Message: "Re: FYI..." - Behind the Name

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[Facts] Re: FYI...

by Paul (guest)

8/26/2005, 10:04 AM

I live in Poland. My wife is Polish. The other day my wife made me sit through a Polish sitcom in which the main Polish female character was called Malina!!!!!!!!!! Malina even has a nameday in Poland!!!!!!

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- Ivayla +5

8/26/2005, 10:45 AM

OK, please lay off the cafeine. It's not doing you much good. I was just letting you know about the opinion of other Polish people.

~ Ivayla

I am an angel, honest! The horns are there just to keep the halo straight...

- Paul (guest) +4

8/26/2005, 12:54 PM

First, I just want to say that I am very very grateful for all your help!!! I am amazed there are so many kind, helpful people out there who are willing to help. Much appreciated. It's just that I was more than a little surprised by the comments of other Polish people.

By the way, I don't drink coffee - just good Polish beer :)

- ADT +3

8/26/2005, 7:42 PM

How about Truskawka then? Hmm...

- Paul (guest) +2

8/27/2005, 12:58 AM

Well, as you know it means strawberry. But it is not a name in Polish. It would be very strange for anyone in Poland to have this name, but raspberry is OK because it is accepted as a proper name. I suppose we could take an analogy in English. Daisy is a female name, but Buttercup is not.

Names are becoming more fascinating to me :) Especially the elusive Scottish origin of Malina. It is listed as being Scottish on the Behind The Name website, but can I trust it 100% without getting information regarding the source of this information?

- তন্ময় ভট (guest) +1

8/27/2005, 5:30 AM

The answer to the last question should be no ... BtN is definitely very very good, but nothing is infallible. Unfortunately, I cannot help you with the Scottish origins of this name.

So, let me rescue this post of mine from meaningless off-topicness by provididing a pointless bit of on-topic information: your Hindi informant was indeed correct. In Sanskrit, related to a root meaning to fade away or become feeble, malinA means dirty, soiled, tarnished, etc. either literally or figuratively. It also meant `dirty coloured' i.e. gray etc., whence the name possibly arose.

I personally know a malinA from Bengal, born probably in early-to-mid 20th century. The name is definitely not very common today.

- Paul (guest)

8/28/2005, 12:15 AM

Thank you so much for your help :) I agree that it is best to try to verify sources somehow (afterall, a person's name is important). Very interesting information on Sanskrit usage of Malina - I am very grateful. This makes me even more fascinated by the name. It really is related to many diverse cultures.

Many thanks,

Paul

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