Origin
Source, Ground Spring
noun
みなもと
元 (もと) Origin, Ex, Former
根本 (こんぽん、ねもと) Root, Source, Origin, Foundation
由来 (ゆらい) Origin, Source, Coming From
源 (みなもと) Origin, Source, Ground Spring
発祥 (はっしょう) Origin
泉 (いずみ) Spring, Fountain
湧水 (ゆうすい) Spring Water
Ground Springs 源 are the Origin 源 of water.
源 is fancier than 元, so it has the longer みなもと reading.