Blaze

Blaze is a name with two possible etymologies: it’s either a vocabulary word name or it’s a respelling of Blaise. In the first case, Blaze is derived from the Olde English “blæse” meaning “torch, bright flame, fire”. The word finds its roots in the Germanic element “blas-“ meaning “white, shining” (as in white hot fire). In the early Modern Era (c. 1600s) the word “blaze” was also used within some English dialects to identify white marks cut into tree trunks as a way of identifying a new pathway through the woods – which is where we get the term “blazing a new trail”. Aside from the English vocabulary word “blaze” from the Germanic; Blaze could also be a respelling of Blaise, a French masculine name with Latin origins. From the Latin “blaseus”, Blaise means “lisping” and was a name most notably borne by an early 4th century saint, Saint Blaise of Sebastea (modern-day Turkey) who was both a physician and a bishop. However, it wasn’t until much later in the 11th century during the Crusades that the saint’s legend would spread to Western Europe. His Feast Day is February 3 and he’s the patron saint of throat ailments (but could he cure lisping? We’re not sure). Legends regarding Saint Blaise’s miraculous ability to cure both the body and the spirit led to stories of wild animals arriving in herds to be healed by the pious saint. Blaise was martyred when the then-Emperor Licinius ordered all the Christians be killed. The name was popularized throughout medieval Europe (although it’s no longer in use today); it was famously borne by French mathematician Blaise Pascal (1623-1662). The masculine name Blaze, however, is pretty American through and through – and many people would argue that it’s actually gender neutral and perfectly fine for baby girls.