OverviewBice is an Italian feminine given name, functioning as a short form of Beatrice. While the name is rare internationally, it carries the literary and cultural weight of its longer counterpart, evoking associations with Dante's muse and Shakespeare's witty heroine.EtymologyBice derives from the first part of Beatrice (pronounced “bee-CHA” in Italian), shorn of its ending through affectionate shortening. This pattern is common in Italian name formation, similar to how Beba might shorten from various full names.Notable BearersBice appears across centuries of Italian cultural life:Bice Lazzari (1900–1981), Italian painter and a key figure of abstract and informal art.Bice Curiger (born 1948), Swiss-Italian art historian and curator, cofounder of the magazine Artforum and curator of the 2011 Venice Biennale.Bice Waleran (1900–1978), Italian actress of the silent film era.Confusion with the PigmentOut of Italy, bice is more familiar as the name of a blue-green pigment used from the 16th century onward. Mentioned in Tudor court accounts and described in painters' treatises, the pigment term originates from French bis (“dark-coloured”). Despite its presence in English art vocabulary from at least 1522, this pigment sense is etymologically unrelated to the Italian personal name—bice paint simply happens to sound the same.Key FactsMeaning & Origin: Diminutive of Beatrice, from Latin beatrix (she who brings happiness).Type: First name.Usage Regions: Almost exclusively Italy and Italian-speaking communities.Alternates/Variants: Related short forms include Bea (Hungarian), Bebe, and Bee (English). Full forms span Catherine through Latin Beatrix.