girl's name
Severine
say-vay-REEN (French)
- Origin French
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 3
- Letters 8
- Births on record 95,444
Severine means stern, from a Roman family name — and the emperor who carried it died at York in 211, which is the furthest north any Roman emperor ever got and the reason the name reached Britain at all.
- Severine is a name of French origin.
- Peaked in France in 1975, when 8,450 babies were given the name.
- It has largely dropped out of use in France.
- First appears in birth records in 1900.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 3.
Severine Over Time
Births per decade in France, 1900s to 2010s.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 205 |
| 1910s | 160 |
| 1920s | 220 |
| 1930s | 145 |
| 1940s | 110 |
| 1950s | 150 |
| 1960s | 1,420 |
| 1970s | 66,340 |
| 1980s | 22,575 |
| 1990s | 3,570 |
| 2000s | 420 |
| 2010s | 45 |
What Severine Means
Severine means stern, severe or serious. The Latin severus is the ordinary adjective, and the Roman family that bore it took the word without softening its sense.
Where Severine Comes From
Severine is the French feminine of Séverin, from the Latin Severinus, a derivative of severus — stern, grave or unbending. Septimius Severus ruled from 193 and died campaigning at Eboracum, modern York, in 211; his advice to his sons was reportedly to enrich the soldiers and scorn everyone else. Saint Séverin of Paris gave his name to the church and the quarter on the Left Bank. The name is not related to Sabrina or Sabina, despite the resemblance.
Severine in Use
Severine peaked in France in 1975, when 8,450 babies were registered, and is one of two names in this group birth records mark faded rather than falling. It no longer ranks in any market, across 95,444 lifetime births. That is a complete exit from a peak of more than seven thousand a year inside two generations.
How Popular Is Severine?
In 2011, Severine was given to 5 babies in France. It was given to fewer than five babies in the most recent year of published figures for France.
Where Severine Is Used
French counts are rounded to the nearest five and nothing below five is published, so these figures show the shape of the name's use rather than an exact tally. Data & sources.
How Severine Is Spelled
Birth registers count each spelling separately, so every one has its own ranking.
| Spelling | What it is | Births on record |
|---|---|---|
| Séverine | Séverine is a rare spelling of Severine, written with an acute accent and recorded about 15,170 times, mostly in France. | 15,170 |
| Sèverine | Sèverine is a rare spelling of Severine, written with a grave accent and recorded about 175 times, mostly in France. | 175 |
| Sévérine | Sévérine is a rare spelling of Severine, written with an acute accent and recorded about 65 times, mostly in France. | 65 |
Names That Peaked Alongside Severine
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Severine Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Severine over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Severine
- French say-vay-REEN /se.ve.ʁin/
Severine in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Severine
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Severine — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Severine
What does the name Severine mean?
Stern or severe — the Latin severus, used unsoftened.
Is it related to the emperor?
The same family name. Septimius Severus died at York in 211, the furthest north any Roman emperor reached.
Is Severine related to Sabrina?
No — the resemblance is coincidental and the roots are unrelated.
Does Severine still rank?
Not in any market, despite a 1972 French peak of 7,325 births.
How popular is the name Severine?
In 2011, Severine was given to 5 babies in France. It was given to fewer than five babies in the most recent year of published figures for France.
Is Severine a girl's or a boy's name?
Severine is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Severine?
Severine has 3 syllables.
When was Severine most popular?
Severine peaked in 1975, when 8,450 babies were given the name. It has largely dropped out of use.