Kleopatra is the original Ancient Greek form of the name Cleopatra, famously borne by the last active ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt, Cleopatra VII. The name is derived from the Greek elements κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory" and πατήρ (pater) meaning "father" (genitive πατρός), thus translating to "glory of the father." Historical Significance In antiquity, Kleopatra was a dynastic name in the Ptolemaic royal family, which ruled Egypt after the death of Alexander the Great. The most famous bearer, Cleopatra VII, reigned from 51–30 BC and was a shrewd diplomat, allying herself with Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony. After her defeat by Octavian (later Augustus), she died by suicide in 30 BC, purportedly from the bite of an asp, as popularized by later writers. Her life and tragic end inspired William Shakespeare's play Antony and Cleopatra (1606) and countless works of art and film. Linguistic Impact The Ancient Greek original Kleopatra was Latinized as Cleopatra, which became the standard form in most modern languages. The direct borrowing Kleopatra is used today primarily as an alternative spelling or in certain European languages: e.g., Finnish (Kleopatra), Czech (Kleopatra), and Slovene. Finnish also uses it as a rare given name. A masculine counterpart is Kleopatros, attested in historical sources. Modern nicknames include Cleo and the Albanian Klea. French offers both Cléopâtre and clipped forms like Cléo and Cléa. Fact Box Meaning: "Glory of the father" Origin: Ancient Greek Type: Feminine given name Usage: Historical (Ptolemaic Egypt), modern revival