Mustang

The word 'mustang' itself is an American English corruption of the Spanish word 'mestengo'. 'Mestengo' originally referred to stray or ownerless animals, particularly cattle, and comes from the Old Spanish 'mesteño'. These terms were used in the context of the Mesta, a powerful association of sheep and cattle owners in medieval Castile, Spain, which had rights over stray animals.

When Spanish explorers and settlers brought horses to the Americas, some escaped or were released, forming feral herds. These horses became known as 'mustangs' in English, reflecting their 'ownerless' status. While primarily a noun for the animal, its evocative imagery of freedom and wildness has led to its occasional use as a given name, though it remains very rare.