Azalea

Meaning: (Dry, Dry Earth, From the name of the flower, ultimately derived from Greek αζαλεος (azaleos) "dry". Flower name of a shrub that flourishes in dry soil and blooms in spring. First coined in the 18th century.)

Origin: (English (Rare), English Nature Name, Greek)

Pronunciation: (ah-ZAY-lee-ə, ə-ZAY-lee-ə, ə-ZAYL-yə, a-ZAYL-yah)

Gender: Female

I was on Yahoo Answers a few weeks ago and this person was asking about naming one of there princesses in there story Azalea. They were also asking about Amaryllis *see on list of posts.* So I have seen this plant name used as a name before but never really gave it much thought. Now I have started to think about it and I like the name so I have decided to use it as one of my characters middle names. It is a name you don’t really hear too often and the meaning is decent. It’s a nice nature name and really quite pretty. I would love to see this name used in more stories but not so many that it becomes over used and boring.

Miles

Meaning: (Peaceful, Soldier, Favor, Grace, Merciful, Mild, Calm, Eager to Please, Who is Like God, The name is of disputed origin. Its medieval form was the Roman name Milo (Latin), itself from the element miles ('soldier'), possibly influenced from the association with the name Michael. Another derivation suggests the source as the Slavic mil ('favor, grace'). The name has been used by English speakers since its introduction from the Norman Conquest, and it saw a moderate revival in the 18th century. In Ireland, it is taken as the Anglicized form of other names such as Maoileas, Maelmore, and Maolmuire, and the form Myles as the equivalent of the Gaelic Maolra. In Scotland, Myles is taken as the Anglicized form of Maoilios. The medieval knight was called miles in Medieval Latin, while in Classical Latin, miles meant simply soldier of any sort, including infantry. Miles Gloriosus, whose name means "boastful soldier", was a comic stock character in classical Roman drama. Miles has several variant forms, some of which offer their own derivations: Milan, Milo, Milos, Myles and Mylo. Historical: the Pilgrim leader, Miles Standish. In modern times, the character Miles O'Brien in the TV series "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine". Musician Miles Davis.)

Origin: (Old German, Latin, Hebrew, English, Slavic, Norman)

Pronunciation: (MAYah-S, MIELZ, MIE-əlz, MIYLZ, myls)

Gender: Male, possibly Uni-Sex

I've been watching the new Science Fiction Dystopian  / Post-Apocalyptic show Revolution. The main characters uncle who helps her is named Miles. I have heard this used as a name before but hearing it more and more I have decided to add it to my blog. The name has great meanings and does seem strong. Most people will think of this as more a way to measure distance rather than a name but it seems to have been used as a name for a long time. I like the look and sound of the name as well.

The name Miles is a form of Milo or vice versa. Anyway a friend of mine Mallory is about to have her second child, a son, sometime this month. Her first child was a son as well and his name is Roman (Born December 2010). Her and her husband are naming there newest addition Milo. I think Milo is a somewhat cute name. Congrats to them on their newest little one!

Acadia

Meaning: (Place of Plenty, Idyllic Place, Place name: Acadia was the name given to the area of the French colonial empire of New France, in Northeastern U.S. & Canada. The 17^th Century settlers of Nova Scotia named it Acadia after the name of a river there. The Acadians are descendent of 17^th Century French settlers who moved to Acadia in the Canadian maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Islands, and the American state of Maine. In the mid-18^th century, the British deported many Acadians from the Maritime Provinces. Many of them settled in Louisiana and came to be known as Cajuns, while others left for France. When the British conquered New France, the French colony Acadia was renamed Nova Scotia.

It originated from the Latin name Arcadia. The origin of the designation Acadia is credited to the explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, who on his 16th century map applied the ancient Greek name "Arcadia" to the entire Atlantic coast north of Virginia (note the inclusion of the 'r' of the original Greek name). "Arcadia" derives from the Arcadia district in Greece which since Classical antiquity had the extended meanings of "Refuge" or "Idyllic Place". The Dictionary of Canadian Biography says: "Arcadia, the name Verrazzano gave to Maryland or Virginia 'on account of the beauty of the trees,' made its first cartographical appearance in the 1548 Gastaldo map and is the only name on that map to survive in Canadian usage. . . . In the 17th century Champlain fixed its present orthography, with the 'r' omitted, and Ganong has shown its gradual progress northeastwards, in a succession of maps, to its resting place in the Atlantic Provinces."

Also the name of an automobile model by GMC. Acadia National Park, Maine, U.S.)

Origin: (Algonquian-Wakashan, French)

Pronunciation: (ah-KEY-Diy-ah, ah-KAY-dee-ə, Go to this site and run your cursor over the name Acadia to hear how it is said:  http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=acadia )

Gender: Female

I have been seeing things on TV recently talking about Acadia National Park in Maine. I have heard this before but until recently I didn't think of it as a persons name. Now I think its unique and pretty. I like the meanings as well. It has an interesting history too.

Isha

Meaning: (The Ruling Goddess, The Lord, Woman, Protector, Alive, She who Lives)

Origin: (Hebrew, Sanskrit)

Pronunciation: (ee-SHAH, eye-shah, iy-SHaa- or iy-SHuw)

Gender: Famale

I saw this name the other day and I thought it was really pretty. The meanings are beautiful and I love the look and sound of this name. It's short and I love the exotic quality of this name as well.

Colette / Collette

Meaning: (Victory of the People, Victorious, Necklace, Short form of NICOLETTE which is a diminutive form of Nicole, a feminine form of Nicholas. Saint Colette was a 15th-century French nun who gave her money to the poor. This was also the pen name of the French author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (1873-1954).)

Origin: (French, Greek)

Pronunciation: (ko-LET, koh-LEHT)

Gender: Female

I was watching a lifetime movie a few weeks ago that was from the Love Comes Softly movie series based off the books. One of the characters was named Colette. I have heard and read this name before but have just thought to add it here now. It has good meanings and is old fashioned but fits well in the modern era and in the future I believe.

Han

Meaning: (A Rooster, Gift from God, God is Gracious)

Origin: (German, Scandinavian, Danish, Hebrew)

Pronunciation: (hahn)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I was watching Star Wars the other day and started thinking about adding Han, after Han Solo. It's a good name with decent meanings. It's short and can be a nickname for a longer name like Johannes *See on list of posts*.

Katya

Meaning: (Pure, Blessed, Holy, Variant of Yekaterina (Russian form of Katherine *see Catherine/ Kathryn/ Katherine on my list of post*))

Origin: (Russian, Ukrainian, Greek)

Pronunciation: (KAH-tyah)

Gender: Female

I was watching a Syfy movie the other day and there was a woman named Katya on there. I know it is a form of Katherine but I thought it deserved its own posting because it can be its own stand alone name. It's pretty and I love the look and sound of it.