Scarlet's Name of the Day

General Name Discussion
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Thank you!!

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Elfin :mushroom:

Superficially, Elfin seems to be an adoption of English elfin “elf-like” or “belonging to the elves.” However, in the case of the seventh- century king of Strathclyde, it is almost certainly cognate with Elffin. “The Elfin Knight” is a traditional Scottish ballad, dating to at least the seventeenth century. It involves an elf-knight who gives a series of impossible tasks to his would-be lady; she responds with a list of her own – and thus wins her knight. The well-known folk-song “Scarborough Fair” is another version of it. The adjective has probably been in the mind of most people who have used Elfin since the nineteenth century.

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[name_f]Atalanta[/name_f] :funeral_urn:

The name of a Greek heroine. Her father only wanted sons, and so the infant [name_f]Atalanta[/name_f] was left on a mountainside to die. [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] sent a bear to suckle her. She grew up to be a famous huntress, and aided Meleager in the Calydonian Boar [name_m]Hunt[/name_m]. Reunited with her father, she refused to marry anyone unless they could beat her in a foot race. Her father agreed – and
added that those who tried but failed would be put to death. She eventually married Hippomanes who won the race with the help of [name_f]Aphrodite[/name_f]. Gr: atalantos “equal to” – presumably men. Swinburne’s poem “Atalanta in Calydon” (1865) presents a Victorian version of the myth. 16th C. Var: Athalanta.

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Pelleus :old_key:

In Arthurian Romance, Pelleas is the name of one of the Knights of the Round Table. In Malory’s Morte d’Arthur, he falls in love with the scornful Ettarde; his friend Gawain promises to try to win her love for him, but ends up falling for her himself. Pelleas finds them asleep in bed together – but all he does is leave his bare sword between them. Gawain, feeling remorseful, leaves Ettarde. Meanwhile, grief-stricken Pelleas meets Nimue, the Lady of the Lake, who falls in love with him herself. Being a dab hand with a spell, she gains vengeance for Pelleas by making Ettarde fall in love with him after all. Ettarde dies of a broken heart, while Pelleas and Nimue live happily ever after. The name is almost certainly a reworking of Peleus. Var: Pellias.

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[name_f]Arianrhod[/name_f] :cherries:

A Welsh [name_f]Goddess[/name_f], whose name has been passed down to us in the Mabinogion and other medieval Welsh sources. [name_f]Arianrhod[/name_f] is usually explained as deriving from W: arian “silver” + rhod “wheel.” This has led to her being identified as a [name_f]Goddess[/name_f] of the moon, and as such she has become one of the most popular Goddesses of the modern [name_m]Pagan[/name_m] movement. Thhe derivation “silver wheel” is certainly a possibility, and as the Milky [name_m]Way[/name_m] is called Caer [name_f]Arianrhod[/name_f], the celestial link definitely exists, perhaps supporting the hypothesis that she is a [name_f]Goddess[/name_f] of the moon. Likewise, the fact she is the mother of Lleu, whose name may mean “light.” She may have passed into Arthurian myth as Argante of [name_f]Avalon[/name_f] – considered one and the same with [name_u]Morgan[/name_u] le [name_f]Fay[/name_f].

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Aldebaran :bat:

The popular name of [name_u]Alpha[/name_u] Tauri in the constellation [name_m]Taurus[/name_m]. It is one of the most easily recognizable stars, the bright, red star forming one of the points of the horns of the Bull – the prominent “V” shape in the night sky. Ar: dabar "to turn the back’’ and “to pass”; Dabaran is actually the Arabic name for the Hyades (the V-shaped star cluster). Aldebaran is one of the “royal stars” of the Ancient Persians, ruling over the
vernal equinox and called the “Watcher of the East.” A star of good fortune, it portends wealth and glory, and culminates on [name_u]January[/name_u] 10. Late 19th C. [name_f]Fem[/name_f]: Aldebara.

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Pasiphae :grapes:

A daughter of Helius, Greek [name_m]God[/name_m] of the sun, by the sea-nymph Perse. She was the wife of [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_m]Minos[/name_m] of [name_f]Crete[/name_f]. [name_m]Zeus[/name_m] took a fancy to her, visiting her in the form of a bull, and the product of the liaison was the Minotaur. By [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_m]Minos[/name_m] himself, she was the mother of [name_f]Ariadne[/name_f] and [name_u]Phaedra[/name_u]. Her niece was [name_f]Medea[/name_f], and she shared Medea’s skill in magic and knowledge of herb-lore. In historic times, she was worshipped in some areas as a [name_f]Goddess[/name_f], and was sometimes equated with [name_f]Ino[/name_f] and [name_f]Selene[/name_f]. Gr: pas “all” + phaos “light”-with the sense of “light to/for all.”

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I love this thread so much! :sparkles: Thank you so much for sharing!

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Abraxas :chess_pawn:

The name of a Gnostic solar deity, later regarded as a demon in Christian demonologies. The original spelling was Abrasax. In Gnostic cosmology, the seven letters which make up the name represent the seven classic “planets” known in Antiquity, i.e. the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. In ancient times, the name was engraved upon stones used as amulets and charms, and numerous examples have been unearthed by archaeologists. Late 20th C. Features as the name of a demon in the American television drama Charmed (1998-2006). In the Harry Potter books, Draco Malfoy’s grandfather is called Abraxas. Var: Abracax.

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Fethnaid :cloud:

[name_u]Irish[/name_u] Gaelic name of uncertain derivation. The second element is simply a form of the fem. dim. suffix -nait. The first has several intriguing possibilities. It may be 01: frith-a word of two meanings from separate origins; the first is a kind of twining plant (what, precisely, is unknown) and the other “stream.” Another strong contender is 01: fath “prophesy.” Most likely is feth “mist,” an Old [name_u]Irish[/name_u] word also found in the expression feth fiada, literally “lord of the mist” – a magical mist also known as “Druid’s Fog,” which gave invisibility and allowed those it enshrouded to take animal form. In myth, Fethnaid was the daughter of Fidach, the bard of the Tuatha De [name_m]Danann[/name_m]. She was an accomplished harpist, and her death was regarded as one of the “Three Great Losses” of the Tuatha. Var: Fethnat

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Parrhasius :art:

Epithet of [name_m]Apollo[/name_m], deriving from Parrhasia – an area of [name_f]Arcadia[/name_f] in Greece. [name_m]Apollo[/name_m] had a temple on Mount Lycaeus there, where an annual festival was held in his honor. It was also the name of a historic fifth-century BCE Greek painter who was famous in the ancient world. In a contest with Zeuxis over who could paint the most realistically rendered subject, Zeuxis painted grapes, which the birds tried to pick; thinking he’d won, he told Parrhasius to draw back the curtain over his painting – only to discover the curtain was the painting. He conceded defeat.

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Angelica :basket:

The first example of Angelica as a given name is found in Matteo Maria Boiardo’s Orlando Innamorato in which Angelica is the name of the hero Orlando’s beloved. Their story was continued by Ludovico Ariosto in Orlando Furioso. L: angelicus “belonging to angels.” Angelica, also known as archangel, is also the name of an important herb, known for its many healing qualities effective in the treatment of coughs, colds, fevers, colic, and other problems of the digestive system. The crystallized young stems are a familiar cake decoration and the roots and seeds are also used as flavoring, most famously in the liqueur Chartreuse. Ruled by the Sun and Fire, a full-grown Angelica is an impressive sight, with huge, globe-shaped blooms. Magically, it is still used for protection and healing. 16th C. Ger: Angelica, Fr: Angelique.

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Admetus :coffin:

The name of a [name_m]King[/name_m] of Pherae in [name_f]Sicily[/name_f] who participated in the Calydonian Boar [name_m]Hunt[/name_m]. He was known for his great hospitality and sense of justice. Aided by [name_m]Apollo[/name_m], the Fates agreed to spare Admetus on his appointed day of death if he could find someone else willing to die for him. His wife Alcestis volunteered, but the grief-stricken Admetus decided he couldn’t live without her. The day was saved by [name_m]Hercules[/name_m], who wrestled with Death in her tomb and won, restoring her to life. Admetus and Alcestis lived happily ever after. Gr: admetos “unbroken” – a word usually reserved for oxen, hence also “wild” and “untamed.”

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[name_f]Callisto[/name_f] :milky_way:

Greek: kallistos “most beautiful.” In Greek mythology, [name_f]Callisto[/name_f] was a beautiful young maiden who was a favorite of [name_u]Artemis[/name_u]. Inevitably, she attracted the attentions of [name_m]Zeus[/name_m], who disguised himself as [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] to gain her confidence, which he promptly abused. To protect her from the wrath of [name_f]Hera[/name_f], he transformed her into a bear. Versions vary as to what happened next but agree that [name_f]Callisto[/name_f] was eventually placed among the constellations as [name_f]Ursa[/name_f] Major-the Great [name_u]Bear[/name_u] (colloquially known as the Plough or the Big Dipper). [name_f]Hera[/name_f], meanwhile, still got her revenge; she persuaded the sea [name_f]Goddess[/name_f] Tethys and her husband [name_m]Oceanus[/name_m] never to allow [name_f]Callisto[/name_f] to enter their realm; which is why the Great [name_u]Bear[/name_u] never sets. The child of the union between [name_m]Zeus[/name_m] and [name_f]Callisto[/name_f] was Arcas, who eventually became [name_f]Ursa[/name_f] [name_m]Minor[/name_m] – the [name_m]Little[/name_m] [name_u]Bear[/name_u]. In reality [name_f]Callisto[/name_f] probably represents some aspect of [name_u]Artemis[/name_u], who is very closely associated with the bear.

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[name_u]Emrys[/name_u] :clinking_glasses:

Traditional Welsh name, said to derive from L: [name_m]Ambrosius[/name_m] (see Ambrose). [name_m]Ambrosius[/name_m] Aurelianus, known in Welsh as [name_u]Emrys[/name_u] Wledig, is a shadowy figure from sub-Roman [name_u]Britain[/name_u], much mixed up with the legends of [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_u]Arthur[/name_u]. He may be the “real” man behind [name_u]Merlin[/name_u]. Dinas [name_u]Emrys[/name_u] in [name_u]Gwynedd[/name_u] is said to be the place where [name_m]Vortigern[/name_m] wished to build a fortress. [name_f]Every[/name_f] night, however, the day’s work was uprooted. Druids told him that the sacrifice of a boy with no human father was required, and it just so happened there was one to hand – [name_u]Merlin[/name_u], a.k.a. Myrddin [name_u]Emrys[/name_u]. [name_u]Merlin[/name_u] was brought to Dinas [name_u]Emrys[/name_u], but the wily youth persuaded [name_m]Vortigern[/name_m] to dig the hill up instead of killing him. Beneath it, they found the two sleeping dragons, a red and a white, symbolizing the [name_f]British[/name_f] and the Saxons. Each night these dragons woke and fought, the white at first triumphing, but the red winning in the end.

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[name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] :telescope:

The name of a female Greek Neo-Platonic philosopher, who was murdered by a [name_u]Christian[/name_u] mob in 415 CE. As early as the seventh century, [name_u]John[/name_u], [name_m]Bishop[/name_m] of Nikiu, a [name_u]Christian[/name_u] chronicler, was calling [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] a Witch, thereby justifying (in his view) her murder. In 1843, the [name_m]German[/name_m] scholars Soldan and Heppe said [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] was essentially the first known “Witch” to be punished according to the penalty laid down for Witchcraft by Constantius II in the fourth century.'lhe man probably behind her death, [name_m]Cyril[/name_m] of [name_f]Alexandria[/name_f], went on to become a saint. Gr: hupatos “highest” and “best”; it was sometimes used as a word for a [name_m]God[/name_m] – for example in the phrase hupatos tis “some [name_m]God[/name_m] above” – thus it could be interpreted as meaning “of a God” or “belonging to a God.”

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[name_m]Nereus[/name_m] :ocean:

[name_m]Nereus[/name_m] is a Greek sea [name_m]God[/name_m] and a [name_m]Titan[/name_m], best known for being the father of the Nereids by the Oceanid [name_f]Doris[/name_f]. The oldest son of Pontus and [name_f]Gaia[/name_f], he is the original “Old [name_u]Man[/name_u] of the Sea.” Like [name_m]Proteus[/name_m], he is a shape-shifter with the power of prophecy, and it is possible that the two Gods are one and the same. He was renowned in ancient times for his truthfulness, integrity, and gentleness. [name_m]Nereus[/name_m] is also the name of a supposed first-century saint. Generally derived from Gr: neron “water,” it may actually be the other way around; the related adjective neros means “of fish.”

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Nephthys :black_cat:

The Greek form of Nebet-het, the name of an Egyptian [name_f]Goddess[/name_f]. In Egyptian art, she was depicted as a young woman with a headdress in the shape of a house and basket. She is the consort and sister of [name_m]Set[/name_m], as well as the sister of [name_f]Isis[/name_f] and [name_m]Osiris[/name_m]. Egyptian: nbt “lady” + Ht “big house” and “temple.” A protective deity, she is regarded as the nursing mother of Horns and the chief nurse of the reigning [name_m]Pharaoh[/name_m]. She is also the mother of [name_m]Anubis[/name_m], and a [name_f]Goddess[/name_f] of death, the experience of death, and the dead.

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Dear readers, we have reached the end of this topic that was originally created to share my name findings with you all. There is a chance I might re-visit this topic and do it all again, which I’m sure you will support as wholeheartedly as this one, but I’d like to put a pause on this one. Thank you for staying with me so far.

You can share your thoughts, musings and any other opinions you may have at the link below!

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