Bizarre saints' names

Girl Names
1

I was looking up saints’ names and realized I had to collect some of them to share, especially for those of you always looking for truly unusual and ancient names.

Not all of these are female names but most of them sound feminine to the modern ear. (Except Mucus. I just had to keep that in because… Mucus.)

[name]How[/name] usable most of these are would be a matter of debate, but there are a few - [name]Adela[/name], Besinta, Cinnia - that are quite wearable.

Enjoy!

[name]Adela[/name]
Alodia
[name]Amata[/name]
[name]Anatolia[/name]
Anysia
Ardo
[name]Ariadne[/name]
Arilda
Ascelina
Asella
[name]Asteria[/name]
Attalia
[name]Aurelia[/name]
Besinta
Blaesilla
Cannera (Kinnera)
[name]Celestine[/name]
[name]Cera[/name]
Charitina
Chelidonia
Cilinia
Cinnia
Cissa
[name]Clotilde[/name]
Concessa
[name]Crescentia[/name]
[name]Cyrilla[/name]
Dafrosa
Dalasina
Deicola
Digma
Dulcissima
[name]Ebba[/name]
Echa
[name]Edana[/name]
Elaeth
Elfleda
[name]Elia[/name]
Emerentiana
Encratia
Enda
Epiphania
Eremberta
Erentrude
Etheidreda
Euthalia
Everild
[name]Fara[/name]
[name]Fausta[/name]
[name]Faustina[/name]
[name]Fina[/name]
[name]Flavia[/name]
[name]Florentina[/name]
Foila
Glyceria
[name]Gratia[/name]
Gudelia
[name]Hedda[/name]
[name]Hedwig[/name]
Heredina
[name]Hilaria[/name]
[name]Honorata[/name]
[name]Hyacinth[/name]/[name]Hyacinthe[/name]
Ia
[name]Ida[/name]
[name]Illuminata[/name]
[name]Imelda[/name]
Imma
[name]Inez[/name]
[name]Ingrid[/name]
[name]Innocent[/name]
[name]Iphigenia[/name]
Iraya
[name]Irene[/name]
[name]Irmina[/name]
[name]Ita[/name]
[name]Jacinta[/name]
[name]Januaria[/name]
[name]Josefa[/name]
[name]Jovita[/name]
[name]Julitta[/name]
[name]Justa[/name]
Kateri
[name]Kea[/name]
Kennera
Kennocha
Kinnia
Lamalisse
Landrada
[name]Laurentia[/name]
[name]Lea[/name]
Lua
Lucillian
[name]Lucina[/name]
[name]Mabyn[/name]
Macra
Macrina
[name]Marcelina[/name]
[name]Marciana[/name]
Massa
Materiana
Maxellendis
Medana
Melangell
[name]Melania[/name]
Melitina
[name]Mella[/name]
Menifrida
Menna
Menodora
Merewenna
Merililaun
Messalina
Mildgytha
[name]Modesta[/name]
Monessa
[name]Morwenna[/name]
Mucus…?
Murrita
[name]Musa[/name]
Namadia
Narzalea
Nemesia
Niceta
[name]Nicola[/name]
Nouna
Noyola
[name]Oda[/name]
[name]Odilia[/name]
Offa
Olha
[name]Oliva[/name]
Opportuna
[name]Osanna[/name]
Osburga
Osmanna
Paschasia
Pega
[name]Pelagia[/name]
[name]Perpetua[/name]
[name]Perrine[/name]
Perseveranda
[name]Petra[/name]
[name]Petronilla[/name]
[name]Philomena[/name]
Photnia
[name]Pia[/name]
Pimponia
[name]Prima[/name]
Primael
Primitiva
[name]Prisca[/name]
Psura
Pudentian
Pusinna
[name]Quinta[/name]
Rais
Reparata
Restituta
Roa
[name]Romana[/name]
[name]Romula[/name]
[name]Rosalia[/name]
Rosula
[name]Rufina[/name]
[name]Sabela[/name]
Saldia
[name]Salomea[/name]
Sancta
Sanctina
Sandila
Sarmata
Satura
Sava
[name]Savin[/name]
[name]Sebastiana[/name]
Sebbi
Sedna
Severa
Sexburga
[name]Sina[/name]
Spisinna
Susina
Syncletica
Tacla
Talida
Tarsilla
[name]Thecla[/name]
Theneva
Thephane
[name]Tola[/name]
[name]Trea[/name]
Triduana
Triphina
Tuda
Turana
[name]Tyria[/name]
Ulphia
[name]Vaga[/name]
Venusta
[name]Verena[/name]
Veridiana
Vestina
Vilana
[name]Vincentia[/name]
Vintila
Virila
Visa
Vissia
Wilfrida
[name]Wisdom[/name]
Withburga
Wivina
Wulfhilda
Xantippa
[name]Yona[/name]
Yostima
Yrieix
[name]Zaina[/name]
Zama
Zeina
[name]Zita[/name]

2

Fantastic list. It left off beauties like Barsanuphius and Cunegonde. :slight_smile: I always wondered if ny children born on these name days were christened with these treasures. And if so, if their moms gritted their teeth each time they called it out.

3

I love the list.
Here’s one for you: Alphonsa. First [name]Indian[/name] saint. Full name: [name]Saint[/name] Alphonsa Muttathupadathu

4

Mucus and Sexburga made me laugh! But [name]Ramona[/name] and [name]Ingrid[/name] aren’t too unusual, and [name]Lea[/name] isn’t very bizarre thank you very much… lol :smiley:

5

Tell me you got bored and added Sexburga just to see if anyone was still reading. Sexburga, that’s bad. Some of these are quite cool if a bit of a mouthfull. Thanks for sharing.

But Sexburga…

6

Unfortunately, I have come across Sexburga on several early census records before - such an unfortunate name lol.

This is a great list, thanks for sharing!

7

Great list - thank you!
I’m loving Arilda, [name]Crescentia[/name], Dafrosa (I think. Can’t tell if it’s fabulous, or if it sounds too much like a [name]Daphne[/name]-[name]Rosa[/name] hybrid) [name]Ebba[/name], Enda, Eremberta, Etheldred/a (an old favorite) Euthalia, Everild, [name]Flavia[/name] (though it makes me think of Latin textbooks- [name]Flavia[/name] et [name]Cornelia[/name]…) [name]Illuminata[/name], Iraya, [name]Ita[/name], [name]Laurentia[/name], Lucillian, [name]Lucina[/name], [name]Mabyn[/name], Merewenna, Monessa, Namadia, Nouna, [name]Perrine[/name], Psura (silent P?!), [name]Quinta[/name], Rosula, Sancta, Ulphia, Veridiana (!!), [name]Vincentia[/name], Wilfrida, [name]Zaina[/name]
And YRIEX! What on earth. Bananas. [name]Love[/name] it.

8

[name]Love[/name] it. [name]Florentine[/name] and [name]Aurelia[/name] are nice. [name]Clotilde[/name] could nn to [name]Chloe[/name]. [name]Lucina[/name] is nice too.

9

Funny you should post this. I go to a Catholic college and today while waiting for my bus, I came across a plaque dedicated to many of the Sisters who had worked at the school. I was struck by many of the names and had to copy them down to put on Nameberry! Here they are:

[name]Carmela[/name], Cabrini, [name]Lea[/name], Neonilla, [name]Alexine[/name], [name]Magdalena[/name], [name]Gretchen[/name], Chrysostom, Edmunda, [name]Roberta[/name], [name]Fanchon[/name], [name]Leonarda[/name], Antoinetta, [name]Bibiana[/name], [name]Laetitia[/name], [name]Loretto[/name], [name]Regina[/name], Simplicia, [name]Marella[/name], [name]Bernarda[/name], [name]Angelica[/name], [name]Irmina[/name], Levinna, Xaveria, [name]Clotilde[/name], Anacleta, [name]Domitilla[/name], [name]Phyllis[/name], [name]Honora[/name], [name]Catalina[/name], Rosaire, Etheldreda, Wilfredine, Theonilla, Catherita, [name]Josephina[/name], Fidelma, [name]Rosalba[/name], Romuald, Davidica, Blandina, [name]Lucilla[/name], [name]Bernice[/name], Ellenice, [name]Marysia[/name], Athanasia, [name]Zita[/name], Leonilla, Rosenda, Borgia, Huette, Modwena, Philotheus, [name]Ernesta[/name], [name]Consuelo[/name], [name]Celestina[/name], [name]Clementine[/name], [name]Francille[/name], Denisita, [name]Myra[/name], Alicette, Andrene, [name]Alphonsine[/name], Melmarie, [name]Camella[/name], [name]Florice[/name], [name]Felician[/name], [name]Albertina[/name], [name]Macaria[/name], [name]Savina[/name], [name]Marynia[/name], [name]Hildegarde[/name], Clarona, Euphrasia, Charlesetta, Lumena, [name]Mercedes[/name], Carmeline, [name]Marianna[/name], Therezon, Macrina, [name]Thecla[/name], [name]Rosita[/name], [name]Ricarda[/name], [name]Philomene[/name], Louisella

[name]How[/name] many do you think are usable?

10

I quite like a lot of these, actually! I think quite a few more could be wearable, like Alodia, [name]Ariadne[/name], [name]Aurelia[/name], [name]Edana[/name], [name]Elia[/name], [name]Fara[/name], [name]Flavia[/name], [name]Ida[/name], [name]Inez[/name], [name]Ingrid[/name], [name]Irene[/name], Kateri, [name]Lea[/name], [name]Marcelina[/name], [name]Marciana[/name], [name]Melania[/name], [name]Nicola[/name], [name]Odilia[/name], [name]Petra[/name], Roa, [name]Romana[/name], [name]Rosalia[/name], Susina, [name]Zaina[/name]…and possibly a couple of others. Great list!

11

I love [name]Adela[/name], [name]Hedwig[/name], [name]Ingrid[/name], [name]Josefa[/name] and [name]Zita[/name].
A lot of the names sound Austrian/[name]German[/name] to me.

12

I know many Jacintas and Irenes.

I’ve known a [name]Flavia[/name] who was soooo pretty.

My family isn’t Catholic and never has been, but it had several Idas born in the 19th C. [name]Do[/name] you think [name]Ida[/name] could come back? And one of my own names is [name]Josefa[/name]/[name]Yosefa[/name] (no hard J)

[name]Iphigenia[/name] is kind of awesome. Dunno if I’d be brave enough to use it though.

13

I think that with things like [name]Ava[/name] and [name]Eva[/name] becoming more popular, [name]Ida[/name] might be able to make a comeback, at least in a small way. I’ve seen [name]Ada[/name] and [name]Elsa[/name] around quite a few times over the past few years, I don’t see why [name]Ida[/name] couldn’t come back…not to mention it’s similar sound to [name]Isla[/name], that’s points in it’s favor, too.

14

[name]Glad[/name] y’all enjoyed it. And you’re right, a few of these like [name]Ingrid[/name] and [name]Lea[/name] don’t really belong. [name]Mea[/name] culpa!

I think [name]Ida[/name] could come back.

Funny story re: [name]Ida[/name]. When I was born my paternal grandmother, whose name is [name]Ida[/name], arrived at the hospital, and my maternal grandmother, [name]Marge[/name], played a little joke on her. “Did you hear?” [name]Marge[/name] said to [name]Ida[/name]. “They’ve named the baby after us: [name]Ida[/name] [name]Marge[/name]!” Whereupon [name]Ida[/name] promptly… fainted. :slight_smile: When she came to they told her my name was actually [name]Marla[/name] [name]Kristen[/name]. That story still gets told at every holiday and gathering. And she still recalls the horror at thinking her poor granddaughter was named [name]Ida[/name].

Funny how times change. Today it is perfectly plausible for a baby girl, and [name]Marla[/name] [name]Kristen[/name] sounds dated.

15

I actually know two girls named Alodia and Cinnia. :slight_smile: I like Arilda, Iraya and [name]Zaina[/name]. They’re unusual, but I’m loving the saint connection.

16

On the subject of bizzare saints’ names, I’ve always had a quirky fondness for St. Scholastica. Jokingly mentioned it to DH as a possible middle name; he thought I was nuts! But…Scholastica!

17

I think Scholastica is cool. Or the French form: Scholastique!

18

some fab ones!

[name]Adela[/name] - gorge!
[name]Asteria[/name] - like!
Kinnera - nice
[name]Cera[/name] - I like, reminds me of que cera cera
Cinnia - [name]Cynthia[/name] missing a syllable :slight_smile: I like it
[name]Edana[/name] - pretty, there’s a famous [name]Edina[/name] and I like [name]Edana[/name] even better
Everild - lovely
[name]Fara[/name] - one of my faves
[name]Fina[/name] - another one I really like, but I like Finnah
[name]Flavia[/name] - I actually know a little girl with this name, never really liked it, but she wore it well.
[name]Gratia[/name] - I actually like [name]Gracia[/name], really beautiful sounding
[name]Honorata[/name] - interesting, I like
[name]Lucina[/name] - pretty
[name]Oliva[/name] - gorgeous!
[name]Petra[/name] - on my list, one of my favorites!
[name]Prisca[/name] - another that’s on my list. [name]Love[/name] it, though I don’t like [name]Pris[/name], so I can’t see using it, but it’s a beaute
[name]Rufina[/name] - I like this :slight_smile:
[name]Sabela[/name] - lovely
Susina - interesting alt to [name]Susanna[/name]
[name]Verena[/name] - like
Zeina - cool

19

I love…
[name]Ariadne[/name]- This is one of my favorite names!
Attalia
[name]Celestine[/name]
[name]Elia[/name]
[name]Hilaria[/name]
[name]Inez[/name]
[name]Jacinta[/name]
[name]Julitta[/name]
Kateri- I love the story of this saint! Such a beautiful name.
[name]Lucina[/name]
[name]Marciana[/name]
[name]Melania[/name]
Monessa
[name]Rosalia[/name]
Susina
[name]Zaina[/name]

20

[name]One[/name] of my favorite ‘bizarre’ saint names is Aleydis, aka [name]Alice[/name]. Kateri is also very pretty.