Mormon had the same name as his father, who was named after the land of Mormon, where Alma established the church among the people. (See Morm. 1:5 and 3 Ne. 5:12.)
Although the interpretation of the name Mormon is not given in the Book of Mormon, it is known from a letter sent by Joseph Smith to the editor of Times and Seasons on May 20, 1843.The prophet was correcting an error among "men that profess to be learned, liberal and wise" who said the name was derived from the Greek mormo.
"This is not the case," he wrote. "There was no Greek or Latin upon the plates from which I, through the grace of the Lord, translated the Book of Mormon.
". . . The word Mormon means literally, more good."
