Elvira is a female

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

. It is believed to have first been recorded in

medieval Spain Spain in the Middle Ages is a period in the history of Spain that began in the 5th century following the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ended with the beginning of the early modern period in 1492. The history of Spain is marked by waves o ...

, while other sources claim that it is likely of Germanic ( Gothic) origin. In the

Balkans The Balkans ( , ), corresponding partially with the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throug ...

, Elvira is popular among

Bosniaks The Bosniaks (, Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Бошњаци, ; , ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to the Southeast European historical region of Bosnia (region), Bosnia, today part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and who sha ...

Croats The Croats (; , ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other neighboring countries in Central Europe, Central and Southeastern Europe who share a common Croatian Cultural heritage, ancest ...

, and

Slovenes The Slovenes, also known as Slovenians ( ), are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Slovenia and adjacent regions in Italy, Austria and Hungary. Slovenes share a common ancestry, Slovenian culture, culture, and History of Slove ...

in the former Yugoslav nations. It is also popular among

Albanians The Albanians are an ethnic group native to the Balkan Peninsula who share a common Albanian ancestry, Albanian culture, culture, Albanian history, history and Albanian language, language. They are the main ethnic group of Albania and Kosovo, ...

. The name is also written as Alvira in the region. The region also has a male equivalent to the name: Elvir (for example,

Elvir Hadžić Elvir Hadžić (born January 18, 1999) is a Bosnian footballer currently playing for FC Wels. Club career An attacker, Hadžić made his debut as a substitute in the Hungarian League on April 14, 2018. He was given a yellow card during the war ...

People

Nobility

Elvira Menéndez (died 921) Elvira Menéndez ( Portuguese and Galician: Elvira Mendes; died between 20 February and 12 October 921) was Queen consort of León due to her marriage with King Ordoño II. Biography Elvira was the daughter of Hermenegildo Gutiérrez, a ...

, daughter of Hermenegildo Gutiérrez and wife of Ordoño II of León *

Elvira of Castile, Queen of León Elvira García (–1017) was Queen of León by marriage to King Bermudo II, and regent of Leon jointly with Count Menendo González during the minority of her son Alfonso V from 999 until 1008. Life Although the year of her birth is not docum ...

(965–1017) *

Elvira of Castile, Queen of Sicily Elvira of Castile ( – 6 February 1135) was a member of the House of Jiménez and the first Queen of Sicily as the wife of Roger II of Sicily. Elvira was a legitimate daughter of Alfonso VI, king of León and Castile. Her mother was Ki ...

(c. 1100–1135), wife of Roger II, King of Sicily *

Elvira of Castile, Countess of Toulouse Elvira of Castile (before 1082?–1151) was a countess consort of Toulouse. She was the illegitimate daughter of Alfonso VI of León and Castile, by his mistress Jimena Muñoz, and full sister of Theresa, Countess of Portugal. She married, firs ...

(before 1082?–1151) *

Elvira of Toro Elvira (1038 or 1039 – 15 November 1101) was a Leonese ''infanta'' and the Lady of Toro, Zamora, the daughter of Ferdinand I of León and Castile and Sancha of León, and granddaughter-namesake of Elvira Menéndez, and also an aunt of El ...

(1038/9–1101), daughter of King Ferdinand I of León *

Elvira Menéndez (died 1022) Elvira Menéndez (Portuguese language, Portuguese and Galician language, Galician: ; 2 December 1022) was a queen consort of Leon by marriage to King Alfonso V of León, Alfonso V. Life She was a member of the highest ranks of the nobility of P ...

, Queen of León (1008–1022), wife of Alfonso V of León * Elvira Ramírez (c. 935–after 986), princess and regent of León

Arts and entertainment

Elvira Amazar Elvira Amazar (1890s – February 7, 1971), also known as Vera Amazar or Elaine Amazar, was a Serbian-born Russian-American soprano singer and actress. She was also the subject of the first photograph described as "cheesecake", in 1917. Early li ...

(1890s–1971), Serbian-born Russian-American soprano singer and actress *

Elvira Anderfjärd Elvira Anderfjärd, (born 1 August 1999) also known mononymously as Elvira, is a Swedish record producer and songwriter. She achieved prominence after remixing the singles "Willow" (2020), " Love Story (Taylor's Version)" (2021), and producing " ...

(born 1999), Swedish music producer *

Elvira Barney Elvira Enid Barney (née Mullens; ) was an English socialite and actress known professionally as Dolores Ashley. She was tried for the murder of her lover, Michael Scott Stephen, in 1932. The trial was widely reported by the British press. She wa ...

(1904–1936), English actress and socialite *

Elvira Betrone Elvira Betrone (1881–1961) was an Italian actress of stage, film, radio and television.Cardullo p.114 Selected filmography * '' Teresa Venerdì'' (1941) * '' A Garibaldian in the Convent'' (1942) * ''A Pilot Returns'' (1942) * '' The Little Tea ...

(1881–1961), Italian actress *

Elvira Casazza Elvira Casazza (15 November 1887 – 24 January 1965) was an Italian mezzo-soprano opera singer (also known as Elvira Mari-Casazza). One of Toscanini's favourite singers, she was considered an outstanding interpreter of Mistress Quickly in Verd ...

(1887–1965), Italian mezzo-soprano *

Elvira Cristi Elvira Teresa Cristi Bueno (born 26 November 1976) is a Chilean actress and model. Biography Elvira Cristi began her career at age 13, appearing in television commercials. She obtained the title of "Miss Rostro" (Miss Face) from the magazine ' ...

(born 1976), Chilean actress and model *

Elvira Dones Elvira Dones (born July 24, 1960) is an Albanian novelist, screenwriter, and documentary film producer. Biography Born in the coastal city of Durrës Dones graduated from the State University of Tirana. In 1988 she was employed by Albanian St ...

(born 1960), Albanian novelist, screenwriter, and documentary film producer *

Elvira Gascón Elvira Gascón Vera (May 17, 1911 – February 10, 2000) was a Spanish painter, drafter, and engraver who participated in the Mexican muralism movement and is known for synthesizing Spanish and Mexican styles. Gascón also illustrated hundreds ...

(1911–2000), Spanish painter and engraver *

Elvira Godeanu Elvira Godeanu (13 May 1904 – 3 September 1991) was a Romanian stage actress. She also appeared in four films. Selected filmography * '' Povara'' (1928) * '' A Lost Letter'' (1953) References Bibliography * External links * 19 ...

(1904–1991), Romanian stage actress *

Elvira de Hidalgo Elvira Juana Rodríguez Roglán (December 28, 1891 – January 21, 1980), known professionally as Elvira de Hidalgo, was a prominent Spanish coloratura soprano, who later became a teacher and vocal coach. Her most famous pupil was Maria ...

(1891–1980), Spanish coloratura soprano and teacher of Maria Callas *

Elvira Kralj Elvira Kralj (born 16 August 1900 in Trieste; died 6 September 1978) was a Slovenian actress who has been featured on a stamp. She also became a List of Prešeren laureates, Prešeren laureate in 1969. References

1900 births 1978 de ...

(1900–1978), Slovenian actress *

Elvira Kurt Elvira Kurt (born December 9, 1961) is a Canadian comedian, and was the host of the game show '' Spin Off''. She hosted the entertainment satire talk show '' PopCultured with Elvira Kurt'', which began on The Comedy Network in Canada in 2005. T ...

(born 1961), Canadian comedian * Elvira Madigan (1867–1889), Danish tightrope walker and trick rider * Elvira Natali (born 1996), Indonesian actress and author * Elvira Navarro (born 1978), Spanish writer *

Elvira Nikolaisen Elvira Nikolaisen (born 16 July 1980 in Moi) is a Norwegian singer-songwriter signed for Sony BMG. She released her debut single ''Love I Can't Defend'' in December 2005, it reached the number 3 spot on the Norwegian singles list. She followed up ...

(born 1980), Norwegian singer-songwriter *

Elvira Notari Elvira Notari (born Elvira Coda; 10 February 1875 – 17 December 1946) was an Italian film director, one of the country's early and more prolific female filmmaker. She is credited as the first woman who made over 60 feature films and about 100 s ...

(1875–1946), Italian filmmaker *

Elvira Pagã Elvira Olivieri Cozzolino (6 September 1920 – 8 May 2003), better known by her stage name Elvira Pagã, was a Brazilian vedette and actress, singer, writer and painter. She was the first Rio Carnival Queen, the first woman to wear a bikini in ...

(1920–2003), Brazilian actress and singer *

Elvira Popescu Elvira Popescu (; in French, Elvire Popesco; 10 May 1894 – 11 December 1993) was a Romanian- French stage and film actress and theatre director. During the 1930s and 1940s, she starred in a number of French comedy films. Life and career Popes ...

(1894–1993), Romanian-born French actress and director *

Elvira Quintana Elvira Catalina Quintana Molina (7 November 1935 – 8 August 1968) was a Spanish actress and singer. Early life and career Born in Montijo, Spain, Quintana and her family migrated to Mexico when she was 5 years old. She began her career wor ...

(1935–1968), Spanish-born Mexican actress and singer *

Elvira Rahić Elvira Rahić (born 1 September 1973) is a Bosnian pop-folk singer. Rahić began her professional music career in 1991 and has since released ten studio albums. She lives in Sarajevo and Vienna. Personal life Rahić is married to Šaban Forić ...

(born 1973), Bosnian pop-folk singer *

Elvira Ríos María Elvira Gallegos Ríos (November 16, 1913 – January 13, 1987) was a Mexican singer and actress. One of the most notable performers of Agustín Lara's songs, Ríos was the first Mexican singer who achieved international success throu ...

(1913–1987), Mexican actress and singer * Elvira T (born 1994), Russian pop singer * Elvira Travesí (1919–2009) was a Peruvian-born Argentinean actress * Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, stage name of

Cassandra Peterson Cassandra Gay Peterson (born September 17, 1951) is an American actress best known for her portrayal of the horror hostess character Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Peterson gained fame on Los Angeles television station KHJ-TV in her stage pers ...

(born 1951) * Elvire de Brissac (born 1939), French novelist and biographer * Elvire Murail (born 1958), French author and screenwriter

Politicians

* Elvira Abdić-Jelenović (born 1967), Bosnian politician *

Elvira Aitkulova Elvira Rinatovna Aitkulova (; , born 19 August 1973) is a Russian journalist and politician from United Russia. She has represented Beloretsk constituency in the State Duma since 2021. Education She graduated from Bashkir State University. ...

(born 1973), Russian politician *

Elvira Badaracco Elvira Badaracco (22 May 1911 — 21 January 1994) was an Italian politician, socialist, writer and feminist activist. Biography Elvira Badaracco was born in Alessandria, Italy. As a teenager she moved with her parents to Milan. Political career ...

(1911–1994), Italian politician * Elvira Pola Figueroa (born 1957), Mexican politician *

Elvira Kovács Elvira Kovács ( sr-Cyrl, Елвира Ковач, Elvira Kovač; born 18 July 1982) is a Serbian politician from the country's Hungarian community. She has served in the Serbian parliament since 2007 as a member of the Alliance of Vojvodina H ...

(born 1982), Serbian politician * Elvira Olivas (born 1935), Mexican politician * Elvira "Pixie" Palladino (1932–2006), American politician *

Elvira Rodríguez María Elvira Rodríguez Herrer (Madrid, 15 May 1949) is a Spanish economist and politician. She was the president of the Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores, a financial regulator, between 2012 and 2016. Previously, as a member of the Peop ...

(born 1949), Spanish politician and economist *

Elvira Rodríguez Leonardi Elvira Rodríguez Leonardi de Rosales was an Argentine politician. She was elected to the Senate in 1951 as one of the first group of female parliamentarians in Argentina. Biography In the 1951 legislative elections Rodríguez Leonardi was a Pe ...

, Argentine politician *

Maria Elvira Salazar Maria may refer to: People * Mary, mother of Jesus * Maria (given name), a popular given name in many languages Place names Extraterrestrial * 170 Maria, a Main belt S-type asteroid discovered in 1877 * Lunar maria (plural of ''mare''), large, ...

(born 1961), American journalist and broadcast television anchor, U.S. Representative from Florida.

Sports

* Elvira Guerra (1855–1937), Italian equestrienne *

Elvira Herman Elvira Uladzimirauna Herman (; born 9 January 1997) is a Belarusian athlete specialising in the sprint hurdles. She won the gold medal at the 2018 European Championships At the 2018 European Athletics Golden Tracks awards in Lausanne Elvira recei ...

(born 1997), Belarusian sprinter * Elvira Holzknecht (born 1973), Austrian retired luger * Elvira Khasyanova (born 1981), Russian synchronized swimmer *

Elvira Öberg Elvira Karin Öberg (born 26 February 1999) is a Swedish biathlete. She is the younger sister of Olympic champion Hanna Öberg. Elvira won three gold medals in the youth category at the 2018 Biathlon Junior World Championships in Otepää; in th ...

(born 1999), Swedish biathlete * Elvīra Ozoliņa (born 1939), Latvian and former Soviet javelin thrower *

Elvira Pančić Elvira Pančić (born 14 May 1980) is a Serbian sprinter. She competed in the women's 4 × 100 metres relay at the 2000 Summer Olympics The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, officially branded as Sydney 2 ...

(born 1980), Serbian sprinter * Elvira Possekel (born 1953), German athlete *

Elvira Saadi Elvira Fuadovna Saadi (born January 2, 1952) is a retired gymnast from the former Soviet Union and a former elite gymnastics coach in Canada. As a member of the Soviet Union's women's gymnastics team, Saadi shared in the team gold medals at the ...

(born 1952), retired artistic gymnast from the former Soviet Union * Elvira Shatayeva, Russian professional mountain climber * Elvira Stinissen (born 1979), Dutch Paralympic sitting volleyball player *

Elvira Todua Elvira Zurabovna Todua (; born 31 January 1986) is an Abkhazian, Georgian, Russian football goalkeeper who plays for CSKA Moscow of the Russian Women's Football Championship. Todua became the Russia women's national football team's first-choic ...

(born 1986), Abkhazian Russian football goalkeeper *

Elvira Urusova Elvira Urusova (born 24 February 1968) is a Georgian athlete. She competed in the women's shot put at the 1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly r ...

(born 1968), Georgian athlete *

Elvira Vasilkova Elvira Vasilkova (born 15 May 1962) is a Belarusian former breaststroke swimmer who competed in the 1980 Summer Olympics The 1980 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad () and officially branded as Moscow 1980 ...

(born 1962), Belarusian former swimmer *

Elvira Ziyastinova Elvira Rinatovna Ziyastinova (; born 13 February 1991) is a Russians, Russian Association football, footballer who plays for FC Minsk (women), FC Minsk on loan from WFC Lokomotiv Moscow, Lokomotiv Moscow and the Russia women's national football t ...

(born 1991), Russian footballer * Elvire Gertosio (born 1948), French gymnast *

Elvire Teza Elvire Teza (born March 29, 1981) is a retired French gymnast who competed at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. She was the French National Champion in gymnastics in 1997, 1999 and 2000. Career Born on the island of Reunion, Teza trained in Marseille u ...

(born 1981), French gymnast

Other

* Elvira Arellano (born 1975), Mexican international activist, undocumented immigrant to the US and ''cause célèbre'' * Elvira Chaudoir, Peruvian socialite and a double-agent during the Second World War * Elvira Cuevas, Puerto Rican ecologist *

Elvira Devinamira Elvira Devinamira Wirayanti (born 28 June 1993 in Surabaya, East Java) is an Indonesian actress, model, and beauty pageant titleholder. She was crowned Puteri Indonesia 2014, and represented her country at the Miss Universe 2014 pageant at the ...

, Indonesian beauty pageant titleholder * Elvira Dolinar (1870–1961), Slovenian writer, feminist and teacher * Elvira Fölzer (1868–after 1928), German archaeologist *

Elvira Lindo Elvira Lindo (born 23 January 1962) is a Spanish journalist and writer. Biography Lindo was born in Cádiz. At the age of 12 Lindo moved to Madrid, where she studied journalism at Complutense University of Madrid. She did not get her degree, ...

(born 1962), Spanish journalist and writer * Elvira Lobato, Brazilian journalist * Elvira Tânia Lopes Martins (1957–2021), Brazilian poet *

Elvira Nabiullina Elvira Sakhipzadovna Nabiullina (born 29 October 1963) is a Russian economist and current governor of the Central Bank of Russia. She was President Vladimir Putin's economic adviser from May 2012 to June 2013 after serving as the minister of ec ...

(born 1963), head of the Central Bank of Russia *

(1875–1946), Italian filmmaker * Elvira Willman (1875–1925), Finnish playwright, journalist and revolutionary socialist * Elvira Wood (1865–1928), American paleontologist who specialized in vertebrate paleontology

Fictional characters

* Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, portrayed by

television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

and film * Elvira Coot (

Grandma Duck The Duck family is a fictional family of cartoon ducks related to Disney character Donald Duck. The family is also related to the Coot, Goose, and Gander families, as well as the Scottish Clan McDuck. Besides Donald, the best-known members of the ...

), grandmother of Donald Duck * Elvira, the title character of Noël Coward's ''

Blithe Spirit Blithe Spirit may refer to: * ''Blithe Spirit'' (play), a 1941 comic play written by Noël Coward * ''Blithe Spirit'' (1945 film), a British comedy film based on the play * Blithe Spirit (''Ford Star Jubilee''), a 1956 television play version of ...

'' * Elvira, heroine of the opera ''

I puritani ' (''The Puritans'') is an 1835 opera by Vincenzo Bellini. It was originally written in two acts and changed to three acts before the premiere on the advice of Gioachino Rossini, with whom the young composer had become friends. The music was set ...

'' * Elvira, heroine of the opera ''

Ernani ''Ernani'' is an operatic ''dramma lirico'' in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on the 1830 play ''Hernani (drama), Hernani'' by Victor Hugo. Verdi was commissioned by the Teatro La Fenice in Ve ...

'' * Elvira, in the opera ''

L'italiana in Algeri ''L'italiana in Algeri'' (; ''The Italian Girl in Algiers'') is an operatic ''dramma giocoso'' in two acts by Gioachino Rossini to an Italian libretto by Angelo Anelli, based on his earlier text set by Luigi Mosca. It premiered at the Teatro San ...

'' * Donna Elvira, in the opera ''

Don Giovanni ''Don Giovanni'' (; K. 527; full title: , literally ''The Rake Punished, or Don Giovanni'') is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Its subject is a centuries-old Spanish legen ...

'' * Elvira, in the 1667 play ''Elvira'' by

George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol (5 November 161220 March 1677) was an English politician and peer who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 until 1641, when he was raised to the House of Lords by a writ of acceleration. He supported the Ro ...

* Elvira, title character in the 1763 play ''Elvira'' by David Mallet * Elvira Almiraghi, portrayed by

Franca Valeri Alma Franca Maria Norsa (31 July 1920 – 9 August 2020), known professionally as Franca Valeri, was an Italian actress, author, and screenwriter. Life and career Born in Milan as Alma Franca Maria Norsa, she managed to survive the Holocaust in ...

in the 1959 film ''

Il vedovo ''Il Vedovo'' (The Widower) is a 1959 in film, 1959 Italy, Italian comedy film directed by Dino Risi. Plot Alberto Nardi (Alberto Sordi) is a Rome, Roman businessman who fancies himself a man of great capabilities, but whose factory (producing ...

'' * Elvira Dutton, in

Margaret Walker Margaret Walker (Margaret Abigail Walker Alexander by marriage; July 7, 1915 – November 30, 1998) was an American poet and writer. She was part of the African-American literary movement in Chicago, known as the Chicago Black Renaissance. ...

's book on slavery, ''Jubilee'' * Elvira Hancock,

Tony Montana Antonio "Tony" Montana is a fictional character and the villain protagonist of the 1983 film '' Scarface''. This character is portrayed by Al Pacino in the film and is voiced by André Sogliuzzo in the 2006 video game '' Scarface: The Worl ...

's love interest, portrayed by

Michelle Pfeiffer Michelle Marie Pfeiffer ( ; born April 29, 1958) is an American actress. She was one of the most bankable stars in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood during the 1980s and 1990s, and her List of Michelle Pfeiffer performances, performances ...

in the 1983 film ''

Scarface Scarface may refer to: Gangster-related * Scarface, nickname for Al Capone (1899–1947), an American gangster and a businessman. * ''Scarface'' (novel), a novel by Armitage Trail, loosely based on Capone's rise to power ** ''Scarface'' (1932 ...

'' * Elvira Stitt, in the novel '' Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?'' and the 1963 film adaptation * Elvira, in the 2005 novel '' Ingo'' by

Helen Dunmore Helen Dunmore FRSL (12 December 1952 – 5 June 2017) was a British poet, novelist, and short story and children's writer. Her best known works include the novels ''Zennor in Darkness'', ''A Spell of Winter'' and ''The Siege (Dunmore novel) , ...

{{given name French feminine given names Italian feminine given names Feminine given names Spanish feminine given names Portuguese feminine given names Romanian feminine given names Russian feminine given names