Queens of Old

Phila

Greek, Zulu, Xhosa

"lover, friend; to live of life"

In the Zulu and Xhosa languages of Southern Africa, Phila is a unisex name pronounced "PEE-la" and means "to live of life" It's also the feminine version of the ancient Greek name Philo, pronounced…

Thessaly

Greek, place name, meaning unknown

The name of an area in northern Greece, known in the era of Homer's Odyssey as Aeolia, Thessaly makes a spirited and pretty place name. Reminiscent of Tessa, Rosalie, and Thea, the name likely…

Nike

Greek

"victory"

The goddess and personification of victory in Greek mythology – sister to strength, force, and zeal – could make a powerful namesake for a daughter. The goddess would fly a chariot across…

Harmonia

Greek

"agreement, concord"

One Greek mythological name -- she was the goddess of order -- not yet embraced by American parents.

Immilla

Diminutive of Irmengard

"universal enclosure"

Immilla is a soft and mellifluous sounding name which is exponentially more attractive than the original. The name offers several lovely nickname options, such as Immy, Millie, and Mila. Immilla of…

Semiramis

Queen of Babylon

Semiramis 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…

Scheherazade

Persian

"noble lineage"

Scheherazade -- or Sheherazade --is a legendary Persian queen immortalized as the narrator of all one thousand stories in the One Thousand and One Nights . Her story is even more remarkable than the…

Jadwiga

Polish variation of Hedvig, German

"war"

A sweet but spiky form of Hedwig, Jadwiga recently ranked in the Top 100 in Poland. Its popularity may owe something to Jadwiga, a 14th century ruler of Poland, who was crowned "king", not queen. The…