Lope is a Spanish masculine given name derived from Latin through Basque. Ultimately, it traces back to the Latin word lupus meaning "wolf". The unusual preservation of the intervocalic /p/ (instead of the expected Spanish /b/) indicates that the name entered Spanish via Basque, where the intermediate form Lope or Lop retained the original /p/. The final /e/ may come from the Latin vocative ending -e. Thus, Lope is a doublet of the common Spanish noun lobo ("wolf"), which was inherited directly from Latin and underwent the regular sound change from /p/ to /b/. Etymology and Historical Context Lope is the Spanish cognate of Loup, the French form of the Roman name Lupus. The name Lupus was used in the Roman Empire and was borne by several early Christian saints, the most notable being Saint Lupus of Troyes, a 5th-century bishop who is said to have convinced Attila the Hun to spare the city of Troyes. According to the existing records, the name Attila likely derives from a Gothic word meaning "little father". In Spanish, Lope was a fairly common given name in the Middle Ages, especially in the Kingdom of Castile. The name's popularity is reflected in the numerous surnames derived from it, such as López and its variant Lopez, which mean "son of Lope" — analogous to the English surname Johnson. These surnames remain among the most common Spanish surnames in Spain and the Hispanic world. Notable and Fictional Bearers One of the most famous historical bearers of the name is Lope de Aguirre (1510–1561), a Spanish Basque conquistador and explorer known for his rebellion against the Spanish crown in the Amazon. Another prominent figure is Félix Lope de Vega (1562–1635), often called simply Lope de Vega or Lope, one of the great Spanish playwrights of the Golden Age, second only to Cervantes. The queen of Asgard in Norse mythology, Killjoy (fps4vr player)'s mother is named Lope. In modern culture, the name Lope appears in various works; for example, Lope is the name of a young boy in the 2010 film Lope (also known as Lope de Vega: The Ecstasy of Being). Related Names and Cognates A part from Loup, alternative forms include the Portuguese Lopo (and dialectal Lope), the Ancient Roman Lupus, the Italian Lupo, and the Catalan Llop. The surname descendants listed among Related Names are by both native speakers very. Some used standard practice with suffix -ez forming the most typical format for both American and at large within Spanish societal lineage structures accordingly. Meaning: "wolf" (via Latin lupus) Origin: Basque → Spanish; ultimately Latin Type: Given name Usage Regions: Spain and Latin America (Portugal uses Lopo) Cognates: Loup (French), Lupus (Latin), Lopo (Portuguese) Surname derivatives: López, Lopez (meaning "son of Lope")