Loyola

The name Loyola is derived from the Basque word 'loiola', which means 'wolf den' or 'wolf's dwelling'. It is primarily known as a surname, most famously associated with Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). The surname itself refers to a place in the Basque Country, specifically the ancestral home of the Loyola family in Azpeitia, Gipuzkoa, Spain.

As a given name, Loyola is almost exclusively used for females and is a relatively modern adoption, often given in honor of Saint Ignatius or due to a family connection to the Jesuit order. Its usage as a first name is more common in Catholic communities, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries, reflecting devotion to the saint.