英語學習筆記

    The name Sebastian originates from Greek and means "revered." Sebastian is especially popular in France. In Shakespear's play "Twelth Night," Sebastian is the name of Viola's twin brother. Variants of the name include Bastian, Seb and Sebastian. Famous people who have the name include track star Sebastian Coe and composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

    The name Maya is of Spanish, Hindi and Russian origin. In Sanskrit, it means "dream, illusion." Names similar to Maya include Maiya, Miah and Mai. Celebrities who share the name, for example, are Maya Angelou and Maya Rudolph.

    The name Isaac originates from Hebrew and means "laughter." In the Bible, Isaac is the only son of Abraham. Variants of the name Isaac include Issac, Isa and Zak. Famous people who share the name include Sir Isaac Newton and shorthand developer Isaac Pitman.

    The name Natalie is of Latin origin, and its meaning is "birthday," usually referring to the birthday of Christ. Names similar to Natalie include Natalia, Talia and Tasha. Examples of celebrities who have the name are singer Natalie Imbruglia and actress Natalie Wood.

    The name Edgar is of old English and old German origin; its meaning is "fortunate and powerful." In Shakespear's "King Lear," Lear's son is called Edgar. Variants of the name include Ed, Eddie and Ned. Famous people who have the name include prominent poet Edgar Allan Poe and J. Edgar Hoover, former head of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    The name Zoe originates from ancient Greece and means "life." The name is remarkably popular in Greecs. Names similar to Zoe include Zoey, Zoya and Zea. Celebrities who share the name include Byzantine empress Zoe Karbonopsina and British novelist Zoe Heller.

    The boy's name Peter is of Greek origin, and its meaning is "rock". The name has become popular worldwide after the play "Peter Pan." Names similar to Peter include Pedro, Pierce and Pierre. Famous people who have the name, for instance, include tennis star player Pete Sampras and Taiwan singer Peter Ho.
   
    The girl's name Diana originates from Latin and means "divine." In Roman mythology, Diana was a divinity who resembled to the Greek god "Artemis," the goddess of huntress, noted for her beauty and fleetness. Celebrities with the name include Princess Diana and American singer and actress Diana Ross.

    The boy's name Eric is of Scandinavian origin; it's meaning is "complete ruler." The original form is Erik. Variations of the name Eric include Eryk, Rick and Aric. Famous people who share this name include MLB's Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne and singer Eric Suen.
   
    Then name Jasmine originates from French and means "jasmine." The name was popularized by the character Princess Jasmine from the film "Aladdin" (1990). Variations of the name include Jessie, Jasmin and Yasmin. Celebrities who have the name include singer Jasmine Liang and actress Jasmine Guy.

    The boy's name Dominic is of Latin origin and its meaning is "belonging to the Lord." Several saints have born this name, including the 13th-century founder of the Dominican order. Name similar to Dominic include Dominique, Domingo, and Nick. Famous people with this name include movie star Dominic West (The Forgotten) and director Dominic Sena (Swordfish).
   
    The girl's name Rachel is of Hebrew origin and means "we, female sheep." Jennifer Aniston's character in the popular TV series "Friends" was named Rachel. Variations of Rachel include Requel, Rae, and Rachael. Celebrities who share this name inlcude actress Rachel Roberts (Simone) and Hollywood star Rachel Weisz (The Mummy).

    The name Jason is of Greek and means "healer." In Greek mythology, Jason was the leader of a group of warrior heroes called the Argonauts. Variant forms of the name include Jay, Jace, and Jayson. Famous people who share this name include NBA all-star player Jason Kidd and MLB player Jason Giambi.
   
    Then name Claire, which means "famous," originated from French and Latin. The name is popular in its different forms in many countries. Variations of the name, for example, are Clara, Clair, and Clare. Celebrities who have the name include adventurer Claire Francis and Hollywood actress Claire Danes (Romeo & Juliet).

    The boy's name Matthew originates from Hebrew, and its meaning is "gift of the Lord." Since 1975, "Matthew" has remained in the top 100 list of most popular names chosen for newborn babies in the United States (Wikipedia). Variant forms of the name include Mathew, Matt and Mats. Famous people who share this name include Hollywood actors Matthew McConaughey ("Contact") and Matt Damon.
   
    Grace is of Latin origin, and its meaning is "blessing." In Greek mythology, the Three Graces were goddesses of nature: Aglaia (brilliance), Thalia (flowering), and Euphrosyne(joy). Variants of this name include Gracie, Graciela and Grayce. Celebrities with this name include the late Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly and Korean golfer Grace Park.

    Thomas is of Aramaic origin and means "twin." The name has been popular since the 12th-century martyr Thomas Backet. Names similar to Thomas include Tom, Tomas and Tommy. Famous people who share the name include retired NBA guard Isaiah Thomas and famed inventor Thomas Edison.

    Amanda originates from Latin, and its meaning is "worthy of love." The name was probably modeled on Miranda. From 1976 to 1995, "Amanda" ranked among the ten most popular female baby names in the United States. In 2006, "Amanda" ranked number 102 (Wikipedia). Variations of the name include Mandy, Mindy and Amada. Celebrities who have this name include American actress Amanda Bynes ("What a Girl Wants") and Hong Kong model Amanda Strang.

    The boy's name Robert is of Old German origin, and its meaning is "bright fame." After being widely used in Continental Europe, it entered England and became more and more popular. Variations of the name include Bob, Robin, Bert and Bobby. Famous people who share the name include American poet Robert Frost and famed movie star Robert De Niro.

    The girl's name Julia is of Latin origin and means "youthful." It is also the female form of "Julius." It has become more and more popular since the Middle Ages. Variations of Julia include Juliana, Juliet, and Julie. Celebrities who have the name include American actress Julia Roberts and Taiwan's female singer Julia Peng.

    The name Willian is of old Germanic origin and its meaning is "protection." Short forms and variants came into being with a common basic meaning of "will," "determined," or "resolute." Variants of this name include Wilson, Will and Bill. Famous people with this name include King William I of England, a.k.a. William the Conqueror, and the notorious "American Idol" singer William Hung.
    The name Victoria is of Latin origin and means "victory." It is also the female form of "Victor." Victoria was also a goddess who smiled on the ancient Roman people for many centuries. Variants of the name include Vicky, Vickie and Tori. Celebrities who share the name include Victoria of the United Kingdom and former Spice Girls member Victoria Beckham.

  The name "Nicholas" is of Greek origin and means "victorious people." It is the 64th most common male name in the USA (Wikipedia). The variations of this name include Nick, Cole, and Collin. Celebrities who have the name include movie start Nicholas Cage and HK singer Nicholas Tse.

  The name "Anna" derives from the Hebrew name "Channah" which means "grace / charm" or "mercy." The name is popular in many countries and in many different forms. The variations of the name include Ann, Ana, and Anne. Famous people who share this name include tennis player Anna Kournikova and fashion designer Anna Sui.

  The name "Michael" is of Hebrew origin and means "he who resembles God." In the Bible, Michael and Gabriel are the only two archangels who have personal names. It is also one of the top 50 most popular boy's names in England(Wikipedia). Many saints, emperors and kings share this name. Variants of this name include Mickey, Mike, and Mitchell. Famous people who share this name include star singer Michael Jackson and legendary NBA player Michael Jordan.

  The girl name "Sophia" as Greek origins and means "wisdom." Sophia's history can be traced back to ancient times. Some consider "Sofia" the mother goddess of the Middle East. Variants of this name include Sofia, Sonia and Sophie, the French form of Sophia. Celebrities who have this name include French movie star Sophie Marceau and American singer Sophie Tucker.

  Alexander is from the Greek name Alexandros, meaning "Man's defender, warrior." The name is also one of the titles of the Greek goddess Hera. Famous people who share this name include American actor Alec Baldwin and Ancient Greek military commander Alexander the Great.

  Sarah is of Hebrew origin meaning "princess," "goddess," or "high holy one." In the Bible, Sarah was Abraham's wife, and her story is told in the Book of Genesis of the 15th most popular name given to newborns in the USA in 2005(Wikipedia), can also be spelled "Sara." Famous people include American Actress Sarah Jessica Parker, best known for her role in the hit TV series "Sex and the City."

  John is Hebrew for "the Lord is gracious." There are dozens of variant forms, given names and surnames, male and female, have been created in almost every language. Celebs with this name include John F. Kennedy (U.S. former president) and American actor John Wayne.

  Peggy is the nickname of Greek name "Margaret" and means "pearl." Variants of this name include "Peg," "Paige," and "Peggie." Famous people who have this name include singer Peggy Lee, and actress Peggy Lipton.

"Richard" is German for "powerful ruler." in fact, three of England's kinds had this name. "Rick," "Rich," "Richie," and "Ricky" are all short forms of "Richard." Popular personalities include British billionaire Richard Branson (Virgin Group Chairman), Richard Nixon (37th President of the United States), and actor Richard Gere (Pretty Women).
"Elizabeth" has its roots in Greek and may be translated as "God's promise." Some of the most popular short forms are "Liz," "Elisa," and "Isabella." Famous people who share this name include actress/model Elizabeth Hurley and British queen Elizabeth II.

"Andy" is short for "Andrew," which is derived from the Greek work "Andreas," meaning "man." Although "Andy" is only the 217th most popular name in the US(Wikipedia), several well known people share this name, including actor Andy Garcia(Smokin' Aces and Ocean's Twelve), tennis player Andy Roddick, and Hong Kong celebrity Andy Lau.

"Jennifer" is popular. In fact, it was the most common name given to baby girls in the US between 1970 and 1984(Wikipedia). But did you know it is actually Cornish for "while phantom?" Variations include "Jen," "Jenny," and "Gwen." Popular personalities include actress Jennifer Aniston(best know for being Brad Pitt's ex-wife) and singer Jennifer Lopez.