Evolution Made Easy

I really missed a real teaching opportunity in my ninth-grade class two years ago.  It’s bothered me ever since.  The students were debating the Theory of Evolution, a controversial topic well worth discussing in any school.  The student responsible for speaking on behalf of evolution failed to show up that day, so I took the pro side.

While I was speaking, a boy in class, Cory, held up a sign that said “I believe in God.”  That was his way of rejecting the theory.

That’s where I went wrong.  Instead of using that sign to initiate a lesson, I reprimanded him.  I realized later how I should have handled it:  I should have asked him a couple of questions.

“Did God create man?”

Of course, he would have answered yes.

“Did God create man in His own image?”  Cory would have said yes again.  After all, that’s what the Bible reports.

“In that case, are you created in God’s image?”  

Again, Cory must answer yes.  He would have no choice.

Then, I should have asked Derrick, who is an African-American, and Kim, who is Asian-American, to stand.  Then, I should have asked Cory if they, too, were created in God’s image.  

Once again, he would have had no choice but to answer yes.

Then, finally, I could ask him a question he could not answer:  “Why don’t they look like you?”

In fact, no one could answer that question for thousands of years until the Theory of Evolution provided the correct one.  English naturalist Charles Darwin is credited with introducing the theory in 1859, but, actually, that’s not completely right.  More than 2,000 years ago, Greek philosophers suggested that man evolved.  So did Erasmus Darwin, Charles’ famed grandfather.  

What Darwin did was published a book that finally explained the process allowing evolution to take place.  He called it Natural Selection.  

Derrick has black skin because people with darker skin in Africa could endure the sun better and so survived longer to have offspring, who inherited that coloring.  Eventually, people with lighter skin died out.   Kim has a different shape to her eyes because a mutation added fat around her eyes, creating the oval design.  It reduced glare and subsequent eye damage, so people with that trait lived longer and had more offspring.  Eventually, all Asian people inherited that change.

At a distance, the process seems obvious.  Natural selection is why now-extinct humans once shrank in size to endure on a small Southeast Asia island and why sheep in northern climes are getting smaller now.  It is why snakes still have vestigial leg bones under their skin, as do whales.  Snakes once had legs; whales were once land animals.  However, a snake born without legs actually surpassed its legged relatives and passed on its genes.  The whales that returned to the ocean have survived; the land versions have not.

Scientists have subsequently learned that mutations play a role, too.  Sometimes, a mutation is so valuable that it allows the animal to easily out-reproduce its relatives.  The mutation is dominant and wins.  That’s all.

Predators affect evolution, too.  So does environment. Sometimes change is quick, through mutation.  Sometimes, it's slow.

Regardless of the method, all creatures evolve constantly.  If they find an ideal design that can’t be improved, such as a snake or crocodile, they remain the same.  If they fail to hit upon a design that allows them to thrive as the environment changes, they die out.  Extinctions are happening every day: some are natural.  Sadly, some are caused by humans.  What we are seeing around us then is not the final creation, but rather simply one moment in time on an endless reel of life.

That means humans evolve, too, which would have been clearly evident to Cory and everyone else in my classroom if I had handled the discussion properly.

There are a couple of reasons why people like Cory refuse to accept evolution.  One is the word “theory” that is attached to it.  In everyday life, that means a guess.  To scientists, however, it refers to something proven in laboratories and field studies.  A guess to them is a postulation.  Theories are always tested.  Anything in science always is.  The Theory of Evolution can never be proven 100 percent.  There are too many variables.  That’s true for the Theory of Relativity, too.   

However, to scientists, there’s no question of the accuracy of such theories.  They have proven out unerringly through the years.

The other reason why Cory rejects evolution is his belief in God.  To him, God created heaven and earth, and they cannot have changed.   There is also an answer to that.  If God created the world and mankind, why could he have created evolution as His tool to make sure everything functioned properly?

Cory then could hold up all the signs he wants while still opening his mind to scientifically proven truths.  Otherwise, it becomes a stop sign.  That’s the first step to extinction.

 

Bill Lazarus is been a long-time writer, educator and religious historian.  He started teaching when he was 13 year old and has been rarely out of a classroom since.  He hold an M.A. in communication from Kent State University and is a full-time instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  You can write him via this website or via his webpage www.williamplazarus.com

What Does Your Name Mean?

Bill Lazarus is been a long-time writer, educator and religious historian.  He started teaching when he was 13 year old and has been rarely out of a classroom since.  He hold an M.A. in communication from Kent State University and is a full-time instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  You can write him via this website or www.williamplazarus.com.

I always found names interesting.  See if you can find your name in this list:

AARON   m

Usage: English, Biblical

Pronounced: ER-un

From the Hebrew name Aharon which is most likely of unknown Egyptian origin. Other theories claim a Hebrew derivation, and suggest meanings such as "high mountain" or "exalted".

ABIGAIL   f

Usage: English, German, Biblical

Pronounced: AB-i-gayl

From the Hebrew name Avigayil meaning "my father is joy".

ADELAIDE

Usage: English

Pronounced: AD-el-ayd

From the Germanic name Adalheidis which was composed of the elements adal "noble" and heid "kind, sort, type". This was the name of the wife of Otto the Great, and also the wife of King William IV of England. A city in Australia bears this name.

AGNES   f

Usage: English, German, Dutch, Scandinavian

Pronounced: AG-nes

Latinized form of the Greek name Hagne, derived from Greek hagnos meaning "chaste".

ALAN   m

Usage: English, Scottish

Pronounced: AL-an

The meaning of this name is not known for certain, though it possibly means either "little rock" or "handsome" in Breton. It was introduced to England by Bretons after the Norman invasion.

ALBERT   m

Usage: English, French, Slovene

Pronounced: AL-burt (English), al-BER (French)

From the Germanic name Adalbrecht which meant "bright nobility", composed of the elements adal "noble" and beraht "bright". It was introduced to England by the Normans.

ALEXANDER   m

Usage: English, German, Dutch

Pronounced: al-eg-ZAN-dur

From the Greek name Alexandros, which meant "defending men" from Greek alexein "to defend, help" and aner "man" (genitive andros).

ALISON   f,m

Usage: English, French

Pronounced: AL-i-sun (English), a-lee-SAWN (French)

Medieval Norman form of ALICE. It is occasionally used as a masculine name.

ANDREW   m

Usage: English, Biblical

Pronounced: AN-droo

From the Greek name Andreas, which derives from aner "man" (genitive andros "of a man").

ANTHONY   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: AN-tho-nee

From the Roman family name Antonius, which is of unknown Etruscan origin. It is sometimes claimed to mean "flower" from Greek anthos.

ARTHUR   m

Usage: English, Welsh Mythology

Pronounced: AHR-thur

The meaning of this name is unknown. It could be derived from British art "bear" combined with viros "man", or it could be related to Irish art "stone". Alternatively it could be related to an obscure Roman family name Artorius.

ASHLEY   m,f

Usage: English

Pronounced: ASH-lee

From a surname which was originally derived from a place name which meant "ash tree clearing" in Old English.

BARBARA   f

Usage: English, Italian, French, German, Polish, Hungarian, Slovene

Pronounced: BAHR-bahr-a (English), BAHR-bra (English)

Derived from Greek barbaros meaning "foreign".

BENJAMIN   m

Usage: English, French, German, Hungarian, Biblical

Pronounced: BEN-ja-min (English), ben-zha-MEN (French)

From the Hebrew name Binyamin which means "son of the south" or "son of the right hand".

BEVERLY   f

Usage: English

Pronounced: BEV-ur-lee

From a surname which originally came from a place name meaning "beaver stream" in Old English.

BRIAN   m

Usage: Irish, English

Pronounced: BRIE-an

The meaning of this name is not known for certain but it is possibly related to the Old Celtic element bre meaning "hill", or by extension "high, noble".

BRITTANY   f

Usage: English

Pronounced: BRIT-nee

From the name of the region in the northwest of France, called in French Bretagne. It was named for the Briton settlers who fled to France after the Anglo-Saxon invasion of England.

CANDACE   f

Usage: English, Biblical

Pronounced: KAN-das, kan-DAY-see

Sometimes said to mean "incandescent" or "white" from Latin canditia, but it is more likely from an unknown Ethiopic source.

CHARLES   m

Usage: English, French

Pronounced: CHAHR-ulz (English), SHARL (French)

From the Germanic name Karl, which was derived from a Germanic word which meant "man".

CHELSEA   f

Usage: English

Pronounced: CHEL-see

From the name of a district in London meaning "landing place for chalk or limestone" in Old English.

CHERYL   f

Usage: English

Pronounced: SHER-il, CHER-il

Meaning unknown, perhaps a blend of CHERIE and BERYL

CHRISTINA   f

Usage: English

Pronounced: kris-TEEN-a

Feminine form of CHRISTIAN.

COURTNEY   f,m

Usage: English

Pronounced: KORT-nee

From a surname which was derived either from a French place name meaning "domain of CURTIS" or else from a French nickname meaning "short nose".

CRAIG   m

Usage: Scottish, English

Pronounced: KRAYG

From a Scottish surname which was derived from Gaelic creag meaning "crag" or "rocks". The surname originally belonged to a person who lived near a crag.

CYNTHIA   f

Usage: English, Greek Mythology (Latinized)

Pronounced: SIN-thee-a

Latinized form of Greek Kynthia which means "woman from Kynthos".

DANIEL   m

Usage: English, Jewish, French, German, Scandinavian, Polish, Czech, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Biblical

Pronounced: DAN-yul (English), dan-YEL (French)

From the Hebrew name Daniyel meaning "God is my judge".

DARRYL   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: DER-el

Derived from French D'Airelle meaning "of Airelle". This was originally a Norman surname denoting one who came from Airelle in France.

DAVID   m

Usage: English, Jewish, French, Spanish, Russian, Czech, Biblical

Pronounced: DAY-vid (English), da-VEED (French)

Possibly derived from Hebrew dod meaning "beloved".

DEBORAH   f

Usage: English, Jewish, Biblical

Pronounced: DEB-or-a, DEB-ra

Means "bee" in Hebrew.

DIANA   f

Usage: English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Lithuanian, Roman Mythology

Pronounced: die-AN-a (English)

Probably derived from an old Indo-European root meaning "heavenly, divine", related to dyeus (see ZEUS).

DONALD   m

Usage: Scottish, English

Pronounced: DAHN-awld

From the Gaelic name Domhnall which means "ruler of the world", composed of the Old Celtic elements dumno "world" and val "rule".

DOROTHEA   f

Usage: English, German, Dutch, Danish

Pronounced: dor-o-THEE-a

Feminine form of the Late Latin name Dorotheus, from the Greek Dorotheos, which meant "gift of God" from Greek doron "gift" and theos "god".

EDWARD   m

Usage: English, Polish

Pronounced: ED-wurd

Means "rich guard", derived from the Old English elements ead "rich, blessed" and weard "guard".

ELIZABETH   f

Usage: English, Biblical

Pronounced: ee-LIZ-a-beth

From Elisabet, the Greek form of the Hebrew name Elisheba meaning "God is my oath".

ERIC   m

Usage: English, French

Pronounced: ER-ik (English), er-EEK (French)

From the Old Norse name Eiríkr, derived from ei "ever" and ríkr "ruler". Danish invaders first brought the name to England.

ERNEST   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: UR-nest

Derived from Germanic eornost meaning "seriousness".

ESTHER   f

Usage: English, Jewish, French, Biblical

Pronounced: ES-tur (English), es-TER (French)

Possibly means "star" in Persian. Alternatively it could be a Hebrew form of ISHTAR, the name of a Persian goddess.

EUGENE   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: YOO-jeen

From the Greek name Eugenios which was derived from the Greek word eugenes meaning "well born", composed of the elements eu "good, well" and genes "born".

EVE   f

Usage: English, French, Biblical

Pronounced: EEV

From the Hebrew name Chavvah, which was derived from the Hebrew word chavah "to breathe" or the related word chayah "to live".

FRANK   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: FRANGK

Refers to a member of the Germanic tribe, the Franks. The Franks settled in the regions now called France and the Netherlands in the 3rd and 4th century. They derived their tribal name from the name of a type of spear that they used.

FREDERICK   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: FRED-ur-ik, FRED-rik

From a Germanic name meaning "peaceful ruler", derived from frid "peace" and ric "ruler, power".

GABRIEL   m

Usage: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Biblical

Pronounced: GAY-bree-el (English), ga-bree-EL (French)

From the Hebrew name Gabriyel which meant "strong man of God".

GARY   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: GER-ee

Either a pet form of GARETH or else from a surname which was derived from various first names beginning with the Germanic element ger, gar meaning "spear".

GEOFFREY   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: JEF-ree

From an Old French form of a Germanic name. The second element is Germanic frid "peace", but the first element may be either gawia "territory", walah "stranger", gisil "hostage" or god "god"  It is possible that two or more names merged into a single form.

GEORGE   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: JORJ

From the Greek name Georgios which was derived from the Greek word georgos meaning "farmer, earthworker", itself derived from the elements ge "earth" and ergon "work".

GREGORY   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: GREG-or-ee

From the Latin Gregorius, which was from the late Greek name Gregorios, which was derived from gregoros meaning "watchful, alert".

HELEN   f

Usage: English

Pronounced: HEL-en

Possibly from either Greek helene "torch" or "corposant", or Greek selene "moon".

HENRY   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: HEN-ree

From the Germanic name Heimerich which meant "home ruler", composed of the elements heim "home" and ric "power, ruler".

HOWARD   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: HOW-ard

From an Old English surname which can derive from various occupational sources ("high warden" or "ewe herder" or "hog warden"), though another theory states that the surname derives from a Germanic first name composed of the elements hug "heart, mind" and hard "brave, hardy".

ISAAC   m

Usage: English, Jewish, Biblical

Pronounced: IE-zak

From the Hebrew name Yitschaq which meant "he laughs".

ISABEL   f

Usage: Spanish, Portuguese, French, English

Pronounced: ee-sah-BEL (Spanish), ee-za-BEL (French), IZ-a-bel (English)

Most likely a medieval Spanish form of ELIZABETH, although some theories state that Isabel actually derives from an old Semitic name meaning "daughter of BAAL".

JACOB   m

Usage: English, Dutch, Scandinavian

Pronounced: JAY-kub

From the Latin Jacobus, which was from the Greek Iakobos, which was from the Hebrew name Ya'aqob which meant "holder of the heel" or "supplanter".

JAMES   m

Usage: English, Biblical

Pronounced: JAYMZ

English form of the Late Latin Jacomus which was derived from Iakobos, the New Testament Greek form of Ya'aqob.

JASON   m

Usage: English, Greek Mythology (Latinized), Biblical

Pronounced: JAY-sun

From the Greek name Iason, which was derived from Greek iasthai "to heal".

JEREMIAH   m

Usage: English, Jewish, Biblical

Pronounced: jer-e-MIE-a

From the Hebrew name Yirmeyahu which meant "YAHWEH has uplifted".

JESSICA   f

Usage: English

Pronounced: JES-i-ka

This name was first used in this form by Shakespeare in his play 'The Merchant of Venice', where it belongs to the daughter of Shylock. Shakespeare probably based it on the biblical name Iscah meaning "YAHWEH beholds" in Hebrew.

JOHN   m

Usage: English, Biblical

Pronounced: JAHN

English form of Johannes, which was the Latin form of the Greek name Ioannes, itself derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan meaning "YAHWEH is gracious".

JONATHAN   m

Usage: English, Biblical

Pronounced: JAHN-a-than

From the Hebrew name Yehonatan (contracted to Yonatan) meaning "YAHWEH has given".

JOSEPH   m

Usage: English, French, Biblical

Pronounced: JO-sef (English), zho-ZEF (French)

From the Latin Josephus, which was from the Greek Iosephos, which was from the Hebrew name Yoseph meaning "he will add".

JUDITH   f

Usage: English, Jewish, French, Biblical

Pronounced: JOO-dith (English), zhoo-DEET (French)

From the Hebrew name Yehudit which meant "woman from Judea".

KATHERINE   f

Usage: English

Pronounced: KATH-u-rin, KATH-rin

From the Greek name Aikaterine. The etymology is debated: it could derive from the earlier Greek name Hekaterine, which came from hekateros "each of the two"; it could derive from the name of the goddess HECATE; it could be related to Greek aikia "torture"; or it could be from a Coptic name meaning "my consecration of your name". The Romans falsely derived it from Greek katharos "pure" and changed their spelling from Katerina to Katharina to reflect this. 

KIMBERLY   f

Usage: English

Pronounced: KIM-bur-lee

From the name of a city in South Africa which was originally named for Lord Kimberley, whose surname means "land belonging to CYNEBURGA" in Old English.

LAURA   f

Usage: English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Finnish, Hungarian

Pronounced: LOR-a, LAWR-a, LOW-rah (Spanish, Italian)

Feminine form of the Late Latin name Laurus, which meant "laurel". In ancient Rome the leaves of laurel trees were used to create victors' garlands.

LAURENCE (1)   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: LOR-ents

From the Roman cognomen Laurentius, which meant "of Laurentum".

LEE   m,f

Usage: English

Pronounced: LEE

From a surname derived from Old English leah "meadow".

LINDA   f

Usage: English

Pronounced: LIN-da

This name could be derived from several sources. It could be from Spanish linda meaning "beautiful"; it could be a short form of BELINDA or MELINDA; or it could be a short form of Germanic names ending with the element linde meaning "soft, tender".

LYNN   f,m

Usage: English

Pronounced: LIN

From an English surname which derives from Welsh llyn "lake". It can also be a short form of LINDA or names which end in lyn or line.

MARGARET   f

Usage: English

Pronounced: MAHR-gret, MAHR-gur-et

Derived from Greek margarites meaning "pearl".

MARTIN   m

Usage: English, French, German, Russian, Romanian, Czech, Slovene, Hungarian

Pronounced: MAHR-tin (English), mar-TEN (French)

From the Roman name Martinus, which was derived from Martis, the genitive case of the name of the Roman god MARS.

MARY   f

Usage: English, Biblical

Pronounced: MER-ee

Usual English form of Maria, which was the Latin form of the New Testament Greek names Mariam or Maria (the spellings are interchangeable), which were from the Hebrew name Miriam. The meaning is not known for certain, but there are several theories including "sea of bitterness", "rebelliousness", and "wished for child". However it was most likely originally an Egyptian name, perhaps derived in part from mry "beloved" or mr "love".

MATTHEW   m

Usage: English, Biblical

Pronounced: MATH-yoo

English form of Matthaios, which was a Greek form of the Hebrew name Mattithyahu which meant "gift of YAHWEH".

MELISSA   f

Usage: English, Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek

Pronounced: me-LIS-a

Means "bee" in Greek.

MICHAEL   m

Usage: English, German, Czech, Biblical

Pronounced: MIE-kul

From the Hebrew name Miyka'el which meant "who is like God?"

NATHANAEL   m

Usage: Biblical, English, Scandinavian

Pronounced: nay-THAN-ee-el, nay-THAN-yel

From the Hebrew name Nethane'el which meant "God has given".

NICHOLAS   m

Usage: English, French

Pronounced: NI-ko-las (English), nee-ko-LA (French)

From the Greek name Nikolaos which meant "victory of the people" from Greek nike "victory" and laos "people".

OLIVER   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: AHL-i-vur

Norman French form of a Germanic name, possibly the name Alfihar meaning "elf army".

OSCAR   m

Usage: English, Irish

Pronounced: AHS-kur

Means "deer lover", derived from Gaelic os "deer" combined cara "lover".

PATRICK   m

Usage: Irish, English, French, German

Pronounced: PAT-rik (English), pat-REEK (French)

From the Roman name Patricius, which meant "nobleman" in Latin.

PAUL   m

Usage: English, French, German, Romanian, Biblical

Pronounced: PAWL, POL (French)

From the Roman family name Paulus, which meant "small" or "humble" in Latin.

PETER   m

Usage: English, German, Scandinavian, Slovene, Biblical

Pronounced: PEE-tur

Derived from Greek petros meaning "stone".

PHILIP   m

Usage: English, Biblical

Pronounced: FIL-ip

From the Greek name Philippos which means "friend of horses", composed of the elements philos "friend" and hippos "horse".

PHYLLIS   f

Usage: Greek Mythology, English, German

Pronounced: FIL-is

Means "foliage" in Greek.

RACHEL   f

Usage: English, Jewish, French, German, Biblical

Pronounced: RAY-chel (English), ra-SHEL (French)

Means "ewe" in Hebrew.

RAYMOND   m

Usage: English, French

Pronounced: RAY-mund (English), ray-MAWN (French)

From the Germanic name Reginmund, composed of the elements ragin "advice" and mund "protector".

REBECCA   f

Usage: English, Italian, Biblical

Pronounced: re-BEK-a

From the Hebrew name Ribqah, possibly meaning "a snare" in Hebrew, or perhaps derived from an Aramaic name.

RICHARD   m

Usage: English, French, German, Czech

Pronounced: RICH-ard (English), ree-SHAR (French)

Means "brave power", derived from the Germanic elements ric "power, rule" and hard "brave, hardy".

ROBERT   m

Usage: English, French, Scandinavian

Pronounced: RAH-burt (English), ro-BER (French)

Means "bright fame", derived from the Germanic elements hrod "fame" and beraht "bright".

ROGER   m

Usage: English, French

Pronounced: RAH-jur (English), ro-ZHER (French)

Means "famous spear" from the Germanic elements hrod "fame" and ger "spear".

RUSSELL   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: RUS-el

From a surname which meant "little red one" in French.

RUTH   f

Usage: English, German, Scandinavian, Biblical

Pronounced: ROOTH

From a Hebrew name which was derived from the Hebrew word re'uth meaning "friend". 

RYAN   m,f

Usage: Irish, English

Pronounced: RIE-an

From a surname which was originally derived from an Irish first name which meant "little king" (from Irish rí "king" combined with a diminutive suffix).

SAMUEL   m

Usage: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Biblical

Pronounced: SAM-yoo-el, SAM-yool

From the Hebrew name Shemu'el which could mean either "name of God" or "God has heard".

SARAH   f

Usage: English, French, German, Jewish, Biblical

Pronounced: SER-a

Means "lady" or "princess" in Hebrew. This was the name of the wife of Abraham in the Old Testament.

SHARON   f,m

Usage: English, Biblical

Pronounced: SHER-un

From an Old Testament place name meaning "plain" in Hebrew, referring to a fertile plain near the coast of Israel.

SIMON   m

Usage: English, French, Scandinavian, Hungarian, Slovene, Biblical

Pronounced: SIE-mun (English), see-MAWN (French)

From the Greek form of the Hebrew name Shim'on which meant "hearkening" or "listening"..

STEPHEN   m

Usage: English, Biblical

Pronounced: STEEV-en, STEF-en

From the Greek name Stephanos which means "crown".

STEWART   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: STOO-art, STYOO-art

From a surname meaning "keeper of the estate" in Old English.

SUSANNA   f

Usage: English, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Biblical

Pronounced: soo-ZAN-a

From Sousanna, the Greek form of the Hebrew name Shoshannah which was derived from the Hebrew word shushan meaning "lily" (in modern Hebrew this also means "rose").

TERENCE   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: TER-ents

From the Roman family name Terentius which is of unknown meaning.

THEODORE   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: THEE-o-dor

From the Greek name Theodoros, which meant "gift of god" from Greek theos "god" and doron "gift".

THERESA   f

Usage: English

Pronounced: te-RAY-sa, te-REE-sa

From the Spanish and Portuguese name Teresa. The meaning is uncertain, but it could be derived from Greek theros "summer", from Greek therizein "to harvest", or from the name of the Greek island of Thera (the main island of Santorini).

THOMAS   m

Usage: English, French, German, Scandinavian, Biblical

Pronounced: TAHM-as (English), to-MA (French), TOM-ahs (German)

Greek form of the Aramaic name Te'oma which meant "twin".

TIMOTHY   m

Usage: English, Biblical

Pronounced: TIM-u-thee

Means "honouring God" from Greek timan "to honour" and theos "god".

VICTOR   m

Usage: English, French, Portuguese, Romanian

Pronounced: VIK-tor (English), veek-TOR (French)

Roman name meaning "victor" in Latin.

VIVIAN   m,f

Usage: English

Pronounced: VIV-ee-an

From the Roman name Vivianus which was derived from Latin vivus "alive".

WALTER   m

Usage: English, German, Scandinavian

Pronounced: WAWL-tur (English), VAHL-tur (German)

From a Germanic name meaning "ruler of the army", composed of the elements wald "rule" and heri "army".

WAYNE   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: WAYN

From an occupational surname meaning "wagon maker", derived from Old English wægn "wagon".

WENDY   f

Usage: English

Pronounced: WEN-dee

Probably first used in J. M. Barrie's play 'Peter Pan' in 1904. It was from the nickname fwendy "friend", given to the author by a young friend. However, there is some evidence that the name may have been used prior to the play, in which case it could be related to the Welsh name GWENDOLEN or other names beginning with gwen meaning "white, fair, blessed".

WILLIAM   m

Usage: English

Pronounced: WIL-ee-am

From the Germanic name Wilhelm, which was composed of the elements wil "will, desire" and helm "helmet, protection".