Ballet Names

Miguel de Cervantes invented this elaborate-sounding name -- which roughly translates as "sweetness" -- for the beautiful maiden Don Quixote is obsessed with in his great novel. Even in the fictional world of the book, though, Dulcinea is not the woman's real name; Aldonza is. And because she never appears in person in the text, it's unclear whether she is as beautiful and saintly as the protagonist believes her to be. Probably not, given Don Quixote's track record.

These days Albrecht is mostly seen as a surname, although it was historically a well-used first name in Germany. The surname was derived from the given name.

Also spelled Sigfrid, this hefty German name has an appropriately majestic meaning: "victorious peace". Fittingly, a famous bearer was the English World War I poet and pacifist Siegfried Sassoon. Sassoon was named after the hero of a Wagner opera, which in turn was based on a tragic hero from German legend.

A rare and romantic take on Basil.

Sassy but slight nickname name.

Form of Swanhild, borne by the heroine of the ballet Coppélia. The -a ending certainly gives this ancient name a lighter, more balletic feel.

Name of nine provincial Spanish kings, but more likely to conjure up Sancho Panza, the hapless squire of Don Quixote.

Hilarion is a masculine name with ancient Greek origins, derived from the word 'hilaros,' meaning 'cheerful' or 'joyful.' This historical name was popularized primarily through St. Hilarion, a 4th-century hermit and saint who was a disciple of St. Anthony the Great and founded monasticism in Palestine. Despite its distinguished history, Hilarion has remained relatively uncommon in the Western world. The name carries a scholarly, classical quality that appeals to parents interested in distinctive historical names. While more frequently found in Eastern Orthodox communities and Greek-speaking regions, Hilarion occasionally appears elsewhere, offering a unique alternative to more common classical names. Its connection to 'hilarious' gives it a subtle association with joy and laughter.