Baby Name Meanings
|
Speaking as a Michael (a Hebrew name, meaning "Who is like God"), I'm really proud of my name. And I think that I ? mostly - live up to the title! Of course, my mother would probably disagree; I think the phrase "little devil" would probably pass her lips if she was describing me during many stages of my childhood.
But then, my mother has her own issues; apparently her name (Kathleen) is a Celtic name meaning "Little Darling". Hmmm, that isn't the way I used to think about her during those regular occasions when she was punishing me for my "not like God" behaviour?!
And that's the fun of baby name meanings ? parents make naming decisions based on many, many different reasons, including family traditions, religion, culture, uniqueness and "it just sounds really nice." But ? in the Western world ? we rarely do any real research into the history or real meaning of names. So when the poor/lucky child finally finds out the meaning of his/her "really nice sounding" name, the results can be interesting, ironic, unfortunate or just sometimes hilarious.
You can have a lot of fun thinking up family/friends names, finding out the meanings and trying to make a connection between the two. For example, my eldest brother Clive is apparently "a cliff dweller", which is coincidental, since he lives at the top of a very long steep hill! Or why not play the game with celebrities ? consider the following:
Badu (as in r n'b singer Erykah Badu): African name meaning "Tenth born child"
Winona (as in actress Winona Ryder): Sioux name meaning "Firstborn daughter"
Aaliyah (the late r n'b singer): Arabic name meaning "High, exalted"
Hilary (as in actresses Duff/Swank): Latin name meaning "Cheerful"
Some cultures have very interesting traditions when it comes to baby name meanings. For example, Hindu names usually have connections with very positive things such as truth, beauty, happiness, blessings, etc, or one of the Hindu gods. In the Sikh culture, girls traditionally have the middle or surname "Kaur", meaning "Princess", whilst the boys have the middle or surname "Singh", meaning "Lion".
An African friend of mine once mentioned that many Africans are given a second name corresponding to the day of the week on which they were born. I think is a really nice tradition, but in my case, my middle name would be "Sondo" (born on Sunday)!! Hmmmm?
Whatever type of name you have chosen, or are thinking about for your "bundle of joy", its worth doing a little research into the meaning. And it's never been easier, with the wealth of Internet resources and books available, including my own site at www.all-about-baby-names.com, which is jam-packed with resources, tips and information on baby names, baby name meanings and baby products.
Your search may yield some surprises; for example, the lovely-sounding name "Malory" is French and means "Bad luck". You could get round this by spelling it "Mallory", but this means "Without good fortune" in Old German!
Alternatively, you may end up a little confused by different meanings of the same name; for example "Leah" is a beautiful girl's name, but what does it mean? Well?
? In Hebrew it means "Cow" or "Weary one" ? uugghhh!
? In Greek it means "Glad tidings"
? In Assyrian, it means "Mistress, ruler"
And a final warning: if you are planning to go for a funky, unusual-sounding name, be sure to avoid "Bacia," ? its Ugandan meaning is "Family deaths ruined the home!"
For more information and advice, check out the baby name meaning resources at www.all-about-baby-names.com.
Enjoy your search and happy baby naming!
Michael Barrows is a web publisher specialising in niche marketing. Check out the wealth of baby resources and pick up his FREE ebook "Baby Tips for New Parents" at his website; http://www.all-about-baby-names.com
|
|
|
How To Teach Anger Management To Your Child
Most of us recognize the continuing escalation of violence around us, due to intolerance, and many of us blame it on somebody else. Parents teach their children, all the time, and when one of us displays "road rage," while our child is in the car, we teach a brand new skill set.Although, road rage is inappropriate behavior, at any time, and can get you killed, most children who are exposed to it, will duplicate the actions of their parents, when they are old enough to drive.So the first step, is to set an example and, possibly, use some of these ideas, for yourself. Studies show that anger causes atherosclerosis, the build-up of plaques in the arteries, t...(related: Parenting)
People Of The Century By Dan Rather
Dan Rather made a significant and tactical error and got involved in politics where he should not have gone. I personally and millions ...(related: Parenting)
Tips For Keeping Packed Lunches Fun And Interesting
? Let the child choose his or her own lunch box or reusable lunch bag. Encourage the child to add decorations, too.? Children like finger foods. Cut chicken, cheese, or meat into bite-sized pieces for easier handling.? Sandwiches don't have to be boring. Use a variety of breads and fillings. Cut sandwiches into squares or triangles, or use...(related: Parenting)
Bring On The Music To Help Your Child Learn Faster And More Effectively
Do you remember how you first learned the alphabet? I am quite sure that the majority of us learnt it by singing the ABC Song: 'ABCDEFG-HIJKLMNOP-QRS-TUV-WXY-and-Z...'There is no doubt that music and songs are one of the best means to teach children new information and knowledge. And over the last 25 years, many researches...(related: Parenting)
Choosing The Perfect Jogging Stroller
When choosing the perfect jogging stroller, a very important question to ask yourself is whether you want a swivel or fixed wheel. The benefit of choosing a jogging stroller with a fixed wheel is that it will offer the stability and straight tracking that you will require. The front wheel tends to be lar...(related: Parenting)
Should The Dad-to-be Attend The Birth?
Not so long ago a dad-to-be would pace up and down outside the labor room and would be admitted only after the birth. Modern practice is to assume the dad-to-be should be at the birth to offer support. But an increasing number of dads, moms and midwives would prefer he stayed outside.Some of the reasons given are:Some moms feel the loss of dignity and '...(related: Parenting)
Dinner Table Drama
It has been a long day. Home from work, you put together a nice, healthy dinner for the entire family to enjoy. Gathering the family around the table, you sit down to eat and within a minute, a voice pipes up, "I don't like anything." Encouraging, you say...(related: Parenting)
Keeping Kids Safe On The Internet
The biggest trick some child predators' are using these days is to pretend to be a kid, in a kid site chat room.Child predators are talking the lingo, misspelling words, having simple conversations to gain trust with children on the internet.But do you really know just how fast they can find informationabout your child or your family?This is one website every parent must see:http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/ceos/index.htmlScroll down to the bottom and you will see a section calledInteractive ToolsThen click on the link'What Can Be Revealed in Minutes About Your Child Online'It is a downloadable tutorial that shows parents and kidsjust how someone can search fo...(related: Parenting)
Homeschooling Takes Your Child Out Of Public School --- A Unique Benefit
Home-schooling removes children from public school. That alone makes home-schooling worthwhile. Unlike public-school children, home-schooled kids are not prisoners of a system that can wreck their self-esteem, ability to read, and love of learning.Home-schooled kids don't have to read dumb-downed text-books, study subjects they hate, or endure meaningless classes six to eight hours a day. Home-...(related: Parenting)
site-map - Copyright © 2006 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved. | Parenting