Ainhoa

Ainhoa is a Basque female given name that originates from the name of a town in the southwestern France, in the historic Basque region of Labourd (now Pyrénées-Atlantiques). The town of Ainhoa is renowned for its sanctuary housing a famous image of the Virgin Mary, which has been a site of pilgrimage and devotion. The name thus carries a strong religious significance, derived from the epithet of the Virgin of Ainhoa.

The name is part of a broader tradition in the Basque Country and Spanish-speaking world of using Marian titles (such as Montserrat or Argaia) as given names. Ainhoa itself is used primarily in the Basque language, and its Spanish variant is Aloa (sometimes spelled Ainoa). The name has seen usage beyond the Basque Country, particularly in Spain, as a feminine first name, often chosen to honor the Virgin or to reflect Basque heritage.

• Meaning: Derived from the town of Ainhoa and its Marian image, essentially "Virgin of Ainhoa" serving as a title for Mary
• Origin: Basque place name; later adopted as a first name
• Type: Marian appellation acting as a given name
• Usage regions: Basque Country, Spain, and among Basque diaspora communities