Topaz
Topaz Origin and Meaning
Rare for girls and rarer still for boys, Topaz is a gemstone name with a cool -Z ending, reminiscent of stylish options such as Azriel, Azariah, and Azai, along with the more classic Christopher, Thomas, and Tobias. Associated with healing, protection, fidelity, and good fortune, the golden gemstone is also the birthstone of November, which could make it a distinctive option for babies born in the month.
While the exact etymology of the name is unknown, one theory is that it comes from the Greek Topázios, the ancient name for what is now St. John's Island in the Red Sea. A yellow stone was originally mined from there, and while it believed to have been chrysolite and not topaz, the name may have became attached to the yellow gemstone anyway. A second theory is that it emerged from the Sanskrit word tapas meaning "heat" or "fire", likely in reference to its color.
While Topaz has never appeared in the US stats for boys, it has seen some use in Israel, India, and Canada as a masculine name. Thanks to its rarity however, it could work for any gender, especially as an unexpected middle name or a bold but familiar first.
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