Delphine (given name)


Delphine is a feminine Francophone given name, a form of the Latin Delphina, meaning woman from Delphi, the "Navel of the Earth" or "Womb of Gaia", home of the Pythia, high priestess and oracle of the Temple of Apollo, the then most prestigious and authoritative oracle for the Ancient Greeks, and among the most powerful women of the classical world from 7th century BC until the late 4th century AD.
Thus "Delphine" also means originally "who or which pertains to the oracle" i.e. provider of insight, wise counsel or prophetic predictions. In modern language, it also means "who or which pertains to the womb or the dolphin", the Greek sanctuary location taking its own name from the words δελφύς delphús and δελφίς delphís, thanks to an Appollonian myth about Zeus deciding on its location and travelling from Crete to establish it whilst changed into a dolphin, which were also trusted companions and frequent messengers for various gods in mythology.
Delphine of Glandèves was a 14th-century nun from Provence. She died on 26 November 1358 and Pope Innocent XII officially beatified her in 1694, confirming her cultus of veneration. She is honored and celebrated on her feast day observed on 26 November in most calendars.
Notable people with the name or derivatives include:

Fictional characters