Feminine Submitted Names

gender
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Gæirvǫr f Old Norse
Combination of geirr ("spear") and vár ("spring, woman").
Gael f English (Rare)
Variant of Gail.
Gaela f Breton
Feminine form of Gael.
Ga-eon f Korean
From Sino-Korean "佳" (ga) "good, auspicious; beautiful; delightful" and "嫣" (eon) "beautiful, pretty, charming". Other hanja can be used.
Gaëtanelle f French (Belgian)
Feminine diminutive form of Gaëtan.
Gaeul f & m Korean (Modern)
From native Korean 가을 (gaeul) meaning "autumn/fall."
Gaeulbit f Korean (Modern, Rare)
From Korean 가을빛 (gaeulbit) referring to autumnal tints, a combination of Gaeul and Bit (compare Bit-gaeul).
Ga-eun f Korean
From Sino-Korean 佳 "good, auspicious; beautiful; delightful" and 恩 "kindness, mercy, charity".
Gafna m & f Hebrew
Means "vine"
Gagach f Armenian
Means "tulip" in Armenian.
Gagan f & m Indian (Sikh)
the sky
Gagandeep m & f Indian (Sikh)
From Sanskrit गगन (gagana) meaning "sky" combined with दीप (dīpa) meaning "lamp, light".
Gagandip m & f Indian (Sikh)
Alternate transcription of Punjabi Gurmukhi ਗਗਨਦੀਪ (see Gagandeep).
Gaganjot m & f Hindi
It means 'light of the sky'.
Gaganpreet m & f Indian (Sikh)
From Sanskrit गगन (gagana) meaning "sky" combined with प्रीति (prīti) meaning "pleasure, joy, love".
Gaganprit m & f Indian (Sikh)
Alternate transcription of Punjabi Gurmukhi ਗਗਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ (see Gaganpreet).
Gagasi f Zulu
Means "wave" in Zulu.
Ga-hee f Korean
Variant transcription of Ga-hui.
Gah-eul f & m Korean (Modern)
Variant transcription of Gaeul.
Gáhte f Sami
Sami form of Kati.
Ga-hui f Korean
From Sino-Korean 佳姬 "beautiful".
Gahyeon f Korean
Combination of 佳 meaning "good, auspicious; beautiful; delightful" and 賢 meaning "virtuous, worthy, good".
Gai f English (Rare)
Variant of Gay.
Gai f Thai
Means "chicken" in Thai.
Gaia f Late Roman
Feminine form of Gaius.
Gaichang f & m Chinese
From the Chinese 改 (gǎi) meaning "change, alter, improve" and 昶 (chǎng) meaning "long day; bright, clear".
Gaid f Breton
Short form of Margaid.
Gaida f Latvian, Estonian
Derived from either Latvian gaidīt "to wait (for)" or Latvian gaidas "expectations". This name is also occasionally used in Estonia.
Gaidi f Estonian
Estonian borrowing of Gaida.
Gaidig f Breton
Diminutive of Gaid, itself a short form of Margaid.
Gaie f Scottish, English
Scottish variant of Gay.
Gaietana f Lengadocian, Gascon
Feminine form of Gaietan.
Gaige m & f English (American)
Variant of Gage.
Gaihua f & m Chinese
From the Chinese 改 (gǎi) meaning "change, alter, improve" and 华 (huá) meaning "illustrious, prosperous, flowery, splendid".
Gaihuan f & m Chinese
From the Chinese 改 (gǎi) meaning "change, alter, improve" and 焕 (huàn) meaning "shining".
Gaijuan f Chinese
From the Chinese 改 (gǎi) meaning "change, alter, improve" and 娟 (juān) meaning "beautiful, graceful".
Gaila f Medieval Basque
Medieval Basque feminine form of Gailo. It was recorded from the 11th century onwards.
Gailann f English (American, Rare)
Possibly a combination of Gail and Ann, or a variation of Gailene.
Gaile f English
Variant of Gail.
Gailė f Lithuanian
Short form of names ending with gailė or beginning with Gail such as Mingailė, Karigailė and Jogailė, typically from gailas meaning "strong, powerful".
Gailigedė f Lithuanian
Feminine form of Gailigedas.
Gailiminė f Lithuanian
Feminine form of Gailiminas.
Gailya f English (Rare)
Elaboration of Gail.
Gaimian f Chinese
From the Chinese 改 (gǎi) meaning "change, alter, improve" and 棉 (mián) meaning "cotton".
Gaiming m & f Chinese
From the Chinese 改 (gǎi) meaning "change, improve" and 明 (míng) meaning "bright, light, brilliant, clear".
Ga-in f Korean
From Sino-Korean 佳 "good, auspicious; beautiful; delightful" and 人 "man; people; mankind".
Gaina f Chinese
From the Chinese 改 (gǎi) meaning "change, alter, improve" and 娜 (nà) meaning "elegant, graceful".
Gainell f English
Variant of Gaynell
Gairi f Sanskrit, Hindi, Hinduism, Marathi, Tamil, Indian, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Sinhalese, Assamese, Nepali
MEANING - flame lily (gloriosa superba- bot.) , relating to or growing in mountains, mountain-born ... [more]
Gaisma f Latvian
Directly taken from Latvian gaisma "light".
Gaitana f Sicilian
Feminine form of Gaitanu.
Gaite f Dutch (Modern, Rare)
Short form of name beginning with Ger- like Gertrude.... [more]
Gaiwen m & f Chinese
From the Chinese 改 (gǎi) meaning "change, alter, improve" and 稳 (wěn) meaning "certain, firm, steady".
Gaixian f Chinese
From the Chinese 改 (gǎi) meaning "change, alter, improve" and 仙 (xiān) meaning "transcendent, immortal".
Gaixiu f Chinese
From the Chinese 改 (gǎi) meaning "change, alter, improve" and 秀 (xiù) meaning "beautiful, elegant, excellent, luxuriant, refined".
Gaizhen f & m Chinese
From the Chinese 改 (gǎi) meaning "change, alter, improve" and 珍 (zhēn) meaning "precious, valuable, rare".
Gaizkane f Basque
Coined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde as a Basque equivalent of Salvadora.
Gajána f Hungarian
Hungarian form of Gaiana.
Gajana f Polish
Polish form of Gaiana.
Gajula f & m Indian
Meaning "bangles."
Gakavig f Armenian
Means "young partridge" in Armenian.
Gakuhĩ f Kikuyu
Means "the short one" in Kikuyu.
Gal m & f Mongolian
Means "fire, flame, spark" in Mongolian.
Gal f Portuguese
Diminutive of Maria da Graça. This was borne by the Brazilian singer Gal Costa (1945-2022), whose birth name was Maria da Graça Costa Penna Burgos.
Gala f Croatian
Derived from the world gala, an old Croatian adjective meaning "black, brown".
Gala f Italian, Popular Culture
Diminutive of Galatea. The name was popularized in Italy by Gala (born Elena Ivanovna Diakonova; 1894–1982), the wife of poet Paul Éluard and later of artist Salvador Dalí.
Galabina f Bulgarian
Feminine form of Galabin.
Galacia f Obscure
Perhaps a variant of Galatia or Gelasia.
Galadhriel f Literature
Means "tree-garland" from Sindarin galadh "tree" and riel "crowned maiden." Within Tolkien's writings, this is essentially a variant of Galadriel, due to those outside of Lórien sometimes mistaking the Sindarin galad "light, radiance" for galadh "tree."
Galaida f Arthurian Cycle
Kay’s sweetheart in Heinrich von dem Türlin’s "Diu Crône". She failed two chastity tests, which humbled Kay, who had been making great sport of the other ladies who failed.
Galaletsang f Tswana
Means "glorify" in Setswana.
Galamb f Hungarian
Means "dove" in Hungarian.
Galaxaura f Greek Mythology
Means "milky breeze", from Greek γάλα (gala) meaning "milk" (genitive γάλακτος) and αὔρα (aura) meaning "breeze"... [more]
Galaxia f English (American)
Galaxia is a variation of the name Galaxy. ... [more]
Galaxie f & m English
Variant of Galaxy.
Galaxy f English (American, Rare)
From the English word galaxy, "a collection of star systems", ultimately from from Ancient Greek γαλαξίας (galaxías, "Milky Way"), from γάλα (gála, "milk").
Galea f Biblical Latin
Transferred from the surname Galea.
Gal Eezh f Mythology
Mongolian form of Od Ana.
Galena f English, Bulgarian
Bulgarian variant of Galina and Latinized form of Galene.
Galgalu f African
born in the evening in Boran
Galgan-nga f Chukchi
Means "duck" in Chukchi.
Galharda f Occitan
Feminine form of Galhard.
Ğäliä f Tatar
Variant of Äliä.
Galia f Bulgarian
Variant transcription of Галя (see Galya).
Galicia f Galician, Spanish (Latin American)
From the land of Galicia in analogy to other toponymic names like América or África. It is associated to Galician emigration, so this name can be found now in Latin American countries.
Galiena f Medieval German, Medieval English
Of uncertain origin and meaning. One theory, however, tries to connect this name to Latin Gallus, Galla "inhabitant of Gallia".
Galih m & f Javanese, Sundanese
Means "heart, mind, essence, core" in Javanese and Sundanese.
Galila f Hebrew (Rare)
Derived from the place name Galil גליל, this name was mostly used from the 19th until the early 20th century and occasionally used after the establishment of Israel... [more]
Galilaia f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Galilaios.
Galilee f American (Modern, Rare)
From the name of the region in Palestine (see Galilee).
Galima f Tatar, Uzbek, Bashkir
Femine form of Galim
Gaļina f Latvian
Latvian borrowing of Galina.
Galinda f Germanic
Derived from the Germanic element gal, which comes from galan "to sing." combined with Old High German lind or lindi "soft, tender." This name ultimately means "soft singing voice."
Galiot f English
Word name meaning "small ship," from French galiote, from Italian galea.
Gális f Slovak
Possibly from Gal 2 or Gala 1.
Galith f Jewish
Variant of Galit.
Galiya f Kazakh, Tatar
Alternate transcription of Aliya 1.
Galiza f Galician (Rare)
Variant of Galicia. Both names are equally valid in Galician for the name of the land, although Galiza is more frequently used by Galician nationalist people.
Galja f Bulgarian
Variant transcription of Галя (see Galya).
Galla f Breton
Derived from Old Irish gal "valour".
Galleria f Literature
Used by American author Deborah Gregory for a character in her 'Cheetah Girls' series of books, first released in 1999. It was possibly inspired by the English vocabulary word (which refers to "a central court through several storeys of a shopping centre or department store onto which shops or departments open at each level").
Gallez f Breton
Variant of Galla.
Gallia f Italian (Rare)
Feminine form of Gallo.
Galliana f Italian
Feminine form of Gallianus, a Late Roman elaboration of Gallus.
Gallipoli f & m English (Australian)
Named for the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey, whose name comes from the Greek meaning "beautiful city". The site of the infamous Gallipoli Campaign during World War I.
Gallyon f & m Dutch (Rare)
This given name is predominantly feminine in the Netherlands. It is not a typical Dutch first name and therefore its meaning is uncertain; it may possibly have been derived from the British surname Gallyon, which is Norman-French in origin (and is found in the spelling Gallion in modern France).... [more]
Galnai f Buryat
From the Buryat гал (gal) meaning "fire".
Galor m & f Hebrew (Modern, Rare)
Combination of the name Gal 1 means "wave" and the name Or means "light".
Galsan m & f Buryat
Means "happiness" in Buryat.
Gälsär f Bashkir
Means "crystal" in Bashkir.
Galtmaa f Mongolian
Means "fiery woman" in Mongolian, from гал (gal) meaning "fire" and the feminine suffix маа (maa).
Galuh f Javanese
Means "gem, jewel, diamond" or "daughter" in Javanese, ultimately from Sanskrit गलू (galū).
Galuška f Czech
Diminutive of Galina.
Galya f Hebrew
Variant of Galia.
Galyn m & f English (Modern)
Variant of Galen.
Galyna f Ukrainian
The origin of the name Galyna is from Ancient Greek and the meaning of the name is "Calm, Healer"
Galyusya f Russian
Diminutive form of Galina.
Gam f Thai, Lao
Meaning "Well", "Brilliant".
Gamayun f Slavic Mythology
Gamayun is a prophetic bird of Russian folklore. It is a symbol of wisdom and knowledge and lives on an island in the mythical east, close to paradise. She is said to spread divine messages and prophecies, as she knows everything of all creation, gods, heroes, and man... [more]
Gambara f Lombardic
Possibly derives from the Old High German *gand-bera or gand-bara meaning "wand-bearer" (a term for seeresses or women that made prophecies). Another possible origin is from the Old High German gambar meaning "strenuous".
Gamilah f African
Gamilah is the name of one of the daughters of Activist Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz.
Gamitza f Medieval Basque
Medieval Basque name of uncertain origin and meaning. It was first recorded in 1018.
Gamora f Popular Culture
Gamora is a fictional character that appeared in comic books by Marvel and in the 2014 movie "Guardians of the Galaxy".
Gamuchirai f Shona
Means "accept or receive" in Shona. It is typically given to a child born out of wedlock.
Gana f Jewish
Means "garden" in Hebrew.
Ganapatihridaya f Mythology
A Buddhist epithet of Vinayaki meaning "heart of Ganesha".
Ganchimeg f Mongolian
Means "steel ornament" from Mongolian ган (gan) meaning "steel" and чимэг (chimeg) meaning "ornament, decoration".
Gandaza f Russian
Means "var of Kandaza" in Russian.
Gangama f Indian
Means "the goddess of the Ganges" (referring to the Ganges River which runs through India).
Ganglöt f Norse Mythology
Means "lazy walker" in Old Norse. It is borne by a serving-maid of Hel.
Ganieda f Arthurian Cycle, Literature
According to the Red Book of Hergest, she was the twin sister of Merlin. She is found in both the Vita Merlini and the Welsh poems where she is called Gwendydd.... [more]
Ganifat f Dagestani
Dagestani form of Hanifa.
Ganime f Turkish
Turkish form of Ghanima.
Ganithage m & f Sinhalese
Means "mathematical" in Sinhala.
Ganji f Uzbek
Derived from the Uzbek ganj meaning "wealth".
Ganjul f Balochi
Derived from ganˇj meaning "treasure".
Ganka f Bulgarian
Originally a diminutive of Gergana (via Gerganka), used as a given name in its own right.
Gankhaich m & f Mongolian
Means "steel scissors" in Mongolian from ган (gan) meaning "steel" combined with хайч (#khaich") meaning "scissors"
Ganko f Japanese
From Japanese 願 (gan) meaning "wish" combined with 子 (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji combinations are also possible.
Ġannina f Maltese
Feminine form of Ġanni.
Gannota f Judeo-Anglo-Norman
Derived from Old English ganot "gannet".
Ganora f Arthurian Cycle
Latinate form of Gaynor used by Reginald Heber for the character of Queen Guinevere in his unfinished and posthumous 'Morte d'Arthur' (first published in 1830).
Ganore f Arthurian Cycle
Variant of Gaynor used by George Augustus Simcox in his poem The Farewell of Ganore (1869).
Gantömör m & f Mongolian
From Mongolian ган (gan) meaning "steel" and төмөр (tömör) meaning "iron".
Gantsetseg f Mongolian
Means "steel flower" in Mongolian, from ган (gan) meaning "steel" and цэцэг (tsetseg) meaning "flower".
Gantuya f Mongolian
Alternate transcription of Mongolian Cyrillic Гантуяа (see Gantuyaa).
Gantuyaa f Mongolian
From Mongolian ган (gan) meaning "steel" and туяа (tuyaa) meaning "ray, beam".
Ganya f Mordvin
Mordvin form of Agafya.
Ganya f Ukrainian (Russified)
Russified form of Hanya 4.
Ganymeda f Greek Mythology
Feminine form of Ganymede, an epithet of the goddess Hebe.
Ganyu f Chinese
From Chinese 甘 (gān) meaning "sweet" and 雨 () meaning "rain". Other character combinations can form this name as well.... [more]
Ganzaya f & m Mongolian
Means "steel fate" in Mongolian, from ган (gan) meaning "steel" and заяа (zayaa) meaning "future, fate, destiny".
Gaodithong f Tswana
Means "He (God) is not shy" in Setswana.
Gao-jer f Hmong
Gao-Jer meaning "The last daughter". Some Hmong family thought they'd name their last daughter that so they won't have anymore daughter.
Gaolatlhe m & f Tswana
Means "He (God) does not dessert" in Setswana.
Gaolefufa f Tswana
Means "He (God) is not jealous" in Setswana.
Gaon f & m Korean (Modern)
Shortened from 가온대/가온데/가온듸 (gaondae/gaonde/gaondui), archaic variants of the word 가운데 (gaunde) meaning "centre, middle." It can also be written into hanja, combining a ga hanja, e.g. 歌 meaning "song," with an on hanja, e.g. 穩 meaning "comfortable; calm, quiet."
Gaone m & f Tswana
Means "of His (God)" in Setswana.
Gaongalelwe f Tswana
Means "you cannot be angry with Him (God)" in Setswana.
Gaon-nuri f & m Korean (Modern, Rare)
Combination of Gaon and Nuri.
Gara f Japanese
From Japanese 雅 (ga) meaning "elegance" combined with 羅 (ra) meaning "lightweight fabric". Other kanji combinations are also possible.... [more]
Gara f Folklore, Spanish (Canarian)
Derived from Guanche *gar meaning "superiority, advantage, height", and taken from place name Garajonay. According to an unattested local legend, Gara and Jonay were a pair of young Guanche lovers who died together in a joint suicide at Garajonay peak.
Garai f Basque (Rare)
Basque name meaning "height", "tall" and also "zenith; time; moment; occasion" (from Basque garai).... [more]
Garaine f Basque
Derived from either Basque garaipen "victory" or garaitza "victory; win", this name is considered a Basque equivalent of Victoria and Victoire.
Garaipen f Basque
Derived from either Basque garaipen "victory", this name is considered a Basque equivalent of Victoria and Victoire.
Garaitza f Basque
Derived from either Basque garaitza "victory; win", this name is considered a Basque equivalent of Victoria and Victoire.
Garam f & m Mongolian
Means "ford, crossing" in Mongolian.
Garam f & m Korean (Modern)
From native Korean 가람 (garam) meaning "river."
Garamantis f Greek Mythology
Is a nymph in Greek mythology. She was abducted by Zeus, raped and imprisoned. She bore the later king and rival of Aeneas, Jarbas.
Garazi f Basque
Basque equivalent of Spanish Gracia and Engracia and French Grâce and Engrâce.
Garbikunde f Basque (Rare)
Basque equivalent of Purificación.
Garcelle f French Creole (Rare), English (American, Rare)
Probably a combination of any given name that starts with a G- with Marcelle. Alternatively, it could be a metathesis of some sort of Gracielle, which is the French equivalent of Graciela and Graziella.... [more]
García f Spanish (Rare, ?)
Transferred use of the surname García.
Gärd f Swedish
Variant of Gerd 2.
Gärda f Swedish
Variant of Gerda 2.
Gardigul f Uzbek
Possibly from gard meaning "dust" and gul meaning "flower, rose".
Gardiner m & f English (Rare)
Transferred use of the surname Gardiner.
Gardy f German
Short form of Edelgard and other names ending in -gard.... [more]
Gáre f Sami
Sami form of Kari 1.
Gáren f Sami
Sami form of Karen 1.
Garen f Sami
Sámi form of Karen 1.
Garetha f American (Rare)
Feminine form of Gareth.
Gargamelle f Literature
Means "gullet" in French. This is the name of Gargantua's mother in the novel Pentalogy Gargantua and Pantagruel.
Gari m & f English
Variant of Gary also used as a feminine form.
Gariburg f Germanic
The first element of this name is derived from Gothic gairu (gêr in Old High German) "spear", or from garva (garo in Old High German, and gearu in Anglo-Saxon) "ready, prepared." The second element is derived from Gothic bairgan (bergan in Old High German) "to keep, to save, to preserve", or from Old High German burg "fortress."
Garifallia f Greek
Alternate transcription of Greek Γαρυφαλλιά (see Garyfallia).
Garilind f Germanic
The first element of this name is derived from Gothic gairu (gêr in Old High German) "spear", or from garva (garo in Old High German, and gearu in Anglo-Saxon) "ready, prepared." The second element is derived from Old High German lind or lindi "soft, tender."
Garima f Indian
Greatness
Garine f Armenian
Armenian form of Karen.
Garitin f Occitan
Diminutive of Margarida.
Garitrud f Germanic
The first element of this name is derived from Gothic gairu (gêr in Old High German) "spear", or from garva (garo in Old High German, and gearu in Anglo-Saxon) "ready, prepared." The second element is derived from þruþ "strength."
Garner m & f English (Rare)
Transferred use of the surname Garner.
Garnuhi f Armenian
Means "lamb lady" in Armenian.
Garoa f Basque
Derived from Basque garo "fern". This name came into usage thanks to Txomin Agirre's novel Garoa (1907-1912).
Garoé m & f Spanish (Canarian)
Derived from the name of a til tree (species Ocotea foetens) that was considered sacred by the indigenous inhabitants of El Hierro, Canary Islands. The name comes from Guanche gărăw, which later mutated to garoe, meaning "lake, river".... [more]
Garofița f Romanian
Derived from Romanian garofiță, the diminutive of garoafă "carnation".
Garpancha f Evenki
Means "sunbeam" in Evenki.
Garrie m & f English (Rare)
Variant of Gary.
Garsenda f Gascon
Gascon cognate of Gersende.
Gartred f Literature
Form of Gertrude used in Daphne du Maurier's 1946 novel The King's General.
Gartze f Basque (Rare)
Coined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde as a Basque equivalent of Gracia and Grace.
Gartzene f Basque
Coined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde as a Basque equivalent of Graciana and Gratienne.
Garucha f Galician
Galician hypocorism of Olegaria.
Garunik f Armenian
Derived from գարուն (garun) meaning "spring (season)".
Garvita f Indian
Means "pride".
Garwealda f Anglo-Saxon (Hypothetical)
Old English equivalent of Geraldine and feminine form of Old English Garweald.
Garwen f Arthurian Cycle, Welsh Mythology
Means "fair leg" from Welsh gar "leg" and gwen "white, fair, blessed". According to the Welsh Triads (Triad 57), this name belonged to one of Arthur's three mistresses... [more]
Ga-ryeong f Korean (Rare)
From Sino-Korean 佳 (ga) "good, auspicious; beautiful; delightful" combined with 鈴 (ryeong) "bell"
Garyfallia f Greek
Derived from Greek γαρύφαλλo "carnation".
Garyphalia f Greek
Greek feminine name derived from καρυόφυλλον (karyophyllon) meaning "carnation".
Gʷašʲaxʷəraj f Ubykh
Derived from the Adyghe guashche meaning "mistress" and x"uray meaning "round".
Ga-seo f & m Korean (Rare)
From Sino-Korean 佳 (ga) "good, auspicious; beautiful; delightful" combined with 瑞 (seo) meaning "felicitous omen; auspicious"
Gashin f Kurdish
Gashin, (Ga-shin) is originally a Kurdish name used for girl names in Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, and Germany. based on the Abdurrahman Sharafkandi Kurdish-Kurdish-Persian Dictionary, Gashin means... [more]
Gasia f Armenian
"cinnamon"
Gaspara f Italian, Galician (Rare)
Italian feminine form of Gaspare and Galician feminine form of Gaspar.
Gaspardine f French (Archaic), French (African, Rare), French (Belgian, Rare)
Either a diminutive or an elaboration of Gasparde, which is the feminine form of Gaspard.
Gassulawiya f Hittite
Possibly means "woman of Kashulas" (a settlement in the Kashka region of the Hittite empire), deriving from the Luwian element wiya ("woman").
Gasza f Kashubian
Diminutive of Jagata and Agata.
Gata f Kashubian
Diminutive of Jagata and Agata.
Gathering f English
Gathering Marbet is an actress. From the English word "gathering".
Gatlyn m & f English (American, Modern, Rare)
Variant of Gatlin. According to the Social Security Administration, Gatlyn was given to 5 girls and 15 boys in 2018.
Gatreth f Ethiopian
Ethiopian name meaning "rich".
Gatty f English
Variant of Gertrude
Gaud f Breton
Diminutive of Margod.
Gaudelia f Spanish (Mexican, Archaic)
Possibly related to Latin gaudeo meaning "to rejoice, to enjoy". This is the name of an obscure martyr and saint from 4th century Persia whose real existence is unclear.