Behind the Name: Catriona's Personal Name List

Zoya

Gender: Feminine

Usage: Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Bulgarian

Other Scripts: Зоя(Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Bulgarian)

Pronounced: ZO-yə(Russian)

Rating: 36% based on 14 votes

Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian and Bulgarian form of Zoe.

Venetia

Gender: Feminine

Usage: English (Rare), Greek

Other Scripts: Βενετία(Greek)

Rating: 37% based on 14 votes

From the Latin name of the Italian region of Veneto and the city of Venice (see the place name Venetia). This name was borne by the celebrated English beauty Venetia Stanley (1600-1633), though in her case the name may have been a Latinized form of the Welsh name Gwynedd [1]. Benjamin Disraeli used it for the heroine of his novel Venetia (1837).

Valencia

Gender: Feminine

Usage: Various

Pronounced: ba-LEHN-sya(Latin American Spanish) ba-LEHN-thya(European Spanish) və-LEHN-see-ə(English)

Rating: 50% based on 15 votes

From the name of cities in Spain and Venezuela, both derived from Latin valentia meaning "strength, vigour".

Thyra

Gender: Feminine

Usage: Swedish, Danish

Rating: 37% based on 15 votes

Variant of Tyra.

Nyssa

Gender: Feminine

Usage: Various (Rare)

Rating: 36% based on 14 votes

From the name of an ancient town of Asia Minor where Saint Gregory was bishop in the 4th century. Nyssa is also the genus name of a type of tree, also called the Tupelo.

Lise

Gender: Feminine

Usage: French, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, English

Pronounced: LEEZ(French, English) LEE-seh(Swedish, Norwegian, Danish) LEES(English)

Rating: 43% based on 12 votes

Short form of Elisabeth or Elizabeth.

Gwynn

Gender: Masculine

Usage: Welsh

Pronounced: GWIN

Rating: 45% based on 15 votes

Variant of Gwyn.

Cécile

Gender: Feminine

Usage: French

Pronounced: SEH-SEEL

Rating: 37% based on 14 votes

French form of Cecilia.

Carys

Gender: Feminine

Usage: Welsh

Pronounced: KAHR-is

Rating: 22% based on 13 votes

Derived from Welsh caru meaning "love". This is a relatively modern Welsh name, in common use only since the middle of the 20th century.

Camille

Gender: Feminine & Masculine

Usage: French, English

Pronounced: KA-MEE(French) kə-MEEL(English)

Rating: 46% based on 15 votes

French feminine and masculine form of Camilla. It is also used in the English-speaking world, where it is generally only feminine.

Aella

Gender: Feminine

Usage: Greek Mythology

Other Scripts: Ἄελλα(Ancient Greek)

Pronounced: A-EHL-LA(Classical Greek)

Rating: 45% based on 15 votes

Means "whirlwind" in Greek. In Greek myth this was the name of an Amazon warrior killed by Herakles during his quest for Hippolyta's girdle.