Yeshua was from the town of "Netsereth" (נצרת) from which we derive the word "Nazareth" in English, changing the "ts" sound in Hebrew to an English "z".  So He was a Nazarene in English or a  "Notsri" in Hebrew.  Christians are called "Nazarenes" or "Nostrim" in Hebrew and Arabic today.  In Hebrew, the word means "Branch".

 

A Nazarite who takes a vow comes from the Hebrew word "Nezer" (נזר).  The masculine form of this word means to consecrate, and is also used to refer to a crown someone would wear on their head.  The feminine form (nizrah) means to scatter.  Both the male and female forms could be rooted in the idea of being "cut off" from some original source.  The masculine form deals with being cut off for a good and special purpose.  The feminine form involves no positive purpose to being cut off from the original source.

 

Often these words get confused when people read in English, especially since English changes the "ts" sound to a "z" for the word "Notsri" / "Nazarene and leaves the "z" sound for the word Nazarite.

 

The meaning of each word can be seen in the meaning from the letters as well.  The Hebrew NUN (נ) involves emerging from something you are connected to.  Resh (ר) can involve a "head" or making straight something crooked.  Zayin (ז) symbolizes constancy and Tsaddi (צ) a side.

 

The word "branch" / "netser" involves the emerging of NUN (נ), the side of Tsaddi (צ) and the "head" or "source" of Resh (ר) since a branch emerges from the side of its origin.  Like branch, the word "nezer" involves the emerging of NUN (נ) and the "head" or "source" of Resh (ר), but involves the constance of Zayin (ז) isntead of the side of  Tsaddi (צ).  Note that when nezer means someone consecreated, they emerge from their "head" or "source".  When it means "crown" , it is word on the head, but still separate from it. 

 

One neat thing about Hebrew is the way the meaning of each Hebrew word can be deduced from the meaning of the individual letters.  No other language has that quality.  See http://www.messiahalive.com/cforcesad.htm for more detail on this topic.

 

Shalom, Joe