Message: "Fidelis" - Behind the Name

[Opinions] Fidelis

by Bear

11/14/2006, 10:55 AM

I came across someone named Fidelis recently. What do you think? It's Latin, meaning "faithful." Do you see this as a male or a female name?

#Fidelis

This message was edited 11/14/2006, 10:57 AM

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- Cleveland Kent Evans (clevelandkentevans) +1

11/15/2006, 8:11 AM

I immediately think of Fidelis as a female name, because the only person with the name I am familiar with is the novelist Fidelis Morgan, who is a woman:

http://www.fidelismorgan.com/

However, there really is no good reason why Fidelis couldn't be given to boy.

- Bear (guest)

11/16/2006, 12:33 PM

I have never heard of the author, but thanks for the information. I feel like I should address you as Professor Evans because your answers are always so scholarly. I love learning new tid bits.

- iris +1

11/14/2006, 8:26 PM

I definitely see it as a male name. I can't see myself using it but it's a decent enough name for someone else's use. Probably not surprisingly it feels very Christmasy to me.

“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”
~Mark Twain

- Bear (guest)

11/16/2006, 12:31 PM

Thanks.

- Caroline Mae (Little-Beeps) +1

11/14/2006, 6:35 PM

I take Latin, so it is kind of weird for me to see latin words as names. Fidelis is nice, although as others have mentioned Semper Fidelis comes to mind first. I have been taught to prn it fee-DAY-lis

♥

- Bear (guest)

11/16/2006, 12:30 PM

Thanks!

- Luxiana +2

11/14/2006, 3:54 PM

it depends on how it is pronounced.

if it's fee-dell-iss, then I think of it as male and don't really care for it because it reminds me to much of Fidel and therefore Fidel Castro.

but if it's fee-dell-ees (almost like fleur-de-lis) then I think it's female and quite pretty.

the meaning is lovely.

Luxiana

- Bear +1

11/14/2006, 3:59 PM

I never thought about pronouncing it "fee-dell-ees." That's very pretty. Have you actually heard it pronounced like that? I'd be interested to know.

I've been thinking of it more like "fi-DEL-iss" or "fi-DAY-lis."

Would you be more interested in Fidelia? (Which I assume is "fi-DEH-lia" or "fi-DAY-lia.")

- Luxiana

11/14/2006, 4:19 PM

I've actually never heard the name before, nor have I seen it.

Fidelia doesn't really interest me. though I see the appeal of the name, I prefer Delia.

I do prefer fi-DEH-lia to fi-DAY-lia.

for my own use, I'd only consider Fidelis pronounced fee-dell-ees or fee-de-lees. I think that is the prettiest pronunciation. even if it's not real :]

Luxiana

- Soul (guest) +1

11/14/2006, 1:26 PM

It seems definitely more masculine than feminine to me. Fidelis is nice - I tend to like Latin names - but I personally prefer Fidel to it.

- Bear

11/14/2006, 1:52 PM

Thanks. I'm glad it's getting a good reception. I was a little nervous.

By the way, I like Fidel too. It's good to see I'm not alone.

- Sieglinde (bschoer10) +1

11/14/2006, 1:12 PM

I'm not sure...

But on the whole, it sounds quite unisex. It could easily suit both genders, even though I much prefer Fidelma on a girl. Fidelis sounds great on a boy but it's easy to picture a young girl with the name. Hmm...

Sieglinde

www.myspace.com/bethany2705

- Bear

11/14/2006, 1:50 PM

I agree -- with Fidelma and the unisex aspect of Fidelis. Yoiks, the day came when I found a unisex name I like. (It is the end of the world . . . . )

- glukumalon +1

11/14/2006, 12:41 PM

I used to know a guy named Fidelis, so I definitely think of it as a male name. It always reminds me of "Adeste Fideles" ("O Come All Ye Faithful"), but I think it's rather nice.

.Catherine Ann Genevieve.

This message was edited 11/14/2006, 12:47 PM

- Bear (guest)

11/14/2006, 1:03 PM

"Adeste Fidelis" -- how nice. I had forgotten that reference. Thanks! (One of my favorite Christmas carols, too. I wonder how I could have forgotten it.)

- Eilis (Suibhne) +6

11/14/2006, 11:51 AM

Reminds me a bit too much of the US Marines with their motto (and other people's mottos, but first I think theirs) "Semper fidelis." I'm not too big on the US armed services. :-/

I like Fidelia and Fidel, though, and the similar sounding but unrelated (to my memory) Fidelma.

www.qwantz.com

- Bear (guest) +5

11/14/2006, 12:10 PM

Yes, the Marine motto comes up in my head too. I surprise myself that it doesn't interfere with my enjoyment of the name. "Always faithful" in my mind can apply to more than just the USMC, if I concentrate.

I agree on Fidelia and Fidel, and especially Fidelma. Some books say Fidelma is related and others give it a separate, Gaelic origin. Either way, I've always liked it. Glad to see there's at least one other out there. :-)

- Eilis (Suibhne) +4

11/14/2006, 1:33 PM

I think Fidelma is great. I'm not sure if pretty is the first word I'd use to describe it, at least not in a particularly frilly feminine way, but it just seems really cool and strong to me. I kind of feel that way about Romaine, Greer, Alberta, and others.

If I could get my mind off of the Marine motto I'd likely be more keen on Fidelis. :-) It does have a good sound and the meaning has a lot of appeal.

www.qwantz.com

- Bear +3

11/14/2006, 1:49 PM

Follow the bouncing ball . . .

Adeste Fidelis, laeti triumphante,
Venite, venite in Bethlehem:
Natum videte Regem angelorum.
Venite adoremus, venite adoremus, venite adoremus dominum.*

Hat tip to glukumalon for this reference.

* Sung to the tune of "Oh Come All Ye Faithful."

- Chrisell +2

11/14/2006, 5:35 PM

Lol . . .

"Sung to the tune of "Oh Come All Ye Faithful." "

. . . it *is* "O Come All Ye Faithful", but in Latin instead of English. That's what Fidelis - "Faithful" - is doing in that first line :-)

~Chrisell~

Proudly Australian

www.archaeochrisell.blogspot.com

- Bear +1

11/14/2006, 5:47 PM

Yes, thank you. I know. I err on the side of over-explaining things in case there's someone out there not familiar with Latin.

- Chrisell

11/14/2006, 6:20 PM

Hehe, me too . . .

Looks like I just over-explained your explanation!

:-D

~Chrisell~

Proudly Australian

www.archaeochrisell.blogspot.com

- Elinor (Elly747) +1

11/14/2006, 11:35 AM

I don't know how to pronounce it at all. I'd say "fid-ELL-iss" in my head, and if that's right, I like it (probably more so for a female).

_____________________________________________________________________

♥Elinor♥

- Bear (guest)

11/14/2006, 12:06 PM

I've been saying it more along the lines of, "fi-DAY-lis" but "fi-DEL-iss" works too. :-)

I came across the name when watching screen credits on a movie. I had to replay it so see if it was for an actor or an actress. It turned out to be a woman's name, but I can see it on either.

- MariaNikolaievnaRomanova (MariaNikolaievnaRoma) +1

11/14/2006, 11:34 AM

I like it a lot! I think I'm so charmed by it because of Beethoven's Fidelio (I'm a fan. :)). I see it as a male and female name and I'm not inclined to use it more for one gender or the other.

_______________________

Life before four Oscars and twelve Oscar nominations...

- Bear (guest)

11/14/2006, 12:03 PM

Agreed, on Fidelio. Just saying the name out loud makes me smile. :-)

- Charlie Blue +1

11/14/2006, 11:29 AM

I think of Fidelis as a femal name, due to what it means in general.

Btw... Fidelis are the long word of the Fi in the Semper Fi used by the US marine.

♠ Charlie Blue! ♠

"I'm not lazy, I'm just a very calm person!"
"We are what happens to us!"
Check profile for PP's!

- Bear (guest)

11/14/2006, 12:02 PM

Thank you. And yes, I know about the U.S. Marine motto. I never thought I'd like a girl's name that has an association with a military motto, but I find it so pretty. Besides, the meaning of the motto is wonderful.

I see this more as a girl's name too, but I can see it on a boy also.

- Array (WeloveyouJesseLacey) +1

11/14/2006, 11:02 AM

It doesn't strike me as male or female--very unisex sounding to my ears. Reminds me of Luciente, one of the primary characters in Marge Piercy's Woman on the Edge of Time.

I think I prefer Fidelia, and for a girl.

Array

I need the smell of summer--
I need its noises in my ears.
A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having.

- Bear

11/14/2006, 11:11 AM

I've never heard of Fidelia before -- I like it! Thanks.

- HeidiB317 +1

11/14/2006, 10:57 AM

This seems more of a masculine name to me. I like it.

- Bear

11/14/2006, 11:17 AM

Thanks. I actually came across the name in credits for a film. I had to replay them to see if it was for a man or a woman. It turned out to be an actress' name. That's why I asked.

It reminds me of the US Marine motto, "semper fidelis." (= always faithful) But I really can see it on either gender.

I think I agree with Array. Fidelis seems gender-neutral, and there aren't man of those that I like. I'm glad you like it too.

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