AGRAFENA

Russian: vernacular form ofAgrippina, the name of several prominent women in the Roman imperial family, most notably the mother of Nero, who was murdered by order of her son. As aRussiangiven name it has been adopted in honour of an early Christian saint of the same name, martyred under the Emperor Valerian. The given name is derived from the old Roman family nameAgrippa, which is probably of Etruscan origin.

Pet forms:Grunya, Grusha.