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Ladino 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

This message was edited 6/21/2005, 4:29 AM

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My mother's (& daughter's) name is Kalo.
It comes from the Greek word for "beautiful".
My mother (b 1927) was always told it comes from "Kallah" because a bride is considered beautiful.
This was confirmed by our famiky Rabbi, Rabbi Solomon Maimon OBM of SeattleI am now trying to find out the meaning to the name "Hurcee--my husband's grandmother
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Its true meaning is hyacinth, or יקינטון in Hebrew, and not jasmine.
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Ladino?What cultural or ethnic group is ladino? I never heard of that term, used in this context, until now. As far as I know, a ladino is person who has both Latin (from Spain, Portugal, Italy or France) and Native American (as in mesoamerican i.e. Mayan, Aztec, Inca, etc) bloddlines.
Is ladino also used in the same context as latin or latino? or is it a different term?

This message was edited 6/20/2005, 4:15 PM

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Latino/latina = person from Latin America or with Latin heritage
Ladino = Language of the Sefardic Jews
Ladin = Rhaeto-Roman dialect spoken in Italy.
:)*Pitiful creature of darkness!/ What kind of live have you known?/ God give me courage to show you/ you are not alone...*
~guess what musical :)
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Ladino is Jewish from Spain, Italy, Greece... :)
http://spanish.about.com/cs/historyofspanish/f/ladino.htm
http://www.sephardicstudies.org/quickladino.htmlThe Ladino language is a mix of pre expulsion Spanish, French, Arabic... if you want an example, today people in Spain write "hermosa" and "Hernan Cortes", but in Old Spanish & in Ladino, it is "fermoza" (actually Fermoza was the name of my great great grand aunt) and "Fernan Cortes" (he wrote his name that way).
~~ 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, 6:00 AM

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Oooowwww. Good to learn new things. Thank you both!
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Nope, but many of these are very pretty. I like Diamante and Mazaltova.*Pitiful creature of darkness!/ What kind of live have you known?/ God give me courage to show you/ you are not alone...*
~guess what musical :)
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