Tag Archives: White

Albina

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “white; bright.”
Eng (al-BYE-nah)

The name has very ancient roots as it was borne by the Etruscan goddess of the dawn, the name is linked to the Latin word albus meaning “white; bright” and it is also linked to the modern French word (aube)meaning “dawn” and Spanish word (alba) “dawn.” The Latin masculine version is Albinus. Interestingly enough, Albina also coincides with the Romanian word for “bee.”

Though it has Latin roots, the name seems to be especially common in Central Asian countries, such as Chechnya and Kyrgyzstan, and is common among the Tartar populations of Russia.

The name is also used in Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, in Spanish-speaking countries and in Portuguese speaking countries.

It is borne by Chechen Human Right’s Activist, Albina Digaeva (b.1978), it is also borne by Russian-Tartar olympic biathlete, Albina Akhatova (b.1976) and Tajik Olympic Archer, Albina Kamaletdinova (b.1969).

It was also borne by a 3rd century Christian martyr.

The designated name-day is usually December 15.

Other forms include:

  • Albína (Czech/Slovak)
  • Albina Альби́на (Russian)

A Russian diminutive form is Alya and Slovenian diminutives are Bina, Binca (BEENT-sah); Albinca.

Masculine forms are:

  • Albin (Czech/English/Polish/German/Norwegian/Swedish)
  • Aubin (French)
  • Albinus (Latin)
  • Albín (Slovakian)

Fionntán, Fintan

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Gender: Masculine
Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: “white fire.”
Ir (fin-TAHN); Eng (FIN-tun).

The name is composed of the elements fionn meaning “white; fair” and tine meaning “fire.” It has been anglicized as Fintan. In Irish legend, Fionntan Mac Bochra was a great seer and druid advisor who supposedly arrived in Ireland, along with Noah’s granddaughter, Cessair. His wives and daughters died during God’s cursed flood but he survived by transforming himself into a salmon and taking refuge in an undersea cave. He later transformed himself into an eagle, then into a hawk and then back into his true form. Supposedly, he lived 5500 years, until the arrival of Christianity into Ireland, where he was baptized and died immediately after. It has been borne by several Irish saints, and its designated name day is July 13. The name might be especially appealing to parents who are considering Connor or Aidan, but find them too popular. Finn or Finty are possible nickname options.

Bianca, Blanca, Blanche, Branca

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Gender: Feminine
Meaning: “white”
Italian (BYAHN-kah) Eng (bee-AHN-kuh); Sp (BLAHN-kah); Fre (BLOWnSH) Eng (BLANCH).

The etymology of the four above names are virtually the same. The original source is the Spanish, Blanca, which was first recorded in the 12th century, as the name of a Spanish princess, the daughter of King Garcia Ramirez of Navarre.

The name comes directly from the Spanish word for “white.”

It is uncertain how it caught on as a name, however, its meaning might have been synonymous with beauty at the time.

Others believe that it may be a direct translation of the Arabic name Elvira, brought to Spain via the Moors and later latinized as Blanca.

It has also been conjectured that it may have started off as a name given to blonde girls.

The name rapidly spread among Western European royalty due to intermarriages and ancestry. It was introduced to the English speaking world after the Norman Conquest of England.

The name was translated as Blanche in French, Bianca in Italian and Branca in Portuguese.

It was borne by Blanche of Champagne (1226-1283); Blanche of Artois (1248-1302); Blanche I of Navarre 1385-1444) and Blanca of Navarre (1420-1464).

Bianca became an exceedingly popular name among the Italian nobility, where it is still very popular till this day.

Blanca and Bianca have spread to Germany and particularly the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia, where they are often rendered phonetically, as Blanka and Bianka.

Currently, Bianca ranked in as the 204th most popular female name in the United States, in Australia, she was the 76th most popular female (2007), and the 9th most popular female name in Romania, (2008). In 2009, Bianka was the 78th most popular female name in Warsaw Poland.

Blanche has not ranked in the U.S. top 1000 since 1964, when it ranked in as the 911th most popular female names, the highest it has ranked in U.S. naming history was at # 51 in 1886. Perhaps its time for a revival?

As for Blanca, she recently fell out of the U.S. top 1000, she was last seen in 2007, where she came in as the 960th most popular female name. In Spain, in 2006, she was the 45th most popular female name. In 2009, Blanka was the 31st most popular female name in Warsaw, Poland.

Other forms of the names include:

  • Zuria (Basque: a direct translation)
  • Blanca (Catalan)
  • Bijanka (Croatian/Serbian: phonetic spellings)
  • Branca (Galician)
  • Bianchina (Italian: originally a diminutive form, occasionally used as an independent given name)

Common Italian compound forms include: Biancaurora, (literally meaning “white dawn”), Biancaluisa, Biancamaria and Biancarosa, (literally meaning “white rose.”).

Italian masculine forms include: Biancardo, Bianchino and Bianco.

Galatea

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “milky white.”
Pronunciation (gah-lah-TAY-ah)

The name is found in Greek mythology. It borne by a wood nymph who lived on the Isle of Sicily; she was pursued by the giant, Polyphemos, but rejected his advances and fell in love with a local mortal by the name of Acis. In his jealousy, Polyphemos bashed Acis’ skull with a rock. Grief-stricken, Galatea transformed Acis into a stream.

Another Galatea was the object of Pygmalion’s affection. He carved a beautiful statue and fell in love with it, after praying to Aphrodite, the statue came to life and was named Galatea, due to the milky white texture of her skin.

Possible nickname options include Gala & Tea.

The name is used in Spanish and Italian.

Other forms include:

  • Galateja (Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian)
  • Galateia (Czech/Portuguese/Slovak)
  • Galatée (French)
  • Galatėja (Lithuanian)