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ArchivesName HIMANI
I recently met a young lady from India, and we became friends.
Being interested in names, I asked her what her first name meant and she
replied 'SNOW".
I said: "Oh- just like part of the word 'Himalaya' (whose peaks are permanently covered in snow).
'Yes' she said.
Being interested in names, I asked her what her first name meant and she
replied 'SNOW".
I said: "Oh- just like part of the word 'Himalaya' (whose peaks are permanently covered in snow).
'Yes' she said.
This message was edited 12/21/2010, 1:16 PM
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Replies
Yes, the word hima (cognate with Greek χειμών) means frost or cold, and is attested in the oldest literature. It is often used for snow. The feminine suffix -AnI often makes a collective noun, as well, so himAnI means a mass of snow. On the other hand, lI means to lie or recline, as well as to stick (ri/li also means to dissolve, which may be a separate verb). The prefix A- usually indicates nearness of direction, and A-Ii means come near, and A-lI + -a = AlaYa means place of repose or house. So, himAlaYa means house of snow.
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