Helmholtz resonation is a way to enhance certain frequencies by blowing air into a cavity shaped to resonate with the desirable frequencies, named after German scientist Hermann von Helmholtz.

Helm means helmet in German. Holtz means wood in German (nice name: wooden helmet?) but in most other languages it resembles the word "hold" making this a helmet held Helmholtz resonator. Say it fast.

[–] silva@sopuli.xyz 13 points 3 days ago

Helmholtz would actually mean 'The wood of a helmet', as 'Helm' comes first. But that makes less sense.

[–] naeap@sopuli.xyz 9 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Correctly it would be 'Holz' and not 'Holtz'
The latter I've heard as a family name sometimes. But you're probably right, that it historically referenced 'Holz'

Edit: only found a German page about the origins of the name, and yes, it is very probably coming from forest, woodland, wood

https://namensherkunft.info/namensherkunft-holtz/

[–] RobotZap10000@feddit.nl 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Isn't that also the name of the character from Brave New World?

[–] bstix@feddit.dk 11 points 3 days ago

Yes. There's a character in the book named Helmholtz Watson.

I don't think Helmholtz is a first name in reality though, but I've seen worse.

I used to have a teacher named Dethleff Dethleffsen, so I suppose anything is possible.