iron hand

Rigorous control, as in He ruled the company with an iron hand. This usage is sometimes put as iron hand in a velvet glove, meaning "firm but seemingly gentle control," as in She runs the town with an iron hand in a velvet glove. [c. 1700]

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Karan	['kærən]
Billy	BIL-ee	English
Fedya	-	Russian
Jeronim	-	Croatian
Nadav	-	Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
Kahina	-	Northern African, Berber