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‹Better GutenbergHistory of Christian namesSection VII — Names From the Appearance · 221 of 231Contents›

History of Christian names

by Charlotte M. Yonge

221 of 231 · Contents · Download EPUB

Section VII Names From the Appearance

A few names of extremely personal application exist, such as the Servian Mrena, white in the eyes, and Mladen, young, and the highly uncomplimentary Illyrian Smoljan and Smoljana, from smoljo, an overhanging nose, probably a continuation of the nickname of some favoured individual.

Krasan, beautiful, however, was used in names, as Krasimir, Krasislav, Krasomil, &c.; and zlata, golden, though once used in Zlatoust, as a literal translation of Chrysostomos, in other names may, it is hoped, be employed to denote beauty; or else Zlatoljub, with its contractions Zlatoje and Zlatko, would be a most avaricious name. Zlata, Zlatana, Zlatibor, and Zlatislav, are also used.

Tiho, silent, is a curious prefix. Tihomil, Silent love, and Tihomir, Silent peace, are clear enough; but Tihoslav, Silent glory, is a puzzling compound, probably only arising from the habit of ending everything with slav.

It is remarkable, however, that there is an entire absence of the names of complexion so common among the Kelts and Romans.

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