Isida and Damina...
My Grandmothers name was Isida and her sisters name was Damina. Those names I can not find anywhere, does anyone know their origins? Could they be nicknames for something else? I have heard we originate from the border Belgium/France, or possibly Corsica/Italy. I think they had a brother called Adrian, if that is a help I know not. Thank you for any clue you may have.
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My Italian name dictionary (Santi e Fanti by Enzo la Stella T.) includes entries for both of these names.Isida (or technically Ìsida) is given as a variation of Ìside, which is itself the Italian form of Isis, the name of the ancient Egyptian goddess. The book says that the use of the name in Italy may have been promoted by the frequent mentions of Ìside in Verdi's opera Aida.Damina is given as the feminine form of Damino, which is said to be a short form of Adamino, which in turn is a diminutive of Adamo, the Italian form of Adam. However, the entry goes on to say that Damina can also be from Ippodamia, or from the word dama, in the sense of "small woman." P.S. So any way, from these names a Corsican or Italian origin seems more likely than a Belgian one. Neither of the names is listed in the Dutch name dictionary I own.

This message was edited 8/3/2006, 8:56 AM

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I couldn't find anything on Isida but I did find Damina. Damina (Usage: Latin), meaning "lady."
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Fiddlesticks. Perhaps you were mislead by a typo. Domina, with an o instead of an a, means "lady" as in "lady of the house", an owner of property. Same origins as "dominate". Damina? Damn, no!
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Well-Stated.I'm getting so tired of people who come in here with definitive answers that they either pulled out of their rear-end or a completely unreliable source. This isn't a board to play on - it's a scholarly board. I find it incredibly annoying when I post a name and have someone who knows nothing answer it.
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I can understand that you are frustrated, but as long as this site is open to the general public this is going to keep on happenning and we will have to learn how to deal with it. If you want a site where only experts post, you will have to find a closed site where only experts are allowed to post. Politely pointing out to people why their posts do not give enough evidence to be thought reliable is one way to encourage them to become better educated so that they can give more knowledgeable opinions in the future.
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You're right.Thank you.
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Anneza, you've been asked before to keep your comments polite. "Fiddlesticks" most definitely doesn't qualify.There are PLENTY of respectful ways to tell people that they're wrong, without insulting and belittling them.
ChrisellAll we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.

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Isida -> Isolda, Isidora?
Damina -> Damiana?
~~ 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 8/2/2006, 5:59 PM

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