New Post
Search
Help
ArchivesWhy does one name have so many meanings?
I have been looking on other websites for the meaning of names and several times have discovered that the meanings on one site are completely different to the ones I discovered on this site, why is that?
for example - Trevor, according to this database, means 'big village', yet on another website it means 'prudent'; also Rebecca on this site means 'snare' yet I discovered it also means 'servant of God'.
Are both meanings correct? I hope someone can help me.
for example - Trevor, according to this database, means 'big village', yet on another website it means 'prudent'; also Rebecca on this site means 'snare' yet I discovered it also means 'servant of God'.
Are both meanings correct? I hope someone can help me.
1
Replies
There is a lot of good info for you in the previous answers to your question. A large number of baby name books and sites use "pop meanings," not accurate etymology. Furthermore, the same set of letters/sounds can have a wildly different meaning in different languages, and some sets of letters are used popularly as names in multiple cultures, hence the variance in meanings often cited.
Another reason: Some names have taken on associative meanings, either because those associations are more attractive than the true etymological origin, or because of the influence of a particular entity.
Examples:
1. Caleb - This name means "dog" in Hebrew. As dogs are seen as loyal and brave, one will often see the "meaning" for Caleb listed as "brave" or "loyal," because that is more flattering in most people's minds than "dog."
2. Veronica - This name comes from the Greek Berenike, "bringing victory." However, the early Christian church ascribed it an alternate meaning to coincide with the Latin phrase "vera iconica," or "true image," because that happened to be perfectly apt for their purposes of supporting the story of Veronica, the woman who is said to have wiped Jesus' brow and come away with his image transferred to the cloth, known as the Shroud of Turin.
Also: Some names will have more than one meaning, simply because experts disagree on the origin or because there are multiple possibilities of where a name may have come from, and people probably chose the name originally for either/or of those meanings/associations.
Another reason: Some names have taken on associative meanings, either because those associations are more attractive than the true etymological origin, or because of the influence of a particular entity.
Examples:
1. Caleb - This name means "dog" in Hebrew. As dogs are seen as loyal and brave, one will often see the "meaning" for Caleb listed as "brave" or "loyal," because that is more flattering in most people's minds than "dog."
2. Veronica - This name comes from the Greek Berenike, "bringing victory." However, the early Christian church ascribed it an alternate meaning to coincide with the Latin phrase "vera iconica," or "true image," because that happened to be perfectly apt for their purposes of supporting the story of Veronica, the woman who is said to have wiped Jesus' brow and come away with his image transferred to the cloth, known as the Shroud of Turin.
Also: Some names will have more than one meaning, simply because experts disagree on the origin or because there are multiple possibilities of where a name may have come from, and people probably chose the name originally for either/or of those meanings/associations.
1
More explanations
Apart from that some baby books/sights are inaccurate.
The same name may exist in different languages/cultures. Two examples:
Love in Swedish is a boy' name and a form of Ludvig and therefore means "famous warrior"
Love in English is a girl's name and means of course the English word "love".
Lilian in English means "lily"
Lilian in Chinese means "beautiful lotus"
In Chinese, the word "li" may mean many different things. It is written differently with Chinese characters but in Latin alphabet, they all look alike.
Though I think there is only one meaning of Rebecca. But the experts may not be sure of which one is right.
Apart from that some baby books/sights are inaccurate.
The same name may exist in different languages/cultures. Two examples:
Love in Swedish is a boy' name and a form of Ludvig and therefore means "famous warrior"
Love in English is a girl's name and means of course the English word "love".
Lilian in English means "lily"
Lilian in Chinese means "beautiful lotus"
In Chinese, the word "li" may mean many different things. It is written differently with Chinese characters but in Latin alphabet, they all look alike.
Though I think there is only one meaning of Rebecca. But the experts may not be sure of which one is right.
1
YES, BOTH MEANINGS ARE CORRECT. A NAME HAS MANY DIFFERENT MEANINGS AND ALL ARE AN INSIGHT INTO THE CHARACTER OF THE PERSON WHO HOLDS IT, BOTH YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES. GOD IS THE ONE WHO ASSIGNS MANKIND OUR NAMES AND THEY DO HAVE A PROPHETIC MEANING. DEPENDING ON WHETHER WE WILL CHOOSE TO OBEY AND FOLLOW THE LORD OUR NAMES WILL TAKE ON A CLEARER AND RICHER MEANING TO US.
I AM CALLED BY DIFFERENT NAMES BY DIFFERENT PEOPLES I MAY BE WITH OR AROUND, IT DEPENDS ON THE LANGUAGE.
YOUR HANDLE IS 'REEBEE ' THAT EVEN IS AN INSIGHT ABOUT YOURSELF. IT IS A TITLE OF REFERENCE AND RESPECT IN SOME RELIGIOUS JEWISH CIRCLES WE MIGHT CALL A RESPECTED HUMAN TEACHER OF OUR CULTURE AND TRADITIONS - "REBE" OR "RABBI".
I AM ASSUMING YOUR NAME IS REBECCA. A LITERAL MEANING IS "THE TORAH (TEACHING/INSTRUCTION) OF GOD GIVES WISDOM" AND IT ALSO MEANS "THE WISDOM OF MAN BRINGS PRIDE." IN GOD'S BOOK OF PROVERBS HE TEACHES US THE DIFFERENT BETWEEN HIS WISDOM (THE SUMMATION OF ALL KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING) AND KNOWLEDGE AND THE SOLE WISDOM (WHAT WE CAN LEARN, EXPERIENCE AND DISCOVER ALL BY AND THROUGH OURSELVES)OF MAN.
THE HORSE IS ONE SYMBOL OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE, THE FIGURE OF PEGASUS OF RELIGIOUS WISDOM. A SYMBOL OF WISDOM BY FAITH IS ETERNAL LIGHTS, FLAMES AND HEAT.
NAMES HAVE SO MANY MEANINGS BECAUSE HUMAN LANGUAGE IS TOTALLY INADEQUATE TO GIVE ANY FULL KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING TO ONE PERSON, THAT IS WHY GOD IS THE WORD AND HE HAS SPOKEN EVERYTHING INTO EXISTANCE AND BRINGS EVERY SINGLE SYLABLE, CONSANT, NAME AND SOUND INTO ITS OWN FRUITION. HE HAS DETERMINED BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE THAT ALL PEOPLE SHOULD BE HIS DEAR CHILDREN, BUT HE LEAVES THAT CHOICE UP TO US. OUR NAMES ARE BUT ONE OF HIS GOOD TOOLS OF HIS TRADE AND PURCHASE. WE CANNOT LIVE UP TO OUR OWN PROPHECY BUT, IN JESUS THE MESSIAH GOD BRINGS US INTO HIS TOTAL FULFILLMENT AND FRUITION IF ONLY WE WILL BELIEVE HIS WORDS, TRUST HIS NAME AND PUT OUR FAITH CHOICE IN HIMSELF - YESHUA/JESUS - ALONE.
MS. SHAMIR ROSHAN
I AM CALLED BY DIFFERENT NAMES BY DIFFERENT PEOPLES I MAY BE WITH OR AROUND, IT DEPENDS ON THE LANGUAGE.
YOUR HANDLE IS 'REEBEE ' THAT EVEN IS AN INSIGHT ABOUT YOURSELF. IT IS A TITLE OF REFERENCE AND RESPECT IN SOME RELIGIOUS JEWISH CIRCLES WE MIGHT CALL A RESPECTED HUMAN TEACHER OF OUR CULTURE AND TRADITIONS - "REBE" OR "RABBI".
I AM ASSUMING YOUR NAME IS REBECCA. A LITERAL MEANING IS "THE TORAH (TEACHING/INSTRUCTION) OF GOD GIVES WISDOM" AND IT ALSO MEANS "THE WISDOM OF MAN BRINGS PRIDE." IN GOD'S BOOK OF PROVERBS HE TEACHES US THE DIFFERENT BETWEEN HIS WISDOM (THE SUMMATION OF ALL KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING) AND KNOWLEDGE AND THE SOLE WISDOM (WHAT WE CAN LEARN, EXPERIENCE AND DISCOVER ALL BY AND THROUGH OURSELVES)OF MAN.
THE HORSE IS ONE SYMBOL OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE, THE FIGURE OF PEGASUS OF RELIGIOUS WISDOM. A SYMBOL OF WISDOM BY FAITH IS ETERNAL LIGHTS, FLAMES AND HEAT.
NAMES HAVE SO MANY MEANINGS BECAUSE HUMAN LANGUAGE IS TOTALLY INADEQUATE TO GIVE ANY FULL KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING TO ONE PERSON, THAT IS WHY GOD IS THE WORD AND HE HAS SPOKEN EVERYTHING INTO EXISTANCE AND BRINGS EVERY SINGLE SYLABLE, CONSANT, NAME AND SOUND INTO ITS OWN FRUITION. HE HAS DETERMINED BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE THAT ALL PEOPLE SHOULD BE HIS DEAR CHILDREN, BUT HE LEAVES THAT CHOICE UP TO US. OUR NAMES ARE BUT ONE OF HIS GOOD TOOLS OF HIS TRADE AND PURCHASE. WE CANNOT LIVE UP TO OUR OWN PROPHECY BUT, IN JESUS THE MESSIAH GOD BRINGS US INTO HIS TOTAL FULFILLMENT AND FRUITION IF ONLY WE WILL BELIEVE HIS WORDS, TRUST HIS NAME AND PUT OUR FAITH CHOICE IN HIMSELF - YESHUA/JESUS - ALONE.
MS. SHAMIR ROSHAN
1
precision
To people who may wonder: the lady is probably a Messianic Jew, since Jews *don't* believe in Jesus.
In Jewish tradition, here's the meaning of Rivka: http://www.hebrewletters.com/item.cfm?itemid=1798
~~ Claire ~~
My ! are Alia, Eidel, Enola, Israel, Dudel, Yuri, Lina, Lorelei, Leilani, Owen, Julian, Glorinda, Mirinda
My ? are Hillel, Meshullam, Johnny, Ginny, Cordelia, Fiammetta, Yocheved
My ~ are Tehila, Tilda, Hailey, Gillian, Huldah
My / are Aglaia and July
To people who may wonder: the lady is probably a Messianic Jew, since Jews *don't* believe in Jesus.
In Jewish tradition, here's the meaning of Rivka: http://www.hebrewletters.com/item.cfm?itemid=1798
~~ Claire ~~
My ! are Alia, Eidel, Enola, Israel, Dudel, Yuri, Lina, Lorelei, Leilani, Owen, Julian, Glorinda, Mirinda
My ? are Hillel, Meshullam, Johnny, Ginny, Cordelia, Fiammetta, Yocheved
My ~ are Tehila, Tilda, Hailey, Gillian, Huldah
My / are Aglaia and July
This message was edited 5/29/2005, 1:22 PM
1
I am Jewish and always will be and I do believe that Jesus is God The Messiah ( not that that fact has anything to do with this space ). And I am not considered by my family in Mashiach to be a Messianic Jew. Even though I am and was raised very orthodox in my religion, because of my faith I have adapted myself to God's Law and Word and so my own Jewish religion is quite non-traditional in most groups. Just to set the record straight; please do not lump people all in one boat with broad generalizations - thank you.
In Jewish tradition what is commonly seen spelled in English Rebecca does have a common traditional meaning and it agrees with God's Word and what He says it means too.
sr
In Jewish tradition what is commonly seen spelled in English Rebecca does have a common traditional meaning and it agrees with God's Word and what He says it means too.
sr
1
Well, since people often ask me if Jews believe in Jesus, I have to precise that they don't. In fact that's the main difference between a Jew and a Christian. If you believe in Jesus *Christ* then you are a *Christian*.
~~ Claire ~~
My ! are Alia, Eidel, Enola, Israel, Dudel, Yuri, Lina, Lorelei, Leilani, Owen, Julian, Glorinda, Mirinda
My ? are Hillel, Meshullam, Johnny, Ginny, Cordelia, Fiammetta, Yocheved
My ~ are Tehila, Tilda, Hailey, Gillian, Huldah
My / are Aglaia and July
~~ Claire ~~
My ! are Alia, Eidel, Enola, Israel, Dudel, Yuri, Lina, Lorelei, Leilani, Owen, Julian, Glorinda, Mirinda
My ? are Hillel, Meshullam, Johnny, Ginny, Cordelia, Fiammetta, Yocheved
My ~ are Tehila, Tilda, Hailey, Gillian, Huldah
My / are Aglaia and July
1
To *be* precise, Miss Claire, I ascertain that when you here use the term "Jew" you are of course actually referring to an 'adherent of Judaism'. There are generally two modern connotations implied by this name, "Jew": one being religious, a person adhering to the religion Jüdāism; the other being ethnic, a descent of the defunct nation Jüdæa (a Hebrew individual). I’ve noticed that when people speak of those who are 'Jewish', this differential can tend to become *imprecise*. Here’s a confusing statement: Jesus was a Jew though he wasn’t Jewish. To clarify, when in human form Jesus was a Jew ethnically, and while he did adhere to what is written in haTanakh he was nonetheless not a Jew religiously-- that is to say, an adherent of Judaism.
1
I remember having read that in the early days it was not clear whether Christianity was a Judaic sect, or a separate religion. In fact wasn't it Paul who claimed contra Peter that one did not have to obey the Jewish dietary etc. customs to be a Christian.
Was Jesus any less Jewish than the leaders of other messianic sects from that period? Did he himself (Since some believe he was totally human and totally divine simultaneously, I hesitate in saying `human form') believe that he was not Jewish?
This is off-topic already ...
Was Jesus any less Jewish than the leaders of other messianic sects from that period? Did he himself (Since some believe he was totally human and totally divine simultaneously, I hesitate in saying `human form') believe that he was not Jewish?
This is off-topic already ...
1
Uh, Miss Claire's Jewish too.
Miranda
Proud adopter of 15 PPs. See my profile for their names.
Proud adopter of 15 PPs. See my profile for their names.
1
Please lay off the Capslock
It's the online equivalent of shouting and is considered rude. It's also extremely hard on th eyes to read.
Miranda
Proud adopter of 15 PPs. See my profile for their names.
It's the online equivalent of shouting and is considered rude. It's also extremely hard on th eyes to read.
Proud adopter of 15 PPs. See my profile for their names.
1
No.
Most baby-name sites are inaccurate. The meanings on this site are carefully researched, and then recorded. This site specializes in the etymology of names, which means that it studies the name's history and the elements of the names. Most baby name sites come up with meanings that sound "nice" or "cute," but are not correct.
Most baby-name sites are inaccurate. The meanings on this site are carefully researched, and then recorded. This site specializes in the etymology of names, which means that it studies the name's history and the elements of the names. Most baby name sites come up with meanings that sound "nice" or "cute," but are not correct.
1