Evelyn (name)

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Evelyn
Pronunciation/ˈɛʌəlɪn, ˈvlɪn/ EV-ə-lin, EEV-lin
GenderUnisex
Origin
Word/namefrom Norman French; Aveline; from Hebrew Eve; from Old Irish 'óiph'
Meaninghazelnut; life; beauty; bird; water
Region of originEnglish language speaking areas, Germany, Estonia,
Other names
Related namesEvelina; Avelina; Aveline; Eve

Evelyn is a given name, very common in the English language, where it can be used as a first name or a surname.[1]

The name originally was used as a surname, which derived from Aveline, which means "hazelnut" in modern french, but the older origin is a feminine Norman French diminutive of the name Ava.[2] Ava itself is a hypocoristic Germanic name, of uncertain origin.,[3].

Evelyn is also sometimes used as modern variation of the name Eve, which means "life". Other variation is an Anglicisation of the Irish Aibhilín or Éibhleann.[4] Aibhilín (variant Eibhlín) is itself derived from the Norman French Aveline. Éibhleann (variant Éibhliu[1]), on the other hand, is said to be derived from the Old Irish óiph ("beauty"[5]).

Variant forms of the feminine first name Evelyn include: Evaline, Evalyn, Eveleen, Evelien, Eveliene, Evelin, Evelina, Eveline, Evelyne, Évelyne, Ewaline and Ewelina. Some of these forms may (also) have arisen as diminutive forms of Eve.[4][6]

People with this first name[edit]

Women[edit]

Female variants[edit]

Eveleen

Evelien

Evelin

Eveline

Evelyne

Men[edit]

People with this surname[edit]

Fictional characters[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006), "Evelyn", A Dictionary of First Names, Oxford Paperback Reference (2nd ed.), Oxford University Press, p. 347, ISBN 978-0-19-861060-1.
  2. ^ Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006), A Dictionary of First Names, Oxford Paperback Reference (2nd ed.), Oxford University Press, p. 341, ISBN 978-0-19-861060-1. its also an elaborated form of >Ava."
  3. ^ Förstemann, Altdeutsches Namenbuch (1847), 190 adduces OHG awa "flowing water" and Gothic awō "grandmother"
  4. ^ a b Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006), A Dictionary of First Names, Oxford Paperback Reference (2nd ed.), Oxford University Press, pp. 95–96, ISBN 978-0-19-861060-1.
  5. ^ eDIL s.v. oíb: "semblance, appearance, aspect, nature or condition (of things or abstracts)"; "beauty or attractiveness (of appearance, nature or disposition)".
  6. ^ Eveleen at behindthename.com