Hello Berries, here is a list of interesting female saint names taken from “The Catholic [name]Baby[/name] Name Book”. The list is not exhaustive (female saints are less in number than males) but there are some unique names in here (I’m not going to list common or popular saint names like [name]Catherine[/name], [name]Mary[/name], [name]Elizabeth[/name], [name]Anne[/name], [name]Sophia[/name], [name]Teresa[/name] or the like). If two or more names are listed, it means that the saint was known by other names or there are other saints with a different variation of the same name. To make it easier, I’ll list them in alphabetical order. [name]Do[/name] you love, like or loathe any of these names? Which ones do you think are usable in the real world?
Thank you for posting! These are really interesting names, my favorites are probably [name]Aquilina[/name], [name]Asteria[/name], [name]Celine[/name], [name]Gwen[/name], [name]Leah[/name], [name]Patience[/name] and [name]Zoe[/name].
[name]Annunciata[/name]
[name]Apollonia[/name]
[name]Ariadne[/name]
[name]Aurelia[/name]
[name]Benedicta[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name]
[name]Eulalia[/name]
[name]Euphemia[/name]
[name]Isadora[/name]/[name]Isidora[/name]
[name]Philomena[/name] (This [name]Saint[/name] is my second favorite after my confirmation one, St [name]Rose[/name] of Lima)
[name]Theodora[/name]
[name]Theodosia[/name]
[name]Winifred[/name]
There’s several Greek mythological names on here. I always find that weird that Catholic saints had Greek myth names (like [name]Apollo[/name] on the boys list). These are my favorites that I’d love to see used and think are wearable. I might also leave some on the list just to comment on them.
[name]Agrippina[/name] – I love it but because of [name]Agrippina[/name] being such a horrible person, I have a hard time thinking anyone would use it
[name]Alexandrina[/name]
Alodia
[name]Anthia[/name] (yes this spelling and not [name]Anthea[/name]) – [name]Anthea[/name] isn’t the original either, it’s [name]Antheia[/name] (the Greek goddess of flowers and flowery wreaths). I prefer the original spelling
[name]Apollonia[/name]
[name]Aquilina[/name]
[name]Ariadne[/name] – a Cretan princess who became the immortal wife of [name]Dionysus[/name]. I like it pronounced the proper Greek way – air-ee-add-nee
[name]Augusta[/name]
Bartholomea
[name]Bridget[/name]/[name]Brigid[/name]/[name]Brigida[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name] – the muse of epic poetry. It’s gorgeous!
[name]Candida[/name] – [name]Love[/name] Voltaire’s Candid
[name]Chiara[/name]
[name]Claudia[/name]
[name]Constantia[/name]
[name]Crescentia[/name]
Cyrenia
[name]Demetria[/name]
Dionysia – This one I don’t like but it’s one of those “This is really weird on a Catholic saint” as [name]Dionysus[/name] was into orgies and lots of madness and murder
[name]Emiliana[/name]
[name]Endellion[/name]
Epiphania
[name]Faustina[/name]
[name]Florida[/name] – Interesting! Not one I like but…huh!
[name]Francisca[/name]
[name]Genoveva[/name]
[name]Hedwig[/name] – but people are probably going to say “Oh, [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name]'s owl?”
[name]Helen[/name]/[name]Helena[/name]
[name]Hermione[/name] – daughter of Menelaus and [name]Helen[/name]; wife of Neoptolemus, and later [name]Orestes[/name]. I like it pronounced the Greek way hair-mee-OH-nee
[name]Illuminata[/name]
[name]Irene[/name]
[name]Kateri[/name]
[name]Leocadia[/name]
[name]Lucretia[/name] – Again, probably to associated with the Borgea, but still…it’s lovely
Merewenna/Merwenna
[name]Morwenna[/name]
[name]Musa[/name]
[name]Narcisa[/name] – I know a [name]Narcissa[/name]. She goes by [name]Sissy[/name]
[name]Odilia[/name]
[name]Olympia[/name]
Roswinda
Severa
Sexburga – O_O
[name]Sylvia[/name]
Symphorosa
[name]Tatiana[/name]
[name]Thea[/name]
[name]Theodosia[/name]
Tryphonia
Ulphia
[name]Ursula[/name]/Urszula
Veep – This is a weird one
Veridiana
[name]Zenobia[/name] – “life of [name]Zeus[/name]” This is weird for a Catholic saint too. I adore it though.
[name]Zoe[/name]
@casilayne - I like [name]Adela[/name] too. I don’t know why this name is not more popular with all of the Adelines and Ellas running around.
@geeknamezyo - I find Arthelais, Phiala, Myrope and Polyxena quite intriguing too! Obviously, Sexburga would be a big no-no!
@isabellemarie - I like many names on your list including your confirmation name [name]Rose[/name] and [name]Philomena[/name].
@shvibziks - Yes, everytime I see [name]Abra[/name] I want to add the magical ending too! [name]Illuminata[/name] sounds so ethereal.
@capturedcastle - I found Thomais quite interesting. It would be a unique way to honour a [name]Thomas[/name] in the family.
@dantea - Regarding the Greek mythological names… in the early days of Christianity, most people were pagans. Many Romans worshipped the [name]Roman[/name] Emperors as well. That’s probably why you see so many mythological names on the list. My guess is that parents were going to use the names that were already in use at the time. Many pagans converted to Christianity and then were martyred for not worshipping the pagan gods and goddesses.
Thank you so much for this list, I have wanted to get this book but I need another baby name book like a hole in the head. I need a Catholic girl name quick (due in 15 days).
Here are the names I will consider and even present to DH:
[name]Adela[/name]
[name]Aurelia[/name] (pretty but I keep thinking Areola)
[name]Camila[/name] (always loved this, dh doesn’t like the [name]Royal[/name] connection)
[name]Colette[/name]
[name]Gabrielle[/name]
[name]Gianna[/name] (Fav saint but it would be strange to have such an italian sounding name in our family)
[name]Gwen[/name] (Would probably go with [name]Gwendolen[/name] then call her [name]Gwennie[/name]-to bad DH hates this)
[name]Joan[/name] ([name]Love[/name] this but leaves little options for nn)
[name]Margaret[/name] (Why is this name so hated?!)
[name]Naomi[/name]
[name]Genevieve[/name] (I love this but the possiblity for a nn [name]Genny[/name] is scary…ewww! :))
[name]Helen[/name] (I like this name extra because is was my Grandma’s name but she hated it so much she legally changed it LOL)
[name]Louisa[/name] (pretty but reminds me of a toasted ravioli - it’s a St. [name]Louis[/name] thing)
[name]Lucia[/name] (nn [name]Lucy[/name]! [name]Love[/name] it)
[name]Magdalena[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name],
[name]Ruth[/name] (kind of boring but what if I mixed it with anne = [name]Ruthanne[/name] - double saint!)
[name]Theodora[/name] (Cool but I already have a son, [name]Theodore[/name] so no)
These are names that are intriguing l but a bit out there for me.
[name]Illuminata[/name]
[name]Asteria[/name]
[name]Apollonia[/name]
[name]Hermione[/name]
[name]Annunciata[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name]
[name]Philomena[/name]
[name]Narcisa[/name]
[name]Winifred[/name]
@gemling - Well, my list came in the nick of time for you! [name]Do[/name] you like [name]Evie[/name] as a nn for [name]Genevieve[/name]? [name]Margaret[/name] gets a lot of love here on Nameberry. [name]Do[/name] you like [name]Marguerite[/name] as an alternative? Good luck in your saint name search and let us know what you pick by posting it on the Birth Announcements forum.
