This document discusses the roots of popular female names in Amarigna and Tigrigna languages. It begins with an introduction explaining the importance of names and origins. It then provides etymologies for many female names, tracing their origins back to words and meanings in Amarigna and Tigrigna. For each name, it gives the originating word(s) in those languages, explains how it evolved into the name in European languages, and provides the eventual etymology. Examples discussed include names like Abigail, Adeline, Agatha, and others. The document aims to help readers understand the real meanings and antiquity of their names.

2. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal
Roots of Female Names
Legesse Allyn
AncientGebts.org Press
http://www.ancientgebts.org
http://books.ancientgebts.org

3. The Ethiopian Culture of Ancient Egypt: Food, Markets, Temples, Religion and Social Culture
3
AncientGebts.org Press
http://books.ancientgebts.org
© Copyright 2016 Legesse Allyn
ISBN-13: 978-1533223241
ISBN-10: 1533223246
First AncientGebts.org trade paperback edition May 2016
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce
this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.
For information, write to AncientGebts.org Press,
books@ancientgebts.org
Amarigna and Tigrigna word matching by Legesse Allyn
© Copyright 2016 Legesse Allyn
Scans from the Dover Publications editions of
“The Rosetta Stone” and “An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary,”
by E.A. Wallis Budge, reprinted by permission of Dover Publications, NY
The Dover Publications editions of “The Rosetta Stone” and
“An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary” by E. A. Wallis Budge
are available in bookstores and online at http://store.doverpublications.com
Etymologies from Online Etymology Dictioinary reprinted by permission
of Douglas Harper. For more information, etymology footnotes, and
other details, please visit http://www.etymonline.com
Special thanks to:
Ramya Karlapudi in New Delhi, India
Aradom Tassew in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Memhr.org Online Tigrigna Dictionary, located at http://memhr.org/dic
AmharicDictionary.com from SelamSoft, Inc., located at http://www.amharicdictionary.com
Cover image: Elizabeth I when she was a princess. The painting's current location is in the
Royal Collection, Windsor Castle (wartburg.edu)

4. The Ethiopian Culture of Ancient Egypt: Food, Markets, Temples, Religion and Social Culture
5

6. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
1
Introduction
From an European perspective, "What's in a name?" questions Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet," one of the
many memorable plays written by Shakespeare. Indeed most of us would say, "Everything!" Because,
we attach almost everything to it, from our achievements to our legacy. Most of the cultures would
reiterate, name is all we leave behind in our wake! This book provides the roots of those names which
we hold so close to our heart.
Never would have the character, Juliet, imagined that the African words are behind European names!
Over a period of time, meanings of most of the names have been lost or are known only in the
academic circles. Names have become mere words associated with persons or beings. People often
look to mythological sources for inspiring names. But they too, have roots which tell us what the name
originally meant. Knowing the real meaning and antiquity of their names is a source of pride to many.
With the discovery of Rosetta stone, in modern times we have been able to decipher the language of
Ancient Egyptians, which was presumed long dead by Egyptologists. However, as Legesse Allyn has
shown, the language has lived on intact outside of Egypt, among the people who inhabited the very
lands that gave birth to the Egyptian civilization, the lands which are now known as Ethiopia and
Eritrea. The hieroglyphic languages of Amarigna and Tigrigna are still widely used and spoken in
Ethiopia and Eritrea today.
It is an accepted fact that 60% of English words have roots in Latin and Greek. However, the roots of
Latin and Greek words, along with those of most other languages in the world, can be traced to the
ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic language and the Ethiopian/Eritrean Amarigna and Tigrigna languages.
Like all of Legesse Allyn's "Roots of" books, this book depends heavily upon standard etymologies of
words and names as listed in Doug Harper's Online Etymology Dictionary (www.etymonline.com)
Etymologies can be simply defined as history of words, but Etymonline.com describes it best,
"Etymologies are not definitions; they're explanations of what our words meant 600 or 2,000 years
ago. Think of it as looking at pictures of your friends' parents when they were your age... These are
histories of words only, not things or ideas. The modern word for something might have replaced old,
forgotten words for the same object or concept... "
This book is a work in progress. It has endeavored to cover many of the popular female names in the
West, but with so many Western names it is by no means complete. With so many languages and
myriad ways of pronunciation, it is anybody's guess as to what it takes to accomplish a task such as
this. A book of this nature requires in-depth understanding of evolution of changes in sound between
languages. Care and effort have been taken to ensure that this book is not too technical in terms of
detail of information.
The book makes a case for a light reading and at the same time can be of use for a serious academic
exercise, too. Related words have been taken from a wide variety of family languages. And two
hieroglyphs representing each root word have been included, so that you can write your name in
hieroglyphs with real words found in ancient Egyptian artifacts, in tombs and on monuments up to
5100 years ago. I sincerely hope that this book aids you in your pursuit of knowledge. Thank you!
Ramya Karlapudi, New Delhi, India

7. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
2
POPULAR
FEMALE NAMES

8. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
3
ORIGINATED AS:
abo (ኣቦ) daddy, dad, father (noun) (Amarigna/Tigrigna)
+
agola (Aጎላ) emphasize, magnify (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Abigail”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
abh - "father" (see below)
+
gil - "to rejoice" (see below)
Abigail
fem. proper name, in Old Testament, Abigail the Carmelitess, a wife of David, from Hebrew Abhigayil,
literally "my father is rejoicing," from abh "father" + gil "to rejoice." Used in general sense of "lady's
maid" (1660s) from character of that name in Beaumont & Fletcher's "The Scornful Lady." The waiting
maid association perhaps begins with I Sam. xxv, where David's wife often calls herself a "handmaid."
Her male counterpart was Andrew.

9. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
4
ORIGINATED AS:
yeteleye (የተለየ) special, extraordinary (adj.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Adeline”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
adal - "noble" (see below)
Adeline
fem. proper name, from French, of Germanic origin, literally "noble" (see Adelaide).
Adelaide
fem. proper name, from French Adélaide, from a Germanic source similar to Old High German
Adalhaid, from adal "noble family" (see atheling) + German heit "state, rank," related to Old English -
had "person, degree, state, nature" (see -hood). The first element affixed to French fem. ending -ine gave
Adeline.
atheling (n.)
"member of a noble family," Old English æðling, from æðel "noble family," related to Old English æðele
"noble," from Proto-Germanic *athala-, from PIE *at-al- "race, family," from *at(i)- "over, beyond,
super" + *al- "to nourish." With suffix -ing "belonging to." A common Germanic word (cognates: Old
Saxon ediling, Old Frisian etheling, Old High German adaling).

10. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
5
ORIGINATED AS:
qedese (ቀደሰ) make holy, become holy (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Agatha”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
gothaz - "good" (see below)
Agatha
fem. proper name, from Latin, from Greek Agathe, fem. of agathos "good," of unknown origin. Never a
popular name in U.S., and all but unused there since 1940.
good (adj.)
Old English god (with a long "o") "virtuous; desirable; valid; considerable," probably originally "having
the right or desirable quality," from Proto-Germanic *gothaz (cognates: Old Norse goðr, Dutch goed, Old
High German guot, German gut, Gothic goþs), originally "fit, adequate, belonging together," from PIE
root *ghedh- "to unite, be associated, suitable" (cognates: Old Church Slavonic godu "pleasing time,"
Russian godnyi "fit, suitable," Old English gædrian "to gather, to take up together"). As an expression of
satisfaction, from early 15c.; of children, "well-behaved," by 1690s.

11. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
6
ORIGINATED AS:
wegene (ወገነ) join, take a side (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
Nancy
“Agnes”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
yag - "to worship, reverence" (see below)
Agnes
fem. proper name, mid-12c., from Old French Agnes, from Greek Hagne "pure, chaste," from fem. of
hagnos "holy," from PIE *yag- "to worship, reverence" (see hagiology). St. Agnes, martyred 303 C.E., is
patron saint of young girls, hence the folk connection of St. Agnes' Eve (Jan. 20-21) with love
divinations. In Middle English, frequently phonetically as Annis, Annys. In U.S., among the top 50
names for girls born between 1887 and 1919.

12. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
7
ORIGINATED AS:
aleqa (Aለቃ) boss, supervisor, chief (n.) (Amarigna)
+
wend (ወንድ) man, male (n.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Alexandra”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
alke - "protection, help, strength, power, courage" (see below)
+
andros - "man"
Alexander
masc. proper name, from Latin, from Greek Alexandros "defender of men," from alexein "to ward off,
keep off, turn (something) away, defend, protect" + aner (genitive andros) "man" (see anthropo-). The
first element is related to Greek alke "protection, help, strength, power, courage," alkimos "strong;"
cognate with Sanskrit raksati "protects," Old English ealgian "to defend." As a kind of cocktail, it is
attested from 1930.
Cartouche of Alexander I

13. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
8
ORIGINATED AS:
ema (Eመ)/əno (Eኖ) mother (n.) (Amarigna/ Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Amy”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
am-a - "mother, aunt" (see below)
Amy
fem. proper name, from Old French Amee, literally "beloved," from fem. past participle of amer "to
love," from Latin amare, perhaps from PIE *am-a-, suffixed form of root *am-, a Latin and Celtic root
forming various nursery words for "mother, aunt," etc. (such as Latin amita "aunt").

14. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
9
ORIGINATED AS:
genana (ገናና) abundant, great, magnificent (adj.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
Hannah Anne
“Anna”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
"grace, graciousness" (see below)
Anna
fem. proper name, from Latin Anna, from Greek Anna, from Hebrew Hannah, literally "grace,
graciousness" (see Hannah).
Hannah
fem. proper name, biblical mother of the prophet Samuel, from Hebrew, literally "graciousness," from
stem of hanan "he was gracious, showed favor."

15. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
10
ORIGINATED AS:
ayer (ኣየር) atmosphere, air (noun) (Amarigna/Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Aria”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
awer - "air" (see below)
Aria
from Italian aria, literally "air" (see air (n.1).
air (n.1)
c.1300, "invisible gases that make up the atmosphere," from Old French air "atmosphere, breeze,
weather" (12c.), from Latin aerem (nominative aer) "air, lower atmosphere, sky," from Greek aer
(genitive aeros) "air" (related to aenai "to blow, breathe"), of unknown origin, possibly from a base
*awer- and thus related to aeirein "to raise" and arteria "windpipe, artery" (see aorta) on notion of
"lifting, that which rises." In Homer mostly "thick air, mist;" later "air" as one of the four elements.
Words for "air" in Indo-European languages tend to be associated with wind, brightness, sky. In English,
air replaced native lyft, luft (see loft (n.)). To be in the air "in general awareness" is from 1875; up in the
air "uncertain, doubtful" is from 1752. To build castles in the air is from 1590s (in 17c. English had
airmonger "one preoccupied with visionary projects"). Broadcasting sense (as in on the air) first recorded
1927. To give (someone) the air "dismiss" is from 1900. Air pollution is attested by 1870.

16. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
11
ORIGINATED AS:
anaTS'i (Aናፂ) builder, carpenter [creator] (n.) (Amarigna)
+
tewedede (ተወደደ) be loved, be liked, be important (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Astrid”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
ansi - "god" (see below)
+
trut - "beloved, dear."
Astrid
fem. proper name, from Norse, related to Old High German Ansitruda, from ansi "god" (see Asgard) +
trut "beloved, dear."
Asgard (n.)
home of the gods in Norse religion, from Old Norse ass "god," from Proto-Germanic *ansu- (cognates:
Old High German ansi, Old English os, Gothic ans "god"), from PIE *ansu- "spirit" (cognates: first
element in Ahura Mazda, from Avestan) + Old Norse garðr "enclosure, yard, garden" (see yard (n.1)).
Ahura
from Avestan ahura- "spirit, lord," from Indo-Iranian *asuras, from suffixed form of PIE root *ansu-
"spirit" (see Asgard) + Avestan mazda- "wise," from PIE *mens-dhe- "to set the mind," from root *men-
"to think" (see mind (n.)).

17. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
12
ORIGINATED AS:
abele (Aበለ) lie (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
+
reda (ረዳ) help, assist, serve (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Aubrey”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
alb(e) - "evil"
+
rada - "counsel" (see below)
Aubrey
masc. personal name, from Old French Auberi, from Old High German Alberich "ruler of elves," or
*Alb(e)rada "elf-counsel" (fem.). In U.S., it began to be used as a girl's name c.1973 and was among the
top 100 given names for girls born 2006-2008, eclipsing its use for boys, which faded in proportion.

18. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
13
ORIGINATED AS:
yeteleye (የተለየ) special (adj.) (Amarigna)
+
ayele (Aየለ) have power (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Audrey”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
yeteleye - "special" (see below)
+
ðryð - "strength, might" (see below)
Audrey
fem. proper name, contracted from Etheldreda, a Latinized form of Old English Æðelðryð, literally
"noble might," from æðele "noble" (see atheling) + ðryð "strength, might."
atheling (n.)
"member of a noble family," Old English æðling, from æðel "noble family," related to Old English æðele
"noble," from Proto-Germanic *athala-, from PIE *at-al- "race, family," from *at(i)- "over, beyond,
super" + *al- "to nourish." With suffix -ing "belonging to." A common Germanic word (cognates: Old
Saxon ediling, Old Frisian etheling, Old High German adaling).

19. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
14
ORIGINATED AS:
blh (ብልህ)/belih (በሊሕ) wise, smart (adj.) (Amarigna/ Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Bella”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
bellus - "beautiful, fair" (see below)
Belle
"beautiful woman well-dressed; reigning beauty," 1620s, from French belle, from Old French bele, from
Latin bella, fem. of bellus "beautiful, fair" (see bene-).
Bella
fem. proper name, from Italian bella "fair," from Latin bella, fem. of bellus "beautiful, fair" (see bene-).
In some cases short for Isabella (see Isabel).

20. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
15
ORIGINATED AS:
fera (ፈራ) produce fruit (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
+
naqe (ናቀ) denigrate, denounce, to shame (v-perf.)
Also related to:
Veronica
“Berenice”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
ferre - "carry, bear," (see below)
+
nike - "victory" (see below)
Berenice
fem. proper name, from Latin Berenice, from Macedonian Greek Berenike (classical Greek Pherenike),
literally "bringer of victory," from pherein "to bring" (see infer) + nike "victory." The constellation
Berenice's hair is from the story of the pilfered locks of the wife of Ptolemy Euergetes, king of Egypt,
c.248 B.C.E., which the queen cut off as an offering to Venus. The constellation features a dim but
visible star cluster. But the earliest use of the phrase in astronomy in English was as a name for the star
Canopus (1601).
infer (v.)
1520s, from Latin inferre "bring into, carry in; deduce, infer, conclude, draw an inference; bring against,"
from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + ferre "carry, bear," from PIE *bher- (1) "to bear, to carry, to take" (cognates:
Sanskrit bharati "carries;" Avestan baraiti "carries;" Old Persian barantiy "they carry;" Armenian berem
"I carry;" Greek pherein "to carry;" Old Irish beru/berim "I catch, I bring forth;" Gothic bairan "to carry;"
Old English and Old High German beran, Old Norse bera "barrow;" Old Church Slavonic birati "to
take;" Russian brat' "to take," bremya "a burden"). Sense of "draw a conclusion" is first attested 1520s.

21. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
16
ORIGINATED AS:
bruh (ብሩህ) radiant, vivid, bright, brilliant (adj.) (Tigrigna)
brtu (ብርቱ) strong, energetic (n.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
irrigate
“Bertha”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
bright - "gleam, shine, flash" (see below)
Bertha
fem. proper name, from Old High German Berahta, Perahta, the name of a goddess, literally "the bright
one," from Old High German beraht, related to Old English beorht (see bright). Soldiers' nickname Big
Bertha for large-bore German mortar of World War I is a reference to Frau Bertha Krupp von Bohlen
und Halbach, owner of Krupp steel works 1903-43.
bright (adj.)
Old English bryht, by metathesis from beorht "bright; splendid; clear-sounding; beautiful; divine," from
Proto-Germanic *berhta- "bright" (cognates: Old Saxon berht, Old Norse bjartr, Old High German
beraht, Gothic bairhts "bright"), from PIE root *bhereg- "to gleam, white" (cognates: Sanskrit bhrajate
"shines, glitters," Lithuanian breksta "to dawn," Welsh berth "bright, beautiful"). Meaning "quick-witted"
is from 1741.

22. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
17
ORIGINATED AS:
hara (ሓራ) free (adj.) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Carol”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
churl – “freeman” (see below)
Carol
fem. proper name, from French, from Italian Carolina, originally a fem. adjective from Medieval Latin
Carolus "Charles" (see Charles).
Charles
masc. proper name, from French Charles, from Medieval Latin Carolus, from Middle High German Karl,
literally "man, husband" (see carl).
carl (n.)
c.1300, "bondsman; common man, man of low birth," from Old Norse karl "man, male, freeman," from
Proto-Germanic *karlon-, the same root that produced Old English ceorl "man of low degree" (see
churl).
churl (n.)
Old English ceorl "peasant, freeman, man without rank," from Proto-Germanic *kerlaz, *karlaz
(cognates: Old Frisian zerl "man, fellow," Middle Low German kerle, Dutch kerel "freeman of low
degree," German Kerl "man, husband," Old Norse karl "old man, man").

23. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
18
ORIGINATED AS:
asawere (Aሳወረ) blind (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
swur (ስዉር) obscure, invisible, hidden, clandestine (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
Sheila Cecilia
Cecil
“Celia”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
caecus - "blind." (see below)
Celia
fem. proper name, from Italian Celia, from Latin Caelia, fem. of Caelius, name of a Roman gens. Sheila
is a variant.
Sheila
fem. proper name, Irish equivalent of Celia, shortened form of Cecilia, the fem. form of Cecil. A
standard type of an Irish women's name since 1828; slang for "girlfriend, young woman" dates from
1839.
Cecilia
fem. proper name, fem. of Cecil (q.v.).
Cecil
masc. proper name, from Latin Caecilius (fem. Caecilia), name of a Roman gens, from caecus "blind."

24. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
19
ORIGINATED AS:
qorese (ቆረሰ) break off (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Chelsea”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
khalix - "split, break up" (see below)
Chelsea
district in southwest London, Chelchuthe (1300), Old English Chelchede (1086), Celchyth (789),
Caelichyth (767), probably literally "chalk landing place," from Old English cealc "chalk" (see chalk
(n.)) + hyth "landing place." Perhaps chalk or limestone was unloaded here from Chalk near Gravesend
in Kent. Chelsea Hospital founded by Charles II, built 1680s, as a home for aged veterans. As a fem.
proper name, not in the top 1,000 names in U.S. until 1969, then in the top 100 among girls born 1984 to
1998, peaking at number 15 in 1992.
chalk (n.)
Old English cealc "chalk, lime, plaster; pebble," a West Germanic borrowing from Latin calx (2)
"limestone, lime (crushed limestone), small stone," from Greek khalix "small pebble," which many trace
to a PIE root for "split, break up." In most Germanic languages still with the "limestone" sense, but in
English transferred to the opaque, white, soft limestone found abundantly in the south of the island.
Modern spelling is from early 14c. The Latin word for "chalk" was creta, which also is of unknown
origin.

25. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
20
ORIGINATED AS:
qola (ቆላ)/qelewe (ቀለወ) roast, fry (v-perf.) (Amarigna/ Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Chloe”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
glo - "to glow, shine as if red-hot," (see below)
Chloe
fem. proper name, Latin, from Greek Khloe, literally "young green shoot;" related to khloros "greenish-
yellow," from PIE *ghlo- variant of root *ghel- (2) "to shine," with derivatives referring to bright
materials and gold, and bile or gall (such as Latin helvus "yellowish, bay," Gallo-Latin gilvus "light bay;"
Lithuanian geltonas "yellow;" Old Church Slavonic zlutu, Polish żółty, Russian zeltyj "yellow;" Sanskrit
harih "yellow, tawny yellow," hiranyam "gold;" Avestan zari "yellow;" Old English geolu, geolwe,
Modern English yellow, German gelb "yellow") and "green" (such as Latin galbus "greenish-yellow;"
Greek khloros "greenish-yellow color," kholos "bile;" Lithuanian zalias "green," zelvas "greenish;" Old
Church Slavonic zelenu, Polish zielony, Russian zelenyj "green;" Old Irish glass, Welsh and Breton glas
"green," also "gray, blue").
Buck says the interchange of words for yellow and green is "perhaps because they were applied to
vegetation like grass, cereals, etc., which changed from green to yellow." It is possible that this whole
group of yellow-green words is related to PIE root *ghlei- "to shine, glitter, glow, be warm" (see gleam
(n.)).
glow (v.)
Old English glowan "to glow, shine as if red-hot," from Proto-Germanic base *glo- (cognates: Old Saxon
gloian, Old Frisian gled "glow, blaze," Old Norse gloa, Old High German gluoen, German glühen "to
glow"), from PIE *ghel- (2) "to shine," with derivatives referring to bright materials and gold (see glass).
Figuratively from late 14c. Related: Glowed; glowing.

26. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
21
ORIGINATED AS:
qnat (ቅናት) envy, jealousy, zeal, ardor (n.) (aMARIGNA)
Also related to:
“Cindy”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
kynthos – "jealousy" (see below)
Cindy
fem. proper name, often a familiar or diminutive form of Cynthia, but as a name in its own right among
the top 100 for girls born in the U.S. c.1953-1973.
Cynthia
fem. proper name, also "the Moon," from Latin Cynthia dea "the Cynthian goddess," epithet of
Artemis/Diana, said to have been born on Mt. Cynthus on Delos.
Mount Kynthos
In Greek mythology, Leto gave birth to Apollo and Artemis on this island, having been shunned by Zeus'
wife Hera who was extremely jealous of his liaison with Leto. Artemis is thus also referred to as Cynthia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynthus

27. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
22
ORIGINATED AS:
Qel'A (ቀልA) expose, reveal, disclose, make widely known (verb) (Tigrigna)
qal (ቃል) statement, term, word, saying (noun) (Amarigna/Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Claire”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
kele - "to shout" (see below)
Claire
fem. proper name, from French claire, fem. of clair literally "light, bright," from Latin clarus "clear,
bright, distinct" (see clear (adj.); also compare Clara).
Clara
fem. personal name, from Latin Clara, from fem. of clarus "bright, shining, clear" (see clear (adj.) and
compare Claire). Derivatives include Clarisse, Clarice, Clarabel, Claribel. The native form Clare was
common in medieval England, perhaps owing to the popularity of St. Clare of Assisi.
clear (adj.)
late 13c., "bright," from Old French cler "clear" (of sight and hearing), "light, bright, shining; sparse"
(12c., Modern French clair), from Latin clarus "clear, loud," of sounds; figuratively "manifest, plain,
evident," in transferred use, of sights, "bright, distinct;" also "illustrious, famous, glorious" (source of
Italian chiaro, Spanish claro), from PIE *kle-ro-, from root *kele- (2) "to shout" (see claim (v.)).
claim (v.)
c.1300, "to call, call out; to ask or demand by virtue of right or authority," from accented stem of Old
French clamer "to call, name, describe; claim; complain; declare," from Latin clamare "to cry out, shout,
proclaim," from PIE *kele- (2) "to shout," imitative (compare Sanskrit usakala "cock," literally "dawn-
calling;" Latin calare "to announce solemnly, call out;" Middle Irish cailech "cock;" Greek kalein "to
call," kelados "noise," kledon "report, fame;" Old High German halan "to call;" Old English hlowan "to
low, make a noise like a cow;" Lithuanian kalba "language"). Related: Claimed; claiming.

28. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
23
ORIGINATED AS:
gorere (ጎረረ) brag (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
delay
“Cleo”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
gloriari - "brag" (see below)
Cleopatra
common name of sister-queens in Egypt under the Ptolemaic Dynasty. The name is Greek, probably
meaning "key to the fatherland," from kleis "key" (see clavicle) + patris, genitive of pater "father" (see
father (n.)). The famous queen was the seventh of that name.
Clio
"muse of history, muse who sings of glorious actions," usually represented with a scroll and manuscript
case, from Latin Clio, from Greek Kleio, literally "the proclaimer," from kleiein "to tell of, celebrate,
make famous," from kleos "rumor, report, news; good report, fame, glory," from PIE *klew-yo-, from
root *kleu- "to hear" (see listen). Related to the -kles in Damocles, etc.
glory (v.)
mid-14c., "rejoice," from Old French gloriier and directly from Latin gloriari "to boast, vaunt, brag, pride
oneself," from gloria (see glory). Related: Gloried; glorying.

29. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
24
Following are many of the cartouches for Cleopatra I through VI:
Cleopatra I
Cleopatra II
Cleopatra III
Cleopatra IV
Cleopatra V
Cleopatra VI

30. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
25
ORIGINATED AS:
danya (ዳኛ) magistrate, judge (noun) (Amarigna/Tigrigna)
Also related to:
delay
“Denise”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
Dionysus - “judge” (see below)
Denise
fem. form of masc. proper name Dennis. Little used in U.S. before 1920s; was at its most popular (top
50) for girls born between 1951 and 1973.
Dennis
masc. proper name, from French Denis, ultimately from Latin Dionysius, name of an important 6c.
Church father, from Greek Dionysos, god of wine and revelry.
“But Osiris went on to become god and judge of the dead. Dionysus did not.”
"Ptolemy of Egypt" by Walter M. Ellis, page 28

31. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
26
ORIGINATED AS:
dehna (ደኅና) good, well, decent (adj.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Edna”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
ednah - "delight" (see below)
Edna
fem. proper name, from Greek, from Hebrew ednah "delight" (see Eden). Related to Arabic ghadan
"luxury." Among the top 20 names for girls born in the U.S. every year from 1889 to 1917.

32. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
27
ORIGINATED AS:
hlwna (ህልውና) presence (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Ellaina”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
helenos - "the bright one" (see below)
Eliana
Related names: Elian, Eliane, Ileana, Iliana, Iljana, Liane, Lianne, Liana, Elyana, Eli, Eleana, Eliah,
Elijah, Elliana, Elianna, Elianah, Eliena, Elienna, Elienah, Éliane, Elia, Elio, Ellen, Helen, Eileen
Moreover, it is related to the Greek name Helene, and would thus be one of the many forms derived from
that Greek name, such as Elaine from Old French. In Arabic, it is translated as "the Bright"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliana
Helena
fem. proper name, Latin form of Helen.
Helen
fem. proper name, from French Hélène, from Latin Helena, from Greek Helene, fem. proper name,
probably fem. of helenos "the bright one." Among the top 10 popular names for girl babies in the U.S.
born between 1890 and 1934.

33. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
28
ORIGINATED AS:
CH'bt’i (ጭብጢ) proof, evidence, bet (noun) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Elizabeth”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
sheva - "oath " (see below)
Elizabeth
fem. proper name, Biblical name of the wife of Aaron, from Late Latin Elisabeth, from Greek Eleisabeth,
Eleisabet, from Hebrew Elishebha "God is an oath," the second element said by Klein to be related to
shivah (fem. sheva) "seven," and to nishba "he swore," originally "he bound himself by (the sacred
number) seven." Has never ranked lower than 26th in popularity among the names given to baby girls in
the U.S. in any year since 1880, the oldest for which a reliable list is available. The city in New Jersey is
named for Lady Elizabeth Carteret (d.1697), wife of one of the first proprietors of the colony.
Elisheva
From Ελισαβετ (Elisabet), the Greek form of the Hebrew name ‫בַע‬ֶ ‫אֱלִישׁ‬ ('Elisheva') meaning "my God
is an oath" or perhaps "my God is abundance".
http://www.behindthename.com/name/elizabeth

34. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
29
ORIGINATED AS:
hulu (ሁሉ) all (adj.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Ella”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
al - "all" (see below)
Ella
fem. proper name, when not a diminutive of Eleanor it is from Old High German Alia, from al "all."
Eleanor
also Elinor, from Provençal Ailenor, a variant of Leonore, introduced in England by Eleanor of Aquitaine
(1122-1204), wife of Henry II. The Old French form of the name was Elienor.

35. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
30
ORIGINATED AS:
meleyayet (መለያየት) dissension (n.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Emily”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
aemulus - "rivaling" (see below)
Emily
also Emilia, fem. proper name, from French Émilie, from Latin Aemilia; see Emil.
Emil
masc. personal name, from German Emil, from French Emilé, from Latin Aemilius, name of a Roman
gens, from aemulus "imitating, rivaling" (see emulation).
emulation (n.)
1550s, from Middle French émulation (13c.) and directly from Latin aemulationem (nominative
aemulatio) "rivalry, emulation, competition," noun of action from past participle stem of aemulari "to
rival, strive to excel," from aemulus "striving, rivaling" (also as a noun, "a rival," fem. aemula), from
Proto-Italic *aimo-, from PIE *aim-olo, suffixed form of root *aim- "copy" (see imitation).
imitation (n.)
c.1400, "emulation; act of copying," from Old French imitacion, from Latin imitationem (nominative
imitatio) "a copying, imitation," from past participle stem of imitari "to copy, portray, imitate," from PIE
*im-eto-, from root *aim- "copy" (cognates: Hittite himma- "imitation, substitute"). Meaning "an
artificial likeness" is from c.1600. As an adjective, from 1840.

36. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
31
ORIGINATED AS:
aleqa (Aለቃ) boss, supervisor, chief (n.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Erica”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
rik - "ruler" (see below)
Erica
fem. proper name, feminine form of Eric. The plant genus is Modern Latin, from Greek ereike "heath."
Eric
masc. proper name, from Old Norse Eirikr, literally "honored ruler," from Proto-Germanic *aiza-
"honor" + *rik- "ruler" (see regal). The German form is Erich.
regal (adj.)
late 14c., from Old French regal "royal" (12c.) or directly from Latin regalis "royal, kingly; of or
belonging to a king, worthy of a king," from rex (genitive regis) "king," from PIE root *reg- "move in a
straight line," hence, "direct in a straight line, rule, guide" (cognates: Sanskrit raj- "a king, a leader;"
Avestan razeyeiti "directs;" Persian rahst "right, correct;" Latin regere "to rule," rex "a king, a leader,"
rectus "right, correct;" Old Irish ri, Gaelic righ "a king;" Gaulish -rix "a king," in personal names, such as
Vircingetorix; Gothic reiks "a leader;" Old English rice "kingdom," -ric "king," rice "rich, powerful," riht
"correct;" Gothic raihts, Old High German recht, Old Swedish reht, Old Norse rettr "correct"). Related:
Regally.

37. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
32
ORIGINATED AS:
əshi (Eሺ) okay, all right (adv.) (Amarigna/Tigrigna)
+
wegen (ወገን) group, member of a group, kind, type (n.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Eugenia”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
(e)su - "good" (see below)
+
gene - "produce, give birth, beget,"
Eugenia - fem. of Eugenius (see Eugene)
masc. proper name, from French Eugène, from Latin Eugenius, from Greek Eugenios, literally "nobility
of birth," from eugenes "well-born" (see eugenics).
eu-
word-forming element, in modern use meaning "good, well," from comb. form of Greek eus "good," eu
"well" (adv.), also "luckily, happily" (opposed to kakos), as a noun, "the right, the good cause," from PIE
*(e)su- "good" (cognates: Sanskrit su- "good," Avestan hu- "good"). In compounds the Greek word had
more a sense of "greatness, abundance, prosperity," and was opposed to dys-.
genus (n.)
(plural genera), 1550s as a term of logic, "kind or class of things" (biological sense dates from c.1600),
from Latin genus (genitive generis) "race, stock, kind; family, birth, descent, origin," cognate with Greek
genos "race, kind," and gonos "birth, offspring, stock," from PIE root *gene- "produce, give birth, beget,"
with derivatives referring to family and tribal groups (cognates: Sanskrit janati "begets, bears," janah
"race," janman- "birth, origin," jatah "born;" Avestan zizanenti "they bear;" Greek gignesthai "to become,
happen;" Latin gignere "to beget," gnasci "to be born," genius "procreative divinity, inborn tutelary spirit,
innate quality," ingenium "inborn character," germen "shoot, bud, embryo, germ;" Lithuanian gentis
"kinsmen;" Gothic kuni "race;" Old English cennan "beget, create;" Old High German kind "child;" Old
Irish ro-genar "I was born;" Welsh geni "to be born;" Armenian chanim "I bear, I am born").

38. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
33
ORIGINATED AS:
hyaw (ሕያው) alive, living (adj.) (Amarigna, Tigrigna)
Also related to:
zealous
“Eve”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
hawah - "a living being"` (see below)
Eve
fem. proper name, Biblical first woman, Late Latin, from Hebrew Hawwah, literally "a living being,"
from base hawa "he lived" (compare Arabic hayya, Aramaic hayyin).
Like most of the explanations of names in Genesis, this is probably based on folk etymology or an
imaginative playing with sound. ... In the Hebrew here, the phonetic similarity is between hawah, "Eve,"
and the verbal root hayah, "to live." It has been proposed that Eve's name conceals very different origins,
for it sounds suspiciously like the Aramaic word for "serpent." [Robert Alter, "The Five Books of
Moses," 2004, commentary on Gen. iii:20]

39. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
34
ORIGINATED AS:
kbur (ክቡር) honorable (adj.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
Ghebriella
“Gabriella”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
gabhar "was strong" (see below)
Gabriel
masc. proper name, also name of an Old Testament angel, from Hebrew Gabhri el, literally "man of
God," from gebher "man" + El "God." First element is from base of verb gabhar "was strong" (compare
Arabic jabr "strong, young man;" jabbar "tyrant").

40. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
35
ORIGINATED AS:
gilya (ጊልያ) servant (n.) (Tigrigna)
see also: gwal (ጓል) girl, maiden, daughter (noun) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Gail”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
gil - "handmaid" (see below)
Gail
fem. proper name, in some cases short for Abigail, or from the Hebrew root in that name meaning
"rejoicing." Attained its greatest popularity in U.S. as a given name for girls born c.1945-1955.
Abigail
fem. proper name, in Old Testament, Abigail the Carmelitess, a wife of David, from Hebrew Abhigayil,
literally "my father is rejoicing," from abh "father" + gil "to rejoice." Used in general sense of "lady's
maid" (1660s) from character of that name in Beaumont & Fletcher's "The Scornful Lady." The waiting
maid association perhaps begins with I Sam. xxv, where David's wife often calls herself a "handmaid."
Her male counterpart was Andrew.
1 Samuel 25:40-41 (King James Bible)
“When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, ‘David has sent us to
you to take you as his wife.’ And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said,
‘Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.’”

41. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
36
ORIGINATED AS:
qr'At ( ቅርዓት) farm-yard, compound, courtyard, court (noun) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Georgia”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
hortus - "garden, plot of ground" (see below)
Georgia
the U.S. state was named for King George II of Great Britain. The Caucasian nation is so-called for St.
George, who is its patron saint (his cult there may continue that of a pre-Christian deity with whom he
was later identified), but the name also is said to derive from Arabic or Persian Kurj, or Gurz (the form in
the earliest sources), said to be a name of the native people, of unknown origin. In modern Georgia, the
name of the country is Sakartvelo and the people's name is Kartveli.
George
masc. personal name, from Late Latin Georgius, from Greek Georgos "husbandman, farmer," from ge
"earth" + ergon "work" (see organ). The name introduced in England by the Crusaders (a vision of St.
George played a key role in the First Crusade), but not common until after the Hanoverian succession
(18c.). St. George began to be recognized as patron of England in time of Edward III, perhaps because of
his association with the Order of the Garter (see garter). His feast day, April 23, was made a holiday in
1222. The legend of his combat with the dragon is first found in "Legenda Aurea" (13c.). The
exclamation by (St.) George! is recorded from 1590s.
organ (n.)
fusion of late Old English organe, and Old French orgene (12c.), both meaning "musical instrument,"
both from Latin organa, plural of organum "a musical instrument," from Greek organon "implement, tool
for making or doing; musical instrument; organ of sense, organ of the body," literally "that with which
one works," from PIE *werg-ano-, from root *werg- "to do" (cognates: Greek ergon "work," orgia
"religious performances;" Armenian gorc "work;" Avestan vareza "work, activity;" Gothic waurkjan, Old
English wyrcan "to work," Old English weorc "deed, action, something done;" Old Norse yrka "work,
take effect").

42. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
37
ORIGINATED AS:
gurado (ጉራዶ) sword (noun) (Tigrigna)
gwrade (ጕራደ) sword (noun) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Geraldine”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
girald - "spear" (see below)
Geraldine
fem. proper name, fem. form of Gerald.
Gerald
masc. proper name, introduced by the Normans, from Old French Giralt, from Old High German
Gerwald, "spear-wielder," from Proto-Germanic *girald, from *ger "spear" + base of waltan "to rule"
(cognate with Old English wealdan). The name often was confused with Gerard.

43. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
38
ORIGINATED AS:
qlaTS'e (ቅላፄ) harmony (n.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Grace”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
gratus - " pleasing, agreeable " (see below)
Grace
fem. proper name, literally "favor, grace;" see grace (n.).
grace (n.)
late 12c., "God's favor or help," from Old French grace "pardon, divine grace, mercy; favor, thanks;
elegance, virtue" (12c.), from Latin gratia "favor, esteem, regard; pleasing quality, good will, gratitude"
(source of Italian grazia, Spanish gracia), from gratus "pleasing, agreeable," from PIE root *gwere- (3)
"to favor" (cognates: Sanskrit grnati "sings, praises, announces," Lithuanian giriu "to praise, celebrate,"
Avestan gar- "to praise").
Sense of "virtue" is early 14c., that of "beauty of form or movement, pleasing quality" is mid-14c. In
classical sense, "one of the three sister goddesses (Latin Gratiæ, Greek Kharites), bestowers of beauty
and charm," it is first recorded in English 1579 in Spenser. The short prayer that is said before or after a
meal (early 13c.; until 16c. usually graces) has a sense of "gratitude."

44. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
39
ORIGINATED AS:
genana (ገናና) abundant, great, magnificent (adj.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Hannah”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
hanan - "he was gracious, showed favor" (see below)
Hannah
fem. proper name, biblical mother of the prophet Samuel, from Hebrew, literally "graciousness," from
stem of hanan "he was gracious, showed favor."

45. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
40
ORIGINATED AS:
harfaf (ሓርፋፍ) rough, coarse (adjective) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Harper”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
harfe - "instrument of torture" (see below)
harper (n.)
Old English hearpere, agent noun from harp (v.). As a surname, from late 12c.
harp (n.)
Old English hearpe, from Proto-Germanic *harpon- (cognates: Old Saxon harpa "instrument of torture;"
Old Norse harpa, Dutch harp, Old High German harpfa, German Harfe "harp") of uncertain origin. Late
Latin harpa, source of words in some Romanic languages, is a borrowing from Germanic. Meaning
"harmonica" is from 1887, short for mouth-harp. The harp seal (1784) is so called for the harp-shaped
markings on its back.

46. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
41
ORIGINATED AS:
quT'qwaT'o (ቁጥቋጦ) bush (n.) (Amarigna)
qotQwaT' (ቆትቋጥ) hawthorn, bush, shrub (noun) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Heather”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
kaito - "forest, uncultivated land" (see below)
heather (n.)
early 14c., hathir, from Old English *hæddre, Scottish or northern England dialect name for Calluna
vulgaris, probably altered by heath, but real connection to that word is unlikely [Liberman, OED].
Perhaps originally Celtic. As a fem. proper name little used in U.S. before 1935, but a top-15 name for
girls born there 1971-1989.
heath (n.)
Old English hæð "untilled land, tract of wasteland," earlier "heather," influenced by Old Norse heiðr
"field," from Proto-Germanic *haithiz (cognates: Old Saxon hetha, Old High German heida "heather,"
Dutch heide "heath," Gothic haiþi "field"), from PIE *kaito "forest, uncultivated land" (cognates: Old
Irish ciad, Welsh coed, Breton coet "wood, forest").

47. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
42
ORIGINATED AS:
ellta (Eልልታ) cries sounding like "lililili" (n.) (Amarigna)
ellta (Eልልታ) cheer, acclamation (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Hilary”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
hilaritas - "cheerfulness" (see below)
Hilary
masc. proper name, from Late Latin Hilarius, literally "cheerful," from Latin hilaris (see hilarity). The
name was more popular in France than in England. The woman's name (Middle English Hillaria) seems
to be merged with this from Eulalia, name of the patron saint of Barcelona, a Latinization of Greek
eulalos "sweetly speaking." The Hilary sessions of British High Court and universities (1577) are from
St. Hilarius, Bishop of Poitiers, obit. C.E. 368, whose feast day is Jan. 13.
hilarity (n.)
mid-15c., from Latin hilaritatem (nominative hilaritas) "cheerfulness, gaiety, merriment," from hilaris
"cheerful, gay," from Greek hilaros "cheerful, gay, merry, joyous," related to hilaos "graceful, kindly." In
ancient Rome, Hilaria (neuter plural of hilaris) were a class of holidays, times of pomp and rejoicing;
there were public ones in honor of Cybele at the spring equinoxes as well as private ones on the day of a
marriage or a son's birth.

48. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
43
ORIGINATED AS:
qoreT'e (ቆረጠ) cut, chop (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Hilda”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
keldh - " cut" (see below)
Hilda
fem. proper name, German, literally "battle-maid," from fem. of Old High German hild "war, battle,"
from Proto-Germanic *hildiz "battle," from PIE *keldh-, from root *kel- (1) "to strike, cut" (see holt).
holt (n.)
Old English holt "woods," common in place names, from Proto-Germanic *hultam- (cognates: Old
Frisian, Old Norse, Middle Dutch holt, Dutch hout, German Holz "wood"), from PIE *kldo- (cognates:
Old Church Slavonic klada "beam, timber," Greek klados "twig," Old Irish caill "wood"), from root *kel-
(1) "to strike, cut."

49. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
44
ORIGINATED AS:
genana (ገናና) abundant, great, magnificent (adj.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
Janet Jean
“Jane”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
hanan - "he was gracious" (see below)
Jane
fem. proper name, from French Jeanne, Old French Jehane, from Medieval Latin Johanna (see John). As
a generic name for "girl, girlfriend" it is attested from 1906 in U.S. slang. Never a top-10 list name for
girls born in the U.S., it ranked in the top 50 from 1931 to 1956. It may owe its "everywoman" reputation
rather to its association with John.
John
masc. proper name, mid-12c., from Medieval Latin Johannes, from Late Latin Joannes, from Greek
Ioannes, from Hebrew Yohanan (longer form y'hohanan) literally "Jehovah has favored," from hanan "he
was gracious."
As the name of John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, it was one of the most common Christian given
names, and in England by early 14c. it rivaled William in popularity. The Old French form was Jean, but
in England its variants Johan, Jehan yielded Jan, Jen (also compare surname Jensen). Welsh form was
Ieuan (see Evan), but Ioan was adopted for the Welsh Authorized Version of the Bible, hence frequency
of Jones as a Welsh surname.

50. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
45
ORIGINATED AS:
qn (ቅን) honest, sincere (adj.) (Amarigna)
+
wefeye (ወፈየ) give, offer, dedicate, donate (verb) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Jennifer”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
gwen - "holy"
+
wyf - "yielding" (see below)
Jennifer
fem. proper name, from Welsh Gwenhwyvar, from gwen "fair, white" + (g)wyf "smooth, yielding." The
most popular name for girls born in America 1970-1984; all but unknown there before 1938. Also
attested as a surname from late 13c.

51. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
46
ORIGINATED AS:
asaye (Aሳየ) show, to manifest (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Jessica”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
“to see before, exist” (see below)
Jessica
fem. proper name, from Late Latin Jesca, from Greek Ieskha, from Hebrew Yiskah, name of a daughter
of Haran (Gen. xi:29). Among the top 5 popular names for girls born in the U.S. every year between
1977 and 1997. The familiar form Jessie was one of many fem. names used 20c. for "cowardly or
effeminate male."
Jessica
Foresighted, "to see before"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_(given_name)
Jessie
Jesse, Isai or Yishai meaning "God exists"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse

52. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
47
ORIGINATED AS:
genana (ገናና) abundant, great, magnificent (adj.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
Jean Jane
Janet
“Joan”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
hanan - "he was gracious" (see below)
Joan
fem. proper name, originally Joanna, fem. of Johannes (see John). Often 17c.-18c. used as a generic
name for a female rustic. Among U.S. births, a top 10 name for girls born between 1930 and 1937.
John
masc. proper name, mid-12c., from Medieval Latin Johannes, from Late Latin Joannes, from Greek
Ioannes, from Hebrew Yohanan (longer form y'hohanan) literally "Jehovah has favored," from hanan "he
was gracious."
As the name of John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, it was one of the most common Christian given
names, and in England by early 14c. it rivaled William in popularity. The Old French form was Jean, but
in England its variants Johan, Jehan yielded Jan, Jen (also compare surname Jensen). Welsh form was
Ieuan (see Evan), but Ioan was adopted for the Welsh Authorized Version of the Bible, hence frequency
of Jones as a Welsh surname.

53. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
48
ORIGINATED AS:
ke (ከ) of (prep.) (Amarigna)
+
T'ru (ጥሩ) pure (adj.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
Catherine
Trina
Katrina
Karen
“Katherine”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
katharos - "pure" (see below)
Katherine
fem. proper name, also Katharine, see Catherine.
Catherine
fem. proper name, from French Catherine, from Medieval Latin Katerina, from Latin Ecaterina, from
Greek Aikaterine. The -h- was introduced 16c., probably a folk etymology from Greek katharos "pure"
(see catharsis). The initial Greek vowel is preserved in Russian form Ekaterina.
As the name of a type of pear, attested from 1640s. Catherine wheel (early 13c.) is named for St.
Catherine of Alexandria, legendary virgin martyr from the time of Maximinus who was tortured on a
spiked wheel. Her name day is Nov. 25. A popular saint in the Middle Ages, which accounts for the
popularity of the given name.

54. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
49
ORIGINATED AS:
gnay (ግናይ) repulsive, hideous, horrible, awful, ugly, (adj.) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Kennedy”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
"ugly" (see below)
Kennedy
Irish surname, said to be from Old Irish cinneide "ugly head."

55. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
50
ORIGINATED AS:
aqny (Aቅኝ) one who leads the way (n.) (Amarigna)
+
lq (ልቅ) spacious (adj.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Kimberley”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
cyne - "royal " (see below)
+
louquo - "open space" (see below)
Kimberley
South African city, founded 1871; also region in northwest Australia; both named for John Wodehouse,
1st Earl of Kimberley, who was British secretary of state for the colonies; the earldom is from a place in
Norfolk, England (the name alsi is found in Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire). The second element is Old
English leah "meadow, clearing in a woodland" (see lea), the first reflect various Old English personal
names; the one in Norfolk appears first as Chineburlai (1086) and seems to be "clearing of a woman
called Cyneburg."
lea (n.)
Old English leah "open field, meadow, piece of untilled ground," earlier læch, recorded in place names,
from Proto-Germanic *laukhaz (cognates: Old High German loh "cluster of bushes," and probably also
Flemish -loo, which forms the second element in Waterloo), from PIE *louquo- (cognates: Sanskrit
lokah "open space," Latin lucus "grove," Lithuanian laukas "open field"), perhaps from or related to
*leuk- "to shine, be bright" (see light (n.)).
“Cyneburg means ‘royal-fortress’”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberly_%28given_name%29

56. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
51
ORIGINATED AS:
lekose (ለኮሰ) light, burn (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Lucy”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
leukos - "bright, shining" (see below)
Lucy
fem. proper name, from French Lucie, from Latin Lucia, fem. of Lucius (see Lucian).
Lucian
masc. proper name, from Latin Lucianus (source also of French Lucien), a derivative of Roman Lucius,
from lux (genitive lucis) "light" (see light (n.)). The Hellenistic Greek writer (his name Latinized from
Greek Loukianos) was noted as the type of a scoffing wit.
light (n.)
"brightness, radiant energy," Old English leht, earlier leoht "light, daylight; luminous, beautiful," from
Proto-Germanic *leukhtam (cognates: Old Saxon lioht, Old Frisian liacht, Middle Dutch lucht, Dutch
licht, Old High German lioht, German Licht, Gothic liuhaþ "light"), from PIE *leuk- "light, brightness"
(cognates: Sanskrit rocate "shines;" Armenian lois "light," lusin "moon;" Greek leukos "bright, shining,
white;" Latin lucere "to shine," lux "light," lucidus "clear;" Old Church Slavonic luci "light;" Lithuanian
laukas "pale;" Welsh llug "gleam, glimmer;" Old Irish loche "lightning," luchair "brightness;" Hittite
lukezi "is bright").

57. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
52
ORIGINATED AS:
mawaT'at (ማዋጣት) contribute (v-inf.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Madison”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
mattath - "gift" (see below)
Matthew
masc. proper name, introduced in England by the Normans, from Old French Mathieu, from Late Latin
Matthaeus, from Greek Matthaios, contraction of Mattathias, from Hebrew Mattathyah "gift of Jehovah,"
from mattath "gift." Variant Matthias is from the Greek version.

58. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
53
ORIGINATED AS:
MuE’gurti (ሙEጉርቲ) cheek (noun) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
Gretchen Margarita
“Margaret”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
hamaguri (ハハハハ ) “clam” (Japanese) (see below)
Margaret
fem. proper name (c.1300), from Old French Margaret (French Marguerite), from Late Latin Margarita,
female name, literally "pearl," from Greek margarites (lithos) "pearl," of unknown origin, "probably
adopted from some Oriental language" [OED]; compare Sanskrit manjari "cluster of flowers," also said
by Indian linguists to mean "pearl," cognate with manju "beautiful." Arabic marjan probably is from
Greek, via Syraic marganitha. The word was widely perverted in Germanic languages by folk-
etymology, for example Old English meregrot, which has been altered to mean literally "sea-pebble."
hamaguri (ハハハハ ) “clam” (Japanese)
(This is the clam regarded as a mouth)

59. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
54
ORIGINATED AS:
meri (መሪ) leader, guide, chief (n.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Martha”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
mar, mara - "lord, master" (see below)
Martha
fem. proper name, from Aramaic Maretha, literally "lady, mistress," fem. of mar, mara "lord, master." As
the type name of one concerned with domestic affairs, it is from Luke x:40, 41. Martha's Vineyard
discovered 1602 by English explorer Gabriel Archer and apparently named by him, but the identity of the
Martha he had in mind is unknown now.

60. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
55
ORIGINATED AS:
meram (ምEራም) correction (n.) (Amarigna/Tigrigna)
Also related to:
Molly Mary
Mariam
“Maria”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
Miryam - "rebellion" (see below)
Maria
fem. proper name, from Late Latin; see Mary.
Mary
fem. proper name, Old English Maria, Marie, "mother of Jesus," from Latin Maria, from Greek Mariam,
Maria, from Aramaic Maryam, from Hebrew Miryam, sister of Moses (Ex. xv.), of unknown origin, said
to mean literally "rebellion."

61. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
56
ORIGINATED AS:
meram (ምEራም) correction (n.) (Amarigna/Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Mary”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
Miryam - "rebellion" (see below)
Mary
fem. proper name, Old English Maria, Marie, "mother of Jesus," from Latin Maria, from Greek Mariam,
Maria, from Aramaic Maryam, from Hebrew Miryam, sister of Moses (Ex. xv.), of unknown origin, said
to mean literally "rebellion."

62. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
57
Also related to:
“Mildred”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
meldh - "soft" (see below)
+
ðryð"- power, strength." (see below)
Mildred
fem. proper name, Old English Mildðryð, from milde "mild" (see mild) + ðryð "power, strength." A
popular name in the Middle Ages through fame of St. Mildred (obit c. 700), abbess, daughter of a
Mercian king and a Kentish princess. Among the 10 most popular names for girls born in the U.S.
between 1903 and 1926, it hasn't been in the top 1,000 since 1983.
mild (adj.)
Old English milde "gentle, merciful," from Proto-Germanic *milthjaz- (cognates: Old Norse mildr, Old
Saxon mildi, Old Frisian milde, Middle Dutch milde, Dutch mild, Old High German milti, German milde
"mild," Gothic mildiþa "kindness"), from PIE *meldh-, from root *mel- "soft," with derivatives referring
to soft or softened materials (cognates: Greek malthon "weakling," myle "mill;" Latin molere "to grind;"
Old Irish meldach "tender;" Sanskrit mrdh "to neglect," also "to be moist"). Originally of persons and
powers; of the weather from c.1400, of disease from 1744. Also in Old English as an adverb, "mercifully,
graciously."
ORIGINATED AS:
mwaleT'e (ሟለጠ) be soft or smooth (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
+
ayele (Aየለ) have power (v-perf.) (Amarigna)

63. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
58
ORIGINATED AS:
mar (ማር) honey (n.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Melissa”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
mel - "honey” (see below)
Melissa
fem. proper name, from Latin, from Greek (Ionic) melissa (Attic melitta) "honeybee," also "one of the
priestesses of Delphi," from PIE *melit-ya, suffixed form of *melit- "honey" (cognates: Greek meli,
Latin mel "honey; sweetness;" Albanian mjal' "honey;" Old Irish mil "honey," Irish milis "sweet;" Old
English mildeaw "nectar," milisc "honeyed, sweet;" Old High German milsken "to sweeten;" Gothic
miliþ "honey").

64. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
59
ORIGINATED AS:
may (ማይ) water (noun) (Tigrigna)
+
ayele (Aየለ) have power (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Muriel”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
mori - "sea" (see below)
+
ðryð - "power, strength." (see below)
Muriel
fem. proper name, probably Celtic and meaning literally "sea bright;" compare Welsh Meriel, Meryl,
Irish Muirgheal, earlier Muirgel, from muir "sea" (see mere (n.)) + geal "bright."
mere (adj.)
c.1400, "unmixed, pure," from Old French mier "pure" (of gold), "entire, total, complete," and directly
from Latin merus "unmixed" (of wine), "pure; bare, naked;" figuratively "true, real, genuine," probably
originally "clear, bright," from PIE *mer- "to gleam, glimmer, sparkle" (cognates: Old English amerian
"to purify," Old Irish emer "not clear," Sanskrit maricih "ray, beam," Greek marmarein "to gleam,
glimmer"). Original sense of "nothing less than, absolute" (mid-15c., now only in vestiges such as mere
folly) existed for centuries alongside opposite sense of "nothing more than" (1580s, as in a mere dream).
mere (n.)
Old English mere "sea, ocean; lake, pool, pond, cistern," from Proto-Germanic *mari (cognates: Old
Norse marr, Old Saxon meri "sea," Middle Dutch maer, Dutch meer "lake, sea, pool," Old High German
mari, German Meer "sea," Gothic marei "sea," mari-saiws "lake"), from PIE *mori- "sea" (cognates:
Latin mare, Old Church Slavonic morje, Russian more, Lithuanian mares, Old Irish muir, Welsh mor
"sea," Gaulish Are-morici "people living near the sea").

65. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
60
ORIGINATED AS:
enst (Eንስት) female (n.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
Agnes
“Nancy”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
annis - "effeminate" (see below)
Nancy
fem. proper name, probably a pet form of Ancy, diminutive of Middle English Annis "Agnes" (see
Agnes). As an adjective meaning "effeminate" (with reference to men) it is from 1904. Among the top 10
popular names for girls born in U.S. between 1935 and 1955.
Agnes
fem. proper name, mid-12c., from Old French Agnes, from Greek Hagne "pure, chaste," from fem. of
hagnos "holy," from PIE *yag- "to worship, reverence" (see hagiology). St. Agnes, martyred 303 C.E., is
patron saint of young girls, hence the folk connection of St. Agnes' Eve (Jan. 20-21) with love
divinations. In Middle English, frequently phonetically as Annis, Annys. In U.S., among the top 50
names for girls born between 1887 and 1919.

66. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
61
ORIGINATED AS:
muna (ሙና) lovely (n.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Naomi”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
na'em - "lovely" (see below)
Naomi
fem. proper name, biblical mother-in-law of Ruth, from Hebrew Na'omi, literally "my delight," from
no'am "pleasantness, delightfulness," from stem of na'em "was pleasant, was lovely."

67. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
62
ORIGINATED AS:
naTS’la (ናጽላ) new-born (noun) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Natalie”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
natalis - "birthday" (see below)
Natalie
fem. proper name, from French Natalie, from Church Latin Natalia, from Latin (dies) natalis "birthday,"
in Church Latin, "Christmas Day," so probably originally a name for one born on Christmas.
nada (n.)
"nothing," 1933, slang, introduced by Hemingway, from Spanish nada "nothing," from Latin (res) nata
"small, insignificant thing," literally "(thing) born" (see natal).
natal (adj.)
late 14c., "of or pertaining to birthdays," from Latin natalis "pertaining to birth or origin," from natus,
past participle of nasci "to be born" (Old Latin gnasci; see genus).

68. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
63
ORIGINATED AS:
alebe (Aለበ) draw out (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Olivia”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
ewi - "oil" (see below)
Olivia
fem. proper name, from Italian Olivia, from Latin oliva "olive" (see olive).
olive (n.)
c.1200, "olive tree," from Old French olive "olive, olive tree" (13c.) or directly from Latin oliva "olive,
olive tree," from Greek elaia "olive tree, olive," probably from the same Aegean language (perhaps
Cretan) as Armenian ewi "oil." Applied to the fruit or berry of the tree in English from late 14c. As a
color from 17c. Olive branch as a token of peace is from early 13c.

69. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
64
ORIGINATED AS:
afera (Aፈራ)/afreye (ኣፍረየ) produce, breed (v.) (Amarigna/Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Ophelia”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
avelum - "increase, abound" (see below)
Ophelia
fem. proper name, from Greek opheleia "help, aid," from ophelein "to help, aid, assist," ophelos
"advantage, help," from PIE root *obhel- "to avail" (cognates: Greek ophelos "advantage," Armenian
avelum "increase, abound").

70. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
65
ORIGINATED AS:
bCH'ay (ብጫይ) companion, comrade (n.) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Paige”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
page - "page, servant" (see below)
Paige
fem. proper name, also a family name, variant of page (n.2) "young servant."
page
"youth, lad, boy of the lower orders," c.1300, originally also "youth preparing to be a knight," from Old
French page "a youth, page, servant" (13c.), possibly via Italian paggio (Barnhart), from Medieval Latin
pagius "servant," perhaps ultimately from Greek paidion "boy, lad," diminutive of pais (genitive paidos)
"child."
But OED considers this unlikely and points instead to Littré's suggestion of a source in Latin pagus
"countryside," in sense of "boy from the rural regions" (see pagan). Meaning "youth employed as a
personal attendant to a person of rank" is first recorded mid-15c.; this was transferred from late 18c. to
boys who did personal errands in hotels, clubs, etc., also in U.S. legislatures.

71. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
66
ORIGINATED AS:
wn (ውን) etcetera, etc. (adv.) (Tigrigna)
+
mar (ማር )/ma'Ar (ማዓር) honey (noun) (Amarigna/Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Pamela”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
pan - "all"
+
meli - "honey" (see below)
Pat
Sir Philip Sidney invented the name Pamela for a pivotal character in his epic prose work, The Countess
of Pembroke's Arcadia, written in the late 16th century and published posthumously. The name is widely
taken to mean "all sweetness", formed on the Greek words παν pan ("all") and μέλη meli
("honey"),[2][3] but there is no evidence regarding what meaning, if any, Sidney intended for it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamela_(name)
Strong's Greek Lexicon Search Results
#3192. meli mel'-ee apparently a primary word; honey:--honey.
http://www.eliyah.com/cgi-bin/strongs.cgi?file=greeklexicon&isindex=honey
etcetera
adverb
and others; and so forth; and so on (used to indicate that more of the same sort or class might have been
mentioned, but for brevity have been omitted)
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/et-cetera

72. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
67
ORIGINATED AS:
feT’ere (ፈጠረ) create (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Pat”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
pater - "father" (see below)
Pat
as a fem. proper name, short for Patricia. As a masc. proper name, short for Patrick; hence a nickname
for any Irishman
Patricia
fem. proper name, from Latin, fem. of patricius "patrician, noble" (see Patrick).
Patrick
masc. proper name, from Old Irish Patraicc (Irish Padraig), from Latin Patricius, literally "a patrician"
(see patrician). As a given name, chiefly in northern England and Scotland, in Ireland only a popular
name after 1600, due probably to the Scots settlers in Ulster. [Reaney]
patrician (n.)
early 15c., "member of the ancient Roman noble order," from Middle French patricien, from Latin
patricius "of the rank of the nobles, of the senators; of fatherly dignity," from patres conscripti "Roman
senators," literally "fathers," plural of pater "father" (see father (n.)). Contrasted, in ancient Rome, with
plebeius. Applied to noble citizens and higher orders of free folk in medieval Italian and German cities
(sense attested in English from 1610s); hence "nobleman, aristocrat" in a modern sense (1630s). As an
adjective, attested from 1610s, from the noun.

73. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
68
ORIGINATED AS:
feT’ere (ፈጠረ) create (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Pat”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
pater - "father" (see below)
Pat
as a fem. proper name, short for Patricia. As a masc. proper name, short for Patrick; hence a nickname
for any Irishman
Patricia
fem. proper name, from Latin, fem. of patricius "patrician, noble" (see Patrick).
Patrick
masc. proper name, from Old Irish Patraicc (Irish Padraig), from Latin Patricius, literally "a patrician"
(see patrician). As a given name, chiefly in northern England and Scotland, in Ireland only a popular
name after 1600, due probably to the Scots settlers in Ulster. [Reaney]
patrician (n.)
early 15c., "member of the ancient Roman noble order," from Middle French patricien, from Latin
patricius "of the rank of the nobles, of the senators; of fatherly dignity," from patres conscripti "Roman
senators," literally "fathers," plural of pater "father" (see father (n.)). Contrasted, in ancient Rome, with
plebeius. Applied to noble citizens and higher orders of free folk in medieval Italian and German cities
(sense attested in English from 1610s); hence "nobleman, aristocrat" in a modern sense (1630s). As an
adjective, attested from 1610s, from the noun.

74. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
69
ORIGINATED AS:
fenta (ፈንታ) portion (n.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Penelope”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
pane - " part, piece" (see below)
Penelope
fem. proper name, name of the faithful wife in the "Odyssey," from Greek Penelopeia, probably related
to pene "thread on the bobbin," from penos "web," cognate with Latin pannus "cloth garment" (see pane
(n.)). Used in English as the type of the virtuous wife (1580) as it was in Latin.
pane (n.)
mid-13c., "garment, part of a garment," later "side of a building, section of a wall," from Old French pan
"section, piece, panel" (11c.), from Latin pannum (nominative pannus) "piece of cloth, garment,"
possibly from PIE root *pan- "fabric" (cognates: Gothic fana "piece of cloth," Greek penos "web," Old
English fanna "flag"). Sense of "window glass" first attested mid-15c.

75. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
70
ORIGINATED AS:
redai (ረዳI) patron, friend, contributor, customer (n.) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Ruth”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
reuth - "companion, friend” (see below)
Ruth
fem. proper name, biblical ancestor of David, from Hebrew Ruth, probably a contraction of reuth
"companion, friend, fellow woman."

76. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
71
ORIGINATED AS:
aleqa (Aለቃ) boss, supervisor, chief (n.) (Amarigna)
+
wend (ወንድ) man, male (n.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Sandra”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
alke - "protection, help, strength, power, courage" (see below)
+
andros - "man"
Sandra
fem. proper name, originally short for Alexandra. Little used before c.1920; a top-20 name for girls born
in the U.S. 1938-1967.
Alexander
masc. proper name, from Latin, from Greek Alexandros "defender of men," from alexein "to ward off,
keep off, turn (something) away, defend, protect" + aner (genitive andros) "man" (see anthropo-). The
first element is related to Greek alke "protection, help, strength, power, courage," alkimos "strong;"
cognate with Sanskrit raksati "protects," Old English ealgian "to defend." As a kind of cocktail, it is
attested from 1930.

77. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
72
ORIGINATED AS:
aseri (Aሠሪ) employer (n.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Sarah”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
sarar - "he ruled," (see below)
Sarah
fem. proper name, Biblical wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac, from Hebrew, literally "princess," from
sarah, fem. of sar "prince," from sarar "he ruled," related to Akkad. sharratu "queen." Popular as a name
for girls born in U.S. in 1870s and 1978-2000.

78. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
73
ORIGINATED AS:
zban (ዝባን) tray, surface, stage, back (noun) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Savannah”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
zavana - "treeless plain," (see below)
Savannah
port city in U.S. state of Georgia, from savana, name applied to the Native Americans in the area by early
European explorers, perhaps from a self-designation of the Shawnee Indians, or from the European
topographical term (see savannah).
savannah (n.)
also savanna, "treeless plain," 1550s, from Spanish sabana, earlier zavana "treeless plain," from Taino
(Arawakan) zabana. In U.S. use, especially in Florida, "a tract of low-lying marshy ground" (1670s).

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ORIGINATED AS:
asawere (Aሳወረ) blind (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Sheila”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
cecil - "blind" (see below)
Sheila
fem. proper name, Irish equivalent of Celia, shortened form of Cecilia, the fem. form of Cecil. A
standard type of an Irish women's name since 1828; slang for "girlfriend, young woman" dates from
1839.
Cecilia
fem. proper name, fem. of Cecil (q.v.).
Cecil
masc. proper name, from Latin Caecilius (fem. Caecilia), name of a Roman gens, from caecus "blind."

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ORIGINATED AS:
hesab (ሐሳብ) opinion, point of view, thought, idea (n.) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Sophia”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
sophia - "knowledge of, acquaintance with" (see below)
Sophia
fem. proper name, from Greek sophia "skill, knowledge of, acquaintance with; sound judgement,
practical wisdom; cunning, shrewdness; philosophy," also "wisdom personified," abstract noun from
sophos "wise" (see sophist). Saint Sophia in ancient church names and place names in the East is not
necessarily a reference to a person; the phrase also is the English translation of the Greek for "divine
wisdom, holy wisdom," to which churches were dedicated.
sophist (n.)
"one who makes use of fallacious arguments," mid-15c., earlier sophister (late 14c.), from Latin sophista,
sophistes, from Greek sophistes "a master of one's craft; a wise or prudent man, one clever in matters of
daily life," from sophizesthai "to become wise or learned," from sophos "skilled in a handicraft, cunning
in one's craft; clever in matters of everyday life, shrewd; skilled in the sciences, learned; clever; too
clever," of unknown origin. Greek sophistes came to mean "one who gives intellectual instruction for
pay," and at Athens, contrasted with "philosopher," it became a term of contempt.

81. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
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ORIGINATED AS:
danya (ዳኛ) magistrate, judge (noun) (Amarigna/Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Tanya”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
Tanya - “decider” (see below)
Tanya
Gender: Female
Origin:Russian
Meaning: Short form of Tatiana, Ancient Greek (Establisher, Decider)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanya_(name)

82. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
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ORIGINATED AS:
danya (ዳኛ) magistrate, judge (noun) (Amarigna/Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Tatiana”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
Tanya - “decider” (see below)
Tatiana (Russian: Татьяна; also romanized as Tatyana, Tatjana, Tatianna, Tatijana, etc.) is a female
name of Latin origin. The short form of the name is Tanya (Russian: Таня).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatiana
Tanya
Gender: Female
Origin: Russian
Meaning: Short form of Tatiana, Ancient Greek (Establisher, Decider)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanya_(name)

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ORIGINATED AS:
taye (ታየ) be seen, , appear (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
+
fanos (ፋኖስ) lantern, lamp (n.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
Catherine
Katrina
“Tiffany”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
theo - "god" (see theo-)
+
phainein - "to show" (see below)
tiffany (n.)
"type of thin, transparent fabric," c.1600; earlier a common name for the festival of the Epiphany (early
14c.; in Anglo-French from late 13c.), from Old French Tifinie, Tiphanie "Epiphany" (c.1200), from Late
Latin Theophania "Theophany," another name for the Epiphany, from Greek theophania "the
manifestation of a god" (see theophany).
theophany (n.)
"an appearance of God to man," 1630s, from Late Latin theophania, from Greek theos "god" (see theo-)
+ phainein "to show" (see phantasm). In Middle English "Epiphany" (late 12c.). Ancient Greek
Theophaneia was the name of a festival at Delphi during which the statues of Apollo and other gods were
displayed to the public.
theo-
word-forming element meaning "god, gods, God," from comb. form of Greek theos "god," from PIE root
*dhes-, root of words applied to various religious concepts, such as Latin feriae "holidays," festus
"festive," fanum "temple."
Strong's Greek Lexicon #2316.
theos theh'-os of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a
magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).

84. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
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ORIGINATED AS:
T'ru (ጥሩ) pure (adj.) (Amarigna)
Also related to:
“Trina”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
Trina - "pure" (see below)
Trina
Gender: female
Origin
Word/name: Scandinavian
Meaning: pure
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trina_(name)

85. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
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ORIGINATED AS:
fera (ፈራ) produce fruit (v-perf.) (Amarigna)
+
naqe (ናቀ) denigrate, denounce, to shame (v-perf.)
Also related to:
“Veronica”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
ferre - "carry, bear," (see below)
+
nike - "victory" (see below)
Veronica
fem. proper name, French Veronique, a variant of Greek Berenike (see Berenice). The popular "Saint
Veronica" (not in the Roman Martyrology) traditionally was a pious woman who wiped the face of
Christ when he fell carrying the cross to Calvary. The image of his face remained on the cloth, and the
"veil of Veronica" has been preserved in Rome from the 8c. Her popularity rose with the propagation of
the Stations of the Cross, and this connection led to the folk-etymology derivation of the name from
Latin vera "true" + Greek eikon "image." Some also identified her with the woman with the issue of
blood, cured by Christ, as in the East this woman was identified from an early date by the name
Berenike. Hence vernicle (mid-14c.) "picture of the face of Christ," from Old French veronicle, variant
of veronique "St. Veronica's cloth."
Berenice
fem. proper name, from Latin Berenice, from Macedonian Greek Berenike (classical Greek Pherenike),
literally "bringer of victory," from pherein "to bring" (see infer) + nike "victory." The constellation
Berenice's hair is from the story of the pilfered locks of the wife of Ptolemy Euergetes, king of Egypt,
c.248 B.C.E., which the queen cut off as an offering to Venus. The constellation features a dim but
visible star cluster. But the earliest use of the phrase in astronomy in English was as a name for the star
Canopus (1601).

86. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
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Also related to:
“Victoria”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
weik - "to fight, conquer" (see below)
Victoria
fem. proper name, Latin, literally "victory in war," also the name of the Roman goddess of victory (see
victory). The Victoria cross is a decoration founded 1856 by Queen Victoria of Great Britain and
awarded for acts of conspicuous bravery in battle.
victory (n.)
c.1300, "military supremacy, victory in battle or a physical contest," from Anglo-French and Old French
victorie (12c.) and directly from Latin victoria "victory," from past participle stem of vincere (see victor).
V.E. ("victory in Europe") and V.J. ("victory in Japan") days in World War II were first used Sept. 2,
1944, by James F. Byrne, U.S. director of War Mobilization ["Washington Post," Sept. 10, 1944].
victor (n.)
mid-14c., from Anglo-French, Old French victor "conqueror," and directly from Latin victorem
(nominative victor) "a conqueror," agent noun from past participle stem of vincere "to conquer,
overcome, defeat," from PIE root *weik- (5) "to fight, conquer" (cognates: Lithuanian apveikiu "to
subdue, overcome," Old Church Slavonic veku "strength, power, age," Old Norse vigr "able in battle,"
Old English wigan "fight," Welsh gwych "brave, energetic," Old Irish fichim "I fight," second element in
Celtic Ordovices "those who fight with hammers"). Fem. formations include victrice (late 14c.), victress
(c.1600), victrix (1650s).
ORIGINATED AS:
wgiya (ውጊያ)/wgi (ውግE) war, fight (n.) (Amarigna/Tigrigna)

87. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
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ORIGINATED AS:
fetl (ፈትል); fetli (ፈትሊ) fibre, thread, yarn, string (noun) (Amarigna/Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Viola”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
vitula - "stringed instrument" (see below)
viola (n.)
"tenor violin," 1797, from Italian viola, from Old Provençal viola, from Medieval Latin vitula "stringed
instrument," perhaps from Vitula, Roman goddess of joy (see fiddle), or from related Latin verb vitulari
"to exult, be joyful." Viola da gamba "bass viol" (1724) is from Italian, literally "a viola for the leg" (i.e.
to hold between the legs).

88. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
83
ORIGINATED AS:
hyaw (ህያው) alive, living (adj.) (Amarigna)
hyaw (ሕያው) alive, living (adj.) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Vivian”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
gweie - "to live" (see below)
Vivian
masc. proper name, from Latin Vivianus (source also of French Vivien), literally "living, alive," (see
vivid). But Klein says it is "prob. a misreading of the Celtic name Ninian."
vivid (adj.)
1630s, from French vivide and perhaps also directly from Latin vividus "spirited, animated, lively, full of
life," from vivus "alive," from PIE *gweie- (1) "to live" (see bio-). Extension to colors is from 1660s.
Sense of "strong, distinct" (as of memories, etc.) is from 1680s; that of "very active or intense" (as of
imagination, interest, etc.) is from 1853. Related: Vividly; vividness.
bio-
word-forming element, from Greek bio-, comb. form of bios "one's life, course or way of living, lifetime"
(as opposed to zoe "animal life, organic life"), from PIE root *gweie- (1) "to live" (cognates: Sanskrit
jivah "alive, living;" Old Persian *jivaka- "alive," Middle Persian zhiwak "alive;" Old English cwic,
cwicu "living, alive;" Latin vivus "living, alive," vita "life;" Old Church Slavonic zivo "to live;"
Lithuanian gyvas "living, alive," gyvata "(eternal) life;" Old Irish bethu "life," bith "age;" Welsh byd
"world"). The correct usage is that in biography, but in modern science it has been extended to mean

89. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
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ORIGINATED AS:
hyaw (ህያው) alive, living (adj.) (Amarigna)
hyaw (ሕያው) alive, living (adj.) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Yvette”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
gweie - "to live" (see below)
Yvette
Yvette is female given name, the origin is from the name "Eve", giving rise to "Evette" and "Yvette".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvette

90. Amarigna and Tigrigna Qal Roots of Female Names
85
ORIGINATED AS:
hyaw (ህያው) alive, living (adj.) (Amarigna)
hyaw (ሕያው) alive, living (adj.) (Tigrigna)
Also related to:
“Zoe”
BECAME IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES:
gweie - "to live" (see below)
Zoe
fem. proper name, Greek, literally "life" (see zoo-).
zoo-
word-forming element meaning "animal, living being," from comb. form of Greek zoion "an animal,"
literally "a living being," from PIE root *gwei- "to live, life" (source also of Greek bios "life," Old
English cwicu "living;" see bio-).
bio-
word-forming element, from Greek bio-, comb. form of bios "one's life, course or way of living, lifetime"
(as opposed to zoe "animal life, organic life"), from PIE root *gweie- (1) "to live" (cognates: Sanskrit
jivah "alive, living;" Old Persian *jivaka- "alive," Middle Persian zhiwak "alive;" Old English cwic,
cwicu "living, alive;" Latin vivus "living, alive," vita "life;" Old Church Slavonic zivo "to live;"
Lithuanian gyvas "living, alive," gyvata "(eternal) life;" Old Irish bethu "life," bith "age;" Welsh byd
"world"). The correct usage is that in biography, but in modern science it has been extended to mean
"organic life."

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