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.
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".
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