How do they make meanings for people names?

I've seen these sites where they give info about people names and stuff, but I'm more curios about making meaning for names. How do they come up with let's say "Andres means manly", based on what they make meaning for names? hope someone can help with this:) thanx ya'll in advance!

How do they make meanings for people names?
They don't "make" meanings; they describe them by studying the history of words. My favorite web site for name meanings didn't have "Andres" so I used Theodore:





Theodore





English: from the French form of the Greek name Theodoros, composed of the elements theos (god) + doron (gift). The name was popular among early Christians and was borne by several saints.





A Dictionary of First Names, Oxford University Press,





So, Theodore means "A gift from God". A less detailed web site would just say that, leaving out the history.





Most names in the USA predate modern English; David, for instance, goes back to the Old testament and started out as a Hebrew name. Long ago the names used to mean something directly. "Peter", for instance, comes from "Petros", which means "a rock" (The word "petroglyph" - picture on a rock - has the same root.)





Jesus, a dab hand at puns, told Peter "thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church”.





So, kids have been named "Peter" for a couple of thousand years, but people who do so don't speak Greek anymore, so they have to look it up if they want to see what it means.
Reply:Often times, the name comes from another language where the name or a version of it does mean what the definition says in the name book. Sometimes, they are place names, or occupation names. Sometimes they are descriptions of traits or physical characteristics. Sometimes they are names of gods and goddesses in ancient mythologies, or popular rulers. Many names come from different holy books.


Over time, the names remain in cycles of fashion, but the meanings have been forgotten. For instance, the name Michael has been fashionable for over a century, but the name Rose went out of fashion in the early decades of the 20th century, and is just now seeing a resurgence in use.


In some cultures, it is thought to give an auspicious name will lend the traits of the name to the child. In many respects, the names parents choose for their children represent their hopes for the child's future.
Reply:Maybe Andres already meant manly, and then people chose to use that as a name.