Category Archives: Italian Names

Flora

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Gender: Female
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “floral.”

The name is derived from the Latin word flos, meaning “flower.”

It was the name of the Roman goddess of flowers, she was the wife of Zephyr, the West Wind.

In modern terminology, the name has been used in reference to the entire plant kingdom.

The name was quite common in the middle of the 19th-century. With its two syllable sweetness, and its vintage charm, the name might appeal to those who find such names as Ava, Clara, Cora, Della, Ella, Greta, Mira, Nola, Perla appealing.

Other forms include:

  • Floor (Dutch)
  • Floortje (Dutch: diminutive form of Floor, used as an independent given name)
  • Fleur (French)
  • Fleurette/Florette (French: diminutive forms, used as independent given names)
  • Flore (French)
  • Floretta (German/English)
  • Flóra (Hungarian)
  • Fiora (Italian)
  • Fiorella/Fioretta (Italian: diminutive forms, used as independent given names)
  • Flura (Romansch)
  • Flor (Spanish)
  • Fflur (Welsh)

Bia

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Gender: Female
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “force; might; power.”
(BEE-ah)

    This attractive, sweet two-syllable name, may be appealing to those who have been considering such trendy names as Gia, Leah, Mia, Nia, and Tea.

    The name has an ancient and primordial past, in Greek mythology, Bia was the female personification of force, power, strength and compulsion.

    She and her sister Nike, (victory), were the sisters of Cratos (Strength) and Zelos (Rivalry). They were the winged attendance of Zeus, and stood before his thrown on Mt. Olympus. They were known as spirits or daemon.

    Some scholars believe that Bia may have started out as a pre-classical goddess, but was relegated to the duty of a type of protectress or angel to the Olympian gods during the Hellenistic period.

    In Italy, Bia is used as a nickname for Bianca. In fact, it was born by the illegitimate daughter of the Italian nobleman Cosimo I de Medici, and a beautiful portrait done by Agnolo Bronzino, depicts the young beauty.

    Agnes

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    Gender: Female
    Origin: Greek and Latin
    Meaning: “lamb; pure, chaste, holy.”
    (AG-nes)

      The name is of debated origin and meaning. It may be derived from the Greek hagno meaning “pure; chaste; holy.”

      Likewise, it may be derived from the Latin word for “lamb.” Since the lamb later became associated with purity and chastity, the  two above origins and meanings have become interchangeable.

      The name was borne in Greek mythology by an Oceanid nymph, who was said to have raised the god Zeus.

      On Mt. Lyceaus in Arcadia, there was a well sacred to her. When the region was suffering from drought, she prayed and fasted for several days. Afterward, she touched the surface of the well with a branch of an oak tree, inducing a huge rain storm.

      The name was borne in Christian legend by an early virgin martyr who refused to comply with the wishes of a local suitor who later denounced her as a Christian. The local prefect forced her to go through several public humiliations before beheading her.

      It was also borne by a medieval Czech princess, who was later canonized by the Catholic church as a saint. Known as St. Agnes of Bohemia, she is a minor subject in the popular English Christmas carol, Good St. Wenceslaus, and is still revered as a local heroine in her native homeland. Another saintly namesake is  Agnes of Assisi.

      The name was quite popular throughout Europe in the Middle Ages, due to its strong Christian connotations, the word agnes in Latin was also used in reference to Christ’s sacrifice, as in agnes dei, lamb of God.

      The name was prevalent in England before the Reformation, and fell somewhat out of favor, until it was revived in the late 19th-century.

      In recent years, the name has experienced a surge in popularity in a few European countries.

      In Sweden she was the 16th most popular female name of 2007.

      In Hungary, she was the 75th most popular female name of 2005.

      Other forms of the name include:

      • Agnesa/Agnesë (Albanian: the birth name of Mother Theresa of Calcutta)
      • Inas (Arabic)
      • Oanez (Breton: diminutive form of Agnes pronouned WAH-nes).
      • Agnesza Агнеса (Bulgarian)
      • Agnès (Catalan/French: pronounced like ang-YES in French).
      • Gnese (Corsican)
      • Agneza (Croatian)
      • Anežka (Czech)
      • Agnete/Agnethe (Danish)
      • Nancy (English: originally an English pet form, the name has been used as an independent name for quite awhile, its popularity spiked in the 1940s and 50s and is currently considered dated. Another nickname used as an independent form is Nan.
      • Aune (Finnish: pronounced AU-ne the first part is pronounced like how without the H)
      • Iines (Finnish)
      • Agenete/Agnet (Frisian: other forms include Anjes, Anjesse, Anyesse, Anjet and Anjette.
      • Inessa/Nessa (German)
      • Neeske (German/Frisian: initially a diminutive form, used as an independent given name)
      • Hagne (Greek: pronounced AHG-nay)
      • Agnea (Icelandic: pronounced ahg-NAY-ah).
      • Agnéis (Irish-Gaelic)
      • Agnese (Italian/Latvian: pronounced in Italian like ang-YAY-say. It could also be Latvian pronounced (ahg-NEH-seh).
      • Agnesina (Italian: obscure form)
      • Ines (Italian: a borrowing from the Spanish)
      • Ágnes (Hungarian: pronounced like AHG-nesh). Diminutive form is Ági.
      • Baranka (Hungarian: a literal translation)
      • Agnė (Lithuanian: pronounced AHG-nay).
      • Annis/Annice (Medieval English forms: both are pronounced the same ANN-nis)
      • Agnieszka (Polish: pronounced ahg-NYESH-kah, the name is extremely popular in Poland. Medieval diminutive forms include Jagienka, Jagnusia and Jagna. An older form which has fallen out of usage is the Medieval Jagnieszka. Modern diminutive forms include Aga, Agunia and Agusia.
      • Inês (Portuguese)
      • Agneza (Romanian)
      • Neisa/Nesa/Nescha/Nesina (Romansch: credit goes to Capucine)
      • Agnessa (Russian: pronounced on-YEZ-ah).
      • Senga (Scottish: an anagram of Agnes, the name is also said to be from the Gaelic seang meaning “slender.”
      • Agnija Агнија (Serbian)
      • Neza (Slovene: originally a Slovenian diminutive form, it is now used as an independent given name, pronounced NEH-zhah).
      • Hańža (Sorbian)
      • Inés (Spanish/Galician: pronounced like ee-NES, the name has become prevalent in other countries, it is used in Slovenia, Croatia, Latvia, Finland and Estonia, only in Finland and Estonia it is spelled Iines pronounced the same way as in Spanish. A French borrowing is spelled Inès.)
      • Agneta/Agnetha/Agnita/Agna (Swedish/Norwegian: pronounced ung-YEH-tah, ung-NEE-tah and ANG-nah, these forms are considered dated in Sweden being replaced by the trendier Agnes. It is borne by Agnetha Fältskog of ABBA fame )
      • Nesta (Welsh)

      Nicknames include: Aggie, Nessa, Ness and Nessie

      An obscure Italian male form is Agnesio.

      Coincidentally, Agni is an Old Norse male name, also found as Ahni and Hogne. Snorre Sturlasson wrote about a legendary King of Sweden named Agni. He is known for defeating the Finnish chief Frosti and taking his daughter Skjalf hostage, who he later married and had children with. The name is believed to be derived from the Nordic agh meaning “spear point” or may possibly be derived from the word agi meaning “fear; dread.” It seems to have fallen out of usage. Maybe a you would be brave enough to use it on your own son ;).

      Pontus

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      Gender: Male
      Origin: Greek
      Meaning: “sea.”
      Πόντος
      (PAHN–tus)

      The name is borne in Greek mythology by a pre-Olympian god of the sea. His mother was Gaia, who conceived Pontus without sex. He is the father of Nereus, Phorcys, and Ceto, and with his consort Thalassa, he fathered the fish and the crustaceans.

      The name is derived from the Greek pontos, meaning “sea.”

      In the classical era, he was superseded by the god Poseidon.

      It is also the name of a former Greek kingdom which was situated on coasts of the black sea, in what is now Turkey.

      The name has recently become extremely popular in Sweden, it recently came in at # 76 in the 2007 top 100 names in Sweden.

      Another form is Pontos.

      Other forms include:

      • Pont (Croatian/Slovene: rare)
      • Pontosz (Hungarian: rare)
      • Pontas (Lithuanian)
      • Ponto (Spanish/Italian/Portuguese: rare)

      Beatrice, Beatrix

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      Gender: Feminine
      Origin: Latin
      Meaning: “blessed; traveller, voyager.”
      Eng (BEE-uh-TRISS); (BEE-uh-TRICKS)

      The name is of somewhat debated meaning, some sources list it as a derivative of the Latin word beatus meaning “blessed” while other sources claim that it is a feminine form of the Latin name, Viator which means, “traveller” or “voyager.”

      The famous Italian poet, Dante Aligheri, author of the Inferno, and other works, used Beatrice Portinari, (a local noblewoman whom the author was in love with), as a recurrent theme in his writings. The name has been consistently popular in Italy since the Middle Ages, she was especially popular in the rest of Europe during the Middle Ages as well, but has gone in and out of fashion since, depending on the country. It was particularly popular in England before the Reformation, where it experienced a revival in the 19th-century. Peter Rabbit author, Beatrix Potter, bore the name (1866-1943).T he name is also borne by several early Christian saints, and it is currently borne by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.

      Beatrix has not ranked in the U.S. top 1000 since 1883! As of 2005, however, Beatrix was the 88th most popular female name in Hungary. Her counterpart of Beatrice faired much better in the U.S. statistics, though not anywhere near the top 100, Beatrice at least ranks in at # 833 (2008). In 2006, Beatriz was the 59th most popular female name in Spain.

      Other forms of the name include:
      • Batirtze (Basque)
      • Beatriu (Catalan)
      • Beatrijs (Dutch)
      • Beatrix (Dutch/English/German)
      • Béatrice/Béatrix (French: bay-ah-TREES/bay-ah-TREEKS)
      • Beke/Beeke (Frisian: diminutive forms are Bekje. Pronounced BEH-ke)
      • Beatrisa (German)
      • Beatríke Βεατρίκη (Greek: Modern)
      • Beatricse/Beatrisz/Beatrix (Hungarian: a Hungarian diminutive is Trixi)
      • Beatrice (Italian/English/Romanian/Swedish: in Italian, pronounced, bay-ah-TREE-chay. Bice is a common diminutive form, though in recent years, it is considered dated, and the diminutive form of Bea has taken its place instead)
      • Bicetta/Cettina (Italian: originally diminutive forms, now used as independent given names, though, very obscure)
      • Beatrise (Latvian)
      • Beatričė (Lithuanian)
      • Beatriċi (Maltese: the pronunciation is somewhat similar to the Italian)
      • Beatrycze (Polish: beh-ah-TRIH-cheh)
      • Beatryks (Polish: beh-ah-TRIKS)
      • Beatris (Provencal)
      • Beatrisa Беатриса (Russian)
      • Beatrìci (Sardinian)
      • Beitris (Scottish)
      • Beatrica (Slovene: beh-ah-TREET-sah)
      • Beatriz (Spanish/Portuguese: Spanish Iberian: bey-ah-TREETH, Spanish Latin American: bey-ah-TREES; Portuguese Iberian: bee-ah-TREEZH)
      • Beatrixe (Swiss-German)
      • Betrys (Welsh)

      The names, Beata and Viatrix, have also been linked with Beatrice.

      Common English diminutives are Bea, Bee, Trixie and Trissie. A Portuguese short form is Bia.

      Name-days are: January 17 (Lithuania), February 13 (France), July 29 (Lithuania/Poland), December 2 (Sweden).

      Narcissus

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      Gender: Male
      Origin: Greek
      Meaning: “sleep; numbness.”
      (nar-SIS-sus)

      The name is found in Greek mythology as that of the name of a young boy who thought himself so beautiful that he could not stop staring at his own reflection, until he eventually died.

      The name is also borne by several early Greek saints. The word “narcissim,” is derived from the story of Narcissus.

      • Narcís (Catalan)
      • Narcis (Croatian/Romanian/Serbian/Slovak/Slovene)
      • Narcissus (English/Latin/Dutch)
      • Narcisse (French)
      • Narziss (German/Lexbergerish)
      • Narkissos Ναρκισσος (Greek)
      • Narkisszosz (Hungarian)
      • Narciso (Italian/Spanish/Portuguese)
      • Narcisio (Italian)
      • Narcizas (Lithuanian)
      • Narcyz (Polish)

      Feminine forms are:

      • Nergiz (Azeri: also the Azeri word for daffodil)
      • Narcisa (Italian/Spanish/Portuguese)
      • Narcissa (Latin)
      • Narges نرگس (Persian: also the modern Farsi word for daffodil)
      • Nergis (Turkish: also the modern Turkish word for daffodil)

      Andraemon

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      Gender: Masculine
      Origin: Greek
      Meaning: uncertain
      Ανδραίμονας

      The name is of uncertain meaning but is most likely derived from the Greek, andros, meaning “man.”

      The name is found in Greek mythology as the name of the husband of the nymph Dryope.

      There are two other mythical characters mentioned by this name.

      It is also the name of a species of butterfly.

      The name would make a nice alternative to the classic Andrew.

      Nickname options include Andy, and Andre.

      Another form is the Italian, Andremone (very rare).

      Dryope

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      Gender: Female
      Origin: Greek
      Meaning: “tree face; tree voice.”
      Eng (DRY-uh-PEE).
      Δρυόπη

      In Greek mythology the name is borne by the daughter of King Dryops. She was a shepherdess who had become a close companion of wood land nymphs.

      According to one legend, while Dryope was dancing in the meadows among the nymphs, she caught the attention of Apollo, who transformed himself into a tortoise in order to get close to her. The nymphs found the animal and made it into a pet. They brought it to Dryope to play with. When Dryope had placed the tortoise on her lap, it changed into a serpent, scaring the nymphs away. Apollo then raped Dryope who became pregnant with Amphissus.

      Amphissus later became a local king and built a temple in honor of Apollo, and Dryope was whisked away into the woods by the nymphs, where she herself became a nymph.

      In her place, a poplar tree and a spring appeared. Amphissus dedicated a shrine to the nymphs and his mother, a place where women were forbidden to enter.

      According to Ovid’s account, Dryope was craddling her newborn son Amphissus, by a lake, when she noticed a lotus tree. The lotus tree was the nymph Lotis, in disguise, who was trying to hide from the advances of Priapus.

      Dryope picked a flower from the tree, but when she did, the tree started to tremble and bleed. The blood of the tree made Dryope glued to the spot, and she gradually started to turn into a poplar tree. Just as the as the bark was about to entwine her neck, she called out to her husband, Andraemon, to warn him to care for her son and to never pick flowers.

      Other forms of the name include (NOTE: these forms exists but have not had a long history of usage):

      • Driope (Catalan/Italian)
      • Drüopé (Hungarian: phonetic spelling)
      • Dríope (Spanish/Portuguese: DREE-oh-pay)

      Daphne

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      Gender: Female
      Origin: Greek
      Meaning: “laurel.”
      (DAF-nee).

        In Greek mythology, the name is borne by a nymph who transformed herself into a laurel tree rather than be overtaken by the sexual advances of the god, Apollo.

        In Greek religion,  the laurel became sacred to the god Apollo and the leaves were used to crown the victors of the Pythian Games.

        Daphne was the subject of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, which elaborated on the myth by claiming that Apollo’s lust was caused by an arrow shot by Eros. A quote from Ovid describing the transformation of Daphne, goes as follows:

        “a heavy numbness seized her limbs, thin bark closed over her breast, her hair turned into leaves, her arms into branches, her feet so swift a moment ago stuck fast in slow-growing roots, her face lost in the canopy. Only her shining beauty was left “

        The virginity of Daphne was the subject of the Hellenistic poet, Parthenius, in the Erotica Pathemata. Throughout the centuries, Daphne, the nymph, has been the subject of artists. Other variations of the name include:

        • Dafna Дафне (Croatian/Serbian)
        • Dafné (Czech/Slovak: very rare)
        • Daphne (English/German/Dutch)
        • Daphné (French)
        • Daphne/Daphni Δὰφνη (Greek)
        • Daphnis (Greek: Ancient)
        • Dafne (Italian/Polish/Portuguese/Spanish/Turkish)
        • Dafnė (Lithuanian)
        • Dafni (Turkish)

        The name is borne by Daphne du Maurier (1907-1989) a famous British author and playwrite best known for such works as Rebecca and The Birds. Other notable Daphne’s include Daphne Blake of Scooby-Doo and Daphne Moon on the popular sitcom Frasier. It is also borne by actress Daphne Zuniga.

        The designated name-day in France is October 5.

        Psamathe

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        Gender: Feminine
        Origin: Greek
        Meaning: “sand goddess”
        Ψάμαθη
        (SAM-uh-THEE)

        The name is derived from the Greek psammos meaning sand, and the Greek theia meaning “goddess,” hence: “sand goddess.”

        The name is found in Greek mythology as the name of the goddess of sand and beaches. She was the wife of Proteius, who was the seal herder of Poseidon. Psamathe had one mortal son and a nymph for a daughter.

        She was assaulted on the beach by King Aeacus. She tried to escape his advances by transforming herself into a seal, however, Aeacus was able to overcome her, and she became pregnant with a son whom she named Phocus meaning “seal.”

        Psamathe is also the name of a moon.

        Another form of the name that appears is Psamanthe (sah-MAN-thee).

        Other forms that exists but not necessarily in usage are:

        • Psàmate (Catalan)
        • Psamathée (French: psah-mah-TAY)
        • Psamate (Italian/Spanish)
        • Psamatė (Lithuanian)

        The name would make a more unique alternative to the more popular Samantha.

        Possible nickname options are Sam and Sammie.