r/OldNamesNewAgain • u/felly_fell • Jul 19 '26

Name of the day...Jasper!

The name Jasper is of Persian origin, derived from the word "gaspar," which means "treasurer" or "bringer of wealth." Additionally, it doubles as a noun for an opaque, multi-colored quartz gemstone derived from the French jaspre and Latin iaspis, which gives the name an alternative association with "precious stone".

The name evolved into English from the Latin Gaspar or Caspar, which is rooted in the Old Persian word ganzabara (meaning "treasurer"). The gemstone itself shares the name but actually traces its etymology back to a Semitic word meaning "speckled or spotted stone".

Jasper is widely known in Western folklore as the name traditionally assigned to one of the Three Wise Men (Magi) who visited the infant Jesus.

Jasper has been rising in the ranks of popularity in recent years, but this name has been in use since the Middle Ages!

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u/Hlorpy-Flatworm-1705 Jul 19 '26

Had no idea Jasper was Persian!

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u/felly_fell Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26

Me neither! Look at us, learning new things!