Wikimedia Commons In ” A Dictionary Of First Names,” Patrick Hanks, a lexicographer, onomastician, and linguist that is corpus and a group of writers have actually identified the origin and concept of a lot more than 6,000 very very first names.
We now have detailed these definitions and origins for the best names within the U.S. within the years that are past. Our list alternates between male and female names with typically the most popular names showing up first.
The names were selected from Social safety information from 169,233,019 male births and 165,941,917 feminine births collected between 1914 and 2013. Individuals with greatest quantity of circumstances are seen as the preferred.
Here you will find the initial definitions among these common names, based on Hanks along with his coauthors Hardcastle and Hodges.
1) James English kind of the true title into the brand New Testament of two of Christ’s disciples, James son of Zebedee and James son of Alphaeus. A patron of the arts and an energetic ruler in Britain, James is a royal name associated with the Scottish house of Stewart: James I of Scotland.
2) Mary a brand new Testament kind of Miriam, which St. Jerome derives from elements drop that is meaning of sea'” (Latin “stilla maris”). Mary had been the title regarding the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, that has been a exceedingly typical name among early Christians and lots of saints included in this.
3) John as a type of the Hebrew title Johanan “God is gracious.” The title is of good value in very early Christianity and was handed to John the Baptist, John the Apostle, as well as the composer of the gospel that is fourth. Numerous saints and a complete of 23 popes additionally had the title.
4) Patricia Feminine kind of Patricius or Patrick, the apostle and patron saint of Ireland (c.389-461), Gaelic Pбdraig. As a son he had been captured and enslaved by ra >
5) Robert French title of Germanic origin. Produced by the almost synonymous elements hrod “fame” + berht “bright, famous.” Two dukes of Normandy within the century that is 11th the title: the daddy of William the Conqueror along with his eldest son. The changed quick form Bob is common, but Hob and Dob, that have been typical into the dark ages and provided increase to surnames, are extinct.
6) Jennifer Of Celtic (Arthurian) origin, A cornish kind of the title of King Arthur’s unfaithful Guinevere. At the start of the twentieth century, the title ended up being only a Cornish fascination, but subsequently this has become extremely popular all around the English-speaking globe.
7) Michael type of a typical biblical title (meaning ‘”who is much like Jesus?” in Hebrew). Within the dark ages, Michael had been viewed as captain for the heavenly host (see Revelation 12:7-9), icon for the Church Militant, and patron of soldiers. He had been usually depicted bearing a flaming sword.
8) Elizabeth Made popular by Queen Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603). Within the twentieth century it once once again became exceedingly stylish, partly as it ended up being the title of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900-2002), whom in 1936 became Queen Elizabeth and reached great general general public love as Queen mom for nearly half a hundred years. A lot more influentially, it will be the title of her child Queen Elizabeth II (b. 1926).
9) William based on Germanic wil ‘”will, desire” + helm “helmet, protection.” Despite being the name of William the Conqueror, it held benefit aided by the “conquered” populace. In the 1st century after the Conquest it absolutely was probably the most common male name.
10) Linda it really is first recorded when you look at the nineteenth century and can be a shortened kind of Belinda, an use of Spanish linda “pretty,” or perhaps a Latinate derivative of every of different other Germanic female names closing in -lind meaning “weak, tender, soft.”
11) David Biblical title, borne because of the best of all kings of Israel, whose history is recounted with great vividness within the second and first books of Samuel and somewhere else. As being a child he killed the giant Philistine Goliath with their slingshot.
12) Barbara Greek for “foreign woman.”
13) Richard Germanic beginning, produced from roc “power” + hard “strong, hardy.”
14) Susan Vernacular kind of Susanna, an innovative new Testament as a type of the Hebrew title Shoshana (from shoshan “lily,” which in contemporary Hebrew entails “rose”).
15) Joseph English type of the Hebrew that is biblical name, meaning “(Jesus) shall include (another son).” The favorite son of Jacob had this title, and their brothers became jealous of him and offered him into slavery (Genesis 37). Into the brand brand brand New Testament, Joseph could be the spouse for the Virgin Mary.
16) Margaret From Hebrew margaron “pearl.” The title ended up being constantly comprehended to suggest “pearl”‘ for the M >
17) Charles From German karl, meaning man that is”free” comparable to Old English ceorl “man.” The title, Latin kind Carolus, owed its appeal in medieval European countries into the leader that is frankish, whom in 800 established himself as Holy Roman Emperor.
18) Jessica Apparently of Shakespearean origin. It was the title regarding the child of Shylock asian women date site when you look at the vendor of venice (1596). Shakespeare’s supply will not be founded, but he presumably meant it to pass through as a typically jewish title. It might be from a biblical title that starred in Shakespeare’s day as Jesca or Iscah (Genesis 11:29).
19) Thomas brand brand New Testament title from a single of Christ’s twelve apostles, known as “Thomas, called Didymus.” Didymos is the Greek term for “twin,” additionally the title may be the Greek as a type of A aramaic byname meaning “twin.” The offered title has long been popular throughout Christendom, in component because St Thomas’s doubts are making him appear a rather character that is human.
20) Dorothy typical English as a type of Dorothea. The title had not been utilized in the M >
21) Christopher From the Greek title Khristophoros, from Khristos “Christ” + pherein “to keep.” It was popular among early Christians, alert to the truth that these were Christ that is metaphorically bearing in hearts.
22) Sarah Biblical title of this spouse of Abraham and mom of Isaac. Based on the Book of Genesis, she ended up being initially called Sarai (possibly meaning “contentious” in Hebrew) but had her title changed by Jesus to your more Sarah that is auspicious”princess in token of a larger blessing.
23) Daniel Biblical title meaning “Jesus is my judge” in Hebrew. The story of Daniel ended up being a well liked into the dark ages, frequently represented in wonder performs.
24) Karen Danish same in principle as Katherine. Katherine is A english type of the title of a saint martyred at Alexandria in 307. The storyline has it that she had been condemned become broken in the wheel on her behalf Christian belief. From a date that is early it absolutely was from the Greek adjective katharos “pure.”
25) Matthew type of the title associated with the Christian evangelist, composer of the very first gospel in this new Testament. Their title is a type of the Hebrew name Mattathia, meaning “gift of Jesus,” which will be fairly typical into the Old Testament.
26) Nancy Of uncertain beginning. Through the eighteenth century it really is obviously utilized as being a pet kind of Ann (Nan), however it may initially were through the name Annis, a vernacular kind of Agnes. Today it’s a name that is independent and ended up being specially popular in within the us united states of america|the|within the|into the us in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.
27) Donald Anglicized type of Gaelic Domhnall. The ultimate -d for the form that is anglicized partly from misinterpretation by English speakers associated with the Gaelic pronunciation, and partly from relationship with Germanic-origin names such as for instance Ronald.
28) Betty Pet kind of Elizabeth, dating from the eighteenth century. Into the seventeenth century it really is additionally discovered periodically as a pet kind of Beatrice. Its now utilized as title with its own right.
29) Anthony Form Antonius, that will be of uncertain beginning. The spelling with -th- ( maybe maybe not typically mirrored into the pronunciation) represents a learned but erroneous make an effort to associate it with Greek anthos “flower.” Different early saints had the title, such as a hermit that is egyptian considered the creator of Christian monasticism.
30) Lisa Pet type of Elizabeth.
31) Paul initially a nickname meaning “small.” Pre-eminently this is actually the title regarding the saint that is generally speaking regarded, with St Peter, as co-founder for the Christian Church. He could be the writer associated with fourteen epistles to churches and folks which form area of the brand brand New Testament.
32) Sandra brief as a type of Alessandra, from Alessandro/Alexander. Alexander in Greek means “defender of men.”