As we can remember from our classes in school, the Renaissance is that period of transition between the Middle Ages and the Modern Age , and in which a European cultural and social movement emerged in Florence, Italy, breaking with the dark ages. That is to say, a rebirth.
In this period, which took place between the 15th and 16th centuries, the sciences and the arts had an impressive impulse as hundreds of knowledge and philosophical works became public for the first time, which until then had been reserved for a limited number of people.
Given that it is a time in history that marked a before and after, and in which there were multiple events and discoveries that helped transform the world we inhabit today, we have created a list of baby names inspired by the Renaissance .
Names for girl
Barbarian
By Barbara Longhi (1552-1638). Renaissance painter who stood out for her work on religious themes, especially the representations of the Virgin and child. His work is exhibited in the Bologna National Picture Gallery, the Louvre Museum, the Ravenna Picture Gallery, the Bucharest National Art Museum and the Dresden Gallery.
The name Barbara is of Greek origin and means “foreigner”.
Catalina
By Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536), Queen of England and considered the first ambassador of history; Catherine de Medici (1519-1589), Italian noblewoman who was queen consort of France, considered the most powerful woman of the 16th century in Europe; and by Catharina van Hemessen (1528–1587), a Belgian painter of the Flemish school, he made portraits of members of the court and some canvases on religious themes.
The name Catherine is of Greek origin and means “pure, immaculate”.
Cecilia
By Cecilia Gallerani (1473 – 1536), known for her great reputation as a singer, writer and composer of music, she was a lover of the Duke of Milan and who inspired the famous work The Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci.
The name Cecilia is of Latin origin and means “blind.”
Giovanna
Before her marriage, by Giovanna Tornabuoni (1468-1488) or Giovanna degli Albizzi, she was a young woman from the Florentine gentry, represented in numerous works by Domenico Ghirlandaio and Sandro Botticelli.
The name Giovanna is of Hebrew origin, a diminutive variant of Juana. It translates to “God be gracious.”
Isabel
By Isabel La Católica (1451-1504). Together with her husband, Fernando II of Aragon, they were known as the Catholic Monarchs. Under his mandate the reconquest was completed and Columbus discovered America.
The name Isabel is of Hebrew origin and means “promise of God”.
Isabella
By Isabella d’Este (1474-1539). Marchioness of Mantua, Italy, and principal leader of the Italian Renaissance movement, patron of the arts and fashion influencer, whose novel styles were imitated by women throughout Italy and at the French court.
The name Isabella is a variant of Isabel, but it is also believed that it comes from the Latin ” Isis bella ” (Isabella in Italian), in honor of the Egyptian goddess of fertility Isis, whose cult was very popular among Roman soldiers, plus the epithet “beautiful”, underlining her femininity.
Levina
By Levina Teerlinc (1510-1576). Anglo-Flemish miniaturist, chamber painter at the British court under King Henry VIII, Edward VI, Maria and Elizabeth I.
The name Levina is of Latin origin and means “ray of light”.
Lisa
By Lisa Gherardini (1479-1542), wife of Francesco del Giocondo, better known as La Gioconda or Mona Lisa, and model of the famous portrait painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
The name Lisa is a diminutive of Elizabeth, which is of Hebrew origin and means “consecrated to God.”
Lucrecia
By Lucrezia Tornabuoni (1425-1482). Converted into a Medici by marriage, she was one of the main representatives of Renaissance culture and a model for great painters.
The name Lucrecia is the feminine variant of Lucrecio, which means “wealth.”
Magdalena
By Maddalenna Doni (1489-1540) or Maddalena Strozzi before marriage, immortalized in her famous wedding portrait by the painter Raffaello Sanzio.
The name Magdalena is of Hebrew origin and means “tower of God”.
SIMON
By Simonetta Vespucci (1453-1476). Known as La bella Simonetta , she dazzled Renaissance Florence with her charm, becoming the muse of poets and painters. His face inspired multiple works of art by Sandro Boticelli, the most famous being in the famous painting The Birth of Venus .
The name Simona is of Hebrew origin and means “to listen”.
Names for boy
Alexander
By Sandro Botticelli (1445–1510). The great representative of the Florentine Renaissance, whose real name was Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, was the favorite painter of the Court of Lorenzo de Medici.
The name Alessandro is a variant of Alexander , which means “protector or victor of men.”
Andrew
By Andreas Vesalius , (1514-1564), 16th century physician, best known for his program of renewal of anatomy and author of one of the most influential books on human anatomy, De humani corporis fabrica , for which he was appointed as an imperial physician at the court of Charles V.
The name Andrés means “strong man”.
Cristobal
By Christopher Columbus (1451–1506), navigator and cartographer whose great feat was the Discovery of America, which historically dates back to the beginning of the Renaissance.
The name Cristóbal is of Greek origin and its meaning is “carrier of God”, “the one who goes with God”.
Filiberto
By Philibert de l’Orme (1514-1570). Also known as Philibert Delorme, he was a French architect and one of the great masters of the Renaissance in his country.
The name Filiberto is of German origin and means “very bright”.
Juan
By Johannes Gutenberg (1400–1468), German goldsmith inventor of the movable type printing, an invention that some historians mark as the beginning of the Renaissance thanks to the fact that it favored the diffusion of new ideas.
The name Juan is of Hebrew origin and means “God is merciful”.
Leonardo
By Leonardo Da Vinci (1452 – 1519): talented Florentine artist and inventor, author of famous works such as ‘La Gioconda’ or ‘The Last Supper’. He was a complete artist who combined art and science and is considered one of the greatest geniuses in the history of painting.
The name Leonardo is of Germanic origin and means “one who is strong like a lion.” It is one of the names of artists most admired and chosen by parents.
Lorenzo
By Lorenzo de Medici (1449-1492): also known as Lorenzo the Magnificent. Statesman, patron of the arts, diplomat, banker, and poet, he was a member of a powerful and influential family in the Italian Renaissance and ruler of Florence in its golden age.
The name Lorenzo is of Latin origin and means “laureate or awarded”.
Miguel Angel
By Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 – 1564): famous Florentine painter, sculptor and architect, author of the vault of the Sistine Chapel and of great sculptural works such as El David or La Piedad, among others.
Miguel is of Hebrew origin and means “who is like God?”, While Angel is a name of Greek origin (Ággelos), which means “Messenger”.
Nicholas
By Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543): Polish Renaissance astronomer who formulated the heliocentric theory of the solar system.
The name Nicolás is of Greek origin and means “victor”, “conqueror”.
Raphael
By Raffaello Sanzio (1483-1520): Italian painter, recognized as one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance in Italy.
The name Rafael is of Hebrew origin and means “God has healed”.
Zechariah
By Zacharias Janssen (1583-16381), Dutch lens maker, considered to be the inventor of the first microscope.
The name Zacharias is of Hebrew origin and means “God is remembered.”
More historical names for your baby
- 95 names for girls of great women in history
- 91 names for boys of great men in history
- 29 cute boy names inspired by literature and books
- 29 cute girl names inspired by literature and books
- 37 names of writers and artists we admire for boys
- 37 names of writers and artists that we admire for girls
- Baby names: 25 biblical names for boys
- Baby names: 25 biblical names for girls
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