SER

Searching for our European Roots

Cyprus, June 2008

NAMES
STUDENTS RESEARCH

Solea Gymnasium, Cyprus

 System of names

• Students interviewed various

old people in the area about
the logic newborn babies get
their names. Here are the
results of their research.

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• From their grandparents. If
the first child is a boy it is
named after his father’s
father. If it is a girl it is
named after his mother’s
mother.
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• Under a vow. If babies
have got a health problem
their parents give them the
name of a saint. The same
happens if there are
pregnancy problems.
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• Parents give their
favourite names to
their children (names
from series on T.V.)

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• Depending on the day
babies are born, if it’s a
name day of a Saint.

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• They give their babies
names carrying a special
meaning e.g. Matheos
meaning God’s present.

Solea Gymnasium, Cyprus

• They choose names from
ancient greek history or
mythology.

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• Parents name their kids
after dead relatives.

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• Children get their names
after their godparents
decision.

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 Etymology
• Regarding the etymology of
names there is a great interest.
By etymology we mean the
derivation of names and their
meaning as well. Here there are
some examples:
Solea Gymnasium, Cyprus
Agathoklis: it is derived from the words
agathos + kleos and it means “someone
who has got a good fame”
Alexandros: from the verb alexo+ anir
and it means someone who protects
people.
Argyris: from the ancient adjective
“anargyros” which means honest,
incorruptible.

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Anna: from the Hebrain Hannah and it
means favour, good-will, grace.
Gabriel: from the Hebraic Gabhriel and
it means God is my strength, vigour. It is
also derived from the archangel
Gabriel.
Gerasimos: from the Homeric geras (=
honor, prize, reward) and it means the
honored.
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Elpida: from the ancient “elpis and the
verb elpome” which means expect,
hope.
Elisabeth: from the Hebraic Eliseva
which means “God is he who brings
abutance of good things”
(H)elias: from prophet (H)elias and the
Hebraic Eliyhu, that means “my God is
Giach”

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Iphigenia: from ifi + genos. It means the
birth, nationality, descent, she who was
born strong, with vigorous
temperament.
 Konstantinos: from the
LatinConstantinus, the verb consto,
constas – ntis that means sure, certain,
steady.
Michalis: from the Hebraic word
Mikhael that means “who is like the
God” Solea Gymnasium, Cyprus
 Petros: from the noun of ancient greek
“petros”, “petra”
Phanourios/ Phani: From the words
Theos + phaino / phainomai that means
the revealing of God.

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 Favourite Names

• As it happens in every
nation, our people have a
special preference for certain
names. It is noticeable that
some of them are particularly
favourite in specific areas of
our country.Solea Gymnasium, Cyprus
 Andreas / Androula/ Andrea: Many people
have these names in honor of Apostolos
Andreas.
 Maria / Marios : The name of “Panagia”,
Virgin Mary. There are many chapels in our
area.
 Ioannis/ Ioanna : The name of st. John the
Baptist st. John Theologos and st. John
Lampadistis. (There is a monastery in the
area)
 Eleni: from the greek mythology “Orea Eleni”,
and also from the empress of Rome who
found the Holy Cross.

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Konstantinos: he was the son of Agia
Eleni
Georgios / Georgia: There are many
churches in the area.
Demetrios / Demetra = from St
Demetrios in Salonica and also from
Demetra, one of the twelve goddesses
in greek mythology. She was the
goddess of agriculture.

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Nikolas / Niki: from St. Nikolas. Many
churches in the area. He is the
protector of navy.
Panayiota / Panayiotis: from Panayia,
Virgin Many.
Stylianos: from St. Stylianos, the
protector of babies.

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 The Philosopfy of Surnames

From ancient greek history, e.g.

Euripidou, Evagorou
From religion, e.g. Kyrillou
From occupations, e.g. Violaris (violin),
Kasapis (butcher), Kareklas (makes chairs).
From the place one comes from, e.g.
Hellinas (Hellas), Agglou (Agglia = England)
From special features, e.g. Kambouris
(with a hump), Kokkinos (red colour)
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Family Trees

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• Students have prepared two family
trees aiming to presents on a
diagram the bequeath of names
from ancestors (grandparents,
great – grandparents) to
descendants (grandchildren, great
– grandparents).

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 ANTREAS & ANTIGONI
2 TSIARTA
PEOPLE 15
FAMILY TREE
GRANDKI
DS
6 KIDS

ANTREAS ANTIGONI
(Husband) (Wife)

CHRISTOS IOANNIS MIHALHS PANAGIOTA EUGENIOS GIORGOS

SANDI GEORGIA (Son) ANTRI ANTONIS GEORGIA ARGYROYLA
(Son) (Son) (Daughter) (Son) (Son)

ANTIGONI CHRISTANA NIKOLETTA ANTIGONI AGATHI KOSTAS MARINA CHRISTOFOROS EIRINAIOS CHRYSOVALANTIS MELINA ANDREAS MARIOS CHRISTIN
CHRISTIANA (Grandson)
(Granddaughter) (Granddaughter) (Granddaughter) (Granddaughter) (Granddaughter) (Grandson) (Granddaughter) MARIOS (Grandson) (Grandson) (Granddaughter) (Grandson) (Grandson) (Granddaugh
(Granddaughter)
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 Nikolaos & Paraskeyi
2
People
Zangoulos 3
kids
Family Tree

13 Great
10
NIKOLAOS PARASKEYI Grandkids
Grandkids
(Husband) (Wife)

TIMOTHEOS ANTREA ELIAS ELIADA NIKOLAOS ALICE

(Son) (Son) (Son)

BILLY
NICOLAOS TIMOTHEOS
NIKOLAOS AGATHOCLIS DIMITRIS DORA PARASKEYI (Grandson) GIORGOS PARASKEYI JENNY
TASIA AGATHI MARIA GIORGOS GIORGOS Maria PANAGIOTIS MAZEN (Grandson)
(Grandson) (Grandson) (Grandson) (Granddaughter) (Granddaughter) (Grandson) (Granddaughter) (Granddaughter)

JULIA TIMOTHEOS ANTREA KOSTAS CHARALAMPOS MICHAELLA TAYLOR CHRISTINA TASIA

KLEOBOYLOS RAFAELLA PETROS (Great (Great (Great (Great
(Great (Great (Great TIMOTHEOS (Great (Great (Great (Great (Great Granddaughter) Granddaughter) Granddaughter) Granddaughter)
Granddaughter) Grandson) Granddaughter) (Great Grandson) Grandson) Grandson) Grandson)
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Granddaughter) Grandson)