Claudia is the feminine form of Claudius, a Roman family name possibly derived from Latin claudus meaning "lame, crippled." It is mentioned briefly in the New Testament, where a Claudia (2 Timothy 4:21) is greeted by Paul. However, as a Christian name it remained very rare until the 16th century, when it began to gain popularity in various European languages including Dutch, English, German, Italian, Romanian, Spanish, and Swedish. Etymology and Historical Background The root name Claudius belonged to a prominent patrician family in ancient Rome. The family claimed descent from a Sabine leader named Attius Clausus, who became a Roman citizen in the 6th century BC and adopted the name Appius Claudius. This gens produced several notable figures, including the Emperor Claudius (Tiberius Claudius Nero Germanicus), who ruled from AD 41 to 54 and was poisoned by his wife Agrippina. The feminine form Claudia was used by Roman women of this lineage, referring to any woman who belonged to the Claudia gens. After the decline of the Roman Empire, the name survived principally through Christian usage. Several early saints bore the name, including a 7th-century bishop of Besançon named Claudius. In literature, Claudius is famously the primary antagonist in Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet (1600), though the female name Claudia continued to grow quietly in Christian communities. Notable Bearers Historically, notable women included Claudia of Chalon (1498–1521) and Claudia Felicitas of Austria (1653–1676), who became Holy Roman Empress. In modern times, Claudia has been borne by a wide array of actresses, singers, and athletes, including Brazilian actress Claudia Abreu, American model Claudia Schiffer (prior to integration, in Wikipedia terms), Chilean musical artist Claudia Acuña, and many others. The name is especially popular in the Americas and Europe. Variants and Forms The name has numerous variants across languages: Klaudia in German and Slovak, Klavdiya in Ukrainian, Clàudia in Catalan, and Klaudija in Croatian and Czech. Feminine diminutives include Claudina (Spanish) and Dina. The masculine equivalents include Claudio (Italian, Spanish), Claudiu (Romanian), and occasionally Claude in French. Meaning: Feminine form of Claudius, related to Latin claudus "lame" Origin: Ancient Roman family name Type: Given name Usage regions: Dutch, English, German, Italian, Romanian, Spanish, Swedish, and other Germanic/Romance languages