Previous Names of the Day
Jan 20th
Gleb m Russian
Russian form of the Old Norse name
Guðleifr, which was derived from the elements
guð "god" and
leif "inheritance, legacy". This was the name of an 11th-century saint, a member of the ruling family of Kievan Rus.
Jan 19th
Lancelot m Arthurian Cycle
Possibly an Old French diminutive of
Lanzo (see
Lance). In Arthurian legend Lancelot was the bravest of the Knights of the Round Table. He became the lover of
Arthur's wife
Guinevere, ultimately causing the destruction of Arthur's kingdom.
Jan 18th
Mercedes f Spanish
Means
"mercies" (that is, the plural of mercy), from the Spanish title of the Virgin
Mary,
Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, meaning "Our Lady of Mercies". It is ultimately from the Latin word
merces meaning "wages, reward", which in Vulgar Latin acquired the meaning "favour, pity".
Jan 16th
Ptolemy m History
From the Greek name
Πτολεμαῖος (Ptolemaios), derived from Greek
πολεμήϊος (polemeios) meaning
"aggressive, warlike". Ptolemy was the name of several Greco-Egyptian rulers of Egypt, all descendants of Ptolemy I Soter, one of the generals of Alexander the Great.
Jan 15th
Hammurabi m Babylonian (Anglicized), History
From Akkadian
Hammu-rapi, probably derived from Amorite, another Semitic language. Various meanings, such as
"uncle is a healer", have been suggested. This was the name of an 18th-century BC king of Babylon, of Amorite origin, who expanded the city into a major Mesopotamian power.
Jan 14th
Brân m Welsh Mythology
Means
"raven" in Welsh. According to the Second Branch of the
Mabinogi, Brân the Blessed (called
Bendigeidfran) was a giant king of Britain. He was the son of the divine figure
Llŷr. After his sister
Branwen was mistreated by her husband the Irish king Matholwch, Brân led an attack on Ireland (the text says that he was so big he was able to wade there).