Choosing Baby Boy Names From Ancient Cultures
Greeks Hebrews Germans Celts and Italians Have Culture-Bound Names
Sep 22, 2009
Many of today's preferred popular baby names don't have clear meanings, or have uncertain meanings; perhaps a meaning was never intended, or the name was not investigated for meanings, but all ancient names have a root culture.
For example, today's more common names Brice and Jesse have no certain meanings, while Bruce and Byron are "place" names, derived from a cultural location rather than a meaning.
Cultures and Meanings of Names
Ancient cultures were profoundly influenced in assignment of names for new infants by their traits, personalities, surroundings, and holy, or godly entities. Many baby boys of Hebrew parents had names of godly, or religious meanings. Greeks also gave male monikers that reflected holiness, or high position in society.
Names of place are scattered throughout different cultures as the right moniker for a new baby boy. Nature played a definite part in ancient name choosing: George recognizes a man of the earth; Philip is a lover of horses; Bartholomew is a son of furrows. All are clearly names for earthbound men.
Great ancient cultures that opposed one another on the battle field are reflected in male names that mean shield, protector, man of the army, warrior, spear, and so on. Celts used many names that meant strength and power and kingship.
Choosing Ancient Names of Place
New parents who want to name their children to connect to their ancestry might consider "place" names. For instance, families with throwbacks to former locations of their Italian ancestors might choose Adrian ,which derives from Adria, the name of two Italian cities, or the Adriatic Sea. Dunstan is English, derived from the village by the same name.
The moniker of an English dukedom spawned the name Clarence. Earl comes from the English country title. The class conscious English society is filled with a rich tradition of dukes and castles and family shields often romanticized in novels. Edward, Henry, John, and Richard are ancestral names of past English nobilities.
Those with Latin and German ancestry have Claude, Horatio, Nero, and Terence, names taken from titles of Roman clans. Dean is derived from Latin and French as an ancient religious, or military title. From Germany comes the name Marshal, also a title of rank.
Ancient cultural and ancestral names promote a modern choice from every corner of old world societies. Hannibal -- he of the elephant army trek across the Alps mountaintops – is Phoenician. Cyrus is Persian. Lloyd and Morgan are Welsh.
Choosing Ancient Surnames as First Names
Ancient surnames became common first names in many cultures. Examples are:
- Bayard – Old French
- Jarvis, Montgomery, Mortimer, Neville, Percy – French
- Chester – Latin
- Glenn, Monroe – Celtic
- Clyde, Gordon, Irving, Keith, Murray – Scot
The English, in particular, became fond of using surnames as first names. Their choices reflect a desire to extend time, place, and culture through many years. Clayton, Clifford, Clifton, and Clinton are names among old English ancestry which have remained popular in today's societies.
And, of course, the most famous name of them all from the English is Winston. Parents conscious of keeping, or renewing strong ties to their English ancestry may think of Winston as the first and the last of great cultural names for a new baby boy!
For comprehensive information on modern name popularity, visit the Social Security Administration website.
Resource: The Reader's Digest Great Encyclopedic Dictionary (with special supplements); The Reader's Digest Association; Pleasantville, New York; 1966.
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