There are some baby girl names that remain popular throughout most
decades and others that circulate throughout the years. As for 2011, there are
five names that have become the most popular in the United States.
While most will use family trees or just have a certain name that
sticks out to them, others will choose a name because of its meaning. It is
time to look at the meanings and origins of the top five baby girl names of
2011.
Isabella – My God is a Vow
Isabella sounds Italian but it is originally Hebrew and has the
meaning “My God is a vow”. However, it is a popular Italian and Spanish name.
Isabella has been used for a number of Queens throughout history, but the most
notable one is Isabella of Castile. This was the wife of Ferdinand of Aragon and
the mother of Catharine of Aragon.
Another well known Isabella was the wife of Edward II, the English
king who was known for his inability to lead. It was because of his wife that
Edward was overthrown and their son became King of England.
Sophia – Wisdom
Sophia is a Greek name with the meaning “wisdom”. King George I’s
mother was named Sophia and she was expected to become Queen of England after
the death of Queen Anne. However, Sophia died weeks prior.
The Hagia Sophia is a large building in Istanbul, which has been
used for a variety of reasons, including a cathedral, mosque and a basilica; it
is currently a museum. “Hagia Sophia” stands for Holy Wisdom.
Emma – Universal
Emma holds the meaning of universal, or all-containing, and
originated from German. It has been in the top 10 list of baby girl names for
decades because of its timeless sound and ability to sound great for all ages.
It is thought that the name comes from the German word “erm”, which
means “whole”. The most famous use of the name Emma is from the Jane Austen
novel of the same name.
Olivia – Olive
Depending on the origin of the name, Olivia has two different
meanings. Based on the Latin, Olivia is taken from Oliva, which means “olive
tree”. However, when the English origin is considered, it means “Elf Army”.
It is thought that the name became popular in England due to
Shakespeare’s use of it in the Twelfth Night. How he came up with the name is
just speculation; either it was used as a female form of Oliver or it was taken
from the work olive.
Ava – Breathe
Ava is another word that originates from the German language but it
also has some links to Hebrew and Afghanistan. There is no direct meaning taken
from the German language, but the name is thought to be a different form of Eve,
which means “breathe” in Hebrew. To the Afghans, the name means voice.
It is also thought that the name is a variation of Eva; the name of
the infamous Eva Peron. However, Ava is the name of a 9th century
nun, who later became a saint.
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