英语人名探源
字母升序排列
、Abbas
Means austere
in Arabic. This was the name of the Prophet Muhammad's
uncle. It was also borne by a son of Ali, the fourth caliph.
、Alfred
Derived from the Old English name Ælfræd, composed of the elements ælf elf
and ræd counsel
. Alfred the Great
was a 9th-century king of Wessex who fought unceasingly against the Danes living in northeast England. He was also a scholar, and he translated many Latin books into Old English. His fame helped to ensure the usage of this name even after the Norman conquest, when most Old English names were replaced by Norman ones. It became rare by the end of the Middle Ages, but was revived in the 18th century. A famous bearer was the British poet Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892).
、Alexander/Alex
Latinized form of the Greek name Αλεξανδρος (Alexandros)
, which meant defending men
from Greek αλεξω (alexo)
to defend, help
and ανηρ (aner) "man" (genitive ανδρος). In Greek mythology this was another name of the hero Paris, and it also belongs to several characters in the New Testament. However, the most famous bearer was Alexander the Great, King of Macedon. In the 4th century BC he built a huge empire out of Greece, Egypt, Persia, and parts of India. Due to his fame, and later medieval tales involving him, use of his name spread throughout Europe.
The name has been used by kings of Scotland, Poland and Yugoslavia, emperors of Russia, and eight popes. Other notable bearers include English poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744), American statesman Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), Scottish-Canadian explorer Sir Alexander MacKenzie (1764-1820), Russian poet Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837), and Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922), the Scottish-Canadian-American inventor of the telephone.
、Ali
Means lofty, sublime
in Arabic. Ali was a cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and the fourth caliph to rule the Muslim world. His followers were the original Shia Muslims, who regard him as the first rightful caliph.
This name is borne by the hero in 'Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves', the tale of a man who finds the treasure trove of a band of thieves. Another famous bearer was the boxer Muhammad Ali (1942-2016), who changed his name from Cassius Clay upon his conversion to Islam.
Andersen/安德森/安徒生
Means son of Anders
郎/公子/少爺
.
、Andrew/Anders
English form of the Greek name Ανδρεας (Andreas), which was derived from ανδρειος (andreios) manly, masculine
/ 漢子/男人
, a derivative of ανηρ (aner) man
. In the New Testament the apostle Andrew, the first disciple to join Jesus, is the brother of Simon Peter. According to tradition, he later preached in the Black Sea region, with some legends saying he was crucified on an X-shaped cross. Andrew, being a Greek name, was probably only a nickname or a translation of his real Hebrew name, which is not known.
This name has been common (in various spellings) throughout the Christian world, and it became very popular in the Middle Ages. Saint Andrew is regarded as the patron of Scotland, Russia, Greece and Romania. The name has been borne by three kings of Hungary, American president Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), and, more recently, English composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (1948-).
、Archimedes/阿基米德
Derived from the Greek elements αρχος (archos) "master" and μηδομαι (medomai) "to think, to plan". This was the name of a 3rd-century BC Greek mathematician, astronomer and inventor.
、Ariana/Arianna/Αριαδνη (Ancient Greek)
Meaning & History
Means "most holy" 聖
, composed of the Cretan Greek elements αρι (ari) most
and αδνος (adnos) holy
. In Greek mythology, Ariadne was the daughter of King Minos. She fell in love with Theseus and helped him to escape the Labyrinth and the Minotaur, but was later abandoned by him. Eventually she married the god Dionysus.
、Ashley
From an English surname which was originally derived from place names meaning "ash tree clearing", from a combination of Old English æsc and leah. Until the 1960s it was more commonly given to boys in the United States, but it is now most often used on girls.
、Aurora/歐若拉
Means dawn
晨/辰/黎明
in Latin. Aurora was the Roman goddess of the morning. It has occasionally been used as a given name since the Renaissance.
、Benedict
From the Late Latin name Benedictus which meant blessed
. Saint Benedict was an Italian monk who founded the Benedictines in the 6th century. After his time the name was common among Christians, being used by 16 popes. In England it did not come into use until the 12th century, at which point it became very popular. This name was also borne by the American defector Benedict Arnold (1741-1801).
、Benet
Medieval form of BENEDICT
. This was the more common spelling in England until the 18th century. Modern use of the name is probably also influenced by the common surname Bennett, itself a derivative of the medieval name.
、Benjamin/本杰明/本雅明
From the Hebrew name בִּנְיָמִין (Binyamin)
which means son of the south
or son of the right hand
. Benjamin in the Old Testament is the twelfth and youngest son of Jacob and the founder of one of the southern tribes of the Hebrews. He was originally named בֶּן־אוֹנִי (Ben-'oniy) meaning "son of my sorrow" by his mother Rachel, who died shortly after childbirth, but it was later changed by his father.
As an English name, Benjamin came into general use after the Protestant Reformation. A famous bearer was Benjamin Franklin
(1706-1790), an American statesman, inventor, scientist and philosopher.
、Berenice
Latinized form of Βερενικη (Berenike), the Macedonian form of the Greek name Φερενικη (Pherenike), which meant bringing victory
from φερω (phero)
"to bring" and νικη
(nike) "victory". This name was common among the Ptolemy ruling family of Egypt, a dynasty which was originally from Macedon. It occurs briefly in Acts in the New Testament (in most English Bibles it is spelled Bernice) belonging to a sister of King Herod Agrippa II. As an English name, Berenice came into use after the Protestant Reformation.
、Charles/Karl/查尔斯
From the Germanic name Karl
, which was derived from a Germanic word meaning man
男人/漢子
. However, an alternative theory states that it is derived from the common Germanic element hari meaning army, warrior
.
The popularity of the name in continental Europe was due to the fame of Charles the Great (742-814), commonly known as Charlemagne, a king of the Franks who came to rule over most of Europe. It was subsequently borne by several Holy Roman Emperors, as well as kings of France, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and Hungary. The name did not become common in Britain until the 17th century when it was carried by the Stuart king Charles I. It had been introduced into the Stuart royal family by Mary Queen of Scots, who had been raised in France.
、Chole/克洛伊;蔻依;珂洛艾伊
Meaning & History
Means "green shoot" 綠箭
in Greek. This was an epithet of the Greek goddess Demeter. The name is also mentioned by Paul in one of his epistles in the New Testament. As an English name, Chloe has been in use since the Protestant Reformation.
、Christian/克利斯提那
From the medieval Latin name Christianus meaning a Christian
(see CHRISTOS
). In England it has been in use since the Middle Ages, during which time it was used by both males and females, but it did not become common until the 17th century. In Denmark the name has been borne by ten kings since the 15th century. A famous bearer was Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875), the Danish author of such fairy tales as 'The Ugly Duckling' and 'The Emperor's New Clothes'.
、Christopher/克里斯托弗
From the Late Greek name Χριστοφορος (Christophoros) meaning bearing CHRIST
, derived from Χριστος (Christos) combined with φερω (phero) to bear, to carry
. Early Christians used it as a metaphorical name, expressing that they carried Christ in their hearts. In the Middle Ages, literal interpretations of the name's etymology led to legends about a Saint Christopher who carried the young Jesus across a river. He has come to be regarded as the patron saint of travellers.
As an English given name, Christopher has been in general use since the 15th century. In Denmark it was borne by three kings (their names are usually spelled Christoffer), including the 15th-century Christopher of Bavaria who also ruled Norway and Sweden. Other famous bearers include Italian explorer Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), English playwright Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593), and the fictional character Christopher Robin from A. A. Milne's 'Winnie-the-Pooh' books.
、Clara/Claire/克萊爾
Feminine form of the Late Latin name Clarus which meant clear, bright, famous
清 / 名 /聞
. The name Clarus was borne by a few early saints. The feminine form was popularized by the 13th-century Saint Clare of Assisi (called Chiara in Italian), a friend and follower of Saint Francis, who left her wealthy family to found the order of nuns known as the Poor Clares. As an English name it has been in use since the Middle Ages, originally in the form Clare, though the Latinate spelling Clara became more popular in the 19th century.
"心懷Christ"
、Claude
French masculine and feminine form of CLAUDIUS
. In France the masculine name has been common since the Middle Ages due to the 7th-century Saint Claude of Besançon. It was imported to Britain in the 16th century by the aristocratic Hamilton family, who had French connections. A famous bearer of this name was the French impressionist painter Claude Monet (1840-1926).
、Claudius
From a Roman family name which was possibly derived from Latin claudus meaning "lame, crippled". This was the name of a patrician family prominent in Roman politics. The ancestor of the family was said to have been a 6th-century BC Sabine leader named Attius Clausus, who adopted the name Appius Claudius upon becoming a Roman citizen. The family produced several Roman emperors of the 1st century, including the emperor known simply as Claudius. He was poisoned by his wife Agrippina in order to bring her son Nero (Claudius's stepson) to power. The name was later borne by several early saints, including a 7th-century bishop of Besançon.
、Cole
From a surname which was originally derived from the Old English byname COLA
.
、Cola
Old English byname meaning charcoal
黑/碳
, originally given to a person with dark features.
、Conn
Means chief
首/主/總/中
in Irish Gaelic.
、Cora
Latinized form of KORE
maiden
. It was not used as a given name in the English-speaking world until after it was employed by James Fenimore Cooper for a character in his novel 'The Last of the Mohicans' (1826). In some cases it may be a short form of CORDULA, CORINNA or other names beginning with a similar sound.
、Cruz/克鲁兹
Means cross
in Spanish or Portuguese, referring to the cross of the crucifixion
.
、Daisy/戴茜
GENDER: Feminine
USAGE: English
PRONOUNCED: DAY-zee
Meaning & History
Simply from the English word for the white flower
雏菊 (花)
, ultimately derived from Old English dægeseage
meaning day eye
``. It was first used as a given name in the 19th century, at the same time many other plant and flower names were coined.
、Dick
Medieval diminutive of RICHARD
. The change in the initial consonant is said to have been caused by the way the trilled Norman R was pronounced by the English.
、Donald/唐纳德
From the Gaelic name Domhnall which means ruler of the world
, composed of the old Celtic elements dumno world
and val rule
. This was the name of two 9th-century kings of the Scots and Picts. It has traditionally been very popular in Scotland, and during the 20th century it became common in the rest of the English-speaking world. This is the name of one of Walt Disney's most popular cartoon characters, Donald Duck
唐老鸭
. It was also borne by Australian cricket player Donald Bradman (1908-2001).
、Donato
From the Late Latin name Donatus
meaning given
. Several early saints had this name. The name was also borne by two Renaissance masters: the sculptor Donato di Niccolo di Bette Bardi (also known as Donatello), and the architect Donato Bramante.
、Douglass/Douglas/道格拉斯
Anglicized form of the Scottish surname Dubhghlas, meaning dark river
from Gaelic dubh dark
and glais water, river
. Douglas was originally a river name, which then became a Scottish clan name (belonging to a powerful line of Scottish earls). It has been used as a given name since the 16th century.
、Duke
From the noble title duke
, which was originally derived from Latin dux
leader
.
、Edward/爱德华
Means rich guard
总管/管家
, derived from the Old English elements ead wealth, fortune
and weard guard
. Saint Edward the Confessor was the king of England shortly before the Norman conquest. He was known as a just ruler, and because of his popularity this name remained in use after the conquest when most other Old English names were replaced by Norman ones. The 13th-century king Henry III named his son and successor after the saint, and seven subsequent kings of England were also named Edward. This is one of the few Old English names to be used throughout Europe (in various spellings).
、Eric/艾瑞克
From the Old Norse name Eiríkr, derived from the elements ei
ever, always
and ríkr
ruler
. A notable bearer was Eiríkr inn Rauda
(Eric the Red in English), a 10th-century navigator and explorer who discovered Greenland. This was also the name of several early kings of Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
This common Norse name was first brought to England by Danish settlers during the Anglo-Saxon period. It was not popular in England in the Middle Ages, but it was revived in the 19th century, in part due to the children's novel Eric, or Little by Little
(1858) by Frederic William Farrar.
、Evelyn/Aveline/Avila
From an English surname which was derived from the given name AVELINE
. In the 17th century when it was first used as a given name it was more common for boys, but it is now regarded as mainly feminine due to association with the related name Evelina.
、Faust/Faustus/浮士德
From a German surname which was derived from the Latin name FAUSTUS
. This is the name of a character in German legends about a man who makes a deal with the devil. He is believed to be based on the character of Dr. Johann Faust (1480-1540). His story was adapted by writers such as Christopher Marlowe
and Goethe
.
、Faustus
Roman cognomen meaning auspicious, lucky
in Latin. It was also occasionally used as a praenomen
, or given name. This was the name of several early Christian saints.
、Florence/Florrie/Flossie/Floella/Flo/Floor, Floris (Dutch), Fiorenza, Fiorenzo (Italian), Florentia, Florentius (Late Roman), Florencio (Portuguese), Florencia, Florencio (Spanish) /佛罗伦萨
Meaning & History
From the Latin name Florentius
or the feminine form Florentia
, which were derived from florens
prosperous, flourishing
華/花
. Florentius was borne by many early Christian saints, and it was occasionally used in their honour through the Middle Ages. In modern times it is mostly feminine.
The name can also be given in reference to the city in Italy, as in the case of Florence Nightingale
(1820-1910). She was a nurse in British hospitals during the Crimean War and is usually considered the founder of modern nursing.
、Franklin
From an English surname which was derived from Middle English frankelin freeman
. A famous bearer of the surname was Benjamin Franklin
(1706-1790), an American statesman, inventor, scientist and philosopher. The name has commonly been given in his honour in the United States. It also received a boost during the term of American president Franklin D. Roosevelt
(1882-1945).
、Fredrick/Fredric
English form of a Germanic name meaning "peaceful ruler", derived from frid "peace" and ric "ruler, power". This name has long been common in continental Germanic-speaking regions, being borne by rulers of the Holy Roman Empire, Germany, Austria, Scandinavia, and Prussia. Notables among these rulers include the 12th-century Holy Roman Emperor and crusader Frederick I Barbarossa, the 13th-century emperor and patron of the arts Frederick II, and the 18th-century Frederick II of Prussia, known as Frederick the Great.
The Normans brought the name to England in the 11th century but it quickly died out. It was reintroduced by the German House of Hanover when they inherited the British throne in the 18th century. A famous bearer was Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), an American ex-slave who became a leading advocate of abolition.
、Gandalf
Means wand elf
in Old Norse, from the elements gandr wand, staff, cane
and álfr elf
精靈
. This name belongs to a dwarf in the 'Völuspá', a 13th-century Scandinavian manuscript which forms part of the Poetic Edda. The author J. R. R. Tolkien borrowed the name for a wizard in his novels 'The Hobbit' (1937) and 'The Lord of the Rings' (1954).
、Grace/格雷思
From the English word grace, which ultimately derives from Latin gratia
慧 / 憐 /仁 /雅
. This was one of the virtue names created in the 17th century by the Puritans. The actress Grace Kelly (1929-1982) was a famous bearer.
、Graham
From a Scottish surname, originally derived from the English place name Grantham
, which probably meant gravelly homestead
in Old English. The surname was first taken to Scotland in the 12th century by the Norman baron William de Graham
. A famous bearer was Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922)
, the Scottish-Canadian-American inventor who devised the telephone.
、Guinevere/Jennifer
From the Norman French form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar, derived from the elements gwen meaning "fair, white" and sebara meaning "phantom, magical being". In Arthurian legend she was the beautiful wife of King Arthur. According to the 12th-century chronicler Geoffrey of Monmouth, she was seduced by Mordred before the battle of Camlann, which led to the deaths of both Mordred and Arthur. According to the 12th-century French poet Chrétien de Troyes, she engaged in an adulterous affair with Sir Lancelot.
The Cornish form of this name, Jennifer, has become popular in the English-speaking world.
、Gustave/谷斯塔夫
French form of GUSTAV
. This name was borne by the French artist Gustave Doré (1832-1883).
Possibly means staff of the Goths
, derived from the Old Norse elements Gautr "Goth" and stafr "staff". However, the root name Gautstafr is not well attested in the Old Norse period. Alternatively, it might be derived from the Slavic name GOSTISLAV. This name has been borne by six kings of Sweden, including the 16th-century Gustav I Vasa.
、Hazel
From the English word hazel for the tree or the light brown colour 榛樹
, derived ultimately from Old English hæsel
. It was coined as a given name in the 19th century.
、Henry/亨利
Meaning & History
From the Germanic name Heimirich which meant home ruler
家主/王
, composed of the elements heim home
and ric
"power, ruler". It was later commonly spelled Heinrich
, with the spelling altered due to the influence of other Germanic names like Haganrich
, in which the first element is hagan "enclosure".
REFER: Henry
、Jason/傑森
From the Greek name Ιασων (Iason), which was derived from Greek ιασθαι (iasthai)
to heal
. In Greek mythology Jason was the leader of the Argonauts. After his uncle Pelias overthrew his father as king of Iolcos, Jason went in search of the Golden Fleece in order to win back the throne. During his journeys he married the sorceress Medea, who helped him gain the fleece and kill his uncle, but who later turned against him when he fell in love with another woman.
This name also appears in the New Testament, belonging to man who sheltered Paul and Silas. In his case, it may represent a Hellenized form of a Hebrew name. It was not used in England until after the Protestant Reformation.
、James/Jacob/
English form of the Late Latin name Iacomus which was derived from Ιακωβος (Iakobos), the New Testament Greek form of the Hebrew name Ya'aqov (see JACOB). This was the name of two apostles in the New Testament. The first was Saint James the Greater, the apostle John's brother, who was beheaded under Herod Agrippa in the Book of Acts. The second was James the Lesser, son of Alphaeus. Another James (known as James the Just) is also mentioned in the Bible as being the brother of Jesus.
Since the 13th century this form of the name has been used in England, though it became more common in Scotland where it was borne by several kings. In the 17th century the Scottish king James VI inherited the English throne, becoming the first ruler of all Britain, and the name grew much more popular. Famous bearers include the explorer Captain James Cook (1728-1779), the inventor James Watt (1736-1819), and the novelist and poet James Joyce (1882-1941). This name has also been borne by six American presidents. A notable fictional bearer is the British spy James Bond, created by author Ian Fleming.
、Jacob/雅閣布
From the Latin Iacobus, which was from the Greek Ιακωβος (Iakobos)
, which was from the Hebrew name יַעֲקֹב (Ya'aqov)
. In the Old Testament, Jacob (later called Israel) is the son of Isaac and Rebecca and the father of the twelve founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. He was born holding his twin brother Esau's heel, and his name is explained as meaning holder of the heel
or supplanter
. Other theories claim that it is in fact derived from a hypothetical name like יַעֲקֹבְאֵל (Ya'aqov'el)
meaning may God protect
.
The English names Jacob and James derive from the same source, with James coming from Latin Iacomus, a later variant of Iacobus. Unlike English, many languages do not have separate spellings for the two names.
In England, Jacob was mainly regarded as a Jewish name during the Middle Ages, though the variant James was used among Christians. Jacob came into general use as a Christian name after the Protestant Reformation. A famous bearer was Jacob Grimm (1785-1863), the German linguist and writer who was, with his brother Wilhelm, the author of 'Grimm's Fairy Tales'.
、Jennifer
From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (see GUINEVERE). This name has only been common outside of Cornwall since the beginning of the 20th century, after it was featured in George Bernard Shaw's play 'The Doctor's Dilemma' (1906).
、Kate
Diminutive of KATHERINE
, often used independently. It has been used in England since the Middle Ages. This was the name of the woman who Petruchio marries and tries to tame in Shakespeare's comedy 'Taming of the Shrew' (1593). A famous bearer is the British actress Kate Winslet (1975-).
、Katherine/凱瑟琳
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 could derive from the name of the goddess HECATE; it could be related to Greek αικια (aikia) "torture"; or it could be from a Coptic name meaning "my consecration of your name". In the early Christian era it became associated with Greek καθαρος (katharos) "pure", and the Latin spelling was changed from Katerina to Katharina to reflect this.
The name was borne by a semi-legendary 4th-century saint and martyr from Alexandria who was tortured on a spiked wheel. The saint was initially venerated in Syria, and returning crusaders introduced the name to Western Europe. 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.
、Kelvin
From the name of a Scottish river, perhaps meaning narrow water
. As a title it was borne by the Irish-Scottish physicist William Thomson, Lord Kelvin (1824-1907), who acquired his title from the river.
、Kevin
Anglicized form of the Irish name Caoimhín
, derived from the older Irish Cóemgein
, composed of the Old Irish elements cóem
kind, gentle, handsome
and gein birth
. Saint Caoimhín established a monastery in Glendalough, Ireland in the 6th century and is the patron saint of Dublin. It became popular in the English-speaking world outside of Ireland in the 20th century.
、Khan/可汗
From a title meaning king, ruler
. Its origin is Mongolian
, though the word has been transmitted into many other languages.
、LaFitte/拉菲
French: topographic name for someone who lived near a boundary mark, Old French fitte (Late Latin fixta petra
‘fixed stone’, from the past participle of figere
‘to fix or fasten’), or habitational name from any of several places in western France named with this word.
REFER:LaFitte
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press
、Leonardo/萊昂納多
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of LEONARD. A notable bearer was Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), an Italian artist and scientist of the Renaissance. He is also known as the inventor of several contraptions, including flying machines, as well as the painter of the 'Mona Lisa'. Another famous bearer was Leonardo Fibonacci, a 13th-century Italian mathematician. A more recent bearer is American actor Leonardo DiCaprio (1974-).
、Leonard
Means brave lion
, derived from the Germanic elements levon
lion
and hard
brave, hardy
. This was the name of a 5th-century Frankish saint who is the patron of prisoners and horses. The Normans brought this name to England, though it did not become common there until the 19th century.
、Lily/莉莉
From the name of the flower 百合花
, a symbol of purity /潔/雅. The word is ultimately derived from Latin lilium
百合花
.
、Linus/Linux
From the Greek name Λινος (Linos)
meaning flax
. In Greek legend he was the son of the god Apollo
, who accidentally killed him in a contest. Another son of Apollo by this name was the music teacher of Herakles
. The name was also borne by the second pope, serving after Saint Peter in the 1st century. In modern times it was the name of a character in Charles Schulz's comic strip 'Peanuts'.
、Lucia/Lucy/露茜
Feminine form of LUCIUS
. Saint Lucia was a 4th-century martyr from Syracuse. She was said to have had her eyes gouged out, and thus is the patron saint of the blind. She was widely revered in the Middle Ages, and her name has been used throughout Christian Europe (in various spellings). It has been used in the England since the 12th century, usually in the spellings Lucy or Luce.
、Lucius
Roman praenomen, or given name, which was derived from Latin lux light
光/亮/明
. This was the most popular of the praenomina. Two Etruscan kings of early Rome had this name as well as several prominent later Romans, including Lucius Annaeus Seneca (known simply as Seneca), a statesman, philosopher, orator and tragedian. The name is mentioned briefly in the New Testament belonging to a Christian in Antioch. It was also borne by three popes, including the 3rd-century Saint Lucius. Despite this, the name was not regularly used in the Christian world until after the Renaissance.
、Ludwig
From the Germanic name Chlodovech
, which was composed of the elements hlud famous
and wig war, battle
. This was the name of three Merovingian kings of the Franks (though their names are usually spelled in the Latinized form Clovis) as well as several Carolingian kings and Holy Roman Emperors (names often spelled in the French form Louis). Other famous bearers include the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) and the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951), who contributed to logic and the philosophy of language.
、Luke/Lucas/盧卡斯
USAGE: English, Biblical
PRONOUNCED: LOOK (English) [key]
Meaning & History
English form of the Greek name Λουκας (Loukas) which meant from Lucania
, Lucania being a region in southern Italy (of uncertain meaning). Saint Luke
was a doctor who travelled in the company of Saint Paul. According to tradition, he was the author of the third Gospel and Acts in the New Testament. Due to his renown, the name became common in the Christian world (in various spellings). As an English name, Luke has been in use since the 12th century. A famous fictional bearer was the hero Luke Skywalker
from the 'Star Wars' movies.
、Madonna
From a title of the Virgin Mary meaning my lady
in Italian. A famous bearer of the name is American singer Madonna Ciccone (1958-), known simply as Madonna.
、Margaret
Derived from Latin Margarita, which was from Greek μαργαριτης (margarites)
meaning pearl
, probably ultimately a borrowing from Sanskrit मञ्यरी (manyari)
. Saint Margaret, the patron of expectant mothers, was martyred at Antioch in the 4th century. Later legends told of her escape from a dragon, with which she was often depicted in medieval art. The saint was popular during the Middle Ages, and her name has been widely used in the Christian world.
Other saints by this name include a queen of Scotland and a princess of Hungary. It was also borne by Queen Margaret I of Denmark, who united Denmark, Sweden, and Norway in the 14th century. Famous literary bearers include American writer Margaret Mitchell (1900-1949), the author of 'Gone with the Wind', and Canadian writer Margaret Atwood (1939-).
、Mario/馬里奧
Italian and Spanish form of MARIUS
. Famous bearers include American race car driver Mario Andretti (1940-) and Canadian hockey player Mario Lemieux (1965-).
、Marius
Roman family name which was derived either from MARS
, the name of the Roman god of War
, or else from the Latin root mas, maris
meaning male
. Gaius Marius was a famous Roman consul of the 2nd century BC. Since the start of the Christian era, it has occasionally been used as a masculine form of MARIA.
、Mark/Marc/Mars/Marcus/马克
Roman praenomen, or given name, which was probably derived from the name of the Roman god MARS
戰神
. This was among the most popular of the Roman praenomina. Famous bearers include Marcus Tullius Cicero (known simply as Cicero), a 1st-century BC statesman and orator, Marcus Antonius (known as Mark Antony), a 1st-century BC politician, and Marcus Aurelius, a notable 2nd-century emperor. This was also the name of a pope of the 4th century. This spelling has occasionally been used in the English-speaking world, though the traditional English form Mark has been more common.
、Michael/麥克
From the Hebrew name מִיכָאֵל (Mikha'el)
meaning who is like God?
. This is a rhetorical question, implying no person is like God. Michael is one of the seven archangels in Hebrew tradition and the only one identified as an archangel in the Bible. In the Book of Revelation in the New Testament he is portrayed as the leader of heaven's armies, and thus is considered the patron saint of soldiers.
The popularity of the saint led to the name being used by nine Byzantine emperors, including Michael VIII Palaeologus who restored the empire in the 13th century. It has been common in Western Europe since the Middle Ages, and in England since the 12th century. It has been borne (in various spellings) by rulers of Russia (spelled Михаил), Romania (Mihai), Poland (Michał), and Portugal (Miguel). Other bearers of this name include the British chemist/physicist Michael Faraday (1791-1867), musician Michael Jackson (1958-2009), and basketball player Michael Jordan (1963-)
、Michelangelo/米開朗其羅
From Italian, meaning "MICHAEL angel", referring to the archangel Michael. The Renaissance painter and sculptor Michelangelo Buonarroti, from Florence, was the man who created such great works of art as the statue of David and the mural on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. This name was also borne by the Baroque artist Michelangelo Merisi, better known as Caravaggio.
、Muhammad/默罕默德/Mehmet/买买提
Means praiseworthy
, derived from Arabic حمد (hamid)
to praise
. This was the name of the prophet who founded the Islamic religion in the 7th century. According to Muslim belief, at age 40 Muhammad was visited by the angel Gabriel, who provided him with the first verses of the Qur'an. Approximately 20 years later he conquered Mecca, the city of his birth, and his followers controlled most of the Arabian Peninsula at the time of his death in 632.
Since the prophet's time his name has been very popular in the Muslim world. It was borne by several Abbasid caliphs and six sultans of the Ottoman Empire (though their names are usually given in the Turkish spelling Mehmet
). It was also borne by Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, a 9th-century Persian mathematician and scientist who devised algebra. Other famous bearers include the founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948) and the American boxer Muhammad Ali (1942-2016).
、NICHOLAS/尼古拉
From the Greek name Νικολαος (Nikolaos)
which meant victory of the people
凱(旋) / 王師 (?)
from Greek νικη (nike) victory
and λαος (laos) people
. Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop from Anatolia who, according to legend, saved the daughters of a poor man from lives of prostitution. He is the patron saint of children, sailors and merchants, as well as Greece and Russia. He formed the basis for the figure known as Santa Claus (created in the 19th century from Dutch Sinterklaas), the bringer of Christmas presents.
Due to the renown of the saint, this name has been widely used in the Christian world. It has been common in England since the 12th century, though it became a bit less popular after the Protestant Reformation. The name has been borne by five popes and two czars of Russia.
、Noam
Means pleasantness
in Hebrew. A famous bearer is Noam Chomsky (1928-), an American linguist and philosopher.
、Patrick
From the Latin name Patricius
, which meant nobleman
. This name was adopted in the 5th-century by Saint Patrick
, whose birth name was Sucat. He was a Romanized Briton who was captured and enslaved in his youth by Irish raiders. After six years of servitude he escaped home, but he eventually became a bishop and went back to Ireland as a missionary. He is traditionally credited with Christianizing the island, and is regarded as Ireland's patron saint.
In England and elsewhere in Europe during the Middle Ages this name was used in honour of the saint. However, it was not generally given in Ireland before the 17th century because it was considered too sacred for everyday use. It has since become very common there.
、Paul
From the Roman family name Paulus
, which meant small
or humble
in Latin. Saint Paul was an important leader of the early Christian church, his story told in Acts in the New Testament. His original Hebrew name was Saul. Most of the epistles in the New Testament were authored by him.
Due to the renown of Saint Paul the name became common among early Christians. It was borne by a number of other early saints and six popes. In England it was relatively rare during the Middle Ages, but became more frequent beginning in the 17th century. A notable bearer was the American Revolutionary War figure Paul Revere (1735-1818), who warned of the advance of the British army. Famous bearers in the art world include the French impressionists Paul Cezanne (1839-1906) and Paul Gauguin (1848-1903), and the Swiss expressionist Paul Klee (1879-1940). It is borne by British musician Paul McCartney (1942-). This is also the name of the legendary American lumberjack Paul Bunyan.
、Paula
Feminine form of Paulus (see PAUL). This was the name of a 4th-century Roman saint who was a companion of Saint Jerome.
、Philippides
Offspring, Descendant of Philip. Philip
itself means Horse-Lover
愛馬士
.
、Quinn
From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Cuinn meaning descendant of <b>CONN</b>
.
、Raffaello
Italian form of RAPHAEL
.
、Raphael/拉斐尔
רָפָאֵל, רְפָאֵל (Ancient Hebrew), Ραφαηλ (Ancient Greek)
From the Hebrew name רָפָאֵל (Rafa'el) which meant God has healed
. In Hebrew tradition Raphael was the name of one of the seven archangels. He appears in the Old Testament in the Book of Tobit, where it is told how he aided Tobias. This name has never been common in the English-speaking world, though it has been well-used elsewhere in Europe. A famous bearer was the 16th-century Renaissance master Raphael (usually known simply as Raphael).
、Richard
Means brave power
, derived from the Germanic elements ric power, rule
and hard brave, hardy
. The Normans introduced this name to Britain, and it has been very common there since that time. It was borne by three kings of England including Richard I the Lionheart, leader of the Third Crusade in the 12th century. Famous bearers include two German opera composers, Richard Wagner (1813-1883) and Richard Strauss (1864-1949), as well as British explorer Sir Richard Burton (1821-1890) and American musician Little Richard (1932-).
、Sandra
Short form of ALESSANDRA
``. It was introduced to the English-speaking world by author George Meredith, who used it for the heroine in his novel 'Emilia in England' (1864) and the reissued version 'Sandra Belloni' (1887). A famous bearer is American actress Sandra Bullock (1964-).
、Santiago/聖地·亞哥
Means "Saint James", derived from Spanish santo saint
combined with Yago
, an old Spanish form of JAMES
, the patron saint of Spain. Cities in Chile and Spain bear this name.
、Silvio/希尔维奥
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of SILVIUS
.
、Silvius/Silva/席爾瓦
Derived from Latin silva wood, forest
. This was the family name of several of the legendary kings of Alba Longa. It was also the name of an early saint martyred in Alexandria.
、Stein/Sten
Derived from the Old Norse name Steinn meaning stone
石頭
shí tou
.
、Stephen
VARIANT: Steven (English)
DIMINUTIVES: Ste, Steph, Steve, Stevie (English)
From the Greek name Στεφανος (Stephanos) meaning crown
, more precisely that which surrounds
. Saint Stephen was a deacon who was stoned to death, as told in Acts in the New Testament. He is regarded as the first Christian martyr. Due to him, the name became common in the Christian world. It was popularized in England by the Normans.
This was the name of kings of England, Serbia, and Poland, as well as ten popes. It was also borne by the first Christian king of Hungary (10th century), who is regarded as the patron saint of that country. More recent bearers include British physicist Stephen Hawking
(1942-) and the American author Stephen King
(1947-).
、Teddy
Diminutive of EDWARD
or THEODORE
.
、Thomas/Tom/托马斯
Greek form of the Aramaic name תָּאוֹמָא (Ta'oma')
which meant twin
雙子座/複
. In the New Testament this is the name of the apostle who initially doubts the resurrected Jesus. According to tradition he was martyred in India. Due to his renown, the name came into general use in the Christian world.
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. Another notable saint by this name was the 13th-century Italian philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas, who is regarded as a Doctor of the Church. Other famous bearers include philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
, American president Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), novelist Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), and inventor Thomas Edison (1847-1931)
.
、Thracius
From a Roman name which meant "of Thracia". Thracia was a region in southeast Europe, now divided between Greece and Turkey.
、Torvald
From the Old Norse name Þórvaldr, which meant "Thor's ruler" from the name of the Norse god Þórr (see THOR) combined with valdr "ruler".
、Tracy
From an English surname which was taken from a Norman French place name meaning "domain belonging to THRACIUS". Charles Dickens used it for a male character in his novel 'The Pickwick Papers' (1837). It was later popularized as a feminine name by the main character Tracy Lord in the movie 'The Philadelphia Story' (1940). This name is also sometimes used as a diminutive of THERESA.
、Veronica
Latin alteration of BERENICE
, the spelling influenced by the ecclesiastical Latin phrase vera icon meaning true image
. This was the name of a legendary saint who wiped Jesus' face with a towel and then found his image imprinted upon it. Due to popular stories about her, the name was occasionally used in the Christian world in the Middle Ages. It was borne by the 17th-century Italian saint and mystic Veronica Giuliani. As an English name, it was not common until the 19th century, when it was imported from France and Scotland.
、Violet
From the English word violet for the purple flower 紫羅蘭
, ultimately derived from Latin viola. It was common in Scotland from the 16th century, and it came into general use as an English given name during the 19th century.
、Vivian
From the Latin name Vivianus which was derived from Latin vivus
alive
靈
. Saint Vivian was a French bishop who provided protection during the Visigoth invasion of the 5th century. It has been occasionally used as an English (masculine) name since the Middle Ages. In modern times it is also used as a feminine name, in which case it is either an Anglicized form of BÉBINN or a variant of VIVIEN (2).
、Walter,Waltson
From a Germanic name meaning "ruler of the army", composed of the elements wald
"rule" and hari
"army". The Normans brought it to England, where it replaced the Old English cognate Wealdhere. A famous bearer of the name was Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), a Scottish novelist who wrote 'Ivanhoe' and other notable works.
参考:
1、What are the meanings of common English names?
2、BehindTheNames
3、Surname