Sive

Midsummer Eve by Edward Hughes

Gender: Feminine

Origin: Gaelic

Meaning: “Sweet; goodness.”

Pronunciation: (shee-vah); (SAHYV)

Detail: According to Irish mythology, Sive refuses the advances of the Druid Fear Doirche who then casts a spell on her making her take the form of a deer. Sive is rescued by Fionn mac Cumhail (fyun) and discovers that spell is broken while under Fionn‘s protection. They have a son (Oisin (uh-SHEEN)) together but eventually Sive is tricked into leaving Fionn‘s house and is turned back into a deer.

Variations:

• Saibh
• Saidhbh
• Sive

Hansel

Gender: Masculine

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: “God’s grace.”

Pronunciation: (HAHN-sel)

Nicknames: Hans

Detail:  Hansel is a character of the German fairy tale “Hänsel und Gretel.”

“Hansel… so hot right now… Hansel.” – Mugatu (Zoolander)

Gretel

Soup (1865) William-Adolphe Bouguereau

Gender: Feminine

Origin: Greek

Meaning: “Pearl.”

Nicknames: Greta, Gret, Gretty, Grey

Detail:   In the Brother Grimm’s fairytale, Gretel and her brother Hansel are captured by a witch after stumbling across her gingerbread house in the forest. The witch intends to eat the children but they trick her and are able to make their escape.