JORDAN

From the name of the river which flows between the countries of Jordan and Israel. The rivers name in Hebreo is יַרְדֵן (Yarden), and it is derived from יָרַד (yarad) meaning descend or flow down. In the New Testament John the Baptist baptizes Jesus Christ in its waters, and it was adopted as a personal name in Europe after crusaders brought water back from the river to baptize their children. There may have been some influence from the Germanic name JORDANES, notably borne by a 6th-century Gothic historian.... [more]

“JAWR-dən (English)”