NOAH DAN

English form of the name of the biblical character whose family was the only one saved from the great Flood ordained by God to destroy mankind because of its wickedness. The origin of the name is far from certain; in the Bible it is implied that it means ‘rest’ (Genesis 5:29, ‘and he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed’). One tradition indeed explains it as derived from the Hebrew root meaning ‘to comfort’ (see Nahum) with the final consonant dropped. It was taken up by the Puritans in the 17th century, and is presently enjoying a revival throughout the English-speaking world.

Ethnic name in various European languages (including Danish and English) meaning ‘Dane’.