Meaning & History
Possibly connected to Greek αἴγειρος (aigeiros) meaning "black poplar", a type of tree (species Populus nigra). In Roman mythology this was the name of a nymph best known for her liaisons with Numa Pompilius, the legendary second king of Rome (after Romulus). According to the 2nd-century writer Sextus Pompeius Festus, pregnant women offered sacrifices to Egeria in order to bring out the baby (note, Latin egerere means "to bring out").