Most parents I know think Eu-names are, well, ewww.
That’s too bad. I can see why Eu-names might not have the appeal of names like Jayden and Ashley, but they’re still great names–especially if you’re searching for something unusual but still legitimate (i.e. not a modern creation).
The prefix means “well; good; easy” and is featured in Greek names such as the ones below. (I stuck to feminine versions just to keep things consistent.)
| Euangelia | good news |
| Eudoxia | good fame |
| Eugenia | well-born |
| Eulalia | good talk |
| Eunice | good victory |
| Eunomia | good order |
| Euodia | good odor |
| Euphemia | good speech |
| Euphrasia | good cheer |
| Euphronia | good state of mind |
| Eupraxia | good practice |
| Eusebia | good reverence |
| Eustacia | good harvest |
| Eustathia | well-built |
| Eustorgia | good family-love |
| Euthalia | good bloom |
| Euthymia | good mood |
| Eutropia | good bend |
| Eutychia | good fortune |
English-speakers tend to pronounce that first syllable “yoo,” but I’m pretty sure the Greeks articulated each vowel in the diphthong separately. Maybe English-speakers would find Eu-names more intriguing if we returned to that original “eh-oo” pronunciation? Hm.
great blog! I love the name Euthalia as the saints feast day is august 27, my late grandmothers birthday and I want a way to honour her :-) Do u know how its pronounced?
According to the source I just checked, it should be pronounced with 3 syllables, stress on the second syllable. Something like yoo-THAL-ya.
And here’s a quick guide to some of the others:
Eudoxia: yoo-DOKS-ya
Eugenia: yoo-JEEN-ya
Eunomia: yoo-NOM-ya (just like “gnome” – long o)
Euphemia: yoo-FEEM-ya
Eusebia: yoo-SEEB-ya
Eutropia: yoo-TROP-ya (just like “trope” – long o)
These are my interpretations of the pronunciations listed in An Explanatory and Phonographic Pronouncing Dictionary of the English Language by William Bolles, published in 1845.
I didn’t realized that my daughter’s name – Eusebia, meant something. Very cool.
So, I’m greek and my name is Efrosini. However it greek it is spelt with an “EU” instead of an “EF/EV”.
In greek, the EU combination is pronounced as “EV” like: Evangeline.
I know this because it my family you wouldn’t believe how many “EV/EF” name I have:
– Euphemia (EV-THEE-MEE-UH) – goes by Effie
– Eustathia (EV-STA-THEE-UH) – goes by Esther
– Euphalia (EV-THA-LEE-UH) – goes by Thalia
– Eugenia (EV-YEN-KNEE-UH) – goes by Nia
– Euphrosini (EV-FRO-SEE-KNEE) – goes by Rosine and me Frances :)