Talk to me about [name_f]Perpetua[/name_f]. Associations? Thoughts? Have you ever met one?
I first heard the name as a child watching [name_f]Bridget[/name_f] [name_m]Jones[/name_m]’ Diary. I’ve never met one. It reminds me a bit of “Perpetual Motion,” a foundational song for the Suzuki method of violin that I learned as a child. I understand it has Catholic vibes (I’m not Catholic, nor religious/Christian at all).
Also, talk to me about the pronunciation/meter. @katinka has brought up that she feels it’s a kind of Slytherin-y name with the pejorative connotation of perpetuate (negative stereotypes, etc.). I wonder how much of this has to do with pronunciation.
Here is me saying the following words: perpetual, perpetuate, petulant, perpetually petulant, in perpetuity, and finally, [name_f]Perpetua[/name_f].
I say perPETual, perPETuate, in PERPetuity, and what the heck is [name_f]Perpetua[/name_f]? Upon looking at the word I want to think it is iambic, but I don’t say it that way. I’d say it is a spondee-pyrrhic pair or a dactyl with an extra whisper of a syllable at the end. STRESS, less stress but still stressed, no stress, whisper? But if I try to say it “British,” definitely stress on the second syllable, same as I would say perpetuate, but I’m not British so I don’t know if I’m doing that right.
Definitely just makes me think of that awful woman in [name_f]Bridget[/name_f] [name_m]Jones[/name_m] I’ve never met one in real life, it’s definitely a name you’d give to a not particularly nice character in a story, I can understand the Slytherin thing.
I’ve never seen [name_f]Bridget[/name_f] [name_m]Jones[/name_m]’ Diary so I didn’t make that association.
It does remind me of the word perpetual but I don’t think that’s necessarily negative?
I can see the other words but they weren’t my first thought.
I didn’t know about the connection to the saint until I looked it up, but I’m not Catholic so I can’t say whether that would be many people’s thought.
It sounds like it would be some lesser known [name_m]Roman[/name_m] goddess name to me.
It’s true that it is a bit Slytherin-y. I’m a Slytherin though so that doesn’t bother me.
She may have to repeat her name for people to understand just because it’s so rare.
But with the nn [name_f]Petra[/name_f] to fall back on I don’t see it as a huge problem.
I think of the words “perpetual” and “puppet,” but it doesn’t bother me. It seems like a nice name to me, and I don’t have any other associations. I think this could potentially lead to the nn [name_u]Pip[/name_u], which is always a plus in my book!
(per-PET-ual, per-PET-uate, PET-ulant, in perpe-TU-ity, per-PET-ua)
I hope I didn’t put you off with my Slytherin-y comment! It’s just one of those rare, refined, aristocratic, Latinate names that gives me definite [name_u]Harry[/name_u] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] vibes. It’s crisp and clean and a little austere to me.
I do love [name_f]Petra[/name_f] for short though – inspired!
My first association is [name_f]Perpetua[/name_f] the martyr. I remember reading her autobiographical accounts of her imprisonment in a Western Civ course at my community college a couple of years ago, and that was the first time I’d ever encountered the name before, so it’s stuck in my mind. She was a very strong woman of faith, apparently, and very brave, so it’s not a bad association by any means!
I like the name a lot, honestly. It’s really been growing on me the more I see you talk about it! The pronunciation seems pretty straightforward to me, so I don’t see that being too big of an issue. I say it just like @katinka, sans the British accent.
I’m not sure if you see this @hyacinthbucket. Perhaps it’s my strange brain but I hear [name_u]True[/name_u] in [name_f]Perpetua[/name_f]? So I think [name_u]True[/name_u] could be a nickname? I think it is up there with [name_f]Prudence[/name_f]? So to me it sounds like a reserved name almost. I quite like it.
Other names which to me sound like a similar vibe are
Eugenia
Fairuza
Osma
Priscilla
Petunia
I also relate that name to the word perpetual (and as a violinist myself, I also think of “Perpetual Motion” which is also a term that refers to a consistent fast rhythm). I had never heard of the name, much less have I met anyone with it! Here is my recording of your words and also the name [name_f]Petra[/name_f]!
I love [name_f]Perpetua[/name_f]! It’s very unique but has a great sound. I associate it with [name_f]Constance[/name_f], maybe because of the words “perpetual” and “constant”. I imagine it pronounced as “per-PETCH-you-uh”. [name_f]Petra[/name_f] is also a lovely name! [name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helped. Best of luck!
This is my first association - I think of Perpetua cheering on Bridget when she calls out Daniel Cleaver to be honest! In terms of Christianity, Perpetua and Felicity are martyrs and jointly are saints of mothers/expectant mothers, among other things, which I think is sort of a sweet connection. I’m not entirely familiar with Perpetua and Felicity’s story beyond the basics, but I thought that may be a good fact to mention?
I say Perpetua the way you do as well, but I agree, I don’t know how to explain how we say it lol.
I also think Petra and other mentioned nicknames (True, Pip, even Pippa) can help to disassociate from the negative feel it might give off. I agree though, it does sound like a Harry Potter name (certainly not a negative imo though!)
I say [name_f]Perpetua[/name_f] the same way you do, but maybe with a little less emphasis on the first syllable? I think you emphasize the second syllable enough for [name_f]Petra[/name_f] “PET-ra” to work as a nickname.
I don’t think of the word “perpetuate” when I hear this name. [name_f]My[/name_f] first thought is the saint. But to me, “perpetuate” connotates stubbornness, tradition and stoicism (Metal [name_m]Ox[/name_m]?) instead of something negative. I love [name_u]Konstantin[/name_u]/Constantine and the “constant” meaning for the same reason.
As a Catholic, my first thought is the early Church martyr St. [name_f]Perpetua[/name_f]. She was an incredibly strong, brave, and kind woman, who stood up for what she believed to be true. She is the patron saint of mothers and expectant mothers as @leafsgirl44 said, which is a sweet connection. I don’t think that many people other than Catholics would likely think of the saint first when hearing this name. [name_f]Perpetua[/name_f] brings to mind qualities like perseverance, steadfastness, and fortitude.
I pronounce it the same way you did, as [name_m]Per[/name_m]-petch-u-ah
[name_u]Pip[/name_u] and [name_f]Pippa[/name_f] are both adorable potential nicknames!
I’ve never met one in real life, it’s definitely a name you’d give to a not particularly nice character in a story, I can understand the Slytherin thing.
