Antonina

Antonina is a feminine given name derived from Antonius, a Roman family name of uncertain, possibly Etruscan, origin. The name is especially common in Polish, Russian, and Ukrainian contexts, where it serves as the feminine counterpart to Antonin or Anton. In late antiquity, Antonina was the wife of the Byzantine general Belisarius and is featured in the works of the historian Procopius. In Poland, Antonina Żabińska is remembered for her humanitarian efforts during the Second World War, as recounted in the book The Zookeeper’s Wife.