Editorial language guide
How we check Assyrian name meanings
A field-by-field standard for etymology, personal-name use, spelling, pronunciation and frequency.
Published 5 October 2026 · References checked 4 October 2026 · Assyrian History reference compilation. No independent specialist review is claimed.
Five questions, five kinds of evidence
Meaning: does a linguistic source identify the correct lemma, language, grammar and interpretation? Personal use: does a manuscript, inscription, biography or other record name a real bearer? Spelling: is the displayed written form present in the source, rather than mechanically invented from English?
Pronunciation needs a stated variety and a competent speaker or reliable linguistic transcription. Popularity needs a dated, defined naming dataset. None of these checks automatically completes the other four. A dictionary word can be meaningful without being documented as a personal name.
Evidence for this section
SEDRA — Nuhra noun entry ↗Lexical evidence, not personal-name frequency
Syriaca — Thomas ↗Personal-name and script attestation
Original catalogue and reviewed entries
The inherited catalogue contains 383 distinct records after deduplicating shared entries. Its boys’ and girls’ groupings are retained as navigation aids, not asserted gender-frequency classifications. Unsupported “Everyday”, “Traditional” and “Rare” ratings have been removed.
Eighteen entries have individual reference checks in this release. Six added on 5 October focus on written personal-name attestation, not a verified literal etymology or modern short-form equivalence. Their pages state exactly what was checked and what remains unknown. Nuhra and Shlama have checked lexical meanings but no independently verified personal use in this review. Sargon’s interpretation remains debated. Share cards preserve these limits rather than turning them into a confident slogan.
Evidence for this section
Frahm — Sargon II name discussion ↗Uncertain royal-name interpretation