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 ...

. First 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 ...

, it is likely of Germanic (

Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...

) origin. Elvira may refer to:

People

Nobility

* Elvira Menéndez (died 921), daughter of Hermenegildo Gutiérrez and wife of Ordoño II of León *

Elvira of Castile, Queen of León Elvira García (–1017), was Queen of Leon 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 docu ...

(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 Kin ...

(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, fir ...

(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 ...

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

Elvira Menéndez (died 1022) Elvira Menéndez (Portuguese and Galician: ; 2 December 1022) was a queen consort of Leon by marriage to King Alfonso V. Life She was a member of the highest ranks of the nobility of Portugal and Galicia as the daughter of count Menendo Gonzá ...

, Queen of León (1008–1022), wife of Alfonso V of León *

Elvira Ramírez Elvira Ramírez (''c''. 935 – aft. 986) was a Leonese princess who served as regent of the kingdom between 962 and 975 during the minority of her nephew Ramiro III of León. Childhood Born about 935, she was the daughter of the King Ramiro II of ...

(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 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) * ''Disturbance'' (1 ...

(1881–1961), Italian actress * Elvira Casazza (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 Gascón (1911-2000), Spanish painter and engraver *

Elvira Godeanu Elvira Godeanu (1904–1991) was a Romanian stage actress.Modorcea p.292 She also appeared in four films. Selected filmography * ''Povara'' (1928) * ''A Lost Letter (film), A Lost Letter'' (1953) References Bibliography * Grid Modorcea. '' ...

(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 C ...

(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 Prešeren laureate in 1969. References 1900 births 1978 deaths Prešeren Award laureat ...

(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. Tha ...

(born 1961), Canadian comedian *

Elvira Madigan Hedvig Antoinette Isabella Eleonore Jensen (December 4, 1867 July 19, 1889), better known by her stage name Elvira Madigan, was a circus performer who performed as a slack rope dancer, artistic rider, juggler and dancer. She is best known today ...

(1867-1889), Danish tightrope walker and trick rider *

Elvira Natali Elvira Natali (born 25 December 1996), is an Indonesian author, and actress. She is best known for her 2013 novel ''Janji Hati'' ("''Heart Promises''") and the film ''Janji Hati'', in which she appeared as the leading actress. Early life Nata ...

(born 1996), Indonesian actress and author *

Elvira Navarro Elvira Navarro Ponferrada (born 25 March 1978) is a Spanish writer. Career Elvira Navarro holds a licentiate in Philosophy from the Complutense University of Madrid. In 2004 she won the City Council of Madrid's Young Creators Competition, and en ...

(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 earliest and most prolific female filmmaker. She is credited as the first woman who made over sixty feature films and about ...

(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 p ...

(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 Pop ...

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

Elvira Quintana Elvira Catalina Quintana Molina (7 November 1935 – 8 August 1968) was a Spanish-Mexican 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 ca ...

(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. Career Rahić will release her eleventh studio alb ...

(born 1973), Bosnian pop-folk singer *

Elvira Ríos María Elvira Gallegos Ríos (16 November 1913 – 13 January 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 through r ...

(1913-1987), Mexican actress and singer *

Elvira T Elvira Sergeevna Tugusheva (russian: Эльвира Сергеевна Тугушева, born 14 August 1994 in Saratov Saratov (, ; rus, Сара́тов, a=Ru-Saratov.ogg, p=sɐˈratəf) is the largest types of inhabited localities in Russi ...

(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 Peterson (born September 17, 1951) is an American actress. She is 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 ...

(born 1951)

Politicians

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

Elvira Aitkulova Elvira Rinatovna Aitkulova (russian: Эльвира Ринатовна Аиткулова; ba, Айытҡолова Эльвира Ринат ҡыҙы, Ayıtqolowa Elwira Rinat qıźı, born 19 August 1973) is a Russian journalist and politician ...

(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 care ...

(1911-1994), Italian politician * Elvira Pola Figueroa (born 1957), Mexican politician * Elvira Kovács (born 1982), Serbian politician * Elvira Olivas (born 1935), Mexican politician * Elvira "Pixie" Palladino (1932-2006), American politician * Elvira Rodríguez (born 1949), Spanish politician and economist * Elvira Rodríguez Leonardi, Argentine politician * Maria Elvira Salazar (born 1961), American journalist and broadcast television anchor, U.S. Representative from Florida.

Sports

Elvira Guerra Elvira Guerra (; 1855–1937) was an Italian equestrienne and circus performer, notable for competing at the 1900 Summer Olympics, the first Games at which women were allowed to compete. She was the first woman to represent Italy at the Olympics. ...

(1855–1937), Italian equestrienne *

Elvira Herman Elvira Uladzimirauna Herman ( be, Эльвіра Уладзіміраўна Герман; born 9 January 1997) is a Belarusian athlete specialising in the sprint hurdles. She won the gold medal at the 2018 European Athletics Championships, 2018 Eu ...

(born 1997), Belarusian sprinter *

Elvira Holzknecht Elvira Holzknecht (born 27 September 1973) was an Austrian luger who competed during the 1990s and early 2000s. A natural track luger, she won three medals in the women's singles event at the FIL World Luge Natural Track Championships ...

(born 1973), Austrian retired luger *

Elvira Khasyanova Elvira Ramilevna Khasyanova (russian: Эльвира Рамилевна Хасянова: born 28 March 1981, Moscow, USSR) is a former synchronised swimming, synchronised swimmer from Russia and is the director of the Northern Europe and Russia ...

(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 Elvīra Anatoļjevna Ozoliņa (russian: Эльвира Анатольевна Озолина, born 8 October 1939) is a retired Soviet javelin thrower. In 1960 she won gold medal with an Olympic Record of 55.98 m and was awarded the Order of th ...

(born 1939), Latvian and former Soviet javelin thrower * Elvira Pančić (born 1980), Serbian sprinter *

Elvira Possekel Elvira Possekel (born April 11, 1953) is a West German athlete, who competed mainly in the 100 metres. Possekel competed for West Germany in the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the 4 × 100 m relay, where she won the s ...

(born 1953), German athlete *

Elvira Saadi Elvira Fuadovna Saadi (born January 2, 1952) is a retired gymnast from the former Soviet Union who is now an 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 th ...

(born 1952), retired artistic gymnast from the former Soviet Union *

Elvira Shatayeva Elvira Shatayeva (1 December 1938 – 8 August 1974) was a Russian professional mountain climber and professional athlete and the leader of a failed expedition to Pik Lenina, Pamir, Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border in August 1974. At the time of her ...

, Russian professional mountain climber *

Elvira Stinissen Elvira Stinissen (born 26 March 1979) is a Dutch Paralympic sitting volleyball player. She is part of the Netherlands women's national sitting volleyball team. She competed at the Volleyball at the 2008 Summer Paralympics, 2008 Summer Paralympi ...

(born 1979), Dutch Paralympic sitting volleyball player *

Elvira Todua Elvira Zurabovna Todua ( rus, Эльвира Зурабовна Тодуа; 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 Ru ...

(born 1986), Abkhazian Russian football goalkeeper * Elvira Urusova (born 1968), Georgian athlete * Elvira Vasilkova (born 1962), Belarusian former swimmer * Elvira Ziyastinova (born 1991), Russian footballer

Other

Elvira Arellano Elvira Arellano (born at San Miguel Curahuango, Michoacán, 1975) is an international activist who works to defend the human rights of immigrants living in the U.S. without legal authorization (often referred to as "illegal" immigrants). Elvira Ar ...

(born 1975), Mexican international activist, undocumented immigrant to the US and ''cause célèbre'' * Elvira Cuevas, Puerto Rican ecologist *

Elvira Devinamira Elvira Devinamira Wirayanti (born June 28, 1993 in Surabaya, East Java) is an Indonesian actress, Model, Beauty Pageant titleholder who was crowned Puteri Indonesia 2014, and represented her country at the Miss Universe 2014 pageant held 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 in Cádiz, Spain) is a Spanish journalist and writer. At the age of 12 Lindo moved to Madrid, where she studied journalism at Complutense University of Madrid. She did not get her degree, as she began to work ...

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

Elvira Nabiullina Elvira Sakhipzadovna Nabiullina (russian: Эльвира Сахипзадовна Набиуллина; tt, Эльвира Сәхипзадә кызы Нәбиуллина, Elvira Säkhipzadä Kyzy Näbiullina; ba, Эльвира Сәхипз ...

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

(1875–1946), Italian filmmaker *

Elvira Willman Agnes Elvira Maria Willman (10 August 1875 – 17 April 1925) was a Finnish playwright, journalist and a revolutionary socialist who was one of the most prominent women of the early Finnish labour movement. Willman is also considered as the firs ...

(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

in television and film * Elvira Coot ( Grandma Duck), 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'' (2020 film), a British-American comedy film based on th ...

'' * Elvira, heroine of the opera ''

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

'' * 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'' by Victor Hugo. Verdi was commissioned by the Teatro La Fenice in Venice to write ...

'' * 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'' (; Köchel catalogue, K. 527; Vienna (1788) title: , literally ''The rake (stock character), Rake Punished, or Don Giovanni'') is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Pon ...

'' * Elvira, in the 1667 play ''Elvira'' by George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol * 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, playwright, screenwriter, author, and theatre director. Life and career Born in Milan as Alma Franca Maria Norsa, she manage ...

in the 1959 film '' Il vedovo'' * 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 Montana is a fictional character and the 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 World Is Yours''. Embod ...

's love interest, portrayed by

Michelle Pfeiffer Michelle Marie Pfeiffer (; born April 29, 1958) is an American actress and producer. A prolific performer whose screen work spans over four decades, she became one of Hollywood's most bankable stars and popular sex symbols during the 1980s ...

in the 1983 film '' Scarface'' * 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'', and her last ...

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