A lot goes into picking a baby name.
Do you want to go with an old family favorite, or something new?
A name that has personal meaning, or just something that sounds pretty?
Well, one thing you might want to consider is the actual meaning of the name.
A name likeClaudiasounds nice enough, but it actually means “lame.”
That makes the name sounds a little less nice.
Emma
Emma’s meaning fits the name pretty well.
It is derived from the German “ermen” which means “whole” or “universal.”
The name came to England by way of Emma of Normandy, wife of King Ethelred II.
Since 980 A.D., the name has stuck around.
Once Jane Austen wroteEmmain 1816, the name grew even more common and beloved.
Liam
An already popular Irish name, Liam didn’t arrive in America until thelate 1960s.
But what does Liam even mean?
Most of us just think of it as being Irish-sounding and that’s it.
Well, that’s partially right since it’s theIrish short formof William.
Great, but what’s the deal with William?
So,desire helmet?
Usually the meaning is listed as theless literal translationof “strong mind and protection.”
The name William became common in England after William the Conqueror in1066, remaining popular ever since.
Nowadays, the U.S. prefers Liam over William.
Yet, it was Shakespeare who really started the trend.
The third most popular name of2016 was Olivia, a name Shakespeare invented for thelead characterin his playTwelfth Night.
Olaf means “ancestor’s descendant” and was the name of many Norwegian kings.
The latin word “oliva” is pretty close to “Olivia.”
What does “oliva” mean?
Yep, pretty simple!
According to the Bible, Jacob was born holding onto his twin Esau’s heel.
Jacob later supplanted Esau’s position as king, hence the name.
In fact, Jacob and James are derived from the same root.
TypicallyJacobwas used within the Jewish faith andJamesin the Christian.
So, if you already have a boy named James, Jacob might be a little redundant.
Sophia
Sophiais a Greek name meaning “wisdom.”
The first notable namesake wasSaint Sophia.
She bore three daughters, Faith, Hope, and Love, and the family firmly believed in Jesus.
Unfortunately, the Emperor was not a fan.
But there’s more to Sophia than sainthood.
Michael
Michael is one of the most enduringly popular names in history.
From 1950 to 2010, Michael appeared in thetop five most popularboys names.
Another name from the Bible, Michael lead the angels in their fight against Lucifer.
Having defeated the fallen angel, he is now regarded as the Patron Saint of Soldiers.
A noble figure, it’s understandable why the name has remained a go-to for so long.
The actual definition ofMichaelcomes from the Hebrew “who is like God?”
The question mark is part of the meaning because Michael is meant to be a rhetorical question.
The question is not meant to be answered, but to offer thatno oneis like God.
Imagine saying “who is like God?”
every time you say Michael.
It seems so strange, though Michael Bay probably wouldn’t mind it.
Aiden
The second most popular boys name of2016, Aiden has spurred on quite a craze.
The name wasn’t terribly popular in America till it shot up the ranks in1995.
Aiden is most notable for starting the long list of -ayden names.
Kayden, Hayden,Jayden, Brayden, and Zayden are all just made-up mash-ups of Aiden.
So, where doesAidenitself come from?
Well, we have to trace back through quite a few names before we get to the real meaning.
First, it’s based on the Irish name Aidan, which is the English speaking version ofAodhan.
The English gave themselves a translation of this fiery god, a name.
But the name has a slightly sinister meaning.
It’s thefeminine versionof Aemilius orEmilwhich means “rival.”
Therefore, any Emily is automatically your enemy.
Though themasculine formof Emily isn’t very popular in America,Emily is the 14thmost popular girl’s name.
Since at least 1911, the name has never fallen below number300on the hottest name charts.
Perhaps the constant rivalry of the name is what keeps it in fighting shape to stay at the top.
Benjamin
The Bible is a primary source for most common boys names and Benjamin is no exception.
Originally, the name had a darker origin.
Apparently, Jacob thought that was a bit too much of a downer, so he renamed him Benjamin.
The name becamepopular with Englishspeakers after the Crusades.
The song “Aubrey” byBreadin 1972, helped make the girl versionpopular.
Still, the origin of the name retains its masculine roots.
Currently, the masculine Aubrey is prettyrare, but the feminine version was the25th most popularname last year.
