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What is the history and meaning, etc of the name Nicole? Who are some of the most famous historical figures named Nicole, besides Nicold Kidman? Can you tell me the meaning and history of the name Harmony also, please? THX
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Well, I have a name dictionary that lists prominent bearers of each name for most names (but doesn't claim to list them all) -- and there are no famous figures named Nicole listed.
It might be that it's just not a very old usage, or at least it didn't see much popularity until the mid 20th c. It wasn't adopted by English speakers till the 20th c.. my dictionary says that Nicola first appeared in Britain around 1940. Nicola and Nicolette were the preferred forms until the 1960s-70s.
So any famous Nicoles of the English speaking world would still be fairly young now. Likely in 20-50 years we'll start to see some accomplished Nicoles that could be called historical figures. Maybe there are some famous French Nicoles already, though.
Sorry, I don't have any info on usage for Harmony.
- chazda
It might be that it's just not a very old usage, or at least it didn't see much popularity until the mid 20th c. It wasn't adopted by English speakers till the 20th c.. my dictionary says that Nicola first appeared in Britain around 1940. Nicola and Nicolette were the preferred forms until the 1960s-70s.
So any famous Nicoles of the English speaking world would still be fairly young now. Likely in 20-50 years we'll start to see some accomplished Nicoles that could be called historical figures. Maybe there are some famous French Nicoles already, though.
Sorry, I don't have any info on usage for Harmony.
- chazda
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Yeah, I kind of wanted the HISTORY of the names, which are NOT in the database.
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Don't get sarcastic with me please, it was clear that you didn't check the database first or you wouldn't have asked for the meanings.
As regards the history of the names, what precisely are you looking for? The history of the use of these names, at least in the US, can be seen by clicking on the "popularity" link in the database entry. Little specific research has been done on the emergence of individual names throughout history.
If you want to know about famous bearers of these names, try doing a google search for them. There won't have been many - Nicole is a fairly recent name and Harmony has only a very recent usage (apart from perhaps some puritan usage alongside other virtue names).
As regards the history of the names, what precisely are you looking for? The history of the use of these names, at least in the US, can be seen by clicking on the "popularity" link in the database entry. Little specific research has been done on the emergence of individual names throughout history.
If you want to know about famous bearers of these names, try doing a google search for them. There won't have been many - Nicole is a fairly recent name and Harmony has only a very recent usage (apart from perhaps some puritan usage alongside other virtue names).
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Nicole and Harmony as names
Actually, Ms. Chrisell, the name Harmony is an adaption from the name Harmonia, which in Greek, was a princess and the daughter of Aphrodite and Ares, and the wife of Cadmus. In Latin, harmonia was a word with several different meanings. I am a linguist and a historian and I believe I know what I am talking about. Nicole has been used for quite awhile in many forms, such as Nicholas and Nicolette. And I also believe what this lady wants to know is the actual history of the name, not how popular it is.
Actually, Ms. Chrisell, the name Harmony is an adaption from the name Harmonia, which in Greek, was a princess and the daughter of Aphrodite and Ares, and the wife of Cadmus. In Latin, harmonia was a word with several different meanings. I am a linguist and a historian and I believe I know what I am talking about. Nicole has been used for quite awhile in many forms, such as Nicholas and Nicolette. And I also believe what this lady wants to know is the actual history of the name, not how popular it is.
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Nice try, but . . .
. . . it's funny that a linguist who happens to be using the exact same computer as you would come along right at this moment, isn't it?
If you knew all that, why did you bother asking us? Besides, that's the history of the name Harmonia, NOT Harmony. They're related but their geographical usage is of significant enough difference to warrant different historical investigations. And you asked about Nicole itself, not all derivatives of nikolaos.
And, for your information, I am an archaeologist and historian with two university degrees, and I got 100% in more than one linguistics assignment in first-year university. So don't pull the "holier than thou" approach, it's falling on quite oblivious ears.
. . . it's funny that a linguist who happens to be using the exact same computer as you would come along right at this moment, isn't it?
If you knew all that, why did you bother asking us? Besides, that's the history of the name Harmonia, NOT Harmony. They're related but their geographical usage is of significant enough difference to warrant different historical investigations. And you asked about Nicole itself, not all derivatives of nikolaos.
And, for your information, I am an archaeologist and historian with two university degrees, and I got 100% in more than one linguistics assignment in first-year university. So don't pull the "holier than thou" approach, it's falling on quite oblivious ears.
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Well...
http://snipurl.com/c8ll, says Nicol (a unisex vernacular form of Nicholas) appeared sometime between 1450 and 1650. Nichole is, interestingly, listed as a variant. (Nicholet is listed as a male pet form of Nicholas--it could to be the forerunner of the feminine Nicolette.)
http://snipurl.com/c8ln gives more specific dates. Note that Nicholaa / Nicolaa was probably just a Latinisation, used only on documents. In fact, I wonder if Nicola itself is a Latinisation here, the vernacular form being, again, Nicol.
Though both of these sites are for English (as in England) usage, it wouldn't be unreasonable to suggest that Nicole could've been used that far back in France.
And indeed, Edgar's Name Pages (http://snipurl.com/c8lr) says that while Nicol was only "occasionally" used in England, Nicole and Nicola were "fairly popular" in France and Italy respectively. It's a worded a bit badly, but I'm under the assumption that ENP's meant that Nicole / Nicola were used at the same time as Nicol was being used in England: the Middle Ages.
So it seems that Nicole's probably been in use since perhaps the 1400s, but only became really popular in the 20th century.
Miranda (who likes Nicolet, Nicolin, and Nicol / Nichol for a boy now)
http://snipurl.com/c8ll, says Nicol (a unisex vernacular form of Nicholas) appeared sometime between 1450 and 1650. Nichole is, interestingly, listed as a variant. (Nicholet is listed as a male pet form of Nicholas--it could to be the forerunner of the feminine Nicolette.)
http://snipurl.com/c8ln gives more specific dates. Note that Nicholaa / Nicolaa was probably just a Latinisation, used only on documents. In fact, I wonder if Nicola itself is a Latinisation here, the vernacular form being, again, Nicol.
Though both of these sites are for English (as in England) usage, it wouldn't be unreasonable to suggest that Nicole could've been used that far back in France.
And indeed, Edgar's Name Pages (http://snipurl.com/c8lr) says that while Nicol was only "occasionally" used in England, Nicole and Nicola were "fairly popular" in France and Italy respectively. It's a worded a bit badly, but I'm under the assumption that ENP's meant that Nicole / Nicola were used at the same time as Nicol was being used in England: the Middle Ages.
So it seems that Nicole's probably been in use since perhaps the 1400s, but only became really popular in the 20th century.
Miranda (who likes Nicolet, Nicolin, and Nicol / Nichol for a boy now)
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Why are you talking to yourself Nicole/John?
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