Afedra
“Lady.” Greek female form of the Turkish effendi, “lord”
אפ’ידרה Afedra, 1619
Apodopoula
אפודופלא Apodopoula, 1621
Arkhondopoula
Greek, “nobleman’s daughter”
ארכונדופולה Arkhondopoula, 1609
Aryana
The origin and meaning of this name is unknown, but another late 16th-century Aryana’s letter to her sister is preserved in the Cairo Geniza.1
אריינה Aryana, 1584
Asteroula
Possibly Greek aster “star” + -oula (diminutive suffix)
איסטרולה Asterola, 1619
Bienvenida
Spanish and Portuguese “welcome”; a Sephardic translation of shalom. Bienvenida was the Castilian form; the Portuguese form was Benvenida. The name was also written Bien Venida/Ben Venida.
ביינונידה Bienvenida, 1604
בייןוינידה Bienvenida, 1621
Boula/Bula
Greek Boula, “elder sister,” was a nickname that was originally added to the main name (e.g. Boula Khursi), then developed into a name in its own right. The spelling below is questionable, but I have not been able to identify any other name it could be.
בולו Bolo?, 1583, 1615
Dona
Castilian and Portuguese, “lady”
דונה Dona, 1586, 1592, 1613, 1614, 1615, 1621
דונא Dona, 1587
דוניא Donia (Donia Reina), 1586
דונייא Donia (Donia Mazel Tov), 1591
Esperansa
Spanish, “hope,” possibly a translation of Tikvah
איספיראנסה Esperansa, 1602
Estereliya
Variant spelling of Castilian Estrelya, usually spelled אישטרילייא or איסטרילייא.
אסטרלייא Estereliya, 1585
Esther
אסתר Esther, 1584, 1590, 1592, 1600, 1601, 1612, 1614, 1615, 1620, 1622, 1623
Foti
פוטי Foti, 1612
Gira
גירה Gira, 1607
Gracia
Spanish, “grace, charm”
גראסייה Gracia, 1590
גראסיא Gracia, 1624
Hali
חאלי Hali, 1590
Hana
Hebrew, “favor, grace”
חנה Hana, 1584, 1590, 1617, 1623
Irini
Greek, “peace”
אייריני Eirini, 1604
איריני Irini, 1614
Jamila
Arabic Jamila “beauty, elegance.” Although typically a Muslim name in Turkey, Jamila was used by the Jews of Navarre, who brought the tradition with them to Istanbul.
ג’אמילה Jamila, 1614
ג’ימילה Jimila, 1606
Joya
ג’ויא Joya, 1618
Kadun
Possibly Turkish kadın, “woman,” occasionally used as a name element by Turkish speakers.
קדון Kadun, 1583, 1625
Kalo
Greek, “good”
קאלו Kalo, 1590
קלו Kalo?, 1586
Kalomira
Greek, “good luck”
קאלומירה Kalomira, 1583, 1590, 1591, 1611, 1619, 1620
קלומיר’ה Kilomira, 1587
קלומירה Kelomira??, 1600
קאלומרה Kalomera, 1605
Khrisokali
Possibly Greek chrysos “gold” + kali
כרישוקלי Khrisokali, 1621
Khursi
A common variant of the Romaniote Greek name Khrisula, “golden.”
כורשי Khursi, 1584, 1587, 1589, 1590
Klara
קלרה Klara, 1608
קלארה Klara, 1611, 1625
קאלרה Klara, 1583
Leah
לאה Leah, 1589
Malka
Hebrew, “queen”
מלכה Malka, 1590, 1594, 1604, 1610
Malka Yona
Hebrew, Malka “queen” + Yona “pigeon, dove”
מלכה יונה Malka Yona, 1617
Mamiya
ממיה Mamiya, 1590
Margalit
Hebrew, “pearl”
מרגלית Margalit, 1584
Mazel Tov
Yiddish, “good luck”
מזל טוב Mazel Tov, 1595, 1610, 1624
דונייא מזל טוב Donia Mazel Tov, 1591
Miqri
Greek, “small one”
מקרי Miqri, 1618
מיקרי Miqeri, 1625
Miriyam
מרים Miriyam, 1585, 1590
Mukhila
מוכילה Mukhila, 1621
Muqali
Greek mouqali, “my good one”
מוקלי Muqali, 1597, 1601
Nehama
Hebrew, “comfort”
נהמה Nehama, 1585, 1592, 1597, 1598, 1612
Orihala
אוריחלה Orihala, 1589
Oro Sol
Spanish oro “gold” + sol “sun.” Also written as one word.
אורו שול Oro Sol, 1612
Oro Vida
Spanish oro “gold” + vida “life.” Also written as one word.
אורו וידה Oro Vida, 1584, 1590
Paloma
Spanish, “dove.” Possibly a translation of Yona.
פאלומה Paloma, 1624
Parthi
Greek, “virgin, pure”
פארתי Parthi, 1583
Pirla
From Spanish perla, “pearl”
פירלה Pirla, 1584
Poli
פולי Poli, 1584
Pustida
פושטידה Pustida, 1590
Pustira
Greek, “viola”
פוסטירה Pustira, 1625
Qortisah
קורטישה Qortisah, 1614
Rachel
רחל Rachel, 1581, 1590, 1600, 1612, 1617, 1621
רחיל Rachel??, 1581
Rika
Either Spanish rica, “rich,” or a variant of Rivka.
ריקה Rika, 1600, 1615, 1620
Rivka
רבקה Rivka, 1585, 1590, 1603, 1611, 1613, 1614
Regonola
ריגונולה Regonola, 1590
Reina/Reyna
Spanish reina “queen,” a Sephardic translation of Malka.
ריינה Reina, 1600, 1611, 1612, 1617, 1619
דוניא ריינה Donia Reina, 1586
Rima
רימה Rima, 1600
Rina
רינה Rina, 1600, 1610, 1618
Rosa
רוזה Rosa, 1619
Sara
Hebrew, “princess”
שרה Sara, 1585, 1589, 1590, 1591, 1595, 1612, 1619
Sarai/Saray
שרי Sarai/Saray, 1584
Saropoula
Greek, “Sara’s daughter”?
שרופולה Saropoula, 1620
Seniyoroula
Spanish señora “lady, mistress” + Greek -oula (diminutive suffix). Señora שניורה was a Sephardic female name.
שניורולה Seniyoroula, 1594
Shabetai
Hebrew shabbat “sabbath.” Given to girls born on the Sabbath. More commonly a male name.
שבתי Shabetai, 1605
Shabetaia
Feminine form of Hebrew shabbat “sabbath.” Given to girls born on the Sabbath.
שבתיא Shabetaia, 1590, 1600
שבטיא Shabetaia, 1590
Shabatula
Hebrew shabbat “sabbath” + Greek -oula (diminutive suffix). Given to girls born on the Sabbath.
שבתולה Shabatula, 1584
Simha
Hebrew, “joy”
שמחה Simha, 1601, 1614
Simi
Probably a diminutive of Simha
סימי Simi, 1612
Siti
Arabic sitti, “lady.” Widely used as a name or name component by Jews in Arab-speaking countries, but rare in Turkey.
שיטי Siti, 1612
Sultana
Turkish Sultana “imperial” or “sultana,” one of the few names used by women of all religions.
שולטנה Sultana, 1594, 1615, 1619, 1621
Tamar
תמר Tamar, 1584, 1625
Toporola
Possibly a Greek name plus -oula (diminutive suffix)
טופורולה Toporola, 1595
Vida
Spanish Vita “life,” a Sephardic translation of Haim.
בידה Bida or Vida, 1619
וידה Vida, 1623
Yafet
יפה Yafet, 1592
Zafira
זאפירה Zafira, 1585, 1591
Names with Uncertain Pronunciations
אלחורופולה Alchoropoula, Elchoropoula?, 1614
אייכוינה Eichoina?, 1595
אפינדרה Epindera?, 1622 (Possibly from Greek Pindaros)
ג’יפטול (גיפטול?) Giptol?, 1625 (Although ג’ now indicates that the initial sound is a soft J, this was not the case in the 16th and 17th centuries.)
פאנשתה Pansheta? Panesheta?, 1611
פשאדה Peshada, Pashada? Fasada?, 1602 (From Spanish pesada, “heavy”? Pasat/Pasad פשאד was a Sephardic last name. From Fasad פשאד?)
פרוטוס Protos, Prautos? (Possibly from Greek protos, “first, best.”)
שרלי Sharli?, 1609
סוריאנה Soriana? Suriana?, 1624 (probably Sephardic)
זמבולה Zembula, 1625
ז’פולה Zapola, 1584
ז[ו]פולה Zofola, 1615
זויאה Zoya, 1616 (possibly a variant of Zoe?)
Sources and Methodology
The main source is the inscriptions in a database of Jewish tombstones, A World Beyond: Jewish Cemeteries in Turkey, 1583-1990. Of the 517 stones dated from 1581 through the end of 1625, 484 stones had inscriptions complete enough to give onomastic data; and of these 484, 212 contained legible female names.
Sources for Meanings and Pronunciation
Bunis, David. “Language and Personal Names of Judezmo Speakers in Eres Israel in the Time of Nathan of Gaza.” El Prezente, 2021.
Bunis, David. “Judeo-Spanish (Judezmo), Hebrew Component in.” Encyclopedia of Hebrew Language and Linguistics, Volume 2, G-O. Ed. Khan, Geoffrey et al. Brill, 2013. pp. 421-427.
Rozen, Minna. Studies in the History of Istanbul Jewry, 1453-1923: A Journey through Civilizations. Brepols Publishers, 2015.
Credits
Courtesy of the academic research site “A World Beyond: Jewish Cemeteries in Turkey, 1583-1990” of the Goldstein-Goren Diaspora Research Center of Tel Aviv University.