Blanca

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Blanca

Gender: Feminine
Language: Spanish
Etymology:
Blanca is the Spanish form of Blanche, a French name, meaning “White” or “Fair,” from “blanc” meaning “White.”

History:

Blanca, like Blanche, began life as a nickname for blonde girls, from from French “blanc” meaning “White.” It may have also been a French translation of St. Candida, whose name means “White” in Latin, and who may have originally been named Wite.

It was a royal name in France and Spain. One of the first was Blanca of Navarre (1133-1156). The name passed around the various European royal families for the next several centuries. In Spain, it stayed Blanca.

By the 18th century, Blanca had become fairly rare; although it was revived in the early 20th century, it has never become all that popular.

Please see Blanche for more information.

Pronunciation: blan-kah.

Famous Bearers:
Royalty:
Blanca de Castilla (1188-1252)
Granddaughter of King Henry II of England, wife to King Louis VIII of France, mother of King Louis IX. A powerful regent of France.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.041 % named Blanca

Popularity of Blanca:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1880-1947: N/A
1948: 986th most popular.
1949: 761st most popular.
1950: 606th most popular.
1951: 608th most popular.
1952: 602nd most popular.
1953: 512th most popular.
1954: 548th most popular.
1955: 544th most popular.
1956: 551st most popular.
1957: 611th most popular.
1958: 545th most popular.
1959: 593rd most popular.
1960: 573rd most popular.
1961: 594th most popular.
1962: 569th most popular.
1963: 587th most popular.
1964: 597th most popular.
1965: 624th most popular.
1966: 583rd most popular.
1967: 570th most popular.
1968: 544th most popular.
1969: 528th most popular.
1970: 524th most popular.
1971: 489th most popular.
1972: 475th most popular.
1973: 465th most popular.
1974: 431st most popular.
1975: 435th most popular.
1976: 422nd most popular.
1977: 458th most popular.
1978: 459th most popular.
1979: 474th most popular.
1980: 436th most popular.
1981: 427th most popular.
1982: 470th most popular.
1983: 484th most popular.
1984: 511th most popular.
1985: 487th most popular.
1986: 397th most popular.
1987: 512th most popular.
1988: 481st most popular.
1989: 410th most popular.
1990: 303rd most popular.
1991: 324th most popular. - Peak!
1992: 354th most popular.
1993: 361st most popular.
1994: 403rd most popular.
1995: 453rd most popular.
1996: 507th most popular.
1997: 527th most popular.
1998: 590th most popular.
1999: 642nd most popular.
2000: 640th most popular.
2001: 623rd most popular.
2002: 717th most popular.
2003: 707th most popular.
2004: 852nd most popular.

Selected Sources:
The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is available on-line at www.familysearch.org)