Akela |
noble |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Alana |
fair, beautiful, offering |
Gaelic, Hawaiian |
Girl |
Anani |
orange tree |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Bane |
long-awaited child |
Hawaiian |
Boy |
Haimi |
the seeker |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Haleigha |
house of the rising sun |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Iolana |
to soar like an eagle |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Kahoku |
star |
Hawaiian |
Boy |
Kai |
sea, willow tree |
Hawaiian |
Both |
Kaili |
a deity |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Kalama |
flaming torch |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Kale |
strong and manly |
Hawaiian |
Boy |
Kalea |
bright |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Kalia |
Beauty |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Kamea |
|
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Kane |
tribute, warrior; the doubly-accomplished, golden; man, the eastern sky; beautiful |
Gaelic, Japanese, Hawaiian, Welsh |
Both |
Keandra |
|
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Keilana |
adored one |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Kekona |
second-born |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Keona |
God's gracious gift |
Hawaiian |
Boy |
Kiana |
moon Goddess |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Kiele |
gardenia, fragrant blossom |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Lani |
sky, heaven |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Lanikai |
heavenly sea |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Leilani |
heavenly flower, heavenly child |
Hawaiian |
Boy |
Lokelani |
small red rose |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Malu |
peacefulness |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Meka |
eyes |
Hawaiian |
Boy |
Mily |
beautiful |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Nalani |
clamness of the skies |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Noelani |
beautiful girl from heaven |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Okelani |
from heaven |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Oliana |
oleander |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Peni |
weaver |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Roselani |
heavenly rose |
Hawaiian |
Girl |
Ululani |
Heavenly Inspiration |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reeves’ name in the Cyrillic alphabet on a Russian poster
Name and phonetic sound |
Meaning |
|
Name and phonetic sound |
Meaning |
`Auli`i
[au lee' ee] |
Dainty, Cute, Exquisite, Cute, Perfect, Trim, Nice |
Lana
[lah nah] |
Calm as still waters |
Lanakila
[lah nah key lah] |
Victorious |
Aikane
[ai kah' neh] |
Friend |
Lea
[lay ah] |
Mythological goddess of canoe builders |
Ailani
[ah ee law nee] |
High Chief |
Leia
[lay ee ah] |
Child of Heaven |
Alana
[ah law nah] |
Awakening |
Leialoha
[lay a low ha] |
Beloved Child |
Ali'ikai
[ah lee 'ee kai] |
King or Queen of the Sea |
Leilani
[lay lah nee] |
Heavenly Lei; Royal Child |
Alohi
[ah low hee] |
Brilliant |
Luana
[loo on ah] |
Content; Happy |
Anuhea
[ah new hay ah] |
Cool and Fragrant |
Lulua`ina
[loo loo (w)ah' ee nah] |
Freckles |
Aolani
[a oh law nee] |
A Heavenly Cloud |
Maka Koa
[mah' kah koh' (w)ah] |
Bold, Fierce |
`Eleu
[eh' leu] |
Alert, Lively, Energetic, Spry, Nimble, Agile |
Maka Launa
[mah' kah lau' nah] |
Friendly |
Hau'oli
[how ol ee] |
Joy, Happy |
Maka Nani
[mah ka nah nee] |
Beautiful Eyes |
Hawika
[hah vee ka] |
Beloved |
Maka
[mah' kah] |
Favorite One |
Hepualaha'ole
[heh pooh ah lah ha oh lay] |
Uncommon Flower |
Makaha
[mah' kah hah] |
Fierce, Ferocious, Savage |
Hiapo
[hi ah poh] |
First Born |
Makamae
[mah kah mae'] |
Precious, Cherished |
Hiwalani
[he wah law nee] |
The Attractive One |
Makana
[mah kah' nah] |
Gift |
Hiwahiwa
[hee' vah hee' vah] |
Precious, Beloved, Darling, Indulged, Favorite |
Makani
[mah kah nee] |
Wind |
Hokuikekai
[hoh' koo' ee keh kai] |
Star of the Sea |
Makani
[mah kaw nee] |
The Wind |
Ho'opono
[ho oh poh no] |
Faithful |
Malana
[mah law nah] |
Calming, Soothing |
Ikaika
[ee kai' kah] |
Strong, Powerful |
Malie
[mah lee ee] |
Calm |
Iolana
[ee oh law na] |
To Soar Like a Hawk |
Malu Lani
[mah loo law nee] |
Protected by Heaven |
Ka Hiwa
[kah hee vah] |
The Favorite One |
Maluhia
[mah loo hee ah] |
Peaceful |
Ka Nui
[kah new ee] |
The Greatest |
Mano
[mah no] |
Shark, Passionate Lover |
Ka Pua
[kah poo ah] |
The Blossom |
Mea A`a
[meh (y)ah ah' ah] |
Adventurer |
Kau'i
[kah ooh ee] |
The Beauty |
Meli
[meh' lee] |
Honey |
Kaila
[kah ee lah] |
Style |
Miliani
[me lee on nee] |
Gentle Carress |
Kaimana
[kai mah nah] |
Divine Power of the Sea |
Na`auao
[nah au (w)ao'] |
Intelligent |
Kaimi
[kah ee mee] |
The Seeker |
Nahoa
[nah hoh' (w)ah] |
Defiant, Bold |
Kalani
[kah law ee] |
Of the Heavens, Chieftain |
Nalani
[nah lah nee] |
The Calm of the Skys |
Kalea
[kah lee ah] |
Bright |
Nani
[nah' nee] |
Beautiful, Pretty |
Kamea
[kah may ah] |
The One and Only |
Niele
[nee' (y)eh leh] |
Curious |
Kanunu
[kah new new] |
The Strong One |
Noa
[noh' (w)ah] |
Free, Freedom |
Kapa`a
[kah pah' ah] |
The Firm, The Steadfast |
Noelani
[no eh lah nee] |
Beautiful Girl from Heaven |
Kei
[kei] |
Dignified |
Nohea
[no hay ah] |
Loveliness |
Keilani
[kay ee law nee] |
Glorious Chief |
Nui
[nui] |
Big, Large, Great, Important |
Kekipi
[keh kee' pee] |
The Rebel |
Okalani
[oh kah lah nee] |
From Heaven |
Kekoa
[keh koh' (w)ah] |
The Brave, The Courageous |
Palani
[pah law nee] |
A Free Man |
Keli'i
[key lee ee] |
The Chief |
Pauo'le
[pow oh lay] |
Never Ending |
Koa
[koh' (w)ah] |
Brave, Bold, Fearless |
Pili Lani
[pee lee lah nee] |
Close to Heaven |
Konani
[co naw nee] |
Bright |
Pilialoha
[pee lee ah loh' ha] |
Close Friend |
Ku'uaki
[koo' oo (w)ah' kee] |
Guardian |
Po `okela
[poh oh keh lah] |
Champion, Best, Foremost, Superior |
Ku`u Hoaloha `Oi
[koo' oo hoh (wah) loh' hah oi] |
My Best Friend |
Polunu
[poh' loo noo] |
Chubby |
Ku`u Maka
[koo' oo mah' kah] |
Apple of My Eye |
Pomaika`i
[poh' mai kah' ee] |
Lucky, Blessing, Good Fortune, Blessed, Prosperous |
Ku'oko'a
[koo oh koh ah] |
Independent |
Pono
[poh no] |
Righteous |
Kupa`a
[koo' pah ah] |
Loyal |
Pua
[poo' (w)ah] |
Flower |
Ku'uipo
[koo oo ee poh] |
Sweetheart |
Pualani
[poo ah law nee] |
Heaven's Flower; Heavenly Flower |
Lae`ula
[lae oo' lah] |
Clever |
Punahele
[poo nah heh' leh] |
Favorite |
Laka
[lah' kah] |
Gentle, Tame |
Ualoheke Akua
[oo' (w)ah loh' heh keh ah koo' (w)ah] |
God Has Listened |
Lalama
[lah lah' mah] |
Daring, Fearless, Clever |
NEXT SAMPLE NAME ORIGIN
.................................................
Reviews of my Book
Click bookcover for preview

A Great New Review of My Latest Book!
October 26, 2011
Welcome to the Enchanted Forest
By WB Johnston
This review is about Bill Casselman’s latest e-book about words: Where a Dobdob Meets a Dikdik: A Word Lover’s Guide to the Weirdest, Wackiest, and Wonkiest Lexical Gems (Kindle Edition)
“Wade Davis, lately of National Geographic, once described each living language as “an old-growth forest of the human spirit.” Once you decide to enter the kleptomaniacal woods of our mother tongue, what you need is more than a tour guide. This is no Disney-fied ‘keep-your-hands-inside-the-car-at all-times’, point A to point B, clear-cutting mining of language. You, here, are in the hands of Sir William of Cassel, a genuine shaman modestly posing as a simple lover of words.
In the best of the spiritual tradition, Bill is the shape-shifter who constantly leads you to all the places you need to find in your soul. Every page is a new country, an invitation to an excursion into the wonderland of rich connections with the myriad of sources of what so often we unthinkingly wield as a prosaic tool.
Pay absolutely no attention to anyone who tells you that this book is anything but pure gold. It’s simply not true, sadly, that all the world loves a lover. Particularly someone whose love is so boundless.
But Sir William is fearless. You don’t earn your keep as a medicine man if you have a thin skin. While I cannot for the life of me understand how anyone could walk away from this book unmoved by its wit, its wisdom and the beautiful transparency by which the author celebrates the glorious romp of our almost unlimited linguistic exuberance, I have to sadly conclude that once in a while, you do meet someone who can’t see the forest for the trees, eh?
Read this book. Leave it on the sofa instead of the $%#!*$% TV remote. Maybe someone you care about will pick it up, even just for a moment, and fall in love with their heritage?
Leave it on your desk at work and trust that someone will riffle through it when you are out at lunch. Shamans are magicians of the highest order. The work of their hands and hearts is game-changing. Or, hey, put it on your Kindle and just feel comforted that you can wander back out into the forest with Bill even in the middle of a boring lecture.
Enjoy.”
(Casselman replies: Thank you so much, Dr. J., for the kudos.)
**********************
Jenni French of San Francisco, California writes on her blog “My Corner of the Universe” for March 19, 2011:
Casselman, Bill. Where a Dobdob Meets a Dikdik: A World Lover’s Guide to the Weirdest, Wackiest, and Wonkiest Lexical Gems. Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2010.
“I admit it: I’m a word nerd. I love words: weird words, long words, obscure words, funny words. This book is right up my alley. With chapters like “Nautical Words,” “Creepy Words,” and “Edible Words,” I have enjoyed every page of this book.
And the author has quite a way with words, so I have found myself rereading many sentences in this book and slowing my progress through it.
My current favorite sentence is found in a discussion of dog hybrid breed names: “What a revolting concatenation of cutesiness and smarmy nomenclatorial treacle parading under the name of canine hybrid breed names” (19).
I’m sure I’ll have another favorite sentence in a day or two.
This book is just that good and just that entertaining.”
(Author Bill Casselman replies: “Thanks, Jenni!” )
Just a reminder that this book contains my ALL-NEW word essays, none of which are available anywhere else in print or online.
***********************
Cindy Lapeña on her blog “Creativity Unlimited” of July 19 ,2011, writes:
Posted by mimrlith in 365 Things to Look Forward to.
Tags: 365 things to look forward to, books, reading
19. Starting a book
To a certified bibliophile like me, a.k.a. bookworm, one of the most exciting things to look forward to is to start reading a new book. In fact, sometimes the prospect of starting to read a new book is so exciting that I have to hurry to finish the book I am currently reading, just so I can start a new one.
If there’s one thing I can’t resist, it’s a book, especially if it promises to be a good one. Of course there are certain books I just won’t touch or be seen with, but at the risk of being hung by my thumbs by fans of such literature, I will not mention any genres in particular. . .
Seeing a book with a title that totally captivates me, like Where a Dobdob meets a Dikdik (yes, that is a book title!) has me so worked up, I just can’t wait to dive in. I imagine all sorts of deliciously fancifully outrageous words with a title like that. Is it obvious? I just love books on words. You won’t believe how many dictionaries I own. Or books on lexical oddities and other lexical explorations. Yes, I am a logophile of sorts. I love the new words I pick up from new books. I relish finding out the meanings of all manner of words and phrases and expressions. What could be more fun?”
(Replies author Bill Casselman: Please scroll to bottom of page or click here to link to a free seven-page preview of my book, Where a Dobdob Meets a Dikdik.
***********************
Testimonial Email
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Dear Mr. Casselman,
A search for the origins of an improbable-looking word, paraprosdokian, led me to the first piece of your prose I have had the pleasure of reading, “The Bogus Word Paraprosdokian & Lazy Con Artists of Academe.” I have just placed an order for Where a Dobdob Meets a Dikdik, Canadian Words & Sayings, and As The Canoe Tips, and will add more of your titles as I finish these.
I have just retired from a 40-plus year career in book publishing, the last thirty years spent as director/editor of a number of university presses, attempting to sort the genuine writers from the “Lazy Con Artists of Academe.” Sad to say, the latter have so over-bred the former that I could no longer see the rare gem in the avalanches of offal that daily swamped my office and desk. I visited your website and spent far too long there; it was a pleasure to meet a real writer through his work.
. . . I revisited the paraprosdokian page, and have finally quit laughing again at “Casselman’s Conclusion.” You were not unkind to the “profligate prof-lets.” During my years as an acquisitions editor, in rejection letters I often quoted Prof. Moses Hadas, classicist at Columbia University, who wrote a young scholar in response to having been sent the prof-let’s first book, “Thank you for sending me your book. I will waste no time reading it.”
I know I will enjoy your books. Keep up the good work.
Thank you,
Luther Wilson
Director (Retired)
University of New Mexico Press, among others


The Vocabula Review is one of the best current online journals about language. I'm a columnist there and hope you will visit Vocabula online.
Do so by clicking on the logo provided above or below. There is a modest annual subscription fee for reading the linguistic probings and jeux d'espirit of some of North America's best writers on language (he said with all due lack of humility). But you may taste an enticing free sample of Vocabula content by visiting the website www.vocabula.com or by clicking the top or bottom logo.

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