I was recently inspired by this post at Swistle Baby Names to do a post on the nickname "Gus". in the post, the letter writer states that she is considering the name August, but only because they like the nickname Gus. As I pointed out in the comments, there are many other ways to come to Gus! This is one of those nicknames that was used to be a "funny" name when I was a child. My dad would throw it out there when he was pretending to forget one of our names, or we would use it to name a frog we caught. Now it is the exact kind of nickname that seems just right - a bit of vintage charm with cute familiarity, like Hank and Fred (fifteen years ago, Jack would have fit this category). On to the name!
August/Augustus/Augustine - All of these are derived from Latin meaning "great, magnificent". The different versions carry different feels though. August can come off as a "quirky" word name due to its use as a month. Augustus feels regal and Roman, while Augustine has a religious tone. These also offer the adorable nickname "Augie".
Aengus/Angus - Technically speaking, these two names are pronounced similarly, though I am sure you will find plenty of people will pronounce the the same or switch the pronunciations. Aengus (with a long "a", rhymes with bay) is the original Gaelic name, which means "one choice". Angus is the more anglicized version, and is pronounced Ann-gus.
Argus - I have discussed this name before in the Harry Potter "A" post. It is a Greek name meaning vigilant guardian.
Fergus/Ferguson - This is another Scottish/Irish name, meanig "supreme man, highest choice". This may be one of my favorite options! It reminds me of other names that I like but not quite enough to use, like Vernon and Fern.
Gustavus - Pronounced Gus-Tay-vus, this is a "last name as first name" related to as Scandinavian name meaning "royal staff". It is also the name of a University.
Lugus - Pronounced Lou-gus, this is a Welsh name meaning "shine". It is very similar to the more common Lucas, but with a little twist to make it unique.
Magus - This Latin name related to the word "magic", meaning sorcerer. It sounds similar to the more feminine Maggie. I would be a bit worried about the phonetic nearness to Maggots however.
In addition to the above names which make the nickname Gus a no brainer, there are also names that would get to it a little less directly, for example, Auguste (aw-goost), Gustav (Goo-stawf) are the more European pronunciations of some of the names above. Other options would be Magnus (Latin for "great", as in magnificent), Agathius (Greek meaning good, honorable), Eligius (french/Latin for "chosen"), Eugenius (Greek for "well born"), Giorgius (a variant of George), or Sergius (a variant of Sergio)/
Of course, if none of these strike a chord, just use Gus!
Showing posts with label how to get your nickname. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how to get your nickname. Show all posts
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Saturday, June 22, 2013
How to Get Your Nickname: Ace
Ace is a great nickname for a boy! Of course a lot of boys get called this without it having any root int heir name, just like nicknames like Bud or Guy. Ace has very positive connotations. It is the "#1" of the card deck. In WWI, the best fighter pilots earned the label "Ace". Wouldn't it be cool if this could be a nickname based on a given name? Well, it can! There actually are a variety of options that can get you to Ace with varying levels of directness. I have tried to order them from the most obvious connection to Ace to the more tenuous stretches.
Aeson - This is of from Greek Mythology, and is the father of Jason (the origins of that popular name), which the name rhymes with. This is by far the most obvious way to get Ace because it uses the typical "first syllable" is the nickname formula.
Casey - Of Irish and Gaelic origin, likely means "alert and watchful".
Dacey - Of Irish and Gaelic origin, meaning "from the south"
Jason - A Greek name meaning "healer"
Acelin - Pronounced a-ce-lin, this is French in origin and means noble. For the American ear this may come too close to including the word "ass", though said correctly it avoids it.
Asaph - Similar to Acelin in the potential pronunciation problem as Acelin (it is ah-SAHF), it is Hebrew for "god has gathered"
Aslan - This Turkish name was made famous by Chronicles of Narnia, and means lion.
Ignace/Ignatius - This is most likely of Latin origin meaning ardent burning.
Eustace - Greek origin, pronounced Yu-stiss, meaning "good grapes"
Horace - pronounced Hor-ess, an old Latin family clan name, related to Horatio
Seamus - An Irish name, pronounced Shay-mus, is a form of James
Phineas - pronounced Fin-ee-us, likely from a Hebrew name meaning "oracle".
Mathias - pronounced ma-tee-us. A German variant of Matthew meaning gift of god.
Silas - pronounced Sigh-las, a Latin Name meaning "forest"
Wallace - an Old french name meaning Welshman, also a Scottish surname. (Think Braveheart!!)
Monday, March 4, 2013
How to Get Your Nickname: Millie
The nickname Millie, traditionally a nickname, recently has made it into the top 1000 on its own as a given name, ranking 816th in 2011. If you think its cute, but prefer to keep it as a nickname, here are some longer names it can come from.
Amelia - By far the most popular/trendy option, ranked 30th in 2011. It is Latin and Old German meaning "industrious, striving". Closely related names that are also options would be Emily, Emilia, Amalia,or Amelie. Emily is very common in the U.S. and has been for ages. However, using the nickname for it would give it a new twist.
Amil - This is a form of Amy meaning "beloved". It is so short and sweet it may not need a nickname at all, but the option is there.
Camilla/Camille - Camilla is a Latin name meaning "helper to the priest". The most popular spelling/version is actually Camila, ranked 48th. Spellings with a "k" are also an option (Kamille/Kamilla etc).
Mildred - Mildred, of Old German origin, means Gentle Strength. There is a Saint Mildred who was known for kindness. Mildred has not been in the top 1000 since 1984, it was most popular from 1915-1920, when it ranked 5th. I try to be positive about most baby names, but I had to admit this is one of my least favorite baby names out there. This name is actually what inspired this post, because I think Millie is adorable, but could not bear the idea of Mildred. The reason for my dislike - the like sound word "Mildew" and the inclusion of the syllable "dred" (just like dread). That said, it is a perfectly good name and has a nice strong meaning.
Millicent - With Old French origins meaning "brave and strong," Millicent has never been in the top 400 names, and hasn't been in the top thousand since 1965. For some reason, it reminds me of the evil queen in Disney's version of Sleeping Beauty, but her name is actually Maleficent, so its not really that close of a connection.
Milana - This is a slavic name meaning "favored". The very similar Miliana is of Latin/Spanish origin and means eager.
Milagros- Like Miliana, Milagros is Spanish, meaning miracle. With Miracle becoming a popular "word as a name" name in many communities, Milagros could fit in well.
Vermillion - When I discussed red names, I labelled Vermillion as having a more masculine feel to me, but really it could work quite well for a girl and Millie would be the perfect nickname.
Do you like the nickname Millie? Would you use it as a given name, or opt for one of the above options? I think my favorite is Camille.
Amelia - By far the most popular/trendy option, ranked 30th in 2011. It is Latin and Old German meaning "industrious, striving". Closely related names that are also options would be Emily, Emilia, Amalia,or Amelie. Emily is very common in the U.S. and has been for ages. However, using the nickname for it would give it a new twist.
Amil - This is a form of Amy meaning "beloved". It is so short and sweet it may not need a nickname at all, but the option is there.
Camilla/Camille - Camilla is a Latin name meaning "helper to the priest". The most popular spelling/version is actually Camila, ranked 48th. Spellings with a "k" are also an option (Kamille/Kamilla etc).
Mildred - Mildred, of Old German origin, means Gentle Strength. There is a Saint Mildred who was known for kindness. Mildred has not been in the top 1000 since 1984, it was most popular from 1915-1920, when it ranked 5th. I try to be positive about most baby names, but I had to admit this is one of my least favorite baby names out there. This name is actually what inspired this post, because I think Millie is adorable, but could not bear the idea of Mildred. The reason for my dislike - the like sound word "Mildew" and the inclusion of the syllable "dred" (just like dread). That said, it is a perfectly good name and has a nice strong meaning.
Millicent - With Old French origins meaning "brave and strong," Millicent has never been in the top 400 names, and hasn't been in the top thousand since 1965. For some reason, it reminds me of the evil queen in Disney's version of Sleeping Beauty, but her name is actually Maleficent, so its not really that close of a connection.
Milana - This is a slavic name meaning "favored". The very similar Miliana is of Latin/Spanish origin and means eager.
Milagros- Like Miliana, Milagros is Spanish, meaning miracle. With Miracle becoming a popular "word as a name" name in many communities, Milagros could fit in well.
Vermillion - When I discussed red names, I labelled Vermillion as having a more masculine feel to me, but really it could work quite well for a girl and Millie would be the perfect nickname.
Do you like the nickname Millie? Would you use it as a given name, or opt for one of the above options? I think my favorite is Camille.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
How to Get Your Nickname: Ettie
With Emma having been in the top 5 for ten years now, I think she has run her course. Ella, meanwhile, has been on her climb to the top. "Ev" names are also quite popular and rising (with Eva and Evelyn both in the top 100, and Evie, Eve farther back but all four climbing). It is unsurprising that people are finding the option of "Ettie" as a nickname as charming. I have particularly been hearing a lot of buzz around the name "Henrietta" as a source for Ettie, though it has not been in the top 1000 since 1968. It and its derivative Harriet may soon be making comebacks!
I think Ettie is an adorable nickname, but by no means are you limited to Henrietta as the source. Since posting about my unused girls name from when my son was born, Cosette, I have been intending to post about "names ending in ette". And here it is. "Ette' is a diminutive ending in French. That means that it makes a word become smaller, cuter, more feminine (in German "chen" serves the same purpose". It is kind of like adding an "ie" or "y" to something in English, though much more clear and more common than that.
Because of this role of "ette" in French, there are MANY names with it as an ending, and it can be added to almost any root name to get a feminine alternative. I cannot possible touch on all "ette" names here. If you would like to see more, check out this list, which claims to have 204th, though I am sure there are duplicates based on how they count. (The list of names ending in Etta is 172 long and is largely overlap.)
My favorite options for getting the nickname Ettie:
Alouette/Alouetta
Amoretta
Antoinette
Bernadette
Burdette
Clarette/Claretta
Cosette
Georgetta
Gwynetta
Lisbette
Lisette
Juliet/Juliette/Julietta
Janette
Josette/Josetta
Marlette
Mariette/Marietta
Nikoletta
Rosetta
Scarlet/Scarlette
Suzette
Violetta
Do you like the nickname Ettie? What long name would you pick to get there? Obviously, I am a fan of Cosette, but I also love many of the other options.
I think Ettie is an adorable nickname, but by no means are you limited to Henrietta as the source. Since posting about my unused girls name from when my son was born, Cosette, I have been intending to post about "names ending in ette". And here it is. "Ette' is a diminutive ending in French. That means that it makes a word become smaller, cuter, more feminine (in German "chen" serves the same purpose". It is kind of like adding an "ie" or "y" to something in English, though much more clear and more common than that.
Because of this role of "ette" in French, there are MANY names with it as an ending, and it can be added to almost any root name to get a feminine alternative. I cannot possible touch on all "ette" names here. If you would like to see more, check out this list, which claims to have 204th, though I am sure there are duplicates based on how they count. (The list of names ending in Etta is 172 long and is largely overlap.)
My favorite options for getting the nickname Ettie:
Alouette/Alouetta
Amoretta
Antoinette
Bernadette
Burdette
Clarette/Claretta
Cosette
Georgetta
Gwynetta
Lisbette
Lisette
Juliet/Juliette/Julietta
Janette
Josette/Josetta
Marlette
Mariette/Marietta
Nikoletta
Rosetta
Scarlet/Scarlette
Suzette
Violetta
Do you like the nickname Ettie? What long name would you pick to get there? Obviously, I am a fan of Cosette, but I also love many of the other options.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
How to Get Your Nickname: Ro
A few weeks ago, when I posted about names meaning peace, I mentioned the name Ro. It is a word that means piece in a Micronesian language. For some reason, it really stuck with me, but I don't think I could ever use a two-letter name, and single syllable names really do not sound well with my one syllable last name. However, I think Ro could be an adorable nickname for either sex. So today we have our first double gender how to get your nickname post!
Spelling Options
Ro is the simplest and would give the meaning I described above.
Rho is kind of edgy and is a letter in the Greek alphabet.
Row is a little substantive, but is a word of course, and not a particularly interesting one.
Roe has the surname feel. Unfortunately, Roe is also associated with the controversial abortion decision Roe vs Wade, and its the spelling that means "fish eggs" in terms of sushi.
Boys
This list is by no means complete. You could really use Ro for a lot of names that do not have the sound in them, for example, Robert. Also, there are some single syllable names that could be shortened even more to Ro, but if a name is already that short, does it really need to be shorter (Example: Rhodes). I am going to focus on names that actually have the sound Ro in them for the most part, or some options that might be a little less obvious.
Rowan - I feel like this is one of the most obvious choices, mainly because its trendy right now (for both boy and girl). It is Gaelic in origin and means "little red head" and is also a plant name.
Rohan - Similar to Rowan but with a little twist, this is actually from Lord of the Rings. It is a place name, the kingdom of horses.
Roland - This is of old German origin and means "renowned land". It is actually related to Orlando.
Rodolfo - An Italian take on the Old German "Rudolph", meaning famous wolf.
Rogan - This is gaelic, and like Rowan, also means red head. It could also be viewed as "last name as first name" and is currently associated with comedic actor Seth Rogan
Roman - Forget Roman style names, just use Roman. This is latin and means citizen of Rome.
Romeo - And Juliet? Of course this will forever have the strong Shakspearian reference, but it does have the popular "o" ending. It is an Italian version of Roman.
Rover - This is a name that may have become too strongly associated as a pet name to be taken seriously, but with many other similar "pet" names making comebacks (Bailey, Milo, Shep), why not Rover? It is middle English in origin and means traveller.
Roosevelt - Last name as first name, presidential style. This is Danish in origin and also a place name it means rose field. I think this is probably my favorite source for the nickname on this list because it feels long and classic, and there is not another obvious nickname for it, yet Ro is somehow still unexpected from it.
Arrow - A word name, this would be unique and edgy.
Eros - Eros is the Greek god of love. With other Greek and Roman names on the rise, why not this one?
Charro - This name is Spanish/South American in origin and means cowboy.
Darrow - Old English in origin, also a last name as first name, means spear.
Tyrone - This name is surprisingly Gaelic in origin and means Owen's country. Another possibe variant is Kyrone.
Jerome - Greek in origin, meaning "sacred name", also a saint name.
Girls
The long "o" sound appears less in girls names as a rule than it does in boys names, perhaps indicating the sound has a more masculine feel to it for English speakers. That is not to say there are no options, just fewer.
Rowan - As mentioned above, this is a gender neutral name these days, meaning little red head in Gaelic.
Rowena - An old German name meaning fame and happiness. A literary reference to Ivanhoe, or Harry Potter, also historically an Anglo-Saxon princess.
Roanne - A variant form of Rowan.
Romaine - French in origin, this means "Citizen of Rome", is also a last name as first name.
Romy - Romy already has a nickname feel so I am not sure it needs shortening, and it reminds those of us born in the 80s of "Romy any Michelle's High School Reunion". It is a sh. ortened form of Rosemary .
Aurora - This is Latin and origin and means dawn, also the Roman goddess of sunrise, also part of the name of the northern lights (Aurora Borealis).
Verona - Depending on who you ask, this is either a variation of Veronica (Latin, meaning "true image"), or a place name after Verona Italy - the setting of three of Shakespeare's plays, including Romeo and Juliet.
I also wanted to add a note about Rose. Pretty much any "rose" based name could also shorten to Ro, but there are so many of them I did not feature them here. Perhaps a "rose" post is in my future!
Spelling Options
Ro is the simplest and would give the meaning I described above.
Rho is kind of edgy and is a letter in the Greek alphabet.
Row is a little substantive, but is a word of course, and not a particularly interesting one.
Roe has the surname feel. Unfortunately, Roe is also associated with the controversial abortion decision Roe vs Wade, and its the spelling that means "fish eggs" in terms of sushi.
Boys
This list is by no means complete. You could really use Ro for a lot of names that do not have the sound in them, for example, Robert. Also, there are some single syllable names that could be shortened even more to Ro, but if a name is already that short, does it really need to be shorter (Example: Rhodes). I am going to focus on names that actually have the sound Ro in them for the most part, or some options that might be a little less obvious.
Rowan - I feel like this is one of the most obvious choices, mainly because its trendy right now (for both boy and girl). It is Gaelic in origin and means "little red head" and is also a plant name.
Rohan - Similar to Rowan but with a little twist, this is actually from Lord of the Rings. It is a place name, the kingdom of horses.
Roland - This is of old German origin and means "renowned land". It is actually related to Orlando.
Rodolfo - An Italian take on the Old German "Rudolph", meaning famous wolf.
Rogan - This is gaelic, and like Rowan, also means red head. It could also be viewed as "last name as first name" and is currently associated with comedic actor Seth Rogan
Roman - Forget Roman style names, just use Roman. This is latin and means citizen of Rome.
Romeo - And Juliet? Of course this will forever have the strong Shakspearian reference, but it does have the popular "o" ending. It is an Italian version of Roman.
Rover - This is a name that may have become too strongly associated as a pet name to be taken seriously, but with many other similar "pet" names making comebacks (Bailey, Milo, Shep), why not Rover? It is middle English in origin and means traveller.
Roosevelt - Last name as first name, presidential style. This is Danish in origin and also a place name it means rose field. I think this is probably my favorite source for the nickname on this list because it feels long and classic, and there is not another obvious nickname for it, yet Ro is somehow still unexpected from it.
Arrow - A word name, this would be unique and edgy.
Eros - Eros is the Greek god of love. With other Greek and Roman names on the rise, why not this one?
Charro - This name is Spanish/South American in origin and means cowboy.
Darrow - Old English in origin, also a last name as first name, means spear.
Tyrone - This name is surprisingly Gaelic in origin and means Owen's country. Another possibe variant is Kyrone.
Jerome - Greek in origin, meaning "sacred name", also a saint name.
Girls
The long "o" sound appears less in girls names as a rule than it does in boys names, perhaps indicating the sound has a more masculine feel to it for English speakers. That is not to say there are no options, just fewer.
Rowan - As mentioned above, this is a gender neutral name these days, meaning little red head in Gaelic.
Rowena - An old German name meaning fame and happiness. A literary reference to Ivanhoe, or Harry Potter, also historically an Anglo-Saxon princess.
Roanne - A variant form of Rowan.
Romaine - French in origin, this means "Citizen of Rome", is also a last name as first name.
Romy - Romy already has a nickname feel so I am not sure it needs shortening, and it reminds those of us born in the 80s of "Romy any Michelle's High School Reunion". It is a sh. ortened form of Rosemary .
Aurora - This is Latin and origin and means dawn, also the Roman goddess of sunrise, also part of the name of the northern lights (Aurora Borealis).
Verona - Depending on who you ask, this is either a variation of Veronica (Latin, meaning "true image"), or a place name after Verona Italy - the setting of three of Shakespeare's plays, including Romeo and Juliet.
I also wanted to add a note about Rose. Pretty much any "rose" based name could also shorten to Ro, but there are so many of them I did not feature them here. Perhaps a "rose" post is in my future!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
How to Get Your Nickname: Ginny
Ginny is a fun nickname, a slight variation from the ever-present "Jenny" of my generation. (Of course, because Jenny is now a "mom name" it would itself be quite unique on a little girl). Anyways, Ginny is also featured in Harry Potter. There are some pretty unique options if you want to use Ginny for your little girl!
Virginia - I think that Ginny is most often derived from Virginia. Virginia is of Latin origin, it originally referred to a certain tribe, and means virgin or maiden. It is of course strongly associated now with the U.S. State, but maintains status as a name as well in popular media such as the famous letter "Yer Virginia, there is a Santa Claus"
Ginevra - This is the Harry Potter name that they use to derive Ginny. It is of Italian origins and means fair and smooth. It is actually considered a variation of Jennifer.
Imogen - I have heard a lot of buzz about this name recently. I ran into it when reading the novel Middlesex, and had to look up the pronunciation, which it turns out is actually kind of controversial. The "I" is soft, but other than that there are some variations. I see both i-moe-jen, i-moe-jean, and the softer more flowing im-a-jin, where the middle syllable almost disappears and is just a swivel point for the rest. Anyways, Imogen is Celtic and means maiden. It also is found in Shakespeare.
Genevieve - This master of nicknames was already discussed once when I was looking for a source for Evie. It means white wave and is strongly associated with Saint Genevieve.
Eugenia - The much less used feminine version of Eugene (which in and of itself is not too popular at the moment). Eugenia is Greek and means well-born, or noble. Concerned that it should lead to the nickname Genny rather then Ginny? You can use the variant spelling Eugina (note the slightly different ending as well).
Regina - This name is of Latin origin and means Queen. It was a nickname for Queen Victoria.
I am sure I am missing other options. There are a lot of names that begin with "gin" that I suppose could also get you to the nickname, but I don't feel like featuring these names because they are either so short as to not need a nickname (Gina, Ginger), or I prefer a different spelling (Jeanette, Janelle).
Do you like the nickname Ginny? What name would you use to get there?
Virginia - I think that Ginny is most often derived from Virginia. Virginia is of Latin origin, it originally referred to a certain tribe, and means virgin or maiden. It is of course strongly associated now with the U.S. State, but maintains status as a name as well in popular media such as the famous letter "Yer Virginia, there is a Santa Claus"
Ginevra - This is the Harry Potter name that they use to derive Ginny. It is of Italian origins and means fair and smooth. It is actually considered a variation of Jennifer.
Imogen - I have heard a lot of buzz about this name recently. I ran into it when reading the novel Middlesex, and had to look up the pronunciation, which it turns out is actually kind of controversial. The "I" is soft, but other than that there are some variations. I see both i-moe-jen, i-moe-jean, and the softer more flowing im-a-jin, where the middle syllable almost disappears and is just a swivel point for the rest. Anyways, Imogen is Celtic and means maiden. It also is found in Shakespeare.
Genevieve - This master of nicknames was already discussed once when I was looking for a source for Evie. It means white wave and is strongly associated with Saint Genevieve.
Eugenia - The much less used feminine version of Eugene (which in and of itself is not too popular at the moment). Eugenia is Greek and means well-born, or noble. Concerned that it should lead to the nickname Genny rather then Ginny? You can use the variant spelling Eugina (note the slightly different ending as well).
Regina - This name is of Latin origin and means Queen. It was a nickname for Queen Victoria.
I am sure I am missing other options. There are a lot of names that begin with "gin" that I suppose could also get you to the nickname, but I don't feel like featuring these names because they are either so short as to not need a nickname (Gina, Ginger), or I prefer a different spelling (Jeanette, Janelle).
Do you like the nickname Ginny? What name would you use to get there?
Friday, November 30, 2012
How to Get Your Nickname: Evie
This post is actually my first request! (Or, at least, user-produced idea?). How do you get the nickname Evie? Its most commonly just a pet name actually the same length or longer than the original Eve or Eva, but it can be derived from several longer names. Just be warned, like may "E" names, all of these and the nickname are likely to be on the rise!
Evelyn - This name has so many possible origins and history, there are several possible meanings. There are many possible variations- Evaline, Evalina, etc
Everil - A take off on Averil, meaning ferocious warrior. An edgier option in both meaning and sound.
Evangeline - Meaning is "good news", same roots as found in Evangelical.
Evette - a french take on Yvonne. Meaning is "Yew", a type of wood.
Evania - Greek name meaning peaceful. Possible variation is Evana.
Genevieve - Meaning "white wave", Genevieve is highly associated with Saint Genevieve, patroness of Paris, famous for her virginity and defense of virginity.
Geneva - Place name, famous city in Switzerland, famous for the Geneva Convention, which is a landmark treaty on human rights. The place name is of Celtic origin and means "Juniper". The name can also be considered a variation on Genevieve.
I would say the above all fairly obviously produce the nickname Evie, but I feel like if you want to stretch is a little farther you can find even more options.
Neve/Neva - pronounced with a soft e, like Evelyn, ths is a Latin name meaning Snow. It is such a short, soft pretty name I doubt it would need a nickname, but if you wanted to have both the soft Neva and the edgie Evie, you could go this direction
Joseva - an alternate transcription from Hebrew of the more common Josephine, meaning "God (Yahweh) will add", again with a soft "e", JOE-zev-ah.
Beverly - an Old English place name referring to a meadow or stream.
Everly - a modern take on Beverly
So what do you think? Do you like the nickname Evie? What name would you choose if you wanted to use it? My favorite discovery from researching for this post was Neva, which hardly needs a nickname, but its all about the process, isn't it?
Evelyn - This name has so many possible origins and history, there are several possible meanings. There are many possible variations- Evaline, Evalina, etc
Everil - A take off on Averil, meaning ferocious warrior. An edgier option in both meaning and sound.
Evangeline - Meaning is "good news", same roots as found in Evangelical.
Evette - a french take on Yvonne. Meaning is "Yew", a type of wood.
Evania - Greek name meaning peaceful. Possible variation is Evana.
Genevieve - Meaning "white wave", Genevieve is highly associated with Saint Genevieve, patroness of Paris, famous for her virginity and defense of virginity.
Geneva - Place name, famous city in Switzerland, famous for the Geneva Convention, which is a landmark treaty on human rights. The place name is of Celtic origin and means "Juniper". The name can also be considered a variation on Genevieve.
I would say the above all fairly obviously produce the nickname Evie, but I feel like if you want to stretch is a little farther you can find even more options.
Neve/Neva - pronounced with a soft e, like Evelyn, ths is a Latin name meaning Snow. It is such a short, soft pretty name I doubt it would need a nickname, but if you wanted to have both the soft Neva and the edgie Evie, you could go this direction
Joseva - an alternate transcription from Hebrew of the more common Josephine, meaning "God (Yahweh) will add", again with a soft "e", JOE-zev-ah.
Beverly - an Old English place name referring to a meadow or stream.
Everly - a modern take on Beverly
So what do you think? Do you like the nickname Evie? What name would you choose if you wanted to use it? My favorite discovery from researching for this post was Neva, which hardly needs a nickname, but its all about the process, isn't it?
Monday, November 19, 2012
How to Get Your Nickname: Fitz
My husband bungles words a lot, usually on purpose. When you tell him a new name, phrase or title, he does not remember exactly what you told him, and when he needs to refer to it, he makes up whatever vaguely similar hilarity strikes his fancy to stand in its place. For example, when the popular TV show Bones featured a serial killer named Gormogon, he took to calling the character Gorgonzola (a tasty type of blue cheese). Another example, last night we took my son to the local holiday parade called "City of the North Parade". When we were making plans, my husband asked 'When does the Chicken of the Sea begin?". Usually this habit ranges from entertaining to vaguely annoying, but recently it actually brought a new naming tidbit to my attention, and got me researching.
We were walking the dog (and the baby in his stroller), and I was listing possible baby names. I mentioned the name Fitzwilliam, like from Pride and Prejudice (the name of the main love interest is Fitzwilliam Darcy, more commonly known in popular culture just as Mr. Darcy). Ten minutes later, my husband complained that I am always coming up with girls names, "except Fitzwallace or whatever." And yes, that is what got me thinking, what exactly does Fitz mean? I associate it with Fitz's Rootbeer in St Louis, Missouri (seriously, if you are ever driving through, go to their restaurant and get some, or even the grocery store). I think of it as a quirky nickname, but if you asked me for what name I could not have told you (until recently I probably would not even had made the Pride and Prejudice reference.
When I did start really thinking about it, I realized Fitz is a common prefix, occurring more in surnames than first names. So when I started to research I was not surprised to find out that it actually means "son of" in old French (very old, tied to the Norman's). I think now, these Fitz names fit in perfectly with the "last name as first name" triend, and that Fitz fits with a lot of other rising names/nicknames, such as Max, Jax, Hank, Mac, Nico, Ash etc. The names also have the "double barrel" first name feel that is gaining popularity.
Now for the actual name ideas, not much to discuss in terms of meanings though!
Fitzwilliam - As I mentioned, inspired by Pride and Prejudice
Fitzwallace - Last name of a character in West Wing (which is why it was in my husbands head). I feel like this name does double duty as it yields two nicknames I like, both Fitz and Wally
Fitzpatrick - Put a little Irish Twist on it!
Fitzgerald - This would be the most recognizable version I think - F. Scott Fitzgerald being the most obvious reference, but there is also the Edmund Fitzgerald (famous shipwreck), or Ella Fitzgerald the singer.
Fitzroy - Unlike the previous names that have meanings like "son of Gerald", Fitzroy actually means son of royalty, or son of the king.
I could list many more. Fitz can be added to a prefix to almost any English name. A few others that stick out to me as phonetically pleasant are Fitzalan and Fitzharris.
Also, if you like Fitz, you might also consider the close phonetic match of Fritz, a traditional shortening of Frederick/Friedrich.
Would you consider the name of nickname Fitz, and if so, what would you want to put on the birth certificate?
We were walking the dog (and the baby in his stroller), and I was listing possible baby names. I mentioned the name Fitzwilliam, like from Pride and Prejudice (the name of the main love interest is Fitzwilliam Darcy, more commonly known in popular culture just as Mr. Darcy). Ten minutes later, my husband complained that I am always coming up with girls names, "except Fitzwallace or whatever." And yes, that is what got me thinking, what exactly does Fitz mean? I associate it with Fitz's Rootbeer in St Louis, Missouri (seriously, if you are ever driving through, go to their restaurant and get some, or even the grocery store). I think of it as a quirky nickname, but if you asked me for what name I could not have told you (until recently I probably would not even had made the Pride and Prejudice reference.
When I did start really thinking about it, I realized Fitz is a common prefix, occurring more in surnames than first names. So when I started to research I was not surprised to find out that it actually means "son of" in old French (very old, tied to the Norman's). I think now, these Fitz names fit in perfectly with the "last name as first name" triend, and that Fitz fits with a lot of other rising names/nicknames, such as Max, Jax, Hank, Mac, Nico, Ash etc. The names also have the "double barrel" first name feel that is gaining popularity.
Now for the actual name ideas, not much to discuss in terms of meanings though!
Fitzwilliam - As I mentioned, inspired by Pride and Prejudice
Fitzwallace - Last name of a character in West Wing (which is why it was in my husbands head). I feel like this name does double duty as it yields two nicknames I like, both Fitz and Wally
Fitzpatrick - Put a little Irish Twist on it!
Fitzgerald - This would be the most recognizable version I think - F. Scott Fitzgerald being the most obvious reference, but there is also the Edmund Fitzgerald (famous shipwreck), or Ella Fitzgerald the singer.
Fitzroy - Unlike the previous names that have meanings like "son of Gerald", Fitzroy actually means son of royalty, or son of the king.
I could list many more. Fitz can be added to a prefix to almost any English name. A few others that stick out to me as phonetically pleasant are Fitzalan and Fitzharris.
Also, if you like Fitz, you might also consider the close phonetic match of Fritz, a traditional shortening of Frederick/Friedrich.
Would you consider the name of nickname Fitz, and if so, what would you want to put on the birth certificate?
Sunday, November 11, 2012
How to Get Your Nickname: Dori
This is actually the nickname that inspired this series. I think the nickname Dori is adorable. It reminds me of the loveable Ellen DeGeneres character in Finding Nemo. It also reminds me of Dora the Explorer. In fact, pretty much any name that you can get the nickname Dori from also yields Dora. If I was spelling Dori for the birth certificate I might go with the slightly more substantial Dorrie, plus I am loving "ie" these days.
I am not sure if there is ONE name that is "traditionally" linked to Dori. A quick Google search indicates it is for Doris or Dorothy. (One site even said that it is short for Dora, which just makes NO sense at all). Here is what I came up with.
Dorothy - Your not in Kansas anymore! This name has some serious old school charm. I actually slightly prefer the variation Dorothea, which is the name of a great character in the book Middlemarch. It means "gift from god"- that is the same "thea" that you would find in words like theocracy or theology.
Theodora - Theodora hasn't been in the top 1000 names since 1954, but the masculine version, Theodore, has always been in the top 1000, though not above 100 since 1944. Theodore has shown some growth in popularity recently, I think largely because it yields the nickname Ted or Teddy. Anyways, Theodora is an anagram for Dorothea, and in fact is the exact same roots. (I have seen the recommendation that Theodore and Dorothea would make good twin names for this reason). While Dorothea is "gift from god", Theodora is simply "god's gift".
Isodora - A recent discovery for me! While this name has never cracked the top 1000, it still seems familiar, and a possible variation on the recent hit name Isabella. The name means "gift of Isis", an Egyptian god.
Nymphadora - Yes. Yes I did get this name out of Harry Potter. In fact, it is possible, that it is also this name that made me wonder "hey, how else could you get the nickname Dori? Because I like Dori but don't want Nymph in my daughters name...". The character named Nymphadora hates the name. I do think it is beautiful, and maybe playful to the right ear. It means "gift of the nymphs". Sensing a theme here? Per Wikipedia, a Nymph is a minor greek nature deity.
Pandora - I love the sound of this name, and the meaning - "all gifts". However, it has some strong associations that go along with it - the most obvious of which is the Eve-like story in which Pandora, as the first woman, releases evil on the world through her curiosity by opening a box. Due to this bit of mythology, the name gets used a lot in Science Fiction and Fantasy (for example, it is the name of planet in the uber-popular Avatar movie). But, after all, the name Eve still gets used despite the namesake, so I think the name is worth considering.
Dorianne - I am having some difficulty finding the roots or meaning of this name. In fact, a lot of sights do not recognize it at all. I think it probably would be considered a feminized version of the male 'Dorian' (a boys name I quite like). Dorian refers to a Greek region, literally meaning "descended from Doris". However, the name could also be concieved as a joining of Dori and Anne, in which case the meaning would be Gift of Grace... quite beautiful. And it has that "double barrel first name" feel some people really love. (The more common Dorris is also a female version of Dorian, and does indeed mean Descended from Doris).
Doreen - Another name whose roots are a bit hard to trace. Some sites say this just means Gift of God again, or is just a variation of Dora, but it also may be Irish/Gaelic origins, in which case it would actually mean "brooding". Possible spellings abound - Dorine, Doryne, etc.
I can't hit them all! A handful of other, a bit more exotic options:
Amadora (Italian, gift of love),
Salvadora (Spanish, Savior),
Pheodora/Fedora (A hat... but also, the Russian version of Theodora),
Madora (Greek, version of Medea, means "ruling"),
Eudora (Good Gift, Greek)
So, do you like the name Dorrie/Dori? Do you like any of the longer versions? I think Isadora is my favorite.
I am not sure if there is ONE name that is "traditionally" linked to Dori. A quick Google search indicates it is for Doris or Dorothy. (One site even said that it is short for Dora, which just makes NO sense at all). Here is what I came up with.
Dorothy - Your not in Kansas anymore! This name has some serious old school charm. I actually slightly prefer the variation Dorothea, which is the name of a great character in the book Middlemarch. It means "gift from god"- that is the same "thea" that you would find in words like theocracy or theology.
Theodora - Theodora hasn't been in the top 1000 names since 1954, but the masculine version, Theodore, has always been in the top 1000, though not above 100 since 1944. Theodore has shown some growth in popularity recently, I think largely because it yields the nickname Ted or Teddy. Anyways, Theodora is an anagram for Dorothea, and in fact is the exact same roots. (I have seen the recommendation that Theodore and Dorothea would make good twin names for this reason). While Dorothea is "gift from god", Theodora is simply "god's gift".
Isodora - A recent discovery for me! While this name has never cracked the top 1000, it still seems familiar, and a possible variation on the recent hit name Isabella. The name means "gift of Isis", an Egyptian god.
Nymphadora - Yes. Yes I did get this name out of Harry Potter. In fact, it is possible, that it is also this name that made me wonder "hey, how else could you get the nickname Dori? Because I like Dori but don't want Nymph in my daughters name...". The character named Nymphadora hates the name. I do think it is beautiful, and maybe playful to the right ear. It means "gift of the nymphs". Sensing a theme here? Per Wikipedia, a Nymph is a minor greek nature deity.
Pandora - I love the sound of this name, and the meaning - "all gifts". However, it has some strong associations that go along with it - the most obvious of which is the Eve-like story in which Pandora, as the first woman, releases evil on the world through her curiosity by opening a box. Due to this bit of mythology, the name gets used a lot in Science Fiction and Fantasy (for example, it is the name of planet in the uber-popular Avatar movie). But, after all, the name Eve still gets used despite the namesake, so I think the name is worth considering.
Dorianne - I am having some difficulty finding the roots or meaning of this name. In fact, a lot of sights do not recognize it at all. I think it probably would be considered a feminized version of the male 'Dorian' (a boys name I quite like). Dorian refers to a Greek region, literally meaning "descended from Doris". However, the name could also be concieved as a joining of Dori and Anne, in which case the meaning would be Gift of Grace... quite beautiful. And it has that "double barrel first name" feel some people really love. (The more common Dorris is also a female version of Dorian, and does indeed mean Descended from Doris).
Doreen - Another name whose roots are a bit hard to trace. Some sites say this just means Gift of God again, or is just a variation of Dora, but it also may be Irish/Gaelic origins, in which case it would actually mean "brooding". Possible spellings abound - Dorine, Doryne, etc.
I can't hit them all! A handful of other, a bit more exotic options:
Amadora (Italian, gift of love),
Salvadora (Spanish, Savior),
Pheodora/Fedora (A hat... but also, the Russian version of Theodora),
Madora (Greek, version of Medea, means "ruling"),
Eudora (Good Gift, Greek)
So, do you like the name Dorrie/Dori? Do you like any of the longer versions? I think Isadora is my favorite.
Friday, November 9, 2012
How to Get Your Nickname!
One of the modern debates or points of contention in baby naming these days is whether nicknames should be given as the full name. If you plan to call a little girl Lizzie, do you need to name her Elizabeth, or can you just write Lizzie on the birth certificate? If you want to call your boy Hank, do you need to name him Henry? Obviously, we are here in America where the government does not regulate baby names, so parents are free to do what they want. That does not stop people from judging one another for taking one path for another! What are the two sides to the argument, and where do I stand?
Keep it Simple! - The main argument for using what are traditionally "nicknames" as full names is that it keeps things straight forward. Little Lizzie does not have to tell the teacher at the start of every year "Oh, I go by Lizzie" when they do roll call. Hank's friends won't be confused when he walks across the graduation stage. His diploma will read Hank. There is no chance (or at least drastically reduced chance) of unwanted nicknames. ("We are naming her Patricia, nickname Tricia, I HATE the name Patty.") The shorter name will simplify paperwork and unify his identity into one piece of clear purpose.
Allow for Growth! - The main argument for using a full length or traditional name on the birth certificate, even when you intend to shorten it immediately for day to day use, really takes two varieties. For some, it is straight up tradition. Little Lizzie might spend as much time explaining she IS NOT Elizabeth, as Elizabeth nicknamed Lizzie spends giving people the nickname. For others, it is about allowing for Growth and multipurpose usage. A name gets a lot of wear and tear in a lifetime, and the traditional longer form gives a child more options as they grow. Lizzie as a child can become the sharper "Beth" in high school, be known as Elizabeth in the professional setting, and become grandma Betty in old age. The longer name is meant to give the opportunity for formality and flexibility of identity.
Where do I stand? I see the strength of both arguments. I am a Nameaholic. In order to be a nameaholic, you have to love ALL SORTS of names (a point I am sure to return to). Otherwise, you would run out of things to think and talk about rather quickly! And, when it comes to names, I am pretty non-judgmental (another point likely to make frequent reappearance.) That said, of course I have a personal opinion! For the vast majority of names, I would choose the longer form for my own child. I don't particularly think that a child is likely to change their nickname several times throughout life, but I like the flow of longer full names, and the opportunity for formality. But, that is my own choice! It does not mean I think that there is anything at all wrong with choosing to give a child a shortened version of a name! Sometimes the longer name just DOES NOT work, even if you love the shorter name.
With that in mind, I am starting a series. How to get Your Nickname! Its targeted at people who love a nickname, but do want to use a more formal given name. It might hit up a bit on spelling options for the shorter version, for those of you who like to use the shorter version as the given name. Each post in this series will focus on one nickname, and discuss what longer names you could give your child to justify the nickname. I will start in a couple of days and just mix them in with other things I want to post. Hope you guys like the idea!!
Keep it Simple! - The main argument for using what are traditionally "nicknames" as full names is that it keeps things straight forward. Little Lizzie does not have to tell the teacher at the start of every year "Oh, I go by Lizzie" when they do roll call. Hank's friends won't be confused when he walks across the graduation stage. His diploma will read Hank. There is no chance (or at least drastically reduced chance) of unwanted nicknames. ("We are naming her Patricia, nickname Tricia, I HATE the name Patty.") The shorter name will simplify paperwork and unify his identity into one piece of clear purpose.
Allow for Growth! - The main argument for using a full length or traditional name on the birth certificate, even when you intend to shorten it immediately for day to day use, really takes two varieties. For some, it is straight up tradition. Little Lizzie might spend as much time explaining she IS NOT Elizabeth, as Elizabeth nicknamed Lizzie spends giving people the nickname. For others, it is about allowing for Growth and multipurpose usage. A name gets a lot of wear and tear in a lifetime, and the traditional longer form gives a child more options as they grow. Lizzie as a child can become the sharper "Beth" in high school, be known as Elizabeth in the professional setting, and become grandma Betty in old age. The longer name is meant to give the opportunity for formality and flexibility of identity.
Where do I stand? I see the strength of both arguments. I am a Nameaholic. In order to be a nameaholic, you have to love ALL SORTS of names (a point I am sure to return to). Otherwise, you would run out of things to think and talk about rather quickly! And, when it comes to names, I am pretty non-judgmental (another point likely to make frequent reappearance.) That said, of course I have a personal opinion! For the vast majority of names, I would choose the longer form for my own child. I don't particularly think that a child is likely to change their nickname several times throughout life, but I like the flow of longer full names, and the opportunity for formality. But, that is my own choice! It does not mean I think that there is anything at all wrong with choosing to give a child a shortened version of a name! Sometimes the longer name just DOES NOT work, even if you love the shorter name.
With that in mind, I am starting a series. How to get Your Nickname! Its targeted at people who love a nickname, but do want to use a more formal given name. It might hit up a bit on spelling options for the shorter version, for those of you who like to use the shorter version as the given name. Each post in this series will focus on one nickname, and discuss what longer names you could give your child to justify the nickname. I will start in a couple of days and just mix them in with other things I want to post. Hope you guys like the idea!!
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