The DNA of a Name
Your name is a living thing.
We reveal what's inside.
Every name carries thousands of years of history, sound, structure, and meaning. Etyma decodes it all and turns it into a single, stunning art print.
A name isn't just a label. It's a capsule of language, culture, and meaning that has been shaped by centuries of human history. Each Etyma print unpacks these layers and presents them as art.
Layer One
Etymology
Where did your name come from? Every name has a journey. A path through languages, cultures, and centuries that led it to you.
Origins
We trace your name back to its earliest known roots. “Sunny” descends from the Old English sunne, itself from Proto-Germanic *sunnōn, reaching all the way to Proto-Indo-European *sóh₂wl̥, the ancient word for the sun. A 5,000-year journey, sitting quietly in two syllables.
Language Family Tree
See how your name branches across language families. The same root that gave English “sun” gave Latin sōl, Greek hḗlios, and Sanskrit sū́rya. Your name connects you to all of them.
Cultural Significance
Names carry cultural weight. We document how your name has been used across civilizations, its symbolic meaning, and the stories it carries. Some names were once reserved for royalty. Others were prayers. Yours has a story too.
IPA Transcription
Your name rendered in the International Phonetic Alphabet, the universal system linguists use to describe exactly how sounds are made. /ˈsʌn.i/
Sound Profile
We break down each sound in your name. The /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative, air hissing through a narrow gap. The /ʌ/ is an open-mid back vowel, warm and centred. Together they create a sound that feels bright and optimistic. That's not coincidence. It's phonosemantics.
Stress & Rhythm
How your name flows when spoken. Which syllable carries the weight. Whether it falls as a trochee (DA-da) or an iamb (da-DA). The rhythm of a name shapes how it feels to say, and how it feels to be called.
Layer Two
Phonetics
How does your name sound? Not just to your ear, but to a linguist's. Every consonant, every vowel, every micro-movement of your mouth tells a story.
Layer Three
Morphology
The internal architecture of your name. If etymology is history and phonetics is sound, morphology is structure. The building blocks. The DNA.
Morpheme Breakdown
Every name can be decomposed into its smallest meaningful units. “Sunny” = sun + -y. The root sun (the star) plus the suffix -y (having the quality of). Two morphemes. One meaning: radiant.
Word Class & Grammar
Your name started as something else before it became a name. An adjective. A noun. A verb. We trace that grammatical journey: how a common word became a proper noun, became someone's identity.
Related Forms
Names have siblings. Variants across languages, diminutives, historical forms. “Alexander” connects to “Alejandro”, “Alessandro”, “Iskander”. Your name is part of a family.
The Centrepiece
Custom Artwork
At the heart of every Etyma print is a unique piece of art, generated specifically for your name. The artwork is inspired by the meaning, the feeling, and the cultural weight of the word. No two prints share the same image.
A name meaning “sun” gets warmth and light. A name meaning “wolf” gets wildness. A name meaning “peace” gets stillness. The art doesn't just decorate. It translates.
Layer Four
Cross-Linguistic Connections
Your name doesn't exist in isolation. It connects to words, names, and meanings across dozens of languages and thousands of years.
Cognates
Words in other languages that share the same ancient root as your name. These are your name's distant cousins, proof that language is one vast, interconnected web.
Name Frequency
How popular is your name, and where? We map usage data across countries and decades. Some names are universal. Others are beautifully rare. Both are interesting.
Famous Bearers
The notable people who've carried your name throughout history. Scientists, artists, leaders, characters. Every name has a lineage of remarkable people.
The most personal gift you can give.
Nothing is more personal than someone's name. An Etyma print takes that name and reveals everything hidden inside it. It's not just wall art. It's a mirror.
Coming Soon
Popular Names
Pre-made prints available for instant download. Can't find yours? Order a custom print.
Launching Soon
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