Longtime lurker here, finally making an account! Can anyone corroborate the meaning of [name_f]Melora[/name_f]? I’ve done a fair amount of research, but I can’t find anything to confirm that it means “golden apple”. I found it through my love of Arthurian legends, and I believe that it may be a form of [name_f]Meliora[/name_f], but I’m not certain. Thoughts? Any help would be appreciated.
Edit: From my limited knowledge and google, I think I’ve almost confirmed the meaning, but I still have some doubt. “Mel” could be related to…
“melon”, meaning “apple”
“meli”, meaning “honey”
“mel”, meaning “black, dark”
“melos”, meaning “song”
However, “ora” is Latin as far as I know and can tell, and so is “laurus”, which means “laurel”. So I think I can rule those are out. I’m crossing my fingers that this isn’t a “smoosh” of Greek and Latin, but it’s kind of looking to be that way…
Alternately, it could be a version of Meliora, meaning “better”, which I also hope is not the case, as it isn’t the most compelling of meanings in my opinion. It is yet to be determined!
If anyone could shed any light on the ending of this name, it would be amazing. I know it probably doesn’t matter too much to anyone but moi, but meanings are important to me, and I like to check my facts thoroughly enough.
I was in french immersion and I know Miel pron Mee-elle is french for honey. That kind of sounds [name_u]Mel[/name_u] and honey is golden. Kind of a stretch, sorry
See, “mel” can also be a Greek name element that means “honey” as well, so I was thinking that the “mel” in [name_f]Melora[/name_f] was likely related. But again, I’m not Greek, so I could be entirely wrong, as the root from Melanthe, for example, means “dark”. Thank you so much for your input, it is very much appreciated. You’ve been most helpful.
Edit: “Melon” means “apple”, does it not? But then “ora” is Latin, if I recall correctly. Hm… I think the only solution may be to learn Greek!
As far as I can tell, it does seem to be smoosh of Greek and Latin. “[name_u]Mel[/name_u]” and its other forms appears to be a Greek root and “ora” and “laurus” are Latin. It could be entirely Greek and mean “golden apple”, though; “melon” is Greek for apple and “ora” is Greek for gold.
Apparently in Puter, [name_f]Melora[/name_f] means “storm” (according to behindthename).
Anyway, sorry I couldn’t shed a lot of light on this. It seems like most of what you said about the etymology is true. And in my view, there’s nothing wrong with a smoosh if it derives a pleasant meaning! Good luck with your search!
Thank you so much, you’ve been such a great help to me! I’m much obliged to you! You’re quite right, if the name has a pleasant meaning, I suppose that I shouldn’t worry so much about its validity as a purely Greek or Latin name. I get too uptight sometimes and forget that my naming addiction is supposed to be fun and not a stressful chore. It’s really not too serious, and I think I will add it to my list regardless, but knowing the origin and etymology is still nice.
Interesting information! If you don’t mind and if it’s at all possible, do you think that you could link me a reference in regards to “ora” being Greek? If it isn’t a bother. Otherwise, don’t worry about it. It was my understanding that “gold(en)” in Greek was “k/chryses”, as in Chriseis, which does not mean that “ora” doesn’t mean “gold” as well.
Again, thank you so very, very much, and your signature is lovely, if I may say so.
According to behindthename.com, the name [name_f]Melora[/name_f] from the Arthurian legends is derived from [name_f]Meliora[/name_f], which is Latin and means “better”. So, no apples, honey or gold: it comes from the word “melior”, meaning “better”, if BTN is correct!
Thank you for your contribution, it definitely helps me in understanding this anomaly of a name a little more clearly. Behind The Name is usually pretty accurate, but the submitted names are a bit more of a gray area. But in all likelihood, it is a form of [name_f]Meliora[/name_f] as you say, or a fusion of Latin and Greek. Minus the sort-of-mystery that “ora” is, the meaning is coming together slowly but surely. Again, thank you for indulging me and providing me with this information. Have a lovely day or night!
From what I can see, the earliest version of the [name_f]Melora[/name_f] story seems to be from the late seventeenth century, a time when it was commonplace for writers to coin names for their characters. For this reason I think it’s very plausible that it’s a combination of Latin and Greek elements as you have suggested, or a simple alteration of [name_f]Meliora[/name_f]. It would be another story if it was a retelling of an earlier tale, but there doesn’t seem to be any evidence for this available online. I would be interested to hear other theories though. It’s a lovely name, as well as an intriguing one to research!
Many thanks for your input! I still hope to find out if “ora” does indeed translate to “gold(en)”, but other than that smaller detail, it seems to me that the mystery’s been (partially) solved. And I agree, it is a very curious name. I hope I can find more information on it. I’ll keep researching.
My pleasure!! I got the bit about ora being Greek here: Message: "Re: Melora" - Behind the Name
But it’s a user submission, so upon further reflection I probably shouldn’t be taking that at face value! The whole page is an interesting read though.
Also I know what you mean about names being stressful sometimes!! It’s easy to get a bit obsessive, lol.
And thank you for the compliment, you have lovely taste in names as well
Once again, thank you ever so much for your help and for the flattering remark. The link was enlightening, and it seemed to reiterate some of my theories.
This is just something that I noticed, and I’m not sure if it’s of any significance: I believe that there is a possibility that the user intended to state that only “melon” is Greek in origin, and not “ora”. They wrote ‘“[name_u]Golden[/name_u] [name_f]Apple[/name_f]” from Greek Melon “[name_f]Apple[/name_f]” and [name_f]Ora[/name_f] “[name_m]Gold[/name_m]”’, and since they specified that “melon” was Greek, but did not (necessarily) identify which language “ora” was from, they may not have meant to declare that “ora” was a Greek word. [name_m]Just[/name_m] a thought. I hope you can make sense of my nonsensical ramblings. I’m afraid that I’m not very good at putting the mess in my head down into words. If this little conjecture of mine is correct, then we’re back to the possibility of a “smoosh”.
Yes I think you might be right! That makes more sense. [name_f]Ora[/name_f] is definitely Latin so it doesn’t seem quite right that it would be Greek too, haha. I maintain that there’s nothing wrong with a smoosh, especially since Greek and Latin societies have historically “fed off” of one another. And I’ve really enjoyed poking through the etymology of this name; it’s a fascinating subject so I was quite pleased when I saw this thread!
You’re right! I don’t truly mind “smooshes” if they come with an interesting background and usage, as this one does, but having a name be either one language or the other makes me feel slightly better for whatever strange reason. I like everything in its own little box. I’m a perfectionist, I suppose. But it’s no skin off my nose, and it’s still a lovely, Arthurian name, so I’m content with it now. Yay for “smooshes”!
It has been extremely interesting and fun to try and figure out what the heck this name even is, and I’m glad that you also enjoyed it! Thank you for the umpteenth time! It was quite an adventure. Please do let me know if you ever have any names that you’re studying that you may want additional information on. I love this sort of thing, even if it makes me simultaneously want to smash my head against a brick wall! But it’s worth it, as the research usually leads at some sort of definite conclusion in the end, making it rewarding after all.
That it is! I debated between [name_f]Melora[/name_f] and [name_f]Meliora[/name_f] for the longest time. It’s so mellifluous! I’m still forever stuck between Mellona and [name_f]Melora[/name_f], though, and I don’t think that will change any time soon. You have exquisite taste, by the way!
[name_f]Ora[/name_f] meaning time? In conversations this word is used for time (as in same word as hour but used more broadly). I named my cat [name_f]Meli[/name_f] and whilst not the full reason (my 4yo suggested it) we liked the sweet (honey in Greek) meaning. [name_f]Apple[/name_f] in Greek is a bit of a different vowel sound but could be I guess.
The “better” meaning from same root as ameliorate?
Can anyone corroborate the meaning of [name_f]Melora[/name_f]? I’ve done a fair amount of research, but I can’t find anything to confirm that it means “golden apple”. I found it through my love of Arthurian legends, and I believe that it may be a form of [name_f]Meliora[/name_f], but I’m not certain. Thoughts? Any help would be appreciated. 
