The origin of your name

For first names: http://www.behindthename.com/

Laurie:

LAURIE

Gender: Feminine & Masculine

Usage: English

Pronounced: LAWR-ee [key]
Diminutive of LAURA or LAURENCE (1)

So.... Laura:

LAURA

Gender: Feminine

Usage: English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Finnish, Estonian, Hungarian, Polish, Slovene, Scandinavian, German, Dutch, Late Roman

Pronounced: LAWR-ə (English), LOW-rah (Spanish, Italian, Polish, German, Dutch) [key]
Feminine form of the Late Latin name Laurus, which meant "laurel". This meaning was favourable, since in ancient Rome the leaves of laurel trees were used to create victors' garlands. The name was borne by the 9th-century Spanish martyr Saint Laura, who was a nun thrown into a vat of molten lead by the Moors. It was also the name of the subject of poems by the 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch.

As an English name, Laura has been used since the 13th century. A famous bearer was Laura Secord (1775-1868), a Canadian heroine during the War of 1812.

Though I liked Laurence better!

From the Roman cognomen Laurentius, which meant "from Laurentum". Laurentum was a city in ancient Italy, its name probably deriving from Latin laurus "laurel". Saint Laurence was a 3rd-century deacon and martyr from Rome. According to tradition he was roasted alive on a gridiron because, when ordered to hand over the church's treasures, he presented the sick and poor.

mine is pretty boring

MARIYA

Gender: Feminine

Usage: Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian

Other Scripts: Мария (Russian, Bulgarian), Марія (Ukrainian)

Pronounced: mah-REE-yah (Russian) [key]
Russian, Ukrainian and Bulgarian form of MARIA


Soooo then I search Maria
MARIA

Gender: Feminine & Masculine

Usage: Italian, Portuguese, Catalan, German, Scandinavian, Dutch, Frisian, Greek, Polish, Romanian, English, Finnish, Icelandic, Corsican, Basque, Biblical Greek, Biblical Latin, Old Church Slavic

Other Scripts: Μαρια (Greek), Маріа (Church Slavic)

Pronounced: mah-REE-ah (Italian, German, Dutch), MAHR-yah (Polish), mə-REE-ə (English) [key]
Latin form of Greek Μαρια, from Hebrew מִרְיָם (see MARY). Maria is the usual form of the name in many European languages, as well as a secondary form in other languages such as English (where the common spelling is Mary). In some countries, for example Germany, Poland and Italy, Maria is occasionally used as a masculine middle name.

This was the name of two ruling queens of Portugal. It was also borne by the Habsburg queen Maria Theresa (1717-1780), whose inheritance of the domains of her father, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, began the War of the Austrian Succession.

Mine is pretty straight forward - I knew it was originally french and it meant beloved. Even the original derivatives meant beloved.

AMY

Gender: Feminine

Usage: English

Pronounced: AY-mee [key]
English form of the Old French name AmÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]e meaning "beloved" (modern French aimÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]e), a vernacular form of the Latin Amata. As an English name, it was in use in the Middle Ages (though not common) and was revived in the 19th century.

AMATA

Gender: Feminine

Usage: Late Roman
Feminine form of AMATUS


AMATUS

Gender: Masculine

Usage: Late Roman
Late Latin name meaning "beloved". The 7th-century Saint Amatus was the first abbot of Remiremont Abbey.

SAMANTHA

Gender: Feminine Usage: English, Italian, Dutch Pronounced: sə-MAN-thə (English) [key]

Perhaps intended to be a feminine form of SAMUEL, using the popular name suffix antha. It originated in America in the 18th century but was fairly uncommon until 1964, when it was popularized by the main character on the television show 'Bewitched'.


and Samuel

From the Hebrew name שְׁמוּאֵל (Shemu'el) which could mean either "name of God" or "God has heard". Samuel was the last of the ruling judges in the Old Testament. He anointed Saul to be the first king of Israel, and later anointed David. As a Christian name, Samuel came into common use after the Protestant Reformation. Famous bearers include American inventor Samuel Morse (1791-1872), Irish writer Samuel Beckett (1906-1989), and American author Samuel Clemens (1835-1910), who wrote under the pen name Mark Twain.

Of course all taken from this website - http://www.behindthename.com/name/samuel

My name reached it's peak popularity in 1990, when I was born

LINDA

Gender: Feminine

Usage: English, Dutch, German, Scandinavian, Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Bulgarian

Other Scripts: Линда (Bulgarian)

Pronounced: LIN-də (English) [key]
Originally a medieval short form of Germanic names containing the element linde meaning "soft, tender". It also coincides with the Spanish word linda meaning "beautiful".

The popularity can be found at this link:

http://www.behindthename.com/top/sea...=p&gender=both

I'm finding this so interesting!

Here is DH.

GARY

Gender: Masculine

Usage: English

Pronounced: GER-ee, GAR-ee [key]
From an English surname which was derived from a Norman given name, which was itself originally a short form of names beginning with the Germanic element ger, gar meaning "spear". This name was popularized in the late 1920s the American actor Gary Cooper (1901-1961), who took his stage name from the city of Gary in Indiana where his agent was born.

(Though actually his parents named him after the golfer, Gary Player)

Oh - Gary says it has a Hebrew derivation.... Gershon.

GERSHON

Gender: Masculine

Usage: Biblical, Biblical Hebrew

Other Scripts: גֵּרְשׁוֹן (Ancient Hebrew)

Pronounced: GUR-shahn (English) [key]
Variant of GERSHOM. This was the name of a son of Levi in the Old Testament.

So look up Gershom and get...

Gender: Masculine

Usage: Biblical, Biblical Hebrew

Other Scripts: גֵּרְשֹׁם (Ancient Hebrew)

Pronounced: GUR-shahm (English) [key]
Probably means "exile" in Hebrew, though the Bible explains that it derives from גֵּר שָׁם (ger sham) meaning "a stranger there". This was the name of a son of Moses in the Old Testament.

I also searched all of my family's names
The one I found most interesting was Philip, apparently it means "friend of horses" in Greek !!! I really want to name my future kid after my uncle Philip now
I wonder if there is a name for "friend of cats" that sounds normal enough for me to be able to use ....

CHRISTINA
Gender: Feminine

Usage: English, German, Scandinavian, Dutch

Pronounced: kris-TEEN-ə (English), kris-TEE-nah (German, Dutch) [key]

From Christiana, the Latin feminine form of CHRISTIAN. This was the name of an early, possibly legendary, saint who was tormented by her pagan father. It was also borne by a 17th-century Swedish queen and patron the arts who gave up her crown in order to become a Roman Catholic.

interesting...

KARA

Gender: Feminine

Usage: English
Variant of CARA. It can also be a diminutive of KATHERINE or KAROLINE.

KAROLINE

Gender: Feminine

Usage: German, Danish, Norwegian

Pronounced: kah-ro-LEE-nə (German) [key]
Feminine form of CAROLUS

CAROLUS

Gender: Masculine

Usage: Ancient Germanic (Latinized)
Latin form of CHARLES

CHARLES

Gender: Masculine

Usage: English, French

Pronounced: CHAHR-əlz (English), SHARL (French) [key]
From the Germanic name Karl, which was derived from a Germanic word which meant "man". However, an alternative theory states that it is derived from the common Germanic element hari meaning "army, warrior".

The popularity of the name in continental Europe was due to the fame of Charles the Great (742-814), commonly known as Charlemagne, a king of the Franks who came to rule over most of Europe. It was subsequently borne by several Holy Roman Emperors, as well as kings of France, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and Hungary. The name did not become common in Britain until the 17th century when it was carried by the Stuart king Charles I. It had been introduced into the Stuart royal family by Mary Queen of Scots, who had been raised in France.

Famous bearers of the name include naturalist Charles Darwin (1809-1882) who revolutionized biology with his theory of evolution, novelist Charles Dickens (1812-1870) who wrote such works as 'Great Expectations' and 'A Tale of Two Cities', French statesman Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970), and American cartoonist Charles Schulz (1922-2000), the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip.

I also did the diminutive of Katherine:

KATHERINE

Gender: Feminine

Usage: English

Pronounced: KATH-ə-rin, KATH-rin [key]
From the Greek name Αικατερινη (Aikaterine). The etymology is debated: it could derive from the earlier Greek name ‘Εκατερινη (Hekaterine), which came from ‘εκατερος (hekateros) "each of the two"; it could derive from the name of the goddess HECATE; it could be related to Greek αικια (aikia) "torture"; or it could be from a Coptic name meaning "my consecration of your name". In the early Christian era it became associated with Greek καθαρος (katharos) "pure", and the Latin spelling was changed from Katerina to Katharina to reflect this.

The name was borne a semi-legendary 4th-century saint and martyr from Alexandria who was tortured on a spiked wheel. The saint was initially venerated in Syria, and the name was introduced to Western Europe by returning crusaders. It has been common in England since the 12th century in many different spellings, with Katherine and Catherine becoming standard in the later Middle Ages.

Famous bearers of the name include Catherine of Siena, a 14th-century mystic, and Catherine de' Medici, a 16th-century French queen. It was also borne by three of Henry VIII's wives, including Katherine of Aragon, and by two empresses of Russia, including Catherine the Great.

This is cool Laurie!...

I told you once TCS and I repeat it again...I´m a Star!..


RIGEL
Gender: Masculine

Usage: Astronomy

Derived from Arabic الرجل (al-Rijl) meaning "foot". This is the name of the star that forms the left foot of the constellation Orion.

Now is the turn of DW!...
She´s with one M, so this is the more close similitude....


GEMMA
Gender: Feminine

Usage: Italian, English (British)

Pronounced: JEM-ə (English) [key]

Medieval Italian nickname meaning "gem, precious stone". It was borne by the 13th-century wife of the Italian poet Dante Alighieri.

PAMELA


Gender: Feminine

Usage: English Pronounced: PAM-ə-lə [key]


This name was invented in the late 16th century by the poet Sir Philip Sidney for use in his poem 'Arcadia'. He possibly intended it to mean "all sweetness" from Greek παν (pan) "all" and μελι (meli) "honey". It was later employed by author Samuel Richardson for the heroine in his novel 'Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded' (1740), after which time it became used as a given name. It did not become popular until the 20th century.

Hmm, 'tis fairly boring:

KRISTAL
Gender: Feminine

Usage: English

Pronounced: KRIS-təl [key]

Variant of CRYSTAL

CRYSTAL
Gender: Feminine

Usage: English

Pronounced: KRIS-təl [key]

From the English word crystal for the clear, colourless glass, sometimes cut into the shape of a gemstone. The English word derives ultimately from Greek κρυσταλλος (krystallos) meaning "ice". It has been in use as a given name since the 19th century.

My name, MEDA, wasn't listed. My dad told me he made it up but I found it at this website, http://www.babynameaddicts.com/

Meda Native American: Priestess

Click to expand...

NATALIE
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French, English, German
Pronounced: nat-a-LEE (French), NAD-ə-lee (English), NAH-tah-lee (German) [key]
From the Late Latin name Natalia, which meant "Christmas Day" from Latin natale domini. This was the name of the wife of the 4th-century martyr Saint Adrian of Nicomedia. She is venerated as a saint in the Orthodox Church, and the name has traditionally been more common among Eastern Christians than those in the West. It was popularized in America by actress Natalie Wood (1938-1981), who was born to Russian immigrants.


I was supposed to be born closer to Christmas (I held out until Jan 4th), so the parental units gave me a somewhat Christmas related name.

LISA

Gender: Feminine

Usage: English, German, Dutch, Scandinavian, Italian

Pronounced: LEE-sə (English), LEE-zah (German) [key]
Short form of ELIZABETH, ELISABETH, ELISABET or ELISABETTA. This is the name of the subject of one of the world's most famous paintings, the 'Mona Lisa', the portrait of Lisa del Giocondo by Leonardo da Vinci.

Mine is lame.

PAMELA
Gender: Feminine

Usage: English

Pronounced: PAM-ə-lə [key]

This name was invented in the late 16th century by the poet Sir Philip Sidney for use in his poem 'Arcadia'. He possibly intended it to mean "all sweetness" from Greek παν (pan) "all" and μελι (meli) "honey". It was later employed by author Samuel Richardson for the heroine in his novel 'Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded' (1740), after which time it became used as a given name. It did not become popular until the 20th century.
____________________________________
All sweetness, that's me *cough, cough*

JAN (2)
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: JAN [key]
Short form of JANET, JANICE, and other names beginning with Jan.

My parents gave me this name to avoid having a name that could be shortened.

Janet is a variation of Jane which is from...

JAN (3)
Gender: Masculine
Usage: Medieval English
Medieval English form of JOHN, derived from the Old French form Jehan