What is the meaning of my name in one word

This personality tool can help you understand what is the meaning of your name and offers you a name interpretation. You can discover more about this subject and check an example result below the form.

What is the meaning of my name?

The above tool is designed to offer you a quick and descriptive answer to this question by introducing a numerology tool that reveals what your name means. Each name has its unique combination of letters that connect in a simple number that is able to profile some of the general features. Therefore you can discover what your name has to say about yourself. All you have to do is enter your name and then the numerology reading will tell you what personality traits stand behind the simple letters. You can also use it to test for as many other names as you want and the results will equally accurate.

Name numerology

Every word, especially names, has a certain vibration determined by the assignment of numbers to the letters that form it. The sound effect produces certain patterns, expectations and meaning. These name numbers’ meaning are an expression of a person’s developed personality. The first one is considered to determine one’s personality and thought process while the surname indicates the heredity influence of family. The combination of the two reveals the whole meaning and this is the one to be considered for name meaning.

Numerology charts are made up the following numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 22; Each of the numbers has its own expression. The master numbers 11 and 22 are considered to be intensified versions of the single numbers 2 and 4.

1- Individual, leadership, yang;

2- Balance, partnership, yin;

3- Expression, socialization;

4- Order, steady growth;

5- Action, visionary;

6- Responsibility, sympathy;

7- Understanding, knowledge;

8- Practical, power seeking;

9- Humanitarian, creativity;

11- Spirituality, idealism;

22- Master Builder, power

How to calculate the name number?

First of all write down your full name. You then need to add all the corresponding values and once you will probably get a two digit number you will need to add those digits together until it remains one digit, with the exception of 11 and 22 that will remain unchanged.

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I
J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R
S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z

Eida Goodman is the first numerologist to bring together the numerological meaning of names with their other associated symbols, in a comprehensive fact sheet. On Name Echo there are millions of names covered so surely, you are likely to find yours through their search function.

05 Feb, 2015

«What does my name mean?» is a common question people have. Find out if your name is helping or hurting you. Get an instant evaluation of what does your name mean.

First Name Analysis

The Energy In Your Name

The power of a name and its value has long been immortalized in prose, poetry, and religious ceremony.
Everyone recognizes himself or herself by name.

The question is: What does my name mean and how does a name influence a person’s character?

Let us consider what a name is. It is the grouping of several letters of an alphabet, or other symbols, which represent
the identification of a person or an object.

The one thing which separates human beings from the animal kingdom is human mind, which has the ability to reason on a
conscious level. To think consciously, one must use language. This point is not generally appreciated but it is vitally
important. It is impossible to think without language. What allows language to serve in this manner? In the case of languages
which have alphabets, letters are placed in a definite sequence in the alphabet, i.e., in the English alphabet,
«A» is always in the first position, «B» in the second position, and so on.
Any alphabet is an alphabet because symbols are recognized by their form or sound in a definite order—change the order and confusion results.

There is more than just sound and alphabetical symbols to language. What is it that language expresses? Is it not
intelligence? Is not intelligence a mental power? Do we not learn through education—using language—to develop
intelligence, which is recognized as mental growth and the individuality of the personal mind?

The link between human intelligence, mind, language, and the order of the letters in the alphabet is the key to
measuring human mind and solving the major problem of mental discord and imbalance.

We have 1,129,014 names on our web site.

For an analysis of your full name, see our
free detailed Name Report service.

You can change your life through the power of a Balanced Name. If you are already interested in making a name change,
click here for the various services the Society of Kabalarians can provide you for this very important decision.

Analysis of Top 100 Baby Names

Look up the meaning of the top 100 Baby Names.

Thought for the Day

• From the time of Kepler to that of Newton, and from Newton to Hartley, not only all things in external nature, but the subtlest mysteries of life and organization, and even of the intellect and moral being, were conjured within the magic circle of mathematical formulae.
  –Samuel Taylor Coleridge

• There is nothing in life harder to learn than the lesson of service to your fellowman—to love him for what he is. It is easy to love yourself, but it is hard to love someone else.
  –Alfred J. Parker

• There exists, if I am not mistaken, an entire world which is the totality of mathematical truths, to which we have access only with our mind, just as a world of physical reality exists, the one like the other independent of ourselves, both of divine creation.
  –Charles Hermite

• When viewing or thinking a thought, always clarify it for the value of its logic and reason; divest it of imagination, mystery, and all falseness; see the clear intent, whether constructive or otherwise, and never compromise with illogicality; a statement is, or is not. See it for what it really is, and do not attempt to clothe it with personality; this is what so often leads to jumping to conclusions and self-pity.
  –Alfred J. Parker

Link to master list of quotes

Baby Name Meanings for a Meaningful Identity

The name reflects image, attitude, personality and the way you want to anticipate your child as. Naming a child is a challenge for parents, which needs a sensibility and responsibility. A name can have a profound impact on a child which reverberates into adulthood. Parents on one hand are extremely excited about the arrival; on the other hand, they are equally conscious about naming their baby. The baby’s arrival is also the commencement of yet another responsible task – the quest for the perfect baby name.

Baby Name Meanings Galore

One of the most often misunderstood and under-valued considerations when choosing a name for a
baby is its meaning. This is a subtle area and often calls for research because
the name you choose may have a positive connotation in your language. However,
it might mean something entirely different and often negative in another
language. For instance, the baby girl name «Hella has a Biblical connotation.
Unfortunately, it means «rust» in Hebrew. Whoever would believe that the name
«Byron» means «small cottage» or «house» in Anglo Saxon. Imagine what a field
day your baby’s Internet-savvy playmates will have when they discover the true
name of your baby if it is selected inappropriately. The baby name you finally
choose can either negatively or positively influence the emotional well-being,
health, professional career, attitude, personality and behaviour of your baby
when he or she grows up. It is therefore critical for you to choose the most
appropriate baby name.

Baby Name Meaning and the Parental Instinct

When you are finally ready to name your baby, you have probably had an opportunity to observe
the baby and intuitively come to a few conclusions about the baby’s personality.
How your baby looks also impacts this decision. The name you choose should match
these sentiments. Is the name too masculine for your baby girl? If your baby boy
is of a quiet disposition, is the name you choose one that denotes courage,
bravery and aggression? For instance, the name «Alexander» has come to denote
bravery. «William» means valiant protector. For baby girls who generally tend to
foreshadow their role as care givers, feminine names which reflect feminine
attributes are available in abundance. For example, Mildred, a popular baby girl
name with its derivation from Old English, means «gentle.» Frances , a baby girl
name that is popular in australia , the UK and the US even today, means
«free-spirited.» This name has a Latin derivation and is also easy to spell.
Take baby name meanings with a floral tinge for instance. Names such as
«Hyacinth,» «Daisy,» and «Fern» are popular even today in most parts of the
English speaking world. Names such as «Eve» and «Zoe» are actual synonyms for
flower.

The baby name you select can subconsciously mould the mind and personality of your baby. This
is in part due to the fact that the human brain is in full control of our
thought processes. Our names tend to shape and define our attitudes and beliefs
which can have a long-lasting impact on us as human beings.

What Does My Name Mean

10/10 145
votes

«What does my name mean?» is a highly popular Google search, and for good reason. We all want to know more about where we came from, and the meaning of our last names can be a big clue. Start your search here.

Name meanings

Last name origin is now a topic of significant study. Personal identifying names are found in every known culture, and they often pass from one language to another. Hence the occurrence of Native American place names throughout the United States and the occurrence among American families of names of various linguistic origins (e.g., Roosevelt, Hoover, La Follette, La Guardia). The use of personal names apparently began at a very early stage in human history, with single names of persons presumably coming into use earlier than double ones; in the Bible, double names are mainly confined to those who have common forenames, e.g., Judas Barsabas and Mary Magdalene. Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian names were generally formed of two common words, e.g., Hrothgar (Roger) meaning «fame-spear.»

Last Names in English

Surnames developed in the late Middle Ages. Apart from patronymics (Adams, Jefferson, Jackson, Harrison), there are a variety of last name origins:

• places (Lincoln, Garfield, Cleveland)
• trades (Tyler, Taylor),
• personal traits (Stout, Black),
• calendar (Noël, May)

The Irish Mac, meaning «son,» and ua, meaning «grandson,» were attached to family and clan names as Mac, Mc, or M’ and O’ respectively. The O’ was apparently not used in Scotland.

The Welsh, in translating their patronymic (ap=son of) settled on English forms ending in s, hence Welsh names such as Davis (from David) and Jones (from John).

Surnames in Other Languages and Cultures

In Icelandic, the surname is patronymic, and it changes from generation to generation.

The French de, when written separately, like German von, is deemed to mark a noble name.

Although in most European cultures the surname follows the given name, Hungarian names tend to reverse this order, as do names in Chinese, Japanese, and other languages.

Spanish practice varies by country; one common usage gives a surname combining those of each parent, e.g., Serrano y Domínguez or Serrano Domínguez, for one whose father was a Serrano and mother a Domínguez.

In Russian, the middle name consists of the father’s forename with a patronymic suffix, e.g., Nikolayevich.

In the Roman republic, three names were used, the forename (praenomen), of which there were fewer than 20; the gens or tribe name (nomen); and finally the family name (cognomen); e.g., Caius Julius Caesar, or Caius of the Caesar family of the Julian gens. An additional name (agnomen) might be added as a nickname or honor, e.g., Africanus, for victory in Africa, in the case of Scipio.

Amharic names are concatenations of the child’s given name and the father’s given name.

Native American names often referred to elements in nature or attributed special traits to the person.

Surnames and Marriage in the West

In the Western world, a woman traditionally adopted the family name of her husband at the time of her marriage. Since the mid-20th century, women in the United States have increasingly adopted the practice of retaining their maiden, or parental, surname beyond the time of marriage; other women and some couples have adopted surnames that combine those of each partner.

Naming and Tradition

In many cultures, the name is of supernatural significance. Besides animistic commonplaces such as naming a child after a lucky person or a wily animal, there are widespread taboo practices, such as not naming a child after a living relative or changing the name on the death of a namesake or avoiding the name of a family totem. In some cultures, the name given the child at birth is temporary and is replaced with another at puberty, or whenever the individual attains a new age set.

Naming and Religion

In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the name has great significance, especially in the case of divine names; thus Jews did not utter the name of God. The ancient Hebrew ben (son of) was affixed to the father’s given name to form a family name, although in some religious practices, a child was referred to by a formula that substituted the mother’s given name for the father’s. Christians have traditionally baptized children with an appropriately Christian name, especially the name of a saint, henceforth the patron; an additional name is taken at confirmation. The Puritans discouraged the use of any but biblical first names. The practice of changing names by court action is commonly adopted in order to afford a clear record.

What does your name mean?

When I was born, my parents couldn’t decide on what to name me – my dad wanted Kimberly, and my mom wanted Phoebe. After arguing for days they finally compromised on the name Emily. They thought it sounded gentle and quiet, but also compassionate.

My name originally derived from the Latin name Aemilia, and its root word aemulus, meaning to strive and rival. In English, French and German, it means friendly and kind. Even though the two meaning are nearly opposite, I think they both say a lot about my character. ‘Puella’ is my name in Latin, and it’s quite a mouthful to say. But in English, its sounds casual and airy, and it floats out of your mouth easily. My parents think I will grow up to be successful, because a lot of books say that Emilys are shy, but independent and determined. I think all these interpretations fit me quite well.

Every name all has a color and a more personal meaning too. Mine is commonly associated to baby pink or yellow. I feel like pink, gentle and quiet all mix together to form my name. Emilys are strong-willed, empathetic and can tell a person’s emotions quickly. I really like my name, and it because it fits very nicely to my nature.

As to my Chinese name, my parents put a lot of thought into it. One character means ‘jewel’, and the other one means ‘clear and pure’, because my parents wanted me to honour honesty and virtue above everything else. However, I don’t really like the character ‘jewel’, as I feel like it sounds too Chinese.

Even though many people dislike their names and want to change it, I’m grateful to my parents for giving me a name that I can be proud about and also for not having named me Phoebe. Sometimes, when you really delve deep into your name and learn the origins and meanings of it, you understand a lot more things about yourself and also know yourself better. I wouldn’t want to change my name, because I know it was meant for me.

Ever wondered what your name means? Or are you looking for the meanings behind popular baby names like Olivia or James? You’ll find all you need to know in our handy guide.

Sometimes parents give their children a name because of what it means. This is often true for those who are named after a figure in the Bible or from history, however it also could be because the name meaning signifies strength or confidence.

Everyone knows what names like Lily and Poppy mean, being associated with flowers. But what about the more traditional names (opens in new tab) of Margaret and Arthur? In this baby name meaning round-up we explore the origins of common first names, celebrity baby names (opens in new tab) and unusual baby names (opens in new tab).

Alice

• Meaning: Noble, exalted
• Famous people called Alice: Alice from Alice in Wonderland, Alice Cooper.
• Nowadays the name Alicia has become more popular than the traditional variant of Alice. Famous Alicias include Alicia Keys and the actress Alicia Silverstone.

Amelia

• Meaning: work, hard-working and fertile
• Famous people called Amelia: Amelia Earhart (American aviator), Amelia ‘Minnie’ Driver (English actress).
• Amelia was the number one baby name for girls in England and Wales between 2011 and 2015, according to research by ONS (opens in new tab) (Office of National Statistics).

Ann or Anne

• Meaning: Grace or favour
• Famous people called Ann/Anne: Anne Hathaway, Anne Boleyn, Anne Frank, Ann Widdecombe.
• Ann is the English spelling of Anne, which is the French version of the name Hannah. These days Ann is commonly used as a middle name.

Annie

• Meaning: Grace, favour
• Famous people called Annie: Annie Lebowitz (famous photographer), Annie Lennox.
• Everyone has seen the musical ‘Annie’, the rags-to-riches tail about the red-haired orphan based in New York and the name was the inspiration for Woody Allen’s film ‘Annie Hall’ starring Diane Keaton.

Charlotte

• Meaning: Free man or petite
• Famous people called Charlotte: Charlotte Church, Charlotte Crosby, Charlotte Riley.
• Charlotte comes from the male name Charlot, otherwise known as Charles and dates from the 1300s.

What does the name Chloe mean?

• Meaning: Blooming or fertility
• Famous people called Chloe: Chloe Grace Moretz, Chloe Sevigny, Chloe Katz.
• Despite being around since the time of the ancient Greeks, the name Chloe only became popular in the UK in the late 1990s as it was one of the top girls’ names from 1995 to 2002.

Elizabeth

• Meaning: God is my oath
• Famous people called Elizabeth: Queen Elizabeth, Elizabeth Taylor, Elizabeth Hurley.
• Since 1837 over 1.6 million baby girls have been called Elizabeth and many, many women to this day have Elizabeth as a middle name. Popular modern versions of this traditional name are Beth and Liz

Ella

• Meaning: Beautiful, fairy maiden or goddess
• Famous people called Ella: Ella Fitzgerald, Ella Henderson, Ella Eyre.
• The name Ella comes from Greek mythology but it also has Germanic and Hebrew roots.

Ellen

• Meaning: Sun ray or shining light
• Famous people called Ellen: Ellen DeGeneres, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star Ellen Pompeo.
• We were a little surprised to see Ellen in the top ten most common names, but lo and behold over half a million people have been called Ellen. It’s is a version of the Greek name Helen.

What does the name Emily mean?

• Meaning: To strive or excel
• Famous people called Emily: actress Emily Blunt, Emily Dickinson, model Emily Ratajkowski.
• ONS research (opens in new tab) revealed Emily was the third most popular girls name in 2013. And indeed it’s been a favourite since the 1700s, when the German Hanover family came to the throne.

What does the name Emma mean?

• Meaning: Whole or universal
• Famous people called Emma: Emma Watson, Emma Stone, Emma Roberts, Emma Thompson.
• For the past ten years, the name Emma has been popular all around the world — from the USA, Canada, Russia and Australia to Spain, Denmark and Germany.

What does the name Grace mean?

• Meaning: Gracious
• Famous people called Grace: Grace Kelly, Princess Grace, Grace Jones, Grace Helbig.
• Taken from the Latin name Gratia, the name Grace has changed forms so many times over the years. It was Gracia in the Middle Ages before changing to Grace with Christian influence.
• According to data by NIRSA (opens in new tab) (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency), Grace was the top girl’s name born in Northern Ireland in 2019.

Holly

• Meaning: Like a dove
• Famous people called Holly: Holly Willoughby, Holly Davidson, Holly Holm.
• Holly, just like Noel, is one of the most popular names for children born around Christmas time.

Jane

• Meaning: God has given/God’s grace
• Famous people called Jane: Jane Austen, Jane Fonda, Jane Seymour.
• Originally the name Jane was a form of John and it was also the name of the main character in Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre all the way back in the 19th century but it’s been around much longer than that, the name Jane has been used since the seventh century.

What does the name Jessica mean?

• Meaning: God beholds
• Famous people called Jessica: Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jessica Simpson.
• The earliest reference to the name Jessica is in Shakespeare’s work, The Merchant of Venice.

Katie

• Meaning: Pure or innocent
• Famous people called Katie: Katie Price, Katie Holmes.
• Katie, while it is sometimes given as a full name, is often a nickname given to those called Catherine or Katherine.

Lauren

• Meaning: Laurel tree, wisdom or sweet of honour
• Famous people called Lauren: Lauren Goodger, Lauren London.
• The name Lauren was most popular in the US, peaking in the 1980s and 1990s.

 Lily

• Meaning: Pure, passion or rebirth
• Famous people called Lily: Lily James, Lily Collins, Lily Rose-Depp, Lily Allen.
• The name Lily joins the likes of Rose and Poppy in being flower names given to girls.
• Freya and Lily replaced Emily and Ella in the top 10 most popular baby names in 2019 (opens in new tab).

Mary

• Meaning: Star of the sea, wished-for child, sea of bitterness and rebellion
• Famous people called Mary: Mary J Blige, Mary-Kate Olsen.
• This was the name of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ, and so has been an extremely popular name throughout the years. It’s a classic that has never really gone out of fashion.

Mary Ann

• Meaning: This name is a combination of Mary (see above) and Ann which means favoured grace
• Famous people called Mary Ann: We couldn’t find any famous people called Mary Ann but over 700,000 non-famous people have been called Mary Ann over the years!

Margaret

• Meaning: Pearl
• Famous people called Margaret: Margaret Thatcher, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Margaret Mitchell (author of Gone with the Wind)
• Everyone knows someone called Margaret and it’s no wonder as well over half a million people have been named it in the last 170 years.
• According to historical baby name data (opens in new tab) by the ONS, it was the top name of choice for three decades in the 1900s: 1924, 1934 and 1944.

What does the name Mia mean?

• Meaning: Beloved
• Famous people called Mia: Mia Farrow, Mia Wasikowska, Mia Kirshner.
• The name Mia has risen in popularity over the years, from the early 1990s to 2015.

Molly

• Meaning: Star of the sea
• Famous people with the name Molly: Molly Ringwald, Molly Mae Hague.
• The name Molly also comes from the English name Mary and women with names such as Margaret and Martha have been known to shorten it to Molly.

What does the name Olivia mean?

• Meaning: Olive
• Famous people called Olivia: Olivia Wilde, Olivia Newton-John, Olivia Colman.
• Much like the name Jessica, the name Olivia was first made popular by William Shakespeare  in the play Twelfth Night but actually, the name was first used in England in the 13th century.
• Olivia is the most popular girls’ name of 2019, and has held the top spot since 2016 — according to research by the ONS (opens in new tab).

Ruby

• Meaning: Red or the gemstone ruby
• Famous people called Ruby: Ruby Rose, Ruby Dee
• Along with other jewel-inspired name like Sapphire, the name Ruby became popular in the Victorian times. It comes from the Latin word for red, ‘ruber’.

Sarah

• Meaning: Princess
• Famous people called Sarah: Sarah Jessica Parker, Sarah Ferguson — the Duchess of York, Sarah Michelle Gellar.
• It’s no wonder Sarah has become such a popular name, it originally comes from the biblical character who was described as being exceptionally beautiful even when she was old.
• Interestingly Sarah was the most popular girls’ name for ten years running — between 1974 and 1984, according to ONS data (opens in new tab).

What does my name mean?

Arthur

• Meaning: Noble or bear
• Famous people called Arthur: King Arthur and of course Arthur Fowler from Eastenders!
• This name may not be quite so popular these days and seems old-fashioned, but since 1837 over half a million little boys have been lovingly named Arthur. We think it’s quite cute!
• Arthur is having a comeback of late. With the ONS’s 2019 baby names research (opens in new tab) placing it as the fourth most popular boys’ name — it’s highest position since records began in 1904.

Charles

• Meaning: Free man
• Famous people called Charles: Prince Charles, Charlie Chaplin, Charles Dickens, Charlie Sheen
• These days people are more likely to call their child Charlie as a stand alone name but Charles is still sitting pretty at number nine in the top ten boys’ names.

What does the name Daniel mean?

• Meaning: God is my judge
• Famous people called Daniel: Daniel Craig, Daniel Radcliffe, Daniel Day-Lewis.
• The name Daniel is one of those names that many people have as a surname as well. This is because it’s a patronymic surname, meaning that someone down the line’s father was called Daniel and therefore, they were given it as a surname. The most common form is with an ‘s’, Daniels.

David

• Meaning: Beloved
• Famous people called David: David Beckham, David Cameron, David Bowie, David Tennant
• There are so many famous Davids, we don’t know where to start. First there’s St David, the patron saint of Wales, then there’s the iconic sculpture by Michelangelo and then obviously there’s our very own Golden Balls!

George

• Meaning: Farmer or earth worker
• Famous people called George: George Clooney, George Bush, George Michael, George Foreman
• George is a Greek name and over one million people have been called George in the last 170 years. Well, if it’s good enough for Clooney…
• The ONS report (opens in new tab) that alongside Harry, George has remained as the second or third most popular boys name in England and Wales since 2016/

Harry

• Meaning: Home ruler or protector
• Famous people called Harry: Prince Harry, Harry Styles, Harry Redknapp.
• Whilst Harry is a popular boys’ name on it’s own — it’s also commonly used as a nickname for those called Henry too.

What does the name Jack mean?

• Meaning: God is gracious or supplanter
• Famous people called Jack: Jack Nicholson, Jack Johnson, Jack Fincham, Pirates of the Caribbean character Jack Sparrow.
• Traditionally in Irish, Jack is a diminutive of the name John but in other languages such as French, it comes from Jacques.
• According to research from the National Records of Scotland (opens in new tab), Jack was the most popular first name for boys registered in 2020.

James

• Meaning: The supplanter
• Famous people called James: James Dean, James Nesbitt, James Brown, James McAvoy, James Bond
• James is such a popular name that six US presidents have been called James. Variations are Jamie, Jimmy and Jim.
• In Scotland, James was the second most popular boys name between 2010-2019. It’s also been in the top 5 boys names for the last four decades according to a study by the NRS (opens in new tab).

John

• Meaning: God’s grace.
• Famous people called John: John Lennon, John Travolta, John Terry.
• There have been 2 million baby boys named John since records began in 183, making it the most popular name of the last 170 years.  

Joseph

• Meaning: God will increase/He will enlarge
• Famous people called Joseph: Joe Wicks, Joseph Fiennes, Joe Calzagh, Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers
• The name Joseph has proved its staying power and it still appears near the top of popular baby names lists. Joseph can be shortened to Joe, Jo, Joey or JoJo if you’re feeling silly!

What does the name Mark mean?

• Meaning: To be warlike or of Mars (the ancient Roman war god)
• Famous people called Mark: Mark Twain, Mark Zuckerberg.
• Mark is one of the most popular men’s names today but it was so very popular in ancient Roman times, where one in three men had the name Marcus — where the name Mark comes from.

What does the name Michael mean?

• Meaning: Who is like God
• Famous people called Michael: Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson, Michael Sheen, Michael Gove.
• Michael is one of the most common names in the whole world! In the US, it was the most popular male name in the 20th century.

Oliver

• Meaning: Olive, or ancestors descendant (in English Norse)
• Famous people called Oliver: Oliver Proudlock (Made in Chelsea), Oliver Stone (Film director), Oliver Cromwell.
• Data from ONS (opens in new tab) shows that Oliver has been the top boys name in England and Wales since 2013.

Robert

• Meaning: Bright/famous
• Famous people called Robert: Robert Redford, Robert Downey Jr, Robert De Niro, Robert Pattinson
• Some of the most handsome and successful men in showbiz have been called Robert and we’re predicting a boom in the name following the sudden rise to fame of a certain Twilight heartthrob!

Thomas

• Meaning: Twin
• Famous people called Thomas: Thomas (Tom) Cruise, Thomas Hardy, Thomas John Woodward aka Tom Jones, Tom Hanks and of course Thomas the Tank Engine!
• The name Thomas has biblical roots as it comes from the apostle who doubted the resurrection of Christ. It’s where the modern phrase ‘doubting Thomas’ comes from.
• ONS research (opens in new tab) reveals that Thomas was in the top five boy names in England and Wales in both 2006 and 2016.

William

• Meaning: Determined protector
• Famous people called William: Prince William, William Shakespeare, Will Smith.
• The name William, which is often shortened to Bill or Will, had a surge in popularity in 1982 when Princess Diana named her baby boy William. The name has been going strong ever since then thanks to the dashing Prince.

Baby Name generator

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Baby name books:

This book, new for 2021, has thousands of names to inspire your choice. From classic to modern names, there’s sure to be one from the 9,000 options that appeal.

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Impending arrival or not, this dictionary of first names is perfect for discovring names meaning, boasting 150 entries. It’s advertised as «essential reading for expectant parents and for anyone who is intrigued by the story attached to each name».

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Discover the spiritual, historical, and cultural contexts of names popular across all corners of the globe. From the traditional or religious to the made up and even controversial, expect an encyclapaedia of names that are all fully explained.

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Another book for those curious about name origins — this NameExplain book delves into the history of words  and answers questions like why are Austrain and Australian names so similar?

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Bruce Lansky is infamous for his many books on baby names and this revised 2019 edition is perfect for parents-to-be. Expect hundreds of thousands of name suggestions plus up-to-date trends, advice, and fascinating facts.

VIEW AT AMAZON | £8.99 (opens in new tab)

Emily Stedman is the Features Editor for GoodTo covering all things TV, entertainment, royal, lifestyle, health and wellbeing. Boasting an encyclopaedic knowledge on all things TV, celebrity and royals, career highlights include working at HELLO! Magazine and as a royal researcher to Diana biographer Andrew Morton on his book Meghan: A Hollywood Princess. In her spare time, Emily can be found eating her way around London, swimming at her local Lido or curled up on the sofa binging the next best Netflix show.

Could someone named Biff ever be president? Could a Gertrude ever become a prima ballerina? Does your name really play an integral part in who you are and what you will become? Can changing one’s name — common practice with many immigrant families — actually change one’s destiny? The hidden meaning of names is a popular query on Internet search engines as people hope to learn what their name says about them and who they will become.

Different than traditional name meanings found in baby name lists and last name meaning dictionaries, the hidden meaning of a name is more akin to astrology or fortune telling than true etymological science. With some exceptions, most sources which reference the hidden meanings of names appear to use a variation on research known as sound symbolism, which attributes meanings to individual sounds based on their emotional response.

So what exactly is sound symbolism? The traditional view of most linguists is that word meanings are related to morphemes (roots, suffixes, prefixes, etc.). There are a few, however, who place great faith in the theory of «sound symbolism,» suggesting that the letters of the alphabet — individual sounds such as ‘p’ or ‘st’ — actually mean something based on how they are pronounced. Sound symbolism, in its basic form, suggests that letter meanings influence how we feel about words and how we react to names, whether personal names or brand names.

As one such individual, Joseph Gilbert, explains it, «look at the words that start with ‘st’. Whether steadfast or just plain stubborn, they’re almost all really stuck in one place (stop, stick, stand, stall, stoic, store, stack, still…), unless of course there’s a raring, rearing, roaring ‘r’ in there who can get your ‘st’ ‘started’.»

Curious, of course, I checked out the hidden meaning in my name. Entering my first name, I was told

«Your name says that you are curious. People with your name are naturally curious and inquisitive. You are a true researcher and investigator who likes to get to the bottom of complicated things, and find solutions to yet unsolved problems.»

Of course, trying many possible combinations, I also was unable to find a meaning that was not positive and also was given meanings for names which are, essentially, concocted gibberish. Either way, it was a fun exercise in linguistics.

If you’re curious about the meanings behind the individual letter sounds, check out the hidden meaning in your name.

Numerologist Joy Light also claims to be able to find the hidden meaning in your name by using the numbers which correspond with the letters in your name. By adding all of the numbers in your name together, you arrive at a number that represents your destiny, or what it is in this lifetime you want to accomplish. A hidden meaning behind your name.