English Explanatory Dictionary

Elvira

English dictionary entry

Meanings

name
  1. A female given name from Spanish, in quiet use since the 19th century.
  2. Former name of Granada: a city in Spain; an ancient name for the city.

Word forms

Elvira Elviras

Etymology

A medieval Spanish royal name, of probably Gothic origin, and debated meaning, possibly 𐌲𐌰𐌹𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (gailjan) + *𐍅𐌴𐍂𐌴𐌹 (*wērei), thus "joyful sincerity". It became famous outside Spain after its appearance in Mozart's Don Giovanni (1787). The place name Elvira is a contraction of the older Illiberi, new city.

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