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I have a teen-aged daughter named Sevda whom we adopted from Bulgaria. Her birthmom was Turkish and her birthdad was Bulgarian.
She has an English class assignment to find the origin/meaning of her name and we are having trouble finding info. I was told in Bulgaria that 1) her name was Turkish and derived from the word "Sev" meaning infatuated love, but was also told that 2) her name is Bulgaria and means "precious." We could probably make something up to satisfy her teacher, but we are interested in finding the real origin/meaning? Can anyone help?
She has an English class assignment to find the origin/meaning of her name and we are having trouble finding info. I was told in Bulgaria that 1) her name was Turkish and derived from the word "Sev" meaning infatuated love, but was also told that 2) her name is Bulgaria and means "precious." We could probably make something up to satisfy her teacher, but we are interested in finding the real origin/meaning? Can anyone help?
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Replies
From the FaCAB (Families with Children Adopted from Bulgaria) Yahoo site:
SEVDA, SEVDALINA, SEVDELINA, SEVDENA. A Turkish name of Arab origin meaning love; related to the Bulgarian word libe meaning sweetheart. SEVDENA is found in Sofia and Pernik districts. Other forms of the name, nicknames, and names with the same meaning include SEVDANA.
The site is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FaCAB1
SEVDA, SEVDALINA, SEVDELINA, SEVDENA. A Turkish name of Arab origin meaning love; related to the Bulgarian word libe meaning sweetheart. SEVDENA is found in Sofia and Pernik districts. Other forms of the name, nicknames, and names with the same meaning include SEVDANA.
The site is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FaCAB1
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Bulgars were originally a Turkic-speaking tribe that then merged with Slavic tribes they conquered in the area of present-day Bulgaria and took over their language. The Turks then conquered them in the 14th C., influencing the language for several centuries so that modern Bulgarian has many words from Greek and Turkish.
Sevda is from the Turkish root sevgi/sevi meaning 'love' and would mean 'loved'. The 'precious' meaning you got inevitably relates to the expanded translation 'loved, cherished' as one would cherish and love something that was precious to them. It all leads back to the same, ultimately Turkish, source.
My Turkish ex always called me sevgilim (sounds much prettier in spoken Turk - sev-jhee-lim) which means 'darling' or 'beloved', from the same sevgi root. Clearly your daughter was very much loved by whoever named her in Bulgaria :o)
Devon
Sevda is from the Turkish root sevgi/sevi meaning 'love' and would mean 'loved'. The 'precious' meaning you got inevitably relates to the expanded translation 'loved, cherished' as one would cherish and love something that was precious to them. It all leads back to the same, ultimately Turkish, source.
My Turkish ex always called me sevgilim (sounds much prettier in spoken Turk - sev-jhee-lim) which means 'darling' or 'beloved', from the same sevgi root. Clearly your daughter was very much loved by whoever named her in Bulgaria :o)
Devon
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Thank you for your thorough and very thoughtful reply. I am grateful to my daughter's birthparents for giving her such a perfect name. When she gets home from school today and reads your response, I am sure it will bring a very special smile to her face.
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Yep, that's correct
I have also seen it derived from the verb sevdali - to be in love.
Back in the 18th-19th century Sevda was also used as a generic noun for a loved one - girlfriend, fiancee, wife, etc.
I have also seen it derived from the verb sevdali - to be in love.
Back in the 18th-19th century Sevda was also used as a generic noun for a loved one - girlfriend, fiancee, wife, etc.
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