This proper noun is the Greek transliteration of a Hebrew/Aramaic place name related to the word for "spring" or "fountain" (עַיִן). John's Gospel uses it in John 3:23 identifying the location where John the Baptist was baptizing: "Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there." The name itself suggests abundant springs or water sources, explaining why John chose this site for his baptizing ministry. The exact location is disputed, with proposed sites both in Samaria and across the Jordan, but the defining characteristic was ample water for ritual immersion.