Baby Name Meanings Quiz

Quiz

1. Derived from the Hebrew "Johanen," "John" is the most popular name in the English language, with variants in seven other languages. What is the Scottish equivalent of "John?"

Evan.
Even "Evan" means "John," but it's the Welsh version. "Ian" is the Scottish variant of the ever-popular "John" (whose name popularity waned somewhat in the 90s, making way for the trendier "Tyler" and "Austin").
Ian.
You know the name of the game! "Ian" is the Scottish variant of the ever-popular "John" (whose name popularity waned somewhat in the 90s, making way for the trendier "Tyler" and "Austin").
Jonathan.
Not quite. Although "Jonathan" sounds like it has a piece of "John" in it, they are two separate names, found, respectively, in the Old and New Testaments. "Ian" is the Scottish variant of the ever-popular "John" (whose name popularity waned somewhat in the 90s, making way for the trendier "Tyler" and "Austin").
Sean.
No luck o' the Irish here! "Sean" is Gaelic, though you may find it spelled a variety of ways these days. "Ian" is the Scottish variant of the ever-popular "John" (whose name popularity waned somewhat in the 90s, making way for the trendier "Tyler" and "Austin").

2. While popular boys' names tend to be more traditional, trends in girls' names shift more frequently, often corresponding to who's hot in the entertainment industry. Based on this, which name do you think was most popular in the 70s?

Sandra
Your head's in the sand! Sandra Dee was a popular young movie star in the 50s and 60s, which may explain the sudden appearance of "Sandra" in the top ten baby names of the 1950s. But it was the name "Jennifer" that started appearing on Social Security cards some time after the release of the 1970 movie Love Story, depicting the bittersweet tale of two star-crossed lovers, Oliver and Jenny.
Alexis
Sorry, darling. "Alexis" was the conniving, vengeful character in the 1980s prime-time soap, Dynasty - and, perhaps, the namesake for future generations of "alpha" females, as the name appears in the top ten list in 2000! But it was the name "Jennifer" that started appearing on Social Security cards some time after the release of the 1970 movie Love Story, depicting the bittersweet tale of two star-crossed lovers, Oliver and Jenny.
Jennifer
Right! Parents who believed that "love means never having to say you're sorry" named their daughters "Jennifer" -- in droves -- after the release of the 1970 movie Love Story, depicting the bittersweet tale of two star-crossed lovers, Oliver and Jenny.

3. In which regions of the U.S., respectively, are the following names most popular: "Jose," "Madison," and "Michael?"

Southwest, Midwest, Northeast
You know your way around! "Jose" is a very popular name in the Southwest, where more Spanish-speakers reside; "Madison" (currently popular as a girl's name) is most common in the Midwest, near its namesake in Wisconsin; and "Michael," a top ten "saintly" boy's name for decades, is found most in the Northeast, where Catholicism is most prevalent.
East Coast, Hawaiian islands, Northwest
Oops - you're lost! The correct corresponding line-up is in the first answer. "Jose" is a very popular name in the Southwest, where more Spanish-speakers reside; "Madison" (currently popular as a girl's name) is most common in the Midwest, near its namesake in Wisconsin; and "Michael," a "saintly" top ten boy's name for decades, is found most in the Northeast, where Catholicism is most prevalent.
Deep South, New England, the Rockies
Wrong way! The correct corresponding line-up is in the first answer. "Jose" is a very popular name in the Southwest, where more Spanish-speakers reside; "Madison" (currently popular as a girl's name) is most common in the Midwest, near its namesake in Wisconsin; and "Michael," a "saintly" top ten boy's name for decades, is found most in the Northeast, where Catholicism is most prevalent.

4. Which of the following is not a proper name?

Taylor
Sorry. The popularity of "Taylor" (often used as a girl's name), reflects a current trend toward using traditional surnames as first names - so it is, indeed, a proper name! However, while "moniker" has probably been used as an unusual way to spell "Monica," it is not a proper name, but a word meaning "one's name."
Moniker
You named it! While "moniker" has probably been used as an unusual way to spell "Monica," it is not a proper name, but a word meaning "one's name." So your moniker can be Monica, but not vice-versa. Right?
Monica
Nope. Thanks to a certain Presidential scandal, the name "Monica" may not seem so proper to some...but a given name is a proper name, folks. While "moniker" has probably been used as an unusual way to spell "Monica," it is not a proper name, but a word meaning "one's name."

5. Many surnames originally indicated father/son relationships, and were created by adding a possessive prefix or suffix to the father's first name (for example, "Williams," "Williamson," "McDonald," "Fitzgerald"). What are these kinds of names called?

Patriotic
Wrong, unless you're named after the father of your country! A name indicating paternal possession is called a "patronymic."
Matriarchal
That's the mother of wrong answers! Anything "matriarchal" pertains to the mother, while a name indicating paternal possession is called a "patronymic."
Patronymic
Father Knows Best, and so do you! A name indicating paternal possession is called a "patronymic."

1. Derived from the Hebrew "Johanen," "John" is the most popular name in the English language, with variants in seven other languages. What is the Scottish equivalent of "John?"
Ian.

3. In which regions of the U.S., respectively, are the following names most popular: "Jose," "Madison," and "Michael?"
Southwest, Midwest, Northeast

4. Which of the following is not a proper name?
Moniker

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