Gender: Feminine
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Cherry blossom.”
Pronunciation: (sah-KOO-rah)
Nicknames: Saku, Saki, Suki
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Cherry blossom.”
Pronunciation: (sah-KOO-rah)
Nicknames: Saku, Saki, Suki
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “To beautify and cleanse.”
Pronunciation: (ka-LOO-nah)
Nicknames: Calla, Callie, Luna
Detail: The name Calluna derives from the Greek word kallunein which means “to beautify and cleanse”, which probably derives from the use of Calluna Vulgaris (Heather) twigs as brooms, or from its medicinal properties for treatment of a number of internal disorders.
Calluna Vulgaris is an herb of immortality, and protection. Its Invocatory can be Isis, Osiris, or Venus. It is associated with Midsummer’s Eve.
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Rainbow.”
Pronunciation: (AHY-ris)
Nicknames: Iri
Detail: Iris was the ancient Greek goddess of the rainbow, the messenger of the Olympian gods.
Her name contains a double meaning, being connected both with iris, “the rainbow,” and eiris, “messenger.”
Iris can also refer to a genus of ornamental flowering plants, or a part of the eye.
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Finnish
Meaning: “Lily of the steppes.”
Pronunciation: (ar-oh-LEEL-yah)
Nicknames: Aro, Ari, Lilja, Lila, Lily
Detail: From the combination of aro meaning “steppes” (steppes are large areas of flat grassy land where there are no trees), and lilja meaning “lily”.
In a medieval, Norwegian ballad, Bendik falls in love with princess Arolilja. A boy tells the king that Bendik is seeing his daughter. Bendik’s punishment is death. Arolilja prays for him to no avail, he is hanged. She dies of heartache, and the king grieves. The two are buried on either side of a church, and up from their graves lilies grow and entwine above the church roof.