Nicanor
/ˈnaɪkənɔːr/noun
A masculine personal name of ancient Greek origin, traditionally interpreted as “victory of a man” or “victorious man.”
Did you know?In the Book of Acts, Nicanor is listed among the Seven chosen to serve the early Christian community, while later tradition—without firm historical confirmation—treats him as a martyr.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*neik-
“To attack, rush upon, or win victory; the reconstructed root behind Greek nikē.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
νίκη (níkē)
“Victory or winning in battle; also the name of the Greek goddess or personification of victory.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀνήρ (anḗr), ἀνδρός (andrós)
“Man or male; the genitive form supplied the stem andr- found in many later compounds.”
Classical Greek
Greek
Νικάνωρ (Nikánōr)
“A personal name formed from nikē, “victory,” and anḗr/andrós, “man”—literally “victory-man” or “victorious man.””
Hellenistic Period
Greek
Nicanor
“A Greek personal name carried throughout the eastern Mediterranean during the spread of Greek language and culture.”
Modern English
English
Nicanor
“A surviving biblical and historical personal name, pronounced commonly in English as /ˈnaɪkənɔːr/.”
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