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ArchivesRe: What does my name mean?
in reply to a message by Azmir
Though -mir is a common part of Slavic names, Azmir is no more Slavic than Samir or Amir. It's definitely Arabic.
The meaning of -mir is somewhat disputed. Some -mir names (like Vladimir) have evolved from -mer names like Vladimer, where -mer stands for "great." It can be interpreted as peace, and "mir" is also an archaic word for "the world." To make it even harder, most names can be translated either way:
Dragomir could be either "kind and peaceful" or "kind to the world." Branimir could mean either "peaceful protection" or "protector of the world," etc.
The meaning of -mir is somewhat disputed. Some -mir names (like Vladimir) have evolved from -mer names like Vladimer, where -mer stands for "great." It can be interpreted as peace, and "mir" is also an archaic word for "the world." To make it even harder, most names can be translated either way:
Dragomir could be either "kind and peaceful" or "kind to the world." Branimir could mean either "peaceful protection" or "protector of the world," etc.
This message was edited 11/17/2004, 5:10 PM
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I found plenty of references to Slavic-surnamed Azmirs, and only a handful to Arabic-surnamed ones, so that conclusion seems strange to me. What is its Arabic etymology?
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I don't know
I only found a bunch of Muslim-surnamed Azmirs. Also, the Muslim population of the Balkan peninsula, like any other Muslim population, usually take Muslim/Arabic names.
I only found a bunch of Muslim-surnamed Azmirs. Also, the Muslim population of the Balkan peninsula, like any other Muslim population, usually take Muslim/Arabic names.
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True . . . oh well, it could be either I guess, or even both (an Arabic-influenced adaptation of a -mir Slavic name?).
This message was edited 11/17/2004, 5:25 PM
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