Meaning of Names

A name is a sacred thing. It represents all that we are, who we are and even what it was hoped we would become. Often, names are bestowed by parents, other times by the individual themselves. Regardless, they are almost always chosen for a reason.

Biblical Names

Some of the most common names still given today have their roots in the Bible. Some names, such as Adam, are common in a number of different languages. Names such as Adam also have their own meanings, beyond simply being important because they were mentioned in the Bible. Adam means "man" in Hebrew and is thought to be derived from the words for "red" and "to make" as well, symbolizing his importance as the first man. Some Bible names, such as Deborah (queen bee) and Jason (to heal), became popular because of the Biblical person they were attached to. Many names have been translated into different languages, but all draw their origins from the same name. Michael is one example. In French and German it is Michel, Gaelic is Micheil, Michele in Italian, Miguel in Spanish and Portuguese, Mihail in Bulgarian and Mikhail in Russian. All variants are thought to be derived from the same Biblical source, Saint Michael.

Physical Description

Many names are based in the physical description of the person they are given to. Some of the most common names have meanings that are synonymous with colors. Roy, Ruby, Gilroy, Adam and Sienna all mean red in one tongue or another, just as Blaine means yellow. There can be a number of physical descriptions specified by a name, as seen with Boris and Courtney (short); Bella, Linda, Naomi and Rosalind (beautiful); as well as Alan and Kevin (handsome).

Personality traits

Many names are given because they represent honorable and good qualities that parents hope to pass on to their children. Many of these traits have become names in their own right, such as Grace, Hope, Charity and even Obedience. This tradition became popular during the days of Puritan America, when it was believed that naming children with traits that they revered would encourage the children to grow up to follow the conventions that had named them.

Names from Literature

Many names are passed on to actual people after being read about in a book. Shakespeare was one of the most influential authors when it came to passing names of characters on to people, both male and female, from Julius to Juliet.
Caspian was popularized by C.S. Lewis and the "Chronicles of Narnia," but perhaps the most well-known example of the influence of literature on naming conventions came from J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan and Wendy." Until Peter Pan, the name Wendy was all but non-existent, only used as a diminutive form of several Welsh names. After the famous play and book, the name became increasingly popular.

Fads

Naming fads are often seen as patterns in the census records as well as birth records. Fad names are often taken from celebrities that are popular at the time, and is often the only reason that parents might choose the name. In the 1930s, there was a large number of girls named Shirley, thanks to the popularity of child actress Shirley Temple. Similarly, there were also a large number of girls named Jacqueline and Jackie in the 1960s after the First Lady, and a large number of girls named Britney, after the pop star, in the 1990s. Fad names often lose their popularity quickly and top the most common name lists for a year or two, then fade back to normal numbers.

Familial Names

Names are often passed down through families; the most noticeable example of this is passing a name on from father to son, and adding a "Jr." to the name. It's not uncommon for names to be passed down from mother to daughter, either. Many times, families will use the name of a grandparent or parent as a child's middle name. Naming a child after a family member is common when the namesake has already passed away and is often done as a tribute to that relative. This helps in the preservation not only of family ties, but of family history as well, especially when the name is somewhat unique.