indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Gender Feminine
Usage Arthurian Romance
Other Forms FormsNenive, Nineve, Ninive, Niniveh, Ninniane (Nimiane, Niniame), Nimue, Nymue, Nynyue, Viviane, Vivien
Meaning & History
Form of Ninniane used by Thomas Malory for one of the Ladies of the Lake in his 15th-century compilation of Arthurian legends 'Le Morte d'Arthur' (as she is called Ninniane in Malory's source, the continuation to the Vulgate 'Merlin', known as the 'Suite du Merlin'). In Malory, Nyneve imprisons Merlin, twice rescues Arthur from the sorceress Morgan le Fay, and marries Sir Pelleas after punishing Ettarde for her mistreatment of him.