Tamaz

Tamaz is *not* the Georgian form of Thomas. That is incorrect.

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The actual Georgian form of Thomas is: Toma, written in Georgian as თომა. Toma is already featured in the main database, fortunately.

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As for Tamaz, that name is actually of Persian origin - as many Georgian names are. It is ultimately derived from Tahmasp. See the entries for Tahmasp and Tamaz in the Submitted Names Database.

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Of course, it is easy to see why Tamaz is mistaken for being a form of Thomas - especially if you consider that the Hungarian form of Thomas is Tamás. These names resemble each other outwardly. As such, some Georgians named Tamaz abroad have changed their name to (or merely go by) Thomas, a name that is more international and recognizable to non-Georgians. But, outward resemblance is all there is to these names - the etymology is entirely different.

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Evidence is, for example, the entry for Tamaz at this Georgian-language website dedicated to Georgian given names:

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http://name.interes.ge/dreams.php?action=view&id=429&from=action=search|by=%E1%83%97

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The entry states that Tamaz is of Old Iranian origin and that the name means "strong horse" or "strong cavalry" (it doesn't specifically mention Tahmasp, but the meaning provided is exactly that of Tahmasp, though). Also, an English-language website dedicated to Armenian given names (maintained by actual Armenians) provides the same etymological information for the Armenian form of Tahmasp (which is Tahmaz):

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http://armenian.name/index.php?a=term&d=1&t=2245

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What's more, on Wikipedia, the Georgian-language article dedicated to shah Tahmasp I gives his name as Tamaz:

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http://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%97%E1%83%90%E1%83%9B%E1%83%90%E1%83%96_I

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Finally, the Wikipedia article dedicated to the given name Thomas doesn't even list Tamaz as being the Georgian form of Thomas. It only lists Toma:

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_%28name%29

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Really, the *only* "proof" I see on-line for Tamaz being the Georgian form of Thomas is the Wikipedia article dedicated to Tamaz V. Gamkrelidze. It's interesting that only a few of the foreign language versions of his Wikipedia article mention Thomas - the native Georgian version of the article doesn't mention Thomas at all. I think this is a case of a Georgian going by Thomas when abroad because Thomas is more recognizable (as I described earlier)... or a case of non-Georgians transforming the name into a name that they recognize (or them attempting to "explain" the name by mentioning Thomas along with Tamaz).

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All in all, I see more concrete evidence for Tamaz being the Georgian form of Tahmasp than I do for Tamaz being the Georgian form of Thomas. [noted -ed]

I just came across another useful link that explains how Tamaz is actually of Persian origin, and I would like to share that link as well (as a supplement to my previous comment):

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http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Culture/iranian_elements_georgian.htm

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(Look for the paragraph under 'Proper names' that starts with "Zoonyms include...") [noted -ed]