What's in a Name? Test | Names

Answer: Abraham

Abraham was the name given to Abram by God, and it means 'father of a multitude', which was the promise made to him. Aaron was Moses' brother (Old Testament) and the name means 'light' in Hebrew, although it is probably of Egyptian origin.

Answer: Barbara

Benjamin is Hebrew for 'son of the right hand'. Belinda means beautiful (French) or serpent (Italian). Brian means 'strong' and is a favourite in Ireland. 'Barbara' is the feminine of 'barbaros' which was a term of scorn used by the Greeks for non-Greeks.

Answer: Cassandra

Cassandra comes from the Greek for 'helper of men', whereas Charlotte and Caroline are both derived from 'Charles' which means 'a man', and is probably a blending of Karl (French) and Carolus (Latin).

Answer: Derek

Diana is the name of an ancient Italian divinity; she was the goddess of light and represented the moon. Darius was a Persian ruler and comes from the Persion for 'wealthy'. Daniel is Hebrew for 'God is my judge'. Derek is the modern version of the Dutch pet-name 'Derrick' of the Teutonic 'Theodoric' which means 'people's ruler'.

Answer: Elizabeth

Emmanuel, as is explained every Christmas, means 'God with us', and although used as a name, is quite rare. Eunice comes from the Greek for well (eu) and victory (nike). Esther, the Beauty Queen whose name graces one of the only two Biblical books (of the Protestent Bible) with a woman's name, comes from either the Persian 'satarah' or Assyrian 'sitarch', through Greek translation to mean 'a star'.

Answer: Florence

Popularized in America through the 20th century US President, F D Roosevelt, 'Franklin' derives from a surname meaning, literally, 'freeholder'. Francis was a popular name in the Tudor era, with famous holders being Drake, Bacon and Walsingham (it is thought that Mary Tudor -sister of Henry VIII, after whom his daughter was named - named her first daughter Frances to compliment King Francis of France, and the name spread); it means 'a free lord'. Frederick means 'peaceful ruler' and comes from both French and German. Florence, well-known through Florence Nightingale, is used rarely these days, and comes from the Latin 'florens' meaning 'flourishing'.

Answer: hero of God

This comes from the Hebrew root for 'hero of God'. We read of Gabriel in the Bible - notably for telling the Virgin Mary that she will conceive God's Child and give birth to Jesus.

Answer: Homer

Henry comes from Old German and means 'ruler of an enclosure' (there were eight English Kings named this). Harold mean 'powerful general' and comes from Danish and Norwegian (the name is probably best known for the English King who was defeated by William the Conqueror in 1066).

Hercules, very rarely used these days, is from the classics, and the name means 'lordly frame'. Homer, well-known because of the popular programme, 'The Simpsons', is derived from the Greek 'homeros' which means 'pledge' or 'hostage'.

Answer: Isaac

Ishmael was Abraham's son by Sarah's maidservant, and he was named such because it means 'God harkens'. Israel was the name given to Jacob by God and it means 'contending with the Lord'. Ira also comes from Hebrew, although it is not Biblical, and means 'watchful'. Abraham and Sarah named their only child Isaac, which means 'laughter' because Sarah thought it very funny that she would become a mother at her age.

Answer: Jonathan

Jonathan is from the Hebrew for 'the Lord's gift' - it is a variant of the name Nathan, while Joanna is the female version of the Hebrew 'God is gracious'. Jack and the Scottish form, Jock, are variants of John, as is the Scottish 'Hamish'.

Answer: Kenneth

Kai comes from the Welsh for 'keeper of the keys', while Keith was originally the surname of a Scottish line of earls (in Gaelic it means 'the wind'). Kenelm is Anglo-Saxon, and signifies 'bold helmet'. Along with Kenneth, Kevin (the Irish version) also means 'handsome'.

Answer: gladness

Lucy and Lucius both come from the Latin for 'born at daylight'. Leigh and Lee are from the British 'lea' - a meadow. Lazarus is from the Hebrew Eleazar, meaning 'whom God assists. Letitia comes from the Latin laetitia - 'gladness'.

Answer: Margaret

Other forms of Margaret include: Maggie, Maggy, Mag, Peg, Peggie, Maisie, Maidie, Mamie, Margaretta, Margery, Meggie, Meg, Meggy, Madge, Marget, Morgot, Greta, Gretta, Gritty, Meta, Marjorie, May, Marjory, Marge, Margie - and I daresay there are others I have not included! The name means 'pearl', so Pearl is also another pet name!

Answer: Norman

Nigel comes from the Latin 'niger', meaning 'black, while Neville is from the French surname ('the new city'), and Nathan is Hebrew for 'gift of God'. Norman is a literal translation from 'north man', and dates in England from the conquest of 1066.

Answer: Ophelia

Osmond mean 'divine protection', Obadiah is from the Hebrew for 'servant of the Lord' and Orson signifies 'a bear's cub' in the French, and 'a bear' from the Latin.

Answer: Paul

Peter was named such by Jesus, because he would be the 'rock'. Philemon (for whom one of the New Testament letters was named) means 'loving and friendly' (from the Greek), and Philip is Greek for 'lover of horses'. Paul of the New Testament was called Saul before his conversion, and became Paul (meaning 'small') afterwards.

Answer: the fifth

Of the other options given: Rebecca means 'to bind', Priscilla means 'ancient' and Pereguine means 'a wanderer'.

Answer: Richard

Robert is from the Teutonic 'bright fame'; from the Old English, Ralph means 'counsel of wolf' and Rhys, from the Welsh, means 'impetuous man or warrior'.

Answer: Stella

Also from the Latin, Sylvia means 'one who lives in a wood'. Susan is the English shortening of the Hebrew name Susanna(h), meaning 'graceful white lily'. The name Sophia comes from the Greek 'wisdom'.

Answer: twin

Theobald comes from the Teutonic 'folk-bold', Theodore means 'God's gift' and Timothy means 'honour God'. Thomas, the Disciple who had doubts and questions, had the name which literally means 'a twin'.

Answer: Ursula

Ulysses is the Latin shape of the Greek 'Odusseus'. Una is partly Irish and partly Latin, and may be translated as 'one'. Ulrica is the Roman female form of Ulric(k), which means 'wolf-rule'.

Answer: Vashti

Viola stems from the Latin for 'violet', while Venetia is Celtic for 'blessed', and Vivian (unisex) comes from the Latin for 'alive'. Vashti is the name of the Queen who upset King Xerxes in the Old Testament book of Esther; her banishment from the Persian empire led to Esther becoming Queen.

Answer: Wilmot

Wilmot very likely derives from 'Little William'. The other three names are, according to my book, 'properly surnames' and have no root sources or meanings listed.

Answer: Yvette

Both Yvette and Yvonne, with Yvain and Yves are the Old French brothers to the Hebrew 'John'. According to my book, Ysolt and Yseult are probably derived from a Celtic goddess and Xavier is properly a surname.

Answer: life

Zona is an American name and comes from the Greek for 'girdle'. Zack and Zachariah is from the Hebrew - 'God has remembered'. Zora comes from the Arabic for 'dawn'.