Anyone who has ever wondered what their name means can take heart because there is now a holiday that gives everyone an excuse to find out that important information. This holiday is called Learn What Your Name Means Day, and it falls annually on the Wednesday in the first full week of March.

This day encourages everyone to do a little bit of research to find out the meaning behind their name. Names, especially surnames, can contain vital hints about a family’s heritage and history. For example, the Miller surname originated in Bavaria and was attributed to people who worked as millers from about the 12th century onward. See how much information a name can provide?

The History of Learn What Your Name Means Day

Even though we’re unsure why this holiday was created, we do know that it was created by a guy named Jerry Hill. He created this holiday in 1997, and although it wasn’t immediately popular, it has gained some traction over the past few years. That’s probably due to the fact that more and more people are looking to uncover their family’s origins and find out more about their ancestors.

Some Incredible Facts About Names

You know that we can’t do an article on a holiday about names without taking the time to list some of the incredible facts that we’ve learned about names. So, let’s not waste any more time and get right to business and go through some of these facts below.

• Studies have shown that people with middle initials are held in higher esteem by their peers.
• One study has suggested that females with “girly” names are more likely to steer clear of careers they perceive as more masculine.
• Some studies have suggested that boys given more feminine first names tend to have behavioral problems in middle school.

Observing Learn What Your Name Means Day

All that’s required to observe this holiday is a willingness to learn more about your name. You can start with learning about the meaning of your first name, and then once you have that information, you can begin to research to find out more about your last name.

There are a seemingly infinite number of resources on the Internet that can help with that search, including Ancestry.com, the Social Security Administration, and even online versions of local libraries.

Do a little bit of research and find out what your name says about you while you’re observing Learn What Your Name Means Day. People can spread the word about this day using the hashtag #LearnWhatYourNameMeansDay on social media.