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Help[Opinions] Names from my region
Something I've always wanted to talk about on this board is names from the Canary Islands, which are mostly Guanche in origin, an extinct language spoken by the Guanches (indigenous inhabitants of the Canary Islands before the Spanish conquest) until the 17th century. Having a cultural identity in onomastics makes me pretty content.
I have included the pronunciation, etymology as well as other information. What do you think of them? Comments on each name are very much appreciated. ^^
Masculine:
Acorán (a-ko-RAN; "God, the Celestial"; supreme god in Guanche mythology)
Aday (a-DIE; unknown; place name)
Nauzet (now-SEHT*; "most elegant"; name of a Guanche warrior)
Rayco (RIE-koh; name referring to a noble tribe; borne by a Guanche captain and ambassador)
Yeray (gye-RIE; "big, grand")
Feminine:
Arminda (ar-MEEN-da; altered form of a name meaning "reserve" and referring to the Canopus star; borne by a Guanche princess)
Moneiba (mo-NAY-ba; "smoky glow"; name of a goddess)
Nayra (NIE-ra; "front, guide")
Nivaria (nee-BA-rya; "of snow"; Roman name for the island of Tenerife)
Yurena (gyoo-REH-na; "demon, evil spirit")
*now-THET in mainland Spain
“Dear optimist, pessimist, and realist – while you guys were busy arguing about the glass of wine, I drank it! Sincerely, the opportunist!”
-Lori Greiner
Rate my PNLs: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/215535/145665
https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/215535/145666
I have included the pronunciation, etymology as well as other information. What do you think of them? Comments on each name are very much appreciated. ^^
Masculine:
Acorán (a-ko-RAN; "God, the Celestial"; supreme god in Guanche mythology)
Aday (a-DIE; unknown; place name)
Nauzet (now-SEHT*; "most elegant"; name of a Guanche warrior)
Rayco (RIE-koh; name referring to a noble tribe; borne by a Guanche captain and ambassador)
Yeray (gye-RIE; "big, grand")
Feminine:
Arminda (ar-MEEN-da; altered form of a name meaning "reserve" and referring to the Canopus star; borne by a Guanche princess)
Moneiba (mo-NAY-ba; "smoky glow"; name of a goddess)
Nayra (NIE-ra; "front, guide")
Nivaria (nee-BA-rya; "of snow"; Roman name for the island of Tenerife)
Yurena (gyoo-REH-na; "demon, evil spirit")
*now-THET in mainland Spain
“Dear optimist, pessimist, and realist – while you guys were busy arguing about the glass of wine, I drank it! Sincerely, the opportunist!”
-Lori Greiner
Rate my PNLs: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/215535/145665
https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/215535/145666
Replies
I love all of these, but especially Nayra, Arminda (my favourite) Nivaria, Aday, Rayco, and Acorán. I like the meaning of Moneiba a lot.
Would it be seen as strange in Spain if someone who was not from the Canary Islands used one of these names for their kids?
Would it be seen as strange in Spain if someone who was not from the Canary Islands used one of these names for their kids?
Depends on the name. Many Canarian Spanish names have managed to reach mainland Spain. For example, Yeray even charted in the Basque Country and Catalonia.
This is so interesting, thank you for sharing! I'd never even heard of Guanche before.
My favourites are Nauzet, Yeray & Moneiba (what a gorgeous meaning).
My favourites are Nauzet, Yeray & Moneiba (what a gorgeous meaning).
If the pronunciations hadn't been provided, I would have mispronounced all the ones containing a Y.
I'd be afraid to use the mythological ones, not being familiar with them - Acorán in particular since he's the supreme god and Yurena since the meaning seems negative, although they sound fine, so I'd probably think they were cool if I met someone named them. I like Moneiba a lot.
I love Nivaria. It's been on my PNL since the 1st time I saw it - I think you probably mentioned it, a long time ago. :)
The rest are interesting. I don't dislike any.
I'd be afraid to use the mythological ones, not being familiar with them - Acorán in particular since he's the supreme god and Yurena since the meaning seems negative, although they sound fine, so I'd probably think they were cool if I met someone named them. I like Moneiba a lot.
I love Nivaria. It's been on my PNL since the 1st time I saw it - I think you probably mentioned it, a long time ago. :)
The rest are interesting. I don't dislike any.
This message was edited 4/26/2025, 5:34 PM
Here mythological names are treated like any other name. It's like if you named your daughter Athena or your son Apollo in the US.
I have always loved Nivaria as well. I came across it on BtN, but I wish I would encounter it in real life. It reminds me of a delicate snow-covered landscape.
I have always loved Nivaria as well. I came across it on BtN, but I wish I would encounter it in real life. It reminds me of a delicate snow-covered landscape.