Despina

DESS-pi-na or dess-PEE-nah
Greek
"lady"

Despina Origin and Meaning

The name Despina is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning "lady".

Despina is best known as the clever and wily maidservant character in Mozart's opera Così fan tutte. It is a name of Greek origin, derived from Despoina, who in Greek mythology was the daughter of Demeter and Poseidon.

In its native Greece, Despina is pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable – DESS-pi-na -– but in Italy, Portugal, and other countries where the name is often found, it's usually pronounced dess-PEE-nah.

Despina Popularity

Famous People Named Despina

  • Despina Khatun (born Theodora Megale Komnene)Princess of Trebizond
  • Despina "Debbie" MatenopoulosAmerican TV host
  • Despina VandiGreek pop singer
  • Dena "Despina" OlympiouGreek Cypriot pop singer
  • Despina PapamichailGreek tennis player
  • Despina Davidovitch StorchTurkish WWI spy for Germany

Despina in Pop Culture

  • Despinacity name in Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities
  • Despinacharacter in Mozart's opera Così fan tutte (1790)