The forenames

Here is a cartography of some forenames, Christian names, first names... from County of Nice and their diminutives, some of them are recurrent in traditional songs of the County. As well as Maria (Mary) and Jausè/Jousé (Joseph) appearing in most of the Christmas carols, Catarina (Katherine) and its diminutive Catin, or Nanoun (Little Ann) occupy a prime place.

Abram: Abraham.
Adam: Adam.
Adela, diminutive Adelina or Lina: Adèle.
Adrian, diminutive Nem: Adrien.
Adriana: Adrienne.
Agata, diminutive Agateta or Agatouna or Goutoun: Agathe.
Agnesa, diminutive Gnesa: Agnes.
Alissandri, diminutive Lissandri or Sandri: Alexander.
Alissandrina, diminutive Lissandrina or Sandrina: Alexandrine.
Ambròsi, diminutive Bròsi: Ambroise.
Ambrosina, diminutive Brosina: Ambroisine.
Amelìa, diminutive Melìa: Amélie.
Andrèa, diminutive Andrineta or Andrinouna: Andrée.
Andriéu, diminutive Andrinoun: Andrew.
Angela, diminutive Angelina: Angèle.
Angèlica: Angélique.
Angelin, diminutive Nenin: Ange.
Anna, diminutive Anaìs or Anèta or Anin or Nanoun or Ninoun: Anne.
Quoted in Jan, Jausé, Nouvé dai ciripicieu.
Antoni, diminutive Antounoun or Toni: Anthony, Antony.
Quoted in A la cabana de Betelen, Antonious, Lu Capitani de quartié, La Tentation de saint Antoine.
Antonieta, diminutive Tounieta: Antoinette.
Antounin, diminutive Tounin: Antonine.
Quoted in Cantique à saint Antonin, Lou Clap, Nouvé de Jan-Antounin, Salut à Levens.
Apouloun: Apollo. In the Greek mythology, Apollo – or Phoebus – is the god of Beauty, Light and Arts.
Quoted in Coucou !
Arièi: Érige.
Artur: Arthur.
Assounta, diminutive Sounta: Assumption.
Aubert, diminutive Aubertoun: Albert, Aubert.
Auberta, diminutive Aubertouna: Alberte.
Augoustin or Agoustin, diminutive Goustin: Augustin.
Augusta, diminutive Gusta: Augustus.

Babé or Babelin or Babeta: diminutive of Elisabeta (Elizabeth).
Quoted in A la cabana de Betelen, Lu Cougourdoun, Lu Cougourdoun, Li Pescairis.
Bacus, diminutive Bacu: Bacchus. Roman equivalent of Greek Dionysus, god of Vegetation, particularly of Vine and Wine, son of Zeus and Semelia. Bacchus is present in Carnival songs through bacchanalias, feasts in honour of Bacchus/Dionysus. Nowadays, bacchanalias mean drunken dances.
Quoted in Cansoun nissarda, Chahut ! Chahut ! Coucou ! Faguès un sourire, Fai anà, Fla ! Fla ! Nisskiri, Lou Rèi vutanta vuech, Zon-zon.
Barnabèu: Barnaby.
Quoted in Castèu, baloun e limounada.
Bastian: Bastien, Sébastien.
Batìsta, diminutive Batestin or Batistìn or Tista or Titen or Titoun: Baptist.
Quoted in L’Afreioulida, La Marcho di rèi, Nautre sian d’enfant de cor.
Batistina or Batestina, diminutive Tetina: Baptistine.
Bebella: diminutive of Isabella (Isabel).
Benet: Benoît.
Beneta: Benoîte.
Bergida: Brigitte.
Bernardin or Bernardoun: diminutive of Bernard (Bernard).
Quoted in Nautre sian d’enfant de cor, Lou Roussignòu.
Berta: Berthe.
Quoted in Lou Fantàume Pelegrin.
Bertoumiéu: Bartholomew.
Quoted in Lu Doui Àe.
Blai or Blasi: Blaise.
Brancai: Pancrace.
Quoted in A San-Brancai, Nouvé grassenc.
Bròsi: diminutive of Ambròsi (Ambroise).
Brosina: diminutive of Ambrosina (Ambroisine).
Brunoun: Bruno.

Calist, diminutive Calistoun: Calixte.
Caroulina: Caroline.
Catarina, diminutive Catarineta or Catin: Katherine, Kathleen.
Quoted in Adieu, papa, adieu, maman, Adiu paure Carnaval, A la cabana de Betelen, Li Castagna, Enfan de Nissa Maritima, La Fiha dòu chapacan, Lou Gari, Innou Seguran, Ma qu era Catarina Segurana ? La Midineta vola, O, santa nuech, Parterai, parterai pas, Li Pescairis, La San-Peire, Vaqui lo polit mes de mai.
Cecila: Cécile.
Cèri: Cyr.
Cerili: Cyrille.
Cesari: Césaire.
Cesarina: Césarine.
Chelestin: Célestin.
Chelestina: Célestine.
Choà or Chouà: diminutive of Francé (Francis).
Quoted in À tu ! À iéu ! Castèu, baloun e limounada, La midineta vola, La Rouseta de Nanoun, Zon-zon.
Chouàja or Chouasa or Chuè: diminutive of Francèsa (Frances).
Quoted in Li Pescairis, La San-Peire.
Cinta or Cinto: diminutive of Jacinta or Jacinto (Hyacinthe).
Ciprian: Cyprien.
Cipriana: Cyprienne.
Clarà, diminutive Clareta or Clarissa or Claroun: Clare.
Quoted in La midineta vola.
Clourinda: Clorinde.
Cloutilda, diminutive Tilda: Clotilde.
Cristèu or Cristòu: Christopher.
Cristina: Christine.

Datoun: diminutive of Douroutèa (Dorothy).
Quoted in La San-Peire.
Davic or Davicoun: diminutive of Ludouvic (Ludovic).
Delfina, diminutive Daufina or Delfineta or Fina or Finoun: Delphine.
Didet or Dido or Didoun: diminutive of Margarido (Margaret).
Do: diminutive of Edouard (Edward).
Doumènegue or Domenigue, diminutive Meneguin: Dominique.
Douroutèa, diminutive Datoun: Dorothy.

Elìgi: Éloi.
Elisa, diminutive Lisa or Liseta or Lisoun: Élise.
Elisabeta, diminutive Babé or Babeta: Elizabeth.
Elìsi: Elisha.
Emanuéu: Emmanuel.
Emilia, diminutive Melì or Melìa: Émilie.
Emilian: Émilien.
Enric: Henry.
Ernestìna: Ernestine.
Esteve: Stephen.
Quoted in Tòni, Guihèn, Peiroun.
Eugèni, diminutive Gèni: Eugène.
Eugenì, diminutive Genì: Eugénie.
Eume: Elme.

Felip or Felipe, diminutive Filipin: Philip.
Quoted in Nouvé grassenc.
Fèlis, diminutive Fèli: Félix.
Felissoun: Félicie, Félicité.
Quoted in La Margarideta.
Filipina: Philippine.
Filoumena: Philomène.
Fina or Fineta or Finoun: diminutive of Delfina (Delphine) or of Jousepina (Josephine).
Quoted in Nice en folie, Li Pescairis, La Regina dòu mai, La San-Peire.
Francé or Frances, diminutive Choà or Chouà: Francis.
Quoted in Nautre sian d’enfant de cor, La Regina dòu mai, La Rouseta de Nanoun.
Francèsa, diminutive Chouàja or Chouasa or Chuè: Frances.

Gabriela: Gabrielle.
Gabrièu: Gabriel.
Gaspart, diminutive Gaspà or Gaspardoun: Gaspard.
Gastoun, diminutive Gastounet: Gaston.
Gé or Gigè: diminutive of Jousé (Joseph).
Quoted in Castèu, baloun e limounada.
Gèni: diminutive of Eugèni (Eugène).
Genì: diminutive of Eugenì (Eugénie).
Gertruda: Gertrude.
Quoted in Jan, Jausé.
Glaoudi or Glaudou: Claude.
Quoted in Au masage, Guihaume, Tòni, Pèire.
Gnesa: diminutive of Agnesa (Agnes).
Goustin: diminutive of Augoustin (Augustin).
Quoted in Viva la pesca !
Goutoun: diminutive of Agata (Agathe).
Gregòri: Gregory.
Guida: diminutive of Margarida (Margaret).
Guihaume or Guihem or Gulhaume or Gulherme: William.
Quoted in Guihaume, Tòni, Pèire, Pastre dei mountagno, Tòni, Guihèn, Peiroun.
Guihaumeta or Gulhaumeta or Gulhermeta: Guillaumette.
Quoted in Pèr noun langui long dòu camin.
Gusta: diminutive of Augusta (Augustus).
Gustin: diminutive of Augoustin (Augustin).

Isabella, diminutive Bebella: Isabel.
Isidòrou: Isidore.
Iùchou: diminutive of Marius (Marius).

Jacinta, diminutive Cinto: Hyacinthe.
Jacoumin or Jacoun: diminutive of Jac (James).
Jan or Joan or Jouan, diminutive Gianin or Jouanin: John, diminutive Johnny.
Quoted in Li Baumeta, Castèu, baloun e limounada, Dalin, dalan, Lou Flahut, Guihaume, Tòni, Pèire, Jan Badola, Jan, Jausé, Jan pilhe sa pousseta, La Luerna, La Marcho di rèi, Nautre sian d’enfant de cor, Nouvé de Jan-Antounin, La Pesca, Tòni, Guihèn, Peiroun.
Jana, diminutive Jouaneta: Jane , Joan , Jean.
Quoted in Jan, Jausé, Tanta Jana.
Jaufret: Geoffroy.
Jaume, diminutive Jaumoun: James.
Quoted in Adiéu paure Carneval, Guihaume, Tòni, Pèire, Jan, Jausé, Nautre sian d’enfant de cor, Nouvé dai ciripicieu.
Jaumouna: Jacqueline.
Jirome or Girorme, diminutive Jiroumin: Jérôme.
Quoted in Jan, Jausé.
Jòrge or Jòrgi: George.
Jouachin or Joaquin: Joachim.
Jousé or Jausè, diminutive Gé or Gigè or Jousepin or Pepin or Pin or Pìpou: Joseph.
Quoted in Allons, bergers, partons tous, Dòu tèms de l’Empèri rouman, Helas ! qu noun aurié pieta, Hòu ! de l’oustau ! Ich Wünsch Euch, Jan, Jausé, La fe coumando de crèire, Nouvè doi Boiroulencs, Nouvé dai ciripicieu, Nouvé dai courpouracioun, Nouvé de Jan-Antounin, Nouvè de la mountagno, Lei Pastourèu, Lu Pastourèu, Pèr noun langui long dòu camin, Per ordre dal Ciel, Lou Queitivié d’aquéu marrit estable, Un bèu matin, veguère uno acouchado, Viva la pesca !
Jousepina or Jausepina, diminutive Fina or Fineta or Finoun or Pepina: Josephine.
Jùli: Julius.
Julì or Jùlia or Julìa, diminutive Julieta: Julie, diminutive Juliet.
Quoted in L’Ome e lo Gran.
Julian, diminutive Julianet: Julian.

Laura, diminutive Laureta or Laurina: Laure.
Lauren, diminutive Laurencin: Lawrence, Laurence.
Quoted in Lou Festin dai rangou.
Laurença: Laurence.
Leoupòldou: Léopold.
Lilou: diminutive of Benjamin (Benjamin).
Quoted in La Rouseta de Nanoun.
Lina: diminutive of Adela (Adèle).
Lisa or Liseta or Lisoun: diminutive of Elisa (Élise, Lison)
Quoted in À tu ! À iéu ! Lu Cougourdoun, Fraire Janvié, Rau tau plau la vielha, La San-Peire
Lissandri: diminutive of Alissandri (Alexander).
Lissandrina: diminutive of Alissandrina (Alexandrine).
Louigin: diminutive of Louis.
Louisa or Loisa, diminutive Louisoun: Louise, diminutive Louisette, Louison.
Lucìa: Lucie.
Lucrècia or Lucrezia: Lucretius (masculine), Lucretia (feminine).
Quoted in O, santa nuech.
Ludouvic, diminutive Davic or Davicoun: Ludovic.

Madalena, diminutive Madaleneta or Madalin or Madaloun: Magdalen, Magdalene, Madelene, Madeline.
Quoted in À Cimiès damoun, Au masage, La Calignèra, Lou Gibous, La Rouseta de Nanoun, Segnour e pastressa, Viva Cimiès ! and Lu Cougourdoun.
Marcela: Marcelle.
Marcelin: diminutive of Marcel (Marcel).
Margarida, diminutive Guida or Margaridon or Margaridoun or Margotoun: Margaret.
Quoted in Cantas fiheta ! Lou dangié d’amour, En calan de Cimiès, Lou Festin dei verna, Nouvé de Margaridoun, Vaqui lo polit mes de mai.
Maria, diminutive Marieta or Marioun or Mïeta or Miheta or Mihoun or Mïoun: Mary.
Quoted in A la cabana de Betelen, Bionda, bella bionda, La Chavana, Dòu tèms de l’Empèri rouman, El Desembre congelat, Gent dòu quartié, Hòu ! de l’oustau ! Ich Wünsch Euch, Jan, Jausé, La fe coumando de crèire, La Margarideta, Maria Caté, Nouvè, Nouvè doi Boiroulencs, Nouvé dai courpouracioun, Nouvé dòu pastre, Per ordre dal Ciel, Li Pescairis, La Pièusouleta, Lou Pous, Santa Maria, Si laude Maria, Vers lou pourtau Sant-Laze.
Marta, diminutive Martoun: Marthe.
Martinet or Martinoun: diminutive of Martin (Martin). Martin is the character of the paesant from Nice that Eugène Emanuel introduced into his comedies for Teatrino Martiniano (Martin’s theatre).
Quoted in La Ben Caussada, Gran Mestre, L’Iver, Nissa françesa.
Matiéu: Matthew.
Melì: diminutive of Emilia (Émilie)
Melìa: diminutive of Amelìa (Amélie) or of Emilia (Émilie)
Meneguin: diminutive of Doumènegue (Dominique).
Micoulau: Nicholas.
Quoted in Guihaume, Tòni, Pèire, Micoulau noste pastre, Un ange a fa la crido.
Mile or Milou: diminutive of Emile (Émile)
Miquèu, diminutive Miquelet or Miquelin or Miqueloun: Michael.
Quoted in Au masage, Calant de Vilafranca, Jan, Jausé, La Margarideta.

Nanoun or Ninoun: diminutive of Anna (Ann).
Quoted in À Cimiès damoun, Bonjour Nanon, Castèu, baloun e limounada, Lu Mai d’en carriera, Lou Miéu Printems, Nissa la bella, La Rouseta de Nanoun.
Nem: diminutive of Adrian (Adrien).
Nenin: diminutive of Angelin (Ange).
Nètou: diminutive of Ernest (Ernest).
Noura or Nouré: Honoré.
Quoted in En calan de Cimiès.
Nourada or Norada, diminutive Norina or Nourina: Honorine.

Ourtensa: Hortense.

Pascalina: Pascale, Pascaline.
Pascau, diminutive Pascalin: Pascal.
Pàula: Paule.
Quoted in Nouvé dai ciripicieu.
Pàule: Paul.
Paulina: Pauline.
Pèire, diminutive Peiroun or Pètou: Peter. The diminutive pètou is often used to designate “a guy”, “a bloke”, “a chap”.
Quoted in Li Baumeta, Cerqués plus dins un marrit estable, Cigarette, cigarò, Lou Festin dai rangou, Guihaume, Tòni, Pèire, Lou Rèi vutanta vuech, La San-Peire, Tòni, Guihèn, Peiroun.
Pepin or Pin or Pipo or Pìpou: diminutive of Jousé (Joseph).
Quoted in La Garda mobila, Innou Seguran, Jan, Jausé.
Pepina: diminutive of Jousé (Josephine).
Quoted in Vaga d’aquì ! Vaga d’aïa !

Rosà, diminutive Roseta or Rosina or Rosoun or Rouseta: Rose, Rosette.
Quoted in Lu Cougourdoun, Li Estela, Farandola de printèms, La midineta vola, Li Pescairis, Quel mazzolin di fiori, Rouseta filava, Rouseta la pastressa, La San-Peire, Segnour e pastressa.
Rosalìa: Rosalie.
Quoted in A la cabana de Betelen.

Sandri: diminutive of Alissandri (Alexander).
Sandrina: diminutive of Alissandrina (Alexandrine).
Sansoun: Samson.
Sauvaire: Sauveur.
Quoted in Tòni, Guihèn, Peiroun.
Savié: Xavier.
Savournin: Saturnin.
Serafin: Séraphin.
Simoun: Simon.
Sounta: diminutive of Assounta (Assumption).
Suseta or Susoun or Suzeta or Suzoun: diminutive of Susana or Suzana (Suzann).
Quoted in À Cimiès damoun, Castèu, baloun e limounada, Coucou !

Teresa, diminutive Tereson or Zon: Thérèse.
Quoted in Au masage.
Tetina: diminutive of Batestina or Batistina (Baptistine).
Tilda: diminutive of Cloutilda (Clotilde).
Tìna: diminutive of Ernestìna (Ernestine).
Tista or Tita or Titen or Titoun: diminutive of Batìsta (Baptist).
Quoted in L’Afreioulida, Lou Gari, La Miéu Bella Nissa, Lou Rèi vutanta vuech.
Toni: diminutive of Antoni (Anthony, Antony). Toni, Tony, indicates also a silly boy: Toni Baloni (Tony Baloni) is a well-known person in the whole County, renowned for his silliness. The toni sometimes means the chamber pot...
Quoted in Adiéu paure Carneval, Lu Capitani de quartié, Guihaume, Toni, Pèire, Nouvé dai courpouracioun, Toni Baloni, Tòni, Guihèn, Peiroun.
Toumas: Thomas.
Quoted in La fe coumando de crèire.
Tounieta: diminutive of Antonieta (Antoinette, Toinette, Toinon).
Quoted in Carnaval.
Tounin or Tonin: diminutive of Antounin (Antonine).
Quoted in La Margarideta.

Vitòria: Victory.
Quoted in Rau tau plau la vielha.
Vitour: Victor.
Vitourin: Victorin.
Quoted in Lou Rèi vutanta vuech.
Vitourina or Vitorina: Victorine.

Zon: diminutive of Tereson (Thérèse).
Quoted in A la cabana de Betelen.

© 2001-2023 Jean-Gabriel Maurandi.