Category Archives: Italian Names

Callinicus, Kallinikos, Kalliniki, Callinici, Callinica

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Origin: Greek
Meaning: “great victory.”
Καλλίνικος

The popular Greek male name of, Kallinikos, might be a bit out there for a child of non Greek descent, but with the popularity of the name Callie, its feminine counterparts of Kalliniki, Callinici or Callinica might be very appealing, even to non Greek parents.

The name is composed of the elements kalos meaning “beauty; great; nice” and nike meaning “victory.” Its official name-day in the Greek calender is July 29. In English, its latinized form would no doubt be pronounced (kul-LIN-nik-kus) and (kul-LIN-nik-kah). In Greek, these names are pronounced (KAHL-lee-NEE-kose) and (KAHL-lee-NEE-kee). Its Sicilian counterpart of Callinici is pronounced (KAHL-lee-NEE-chee).

The names are borne by several male and female saints. As well as a Greek historian from the 3rd century.

An obscure Catalan male form is Cal·línic.

Andronicus, Andronikos

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Gender: Masculine
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “victory of man.”
Eng (an-DRAH-nik-kus); Gre (AHN-droh-NEE-kose).
Ανδρονικος

This popular Greek male name is most notably known via Shakespeare’s play, Titus Andronicus.

Andronicus, is its latinized counterpart.

If you are tired of Andrew, but absolutely adore the nickname Andy, then this might be the name for you, likewise, if you adore the nickname Nick but dislike Nicholas, Andronicus might just be the perfect option.

The name is composed of the elements andros meaning “man” and nike meaning “victory.”

Its name -day in Greece is July 30.

The name is borne by Andronikos I Komnenos (1118-1185), a byzantine emperor and also by an early Greek saint and martyr.

Other forms include:

  • Andronike მოციქული (Georgian)
  • Andronikosz (Hungarian)
  • Andronico (Italian)
  • Andronicus (Latin)
  • Andrónico (Portuguese: very rare)

A feminine Greek form is Andronike


Martha, Marta, Marthe

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Origin: Aramaic
Meaning: “lady.”
Eng (MAR-thuh); (MAR-tah); Fre (MAHRT)

Vintagy, classic and a bit waspy, Martha brings to mind quaint housewives of Connecticut and solid first ladies.

The name traces its origins back to the New Testament, being the name of the sister of Lazarus and Mary of Bethany. It seems almost fitting that she is the patron saint of cooks! It is derived from the Aramaic word martâ מַרְתָּא meaning “lady”

Its continental form of Marta, has a sweet, exotic appeal. Martha might feel a bit too heavy and clunky for a comeback, but Marta certainly has potential. Other forms include:

  • Marte (Basque)
  • Marta(Catalan/Bulgarian/Croatian/Czech/Georgian/Italian/Norwegian/Polish/Romanian/Serbian/Slovakian/Slovene/Swedish
  • Martta (Finnish)
  • Marthe (French: MAHRT)
  • Martje (Frisian: MAHRT-ye)
  • Marta/Marthe/Martha (German/Dutch: MAHR-te/MAHR-tah)
  • Martha Μαρθα (Greek)
  • Martâ מרתא (Hebrew)
  • Márta (Hungarian)
  • Morta (Lithuanian)
  • Marte (Norwegian: MAHR-te)
  • Marfa Марфа (Russian)
  • Märtha (Swedish: MARE-tah).

The name was borne by Martha Washington, the first First Lady of the United States and was borne by several other St. Marthas. Of course, how can we ever forget Martha Stewart.

A Spanish diminutive form is Martita, a Hungarian diminutive form is Mártuska. Polish diminutives are: Marusza Marchwa, Marocha, Marsza, Marszka, Marucha, Maruchna, Maruszka

Magdalena, Madeleine, Madeline

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “of Magdala.”

We have the exotic and sophisticated Magdalena, the French classic Madeleine and the English trend setter Madeline.  The origins of these names go all the way back to the Bible, the New Testament to be exact. It is derived from a title given to the famous Catholic saint, Mary Magdalen, also known as Mary of Magdala. Magdala, being the town that the former prostitute turned follower of Christ, hailed from, a town on the sea, near Galilee, its meaning being “tower.”

In the Middle Ages, St. Mary Magdalen was a beloved saint, making the name popular in virtually every European country, evolving into myriad different forms. The cult of St. Mary Magdalen was especially popular in France, where she was known as La Madeleine (lah mah-deh-LEN). In fact, tradition holds that, after the death of Christ, Mary Magdalen travelled to France, where she converted many of the early inhabitants to the new faith. She is considered one of France’s patron saints and it is believed that her bones were buried in France. La Madeleine gave her name to several communes in France as well as a river. It is even the name of a famous French pastry.

While you are out rushing to work, standing in line, getting your daily fix of Starbucks, you may notice that at the front counter there are packages of a soft little sponge-like cookie. These are madeleines or petit madeleines. They are a popular snack in France, made from lemon and butter, and are known for their distinctive shell shape. Legend has it that they acquired their name from the lady who invented them, Madeleine Paulmier. They are a delightful little treat, and I recommend that the next time you are at Starbucks, you should try them yourself.

Likewise, Madeleine has been a very popular choice in Great Britain and currently ranks in as the 80th most popular feminine name in Britain and Wales for 2007, while in its home country of France, it comes in rather low. It was the 454th most popular feminine name in France for 2006.

Let us not forget the fun and sweet version of Madeline (MAD-eh-LINE), Madeline seems to be specifically a North American version of the French form. Originally pronounced (MAD-eh-LIN), its preferred pronunciation has switched over to the former in the last decade, no doubt due to the popular children’s series of books of the same name.

Madeline has been quite popular the last few years, she ranked in at a whopping 61 in the 2007 most popular feminine names in the United States. She has also made her mark in other non-British English speaking countries, such as Canada and Australia. In Canada she came in at 85, while in Australia 93.

There is also the trendified corrupted form of Madelyn, which currently comes in at # 104, however, it is advisable to use the French spelling if you prefer the (Mad-eh-lin) pronunciation, which seems to be the goal of the parents of the Madelyns.

Nicknames include Maddie, Leine and Lynn. The name is borne by Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Madeleine Albright, and author Madeleine L’Engle.

Let us now move on to its Eastern European alternative of Magdalena (MAHG-dah-LAY-nah). This form is used in Spain, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Poland. It is especially popular in both Poland and the Czech Republic where it is often shortened to Magda, and occasionally Lenka. There are the Czech spin offs of Alenka and Madlenka, used as an independent name.

Magdalena might be appealing to English speaking parents who love the nickname Maggie but really dislike Margaret. On top of that, it can be shortened to appealing and trendy Laney or even Lena.

Other forms of the trio include:
  • Magdalawit (Amharic/Eritrean)
  • Maialen (Basque: MY-ah-LEN)
  • Madenn (Breton)
  • Miglena (Bulgarian)
  • Alena (Czech-Slovak and occasionally used in Germany. Diminutive form is Alenka)
  • Magdaléna (Czech)
  • Mahulena (Czech: a form created by Czech author, Julius Zeyer, for his his Ráduz and Mahulena-1898)
  • Magdalene (Danish)
  • Magdalone/Malene/Lone (Danish)
  • Malle/Madli (Estonian pronounced MAHL-leh and MAHD-lee) other forms include Mall, Leen (LANE), Leena and Made (MAH-deh)
  • Matleena (Finnish pronounced maht-LAY-nah) diminutive forms now commonly used as independent names include: Leen, Leena and Lenita)
  • Magdeleine (French: archaic form)
  • Leni (German: originally a diminutive form, it has recently become trendy in German speaking countries as an independent name)
  • Madelene (German: mah-deh-LEH-neh: other forms include, Madlene and Madlen)
  • Magdalini (Greek Modern-pronounced mahg-dah-LEE-nee)
  • Magdolna (Hungarian, pronounced mog-DOH-noh) diminutive forms now popularly used as independent name in Hungary are Lenke (LEHN-keh) and Duci (DOOT-see).
  • Madalein (Irish-Gaelic)
  • Mailin (Irish-Gaelic)
  • Maddalena (Italian pronounced mahd-dah-LAY-nah. Other forms include Maida, Madina and Magdala)
  • Madala (Latvian) another form is Magone
  • Talena (Latvian/Scottish)
  • Maguelone (Occitanian)
  • Madalena (Portuguese pronounced mah-dah-LAY-nah)
  • Maclaina (Romansch pronounced mugg-LIE-nah) other Romansch forms include Madina, Madlaina (mudd-LIE-nah) and Madlena (mudd-LEH-nah).
  • Madalina (Romanian pronounced mah-dah-LEE-nah)
  • Magdalina Магдалина (Russian)
  • Manda (Serbo-Croatian/Macedonian/Slovene)
  • Madlena (Sorbian)
  • Malin/Målin (Swedish/Norwegian pronounced MAW-lin, other forms include Malena and Madicken (MAH-dee-KEN)
  • Mädi (Swiss-German: dialectical form from Bern MAD-dee)
  • Magdalyna (Ukrainian)
  • Madałena (Venetian)

Other popular offshoots include the English corrupted form of Madelaine (MAD-eh-LANE): given to the daughter of David Duchovny and Téa Leoni. The dated German forms of Marlene (Eng mar-LEEN; Germ mahr-LEH-neh) & Marla and the Polish Marlena.The designated name day for all of these names is July 22.

French diminutives are Mado and Madelon. Polish diminutive forms are: Madzia, Magda, Magdunia, Magdusia and Magdeczka. Hungarian diminutives are, Duci

There are a few Italian masculine forms and that includes, Maddaleno, Magdalo and Maido.


Charlotte

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: French
Eng (SHAR-let); Fre (shahr-LOT); German (shahr-LOT-teh); Swedish (har-LOT)

      Pretty, lacy and irresistibly feminine,she is everything from a Southern Belle to a French princess. Despite its uber femininity, the name is actually a feminine form of Charles, which, in turn, is from an old Germanic source meaning “man.” So much for being the ultra feminine name! But beyond its butch meaning the name has lots of feminine associations which outweigh its “manly” origins.

      Charlotte first appeared in France as a feminine form of the diminutive Charlot (SHAHR-lo). Both Charles and Charlotte became very common names among French nobility and royalty, in fact, Marie-Antoinette had a daughter named Charlotte. Through intermarriages among European royalty, the name eventually crept into Italian and German Royal houses giving us such off shoots as Carlotta and Carla.

      It was the Germans, however, who gave the English speaking world this name. Charlotte seems to have adorned the British throne just when George III took Charlotte of Mecklenberg as his wife, (the city of Charlotte in North Carolina was named for her). Queen Charlotte eventually had a junior Charlotte who would later be known as Princess Charlotte Princess Royal.

      Not coincidentally, Charlotte Bronte (b. 1812), was born just a few years after George III married his German princess. The princess of Mecklenberg seemed to have commenced a huge Charlotte craze after she had ascended the throne. The name reached the United States where it enjoyed considerable favor til the turn of the century.

      So far, in American history, the highest Charlotte ranked was # 50 in 1944. She seemed to decline for the next decades thereafter, but is climbing back up the charts. In 2000, for example, Charlotte was all the way down # 289. Just last year, however, she popped back up at # 87, perhaps Sex and the City has something to do with this. Meanwhile in France, Charlotte comes in at # 29. In England her popularity is still explosive, coming in at # 12. Her nicknames include Charlie, Carly, Harly, Lottie and even Tottie. Her designated name day in France is July 16.

      Charlotte is also used in the Czech Republic, German-Speaking countries, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.

      Other forms of the name include:

      • Šarlota (Czech)
      • Charlott (Danish/Norwegian/Swedish)
      • Arlotte (Dutch: contraction of Charlotte)
      • Lotje (Dutch: initially a diminutive form, used as an independent given name)
      • Charlotta (German/Icelandic)
      • Lotta/Lotte/Lottie (German/Danish/Dutch/Norwegian/Swedish: initially diminutive forms, used as independent given names)
      • Séarlait (Irish/Gaelic: SHER-lat)
      • Carlotta (Italian)
      • Szarlota (Polish: obscure)
      • Teárlag (Scottish/Gaelic: CHAR-lak)
      • Carlota (Spanish/Portuguese)
      • Lotten (Swedish: initially a diminutive form, used as an independent given name on occasion).

      German diminutives include, Löttchen, Lottchen, Schlotte and Schlotti.

      Carmel

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      Gender: Feminine
      Origin: Hebrew
      Meaning: “garden; orchard.”
      Eng; (KAHR–mel); (kahr-MEL)

      There’s Candy and Cinnamon, so why not this? It sounds exactly like the yummy sugary snack, but has no relation to the word whatsoever. Spelled Carmel, it is the name of a place in Israel where alleged sightings of the Virgin Mary occurred way back in the Middle Ages. The miraculous visions gave its name to the Carmelite order.

      Carmel is a derivative of the Hebrew karmel כַּרְמֶל. meaning “garden; orchard.” If you find the religious connotations too strong, and you love flowers, you now have the perfect excuse to use this name. Its designated name day is July 16.

      As a given name, its spread throughout the Catholic world and the only English speaking country it ever gained any ground in, was Ireland, way back in the 1950s.

      There’s the popular Italian version of Carmela, (also used by Spanish-speakers), which came to everyone’s attention as the name of Carmela Soprano on the hit HBO series.

      There is also the obscure French form of Carmelle. Carmelita and Carmelina are popular Spanish diminutives, often used as independent names.

      Other forms include:

      • Carme (Catalan/Galician)
      • Carmel (English: commonly used in Ireland)
      • Carmèle/Carmelle (French)
      • Karmela (German: rare)
      • Karméla (Hungarian)
      • Karmelina (Hungarian)
      • Carmela (Italian/Spanish)
      • Carmelina (Italian/Spanish)
      • Carmelinda (Italian/Portuguese/Spanish)
      • Carmelita (Spanish: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name)
      • Karmni (Maltese)
      • Carmo (Portuguese)
      • Carmen (Spanish: actually has a different etymology, but has been used as a cognate for centuries)

      Spanish masculine forms are Carmelino, Carmelito and Carmelo and an Italian male form is Carmelio.

      Common compound names include: the Spanish, Maria Carmen and Maria Carmel, the Italian, Maria Carmela and the Portuguese, Maria da Carmo.



      Rosalia, Rosalie

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      Gender: Feminine
      Origin: French
      Meaning: “rose festival.”
      (ROZE-uh-LEE-uh); (ROZE-uh-LEE)

      Rosalie Cullen is described as an utterly beautiful yet cold creature. She is the more stand-offish of the Cullen bunch. If you don’t know what I am talking about, I am referring to a character in the popular Stephanie Meyer books, Twilight.

      For a character that was supposedly born at the turn of the century, Ms. Meyer certainly named her character well, since Rosalie has not been in the top 1000 names since 1988, coming in at a mere # 942 when it was last seen. In fact, the highest the name ever reached was # 66 back in 1938!

      If Rosalie Cullen doesn’t hold enough supernatural appeal for you, then you might want to look into the history of this rare little gem, as the name has enough gothic and romantic charm behind it to fit a beautiful vampire.

      It is assumed that the name is just an elaboration of the name Rose, but in actuality, it comes directly from the name of an ancient Roman and Greek festival, the rosalia. Known to the Greeks as the Anthesteria, the celebrations usually took place around the 11th to 13th of January or February. It was basically the celebration of the maturing of the wine stored in previous years. During the festival, the vintages were opened, representing the beginning of Spring. Likewise, on these days, slaves and masters reversed their roles, it was the one and only festival where slaves were allowed to participate. It was also a day that celebrated the expulsion of the lost wondering souls of the dead. It had many similar aspects to Hallow e’en and Mardi Gras. Though a popular festival, the name was never used as a human moniker till perhaps the Middle Ages.

      As a give name, it seems to have first appeared around the 1600s after the bones of a mysterious hermit saint were found in a cave in Sicily.

      Known affectionately in Sicily as La Santuzza, (the Little Saint), all that is known of St. Rosalie is that she and her family were of noble blood and were French-Norman immigrants who had settled in the city of Palermo.

      St. Rosalie chose to live a life as a hermit, and tucked herself away in a cave till she died.

      Legend has it that she was lead to the cave by angels. On the cave wall, she wrote, “I, Rosalia, daughter of Sinibald, Lord of the Roses, and Quisquina, have taken the resolution to live in this cave for the love of my lord, Jesus Christ.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Rosalia).

      In the 1600s, Palermo had been struck by the plague, and, according to legend, the saint appeared to a hunter dying from the pestilence. She led him to the cave where her bones were found. Rosalia then instructed the hunter to transport her bones back to Palermo and to have them carried in a procession throughout the city. The hunter did what she asked and supposedly, the hunter, and the city, were cured of the plague. Since then, St. Rosalie is honoured as the patron saint of Palermo, and each July 15, a huge festival is held in her honour to commemorate the event.

      Known as the festino, it is still a big holiday in Sicily, and even throughout the United States, the same festival is celebrated by Italian Americans, only it has been switched to honour Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, while St. Rosalie’s feast is held off till the beginning of September.

      Another interesting side note is that St. Rosalie is also designated as the patron saint of evolutionary studies, due to the fact that a scientist by the name of G.E. Hutchinson conducted a study of a pool by the saint’s cave where he observed water boatmen.

      The name was never really used in the English speaking world till the influx of Italian immigrants to the United States at the turn of the century.

      In 2006 French popularity lists, Rosalie came in at # 342.

      Currently, in Slovenia, its contracted form of Zala is the 8th most popular female name, (2008).

      Other forms of the name include:

      • Rosalia (Afrikaans/Catalan/German/Italian/Sardinian)
      • Rozalija (Croatian/Latvian/Serbian/Slovene)
      • Rozálie (Czech: raw-ZAHL-yeh)
      • Rosalie (Danish/Dutch/French/English)
      • Rozália (Hungarian/Slovak)
      • Rosolia (Italian: obscure)
      • Rozalia (Polish/Slovene)
      • Rosália (Portuguese)
      • Rusulìa (Sicilian)
      • Zala (Slovene: originally a diminutive form, now used exclusively as an independent given name)
      • Rosalía (Spanish)

      An Italian masculine form is Rosalio.

      Camilla

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      Gender: Feminine
      Origin: Latin
      Meaning: Unknown
      (kah-MIL-lah)

      Camilla, a little stodgy, a little dramatic, and a little British nobility, most of the English speaking world would probably associate her with Camilla Parker-Bowles, now the legitimate wife to Prince Charles.

      Then we have Camille, a classy French feminine name that brings to mind pastellic landscapes and Claude Monet, but wait, Camille is actually a masculine name!

      The origins of Camilla goes back to the very foundations of Rome itself.

      In Roman mythology, Camilla of the Volsci was a pre-Roman princess. Her father, Metabus, was deposed by his own people; running for his life, along with his infant daughter, he tied Camilla to a spear and consecrated her to the goddess Diana, in hopes that the goddess would intercede for his only child’s life. In exchange, he promised that Camilla would be Diana’s loyal servant and forever remain a virgin in the goddess’ honour. Attached to the spear, Metabus threw Camilla to the otherside of the River Amasenus, and Camilla survived unscathed.

      In Virgil’s the Aeneid, it is confirmed that Camilla is the loyal servant of Diana, but also a great warrior. It is said that she is so swift, that she can run across a body of water without getting her feet wet. She allied herself with the other pre-Roman peoples in order to defeat the Trojans who had recently taken refuge in Rome and were gradually taking power.Camilla was killed by Arruns in battle, and Diana in rage had another servant of hers, Opis, kill Arruns to avenge Camilla’s death.

      In later years, Camilla became a Roman cognomen being masculinized to Camillus. The exact origins and meaning of the name are unclear. It is believed that it is of Etruscan origins and that its meaning has been lost to history.

      In France, Camille was a male name, (and still is considered a male name but has recently become more common on females). It wasn’t until the turn of the century that its usage on females arose. In France’s top 100 female names of 2006, Camille came in at # 7. Even so, for the sake of policy, this blog will list Camille as a masculine name.

      Notable males with this include, Camille Saint-Saëns, a famous composer. Camille Nimr Chamoun, former president of Lebanon. Nicholas Camille Flammarion, a French astrononomer. Camille Desmoulins, a close associate of Georges Danton, (he was a journalist who played a role in the French Revolution), as well as French impressionist painter, Camille Passarro.

      Its notable female bearers cannot go unignored. It was borne by French sculptor, Camille Claudel, and it is also borne by American feminist, Camille Paglia.

      Camilla has other masculine forms. In Polish and Czech it is Kamil (kah-MEEL) and it is fairly popular name in both countries, as is its feminine counterpart, Kamila.

      Lebanese Christians also favor this name because it works well in the Arabic language, yet fits into the edicts of their faith. While St. Camillus de Lellis, (whose feast day is July 14), is a popular Catholic saint, Kamil also coincides with the Arabic word meaning “whole; complete; or perfect,” so for many Middle Eastern Christians, its a 2-for-1 name.

      There is also the Italian male form of Camillo and the Spanish Camilo.

      Camellia is often times seen as a cognate of Camilla. Its actually a botanical name that really has no etymological relations to the ancient name. It was named for botanist Rev. George Joseph Kamel.

      Other forms of the name include:

      • Kamilia (Bielorusian)
      • Kamila (Bosnian/Czech/Slovak/Polish)
      • Camilla (Danish/English/German/Italian/Latin/Norwegian/Swedish)
      • Kamilla (Finnish/Icelandic/Hungarian)
      • Kamilė (Lithuanian)
      • Kamilija (Lithuanian)
      • Kamilijana/Kamilijona (Lithuanian)
      • Camila (Spanish/Portuguese)

      Masculine forms include:

      • Kamil (Czech/German/Polish)
      • Camille (French)
      • Kamill/Kamilló (Hungarian)
      • Camillo (Italian)
      • Camillus (Latin)
      • Kamilas/Kamilis (Lithuanian)
      • Kamilijus (Lithuanin)
      • Camilo (Spanish/Portuguese)

      Possible nickname options are Cammie, Cam, Milla, and Millie.



      Henry, Harry, Harriet, Henrietta

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      Origin: English/Germanic
      Meaning: home ruler

      Henry, an age old classic male name, is an anglicized version of the Germanic Heimric, which is composed of the elements heim meaning “home” and ric meaning “ruler.” The name evolved into the modern German Heinrich, the Scandinavian Henrik, the Polish Henryk, the French Henri, the Spanish Enrique and the Italian Enzo.

      Henry has a lot of staying power in virtually most European countries. Like many of the other classic English names, this name came to England not through any Anglo-Saxon Germanic connections but through the conquering French Normans. It is has been a very popular choice among British and German royalty alike. It has been borne by the infamous Henry VIII all the way to our very present, Prince Henry, (aka Prince Harry), of England.

      Henry has given to the world its diminutive form of Harry, which in many respects, is seen as an independent name in its own right. In Medieval England, Harry was considered the vulgar or everyday form of the name, most of England’s King Henrys were known affectionately as Harry. At one time, the name Henry was so common in the English speaking world, that the phrase, “Every Tom, Dick and Harry,” arose.

      Harry is the title character of J.K. Rowling’s wizardry series, Harry Potter and again most the world knows the charming prince by his nickname versus his full name, given it a new appeal to young parents. Once seen as a stodgy and stuffy old man name, it is now seen as a classy and chic choice. Harry has recently enjoyed a surge in popularity in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Currently, Harry sits at # 644 in the 2008 most popular male names of the United States, while Henry comes in at # 76, and seems to be rising. Meanwhile, in Great Britain, Harry came in at a whopping # 5, while Henry at # 34. In France’s top male names of 2006, Henri came in at # 330, while its Italian version of Enzo, seems to be the more preferred version in recent years, Enzo came in as the # 1 most popular male name of France!

      Other popular nicknames are Hal and Hank.

      It also has feminine forms of Harriet and Henrietta, from both female versions the nicknames Hattie, Hettie and Etta came about. There is also the French form of Henriette, and the Italian feminine form of Enza.

      Likes its male counterpart, Harriet seems to be enjoying a recent surge in popularity. In Britain and Wales’ top 100 female names of 2008, she came in at # 73, while in the United States, she still has some ways to go, in fact, she has not been in the top 1000 for at least 9 years. The name was borne by Harriet Beacher Stowe.

      The designated name day for all forms of this name is July 13.

      Other forms include:

      • Hanrí هنري (Arabic: primarily used among Arab Christians)
      • Endika (Basque)
      • Enric (Catalan)
      • Henrik (Croatian/German/Hungarian/Scandinavian/Slovene)
      • Jindřich (Czech)
      • Hynek (Czech: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name)
      • Henderik (Danish)
      • Henning (Danish/German/Norwegian/Swedish)
      • Driek/Dricus (Dutch: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name)
      • Dries (Dutch: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name)
      • Hein (Dutch: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name)
      • Heino (Dutch/Estonian)
      • Hendrik (Dutch/Estonian/German)
      • Henk (Dutch/Limburgish: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name)
      • Hal (English: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name)
      • Hank (English: originally a diminutive form, now used exclusively as an independent given name)
      • Enrico (Estonian)
      • Harri (Finnish/Welsh)
      • Heikki (Finnish)
      • Henrikki (Finnish)
      • Henri (French)
      • Haio (Frisian)
      • Aiko/Eiko/Haiko/Heiko (Frisian)
      • Heink (Frisian)
      • Henner (Frisian)
      • Hinrich (Frisian)
      • Hainrixi ჰაინრიხი (Georgian)
      • Heimo (German)
      • Heiner (German: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name)
      • Heinrich (German)
      • Heinz (German: diminutive form occasionally used as an independent given name)
      • Errikos (Greek)
      • Hinrik (Icelandic)
      • Anraí/Einrí (Irish-Gaelic)
      • Anrico (Italian)
      • Arrigo/Errigo (Italian)
      • Enrichetto (Italian)
      • Enrico (Italian)
      • Enzo/Enzio (Italian)
      • Richetto (Italian)
      • Rico (Italian: contracted form)
      • Rigo (Italian)
      • Henricus (Latin)
      • Indriķis (Latvian)
      • Herkus (Latvian)
      • Endrikis (Lithuanian)
      • Henrikas (Lithuanian)
      • Heng/Hari (Lexumbourgish)
      • Henno (Low German)
      • Hinderk/Hinnerk (Low German)
      • Jendrik (Low German)
      • Heimrich (Old German)
      • Hinnerk (Plattdeutsch)
      • Henryk (Polish)
      • Henrique (Portuguese/Galician)
      • Henric (Romanian)
      • Andri/Andrin (Romansch)
      • Gendrich/Genrich (Russian)
      • Eanraig (Scottish-Gaelic)
      • Hendry (Scottish)
      • Heinri/Heiri (Swiss-German: dialectical form)
      • Henrich (Slovak)
      • Hendrich (Sorbian)
      • Enrique (Spanish)
      • Hersh (Yiddish)

      Female forms include:

      • Drika (Dutch)
      • Heintje (Dutch)
      • Hendrika/Hendrikje (Dutch)
      • Henriëtte (Dutch)
      • Jetta/Jette (Dutch/German: Originally diminutive forms, now used exclusively as independent given names)
      • Etta (English: contracted form)
      • Harriet (English)
      • Hattie (English: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name)
      • Henrietta (English)
      • Hettie (English: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name)
      • Henna (Finnish)
      • Henriikka (Finnish)
      • Henriette (French)
      • Hinriette (Frisian)
      • Heinriette (German: obscure)
      • Heinrike (German)
      • Henrike (German/Danish/Norwegian)
      • Enrica (Italian)
      • Enrichetta (Italian)
      • Enza (Italian)
      • Errichetta (Italian)
      • Rica (Italian)
      • Henryka (Polish)
      • Andrina (Romansch)
      • Henrika (Swedish)

      Olga

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      Gender: Feminine
      Origin: Russian
      Meaning: “holy”
      (OLE-gah).

      This harsh and rather under appreciated Russian classic is actually a Slavicized form of the equally unpopular Scandinavian name, Helga, which means, “holy.”

      The name was first introduced into Eastern Europe around the 10th-century, thanks in part, to St. Olga of Kiev, (d. July 11 969).

      St. Olga was a Russian woman of Viking descent who married Duke Igor of Kiev. When her husband died and her son Svytoslav was too young to rule, she was designated regent of the duchy. Olga was not a force to be reckoned with, when she first assumed the throne, she spent several years finding the killers of her husband and executing them. She is known for performing the first political reform in Eastern European history by changing the system of tribute gathering.

      As an old woman, Olga had converted to Christianity and became one of the first Russian rulers to take on the new religion. She was known for her proselytizing and her hard work in converting her grandson, Vladimir of Kiev and some of her subjects. In fact, the Orthodox Church had proclaimed her an Equal-to-the-Apostles and her feast day is July 11.

      The name is still popular throughout Eastern Europe.

      Other forms of the name include:

      • Vol’ha Вольга (Belarusian)
      • Olga Ольга(Bulgarian/Croatian-Serbian/Czech/German/Hungarian/Macedonian/Polish/Portuguese/Romanian/Russian/Scandinavian/Slovene/Spanish)
      • Helle (Danish)
      • Helka (Finnish)
      • Oili (Finnish)
      • Olja (Finnish)
      • Helga (German/Danish/Icelandic/Norwegian/Swedish)
      • Hella (German/Scandinavian)
      • Ólgha Όλγα (Greek)
      • Elga (Italian)
      • Hege (Norwegian)
      • Helgi (Old Norse)
      • Áile (Sami)
      • Láilá (Sami)
      • Ol’ga (Slovakian)
      • Ol’ha Ольга (Ukrainian)

      Olya is the common Russian diminutive form.