What A Great Name! Where Did It Come From? Quiz

Answer: Nature and Wildlife

The name "Lily" comes directly from the Latin word "lilium", which describes the beautiful, trumpet shaped lily flower. In nature, these plants grow from bulbs and bloom year after year with large, bright petals. They play a big role in wildlife habitats by attracting essential pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds with their sweet scent. "Lily" first became a massive hit during the Victorian era. During this time, there was a huge romantic trend where parents named their daughters after flowers and plants (such as "Rose" and "Daisy").

Answer: Nature and Wildlife

The name "Leo" comes directly from the ancient Latin word for "lion". In the wild, lions are apex predators (meaning they sit at the very top of the food chain) and they are unique because they are the only wild cats that live and hunt together in large family groups called prides.

As an animal symbol, the lion has represented strength, bravery, and leadership for thousands of years, which is exactly why the name became so popular for ancient rulers, kings, and everyday boys alike.

Answer: Nature and Wildlife

The name "Hazel" comes from the Old English word for the hazel tree, a small, leafy tree that produces hazelnuts. In nature, these trees are incredibly important to forest wildlife because their nutritious nuts provide a vital food source for squirrels, birds, and mice to survive the cold winter months. Throughout history and folklore, the hazel tree has symbolized wisdom, protection, and inspiration.

The late 1800s saw children being named this, alongside other plant names.

Answer: Nature and Wildlife

The name "Amber" comes from the Arabic word "anbar" and describes a golden orange gemstone formed by nature over millions of years. Amber is not mined from the earth but is actually the fossilized, hardened resin of ancient trees. The most prized specimens contain inclusions, or perfectly preserved prehistoric insects, feathers, or leaves.

The name was occasionally used in the early 1800s but gained widespread, regular use in the English speaking world during the late 19th century Victorian era, joining other popular gemstone names like "Ruby" and "Pearl".

Answer: Literature and Poetry

The name "Vanessa" was completely invented in 1713 by the famous Irish author and satirist Jonathan Swift (the man who wrote "Gulliver's Travels"). He created the name for his secret poem "Cadenus and Vanessa", which detailed his real life relationship with a woman named Esther Vanhomrigh. To make a private nickname for her in his poetry, Swift took the "Van" from her last name (Vanhomrigh) and added "Essa", which was a common pet name for Esther at the time.

Answer: Literature and Poetry

The name "Wendy" was popularized by the Scottish author J.M. Barrie for his classic 1904 play and children's novel, "Peter Pan". Before the character Wendy Darling captured the world's attention, the name was virtually unknown as a formal first name. Barrie actually based it on a sweet nickname; a young female friend of his used to call him her "friendy-wendy", but because she struggled to pronounce her R's, it came out sounding like "fwendy". Barrie took that playful, affectionate mistake and turned it into a permanent part of literary history, transforming Wendy into a household name for generations to come.

Answer: Literature and Poetry

The name "Evangeline" was relatively obscure prior to the 19th century. It was brought into the mainstream by the famous American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow for his 1847 epic poem, "Evangeline, A Tale of Acadie". For the name of his tragic heroine, Longfellow took the Latin word "evangelium", which means "good news", and added a soft, poetic suffix to turn it into a female first name.

The poem became a massive literary sensation in the 19th century, moving readers so deeply that parents began naming their daughters after Longfellow's heroine.

Answer: Literature and Poetry

The name "Fiona" was created in the 1890s by the Scottish author and poet William Sharp. He invented it as a romantic pen name so he could publish mystical Celtic literature under the pseudonym "Fiona Macleod" without anyone knowing his true identity. Sharp built the name by taking the traditional Scottish-Gaelic word "fionn", which means "fair", "white" or "clear", and turning it into a feminine first name.

The pen name was so successful that it fooled the literary world for years, and the name moved from the covers of books into a popular, real world name.

Answer: Entertainment

The name "Madison" became a pop culture phenomenon due to the 1984 romantic comedy movie "Splash". Before the film, the name was used almost exclusively as a last name (and very occasionally for a boy). In the movie, Daryl Hannah plays a mermaid who falls in love with a human and needs to pick a human name.

While walking through New York City, she stops at a Madison Avenue street sign and decides that "Madison" will be her name. In the film, she is told it isn't a real first name, but audiences loved it.

The movie triggered an baby naming craze, launching Madison into the top ten girl names within a decade.

Answer: Entertainment

The name "Brady" transitioned from a traditional Irish surname into a popular modern first name due to the premier of the hit television sitcom "The Brady Bunch" in 1969. The show was about a wholesome, large, and blended family of three boys and three girls. Before the series captured the hearts of American audiences, the name was virtually unused as a first name.

The success of the fictional blended family in syndication inspired thousands of parents throughout the 1970s and 1980s to choose it for their newborn (primarily) boys.

Answer: Entertainment

The name "Khaleesi" is a pure product of modern television, jumping straight into the real world from the fantasy drama series "Game of Thrones". In the show, the name isn't actually a proper first name at all but is a royal title in a fictional language meaning "Queen" of the nomadic Dothraki warriors.

When the popular character Daenerys Targaryen earned this title, millions of viewers fell in love with her fierce, commanding presence. This pop culture impact was so big that thousands of parents began using the fictional title as an actual first name for their children.

Answer: Entertainment

The name "Kylo" became many children's names exclusively due to the 2015 movie "Star Wars: The Force Awakens". It was invented by filmmakers as the first name for the trilogy's villain, Kylo Ren (played by Adam Driver). Before the film hit theaters, the name was virtually unheard of, but the immediate, global success of the revived space saga captured people's attention. Parents began adopting the name, causing "Kylo" to instantly skyrocket up the official baby name charts as a direct product of the movie.