Reintroduced into the Brazilian alphabet only in 2009, the letter has always been fascinating and is present in many famous names
A letter Y It is not typically used in Portuguese. In fact, until the New Orthographic Reform came into force in 2009, it was not even considered part of our alphabet, a situation that also applied to K and W. But that never stopped it from being a favorite when it came to naming children across the country, especially since it was – yes – present in the oldest spelling of several words we use.
In proper names, Y can appear anywhere. A famous case is that of the pilot Ayrton Senna three-time Formula 1 world champion But here we will focus on who It starts with this letter peculiar located in the penultimate position of the alphabetical order.
You want to give your child a name that begins with the letter that the French and Spanish know “I Greek” ? Discover the most famous options, their origins and meanings:
Yago: is a Latinized version of the Hebrew name Ya’akov, or Jacob. It literally means “heel”: according to biblical tradition, Jacob was born holding the heel of Esau, his twin brother, in his hand.
Yan or Yann: although it is a surname also widespread in China, the Yan that has come down to us is more closely related to a word in the Breton language, spoken in some parts of France. There it is more common to use the spelling Yann, with two Ns, and the name is nothing more than a variation of Jean, the “John” of the French.
Yara: Tracing its origins to Guarani, Yara (or Iara) is the “mother of water” or “lady of the waters” in the cosmology of the native Brazilian people, a feminine name shrouded in charm and mystery.
Yasmin: Of Arabic origin, this name literally means “jasmine”, referring to the delicate flower whose scent has conquered the world.
Yeda: A variation of the biblical name Jedida (one of King Solomon’s wives), the meaning of this name is usually defined as “beloved of God”. It was a name popularized in Brazil in other times thanks to the success of the gaúcha Ieda Maria Vargas (with I), first Brazilian to win Miss Universe, in 1963.
Elena: The Russian version of the name Helena (which, in turn, has Greek origins), means “bright light” or “shining”. The name enjoyed a revival in the early 21st century with Russian Yelena Isinbayeva, a two-time Olympic pole vault champion and still a world record holder in the sport today.
Yogor: A name of Slavic origin and more commonly written as Igor, it is said to have its origins in the Norse name Ingvar. At its root it means something like “warrior” or “protected” by Ing, the name of the god of fertility in the ancient tradition of the region.
Yolanda: Originated from the Greek Iolanthe, it is the name of the purple flower.
Youssef or Yusuf: much more common among people of Arab origin, this name is equivalent to the Portuguese José, although the meaning is usually not considered the same. Youssef (and other spellings) would be something like “God increases” something (his power, for example).
Yuri: the name that has come down to us is masculine and has Russian origins, it means “peasant” or “farmer”, and is equivalent to the Portuguese Jorge. It gained worldwide fame thanks to the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human being to reach space, in 1961. It is worth mentioning that Yuri is also a female name in Japanese and means “lily” (the flower), although this l use is practically unknown in Brazil.
Yves: Of Celtic origin, this name is extremely widespread in France and little used in other parts of the world. Having become internationally famous thanks to the designer Yves Saint Laurent, who passed away in 2008, it refers to a conifer that only exists in the northern hemisphere, known in Portuguese as a yew.
Yvette and Yvonne: Also common in France, these names are the feminine version of Yves, and have the same root, yew. For those who want something inspired by nature, this is a good choice.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
