Fun Facts About Names Day

Fun Facts About Names Day is an annual American holiday designed to explore interesting information about the origins of names. It is observed on the Monday in the first full week of March.

History

Today, first and last names don’t matter as much as they used to. In ancient times, these two words reflected some personal qualities of a person, their skills, or profession. Many names are related to religion. For example, the names Mary and Isaac come from the Bible.

Surnames are often derived from names, names of cities, natural objects, animals, or professions. With this information, you can delve into the history of a name or surname. For example, the last name Walker literally means “walker.” Probably, the ancestors of the person with this surname often traveled or were constantly on the move.

We have a man named Jerry Hill to thank for creating Fun Facts About Names Day. It was on his initiative that the holiday was established in 1997. The man is seriously interested in onomatology – the study of the origin of various words and terms, including names and surnames. He believes that everyone has the right to know who their ancestors were and what their name means.

Interesting Facts

• There are about 2.5 million residents in the United States with the last name Smith, making it the most common surname.
• Fun fact: in the 1930s, there were 22 people with the last name Hitler in the New York phone book, but after the war ended and Nazi Germany was defeated, there were none.
• In the 18th century, high-ranking people in Spain could have a certain number of names, up to infinity.

How to Celebrate

Dedicate your free time on this holiday to researching information about your name. There is a lot of information on the Internet on this subject.

Spread the word about Fun Facts About Names Day on social media. Let more people know about this holiday!

When is Fun Facts About Names Day in 2025?

Fun Facts About Names Day is observed on the Monday in the first full week of March.

Observations