I love you, Harry!

OH MY GOD!  It's been forever and I was starting to have withdraws.  I feel better now.  Anyway!

How could I NOT do an entry about Harry Potter names!?! Seeing as this is my favorite book series, I just couldn’t let this go untouched. One of my favorite baby name blogs posted an article about the origin of a select few of the now famous names and where they originated, as seen in this link:
Behind the Harry Potter Names

I figured, I ought to cover some of the names that weren’t covered in the article. So, here goes:

Luna- This sweet gem is Italian and means moon. This is also the name of the Roman goddess of the moon. This name saw a lot of popularity at the end of the 19th century, and now, it is experiencing a resurgence of popularity. In the books, the name belongs to Luna Lovegood, a very eccentric and good-natured Ravenclaw who helps Harry in the oddest of ways.

Lily- I’m sure this name is familiar to many, Harry Potter fan or not. The name means exactly what it is, lily. The word lily is derived from the Middle English lilie, which is from the Old English and Latin lilium. This name has been hanging out in the top 1000 since the SSA has record of name popularity (the 1880s) and is now very close to breaking the top 10. Lily Potter is Harry’s mother.

Ginevra- You may know this character better by her nickname, Ginny. Although the origin is uncertain, many claim it to be the Italian version of Jennifer, which means white wave or fair one. This name is obviously very rare in America, as it has never placed on the top 1000 list. Although this is an eccentric name, it offers a very cute nickname that can easily pose as a first name. Ginevra, or Ginny, is the only girl and youngest child of the Weasley family, as well as Harry’s eventual love interest.

Rowena- (edit) From elleanne: Rowena is the female form of Rowan, and Rowan is type of tree.  It has also been suggested that Rowena is a Germanic name from the elements hrod "fame" and wynn "joy". But we know for sure a rowan is a tree!  Nature lovers take note!  Sir Walter Scott brought the name some popularity when he used it in his novel Ivanhoe. Although this name has been on the Social Security top 1000 in the past (never really past the 500 mark), it is no longer on it and hasn’t been since the 1950s. Rowena Ravenclaw is one of the founders of Hogwarts and the inspiration for Ravenclaw house.

Fleur- Fleur is simply the French word for flower. However, the French do not really use it as a given name. That is something that the English have come to do. It has not cracked the top 1000 list here in America. Fleur Delacour is a witch who graduated from Beauxbatons, but not before competing in the Triwizard Tournament. She is part veela, which is a magical being that possesses a great, ethereal beauty, and she has proven to be a smart witch with a stubborn streak.


Arthur- I think many of us know this one from the plethora of works written about King Arthur and Arthurian legends. The name is Celtic and is thought to be derived from the Celtic word artos, meaning “bear”, but it is uncertain if this is true. Although the name was very popular since at least the 1880s, its popularity has had a steady decline, dropping out of the top 100 after the 1960s and falling into the 300 range by the 2000s. Arthur is the head of the Weasley clan.

Seamus- This name screams Irish, and it is Irish. The meaning of this name is supplanter. Also, Seamus is the Irish form of James. Seamus just recently appeared on popularity list in the 1990s, but has yet to even pass the 700 mark. This moniker belongs to Seamus Finnegan, another Gryffindor who is a bit of a joker and certainly a bit of a mess with spells gone awry.

Draco- Draco is both considered to be from the Ancient Greek word drakon, which means dragon, and a Latin name, which also means dragon. Another fun fact, Draco is the name of a constellation in the far northern sky. The name does not show up on the popularity lists for America, although Drake, which could serve as a nickname, has gained popularity recently. Draco Malfoy is a fairly nasty Slytherin who has been trained to hate any non-pureblood and is also Harry’s rival, who causes more and more trouble for Harry as the series progresses.

Remus- The meaning of this name is unknown, but we do know it is of Roman origin. Remus is one of the twins who founded Rome, according to Roman mythology. He is later killed by his brother Romulus. Remus has not shown up on the popularity list in America. Remus Lupin is one of the Marauders and a trusted ally to Harry. Although normally mild mannered, Remus turns into a werewolf during each full moon.

Cedric- Another Ivanhoe name! This name was an invention of Sir Walter Scott for the novel. Cedric is apparently based on the name of the semi-legendary founder of the kingdom of Wessex in the 6th-century. It is also decided to be of Old English origin. This name saw a peak in popularity in the 1970s, but has quickly fallen back to the lower end of the chart. Cedric Diggory was a kind-hearted Hufflepuff seeker, who competed with Harry in the Triwizard Tournament but ultimately met his end at the completion of the final task.

In case your interested to see more Harry Potter names, even the really obscure ones, the list I got these names from is:
List of Harry Potter Names