a rose by any other name…

[names4u]

Welcome to names4u. I’m Algernon (he/him) and this is my blog dedicated to studying and documenting names with a focus on unique and historical names, exploring historical naming trends and etymology. To support what I do, please donate to my Ko-Fi.

I provide free naming consultations and will try to research the etymological origins and meaning of a name upon suggestion. I cannot promise I will get through all requests but I will try.

[Masculine Names.]

[Feminine Names.]

[Unisex Names.]

DISCLAIMER: Many of these names are sourced from real American historical documents, therefore they may be anglicized or misspelled versions of previously existing names. I’m just one guy with a hobby so I occasionally make mistakes in regard to etymological origin, feel free to correct those in the notes.

[names4u]

Hi! Now I might be extremely wrong and no actual proof, other than them sounding alike and the timeline of Danish settlers lining up, but Myrten might be an anglicised version of the Danish Morten(first recorded in 14th century), which is the Dane version of Martin. Where did you find that one?

I first noticed it given to a baby boy born in Ohio in 1888 but upon further research, it was a not completely uncommon boy name in the later half of the 19th century and I’ve seen it given to several boys born between 1869 and 1907. I don’t know if it had Danish linguistic origins or if it was just a creative spelling of Martin for the parents.

[names4u]

i just want to thank you for this amazing work!

Truly my pleasure. I do it because I love it. And if I can save even one baby from being named something like Brieightleigh Nevaeh, it will all be worth it.

[names4u]

Amice

gender: feminine.

forename or surname: forename.

meaning: friend or beloved.

linguistic origin: English name of French origin, probably emerged around the time of the Norman Conquest.

where I came across it: listed as the name of the abbess of a convent in England in 1264.

[names4u]

Xenophone

gender: unisex, mainly masculine.

forename or surname: forename.

variations: Xenophon.

nicknames: hell if I know. Phoney? Xeno?

meaning: strange voice. from xenos meaning foreign or strange and phone meaning voice.

linguistic origin: Ancient Greek.

where I came across it: given to a baby boy born in Texas in 1881.

additional notes: Xenophon of Athens was a Greek military leader and philosopher who lived between 430 BC and 354 BC. This name saw a small resurgence with the ancient name trend of the late 19th century.

[names4u]

Pinky

gender: unisex, more often feminine.

forename or surname: forename.

variations: Pinkie, Pinki.

nicknames: can be a diminutive of Patricia.

meaning: little pink one.

linguistic origin: English, unknown time period, in use by the late 18th century.

where I saw it: given to a baby girl born in Texas in 1879.

[names4u]

Algernon

gender: masculine.

forename or surname: forename, occasionally a surname.

variations: Algernone.

nicknames: Al, Algy, Algie.

meaning: with moustache.

linguistic origin: medieval Norman-French.

where I saw it: Oscar Wilde’s 1885 play, The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People.