Name Stories: How do we research a name meaning?

by John Dehnart

©2009, All Rights Reserved

There are several ways to look into a meaning of a name. When researching a name, we always look for the encouraging, positive aspect of it's meaning , not just the literal meaning. At it's heart, our research is to help others realize the significance and purpose o f their lives from God's perspective. Each individual has incredible value to God, and understanding one's name from God's perspective can be a personal encouragement and inspiration.

The study of proper names is called onomatology. The root word is from the Greek onoma, which is the word for name. (with the negative a- prefix, it is the source of our English word anonomous, meaning "without name" or "against name") Anthroponomastics, (from the Greek words for man and name) is the study of personal names.

The academic side of the anthropnomastic field can stretch into many other fields, like linguistics, history, anthropology, psychology, sociology, philology and others. Most basic name meanings can be found through etymology, which seeks the original literal meaning of the name or root word. Some meanings can be found easily, when names have a direct associative meaning, like "Rose" or "Grace" . Other names, like Lyria or can have a connection to another associative background, the Lyre , a musical instrument.

Names can also have historical meanings, based on someone who's name carries a certain amount of synonymy with their lives or reputation. Giving a son the first and middle name of "Bill Clinton" or "John Wayne" carries with it a certain amount of meaning based on past historical figures. During and after World War II, many German people who carried the surname of Hitler or lived on a street named Hitler changed the name to an alternative. This was because of the historical reputation of the name.

Contemporary social and cultural figures can also hugely affect the public view and interpretation of a name. The 2008 Census revealed an increase in babies named Barrack, explained by in no other way except that Obama won the presidency. The name Miley moved up 152 ranks in popularity, while the popular teen singer, Miley Cyrus, took on her given name more than her popular character name, Hanna (Montana), which fell from rank #9 to #17. Biblical names generally dominate the census's top baby-names for boys, but popular culture names continue to carry great influence on the baby girl names. The name Emma made the Top-10 list in 2002 when a character on the show "Friends" gave the name to her TV baby. Social Security Commissioner, Michael Astrue said, "There's something about naming a child that's a very existential statement. As you read through this [census], you see the influence of recent immigration, religion, popular culture... sometimes it's just people who are admired."

Other people are named after a family or relative, who was known for a certain quality or characteristic. I was given the middle name of Richard because of a dear friend of my parents who was known for his compassion and generosity. Even though the name historically means Powerful and Benevolent (after King Richard the Lionhearted), the meaning of my name to me includes the generosity and compassion that characterized my namesake. Sometimes the reasons parents choose certain names can be part of the meaning of the name to them, and to their child. So if you are wondering about the meaning of your name, a good place to start would be to ask your parents the reasons for choosing your name.

The usual source for a name is to look into the language that it is from, and then the culture in which the name gained popularity. The case of the name Osceola is a good example, as it's Creek root word meant "Black Drink Song". But when examined in cultural context, we found that the black drink was a high-caffeine tea used in purification ceremonies by the Creek Indians. Finally, we chose the historical meaning of the name, because the most famous Osceola fought for freedom for the blacks of his time and rights for under-privileged women. Anyone carrying the name Osceola today would most likely not have been given the name because of it's etymology to black tea, but rather because of the historical traits of the freedom fighter in history.

On the other hand, historical or popular culture does not always prove to be the most encouraging source for the meaning of a name. Such was the case last week, when someone asked for a bookmark with the name Mercedes. One would first guess that the name Mercedes came about because of the German luxury car line that began in the early 1900s, the Mercedes-Benz. While the vehicle popularized the name, and you could draw out its characteristics as the meaning of the name, the surprising truth is that the car was named after a little girl by the name Mercedes Jellinek (1889-1929), who was the daughter of the wealthy Austrian automobile entrepreneur, Emil Jellinek (1853-1901.) The girl's name is actually of Spanish origin, meaning "mercies."

My favorite source for name meanings is when the name has Greek, Aramaic or Hebrew roots, which connect it to the Biblical context of a name. Dozens of contemporary names come directly from Bible times, such as Jacob, Peter, Abby, Elizabeth, or my own name, John. Other Bible names come through concepts and qualities instead of names, like Cross or Joy. Dozens more are connected to ancient language that had meaning and inspiration in Biblical context.

The name Mary, for example. (can you tell I ramble a bit when it comes to names?) Most name meaning books cite the meaning as BITTERNESS. This is because they looked strictly to the language for the meaning. True, the name Mary comes from the Hebrew word for Myrrh, which was very bitter if you ate it. Even it's appearance is knarled and twisted, with it's long thorns sometimes even piercing it's own vine-like trunk. Such was the use of the word in the book of Ruth (1:20) when Naomi had lost her husband and two sons, and spoke to her daughter-in-law, Ruth: "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me."

However, with a closer inspection into the use of the myrrh plant, a much more beautiful meaning is revealed. You see, if the myrrh plant is hurt, or cut, it produces tears of sap, just as we have tears when we are hurt. Those tears of sap can be collected and if properly prepared, can be transformed into a most fragrant perfume, a costly healing balm, or even an anointing oil for burial. Those three uses are why it was so significant that the wise men who sought after the baby Jesus brought Him a gift of myrrh. You see, Myrrh, --like the hurts and wounds in our life--, was never meant to be tasted and bitterly ingested, but to be transformed through forgiveness, into a beautiful, healing annointing to us, and a glorifying fragrance of worship to God.

A much better meaning for Mary than the literal meaning of "bitter" is one that applies the positive qualities of the plant. It's true that hurts in our lives can cause deep wounds, and we can respond with anger and bitterness, but if we respond rightly to such hurts, our forgiveness can be a sweet aroma to God, and a priceless healing balm for us, and those around us. So on our name gifts, the meaning for the name Maria reads "Fragrance and Healing from Rightly Responding to Hurts."

The verse we include on those name gifts is Ephesians 4:32, which speaks of forgiveness.

"Let all bitterness, and wrath be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

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Read More Name Stories:

A Name's Meaning: The significance of Names, and the Encouragement they bring.

Jacob, a life seeking Blessing.

Angela, a name with a Message.

Maria, a name of Healing and Forgiveness

Blake: Meaning Behind the Research

Cross: a name redeemed.

Caleb: The Courage found through a Courageous Leader.

Elijah: The one who Called His God by Name.

Demaris: Strength submitted to God.

David: meaning from the Heart

Isaiah, Joshua and Jesus

Abba, the name of my Daddy