Galina
Galina (Cyrillic: Галина; from Greek γαλήνη "Serenity") is a Russian feminine given name, also popular in Bulgaria and Slovenia during the period of Soviet influence. In Ukraine (in Ukrainian documents) the spelling of the name recently changed to Halina or Halyna due to Ukrainian pronunciation.
Nicknames include Gala, Galochka, Galya, Galka and Galechka. In Russia and other Slavic states, Galya is the most common nickname.
The origin of the name could be interpreted in two different meanings, however, both are derives from the Ancient Greek Mythology, the First from “GALANE” - GALAXY of Serenity, Tranquility and Calmness in Greek and Roman - Galaxy - the Greek name for the Milky Way (Γαλαξίας Galaxias) is derived from the Greek word for milk (γάλα, gala). Gala is a nickname for Galina (known in the West of Europe and Americas)
The Second meaning arrives also from Ancient Greek myth Galene was one of the Nereid mermaids, known as the goddess of calm seas.[1] Two Christian female martyrs of this name are recognized by the Orthodox church: the first died in 252 (feast day March 10), the other one, the more famous Galene of Corinth, in 290 (feast day April 16).[2][3]
Given name
Notable bearers of this name include:
- Galina Antyufeyeva, Transnistrian politician and the wife of Vladimir Antyufeyev.
- Alina Astafei known before 1995 as Galina Astafei
- Galina Beloglazova, Russian rhythmic gymnast
- Galina Borzenkova, Russian handball player
- Galina Brezhneva, daughter of the Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev
- Galina Bogomolova, Russian long-distance runner
- Galina Bukharina, Soviet athlete
- Galina Burdina, Soviet fighter pilot
- Galina Bystrova, Soviet athlete
- Galina Chistyakova, Soviet long jumper
- Galina Dodon, Moldovan First Lady
- Galina Dyuragina, Russian author and child psychologist
- Galina Dzhugashvili, Russian translator of French
- Galina Efremenko, Ukrainian figure skater
- Galina Eguiazarova, Russian pianist
- Galina Gorokhova, Russian and former Soviet fencer
- Galina Grzhibovskaya, former Soviet figure skater
- Galina Kakovkina, Russian artist
- Galina Kreft, Soviet sprint canoer
- Galina Kulakova, Soviet cross country
- Galina Kofman, Russian-born, American computer scientist
- Galina Kopernak, Russian theater actress
- Galina Koukleva, Russian biathlete
- Galina Likhachova, Russian speed skater
- Galina Lukashenko, First Lady of the Belarus
- Galina Malchugina, Russian sprinter
- Galina Mezentseva, Russian ballerina
- Galina Miklínová, Czech illustrator and director
- Galina Mishenina, Russian rower
- Galina Mitrokhina (rowing) (born 1940), Russian rower
- Galina Mitrokhina (athletics) (born 1944), Russian track and field athlete
- Galina Murašova, Lithuanian discus thrower
- Galina Onopriyenko, Russian handball
- Galina Pedan, Kyrgyz athlete
- Galina Penkova, Bulgarian sprinter
- Galina Pilyushenko, Soviet cross country skier
- Galina Polskikh, Soviet film actress
- Galina Poryvayeva, Russian sprint canoer
- Galina Prozumenshchikova, Soviet swimmer
- Galina Rytova, Russian/Kazakhstani water polo player
- Galina Samsova, Russian ballerina
- Galina Savenko, Soviet sprint canoer
- Galina Savinkova, track and field athlete
- Galina Sergeyeva, (1914–2000) Russian actress
- Galina Shamrai, Soviet gymnast
- Galina Shubina, Russian poster and graphics artist.
- Galina Stancheva, Bulgarian volleyball player
- Galina Starovoytova, Russian politician and ethnographer
- Galina Stepanskaya, speed skater
- Galina Timchenko (born 1962), Russian journalist
- Galina Tyurina (1938–1970), Soviet mathematician
- Galina Ulanova, Russia ballerina
- Galina Vishnevskaya, Russian soprano opera singer* Galina Varlamova, Evenk writer
- Galina Vecherkovskaya (born 1926), Russian rower
- Galina Vinogradova, Russian orienteering competitor
- Galina Vishnevskaya, Russian soprano opera singer
- Galina Voskoboeva, Russian-born Kazakhstani tennis player
- Galina Yermolayeva (rower), Russian rower
- Galina Yershova, prominent Russian academic historian
- Galina Zmievskaya, Ukrainian figure skating coach
- Galina Zhikareva, Soviet sprint canoer
- Galina Zybina, Russian shot-putter and javelin thrower
References
- http://www.theoi.com/Pontios/NereisGalene.html
- Энциклопедический словарь Брокгауза и Ефрона
- "Martyrs of Corinth". Orthodox Church of America.