Editing Given name (section)

==Origins and meanings==
[[File:Yohanan name evolution.svg|thumb|350px|''[[:wikt:John#English|John]]'', a name of Hebrew origin is very popular in the Western World, and has given many variants depending on the language: ''[[:wikt:Shaun#English|Shaun]]'', ''[[:wikt:Eoin#Irish|Eoin]]'', ''[[:wikt:Ian#English|Ian]]'', ''[[:wikt:Juan#English|Juan]]'', ''[[:wikt:Ivan#English|Ivan]]'', and ''[[:wikt:Yahya#English|Yahya]]''. Click on the image to see the diagram in full detail.]]
{{Original research|section|date=June 2020}}
<!-- These are examples and not exhaustive lists. Lists of first names exist at Wiktionary. Before adding any more examples please discuss on talk page.-->
Parents may choose a name because of its meaning. This may be a personal or familial meaning, such as giving a child the name of an admired person, or it may be an example of [[nominative determinism]], in which the parents give the child a name that they believe will be lucky or favourable for the child. Given names most often derive from the following categories:
* Aspirational personal traits (external and internal). For example, the male names:
**Clement ("merciful");<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfnames.com/mnames/c/origin-and-meaning-of-clement.htm |title=Origin and Meaning of Clement |access-date=5 January 2009 |work=MFnames.com |author=Igor Katsev |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121035226/http://www.mfnames.com/mnames/c/origin-and-meaning-of-clement.htm |archive-date=21 November 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfnames.com/mnames/c/origin-and-meaning-of-clemens.htm |title=Origin and Meaning of Clemens |access-date=5 January 2009 |work=MFnames.com |author=Igor Katsev |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121034051/http://www.mfnames.com/mnames/c/origin-and-meaning-of-clemens.htm |archive-date=21 November 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> as popularised by [[Pope Clement I]] (88–98), saint, and his many papal successors of that name;
**Augustus ("consecrated, holy"<ref>Cassell's Latin Dictionary, Marchant, J.R.V, & Charles, Joseph F., (Eds.), Revised Edition, 1928</ref>), first popularised by the first Roman Emperor; later (as Augustine) by two saints;
**English examples include numerous female names such as [[Faith]], [[Prudence]], [[Amanda]] (Latin: worthy of love); Blanche (white (pure));
* Occupations, for example [[George (given name)|George]] means "earth-worker", ''i.e.'', "farmer".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=george |title=Meaning, Origin and History of the Name George |access-date=21 July 2008 |work=Behind the Name |author=Mike Campbell}}</ref>
* Circumstances of birth, for example:
**[[Thomas (name)|Thomas]] meaning "twin";
**''[[Quintus]]'' (Latin: "fifth"), which was traditionally given to the fifth male child.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=thomas |title=Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Thomas |access-date=21 July 2008 |work=Behind the Name |author=Mike Campbell}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=quintus |title=Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Quintus |access-date=21 July 2008 |work=Behind the Name |author=Mike Campbell}}</ref>
* Objects, for example [[Peter (name)|Peter]] means "rock" and [[Edgar]] means "rich spear".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=edgar |title=Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Edgar |access-date=21 July 2008 |work=Behind the Name |author=Mike Campbell}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=peter |title=Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Peter |access-date=21 July 2008 |work=Behind the Name |author=Mike Campbell}}</ref>
* Physical characteristics, for example [[Calvin (given name)|Calvin]] means "bald".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=calvin |title=Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Calvin |access-date=21 July 2008 |work=Behind the Name |author=Mike Campbell}}</ref>
* Variations on another name, especially to change the sex of the name ([[Pauline (name)|Pauline]], Georgia) or to adapt from another language (for instance, the names [[Francis (given name)|Francis]] or [[Francisco]] that come from the name [[Franciscus]] meaning "[[Franks|Frank]] or Frenchman").<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfnames.com/mfnames/f/origin-and-meaning-of-francis.htm |title=Origin and Meaning of Francis |access-date=5 January 2009 |work=MFnames.com |author=Igor Katsev |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301001406/http://www.mfnames.com/mfnames/f/origin-and-meaning-of-francis.htm |archive-date=1 March 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfnames.com/mnames/f/origin-and-meaning-of-francisco.htm |title=Origin and Meaning of Francisco |access-date=5 January 2009 |work=MFnames.com |author=Igor Katsev |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103205405/http://www.mfnames.com/mnames/f/origin-and-meaning-of-francisco.htm |archive-date=3 January 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfnames.com/mnames/f/origin-and-meaning-of-franciscus.htm |title=Origin and Meaning of Franciscus |access-date=5 January 2009 |work=MFnames.com |author=Igor Katsev |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201201918/http://www.mfnames.com/mnames/f/origin-and-meaning-of-franciscus.htm |archive-date=1 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Surnames,  Such names can honour other branches of a family, where the surname would not otherwise be passed down (e.g., the mother's maiden surname). Modern examples include:
**Winston,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfnames.com/mnames/w/origin-and-meaning-of-winston.htm |title=Origin and Meaning of Winston |access-date=5 January 2009 |work=MFnames.com |author=Igor Katsev |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201182631/http://www.mfnames.com/mnames/w/origin-and-meaning-of-winston.htm |archive-date=1 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 
**[[Harrison (name)|Harrison]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfnames.com/mnames/h/origin-and-meaning-of-harrison.htm |title=Origin and Meaning of Harrison |access-date=5 January 2009 |work=MFnames.com |author=Igor Katsev |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527201539/http://www.mfnames.com/mnames/h/origin-and-meaning-of-harrison.htm |archive-date=27 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 
**[[Ross (name)|Ross]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfnames.com/mnames/r/origin-and-meaning-of-ross.htm |title=Origin and Meaning of Ross |access-date=5 January 2009 |work=MFnames.com |author=Igor Katsev |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527140947/http://www.mfnames.com/mnames/r/origin-and-meaning-of-ross.htm |archive-date=27 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Many were adopted from the 17th century in England to show respect to notable ancestry, usually given to nephews or male grandchildren of members of the great families concerned, from which the usage spread to general society. This was regardless of whether the family name concerned was in danger of dying out, for example with Howard, a family with many robust male lines over history. Notable examples include
**Howard, from the Howard family, Dukes of Norfolk;
**Courtenay, from the surname of the Earls of Devon;
**Trevor, from the Welsh chieftain Tudor Trevor, lord of Hereford;<ref>Trevors, whose descendant Trevor Charles Roper became Lord Dacre in 1786</ref>
**Clifford, from the Barons Clifford;
**Digby, from the family of Baron Digby/Earl of Bristol;
**Shirley (originally a man's forename), from the Shirley family, Earls Ferrer;
**Percy, from the Percy Earls and Dukes of Northumberland;
**Lindsay, from that noble Scottish family, Earls of Crawford;
**Graham, from that noble Scottish family, Dukes of Montrose;
**Eliot, from the Eliot family, Earls of St Germans;
**Herbert, from the Herbert family, Earls of Pembroke;
**Russell, from the Russell family, Earls and Dukes of Bedford;
**Stanley, from the Stanley family, Earls of Derby;
**Vernon, Earl of Shipbrook
**Dillon, the Irish family of Dillon, Viscount Dillon
* Places, for example [[Brittany]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfnames.com/fnames/b/origin-and-meaning-of-brittany.htm |title=Origin and Meaning of Brittany |access-date=5 January 2009 |work=MFnames.com |author=Igor Katsev |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107044925/http://www.mfnames.com/fnames/b/origin-and-meaning-of-brittany.htm |archive-date=7 January 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Duchy of Lorraine|Lorraine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindthename.com/name/lorraine |title=Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Lorraine |access-date=5 January 2009 |work=Behind the Name |author=Mike Campbell}}</ref>
* Time of birth, for example, day of the week, as in [[Kofi Annan]], whose given name means "born on Friday",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindthename.com/name/kofi |title=Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Kofi |access-date=5 January 2009 |work=Behind the Name |author=Mike Campbell
}}</ref> or the holiday on which one was born, for example, the name [[Natalie (given name)|Natalie]] meaning "born on [[Christmas]] day" in Latin<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfnames.com/fnames/n/origin-and-meaning-of-natalie.htm |title=Origin and Meaning of Natalie |access-date=5 January 2009 |work=MFnames.com |author=Igor Katsev |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907063959/http://www.mfnames.com/fnames/n/origin-and-meaning-of-natalie.htm |archive-date=7 September 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> (Noel (French "Christmas"), a name given to males born at Christmas); also [[April (given name)|April]], [[May (given name)|May]], or [[June (given name)|June]].
* Combination of the above, for example the [[Armenian language|Armenian]] name Sirvart means "love rose".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.behindthename.com/name/sirvart |title=Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Sirvart |access-date=5 January 2009 |work=Behind the Name |author=Mike Campbell}}</ref>

In many cultures, given names are reused, especially [[namesake|to commemorate ancestors]] or those who are particularly admired, resulting in a limited repertoire of names that sometimes vary by [[orthography]].

The most familiar example of this, to Western readers, is the use of [[Biblical]] and [[saint|saints']] names in most of the Christian countries (with Ethiopia, in which names were often ideals or abstractions—Haile Selassie, "power of the Trinity"; Haile Miriam, "power of Mary"—as the most conspicuous exception). However, the name [[Jesus (name)|Jesus]] is considered [[taboo]] or [[sacrilege|sacrilegious]] in some parts of the [[Christian world]], though this taboo does not extend to the cognate [[Joshua]] or related forms which are common in many languages even among Christians.  In some Spanish-speaking countries, the name Jesus is considered a normal given name.

Similarly, the name [[Mary, the mother of Jesus|Mary]], now popular among Christians, particularly [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]], was considered too holy for secular use until about the 12th century. In countries that particularly venerated Mary, this remained the case much longer; in Poland, until the arrival in the 17th century of French queens named Marie.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.poland.gov.pl/Polish,names,2470.html|title=Witamy|work=#Polska |access-date=19 August 2006|archive-date=3 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403024150/http://poland.gov.pl/Polish,names,2470.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Most common given names in English (and many other European languages) can be grouped into broad categories based on their origin:

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* '''[[Hebrew name]]s''', most often from the Bible, are very common in, or are elements of names used in historically Christian countries. [[Theophoric name|Some]] have elements meaning "God", especially "[[Eli (name)|Eli]]". Examples: [[Michael (given name)|Michael]], [[Joshua]], [[Daniel (biblical figure)|Daniel]], [[Joseph (Hebrew Bible)|Joseph]], [[David]], [[Adam (name)|Adam]], [[Samuel]], [[Elizabeth (given name)|Elizabeth]], [[Hannah (given name)|Hannah]] and [[Mary (given name)|Mary]]. There are also a handful of names in use derived from the '''[[Aramaic language|Aramaic]]''', particularly the names of prominent figures in the New Testament—such as [[Thomas the Apostle|Thomas]], [[Martha]] and [[Bartholomew]].
** All of the [[Semitic people]]s of history and the present day use at least some names constructed like these in Hebrew (and the ancient Hebrews used names not constructed like these—such as [[Moses]], probably an Egyptian name related to the names of [[Pharaoh]]s like Thutmose and Ahmose). The Muslim world is the best-known example (with names like Saif-al-din, "sword of the faith", or Abd-Allah, "servant of God"), but even the Carthaginians had similar names: cf. Hannibal, "the grace of god" (in this case not the Abrahamic deity God, but the deity—probably [[Melkart]]—whose title is normally left untranslated, as [[Baal]]).
* '''[[Germanic names]]''' are characteristically warlike; roots with meanings like "glory", "strength", and "will" are common. The "-[[Bert (name)|bert]]" element common in many such names comes from ''beraht'', which means "[[wikt:bright|bright]]". Examples: [[Robert]], [[Edward]], [[Roger]], [[Richard]], Albert, Carl, Alfred, Rosalind, Emma, Emmett, [[Eric]] and [[Matilda (name)|Matilda]].
* '''French''' forms of '''[[Germanic languages|Germanic]]''' names. Since the [[Norman conquest of England]], many English-given names of [[Germanic languages|Germanic]] origin are used in their [[French name|French forms]]. Examples: [[Charles]], [[Henry (given name)|Henry]], [[William]].
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        These are examples and not exhaustive lists. Lists of first names exist at Wiktionary. Before adding any more examples please discuss on talk page.        ***

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*'''[[Slavic names]]''' may be of peaceful character, the compounds being derived from the word [[root (linguistics)|roots]] meaning "to protect", "to love", "peace", "to praise [gods]", or "to give". Examples: [[Milena (name)|Milena]], [[Vesna (name)|Vesna]], [[Bohumil]], [[Dobromir (given name)|Dobromir]], [[Svetlana]], [[Vlastimil]]. Other names have a warlike character and are built of words meaning "fighter", "war", or "anger". Examples: [[Casimir]], [[Vladimir (name)|Vladimir]], [[Sambor (disambiguation)|Sambor]], [[Wojciech]] and [[Zbigniew]]. Many of them derive from the root word "slava" ("glory"): [[Boleslaus|Boleslav]], [[Miroslav (given name)|Miroslav]], [[Vladislav]], [[Radoslav (disambiguation)|Radoslav]], [[Slavomir]] and [[Stanislav (given name)|Stanislav]]. Those derived from root word "mir" ("world, peace") are also popular: [[Casimir]], [[Slavomir]], [[Radomir (given name)|Radomir]], [[Vladimir (name)|Vladimir]], [[Miroslav (given name)|Miroslav]], Jaczemir.
* '''[[Celtic languages|Celtic]]''' names are sometimes [[anglicisation|anglicised]] versions of [[Celtic language|Celtic forms]], but the original form may also be used. Examples: [[Alan (name)|Alan]], [[Brian]], [[Brigid]], Mórag, Ross, [[Logan (given name)|Logan]], [[Ciarán]], [[Jennifer (given name)|Jennifer]], and [[John (name)#Evolution of the name John|Seán]]. These names often have origins in Celtic words, as Celtic versions of the names of internationally known [[Christianity|Christian]] [[saint]]s, as names of [[Celtic mythology|Celtic mythological figures]], or simply as long-standing names whose ultimate etymology is unclear.
* '''[[Greek names]]''' may be derived from the history and mythology of [[Classical Antiquity]] or be derived from the [[New Testament]] and early Christian traditions. Such names are often, but not always, anglicised. Examples: [[Helen (given name)|Helen]], [[Stephen]], [[Alexander]], [[Andrew]], [[Peter (name)|Peter]], [[Gregory (given name)|Gregory]], [[George (given name)|George]], [[Christopher (name)|Christopher]], [[Margaret (name)|Margaret]], [[Nicholas]], [[Jason (name)|Jason]], [[Timothy (name)|Timothy]], [[Chloe]], [[Zoe (name)|Zoë]], [[Katherine (given name)|Katherine]], [[Penelope]] and [[Theodore (given name)|Theodore]].
*'''[[Roman naming conventions|Latin names]]''' can also be adopted unchanged, or modified; in particular, the inflected element can be dropped, as often happens in borrowings from Latin to English. Examples: [[Laura (name)|Laura]], [[Victoria (name)|Victoria]], [[Mark (given name)|Mark]] (Latin ''[[Marcus (name)|Marcus]]''), [[Justin (given name)|Justin]] (Latin ''Justinus''), [[Paul (name)|Paul]] (Lat. ''Paulus''), Julius, [[Julia (given name)|Julia]], Cecilia, [[Felix (name)|Felix]], [[Vivian (personal name)|Vivian]], [[Pascal (name)|Pascal]] (not a traditional-type Latin name, but the adjective-turned-name ''paschalis'', meaning 'of Easter' (''Pascha'')).
* '''Word names''' come from English vocabulary words. Feminine names of this sort—in more languages than English, and more cultures than Europe alone—frequently derive from nature, flowers, birds, colours, or [[gemstone]]s. Examples include [[Jasmine]], [[Lavender]], [[Dawn]], [[Asteraceae|Daisy]], [[Rose]], [[Iris (plant)|Iris]], [[Petunia]], [[Rowan]], [[Jade]], and [[Violet (plant)|Violet]]. Male names of this sort are less common—examples like [[Hunter (given name)|Hunter]] and [[Fischer]], or names associated with strong animals, such as [[Bronco]] and [[Wolf]]. (This is more common in some other languages, such as Northern Germanic and Turkish).
* '''Trait names''' most conspicuously include the Christian virtues, mentioned above, and normally used as feminine names (such as the [[Theological virtues|three Christian virtues]]—[[Faith in Christianity|Faith]], [[Hope (virtue)|Hope]], and [[Charity (virtue)|Charity]]).
* '''[[Diminutive]]s''' are sometimes used to distinguish between two or more people with the same given name. In English, [[Robert]] may be changed to "Robbie" or Thomas changed to "Tommy". In German the names [[John (name)#Evolution of the name John|Hänsel]] and [[Margaret (name)#Name Margaret in other languages|Gretel]] (as in the famous [[Hansel & Gretel|fairy tale]]) are the diminutive forms of Johann and Margarete. Examples: [[Victoria (name)|Vicky]], [[Cindy (given name)|Cindy]], Tommy, [[Abigail|Abby]], [[Alison (name)|Allie]].
* '''Shortened names''' (see [[nickname]]) are generally nicknames of a longer name, but they are instead given as a person's entire given name. For example, a man may simply be named "Jim", and it is not short for [[James (name)|James]]. Examples: Beth, Ben, Zach, Tom.
* '''Feminine variations''' exist for many masculine names, often in multiple forms. Examples: [[Charlotte (given name)|Charlotte]], [[Stephanie]], [[Victoria (name)|Victoria]], [[Philippa]], [[Jane (given name)|Jane]], [[Jacqueline (name)|Jacqueline]], [[Josephine (name)|Josephine]], [[Danielle]], [[Paula (given name)|Paula]], [[Pauline (name)|Pauline]], [[Patricia]], [[Francesca]].

Frequently, a given name has versions in many languages. For example, the biblical name ''[[Susanna (disciple)|Susanna]]'' also occurs in its original [[biblical Hebrew language|biblical Hebrew]] version, ''Shoshannah'', its Spanish and Portuguese version ''Susana'', its French version, ''Suzanne'', its Polish version, ''Zuzanna'', or its Hungarian version, ''Zsuzsanna'' .
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===East Asia===
{{See also|Chinese given names}}

Despite the uniformity of [[Chinese surname]]s, some [[Chinese given name]]s are fairly original because [[Chinese character]]s can be combined extensively. Unlike European languages, with their Biblical and Greco-Roman heritage, the [[Chinese language]] does not have a particular set of words reserved for given names: any combination of Chinese characters can theoretically be used as a given name. Nonetheless, a number of popular characters commonly recur, including "Strong" ({{linktext|伟}}, ''Wěi''), "Learned" ({{linktext|文}}, ''Wén''), "Peaceful" ({{linktext|安}}, ''Ān''), and "Beautiful" ({{linktext|美}}, ''Měi''). Despite China's increasing urbanization, several names such as "Pine" ({{linktext|松}}, ''Sōng'') or "[[plum tree|Plum]]" ({{linktext|梅}}, ''Méi'') also still reference nature.

Most Chinese given names are two characters long and—despite the examples above—the two characters together may mean nothing at all. Instead, they may be selected to include particular sounds, [[Chinese tones|tones]], or [[radical (Chinese characters)|radicals]]; to balance the [[five elements (China)|Chinese elements]] of a child's [[Chinese astrology|birth chart]]; or to honor a [[generation poem]] handed down through the family for centuries. Traditionally, it is considered an [[naming taboo|affront]], not an honor, to have a newborn named after an older relative and so full names are rarely passed down through a family in the manner of American English ''Seniors,'' ''Juniors'', ''III'', etc. Similarly, it is considered disadvantageous for the child to bear a name already made famous by someone else through [[romanization of Chinese|romanizations]], where a common name like [[Liu Xiang (disambiguation)|Liu Xiang]] may be borne by tens of thousands.

[[Korean names]] and [[Vietnamese names]] are often simply conventions derived from [[Classical Chinese]] counterparts.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}

Many female [[Japanese names]] end in ''-ko'' ({{linktext|子}}), usually meaning "child" on its own. However, the character when used in given names can have a feminine (adult) connotation.

In many Westernised Asian locations, many Asians also have an unofficial or even registered Western (typically English) given name, in addition to their Asian given name. This is also true for Asian students at colleges in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia as well as among international businesspeople. {{citation needed|date=August 2021}}
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***        These are examples and not exhaustive lists. Lists of first names exist at Wiktionary. Before adding any more examples please discuss on talk page.        ***
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