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Pronounced - TAHL-ə-mee
From the ancient Greek name Ptolemaios, meaning "aggressive" or "warlike".

The English name Ptolemy comes from the Ancient Greek name Πτολεμαῖος (Ptolemaios), "warlike", a Homeric form of πόλεμος (pólemos), "war".
The name Ptolemaios varied over the years from its roots in Ancient Greece, appearing in different languages in various forms and spellings. The original form, and some of the variants:
Greek Πτολεμαῖος (Ptolemaîus)
Latin Ptolemaeus
German Ptolemäus or Ptolemaios
Italian Tolomeo
English Ptolemy
Egyptian ptwȝlmys
Hebrew and Aramaic Talmai
Arabic Batlemos

The Aramaic name Bar Talmai (Greek Bartolomaios and English Bartholomew) may be related or it may have a Hebrew derivation.

Famous real-life people named Ptolemy: | Edit

The Ptolemaic dynasty, of Macedonian origin, ruled Hellenistic Egypt for nearly 300 years, from 305 BC to 30 BC. The kings of this dynasty were all named Ptolemy.
Ptolemy I Soter, Macedonian general of Alexander the Great
Ptolemy Philadelphus, Ptolemaic prince and the youngest child of Egyptian Queen Cleopatra and Roman General Mark Antony.
Claudius Ptolemy, Roman mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet.

Ptolemy John Williams, son of Actress Gretchen Mol and film director Kip Williams.
Ptolemy Tompkins, American author.
Ptolemy Dean, British architect and television presenter.

Ptolemy in song, story & screen: | Edit

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, a novel written by Walter Mosley.
Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII, character portrayed by Richard O'Sullivan in the 1963 film Cleopatra.
Ptolemy's Gate, the third book in author Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus Trilogy.