Basque
names are used in the Basque Country (northern Spain and southern France) by speakers of
Basque.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Aberria f Basque (Archaic)Coined in the 19th century by Sabino Arana Goiri who based it on Basque
aberri "fatherland; homeland" (ultimately derived from Basque
aba "father" and
herri "country; village; people, nation")... [
more]
Abesti f Basque (Rare)Coined by Sabino Arana Goiri who based the name on Basque
abes "to sing" and the suffix
-ti. According to R. M. Azkue, by 1927
abesti had acquired the meaning "song" and has been in everyday use as a synonym for the older
kanta ever since.
Adartza f Basque (Rare)From the name of a mountain in the Basque region of France. The name of the mountain itself is derived from Basque
adar "branch; horn" and the quantifying suffix
-tza.
Aduna f BasqueFrom the name of a town in the Basque region of Spain. The origin and meaning of the town's name are lost to time.
Ager m BasqueDerived from the nickname of Basque writer Balentin Aurre-Apraiz (Valentín Aurre Apraiz in Spanish), who was also known as
Agerrekoa. His nickname was likely derived from the name of the farmstead where he grew up,
Mendieta-Agerre.
Agerne f Basque (Modern, Rare)Derived from Basque
agertu "to reveal; to appear", this name is a fairly recent coinage (most likely by Sabino Arana) intended as a variant of
Agerkunde.
Aginaga f Basque (Rare)Derived from Basque
hagin "yew (tree)" and the suffix
-aga. It is also the name of a town in the Basque region of Spain, which is occasionally the inspiration behind this name.
Aginarte f Basque (Rare)Taken from the name of an ancient monastery near Ihabar (in the general area of Navarre). This monastery doesn't exist anymore, however it is known that García Sánchez III of Navarre made a donation to it in 1025.
Agirre f BasqueFrom the name of a town in the Basque region of Spain.
Ahuña f Basque (Rare), Basque MythologyFrom the name of a mountain in the Basque region of Spain whose Basque name
Ahuñamendi is derived from Basque
ahuña "small goat" and
mendi "mountain".... [
more]
Aia f BasqueFrom the name of a town situated on the slopes of Mount Pagoeta in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa, Spain.
Aiala f BasqueTaken from the name of a village (and its church) near Álava, Spain. This church is situated on the famous pilgrimage route St. James's Way. According to linguist Joan Coromines, the name is derived form Ibero-Basque
*aial "genista, gorse; scorpion".
Aiara f BasqueName origins unknown exactly, however as a surname it is the Basque equivalent of the Spanish surname, Ayala. The first name may stem from the surname.
Ainhara f BasqueDerived from Navarro-Lapurdian Basque
ainhara "swallow (the bird)" (compare
Ainara).
Ainhize f BasqueTaken from the name of a town,
Ainhize-Monjolose, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwestern France. It is located in the former province of Lower Navarre, not far from the "Croix de Galcetaburu", and used to be the town where meetings were held in Lower Navarre... [
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Ainize f Basque (Modern)Variant of
Ainhize. Ainize Barea Nuñez (born 25 January 1992), often known as Peke Barea, is a Spanish footballer from the Basque Country.
Aitzol m BasqueUsed by the Basque writer and Catholic priest José de Ariztimuño Olaso (1896-1936), who was killed by the Fascists in the Spanish Civil War. Aitzol was a pseudonym possibly taken from letters in his surname,
(A)r(iz)timuño (Ol)aso; or perhaps Aitzol came from the hypothetical Basque place name
h(aitz ol)a meaning "quarry, stonemason's workshop" from the words
haitz "rock, stone" and
ola "workplace, factory".
Aizkorri f Basque, Basque MythologyDerived from Basque
aitz, a local variant of
haitz, "stone, rock" and
gorri "red; bare, naked". Aizkorri is a massif, the highest one of the Basque Autonomous Community (Spain)... [
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Aizpea f BasqueName taken from an eremitage dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Alaine f BasqueDerived from Basque
alai "joyous, happy" and the suffix
-ne. This name is borne by Basque writer Alaine Agirre Garmendia (born 11 December 1990 in Bermeo, Bizkaia).
Alaitz f & m BasqueFrom the name of a mountain range in Navarre, Spain.
Alaiza f BasqueTaken from the name of a Marian church in the greater Álava area.
Albia f Basque, Spanish (Latin American)Taken from the name of a grotto in the Aralar Range in the Basque Mountains where a dolmen was discovered in 1915, as well as from the name of a suburb of Bilbao where Sabino Arana Goiri was born. Goiri was a writer, creator of the Basque flag, founder of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) and is generally considered "the father of Basque nationalism".
Alda f BasqueFrom the name of a town in the Basque region of Spain.
Alluitz m & f BasqueDerived from Basque
atx "rock" and
luze "long". This is the name of a mountain in Biscay.
Alode f BasqueBasque name coined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde as an equivalent to
Alodia.
Amagoia f Basque, LiteratureOf unknown origin and meaning. This was the name of the aunt of
Amaya in Francisco Navarro-Villoslada's Romantic historical novel
Amaya o los vascos en el siglo VIII (Amaya, or the Basques in the 8th century), published in 1879, which is set during the invasion of Visigothic Spain by the Moors.
Amagoya f Basque (Hispanicized), LiteratureSpanish spelling of
Amagoia used in the historical novel
Amaya, or the Basques in the 8th century (1879) by Francisco Navarro-Villoslada (
Amagoya in the Spanish original;
Amagoia in the Basque translation).
Amaiur f & m Basque (Modern)From the town of Amaiur in Spain. The fortress of Amaiur was one of the last fortresses in Navarre to make a stand against the Castilian invasion of 1512. In the 20th century it was reclaimed by Basque nationalists as a symbol of resistance of the Basque, thus its usage as a name for people.
Amale f BasqueCoined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde as a Basque equivalent of
Amalia.
Ametz m BasqueDerived from Basque
ametz "Pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica)".
Ametza f BasqueFeminine form of
Ametz. This is also the name of a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary at Laranga.
Andere f Basque, Medieval BasqueFirst documented in inscriptions in Roman-era Aquitaine, this name was fairly common in the Middle Ages. Its origin and meaning are debated; theories include a derivation from
Andos and a derivation from Basque
andere "lady; woman; wife"... [
more]
Anixe f BasqueCoined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde as a Basque form of
Anisia.
Arai f & m Basque, Medieval BasqueName originally found on a Roman tombstone in Araba, Basque Country. Although the original namebearer was male, the name was revived as a unisex name at the end of the 20th century.
Aran m & f BasqueDerived from Basque
haran "valley" (ultimately from Proto-Basque
*(h)aran). The name coincides with Basque
aran "plum (fruit)".
Aratz m BasqueAratz is a mountain of the Basque Country in Spain located at the mountain range Altzania (also called Urkilla) that provides the extension for the massif Aizkorri. The name of the mountain itself is derived from Basque
aratz "clean, pure; clear" (in the case of the mountain,
aratz refers to its stone surface devoid of vegetation).
Argia f BasqueDerived from Basque
argi "light, clarity". This name is considered a Basque equivalent of both
Luz and
Clara and
Claire.
Aria f & m BasqueDerived from the name of a village in Navarre.
Ariñe f BasqueDerived from the adjective
arin meaning "light, airy; fast."
Aroia f BasqueRegional variant of Basque
aukera "opportunity, occasion; choice".
Arrene f BasqueDerived from Basque
arren "request; please". Due to its meaning, it is understood as an equivalent to both
Oración and
Rosario.
Arritokieta f BasqueDerived from an old Basque name meaning "the place of the protruding stones". It has been used as a nom de plume by the Basque writer Julene Azpeitia (1888-1980).
Arrosali f BasqueOf debated origin and meaning. While the most widespread theory thinks of this name as a Basque form of
Rosalie, other scholars link it to the Germanic name
Rosalind.
Aterbe f BasqueDerived from Basque
aterbe/aterpe "shelter; refuge", this name is sometimes understood as a Basque equivalent to Spanish
Amparo.... [
more]
Atsege f Basque (Rare)Coined by Sabino Arana Goiri as a Basque equivalent of
Angustias, who based the name on the Basque word
atsekabe "sorrow, anguish, suffering". Later, however, it was used as an equivalent of
Consuelo.
Atsegiñe f Basque (Modern)Of debated origin and meaning. Theories include a derivation from Basque
atsegin "pleasure, delight, bliss; pleasant, nice; amicable; pleased, happy, delightful; supportive, helpful, kind" and a derivation from
hats egin "to breathe, to take a breath"... [
more]
Aurkene f BasqueCoined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde as a Basque form of the Spanish name
Presentación. They most likely based the name on Basque
aurkitu "to find; to discover".
Babesne f Basque (Rare)Coined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde as a Basque equivalent of
Amparo and
Patrocinio. The name was based on Basque
babes "shelter, refuge; protection" and the productive name suffix
-ne.
Baia f Basque (Rare)Taken from the name of a Basque river that has its source in Gorbeia and flows into the Ebro.... [
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Bake f Basque (Rare)Coined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde who based the name on Basque
bake "peace; tranquillity, serenity". It was originally intended as a Basque equivalent of
Paz 1, but was later on also suggested as a feminine form of
Bako.
Bakea f BasqueVariant of
Bake. Bakea Ziganda Ferrer (1890 - 1966) was the first Basque female scholar.
Bata f Basque (Rare)Coined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde as a Basque form of
Beata. The name coincides with Basque
bata, absolutive plural of
bat, meaning "one".
Beltzane f BasqueDerived from the Basque adjective
beltz "black; dark" in combination with the feminine name suffix
-ne.
Bihotza f BasqueDerived from Basque
bihotz "heart; spirit; (by extension) courage; (term of endearment) dear, darling".
Bildosne f Basque (Rare)Derived from Basque
bildots "lamb" and the Basque feminine suffix
-ne. It is used as a Basque equivalent of
Inés.
Deba f BasqueBasque form of
Deva, the name of the river in Northern Spain, flowing through the Autonomous Communities of Cantabria and Asturias and the goddess after whom the river was named.
Dei m BasqueCoined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde as a masculine form of
Deñe (compare
Deiñe).
Deiñe f BasqueDerived from either Basque
dei "call; announcement" or
deikunde "announcement; Annunciation", this name is considered a Basque equivalent of
Anunciación.
Deunoro m BasqueCoined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde who based the name on Basque
deun "holy, sacred; Saint" and
oro "all". This name was intended as a Basque equivalent of
Toussaint and
Santos (which is used in reference to the
Día de Todos los Santos).
Dorleta f BasqueDerived from the name of the sanctuary of
Our Lady of Dorleta which is located in the town of Leintz Gatzaga in the Gipuzkoa province of the Basque Country in Spain. She is considered the patron saint of cyclists in Spain.
Egia f BasqueDerived from Basque
egia "truth; verity".
Egokiñe f BasqueDerived from Basque
egoki "commendable, worthy; suitable, correct; appropiate, seemly". This name is considered a Basque equivalent of
Justa.
Elai m BasqueBasque variant of the word
enara ("swallow").
Elaia f BasqueDerived from Biscayan and Gipuzkoan Basque
elai "swallow (bird)".
Elbira f Medieval Basque, BasqueBasque form of
Elvira. Elbira Zipitria Irastorza (1906–1982) was an innovative Spanish-Basque educator who pioneered home schools as a means of reviving use of the Basque language at a time when it was prohibited.
Elorri f BasqueDerived from Basque
elorri "hawthorn". In Basque folklore, the hawthorn has been considered a sacred plant.
Elorria f BasqueDerived from Basque
elorri "hawthorn". In Basque folklore, the hawthorn has been considered a sacred plant.
Enaitz m BasqueTaken from the name of a mountain in Basque Country.
Eneritz f BasqueDerived from the name of the town and municipality (
Enériz in Spanish) located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, northern Spain.
Eratsune f Basque16th-century coinage derived from Basque
eraitsi "to decrease, to reduce, to lower". This name was intended as a Basque equivalent of
Modesta.
Erdiñe f BasqueDerived from Basque
erdi "to give birth; middle, center; half".
Errose f BasqueCoined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde as a Basque equivalent of
Rosa 1. This name was borne by Errose Bustintza Ozerin (1899-1953), a Basque writer, journalist and ethnographer.
Errukia f Basque (Rare)Derived from Basque
erruki "mercy; compassion; sympathy", this name is used as one of the Basque equivalents to Spanish
Piedad.
Estepan m BasqueCoined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde as a Basque equivalent of
Esteban and
Étienne. This name is borne by Estepan Aldamiz-Etxebarria Leizaola (*1956), a Basque journalist and television presenter.
Estibaliz f Basque, SpanishTaken from the name of the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Estíbaliz in the area of Álava, Spain.... [
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Etorne f BasqueCoined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde as a Basque equivalent of
Pentecostés. They most likely based the name on Basque
etorri "to come".
Eunate f BasqueFrom the name of a town in Navarre, Spain where there is a Romanesque church dedicated to the Virgin Mary (the Church of Santa María de Eunate), located on the Way of St. James, a Catholic pilgrimage route.
Eztia f Basque (Rare)Derived from Basque
ezti "honey; sweet" and, by extension, "gentle; pleasant; melodious".
Eztizen f Basque16th-century coinage derived from Basque
ezti "honey; sweet" and, by extension, "gentle; pleasant; melodious" and
izen "name". This name was intended as a Basque equivalent of
Dulce Nombre.
Fedea f Basque (Rare)Derived from the Basque
fede "faith", this name is the Basque equivalent of
Fe.
Filomela f Serbian, Macedonian, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Finnish, Indonesian, Turkish, Portuguese, Breton, Italian, Catalan, Basque, Galician, SpanishSerbian, Macedonian, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Finnish, Indonesian, Turkish, Portuguese, Breton, Italian, Catalan, Basque, Galician, and Spanish form of
Philomel.