Meaning & History
From the English word "halo", referring to "a luminous disc, often of gold, around or over the heads of saints, etc., in religious paintings; the metaphorical aura of glory, veneration or sentiment which surrounds an idealized entity; a circular band of coloured light, visible around the sun or moon etc." From the Latin halos, from the Ancient Greek hálōs (ἅλως) 'disk of the sun or moon; ring of light around the sun or moon; threshing floor with its surrounding threshold; disk of a shield'; itself of unknown origin. Used in English since 1563, sense of light around someone’s head since 1646.Modern use of the name may also be due to the popular Microsoft video game series 'Halo' or Beyoncé's 2009 hit song, "Halo".