Showing posts with label Blogging from A-Z Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogging from A-Z Challenge. Show all posts

Y - Almost There!

Friday, April 29, 2016


Here's what we have for Y!

Ya (f)             Graceful, origin – Chinese
Yadirah (f)    Unclear, origin – Arabic
Yaffa (f)         Gorgeous, origin – Hebrew

Yakov (m)      Pronunciation - YAH-kahf, Following after, origin - Hebrew
Yaron (m)       Filled with joy, origin – Hebrew

Yashawn (m) God is merciful, origin - Hebrew

X - Marks the Name & Not the Spot!

Thursday, April 28, 2016



Only a few more days, to go and we are at X!

Xanthia (f)   origin - English
Xenia   (f)     hospitality, origin - Greek, Ancient Greek
Xia  (m/f)     Summer, great/grand, origin - Chinese 

Xandinho (m) Shortened form of Alexandre, origin -  Portuguese
Xavier (m)        So popular, I had to include it. origin -  English, French, Portuguese, Catalan, Spanish . The name is taken from the Basque place name Etxaberri meaning "the new house". Surname of the Jesuit priest Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552) - the patron saint of the Orient and missionaries.

Xolani (m)     Peace, origin - Southern African, Zulu (love this one!)

Names For U ...

Monday, April 25, 2016


We're drawing near to the end, I hope you're still going strong.

Uchenna (f)   God's will, origin – Negerian
Uha (f)            Rain, origin – Tonga
Umay (f)         Hopeful – origin – Turkish

Ucal (m)         Powerful, origin – Hebrew
Uhuru (m)     Freedom, origin – Tanzanian
Uzoma (m)    Born while travelling, origin – Nigerian


What names do you like for U?

The Ts Showcased!

Saturday, April 23, 2016


It's time to take a look at the Ts.

Tatjana (f) Fairy queen, origin - Russian
Tazu (f)    Stork, long-lived, origin - Japanese
Tsoler (f)  Sparks of sun, origin - Armenian

Taree (m)   Wild fig tree, origin - Australian Aboriginal
Tarquin (m) Early Roman tyrant - Latin
Tobar (m)   Fountain, to tow, road, origin - English/Gypsy

So what are your faves?

Let's hear it for the S names.

Friday, April 22, 2016


Sachi (f)   Bringer of bliss, origin - Japanese
Sadiya (f)  Lucky, origin - Arabic
Safia (f)   Lion's share, pure, best friend, untroubled, origin - Arabic, Hindi, Swahili
Sai (f)     Tree, fortress, stronghold, origin - Japanese

Sankara (m) Lucky, fortunate, origin - Sanskrit
Sef (m)     Yesterday, origin - Egyptian
Shastra (m) Giver of instructions, origin - Sanskrit

On With the Rs

Thursday, April 21, 2016



Rachav (f)   Big baby, origin - Hebrew
Radomira (f) Famous, origin - Czech
Raelene (f)  Famous temptress, origin - Latin/French

Radomil (m)  One who loves peace, origin - Czech
Rafiq (m)    Kind, friend, origin - Arabic
Raja (m)     The stars, king, origin - Australian Aboriginal/Hindi

Let's see what S brings. What are your picks for R?

On your Qs …

Wednesday, April 20, 2016


Queisha (f) Life/woman origin - Swahili/Arab
Quelita (f) Queen of Joy, origin  America
Quoba (f)   Good, origin  Australian/Aboriginal

Quillan (m) Cub     Irish
Quinn (m)   Wise    Celtic
Qusay (m)   Distant Arabic

What names do you like that start with Q?

A Round-Up of Ps

Tuesday, April 19, 2016


So, we're at the letter P. I hope your energy isn't flagging! Here goes …

Padma (f)   Pronunciation - PAHD-mah, Lotus flower, origin - Indian, Sanskrit
Pipaluk (f)  Pronunciation - pi-PAH-look, the little one, origin – Native American
Piritta (f)    Pronunciation - pee-REE-tah, powerful/strong, origin – Irish

Pentti (m)     Pronuncation - PEHN-ti, the blessed one, origin – Finnish/Latin
Priam (m)     Pronunciation - PRIE-É™m, extremely brave, origin - Greek
Proctor (m)  Pronunciation - PRAHK-tÉ™r, Steward/caretaker, origin – English/Latin


Stay tuned for the S names tomorrow. What d'you like in terms of the Ps.


Os from the African Continent

Monday, April 18, 2016


Oooooh. Those O names are on the front burner today!

Omolara      Pronunciation - aw-maw-LAH-rah, Baby in the family, origin - African
Oni (f)          Pronunciation - AW-nee, born on sacred ground, origin – African
Oydis            Pronunciation - OY-dis, goddess of good luck, origin – Norwegian, Old Norse

Obasi (m)     Pronunciation - oh-BAH-see, in God's honour, origin - African
Omari (m)    Pronunciation - oh-MAH-ree, to flourish/thrive, origin – Arabic
Ondrej (m)   Pronunciation - AWN-drey, virile/manly, origin - Czech, Greek


What names d'you like that start with the letter O?

More Nnnnnames ...

Saturday, April 16, 2016


We're moving on to the next half of the Challenge, so here goes …

Naarah        Girl of my heart, origin – Hebrew
Nadifa         Born between seasons, origin – Somalian
Nailah         Successful, origin - Arabic
Nadine        Hope (didn't know that)

Noadiah       To meet with God, origin – Hebrew
Nui                Great, origin – Maori
Nye               Islander, origin - English


What will the Os bring? What N names d'you like. 

Bring on the M Names!

Friday, April 15, 2016



And now the M names …

Mahola      Dancing, origin – Hebrew
Malay         Freedom, origin – Filipino
Mara          Black duck, origin – Australian aboriginal

Macario     Blessed, Happy – origin – Spanish
Maidoc      Fortunate, origin – Welsh
Makaio      Gift of God, form of Matthew, origin – Hawaiian/Hebrew


What will N bring? What are your N names?

On to the Ls

Thursday, April 14, 2016



We're almost halfway through the Challenge and today, we have a sampling of names starting with L.

Laciana      Beautiful one, Italian
Laella         Elf, origin – French, English
Leakiki       Ocean waves – origin – Polynesian

Lanz           Knight, A form of Lance, origin – French/Italian
Leander     Like a lion, origin – Greek
Leib            Lion roaring, origin – Yiddish


So hit me with some L names. 

The Challenge for Today: I

Monday, April 11, 2016



After a rest day, we're back on the Challenge trail with I. Here are today's names.

Ian (m)          Pronunciation JAHN, Scottish form of John, origin – Scottish/English
Idris (m)        Ardent/enthusiastic lord, origin – Welsh (included 'cuz of Idris Elba, or course)
Ikram (f/m)  Honour, origin - Arabic

Ianthe (f)     Violet flower, origin – Greek mythology
Ibtisam (f)   Smile, origin – Arabic
Iekika (f)      Hawaiian equivalent of Jessica


What interesting I names d'you have?

The Hs have it!

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Today, were on to names that start with H. These are pretty easy on the tongue, but still have an exotic sound.

Hadassah (f)  Pronunciation hah-DAH-sah, from the myrtle tree, origin - Hebrew
Haleema (f)   Princess, patience, origin – Arabic
Hania (f)        Pronunciation HAHN-yah, gracious, origin – Hebrew/Polish

Hadley (m)   Pronunciation HAD-lee meadow of heather, origin – English
Hahn (m)      Rooser, origin – German
Hai (m/f)       Pronunciation - HAH-ee, coming from the sea, origin – Chinese


What H names d'you have to share today?

We're on to the Gs

Friday, April 8, 2016


And we're on to the Gs.

Ghislaine (f)    sweet pledge, origin – French
Ginevra (f)       fair and sweet, origin – Welsh
Gizane (f)        Christ's incarnation, origin - Basque

Gaidrian (m)    of the night, origin – Greek
Gannon (m)     fair complexioned, origin – Irish
Giordan (m)     replacement for Jordan, origin – unknown


Any interesting G names for me?

Bean Grower & Other 'F' Names

Thursday, April 7, 2016

My F names carry a range of sounds. I know someone by the name of Feechi, but didn't think to ask what it meant.




Fabienne   beautiful name for 'bean grower', origin - French
Falak (f)     Pronunciation FAAL-ahk, falcon, star, origin – German/Arabic
Feechi (f)  worship God, origin - African

Faddei (m)           brave, origin - Russian
Fadeyushka (m)  brave, origin – Ukranian
Faiion (m)            ruler, origin – ruler


Any interesting F names to share?

What's That You Said? #IWSG Post

Wednesday, April 6, 2016



So today for the Challenge, we're on to names that start with E. I found the pronunciations to be challenging with most of these names. I'll bet if you hear some of them spoken, you'll wonder for a second if you heard right, especially in relation to how they are spelled.

Ealasaid (f)  Pronunciation: YAH-luh-sutch, promise of God, origin – Hebrew/Scottish
Edna (f)        Little seed or kernel, origin – Gaelic (This is my mother's name)
Efa (f)            Pronunciation: EEF-É™, living and breathing, variation of Eve, origin - Hebrew

Eadric (m)    Pronunciation: EED-rik, wealthy monarch, origin - English
Eanraig (m)  Pronunciation: EN-rik, ruler of the house, origin – Scottish/Germanic
Eetu (m)       Pronunciation: EH-tu,  wealthy guard, origin – English/Finnish


I'm sure your favourite E names would be a bit easier on the tongue.

Since it's the first day of the month, it's time for the Insecure Writer's Support Group posting. If you haven't signed up to be part of this forum where you are free to air your insecurities once per mouth and give encouragement to other writers, then you need to remedy that right now, by signing up here. 

Mostly, I've been too busy to be insecure what with being in deadline hell for a long while now, but if you're feeling a bit lost or not sure you're heading in the right direction, here's a question from me to you. 



C What's in a Name?

Monday, April 4, 2016



So we're on Day C of the Challenge and my theme is names and their origins. This collection will be handy when it comes to christening future characters.

Ceri (f)         Pronunciation: Ke-ri, beloved, also used for males, origin - Welsh
Charissa (f)  grace, origin – Greek
Cajsa (f)       Pronunciation: KIE-sah, chaste, pure – origin – Greek, Swedish

Something I didn't know before was that Ceasar—although a name bestowed on Roman emperors—means full head or hair or hairy.

Caoimhin (m)  Pronunciation: QUEE-veen, handsome, origin - Irish
Carsten (m)    Pronunciation: KAHR-sten. Christian man, origin - Latin
Caz (m)          Pronunciation: Kaz, the watchful one, origin - Gaelic, Germanic


Please share if you have a 'C' name that would sound good in a story.

What's in a Name?

Saturday, April 2, 2016


Howdy, thanks for stopping by on day 2 of the Challenge. Today's sampling of names come from all over the globe.

Barra (f)    flame, origin - Hebrew
Belicia (f)  dedicated to God, origin - Spanish
Bodhin (f)  enlightenment, awareness, origin - Sanskrit

Bahari (m)   One who sails, origin - African
Baraz (m)    Exalted, origin - Persian
Baris (m)     Peaceful, origin - Turkish 

Have any 'B' names that would look good in a book? Do share!

What's In a Name?

Friday, April 1, 2016


This year, my theme will be names. When you're a writer, you need a good range of names. However, I'll be exploring unusual names, their meanings, and asking you to share some uncommon ones you may know. Plus, I'll be sharing tidbits to do with names, so here goes … Today's names are … drumroll please …

Amala (f)  pure, origin – Sanskrit
Amara (f)  elegance, grace, origin – African
Asja (f)   resurrection; eastern sunrise, origin – American

Adrik (m)   dark – origin - Russian
Ayomide (m) Pronunciation: ah-yaw-MEE-deh - happiness is coming, origin - African
Azmera (m)  harvest, origin - Ethiopian

Have any 'A' names that would look good in a book? Do share!