English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

Etymology — The Origins of English Words

Where do words come from? Trace the origin and history of any English word, from its Latin, Greek or Old English roots through to its modern meaning. Every etymology is sourced.

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Anglicized from Alemannic German Brändle or Brändli, meaning "firebrand."

A spelling variant of Leila, itself of Arabic origin meaning "night."

Shortened from Jackson, Jaxon or fanciful spelling of the surname Jacks.

Variant of Wayland popularized by the American singer Waylon Jennings who was originally named Wayland.

From an Old English personal name plus "tūn" ("settlement"), meaning roughly "Pæcc's settlement."

Variant of Bryn.

Anglicized from Dutch de Raedt, from Middle Dutch raet ("advice").

Anglicized spelling of Spanish César, a doublet of Caesar.

A habitational surname for someone from Annesley or Ansley in England, from Old English words meaning "solitary" or "hermitage" plus "clearing."

From Latin Atticus (“the Attic, the Athenian, a cognomen”), from Ancient Greek Ἀττῐκός (Attĭkós). Doublet of Attic.

A variant of the surname Blakeley.

Rare spelling variant of McKinley.

Shortened from McLeland, McClellan, from Irish Mac Giolla Fhaoláin, "son of servant of (Saint) Faolán (=Little Wolf)".

A respelling of Cash.

Borrowed from Irish Ó Fionnagáin (“descendant of Fionnagán”). Fionnagán is a given name that descends from Old Irish Finnacán, which is typically anglicised as Finnegan itself.

From Old English here ("army") + hlæw ("hill").

Borrowed directly from the Swahili word zuri, meaning "good" or "beautiful."

"Son of Jamie" — from the nickname "Jamie" plus "-son."

A modern coinage from Ray, comparable to Rylan and Braylon.

From Old English ryge (“rye”) + land (“land”).

Spelling variant of Lauren.

Borrowed from Arabic نَاصِر (nāṣir).

Variant of Callan.

From Ancient Greek Λεωνίδᾱς (Leōnídās, “son of Leon / lion”).