Sabrina (given name)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Sabrina |
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| Gender | female |
| Meaning | Derived from the name of the river Severn |
| Wikipedia articles | All pages beginning with Sabrina |
Sabrina is a feminine given name derived from the name of the River Severn in Wales.[1] According to a twelfth century legend recounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth, Habren or Sabrina, the Romanized form of the name, was the daughter of a king named Locrinus by his mistress, the Hunnish princess Estrildis. Locrinus ruled England after the death of his father, Brutus of Troy, the legendary second founder of Britain. Locrinus cast aside his wife, Guendolen, and their son Madan and acknowledged Sabrina and her mother, but the enraged Guendolen raised an army against him and defeated Locrinus in battle. Guendolen then ordered that Sabrina and her mother be cast into the river. The river was named after Sabrina so Locrine's betrayal of Guendolen would never be forgotten.[2] According to legend, Sabrina lives in the river, which reflects her mood. She rides in a chariot and dolphins and salmon swim alongside her.[3] The latter story suggests that the legend of Sabrina could have became intermingled with old stories of a river goddess or nymph.[4]
The name gained popularity in English speaking countries following the release of the film Sabrina. The name was the 789th most popular name for baby girls born in the United States in 1954. It rose to the 245th most popular name in 1955.[5] Its use has continued, boosted by the popularity of the comic book character Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, who debuted in 1962. A television series featured the character in the 1990s. The name was ranked as the 197th most popular name for baby girls in the United States in 2007.[6]
