What does the name Georgia Mean? In this quick guide, we will explore the origin, history, popularity, and meaning of the name Georgia.
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Meaning of The Name Georgia
Derived from the Latin Georgius, meaning “farmer, earthworker,” Georgia is a common feminine name. The name was originally used to refer to a state in the southeastern United States, but because of its meaning and similar sound to other popular female names such as Georgianna, it became widely adopted as a first name.
Georgia is an attractive name with a strong yet elegant character; it has consistently remained quite popular in recent years. It also holds historical significance since it was chosen as the official name for one of America’s original 13 colonies.
In more recent times, Georgia O’Keeffe became one of the first American women artists to gain worldwide recognition for her art featuring landscapes and flowers. The essence of this beautiful name could be summarized as “earthy”—grounded yet determined at the same time.
Referencing nature in its origin and inception, Georgia captures feelings of self-sufficient confidence and capable strength; qualities which are reflected in this ever-popular English name’s long history of use across different languages and countries alike.
History and Origin of The Name Georgia
The name Georgia has a few different origins. It has been associated with the Greek name ‘Georgios’, deriving from the ancient Greek word ‘geōrgos’ meaning ‘farmer’, as well as from other languages such as Hebrew and Latin.
In Hebrew, the name Georgia means ‘crowned’, pointing to its royal roots. In Latin, it means ‘farmer’ or ‘earth worker’, and in Spanish it may mean ‘tilled land’; all of these definitions representing hard-working individuals who tend to the Earth. Additionally, many sources report that the English version of the name is derived from Sir Walter Scott’s character (in his novel Ivanhoe) Georgette – derived from George.
The nation of Georgia also derives its name from Saint George – a popular Christian saint who is depicted slaying a dragon in several paintings and stories, including those that date back to ancient Greece and Rome.
According to legend, Saint George was a courageous knight respected for protecting pilgrims and defeating insatiable opponents with his steadfast will. Being associated with such an indomitable spirit makes for an interesting namesake for any child!
Gender of The Name Georgia
The name Georgia is traditionally a female name and pertains to the notion of “After the State of Georgia”. Meaningfully, it originates from the Greek words georgia meaning “farm worker”. Moreover, it has become a popular name for girls in recent years due to the state of Georgia being named for King George II of England, who was born on June 16th, 1738.
In addition to this original etymology, there are several other potential sources that can be associated with Georgia such as the Hebrew word Gesher (“bridge”) or even drawn from Norse mythology where the name is seen as a variant spelling of Geirr (“spear”).
Regardless of its origin, many people appreciate the positive association with this nation as well as its traditional gender connotation.
Popularity of The Name Georgia
The name Georgia has been around as an English baby name since the 1880s, but gained prominence in the last century after a US state of the same name was established in 1788.
The name is first recorded as “George” in England during 1273 and later as “Giorgi” in Scotland in the 13th century. In both countries, the name is derived from the ancient Greek meaning “farmer” or “earth-worker”.
The popularity of the name Georgia has grown steadily over recent decades with it ranking 66th on babycenter.com’s popularity chart for US baby girl names for 2019. The Georgia spelling also saw a rise since 2012 and continues to be a popular choice among parents today.
The meanings associated with the Georgia spelling all suggest elements of working with nature, such as earthiness and fertility being strong points that define this soothing yet still firm, feminine sounding baby girl’s name.
Variations of The Name Georgia
The name Georgia is usually derived from the Greek name meaning “land of the sun” or “farmer.” It is also sometimes used as an anglicized version of Georgios, a form of George, and is popular among English speaking nations for both boys’ and girls’ names.
Popular variations of the name Georgia include Georgiana, Georgina, Georgette, Jorja, Jorgina and Giurgiu. The most frequent alternatives to the name mean either farmer or earthworker; other variations tend to relate more to its meaning of land or sunshine.
Outside English speaking countries it is used mostly as either Georgia o Giorgia (Italian), Giorgiana (Greek and Romanian), Yorgos (Greek) or Juraj (Croatian). There are also some less common variations such as Juriuse (Lithuanian) or Györgyi (Hungarian). Its use in literature dates back centuries to 15th century plays Homer’s “Iliad” and are in use still today with popular films such as 2003’s “Lost in Translation” starring Bill Murray.
Famous People Named Georgia in History
Georgia has many famous people named after it and has been popular since the late 19th century. The origin of the name comes from Greek geography; it is derived from the Latin word Georgius or Georgia which means ‘farmer’ or ‘earth-worker’.
Many famous people have borne the name throughout history, perhaps most notably Georgia O’Keefe, one of America’s foremost abstract artist. There were two queens of England in the 15th and 17th centuries also named Georgia; Mary I was known as ‘Bloody Mary’, and Anne was queen from 1702 – 1714.
In recent history, several notable individuals have carried on this long-standing tradition including well-known actors Georgia Engel, Jon Hamm, Tom Hanks and Larry David, fashion icon Diane Von Furstenberg, athlete Edwin Moses, writers Harper Lee and Flannery O’Connor, politician Stacey Abrams of Georgia (the state!) and singer/songwriter Ray Charles.
The name is also shared with a former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s daughter Amy Carter who was born in 1967.
In literature there are many characters named Georgia such as protagonist Lulu Miller from American journalist Miller’s book ‘Why Fish Don’t Exist’’ , young superheroines from Marvel comics ‘The New Warriors’ series and a mouse from children’s books ‘Stuart Little’ by E B White.
Prime examples of places really called this names include countries like United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland’s Northwest region & states like U S A State with their capital Atlanta which are popular holiday destinations for many foreign visitors each year seeking some sun & fun!
Pronunciation of The Name Georgia
The traditional pronunciation of the name Georgia is GOR-juh. However, it can also be pronounced as JOR-juh or JAWR-juh. While there are no official pronunciations in English for the name Georgia, the latter two pronunciations reflect the original Greek pronunciation for the name Georgios.
The origin of the name itself comes from two Greek words – georgos which means farmer and erga which means work. Together, these words give this timeless name its meaning which is “farmer’s work”.
Numerology of The Name Georgia
The numerical value of the name Georgia is determined by the assignment of numbers to letters of the alphabet. Just as each individual has a unique name, each letter in the name has a corresponding number assigned to it.
Once these numbers are calculated, they can reveal a great deal about an individual’s character, motivations and purpose in life.
In Numerology, each letter corresponds to a number: A=1; B=2; C=3; D=4; E=5; F=8; G=3; H=5; I=1—then repeating, J = 1 and so on. Consecutively adding each of these values together, assigns numerical value to the entire name: Georgia is 3+5+7+9+1+2+9+1 = 36
When simplified even further (3 + 6) , the name Georgia ultimately reduces to a single digit: 9. The characteristic that stands out most about individuals with this numerical value is compassion for all living beings and seeking equal justice for everyone.
Other traits derived from this number include tolerance for others’ beliefs and values as well as intuition, honor and courage in all areas of life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the name Georgia has a rich and varied history and various meanings in different languages. The Latin origin of the name suggests it is closely associated with agriculture, while the Greek meaning implies fertility.
Ultimately, though, it’s up to you to decide what your own personal meaning behind the famous name will be.
Whether you choose to focus on its Roman sources or its Nordic roots, the name Georgia is sure to remain a classic and popular choice for generations to come.
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