wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) (10/23/85)
In English, the proper name "Dan" is just about always a nickname and an abbreviation for "Daniel". Is the Israeli name "Dan" the same, or is it a completely separate name, with nothing to do with "Daniel"? (Would a native Israeli ever have the name "Daniel"? If so, would he ever have "Dan" as a nickname?) Thanks! Will Martin UUCP/USENET: seismo!brl-bmd!wmartin or ARPA/MILNET: wmartin@almsa-1.ARPA
matt@brl-tgr.ARPA (Matthew Rosenblatt ) (10/24/85)
WILL MARTIN writes: > In English, the proper name "Dan" is just about always a nickname and > an abbreviation for "Daniel". Is the Israeli name "Dan" the same, or > is it a completely separate name, with nothing to do with "Daniel"? > (Would a native Israeli ever have the name "Daniel"? If so, would he > ever have "Dan" as a nickname?) Thanks! "Dan" comes from a Hebrew root meaning, "to judge." "Daniel" is one of many Biblical names ending in "El," where "El" means "G-d" or "mighty one." If "Dan" = "judge," then "Dani" = "my judge" (Hebrew first person possessive ending), and "Daniel" = "G-d is my judge." Scripture tells us that when Rachel's handmaid Bilhah conceived and bore a son for her to her husband Jacob, Rachel said, "G-d hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son." (Genesis 30:6) We see from all this that (1) "Dan" and "Daniel" are related; (2) Dan came first in time, so his name cannot be short for Daniel. I have heard of Israelis nicknamed "Dani" (sort of like the English "Danny," where the "-i" here is a nickname ending, not the "-i" of the first person possessive), but not "Dan." Does anyone else have more complete information? -- Matt Rosenblatt
yossi@mtuxo.UUCP (j.friedman) (10/25/85)
Dan is the name of one of Jacob's sons (one of the twelve tribes). Daniel is the name of a prophet. I believe they both stem from the Hebrew "dan" which means to judge. A "native Israeli" as well as a "native American Jew" may have either name given him. As for nicknames, Daniel is sometimes shortened to Dani (Danny), although I haven't heard that nickname for Dan. I also don't remember hearing the nickname Dan for Daniel probably because in Hebrew they are two distinct names. By the way, in Hebrew the 'a' of Dan, Daniel, and Dani is pronounced almost like the 'o' in cot. Joe Friedman AT&T-IS Lincroft mtuxo!yossi (201) 576-7179 LZ 3e-306
teitz@aecom.UUCP (Eliyahu Teitz) (10/29/85)
> Dan is the name of one of Jacob's sons (one of the twelve tribes). > Daniel is the name of a prophet. I believe they both stem from > the Hebrew "dan" which means to judge. > A "native Israeli" as well as a "native American Jew" may have > either name given him. As for nicknames, Daniel is sometimes > shortened to Dani (Danny), although I haven't heard > that nickname for Dan. I also don't remember hearing the nickname Just thought I'd mention that I have heard of a Dan being called Donny. Eliyahu Teitz.