Archive for the ‘Historical Baby Names’ Category

Baby Names Inspired by Great Men and Women in History

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011

Great men and women in history have shaped our culture and our world. If you want a name with great meaning, then consider using a name with historical roots.

If the impact of history inspires you, then you may want to consider baby names that have been inspired by the many great men and women in history. The names of these men and women have shaped the very existence of mankind. You can find the inspiration for these names in almost any history book or on-line.

American History Girl’s Names

For Americans, colonial names can be a great place to look for baby names inspired by history. Names like Louisa or May can be derived from the popular novelist Louisa May Alcott. She wrote the Little Women series back in the 1800’s.

Lucy is another great historical American girl’s name. This was the name of Lucy Stone, an abolitionist during the 1800’s. She fought for women’s rights and assisted in passing the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery.

American History Boy’s Names

John is a very prominent name in American history. It was the first name of one of the founding fathers of the United States, John Adams. It was also the first name of the sixth president of the United States.

Benjamin Franklin was a very strong name in history as well. He shaped America and the world through his inventions and ideas of freedom. You could use either parts of his name for your son.

African American History Names for Boys

One of the most prominent boy names from African American history is Martin, derived from the name of the popular speaker Martin Luther King Jr. However, there are other namesakes in African American history to consider. Examples include Malcolm, for the Muslim minister and human rights activist, Malcolm X.

African American History Names for Girls

For girls, African American history names are very strong. To be a woman in historical times was hard enough, but living during times of slavery was far worse. However, there were many women that stood out and stood strong, making their names among some of the best history-inspired baby names.

One option for a girl’s name is Harriet. Harriet Tubman was a strong civil rights activist for black slaves. She, herself, was a runaway slave, and is often known as the Moses of her people. Marian is another great girl’s historical name. Marian Anderson was the first black woman to be named as a permanent member of the Metropolitan Opera Company and to perform at the White House.

There are many other options for historical names. One thing is for sure– no matter which name you choose, baby names inspired by great men and women in history are strong and nostalgic names with real meaning.