Nameberry of the Day: Rosalind
April 16
British scientist Rosalind Elsie Franklin passed away on April 16, 1958 at the young age of 37.
Rosalind’s work in chemistry and molecular biology was critical to our understanding of the structures of DNA, viruses, coal, and graphite. However, like many remarkable women throughout history, Rosalind’s discoveries were not appreciated or acknowledged during her lifetime.
Despite its appearance, the name Rosalind is actually not a true “Rose” name. The name originates from the Germanic elements hros, meaning “horse”, and lind, meaning “soft, tender”.
However, when the name was introduced to Spain by the Goths (a nomadic German people) in the medieval era, the name shifted to Rosalinda, meaning “beautiful rose” from Latin.
While Rosalie, Rosemary, Rosalia, and numerous other variations are working their way up the charts, Rosalind has yet to crack the US Top 1000 and is floating in the upper 900s over in the UK.
We love Rosalind’s quirky vintage charm, as well as its wide versatility on the nickname front, from sweet Rosie, snappy Roz, cutesy Lindy, or even unisex Indy.
In case you missed these Nameberries of the Day:
Nameberry of the Day: Eudora
Author Eudora Alice Welty was born on April 13, 1908 in Jackson, Mississippi. Eudora’s novel, The Optimist’s Daughter, won the Pulitzer prize in 1973, and she was also notably the first living author to have her works published in Library of America.
Nameberry of the Day: Emma
Today marks the birthday of two remarkable actresses — Emma Watson, born April 15, 1990, and Emma Thompson, born April 15, 1959. Emma Watson rose to fame as a child star through her portrayal of the beloved booksmart Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter