On the heels of the regal Leo, today we turn our attention to a queenly appellation.
Thanks to Laney for suggesting one from her family tree for today’s Name of the Day: Regina.
You may know that Regina means queen, from the Latin. It’s related to rex, which traces back to the Sanskrit raj and perhaps the Persian rahst. It’s a deeply ancient name, first adopted by early Christians. And that’s an interesting twist – the ruler honored by Regina is not of this world. Instead, parents originally chose the name in honor of the Virgin Mary. (In some cultures, Mary has been considered too holy a name to bestow on a child – hence the rise of the Marian monikers, like Assumpta.)
There have been two Saints Regina, the first martyred in the third century and the second among the African martyrs.
Despite her religious roots, most modern parents probably think of Regina as regal rather than spiritual. It’s used to refer to virtually any queen. Many of us link it with Queen Victoria for a host of reasons, including the fact that Regina, Saskatchewan was named in honor of the ruler.
But you’ll also find the following bearers of the name: a snake, a Swedish passenger train, a car in Grand Theft Auto and the heroine of Lillian Hellman’s play The Little Foxes. For a name with a narrow and unambiguous meaning, it’s become terribly versatile.
While virtually every Regina opts for the pronunciation reh JEE nah, should you find yourself in Saskatchewan’s capital, you’ll actually be standing in reg EYE nah. Odds are that the possible mispronunciation won’t be a problem should you choose this name for your daughter, but it’s worth noting that it could be an issue.
Regina enjoyed steady use from early Christian times through the Middle Ages, but then fell out of favor. She was revived in the 19th century, but her peak of popularity in the US came a bit later. From 1914 to 1926, she was a Top 200 choice, before falling slightly. In the 1960s, she climbed again, reaching #80 in 1967.
We’re not quite certain why Regina peaked in the 60s. The play and the movie adaptation of The Little Foxes – featuring Bette Davis as a memorable Regina – was more than twenty years old by then. Perhaps Regina rode Gina’s coattails – the diminutive was even more popular at the time, as was Tina. Or maybe she just fit with other appealing feminizations from the era: Denise and Jacqueline were Top 100 choices, and Michelle was in the Top Five.
Today, she’s fallen along with other 60s favorites like Barbara, Patricia and Deborah. All would sound just right sharing the same jungle gym with Samantha, Brianna and Sophia, but we do tend to dismiss names from our parents’ generation. Today, Regina comes in at #578 – not quite her least popular, but close.
Despite this fall, we find Regina timeless. She’s been in use for generations and especially since she never reached the heights of Barbara or Jessica or other three-syllable, ends-in-a names, it’s easy to imagine a Regina born in 2008. With nickname options including the boyish Reggie, the simple Gina or perhaps even the French-fried Gigi, it’s easy to see this name wearing well from childhood to maturity. And it’s far more sophisticated than calling your little princess Princess.
Love this name… I also think of “Charade”! Is there anything better than Audrey Hepburn in that film? I think not.
I knew a Regina or two when I was in school, but I was born in the very early 70’s. I have always liked the name, but it has never quite made my lists. I prefer the nicknames Gina or Gigi, I think.
Sweet Valley High, Charade *and* Mean Girls – of course! Another, Regina was one of the names I always wanted – probably inspired by SVH, which I read obsessively once upon a time.
Kayt, that’s a funny little family set – quite subtle!
And Lola, you’re right – Regina isn’t quite *our* parents’ generation, but I tend to think about women in their early 20s who are still forming their opinions about baby names – mine were probably locked in by the time I was old enough to actually have a child!
I like it. I had a teacher growing up named Regina. Her husband’s name was Ryan, so they named their kids Brendan and Sarah. King, queen, prince, and princess! I thought it was simultaneously the stupidest and most clever thing I had ever heard. If you want theme names that don’t sound alike, there’s one way to do it!
The Regina that comes to mind for me is the one from the movie “Mean Girls.” She was the queen of a clique of snobby, shallow high school girls. I love name’s sound and nickname options, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to overcome this association.
The name might have gotten an extra boost from the movie Charade (1963), which starred Audrey Hepburn as Regina “Reggie” Lampert opposite Cary Grant. Great movie, by the way!
Our Parent’s generation? *sigh* I’m of the late 60’s and can name at least 10 Regina/Gina/Reggie girls of my own age group, in my own neighborhood. My Mother used to swear she never knew one but when she was dating my Dad she heard it everywhere and was not impressed. I don’t like Regina’s sound either but like her regal feel.
She’s not anything I’d use, myself but can see her potential. She’s pretty, grown up sounding with a couple of cute nickname options. That adds up to a certain style for me but nothing that fits me. She’s lovely for someone else though. It might even be refreshing to meet a little Regina again. Would make me feel 8 again, anyway! 😀
Far from my favorite name but it’s OK. Would not like the nickname Reggie, sounds too much like a boy. I like nickname Gina better.
I grew up with a nanny named Regina, who I called Reggie. She was 23 when I was born, and I was with her until I was 13. We still keep in touch, but the name’s not my fave.
We do have twin neighbours named Regina and Rebecca, called Gina and Becca, who are seventeen.
Other than that, I’m not in a ton of love with the name. I’ll use it one day to honour Reggie, but other than that I don’t really love it…
I’ve always loved this name. My favorite Regina was the one from Sweet Valley. She was rich, nice, deaf, beautiful, and unfortunately tried snorting cocaine and had a heart attack and died. She (and Ms Francine Pascal) is the reason I don’t do drugs. That issue scared the crap out of me! But the second she appeared in Sweet Valley, I fell in love with the name. Husband didn’t consider it for an instant when we didn’t know Ethan was a boy. Oh well.
By the way, if you’re confused and don’t know what Sweet Valley is (boy do I feel sorry for you) it’s the fictional home of fictional twin heroines, Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield. Check out the 1980s Young Adult series, Sweet Valley High. Fun stuff.