Abigail Day is celebrated on December 27 every year. It is almost the end of the year, but it is never too late to show our appreciation for all the Abigails we love. It is mostly used as a female given name, though it has been used for boys and as a surname. It comes from the Hebrew name ‘Avigail,’ which means ‘my father’s joy.’ You don’t have to be religious to find beauty in this classic biblical name.

National Francis Day is celebrated every year on December 4 around the world. The name Francis is one of those that one may be tempted to view as old-fashioned or laden with religious significance. However, that is a myth we’d like to be the first to bust. At its core, the name means ‘Frenchman’ or “free man” and is the anglicized version derived from the Latin Franciscus. Even more intriguing, the name ‘France’ can be traced back to a Germanic people group known as the ‘Franks.’ Presumably, they were free people, hence the etymological connection to the word ‘free.’ They also had a weapon called the francisca, which was a throwing ax. Thankfully, the name itself is not a direct derivative of this weapon, but the origin certainly is colorful. The feminine variant of the name is Frances or Francesca.

National Amelia Day is celebrated on November 22 in honor of a classic name that has a contemporary twist. The name Amelia derives from Latin, and from the Arabic word ‘Amal,’ which means ‘labor.’ Modified variants of this name have been in use for centuries. Amy, Emma, and Emily are examples of diminutive forms. The name Amelia is ideal for females who strive to achieve their goals in life. It means ‘industrious’ or ‘hardworking’ and has a long history of popularity among the nobility. The name is of German origin, and it is derived from the name Amala. When King George II and III called their daughters Amelia, the name became fairly common in 18th Century Europe.