Silas

Silas is a short form of the Romas name Silvanus which is derived from Latin silva "wood, forest". Silvanus was the Roman god of forests. Silvanus appears in the New Testament belonging to one of Saint Paul's companions who was also called Silas.





Several literary characters bear this name including George Elliot's title character Silas Marner, Charles Dicken's Silas Clegg in Our Mutual Friend, and William Dean Howells' protagonist in his classic novel The Rise of Silas Lapham.


Ben Kingsley stars as Silas Marner in BBC's Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe

Authoress Lori Wick has a character by this name in A Song for Silas. And author D.H. Bates's My Uncle Silas was filmed as a BBC TV series in 2000.


Actor Albert Finney stars as My Uncle Silas

I have heared Silas used more often lately at least in my small social circle. It only ranked #346 in America for 2007.
I enjoy the old-fashioned charm of this name (you'll find I use this phrase a lot!) and the strong masculine sound of it. It's lack of use over the years also helps to give is a fresh unused sound.

I first started to like this name a couple years ago when I gained a fad for masculine names ending in -as or -us (such as Jonas, Zacharias, Elias, Josias, Atticus, Titus, Nicholas, Tertius, Septimus, Cassius, Amadeus) .
When I also found it on my family tree I added it to my favorites list. I combined it with names such as William, Abel, Welcome, Ciaran, Andrew, Pearce and Geer. My current favorite Silas combo is Silas Abel but that is subject to change at any time.
Silas is on my short list of names I'd actually use for a son though it currently ranks outside my top ten favorite combos.

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them." -Acts 16:25 KJV

Silas, a handsome name, and despite it's old Biblical connections and literary usage, a fresh choice for parents today.

What are your thoughts on Silas? New and fresh or old and outdated? Used too much or not enough? More likely to me a first name or middle name?

Evangeline

Evangeline is from English origin and means "good news" from Greek ευ "good" and αγγελμα (angelma) "news, message". It was perhaps first used by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his epic poem 'Evangeline' (1847).

"Fairest of all the maids was Evangeline, Benedict's daughter! "

Other famous names sakes are Evangeline Cory Booth, daughter of William and Catherine Booth founders of The Salvation Army. She was the youngest of their 8 children and a great missionary in her own right.
There's also actress Evangeline Lily who stars as Kate Austen on the TV show Lost.


Salvation Army missionary Evangeline Cory Booth

“It’s not your circumstances that make or break your day. It’s your attitude!” - Evangeline Lily

Actress Kelly Macdonald as Evangeline

I first really started liking this name after I saw the movie Nanny McPhee and the image of the young maid Evangeline. (This movie also included other great names such as Simon, Sebastian, Lily, Christianna, Agatha "Aggie" and Adelaide.)
This was also the first time I hear the name pronounced ee-van-jah-leen instead of ee-van-jah-line and I infinitely prefer it.

So I added it to my favorites and have grouped it with names such as Mercy, Phoebe, Phebe, Mary, Ophelia, Clara and Adelaide.
My current favorite Evangeline combos are Evangeline Mercy and Phoebe Evangeline.

Though I don't think I'd ever use Evangeline I think it's a very elegant name with that charming old-fashioned touch.

What are your thoughts on Evangeline? What nicknames do you prefer? What middle names? Do you know anyone with this name? Have you ever considered using it yourself?

First Blog!

Wow! So this is my first blog and my first post. So let's see...
I am the name enthusiast the blog speaks of. I am very interested in names, their meanings, origins, usages, popularity and associations. I enjoy all types of names but especially Biblical, Scottish, Welsh, Irish and virtue names. I have a top ten favorite names list which mostly include names from my family tree, names I really want to use some day for my own children.

So this blog is my own personal rambling spot to discuss everything names! Perhaps I'll even do a name a day.

I'll start off by mentioning some of my favorites:

Girls: Amy, Eleanor, Sally
Boys: Ciaran, Eamon, Nathaniel