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 Basque From the name of a town in the Basque Country. The origin is unclear, although it may com from Old Basque
adun ("new wheat").
Ager m Basque Derived 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 Basque From the name of a town in the Basque region of Spain.
Ahuña f Basque (Rare), Basque Mythology From 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".... [
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Aiala f Basque Possibly related to
Aiara. This is the name of an hermitage in the town of Alegría-Dulantzi in Álava, Spain, located in the famous pilgrimage route of St... [
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Aiara f Basque (Modern) Possibly derived from Basque
aiher "slope" or
alha "pasture" (see
Ayala). This is the name of a town in the Basque Country.
Aide m Basque Mythology, Basque (Modern, Rare) Derived from Basque
aide "air", Aide is a supernatural entity that either helps or hinders the living. He could manifest herself in both good (gentle breeze) and evil (storm wind) forms.
Aieko m Basque (Modern, Rare) Name of an invisible being in Basque folklore, from an oral variant of the name
Aideko, ultimately from Basque
aireko meaning "of the air".
Ainhize f Basque Taken 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.
Aitane f Basque (Modern) Basquified form of
Aitana using the modern feminine suffix
-e. It is often reinterpreted as derived from the word
aita ("father").
Aitzol m Basque Used 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 Mythology Derived 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 Basque Name taken from an eremitage dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Alai m & f Basque Means "happy, joyful" in Basque.
Alaine f Basque Derived 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 Basque From the name of a mountain range in Navarre, Spain.
Alaiza f Basque Taken 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 Basque From the name of a town in the Basque region of Spain.
Alluitz m & f Basque Derived from Basque
atx "rock" and
luze "long". This is the name of a mountain in Biscay.
Alode f Basque Basque name coined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde as an equivalent to
Alodia.
Amagoia f Basque, Literature Of 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), Literature Spanish 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 Basque Coined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde as a Basque equivalent of
Amalia.
Ametza f Basque Feminine form of
Ametz. This is also the name of a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary at Laranga.
Andere f Basque, Medieval Basque First 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"... [
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Anixe f Basque Coined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde as a Basque form of
Anisia.
Arai f & m Basque, Medieval Basque Name 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 Basque Derived from Basque
haran "valley" (ultimately from Proto-Basque
*(h)aran). The name coincides with Basque
aran "plum (fruit)".
Arane f Basque (Modern) Possibly a combination of Basque
haran "valley" or
aran "plum" with the modern feminine suffix
-e.
Arhane f Basque (Modern) Taken from the town of
Arhane (in French,
Arhan) in the French part of the Basque Country. The name of the town ultimately comes from Basque
haran ("valley").
Aria f & m Basque Derived from the name of a village in Navarre.
Ariñe f Basque Derived from the adjective
arin meaning "light, airy; fast."
Aritza m Basque From Basque
haritza meaning "the oak". This is the name of various toponyms across the Basque Country.
Arnaitz m Basque From the name of a mountain in the town of Turrillas, Navarre, itself based on Basque
haitz ("peak, boulder").
Arnatz m Basque (Rare) From Basque
Arnatz, the name of a mountain in the town of Arbizu, Navarre.
Aroia f Basque Regional variant of Basque
aukera "opportunity, occasion; choice".
Arrate f Basque From the name of a mountain in the Spanish province of Gipuzkoa, where there is a sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin
Mary. Its name is possibly derived from Basque
harri "stone, rock" and
ate "defile, gorge" or
arte "space in between".
Arrene f Basque Derived from Basque
arren "request; please". Due to its meaning, it is understood as an equivalent to both
Oración and
Rosario.
Arritokieta f Basque (Rare) From the name of a sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin
Mary in the Spanish province of Gipuzkoa, 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 Basque Of 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 Basque Derived from Basque
aterbe/aterpe "shelter; refuge", this name is sometimes understood as a Basque equivalent to Spanish
Amparo.... [
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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"... [
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Auritz m Basque (Modern, Rare) Tranferred use of the name of a town in Navarre (officially named Burguete-Auritz). The toponym may come originally from the forename
Aurius.
Aurkene f Basque Coined 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 Basque Variant 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 Basque Derived from the Basque adjective
beltz "black; dark" in combination with the feminine name suffix
-ne.
Bihotza f Basque Derived 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 Basque Basque 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 Basque Coined by Sabino Arana Goiri and Koldo Elizalde as a masculine form of
Deñe (compare
Deiñe).
Deiñe f Basque Derived from either Basque
dei "call; announcement" or
deikunde "announcement; Annunciation", this name is considered a Basque equivalent of
Anunciación.
Deunoro m Basque Coined 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 Basque Derived 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 Basque Derived from Basque
egia "truth; verity".
Egokiñe f Basque Derived from Basque
egoki "commendable, worthy; suitable, correct; appropiate, seemly". This name is considered a Basque equivalent of
Justa.
Elbira f Medieval Basque, Basque Basque 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.
Eleder m Basque From Basque
ele ("word") and
eder ("beautiful"), thus meaning "eloquent". This name was coined by Nikolas Ormatxea (1888-1961) in his poem 'Euskaldunak'.
Elorri f Basque Derived from Basque
elorri "hawthorn". In Basque folklore, the hawthorn has been considered a sacred plant.
Elorria f Basque Derived from Basque
elorri "hawthorn". In Basque folklore, the hawthorn has been considered a sacred plant.
Eneritz f Basque Derived from the name of the town and municipality (
Enériz in Spanish) located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, northern Spain.
Eratsune f Basque 16th-century coinage derived from Basque
eraitsi "to decrease, to reduce, to lower". This name was intended as a Basque equivalent of
Modesta.
Erdiñe f Basque Derived from Basque
erdi "to give birth; middle, center; half".
Erkaitz m Basque (Rare) Possibly from the name of a mountain in Gipuzkoa (thus a variant of
Arkaitz) or from Basque
irkaitz meaning "smile".
Erlaitz m Basque (Modern, Rare) Name of various mountains in the Basque Country and Navarre, likely from the Basque word
erlaitz ("cornice").
Errose f Basque Coined 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 Basque Coined 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.