The Beauty of Names

Drake and Adonis Drake has announced the name of his son, who was born in October of 2017 to Sophie Brussaux, as Adonis Mahbed.

Kate Dolan as Portia by John Everett Millais Origin: Ancient Roman Gender: Female Meaning: "Pig" or "Port, harbor" Pronunciation: POR-sha Other Forms: Porcia Portia is a favorite of mine, with a rich history and plenty of strong namesakes. The only thing holding it back is the meaning - "pig". Portia is thought to come from the Ancient Roman family name Porcius, which comes from the Latin porcus , "pig". The original feminine form was Porcia, giving Portia a bit of ambiguity, with some thinking it's more likely to be a form of Portius which means "port" or "harbor". It last placed in the US top 1000 in 1991 at #961, making it a perfect pick for someone looking for something unique. In Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice", Portia is the beautiful and witty Belmont heiress with a love of proverbs and wordplay. She later saves the life of her choice of suitor, Bassiano's, friend Antonio in court ...

"Alexandrine Le Normant d'Étiolles" by François  Boucher Origin: French, Greek Gender: Female Meaning: Diminutive of Alexandra; "Defending Men" Pronunciation: A-LEK-SAHN-DREEN, A-LEK-ZAN-DREEN Other Forms: Alexandra, Alexandrina, Alexandria, Alessandra This diminutive of the strong and ancient Alexandra gives the name a bit of feminine frill. Alexandra itself is the female form of Greek Alexander, which comes from alexo , which means "to defend, help", and aner which means "man". Alexandra was the Mycenaean epithet for the Goddess Hera, who held dominion over marriage and birth and considered the cow, lion, and peacock sacred animals. Illustration of an Alexandrine Parakeet from around 1770 to 1786 Alexandrine is a purely French concoction, with a few royal and aristocratic namesakes, like  Alexandrine Le Normant d'Étiolles, the daughter of Madame de Pompadour, one of Louis XV's most famous mistresses, who he was the ...

Zozibini Tunzi - South Africa - 2019 Zuleyka Rivera - Puerto Rico - 2006 Riyo Mori - Japan - 2007 Dayana Mendoza - Venezuela - 2008 Stefanía Fernández - Venezuela - 2009 Ximena Navarrete - Mexico - 2010 Leila Lopes - Angola - 2011 Olivia Culpo - United States - 2012 Gabriela Isler - Venezuela - 2013 Paulina Vega - Colombia - 2014 Pia Wurtzbach - Philippines - 2015 Iris Mittenaere - France - 2016 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters - South Africa - 2017 Catriona Gray - Philippines - 2018 Zozibini Tunzi - South Africa - 2019

"Daughters of Pacini, Giovannina and Amazilia" by Karl Bryullov Giovannina and Amazilia/Amacilia - While looking at art by Karl Bryullov I came across a gorgeous painting of two girls who were the daughters of the Italian composer Giovanni Pacini. Their names were Giovannina, a diminutive of Giovanna, and Amazilia, sometimes called Amacilia. I can't find much on either version, except for a genus of hummingbird called Amazilia, but they're both gorgeous. Artwork by Iben Sandemose Iben - I have a soft spot for girls names that end in an N or an O or any other letter that seems to be more common for boys. Scandinavian Iben is no exception. Thought to possibly be a feminine form of the Danish nickname Ib, short for Jakob, it is also associated with the Danish word ibenholt, "ebony". Children's book author and illustrator Iben Sandemose gives it a touch of the whimsical. Arantzazu - There's this Spanish painter, Arantzazu Martinez, who's...

Elena of Montenegro, Queen of Italy Princess Elena of Montenegro was born  Jelena Petrović Njegoš to Nicholas I of Montenegro and Milena of Montenegro . She married Victor Emmanuel III of Italy .  Their children were: Yolanda Margherita Milena Elisabetta Romana Maria, " Princess Yolanda of Savoy " Mafalda Maria Elisabetta Anna Romana, " Princess Mafalda of Savoy " Umberto Nicola Tommaso Giovanni Maria, " Umberto of Savoy, Prince of Piedmont ", later " Umberto II of Italy " Giovanna Elisabetta Antonia Romana Maria, " Princess of Giovanna of Savoy " Maria Francesca Anna Romana, " Princess Maria Francesca of Saxony " Queen Elena with Yolanda and Mafalda