MEDIEVAL Story Character Names

Nora

Diminutive of Honora or Eleonora, Latin

"honor or meaning unknown"

Nora is a lovely, refined name that conjures up images of Belle Epoch ladies in fur-trimmed coats skating in Central Park. Long seen as a quintessentially Irish name though its roots are not in…

Julianna

Latin

"youthful or sky father"

Together with Julian, the name Juliana/Julianna derives from Julius, a Roman family name. Its origin is shrouded by history, but possible roots include Latin iuvenis , meaning "youthfu"; Greek ioulos…

Margo

French, diminutive of Margaret

"pearl"

Margo and Margot sound exactly the same, so why has the Margot spelling hopped back onto the Top 1000, outpacing Margo in numbers more than two to one? (Over 350 baby girls were named Margot in the…

Ramona

Spanish, feminine variation of Ramon

"wise protector"

Ramona is a sweet spot name – neither too trendy nor too eccentric. Kids will associate it with the clever Ramona Quimby character in the series of books by Beverly Cleary, also seen on TV. It was…

Elyse

Variation of Elise or Elysia

"pledged to God"

Elyse hasn't been heard much since the 80s, but it's beginning to be reconsidered as a possibIlity again, now that it's not so much seen as a Mom name, as it was in the TV show "Family Ties." A…

Liz

Diminutive of Elizabeth

"pledged to God"

Some might think a girl named Liz on her birth certificate would feel deprived of her full identity, but in a time when mini names like Liv, Kit, Tru, Kai, Lou, and Bea are in style, Liz feels…

Charlene

English feminization of Charles, German and French

"free man"

Charlene is a Charlotte variation that, along with similar names like Arlene and Marlene, spiked in popularity in the 1940s and fifties, reaching a high of Number 100 in 1949. Most parents today…

Mona

Irish

"noble good"

Mona had more than a moment in the sun, peaking in 1950 at Number 230 but falling off the Top 1000 completely in the late 1980s. Its similarity to the word "moaner" undercuts the appeal of its…

Evette

French, spelling variation of Yvette or diminutive of Eve, Hebrew

"yew tree or life"

Evette could be considered a spelling variation of the French Yvette, a feminization of Yves, which has a botanical meaning, or a pet form of Eve, meaning life. About 50 baby girls were named Evette…

Muriel

Irish

"of the bright sea, sea-bright"

Once a poetic Celtic name, that of the angel who governs the month of June, Muriel has for a time, become the mom or grandma of TV sitcoms. A Top 200 name from 1912 to 1933, Muriel might just be due…

Josselyn

English variation of Jocelyn

"member of the Gauts tribe"

One of many modern spellings of Jocelyn, this one used by actress Samantha Harris for her daughter.

Meryl

Variation of Muriel via Meriel, Irish

"of the bright sea"

Meryl is a name that's at once rare and famous, thanks to Meryl (born Mary Louise) Streep. Streep's name is an invented short form of Mary Louise, but Meryl might also be a contraction of the unique…

Ulla

Scandinavian

"will, determination"

Ulla, the beautiful Swedish secretary in The Producers (played by Uma Thurman in the movie) who purrs, "Ven you got it, flaunt it," has changed the image of this name forever. Ulla may stand on its…

Aenya

Aenya is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variant of Anya (Russian form of Anna, meaning 'grace'), with the added 'e' giving it a more ethereal quality. Alternatively, it…