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ArchivesRe: Multiple Meanings?
in reply to a message by Mel
I'm not sure what you mean by www.com?
Some names have multiple meanings, however if they do the alternatives are usually included in the BtN database (see Mary for example). In most cases, where the meaning on another site is different to the BtN meaning, the BtN meaning is correct.
The vast majority of "Baby Name" websites are interested in "selling" a "product" - whether it's simply the website itself they're promoting, or products that are available to purchase through the site. Because of this factor, most of these sites are more interested in pleasing their readers than they are in the accuracy of their information. So, if a name has a boring, unpleasant or complicated meaning, they will change, enhance or simplify it so that it is more appealing to their "customers".
In some cases incorrect meanings are not intentional, however; they are just the result of bad research (like copying from other sites), misunderstandings or guesswork gone wrong.
Chanel as "canal" is probably an example of poor research. The visual link (channel/chanel/canal) is easy to see, and a names website creator who could not find an actual etymology for Chanel might well think that "canal" was probably close enough to correct to keep people happy.
Chelsea as "port of ships" is an oversimplification of the real meaning. A "Landing place for chalk or limestone" is a wharf, jetty, port or other place that ships bearing chalk or limestone could or did offload their cargoes. If you chip away at that meaning you can reduce it to "port of ships", which is much easier to understand but is not actually a correct etymology.
Behind the Name is the only truly etymological names website that I know of, and name meanings and origins are not included in the database unless they have been thoroughly researched and verified. You can generally trust that the meanings in this site's database will be more accurate than those on a commercial "baby name" website. If you're looking at a site and are unsure if it's meanings are accurate, try to find out whether they have a list of references that they have consulted while gathering their name meanings. If they have no references, the chances are that they are a commercial site not an accuracy-based site.
Does that answer the question? :-)
♦ Chrisell ♦
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.
Some names have multiple meanings, however if they do the alternatives are usually included in the BtN database (see Mary for example). In most cases, where the meaning on another site is different to the BtN meaning, the BtN meaning is correct.
The vast majority of "Baby Name" websites are interested in "selling" a "product" - whether it's simply the website itself they're promoting, or products that are available to purchase through the site. Because of this factor, most of these sites are more interested in pleasing their readers than they are in the accuracy of their information. So, if a name has a boring, unpleasant or complicated meaning, they will change, enhance or simplify it so that it is more appealing to their "customers".
In some cases incorrect meanings are not intentional, however; they are just the result of bad research (like copying from other sites), misunderstandings or guesswork gone wrong.
Chanel as "canal" is probably an example of poor research. The visual link (channel/chanel/canal) is easy to see, and a names website creator who could not find an actual etymology for Chanel might well think that "canal" was probably close enough to correct to keep people happy.
Chelsea as "port of ships" is an oversimplification of the real meaning. A "Landing place for chalk or limestone" is a wharf, jetty, port or other place that ships bearing chalk or limestone could or did offload their cargoes. If you chip away at that meaning you can reduce it to "port of ships", which is much easier to understand but is not actually a correct etymology.
Behind the Name is the only truly etymological names website that I know of, and name meanings and origins are not included in the database unless they have been thoroughly researched and verified. You can generally trust that the meanings in this site's database will be more accurate than those on a commercial "baby name" website. If you're looking at a site and are unsure if it's meanings are accurate, try to find out whether they have a list of references that they have consulted while gathering their name meanings. If they have no references, the chances are that they are a commercial site not an accuracy-based site.
Does that answer the question? :-)
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.
This message was edited 5/23/2006, 7:31 PM
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