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Coptic names refer to the personal names used by the Copts, the indigenous Christian inhabitants of Egypt. They reflect the intersection of Egyptian, Greek, Arab and Christian influences in the region and encompass a diverse range of naming practices, which have evolved over centuries.
The oldest layer of the Egyptian naming tradition is native Egyptian names. These can be either traced back to pre-Coptic stage of the language, attested in Hieroglyphic, Hieratic or Demotic texts (i.e. ⲁⲙⲟⲩⲛ, ⲛⲁⲃⲉⲣϩⲟ, ϩⲉⲣⲟⲩⲱϫ, ⲧⲁⲏⲥⲓ) or be first attested in Coptic texts and derived from purely Coptic lemmas (i.e. ⲡⲁⲛⲓⲣⲁⲛ, ⲡⲁⲙⲃⲱ, ⲗⲟⲩⲗⲉ, ⲧⲁⲗⲟⲩϣⲏⲙ).
The conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great and subsequent rule of the Ptolemaic dynasty led to Hellenisation of Egypt, which led to adoption of a great number of Greek names by the Copts (i.e. ⲅⲉⲱⲣⲅⲓⲟⲥ, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ, ⲑⲉⲟⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ, ⲑⲉⲕⲗⲁ, ⲕⲗⲉⲟⲡⲁⲧⲣⲁ), which was advanced even further by the Christianization and influx of Hellenised Hebrew and Aramaic names (i.e. ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ, ⲓⲱⲥⲏⲫ, ⲁⲃⲣⲁϩⲁⲙ, ⲉⲗⲓⲥⲁⲃⲉⲧ). Most names with exclusively pagan connotations, both Egyptian and Greek, fell out of use after the 3rd century, although some persisted, taken from the martyrdoms of venerated saints, e.g. Anoup, Phib, Diogenes, Phoibammon, Shenoute, Sarapion, Onnophris. [1]
The Roman conquest of Egypt added Latin names to Egyptian naming tradition (ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱⲣ, ⲥⲉⲩⲏⲣⲟⲥ). Over time, many of these foreign names were gradually Egyptianized, while some Egyptian names underwent Hellenization, resulting in the development of a distinctive syncretic Graeco-Egyptian naming tradition.
After the Arab conquests of the Middle East, the Arabs implemented a policy of strict segregation to subjugate the native inhabitants of the occupied lands, including the Copts in Egypt. This policy aimed to easily identify and exploit them financially. The second Caliph, Umar I, established a code known as "The Pact of Umar" that governed the relationship between ruling Muslims and the non-Muslim "People of the Book" (including Christians). The code restricted non-Muslims from using certain names, nicknames, and kunyas. The Sunni jurist Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya emphasized that Muslim names were reserved exclusively for Muslims, while non-Muslims were allowed to use their own names or shared names. However, non-Muslims were prohibited from using names that implied honor or virtue, e.g. Rashid (Arabic : رشيد, lit. 'rightly guided') or Salih (Arabic : صالح, lit. 'good').
Despite these strict restrictions, changes began to emerge over time. During the Fatimid Dynasty, which ruled Egypt from 969 to 1171 and followed the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam, there was a relative period of tolerance towards the Copts. The Fatimids sought the support of the educated Coptic population and relaxed some of the Sunni restrictions. As a result, Copts started assimilating into Arab and Muslim culture to escape social segregation and promote social mobility. This included adopting Arab and Muslim names for their children, as well as using nicknames and kunyas that were previously exclusive to Arabs and Muslims. [2]
| Coptic | Arabic | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Male names | ||
| ⲁⲙⲟⲩⲛ (Amoun) | Arabic : آمون, romanized: Amūn | Ancient Egyptian : Ỉmn, lit. ' Amun ' |
| ⲁⲛⲟⲩⲡ (Anoup) | Arabic : أنوب, romanized: Anūb | Ancient Egyptian : Ỉnpw, lit. ' Anubis ' |
| ⲁⲧⲣⲉ (Atre) | Arabic : أثريه, romanized: Athrīya | Ancient Egyptian : ḥtr, lit. 'a twin' |
| ⲃⲁⲛⲉ (Vane) | Arabic : فانا, romanized: Fāna | Ancient Egyptian : Bne, from Proto-Semitic *ban- "son" |
| ⲃⲉⲛⲓⲡⲓ (Venipi) | Arabic : وانيبى, romanized: Wanībi | Ancient Egyptian : bjꜣ n pt, lit. 'iron, lit. "metal of the heaven"' |
| ⲃⲉⲛⲟϥⲉⲣ (Venofer) | Arabic : نُوفِير, romanized: Nūfir | Ancient Egyptian : wnn-nfrw, lit. 'he who is in a state of well-being', an epithet of Anubis |
| ⲃⲏⲥ (Vēs) | Arabic : ويصا, romanized: Wīsa, | Ancient Egyptian : Bi-s, lit. ' Bes ' |
| ⲉⲃⲱⲛϩ (Evōnh) | Arabic : إيبونه, romanized: Ibūna | Ancient Egyptian : Ỉw-f-ʿnḫ, lit. 'may he live' |
| ⲕⲉⲗⲗⲟⲩϫ (Kellouj) | Arabic : كَلُوج, romanized: Kalūj | Ancient Egyptian : ḳꜣlꜣwḏꜣ, lit. 'a whelp' |
| ⲛⲁⲃⲉⲣϩⲟ (Naverho) | Arabic : نَهْرُوه, romanized: Nahrūh | Ancient Egyptian : nfr-ḥr, lit. 'beautiful in face', an epithet of Ptah |
| ⲛⲁϩⲣⲱⲟⲩ (Nahrōw) | Ancient Egyptian : Ỉr.t-Ḥr-r.rw, lit. 'the eye of Horus is against them' | |
| ⲟⲩⲉⲣϣⲉⲛⲟⲩϥⲓ (Weršenoufi) | Arabic : ورشنوفة, romanized: Waršanūfa | Ancient Egyptian : wršy-nfr, lit. 'good guardian' |
| ⲡⲁⲏⲥⲓ (Paēsi) | Arabic : ابا يسي, romanized: Abaīsi | Ancient Egyptian : Pa-Ỉs.t, lit. 'the one of Isis' |
| ⲡⲁⲙⲃⲱ (Pambō) | Arabic : بموا, romanized: Bemwā | ⲡⲁ- (possessive masculine article) + ⲙⲃⲱ ("Ombos"), "the one of Ombos" |
| ⲡⲁⲙⲓⲛ (Pamin) | Arabic : بمين, romanized: Bamīn | Ancient Egyptian : pꜣ-mn, lit. 'the one of Min' |
| ⲡⲓⲗⲓϩⲏⲩ (Pilihēi) | Arabic : بلحاو, romanized: Bilihāw | "possessing profit, useful" |
| ⲡⲉⲙⲥⲁϩ(Pemsah) | Arabic : بامساح, romanized: Bamsāh; | Ancient Egyptian : Pȝ-Msḥ, lit. 'the crocodile' |
| ⲡⲁⲛⲁⲩ (Panau) | Arabic : باناو, romanized: Bānāū | From ⲡⲁ- (possessive masculine article) + ⲛ- (genitive marker) + ⲁⲩ ("donkey"), "donkey driver" or "the one of Set" |
| ⲫⲁⲛⲓⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ (Phanisnēw) | Arabic : بانسناو, romanized: Banisnāw | ⲫⲁ- (possessive masculine article) + ⲛⲓ- ("plural definite article") + ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ ("brothers"), "the one of the brothers" |
| ⲡⲁⲛⲉϩⲁⲥ (Panehas) | Arabic : فينحاس, romanized: Finhās | Ancient Egyptian : pꜣ-nḥs, lit. 'the black' |
| ⲡⲁⲛⲓⲛⲉ (Panine) | Arabic : باننينا, romanized: Bānīnā | From ⲡⲁ- (possessive masculine article) + ⲛ- (genitive marker) + ⲉⲓⲛⲉ ("chain"), "the one of chain", "guardian" |
| ⲡⲁⲛⲓⲣⲁⲛ (Paniran) | ⲫⲁ- (possessive masculine article) + ⲛⲓ- ("plural definite article") + ⲣⲁⲛ ("names"), "the one of many names, honours" | |
| ⲫⲁⲛⲟⲩⲃ (Phanoub) | Arabic : بانوب, romanized: Banūb | ⲫⲁ- (possessive masculine article) + ⲛⲟⲩⲃ ("gold"), "the one of gold" |
| ⲡⲁⲧⲁⲡⲓ (Patapi) | Arabic : بضابا, romanized: Biḍāba | Ancient Egyptian : pꜣ-dỉ-Ḥp, lit. 'given by the Apis/Nile' |
| ⲡⲁⲫⲛⲟⲩϯ (Paphnouti) | Arabic : ببنودة, romanized: Babnūda | Ancient Egyptian : pꜣy-pꜣ-ntr, lit. 'the one of the god' |
| ⲡⲁϣⲟⲛϯ (Pašonti) | Arabic : بشندي, romanized: Bašandi | ⲡⲁ- (possessive masculine article) + ϣⲟⲛϯ ("acacia tree"), "the one of acacia tree" |
| ⲡⲁϩⲱⲣ (Pahōr) | Arabic : باهور, romanized: Bahūr | Ancient Egyptian : pꜣ-ḥr, lit. 'the one of Horus ' |
| ⲡⲁϧⲱⲙ (Pakhōm) | Arabic : باخوم, romanized: Bakhūm | Ancient Egyptian : pꜣ-ꜥẖm, lit. 'the one of the falcon' |
| ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲫⲣⲏ ( Petephrē ) | Arabic : بادبرا, romanized: Badabra | Ancient Egyptian : pꜣ-dj-pꜣ-rꜥ, lit. 'he whom Ra has given' |
| ⲡⲉϣⲟⲩⲣ (Pešour)/ ⲡⲓⲥⲟⲩⲣⲁ (Pisoura) | Arabic : بيسورا, romanized: Bisūra | Ancient Egyptian : pꜣ-ꜥswr, lit. 'the Assyrian' |
| ⲡⲓϣⲉⲛⲛⲟⲩϥⲓ (Pišennoufi) | Arabic : بشنونة, romanized: Bašnuna | ⲡⲓ- (definite masculine article) + ϣⲉⲛⲛⲟⲩϥⲓ ("good news"), "the good news, gospel", a calque of Greek "εὐαγγέλιον" |
| ⲫⲓⲃ (Phib) | Arabic : بيب, romanized: Bīb | Ancient Egyptian : pꜣ-hb, lit. 'the ibis' |
| ⲡⲓϣⲱⲓ (Pišōy) | Arabic : بيشوي, romanized: Bišūy, | Ancient Egyptian : pꜣ-šꜣj, lit. 'the fate' |
| ⲡⲓϫⲓⲙⲓ (Pijimi) | Arabic : بيجيمي, romanized: Bijīmi | ⲡⲓ- (definite masculine article) + ϫⲓⲙⲓ ("finding, thing found") |
| ϩⲁⲣⲙⲓⲛⲏ (Harminē) | Arabic : هرمينا, romanized: Harmīna | Ancient Egyptian : Ḥr-Mn, lit. 'Horus-Min' |
| ϩⲉⲣⲟⲩⲱϫ (Herwōj) | Arabic : هرواج, romanized: Harwāj | Ancient Egyptian : ḥr-wḏꜣ, lit. 'healthy Horus' |
| ϫⲁⲙⲟⲩⲗ (Jamoul) | Arabic : جامول, romanized: Jamūl | "camel" |
| ϫⲓϭⲱⲓ (Jičōi) | Arabic : جيجوي, romanized: Jijūy | Ancient Egyptian : Ṯȝy-ḏy, lit. 'the bearer of the hairlock', an epithet of Harpocrates |
| ϫⲱⲣⲓ (Jōri) | Arabic : جورى, romanized: Jūri | "strong", the Arabic form Khuzi (خوزي) mentioned in the Synaxarium is a scribal mistake |
| ϣⲉⲛⲟⲩϯ (Šenouti) | Arabic : شِنُودة, romanized: Šinūda | ϣⲉ- ("son") + ⲛⲟⲩϯ ("god"), "son of god" |
| Female names | ||
| ⲁⲥⲉⲛⲛⲉⲑ (Asenneth) | Arabic : اسنات, romanized: Asnāt | Ancient Egyptian : js.w-(n)-n(j)t, lit. 'belonging to Neth' |
| ⲗⲟⲩⲗⲉ (Loule) | Arabic : لولا, romanized: Lūla | "girl" |
| ⲙⲉⲛⲣⲓⲧ (Menrit) | Arabic : مريت, romanized: Mirrīt | "beloved" |
| ⲧⲁⲏⲥⲓ (Taisi) | Arabic : تاييس, romanized: Taīyis | Ancient Egyptian : ta-Ỉs.t, lit. 'the one of Isis' |
| ⲧⲁⲙⲡⲣⲟ (Tampro) | Arabic : أمبيرة, romanized: Ambīra | "doorkeeper" |
| ⲧⲁⲗⲟⲩϣⲏⲙ (Taloušēm) | Arabic : طالوشاط, romanized: Talušām, | "the little maiden" |
| ⲧⲁⲥⲱⲛⲓ (Tasōni) | Arabic : تاسونى, romanized: Tasūni | From ⲧⲁ- (possessive feminine article) + ⲥⲱⲛⲓ ("sister"), "my sister" |
| ⲕⲟⲩⲗⲱϫⲉ (Koulōje) | Ancient Egyptian : ḳꜣlꜣwḏꜣ, lit. 'a whelp' | |
| ⲑⲉⲗⲗⲱ (Thellō) | Arabic : تالا, romanized: Talā | "respectable", "honorable elder" |
| ϫⲉⲙⲙⲁϩⲱⲣ (Jemmahōr) | From ϫⲉⲙ- (possessive feminine article) + ⲁϩⲱⲣ ("treasures"), "finder of treasures" | |
| ϣⲱϣⲉⲛ (Šōšen) | Ancient Egyptian : zšn, lit. 'lotus flower' | |
| Coptic | Arabic | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Male names | ||
| ⲁⲑⲁⲛⲁⲥⲓⲟⲥ | Arabic : أثناسيوس, romanized: Atnasiūs | Athanasius |
| ⲁⲗⲉⲝⲁⲛⲇⲣⲟⲥ | Arabic : ألكسندروس, romanized: Alaksandrūs | Alexander |
| ⲁⲛⲇⲣⲉⲁⲥ | Arabic : اندراوس, romanized: Andarāwus | Andrew |
| ⲃⲁⲥⲓⲗⲉⲓⲟⲥ | Arabic : باسليوس, romanized: Basalyūs | Basil |
| ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱⲣ | Arabic : بقطر, romanized: Buqṭur | Victor |
| ⲅⲉⲱⲣⲅⲓⲟⲥ | Arabic : جاورجيوس, romanized: Gawargiūs; | George |
| ⲉⲡⲓⲫⲁⲛⲓⲟⲥ | Arabic : أبفانيوس, romanized: Abifānius; | Epiphanius |
| ⲉⲩⲇⲁⲓⲙⲱⲛ | Arabic : ودامون, romanized: Wadamūn | Eudaemon |
| ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲁⲕⲟⲥ | Arabic : قرياقوس, romanized: Qiryāqūs | Cyriacus |
| ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲗⲗⲟⲥ | Arabic : كيرلس, romanized: Kirūllus | Cyril |
| ⲕⲩⲣⲟⲥ | Arabic : كاراس, romanized: Kārās; | Cyrus |
| ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲥ | Arabic : مرقس, romanized: Murqus | Mark |
| ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ | Arabic : بولس, romanized: Būlus | Paul |
| ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ | Arabic : بطرس, romanized: Butrus | Peter |
| ⲑⲁⲗⲁⲥⲥⲓⲱⲛ | Arabic : لتصون, romanized: Latṣūn | "of the sea" |
| ⲑⲉⲟⲇⲱⲣⲁⲕⲏ | Arabic : تيودوراكي, romanized: Tiwudurāki | Theodorakios |
| ⲑⲉⲟⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ | Arabic : تواضروس, romanized: Tawadrūs; | Theodore |
| ⲥⲉⲩⲏⲣⲟⲥ | Arabic : ساويرس, romanized: Sawarīs | Severus |
| ⲫⲓⲗⲟⲡⲁⲧⲱⲣ | Arabic : فيلوباتير, romanized: Filubatīr | Philopator |
| Female names | ||
| ⲉⲩⲫⲣⲟⲥⲓⲛⲁ | Arabic : افروسينا, romanized: Afrūsīnā | "cheerful" |
| ⲇⲁⲙⲓⲁⲛⲏ | Arabic : دميانة, romanized: Damiāna | Demiana |
| ⲉⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ | Arabic : إيريني, romanized: Irīnī, | Irene |
| ⲧⲉⲩⲗⲟⲅⲓⲁ | Arabic : دولاجي, romanized: Dulāji | ⲧ- (definite feminine article) + Ancient Greek : εὐλογία, lit. 'blessing' |
| ⲕⲗⲉⲟⲡⲁⲧⲣⲁ | Arabic : كليوباترا, romanized: Kliubātra | Cleopatra |
| ⲑⲉⲕⲗⲁ | Arabic : تكله, romanized: Takla | Thecla |
| ⲣⲓⲯⲓⲙⲏ | Arabic : أربسيما, romanized: Arabsīma | Hripsime, Ancient Greek : Ριψιμιά |
| ϩⲏⲣⲁⲓⲥ | Arabic : هيرايسي, romanized: Hirāisi | Ancient Greek : Ἡραίς, lit. 'of Hera ' |
| ⲑⲉⲟⲇⲱⲣⲁ | Arabic : ثيودورا, romanized: Thiūdūra | Theodora |
| ⲥⲩⲛⲕⲗⲏⲧⲓⲕⲏ | Arabic : سينكليتيكا, romanized: Sīnklītīka | Syncletica |
| Coptic | Arabic | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Male names | ||
| ⲁⲣⲡⲟⲕⲣⲁⲧⲱⲣ (Arpokratōr) | Arabic : اربقراطور, romanized: Arbuqrātūr | Harpocrates |
| ⲓⲥⲓⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ (Isidōros) | Arabic : سيداروس, romanized: Sidārūs | Isidore |
| ⲫⲁⲛⲓⲕⲉⲣⲟⲥ/ⲡⲁⲛⲓⲕⲩⲣⲟⲥ(Phanikeros/Panikyros) | Arabic : بانيقاروس, romanized: Baniqārus | From ⲡⲁ- (possessive masculine article) + ⲛ- (genitive marker) + ⲕⲩⲣⲟⲥ ("Lord"), "the one of the Lord" |
| ⲫⲟⲓⲃⲁⲙⲙⲱⲛ (Phoibammōn) | Arabic : بيفام, romanized: Bifām | Φοῖβος (“Brilliant one, epithet of Apollo”) + Ἄμμων (“Amun”) |
| ⲡⲁⲧⲉⲣⲙⲟⲩⲑⲓⲟⲥ (Patermouthios) | Arabic : بدرمتاوش, romanized: Badarmutaūs | A Hellenisation of ⲡⲁⲧⲉⲣⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ |
| ⲡⲉⲥⲩⲛⲑⲓⲟⲥ (Pesynthios) | Arabic : بسنده, romanized: Basanda | A Hellenisation of ⲡⲁϣⲟⲛϯ |
| ⲡⲥⲱⲧⲏⲣ (Psōtēr) | Arabic : ابصودار, romanized: Absudār | ⲡ- (definite masculine article) + Σωτήρ "saviour", an epithet of Christ |
| ⲥⲉⲛⲟⲩⲑⲓⲟⲥ (Senouthios) | Arabic : سنوتيوس, romanized: Sanutyūs | A Hellenisation of ϣⲉⲛⲟⲩϯ |
| ⲥⲁⲣⲁⲡⲁⲙⲱⲛ (Sarapamōn) | Arabic : سربام, romanized: Sarabām | Σέραπις (“Serapis”) + Ἄμμων (“Amun”) |
| ⲙⲏⲛⲁ (Mēna) | Arabic : مينا, romanized: Mīna | From Ancient Greek Μηνᾶς (Mēnâs) which comes from Demotic mnw (“the god Min”) |
| Coptic | Arabic | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Male names | ||
| ⲁⲃⲣⲁϩⲁⲙ (Avraham) | Arabic : ابرام, romanized: Abrām, | Abraham |
| ⲃⲉⲛⲓⲁⲙⲓⲛ (Veniamin) | Arabic : بنيامين, romanized: Binyamīn | Benjamin |
| ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ (Gavriēl) | Arabic : غبريال, romanized: G̣abriyāl | Gabriel |
| ⲇⲁⲩⲉⲓⲇ (Daueid) | Arabic : داويد, romanized: Dawīd, | David |
| ⲉⲛⲱⲭ (Enōkh) | Arabic : اخنوخ, romanized: Akhnūkh | Enoch |
| ⲓⲱⲥⲏⲫ (Iōsēph) | Arabic : يوساب, romanized: Yusāb | Joseph |
| ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ (Iohannēs) | Arabic : يوحانس, romanized: Yuhānnis, Arabic : يحنس, romanized: Yahnis, Arabic : يوحنا, romanized: Yuhanna | John |
| ⲓⲥⲁⲁⲕ (Isaak) | Arabic : إسحاق, romanized: Ishāq | Isaac |
| ⲙⲓⲭⲁⲏⲗ (Mikhaēl) | Arabic : ميخاييل, romanized: Mikhayīl | Michael |
| ⲡⲁⲣⲥⲱⲙⲁ (Parsōma) | Arabic : برسوما, romanized: Barsūma; | Classical Syriac : ܒܪܨܘܡܐ, romanized: Barsauma, lit. 'son of fasting' |
| ⲥⲉⲇⲣⲁⲕ (Sedrak) | Arabic : سدراك, romanized: Sidrāk | Sydrach |
| ⲥⲓⲥⲓⲛⲛⲓⲟⲥ (Sisinnios) | Arabic : سيسينيوس, romanized: Sisinyūs | From Syriac : sysnʾ, ultimately from Akkadian : sissinnu, lit. 'fruited date palm branch' |
| ⲍⲁⲭⲁⲣⲓⲁⲥ (Zakharias) | Arabic : زكريا, romanized: Zakarīyā | Zachary |
| Female names | ||
| ⲉⲗⲓⲥⲁⲃⲉⲧ (Elisavet) | Arabic : اليصابات, romanized: Alisabāt | Elisabeth |
| ⲙⲁⲣⲑⲁ (Martha) | Arabic : مرتا, romanized: Martā | Martha |
| ⲣⲉⲃⲉⲕⲕⲁ (Revekka) | Arabic : رفقة, romanized: Rifqa | Rebecca |
| ⲥⲟⲩⲥⲁⲛⲛⲁ (Sousanna) | Arabic : سوسنة, romanized: Susana | Susan |
| Arabic | English | Coptic | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male names | |||
| نجيب | Naguib | "noble" | |
| فريد | Farid | "only" | |
| فادي | Fadi | "redeemer, saviour" | |
| رامي | Rami | "archer" | |
| ثروت | Tharwat | "treasure" | |
| عبد المسيح | Abd el-Masih | ⲁⲡⲧⲏⲗⲙⲉⲥⲏϩ (Aptēlmesēh) | "slave of the Messiah" |
| لابيب | Labib | ⲗⲁⲃⲓⲃ (Labib) | "wise" |
| سيدهم | Sidhom | ⲥⲓⲇϩⲟⲙ (Sidhom) | "their Lord" |
| ميلاد | Milad | "birth", "Christmas" | |
| رمزي | Ramzi | "symbol" | |
| كامل | Kamal | "perfect, genuine" | |
| صليب | Salib | ⲥⲁⲗⲉⲡ (Salep) | "cross" |
| باسيم | Basem | ⲃⲁⲥⲓⲙⲟⲥ (Basimos) | "smiling" |
| حديد | Hadid | ϩⲁⲇⲓⲇ (Hadid) | "iron" |
| حبيب | Habib | ϩⲁⲡⲓⲡ (Hapip), ⲁⲃⲓⲃⲟ (Abibo) | "beloved" |
| عبد الله | Abdulla | ⲁⲃⲇⲉⲗⲗⲁ (Abdella), ⲃⲓⲕⲟⲩⲗⲗⲁ (Bikoulla), a Copto-Arabic hybrid, where Arabic "abd" is replaced with "ⲃⲱⲕ" "servant" | "servant of God" |
| Female names | |||
| ماجدة | Majda | "glorious" | |
Some of the modern Coptic Arabic names are translation of Christian concepts from Coptic and Greek:
| Arabic translation | Coptic/Greek name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Salah (صلاح) | Αγαθόν (Agathon) | "good" |
| Atallah (عطاالله) | Θεόδωρος (Theodoros) | "given by God" |
| Sadiq (صديق) | ⲡⲓⲑⲙⲏⲓ (Pithmei) | "true, righteous" |
| Sami (سامي) | ⲡⲓϣⲱⲓ (Pišōy) | “high, exalted” |
| Habib (حبيب) | ⲙⲉⲛⲣⲓⲧ (Menrit) | "beloved" |
| Eid (عيد) | ⲡⲓϣⲁⲓ (Pišai) | "feast, holiday" |
| Fadi (فادي) | ⲡⲥⲱⲧⲏⲣ (Psōtēr) | "saviour" |
| Ḥikma (حكمة) | ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ (Sophia) | "wisdom" |
| Iman (إيمان) | ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ (Pistis) | "faith" |
| Bishara (بشارة) | ⲡⲓϣⲉⲛⲛⲟⲩϥⲓ (Pišennoufi) | "good news", "Annunciation" |
| Salib (صليب) | ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲁⲩⲣⲟⲥ (Pistauros) | "cross" |
Diminutives and shortened forms are created by either removing one or more syllables from the beginning or end of the original first name to create a familiar or affectionate variation that is often used in casual or close relationships. [3]
| Name | Diminutive |
|---|---|
| ⲁⲑⲁⲛⲁⲥⲓⲟⲥ | ⲁⲑⲁ, ⲁⲑⲁⲛ, ⲁⲑⲁⲥ |
| ⲑⲉⲟⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ | ⲧⲉϫⲓ (Arabic : داجى, romanized: Dāji), ⲑⲱⲧⲣⲓ, ⲇⲱⲣⲉ |
| ⲁⲗⲉⲝⲁⲛⲇⲣⲟⲥ | ⲁⲗⲉⲝ, ⲁⲗⲝⲁⲓ |
| ⲧⲓⲙⲟⲑⲉⲟⲥ | ϯⲙⲱ |
| ⲕⲩⲣⲟⲥ | ⲕⲩⲣⲓ |
| ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ | ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲉ |
| ⲉⲡⲓⲫⲁⲛⲓⲟⲥ | ⲫⲁⲛⲓⲟⲥ (Arabic : بنايوس, romanized: Banayūs) |
| ⲥⲧⲉⲫⲁⲛⲟⲥ | ⲡⲫⲁⲛⲟⲥ (Arabic : فانوس, romanized: Fanūs) |
| ⲕⲗⲉⲟⲡⲁⲧⲣⲁ | ⲕⲗⲉⲱⲡⲁ |
Coptic has a number of compound names, made by combining ⲁⲡⲁ, a Coptic rendering of the Greek word ἀββα (abba, “abba, father”), with a personal name of a saint or a martyr, whose honorific title "abba" became a part of his name (i.e. St. Abadir, St. Abamun, St. Abanub). [4]
| Coptic | Arabic | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Male names | ||
| ⲁⲡⲁⲕⲩⲣⲓ (Apakyri) | Arabic : اباكير, romanized: Abakīr | A combination of ⲁⲡⲁ and a personal name ⲕⲩⲣⲓ |
| ⲁⲡⲁⲙⲟⲩⲛ (Apamoun) | Arabic : ابامون, romanized: Abamūn | A combination of ⲁⲡⲁ and a personal name ⲁⲙⲟⲩⲛ |
| ⲁⲡⲁⲛⲟⲩⲃ (Apanoub) | Arabic : ابانوب, romanized: Abanūb | A combination of ⲁⲡⲁ and a personal name ⲁⲛⲟⲩⲃ |
| ⲁⲡⲁⲥⲭⲩⲣⲟⲛ (Apaskhyron) | Arabic : أباسخيرون, romanized: Abaskhirūn | A combination of ⲁⲡⲁ and a personal name ⲓⲥⲭⲩⲣⲱⲛ |
| ⲁⲡⲁⲧⲓⲗ (Apatil) | Arabic : اباتيل, romanized: Abatīl | A combination of ⲁⲡⲁ and a personal name ⲧⲓⲗ |
| ⲁⲡⲁⲧⲏⲣ (Apatēr) | Arabic : ابادير, romanized: Abadīr | A combination of ⲁⲡⲁ and a personal name ⲧⲏⲣ |
In recent years the original Coptic forms of the names get replaced with European ones, mostly from English, French and German, e.g. Maurice (Arabic : موريس, Coptic : ⲙⲱⲣⲓⲥ, ⲙⲁⲩⲣⲏⲥ) replaced the native Maurikios (Coptic : ⲙⲁⲩⲣⲓⲕⲓⲟⲥ, Arabic : موريكيوس) and George (Arabic : جورج) replaced Georgios (Coptic : ⲅⲉⲱⲣⲅⲓⲟⲥ, Arabic : جرجس, romanized: Girgis).
With the rise of Egyptology in the 19th and the first half of the 20th century, Ancient Egyptian names, often adopted from Ancient Greek "Egyptological" forms, gained prominence among the Coptic community, i.e. Ramesses or Ramsis (compare to Coptic : ⲣⲁⲙⲁⲥⲥⲏ, romanized: Ramassē, a form attested in the Bible), Amasis, Sesostris, Narmer.
The concept of second name and a surname wasn't developed in Classical Coptic, although epithets and nicknames were used to distinguish people, such as:
ⲁⲙⲉ "herd, pastor", ⲙⲁⲣⲏⲥ "Southener", ⲡⲉⲃⲱ "dumb", ⲡⲕⲱϩⲧ "fire", ⲡⲟⲩⲱⲛϣ "the wolf", ⲡⲓⲭⲁⲙⲉ "the black", ⲡⲓϧⲉⲙⲥ "ear of corn", ⲡⲉϭⲱϣ "Ethiopian, black", ⲡϭⲏϫⲉ "purple", ⲱ "great", ϣⲏⲙ "small", ⲗⲁⲙⲡⲟⲩⲥ (Gr.) "bright, shining", ⲧⲭⲉϩⲗⲓ (Ar.) "of the elders", ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲁⲩⲣⲟⲥ (Arabic : بسطاوروس, romanized: Bastawrus) "the cross".
Demonyms are based on the place of origin, formed by either using a prefix ⲡⲓⲣⲉⲙ- ("the man of") and it's female equivalent ϯⲣⲉⲙ- or by using possessive article ⲡⲁ- and it's feminine parallel ⲧⲁ- "the one of" (typical to Middle Egypt [5] ):
Masculine: ⲡⲓⲣⲉⲙⲣⲁⲕⲟϯ (pi-Remrakoti) "from Alexandria", ⲡⲓⲣⲉⲙⲡⲟⲩⲥⲓⲣⲓ (pi-Rempousiri) "from Pousiri", ⲡⲁⲛⲉ (Pane) "from Thebes", ⲡⲣⲟⲙⲉⲛⲉⲥⲓⲛⲁ (p-Romenesina) "from Sinai";
Feminine: ⲧⲁⲡⲓⲁⲙ (Tapiam) "from Faiyum", ⲧⲣⲟⲙⲡⲁⲃⲁⲓⲧ (t-Rompabait) "from Behbeit", etc.
The patronymics, like in many other languages, Coptic uses patronymics to establish lineage, differentiate individuals and provide practical identification within certain cultures by incorporating the father's name into a person's own name. In Coptic it's achieved by adding prefix ⲡϣⲉⲛ- (or it's forms ⲡⲥⲉⲛ-/ⲯⲉⲛ-), "the son of" or ⲧϣⲉⲛ- (or it's forms ⲧⲥⲉⲛ-/ϫⲉⲛ-) "the daughter of" to a father's name. Additionally, ⲡϣⲏ is used to translate Arabic patronymic (Arabic : ابن, romanized: ibn, lit. 'son of'). So if someones name is Tawadrus ibn Mīnā in Arabic, it would be Theodoros pshe Mena (ⲑⲉⲟⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ ⲡϣⲏ ⲙⲏⲛⲁ) in Coptic. [6]
The Coptic Orthodox Church, also known as the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, is an Oriental Orthodox Christian church based in Egypt, in Africa and the Middle East. The head of the church and the See of Alexandria is the pope of Alexandria on the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark, who also carries the title of Father of fathers, Shepherd of shepherds, Ecumenical Judge and the 13th among the Apostles. The See of Alexandria is titular. The Coptic pope presides from Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in the Abbassia District in Cairo. The church follows the Coptic Rite for its liturgy, prayer and devotional patrimony. Christians in Egypt total about 10 million people, and Coptic Christians make up Egypt's largest and most significant minority population, and the largest population of Christians in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Coptic is a group of closely related Egyptian dialects, representing the most recent developments of the Egyptian language, and historically spoken by the Copts, starting from the third century AD in Roman Egypt. Coptic was supplanted by Arabic as the primary spoken language of Egypt following the Arab conquest of Egypt and was slowly replaced over the centuries. Coptic has no native speakers today, although it remains in daily use as the liturgical language of the Coptic Orthodox Church and of the Coptic Catholic Church. Innovations in grammar, phonology, and the influx of Greek loanwords distinguish Coptic from earlier periods of the Egyptian language. It is written with the Coptic alphabet, a modified form of the Greek alphabet with several additional letters borrowed from the Demotic Egyptian script.
Arabic language names have historically been based on a long naming system. Many people from the Arabic-speaking and also non-Arab Muslim countries have not had given/middle/family names but rather a chain of names. This system remains in use throughout the Arabic and Muslim worlds.
Copts are a Christian ethnoreligious group indigenous to North Africa who have primarily inhabited the area of modern Egypt and Sudan since antiquity. Most ethnic Copts are Coptic Oriental Orthodox Christians. They are the largest Christian denomination in Egypt and the Middle East, as well as in Sudan and Libya. Copts in Egypt account for roughly 5–15 percent of the Egyptian population; Copts in Sudan account for 1 percent of the Sudanese population, while Copts in Libya similarly account for 1 percent of the Libyan population.
Māriyya bint Shamʿūn, better known as Māriyyah al-Qibṭiyyah or al-Qubṭiyya, or Maria the Copt, died 637, was an Egyptian woman who, along with her sister Sirin bint Shamun, was given to the Islamic prophet Muhammad in 628 by Al-Muqawqis, a Christian governor of Alexandria, during the territory's Sasanian occupation. She spent the rest of her life in Medina and had a son, Ibrahim with Muhammad. The son died as an infant and she died almost five years later.
Al-Muqawqis is mentioned in Islamic history as a ruler of Egypt who corresponded with the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He is widely identified with the last prefect of Egypt, Cyrus of Alexandria, who was the Greek (Melchite) patriarch of the second Byzantine period of Egypt (628-642). However, an alternative view identifies al-Muqawqis with the Sassanid governor of Egypt, said to be a Greek man named "Kirolos, leader of the Copts," although the Sassanian governor at the time was the military leader named Shahrbaraz.
The Arab conquest of Egypt, led by the army of 'Amr ibn al-'As, took place between 639 and 642 AD and was overseen by the Rashidun Caliphate. It ended the seven-century-long Roman period in Egypt that began in 30 BC, and widely speaking Greco-Roman period for about a millennium. Byzantine rule in the country had been shaken, as Egypt had been conquered and occupied for a decade by the Sasanian Empire in 618–629, before being recovered by the Byzantine emperor Heraclius. The caliphate took advantage of Byzantines' exhaustion and captured Egypt ten years after its reconquest by Heraclius.
Pope Benjamin I of Alexandria, 38th Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. He is regarded as one of the greatest patriarchs of the Coptic Church. Benjamin guided the Coptic church through a period of turmoil in Egyptian history that included the fall of Egypt to the Sasanian Empire, followed by Egypt's reconquest under the Byzantines, and finally the Arab Islamic Conquest in 642. After the Arab conquest Pope Benjamin, who was in exile, was allowed to return to Alexandria and resume the patriarchate.
A kunya is a teknonym in an Arabic name, the name of an adult derived from their eldest child. Sometimes, however, it is derived from the eldest male if the eldest child is female.
Ab or Av, sometimes Abba, means "father" in most Semitic languages.
Christianity is the second largest religion in Egypt. The vast majority of Egyptian Christians are Copts. As of 2019, Copts in Egypt make up approximately 10 percent of the nation's population, with an estimated population of 9.5 million or 10 million. In 2018, approximately 90% of Egyptian Christians were Coptic Orthodox.
Coptic history is the part of the history of Egypt that begins with the introduction of Christianity in Egypt in the 1st century AD during the Roman period, and covers the history of the Copts to the present day. Many of the historic items related to Coptic Christianity are on display in many museums around the world and a large number is in the Coptic Museum in Coptic Cairo.
The Islamization of Egypt occurred after the 7th century Arab conquest of Egypt, in which the Islamic Rashidun Caliphate seized control of Egypt from the Christian Byzantine Empire. Egypt and other conquered territories in the Middle East underwent a large scale gradual conversion from Christianity to Islam, accompanied by jizya for those who refused to convert. Islam became the dominant faith by the 10th to 12th centuries, and Arabic replaced Coptic as the vernacular language and Greek as the official language.
Copts have a long history as a significant Christian minority in Egypt, in which Muslim adherents form the majority. Coptic Christians lost their majority status in Egypt after the 14th century and the spread of Islam in the entirety of North Africa.
The Nag Hammadi massacre was a massacre of Coptic Christians carried out on the eve of 7 January 2010, in the Egyptian city of Nag Hammadi. The massacre occurred at the hands of Muslim gunmen in front of the Nag Hammadi cathedral, as Coptic Christians were leaving the church after celebrating the midnight Christmas Divine Liturgy. The massacre resulted in the murder of eight Copts and one Muslim bystander. Nine other Copts were confirmed to be wounded, and two Muslims were reportedly wounded in the attack. Egypt's Interior Ministry said it suspected the attack was motivated by the alleged rape by a Christian of a Muslim girl.
Egyptians are an ethnic group originating in the Nile Valley in Egypt. Egyptian identity is closely tied to geography. The population is concentrated in the Nile Valley, a small strip of cultivable land stretching from the First Cataract to the Mediterranean and enclosed by desert both to the east and to the west. This unique geography has been the basis of the development of Egyptian society since antiquity.
Bashmurianrevolts were a series of revolts by the Egyptians in the Bashmur region in the north of the Nile Delta against the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates in the eighth and ninth centuries. Exactly how many revolts there were cannot be determined, but the major military conflicts took place in 749, 767 and 831–832.
Bashmur was a region in the Nile Delta in Egypt. In the early Middle Ages, it was inhabited by Christian Copts and was the scene of a series of revolts against Arab rule in the 8th and 9th centuries.
Coptic nationalism refers to the nationalism of the Copts, a Christian ethnic and religious minority that primarily inhabit the area of modern Egypt. Coptic nationalism does not have a claim for a Coptic nation but asks for an equal position for Copts in Egypt. Most Copts live in the south of Egypt but the largest concentrations of Copts lives in Cairo and Alexandria. The Copts, like the rest of Egyptians, are descended from the pharaonic inhabitants of Egypt. Most ethnic Copts belongs to the Coptic Orthodox Church. Copts number between 10-15 percent of the Egyptian population of 104 million
Copto-Arabic literature is the literature of the Copts written in Arabic. It is distinct from Coptic literature, which is literature written in the Coptic language.
