Latin Names
- Columbia
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"land of Columbus"Description:
Columbia is a rarely used name with many associations. From the eighteenth century it has been used as a female personification of the United States, often appearing as a flag-draped patriotic figure. And as such it's inspired a plethora of place and company names, from the District of Columbia to Columbia University to Columbia Records, and songs like "Columbia, Gem of the Ocean." A character called Columbia appears in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
- Benigno
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"kind, wellborn"Description:
From the root that gives us "benign," Benigno is not as accessible in English-speaking cultures as such names as Bruno and Benicio. Filipino Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., went by his nickname Ninoy.
- Virtue
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"moral excellence"Description:
The mother of all virtue names.
- Eroica
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"heroic"Description:
The name of Beethoven's third symphony, and too close to the word erotica.
- Sebastiane
Origin:
French female form of Sebastian, Latin from GreekMeaning:
"man of Sebastia"Description:
Sebastiane is not a common feminization but may become more so as Sebastian achieves international popularity.
- Delise
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"delight"Description:
Variation on the Delight-Delicia theme.
- Cándido
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"pure, white"Description:
Projects a feeling of openness and candor.
- Urban
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"of the city"Description:
This name of eight popes might appeal to confirmed city-dwellers, but Urbana would be more feminine.
- Dalmazio
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"from Dalmatia"Description:
Ancient Italian martyr's name that's a rarity here and now.
- Floy
Origin:
Diminutive of FlorenceMeaning:
"flourishing, prosperous"Description:
All but unheard of today, Floy was a popular Florence nickname used on its own in a century ago: it was Number 448 in 1914.
- Penna
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"feather"Description:
Occasionally heard in England, rarely here.
- Fidelis
- Julitte
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"praised"Description:
Delicate and obscure version of this many-faceted name.
- Proctor
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"official, administrator"Description:
With the new fashion for occupational names, we may hear more of this one.
- Florida
Origin:
Place name and Spanish from LatinMeaning:
"flowery"Description:
Lacks the cachet of some newer place-names.
- Sargent
Origin:
Spelling variation of Sergeant, LatinMeaning:
"to serve"Description:
One of the few military ranks used as a name, as in Kennedy in-law and Peace Corps creator Sargent (born Robert Sargent) Shriver. There's also a more creative, artistic association with painter John Singer Sargent.
- Albinia
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"white, fair"Description:
The original male name Alban is a lot sleeker and more usable.
- Gardener
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"keeper of the garden"Description:
One of the most pleasant and evocative of the hot new occupational names. Related name: Gardner, as in Ava.
- Semiramide
Origin:
Latinised version of SemiramisDescription:
Semiramis/Semiramide was the most important Queen of Assyria, who conquered much of Asia. Semiramis restored ancient Babylon and protected it with a high brick wall that completely surrounded the city. Then she built several palaces in Persia, reigned much of Asia Minor effectively and conquered Libya and Ethiopia. The version Semiramide was used by Giacomo Rossini in his opera of the same name.