Bulgarian Americans emigrated from present-day Bulgaria and the surrounding areas in the Balkan Mountains, primarily before World War I. Many arrived from the historic region of Macedonia in northern Greece and southern Yugoslavia. Economic hardship and overpopulation were the spurs for immigration, as well as reprisals from a failed Macedonian revolt against ruling Turks in 1903.
An estimated 50,000 Bulgarians immigrated between 1900 and 1910. Almost exclusively, they were single men, unskilled laborers seeking to earn enough money to return home and buy land or open a small business. Most of those who stayed settled in the Midwest; the largest number of Bulgarian Americans is in Michigan (10,000) and nearby states. Between 1910 and 1929, the number of returnees exceeded the number of new immigrants.
In 1924, quota restrictions limited Bulgarian immigrants to 100 per year. Between then and 1965, when the restrictions were lifted, 7,660 Bulgarians came to the U.S., although many more entered illegally or on non-Bulgarian passports. During the years between the two World Wars, most immigrants were women and children joining husbands and fathers who had decided to stay in the new world.
During the 1900s to 1930s, Bulgarian Americans established “boorts” and “kafenes” for socializing. A boort was a simplified version of the English boardinghouse. A Bulgarian family would rent two big rooms to as many as twelve boarders. They would use one room as sleeping quarters and the other as living room, kitchen, dining room and recreation area.
The immigrants would often work at the same factory, perhaps on different shifts, using the same beds at different times. Many came from the same place in the old country as relatives or friends. The kafene (coffeehouse) was a social club and place for recreation on days off from work. The proprietor usually had lived in the U.S. a few years and was able to interpret local customs and laws, as well as serve as a broker of jobs for new immigrants.
Many of the first immigrants acquired brides on visits home or through plans by friends and relatives. These “mail bride” marriages were often happy and successful because of the similarity in background and careful groundwork laid by parents of both parties.Although second-generation Bulgarian Americans were often eager to assimilate into American culture, this drive wasn’t universal.
In some cases, love and respect for one’s family and the heritage of the homeland was stronger than the desire to become Americanized. In the third generation, there was even more interest in Bulgarian heritage. As many as fifty Bulgarian American newspapers have existed, bringing news of the homeland, encouraging pride and knowledge in the native culture.
Recent immigrants included refugees and political opponents of the Communist government in Bulgaria. Most have college degrees. Ap¬proximately 70,000 Bulgarians and their descendants live in the U.S. today. Most Bulgarian Americans are Eastern Orthodox Christians, and the church remains a center of community life. Parishes hold social events, and sponsor schools where Bulgarian and English are taught.
The Bulgarian language is a distinct south Slavic language written in the Cyrillic alphabet. During the Middle Ages, Old Bulgarian (also known as Church Slavonic) was one of the chief literary languages of Europe, along with Latin and Greek. Bulgarian is most closely related to the Slovene, Macedonian and Serbo-Croatian languages of (former) Yugoslavia. The presence of many Russian, Greek and Turkish words in the language reflects the past when those countries invaded and took over Bulgaria at various times.
It hasn’t been as strictly observed in the past ten to twenty years, but it used to be a Bulgarian tradition that babies were named for their grandparents. It was particularly important to a new father that a son be named after his grandparents, although a baby girl might be named after her maternal grandmother. This practice tended to keep old-fashioned names in use.
During the Communist occupation of Bulgaria, babies were not allowed to be given foreign names unless the parents were Jewish, Armenian, or of some other foreign origin. Parents had to pick from a list of approved names. Children are often given diminutive names. Stujan, for instance, will be called Stujancho during his childhood. A little girl will have the suffix “-ka” added to her name when someone is speaking of her (Liliana becomes Lilianka) and will have “-ke” or “-che” added when someone is speaking to her (Lilianke or Lilianche). Many nicknames are used among friends.
For girls, names of flowers are very popular; a group of names for boys represents tree names. Bulgarians celebrate “name days,” as in many Slavic cultures, as ceremoniously as birthdays, and the name day of the person whose name is from a tree or flower is celebrated on Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter). In Bulgarian, Palm Sunday is known as Tsvetnitsa from “tsvete,” which means flower.
a = “ah” as in ball
ai = “ay” as in day
e = “e” as in hen
oi = “o-ee”
o = “o” as in hot, never as “oh”
i = “i” as in bit; “ee” at the end of a word
ii = “ee” as in feel
tsv = “tsv” as pronounced in English
Ana (H) grace
Ekaterina (Gr) pure
Elena (Gr) light
Elissaveta (H) consecrated to God
Fidanka sapling
Gabriela(H) God is my strength
Gerganaearthworker, farmer
Iglika primrose
Iordanka (H) descendant
Irina (Gr) peace
Iulia (L) youthful
Ivanka (H) God’s gracious gift
Joana (H) God’s gracious gift
Khristina (HRIS-tee-nah) (Gr) Christian
Krassimira unknown meaning
Liliana lily; Lilianka, Lilianke, Lilianche,Lili
Lora (L) crown of laurels
Magdalena (H) woman of Magdala
Margarita (Gr) a pearl, flower name for “daisy”
Maria (H) bitter; Marika, Mariike, Marii
Nataliia (Fr) born at Christmas
Nikol (Gr) victory of the people
Pavlina (L) little
Radka joy; Rada, Radha, Radostina, Raika, Raina
Raya (H) friend
Rossitva from rossa (dew)
Simona(H) God is heard
Sofia (Gr) wisdom
Stefana (Gr) a crown
Temenuzhka violet
Teodora (Gr) divine gift; Todorka
Tsvetanka flower, refers to Palm Sunday
Viktoria (L) victorious
Violeta violet
Aleksandar (Gr) defender of mankind; Alekko, Sander, Aleksandur
Andrei (Gr) manly; Andrey
Atanas (Gr) immortal
Boian unknown meaning; Bioancho
Daniel (H) God is my judge; Danail
Dimitar (Gr) variation of Demeter (goddess of the harvest); Dimitur
George (GOHR-ge) (Gr) farmer; Georgi,Gosho, Zhoro
Iassen ash tree
Iavor sycamore
Iordan (H) descendant; lordancho, Dancho
Ivan (H) God’s gracious gift; Vanio, Iv
Ivaylo wolf
Khristiyan (Gr) Christian;Khristo
Kiril (Gr) lord
Krum unknown meaning
Martin (L) war-like
Matei (H) gift of God
Mihail (H) who is like God?
Nikola (Gr) victory of the people
Nikolay (Gr) victory of the people; Nikols, Nikolai
Pavel (L) little
Petur (Gr) stone
Prodan sold, pledged to a monastery
Rad joy
Stefan (Gr) a crown
Stoian stay, remain; Stoyan, Stoyo, Stoicho, Stoichko, Stoil, Stoimen
Todor (Gr) divine gift
Tsvetan flower, refers to Palm Sunday
Vassil (Gr) kingly
Velyo great; Velcho, Vedichko, Veliko, Velin, Velko
In 1992-1993, the modern country of Czechoslovakia, formed in the aftermath of World War I, was quietly disbanded and split into the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. Despite similarity of languages and close proximity, the two ethnic groups preferred to express their separate heritages as separate nations.
Both Czechs and Slovaks immigrated to America in vast numbers in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries (400,000-500,000 from each group during that time.) The western part of former Czechoslovakia (Bohemia and Moravia) is inhabited by Czechs, and its eastern part (Slovakia) by Slovaks. Czechs and Slovaks were united once before into one country (Great Moravia) in the ninth and tenth centuries, but later, because of wars and other upheavals, Slovakia was annexed by Hungary, and Moravia and Bohemia became part of the Austro-Hungarian empire.
In the Slovak region, the population had risen from 1 million in 1720 to 2.4 million in 1840; in four eastern counties, the population had increased sevenfold. Hungary, which ruled the area, instituted no industrialization or land reform to absorb the increase and many Slovaks were forced to emigrate to survive.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., after the Civil War, a surge of industrialization led to a labor shortage. Agents of American coal mines and railroads recruited cheap labor in Eastern Europe, and thousands of Slovaks responded.
Only Poles outnumbered Slovak immigrants among Slavic groups in the U.S. In the 1870s, Slovak workers wrote home that one could make $1.50 to $2.00 a day by working hard! This was low by U.S. standards, but it was still well above the $.15 to $.30 a day a Slovak worker could earn at home.
Church attendance is a strong tradition among Slovaks. Over three hundred churches, primarily Roman Catholic, had been built in the U.S. by Slovak immigrants by 1930. Building the parish church—the center of Slovak community life—was the first major capital expense of a new town, with villagers pitching in to break ground and supply building materials.
Unlike most immigrant groups, Slovaks did not at first welcome the idea of public education. Too recent were bitter memories of schools run by Hungarian officials bent on “Magyarizing” them (replacing Slovak culture with Hungarian—”Magyar”—culture). It wasn’t till the third and fourth generations that Slovak Americans began in large numbers to continue education past the seventh or eighth grade.
Most of the Czech immigrants who arrived in the 1850s through 1880s were cottagers who had sold their small plots of land and set out for Texas or the Midwest. In the next two decades, cottagers were outnumbered by skilled laborers, such as tailors, miners, carpenters and shoemakers.
Czechs brought more money with them to the U.S. than most immigrants. In 1902, for example, they averaged $23.12 per person, as opposed to $14.84 for all entrants! However modest this sum seems by modern standards, it was enough to help them get farther into the U.S. to settle.
The Czechs were the first Slavic group to reach America when land was still cheap, and they became the only ones to establish a significant farming tradition. Because of their relatively advanced industrialized Old World economy, most were highly skilled. They came in large family groups rather than as single immigrants. In the early years, women and children accounted for two-thirds of Czech immigrants.
A new wave of immigration from Czechoslovakia occurred after the 1948 Communist coup. An estimated 25,000 made their way to America, including large numbers of professional and highly skilled workers. Some 10,000 more Czechs arrived in the ten years after the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.
Chicago has over 79,000 first- and second-generation Czechs. Milwaukee is one of the oldest Czech communities in the U.S., partly because the climate and soils were similar to what Czechs had been used to at home and favorable for the types of crops they knew how to grow.
The Czech and Slovak languages (along with Polish and Serbian) are classified as West Slavic. The languages are similar but not identical, different enough that while a native of one of the two countries might be able to understand the other through long-term exposure, a foreigner who had learned one of the two languages later would not be able to understand the other.
Names for babies are picked from a calendar of approved names. Each day has one or more names listed, and parents may pick a name from the baby’s birth date or another day. Up until 1989, in order to get a birth certificate, the name had to come from the calendar. Now there is a much larger list of names available, but if parents want to give an alternate spelling, they must clear it with a higher authority!
Though this custom sounds strange, it’s as much a tradition as a legal necessity and may have to do with preserving the purity of the languages. Occasionally, the name calendar is updated to bring in more contemporary names and names from other countries. Names from the West are the ones most likely to be added these days.
Adéla (Ger) noble, of good cheer
Alzbeta (AHLZH-byeh-tah) (H) consecrated to God
Anezka (AH-nezh-kah) (Gr) name of medieval queen; gentle, pure
Anna (AH-nah) (H) grace; Anicka (AH-nyich-kah), Anca (AHN-tchah)
Barbora (L) the stranger
Bozena (ROH-zhe-nah) perhaps diminutive of Elizabeth;
Bozka (BOZH-kah)
Dana (DAH-nah) feminine for Daniel (H) God is my judge
Eliška(consecrated to God
Emilie (Teut) industrious; Milka (MILL-kah), Mila (MEE-lah)
Eva (EH-vah) (H) life
Frantiska (FRAN-tyish-kah) (Teut) free;
Fanka (FAHN-kah)
Helena (G) light
Jana (H) God’s gracious gift
Jirina (YEER-zhih-nah) (Gr) farmer
Karla (OFr) strong; Karolína
Katerina (Gr) pure
Kristýna (Gr) Christian
Libuse (LIB-oo-sheh) figure from old fable (popular)
Lucie (L) bringer of light
Ludmila (LOOD-mill-ah) love of the people
Marie (MAR-yeh) (H) bitter; Marenka (MAR-ehn-kah), Mana, Maruska Mária, Marta
Miroslava (MEER-oh-slah-vah) peace; glory; Mirka (MEER-kah)
Monika (L) advisor
Natálie (Fr) born at Christmas
Otilie (OH-teel-yeh) (OGer) lucky heroine; Otka
Pavla (PAHV-lah) (L) little
Ruzena (ROO-zhee-nah) (L) rose; Ruza (ROO-zhah)
Tereza (Gr) harvester
Vlasta (VLA-stah) figure from old fable
Zdenka (ZDEHN-kah) (Phoenician) from Sidon (ancient Phoenician city)
Zusana (H) lily
Adam (H) son of the red earth
Alois (AHL-ois) (OGer) renowned warrior; Lojza (LOI-zhah)
Antonin (AHN-ton-yin) (L) inestimable; Tonda
Bohumil (BOH-hoo-mil) God’s peace; Bohous (BOH-howsh)
Bohuslav (BOH-oo-slahv) (Slavic) God’s glory
Cestmir (CHEST-meer) (Slavic) fortress
David (H) beloved
Eduard (EH-doo-ahr) (OE) wealthy guardian; Eda (EH-dah)
Evzen (EHV-zhen) (Gr) well born, noble
Ferdinand (FEHR-dee-nahnd) (Teut) adventurous, brave; Ferda (FEHR-dah)
Filip (Gr) lover of horses
Frantise (FRAHN-tee-shek) (Teut) free; Franta
Gustav (Teut) staff of the gods
Ivan (EE-vahn) (H) God’s gracious gift
Jan (YAHN) (H) God’s gracious gift; Jenda (YEHN-dah), Honza
Jakub (H) supplanter
Jaroslav (YAHR-oh-slav) glory of spring, figure in Czech fable; Jarda
Jiri (YIR-zhee) (Gr) farmer; Jirka (YIR-kah)
Jozef (YO-sef) (H) God will add; Jozka(YOHZH-kah), Pepik (PEP-ik), Josef
Karel (KAHR-ell) (OFr) strong and manly (Slovak: Karol)
Ladislav famous ruler; Lada (LAD-yah), Laco (LAHT-soh)
Lukáš (L) bringer of the light
Martin (L) war-like
Matej (H) gift of God
Michal (H) who is like God?
Miloslav (MEEL-oh-slav) love of glory; Milda (MEEL-dah)
Milan kind, loving, gracious
Miroslav (MEER-oh-slav) peace, glory; Mirek (MEE-rek)
Ondrej (Gr) manly
Ota (Teut) prosperous; Otik (OHT-yeek)
Peter (Gr) stone
Richard (RIK-hahrd) (OGer) powerful ruler; Risa (REE-shah)
Rostislav unknown meaning (-slav means glory); Rosta (ROHST-yah)
Stanislav (STAHN-yih-slav) glory of the camp; Standa
Stefan (Gr) crowned with laurels
Tomáš (TOH-mahsh) (H) twin; Tomik
Vaclav(VAHT-slav)(Slavic)wreath of glory;Vasek (VAH-shek)
Zdenek (ZDEH-nyeek) (OFr) a follower of St. Denis
Social and economic laws that developed in Hungary in the 1860s to modernize the country served to loosen family and home ties and inspire the growth of individual aspirations. Hungarians began migrating within their country in search of better opportunities and eventually began to look farther afield. Before that era, small numbers of Hungarian merchants, travelers and explorers had come to the U.S. Some even fought in the American Revolution.
A poor farming year in Hungary in 1880 led many to immigrate to America. Within about five years, a substantial stream of returnees bought the fortunes they had made in America back to Hungary, settled old debts, and began a much improved lifestyle. Others who stayed also sent money home, further fanning the enthusiasm for emigration. In 1903, for instance, the Hungarian city of Veszprem received over half a million dollars from their emigrants to America.
Between 1899 and 1914, when World War I halted immigration, more than 450,000 Hungarians immigrated to the U.S. Those who came merely to seek their fortunes and return to Hungary were called “sojourners.” They often found work in the rapidly expanding coal and steel industries in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Illinois and Indiana. Because many were men under thirty who didn’t plan to put down roots, the unsteady nature of mining didn’t bother them; they merely moved to wherever jobs were available, even switching to mill work if necessary.
The Immigration Act of 1924 severely limited the immigration of southern and eastern Europeans, and the sojourner era ended. However, from 1925 to the 1940s, another 15,000 Hungarians immigrated to the U.S., mainly professional and businesspeople.
After World War II, because the Hungarian immigration quota was so small, nearly 24,000 Hungarians were on waiting lists for years to immigrate as refugees from the Communist regime in Hungary. During the Hungarian revolt in 1956, some 200,000 fled Hungary. Eventually, over 35,000 of them were admitted as refugees to the U.S. In recent years, immigration has averaged about 800 each year.
Literacy among Hungarian immigrants has always been unusually high. Around the turn of the century, for instance, the literacy rate was 89 percent when the rate for Hungary in general was just 59 percent. Many of the 1956 refugees were college students and professionals. They usually settled with the help of earlier immigrants in the industrial towns favored by the sojourners and moved on to higher paying jobs fairly quickly.
The most popular names in Hungary now tend to be old-fashioned Hungarian names. Although the Hungarian language (called Magyar) and Polish look equally remote to Americans, they are actually from two entirely different root languages. Magyar is of the Uralic and Altaic family, which also contains Finnish, Turkish and Mongolian. Polish is a Balto-Slavic language, which is in the same family as Russian, Czech and Slovak.
Sources for names in Hungary have included saints (more than 50 percent of Hungarians are Catholic) and kings and queens of the Magyar dynasty, which has occupied the Danube basin for over a thousand years. Several unusual (to Americans) letter combinations make Hungarian pronunciation very distinctive, though also very consistent.
a = “ah” as in ball
a = “u” as in hut, but twice as long
e = “e” as in met
é = “eh” as in late, but twice as long
i = “ee” as in keep, but with lips opened more narrowly
í =same as above but longer
o, ó = “ah” as in ball
ö= “oh” as in hope
u = “u” as in put, with rounded lips
ú= “oo” as in moon
ü = “i” as in sit, with rounded lips
c = “ts” as in hats
j = “y” as in yet
gy = “d” with tongue pressed thickly against upper gum ridge
s = “sh” as in shoe
sz = “s” as in sow
z = “z” as in zoo
zs = “zh” as in azure
Ágnes (AHG-nesh) (Gr) gentle, pure
Ágotha (Gr) good; Agota, Agi
Alberta (OGer) noble, bright
Alexandra (Gr) defender of mankind; Alexa
Alisz (AH-leezh) (OGer) noble, kind; Aliz (AH-leez)
Amália (Teut) industrious; Emilia, Mali, Malika, Malcsi (MAHL-chee)
Anastasia(ah-nahs-TAH-shee-ah)(Gr)resurrection; Anasztaizia
Angyalka(AHN-dahl-kuh)(Gr)messenger; Angelina (AHN-gehl-ee-nah)
Anikó (H) grace; Anci (AHN-tsee), Annus, Nina. Annuska (AHN-noosh-KAH)
Anna (H) grace; Hajna (HAH-ee-nah), Anyu
Aurelia (L) gold; Aranka, Aranyu
Bella nobly bright, beautiful; Bela, Belle
Berta (BEHR-tah) (OGer) courageous; Bertus, Bertuska (behr-TOOSH-ka)
Borbàla(L)the stranger; Borsala, Bora, Boriska, Borsca, Borka
Bözsi (BO-zhee) (Betty) (H) consecrated to God; Boske, Erzsi (EHR-zhee)
Cili (TSEE-lih) (L) blind
Csilla (CHEE-luh) (H) protection
Darda a dart
Dorika (Dolly) diminutive of Dorothy (L) gift of God
Dorottya (do-RO-tah) Dorothy (L) gift of God; Doris, Dora
Duci (DOO-tsee) rich gift;
Edith (EH-deet), Edit
Edith (EH-deet) (Teut) rich gift; Edit, Duci (DOOT-see)
Edna (H) rejuvenation
Eliz (EH-leez) (H) consecrated to God
Erika (ONorse) ever powerful
Erna (OGer) from Ernestine (L) serious
Ernesztina (EHR-nehs-tee-nah) (Oger) serious
Erzsebét (EHR-zhee-beht) (H) consecrated to God; Erzsi, Erssike, Erzsok, Beti
Eszter (EHS-ter) (H) star; Eszti
Etel (H) noble; Etilka
Éva (H) life; Evike, Evacska (eh-VAHCH-ka)
Fani (L) free; Fanni
Felicia (L) fortunate or lucky
Flora (L) flower; Florentyna, Florka, Firenze, Virag
Franci (FRAHN-tsee) (Teut) free; Fereng, Franciska, Ferike
Franciska(FRAHN-tseesh-ka)(Teut)free;Franci(FRAHN-tsee)
Frederica (Teut) peaceful ruler; Frida
Frida (Teur) peaceful ruler; Frederica, Frici (FREE-tsee)
Gabriell (H) God is my strength; Gabi
Gertrud (Teut) fighter Gisella (Teut) pledge
Gizi (GEE-zee) (Teut) pledge; Gizike, Gizus (GEE-zoosh)
Gyöngyi (DON-dee) (OFr) juniper
Györgike (DOR-gee-kuh) (Gr) farmer
Hajnal (HAH-ee-nahl) (L) dawn
Henrietta (Teut) mistress of the home
Ibolya (L) violet
Ida (OGer) she who is active
Ildiko (Teut) warrior
Ilka (Gr) light
llona (Gr) light; Ica (EE-tsah), Ilay, Ili, Ilon, Ilonka, Ilu, Iluska (ee-LOOSH-ka), Lenci (LEHN-tsee)
Irén (Gr) peace; Irenke
Irma (OGer) war god; Irmus, Irmuska (EER-moosh-ka)
Izabella (H) consecrated to God; Izabel, Bella
Izso (EE-zho) (H) salvation of the Lord
Janka (YAHN-kah) (H) God’s gracious gift; Johanna (yo-HAHN-ah)
Jolan (YO-lahn) (OGer) country; Jolanka, Joli
Jozsa (YO-zhah) (H) God will increase
Judit (YOO-deet) (H) praised; Juci (YOO-tsee), Jucika, Jutka
Julinka (L) youthful
Juliska (yoo-LEESH-ka) (L) youthful; Juli, Julianna, Julcsa (YOOL-chah)
Kamilla (L) ceremonial attendant
Karolina feminine for Karl; Karola, Lina,Linka, Karla
Károly (Fr) song of joy;
Karcsi (KAHR-chee), Kari
Katalin (Gr) pure; Kara, Katinka
Katarina (Gr) pure; Katerina, Katakin
Kati (Gr) pure
Katoka (Gr) pure; Katica (kah-TEE-tsah), Katus (KAH-toosh), Koto
Klára (L) clear; Klarisza (KLAH-reezh-uh), Klari
Klárika (L) brilliant, illustrious; Klara
Klotild (OGer) heroine
Kornelia (L) horn
Krisztina (KREEZH tee nah (Cr) Christian; Kriszta, Kriska (KREESH-kah)
Lilike (L) lily flower
Liza (LEE-zah) nickname for Erzsebet; Liszka (LEES-ka)
Lucia (LOO-tsyah) (L) bringer of light
Lucza (LOO-tsah) (L) bringer of light
Lujza (loo-EE-sah) (OGer) famous warrior woman; Lujzi, Lujzika
Magdolna (H) woman of Magdala; Magda
Margit (Gr) a pearl; Margo, Gitta, Rita
Maria (H) bitter; Mari, Marcsa, Mara
Marianna combination of Maria and Anna
Marika (H) bitter
Mariska (mah-REESH-ka) (H) bitter
Marja (MAHR-yah) (H) bitter
Márta (H) bitter; Martuska (mahr-TOOSH-ka)
Mathild (Teut) brave in battle
Monika (L) advisor
Nancsi (NAHN-chee) (H) grace
Natália (Fr) born at Christmas
Neci (NEH-tsee) (L) fiery
Ninácska (NEEN-ach-kah) (H) grace; Nusi
Nusa (H) grace
Nusi (H) graceful; Aniko, Anci (AHN-tsee), Nin, \ Annuska (AHN-noosh-KAH)
Olga (Russian) holy;
Olgacska (ol-GAHCH-ka)
Olivia (L) olive tree
Onella (Gr) light
Orzsébet (OR-zhee-beht) (H) consecrated to God
Paula (L) little; Pali, Paliki
Perzsike (PEHR-zhee-kuh) (H) consecrated to God; Perke, Perzsi
Piroska (pee-ROSH-ka) (L) form of Priscilla; the ancient; Piri
Rebeka (H) servant of God
Réz (REHZ) copper-colored hair
Rezi diminutive of Tereza (Gr) harvester; Riza
Rozália combination of Rose and Lily; Roza, Rozsika (ro-ZHEE-ka)
Rozsa (RO-zha) (L) rose; Rozsi
Sári (SHAH-ree) (H) princess; Sarolta, Sarika,Sara, Sasa, (SHAH-shah), Sara
Sofia (Gr) wisdom
Sziszi (SEE-see) nickname for Erzsebét, Zizi, Zsoka, Zsizsi (ZHEE-zhee),
Teca (TEH-tsah) diminutive of Tereza
Teréza (tehr-EH-zah) (Gr) harvester; Treszka (TREHS-ka), Terez, Teresa
Teri (Gr) harvester; Terike, Terus (TEHR-oosh), Rezi
Tünde unknown meaning
Vera (L) true
Vica(VEE-tsah)(H)life;Vicus,Vicuka,Vicuska(veeCHUSH-ka)
Viktoria (L) victorious
Zigana gypsy girl
Zita (Arabic) mistress
Zizi (ZEE-zee) (H) consecrated to God
Zsofia (zho-FEE-ah) (Gr) wisdom; Zsofi,Zsofika
Zsuzsanna (zhoo-ZHAH-nah) (H) lily; Zsuzsa, Zsuzsi, Zsuzsika, Zsuska, Zsuzska
Ábel (H) breath
Ábraham (H) father of a multitude
Ádam (H) man of the red earth
Adalbert (Teut) noble, bright; Bela, Adel
Adolf (OGer) noble wolf
Adorján (AH-dor-yan) (L) of the Adriatic; Adi
Ágoston (L) venerable; Gusztav (GOOS-tahv)
Alajos (AH-lah-yos) (Teut) famous holiness; Lojze (LOY-zee)
Albert (OGer) noble, bright; Bela
Alfréd (OE) wise; Fredi (FREH-dee)
Ambrus (AHM-broosh) (Gr) immortal, divine
Anasztáz (AH-nahs-taz) (Gr) resurrection
Andor (Gr) strong and manly; Andras, Endre, Andi, Andris, Bandi
András (Gr) manly; Andor, Endre
Antal (L) inestimable
Arisztid (AHR-ees-teed) (Gr) son of the best
Aron (AH-ron) (H) enlightened
Árpád (AWR-pahd) a Magyar national hero who founded a dynasty in a.d. 890
Artur (ahr-TOOR) (Celt) noble, bear man
Attila old mythological name
Bálint (L) strong and healthy; Baline
Ballas (BAHL-ahzh) (L) stammerer; Balazs
Barna (H) son of prophecy
Barta (Aramaic) ploughman; Bartalan, Berti
Béla diminutive of Albert
Benci (BEN-tsee) blessed; Benedik, Benedek, Benek
Benedek (L) blessed; Benke, Bence, Benci
Benjamin (BEHN-ya-meen) (H) son of the right hand
Bernát (OGer) courage of a bear
Bertók (Teut) bright raven
Bodi (BO-dee) may God protect the king
Boldizsár (BOL-dee-zhahr) Balthasar
Boris (Slavic) battler; stranger
Buni old mythological name
Cézar (L) Caesar
Clement (L) gentle, kind
Csaba (CHAH-buh) ancient Hungarian mythological name
Dániel (H) God is my judge; Daneil, Dani
Dávid (H) beloved
Demeter (Gr) goddess of the harvest; Domotor
Dénes (Gr) god of wine; Dennes
Dezsö (DEH-zho) (L) desired
Domokos (L) of the Lord; Domonkos, Domo, Dome, Dedo
Donát (Celt) world ruler
Dorján (DOR-yawn) (L) dark man, black man
Edgard (A.S.) happy warrior
Edvard (OE) wealthy guardian; Ede
Elek short for Alexander (Gr) defender of mankind; Eli, Lekszi
Elemér (Teut) famous
Elias (H) Jehovah is God; Illes
Emánuel (H) God is with us; Mano
Emil (Teut) energetic
Ernö (OGer) serious
Ervin (EHR-vin) friend of the sea
Ferdinánd (Teut) adventurous, brave; Nandor
Ferenc (fehr-EHNTS) (L) free; Feri, Ferke, Ferko
Fredek from Frederick (Teut) peaceful ruler of Alfred (OE) wise counsel
Frigyes (FREE-dehs) (Teut) peaceful ruler; Frici (FREE-tsee)
Fülöp (Gr) lover of horses
Gábor (H) God is my strength; Gabi
Gáspár (Persian) treasure master; Gazsi (GAH-zhee)
Gellért (Teut) powerful soldier
Gergely (Gr) vigilant; Gergo
Gottfrid (Teut) God’s peace
Gusztáv (GOOS-tahv) (Teut) staff of the gods
Gyala (L) youth
György (DOR-dee) (Gr) farmer; Gyoergy, Gyuri, Gyurka
Gyula (DOO-lah) (L) youth; Gyuszi (DOO- see)
Harold (ONorse) war chief; Henrik
Henrik (Teut) ruler of an estate
Herbert (HEHR-bert) (Teut) bright warrior
Ignác (EEG-nahch) (L) fiery; Neci (NEH-tsee)
Imre (Teut) industrious
Ince (EEN-tseh) (L) innocent
István (EESHT-vahn) (Gr) crowned with laurels; Pista (PEESH-tah), Pisti
Iván (ee-VAHN) (H) God’s gracious gift
Izidor (Gr) gift of ideas
Izrael (H) soldier of the Lord
Izsák (EE-zhahk) (H) laughter
Jancsi (YAHN-tsee) (H) God’s gracious gift
János (YAH-nos) (H) God’s gracious gift; Jani, Jankia, Janko
Jenö(YEH-no) (Gr) well born; Jenci (YEHN-tsee)
József (YO-zhehf) (H) God will add; Joszef (YO-sehf), Joska (YOSH-ka), Jozsi
Jozsua (YO-zhua) (H) God saves
Kálmán (KAHL-man) (OFr) strong and manly
Karl (OFr) strong and manly
Károly (OFr) strong and manly; Kari, Karcsi (KAHR-chee)
Kazmér (KAHZ-meer) (Polish) he announces peace
Kelemen gentle, kind; Kellman
Klement (L) merciful
Konrád (OGer) honest counselor; Kurt
Kernél (L) horn; Soma (TSO-mah)
Kristóf (KREESH-tof) (Gr) Christ bearer
Kurt (OGer) honest counselor
Lajos (LAH-hos) (Teut) famous holiness; Laji, Lali, Lajcsi (LAH-ee-chee),
László (LAHS-lo) (Slavic) famous ruler; Laci (LAH-tsee), Lacko, Lazlo
Lázár (H) God will help
Lenci (LEHN-tsee) (L) crowned with laurels
Lipót (Teut) patriotic; Poldi
Loránt (LO-rawnt) (L) crowned with laurels
Loreca (lo-REH-tsah) (L) crowned with laurels
Lorencz (LO-rehnts) (L) crowned with laurel; Lorenc
Lörinc(LO-reents)(L) crowned with laurel; Lenci (LEHN-tsee)
Lúkács (LOO-kahch) (L) bringer of light
Marci (MAHR-tsee) (L) warlike one; Marcilki, Marcilka (mahr-TSIL-kah),
Márton (L) warlike; Marci (MAHR-tsee), Marcilka, Martino
Máté (H) gift of God
Mátyás (H) gift of God
Mihály (H) who is like God; Miska (MEESH-ka),Mika, Misi (MEE-shee)
Miklós (Gr) victory of the people
Miksa (MEEK-shah) (L) greatest
Miska (MEESH-kah) (H) who is like God?
Moricz (MOR-eets) (L) Moorish, dark skinned
Mózes (H) saved from the water
Ödön (A.S.) wealthy protector; Odi
Orbán (OR-bahn) (L) born in the city
Oszkar (OS-ker) (Celt) warrior
Otto (Teut) prosperous
Pál (PAWL) (L) little; Pali, Palika
Péter (Gr) stone; Peti, Peterke
Rendor policeman
Réz copper, boy with reddish hair
Rezsó (REH-zho) (Teut) strong, wise counsel; Rudolf
Rikárd (OGer) powerful ruler
Róbert (RO-behrt) (Teut) of shining fame
Robi (RO-bee) (Teut) of shining fame
Rudi (Teut) famous wolf; Rudolf, Rezso (REH-zho)
Salamon (SHAH-lah-mun) (H) peace
Sámuel (SHAH-myoo-ehl) (H) God hears; Samu, Samuka, Sarnie
Sándor (Gr) defender of mankind
Sebestyén (sheh-BEHSH-tehn) (Gr) venerable, revered; Sebo (SHEH-bo)
Simon (SHEE-mon) (H) God is heard Tabor (TAH-bor) camp
Tamás (TAW-mahsh) (H) twin; Tomi
Tass ancient Hungarian mythological name
Tibor (Slavic) holy place
Todor (Gr) gift of God; Tivadar
Toni (L) inestimable; Tone, Toncse (TON-cheh)
Vencel (VEHN-tsehl) wreath, garland
Vidor (L) conqueror
Viktor (L) conqueror; Geza (GEH-zah)
Vilmos (VEEL-mosh) (Teut) resolute soldier; Vili
Vincze (VEEN-tseh) (L) conqueror; Vinci
Walter (Teut) powerful warrior
Zacharias (H) remembered by the Lord
Zoltán (Gr) life
Zsigmond (ZHEEG-mond) (Teut) conquering protection;
Zsiga (ZHEE-ga)
Latvia is a country about the size of West Virginia and is located on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea south of Finland and Estonia. Part of northern Europe’s coastal plain, Latvia features gently rolling topography. More than half of Latvia’s people are farmers, raising grains, potatoes and flax. About one-fourth of the country is covered with forests.
In 1640, a few Latvians and Estonians (from just north of Latvia) immigrated with a group of Swedes to New Sweden in Delaware and Pennsylvania. A small but steady stream of immigrants arrived after that, until in 1850, the total number of Latvians and Lithuanians in the U.S. (counted together due to similarity of language) was 3,160. Most were sailors, artisans or missionaries.
Additionally, some may have arrived as stowaway sailors or registered as Russians, Germans or Scandinavians. In the 1900s, many sought their fortunes in the gold mines of the American West.
Many Latvians arriving in the U.S. after 1905 were radicals who were active in the American labor movements of the early twentieth century. Later groups strongly supported the idea of independence for the Baltic countries and tried to promote the idea in the U.S. through newspapers and organizations.
Latvians tended to settle in the Northeast, Midwest and West Coast areas. Many started as unskilled laborers but worked their way up into skilled professions and business proprietorships. They weren’t as likely as some other groups to form close-knit communities; parents and grown children lived separately, though maintained close family ties. Their homes were their castles, and Latvian immigrants poured much energy into them.
Latvian immigration in the nineteenth century was small but steady. The 1900 census showed 4,300 Latvians living in the U.S. Another 5,000 arrived between 1905 and 1913 in the aftermath of the Russian revolution. Many settled in eastern and mid-western states and found work in con-struction jobs as carpenters, bricklayers, engineers, etc.
From 1918 to 1940, during Latvia’s only period of freedom from Russian domination since 1795, immigration dropped to a trickle. Over 40,000 Latvians immigrated as refugees between 1939 and 1951 under the U.S. Displaced Persons Act of 1948, fleeing Nazi and Soviet suppression. Many began their lives in the U.S. by taking jobs as unskilled laborers but in ten years’ time had reestablished themselves in their former professions or had started new ones. In Milwaukee, in 1958, for instance, 43 percent of Latvians belonged to professions, 27 percent were business owners, and the rest were divided among clerical, artisan and semi-professional jobs. Only 2 percent were unskilled workers.
Latvians arriving after World War II showed an unusually high level of education. Forty-seven percent attended a college or university, 35 percent were high school graduates, 5 percent graduated from trade schools, and 14 percent had just an elementary school education. A large number of scientists are of Latvian origin, including an inventor who built one of the first American automobiles in 1896.
Latvians belong to an almost extinct group of Baltic peoples. Their language (the only related one still spoken is Lithuanian) is most closely related to the ancient Indo-European tongues. Despite much foreign domination, Latvians have maintained a distinct national culture, which includes native as well as Gemanic, Scandinavian and Slavic influences. Over a million verses and variants of folk songs, or dainas, have been collected.
a = “ah” as in ball
e = “eh” as in late
ei = “eh” as in late
i = “ee” as in keep
o = “oh” as in hope
u = “oo” as in moon
c = “ts”
ce = “tsuh”
ch = “k” as in week
g = “g” as in go
j = “y” as in yes
ks = “ks”
Agata (Gr) gentle, pure
Agnese (Gr) pure
Albertine (AHL-behr-tee-nuh) (Oger) noble, bright
Anastasija (Gr) resurrection; Nastaska, Stasya, Taska, Nastechka
Ance (H) grace; Aneta, Anka, Asenka, Anyuta, Nyurochka, Nyusya, Anya, Aska, Asya
Beatrise (L) she blesses
Dagnija (ONorse) day, brightness
Eizenija (Gr) well born, noble
Evelina (H) life
Gizela (Teut) pledge
Griete (Gr) a pearl
Helena (Gr) light
Ilma (L) industrious, persuasive
Inesa (Gr) gentle, pure
Irisa (Gr) rainbow
Irka (Gr) peace
Janina (YAH-nee-nuh) (H) God’s gracious gift; Jana, Zanna
Julija (L) youthful; Yuliya, Iuliya, Yulinka, Yulka
Kathryn (Gr) pure; Katrina, Trine
Klara (L) bright, clear
Kristina (Gr) Christian; Krista, Kristiana, Kristine
Ksenija (Gr) hospitable
Liene (Gr) light
Liliana (L) lily flower; Lilija
Lizina diminutive of Elizabete (H) consecrated to God; Lizite, Liza
Lucija (L) light
Marija (H) bitter; Marika, Mare
Nadina (Slavic) hope
Olga (Russian) holy
Taska (Gr) resurrection; Tasya
Tatjana fairy queen
Tereze (Gr) harvester
Urzula (L) little bear
Zanna (H) God’s gracious gift
Zinnaida (Gr) daughter of Zeus
Andrejs (Gr) manly; Andris
Armands (Teut) soldier
Bendiks (L) blessed
Berngards (Oger) courage of a bear;
Boris (Slavic) a fighter; Boriss
Dainis (Gr) god of wind
Daniels (H) God is my judge
Eduards (OE) wealthy guardian
Emek (H) God is with us
Erki (ONorse) ever powerful
Fabius (L) bean grower
Filips (Gr) lover of horses
Jeks (H) the supplanter; Jeska
Janis (H) God’s gracious gift; Jancis, Janka, Zanis, Ansis
Karlis (OFr) strong and manly; Karlens, Karlitis
Krists (Gr) Christ-bearer; Krisus, Kristaps, Kriss
Labrencis (L) crowned with laurel; Brencis
Mikelis (H) who is like God; Miks, Mikus, Milkins
Niklavs (Gr) victoy of the people; Nikolajs, Kola; Niklas, Nikolais
Oleg holy
Oto (Teut) prosperous; Otto, Otokars, Otomars
Pauls (L) little; Pavils
Richards (Oger) powerful ruler; Rihards
Romans (L) Roman
Stefans (Gr) a crown
Teodors (Gr) gift of God
Valerijs (L) strong and brave
Vilhelms (Teut) resolute protector; Vilis
Zigfrids (Teut) conquering peace
A Lithuanian physician was the first secondary schoolteacher in New York, teaching high school in a schoolhouse in the financial district from 1659 to 1661. Sporadic immigration after that time consisted mainly of craftsmen or noblemen who came individually. It wasn’t until the 1860s that Lithuanians began to immigrate in large numbers.
In the 1860s and 1870s, small groups of Lithuanians began migrating regularly to find work. They worked on railroad construction projects in Lithuania, on large estates in Prussia and Latvia as agricultural workers, in mines in the Ukraine, and even in Scotland and England as industrial workers.
A phenomenon known as chain migration was common with Lithuanians as well as many other nationalities. As newcomers became established in America they would invite friends and relatives to join them, often sending money and tickets for the trip. They would usually provide temporary housing until jobs could be found. This pattern of informal assistance continued over forty years, producing numerous immigrant chains that left scarcely a Lithuanian village untouched.
Economic pressures (an increasing landless peasant class and a severe famine in the late 1860s) caused the immigration to begin moving farther afield to America. An estimated half million Lithuanians arrived between 1868 and 1914, largely settling in coal-mining regions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia and in older urban areas, such as New York City and Baltimore. The true number of Lithuanian immigrants is not well known, as they were listed as Poles and Russians until 1931.
Many were bachelors or married men who left wives and families behind. They often continued their earlier pattern of mobility, moving easily from one industrial center to another. Between 1899 and 1914, one in five returned to Lithuania, usually because he had fulfilled his goal of raising a certain amount of money to pay off old debts or expand his operations at home, rather than because of dissatisfaction with his new life. The garment trade and coal-mining centers of the Northeast were the major population centers that drew Lithuanian immigrants.
After World War II, 37,000 Lithuanians were admitted from displaced persons’ camps. Some of these immigrants were political refugees from Soviet rule, who had fled westward in 1944-1945. Many were concentration camp inmates, soldiers, and laborers conscripted by the Germans in World War II. They tended to be better educated than the peasant immigrants from the 1870-1914 period and often settled in the metropolitan areas of the Northwest and Midwest. Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Los Angeles are the U.S. cities with the most Lithuanian Americans.
Danville, Pennsylvania, was established in 1869 by four Lithuanian men. Today, Danville is still one of the main centers for foreign-stock Lithuanians. An estimated 500,000 third-generation and beyond Lithuanians live in Pennsylvania today.
The Lithuanian language (related to the Latvian language) received a boost in the 1600s due to the competition for souls of the people by Protestant and Catholic reformers. Both aggressively published religious tracts and catechisms in the local language to try to win converts.
a = “uh” as in above or “ah” as in ball
e = “a” as in man or “eh” as in late
eu = “eh-ooh”
i = “i” as in sit or “ee” as in keep
o = “oh” as in hope
u = “uh” as in book or “oo” as in moon
j = “y” as in yes
y = “ee” as in keep
Adelyte (OGer) noble, of good cheer
Agne (Gr) gentle, pure
Angelika (Fr) angel
Anikke (H) grace; Annze, Ona, Onele, Ane
Audra (Li) storm; Audrone
Ausra (Li) dawn
Daina (Li) song
Dorota (L) gift of God
Elzbieta (H) consecrated to God; Elzbute, Elzbietele
Emilija (Teut) industrious
Grazyna (H) grace
Greta (Gr) a pearl
Jadvyga (yahd-VEE-guh) (Teut) refuge in battle; Jada
Julija (L) youthful; Julyte
Jurate (Li) amber
Justina (L) just; Juste
Kamile (L) ceremonial attendant
Karolina feminine for Karl (OFr) stong
Kristina (Gr) Christian
Kofryna (Gr) pure
Laima (Li) luck
Laura (L) crown of laurels
Leva unknown meaning
Magdalena (H) woman of Magdala; Magde, Magdute, Magdele
Margarita (Gr) a pearl
Marija (H) bitter; Maryte
Nastusche (Fr) born at Christmas; Naste, Natalija
Rasa (Li) dew
Ruta (H) beauty, friend
Saule (L) sun
Simona (H) God is heard
Sofija (Gr) wisdom; Sofiya
Stanislava (L) star
Viktorija (L) victorious
Zuzane (H) lily
Alexandras (Gr) defender of mankind; Alexandrukas, Alexsander
Algimantas (Li) wealthy; Algimas, Algis
Anatolijus (Gr) from the East
Andrius (Gr) manly
Antanas (L) inestimable; Ante, Antanelis, Antanukas
Aras (Li) intelligence of an eagle
Augustinas (L) venerable; Augustas
Azuolas (Li) oak
Benejaminas (H) son of the right hand
Bronislovas (Slav) weapon of glory; Bronius
Danielius (H) God is my judge; Dane, Danukas, Daniel
Darius (Old Persian) wealthy protector; Darijus
Elada (L) of Greece
Eugenijus (Gr) well born; Eugeniyus
Giedrius (Li) amber
Henrikas (Teut) ruler of an estate; Herkus
Jonas (H) God’s gracious gift; Jonelis, Jonukas, Jonutis
Jeronimas (L) sacred name
Jonas (H) God’s gracious gift
Juozapas (H) God will add; Juozas
Jurgis (Gr) farmer
Justinas (L) just
Karolis (OFr) strong and manly
Konstantinas (L) constant
Krystupas (Gr) Christ bearer
Leonas (L) like a lion
Linas (Li) flax
Marijus (L) warlike one; Martinus
Mykolas (H) who is like God
Paulius (L) little; Paulinus
Petras (Gr) stone; Petrukas, Petrelis
Pranciškus (Teut) free
Raimondas (Teut) mighty protector
Ramunas (Li) calm
Steponas (Gr) crowned with laurel
Tomas (H) twin
Viktoras (L) conqueror
Vadimas (Russian) possesses peace
Virgilijus (L) strong, flourishing
Vladislava (Slavic) possesses glory
Vytautas (Li) pursuer of the people; Vytis
In the first half of the nineteenth century the nature of Polish emigration was primarily political. At that time, Poland as a separate country hardly existed because it had been partitioned three times in the eighteenth century by its powerful neighbors. Most of Poland was under Russian rule by 1815; Prussia controlled the smaller western part of Poland; and Austria, the poor and populous territory of Galicia.
In 1830, a nationalist insurrection was suppressed by Czar Nicholas I of Russia. Many revolutionaries, who considered the U.S. a model liberal society, emigrated from Poland, settling in New York and Chicago (at least 1,000 came to America) as well as London, Paris and Geneva. Another uprising in 1863 failed to achieve independence for Poland but swelled the ranks of emigrants.
Poland experienced the same woes that accumulated in other countries of northern Europe in the last half of the nineteenth century. Massive population growth worsened the problem of family farms subdivided among descendants to below subsistence levels. In Galicia, the effect was the worst because no industry developed to provide jobs for the increasing numbers of landless peasants.
Thus, the Polish immigrants from the second half of the nineteenth century were much more concerned with basic survival. In Poland, they were called “za chlebem” (for bread) emigrants, and from the German section, they numbered an estimated 380,000 between 1850 and 1898. Another 50,000 arrived before 1914.
The tide of emigration gradually shifted to the East. In the 1890s, 400,000 Galician Poles immigrated to the U.S., with an equal number arriving between 1900 and 1914. The bulk of Russian Poles arrived after 1900 (635,000 from 1900 to 1914, 170,000 before 1900).
A significant aspect of the Polish immigration was the support networks of previous immigrants in the U.S., which eased the entry of the newcomers into American life. Most immigrants also came armed with plenty of information about American customs from a voluminous flow of letters to and from Poland.
Most Polish immigrants of this time made their way to rapidly developing cities of the Midwest and middle Atlantic states, especially Chicago, taking jobs in mills, slaughterhouses, refineries and foundries. Very few became farmers.
After World War I, Polish emigration resulted mainly from discouragement about the unstable political situation, which went through many rocky transformations, including Nazi occupation during World War II and culminating in the establishment of a pro-Soviet government in 1945. As occurred before the War, most Poles immigrated to industrial areas of the Midwest. The total number of Americans of Polish heritage is estimated at between five and six million, making it one of the largest ethnic groups.
The majority of Polish people, including the immigrants, have been Roman Catholic since their forebears, a tribe of Western Slavs, converted to Christianity in a.d. 966. Saint names are common in the Polish name calendar, as well as names of early Polish kings, such as Kazimeirz, Stanislaus and Wladyslaw.
It is customary in Poland to celebrate a person’s birthday on the first day following the person’s birth that their name appears on the name calendar. Many of the most common names repeat themselves several times a year. Someone named Tomasz, for instance, born in late May would celebrate his birthday on September 22, the first name day after that. Polish children are usually known by nicknames or diminutives.
a = “a” as in daft
au = “ah-oo”
e = “e” as in pet
eu = “eh-oo”
c = “ts” as in hats
ch = strongly aspirated “h” as in loch
chs = “khs” ci = “tsh”
cz = “ch” as in church
j = “y” as in yet
k = “k” as in kind
sz = “sh” as in shoe
szck = “shk”
t = “w” or “1” as in ill
w = “v” as in veal
y = “i” as in fit
z = “z” as in zero unless preceded by c, r or s, or followed by i
ż, rz = “zh” as in pleasure
Adelajda (AH-deh-LAH-ee-dah) (OGer) noble, kind
Agata (Gr) good, kind
Albinka (L) blond, white
Aldona (OGer) old
Alina bright, beautiful
Alka noble, brilliant
Amelia (L) industrious, persuasive; Amalia
Anastazja (ah-nah-STAZ-yah) (Gr) resurrection
Anieli perhaps feminine for Anio (AH-ne-oh)
Anna (H) grace; Ania, Hania, Anka, Hanka, Hanna
Antonina (L) inestimable
Balbina (L) stammerer
Barbara (Gr) the stranger
Basha diminutive of Barbara (Gr) the stranger
Beata (L) she blesses
Bodgana God’s gift; Bohdana
Bogna God’s gift
Brygid (Celt) strength
Cecilia (tseh-TSEE-lyuh) (L) blind, gray eyes
Celina (tseh-LEE-nah) (Gr) mythological figure; Celestyn, Cela, Celek, Celinka, Cesia, Inok, Inka
Diana (Gr) goddess of the moon
Dominika (L) of the Lord
Dorota (L) gift of God
Edyta (eh-DEET-ah) (Teut) rich gift
Elwira (Sp) white, fair; Ela, Wira, Wiera, Wirke
Elzbieta (H) consecrated to God; Eliza, Liza, Elka
Emilia (Teut) industrious
Eufemia (Gr) well known
Euzebia (Gr) pious
Ewa (EH-vah) (H) life
Felcia (FEHL-shah) (L) fortunate or lucky; Felka, Fela, Felicia
Filipina (Gr) lover of horses
Filomena (Gr) lover of mankind
Florentyna (L) flowering
Franciszka (frahn-SHEESH-ka) (Teut)free; Frania, Fraka
Gizela (Teut) pledge
Grazyna (H) grace
Gutka good
Halina (Gr) light
Helena (Gr) light
Henka (Teut) ruler of an estate; Henia, Heniuta, Henrieta
Hilaria (L) cheerful
Honorata (L) honor
Hortenspa (L) gardener; Tesia
Inga (Teut) hero’s daughter
Irena (Gr) peace
Iwona (ee-VO-nah) (Scand) archer
Izabel (H) consecrated to God; Iza
Jadwiga (yahd-VEEG-ah) (Teut) refuge in battle
Jana (YAH-nah) (H) God’s gracious gift; Janina, Janeczka (yah-NECH-kuh), Jasia, Joasia
Joanka (YO-ahn-kah) (H) God’s gracious gift; Nina, Joanna, Janka, Zanna
Joanny (yo-AHN-nee) (H) God’s gracious gift
Jolanta (yo-LAHN-tah) (Gr) violet blossoms; Jola
Julia (YOO-lyah) (L) youthful
Julita (L) youthful
Justyna (L) just
Kamilla (L) ceremonial attendant; Mila, Kamilka
Karin (Gr) pure
Karolin feminine for Karol
Kassia (Gr) pure; Kasia, Kasin, Kasienka, Kaska
Katarzyna (kah-tarzh-EE-nah) (Gr) pure; Kasia, Kaska, Kasienka
Katrine (Gr) pure; Katrin, Katine, Kati, Katya
Klara (L) bright, clear
Klaudia (L) lame
Kleopatra (Gr) glory of the father
Krysta (Gr) Christian; Krystka, Krysia, Krystynka
Krystyn (KRIS-tin) (Gr) Christian
Ksena (H) praise to God Kunegundy unknown meaning
Laura (Gr) crown of laurels
Lechsinska woodland spirit
Lidia (Gr) ancient province in Asia Minor
Lilianna (L) pure as a lily
Lilka famous warrior maiden; Ludka, Iza, LodoJska, Lucwika, Lnisa
Lucja (LOOTS-yah) (L) bringer of light
Lucyna (LOOT-sih-nah) (L) light bringer
Ludmila (Russian) loved by the people
Madde (Gr) woman of Magdala
Malgorzata (mahl-gor-ZHAH-tah) (Gr) a pearl
Marcelina (L) warlike; Marzena
Margarita (Gr) a pearl; Margisia, Gita, Rita
Maria (H) bitter; Mania, Marysia, Macia, Manka
Marianna (H) form of Mary; rebellious
Marta (H) bitter; Masia, Macia (MAH-tsee-ah)
Marysia (H) bitter Matyida perhaps from
Matilda (Teut) brave in battle
Mela pet form of Melania; black, dark; Melka, Ela
Melania (Gr) black; Ela
Melcia (MEHLT-shuh) (Teut) ambitious; Amalia
Michalina (H) who is like God
Minka (Teut) strong, resolute
Monika (L) advisor
Morela apricot
Nadzia (Slavic) hope; Natka
Nata hope; Natia
Natalia (Fr) born at Christmas
Nelka nickname for Petronela (Gr) the stone; Nela, Petra, Ela
Olesia (Gr) defender of mankind; Ola
Olga (Russian) holy
Olimpia (Gr) Olympian
Otylia (OGer) lucky heroine
Paulina (L) little
Pelagia (Gr) sea dweller
Pelcia (PEL-shuh) nickname for Penelopa (Gr) weaver; Pela, Lopa
Petronela (Gr) stone
Rahel (H) innocence of a lamb Rasia queen
Rasina rose
Reginy (L) queen
Rita (Gr) a pearl
Roch (Ger) glory
Roza (L) rose; Rozyczka (ro-ZEESH-kuh)
Rozali combination of Rose and Lily
Rozalia (L) rose; Rozaliya
Sabina (L) Sabine woman (ancient tribe of central Italy)
Sylwia (SIL-vyah) (L) from the forest
Tamary (Russian) palm tree
Tekli (Gr) divine fame
Teodorya (Gr)gift of God
Truda (OGer)warrior woman; Trudka, Giertruda, Gerta
Urszula (uhr-SHOO-lee) (L) little bear
Valeska (Russian) glorious ruler
Violetta (vee-o-LEH-tuh) (L) violet
Wanda (OGer) wanderer
Wandy (VAHN-dee) (OGer) wanderer
Weronikya (L) true image
Wisia (VEE-shuh) (L) victory; Wicia, Wikitoria, Wiktorja, Wikta
Władysława (vlah-dis-SLAH-vah) (Fr) from Charlotte; petite and feminine
Yachne (YAKH-nee) (H) gracious
Zefiryn (Gr) like the zephyr
Zenobia (Gr) stranger
Zofia (Gr) wisdom
Zuzanna (H) lily
Zyta diminutive of Teresa (Gr) harvester
Zytka (ZHIT-kuh) nickname for Rosita and Brigita; Zyta (ZHIT-uh)
Adam (H) son of the red earth
Adok (L) dark one
Adolf (OGer) noble wolf
Adrian (L) of the Adriatic
Albin (L) white
Aleksander (Gr) defender of mankind
Aleksy (Gr) defender of mankind
Alfred (OE) wise counselor
Anatol (Gr) from the East
Andrzej (AHND-zheh) (Gr) manly
Anioł(Gr) strong and manly; Jedrus, Jedrik
Antonio (L) inestimable; Antonin
Anzelm (Teut) divine helmet
Bernard (OGer) courage of a bear; Bernardyn
Biały(BYAH-le) white-haired boy; Bialas
Bogdan(H) God’s gift;Bohdan
Bogumil God’s peace
Boguslaw (BO-goo-slahv) (Slavic) God’s glory
Bonifacy (L) well doer
Borsław stranger glory
Borys (Slavic) a fighter
Bronisław (BRON-is-lahv) (Slavic) weapon of glory
Brunon (Ger) brown
Casimir (kah-SEE-muhr) he announces peace
Celestyn (L) heaven
Cyprian (SHIH-pree-an) (L) from Cyprus
Cyryl (Gr) lordly one; Cyrek
Czeslaw (CHEHS-lahv) (L) fortress
Damian (Gr) taming
Daniel (H) God is my judge
Dionizy (Gr) god of wine
Dobieslaw (DO-bee-slav) (Gr) god of wine
Dobry (DO-bree) good
Dodek noble hero; Adek, Adolph
Dominik (L) of the Lord
Donat (Celt) world ruler
Dorek gift of God
Dymitr (Gr) belonging to Demeter (goddess of the harvest)
Edward (EHD-vahrd) (OE) wealthy guardian; Eduard
Elek from Aurek; golden-haired
Emanuel (H) God is with us
Emilian (Teut) energetic
Erek lovable
Ernest (OGer) serious
Eryk (ONorse) ever powerful
Eustachy (Gr) fruitful
Felicjan (feh-LEETS-yahn) (L) fortunate or lucky
Feliks (L) fortunate or lucky
Feodor (Gr) gift of God; Fedor, Tolek, Teos, Teodor, Dorek
Ferdynand (Teut) adventurous
Fidelis (L) faithful
Filip (Gr) lover of horses; Fil
Flawiusz (FLAH-vee-oosh) (L) blond, yellow
Florentyn (L) flowering
Florian (L) flowering
Franciszek (frahn-TSEESHK) (Teut) free
Fryderyk (Teut) peaceful ruler; Fredek, Frederyk
Gabriel (H) God is my strenth
Gerard (OE) spear hard
Gerik (GEHR-ik) prosperous spearman; Edek
Gerwazy (gehr-VAH-zee) (Teut) warrior
Grzegorz (GZHEG-orzh) (Gr) vigilant
Gwidon (GVEE-don) (L) life
Henryk (Teut) ruler of the home
Heromin (hehr-oh-MEEN) (Teut) ruler of an estate
Hieronim (Gr) sacred name
Hilary (L) cheerful
Hipolit (Gr) letting horses loose
Holleb like a dove
Innocenty (L) innocent
Izak (H) laughter; Icek
Izydor (Gr) a gift of ideas
Jack (YAHK) (H) God’s gracious gift
Jakub (YAH-koob) (H) the supplanter; Kuba
Jan (YAHN) (H) God’s gracious gift; Janek
Jarek (YAH-rek) born in January; Janiusz, Janiuszck, Januarius
Jedrik (YED-rik) strong and manly; Jedrus
Jerzy (YEHR-zee) (Gr) farmer
Joachim (yo-ah-KEEM) (H) God will establish
Josep (YO-sehp) (H) God will add; Josef
Juliusz (YOO-lee-oosh) (L) youthful; Julian
Justyn (YOOS-tin) (L) just Kajetan (kah-yeh-TAHN) from Gaeta (city in central Italy)
Karol (OFr) Strong and manly; Karolek
Kazimierz (kah-see-MEERZH) declare peace
Klemens (L) merciful
Konrad (OGer) honest counselor
Konstancji (kon-STAHNT-syee) (L) constant; Konstanty
Kernel (L) horn
Kosmy (Gr) order, universe
Krzysztof (KZHIS-tof) (Gr) Christ bearer
Laiurenty (L) crowned with laurels
Leon (L) lion
Liuz (LOOZ) (L) light
Lubomir peace loving Luboslaw loving glory
Lucjan (LOOTS-yahn) (L) bringer of light
Ludoslaw love of glory
Ludwik (LOOD-vik) (OGer) renowned warrior
Łukasz (LOO-kahsh) (L) bringer of light
Maksym (L) greatest; Makimus, Maksymilian
Mandek (MAHN-dek) army man; Armand, Armandek, Arek
Marcely (mar-SHEH-lee) (L) warlike
Marek (MAH-rek) (L) warlike; Marcin, Mark
Marian (MAHR-yahn) (L) warlike
Mateusz (mah-TOOSH) (H) gift of God; Matyas
Maury (L) Moorish
Maurycy (mo-REET-see) (L) Moorish, dark skinned
Melchior (H) king
Micha (H) who is like God
Mikolaj (MEE-ko-lah-ee) (Gr) victory of the people; Milosz
Miron peace
Miroslawy (MEE-ro-slah-vee) (Slavic) peace glory
Nelek pet name for Kornelek (L) horn; Kornel, Kornek
Nestor (Gr) traveler, wisdom
Niki (NEE-kee) nickname for Dominik
Nikodem (Gr) conqueror of the people
Olaf (Norse) descendants
Oles form of Alexandr (Gr) defender of mankind
Onufry unknown meaning
Paschalis (paht-CHAHL-is) (Fr) Easter
Patryk (L) noble
Rawer (PAH-vel) (L) little; Paulin, Pawelek, Inek
Pawl (L) little
Piotr (Gr) stone; Piotrek, Pietrek
Placyd (PLAH-tsid) (L) serene
Prokop unknown meaning
Radosław love of peace; Radzmir, Mirek, Slawek
Rafal (H) God has healed
Rajmund (RAH-y-moond) (Teut) mighty protector
Renat (L) reborn
Robert (Teut) of shining fame
Roman (L) from Rome
Rudolf (Teut) famous wolf
Rufin (L) red haired
Ryszard (RIH-shard) (OGer) powerful ruler
Serafin (H) seraph
Sergiusz (SEHR-goosh) (L) the attendant
Seweryn (SEH-ver-in) (L) severe
Stanislaw (Slavic) stand of glory
Stasio (Slavic) stand of glory; Stasiek
Stefan (Gr) crown
Szczepan (zh-CHEH-pahn) (Gr) crown
Szymon (SHIH-mon) (H) God is heard
Telek iron cutter
Teodor (Gr) gift of God
Teofil (Gr) divinely loved
Tomasz (TO-mahsh) (H) twin
Tomek (H) twin; Tomcio, Tomislaw, Slawek
Tycjan (tee-TSYAHN) unknown meaning
Tymon (TEE-mon) (Gr) honoring God; Tymek
Tymoteusz (tim-o-TEH-oosh) (Gr) honoring God
Urban (L) of the city
Valentyn (L) strong, brave; Waleran, Valent
Waldemar (OGer) mighty and famous
Walerian (vah-LEHR-yan) (L) strong, brave; Waleran
Walter (Teut) powerful warrior
Wicent (VEE-tsent) (L) conqueror; Wicek, Wicus, Wicenty, Vincent
WienczysTaw (VEEN-sis-lahv) wreath, garland
Wiktor (VIK-tor) (L) conqueror; Viktoryn
Wilhelm (VEEL-helm) (Teut) resolute protector; Wilek, Wilus
Wincenty (veen-TSEHN-tee) (L) conqueror
Wit (VEET) (L) life
Wojciech (VOY-tseech) (Gr) farmer
Yozef (YO-sehf) (H) God will add; Josef
Yusef (H) God will add
Zarek (ZAH-rek) (Gr) may God protect the king; Baltek
Zenon (Gr) hospitality
Ziven (ZI-ven) (Slavic) vigorous and alive; Ziv, Zivon
Zygmunt (Teut) conquering protection
Romanian immigration before the 1870s included a priest from Transylvania who apparently had some contact with Benjamin Franklin, a few forty-niners in the California Gold Rush, and soldiers who fought in the Civil War.
Immigration totaled 66,000 from Romania between 1900 and 1920, spurned by mounting political and economic upheavals. In the early 1920s, 60,000 more Romanians immigrated, until 1924 when the immigration quota system went into effect. Numbers of Romanian immigrants may be underestimated, as over 85 percent of Romanian immigrants were from Transylvania, Bukovina or Banat territories, part of the Romanian kingdom until 1948.
Though ethnically Romanian, many were classified with their names. The invaders wanted them to change their culture as much as possible, and the people promptly adopted names of Latin origin that were distinctly not Hungarian. Before the Communist occupation of Romania in the twentieth century, religious names, especially saint names, were popular, particularly in the country. When the Communists were in power, names tended to be more historical; for example, names of past Romanian kings were popular.
Adina (H) ornament
Alina to soothe
Ana (H) grace; Anca, Anicuta, Anica
Andra feminine for Andrew (Gr) manly; Anda
Beti diminutive of Elisabeta (H) consecrated to God
Brigita (Celt) strength
Brindusa flower name, crocus
Carmen (L) song
Dana (H) Good is my judge; Daniela
Delia (Gr) goddess of the moon
Didina (Fr) desired, beloved
Domnica (L) of the Lord
Dorina (Gr) gift
Ecaterina (Gr) pure; Caterina
Elena (Gr) light; Ileana, Lenuta
Elica (OGer) noble, kind; Alicia
Elisabeta (H) consecrated to God
Eufrosina (Gr) joyous
Florica (L) the flower; Floarea
Gabriela (H) God is my strength; Gabi
Georgeta (Gr) farmer; Geta, Georgina
Ioana (yoh-AH-nah) (H) God’s gracious gift; Joana
Irini (Gr) peace
Julia (YOO-lyah) (L) youthful
Lacrimioara little tear
Liliana the lily; Lili
Lucia (loo-CHEE-ah) (L) light
Lucretia (L) brings light
Luminita little light
Magdalena (H) woman from Magdala; Madalina
Margareta daisy
Maria (H) bitter; Maricara
Marina (L) sea-maid
Mihaela (H) who is like God
Nadia (Slavic) hope
Otilia (OGer) lucky heroine
Rada joy
Reveka (H) binding, servant of God
Ruxandra (Persian) dawn; Roxana
Stefana (Gr) a crown; Stefania
Suzana (H) lily
Tereza (Gr) harvester
Violeta violet
Viorica flower
Alexandru defender of manking; Sandu
Alin to soothe
Andrei (Gr) manly; Dela
Anton (Gr) inestimable
Bogdan (Polish) God’s gift
Carol (OFr) strong and manly
Cecil (L) blind, gray eyes
Claudiu lame
Constantin (L) constant, loyal
Cornel (L) horn
Cosmin (Gr) order, universe
Cristofor (Gr) Christ bearer
Damian (Gr) taming
Danila (H) God is my judge; Daniel
Dragos (L) dragon
Dumitru (Gr) from Demeter (goddess of the harvest)
Eugen (Gr) noble
Florin (L) flowering
Frantisek (Teut) free
George (Gr) farmer; Gheorghe, Ghita
Gheorghe (GEH-urg) (Gr) farmer
Ilie (H) Jehovah is God
Ioan (H) God’s gracious gift; Ian
Iosif (YOH-sif) (H) God will add; Yousef
Marin (L) small harbor
Marius (L) warlike
Matei (H) gift of God
Mihai (H) who is like God; Mihail, Mihas
Mircea (L) to mirror
Nicodim (Gr) conqueror of the people
Nicolae (Gr) victory of the people
OvidiU (L) to obey
Petru (Gr) stone; Petar
Radu joy
Robin (Teut) of shining fame
Sorin from Soare (sun)
Stefan (Gr) a crown
Titus (L) honored
Toma (H) twin
Vasile (Gr) kingly
Vilhelm (Teut) resolute protectors
The Ukrainian territory covers nearly 300,000 square miles, which until 1945 was split between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Russian Empire. At various times sections of the Ukraine were parts of Poland, Czechoslovakia and Romania. The Ukrainian dialects are East Slavic.
As with all Slavic countries, Ukrainian names are often saint names from the Greek Bible. This practice dates back to the tenth century when many Eastern European countries were converted to Christianity. The name may be from another day, in which case one may celebrate one’s “saint day” as well as birthday throughout one’s life.
In the Ukraine as well as in the U.S., names are borrowed from other countries. One popular naming tradition involves translating Old English names, such as Hope and Love, into Ukrainian equivalents (Nadezhda and Lubov, respectively). During the early days of the Soviet occupation of the Ukraine, such oddities as Electricity and Industrialization might be given, as well as Ninel (Lenin spelled backward).
a = “ah” as in ball
e = “e” as in set
i = “i” as in hit
o = “oh” as in hope
u = “oo” as in moon
Aleksandra (Gr) defender of mankind; Lesya, Olesya, Lyaksandra
Alisa (OGer) noble, kind
Anastasiya (Gr) resurrection; Nastasiya, Nastunye
Aneta (H) grace; Anichka, Asya, Nyura, Anku
Iryna (Gr) peace; Yaryna, Orynko
Ivanna (H) God’s gracious gift; loanna
Katerina (Gr) pure; Katrya, Karina
Klara (L) bright, clear; Klarissa, Klarysa
Lavra (L) crown of laurels
Marynia (H) bitter; Maryska
Pavla (L) little
Sabina (L) Sabine woman (ancient tribe of central Italy); Savina
Yelysaveta (H) consecrated to God; Lizaveta
Yeva (H) life; Yevtsye, Yevunye
Zofia (Gr) wisdom; Sofiya, Sofiyko
Aleksander (Gr) defender of mankind; Oleksandr, Les,
Lyaksandro, Olesko
Bohdan given by God; Bohdanko
Borysko (Slavic) a fighter
Danylko (H) God is my judge; Danylo, Danylets
Dominik (L) of the Lord
Dymtro (James) (H) the supplanter; Dymtrus
Ewhen (Gr) noble; Yevheniy, Yevhen
Ivan (G) God’s gracious gift; Ivanets, Ivanko, Ivasenko, Vanko
Khrystiyan (Gr) Christian
Matviy (H) gift of God; Matyash, Matviyko
Mihailo (H) who is like God; Mychajlo, Mykhas, Mykhaltso
Osip (H) God will add; Yosyf
Petro (Gr) stone; Petruno, Petruso
Vasyl (Gr) royal; Vasylko, Vasyltso
Yure (Gr) farmer; Djorgi, Heorhiy, Yehor
HUNGARY
Magyar Tarsasag Hungarian Association
P.O. Box 771066
Lakewood, OH 44107
POLAND
Kosciuszko Foundation
15 E. 65th Street
New York NY 10065