Feminine forms of originally masculine names abound, but what about names that turn this pattern on its head?
[name]Demetrius[/name], [name]Dimitri[/name], etc. - from [name]Demeter[/name]
[name]Cecil[/name], Caecilius, etc. - from [name]Cecilia[/name]
Beatus - from [name]Beata[/name]
Cassander - from [name]Cassandra[/name]
Dorotheos - from [name]Dorothea[/name]
Isaurus - from [name]Isaura[/name]
Euphemios - from [name]Euphemia[/name]
Hypatos - from [name]Hypatia[/name]
Hortensius - from [name]Hortensia[/name]
[name]Laurus[/name], [name]Lauro[/name] - from [name]Laura[/name]
[name]Lucretius[/name] - from [name]Lucretia[/name]
Natalius, [name]Natale[/name], [name]Natalio[/name] - from [name]Natalia[/name]
Sabinus - from [name]Sabina[/name]
[name]Zoran[/name] - from [name]Zora[/name]
Agathon - from [name]Agatha[/name]
[name]Carmine[/name] - from [name]Carmen[/name]
Laelius, Laelio - from [name]Laelia[/name]
Leocadio, Leocadius - from [name]Leocadia[/name]
[name]Zenobios[/name], [name]Zenobio[/name] - from [name]Zenobia[/name]
I used Behind the Name as my source; I know, for example, that Nameberry has [name]Cecilia[/name] listed as a “feminine form of [name]Cecil[/name],” rather than the other way around, but BtN has [name]Cecil[/name] being derived from Caecilius, which was in turn listed as a masculine form of [name]Cecilia[/name]. A list of more potential candidates can be found here (though this list may not be 100% valid): Submitted Names with "masculine form" in Description - Behind the Name
What do you think? Which do you like (or like best)? Can you think of any others?
There’s some pretty nice names amongst the list there. I can’t really think of any others to add, but I like the following names from the list:
[name]Demetrius[/name]
[name]Demeter[/name]
[name]Cecil[/name]
[name]Zoran[/name]
[name]Carmine[/name]
@southern.maple I wonder if those surnames were used back in the day when surnames were genuinely descriptive for unclaimed children born to unmarried women?
Interesting! I know it’s not on that particular list, but this reminded me that [name]Madison[/name] means “son of [name]Maud[/name]” - maybe it was derived from Maudson? Along the same line, I also recently noticed that [name]Isidore[/name] means “gift of [name]Isis[/name]”.
Actually, according to behindthename.com, doesn’t [name]Cassandra[/name]/[name]Kassandra[/name] come from Kassandros? Sorry, I’m only using its ‘family tree device’ as my source.
I’m a bit iffy on [name]Beata[/name]/Beatus & [name]Natale[/name]/[name]Natalie[/name], because they come from the words Beatus and [name]Natale[/name]. Also [name]Cecilia[/name]/Caecilius, Caecilius was a [name]Roman[/name] family name. [name]Cecilia[/name] comes from that, as does [name]Cecil[/name]/[name]Cecilio[/name]. [name]Just[/name] saying.
I always like to see threads where people are seeking masculine versions of names in order to honor someone.
I don’t think you should necessarily give a boy a female name any more than you should give a girl a masculine name, but I think this is a way forward.
Recognizing goodness, greatness, honorable qualities in females and reflecting them in masculine names.
I would even gladly recommend “made-up” names for those circumstances.
