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JORDAN
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Gender: Masculine & Feminine
Usage: English, Biblical
Pronounced: JOR-dən (English) [key]
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From the name of a river flowing between the countries of Jordan and Israel. The river's name in Hebrew is יַרְדֵן (Yarden), and it is derived from יָרַד (yarad) meaning "descend" or "flow down". In the New Testament John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ in its waters, and it was adopted as a personal name after crusaders brought back water from the river to baptize their children. The name died out after the Middle Ages, but was revived in the 19th century. As a surname, it is borne by former basketball star Michael Jordan (1963-). |
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