Gender: Masculine
Origin: Celtic
Meaning: “the terrible.”
Pronunciation: (OO-thur)
Nicknames: Utho
Detail: Possibly of Celtic origin and means “the terrible”.
In Celtic mythology, Uther Pendragon is Arthur‘s father in the Arthurian ledgends.
Heading East by sagetopaz
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Gaulish
Meaning: “Horse Goddess.”
Pronunciation: (EP-oh-neen)
Nicknames: Eppie, Poe, Poni, Nina
Detail: The name Epona, “Horse Goddess” is from the Gaulish language; it is derived from the inferred proto-Celtic ekwos ‘horse’ (Compare Latin equus)
In Gallo-Roman religion, Epona was a protector of horses, donkeys, and mules.
Variations:
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Welsh
Pronunciation: (NIM-oo-ay)
Nicknames: Nim, Moon
Detail: A moon goddess who was sometimes called Lady of the Lake. The Lady of the Lake is usually referred to by various spellings of the names Nimue or Vivienne.
Nimue is thought to be related to Mneme, the shortened form of Mnemosyne, one of the nine water-nymph Muses of Roman and Greek Mythology who gave weapons, not unlike Arthur‘s sword, to the heroic Perseus.
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: “White rose.”
Pronunciation: (hross-wen)
Nicknames: Rose, Rosie, Rosa
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:
Imogen Morris-Clarke
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: “Maiden; Innocent.”
Pronunciation: (IM-oh-jen)
Nicknames: Immy, Immo, Imzy
Detail: Imogen was the daughter of King Cymbeline, in Shakespeare’s play, Cymbeline.
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Celtic / Roman / Gaulish
Meaning: “The Great Provider.”
Nicknames: Rose, Rosie, Romy
Detail: A goddess of healing, water, & sacred springs.
In Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Madam Rosmerta is the landlady of The Three Broomsticks pub in the village of Hogsmeade.
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: debated “She of Great Desire.” “Idol; image.”
Eluned derived from Welsh -el “greatly, much” + (i)uned “wish, desire.” Or from Welsh eilun “image, idol.”
Pronunciation: Eng (eh-LOON-ed); Welsh (el-EEN-ed)
Detail: Eluned was a handmaiden of the Lady of the Fountain in the Welsh Arthurian romance Owein. She had a magic ring which rendered the wearer invisible – one of the Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain. Eluned’s beauty and intelligence were legendary. This was also the name of a 5th-century Welsh saint.
Nicknames: Luna, Elle, Lena, Lune, Ned
Variations:
painting by Frank Dicksee
Name Day: November 15
Gender: Masculine
Origin: debated
Meaning: (Celtic) “Bear; Stone” (Germanic) “Thor, eagle.”
Nicknames: Art, Artie, Thor
Detail: King Arthur is a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against the Saxon invaders in the early 6th century.
Lucius Artorius Castus was a Roman officer who lived in the late second century.
St. Arzhel was born in Wales in 482, founded a monastery in the Forest of Broceliande in Brittany. Famed as a magician, Arzhel was summoned to King Childebert’s court in Paris. After his death, Arzhel’s name was invoked to end droughts.
Variations:
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Celtic
Meaning: “Service.”
Pronunciation: (SEY-vah)
Detail: Seva was a 6th Century saint, sister of St. Tugdual. The parish of Sainte-Seve is dedicated to her.
Sophia Myles
Gender: Feminine
Meaning: (Welsh) “Beautiful; fair lady.” Or (Germanic) “Ice princess.”
Pronunciation: (ih-ZOLD)
Origin: The origin of Isolde is somewhat disputed. It might derive from the Welsh word “esyllt,” meaning “beautiful”; it might also derive from the Germanic words for “ice” and “to rule.”
Detail: In Arthurian legend, this is the name a tragic princess who was the lover of Tristan.
Variations:
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Celtic
Meaning: “Imagination”
Detail: Embarr is the mythical Irish horse that belonged to the goddess, Niamh (Neve). He can run across land and sea without ever touching the ground or water.
