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ArchivesLadino names - the ultimate list revised
I searched for "Hebrew names", "Yiddish names" and "Ladino names" on Google, and came up with respectively 87 900, 730 and 38 pages. So I decided to collect all the Ladino names... Here is my list, do you have more to add? Any missing meaning, or precision? Feel free to help, I would be more than happy to include your data!
Amadio (ah-mah-dee-oh), Ladino for Amadeo
Amado (ah-mah-doh), “beloved”
Angelo (ahn-zhel-oh, ahn-djel-oh) – variations: Angel
Astruc (ah-strook), “lucky’ – variations: Astrugue, Astrugo, Bonastruc, Benastrugue... Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Bechor (beh-khohr), "first born" – only given to first sons, but of course not to all!
Belhom (bell-ohm), “beautiful man”
Bello (bell-oh), “beautiful”
Benamy (beh-nah-mee), « good friend » - variations : Benami
Bendit (behn-deet), “blessed” – variations: Benedet, Bendet, Benedictus... Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Beni (behn-ee), pet form of Benjamin
Benvenuto (behn-vehn-oo-taoh), “welcome” – variations: Benvenist, Benvenido... Sometimes given to a girl born after several boys or to older or previously sterile parents
Bonjidio (bohn-zhee-dyoh), “good Jew” – variations: Bonjudio, Benejidio, Boniuda, Bonjueu…
Bonsenor (bohn-seh-nyor), “good lord” – variations: Bonsenhor, Bensener...
Bruno (broo-noh), “brown” – variations: Brune, Brunno, Brunus
Buendia (bwehn-dyah), “good day”. Often given to a child born on a holiday.
Comprado (cohm-prah-doh), “bought”?
Gento (yehn-toh, zhehn-toh...), “noble”
Kalo (kah-loh)
Izi (ee-zee), pet form of Israel
Jaffyu (yah-fyoo), "little beautiful one"
Liaou (lee-ah-oo), pet form of Eliyahu
Merkado (mair-cah-doh), “purchased” – when a child was born after several siblings who died, he is symbolically sold to a “lucky” family. Variations: Mercado, Mirkado
Mois (moys), pet form of Moshe - variation: Moys
Moreno (moh-reh-noh), “brown”
Moshiko (moh-shee-koh), pet form of Moshe – variations: Mochiko
Moshon (moh-shon), pet form of Moshe – variations: Mochon
Nalfimay (nahl-fee-meye)
Nissim (nee-seem), "miracles"
Pepo (peh-poh), pet form of Yosef - variations: Pepe
Perfeto (pair-feh-toh), “perfect” – variations: Perfeitto, Perfecto...
Sadi (sah-dee), from Sa’d?
Salvator (sahl-vah-tohr) – variations: Salvador, Salvattore...
Sasson (sah-sohn), "joy"
Sevim (seh-veem), Turkish name
Simantov (see-mahn-tohv), “good deed”. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Vidal (vee-dahl), “alive”. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning. Variations – Vital, Vitali, Vidalon...
Vivas (vee-vahs), “alive”. See above - Variations: Bibas, Vivis, Vives. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Zafiro (zah-fee-roh), “sapphire“
Zak (zahk), pet form of Isaac
Aida (eye-dah), "visitor"? - variation: Ouadah
Alexandra – variations: Alexandria, Alechsandra
Allegra (ah-leh-grah), "joyful" – variations: Alegre, Allegrezza, Alegria
Almonda (ahl-mohn-dah), “almond”
Amada (ah-mah-dah), “beloved” – variations: Amata
Amadh, form of Amada? or Arabic name?
Angela (ahn-zhel-ah, ahn-djel-ah) – variations: Angele, Engel
Aster (ah-stair), old form of Esther (eh-stair) – variations: Astera, Astero
Astruga (ahs-troo-gah), “lucky”. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning – variations: Astroge, Astroga...
Atsero, name for a girl born on Shmini Atzeret?
Bananta (bah-nahn-tah), "attractive" (actually from a Yiddish word)
Bechora (beh-khoh-rah), "first born" – only given to first daughters, but of course not to all!
Bella (bell-ah), "beautiful" – variations: Bela, Vella, Belia...
Bellika (bell-ee-kah), pet form of Bella
Belma (bell-mah)
Benier (beh-nyair)
Benuta (beh-noo-tah)
Benvenida (behn-veh-nee-dah), “welcome” – see Dora. Variations: Bienvenida, Benvenuta.
Bida (bee-dah), most probably a pet form. But of what... Benvenida? Belinda? Or an Arabic name like Zubida?
Blanca (blahn-cah), “white”, “fair”
Boli (boh-lee), “honey” – variations: Bali, Bala.
Bona Aunis
Bonafilia (boh-nah-fee-lyah), “good daughter” – variations: Bonfila, Bonifilha...
Bonadona (boh-nah-doh-nah), “good lady”
Bonona (boh-noh-nah), “good grandmother”. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning (so the girl would live to be a grandmother).
Brianda (bree-ahn-dah), “brilliant”
Brilante (bree-lahn-teh), “gem“ – variations: Brillante
Bruna (broo-nah), “brown”
Buena (bweh-nah), "good" – variatons: Buna, Bona, Bonna, Buone...
Bulissa (boo-lee-sah), "lady of the house" – variations: Bolissa. From the Hebrew “baalat bayit”, which became “baalas bayis” in Yiddish, and then was transformed into a Ladino word
Cadin (cah-deen), “lady” – variations: Cadon, Cadina
Cara (cah-rah), “dear” – variations: Chera
Ceti, “pearl”
Clara (clah-rah), "fair", “bright” – variation: Klara; Cleret, Kleret (pet forms)
Colomba (coh-lohm-bah), “dove” – variations: Columbia, Columba, Coloma
Contessa (cohn-tess-ah), “countess” – variations: Comtessa, Comitessa
Counine (koo-neen)
Daisy (deh-zee) – variations: Dezi, Desi.
Diamante (dyah-mahn-teh), "diamond"
Didi (dee-dee), pet form of Dina? Diamante? Daisy?
Dikno (deek-noh)
Dolce (doll-tsheh), “sweet” – variations: Dolse, Dulca, Dulce, Doltsa, Dulze, Dusia, Dulcie
Dolva (dohl-vah)
Donna (dohn-ah), “lady” – variations: Dona, Dony
Dora (doh-rah), "gift" – sometimes given to a girl born after several boys or to older or previously sterile parents
Dudu (doo-doo) – variations: Doudou, Dudun, Doudoum...
Duena (dweh-nyah), “duena”
Edma (ehd-mah), pet form of Edmonda? or variation of Edna?
Elia (eh-lyah), female form of Eliyahu
Emich, probably not a pet form of Emma?
Emma (ehm-ah)
Esperanza (ehs-pair-ahn-tsah), “hope“ – variations: Speranza
Estella (ehs-tell-ah), “star” – variations: Estrella, Estreilla, Estrea, Estreia, Stella.
Estimada (ehs-tee-mah-dah), “dear”
Fakima (fah-kee-mah), Turkish or Arabic name - form of Fatima maybe?
Falcona (fahl-coh-nah), "falcon"
Farina (fah-ree-nah), pet form of Farah
Fava (fah-vah), “fava bean”?
Ferera (fair-air-ah), “blacksmith”
Fermoza (fair-moh-zah), "beautiful"
Flor (flohr), “flower” – variations: Flora
Fortuna (fohr-too-nah), “good fortune” – variations: Fortune, Fortunee. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Gaia (guy-ah), “gay”
Gaux
Gentile (djen-tee-leh), “noble” – variations: Gentilla, Yentil (which have given the Yiddish Yentl)
Gilda (zheel-dah, djeel-dah)
Gioia (djyoh-yah or djoy-ah), "gem" or "joy" – variations: Goia, Joya, Djoia, Goyo...
Gloria (gloh-ryah), “glory”
Gracia (grah-syah), "grace" – variations: Grazia, Cracia
Gretty (greh-tee), pet form of Margareta
Gudane (goo-dah-neh)
Guilidia (ghee-lee-dyah or gwee-lee-dyah), pet form of Gilah?
Hantza, pet form of Hannah?
Hasiba, female form of Hasib
Helda (hell-dah, ell-dah), Ladino form of Hilda or Huldah
Hiren (ee-ren or hee-ren), Ladino form of Irene?
Ialy (yah-lee), pet form of Jamila?
Ikno (eek-noh), pet form of a female form of Inocencio?
Indo (een-doh)
Ino (ee-noh), pet form of Indo? or of Ines? or of a female form of Inocencio?
Ischa, "wife" if prononced ee-shah, Hebrew form of Jessica if prononced ees-kah.
Issona (ee-soh-nah), pet form of Ischah? or of Isa?
Iula (yoo-lah), Ladino for Julia
Jamila (yah-mee-lah, djah-mee-lah), “beautiful”
Jesina, Ladino form of Jessenia?
Jianula (jah-nooh-lah, zhah-noo-lah, jiah-noo-lah...), pet form of Gianna
Joliet (zhoh-lyet), "little beautiful one"
Judea (yoo-deh-ah, zhee-dyah...), “Jewess”
Jusseva (yoo-seh-vah), female form of Yusef (Yosef)
Kahana (kah-hah-nah), "priestess", more exactly the wife or daughter of a Cohen [http://www.jewfaq.org/rabbi.htm#Kohein]
Khanum (khah-noom), title of the Khazar Empress
Khatun (khah-toon), "lady"
Levana (leh-vah-nah), “moon, white”
Licoricia (lee-coh-ree-tshah), “licorice”
Lili (lee-lee), pet form of Lea (leh-ah)
Lina (lee-nah), pet form of Linda?
Linda (leen-dah), “beautiful”
Loba, “she wolf”?
Luna (loo-nah), "moon"
Lutsa (loot-sah), Ladino form of Lucia - variations: Loukia
Luzinda (loo-sin-dah), pet form of Luzia
Maby (mah-bee), pet form of Mabelle?
Marquesa (mahr-kweh-sah), female form of the English name Marquis - Variations: Marquisa.
Matika (mah-tee-kah), pet form of Mathilde (mah-teeld), Mathilda (mah-teel-dah) or variation of Metuka (see below)
Mazaltov (mah-zahl-tohv), "good destiny, good luck" – variations: Mazalto, Mazalta, Mazeltob, Masaltow. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Meri (mair-ee), Ladino form of Mary - variations: Mery
Merkada (mair-cah-dah) – see Merkado. Variations: Mercada.
Metuka (meh-too-kah), “sweet”
Mimi (mee-mee), pet form of Miriam
Mina (mee-nah)
Mira (mee-rah), pet form of Miriam (mee-ryahm) – variations: Mirella
Naait (nah-ah-eet)
Nena (neh-nah), Ladino form of Nina?
Ninet (nee-net), pet form of Nina
Oro (oh-roh), "gold" - pet form Oriti
Orovida (oh-roh-vee-dah), "golden [good] life". Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Palomba (pah-lohm-bah), “dove” – variations: Paloma
Paria (pah-ryah)
Penu (peh-noo), "face"?
Perla (pair-lah), “pearl”
Petita (peh-tee-tah), “small”
Preciosa (preh-syoh-zah, preh-tsyoh-zah), "precious" – variations: Preziosa, Presioza
Pula (poo-lah), Ladino form of Paula?
Pulcelina (pool-tsheh-lee-nah), “little girl” – variations: Pucella
Rahelita (rah-kheh-lee-tah), pet form of Rahel
Rebissa (reh-bee-sah), "wife of a Rabbi" – variations: Robissa, Rubissa. From the Hebrew “Rabbanit”, then Yiddish “Rabbanis”.
Regina (reh-djee-nah), "queen"
Reina (ray-nah), "queen" – variations: Reyna
Rica (ree-cah), "rich" – variation: Ricca, Richza, Richenza, Reca
Riguetta (ree-gheh-tah or ree-gweh-tah), pet form of Rica?
Rosa (roh-zah), "rose" – variations: Roza, Roz, Rossa
Rubena (roo-beh-nah), female form of Ruben?
Saliste (sah-lees-teh)
Samulina (sah-moo-lee-nah), female form of Samuel?
Sarina (sah-ree-nah), pet form of Sarah
Siniuru (see-new-roo), "lady" – variations: Siniora, Seniora, Sinyyuru, Seniorre - Ceni would be a nickname?
Sol (sohl), "sun" - variations: Soli, Soleina
Sukule (soo-koo-leh), "delicious" - variations: Soucoule
Sultana (sool-tah-nah), "queen"
Sura (soo-rah), pet form of Sarah or Suraya?
Tchelebon (tsheh-leh-bon?), from the nickname of a Rabbi?
Tsoutsa (tsoo-tsah)
Varta (vahr-tah), Ladino form of Varda?
Ventura (vehn-too-rah), “luck”. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Vida (vee-dah), “life” – variations: Vita. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Vinosa (vee-noh-sah), "winey"?
Violeta (vyoh-let-ah), “violet” – variations: Violetta, Viola
Zafira (zah-fee-rah), “sapphire“ – variations: Safira, Saffira
Zimbul (zeem-bool), "jasmine"
You can also combine elements (oro+flor = Oroflor, sol+bella= Solbella...), or add endearing endings (-ito, -iko, -on for boys / -ita, -ika, -ina, -ona, -ula, -usa, -etta, -eta or –ota for girls) even from different languages (Spanish oro + Turkish ceti = Orceti).
The Ladino names can be purely Ladino, but also Hebrew, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Turkish... the prononciation & spelling can vary according to the country.
Many Ladino names are also simply Hebrew names under their Spanish or Italian form (Rafael, Rachel, Maria, Giacomo...), or their Arabic / Turkish one (Meryem, Rahayl, Yusuf...).
It was not uncommon for girls to have a totally “non Jewish” name, like Pierina, Margarita, Antonia, Melea, Karima... and rather rare but not inexistant for boys (in that case they would have had a Jewish name too, but would only use it for religious purposes): Hernan, Diego, Pontius...
~~ Claire ~~
My ! are Alia, Eidel, Enola, Israel, Dudel, Yuri, Lina, Lorelei, Leilani, Owen, Julian, Glorinda, Mirinda
My ? are Hillel, Meshullam, Johnny, Ginny, Cordelia, Fiammetta, Yocheved
My ~ are Tehila, Tilda, Hailey, Gillian, Huldah
My / are Aglaia and July
Amadio (ah-mah-dee-oh), Ladino for Amadeo
Amado (ah-mah-doh), “beloved”
Angelo (ahn-zhel-oh, ahn-djel-oh) – variations: Angel
Astruc (ah-strook), “lucky’ – variations: Astrugue, Astrugo, Bonastruc, Benastrugue... Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Bechor (beh-khohr), "first born" – only given to first sons, but of course not to all!
Belhom (bell-ohm), “beautiful man”
Bello (bell-oh), “beautiful”
Benamy (beh-nah-mee), « good friend » - variations : Benami
Bendit (behn-deet), “blessed” – variations: Benedet, Bendet, Benedictus... Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Beni (behn-ee), pet form of Benjamin
Benvenuto (behn-vehn-oo-taoh), “welcome” – variations: Benvenist, Benvenido... Sometimes given to a girl born after several boys or to older or previously sterile parents
Bonjidio (bohn-zhee-dyoh), “good Jew” – variations: Bonjudio, Benejidio, Boniuda, Bonjueu…
Bonsenor (bohn-seh-nyor), “good lord” – variations: Bonsenhor, Bensener...
Bruno (broo-noh), “brown” – variations: Brune, Brunno, Brunus
Buendia (bwehn-dyah), “good day”. Often given to a child born on a holiday.
Comprado (cohm-prah-doh), “bought”?
Gento (yehn-toh, zhehn-toh...), “noble”
Kalo (kah-loh)
Izi (ee-zee), pet form of Israel
Jaffyu (yah-fyoo), "little beautiful one"
Liaou (lee-ah-oo), pet form of Eliyahu
Merkado (mair-cah-doh), “purchased” – when a child was born after several siblings who died, he is symbolically sold to a “lucky” family. Variations: Mercado, Mirkado
Mois (moys), pet form of Moshe - variation: Moys
Moreno (moh-reh-noh), “brown”
Moshiko (moh-shee-koh), pet form of Moshe – variations: Mochiko
Moshon (moh-shon), pet form of Moshe – variations: Mochon
Nalfimay (nahl-fee-meye)
Nissim (nee-seem), "miracles"
Pepo (peh-poh), pet form of Yosef - variations: Pepe
Perfeto (pair-feh-toh), “perfect” – variations: Perfeitto, Perfecto...
Sadi (sah-dee), from Sa’d?
Salvator (sahl-vah-tohr) – variations: Salvador, Salvattore...
Sasson (sah-sohn), "joy"
Sevim (seh-veem), Turkish name
Simantov (see-mahn-tohv), “good deed”. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Vidal (vee-dahl), “alive”. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning. Variations – Vital, Vitali, Vidalon...
Vivas (vee-vahs), “alive”. See above - Variations: Bibas, Vivis, Vives. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Zafiro (zah-fee-roh), “sapphire“
Zak (zahk), pet form of Isaac
Aida (eye-dah), "visitor"? - variation: Ouadah
Alexandra – variations: Alexandria, Alechsandra
Allegra (ah-leh-grah), "joyful" – variations: Alegre, Allegrezza, Alegria
Almonda (ahl-mohn-dah), “almond”
Amada (ah-mah-dah), “beloved” – variations: Amata
Amadh, form of Amada? or Arabic name?
Angela (ahn-zhel-ah, ahn-djel-ah) – variations: Angele, Engel
Aster (ah-stair), old form of Esther (eh-stair) – variations: Astera, Astero
Astruga (ahs-troo-gah), “lucky”. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning – variations: Astroge, Astroga...
Atsero, name for a girl born on Shmini Atzeret?
Bananta (bah-nahn-tah), "attractive" (actually from a Yiddish word)
Bechora (beh-khoh-rah), "first born" – only given to first daughters, but of course not to all!
Bella (bell-ah), "beautiful" – variations: Bela, Vella, Belia...
Bellika (bell-ee-kah), pet form of Bella
Belma (bell-mah)
Benier (beh-nyair)
Benuta (beh-noo-tah)
Benvenida (behn-veh-nee-dah), “welcome” – see Dora. Variations: Bienvenida, Benvenuta.
Bida (bee-dah), most probably a pet form. But of what... Benvenida? Belinda? Or an Arabic name like Zubida?
Blanca (blahn-cah), “white”, “fair”
Boli (boh-lee), “honey” – variations: Bali, Bala.
Bona Aunis
Bonafilia (boh-nah-fee-lyah), “good daughter” – variations: Bonfila, Bonifilha...
Bonadona (boh-nah-doh-nah), “good lady”
Bonona (boh-noh-nah), “good grandmother”. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning (so the girl would live to be a grandmother).
Brianda (bree-ahn-dah), “brilliant”
Brilante (bree-lahn-teh), “gem“ – variations: Brillante
Bruna (broo-nah), “brown”
Buena (bweh-nah), "good" – variatons: Buna, Bona, Bonna, Buone...
Bulissa (boo-lee-sah), "lady of the house" – variations: Bolissa. From the Hebrew “baalat bayit”, which became “baalas bayis” in Yiddish, and then was transformed into a Ladino word
Cadin (cah-deen), “lady” – variations: Cadon, Cadina
Cara (cah-rah), “dear” – variations: Chera
Ceti, “pearl”
Clara (clah-rah), "fair", “bright” – variation: Klara; Cleret, Kleret (pet forms)
Colomba (coh-lohm-bah), “dove” – variations: Columbia, Columba, Coloma
Contessa (cohn-tess-ah), “countess” – variations: Comtessa, Comitessa
Counine (koo-neen)
Daisy (deh-zee) – variations: Dezi, Desi.
Diamante (dyah-mahn-teh), "diamond"
Didi (dee-dee), pet form of Dina? Diamante? Daisy?
Dikno (deek-noh)
Dolce (doll-tsheh), “sweet” – variations: Dolse, Dulca, Dulce, Doltsa, Dulze, Dusia, Dulcie
Dolva (dohl-vah)
Donna (dohn-ah), “lady” – variations: Dona, Dony
Dora (doh-rah), "gift" – sometimes given to a girl born after several boys or to older or previously sterile parents
Dudu (doo-doo) – variations: Doudou, Dudun, Doudoum...
Duena (dweh-nyah), “duena”
Edma (ehd-mah), pet form of Edmonda? or variation of Edna?
Elia (eh-lyah), female form of Eliyahu
Emich, probably not a pet form of Emma?
Emma (ehm-ah)
Esperanza (ehs-pair-ahn-tsah), “hope“ – variations: Speranza
Estella (ehs-tell-ah), “star” – variations: Estrella, Estreilla, Estrea, Estreia, Stella.
Estimada (ehs-tee-mah-dah), “dear”
Fakima (fah-kee-mah), Turkish or Arabic name - form of Fatima maybe?
Falcona (fahl-coh-nah), "falcon"
Farina (fah-ree-nah), pet form of Farah
Fava (fah-vah), “fava bean”?
Ferera (fair-air-ah), “blacksmith”
Fermoza (fair-moh-zah), "beautiful"
Flor (flohr), “flower” – variations: Flora
Fortuna (fohr-too-nah), “good fortune” – variations: Fortune, Fortunee. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Gaia (guy-ah), “gay”
Gaux
Gentile (djen-tee-leh), “noble” – variations: Gentilla, Yentil (which have given the Yiddish Yentl)
Gilda (zheel-dah, djeel-dah)
Gioia (djyoh-yah or djoy-ah), "gem" or "joy" – variations: Goia, Joya, Djoia, Goyo...
Gloria (gloh-ryah), “glory”
Gracia (grah-syah), "grace" – variations: Grazia, Cracia
Gretty (greh-tee), pet form of Margareta
Gudane (goo-dah-neh)
Guilidia (ghee-lee-dyah or gwee-lee-dyah), pet form of Gilah?
Hantza, pet form of Hannah?
Hasiba, female form of Hasib
Helda (hell-dah, ell-dah), Ladino form of Hilda or Huldah
Hiren (ee-ren or hee-ren), Ladino form of Irene?
Ialy (yah-lee), pet form of Jamila?
Ikno (eek-noh), pet form of a female form of Inocencio?
Indo (een-doh)
Ino (ee-noh), pet form of Indo? or of Ines? or of a female form of Inocencio?
Ischa, "wife" if prononced ee-shah, Hebrew form of Jessica if prononced ees-kah.
Issona (ee-soh-nah), pet form of Ischah? or of Isa?
Iula (yoo-lah), Ladino for Julia
Jamila (yah-mee-lah, djah-mee-lah), “beautiful”
Jesina, Ladino form of Jessenia?
Jianula (jah-nooh-lah, zhah-noo-lah, jiah-noo-lah...), pet form of Gianna
Joliet (zhoh-lyet), "little beautiful one"
Judea (yoo-deh-ah, zhee-dyah...), “Jewess”
Jusseva (yoo-seh-vah), female form of Yusef (Yosef)
Kahana (kah-hah-nah), "priestess", more exactly the wife or daughter of a Cohen [http://www.jewfaq.org/rabbi.htm#Kohein]
Khanum (khah-noom), title of the Khazar Empress
Khatun (khah-toon), "lady"
Levana (leh-vah-nah), “moon, white”
Licoricia (lee-coh-ree-tshah), “licorice”
Lili (lee-lee), pet form of Lea (leh-ah)
Lina (lee-nah), pet form of Linda?
Linda (leen-dah), “beautiful”
Loba, “she wolf”?
Luna (loo-nah), "moon"
Lutsa (loot-sah), Ladino form of Lucia - variations: Loukia
Luzinda (loo-sin-dah), pet form of Luzia
Maby (mah-bee), pet form of Mabelle?
Marquesa (mahr-kweh-sah), female form of the English name Marquis - Variations: Marquisa.
Matika (mah-tee-kah), pet form of Mathilde (mah-teeld), Mathilda (mah-teel-dah) or variation of Metuka (see below)
Mazaltov (mah-zahl-tohv), "good destiny, good luck" – variations: Mazalto, Mazalta, Mazeltob, Masaltow. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Meri (mair-ee), Ladino form of Mary - variations: Mery
Merkada (mair-cah-dah) – see Merkado. Variations: Mercada.
Metuka (meh-too-kah), “sweet”
Mimi (mee-mee), pet form of Miriam
Mina (mee-nah)
Mira (mee-rah), pet form of Miriam (mee-ryahm) – variations: Mirella
Naait (nah-ah-eet)
Nena (neh-nah), Ladino form of Nina?
Ninet (nee-net), pet form of Nina
Oro (oh-roh), "gold" - pet form Oriti
Orovida (oh-roh-vee-dah), "golden [good] life". Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Palomba (pah-lohm-bah), “dove” – variations: Paloma
Paria (pah-ryah)
Penu (peh-noo), "face"?
Perla (pair-lah), “pearl”
Petita (peh-tee-tah), “small”
Preciosa (preh-syoh-zah, preh-tsyoh-zah), "precious" – variations: Preziosa, Presioza
Pula (poo-lah), Ladino form of Paula?
Pulcelina (pool-tsheh-lee-nah), “little girl” – variations: Pucella
Rahelita (rah-kheh-lee-tah), pet form of Rahel
Rebissa (reh-bee-sah), "wife of a Rabbi" – variations: Robissa, Rubissa. From the Hebrew “Rabbanit”, then Yiddish “Rabbanis”.
Regina (reh-djee-nah), "queen"
Reina (ray-nah), "queen" – variations: Reyna
Rica (ree-cah), "rich" – variation: Ricca, Richza, Richenza, Reca
Riguetta (ree-gheh-tah or ree-gweh-tah), pet form of Rica?
Rosa (roh-zah), "rose" – variations: Roza, Roz, Rossa
Rubena (roo-beh-nah), female form of Ruben?
Saliste (sah-lees-teh)
Samulina (sah-moo-lee-nah), female form of Samuel?
Sarina (sah-ree-nah), pet form of Sarah
Siniuru (see-new-roo), "lady" – variations: Siniora, Seniora, Sinyyuru, Seniorre - Ceni would be a nickname?
Sol (sohl), "sun" - variations: Soli, Soleina
Sukule (soo-koo-leh), "delicious" - variations: Soucoule
Sultana (sool-tah-nah), "queen"
Sura (soo-rah), pet form of Sarah or Suraya?
Tchelebon (tsheh-leh-bon?), from the nickname of a Rabbi?
Tsoutsa (tsoo-tsah)
Varta (vahr-tah), Ladino form of Varda?
Ventura (vehn-too-rah), “luck”. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Vida (vee-dah), “life” – variations: Vita. Sometimes given as an amuletic name because of its meaning.
Vinosa (vee-noh-sah), "winey"?
Violeta (vyoh-let-ah), “violet” – variations: Violetta, Viola
Zafira (zah-fee-rah), “sapphire“ – variations: Safira, Saffira
Zimbul (zeem-bool), "jasmine"
You can also combine elements (oro+flor = Oroflor, sol+bella= Solbella...), or add endearing endings (-ito, -iko, -on for boys / -ita, -ika, -ina, -ona, -ula, -usa, -etta, -eta or –ota for girls) even from different languages (Spanish oro + Turkish ceti = Orceti).
The Ladino names can be purely Ladino, but also Hebrew, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Turkish... the prononciation & spelling can vary according to the country.
Many Ladino names are also simply Hebrew names under their Spanish or Italian form (Rafael, Rachel, Maria, Giacomo...), or their Arabic / Turkish one (Meryem, Rahayl, Yusuf...).
It was not uncommon for girls to have a totally “non Jewish” name, like Pierina, Margarita, Antonia, Melea, Karima... and rather rare but not inexistant for boys (in that case they would have had a Jewish name too, but would only use it for religious purposes): Hernan, Diego, Pontius...
~~ Claire ~~
My ! are Alia, Eidel, Enola, Israel, Dudel, Yuri, Lina, Lorelei, Leilani, Owen, Julian, Glorinda, Mirinda
My ? are Hillel, Meshullam, Johnny, Ginny, Cordelia, Fiammetta, Yocheved
My ~ are Tehila, Tilda, Hailey, Gillian, Huldah
My / are Aglaia and July
This message was edited 6/21/2005, 4:29 AM
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