Message: "Anyone know this name?"

Anyone know this name?

by Korrine (guest)

11/4/2004, 10:58 AM

Gentian (pronounced Gent-ee-un) was the name of an Albanian exchange student at my high school. I know that gentian (pronounced jen-shun) is a small flower, but I'm assuming that definition is irrelevent in this case.

Replies

- chazda +2

11/5/2004, 1:54 AM

From online etymology dictionary http://www.etymonline.com/ :

gentian (the flower)
O.E., from L. gentiana, said by Pliny to be named for Gentius, king of ancient Illyria who discovered its properties. This is likely a folk-etymology, but the word may be Illyrian, since the suffix -an frequently occurs in Illyrian words.

Also it says: Latin gentius is "(well)-born" (in the entry for gingerly).

Aboutnames.com claims the Albanian name is from the Latin root, but the author of that site does not list any sources that I could find. You could contact him to ask - his email is on the site.

http://www.aboutnames.ch/albanian.htm#gnGentian
http://www.aboutnames.ch/contact.htm

- chazda

- Korrine (guest) +1

11/5/2004, 11:44 AM

Thanks so much. I'm sure the links will be a big help. :-D

- Paula Gentius (guest)

11/20/2004, 8:35 PM

My father's name is Gentius; he is from the island of St. Lucia, West Indies...He moved to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and I still don't know where it got it from.

- Chrisell +1

11/4/2004, 10:58 PM

Were they male or female?

- Korrine (guest)

11/5/2004, 11:43 AM

Male; sorry, I neglected to mention that... ;-(

- sunset +1

11/4/2004, 6:25 PM

Does anyone know the meaning of the name Dajhia? Thank you.

- Anneza (guest)

11/4/2004, 11:25 PM

Post your own message, why don't you? n't

View Message

Replies