Name meanings & historical sources
Our name profiles distinguish linguistic origin, meaning, historical usage, related forms and pronunciation. We consult the following general references:
- Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries — English pronunciation and dictionary entries for names.
- Etymonline — linguistic roots and the historical meanings of words and names.
- Behind the Name — name origins, language usage, related forms and historical examples.
A name’s origin identifies its linguistic roots; usage describes the languages and communities in which it appears. Related forms share a documented name history. A resemblance in sound alone does not establish that relationship.
Historical & biographical sources
Sources used for historical and biographical details include the Royal Collection Trust, the Orthodox Church in America, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the University of Edinburgh, English Heritage, the University of St Andrews’ MacTutor archive and Archives Hub.
Exact references for individual names, with a description of the information each source supports, are grouped in Name References.
Name popularity data
Our source for U.S. baby-name statistics is the Social Security Administration (SSA). Its national files record first names by year of birth, sex and number of occurrences. Different spellings are counted separately. These statistics describe names given to children born in the United States.
How we calculate name numerology
We use the modern Pythagorean letter system. The exact spelling matters: Sophia and Sofia have the same linguistic root, but their different letters produce different totals.
1: A J S · 2: B K T · 3: C L U
4: D M V · 5: E N W · 6: F O X
7: G P Y · 8: H Q Z · 9: I R
We add the letter values, then reduce the total by adding its digits. We retain 11, 22 and 33 when they appear as the final total or during its reduction. The vowel calculation uses A, E, I, O and U. Our letter-based method counts Y as a consonant; spaces and punctuation have no value.
Name profiles show three first-name calculations: all letters, vowels and consonants. A full personal name calculation can also include middle names and surname. Birth-date calculations are separate.
For example, SOPHIA gives 1 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 1 = 32, then 3 + 2 = 5. Its vowels total 16, reducing to 7; its consonants also total 16, reducing to 7. See the Sophia name profile for the reading.
Numerology sources
- NumberAlchemy — Pythagorean letter values and calculation categories.
- Numerology.com — traditional meanings and interpretations of numbers.
How to read the interpretations
Numerology is a symbolic tradition that explores associations between numbers and personal qualities. Our interpretations are offered for reflection and entertainment, rather than as scientifically established predictions of personality, relationships or future events.
Historical name information and numerological interpretations are presented in separate sections, with sources appropriate to each.