"will, desire, divine purpose"
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“A rare vintage gem meaning divine will with Southern soul”
Thelman is a masculine variant or expansion of Thelma, a name coined by the Norwegian novelist Marie Corelli for her 1887 novel of the same name. Corelli derived it from the Greek thelema (θέλημα) meaning will or desire — the same Greek word that appears in the Lord's Prayer in the phrase thy will be done. The Greek philosopher Rabelais used Thelema for his fictional Abbey of Thélème, where the motto was Do What Thou Wilt. Thelman adds the -an masculine suffix to give the name a distinctly male form.
Thelman emerged in the American South and in African American communities in the early-to-mid 20th century, when masculine forms of feminine names were occasionally created for boys. The name carries the nostalgic warmth of Depression-era and post-war America.
Names like Thelman reflect the creative naming traditions of the American South and African American communities, where unique adaptations of familiar names were crafted to create distinctive identities. The name has vintage Southern charm and carries a sense of rugged individuality.
These names share the same feel as Thelman: Vintage, Strong, Distinctive, Old Fashioned, and Unique.
Musician
1917
Legendary American jazz pianist and composer, one of the architects of bebop and among the most influential musicians of the 20th century
Other
1935
Fictional African American character name appearing in various mid-20th century American novels and television programs
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