I recently saw a map of the world with the derivations given of every country’s name. It was interesting to see what one knew, that every name meant something, came from some simple depiction or understanding of the people. All around the world people carry names with them that we think are important, or noteworthy, or amusing or lovely and almost every one of them means something else, came to us down the ages to describe characteristics, nature , experience and we use them to tell us there is someone we know in this world, someone we have heard of, someone we love, someone we admire.
Although names mean a lot more than they seem, you need to look up derivations in order to find this out. If you do not know the derivations that knowledge, closed to your mind, is masked and the name becomes like a paint we use to cover up an old wall. By understanding derivations we come to realise very quickly, that names are not descriptions, but merely shorthand notations. Another way of designating something that our minds can latch onto without any other thoughts.
The etymology shows us how easy it is to name something, and allow history to make that name into something else. The etymology of countries’ names would make a wonderful myth, filled with people, strange mystical animals and doleful songs.