Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site brl-tgr.ARPA
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!brl-tgr!matt
From: matt@brl-tgr.ARPA (Matthew Rosenblatt )
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: The name "Dan"
Message-ID: <2405@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 24-Oct-85 16:21:12 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.2405
Posted: Thu Oct 24 16:21:12 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 31-Oct-85 02:04:40 EST
References: <2361@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Distribution: net
Organization: Ballistic Research Lab
Lines: 27

WILL MARTIN writes:

> In English, the proper name "Dan" is just about always a nickname and
> an abbreviation for "Daniel". Is the Israeli name "Dan" the same, or
> is it a completely separate name, with nothing to do with "Daniel"?
> (Would a native Israeli ever have the name "Daniel"? If so, would he
> ever have "Dan" as a nickname?) Thanks!

"Dan" comes from a Hebrew root meaning, "to judge."  "Daniel" is one of
many Biblical names ending in "El," where "El" means "G-d" or "mighty
one."  If "Dan" = "judge," then "Dani" = "my judge" (Hebrew first person
possessive ending), and "Daniel" = "G-d is my judge."

Scripture tells us that when Rachel's handmaid Bilhah conceived and bore
a son for her to her husband Jacob, Rachel said,

	"G-d hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice,
	 and hath given me a son."  (Genesis 30:6)

We see from all this that (1) "Dan" and "Daniel" are related; (2) Dan
came first in time, so his name cannot be short for Daniel.  I have
heard of Israelis nicknamed "Dani" (sort of like the English "Danny,"
where the "-i" here is a nickname ending, not the "-i" of the
first person possessive), but not "Dan."  Does anyone else have
more complete information?

					-- Matt Rosenblatt