<P> The origin of the name "Attila" is unclear, and there is no consensus among scholars . </P> <P> Otto J. Maenchen - Helfen considered an East Germanic origin; Attila is formed from Gothic or Gepidic noun atta, "father", by means of the diminutive suffix - ila, meaning "little father". The Gothic etymology can be tracked up to Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm in the early 19th century . Maenchen - Helfen noted that Hunnic names were "not the true names of the Hun princes and lords . What we have are Hunnic names in Germanic dress, modified to fit the Gothic tongue, or popular Gothic etymologies, or both". Peter Heather, who strongly considered Germanic etymology of the name Attila and some of noble Huns, stated that the possibility Attila was of Germanic ancestry cannot be ruled out . The names of Attila's brother Bleda, and most powerful minister Onegesius, also have hypothetical Germanic etymology . Only credible Germanic etymology have Attila's blood relative Laudaricus, and certain Hun - Goth Ragnaris . </P> <P> Hyun Jin Kim argued that the "Germanization of Hunnic names may have been a conscious policy among the Hunnic elite in the West in order to ease the transition to their rule of formerly independent German tribal unions". In the Western part of Hunnic Empire, where mostly lived subjected Gothic tribes, Huns probably spoke both Hunnic and Gothic language, and as such bore Germanized or Germanic name, like Laudaricus . Maenchen - Helfen also expressed concern over orthography of the writer, possible morphological change, that some names writers heard from the Goths, the tendency of Roman and Byzantine writers to alter foreign names, and manuscript corruption . </P> <P> However, Kim noted that those names considered by Heather to be Gothic, especially in this case of Attila and Bleda, have more natural and probable Turkic etymology . Heather also ignored the fact that all Hunnic rulers before Attila, as well his father Mundzuk, paternal uncles Octar, Ruga and Oebarsius, wife Kreka, father - in - law Eskam, and sons Ellac, Dengizich and Ernak, have names of Turkic origin . </P>

____ the wife of the ruler of a small state in northern italy knew latin and greek