English
Eugene
Eugene comes from Ancient Greek Εὐγένιος ‘well born’, from ἐΰς ‘good’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁su-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁su-‘good’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*ehu-‘good’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἐΰςeǘs‘good’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEεὖ‘good, well’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΕὐγένιοςEugénios‘well born’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEEugenius
- Frenchc. 1600–presentEugène
- Englishearliest quotation 1796Eugene
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁su-‘good’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*ehu-‘good’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἐΰςeǘs‘good’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEεὖ‘good, well’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΕὐγένιοςEugénios‘well born’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEEugenius
- Frenchc. 1600–presentEugène
- Englishearliest quotation 1796Eugene
Earliest quotation: 1796, Robert Southey: “Great praise the Duke of Marlb'ro' won / And…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₁su- ‘good’
Today it means
name A male given name from Ancient Greek.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₁su- / Eugene