Etymology of proper names in Russian. Origin of a person’s name: history of origin, types by origin

The origin of proper names has deep roots. They have existed since time immemorial. Even when creating man, God called him Adam, that is, “made of clay.” Adam gave names to the animals, and then called his wife Eve, that is, “life.” Since then, the ability of a person to give names to everything, or, as the Russian proverb says, “to call things by their proper names,” has become an integral feature of him.

Therefore, you should not be surprised that a person often bears several names - one official, two or three affectionate ones at home, one is a nickname in a narrow circle of friends, one is a nickname in a team. So, for example, the boy Vanya Nosov can be both Sunny and Masik at home, Nose at school and Vano with friends.

It is now customary to use an official name to identify a person. It is written in the passport or birth certificate. But names and nicknames used to be in circulation along with official names.

In ancient times

In ancient times, people believed that a name carried a magical principle, that it determined character. The meaning of the name was taken very seriously. Being dependent on the forces of nature, harvest and location powerful of the world this - priests, princes, military leaders and similar people in power - they were at the same time afraid of falling out of favor with evil spirits. It is clear now why sometimes the true name was hidden by giving the child a nickname. It was intended to ward off evil and was used more often true name.

Using their real name, the priests performed initiation ceremonies, marriage, taboos for sins, and others. On behalf of the clan, sacrifices were made to the gods. The rulers gave their child a name whose origin came from the name of the totem or common ancestor.

In the third century BC, the philosopher Chrysippus identified the names as separate group words In fact, he can be called the founder modern science about names - anthroponymics (Greek ἄνθρωπος - person and ὄνομα - name).

How did the word "name" come about?

In dictionaries there is an explanation of this word as a calque from the Latin nōmen or Greek ὄνομα. There are versions that it comes from the special term jm-men, denoting the accepted sign of the tribal system. In general, it is noticeable that Slavic languages have similar pronunciation and spelling of this word.

One version is that it came from the Proto-Slavic imeti - to have, to identify with someone, to take for someone, to consider someone. Another relates it to the concept yuyoti, which means in Sanskrit the separation or difference of someone from one another. Interestingly, the origins of the English name are the same as the Greek onoma. It turns out that in the Indo-European group of languages, according to this version, there is one source of the word “name” - for both Western and Eastern European languages.

But in general, dictionaries agree that the true etymology of the word “name” is unclear.

In ancient times

Greek names often coincide with the names of mythical characters. Giving a baby the name of a hero was considered to somehow foreshadow his fate. And, on the contrary, they were afraid to call babies by the names of gods. There was an opinion that using the name of God in this way would be regarded by him as familiarity, humiliating his position.

For the everyday designation of gods, there were a lot of epithets, which sometimes became the name of a person. The etymology of names of ancient times goes back to similar titles. These are, for example, such substitutes for the name of Zeus that have survived to this day, such as:

Victor is the winner.
Maxim is great.

Or the description of Mars, the god of war, wearing a victorious wreath of laurel leaves:

Laurel.
Lavrenty.

Other gods wore a diadem, they were called "Crowned". The names derived from this name are:

Stephen.
Stepan.
Stephanie.

Names are not supreme gods, and patrons of hunting, various types it was considered not shameful to give art to a person:

Muse.
Diana.
Aurora.

These antique names are still known today.

Name in Ancient Rus'

The attitude towards the name in Rus' was more reminiscent of ancient pagan ideas. Therefore, only initiates knew the real name - parents, close people and priests. It carried positive charge, meant happiness, wealth, health and everything that is usually desired for a baby. These are names of Russian origin such as:

Love.
Zlata.
Force.
Bogdan.
Zhdan.

An interesting custom of the Slavs, after naming a child by its real name, is to stage the discovery of the foundling. The baby was wrapped in unusable cloth - matting, for example, and carried out the threshold. For evil spirits they pronounced a second name-nickname, a kind of amulet that should direct evil spirits on the wrong trail. The etymology of names-amulets - from imaginary shortcomings that were attributed at that moment:

Nekras.
Unexpected.
Winter.
Curve
Chernyak.
Belyay.

The real name did not sound in everyday life. To the question: “What is your name?” They answered evasively: “They call me Zovutka, they call me a duck.” They did this for fear of damage.

How did the adoption of Christianity affect

From the eleventh century onwards folk life everything Slavic was systematically supplanted: the system of worship, the way to bury the dead, tales and epics. This also includes naming. The Greek form of Christianity came to Rus', so Byzantine culture began to be implanted.

The name recorded in the parish register became official. The etymology of names of this type is Greek and Jewish roots, which is determined by language church books. Official name used in rites of baptism, marriage, anathematization and others. The people began to practice the two-name system: now there was no need for a name-amulet, but also Greek names there was no trust. Some were so difficult to pronounce that they were transliterated into what became Russian forms:

Fedor - Theodore (God's gift).
Avdotya - Evdokia (favour).
Aksinya - Ksenia (hospitable).
Lukeria - Glyceria (sweet).
Egor - Georgy (farmer).

Both names began to be indicated in legal documents: one by baptism, the other secular: “By baptism Peter, by worldly Mikula.” When surnames were introduced in Russia, it often became a secular name.

Names in the Saints

Since birth registration was possible only in the church, even in the case of unbelieving parents, everyone went through the rite of baptism. The name was given by the priest, choosing it from the month book. This is a book in which for every day there is a list of saints whom the church should honor. People called it “Saints”. The etymology of names from the month book has not only Greek or Hebrew roots. Many saints canonized in Russia bear Latin, Germanic and Scandinavian names.

Some names appear in the monthly word more often than others. This explains that there are so many Ivans in our country: they are commemorated in the Saints 170 times. The origin of female names in the Saints has foreign roots, and therefore is often dissonant for Russians:

Christodoula.
Yazdundokta.
Chionia.
Filicitata.
Pulcheria.
Prepedigna.
Perpetua.
Mamika.
Kazdoya.
Blast furnace.
Golinduha.

Parents were offered several names to choose from. If the priest was favorable to the baby’s parents, he made concessions and allowed them to choose a name from the Saints themselves. But in the event of a disagreement, he could be strict or even give the child a name that was difficult to pronounce.

Girl names: origin and meaning

The impossibility of freethinking, which included the independent choice of a name for a daughter that is not listed in the Saints, led to the spread of female names of Slavic or European origin. Many holy women canonized by the church wore beautiful names.

It is clear, therefore, that mainly in Rus' there were female names Maria, Marfa, Praskovya, Anna, Tatyana, Natalya, Olga and several more. The names Nadezhda and Lyubov were popular, although they were mentioned in the Saints only once. Vera had two mentions.

After the 1917 revolution, the church registration system was abolished. This influenced the choice of names. There were some excesses: the origin of the girls’ names now depended on the parents’ loyalty to the new government and their admiration technical progress.

Names in the USSR

The origins of some early twentieth-century women's names are astounding. Nevertheless, these names really existed, and they are still recorded in the registry offices. To imagine the scale of what was happening then, just look at the following table.

Fortunately, this was a short period. Afterwards, many changed their names, choosing the usual common Marias and Tatyanas. With the development of the film era, the names of screen heroines and film actresses, often of Western origin, began to spread.

Russian names of foreign origin

Some may be surprised that the name Ivan, considered originally Russian, is actually the Hebrew John. It means "God has mercy." Danila - also old Russian name- translated from Hebrew means “God is my judge.” And these are not the only ones Jewish names in the list:

Sysoy - white marble.
Fadey is worthy of praise.
Thomas is a twin.
Gavrila - my power - God.
Matvey is a gift from God.

Names with Scandinavian roots:

Olga is a saint.
Igor is militant.
Oleg is a saint.

Statistics show that the distribution of modern names by origin is as follows:

50% are Greek, largely due to Christianization and the ban on pagan names, which are not in the Saints.
20% are Hebrew, for the same reason.
15% are Latin, spread thanks to the development of trade and the Age of Enlightenment.
15% - others.

It is sad that history has not preserved many ancient names. But now it is observed interesting trend in society, which can correct the situation.

Modern names

Now in fashion Old Slavonic names, many of which have a beautiful sound and explanation. Girls are called like this:

Vladislava (famous).
Lada (favorite).
Rusalina (brown-haired).
Yarina (fiery).
Milana (caring).
Alina (honest).

Boys have the following names:

Vsevolod (owner of everything).
Lubomir (beloved by the world).
Yaroslav (bright glory).

And parents choose a name to their liking; no one obliges them to name their children according to an approved list. Part -slav, included in compound name, means the generic name of the Slavs. There is a return to historical roots.

Conclusion

Now you can be called by any name. Of course, extremes should be avoided. In some countries it is forbidden to be called by demonic names, recognized common nouns world criminals or numerals.

Loving parents think about how the child will go through life. And this depends a lot on the name.