CRYSTAL BROWN

19th-century coinage, which has recently enjoyed some popularity. This is one of the group of names taken from or suggestive of gemstones. The word crystal, denoting high-quality cut glass, is derived from Greek krystallos ‘ice’. As a boy's name, Crystal originated as a Scottish pet form of Christopher, but it is rarely used today.

English, Scottish, and Irish: generally a nickname referring to the color of the hair or complexion, Middle English br(o)un, from Old English brūn or Old French brun. This word is occasionally found in Old English and Old Norse as a personal name or byname. Brun- was also a Germanic name-forming element. Some instances of Old English Brūn as a personal name may therefore be short forms of compound names such as Brūngar, Brūnwine, etc. As a Scottish and Irish name, it sometimes represents a translation of Gaelic Donn. As an American family name, it has absorbed numerous surnames from other languages with the same meaning.