Origin, Meaning, And History Of Ebony
Ebony is a gender-neutral name that comes from the English word ‘ebony,’ which is ultimately derived from the Egyptian word ‘hbnj.’ The exact meaning of the name is unclear, but it is used as a reference to the color black, and it is also associated with the ebony tree, which is of dense black or brown color. Another meaning of the name in countries like Greece, Australia, and England is ‘dark beauty.’
It is a popular name commonly used in African-American culture, as it denotes a symbol of pride and black identity. In ancient Egypt, ebony was an expensive wood and was always associated with luxury and prosperity. The Ebony wood is one of the most expensive woods in the world and is perceived as a symbol of power, balance, protection, and purity by the Pagans.
The widespread popularity of the name resulted in the formation of several variants across different cultures, such as African American variants Eboni, Ebonee, and Ebonie, its French variant Ébène, Ebano in Italian, Ebenholz in German, and Ébano, a variant in both Spanish and Portuguese.
Some diminutive forms of the name commonly used as nicknames include Ebs, Ebbi, Bonny, Bonnie, Bonbon, Nene, Neenee, Nony, and Bony.
The name Ebony has been mentioned all over the fictional and literary world. A character named Ebony White is seen in ‘The Spirit,’ which was a 1940s syndicated newspaper comics series written by Will Eisner. Ebony White is one of the main characters and has been compared to classic characters like Uncle Tom.
Ebony Maw is another fictional character who has appeared in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a member of the Black Order, a group that works for Thanos.
Ebony Scrooge is another character with the name played by Vanessa L. Williams in the Christmas television film ‘A Diva’s Christmas Carol.’ It is based on the Charles Dickens classic novella ‘A Christmas Carol.’
Ebony
How To Pronounce Ebony?
Famous People With The Name Ebony
- Ebony ObsidianAmerican actress, known for her role as Karen Mott in the BET comedy-drama series
- Ebony Rainford BrentFormer English cricketer and Surrey women’s team captain, currently the Director of Women’s Cricket at Surrey
- Ebony CollinsAmerican sprinter, named USA Track & Field Youth Athlete of the Year in 2005
- Ebony HoffmanFormer professional basketball player, winner of the WNBA Most Improved Player Award in 2008
- Ebony M. ScottAmerican lawyer, Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia
- Ebony DayEnglish singer, songwriter and YouTube personality, won MTV’s Brand New Artist in 2013
- Ebony FlowersAmerican prose writer and cartoonist, recipient of the 2017 Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Awards
Ebony On The Popularity Chart
The popularity of Ebony has declined over time. Have a look at the Social Security Administration graphs below.
Popularity Over Time
Ebony has been decreasing in popularity since 1982 when 2,279 babies per million shared the name. It’s popularity has decreased to 33 babies per million in 2021.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
In terms of ranking, the decline for Ebony has been a slow one. It held its highest rank in 1982 at 132 and has fallen to 4660 in 2020.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Ebony
If you like how the name Ebony rolls off your tongue, here are some more names with a similar sound.
Popular Sibling Names For Ebony
Names With Similar Meaning As Ebony
If the meaning of Ebony appeals to you, take a look at some suggestions listed below.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
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Name Numerology For Ebony
