#emer

One of my favorite things to do while reading any book is searching for the symbolic meaning behind whatever I think can have some. Most of the time it's about flowers and names and today I decided to look into the second one. And I think what I found is quite interesting so here you have meaning of some character names 

Disclaimer: I didn't include any names that came from objects (like Key) because their meaning is pretty obvious. Also it would require diving into more etymology and language history study and I’m not a scholar in either of these

Starting of with the main cast:

Rae - short form of Rachel but also can be used as a feminine form of Ray. On its own Ray coincides with an English word meaning "beam of light" but it's also a short form of Raymond and its meaning is kinda interesting. Raymond came from the Germanic name Raginmund, composed of the elements reign "advice, counsel, decision" and munt "protection".

Lia - Italian, Portuguese, Georgian and Greek form of Leath. From the Hebrew name לֵאָה (Leʾa), which was probably derived from word לָאָה (laʾa) meaning "weary, grieved". In the Old Testament Leah is the first wife of Jacob and the mother of seven of his children. Her younger sister Rachel also was Jacob’s.

Emer - The meaning of this name is unknown. It belonged to wife of Irish legendary hero Cúchulainn. In said legends Emer was stated to possess the six gifts of womanhood: beauty, a gentle voice, sweet words, wisdom, skill at needlework and chastity.

Eric - Means "ever ruler", from the Old Norse name Eiríkr, derived from the elements ei "ever, always" and ríkr "ruler, king". One of the most famous bearers of this name was Eiríkr inn Rauda (Eric the Red in English), a 10th-century navigator and explorer who discovered Greenland. In England it was popularized in the 19th century due to a children's novel by Frederic William Farrar “Eric, or Little by Little”. I think nothing would describe what the story of this novel is better when author’s own words: “The story of 'Eric' was written with but one single object—the vivid inculcation of inward purity and moral purpose, by the history of a boy who, in spite of the inherent nobility of his disposition, falls into all folly and wickedness, until he has learnt to seek help from above.”

Marius - Ancient Roman name derived from the Roman god of war Mars. It can also come from the latin word mare “sea”. Interestingly in Old English mare means “nightmare, monster”. Also in some old european beliefs variations of these word is used as name to some demons or evil spirits.  

Some other characters:

Rahela - is Romanian, Croatian and Serbian form of Rachel which came from the Hebrew name רָחֵל (Raḥel) meaning "ewe", that in case you don't know is word for female sheep. In the Old Testament Rachel is the favourite wife of Jacob. He was tricked by her father Laban into marrying her older sister Leah first, though in exchange for seven years of work was allowed to marry Rachel too. Initially barren and facing her husband's anger, she offered her handmaid Bilhah to Jacob to bear him children. Eventually she was herself able to conceive, becoming the mother of Joseph and Benjamin.

Alice - From the Old French name Aalis, that is a short form of Adelais, which itself a short form of the Germanic name Adalheidis. Adal means “noble”, and the suffix heit "kind, sort, type". In French the name means "nobleness, nobility".

Vasilisa - Meaning “king”. It’s Russian name derived either from name Basil, that is derived from Greek Βασίλειος (Basileios), or directly from feminine form βασίλισσα (Basilissa) Originally it was a title and term for monarchs. There is a popular east slavic/russian folktale whose main character is called Vasilisa The Beauty.

Hortensia - Feminine form of the Roman family name Hortensius, possibly derived from Latin hortus meaning "garden". Hortensia flowers symbolise: gratitude, understanding, sincere emotions, apology and abundance. Each of these is assigned to different colors.

Horatia - Feminine form of Roman family name Horatius. It was possibly derived from Latin hora meaning "hour, time, season".

Amelia - came from Germanic Amalia which was used as a short form for names starting with amal meaning "unceasing, vigorous, brave, work".

Katalin - Hungarian and Basque form of Katherine. It came from Greek name Αἰκατερίνη (Aikaterine) witch origins are debatable. It could either be derived from Hecate (greek goddess of magic and witchcraft) witch itself probably came from word ἑκάς (hekas) meaning "far off". It can also be derived from an earlier Greek name Ἑκατερινη  (Hekaterine) that came from ἑκάτερος (hekateros) meaning "each of the two". In early days of Christianity name became associated with Greek καθαρός (katharos) from which came its popular meaning “pure”.

Octavian - Ancient Roman name derived from Octavianus, which was derived from Octavius, derived from Latin octavus which means “eight”.

Lucius - Roman name derived from Latin lux meaning “light”.

Ivor - from Old Norse Ívarr, probably came from two elements  ýw meaning "yew tree, bow" and herr "army, warrior". Yew tree itself is a symbol of death and rebirth as well as transition to afterlife, eternity, protection, strength and perseverance. Depending on regional myths and legends it also connect to:

 - ancestral wisdom and continuity of life in Celtic legends

 - Hecate in Greek mythology

Fabianus - derived either from Latin faber, that was a word for a different kind of artisans, or from Fabius derived from latin faba meaning “bean”.

Tycho - Meaning “luck, fortune”. Latinized form of Tyge, a Danish form of Tóki, an Old Norse short form of names containing the element Þórr, from the name of the Norse god of thunder, storms and strength, Thor. It can also come from Tyche, Greek goddess of fortune.

Bonus 

Family names:

Valerius -  Roman family name that was derived from Latin valeo "to be strong". Valerius' family belonged to the patricians, a group of ruling class families in ancient Rome.  

Nemeth - Russian variation of Hungarian surname Németh. It came from német “German” and derives from néma “does not speak, mute”. 

Domitia - Femmine version of Roman family name Domitius. It probably derives from Latin domitus meaning "having been tamed".

"He's the supreme monarch of the land, and she's a treacherous witch whose sins scream to the sky for the gods to strike her down."

Key nodded approval. "I do like her."

Lia: DID YOU JUST PROPOSE MARRIAGE TO EMER FOR ME?!