What’s in a name?

What is a William? The etymology behind popular names

Image: iam_os

Do you have a popular name—or one that leaves people begging your pardon? Many of us carry our names proudly because of the meanings they’re associated with. But others have never explored the etymology of their names or the languages they originate from. Even more interesting, you might discover variations or nicknames you didn’t know were connected to your name. Let’s explore the etymology of some of the most popular first names.

Image: Max Muselmann

A name fit for kings, knights, poets, and at least four US presidents, William comes from the Old High German Wilhelm, meaning "strong-willed protector." The Normans brought it to England, and by the time William the Conqueror was finished in 1066, it was everywhere.

It later became a go-to name for historical heavyweights like Shakespeare. If you’re a Bill or a Will, you’ve got a name with serious staying power—it’s been among the top US names for over a century!

Image: Erik Mclean

Short, strong, and straight to the point—Jack is the name of heroes, rebels, and every third guy in fiction. Originally a nickname for John, it became a standalone name during the Middle Ages.

The name means "God is gracious," but let’s be honest: most Jacks are better known for their charisma. From Jack London to Jack Nicholson—not to mention Jack of all trades and Jack and Jill—it’s a name that never goes out of style.

Image: Jill Burrow

If names had a Mount Rushmore, Mary would be front and center. Derived from the Hebrew Miryam, its exact meaning is debated—some say "beloved," others "rebellious." Either way, it’s been a top-tier name for centuries.

The Virgin Mary gave it global recognition, and by the 19th century, nearly every other girl seemed to be named Mary—or a variation like the Spanish Maria or the French Marie.

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Derived from the Hebrew Ya'aqov (Jacob), James passed through Latin (Iacomus) before settling into English. It’s a name of kings, saints, and at least six US presidents. Jim, Jimmy, Jamie—take your pick!

While Jacob is the biblical troublemaker who wrestled an angel, James had a smoother journey. It became a classic name that feels both regal and approachable.

Image: Anoop Surendran

If your name is Robert, congratulations—you’ve got one of the most enduring names in history.

Derived from the Old High German Hrodebert ("bright fame"), it stormed into England with the Normans and never left. Rob, Bob, Bobby—this name is nothing if not flexible.

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A name with royal pedigree and serious staying power, Elizabeth comes from the Hebrew Elisheva, meaning "God is my oath." It’s been worn by queens, saints, and plenty of It Girls.

If Elizabeth feels too formal, don’t worry—there’s no shortage of nicknames: Liz, Lizzie, Beth, Betsy, Betty, Eliza, Liza, and even Buffy (yes, Buffy is short for Elizabeth!).

Image: Thomas Tucker

An archangel, a basketball legend, and a rock star walk into a bar… and they’re all named Michael!

Stemming from the Hebrew Mikha'el, meaning "Who is like God?" (a rhetorical question, not a challenge), it’s been one of the most popular names in the US for decades.

Image: Gia Oris

Latin for "noble," Patricia began as the feminine version of Patrick but quickly took on a life of its own. It exploded in popularity in the mid-20th century, producing countless Pats, Pattys, Trishes, and Tricias.

Image: Elena Mishlanova

Derived from the Greek barbaros ("foreigner" or "stranger"), Barbara was originally a name for outsiders. But by the 20th century, it had become widespread in America. The name took off in the 1920s and ruled the baby name charts through the ’50s.

It’s the name of Barbra Streisand, Barbara Walters, and even the Barbie doll!

Image: Brina Blum

Fun fact: Linda wasn’t always a common first name! It comes from Spanish and German, meaning "pretty," but it didn’t take off in English until the 20th century. In fact, it skyrocketed to #1 in the US after the 1942 song "Linda" by Jack Lawrence melted hearts.

Image: Nathan Dumlao

From the Hebrew Yosef ("he will add"), Joseph is a name with serious spiritual street cred. The name has remained wildly popular for centuries, thanks in part to figures like Joe DiMaggio, Joe Biden, and "Good Ol’ Joe" in just about every story ever told. Plus, it shortens nicely to the friendly "Joe."

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Sophisticated but not stuffy, Charles comes from the Germanic Karl, meaning "free man." Famous Charleses include Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, and, of course, Prince Charles (now King Charles III). Surely you know some Charlie, Chuck, or even a Chaz.

Image: Mick Haupt

It was originally a nickname for Anne, did you know? Nancy became its name in the 18th century and soared to popularity in the 20th century.

Meaning "grace," it peaked in the 1950s and ’60s, giving the world Nancy Sinatra (These Boots Are Made for Walkin’) and First Lady Nancy Reagan.

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Few names are as solid as John. Coming from the Hebrew Yochanan ("God is gracious"), it marched through Latin and Old French before landing in English. From John F. Kennedy to John Wayne, this name has a history of leading men.

It ruled the medieval world, with so many kings and popes named John that historians probably lost count.

Words and their different meanings

Same word or different world? English that gets lost in translation

The English language can travel as far as humans do. In fact, it has been doing so for thousands of years. Words can contain more than one definition, and even more than two or three are sometimes accepted. The important matter is to understand each other, and that is not just a problem of words, but of context, place, and relationships. How many times has it happened to you to be using all the right words in a conversation and still end up completely confused? Let's look at some words that may have confused us on more than one occasion!

If you've ever dunked your biscuits in milk, you know exactly what comfort looks like. But ask for the same thing in London and watch the confusion unfold. In the UK, a biscuit is what we'd call a cookie. Ours? They'd call it a scone.

The word itself has a messy history. Before 1800, nobody could even agree on the spelling: bisket, bisquet, biscuit. It described a sweet baked treat made with flour, eggs, and sugar. "Bis" also means twice in Latin, because the original biscuit was bread baked twice to survive long journeys.

Nothing feels more American than grabbing a bag of chips on a vacation road trip, somewhere between a gas station and nowhere. But in London, the scenery is totally different. Order chips in a London pub and you'll get something closer to what we call French fries: hot, thick, and usually next to a piece of battered fish.

Here's the real twist: what the British call "crisps" is exactly what we call chips. The words essentially swapped sides of the Atlantic. The word itself traces back to simply "chipping" a potato into pieces. By the 1860s, fish and chips had become a British institution.

Tell a British person nice pants! And they will probably cover his mouth and start laughing, either from embarrassment or from amusement. In the UK, "pants" mean underwear. What we call pants, they call trousers. Consider yourself warned.

Back in the old days, both countries used the same word "pantaloons", borrowed from Pantalone, an old merchant character from Italian theater who wore long, baggy trousers. Americans shortened it to pants and kept the meaning. Over in Britain, they kept a more intimate definition. There is more: in modern British slang, calling something "pants" means it's terrible.

The meaning of jumper literally jumped from one piece of clothing to another. In the US, we call a jumper a sleeveless dress, often worn over a shirt. Many school uniform regulations include jumpers for girls. Instead, the UK version is different. There, "jumper" means a pullover, jacket, or sweater.

How many tasks did you table this week? Well, let’s table that issue for now; we'd better talk about this tomorrow. In this phrase, to table something means to postpone under consideration, but what if it meant the exact opposite? In fact, it does.

The American Heritage Dictionary lists two meanings for the phrase "on the table". The first one is the one already mentioned, and the second one is to put something up for discussion right now. Confusing to say the least, isn’t it?

No surprise that the UK and the Commonwealth use the definition we don’t use. Because why would it be simple?

One goes on a baby’s head, the other on a Lamborghini: both are called a bonnet. The important thing to know is that in both cases, something important is being covered. In America, a bonnet is a hat. The kind of hat that has a brim and a ribbon that ties under the chin.

We have all seen them on babies, on ladies, and on pioneers. Instead, in the UK, a bonnet is the hood of a car. That part that covers the engine. So, phrases like "pop the bonnet" have nothing to do with the cute accessory; it simply means opening the hood of a car.

The word trolley can mean very different things depending on where you are. It can be a little train or a streetcar in the USA, often used in street rides and city tours.

On the other hand, on the British side, a trolley is nothing more than a cart. Its most common use is for a shopping cart. So, "catch the trolley" and "grab the trolley" have completely different meanings. Does anyone have any idea about this one?

You probably heard "this song is a total banger" before. "Take on Me " by A-ha and "Funkytown" by Lipps inc are, with no doubt, total bangers. But what if I told you a banger can come with potatoes? In fact, bangers and mash is one of the most famous dishes in England. So the meaning must be different. Or rather, the word simply has more than one meaning. Banger can be a music hit for the Americans and a sausage for the British at the same time. You just have to be careful how and when you use this word.

If someone lives in a huge apartment in New York and has a fancy car, wears fancy clothes, and goes to fancy restaurants, you might think he’s a refined or classy person, and you will probably not be wrong. But, if I go on a trip to London, I will hear this word is rather used as a verb, not as an adjective. Why is that? Because the British use of this word is different. Fancy means to want or to desire something. "Fancy a cup of tea?" or " fancy going to the cinema?" So, in London, the real question is not to be fancy, but what you fancy doing.

So which came first: angry or crazy? We’ve reached the last word, and here is the story behind mad. In Britain, mad has always meant crazy, referring to someone suffering from madness, a serious mental illness. That meaning never left. Ask any British person today, and a mad person is still someone out of their mind. They also use mad to mean enthusiastic. Passionate. That is where "Jack is mad about Mary" comes from. He is not angry at her. He is completely gone for her.

Using mad to mean angry? That is actually on us. It is an Americanism. Somewhere along the way, Americans took the word and redirected it straight toward anger. And we never looked back.