Israelites refers to the ancient Semitic people of the Bible, while Israelis refers to modern citizens of the State of Israel (est. 1948). The mix-up happens because they are paronyms -- words that look or sound alike but have different meanings.

The name Alexander comes from the Greek Alexandros, meaning "defender of men". Fittingly, he wasn't just a conqueror — many cultures adopted his name as a royal or noble title, from Persian Iskandar to Arabic Al-Iskandariyya (Alexandria). His name became legend.

Some of the cities he named after himself include: Alexandria (Egypt), Alexandria Arachosia (Afghanistan), Alexandria Eschate (Tajikistan), Alexandria in Susiana (Iran), and Alexandroupoli (Greece, renamed in his honour much later). His name still echoes across continents.

Through conquests and city names, Alexander etched himself into geography. Most of his “Alexandrias” are gone, but his name still lives — in maps, memory, and monuments.

Alexander the Great died at just 32, but by then, he had led an empire stretching 5,000 km from Greece to India. He named over 20 cities after himself — the most famous being Alexandria in Egypt.

Enugu isn’t alone. Abeokuta (“under the rock”), Ajaokuta ("market of rocks/stones"), Idanre (famed for its hills), and Awhum (with its caves and cliffs) all echo their geography in name. Across Nigeria, many place names are living records of the landscapes they rise from.

The Nigerian city of Enugu gets its name from the Igbo words “Énú Ụ́gwụ́”, meaning “top of the hill.” It was named for its hilly terrain and became Nigeria’s first city developed solely from British colonial mining interests. Names often carry landscapes within them.

The Roman province around what is now northern Tunisia was later called "Africa Proconsularis", and from that, the name "Africa" expanded to refer to the wider continent. So, Tunisia is quite literally the birthplace of the name "Africa" in recorded history.

Fun fact: The name Africa likely comes from the Latin "Afri", used by the Romans to describe people living near present-day Tunisia 🇹🇳. So technically… she's from the part that gave Africa its name 😄 The irony!

When they gained independence in 1947, Pakistan ended up with most of the river — while India kept the name. Names carry the weight of history, migration, and sometimes... a bit of irony. #Onomastics #NameScholar #India #Indus #Pakistan #History

From Indos came the Latin India and that's the name the world knows today. The twist? Today, the Indus River flows almost entirely through Pakistan, not India! Both India and Pakistan were once part of British India under colonial rule.

Why is India named after a river that's mostly in Pakistan? The name India comes from the Indus River — known as Sindhu in ancient Sanskrit. Persians transformed Sindhu into Hindu (dropping the "S"), and the Greeks later recorded it as Indos. #countrynames #placenames #India

Now it’s your turn! What’s the story behind your name? Does it have a meaning? Was it passed down? Is it unique? Drop your name's origin in the comments! Let’s talk about how names shape who we are.

fashion doll. Since her debut in 1959, Barbie has evolved with the times, and over 1 billion dolls have been sold globally. That makes her one of the most recognized personal names in modern history! #DidYouKnow #CulturalNames

"Barbara" was inspired by the daughter of Ruth Handler, the co-founder of Mattel and Barbie’s creator. "Millicent" adds a touch of elegance, typical of mid-20th century naming trends. And "Roberts"? That’s her fictional family name, giving Barbie a fuller persona beyond just a

Did You Know Barbie Has a Full Name? That’s right. Her full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts! On @namescholar, we explore how names carry identity, history, and even culture. Barbie’s name is no exception! #Barbie #Onomastics #namescholar #FunFacts #BarbieMillicentRoberts

Some names come with a price. When you chase gains without logic, you might just become the next anonymous entry in the long history of those burned by a name they never questioned.

Ponzi schemes thrive not just on money, but on the power of names and stories. That’s why both the scammer and the so-called victim often share the same motivation: fast profit.

One person gets paid, they testify, and others jump in. It becomes a naming cycle fueled not by merit, but by illusion. If someone offers you 100% returns in days and you don’t ask questions, it’s not lack of education—it’s raw greed.

public discourse due to its association with significant events or behaviors. And how do these schemes grow? Testimonies. Just like how names become toponyms or spread through anthroponyms (personal names), Ponzi schemes spread through word-of-mouth branding.