Shemhazai Library
Content managed by our
Librarian, member Mariana Shahrizai
Name Meanings & Origins in the
Kushielverse
(this is a partial list
and should be considered a work in progress)
Alais - possibly an Old French form of 'Alice,' which, through
some etymological backtracking means "nobly born";
perhaps based on the name Anaïs, which comes from Anna, which comes
from Hebrew Hannah, which means "favour, grace"
Alcuin - German: noble friend; possibly akin to Alcacysm, a Greek lyric poet (600 BC);
Saint Alcuin was a great medieval scholar who encouraged the spread of
literacy and founded several educational institutions in Europe.
Anael - may be derived from "Hannah" meaning "grace" in Hebrew.
The name would then be another transcription of 'Hannael' (grace of
God; beauty of God), or more commonly Haniel, one of the seven
archangels in Jewish faith.
The spelling might indicate that it is in fact a compound name from
the Hebrew elements 'ana' and 'el', thus meaning "song of God" or "God
has answered".
As a male name, first used in France in the 1960s, Anaël is also
believed to be a blend of the name Anne and the Breton suffix -aël to
make a male version of Anne, a very popular name in Brittany.
Note: Anael is an angel in Judeo-Christian apocryphal mythology.
Baudoin - from Germanic: brave friend (BOD-wun)
Bernadette - French: brave as a
bear
Camael - Hebrew: strength of God
Note: Camael is an angel in Judeo-Christian apocryphal mythology.
Cassiel - Hebrew: my cover is God
Note: Cassiel is an angel in Judeo-Christian apocryphal mythology.
Claire - French: clear, bright,
illustrious, famous
Claude - Latin: lame, disabled
Claudia - Latin: lame, disabled
Denise - French: devotee of
Dionysus; derived from Dennis- Dionysus
Drustan - Ancient Celtic diminutive of Drust. Became "Tristan"
when the spelling was altered, courtesy of Tristan and Isolde, to link
it with the Latin "triste", meaning "sad".
Eamonn - Irish form of Old English Eadmund, which means
"prosperous, happy warrior". Suits the younger but not the older.
Edmee - French: prosperous
protection
Eleazar - Hebrew: God has helped; God is my help
Elua - 'el' means God in Hebrew
Emile - from Latin aemulus: to emulate, to be industrious;
rival
Enoch - Hebrew: educated, dedicated, devoted
Estelle - Latin: star
Frederic - French variation of
English Frederick, peaceful ruler
Gerard - Germanic: strength of
the spear
Ghislain - French: pledge, vow,
hostage
From the Germanic element "ghil" meaning "promise, vow" but also
referring to a servant who let himself be captured for the sake of his
master - a voluntary hostage.
Helena - Greek: torch
Hubert - English: bright mind,
intelligent
Hyacinthe - Greek: hyacinth. Mythological name.
Imriel - Hebrew: eloquence of God
Isabel - Spanish: God is my
oath; Hebrew: my god is a vow
Isidore - Greek: gift of Isis
Jean/Jeanne/Jehane - French: God
is gracious
Joscelin - French form of Hebrew Jacoba, feminine of Jacob,
which means 'supplanter, substitute.'
From the Germanic masculine name Gautzelin, which was derived from the
name of a Germanic tribe, the Gauts. This name was brought to England
by the Normans in the form Goscelin or Joscelin, and was common until
the 14th century. It was revived in the 20th century primarily as a
feminine name, perhaps an adaptation of the surname Jocelyn (a
medieval derivative of the given name).
Juliette - French form of
English Juliet, youthful
Kushiel - punisher of God
Note: Kushiel is an angel in Judeo-Christian apocryphal mythology.
Leander - Greek: lion of a man. Mythological name.
Lisette - French: God is my
oath; Hebrew: my god is a vow
Luc - either from Latin, lux
(meaning light) or from Greek, of Lucania
Lucius - Latin: light
Marc - French: warlike, from
Latin Mars
Marguerite - French: pearl
Melisande - Possibly a variant of the Old French name Melisende;
from the Germanic Millicent, from 'amalwint'. Amal means "labour", and
swint "strength".
Some, though, associate it with the Greek name Melissa (honey-bee).
Micah - Hebrew: Who is like God?
Micheline - French: Who is like
God, French form of Michael
Millard - from an English
surname: guardian of the mill
Naamah - Hebrew: pleasant, beautiful
Note: Naamah is an angel in Judeo-Christian apocryphal mythology.
Percy - French, diminutive of
Percival: Pierce valley, derived from Perseus
Phedre - from Greek Phaedra: the shining one; bright
Phillippe - from Greek Philippos: lover of horses
Quintilius - A Roman dimunitive derived from Quintus, meaning
fifth
Raife - French form of Germanic
Ralph, wolf council
Renee - French: reborn
Rousse - red or Russian
Roxanne - English: dawn
Royce - English: of a famous kin
Sara - Hebrew: princess
Sidonie - Latin: of Sidon (a Phoenician city); French: fine
cloth
Simon (Ximon) - Hebrew: he heard; listening
Thomas - Aramaic: twin
Tsingan, Tsingano - gypsy
Victor - Latin: winner,
conqueror
Vivianne - French: alive
Yvonne - French: yew
This information was compiled with
contributions from: Emeraude Sautereau,
Initiate of the Night Court
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