Your name is more than just a set of letters. In a way, it’s who you are; it contributes to your unique identity. But do you know where it came from, or what it means? Well, if not, you’re not alone. That’s right, most people don’t know anything about the origins or the meaning of their own name, and who can blame them? Some name meanings are so bizarre that it’s no surprise they aren’t common knowledge. If you want to learn about some of the craziest name meanings, keep reading. Who knows, you might just find your name on the list!
OLIVER
You’d think the name Oliver would have something to do with, I don’t know, the olive tree, right? Well, that’s one possibility, but there is another. The name Oliver can apparently mean… “elf warrior” or even “elf army.” That’s something you don’t hear every day. I mean, imagine giving birth to an entire army of elves! Whatever our ancestors were thinking..
MOLLY
Molly sounds sweet, so sweet that you could even imagine a candy named “Molly.” Unfortunately for all of us, in Old Hebrew, Molly means “bitter,” the exact opposite of “sweet.” I mean, how did someone come to the conclusion that naming their child “bitter” was a good idea? Was the first Molly taste-tested before she was given her unfortunate name? We need answers.
AERON
The name Aeron sounds kinda cute, right? It sounds like a great fit for a harmless baby… or does it? The name actually has Welsh roots and means “slaughter.” Yup, you heard that right. Someone in ancient Wales decided it’d be a good idea to name their newborn child “slaughter.” And as an aside-sort-of historical fact, the peoples of Britain originally spoke Common Brittonic, a Celtic language.
DEBORAH
Deborah comes from the Old Testament. In fact, the biblical Deborah was a glorious leader who defeated countless foes. Sounds like a great name, right? Except it actually means “bee.” Bummer! Sorry, I didn’t make that up.
DRAKE
Drake is a fairly common name, but it’s nowhere near as popular as names like “James”, “John”, “Jennifer”, or “Mary.” If only people knew that in Old English, Drake means “dragon”. Surely its popularity would skyrocket; Long live the Drakes.
While it’s indisputably cool to be named “dragon,” it’s still kinda weird, right? I mean, it’s difficult to imagine a farmer living in 13th century England naming his child after an imaginary creature… unless dragons are actually real! Myths go a long way indeed..
COURTNEY
The name Courtney is simple yet elegant. In fact, some 30 years ago it used to be in the top 20 most popular female names! Unfortunately, ever since, its popularity has nose-dived. Why? Well, maybe because the name literally means “short nose”. I mean, how the heck did “short nose” become one of the most popular names for girls? Well, the Brits were never known for their especially aesthetically pleasing noses.
CECILIA
Cecilia is undoubtedly a sweet name. Even its shortened forms “Cece” and “Cici” are as cute as a button. The name’s meaning, though, is anything but sweet or cute. Cecilia comes from Latin and means “blind.” The ancient Romans were one fascinating bunch.
KENNEDY
Kennedy seems like a classy name. After all, it feels like you’re naming your child after President John Fitzgerald Kennedy! Sadly, the name actually comes from Celtic and means something like “misshapen head.” Ouch.
LOLA
Lola sounds like the most innocent, sweet name possible. It has to mean something like “smile,” “flower,” or “happiness,” right? Wrong. Lola, or its longer version Dolores, means “sorrows.” Appearances deceive.
AMOS
Amos is a rather unique name, but it rolls off the tongue quite nicely, right? I could definitely see myself naming my son “Amos”… that is until I found out its meaning. For whatever reason, “Amos” comes from the Bible and means “burden.” No thank you, I got enough on my plate..
LILLY
The name Lily comes from the lily flower. Case closed. Well… not so fast. “Lily,” or rather “Lilith,” comes from old Hebrew and means something along the lines of “night monster.” Seriously, I’m not lying to you. If you know a Lilly, beware, she might secretly be a vampire or a werewolf by night!
EMILY
The relationship between you and your child should at the very least be amicable and workable, except if you called your child “Emily”. The name Emily literally means “rival” in Latin.
CAESAR/CESAR
If you name your son Caesar/Cesar, you might think you’re naming him after the famous Roman dictator Julius Caesar. Unfortunately, “Caesar” actually means “hairy,” so unless your baby looks like Chewbacca as soon as it comes out of the womb, consider some alternative names instead.
CLAUDIA
The name Claudia is both cute and elegant. The only problem is that it literally means “lame” in Latin. And by the way, what did the fish say when it swam into a wall? Dam! Apologies to all the Claudias out there.
GISELLE
Newborn babies are dependent on their parents. They have to be taken care of from the moment they are born until they are old enough to provide for themselves. But that doesn’t make them “hostages,” right? Weeeell, apparently it does, provided their name is “Giselle.” Whether you like it or not “Giselle” comes from German and means “hostage.”
THOMAS
The name Thomas is a classic. I mean, we all know a Tom or a Tommy, right? Heck, even Thomas from Thomas & Friends comes to mind. Surely, then, it must mean something significant like “strength,” “victory,” or “friendship.” Nope, it means “twin.” Is there anything we can do about it? No.
