Surnames

Wiggons

Bellows

Billoxi

Ravencroft

Nicolai

Meaning: (Victory of the People, Victorious, From the Latin Nicholaus, a derivative of the Greek Nikolaos (Victor of the People) a compound name composed of the elements nike (Victory) and Laos (the People). The name was borne by St. Nicholas, a 4^th Century bishop of Myra who is regarded as the patron Saint of Russia and Greece, and of Children, Sailor’s and Wolves.)

Origin: (Latin, Greek, Russian)

Pronuciaion: (NIY-KowL-ay, neek-oh-LYE, nik-kuh-LY, nik-oh-LIE)

Gender: Male

I was watching a Syfy movie the other day and one of the characters was named Nicolai. I actually really like the name a lot. It is a great spelling alternative to Nicholas. It has a great meaning, look, pronunciation, and there is nothing I don't like about this name. It's also a great old fashioned male name.

Kenzie / Kinzie

Meaning: (The Fair One, Handsome, Transferred use of the Irish Surname which is from the Gaelic Mac Coinnigh (Son of Coinneach). Coinneach is derived from Cainneach (Fair One, Handsome)

Origin: (Scottish)

Pronunciation: (KEN-zee, KEHN-zee, KIN-zee, KEHNZiy)

Gender: Female

I have a character in one of my novels that is named Kenzie. I chose her name to coincide with her brothers whose named were of some UK origin whether English, Irish, or Scottish and all starting with the letter K. But also there names had another thing in common they all were original names that started with Mac or Mc and I left it off. Kenzie / Kinzie is a beautiful name that is unique, lovely, and is short.

Havana

Meaning: (Place Name, Habana, Name of the Capital City of Cuba. The city was originally named Villa de San Crista bal de la Habana. Habana was most likely a local indigenous people, whose Chief was named Habaguaney.)

Origin: (Spanish)

Pronunciation: (Huh-va-nuh, huh-VAN-uh, HHahVAENah, Go to this site and run your cursor over the name Havana to hear how it is said: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=havana&submit=Submit )

Gender: Uni-Sex

I was reading something the other day and it mentioned the Cuban Capital City. I thought what a cool character name that would make. It's pretty, interesting, and unique. I love the look and the sound of the name.

Ashna

Meaning: (Beloved, Devoted to Love, Daughter of Bali, Voracious)

Origin: (Sanskrit, Indian)

Pronunciation: (AE-SHNaa)

Gender: Female

I was watching Keeping up with the Kardashians and Scott Disick was to do an appearance at a birthday party. The girls name that was her birthday party was named Ashna. I really like any name with Ash in it and this is just another to add to that list. It's exotic, unique, pretty with a great meaning.

Byington

Meaning: (Old English element 'by' a locational name meaning the dweller by the clearing in the village or hamlet.)

Origin: (Old English)

Pronunciation: (Bye-ing-ton)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I saw this name the other day and I thought it would make a cool character name. I am not sure it would be good as a first name but as a middle name or surname it might be good. Of course as a first name it would be cool on a futuristic character or a really old fashioned one.

Sydney / Sydnee / Cydney / Sidney / Sidnee

Meaning: (Wide Meadow, Transferred use of the Surname originating as a Norman baronial name taken from the place name St. Denis in Normandy. Alternatively, the name arose independently in England and is derived from the Old English elements Sid (Extensive, Wide) and ieg (Island in a River, Riverside Meadow). The name was indicative of one who dwelled on or near the Wide, Riverside Meadow, or from the Wide Island. Sidney is favored as a name for boys, and Sydney is almost entirely used for girls. Sometimes used recently in honor of Sydney Australia.)

Origin: (Old English, Greek)

Pronuncition: (SIHD-nee, SID-nee)

Gender: Uni-Sex

Though now a days it is seen as primarily a female name. In the past and even some males now a days have been and are named this. I saw a movie where this name was spelled Cydney and I really love that spelling the best followed by Sydnee. I have a character in one of my novels named Sydney. It's a nice name with a good look, meaning and sound to the name.

Orpah

Meaning: (Fawn, A Forelock, Back of the Neck, Orpah was one of two of Naomi's daughter-in-laws in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament.)

Origin: (Hebrew, Biblical, English)

Pronunciation: (AWR-pə (English), OHR-pə)

Gender: Female

I have added Naomi and I believe Ruth to my blog and so I wanted to add Orpah. It's unique, old fashioned, and pretty.

Sequoia

Meaning: (Sparrow, Large Tree, Giant Redwood Tree, Tallest Tree on Earth and one of the longest lived, From the name of huge trees that grow in California. The tree got its name from the Cherokee scholar Sequoya (also known as George Guess), the inventor of the Cherokee alphabet.)

Origin: (Native American, English (Rare), English Nature Name)

Pronunciation: (se-KWOH-yə, sə-KOI-ə, seh-KWOY-ah, Go to this site and run your cursor over the name Sequoia to hear how it is pronounced: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=sequoia )

Gender: Female

I was watching a show on TV the other day and the persons name was Sequoia. I think it is a beautiful, powerful name. There is an interesting history behind the name of the Sequoia tree. It's a beautiful nature name.

Hanley

Meaning: (English Place Name derived from Old English Hean Lea, From the High Meadow, Pasture Trip, This is a distinguished Irish surname. Deriving from the ancient Gaelic spelling of O'hAinle", it originates from the word "ainle", meaning beauty or grace. Traditionally, Irish family names are taken from the heads of tribes, revered elders, or some illustrious warrior, and are usually prefixed by O', meaning grandson or male descendant of, or Mac, denoting son of. They are often extremely 'robust', and unlike this surname, rarely physically complimentary. The O' Hanley's originated on the banks of the River Shannon in the county of Roscommon, where the place Doohyhanly is named after them. The sept was a branch of the royal house of O'Conor, of which Rory O'Conor was the last High King of Ireland (1166 - 1175). In Petty's famous 'Census' of Ireland in 1659, the surname is confined to County Roscommon, but thereafter a family of the name established itself in County Cork, where O'Hanley was variously spelt Hanley, Henley, Henly, Hendley and Henely, without the prefix of O'. A notable early bearer of the name was Samuel O'Hanley, the bishop of Dublin (1096 - 1111), whilst nine centuries later on March 13th 1846, Martin Hanley, aged 22, embarked from Liverpool on the ship "Liverpool" bound for New York. He was among several of the name to enter America as famine immigrants during the years 1846 - 1851. The Hanley coat of arms is a green shield with a silver boar passant, between two silver arrows barways. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Donal O'Hanley, and dated 1085, in the ancient ecclesiastical records of Dublin, 1022 - 1166. 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/Hanley#ixzz20GNeR3VU  )

Origin: (English, Old English)

Pronunciation: (HAN-lee)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I forget where I saw this name the other day but I came to really like it. It sounds slightly upper class like. The meaning is nice and I would really like to see this name in a book. I think it might work as a female character name better then on a male character but I think it is indeed a Uni-Sex name.

Elvie

Meaning: (Happy, Good Elf, Elf, Supernatural Being, Noble Friend, Noble, Truly Lively, Truly Foreign, True to All, White, Bright, Blond, Diminutive of Elvina.)

Origin: (Old English, Irish, Scandinavian, Germanic, Old Norse, Latin, Gothic)

Pronunciation: (EL-vee, EHLViy)

Gender: Female

I saw this in a magazine about recent and upcoming books. I didn't care about the book details but the name Elvie I liked. Elvie is also a diminutive of Elvina *see on the list of posts.* The meaning is good and its a pretty name.

Titania

Meaning: (Of the Titan’s, Giant, Perhaps based on Latin Titanus meaning “Of the Titan’s”. This name was (First?) used by Shakespeare in his comedy ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ (1595) Where it is the name of the Queen of the Fairies. This is also a moon of Uranus, named after the Shakespearean Character. Mythology: The Titan’s were a race of Giants.)

Origin: (Greek, Literature)

Pronunciation: (tie-TAYN-yə (English), tə-TAYN-yə (English), tə-THAN-yə (English)

Gender: Female

I love going to this Medieval / Fantasy Wedding Gowns site I found years ago. I am not married or even planning to right now but I went there to get ideas for some of my characters who lived in the Medieval like era. The designer is in the UK and her gowns are briliant. They are beautiful and so well done. Anyway Titania is the name of one of her gowns. I really liked the name and a few others I will add later. The Titania gown on the site is my favorite. The name too might be used by me in a novel as I love the menaings.

I am going to add the website below just so you can check it out if you like.

Rivendell Bridal Designs by Emily Jane

http://www.rivendellbridal.com/

Avani

Meaning: (Earth, The Good Earth, Stream Bed, Hindu Goddess Sita was also called Avanisuta meaning “Daughter of the Earth”. The legend goes that she was found while ploughing the Earth.)

Origin: (Sanskrit, Indian, Hindi)

Pronunciation: (ah-vah-nee, ah-VAHN-ee, aa-VAA-Niy, OVEN-ee)

Gender: Female

I love going to this Medieval / Fantasy Wedding Gowns site I found years ago. I am not married or even planning to right now but I went there to get ideas for some of my characters who lived in the Medieval like era. The designer is in the UK and her gowns are briliant. They are beautiful and so well done. Anyway Avani is the name of one of her gowns. I really liked the name and a few others I will add later.

I am going to add the website below just so you can check it out if you like.

Rivendell Bridal Designs by Emily Jane

http://www.rivendellbridal.com/

Eolande

Meaning: (Dawn, Land to the East, Violet Flower, Purple, In Greek Mythology: Eos was the personified Goddess of Dawn, the equivalent of the Roman Aurora, Variant of Yolanda.)

Origin: (Old Greek, English, Latin)

Pronunciation: (EYowLAANDiy)

Gender: Female

I love going to this Medieval / Fantasy Wedding Gowns site I found years ago. I am not married or even planning to right now but I went there to get ideas for some of my characters who lived in the Medieval like era. The designer is in the UK and her gowns are briliant. They are beautiful and so well done. Anyway Eolande is the name of one of her gowns. I really liked the name and a few others I will add later.

I am going to add the website below just so you can check it out if you like.

Rivendell Bridal Designs by Emily Jane

http://www.rivendellbridal.com/