Tabitha

I never really felt attracted to the name Tabitha until recently while reading my Bible.
The end of Acts chapter 9 tells us about a time when the apostle Peter raised a woman named Tabitha from the dead. Now, the fact that she was raised from the dead is not why I like her name. What gives this name significance to me is the people's reaction to her death. Everyone was extremely sad at her death and begged Peter to come quickly. The reason everyone loved her so much was because "She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor." (Acts 9:36b) "The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing [Peter] the coats and other clothes Tabitha had made for them." (Acts 9:39)
I can only imagine how exciting it was when this sweet lady was brought back to life. I can picture all the people hugging her, exclaiming over the miracle, and taking the advantage of a second chance to thank her for all the kindnesses she had shown them over the years. :)
In my opinion, it would be an honor to be named after such a woman.


Meaning: Beauty, grace
Origin: derived from the Aramaic word for "gazelle"
Greek translation (used in the Bible): Dorcas
Alternate spellings: Tabetha, Tabytha, Tabatha, Tabathina
Nicknames: Tabby, Tibby, Tab

Tabitha was the 209th most popular name for girls in England and Wales in 2007, and the 647th most popular in the U.S. in 2009.

This name carries with it a beautiful implication and story; and I think it sounds pretty, too! :)

Gwendolyn Ryelle

Meaning: Gwendolyn is derived from the Welsh words "gwen" and "dolen" or "dolyn". Both words have multiple possible meanings. The word "gwen" can mean "white", "fair" or "blessed".[1] The word "dolen" can mean "ring",[1] "bow"[2] or less commonly "brow",[3] "moon"[4] or "hair".[5] Thus, Gwendolyn may mean "White Ring", "Fair Brow" or any other combination.

[from Wikipedia]

Origin:   The name Gwendolyn is a modification of the name Guendoloena, a fictional queen in the Historia Regum Britanniae written by Geoffrey of Monmouth in 1135. Geoffrey also used the name in his Vita Merlini to refer to a different character, Merlin's wife; the metre shows that he pronounced the name as a pentasyllable, Guĕndŏlŏēnă, with the "gu" pronounced "gw". Spelled Gwendoloena, the name appears as that of Arthur's queen Guinevere in the Latin romance De Ortu Waluuanii. Arthur Hutson has suggested that Geoffrey misread the masculine Old Welsh name Guendoleu as Guendolen, and then chose to Latinize it.[6] The first records of a real person being named Gwendolen appear in the 19th century. Gwendoline was in use in England in the 1860s, and Gwendolen appeared inDaniel Deronda, written by George Eliot and published in serialized form 1874-6.[6]

[Wikipedia]

Nicknames:  Gwen, Wendy, Lynn, Wynne, Gwennie

Variant spellings: Gwendolen, Guendolen, Gwendolynne

Personally, I like the name Gwendolyn because it sounds elegant and old-fashioned. Yet, it also has such a unique spelling as to give it a modern look. In my favorite names list, I have it paired with the middle name "Ryelle"

I actually thought that I had made this name up...but then I googled it, and it is actually a name! :) Apparently it is undecided whether Ryelle is a boy or a girl's name, but I like it either way. It doesn't really have any meaning or history...or else I would give more information about it.

The name "Gwendolyn Ryelle" makes me envision a princess... But maybe I'm just being a romantic ;)