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Archiveshistory behind the name "Calma"
My grandmother was from Norway and her name was Calma. I can not find this name on any list. Does anyone know the history behind this name?
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In the late 1800:s and early 1900:s it was a not too un-common practice in Scandinavia to supply children with made-up names, or strange names of non-scandinavian origin.
The norwegian census for 1900 has 1 Calma (born 1892), and 4 Kalma (born 1863, 1865, 1890, 1897).
Two of them were from the same place, Holmsbo in Buskerud.
The one born in 1892 had sisters who also had unusual names, "Ovidea", "Kamila", "Fernanda".
The norwegian census for 1900 has 1 Calma (born 1892), and 4 Kalma (born 1863, 1865, 1890, 1897).
Two of them were from the same place, Holmsbo in Buskerud.
The one born in 1892 had sisters who also had unusual names, "Ovidea", "Kamila", "Fernanda".
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How interesting! Are modern Norwegians still so inventive, or have they joined the global village and started naming their daughters Mikkaela like the rest of the silent majority?
Ovidea - should be Ovidia if they were commemorating the Latin poet, but close enough! Kamila -> Camilla, the warrior princess in Virgil who ran so fast the ears of wheat didn't bend as she passed. And Fernanda - Abba got the male version from somewhere ... drat, now I'll be whistling that annoying tune all day! But these parents do sound as if their classical education meant a lot to them!
Calma seems too, well, tranquil for them! But I've known two Carolines who were, independently, nicknamed Cal. Calma could be a merger between Caroline and Mary, or the Norwegian forms thereof, to pacify the grandmothers perhaps?
Ovidea - should be Ovidia if they were commemorating the Latin poet, but close enough! Kamila -> Camilla, the warrior princess in Virgil who ran so fast the ears of wheat didn't bend as she passed. And Fernanda - Abba got the male version from somewhere ... drat, now I'll be whistling that annoying tune all day! But these parents do sound as if their classical education meant a lot to them!
Calma seems too, well, tranquil for them! But I've known two Carolines who were, independently, nicknamed Cal. Calma could be a merger between Caroline and Mary, or the Norwegian forms thereof, to pacify the grandmothers perhaps?
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