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Archivesmeaning for Veda besides the Sanskrit?
My great grandmother's name was Veda (pronounced VAY-duh) which I think is a lovely name. All the information I've been able to find on it gives the Sanskrit meaning of "knowledge". This is almost definitely not what was going on with my great grandmother, as she was a white, Christian woman who lived in the South.
I was hoping someone would have some idea as to what the origins of this name might be within that context.
Thanks.
I was hoping someone would have some idea as to what the origins of this name might be within that context.
Thanks.
1
Replies
Veda is a name which fits in with the form and sound of names which were popular with parents in the USA in the late 19th century.
It's not possible without further information to know whether your great great grandparents invented Veda themselves by combining sounds from names like Vera and Neda, or whether they heard or saw the Sanskrit term and simply thought it sounded pretty and would make a good girl's name.
There were 150 women named Veda in the 1880 US Census and I think it's unlikely most of their parents had any real interest in Hinduism. You also have women named Vela, Vena, Veta, Beda, Fleda, Eda, Neda, etc. at that point in history. This site gives a Turkish origin for Eda, but of course the over seven thousand women named Eda in the 1880 US Census didn't have parents who knew about obscure Turkish names. They just were creating a new feminine form for Edward or altering Edna in a way they thought sounded pleasant.
I once met a conservative Christian minister who has a daughter named Karma (born about 40 years ago.) He told me he and his wife just heard the name and thought it sounded pretty and they had no idea it was a Hindu religious concept.
It's not possible without further information to know whether your great great grandparents invented Veda themselves by combining sounds from names like Vera and Neda, or whether they heard or saw the Sanskrit term and simply thought it sounded pretty and would make a good girl's name.
There were 150 women named Veda in the 1880 US Census and I think it's unlikely most of their parents had any real interest in Hinduism. You also have women named Vela, Vena, Veta, Beda, Fleda, Eda, Neda, etc. at that point in history. This site gives a Turkish origin for Eda, but of course the over seven thousand women named Eda in the 1880 US Census didn't have parents who knew about obscure Turkish names. They just were creating a new feminine form for Edward or altering Edna in a way they thought sounded pleasant.
I once met a conservative Christian minister who has a daughter named Karma (born about 40 years ago.) He told me he and his wife just heard the name and thought it sounded pretty and they had no idea it was a Hindu religious concept.
This message was edited 9/10/2009, 5:52 AM
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