Thursday, February 10, 2011

Polly

Is of English and Irish origin. Variant of Molly; nickname of Mary (Latin) "star of the sea". Actress Polly Bergen.

Variations of Polly are: Poll, Pollee, Polley, Polli, Pollie and Pollyanna.

Phoebe

Is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Phoebe is "bright, radiant". Biblical: a Christian woman who aided Paul and others. Greek mythology: a reference to Phoebus Apollo, the god of light. Name of the first flycatcher to migrate to Wisconsin each spring. The bird gets its name from its call which is a sharp "Phoebe!". The name became more common in the 18th century and is familiar in modern times due to the fictional character Phoebe Buffay on the "Friends" TV series. Singers Phoebe Legere, Phoebe Snow.

Variations of Phoebe are:
Febe, Pheabe, Phebe, Pheby, Phoebey and Phoeboe.

Phelan

Is of Irish and Gaelic origin, and the meaning of Phelan is "like a wolf".

Variations of Phelan are:
Felan, Phelim and Felim.

Padraic

Is a variant of Paddy (Irish) and Patrick (Latin), and the meaning of Padraic is "patrician, noble".

Similar names to Padraic are
Padraig, Padric, Patric and Padhraig.

Olwen

is of Welsh origin, and the meaning of Olwen is "white footprint".

Variations of Olwen are:
Olwenn, Olwin, Olwyn and Olwynne.

Olivia

Is of Latin origin, and the meaning of Olivia is "olive tree". Coined by Shakespeare as the name of a much-wooed aristocrat in his play "Twelfth Night" (1599). He may have derived the name from the olive plant, or as a feminine form of Oliver. Biblical: the olive tree is a symbol of fruitfulness, beauty, and dignity. Today, "extending an olive branch" traditionally signifies an offer of peace. Today, Olive is associated with Popeye's scrawny girlfriend, Olive Oyl. Singer Olivia Newton-John.

Variations of Olivia are:
Liv, Liva, Livia, Livvie, Livvy, Olia, Oliff, Oliffe, Oliva, Olive, Oliveea, Olivet, Olivetta, Olivette, Olivija, Olivine, Olivya, Ollie and Olva.

Owen

Is of Scottish and Greek origin, and the meaning of Owen is "born of yew; youth". Variant of Eoghan. Also variant of the Latin name Eugenius (see Eugene). It may also derive from an old Celtic name meaning "born of Esos", referring to a god with a cult in Gaul. Owen Glendower was a 14th-century Welsh chieftain who fought unsuccessfully for Welsh independence from England. Common outside Wales since the 18th century. Author Owen Wister; actor Owen Wilson.

Variations of Owen are:
Ewan, Ewen, Owens, Owain, Owin and Owynn.

Oliver

It is of Latin origin, and the meaning of Oliver is "olive tree". Name of one of Charlemagne's knights in the 12th-century poem "Chanson de Roland". Also possibly from Alfihar (Old German) "host of elves" or Olafr (Old Norse) "ancestor". Biblical: the olive tree is a symbol of fruitfulness, beauty, and dignity. Today "extending an olive branch" traditionally signifies an offer of peace. Literary: the title character in Dickens' "Oliver Twist". Film director Oliver Stone; actor Oliver Platt.

Variations of Oliver are:
Noll, Oliverio, Olivero, Olivier, Oliviero, Olivio, Olivor, Olley, Ollie, Olliver and Ollivor.