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Quiz about First Names Meanings And Origins

First Names: Meanings And Origins Quiz

Once first names have been given, few of us pay any further attention to what they mean or where they come from. Yet some origins may surprise us. See for yourself.

A multiple-choice quiz by flem-ish. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
flem-ish

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
80,553

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
3002

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which of these Biblical names - quite understandably - means: "Father of many"? Hint

Moses

Jacob

Aaron

Abraham

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Question 2 of 10

2. What "surprise" is hidden behind the name "Melanie"? Hint

the dark one

the sweet as molasses

the sweet apple

the honey bee

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Question 3 of 10

3. What does Maurice stand for? Hint

the Mauretanian

the Moor's son

the dark one

Mary's son

4. Which of these Biblical characters got into a fatal quarrel with his son, though ironically enough his son's name meant "Father of Peace" - it ended with the son being killed by one of his father's generals ? Hint

Saul

Jeroboam

Jonathan

David

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which of these Nazi leaders had a first name that meant "noble wolf"? Hint

Hitler

Goebbels

Goering

Himmler

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Question 6 of 10

6. What was the meaning of King Alfred's first name? Hint

Having the counsel or wisdom of elves.

Cold-hearted.

Ale-cold , or lover of cold beer

All-frieden or Peace for All

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of these 'recent' American Presidents had a spouse whose first name meant "foreigner"? Hint

George H W Bush

Richard Nixon

Ronald Reagan

John Kennedy

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of these is NOT an Ann(e)? Hint

Anouk

Nandy

Nancy

Nanette

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of these girl's names means : gift from God ? Hint

Desdemona

Deborah

Dolores

Dorothy

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Question 10 of 10

10. The popular name Jennifer relates to the name of King Arthur's wife Guinevere which itself derives from Celtic: Gwen-hwyfar, which of course means: ______________? Hint

the King's wife

white and smooth

the King's daughter

dumb and blonde

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of these Biblical names - quite understandably - means: "Father of many"?

Answer: Abraham

Moses probably derives from Egyptian mes= son. Other interpretations link the name with Hebrew mashah: to deliver; to draw out. Moses drew his people out of Egypt and was himself drawn out of the Nile. Aaron is Egyptian and is supposed to mean either "high mountain" or "exalted". Jacob's name refers to his having "held Ezau's heel" when he was born as Ezau's twin brother.

Another reading is "supplanter". Many Biblical names are entirely symbolic in the context of the story.

2. What "surprise" is hidden behind the name "Melanie"?

Answer: the dark one

Melittas or Melissas are honey-bees
Melas is Greek for black.

3. What does Maurice stand for?

Answer: the dark one

Maurice is an alternative for Maurus, literally the Moor or the "dark one" ; Mauretanians were from Mauretania, the Land of the Moors

Answer: David

When fleeing, Absalom got his beautiful long hair caught in a tree and Joab rather impulsively killed the "traitor". David was very sorry about this.

5. Which of these Nazi leaders had a first name that meant "noble wolf"?

Answer: Hitler

Adolf from ad-wulf. The other names are Hermann, Joseph and Heinrich.

6. What was the meaning of King Alfred's first name?

Answer: Having the counsel or wisdom of elves.

Though freddo is Italian for cold there is no link with this Anglo-Saxon first name. Alf-red means having the "red" or "good advice" of elves. 'Red' is related to German Rat (advice, counsel, council); beraten (to give advice; to consider). Also to Dutch raad, beraden.

7. Which of these 'recent' American Presidents had a spouse whose first name meant "foreigner"?

Answer: George H W Bush

A French derivation from Barbara is Babette.
Jacqueline (Kennedy) is from French Jacques for James.
Pat (Nixon) is of course from Patricia. Nancy is another form of Anne.

8. Which of these is NOT an Ann(e)?

Answer: Nandy

Nandy is for a male and derives from Ferdinand.
Anouk is a popular petform of Anne in France and in Holland.
Nan, Nancy and Nanette are other petforms.

9. Which of these girl's names means : gift from God ?

Answer: Dorothy

The Biblical name Deborah means 'bee'. Dolores stands for "sorrowful". Desdemona, as Shakespeare may have been aware of, means 'the ill-fated'. Dorothy, the full form for Doris, is from Doro-thea, "divine present". Doron is Greek for "gift". In Latin the word becomes "donum" as in donation. Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.

10. The popular name Jennifer relates to the name of King Arthur's wife Guinevere which itself derives from Celtic: Gwen-hwyfar, which of course means: ______________?

Answer: white and smooth

Gwen is Celtic for white (as in pen-gwyn or white-head).
Hwyfar is smooth.

Source: Author flem-ish

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor thejazzkickazz before going online.
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