Dust off your ancient gems! 💎

I’m looking for some truly unique ancient treasures to round out a combo - names that are a little clunky, probably over the top, and definitely off the beaten path. I’ve been through many lists and found some that are almost what I’m looking for but just not quite The Name.

Examples:

  • Something Greek like Eurydice, Euphrosyne, Euphemia, Eulalia (I’m feeling the Eu names, if you couldn’t tell :wink:), Corisande, Parthenia, Antigone, Iphigenia, Theophania, Xanthippe, or Cleopatra.
  • Something Latin like Antonia, Lucretia, Octavia, Calpurnia, Aeliana, Faustine, Madrigal, Fortunata, Ovidia, or Veradisia.
  • Something from another ancient culture like Nefertiti (Egyptian), Semiramis (Bablyonian), Inanna (Sumerian), Asherah (Canaanite), etc.

No name is too weird for this particular list, so this is the perfect place to show off all your ancient GPs. :joy: Go nuts, my lovelies! I can’t wait to see what you come up with! :purple_heart:


Update: I am absolutely LOVING these responses! Since so many of the names suggested are very unusual, many of them do not have Nameberry entries. So I decided to go ahead and make my list public, the way I’ve been doing for my moodboard threads. I’ll be adding all of the names you suggest to this list in the hopes of compiling a masterlist of all the weird and quirky ancient names out there! (I’m really missing the functionality our lists used to have where we could include notes on individual names so I could annotate things like sources and meanings. If I find a platform on which to do that, I’ll let you know!)

7 Likes

[name_f]Bathsheba[/name_f]
[name_f]Zipporah[/name_f]
[name_f]Pari[/name_f]
[name_f]Eupraxia[/name_f]

1 Like

Ancient Greek:

[name_f]Aikaterine[/name_f]
Anthousa
Theokleia
[name_f]Theophila[/name_f]
[name_f]Chrysanthe[/name_f]
Demostrate
Euanthe
Tryphaina
[name_f]Tryphosa[/name_f]
[name_f]Xenia[/name_f]
[name_f]Xanthe[/name_f]
Eudocia/Eudoxia
Glaphyra
Heroidias
Zosime
Nikephoros
Nymphodora
Sostrate
[name_f]Syntyche[/name_f]
[name_f]Zenobia[/name_f]
Zenais
Menodora
Metrodora
Archippe
Kallistrate
[name_f]Lysistrata[/name_f]
Chariclea
Eutropia
Aristomache
[name_f]Eupraxia[/name_f]
Euthalia
Euthymia
[name_f]Athanasia[/name_f]
Eumelia

Late [name_m]Roman[/name_m]:

Amabilia
[name_f]Fortunata[/name_f]
[name_f]Amata[/name_f]
[name_f]Benedicta[/name_f]
Iucunda
[name_f]Leocadia[/name_f]
[name_f]Candida[/name_f]
[name_f]Clementia[/name_f]
Benigna
[name_f]Desiderata[/name_f]
[name_f]Desideria[/name_f]
Febronia
[name_f]Dionysia[/name_f]
[name_f]Crescentia[/name_f]
Eligia
[name_f]Salvatrix[/name_f]
[name_f]Prudentia[/name_f]
Primitiva
[name_f]Scholastica[/name_f]
[name_f]Quirina[/name_f]
[name_f]Romana[/name_f]
[name_f]Anatolia[/name_f]
Constantia/Constantina
[name_f]Aurea[/name_f]
[name_f]Sidonia[/name_f]
[name_f]Ignatia[/name_f]
[name_f]Illuminata[/name_f]
[name_f]Victorina[/name_f]
[name_f]Florentina[/name_f]
[name_f]Isaura[/name_f]
Leontina
Sollemnia
Liberata
Cyriaca
Sperantia
[name_f]Petronilla[/name_f]
[name_f]Honorata[/name_f]
Matrona
[name_f]Narcissa[/name_f]
[name_f]Verena[/name_f]
[name_f]Modesta[/name_f]
[name_f]Perpetua[/name_f]
[name_f]Violante[/name_f]

I hope you like some of these!! :slightly_smiling_face:

2 Likes

[name_f]Artemisia[/name_f]
[name_f]Casiphia[/name_f]
[name_f]Eileithyia[/name_f] / Iliythia / Elethyia
Euphraxia
[name_f]Forsythia[/name_f]
[name_f]Hippolyta[/name_f]
[name_f]Iphigenia[/name_f]
[name_f]Leocadia[/name_f]
Nymphaea / Nymphéa
[name_f]Philothea[/name_f]
Psamathe
[name_f]Mazikeen[/name_f]
[name_f]Zipporah[/name_f]
Somerset
[name_u]Wanderer[/name_u]

sorry for any repeats!

1 Like

[name_f]Annunziata[/name_f]
[name_f]Ariadne[/name_f]
[name_f]Delphina[/name_f]
[name_f]Dymphna[/name_f]
[name_u]Endellion[/name_u]
Everild
[name_f]Faustina[/name_f]
[name_f]Hedwig[/name_f]
[name_f]Hermione[/name_f]
[name_f]Hilaria[/name_f]
[name_f]Hildegard[/name_f]
[name_f]Honorata[/name_f]
[name_f]Immaculata[/name_f]
[name_f]Isidora[/name_f]
[name_f]Jacinta[/name_f]
[name_f]Jadwiga[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucilla[/name_f]
[name_f]Morwenna[/name_f]
[name_f]Odilia[/name_f]
[name_f]Petra[/name_f]
[name_f]Philomena[/name_f]
[name_f]Remedios[/name_f]
[name_f]Renata[/name_f]
[name_f]Sabina[/name_f]
[name_f]Thaïs[/name_f]
[name_f]Theodosia[/name_f]
[name_f]Zita[/name_f]

1 Like

[name_f]Theodota[/name_f]
[name_f]Leocadia[/name_f]
[name_f]Apollonia[/name_f]
[name_f]Apolline[/name_f]
[name_f]Eustacia[/name_f]
[name_f]Aureliana[/name_f]
[name_f]Bellona[/name_f]
[name_f]Cleopatra[/name_f]
[name_f]Elocadia[/name_f]
[name_f]Boudicca[/name_f]
Alfhildr
Clothildis
Roslindis
Hatshepsut
Meresankh
[name_f]Ambrosia[/name_f]
[name_f]Demetria[/name_f]
[name_f]Hypatia[/name_f]
Theokleia
[name_f]Agrippa[/name_f] / [name_f]Agrippina[/name_f]
[name_f]Laurentia[/name_f]
[name_f]Godiva[/name_f]
Eadburga
Leofflæd
[name_f]Augustina[/name_f]

1 Like

Apologizing in advance for any repeats. I love this style so I pulled some reinforcements

Abyssinia
Agrippina
Alecto
Andromache
Atalanta
Aurembiaix
Cleodora
Decima
Demelza
Dido
Eglantine
Eileithyia
Elsebe
Fabienne
Ferelith
Flavia
Fortuna
Helisent
Hereswith
Hespera
Ignatia
Illyria
Ismene
Kerensa
Keturah
Leontyne
Ludivine
Lysistrata
Melusine
Merida
Narcissa
Nineveh
Orinthia
Otkatla
Parthenope
Perpetua
Petronella
Proserpina
Ragnhild
Romola
Rosmerta
Severine
Sophronia
Terpsichore
Titania
Urania
Valkyrie
Vespertine
Viridiana
Zenobia
Zephyrine

2 Likes

[name_f]Belphoebe[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f]
[name_f]Yseult[/name_f]
Eumelia
[name_f]Atalanta[/name_f]
[name_f]Lysandra[/name_f]
[name_f]Elpis[/name_f]
[name_f]Amoret[/name_f]
[name_f]Lavinia[/name_f]
[name_f]Ginevra[/name_f]
[name_f]Sappho[/name_f]
[name_f]Cerelia[/name_f]
Pasiphaë
Aiaia
Athnais
[name_f]Galatea[/name_f]
[name_f]Swanhild[/name_f]
[name_f]Adelais[/name_f]
Menodora
[name_f]Alodia[/name_f]
[name_f]Arcadia[/name_f]

1 Like

[name_f]Alsephina[/name_f]
[name_f]Arethusa[/name_f]
[name_f]Caledonia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cassiopeia[/name_f]
[name_f]Esclarmonde[/name_f]
[name_f]Lalage[/name_f]
[name_f]Ligeia[/name_f]
[name_f]Luminosa[/name_f]
[name_f]Myosotis[/name_f]
[name_u]Nepenthe[/name_u]
[name_f]Panacea[/name_f]
[name_f]Semiramide[/name_f]

1 Like

I love Luctretia!

1 Like

[name_f]Aurembiaix[/name_f], [name_f]Esclarmonde[/name_f] and [name_f]Sheherazade[/name_f] popped into my head first! I particularly love the latter.

Saturnina, from @leafygreens recent list, would also be a fun one :ringer_planet:

2 Likes

I only have one suggestion unfortunately. [name_f]Arsinoe[/name_f] (She was [name_f]Queen[/name_f] Cleopatra;s sister…

1 Like

Elaphia/Elaphina
Elpis
Oreithyia
Phaenna
Orphéa
Zenobia
Arsinöe
Pyrrha
Accalia
Amphiro
Antiope
Urania/Ourania
Eriphia
Syllis
Samia
Melinoe
Ordeis
Psamathe
Themis
Thetis
Ptelea
Philyra
Thero
Diopatra
Caliadne
Endeis
Iaso
Himeria/Imeria
Isagora
Iphis
Gennaia
Damasis
Dianoia
Heliko
Empeiria
Evameria
Euthenia
Evarista
Hedeia
Hesione
Herais
Perseis

Sources

Basically British baby names, but specific links are:

Nymphs of Greek mythology - British Baby Names

Ancient Greek I Names for Girls - British Baby Names

Ancient Greek D Names for Girls - British Baby Names

Ancient Greek E Names for Girls - British Baby Names

Ancient Greek H Names for Girls - British Baby Names

1 Like

[name_f]Viridiana[/name_f]
[name_f]Apollonia[/name_f]
[name_f]Maxima[/name_f] / [name_f]Maximiliana[/name_f]
[name_f]Faustine[/name_f]
[name_f]Eudora[/name_f]
[name_f]Andromache[/name_f]
[name_f]Lysistrata[/name_f]
Luminara
[name_f]Candelaria[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiorenza[/name_f]
[name_f]Crescentia[/name_f]
[name_f]Concordia[/name_f]
[name_f]Hyacinthia[/name_f]
Serephia
[name_f]Diamantina[/name_f]
Adamandia
[name_f]Adamina[/name_f]
Melliodora
Vesperina
[name_f]Vespertine[/name_f]
Wizdrea
[name_f]Thaddea[/name_f]
[name_f]Antonella[/name_f]
[name_f]Aristella[/name_f]
[name_f]Thalassa[/name_f]
Adavisa
[name_f]Zenobia[/name_f]
[name_f]Acantha[/name_f]
[name_f]Orinthia[/name_f]
[name_f]Galatea[/name_f]
[name_f]Alastriona[/name_f]
[name_f]Amarantha[/name_f]
[name_f]Aurembiaix[/name_f]
[name_f]Septima[/name_f]
[name_f]Ravenna[/name_f]
[name_f]Verbena[/name_f]
[name_f]Crescentia[/name_f]
[name_f]Asterope[/name_f]
Corentine
Casimira
[name_f]Casiphia[/name_f]
Meliantha
Melissanthe
Minadora
Oleandra
Orestiada
Orsalia
[name_f]Xanthippe[/name_f]

1 Like

Egyptian:
[name_f]Cleopatra[/name_f]
Keket
Hatsheput
Maat
[name_f]Isis[/name_f]
Hehet

[name_m]Roman[/name_m]:
[name_f]Augusta[/name_f]
[name_f]Balbina[/name_f]
[name_u]Antonia[/name_u]
[name_f]Albina[/name_f]
[name_u]Aquila[/name_u]

1 Like

Adrasteia
Amphiro
Amatheia
[name_f]Amphitrite[/name_f]
Antiope
Atlantia
Bateia
[name_f]Caliadne[/name_f]
Calliroe
Castalia
Chryseis
Cleophée
Diogenia
Diopatra
Eriphia
Eulimene
[name_f]Galatea[/name_f]
[name_f]Harpina[/name_f]
Helike
Ianeira
[name_f]Ismene[/name_f]
Kapheira
Kleodora
[name_f]Lilaia[/name_f]
[name_f]Minthe[/name_f]
Mystis
[name_f]Nemea[/name_f]
Oiolyka
Orseis
[name_f]Ourania[/name_f]
Pasithea
Phrixa
[name_f]Thaleia[/name_f]
[name_f]Themis[/name_f]
Thespia
Triteia

1 Like

greek names:

Agape
Aikaterine
Anthousa
Aphrodisia
Aristomache
Athanasia
Eudokia / Eudoxia
Gaiana
Herais
Ligeia
Nike
Pelagia
Psappha
Theokleia

(these were all found on this list on behind the name: link)

1 Like

Amenirdis (Ancient Egyptian)
[name_f]Athenais[/name_f] (Greek)
[name_f]Brynja[/name_f] (Old Norse)
Herneith | Merneith (Egyptian)
Hildr (Old Norse)
Kleone | Kleonai (Greek)
Merja (Finnish)
Nebetah (Egyptian)
[name_f]Nubia[/name_f] (possibly Egyptian)
Saldìs (Old Norse)
Satiah (Egyptian)
Vellamo (Finnish mythology)
Werenro (Egyptian)

Ancient [name_u]Egypt[/name_u] is filled with incredible names. If you look at Behind the name’s user submitted Ancient Egyptian names, there are so many gems hidden there.

1 Like

@Han2.0 - Thank you! I’ve added [name_f]Bathsheba[/name_f], [name_f]Zipporah[/name_f], and [name_f]Eupraxia[/name_f] to the list. I especially like [name_f]Zipporah[/name_f]!

@baya44 - What a fantastic collection! I’ve added all these to the list with the exception of [name_f]Candida[/name_f] (I know it has historical usage, but I can’t get past the yeast infection thing) and Euthymia (a term associated with bipolar disorder). I’m especially liking [name_f]Chrysanthe[/name_f], Tryphaina / Tryphaena, [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f], Zosime (swooon), Nikephoros, [name_f]Lysistrata[/name_f], Asristomache, Euthalia, [name_f]Athanasia[/name_f], [name_f]Leocadia[/name_f], [name_f]Desiderata[/name_f], [name_f]Crescentia[/name_f], [name_f]Salvatrix[/name_f] (how bad@ss is that??), [name_f]Aurea[/name_f], [name_f]Illuminata[/name_f], and Sollemnia.

@angelastella5 - These are gorgeous! I’ve added all of them except Somerset and [name_u]Wanderer[/name_u] to the list (I love [name_u]Wanderer[/name_u], but I would put it on my word names list instead). I’m especially loving [name_f]Artemisia[/name_f] (nature name bonus points!), [name_f]Ilithyia[/name_f] (swooon), [name_f]Forsythia[/name_f] (more nature name bonus points!), [name_f]Iphigenia[/name_f], [name_f]Leocadia[/name_f], Nymphaea (even more nature name bonus points! the Latin name for water lilies?? swooooon), Psamathe (more swooning), [name_f]Mazikeen[/name_f] (I love the [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m] character), and [name_f]Zipporah[/name_f]. Fantastic list!

@VEL - [name_f]Lovely[/name_f] collection with a variety of origins! I’ve added them all to the list. I’m especially liking Everild, [name_f]Faustina[/name_f] (though I prefer the sleeker Faustine), [name_f]Isidora[/name_f], [name_f]Morwenna[/name_f] (one of my all time favorite names!), [name_f]Petra[/name_f], [name_f]Philomena[/name_f], and [name_f]Theodosia[/name_f].

@EagleEyes - Gorgeous collection! They’ve all been added to the list. I especially love [name_f]Theodota[/name_f], [name_f]Leocadia[/name_f], [name_f]Cleopatra[/name_f], [name_f]Elocadia[/name_f], Alfhildr (how beautiful is that meaning??), Meresankh, [name_f]Ambrosia[/name_f], and [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] (she was so amazing).

I’ll be back for more later! :purple_heart:

2 Likes

I see the berries came through already, let me check if I can still manage to go where no berry has gone before…

Nehalennia - if you check her Wiki entry, you’ll see that no one knows where exactly this goddess came from only that ancient peoples in Old [name_u]Zealand[/name_u] - hehe - were serious about worshipping her

In the same vein
Ostara/Eostre/Asteron
Earendel/Aurendil/Aurvandill/Auzandil
Nerthus
Idis
Tamfana/Tanfana
Huldra
Hariasa

Medeina
Zemyna
Mezulla
Hatepuna
Ishara
Ainina
Danina
Lamaria
Samdzimari
Tskarishdida
Nisaba
[name_f]Inanna[/name_f]
Ninsumun
Tashmetu
Ninisina
Nanaya
Ninlil

Haeva
Sandraudiga
Zisa
Baduhenna
Burorina
Hludana
Vihansa
Fostera
Nammu
Tiamat
Anunitu
Aruru
Geshtinanna
Manzat
Nanshe
Ninegal/Ninegalla
Ninimma
Ninmena
Ninsianna
Nintu
[name_f]Sherida[/name_f]
Siduri
[name_f]Anahita[/name_f]
Ashratu
Simalia/Sumalia
Ashima
[name_f]Astarte[/name_f]
[name_f]Liluri[/name_f]
Irshi

1 Like