What's in a Name?

October 27, 2017

Everyone has a name. No matter what language you speak, no matter where you live on our home called Earth, there’s a sound- a name that identifies you as you.

In some cultures, the meaning of names have power. The power of names is universal. Names can identify you. They can bring you up, and they can break you down.

The meaning behind a name, whether it’s your name you were given, a nick-name that is spoken with affection, or a derogatory name enunciated with spite, the meaning behind names have power- power over your emotions and how you think of yourself. So, what does your name mean?

Here in America, we can trace our roots back to Western Europe. Ethnicities like English, or French, or German and Italian are common among us here in the US, and most of us can say that our names come from countries such as these.

The following list from behindthename.com shows the 10 most popular names given for male and females born in the last 100 years (1916- 2015). This list has popular names that are not necessarily consistently popular every year, but are common names given to those here in the US.

Common Male Names in the United States

John- An English name that can be traced back to Greek origin. It comes from the Greek name Ioannes, which can be translated into meaning “gracious.”

The name John is arguably one of the most popular and most used names here in the United States. English in origin, the name John has been used for kings of past times and even our own leaders such as our 35th president John F. Kennedy.

Michael- This name can be pulled from the Hebrew name Mikha’el, meaning “who is like god?” Michael is one of the seven archangels in Hebrew tradition and the only one identified as an archangel in the Bible.

Robert- Robert is a German name, originally spelled Hrodebert. It was then changed into it’s now English counterpart Robert, meaning “bright flame.”

William- Also having Germanic roots, William can be pulled from the name Willahelm, which was composed of the elements wil “will, desire” and helm “helmet, protection.” The name was common among the Normans, and it became extremely popular in England after William the Conqueror was recognized as the first Norman king of England.

David- David is a Hebrew name derived from דוד (dwd) meaning “beloved.” This name has been used in Britain since the Middle Ages. It has been especially popular in Wales, where it is used in honor of the 5th-century patron saint of Wales.

Richard- This name was introduced to the English by the Normans. It’s meaning is”brave power,” derived from the Germanic elements ric “power, rule” and hard “brave, hardy.”

Joseph- From Ioseph, the Latin form of Greek Ιωσηφ (Ioseph), meaning “he will add.” In the Middle Ages, Joseph was a common Jewish name, being less frequent among Christians.

Thomas- Thomas is originally a Greek version of the Aramaic name תָּאוֹמָא (Ta’oma’) which meant “twin.” In England, the name was introduced by the Normans and became very popular due to Saint Thomas Becket, a 12th-century archbishop of Canterbury and martyr.

Christopher- This name is from the Late Greek name Χριστοφορος, (Christophoros) meaning “bearing CHRIST.” As an English given name, Christopher has been in general use since the 15th century.

Nicholas- From the Greek name Νικολαος (Nikolaos) which meant “victory of the people,” from the Greek words νικη (nike) “victory” and λαος (laos) “people.”

Common Female Names in the United States

Mary- Usual English form of Maria, the Latin form of the New Testament Greek names Μαριαμ (Mariam) and Μαρια (Maria) - the spellings are interchangeable. The meaning is not known for certain, but there are several theories including “sea of bitterness,” “rebelliousness,” and “wished for child.” However it was most likely originally an Egyptian name, perhaps derived in part from the word mry, meaning “beloved” or mr, meaning “love.”

Mary is a popular name used for young girls and women that has been used for many years. It has recently become popular here in the United States in the past couple years as the name fell out of style with the new, modern names that took it’s place. People such as author Mary Higgins Clark and actress Mary Tyler Moore are modern- day woman who wear this name with pride.

Linda- Originally a medieval short form of Germanic names containing the element linde meaning “soft, tender.” It also coincides with the Spanish and Portuguese word linda meaning “beautiful.”

Helen- Helen is an english form of the Greek name ‘Ελενη (Helene), probably from another Greek name ‘ελενη (helene) meaning “torch” or “corposant.” It could also possibly related to the Greek name σεληνη (selene) meaning “moon.” In Greek mythology Helen was the daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose kidnapping by Paris was the cause of the Trojan War.

Rebecca- Rebecca is traced back from the Hebrew name רִבְקָה (Rivqah), possibly meaning “a snare.”

Cynthia- Cynthia is a Latinized form of the Greek name Κυνθια (Kynthia), which means “woman from Kynthos.” This was an epithet of the Greek moon goddess Artemis, given because Kynthos was the mountain on Delos on which she and her twin brother Apollo were born. It was not used as a given name until the Renaissance, and it did not become common in the English-speaking world until the 19th century.

Rachel- Rachel is from the Hebrew name רָחֵל (Rachel) meaning “ewe.” The name was common among Jews in the Middle Ages, but it was not generally used as a Christian name in the English-speaking world until after the Protestant Reformation.

Emma- Originally a short form of Germanic names that began with the element ermen meaning “whole” or “universal.” It was introduced to England by Emma of Normandy, who was the wife both of king Ethelred II and later of King Canute. After the Norman Conquest this name became common in England.

Diana- Probably derived from an old Indo-European root meaning “heavenly,” or “divine.” Diana was a Roman goddess of the moon, hunting, forests, and childbirth, often identified with the Greek goddess Artemis. As a given name, Diana has been regularly used since the Renaissance. It became more common in the English-speaking world following Sir Walter Scott’s novel ‘Rob Roy’ (1817).

Katherine- From the Greek name Αικατερινη (Aikaterine). The etymology is debated: it could derive from the earlier Greek name ‘Εκατερινη (Hekaterine), which came from ‘εκατερος (hekateros) “each of the two.” It has been common in England since the 12th century in many different spellings, with Katherine and Catherine becoming standard in the later Middle Ages. Famous bearers of the name include Catherine of Siena, a 14th-century mystic, and Catherine de’ Medici, a 16th-century French queen. It was also borne by three of Henry VIII’s wives, including Katherine of Aragon, and by two empresses of Russia, including Catherine the Great.

Julia- Feminine form of JULIUS. A person by this name has a brief mention in the New Testament. It was borne by a few early saints and martyrs, including the patron saint of Corsica. Shakespeare used the name in his comedy ‘The Two Gentlemen of Verona’ (1594). It has been common as a given name in the English-speaking world only since the 18th century.