Naming history
Why do names have meanings?
Many names began life as ordinary words or phrases. Over centuries the words faded from everyday speech, while the names carried on.
The Journal
Articles on names, language and history
Evergreen explainers on where names come from, how they change and how they are recorded. Every article lists the sources it was checked against.
Names across languages
How names change across languages
John, Jean, Juan, Giovanni and Ivan are one name in many forms. Following a name between languages shows how sounds and spellings adapt.
Origins & etymology
What a name’s origin actually means
A name’s origin describes the language and words it came from. It does not tell you where a particular family came from, and it is sometimes uncertain.
Popularity & records
How name popularity is measured
Official baby name rankings come from birth records, count each spelling separately and leave out very rare names. Knowing that changes how you read them.
Spelling & variation
Why spellings change over time
Before spelling was standardised, even famous names were written in several ways. Later, records, migration and personal choice produced new variants.