Rocco

Gender: Masculine
Usage: Italian, Ancient Germanic
Meaning & History: Germanic name derived from the element hrok meaning "rest". This was the name of a 14th-century French saint who nursed victims of the plague but eventually contracted the disease himself. He is the patron saint of the sick.


Comments:  One thing I love about making this blog (scarcely as I've posted in it) is that I always find out some quite intriguing history behind my name de jour.  A French saint! St. Rocco!  What a spiffy gent he sounds to be.  Rocco is one of those male names that is so spunky yet dandy that it sets me into the type of mood for skipping down the sidewalk.  Rocco, Dexter, and friends.  4-3-2012

Combos:
Rocco Sebastian

Althea

Gender: Female
Usage: Greek Mythology (Latinised)
Meaning and History: From the Greek name Αλθαια (Althaia), perhaps related to Greek αλθος (althos) "healing". In Greek myth she was the mother of Meleager. Soon after her son was born she was told that he would die as soon as a piece of wood that was burning on her fire was fully consumed. She immediately extinguished the piece of wood and sealed it in a chest, but in a fit of rage many years later she took it out and set it alight, thereby killing her son.

Comments:  Wow! What an alluring story!  I was trying to decide between writing about Anthea and Althea and I chose the latter due to that story.  I tend to be a fan of names starting with a short A, particularly when followed by an L- they're very crisp to me, like a breath of cold air.  I feel like Althea itself is nearly as alluring as the namesake.  There's some sort of intriguing aura about it, as cliche as that may sound.  Althea needs a dark, romantic name in the middle position to give it some grounding.

Combos: 
Althea Constance
Althea Cordula
Althea Florence
Althea Jonquil
Althea Judith
Althea Lenore
Althea Mireio
Althea Poem
Althea Ruby
Althea Thora

Sebastian

Gender: Masculine
Usage: German, English, Polish, Finnish, Romanian, Scandinavian
Meaning and History: From the Latin name Sebastianus which meant "from Sebaste". Sebaste was the name a town in Asia Minor, its name deriving from Greek σεβαστος (sebastos) "venerable" (a translation of Latin Augustus, the title of the Roman emperors). Saint Sebastian was a 3rd-century Roman soldier martyred by arrows after it was discovered he was a Christian. Due to the saint's popularity, the name came into general use in medieval Europe, especially in Spain and France. It was also borne by a 16th-century king of Portugal who died in a crusade against Morocco.

Comments: I asked my beloved Oscar what name I should blog about and he suggested Sebastian.  It's always been a fickle name for me, really.  A large part of me wants to love its gaiety, pomposity, and refinement.  I think I've always been held back, though, by the depressing lack of suitable nickname.  Sebbie has always been off-putting to me.  On the other hand, it was Our Lord And Saviour Oscar Wilde's pseudonym upon release from prison, which bumps it up about 10,000 points.  As a matter of fact, someone on a name forum was considering naming her son Oscar Sebastian, which I think is triumphantly dashing.  So, Sebastian as a middle name, perhaps? 2/27/2012

Siblings:

Combos:
Sebastian Boaz
Sebastian Clark
Sebastian Conrad
Sebastian Hollis
Sebastian Prosper


Bowie Sebastian
Claude Sebastian
Darby Sebastian
George Sebastian
Hugo Sebastian
Jude Sebastian
Luca Sebastian
Noam Sebastian
Oscar Sebastian
Rocco Sebastian
Rupert Sebastian Adair

Garnet

Gender: Female (or Male?)
Usage: English
Meaning & History: From the English word garnet for the precious stone, the birthstone of January. The word is derived from Middle English gernet meaning "dark red".  OR From an occupational English surname which referred either to a person who made hinges (Old French carne) or who sold pomegranates (Old French pome grenate).

Comments: This is a name that has been floating around on my long list but has never been a real favourite.  However, as it intrigues me I have decided to write about it.  One thing I especially admire is that in my mind the world 'garnet' is actually the colour of the gemstone.  Margaux, incidentally, is the exact same tone.  Right now I only enjoy Garnet on a girl, but I could see it working on a posh little boy as well, or as a middle name for him.  2/22/2012

Siblings:
Jonquil, Thora, Selma

Combos:
Garnet Adele
Garnet Berenice
Garnet Calpurnia
Garnet Ellen
Garnet Elspeth
Garnet Lenore
Garnet Mary Adele
Garnet Regina

Florian

Gender: Male
Usage: German, Polish, French
Meaning & History:  From the Roman name Florianus, a derivative of Florus, derived from Latin flos meaning "flower".  St. Florian, a martyr of the 3rd century, is the patron saint of Poland and Upper Austria.

Comments: I've never been into this name until very recently, but suddenly it's taken me.  It's a bit poncy but let's face it, all the best names are. 2/19/2012

Siblings:

Combos:
Florian Ambrose
Florian Basil
Florian Benedict
Florian Clement
Florian Desmond
Florian Dexter
Florian Henry
Florian Jack
Florian Lewis
Florian Paris
Florian Sherlock

Lucasta

Gender: Female
Usage: Literature, English
Meaning & History: This name was first used by the poet Richard Lovelace for a collection of poems called 'Lucasta' (1649). The poems were dedicated to Lucasta, a nickname for the woman he loved Lucy Sacheverel, who he called lux casta "pure light".

Comments:  This old favourite sprung back into my head a few days ago.  It reminds me of the moon.  I think it's absolutely stunning, and made more practical by the nickname Lucy.  2/18/2012

Siblings:
Cordelia, Evening, January
Ignatius, Oleander, Sebastian, Valentine, Willoughby

Combos:
Lucasta Beatrice
Lucasta Clemence
Lucasta Jane
Lucasta Jean
Lucasta Maeve
Lucasta Miriam
Lucasta Niamh
Lucasta Phoebe
Lucasta Poem
Lucasta Violet

Beatrice Lucasta
Edith Lucasta
Eve Lucasta
Evening Lucasta
Freya Lucasta
Iris Lucasta
Niamh Lucasta
Tamsin Lucasta
Violet Lucasta