Name - this is probably the first word that meets a new man.Different people have their own tradition of naming.But one thing unites all people: he called the child's parents try to give him something very important intangible - a spiritual quality or protection from harm.That is why the names typically stand for something.And even if now for us the etymology is unclear, and there are disputes about the origin, even in science, however, for the most part unable to restore history.
In Russia, with its Orthodox tradition resting on the Byzantine, above all, the culture of widespread Greek female names, as well as men.And often we are not aware of their "foreignness" is not perceived as foreign.So these beautiful Greek names taken root in our culture.After all, Catherine was born there - "clean", Sofia - "wisdom", Xenia - "hospitable".Greek names and their meanings are described in the literature of onomastics.Along with Hebrew (eg, Anna, Elizabeth) and Latin (Marina Natalia) are included in the Orthodox Church calendar and in the culture of the peoples of America and Europe.Nicholas, Alexander, Alex - all of these popular names today are taking place in Greece.Some of them we owe mythology.For example, a rare name Ariadne comes from the word "really like."According to legend, she helped Theseus to find a way out of the maze.
Greek female names in contemporary culture are often used in modified form.For example, along with Evdokia there Avdotia folk form.Xenia corresponds vernacular form Anisa (Ukrainian Oksana became independent name).Praskovya - once very popular in the villages - comes from Eupraxia ("Happiness, prosperity").What to speak of recognizable forms: Nastasia - from Anastasia, Katerina (and even Rina) - by Catherine.Greek female names so firmly established in everyday life, that there are a lot of them are diminutive in which we, again, do not always know the prototype.For example, Asya - from Anastasia, Shura - from Alexandra.This development shows that the culture they perceived as their own, native.Many, of course, out of use.For example, the Greek female names such as Gregory, Thekla, Euphrosyne are either very rare or uncommon.Emilia ("tender"), Elina ("Greek") are perceived as Western and European.But the old form of Christina (and Christian) is most often used in a modified form, and Christina is quite popular.It is noteworthy that many of the options originally "Russian" names are calques (copying, translation) from the Greek.These include, for example, Faith, Hope, Love.But rare Greek female names - Celina ("Moonlight"), Cyrus ("Mistress, mistress") is gradually returned from oblivion.Other popular should be called Elena, Lidia, Larissa, Raisa, Inessa, Zoe ... Greek female names - and the old, forgotten, and are actively used - beautiful and sonorous.No wonder centuries selected form the lead among the most popular (thirty or forty years ago, among them Elena, Zoe, and later - Catherine, then - Alexander, Anastasia) ... Go back and rare names: Aglaia, Evdokia.
