Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast.

103. Names: Cross Cultural


Listen Later

This episode looks at names that work across cultures, names that sound alike but emerge from entirely different linguistic roots. It opens with demographic data from the USA and from England and Wales that helps explain why many parents now seek names that fit multiple cultural contexts. In England and Wales, 37% of newborns have a parent born abroad, and in the USA approval of mixed marriage has risen from 4% in 1958 to 94% today. The name Maya or Maia can mean beloved, magic, brave, princess or mother, with possible origins in Hebrew, Greek, Sanskrit, Arabic and an Indigenous language of New Zealand. Idris in Welsh means ardent lord, while in Arabic it is said to mean studious or smart. The Irish name Ciaran and the South Asian name Kiran sound similar, yet their etymologies move in opposite directions: one means dark, the other light.  Also explored are the names Chika, Naomi, Bo, Arya and Dylan.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast.By Leon Bailey-Green

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

15 ratings


More shows like Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast.

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,795 Listeners

The NPR Politics Podcast by NPR

The NPR Politics Podcast

25,840 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,451 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

56,745 Listeners

You're Wrong About by Sarah Marshall

You're Wrong About

21,868 Listeners

Life Kit by NPR

Life Kit

4,782 Listeners

HISTORY This Week by The HISTORY® Channel | Back Pocket Studios

HISTORY This Week

4,193 Listeners

Everything Everywhere Daily by Gary Arndt

Everything Everywhere Daily

2,200 Listeners

The Atlas Obscura Podcast by SiriusXM and Atlas Obscura

The Atlas Obscura Podcast

1,742 Listeners

History Daily by History Daily

History Daily

2,152 Listeners

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society by History Hit

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

1,385 Listeners

History's Heroes by BBC Radio 4

History's Heroes

511 Listeners

The Economics of Everyday Things by Freakonomics Network & Zachary Crockett

The Economics of Everyday Things

1,682 Listeners

World of Secrets by BBC

World of Secrets

1,041 Listeners

Big Small Talk by LiSTNR

Big Small Talk

37 Listeners