NAMES DANIEL, DANILO, AND DANIELA: A STRATIFIED MODEL OF ONOMASTIC TRANSMISSION FROM HEBREW TO EUROPEAN LANGUAGES
Željko Stanojević
Institute for Hebrew Language and Literature, Belgrade
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0717-6184
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19961848
Abstract
This study presents a philological and onomastic analysis of the names Daniel, Danilo, and Daniela, tracing their origin from the Biblical Hebrew form דָּנִיֵּאל (Dāniyyēl) and examining their transmission across Greek, Latin, and European languages. The internal structure of the Hebrew name is analyzed as a theophoric formation meaning “God is my judge,” combining the root דין (dīn) with the divine element אֵל (ʾēl).
The research demonstrates that, although phonological and morphological adaptations occur in the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, the semantic core of the name remains stable. Special attention is devoted to Slavic forms, particularly Danilo, which is interpreted as a secondary morphological adaptation within the Slavic linguistic system rather than a direct continuation of the Hebrew original.
The study proposes a stratified model of onomastic transmission, consisting of multiple historical layers—Hebrew, Greek, Latin, European, and derivational—through which Biblical names are transmitted and transformed. This model provides a framework for understanding the long-term preservation and adaptation of theophoric names across linguistic and cultural boundaries.
Keywords
Daniel; Danilo; Daniela; Biblical onomastics; Hebrew theophoric names; etymology; onomastic transmission; Septuagint; Vulgate; Slavic languages; historical linguistics; semantic stability
Full Text
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19961848
https://works.hcommons.org/records/gnjdk-8t505
https://www.academia.edu/166170612/THE_NAMES_DANIEL_DANILO_AND_DANIELA_A_STRATIFIED_MODEL_OF_ONOMASTIC_TRANSMISSION_FROM_HEBREW_TO_EUROPEAN_LANGUAGES
How to cite this work
Stanojević, Ž. (2026) Names Daniel, Danilo, and Daniela: A stratified model of onomastic transmission from Hebrew to European languages. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19961848
Description
This study analyzes the names Daniel, Danilo, and Daniela as part of a continuous linguistic and cultural process that begins in Biblical Hebrew and extends into modern European languages. It explains the origin and meaning of the name Daniel through its Hebrew structure and theological function as a theophoric name.
The research examines how the name was transmitted through the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, becoming a stable element of European naming traditions. It further analyzes how different linguistic systems adapted the name according to their phonological and grammatical rules.
Particular attention is given to Slavic forms such as Danilo, Danijel, Daniil, and Danylo, demonstrating that these forms represent local linguistic adaptations rather than independent etymological developments. The feminine form Daniela is interpreted as a later European derivation.
The study introduces a stratified model of onomastic transmission, explaining how Biblical names are preserved across languages while undergoing structural transformation. This model contributes to research in Hebrew linguistics, Biblical studies, philology, historical linguistics, and onomastics.
Related Works
Stanojević, Ž. (2026) Onomastikon biblijskih imena. Tom I: Starozavetna imena (Preview edition). Centar za hebrejski jezik i književnost. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18796670
Additional Keywords
meaning of the name Daniel; meaning of the name Danilo; meaning of the name Daniela; origin of Daniel; origin of Danilo; Biblical names; Hebrew names; name meaning; name origin; Bible names meaning; Slavic name adaptation; Serbian names; Russian Daniil; Ukrainian Danylo; Italian Daniele; linguistic transmission; cultural transmission; religious names; Biblical philology