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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A transliteration of the Hindi word आरव (ārav), meaning "sound" or "loud noise".

Derived from Irish Mag Fhionnáin "son of Finan".

20th-century coinage from Jessie + feminine suffix -a; compare Jenna from Jenny.

Borrowed from Arabic and Persian; a doublet of Mary and Miriam.

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Οὐριήλ (Ouriḗl), from Hebrew אוּרִיאֵל (“God is my light”).

An elaborate form of Coralie, itself derived from coral. Name of a character in Adolphe Adam's opera Le toréador.

Borrowed from Italian Santino.

Borrowed from Arabic عَالِيَة (ʕāliya). The feminine form of Ali.

A respelling of Lorelei.

A rare spelling variant of Elise. By folk etymology, connected to Elysium.

From Middle English Brun ("a man named Brown's") plus son.

* As a Scottish surname, shortened from McKenna. * As a Manx and Irish surname, from Ó Cionaodha /Ó Cionaoith (“descendant of Cionaodh”), a name usually Anglicized as Kenneth.

Rare variant of Alison.

Named after its founder, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel.

Borrowed from Arabic زَهْراء (zahrāʔ), an epithet of Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad. As a surname, it is predominantly found in Egypt.

Topographic surname from lane.

From Old English Ealdwine, combining eald ("old") and wine ("friend").

Borrowed from Hebrew יוֹסֵף (yoséf), equivalent to Joseph.

From the French word "jolie," the feminine form of "joli," meaning pretty or attractive.

From French germain, "German" or "of Germany."

Variant of Farrar, from Middle English ferreor (“iron worker, smith”). The given name was popularized by the American actress Farrah Fawcett (1947-2009). Her name is often interpreted as a variant of Farah.

Borrowed from Arabic يُوسُف (yūsuf), equivalent to English Joseph.

Borrowed from Spanish Estrella.

Borrowed from Arabic سَلْمَى (salmā).