I have had too much time on my hands lately, and I want to direct it towards something worthwhile. In the past few days, I got a new naming book, which has been an interesting read so far. It is a treasure-trove of names, some that I knew and some that were new to me. I plan on mostly sticking to the book for names, although I may as well stray and use some of my other lesser-known gems.
I will continue this series for a month, that is, till mid-June. If I have the time, and see the people’s interest in it, I will continue the post to another month! Of course, if I feel like it, I might cheat a bit and have two NOTDs for a day. I hope you have fun with it as much as I will.
With love, [name_f]Scarlet[/name_f].
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Lysianassa 
A name borne by more than one character in Greek
mythology, including one of the Nereids, and a daughter of King Priam of Troy. The name derives from the Greek lysis “releasing,” “freeing,” and “deliverance,” and anassa “queen.” The French name Lysiane may be a truncated form and has seen use in the English speaking world since the twentieth century; it can also be spelled Lysianne.
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Mercury 
The Roman God equated with the Greek Hermes. In Rome, however, there was greater emphasis placed upon his aspect as God of commerce and merchants, and this may have been the role of the primitive Mercury before he merged with Hermes. In ancient times, the planets also had correspondences with metals; Mercury is the only one where the correspondence is preserved in the metal’s name, which is also known as quicksilver. From as early as the eighth century, the metal mercury came to play an important role in alchemy, as much as a principle as an actual metal. It was believed to be present in all metals, a theory not abandoned until the eighteenth century.
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Alchemilla 
Botanical name for the herb lady’s mantle, which has long been highly regarded in herbalism for its effectiveness in gynecological complaints. In folklore it is believed that if lady’s mantle is placed under the pillow, or a pillow is stuffed with the herb, it will promote a good night’s sleep. Late L: alcbimia “alchemy”-arising because of the alchemist’s belief that dew from the leaves of lady’s mantle can turn base metals into gold. Dew collected in [name_f]May[/name_f] is considered most potent. Certainly, lady’s mantle
does capture dew well; it sits at the centre of each leaf like a crystal-clear jewel. Ruled by [name_f]Venus[/name_f] and Water, it is used in love spells.
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[name_m]Pyramus[/name_m] 
The name of the ancient world’s [name_m]Romeo[/name_m]. [name_m]Pyramus[/name_m] and [name_f]Thisbe[/name_f] lived in adjacent houses in Babylon but there was a feud between the two families. Despite this, the two fell in love, communicating through a crack in the wall. They decided to elope, arranging to meet in the woods beneath a white mulberry tree. [name_f]Thisbe[/name_f] arrived first, but unfortunately, a lion appeared upon the scene, fresh from a kill, before [name_m]Pyramus[/name_m] joined her. [name_f]Thisbe[/name_f] hid, but dropped her shawl, which the lion mauled for a bit before going off. At this point, [name_m]Pyramus[/name_m] finally arrived, saw the shawl, imagined the worst-and promptly fell on his sword. His blood stained the white mulberry fruits red. [name_f]Thisbe[/name_f] emerged, found her lover dying, and killed herself too. In tribute to the star-crossed lovers, the Gods turned the fruit of the mulberry dark red forever more.
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Flidhais 
[name_u]An[/name_u] [name_u]Irish[/name_u] [name_f]Goddess[/name_f] of the woods, mistress of wild animals, and especially associated with stags and deer-by which her chariot is said to be drawn. She bears the epithet foltchaoin, meaning" beautiful- haired." The Tdin [name_u]Bo[/name_u] Flidais makes her the wife of Ailill [name_u]Finn[/name_u] and lover – later wife – of [name_m]Fergus[/name_m] mac Roich. Var: Fliodhais, Flidais, and Flidas.
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[name_m]Endymion[/name_m] 
In Greek mythology, [name_m]Endymion[/name_m] was a shepherd beloved by [name_f]Selene[/name_f], and, according to Pliny the [name_m]Elder[/name_m], it was [name_m]Endymion[/name_m] who first established the human practice of observing the cycles of the moon. Probably Gr: endumios “taken to heart” and “weighing upon the mind,” a variant of enthumios. It is sometimes derived, however, from enduo “to go in” or “to sink in,” although the principal usage of the verb was “to put on (clothes).” Ignoring the latter detail, some have taken this to mean he was a personification of sleep. Late 16th C. Bearers: [name_m]Sir[/name_m] [name_m]Endymion[/name_m] [name_u]Porter[/name_u] (1587-1649), the [name_f]English[/name_f] diplomat. It also features in [name_u]John[/name_u] Lyly’s [name_m]Endymion[/name_m], the [name_u]Man[/name_u] in the [name_u]Moon[/name_u] (1588), [name_u]John[/name_u] Keats’s poem “Endymion” (1818) and Disraeli’s novel [name_m]Endymion[/name_m] (1880).
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Blodeuwedd 
In Welsh mythology, Blodeuwedd’s original name was simply Blodeuedd, an archaic plural of blodau “flowers.” She is regarded as the Welsh Goddess of the late spring; the original May Queen, the bride of the May King-Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Crafted from the flowers of oak, broom, and meadowsweet by Math and Gwydion, she married Lleu without complaint, but later fell passionately in love with Gronw. The feeling was mutual, and they plotted together to get rid of Lleu. After Gwydion learnt of her betrayal, he transformed her into an owl. Her name then became Blodeuwedd - W: blodau “flowers” + gwedd “appearance” or “form”-- a comment on the flower-shaped face of the owl. She was doomed ever after to keep to the night, or be attacked by the birds of the daytime for her crime against Lleu. 19th C. Var: Blodwedd (mod).
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So many old and fantasy-esque gems! 
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[name_u]Cypress[/name_u] 
[name_u]An[/name_u] elegant evergreen tree, evocative of the Mediterranean. It has long been associated with death and mourning-the ancients believed it was named after Cyparissius. Branches and sprigs were used as a symbol of mourning in both ancient times and more recent; references to the practice are made in [name_f]English[/name_f] literature from the sixteenth century. Its association with death may go back to Egyptian times, where coffins were made of cypress wood. In magic, it is still recommended for easing grief. It is also used for healing and protection.
A little on Cyparissius:
A youth beloved by [name_m]Apollo[/name_m], who was extremely fond of his pet-stag. He was so devastated when he accidentally killed it that he asked [name_m]Apollo[/name_m] to allow him to mourn forever, and so [name_m]Apollo[/name_m] turned him into the
[name_u]Cypress[/name_u].
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Pytho 
The name of the great she-serpent, sometimes described as an [name_f]Earth[/name_f] dragon, which dwelt at [name_f]Delphi[/name_f]. She was the guardian of the already existing [name_f]Oracle[/name_f] of Ge or [name_f]Themis[/name_f]. When [name_m]Apollo[/name_m] killed her, he took over the [name_f]Oracle[/name_f]. The name is said to derive from Gr: putho “to rot,” interpreted as referring to the rotting corpse of the Python. However, it is more likely that the Greeks reworked a non-Greek name to give it meaning in Greek. All the evidence suggests that [name_f]Delphi[/name_f] was a very ancient site of reverence and worship, long before the arrivals of the Greeks and the Greek language. Var: Python
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Orpheus 
One of the most intriguing characters of all Greek mythology, Orpheus, the legendary poet and musician, was a central figure in the Mysteries – in particular, Orphism. The story of his descent to the underworld to win back his wife Eurydice from the dead with his music – only to lose her again with one glance over his shoulder – is one of the most familiar of all the Greek myths. The meaning of his name is, however, uncertain. It may be etymologically related to Gr: orphne “darkness”- specifically of the night. The Italian form Orfeo occurs in the anonymous English poem “Sir Orfeo” (c.1300).
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Hespera 
Greek: hespera “evening.” Hespera is the name of one of the Hesperides- “the Daughters of Evening”- the nymphs who guarded Hera’s golden apples and the grove where they grew. Where exactly this mythical grove lay is not known, except for the fact it was in the far west. Among the options are: a land beyond the River Oceanus, the legendary island of Hyperborea (i.e. Britain), or somewhere near Mount Atlas. Exactly how many Hesperides there were also varies; at their maximum, seven are given, although they are padded out with nymphs whose names are all variations on the Hespera theme: Hespera herself (also found as Hespere), Hespereia (Hesperia), and Hesperusa.
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[name_m]Adonis[/name_m] 
[name_m]Adonis[/name_m] was a central cult figure in more than one ancient [name_f]Mystery[/name_f] religion, being closely related to the Etruscan Atunis and Phrygian Atis, as well as the Egyptian [name_m]Osiris[/name_m], and the Semitic [name_m]Tammuz[/name_m] and Hadad. All are Gods of rebirth and vegetation. His name may be connected to Heb: [name_m]Adonai[/name_m] “lord.” [name_f]Beloved[/name_f] by [name_f]Aphrodite[/name_f], he was killed by a wild boar. [name_m]Zeus[/name_m], at her request, returned him to life, but only for the summer months, which he spent with [name_f]Aphrodite[/name_f]. He passed the winter with [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] in the Underworld. In ancient [name_u]Athens[/name_u], women planted “Gardens of Adonis” and celebrated the Festival of [name_m]Adonis[/name_m] at midsummer by sowing fennel, lettuce, wheat, and barley which sprang up but withered quickly, reflecting Adonis’s return to the Underworld. 17th C.
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[name_f]Lakshmi[/name_f] 
One of the most significant Goddesses of the Hindu pantheon, [name_f]Lakshmi[/name_f] is [name_f]Goddess[/name_f] of wealth, prosperity, good fortune, generosity, wisdom, and light. She is also a fertility [name_f]Goddess[/name_f], and regarded as a [name_f]Goddess[/name_f] of beauty and grace. She is the consort of [name_m]Vishnu[/name_m] and is often depicted standing on a lotus, holding a lotus. The story of her birth is strikingly similar to that of Aphrodite; she is said to have been born from the foam of the ocean. San: laksma “sign” both a “good sign” (with “good fortune” and “prosperity” understood) and a “bad sign” of impending misfortune. In time it acquired other meanings, through association with the [name_f]Goddess[/name_f], such as “splendor,” “glory,” “beauty,” and “loveliness.” Var: [name_f]Laxmi[/name_f].
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[name_f]Lakshmi[/name_f] is so beautiful!! 
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[name_u]Antares[/name_u] 
Traditional name of [name_u]Alpha[/name_u] Scorpii, a red supergiant star in the Milky [name_m]Way[/name_m]. Gr: anti “against” + [name_u]Ares[/name_u] – the name of the Greek [name_m]God[/name_m] of war, equivalent of the [name_m]Roman[/name_m] [name_u]Mars[/name_u]. It refers to the fact that the star [name_u]Antares[/name_u] is a rival to [name_u]Mars[/name_u] for the title of the reddest object in the sky. Also known as [name_m]Cor[/name_m] Scorpii – the Scorpion’s heart. Ancient Chinese documents called it “the [name_u]Fire[/name_u] Star.” Some temples of Ancient [name_u]Egypt[/name_u] were orientated towards [name_u]Antares[/name_u], testimony to its significance. In Persian astronomy, [name_u]Antares[/name_u] is considered the dominant star of the autumnal equinox – the “Watcher of the West.”
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Morrigan 
The name of one of the best-known of all the Irish Gods and Goddesses, Morrigan is often represented as a Triple Goddess, the individual names usually given are Badhbh, Macha, and Nemain. Although Morrigan itself is singular – as is the variant Morrigu. Morrigan is sometimes referred to in the plural (Morrigna), reflecting her triple nature. A queen of the battlefield, she is a Goddess of war and death in battle, and often appears as a crow; crows are notorious for circling above battlefields, waiting to feast, and their general penchant for feeding on anything deadlike vultures-has given them their association with death. CC: mor "female demon’ + r-gan- “queen.”
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Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Names!
