Name of the Week

 

A quirky nature name with a sprightly sound and grown-up appeal.

  

Origin:

Juniper comes from the plant's genus name Juniperus. It has been suggested that it is related to the Latin iuncus "reed." Another theory, supported by W. Skeat*, suggests that it is derived from the Latin iuuenis "young" and parere "to produce, to appear," (lit. evergreen) however, this is disputed. The term "gin" derives from juniper as a shortening of the Dutch juniper-flavoured drink Jenever, which was taken from the Dutch name for the plant - geneva. There are further sound-alike links with Gin- and Gen- names through the French translation genévrier, and the Italian ginepro. In fact, Da Vinci used the juniper in his painting Ginevra de Benci as a play on the similar sound of Ginevra and ginepro.  As with most plants, the Juniper has been used symbolically to represent certain virtues over time. During the Renaissance, juniper was used in art to represent chastity. In Victorian floriography juniper represents succour and protection, perhaps relating back to the Bible in which the juniper tree provided protection for Elijah.*

Usage:

The name Juniper has had some, although rare, usage through time, and has remained quite gender neutral. It is only in the last decade that it has began to be seen in as more of a feminine name.  One of the followers of St Francis of Assisi in the 13th century, Saint Juniper (or San Ginepro in Italian), was known for his patience and generosity and is sometimes known as the Saint of Comedy.  In Britain the name has been used rarely and more often as a middle name or a surname than a first name. The Marriage Index between 1838 and 1900 lists 8 people with the first name Juniper: three women in Cornwall, and five men in Norfolk. The Cornwall connection is more likely due to an old spelling of the Cornish name Jennifer, in the form of Junifer and Junipher.*  Since the 1990s the name is picking up more in usage, mostly for girls.  In 2010 the name ranked #3533 with 6 births in England and Wales.

Famous Bearers:

History: * St Juniper (d. 1258) was a follower of Saint Francis of Assisi.  * Blessed Fray Junípero Serra (1713–1784), born Miguel Jose Serra Ferrer, was a Franciscan missionary who took the name Junipero in honour of St Juniper.  Literature and the Arts: * Juniper Shuey is a visual artist known for his sculptural performances. * Juniper Sage is the pen-name of author Margaret Wise Brown. * Brother Juniper is the main character in Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey. * Juniper Beatrice "Junie B" Jones, the title character in the Junie B. Jones children's books. * Juniper "Joon" Pearl, played by Mary Stuart Masterson, is a character in 1993 film Benny and Joon.  Other: * Juniper Green is a village in Scotland.   * Jennifer Juniper is a song by Donovan, released in 1968.

Variants:

Genévrier (French) Geneva (Dutch) Ginepro (Italian) Zimbro (Portuguese) Enebro (Spanish) Kataja (Finnish)

Pronunciation:

JOO-nip-ə (UK) [key]

Diminutives:

Ginny, Jenna, Jenny, June, Junie, Juno, Nuna

Sibling Names:

Romola     Lucina     Willa     Genevieve     Fenella    Azelie  Angus     Rupert     Hugo      Barnaby      Maxim      Alban

Name Lists:

Funky-Clunky   Butterflies

If you like Juniper you may also like:   Jessamine, Genoveva, Jocasta, Perdita, Ginevra, Cordelia, Rosalind, Vivienne, Hermione, Peony