About
About The Name Journal
A reference about names: what they meant, where they came from, how they changed and how they are recorded.
Why we exist
Names are among the oldest words people use, and almost every name has a history that crosses languages, places and generations. Much of what is written about names online repeats attractive meanings without saying where they come from. The Name Journal exists to do the opposite: to tell the story behind a name only as far as the evidence goes.
What we publish
- Journal articles that explain how names work: where meanings come from, how names change between languages, why spellings vary and how name statistics are compiled. Each article lists the sources it was checked against.
- Name lookups. You can search for any name. Our collection of verified entries is still being built, so for many names the search will tell you that we do not yet have enough verified information to publish a profile. We would rather show less than guess.
What we do not publish
We do not publish personality readings, numerology, lucky numbers, compatibility scores or fortune-telling of any kind. A name’s meaning describes the words it came from, not the character of the people who carry it.
How we work
We rely on official records, established reference works and scholarly publications, and we say clearly when an origin is uncertain or disputed. Our Sources & Editorial Approach page explains how information is chosen, checked and labelled, and our Privacy page explains what happens when you search.