Names and their meanings

[corruption]

I planning on making a webcomic, and am looking into names. I want the names to be based on proper words and have multiple meanings. This is mainly going to be done by combining words and word elements with multiple meanings. For example Delumious is made up of De and Lumious. Lumious means light. De can mean From, The or to reverse the meaning of the rest of the word, thus making the one name fit the character as she changes over time, or being combined to mean 'From the dark'.

Can anyone tell me where I can find information about what different elements of different words mean?

I know some names change a lot over time and their origins get forgotten, like Adrian (meaning the Dark Man) is a corruption of Hadrian (meaning someone who was from the Africian village of Haria.) So name meaning sites would be appreciated as well.

Thanks.

[sulfurbunny]

The word you are probably looking for is "etymology".

http://www.etymonline.com/ is a start. It's searchable, or you can just browse and read the alphabetical lists.

Otherwise just googling "etymology" will get you scads of stuff.

[desideraht]

It also helps to know Latin roots. :'O But I'm sure you already know that, since you're toying with linguistics.

[Seven Rain]

This is mainly going to be done by combining words and word elements with multiple meanings.

Ooh, I love using Portmanteaus, and also developed a fondness for Latin words/names over the past few years.

One of the "races" in my Universe are called "Atredo," which is a Portmanteau of Atrox and Edo.

[cavinginrainbows]

http://www.20000-names.com/

This has a search tool for meanings and you can see what cultural backgrounds each name holds

[corruption]

Thanks. I appreciate those sites. Already have a few ideas going through my head.

[corruption]

Ah, does anyone know a site where I can get translations in ancient languages, like Latin and Ancient Greek?

[Spear the Hedgehog]

Ah, does anyone know a site where I can get translations in ancient languages, like Latin and Ancient Greek?

Decent translations for Ancient languages are hard to come by.
I hear Babylon: http://translation.babylon.com/ is good, also http://www.systranet.com/translate.

I like history, especially Roman-Greco history.
Tiberius, Theodoros, Lucien, Andreas.....
All kinds of Latin and Greek names, though you want etymology, and a lot of my names will come from historical figures.

[RyanMilla]

Coincedince:
My name is Ryan which in Hebrew (or something) mean little king.
I'm short for my age and my zodiac is Leo (The King)'
That's pretty cool.

[Nordlys]

I am the only that prefer Scandinavian names XD (although one of my story takes place in Italy, so i had to choose italian names for my characters)

[Froken Keke]

I am the only that prefer Scandinavian names XD

Actually, I do use a bunch of scandinavian ones, but that's because my comic is set there, I try to use ones that work more or less in english, though. With some exceptions, perhaps.
Generally, though, I like having meaning to names and such, but a lot of times finding a fitting name is just really hard. More often than not you'll just end up with wierd ones, so I often find myself just choosing something that's easy and fitting, disregarding the meanings.

[Nordlys]

I am the only that prefer Scandinavian names XD

Actually, I do use a bunch of scandinavian ones, but that's because my comic is set there, I try to use ones that work more or less in english, though. With some exceptions, perhaps.
Generally, though, I like having meaning to names and such, but a lot of times finding a fitting name is just really hard. More often than not you'll just end up with wierd ones, so I often find myself just choosing something that's easy and fitting, disregarding the meanings.

I'm not a native english speaker, so I don't mind to choose a sounging-english name.
I don't care about meaning at all. I just choose names that sound good and that I like for that character. I just base their names on their nationality

[Jadiekins]

I'm not a native english speaker, so I don't mind to choose a sounging-english name.
I don't care about meaning at all. I just choose names that sound good and that I like for that character. I just base their names on their nationality

Same here. Although a few characters do fit the meanings of their names, mostly I just pick a name that sounds good.