To avoid studying for finals, I started doing a little research into what some of my friend’s names meant and found quite a few interesting (or funny) tidbits. The following information was gathered from behindthename.com. Rankings are based on the United States. I found that my own name, Julie, is the French form of Julia, and means youthful, “soft-haired” and vivacious. So what’s in a name?
Katharine Hepburn (Source: https://jnpickens.files.wordpress.com/)
Katharine
Variant of Katherine, made famous by Katharine Hepburn. From Greek “each of the two,” Greek “torture” or Coptic “my consecration of your name.” In the Christian era, from Greek katharos meaning “pure.”
Usage: English, German
Highest Ranking: No. 171 in 1880
Current Ranking: NA, Last Ranked No. 904 in 2006
Megan
Derived from Margaret. From Greek “pearl.” In the Christian era, it’s derived from Saint Margaret, patron of expectant mothers.
Usage: Welsh, English
Highest Ranking: No. 10 in 1985
Current Ranking: No. 307
Mattea
Feminine form of the Italian name Matthew. Greek form of the Hebrew name for “gift of God.” From Saint Matthew, also called Levi, one of the 12 apostles.
Usage: Italian
No Ranking Available.
Corinna
Latinized form of Greek name derived from “maiden.”
Usage: English, German, Ancient Greek
Highest Ranking: No. 699 in 1970
Current Ranking: NA, Last Ranked No. 954 in 1978
(http://www.bible-people.info)
Rachel
From Hebrew “ewe.” From the favorite wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin in the Old Testament.
Usage: English, Hebrew, French, German, Dutch, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew
Highest Ranking: No. 9 in 1996
Current Ranking: No. 155
Wyatt
From medieval name Wyot. Wyot from the Old English name “Wigheard” meaning “battle” (wig) and “brave, hardy” (heard).
Usage: English
Highest Ranking: No. 39 in 2014
Current Ranking: No. 39
Jackson
From English surname meaning “son of Jack.”
Usage: English
Highest Ranking: No. 16 in 2013
Current Ranking: No. 17
(Source: http://mythortruth.com)
Griffin
Latinized form of the Welsh name Gruffudd, “udd” meaning lord or prince while the first element and “ Gruff” being from unknown meaning. Inspired by the English word griffin, referencing a creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.
Usage: English
Highest Ranking: No. 219 in 2012
Current Ranking: No. 241
A photo from my friend Kevin from his first birthday party.
Kevin
Irish meaning for handsome, kind or gentle by birth.
Usage: English, Irish, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Highest Ranking: No. 13 in 1972
Current Ranking: No. 70
Jordan
Comes from the river that flows between countries of Jordan and Israel, which is derived from the Hebrew word meaning to descend or flow down.
Usage: English, Macedonian
Highest Ranking: No. 29 in 1991
Current Ranking: No. 55