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ArchivesLuka as a girl's name
I know that Luka is historically a boy's name - but was wondering if anyone knows when it began being used as a girl's name. I've found some historical references (the earliest being about the 1920's). Any information much appreciated. Thankyou.
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Many thanks everyone – I’ve found references to the name as a feminine name in both Germany and the Netherland’s – from memoirs of the holocaust – so wondered if it was a name given to Jewish girls at that time. I’ve also found it referenced as a girl’s name in China and Senegal though - so it may have a different origin. From what I can work out – the Hawaiian usage (as a girl's name) is the oldest – but it seems to relate specifically to the Hawaiian language – and doesn’t seem related to use in other parts of the world. Will keep searching – and much appreciation for your help – (and agree River_Rush – I think it’s a gorgeous name for a girl). Cheers E.V.
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I do not know much about the beginning of the use of the male name Luka for girls.
However there seem to be different possible origines for the name Luka. On the German site firstname.de I read that Luka could mean "smiling lump of gold". With that meaning it is used in some regions in South Europe or Asia. The site firstname.de is not the most reliable source for etymology though.
Someone left a comment on btn that it could be of Hawaiian origine.
It also could be short for the female name Lukardis.
The girl name Luka could be of different origine than the boy name Luka.
However there seem to be different possible origines for the name Luka. On the German site firstname.de I read that Luka could mean "smiling lump of gold". With that meaning it is used in some regions in South Europe or Asia. The site firstname.de is not the most reliable source for etymology though.
Someone left a comment on btn that it could be of Hawaiian origine.
It also could be short for the female name Lukardis.
The girl name Luka could be of different origine than the boy name Luka.
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I'm having difficulty imagining a smiling lump of gold! (A lump of gold at which people smile ... yes, perhaps.)
Isn't it likely that English-speaking people assume it's female because it ends in -a? Same as using Andrea for girls? Though there's usually a pronunciation difference there: an DRAY a for males and ANN dree a for females. And Luka would stay the same for both.
Isn't it likely that English-speaking people assume it's female because it ends in -a? Same as using Andrea for girls? Though there's usually a pronunciation difference there: an DRAY a for males and ANN dree a for females. And Luka would stay the same for both.
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A smiling lump of gold is a really interesting meaning for a name, isn´t it? It could be a creative translation for a shining lump of gold though.
About Andrea as a girl name I found an interesting idea in a book by German name expert Wilfried Seibicke. He suggests that it is a modification of the French name Andrée. The earliest date he found for the use of the name was 1693 in Sweden.
About Andrea as a girl name I found an interesting idea in a book by German name expert Wilfried Seibicke. He suggests that it is a modification of the French name Andrée. The earliest date he found for the use of the name was 1693 in Sweden.
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About Andrea
Andrea appears as feminine name in the Catalan novel Curial e Güelfa (between 1432 and 1468), in Spanish it was a usual name among noble women in 16th c. (at least) and in English it is recorded at least since 1617 (according to Whyticombe).
In Latin documents, it is attested since 1291, at least:
http://www.steuco.it/immagini_canonici/spv_canoniche.pdf
Perhaps in Germanic languages (German, Swedish, English...) Andrea appeared as adaptation of the French Andrée, but in Latin languages (Catalan, Spanish) it would be an independent form from the Latin, appeared probably like cultivated/clasicist form. That is why in Catalan there is the cognate Andreua/Andrea and in Spanish the cognate Andresa/Andrea.
Andrea appears as feminine name in the Catalan novel Curial e Güelfa (between 1432 and 1468), in Spanish it was a usual name among noble women in 16th c. (at least) and in English it is recorded at least since 1617 (according to Whyticombe).
In Latin documents, it is attested since 1291, at least:
http://www.steuco.it/immagini_canonici/spv_canoniche.pdf
Perhaps in Germanic languages (German, Swedish, English...) Andrea appeared as adaptation of the French Andrée, but in Latin languages (Catalan, Spanish) it would be an independent form from the Latin, appeared probably like cultivated/clasicist form. That is why in Catalan there is the cognate Andreua/Andrea and in Spanish the cognate Andresa/Andrea.
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I really like the name. I really don't know alot of guys who go by luka, luke and lucas yeh but since i haven't really heard of it alot i'd say it could be used for a girls name.
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