Where does “Біржан” come from?

Біржан (Kazakh) comes from Kazakh жан, from Persian جان, from Middle Persian yʾn', from Proto-Iranian *wyaHnáH, from Proto-Indo-Iranian wyaHnás, from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁‑ — to breathe.

Ancestry of “Біржан”, step by step

Біржан traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Kazakh жан

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Kazakhжанside, flank
2Persianجانsoul; being; life
3Middle Persianyʾn'—
4Proto-Iranian*wyaHnáH—
5Proto-Indo-IranianwyaHnás—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂enh₁‑to breathe

via Kazakh бір

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Kazakhбірone
2Old East Slavicборъ—
3Proto-Slavicborъpine tree; set, assembly; loot
4Proto-Balto-Slavicbarús—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰor-to hum, buzz; coniferous forest; to protrude;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁‑ →