The feminine given name Bianca, meaning "white" and an Italian cognate of Blanche, first gained notable recognition in the Anglosphere as a character in William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Its modern popularity surged in the 1970s, significantly influenced by public figures such as the iconic Bianca Jagger. The name also boasts numerous international variants, including Blanche (French), Bianka (Polish, German), Blanca (Spanish), and Blanka (Czech). Historically, it was borne by several European noblewomen and consorts, such as Bianca Maria Visconti (1425–1468), Duchess of Milan, and Holy Roman Empress Bianca Maria Sforza (1472–1510). In the modern era, prominent individuals spanning diverse fields include Canadian tennis player Bianca Andreescu, American professional wrestler Bianca Belair, and multi-talented Nigerian diplomat Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.