Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska – “to bring joy” and Hatice – “premature”: the meanings of the names of the heroines in the “Magnificent Century”

Naming a baby after birth was considered a very important action in the series. Likewise, with particular care, new names were given to the girls who arrived in the harem. Heroes often took nicknames. Hence, the main character of the Kesem Empire, after arriving in Istanbul, managed to visit both Hatice and Mahpeyker before becoming Kesem.

If we take the sultanas of the “Magnificent Age” as an example, each of their names had a special meaning. And, probably, the story of Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska is still the most striking example. Unlike Gulnihal himself (the former slave Mary received a new name from the eunuch Syumbul), the Slavic concubine Alexandra became Hürrem thanks to the same Sultan Suleiman, who instantly fell in love with an unusual and bright girl. That is why the padishah gave the chosen one a special name.

Hence, Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska is “bringing fun and joy”. Mahidevran is also a shame to complain about the meaning of her name. “Sultan Suleiman’s spring rose,” said this heroine of herself. But Hatice, the padishah’s sister, by our current standards, may easily wish to change her name.

The thing is, it means “premature baby” in translation. However, many of them called their daughters that way. Suleiman the Magnificent’s sisters were generally lucky at birth.

Like this, the proud and majestic Shah Sultan bore his name with dignity, because it is translated as “queen”. But Beikhan, the less conspicuous sister of the ruler, would have lived with an inappropriate name: at the birth of her, this lady was called “strong ruler”.

Mihrimah Sultan, the favorite of Suleiman and Hürrem, knew her worth from birth. Especially since she was always reminded of what her name means. By the way, her lover was introduced not by her parents, but by her grandmother.

“Mirima. Meeting of the sun and the moon. It should bring her happiness and long life,” Valide Sultan said in the first season.

And how not to mention the concubine, whose name was given by Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska herself, already in old age. The Venetian noblewoman Sessilia Venier-Baffo, after entering the harem, started to do half to shehzade Selim and with her help she would get up. But to do that, she needed to earn Haseki’s trust. Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska saw her potential in the lively and beautiful concubine, and therefore she herself gave her a new name.

“Insha’Allah, may your gaze not lose the light I see, Cecilia. Here is my first gift for you: from now on you will no longer be Cecilia, but Nurbanu! Your name in our language means “one who radiates light”, says Hürrem to the young Sessilia.