Danielle and her husband are expecting their second child soon; a sister for their daughter Rheya.
Danielle writes: "We loved (and still love) that [Rheya] is rarely heard, but with strong, historic roots as well as a name that is unlikely to be abbreviated and works on a little girl but you can also imagine she will say with confidence interviewing for a job one day. Neither of us is into new, made up or last name turned first name style names.
So far, we have:
Fiana - it ticks all our boxes and we both like it and definitely considering as a first or middle name, but we'd pronounce it like Fiona but with an "a", which is butchering the accurate Irish pronunciation as far as we are aware, and I'm also slightly concerned about the "warrior"/political meaning...
Elowen - really liked it originally, but all I can hear now is L.O.N. So going off it.
We would like to avoid 2-syllable names ending in -a as to not to be too similar to Rheya... Which rules out Isla and Nola, which we both liked but eventually dropped for Rheya when we picked for our first born."
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I think both Fiana and Elowen are great options as a sister for Rheya. With regards to the 'L.O.N' sound, it isn't so prominent when said with the correct Cornish pronunciation (el-OW-en) which may help you love it again. That said, here are some other suggestions which I think match your style:
Lowen / Lowenna – If Elowen is not quite right, how about similar Cornish name Lowen (LOW-en) which means "happy, joyful." It is used as a unisex name in Cornwall, while variant Lowenna/Lowena "happiness, joy" is used as a feminine name.
Parisa – Pretty Parisa is a Persian name meaning "fairy-like." In ancient Persian mythology, the Pari (or Peri) were beautiful and benevolent winged fairies.
Kennera – The name of a 4th century Scottish martyr who is now considered a saint and gave her name to Kirkinner. Of a similar ilke (and possibly from the same source -- Irish cain "beautiful") is Kinnia, the name of a 5th century Irish woman, baptised by St Patrick, who is also considered a saint.
Thessaly – India, Isla, Florence, Skye, Lydia, Sienna, so many place names provide perfect inspiration for names with style and history. One of my favourites is Thessaly, an ancient region of Ancient Greece, homeland of the mythological heroes Achilles and Jason.
Briar / Bryher – Feminine but not frilly nature name, Briar is in the sweet spot of "known but little used."Even rarer is homophone Bryher, the name of one of the islands of the Isles of Scilly which is used as a feminine name in Cornwall and Devon.
Cliona – Similar to Fiana is Irish Cliona (or Cliodhna), goddess of love and beauty in ancient mythology.
Betsan – A quirky and stylish Welsh diminutive of Elizabeth. As accessible as sister Bethan but much less common.
Kezia – A sweet Hebrew name meaning "cassia spice," which was born by one of the beautiful daughters of Job in the Bible.
Taryn – A modern name with ancient Celtic roots that feels fresh and spunky.
Amora – From the Latin amor "love," Amora is an underused gem that fits nicely with fashionable favourites Amelia, Ava and Orla.
Zelie – A sleek and chic French diminutive of Azelie, the French form of the floral Azalia.
Sephora – The Biblical Greek form of the Hebrew Zipporah meaning "bird." For alternative spellings you could also use the Latin Seffora or Scandinavian Sefora.
Peony – Another uncommon nature name that is feminine without being too frilly.
Marigo – A Greek diminutive form of Maria, which is a spunkier and quirkier twist on Marigold and Margot, yet still sharing the same bold style.
Merryn / Mirren – Merryn is a Cornish saint's name, turned place name, turned girls' name. Similar Mirren (or Merren) is a slick Scottish form of Miriam.
Celyn – A fresh twist on Holly is the Welsh cognate Celyn. It's used as a unisex name, but is currently more common for girls.
Kyria – A bold but ladylike choice meaning "lady" in Greek.
Maelie – This variant of the Breton name Maelys, is found in Francebut little known this side of the channel, despite how accessible it is.
Sidonie – Sidonie is the French and Sidony is the English feminine counterparts to the latin Sidonius.
Viera – A stylish Slavic name, pronounced vee-AIR-a, meaning "faith,"
I hope this has been useful. Best wishes with the name choosing. Please keep us updated.
'Twas Ever Thus: Victorian Hero Names
The following article appeared in the Dundee Evening Telegraph on Thursday 11 June, 1885, concerning the use of hero-names for Victorian children.
During the Russian war Raglan and Arnand (sic) became numbered among English Christian names ; so did Garibaldi at the times of that hero's prominence. When the struggle was going on at Plevna, Osman was often given to our children ; and Suleiman appeared as a British praenomen about the same time.
Later still the appellations of Sir Garnet and sometimes Garnet Wolseley have commemorated in the the registers the prowess of the living British General. But neither is the heroism of the past entirely forgotten in naming, for the writer has met with the registered appellations Alcibiades, Julius Caesar, Boadicea, William the Conqueror, Richard Coeur de Lion, Peter the Great &c. ~
The desired qualities may have been exhibited in the lives of religious characters, and here, perhaps, the past is more resorted to that the present. The following may all be found in English registers of recent years : — Simon Peter, Jos. Arimathaea, Tabitha, Cyprian, Martin Luther, Melancthon, John Bunyan, Selwyn, and Morley Punshon. Luther has been a good deal used in England since the recent four hundredth anniversary of the reformer's birth.
Dundee Evening Telegraph
11 June 1885
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Raglan
For FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (pictured) who was commander of the British troops sent to the Crimea in 1854. The name was first registered in England and Wales in the fourth quarter of 1854 when it was given to five children. This most likely followed the Battle of Balaclava in October 1854. The following year fourteen children were registered, and the name continued to be used intermittently up until 1971.
Arnand
This is seemingly a spelling mistake or typing-error. It is most likely meant to be Arnaud for General Jacques St. Arnaud, the French colleague of Lord Raglan with whom he jointly commanded an Anglo-French force in the Crimean war. St Arnaud died shortly after commanding at the Battle of the Alma in September 1854. Arnaud (and spelling variants Arnand, Arnauld and Arnard) were -- like Raglan -- first registered in the fourth quarter of 1854. One girl was even named Arnauda Isabella.
Osman
Osman Pasha was an Ottoman field marshal and the hero of the Siege of Plevna in 1877. Though Osman had been registered occasionally before this date (averaging one registration per year), in 1877 alone 27 children were given the name, followed by 90 children in 1878. Many were boys but there was at least one girl (Osman Clara). Others were named Osman Plevna, Osman Pasha or Osman Sulieman.
Sir Garnet / Garnet Wolseley
Named for Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley who is considered one of the most influential and admired British generals having served in Burma, the Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny, China, Canada and widely throughout Africa. Two boys were named Sir Garnet in 1883. Garnet Wolseley was registered 31 times from 1874 to 1900 with the peak year in 1882.
Posted at 07:54 PM in Historical Name Commentary, Namesakes | Permalink | Comments (1)
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