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I was reading a book about Ancient Greek art. The dedication was to Foukaina. It is feminine and Greek. Does anyone know what it means and how to pronounce it?
"It's the job that is never started that takes the longest to finish." - J.R.R. Tolkien
http://babynames.com/namelist/9415432
"It's the job that is never started that takes the longest to finish." - J.R.R. Tolkien
http://babynames.com/namelist/9415432
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Foukaina seems quite rare, even in Greek. I did a search for Φουκαινα (Foukaina) and only came up with one hit on this message board thread asking for the most bizarre names people had ever heard: http://www.adslgr.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-47829.html
Foukaina seems similar to φώκαινα (fokaina), which is the Greek word for porpoise (See: http://www.accobams.org/2006.php/pages/show/226 ). I came across Φώκαινα (transliterated as Phokaina) as a name in this article (and others): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophanu. Various genealogy sites list her father as Leo(n) Phokas (including: http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cousin/html/p60.htm ). Phokaina is probably a patronymic from Phokas. If you Google "Greek feminine patronymics" the first result is a book titled A Greek and English Lexicon to the New Testament (the link was a mile long, lol). Anyway it lists αινα (-aina) as a feminine patronymic suffix.
I also did a search for Φουκας (Foukas/Phokas) as a possible base and it is used as a surname. It is also seems to be the name of a mountain in Korinthia. I was unable to find a meaning for Foukas. Then again, it is possible that I am barking up the wrong tree and Foukaina could be totally unrelated to Phokaina and Phokas. Perhaps Pavlos can clean up my mess. :-D
(Edit: I messed up αινα)
Foukaina seems similar to φώκαινα (fokaina), which is the Greek word for porpoise (See: http://www.accobams.org/2006.php/pages/show/226 ). I came across Φώκαινα (transliterated as Phokaina) as a name in this article (and others): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophanu. Various genealogy sites list her father as Leo(n) Phokas (including: http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cousin/html/p60.htm ). Phokaina is probably a patronymic from Phokas. If you Google "Greek feminine patronymics" the first result is a book titled A Greek and English Lexicon to the New Testament (the link was a mile long, lol). Anyway it lists αινα (-aina) as a feminine patronymic suffix.
I also did a search for Φουκας (Foukas/Phokas) as a possible base and it is used as a surname. It is also seems to be the name of a mountain in Korinthia. I was unable to find a meaning for Foukas. Then again, it is possible that I am barking up the wrong tree and Foukaina could be totally unrelated to Phokaina and Phokas. Perhaps Pavlos can clean up my mess. :-D
(Edit: I messed up αινα)
This message was edited 8/6/2009, 12:12 AM
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Thanks...
That's definitely helpful. It makes sense that it would be patronymic. I've noticed that quite a few Greek names are.
That's definitely helpful. It makes sense that it would be patronymic. I've noticed that quite a few Greek names are.
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