New Post
Search
Help
ArchivesIs Rena a hebrew name? / Phyllis = Felicia !?
Hi there
I know that Rena is a short form for Renate/Renata etc. BUT I also found this: http://www.my-hebrew-name.com/view.cgi?image=rena.gif&name=rena&id=22314
I would love to know the hebrew meaning, since my son also has a hebrew name! Maybe somebody can help me?!
And then I have a name book "the last word on first names" and they say Phyllis is just another version of Felicia...what do you think of that?! Can you find a connection between the two?!
Thanks for your help
asujakin
I know that Rena is a short form for Renate/Renata etc. BUT I also found this: http://www.my-hebrew-name.com/view.cgi?image=rena.gif&name=rena&id=22314
I would love to know the hebrew meaning, since my son also has a hebrew name! Maybe somebody can help me?!
And then I have a name book "the last word on first names" and they say Phyllis is just another version of Felicia...what do you think of that?! Can you find a connection between the two?!
Thanks for your help
asujakin
1
Replies
As an Israeli and Hebrew speaker, I can say for sure that Rena is not a Hebrew name however it might be derived from/An English take of the name Hebrew name Reena/Rina (spelled like רינה) in Hebrew meaning "Joy, singing" (However the chance is very low)
Rena has never been a common transcription variant here in Israel nor have I heard of it in Jewish communities outside so I doubt that Rena is a variant of Reena or related to that name but again this is my subjective observation and speculation
(and that's coming from a person who spends a lot of time on this website and reading about names from various sources I trust, names are my hyperfixation)
Rena has never been a common transcription variant here in Israel nor have I heard of it in Jewish communities outside so I doubt that Rena is a variant of Reena or related to that name but again this is my subjective observation and speculation
(and that's coming from a person who spends a lot of time on this website and reading about names from various sources I trust, names are my hyperfixation)
This message was edited 2/9/2024, 7:33 AM
1
Rena could be form of the Yiddish name Reina. I do not think that it would be from the word for "singing."
1
Rena (Rana,Rina, Renana,...)
According to "Bible Baby Names - Spiritual Choices from Judeo-Christian Tradition" by Anita Diamant Rana, Rona, Roni and Rina are names of Hebrew origine and mean "joy" or "song".
I know that the name Renana is used in Israel. Someone added the name with the meaning "singing". I did read a musical meaning for that name in reliable name books before.
According to "Bible Baby Names - Spiritual Choices from Judeo-Christian Tradition" by Anita Diamant Rana, Rona, Roni and Rina are names of Hebrew origine and mean "joy" or "song".
I know that the name Renana is used in Israel. Someone added the name with the meaning "singing". I did read a musical meaning for that name in reliable name books before.
This message was edited 1/21/2010, 10:29 AM
0
My name is Rana Rochelle Hinton and I’m from Hattiesburg MS and mostly New Augusta MS , in Perry County. And my name is very odd in the US. And I work in Medicare and Medicaid and in 2 years of taking calls as a csr , in the entire United States, 70-100 a day for 2 years , I’ve never heard of anyone who had my exact name with my exact spelling. It’s odd and I would love to know more. I read once my name RANA means “song of the Lord”. But what does that mean in full?
1
It’s a very very common Arabic first name meaning and Indian or Malaysian surname or male name first name. Im Palestinian and my name is Rana and it’s very common amongst Arabs. In Arabic it means beautiful, eye-catching
1
That's right, and you can add Ronit and Rinat, and Ran, Ronen and Ron for boys to the list. (BTW, Renana is a lot less common in Israel than Rina, Roni and Ronit.)
What's interesting is that the Hebrew word in the link the original poster gave was Rina, not Rena - pronounced REE-na. Reh-na is not used as a Hebrew name at all that I know of. (+ I couldn't find it in any Hebrew name lists, nor does Google give any hits for Rena as a name.)
The only Israeli Rena I know is a woman who uses it as a variant of Renee.
What's interesting is that the Hebrew word in the link the original poster gave was Rina, not Rena - pronounced REE-na. Reh-na is not used as a Hebrew name at all that I know of. (+ I couldn't find it in any Hebrew name lists, nor does Google give any hits for Rena as a name.)
The only Israeli Rena I know is a woman who uses it as a variant of Renee.
2
Phyllis and Felicia have different origins, but they have been confused for centuries.
The common form of Felicia in medieval England was Felis. By the 16th century this was often confused with Phyllis, and there are examples of the same woman being called both Felicia and Phyllis.
Phyllis is a rather minor character in Greek mythology, and the confusion of her name with Felicia/Felice is probably part of why the name Phyllis became regularly used in English speaking countries.
So though the two names had separate origins, part of their etymological history is that they have been used as forms of each other.
A similar confusion has existed between Amelia and Emily; in the 17th and 18th centuries, those two names were often seen as equivalent. The youngest daughter of George III of England was Princess Amelia but was often called Princess Emily during her lifetime.
The common form of Felicia in medieval England was Felis. By the 16th century this was often confused with Phyllis, and there are examples of the same woman being called both Felicia and Phyllis.
Phyllis is a rather minor character in Greek mythology, and the confusion of her name with Felicia/Felice is probably part of why the name Phyllis became regularly used in English speaking countries.
So though the two names had separate origins, part of their etymological history is that they have been used as forms of each other.
A similar confusion has existed between Amelia and Emily; in the 17th and 18th centuries, those two names were often seen as equivalent. The youngest daughter of George III of England was Princess Amelia but was often called Princess Emily during her lifetime.
This message was edited 1/21/2010, 5:50 AM
2
Regarding the second, I'd say they are simply mistaken. Name books are not known for their etymological accuracy or scholastic rigour ;)
1