Parisina

Historical, Italian, Spanish, Persian

"Parisian; like a fairy"

Parisina Origin and Meaning

The name Parisina is a girl's name meaning "Parisian; like a fairy".

Poetic and ornamental, Parisina appears as the central figure of a work by Lord Byron in 1816, which went on to inspire operas by Mascagni and Donizetti. The figure behind the name, Laura Malatesta, better known as "Parisina", was a 15th century Italian Marchioness who was beheaded for having an affair with her illegitimate stepson. That could make the name feel less compelling, though in Byron's retelling, Parisina was engaged to the stepson prior to being married to his father.

In terms of meaning, the name may be considered an elaboration of Parisa, a Persian name meaning "like a fairy", though it could equally be inspired by the French city. It does coincide with the Spanish word for a Parisian too.