Name News

Female names: Zaneta (T) is a diminutive of Giovanna, a feminine form of John. Zebaina (I) Zelante (T) Zuana (T) is a feminine form of Zuane, a Venetian form of Giovanni (i.e., John). It means "God is gracious." Male names: Zane (I) is a Venetian form of Gianni, a short form of Giovanni. Zilio (T)…

Because Italian has no names starting with X, today is another wildcard day. I've taken care not to reuse any of the Medieval X names featured in my 2018 post. Female names: Xabadin (Basque) is a form of Sabina (Sabine woman). Xixili (Basque) is a form of Cecilia (blind). Male names: Xabe (Spanish) may be…

Female names: Veniera (T) is a feminine form of Veniero, which ultimately derives from Venus (love, sexual desire). Its root is Proto–Indo–European *wenh₁- (to love, to wish). Verderia (I) is probably related to the Italian word verde (green). Verderosa (I) means "green rose." Verdiana (I) is a shortened form of Veridiana, which itself is a…

Female names: Taudisca (T), Tedesca (I) derives from Proto–Germanic root *þiudiskaz (popular, of the people, vernacular), and coincides with the Italian word tedesca (German woman). Temperantia (I) means "self-control, temperance, moderation, sobriety." Tiberia (I) is the feminine form of Latin name Tiberius (of the Tiber River). Tomasina, Thomsina (I) is a feminine form of Thomas (twin).…

Female names: Richelda (I) derives from Ancient Germanic name Richild, derived from Germanic root rîcja (mighty, strong, powerful), Gothic reiks (king, ruler), Celtic rîg or rix (ruler, king), and Old Norse hildr (battle). Romengarda (T) Rosuccia (I) is a diminutive of Rosa (rose). Rugiada (I) Male names: Rambaldo (T) derives from Ancient Germanic name Ragimbald,…

Female names: Pace (I) means "peace." It's pronounced PAH-chey, not like the English word "pace." Pacifica (I) means "peacemaker." Pasca (I) derives from the Latin word Pascha, Passover. The Jewish holiday often falls out near Easter, and many Indo–European languages' word for Easter derives from that Latin root. Traditionally, the name was given to girls…

Female names: Nencia (I) Nente (I) Nera (I) is the feminine form of Nero, a Roman surname probably of Sabine origin and meaning "vigourous, strong." Nicolosa, Niccolosa (I) is a feminine form of Nicholas (victory of the people). Nofra (I) is a feminine form of Nofri, a short form of Onfredo (Humphrey). It means "peaceful…

Female names: Lagia (I) Laria (I) may be a shortened form of Ilaria, a feminine form of Hilarius (cheerful). Lasia (I) Laudomia (I) is a form of the Greek name Laodameia, which may mean "to tame the people." Liona (T) means "lion." This was also a Venetian name. Lionarda (T) is a feminine form of…

Since J is a very uncommon letter for Italian names, I wasn't able to find more than a handful for today. Female names: Jacobella (T) is an elaborated feminine form of Jakob. Though the traditional meaning for this name (whose original Hebrew form is Ya'akov) is "heel, supplanter," many modern linguists and Biblical scholars now…

Sorry, I could only find two names for today, and was unable to locate any male names in either category. It's a very uncommon letter in modern Italian names too. Female names: Honesta (I) comes from a Latin word meaning "reputable, honourable, respected, distinguished." Humiliana (I) comes from the Latin word humilis (humble).

Male names: Ferrando (I) is a form of Ferdinand (brave journey). This is also a Medieval Spanish and Aragonese name. Ferrante (I) is also a form of Ferdinand, possibly via the Medieval French Ferrand and Ferrant. Fioravante (I) may derive from the Latin word florem (flower) and thus be a form of Florent and Fiorente. Other…

This was my eighth year doing the A to Z Challenge with this blog, my tenth with two blogs. Much to my disappointment, for the fourth year in a row I had to suffice with a fairly simple theme, one I didn’t need to do a huge amount of research for. I remain hopeful I…

Because Italian has no names starting with Y, today is another wildcard day. I took great care not to repeat any of the Medieval Y names from my 2018 post. Male names: Yagu (Breton) is a form of Jakob, which derives from the Hebrew name Ya'akov. Though traditional etymology claims this name means "heel" and…

Seeing as there are no Italian names, Medieval or otherwise, from any region of Italy, starting with W, today is another wildcard day featuring other Medieval names. I've taken special care not to include any repeats from my 2018 post on Medieval names starting with W. Male names: Waelweyn (Flemish) Waltram (German) derives from Ancient…

Male names: Ugolino (I) is a superdiminutive of Ugo, which ultimately derives from Hugo/Hugh (see below). One of the most famous stories in The Divine Comedy features the infamous Count Ugolino della Gherardesca eternally gnawing at the skull of Archbishop Ruggieri degli Ubaldini. Urso (I) derives from the Latin word ursus (bear). Female names: Ubaldesca (I)…

Male names: Salvi (I) derives from the Roman surname Salvius and the Latin word salvus (safe). Saraceno, Saracen (I) derives from the word Saracen; i.e., an Arab Muslim. Scarlatto (I) means "scarlet." The feminine form is Scarlata. Sclavo (I) means "slave." Sigbald (I) derives from Old High German roots sigu (victory) and bald (bold). This…

Since there are no Medieval Italian or Medieval Tuscan names starting with Q, today is a wildcard. I made sure not to repeat any of the Medieval Q names I used in my 2018 post. Unisex names: Qaliyun (Mongolian) means "otter." Male names: Qongqor (Mongolian) means "chestnut" (the horse colour). Quant (Scandinavian) derives from the…

Male names: Odart (I) derives from Old High German root ot and Old Saxon od (riches, wealth), and Old High German hart and Old Saxon hard (strong, hard). This name is also Medieval French, Medieval Scottish, and archaic Estonian. Odelschalk (I) derives from Old High German root uodal (homestead, heritage) and Old Saxon skalk and Old High German scalh, scalc (servant). This…

Male names: Maffeo, Mafeo (T), Mazzeo (I) are forms of Matthew (gift of God). This was also a Venetian name. Mancinagross (I) means "large/great left-handed person." Manens (I) means "abiding, remaining, staying." Marculfo, Marcolfo (I) is a form of Ancient Germanic name Marculf, which derives from Celtic root mara (horse; marah in Old High German) or…

Since there are no Italian names starting with K, today is a wildcard letter. I chose German names as a substitute, since there are so many with this letter, and I only used one German K name when I did my general Medieval names theme in 2018. Male names: Kalogreant is the German form of…

Male names: Inghiramo (I) derives from Ancient Germanic roots Ing (a powerful god) and hraban (raven). Isabello (I) is a male form of Isabella (originally a nickname for Elizabeth, which means "my God is an oath"). Isambert (I) derives from Old High German and Old Saxon root isarn (iron) and Old High German beraht and Old…

Female names: Gaita (I) Gaitelgrima (I) Galiana (I) is the feminine form of the Latin name Galianus. Gherardesca (I) is the feminine form of Gherardo, an archaic form of Gerard (brave spear). Giletta (I) is a feminine form of the English name Giles, which derives from Latin name Aegidius and Greek word aigidion (young goat), via…