotion to God is symbolized by the “Dog” in some traditions. The name was popular among the Puritans, and was introduced by them to America in the 17^th Century.)

Origin: (Hebrew, Biblical)

Pronunciation: (KAY-leb)

Gender: Male

I was watching Ravenswood the TV series the other day and one of the main characters is named Caleb. I had never thought to add this but after seeing Ravenswood I decided to. The meanings are good and strong. The name has a long history and a biblical background. It’s an easily recognized and pronounceable name as well.  

Cameron / Kameron

Meaning: (Crooked Nose, Bent Nose, Highlands Clan name derived from the facial feature (Gaelic “cam sron”). Also possibly means “Crooked Stream” or “Crooked Hill”. Nickname of an especially valorous ancestor that became the surname of one of the oldest clans in Scotland. There were also Cameron’s in the Lowlands, linked with Cambernon in Normandy.)

Origin: (Scottish, Gaelic, Celtic)

Pronunciation: (KAM-er-en, KAEMahRahN, KAEMRahN)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I have never been a fan of this name primarily because it is too popular and I have never liked the look of it, I’m not sure why. Of course I know a Kameron in real life, so no offence to anything I say about the name. Another reason I don’t care for it is the main meaning “Crooked Nose”, but then again my name primarily means “Curly Haired” which might not please some (I don’t mind it). But one shouldn’t primarily base a name pick off of the meaning. But fortunately there are other meanings that are decent with this name if one is choosing a name for the meaning. I do however like that it’s one of the oldest clan’s names in Scotland. An author could use this name in reference to a characters background and connection to the Highlands and Lowlands Clans of Scotland.

If being used I prefer Cameron with a C not Kameron with a K because I want to think Kardashian when I see C names starting with a K. The Kameron I know has two sisters, Krystal and Kayla. So the K thing was a family thing just like the Kardashians. But I shouldn’t speak as I have done the same thing for a trio of my 2 brothers and 1 sister characters in one of my novels, all their names started with K’s.

Anyway before I come off even snarkier (honestly not trying to sound that way) I decided to add this because I have seen and heard this name a lot lately. I was watching a show the other day with Cameron Diaz in it and then I saw it on another show. So I decided to add it because there are authors and writers who will love this name and see it as the perfect name for their character. Good Nicknames: Cam, Cammy (Female), and Ron. A saving grace for me with this name would be to have it with the nickname Cam, which I think is cute and could do well on either gender.