 The name "Carantania" is of proto-Slavic origin.Paul the Deacon mentions "Slavs in Carnuntum, which is erroneously called Carantanum" ("Carnuntum, quod corrupte vocitant Carantanum").A possible etymological explanation is that it may have been formed from a toponymic base "carant-" which ultimately derives from pre-Indo-European root *"karra" meaning 'rock', or that it is of Celtic origin and derived from *"karant-" meaning 'friend, ally'.