Ispaniški vardai Lietuvos vardyne 1991–2010 m.
Spanish personal names in the context of Lithuanian personal names in 1991–2010

Summary/Abstract: The article presents adapted and grammatically corrected Spanish personal names given to the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania (hereafter – RoL) in 1991–2010. It was found out that part of the most common Spanish personal names were those included in the Etymological Dictionary of Lithuanian Personal Names, while some other Spanish personal names are mentioned in the discussion of personal names that are not recommended. The collection of personal names for the research was aimed at selecting names originating from Spanish lexis only and miscellaneous etymological forms of personal names derived solely from the Spanish language. However, it was problematic to distinguish between Spanish and other personal names as most of Spanish personal names coincided with the forms of personal names used in Roman languages or other language families.Personal names of Spanish origin given to the citizens of the RoL in 1991– 2010 show that appellative personal names account for the largest part; place names, abbreviations, compound personal names also occur. One group of personal names with a Spanish form in the period studied comprises personal names and their variants of different origin formed within the Spanish language. Other personal names are variants of personal names of Christian origin with different equivalents used in the Lithuanian language; abbreviations and personal names with diminutive suffixes also occur. Throughout the entire 20th century, Lithuanian citizens were given Spanish personal names, yet an increase in these personal names and the spread of new ones occurred in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, even though no massive influx has been observed.Over the period in question, Spanish personal female names were more frequent than the maleones, and personal female names with diminutive suffixes were more frequent than the male ones. In 1991–2010, Spanish personal female names were more diverse in terms of their base form than the male ones. Currently, abbreviations with endings of personal names with diminutive suffixes at their base form have become widespread in Lithuania.Spanish personal names had firstly emerged among the Lithuanian names from literature, thenfrom cinema films, TV series. Therefore, an increase in the number of Spanish personal names given to the citizens of the RoL in 1991–2010 might have been related to Spanish TV series. Also, parents might have given Spanish personal names to their children with the purpose of giving a rare, distinct personal name of foreign origin or, in the Soviet times, because of admiration for the Western culture.At different time periods throughout the 20th century, most of Spanish names were given to Lithuanians born in Lithuania; only in the late 20th and early 21st centuries there is an increase in personal names with a Spanish form given to the citizens of the RoL born abroad. It was found out that the citizens of the RoL born abroad were given the same personal names as children born in Lithuania. This shows that Spanish personal names have become widespread under the influence of other cultures, while starting from the early 20th century Spanish personal names characteristic to Spanish speaking countries form a unique part of the personal names of the citizens of the RoL; in the late 20th and early 21st centuries these names are integrated into the personal names given to children born in the RoL.Spanish personal names included in the Etymological Dictionary of Lithuanian Personal Names (Lith. Lietuvių vardų kilmės žodynas – LVKŽ) were usually given to the citizens of the RoL starting from the early 20th century; some of personal names included in the LVKŽ were given to children starting from the Soviet times. However, the majority of Spanish personal names given in 1991–2010 are missing in the LVKŽ. All these personal names (except for Anita, Estrėja, Gitana, Gitanas) share the same feature – they were quite rare in the 20th century and in the early 21st century, which was probably why they were not included. It was noticed that a substantial part of personal names not included in the LVKŽ had been for the first time given to the citizens of the RoL starting from the mid-20th century, which probably suggests that the authors of the LVKŽ rejected personal names widespread in the recent time period as they intended to preserve the traditions of giving foreign names widespread in the interwar period.

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