Sunday, July 04, 2010

Maybe they were pretty and inspiring wagons...

Many cultures have names that are rich with meaning. I know that most Asian names are given because of the meaning. Today I met a Korean woman whose name means 'Grace and Pearl' (her name is made up of two characters), so she is either a graceful pearl or a pearl of grace, according to her name. I also met a Chinese man whose name meant 'Great Life', or something to that effect (I liked the Pearl one better, so it stuck).
Peter comes from ancient Greek meaning 'Stone', and while not as poetic in itself, it has a very strong significance considering its Biblical origins ("on this stone I will build my church").
Christopher also comes from Greek and means 'bearing Christ'.
Jeffrey is a bit muddled, but the last part definitely means 'peace', with the first half possibly meaning 'gift' (so a 'gift of peace').
David is derived from the Hebrew for 'beloved'.
Bethany means 'house of figs' (which I'm sure had a positive meaning when it was first used)
Heather is a type of shrub with pink and white flowers, and who doesn't like flowers?
Wesley means 'west meadow'
As you can see, many names have meanings that are pretty or significant somehow. Why am I bringing all of this up, you ask? Because I got curious and I wondered what my name meant.
Darrell - From an English surname which was derived from Norman French d'Airelle, originally denoting one who came from Airelle in France
Wayne - From an occupational surname meaning "wagon maker"
Ulriksen - Son of Ulrik.
I have the least poetic name ever.

(Scott means, well, Scottish. Not poetical, but at least you have David, lucky stiff)
(Ulrich means 'prosperity and power', but my last name isn't Ulrich, it's Ulriksen, so it doesn't count as poetical, it counts as the son of poetical)
(In case you were wondering, Airelle is in the northwest part of France)