Coptic names

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Coptic names refer to the personal names used by the Copts, the indigenous inhabitants of Egypt. They reflect the intersection of Egyptian, Greek and Arab influences in the region and encompass a diverse range of naming practices, which have evolved over centuries.

## History

[edit]

The oldest layer of the Egyptian naming tradition is native Egyptian names. These can be either traced back to pre-Coptic stage of the language, attested in Hieroglyphic, Hieratic or Demotic texts (i.e. ⲁⲙⲟⲩⲛ Amoun, ⲛⲁⲃⲉⲣϩⲟ Naberho, ϩⲉⲣⲟⲩⲱϫ Herwōč, ⲧⲁⲏⲥⲓ Taēsi) or be first attested in Coptic texts and derived from purely Coptic lemmas (i.e. ⲡⲁⲛⲓⲣⲁⲛ Paniran, ⲡⲁⲙⲃⲱ Pambō, ⲗⲟⲩⲗⲉ Loule, ⲧⲁⲗⲟⲩϣⲏⲙ Taloušēm).

The conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great and subsequent rule of the Ptolemaic dynasty led to Hellenisation of Egypt, which led to adoption of a great number of Greek names by the Copts (i.e. ⲅⲉⲱⲣⲅⲓⲟⲥ Geōrgios, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ Paulos, ⲑⲉⲟⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ Theodōros, ⲑⲉⲕⲗⲁ Thekla, ⲕⲗⲉⲟⲡⲁⲧⲣⲁ Kleopatra), which was advanced even further by the Christianization and influx of Hellenised Hebrew and Aramaic names (i.e. ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ Iōhannēs, ⲓⲱⲥⲏⲫ Iōsēph, ⲁⲃⲣⲁϩⲁⲙ Abraham, ⲉⲗⲓⲥⲁⲃⲉⲧ Elisabet). Most names with exclusively pagan connotations, both Egyptian and Greek, fell out of use after the 3rd century, although some persisted, taken from the martyrdoms of venerated saints, e.g. Anoup, Phib, Diogenes, Phoibammon, Shenoute, Sarapion, Onnophris.[1]

The Roman conquest of Egypt added Latin names to Egyptian naming tradition (ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱⲣ Viktōr, ⲥⲉⲩⲏⲣⲟⲥ Sevēros). Over time, many of these foreign names were gradually Egyptianized, while some Egyptian names underwent Hellenization, resulting in the development of a distinctive syncretic Graeco-Egyptian naming tradition.

After the Arab conquests of the Middle East, the Arabs implemented a policy of strict segregation to subjugate the native inhabitants of the occupied lands, including the Copts in Egypt. This policy aimed to easily identify and exploit them financially. The second Caliph, Umar I, established a code known as "The Pact of Umar" that governed the relationship between ruling Muslims and the non-Muslim "People of the Book" (including Christians). The code restricted non-Muslims from using certain names, nicknames, and kunyas. The Sunni jurist Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya emphasized that Muslim names were reserved exclusively for Muslims, while non-Muslims were allowed to use their own names or shared names. However, non-Muslims were prohibited from using names that implied honor or virtue, e.g. Rashid (Arabic: رشيد, lit. 'rightly guided') or Salih (Arabic: صالح, lit. 'good').

Despite these strict restrictions, changes began to emerge over time. During the Fatimid Dynasty, which ruled Egypt from 969 to 1171 and followed the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam, there was a relative period of tolerance towards the Copts. The Fatimids sought the support of the educated Coptic population and relaxed some of the Sunni restrictions. As a result, Copts started assimilating into Arab and Muslim culture to escape social segregation and promote social mobility. This included adopting Arab and Muslim names for their children, as well as using nicknames and kunyas that were previously exclusive to Arabs and Muslims.[2]

## Given names

[edit]

### Egyptian[α]

[edit]

Coptic  | Arabic  | Translation

|
|

Male names
ⲁⲙⲟⲩⲛ (Amoun)  | Arabic: آمون, romanized: Amūn | Ancient Egyptian: Ỉmn, lit. 'Amun'
ⲁⲛⲟⲩⲡ (Anoup)  | Arabic: أنوب, romanized: Anūb | Ancient Egyptian: Ỉnpw, lit. 'Anubis'
ⲁⲧⲣⲉ

(Atre)

| Arabic: أثريه, romanized: Athrīya | Ancient Egyptian: ḥtr, lit. 'a twin'
ⲃⲁⲛⲉ

(Vane)

| Arabic: فانا, romanized: Fāna | Ancient Egyptian: Bne, from Proto-Semitic *ban- "son"
ⲃⲉⲛⲓⲡⲓ (Venipi)  | Arabic: وانيبى, romanized: Wanībi | Ancient Egyptian: bjꜣ n pt, lit. 'iron, lit. "metal of the heaven"'
ⲃⲉⲛⲟϥⲉⲣ (Venofer)  | Arabic: نُوفِير, romanized: Nūfir | Ancient Egyptian: wnn-nfrw, lit. 'he who is in a state of well-being', an epithet of Anubis
ⲃⲏⲥ (Vēs)  | Arabic: ويصا, romanized: Wīsa,

Arabic: فاصا, romanized: Fāsa

| Ancient Egyptian: Bi-s, lit. 'Bes'
ⲉⲃⲱⲛϩ

(Evōnh)

| Arabic: إيبونه, romanized: Ibūna | Ancient Egyptian: Ỉw-f-ʿnḫ, lit. 'may he live'
ⲕⲉⲗⲗⲟⲩϫ (Kellouj)  | Arabic: كَلُوج, romanized: Kalūj | Ancient Egyptian: ḳꜣlꜣwḏꜣ, lit. 'a whelp'
ⲛⲁⲃⲉⲣϩⲟ (Naverho)  | Arabic: نَهْرُوه, romanized: Nahrūh | Ancient Egyptian: nfr-ḥr, lit. 'beautiful in face', an epithet of Ptah
ⲛⲁϩⲣⲱⲟⲩ (Nahrōw)  | Ancient Egyptian: Ỉr.t-Ḥr-r.rw, lit. 'the eye of Horus is against them'
ⲟⲩⲉⲣϣⲉⲛⲟⲩϥⲓ (Weršenoufi)  | Arabic: ورشنوفة, romanized: Waršanūfa | Ancient Egyptian: wršy-nfr, lit. 'good guardian'
ⲡⲁⲏⲥⲓ (Paēsi)  | Arabic: ابا يسي, romanized: Abaīsi | Ancient Egyptian: Pa-Ỉs.t, lit. 'the one of Isis'
ⲡⲁⲙⲃⲱ (Pambō)  | Arabic: بموا, romanized: Bemwā | ⲡⲁ- (possessive masculine article) + ⲙⲃⲱ ("Ombos"), "the one of Ombos"
ⲡⲁⲙⲓⲛ (Pamin)  | Arabic: بمين, romanized: Bamīn | Ancient Egyptian: pꜣ-mn, lit. 'the one of Min'
ⲡⲓⲗⲓϩⲏⲩ (Pilihēi)  | Arabic: بلحاو, romanized: Bilihāw | "possessing profit, useful"
ⲡⲉⲙⲥⲁϩ(Pemsah)  | Arabic: بامساح, romanized: Bamsāh;

Arabic: امساح, romanized: Amsāh

| Ancient Egyptian: Pȝ-Msḥ, lit. 'the crocodile'
ⲡⲁⲛⲁⲩ (Panau)  | Arabic: باناو, romanized: Bānāū | From ⲡⲁ- (possessive masculine article) + ⲛ- (genitive marker) + ⲁⲩ ("donkey"), "donkey driver" or "the one of Set"
ⲫⲁⲛⲓⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ

(Phanisnēw)

| Arabic: بانسناو, romanized: Banisnāw | ⲫⲁ- (possessive masculine article) + ⲛⲓ- ("plural definite article") + ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ ("brothers"), "the one of the brothers"
ⲡⲁⲛⲉϩⲁⲥ (Panehas)  | Arabic: فينحاس, romanized: Finhās | Ancient Egyptian: pꜣ-nḥs, lit. 'the black'
ⲡⲁⲛⲓⲛⲉ (Panine)  | Arabic: باننينا, romanized: Bānīnā | From ⲡⲁ- (possessive masculine article) + ⲛ- (genitive marker) + ⲉⲓⲛⲉ ("chain"), "the one of chain", "guardian"
ⲡⲁⲛⲓⲣⲁⲛ (Paniran)  |  | ⲫⲁ- (possessive masculine article) + ⲛⲓ- ("plural definite article") + ⲣⲁⲛ ("names"), "the one of many names, honours"
ⲫⲁⲛⲟⲩⲃ

(Phanoub)

| Arabic: بانوب, romanized: Banūb | ⲫⲁ- (possessive masculine article) + ⲛⲟⲩⲃ ("gold"), "the one of gold"
ⲡⲁⲧⲁⲡⲓ

(Patapi)

| Arabic: بضابا, romanized: Biḍāba | Ancient Egyptian: pꜣ-dỉ-Ḥp, lit. 'given by the Apis/Nile'
ⲡⲁⲫⲛⲟⲩϯ

(Paphnouti)

| Arabic: ببنودة, romanized: Babnūda | Ancient Egyptian: pꜣy-pꜣ-ntr, lit. 'the one of the god'
ⲡⲁϣⲟⲛϯ

(Pašonti)

| Arabic: بشندي, romanized: Bašandi | ⲡⲁ- (possessive masculine article) + ϣⲟⲛϯ ("acacia tree"), "the one of acacia tree"
ⲡⲁϩⲱⲣ

(Pahōr)

| Arabic: باهور, romanized: Bahūr | Ancient Egyptian: pꜣ-ḥr, lit. 'the one of Horus'
ⲡⲁϧⲱⲙ

(Pakhōm)

| Arabic: باخوم, romanized: Bakhūm | Ancient Egyptian: pꜣ-ꜥẖm, lit. 'the one of the falcon'
ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲫⲣⲏ

(Petephrē)

| Arabic: بادبرا, romanized: Badabra | Ancient Egyptian: pꜣ-dj-pꜣ-rꜥ, lit. 'he whom Ra has given'
ⲡⲉϣⲟⲩⲣ (Pešour)/

ⲡⲓⲥⲟⲩⲣⲁ (Pisoura)

| Arabic: بيسورا, romanized: Bisūra | Ancient Egyptian: pꜣ-ꜥswr, lit. 'the Assyrian'
ⲡⲓϣⲉⲛⲛⲟⲩϥⲓ

(Pišennoufi)

| Arabic: بشنونة, romanized: Bašnuna | ⲡⲓ- (definite masculine article) + ϣⲉⲛⲛⲟⲩϥⲓ ("good news"), "the good news, gospel", a calque of Greek "εὐαγγέλιον"
ⲫⲓⲃ

(Phib)

| Arabic: بيب, romanized: Bīb | Ancient Egyptian: pꜣ-hb, lit. 'the ibis'
ⲡⲓϣⲱⲓ

(Pišōy)

| Arabic: بيشوي, romanized: Bišūy,

Arabic: ابشاي, romanized: Ibšāy

| Ancient Egyptian: pꜣ-šꜣj, lit. 'the fate'
ⲡⲓϫⲓⲙⲓ

(Pijimi)

| Arabic: بيجيمي, romanized: Bijīmi | ⲡⲓ- (definite masculine article) + ϫⲓⲙⲓ ("finding, thing found")
ϩⲁⲣⲙⲓⲛⲏ

(Harminē)

| Arabic: هرمينا, romanized: Harmīna | Ancient Egyptian: Ḥr-Mn, lit. 'Horus-Min'
ϩⲉⲣⲟⲩⲱϫ

(Herwōj)

| Arabic: هرواج, romanized: Harwāj | Ancient Egyptian: ḥr-wḏꜣ, lit. 'healthy Horus'
ϫⲁⲙⲟⲩⲗ

(Jamoul)

| Arabic: جامول, romanized: Jamūl | "camel"
ϫⲓϭⲱⲓ

(Jičōi)

| Arabic: جيجوي, romanized: Jijūy | Ancient Egyptian: Ṯȝy-ḏy, lit. 'the bearer of the hairlock', an epithet of Harpocrates
ϫⲱⲣⲓ (Jōri)  | Arabic: جورى, romanized: Jūri | "strong", the Arabic form Khuzi (خوزي) mentioned in the Synaxarium is a scribal mistake
ϣⲉⲛⲟⲩϯ

(Šenouti)

| Arabic: شِنُودة, romanized: Šinūda | ϣⲉ- ("son") + ⲛⲟⲩϯ ("god"), "son of god"
ϭⲓⲛⲟⲩⲥⲓ

(Çinousi)

| Arabic: شنوسي, romanized: Šinūsi |
Female names
ⲁⲥⲉⲛⲛⲉⲑ

(Asenneth)

| Arabic: اسنات, romanized: Asnāt | Ancient Egyptian: js.w-(n)-n(j)t, lit. 'belonging to Neth'
ⲗⲟⲩⲗⲉ

(Loule)

| Arabic: لولا, romanized: Lūla | "girl"
ⲙⲉⲛⲣⲓⲧ

(Menrit)

| Arabic: مريت, romanized: Mirrīt | "beloved"
ⲧⲁⲏⲥⲓ

(Taisi)

| Arabic: تاييس, romanized: Taīyis | Ancient Egyptian: ta-Ỉs.t, lit. 'the one of Isis'
ⲧⲁⲙⲡⲣⲟ

(Tampro)

| Arabic: أمبيرة, romanized: Ambīra | "doorkeeper"
ⲧⲁⲗⲟⲩϣⲏⲙ

(Taloušēm)

| Arabic: طالوشاط, romanized: Talušām,

Arabic: ضالوشام, romanized: Ḏalušām

| "the little maiden"
ⲧⲁⲥⲱⲛⲓ

(Tasōni)

| Arabic: تاسونى, romanized: Tasūni | From ⲧⲁ- (possessive feminine article) + ⲥⲱⲛⲓ ("sister"), "my sister"
ⲧⲁⲣⲟⲟⲩ

(Taroow)

| Arabic: دروى, romanized: Darwa | "burr, thistle"
ⲧⲉϭⲟϣⲉ

(Teçoše)

| Arabic: دجاشة, romanized: Dajāša | "Ethiopian"
ⲧϣⲉⲛⲟⲩϯ

(Tšenouti)

| Arabic: دشنودة, romanized: Dašanūda | ⲧϣⲉ- ("daughter") + ⲛⲟⲩϯ ("god"), "daughter of god"
ⲧⲁⲡϣⲁⲓ

(Tapšay)

| Arabic: دبشاية, romanized: Dabšāya | From ⲧⲁ- (possessive feminine article) + ⲡϣⲁⲓ ("the celebration, festival"), "the one of the celebration, festival"
ⲧⲁϩⲟⲩⲙⲓⲥⲓ

(Thoumisi)

| Arabic: دهميسة, romanized: Dahumīsa | From ⲧⲁ- (possessive feminine article) + ϩⲟⲩⲙⲓⲥⲓ ("birthday"), "the one of birthday"
ⲕⲟⲩⲗⲱϫⲉ

(Koulōje)

|  | Ancient Egyptian: ḳꜣlꜣwḏꜣ, lit. 'a whelp'
ⲑⲉⲗⲗⲱ

(Thellō)

| Arabic: تالا, romanized: Talā | "respectable", "honorable elder"
ϫⲉⲙⲙⲁϩⲱⲣ

(Jemmahōr)

|  | From ϫⲉⲙ- (possessive feminine article) + ⲁϩⲱⲣ ("treasures"), "finder of treasures"
ϣⲱϣⲉⲛ

(Šōšen)

|  | Ancient Egyptian: zšn, lit. 'lotus flower'

### Greek and Latin

[edit]

Coptic  | Arabic  | Translation

|
|

Male names
ⲁⲑⲁⲛⲁⲥⲓⲟⲥ | Arabic: أثناسيوس, romanized: Atnasiūs | Athanasius
ⲁⲗⲉⲝⲁⲛⲇⲣⲟⲥ | Arabic: ألكسندروس, romanized: Alaksandrūs | Alexander
ⲁⲛⲇⲣⲉⲁⲥ | Arabic: اندراوس, romanized: Andarāwus | Andrew
ⲃⲁⲥⲓⲗⲉⲓⲟⲥ | Arabic: باسليوس, romanized: Basalyūs | Basil
ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱⲣ | Arabic: بقطر, romanized: Buqṭur | Victor
ⲅⲉⲱⲣⲅⲓⲟⲥ; ⲅⲉⲱⲣⲅⲓ | Arabic: جاورجيوس, romanized: Gawargiūs;

Arabic: جرجس, romanized: Girgis;

Arabic: جُرَيْجُ, romanized: Guraig

| George
ⲉⲡⲓⲫⲁⲛⲓⲟⲥ | Arabic: أبفانيوس, romanized: Abifānius;

Arabic: أبيبان, romanized: Abibān

| Epiphanius
ⲉⲩⲇⲁⲓⲙⲱⲛ | Arabic: ودامون, romanized: Wadamūn | Eudaemon
ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲁⲕⲟⲥ | Arabic: قرياقوس, romanized: Qiryāqūs | Cyriacus
ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲗⲗⲟⲥ | Arabic: كيرلس, romanized: Kirūllus | Cyril
ⲕⲩⲣⲟⲥ | Arabic: كاراس, romanized: Kārās;

Arabic: كاروس, romanized: Kārūs

| Cyrus
ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲥ | Arabic: مرقس, romanized: Murqus | Mark
ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ | Arabic: بولس, romanized: Būlus | Paul
ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ | Arabic: بطرس, romanized: Butrus | Peter
ⲑⲁⲗⲁⲥⲥⲓⲱⲛ | Arabic: لتصون, romanized: Latṣūn | "of the sea"
ⲑⲉⲟⲇⲱⲣⲁⲕⲏ | Arabic: تيودوراكي, romanized: Tiwudurāki | Theodorakios
ⲑⲉⲟⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ | Arabic: تواضروس, romanized: Tawadrūs;

Arabic: تادرس, romanized: Tādrus

| Theodore
ⲥⲉⲩⲏⲣⲟⲥ | Arabic: ساويرس, romanized: Sawarīs | Severus
ⲫⲓⲗⲟⲡⲁⲧⲱⲣ | Arabic: فيلوباتير, romanized: Filubatīr | Philopator
Female names
ⲉⲩⲫⲣⲟⲥⲓⲛⲁ | Arabic: افروسينا, romanized: Afrūsīnā | "cheerful"
ⲇⲁⲙⲓⲁⲛⲏ | Arabic: دميانة, romanized: Damiāna | Demiana
ⲉⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ  | Arabic: إيريني, romanized: Irīnī,

Arabic: إيراني, romanized: Irānī

| Irene
ⲧⲁⲣⲭⲱⲛ | Arabic: دركن, romanized: Darkūn,

Arabic: دركنة, romanized: Darkūna

| "ruler, leader"
ⲧⲉⲩⲗⲟⲅⲓⲁ  | Arabic: دولاجي, romanized: Dulāji | ⲧ- (definite feminine article) + Ancient Greek: εὐλογία, lit. 'blessing'
ⲕⲗⲉⲟⲡⲁⲧⲣⲁ  | Arabic: كليوباترا, romanized: Kliubātra | Cleopatra
ⲑⲉⲕⲗⲁ | Arabic: تكله, romanized: Takla | Thecla
ⲣⲓⲯⲓⲙⲏ | Arabic: أربسيما, romanized: Arabsīma | Hripsime, Ancient Greek: Ριψιμιά
ϩⲏⲣⲁⲓⲥ | Arabic: هيرايسي, romanized: Hirāisi | Ancient Greek: Ἡραίς, lit. 'of Hera'
ⲑⲉⲟⲇⲱⲣⲁ | Arabic: ثيودورا, romanized: Thiūdūra | Theodora
ⲥⲩⲛⲕⲗⲏⲧⲓⲕⲏ | Arabic: سينكليتيكا, romanized: Sīnklītīka | Syncletica

### Graeco-Egyptian

[edit]

Coptic  | Arabic  | Translation

|
|

Male names
ⲁⲣⲡⲟⲕⲣⲁⲧⲱⲣ

(Arpokratōr)

| Arabic: اربقراطور, romanized: Arbuqrātūr | Harpocrates
ⲓⲥⲓⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ

(Isidōros)

| Arabic: سيداروس, romanized: Sidārūs | Isidore
ⲫⲁⲛⲓⲕⲉⲣⲟⲥ/ⲡⲁⲛⲓⲕⲩⲣⲟⲥ(Phanikeros/Panikyros)  | Arabic: بانيقاروس, romanized: Baniqārus | From ⲡⲁ- (possessive masculine article) + ⲛ- (genitive marker) + ⲕⲩⲣⲟⲥ ("Lord"), "the one of the Lord"
ⲫⲟⲓⲃⲁⲙⲙⲱⲛ

(Phoibammōn)

| Arabic: بيفام, romanized: Bifām | Φοῖβος (“Brilliant one, epithet of Apollo”) + Ἄμμων (“Amun”)
ⲡⲁⲧⲉⲣⲙⲟⲩⲑⲓⲟⲥ (Patermouthios)  | Arabic: بدرمتاوش, romanized: Badarmutaūs | A Hellenisation of ⲡⲁⲧⲉⲣⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ
ⲡⲉⲥⲩⲛⲑⲓⲟⲥ (Pesynthios)  | Arabic: بسنده, romanized: Basanda | A Hellenisation of ⲡⲁϣⲟⲛϯ
ⲡⲥⲱⲧⲏⲣ

(Psōtēr)

| Arabic: ابصودار, romanized: Absudār | ⲡ- (definite masculine article) + Σωτήρ "saviour", an epithet of Christ
ⲥⲉⲛⲟⲩⲑⲓⲟⲥ (Senouthios)  | Arabic: سنوتيوس, romanized: Sanutyūs | A Hellenisation of ϣⲉⲛⲟⲩϯ
ⲥⲁⲣⲁⲡⲁⲙⲱⲛ (Sarapamōn)  | Arabic: سربام, romanized: Sarabām | Σέραπις (“Serapis”) + Ἄμμων (“Amun”)
ⲙⲏⲛⲁ

(Mēna)

| Arabic: مينا, romanized: Mīna | From Ancient Greek Μηνᾶς (Mēnâs) which comes from Demotic mnw (“the god Min”)

### Semitic/Biblical

[edit]

Coptic  | Arabic  | Translation

|
|

Male names
ⲁⲃⲣⲁϩⲁⲙ (Avraham)  | Arabic: ابرام, romanized: Abrām,

Arabic: إبراهيم, romanized: Ibrahīm

| Abraham
ⲃⲉⲛⲓⲁⲙⲓⲛ (Veniamin)  | Arabic: بنيامين, romanized: Binyamīn | Benjamin
ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ (Gavriēl)  | Arabic: غبريال, romanized: G̣abriyāl | Gabriel
ⲇⲁⲩⲉⲓⲇ (Daueid)  | Arabic: داويد, romanized: Dawīd,

Arabic: داود, romanized: Dawūd

| David
ⲉⲛⲱⲭ (Enōkh)  | Arabic: اخنوخ, romanized: Akhnūkh | Enoch
ⲓⲱⲥⲏⲫ (Iōsēph)  | Arabic: يوساب, romanized: Yusāb | Joseph
ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ (Iohannēs)  | Arabic: يوحانس, romanized: Yuhānnis,

Arabic: يحنس, romanized: Yahnis, Arabic: يوحنا, romanized: Yuhanna

| John
ⲓⲥⲁⲁⲕ (Isaak)  | Arabic: إسحاق, romanized: Ishāq | Isaac
ⲙⲓⲭⲁⲏⲗ (Mikhaēl)  | Arabic: ميخاييل, romanized: Mikhayīl | Michael
ⲡⲁⲣⲥⲱⲙⲁ (Parsōma)  | Arabic: برسوما, romanized: Barsūma;

Arabic: برسوم, romanized: Barsūm

| Classical Syriac: ܒܪܨܘܡܐ, romanized: Barsauma, lit. 'son of fasting'
ⲥⲉⲇⲣⲁⲕ (Sedrak)  | Arabic: سدراك, romanized: Sidrāk | Sydrach
ⲥⲓⲥⲓⲛⲛⲓⲟⲥ (Sisinnios)  | Arabic: سيسينيوس, romanized: Sisinyūs | From Syriac: sysnʾ, ultimately from Akkadian: sissinnu, lit. 'fruited date palm branch'
ⲍⲁⲭⲁⲣⲓⲁⲥ (Zakharias)  | Arabic: زكريا, romanized: Zakarīyā | Zachary
Female names
ⲉⲗⲓⲥⲁⲃⲉⲧ

(Elisavet)

| Arabic: اليصابات, romanized: Alisabāt | Elisabeth
ⲙⲁⲣⲑⲁ

(Martha)

| Arabic: مرتا, romanized: Martā | Martha
ⲣⲉⲃⲉⲕⲕⲁ (Revekka)  | Arabic: رفقة, romanized: Rifqa | Rebecca
ⲥⲟⲩⲥⲁⲛⲛⲁ

(Sousanna)

| Arabic: سوسنة, romanized: Susana | Susan

### Arabic[β]

[edit]

Arabic  | English  | Coptic  | Translation

|
|
|

Male names
نجيب  | Naguib  |  | "extraordinary"
فريد  | Farid  |  | "unique"
فادي  | Fadi  |  | "redeemer, saviour"
رامي  | Rami  |  | "archer"
ثروت  | Tharwat  |  | "treasure"
عبد المسيح  | Abd el-Masih | ⲁⲡⲧⲏⲗⲙⲉⲥⲏϩ

(Aptēlmesēh)

| "slave of the Messiah"
لبيب  | Labib  | ⲗⲁⲃⲓⲃ

(Labib)

| "wise"
سيدهم  | Sidhom  | ⲥⲓⲇϩⲟⲙ (Sidhom)  | "their Lord"
ميلاد  | Milad  |  | "birth", "Christmas"
رمزي  | Ramzi  |  | "iconic"
كامل  | Kamal  |  | "perfect, genuine"
صليب  | Salib  | ⲥⲁⲗⲉⲡ

(Salep)

| "cross"
باسم  | Basem  | ⲃⲁⲥⲓⲙⲟⲥ

(Basimos)

| "smiling"
حديد  | Hadid  | ϩⲁⲇⲓⲇ (Hadid)  | "iron"
حبيب  | Habib  | ϩⲁⲡⲓⲡ (Hapip), ⲁⲃⲓⲃⲟ (Abibo)  | "beloved"
عبد الله  | Abdulla  | ⲁⲃⲇⲉⲗⲗⲁ (Abdella), ⲃⲓⲕⲟⲩⲗⲗⲁ (Bikoulla), a Copto-Arabic hybrid, where Arabic "abd" is replaced with "ⲃⲱⲕ" "servant"  | "servant of God"
Female names
ماجدة  | Majda  |  | "glorious"

### Christian concepts

[edit]

Some of the modern Coptic Arabic names are translation of Christian names and concepts from Coptic and Greek:

Arabic translation  | Coptic/Greek name  | Meaning

|
|

Salah (صلاح)  | Αγαθόν (Agathon)  | "good"
Atallah (عطاالله)  | Θεόδωρος (Theodoros)  | "given by God"
Abd al-Mashih (عبد المسيح)  | ⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲇⲟⲩⲗⲟⲥ (Khristodulos)  | "servant to the Messiah (Christ)"
Sadiq (صديق)  | ⲡⲓⲑⲙⲏⲓ (Pithmei)  | "true, righteous"
Sami (سامي)  | ⲡⲓϣⲱⲓ (Pišōy)  | “high, exalted”
Habib (حبيب)  | ⲙⲉⲛⲣⲓⲧ (Menrit)  | "beloved"
Eid (عيد)  | ⲡⲓϣⲁⲓ (Pišai)  | "feast, holiday"
Fadi (فادي)  | ⲡⲥⲱⲧⲏⲣ (Psōtēr)  | "saviour"
Ḥikma (حكمة)  | ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ (Sophia)  | "wisdom"
Iman (إيمان)  | ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ (Pistis)  | "faith"
Bishara (بشارة)  | ⲡⲓϣⲉⲛⲛⲟⲩϥⲓ (Pišennoufi)  | "good news", "Annunciation"
Salib (صليب)  | ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲁⲩⲣⲟⲥ (Pistauros)  | "cross"

### Diminutives and short forms

[edit]

Diminutives and shortened forms are created by either removing one or more syllables from the beginning or end of the original first name to create a familiar or affectionate variation that is often used in casual or close relationships.[3]

Examples:  Name  | Diminutive

|

ⲁⲑⲁⲛⲁⲥⲓⲟⲥ | ⲁⲑⲁ, ⲁⲑⲁⲛ, ⲁⲑⲁⲥ
ⲑⲉⲟⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ  | ⲧⲉϫⲓ (Arabic: داجى, romanized: Dāji), ⲑⲱⲧⲣⲓ, ⲇⲱⲣⲉ
ⲁⲗⲉⲝⲁⲛⲇⲣⲟⲥ  | ⲁⲗⲉⲝ, ⲁⲗⲝⲁⲓ
ⲧⲓⲙⲟⲑⲉⲟⲥ  | ϯⲙⲱ
ⲕⲩⲣⲟⲥ | ⲕⲩⲣⲓ
ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ | ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲉ
ⲉⲡⲓⲫⲁⲛⲓⲟⲥ  | ⲫⲁⲛⲓⲟⲥ (Arabic: بنايوس, romanized: Banayūs), ⲡⲉⲫⲁⲛⲏ (Arabic: بفان, romanized: Befān)
ⲥⲧⲉⲫⲁⲛⲟⲥ | ⲡⲫⲁⲛⲟⲥ (Arabic: فانوس, romanized: Fanūs)
ⲕⲗⲁⲩⲇⲓⲟⲥ | ⲕⲗⲟⲧⲓ
ⲕⲗⲉⲟⲡⲁⲧⲣⲁ  | ⲕⲗⲉⲱⲡⲁ

### Compound names

[edit]

Coptic has a number of compound names, made by combining ⲁⲡⲁ, a Coptic rendering of the Greek word ἀββα (abba, “abba, father”), with a personal name of a saint or a martyr, whose honorific title "abba" became a part of his name (i.e. St. Abadir, St. Abamun, St. Abanub).[4]

Coptic  | Arabic  | Translation

|
|

Male names
ⲁⲡⲁⲕⲩⲣⲓ

(Apakyri)

| Arabic: اباكير, romanized: Abakīr | A combination of ⲁⲡⲁ and a personal name ⲕⲩⲣⲓ
ⲁⲡⲁⲙⲟⲩⲛ

(Apamoun)

| Arabic: ابامون, romanized: Abamūn | A combination of ⲁⲡⲁ and a personal name ⲁⲙⲟⲩⲛ
ⲁⲡⲁⲛⲟⲩⲃ

(Apanoub)

| Arabic: ابانوب, romanized: Abanūb | A combination of ⲁⲡⲁ and a personal name ⲁⲛⲟⲩⲃ
ⲁⲡⲁⲥⲭⲩⲣⲟⲛ (Apaskhyron)  | Arabic: أباسخيرون, romanized: Abaskhirūn | A combination of ⲁⲡⲁ and a personal name ⲓⲥⲭⲩⲣⲱⲛ
ⲁⲡⲁⲧⲓⲗ (Apatil)  | Arabic: اباتيل, romanized: Abatīl | A combination of ⲁⲡⲁ and a personal name ⲧⲓⲗ
ⲁⲡⲁⲧⲏⲣ (Apatēr)  | Arabic: ابادير, romanized: Abadīr | A combination of ⲁⲡⲁ and a personal name ⲧⲏⲣ

### European forms

[edit]

In recent years the original Coptic forms of the names get replaced with European ones, mostly from English, French and German, e.g. Maurice (Arabic: موريس, Coptic: ⲙⲱⲣⲓⲥ, ⲙⲁⲩⲣⲏⲥ) replaced the native Maurikios (Coptic: ⲙⲁⲩⲣⲓⲕⲓⲟⲥ, Arabic: موريكيوس) and George (Arabic: جورج) replaced Georgios (Coptic: ⲅⲉⲱⲣⲅⲓⲟⲥ, Arabic: جرجس, romanized: Girgis).

With the rise of Egyptology in the 19th and the first half of the 20th century, Ancient Egyptian names, often adopted from Ancient Greek "Egyptological" forms, gained prominence among the Coptic community, i.e. Ramesses or Ramsis (compare to Coptic: ⲣⲁⲙⲁⲥⲥⲏ, romanized: Ramassē, a form attested in the Bible), Amasis, Sesostris, Narmer.

## Second names and surnames

[edit]

The concept of second name and a surname wasn't developed in Classical Coptic, although epithets and nicknames were used to distinguish people, such as:

ⲁⲙⲉ "herd, pastor", ⲙⲁⲣⲏⲥ "Southener", ⲡⲉⲃⲱ "dumb", ⲡⲕⲱϩⲧ "fire", ⲡⲟⲩⲱⲛϣ "the wolf", ⲡⲓⲭⲁⲙⲉ "the black", ⲡⲓϧⲉⲙⲥ "ear of corn", ⲡⲉϭⲱϣ "Ethiopian, black", ⲡϭⲏϫⲉ "purple", ⲱ "great", ϣⲏⲙ "small", ⲗⲁⲙⲡⲟⲩⲥ (Gr.) "bright, shining", ⲧⲭⲉϩⲗⲓ (Ar.) "of the elders", ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲁⲩⲣⲟⲥ (Arabic: بسطاوروس, romanized: Bastawrus) "the cross".

### Demonyms

[edit]

Demonyms are based on the place of origin, formed by either using a prefix ⲡⲓⲣⲉⲙ- ("the man of") and its female equivalent ϯⲣⲉⲙ- or by using possessive article ⲡⲁ- and its feminine parallel ⲧⲁ- "the one of" (typical to Middle Egypt[5]):

Masculine: ⲡⲓⲣⲉⲙⲣⲁⲕⲟϯ (pi-Remrakoti) "from Alexandria", ⲡⲓⲣⲉⲙⲡⲟⲩⲥⲓⲣⲓ (pi-Rempousiri) "from Pousiri", ⲡⲁⲛⲉ (Pane) "from Thebes", ⲡⲣⲟⲙⲉⲛⲉⲥⲓⲛⲁ (p-Romenesina) "from Sinai";

Feminine: ⲧⲁⲡⲓⲁⲙ (Tapiam) "from Faiyum", ⲧⲣⲟⲙⲡⲁⲃⲁⲓⲧ (t-Rompabait) "from Behbeit", etc.

### Patronymics

[edit]

The patronymics, like in many other languages, Coptic uses patronymics to establish lineage, differentiate individuals and provide practical identification within certain cultures by incorporating the father's name into a person's own name. In Coptic it is achieved by adding prefix ⲡϣⲉⲛ- (or its forms ⲡⲥⲉⲛ-/ⲯⲉⲛ-), "the son of" or ⲧϣⲉⲛ- (or its forms ⲧⲥⲉⲛ-/ϫⲉⲛ-) "the daughter of" to a father's name. Additionally, ⲡϣⲏ is used to translate Arabic patronymic (Arabic: ابن, romanized: ibn, lit. 'son of'). So if someones name is Tawadrus ibn Mīnā in Arabic, it would be Theodoros pshe Mena (ⲑⲉⲟⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ ⲡϣⲏ ⲙⲏⲛⲁ) in Coptic.[6]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Bagnall, Roger S. (1982). "Religious Conversion and Onomastic Change in Early Byzantine Egypt". The Bulletin of the American Society of Papyrologists. 19 (3/4): 105–124\. ISSN 0003-1186. JSTOR 24518914.
2. ^ "THE IMPORTANCE OF COPTIC NAMES". DIOSCORUS BOLES ON COPTIC NATIONALISM. 2016-01-27. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
3. ^ Heuser, Gustav (1929). Die Personennamen der Kopten (in German). Vol. 1\. Leipzig: Dietrich. pp. 56–59.
4. ^ Heuser, Gustav (1929). Die Personennamen der Kopten (in German). Vol. 1\. Leipzig: Dietrich. p. 125.
5. ^ Ochała, Grzegorz (2017-01-01). "Petition to a guard". Journal of Coptic Studies.
6. ^ Heuser, Gustav (1929). Die Personennamen der Kopten (in German). Vol. 1\. Leipzig: Dietrich. pp. 65–66.

1. ^ The Arabic version of the name is given if it has survived into usage after the language shift or is mentioned in the Synaxarium.
2. ^ The Coptic version of the name is given if it is mentioned in literary sources

## External links

[edit]

* Trismegistos, an online database of Coptic names attested in Egypt
* The Arabic Papyrology Database, an online database of Coptic and Arabic papyri containing Egyptian personal names

## Further reading

[edit]

* Heuser, Gustav (1929). Die koptischen Personennamen ägyptischen Ursprungs (in German). Dietrich.
* Stefan, Timm (1988). Das christlich-koptische Agypten in arabischer Zeit.
* W.E., Crum (1909) Catalogue of the Coptic manuscripts in the collection of the John Rylands library, Manchester. Manchester: University press.
* Ishak, Emile Maher (1975). The Phonetics and Phonology of the Boḥairic Dialect of Coptic and the Survival of Coptic Words in the Colloquial and Classical Arabic of Egypt and of Coptic Grammatical Constructions in Colloquial Egyptian Arabic. University of Oxford.

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