Re: Nausicaä
in reply to a message by Wordsmith
I like Nausicaä and I could see myself using it but I'd pick the Modern Greek transliteration Nausica or Nafsica. It's simpler and the English pronunciation doesn't sound as "wrong" to people who speak Greek. The "nausea" association doesn't bother me although the naus- part is the same root for both words. The etymology of Nausicaä isn't very clear, I can't find any Greek source supporting the "burner of ships" meaning but there are a few English ones that I consider reliable. I've also found a few mentions of "ναυσ- + κεκασμένη" = ship + ornament or ship + excelling.
Replies
Here are attestations of the interpretation of the second element as "to burn": http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dkai%2Fw