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Who named Earth first?

Published in Planetary Nomenclature 2 mins read

The Anglo-Saxons named Earth first.

Origin of the Name "Earth"

Unlike most other planets in our solar system, whose names are derived from Roman deities, the name "Earth" has Anglo-Saxon origins. This means that the people who spoke Old English, the ancestor of modern English, were the first to call our planet by a name similar to what we use today.

Etymological Breakdown

  • Eighth-century Anglo-Saxon: The word "erda" was used, meaning "ground" or "soil." This reflects the early Anglo-Saxon people's close relationship with the land and their agricultural way of life.
  • Proto-Indo-European Roots: "Erda" itself descends from the Proto-Indo-European root word "*erþō," which also relates to the concept of the ground.

Why No Single "Namer"?

It's important to understand that the name "Earth" didn't come from a single person making a conscious decision. Instead, it evolved organically within the Anglo-Saxon language and culture as a descriptive term for the ground on which they lived.

Contrast with Other Planets

The Roman naming convention for other planets highlights this distinction. These planets were often named after gods that represented their observed characteristics (e.g., Mars for its reddish color resembling blood, associating it with the god of war). Earth, on the other hand, was simply named for what it was: the ground.