A Cast of Names Both Old and New
Grayer is an English surname of uncertain meaning and origin. It could be an anglicized form of Grauer, a German surname meaning "gray", originally starting out as a nickname for someone who had gray hair or a gray beard. The etymology of the name comes from German grau (gray) derived from Proto-Germanic *grēwaz (gray). Grayer may also have arisen as… Continue reading Grayer
Byron is an English surname derived from a place name meaning "place of the cow sheds", either a locational name or an occupational name for someone who herded cows. It derives from Old English byrum via PIE root word. Origin: Proto-Indo-European Variants: Byrom (English)
Hawk refers to a group of predatory virds in the Accipitridae family. The name comes from Middle English hauk via Old English hafoc (hawk) from Proto-Germanic *habukaz (hawk) which seems to be derived from PIE root word *keh₂p- (to seize, to grab). As an English verb it's also used to refer to wares that are being peddled or advertised for sales. Hawk is also… Continue reading Hawk
Marlon is an English male given name of unknown meaning. It may have originated as a variant spelling of Marland, an English surname derived from a place name meaning "land by lake" or "land by the sea" from English elements mere (lake, pool; sea, ocean) via a PIE root word; and land (land) also derived from a PIE root word.… Continue reading Marlon
Rigel is the name of a blue supergiant star in the Orion constellaton. The name comes from Arabic rijl meaning "foot, leg" from Rijl Jauzah al Yusra "the left leg of Jauzah", (Jauzah being the Arabic name of Orion from Greek mythology) though it's also been called rijl al-gabbar (leg of the great one) also spelled Algebar and Elgebar in English. Rigel is also a surname though… Continue reading Rigel
Lavender is the name of a group of light purple flowers in the genus Lavandula. The etymology behind the name is uncertain though it could be derived from Latin lividus meaning "bluish; envious" and the spelling was altered to resemble French lavare (to wash, bathe). Lavender is also an English and Dutch surname, originally an occupational name for a washerman or… Continue reading Lavender
Archer comes from an English surname originally an occupational name for an archer or bowman which comes from Old French archier (archer) via Latin arcuarius (bow) via arcus (bow; arc) derived from a PIE root word. Nicknames: Archie, Arch Origin: Proto-Indo-European
Mercy is a virtue name referring to someone who is compassionate, forgiving, and kind towards another person. It derives from Latin mercēs meaning "pay, wages, reward" via merx (merchandise, commodity; goods) which could be derived from Proto-Italic *merk- via a Etruscan source referring to various aspects of economics; or it could be derived from PIE *merĝ- (boundary, border). Mercy is overwhelming used as… Continue reading Mercy
Gable comes from an English surname of uncertain origin and meaning: It's been linked to Old Norse gafl meaning "gable", which referred to a triangular-shaped hill or it may even be a variant spelling of Gabel, a German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) occupational name for a maker or seller of forks, such as agricultural equipment like hayforks; it's also… Continue reading Gable
Dove is the name of a bird hat symbolizes peace and innocence. It comes from Old English *dūfe (dove; pigeon) from Proto-Germanic *dūbǭ. It may be derived from a PIE root word either relating to a word meaning "dive" in reference to its flight or from PIE *dʰewbʰ- (to whisk; smoke; make obscure). Dove is also the past tense of dive meaning… Continue reading Dove
Pearl refers to a smooth rounded bead produced within the shell of a mollusk. This happens when a microscopic object becomes trapped within the mollusk. Natural pearls that occur without human intervention are very rare, making them very valuable. The name comes from Old French perle from Latin perla from perula meaning "little bag" derived from Ancient Greek pḗra (bag, satchel, wallet). It… Continue reading Pearl
Camber is the name of the legendary first king of Cambria, which is the Latin name for Wales. The name comes from Welsh Cymro, the plural form of Cymry meaning "Welshman" or "compatriot" from Proto-Brythonic *kumroɣ. Camber is also a word that refers to a slight upward curve or arch of a surface. The origin of that word comes from Old… Continue reading Camber
Chandler derives from an English surname, originally an occupational name for someone who was a maker or seller of candles, or someone who worked in a large household who was responsible for all the wax and candles, as well as soap. The name comes from Old French chandelier via Latin candelarius from candela (candle) from candere (to shine, glitter, glow) from PIE *kand- (to… Continue reading Chandler
Paget comes from an English surname, a diminutive of Page which means "servant, page" from French page from Late Latin pagius (servant) deriving from Ancient Greek paidíon (young child) from paîs (child, son, daughter) via a Proto-Indo-European source. Paget was originally an occupational surname for a young male servant who worked in a noble's house. Origin: Proto-Indo-European Variants: Padgette (English)- unisex Pagette (English)- unisex Pagett… Continue reading Paget
Fletcher is an English surname, an occupational surname referring to someone who made arrows. It comes from Old French fleche meaning "arrow" derived from Frankish *fliukkija (arrow) via Proto-Indo-European *plew- (to fly, flow); combined with the suffix -er. Nicknames: Fletch Origin: Proto-Indo-European
Senna is the name of a genus of flowering plants. The etymology derives from Arabic senna (سنا) which may be derived from ṣanʿā meaning "splendor, radiance, brilliance". Senna is also a surname with various possible meanings and origins: it could be derived from a habitional name for someone who lived near a place where senna grew or perhaps derived… Continue reading Senna
Howard comes from an English surname with several possible sources: it may be derived from Anglo-Norman Huard from Germanic name Hughard meaning "brave heart" from hug (heart, mind) and hard (brave, hardy); it may also be derived from Anglo-Scandinavian Haward derived from Old Norse Hávarðr meaning "high guardian" or "high defender" from Old Norse elements há (high) and varðr (guardian, defender); it may also be derived from Middle English ewehirde meaning "ewe… Continue reading Howard
Hajar is the Arabic form of Hagar, a female name of uncertain meaning and origin. It's been linked to Hebrew meaning "to flee" and "flight", or perhaps meaning "to drag away" or "stranger, foreigner". Hagar was the Egyptian handmaid of Sarah and the mother of Ishmael by Abraham. Hajar is also an Arabic word meaning "to emigrate" as well as also resembling… Continue reading Hajar
Bloom conjures up images of blooming flowers, something in the process of opening up and blossoming. It comes from Middle Low German blōme (to bloom, flower, blossom) from Proto-Germanic *blōmô (flower) which ultimately derives from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃- (to bloom, to flower, to thrive). As a word it's also used to refer to someone in the 'bloom' of youth, someone who's flourishing… Continue reading Bloom
Spencer comes from an English surname, an occupational name for someone who was in charge of dispensing provisions in a rich or a royal household, so essentially meaning "butler" or "steward". The name comes from Middle English spence meaning "larder" from Old French despense (to dispense, to distribute) from Latin dispendere (to spend) from the Latin prefix dis- (apart, two, asunder) from Proto-Indo-European *dwís (twice,… Continue reading Spencer
