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Help[Facts] Re: Some Western Yiddish names: Mate and Elkel
in reply to a message by elbowin
An Ashkenazi Jew with an interest in the Yiddish language and Medieval Yiddish names here
Elkel appears to be a pet form of Elke an Ashkenazic form of Elkena or a German form pet form of Adelheid
(I doubt that Elke is of Hebrew origin because "-ke" is a German and Yiddish suffix appearing only across Ashkenazi communities additionally this website sometimes lists Yiddish names as Hebrew and vice versa)(this article details Yiddish diminutive suffixes https://encyclopedia.yivo.org/article/2126)
it was common towards the 17th century to adopt German vernacular forms of German origin
El is a common suffix for upper German diminutives that is used still to this day in Ashkenazic Jewish communities
(All of the below my individual speculations)
The origin of the name Mate is uncertain, but it's possible that, like many names, it was common for Jews to adopt German diminutives and use them as pet forms for similar-sounding Hebrew or Jewish names. For example, the name "Marx" was originally a diminutive of "Marcus" but also a Medieval Jewish form of Mordechai.
Mate can be therefore equated with the Dutch: https://www.behindthename.com/name/mietje/submitted or an Ashkenazic borrowing of https://www.behindthename.com/name/metta/submitted or a pet form of Malke but I doubt any of these options can apply here.
The last option that makes sense to me is Mate being a female diminutive of Mattan or simply a gentile name
Elkel appears to be a pet form of Elke an Ashkenazic form of Elkena or a German form pet form of Adelheid
(I doubt that Elke is of Hebrew origin because "-ke" is a German and Yiddish suffix appearing only across Ashkenazi communities additionally this website sometimes lists Yiddish names as Hebrew and vice versa)(this article details Yiddish diminutive suffixes https://encyclopedia.yivo.org/article/2126)
it was common towards the 17th century to adopt German vernacular forms of German origin
El is a common suffix for upper German diminutives that is used still to this day in Ashkenazic Jewish communities
(All of the below my individual speculations)
The origin of the name Mate is uncertain, but it's possible that, like many names, it was common for Jews to adopt German diminutives and use them as pet forms for similar-sounding Hebrew or Jewish names. For example, the name "Marx" was originally a diminutive of "Marcus" but also a Medieval Jewish form of Mordechai.
Mate can be therefore equated with the Dutch: https://www.behindthename.com/name/mietje/submitted or an Ashkenazic borrowing of https://www.behindthename.com/name/metta/submitted or a pet form of Malke but I doubt any of these options can apply here.
The last option that makes sense to me is Mate being a female diminutive of Mattan or simply a gentile name
This message was edited 10/15/2024, 9:19 AM
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