Names

Italian form of Alberich.

Derived from the Germanic elements alf “elf” and ric “ruler, mighty”. Alberich was the name of the sorcerer king of the dwarfs in Germanic mythology. He also appears in the Nibelungenlied as a dwarf who guards the treasure of the Nibelungen.

Variant of Alberich.

Created by Bulgarian writer Yordan Yovkov for the heroine in his drama Albena (1930). He may have based it on ablen, the name of a type of peony (a flowering plant).

Latin form of Alban.

Italian, Portuguese and Spanish form of Albanus (see Alban).

From the Roman cognomen Albanus, which meant “from Alba”. Alba (from Latin albus “white”) was the name of various places within the Roman Empire, including the city Alba Longa. This name was borne by Saint Alban, the first British martyr (4th century). According to tradition, he sheltered a fugitive priest in his house. When his house was searched, he disguised himself as the priest, was arrested in his stead, and was beheaded. As an English name, Alban was occasionally used in the Middle Ages and was revived in the 18th century, though it is now uncommon.

Limburgish form of Albert. Its spelling has been influenced by the French pronunciation of Albert.

Originally a short form of Germanic names beginning with the element alf meaning “elf”.

Feminine form of Albus.