A History of Names
by: GranMamma
The history of names is so ancient that no one know quite where it began. Oral and written history both profess people having names. Earlier names seem to have some sort of meaning, usually descriptive. In contrast, today's names are usually given based upon their popularity or pleasing sounds.
Early in prehistory, descriptive names were used continuously. Eventually, a collection of names were formed that identified that particular culture. Today, the meanings of many names are not known, due to the aging history of a name. As time goes on, languages change, and words that formed the original name are often unrecognizable.
The rise in Christianity transformed the history of names. Christians were encouraged to name their children after saints and martyrs of the church. Because of this influence, we now see names such as Mary, Martha, Joseph, James, Mark, Paul, and John prominent among many cultures. These names were spread by early missionaries throughout Europe.
By the Middle Ages, Christian names were seen predominantly. Each culture had its collection of names, which were a combination of native and early Christian names. However, the naming pools continued to evolve. Modern names often bear little resemblance of their predecessors. Surprisingly, the early Christian names changed very little in comparison.
(continued...)
A History of Names
Page 2
About The Author
GranMamma is the webmaster at the Baby Names Box - Where you can explore over 6,000 baby names and their meanings.
Sub-categories include Disney, J.R. Tolkien names, Fantasy and Folklore names, and many names from the literary classics. Read articles ranging from parenting and family to home and gardening. Be sure to say hi to GranMamma!
babynamebox.com
granmamma@babynamebox.com
|
|
Baby Name Bracelet: The Perfect Gift For A Newborn Baby
It happens all the time: someone close to you, a friend, a family member, a close colleague, has a baby and you have no idea what to give them. You feel guilty, you fish around for the usual clichéd ...
Your Newborn Baby: Are You Truly Prepared?
As parents-to-be, we tend to prepare for the arrival of our newborn in the usual ways. We decorate the nursery, attend child birthing classes, buy every baby-related accessory known to man, and even...
Preparing a Sibling For Baby
You may be excited about the thought of having another baby to complete your family, but your little darling first born may not quite feel comfortable with the idea of having a sibling! The spotlight...
Baby Clothes
There are a lot of important things to remember about buying baby clothes for your own baby, but especially if you are buying baby clothes for someone else’s baby. If you want them to keep the baby c...
Fun Facts About Ice Cream
To this day, the history of ice cream remains a mystery. However, many say that the first ice cream is credited to Emperor Nero of Rome. It was a mixture of snow, nectar, fruit pulp, and honey. Other...
|
