The English word “Easter”is derived from the name Eostre, a Germanic goddess called *Austrō in Proto-Germanic, and ultimately comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂ews-, meaning “dawn” or “east”.
The English name (and many of the Easter customs celebrated around the world) may have pagan roots, but the modern holiday is primarily a Christian holiday,… …and this is reflected in its most common name, derived from Latin Pascha. This etymology is shown in red on the above map.
The holiday is mostly called “Big Night(s)”, “Big Day(s)” (both in shades of blue) or “Resurrection of Christ” (green) in Slavic languages. Interestingly, Latvian “Lieldienas” (light blue) also means “Big Days”, but “Liel-” is not etymologically related to “Vel-” in Slavic languages.
Hungarianhúsvét literally means “meat-taking”. Finnishpääsiäinen and similar expressions in Sami languages are derived from the verb päästä, which has many different meanings, one of which is “to escape” or “to be free”…
The English word “Easter”is derived from the name Eostre, a Germanic goddess called *Austrō in Proto-Germanic, and ultimately comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂ews-, meaning “dawn” or “east”. 
…and this is reflected in its most common name, derived from Latin Pascha. This etymology is shown in red on the above map. 
Interestingly, Latvian “Lieldienas” (light blue) also means “Big Days”, but “Liel-” is not etymologically related to “Vel-” in Slavic languages. 
