I often see people claiming
Elizabeth is Hebrew, or
Ciel is French. They are not, in fact. Let's see why.
- I think this little test is valid for any language though. -
Let's take the names:
Elizabeth,
Abraham,
Jehiel,
Avraham,
Shiloh,
Selah,
Batya.
1) Does the name mean something in Hebrew?
Elizabeth,
Abraham,
Jehiel don't.
Avraham,
Shiloh,
Selah,
Batya do.
2) If it does, is it a name, or a word, or a title....?
Avraham and
Batya are names.
Shiloh is a title,
Selah is a word.
-> Only
Avraham and
Batya are Hebrew names. The others are either Hebrew *words*, or *derived from Hebrew names*.
Ciel, for example, means something in French. But it is a word. So it would pass 1) but not 2).
You could also just ask yourself: Is or was this name used by Hebrew/French speaking people?
Also check:
Prononcing Hebrew names:
http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=178459&board=genPrononcing French names:
http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=199378&board=gen
~~ Claire ~~