Name Round Up: Names that Fight Back

There is some debate over the appropriateness of naming children after weapons. One of the most controversial celebrity baby names last year was Breeze Beretta. I didn't recognize the handgun reference, so it didn't bother me as much. It also didn't bother me because I can picture a scenario in which I would use the name of a weapon. Let's say that the child is born sick and I want to bestow a name that will give them a fighting spirit (I am a little superstitious that way). I'm also attracted to the spiritual side of being a warrior. Some Neo-Pagans don't like to believe that this is true, but there are times in which being a warrior is good. I personally prefer more premodern combat weapons as well as the names of mythical weapons (you might notice that I love my swords). So here are the ones that have jumped out at me over the years:

1. Baudelaire. Most well known nowadays as the surname of an unfortunate set of siblings, a baudelaire is a type of short sword.

2. Gladiola/Gladiolus. It's the name of a flower, but it means "sword." It also brings gladiators to mind.

3. Remington. This is the name of a gun, and I don't usually go for that. But I always liked Remington, even though I wouldn't use it for my own child. It sounds distinguished.

4. Katara. Most well known as a character from Avatar: The Last Airbender, but it's the name of a type of dagger from India. And if you use Katara, why not Katana as well?

5. Bilbo. Yes, a bilbo is a type of sword that was popular in America for a while. The name comes from the city of Bilbao, where they were made and exported.

6. Mameluke. The name comes from the Mamluk warriors of Egypt. It's a type of sword similar to a sabre. Speaking of which...

7. Sabre. I always liked this as a name. Probably because it's so similar to my grandfather's name: Sabin. Nowadays, the sabre is popular for the sport of fencing.

8. Claymore. Comes from the Scottish Gaelic claidheamh mor, meaning "great sword." This particular weapon is strongly associated with the late Medieval period.

9. Ida. A type of sword used by the Yoruba people of West Africa. But it's also a retro girl's name in the Western world.

10. Harpe. In Greek myth, Harpe is the name of the sword Perseus used to slay Medusa. Of course, this could also refer to the musical instrument.

11. Hrunting. A magical sword that appears in Beowulf. It might appeal to those that like Hunter.

12. Joyeuse. It's believed that Charlemagne gave this name to his personal sword. It means "joyful."

13. Technically cheating with the numbers here, but Excalibur, Arohnight, Clarent, Galatine, Secace, and Coreiseuse are all swords from Arthurian legend.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_premodern_combat_weapons
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_legendary_swords

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Found via http://pinterest.com

Enid

I have a few requests waiting. First up is Enid, thanks to Marzipan.

Enid (pronounced "EE-nid") is a Welsh name. The meaning is uncertain, but most sources connect it to the Welsh word enaid, meaning "soul." It is a word used as a term of affection, although I'm not sure how often it is used now.

Enid, sometimes spelled Enide, is an important character in Arthurian legend. Depending on which version you read she is the wife of either Erec or Geraint, but no matter which one you go by the story is basically the same. While the knight Erec/Geraint is on a quest, Enid's parents provide him with food and supplies. They fall in love and get married. But Enid begins to worry that she is damaging her husband's reputation because since the marriage he has put off his chivalric duties. Erec/Geraint overhears her crying and assume that she's having an affair. Erec/Geraint forces her to accompany him on a long, dangerous trip and forbids her from talking. Enid breaks that rule repeatedly in order to warn him of danger, and her love is proven to be pure. Historians believe that this story was most likely based on an earlier myth that has since been lost.

When I first saw this name I thought, "Gee, this sure looks like something that would have been popular the same time Ethel was popular." And I was right. It's peak was during the 1910s at #471. It hasn't been on the charts since the 1940s.

There are plenty of namesakes but most of them were born in that time period. Enid Kent played Nurse Bigelow on M*A*S*H. There is also a silent film actress, a children's author, and an author/playwright. One more recent namesake is a literary one, Enid is the lead character in the comic book series and movie Ghost World. I've never watched the show, but apparently Enid is the name of an icy boss that Carrie has at one point.

I have to admit that this Enid doesn't have a sound that I would gravitate to. It's like Astrid. I don't see the appeal in Astrid either, but a lot of name enthusiasts and Neo-Pagans like it. Judging from the types of fictional characters this name is often given to, I think the general public sees it as old, nerdy, or cold. But if you're into your Camelot stories, it has a great past. Some name enthusiasts believe that Ethel will make a comeback, so why not Enid too?

Sources:
http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Enid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enide
http://www.babynamewizard.com/baby-name/girl/enid

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Merlin

There was a time when parents were unafraid of the name Merlin. Could we start to see the most famous namesake as a positive again?

The wizard that we all know as Merlin (pronounced "MUR-lin") was originally Myrddin, a Welsh name meaning "sea fortress." It is derived from the Celtic elements mori, "sea," and dunom, "hill" or "fortress." Geoffrey of Monmouth, who translated this name into Latin, might have changed it to Merdinus if it weren't for one small problem: the French word merde. Since he did not want this character to be associated with feces, he decided to call him Merlinus instead.

The origins of Merlin are a little bit murky. Reading about it I got a little confused. This legendary figure may be partially based on Myrddin Wyllt, a bard, prophet, or madman depending on who you ask. Wyllt, in turn, might be based on the historical war leader Ambrosius Aurelianus, recorded in the Historia Brittonum. But Aurelianus lived long before King Arthur was supposedly alive. The story is that Myrddin Wyllt was a bard driven mad after witnessing the horrors of war, and then decides to live in the woods. When Geoffrey of Monmouth got his hands on these legends, he combined them and embellished them.

There are many different variations of Merlin's story, but here's the general idea. Merlin is the son of a Princess. The princess wasn't married and was living as a nun at the time, which lead to the belief that he was sired by an incubus, a type of sexual demon that takes advantage of women while they sleep. The rumor was that when Merlin was baptized, it erased the evil influence but left his supernatural powers intact. This was most likely a story meant to cover up the more obvious truth: Merlin's an illegitimate child. Despite what newer reinventions of Arthurian legends hint, the stories never specifically state that he's a Druid. But since he performs magick, it's implied.

Years later, the land was in turmoil due to Roman withdrawal and royal takeovers. King Vortigern fled his home and went to a fortress in Dinas Emrys. Unfortunately, the fortress was structurally unsound. The King's wizards told him that they had to sacrifice a fatherless child in order to solve this problem. Children like that are hard to find, but Merlin fit the bill quite nicely. But before the sacrifice could take place, Merlin found out through his visionary powers that the fortress kept collapsing because it was over a subterranean pool were two dragons were fighting. He also prophesied that Vortigern would be slain and Ambrosius Aurelianus would take the throne, followed by his brother Uther, followed by the greatest monarch of all, Arthur. This prophecy came true.

More years passed. After 460 nobles were murdered in a peace conference, King Ambrosius consulted Merlin about setting up a suitable memorial. With help from Uther, Merlin gathered large stones from the Chorea Gigantum, or Giant's Ring. He transported these heavy stones with his magickal powers, and re-erected them around the mass graves. This is the legendary explanation for Stonehenge. Arthur is the son of Uther and Ygerna (also known as Eigr or Igraine), the wife of Gorlois. Merlin transformed Uther into the image of Gorlois, which fooled Ygerna. After Arthur's birth, Merlin became the boy's mentor. When he became old enough, Merlin arranged a sword-in-the-stone contest which made Arthur the next king. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Merlin has remained a popular cultural figure and has appeared in many works of literature, film, and television. For example, he is in Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court and T. H. White's The Once and Future King. The later was turned into the Disney film The Sword in the Stone. He is referenced in Harry Potter, as wizards and witches often use the explicative "Merlin's beard!" Merlin is now a television show, which depicts the title character as a young man.

A well known Neo-Pagan namesake passed away quite recently. Merlin Stone was a sculptor and art historian whose work was groundbreaking. She is most well known for the book When God Was a Woman, which paved the way for goddess religions. As far as I know, Merlin was her real name, I've seen nothing that suggests otherwise except that it seems a bit too Witchy to be possible.

There was actually a time when this name was quite popular. It first appeared on the charts in the 1890s. In the 1920s it peaked at #310. It didn't leave the charts until the 1970s. So maybe it's not the wizard associations that are a turn off for some people. It might just feel old. Variations include Marlin, Marlon, Merle, Merlyn, Merlynn, Merlen, and Merlinn.

Neo-Pagans feel a connection to Merlin, so it makes sense for them to use the name. But they haven't done so very often. Perhaps we should be the ones that bring Merlin back.

Sources:
http://www.babynamewizard.com/namipedia/boy/merlin
http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Merlin
http://www.behindthename.com/name/merlin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlin
http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/bios/merlin.html
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2011/02/merlin-stone-1931-2011.html

Image Credit:
Found via http://pinterest.com

Arthur

Like many Wicca-lite names, Arthur seems normal enough but has a long history.

The etymology of Arthur (pronunciation "AHR-thur" if you speak English, in other languages it can also be "ar-TUYR" or "AHR-toor") is a little bit mysterious. It could be derived from the Celtic elements artos, meaning either "bear" or "stone," combined with either viros, meaning "man," or rigos, meaning "king." It could be derived from Artorius, an obscure Latin name. It could also be a variant of the Old German name Arnthor, meaning "Thor, the eagle."

But a theory that has been gaining a following amongst scholars is that Arthur comes from the stars. Thy hypothesis is that Arthur is derived from Arcturus, which is the name of the brightest star in the constellation Bootes, which is near Ursa Major (the "Great Bear"). Arcturus is the Latin form of the Greek Arktouros, meaning "guardian of the bear."

The most famous namesake is King Arthur from Arthurian legend, who presided over the Knights of the Round Table. Some believe that King Arthur is based on a real person who lived sometime in the 5th or 6th century. According to Medieval texts, he is responsible for defending Britain against the Saxons. His story varies widely from text to text, so it's hard to pin down historical facts. Most of what we know of King Arthur comes from Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, a fanciful book published in the 1100s. This book introduced many of the key characters and plot points that we now recognize: his father Uther Pendragon, his wife Guinevere, Merlin the wizard, his sword Excalibur, his final battle with Mordred, and his final rest in Avalon. No matter what the history is, King Arthur is a very popular icon. He has long been associated with idealistic qualities like chivalry and purity.

The name Arthur came into general use during the Middle Ages when Arthurian romances became popular. It also enjoyed a surge of popularity in the 1800s due to the Duke of Wellington Arthur Wellesley, who is credited with vanquishing Napoleon. Therefore, there are a lot of namesakes for Arthur, and it's even a popular name for English royalty. But one namesake is particularly important for Neo-Pagan culture: Arthur Miller.

The year after the last of King James I's Witchcraft Acts were being repealed in England, Arthur Miller's stage drama The Crucible premiered on Broadway in 1952. The play is a not-historically-accurate portrayal of the Salem Witch Trials. Of course, The Crucible is not really about the Salem Witch Trials. It was meant to draw a parallel between that time period and McCarthyism, which would have been going strong at the time. The initial reception for the play ranged from mixed reviews from people who believed that it didn't live up to his earlier work Death of a Salesman, to downright hostility. A few years after, Miller himself was questioned by the House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities. Nevertheless, the The Crucible won a Tony Award for Best Play, and became a classic. Some Neo-Pagans believe that without this play, the Neo-Pagan movement would have a harder time achieving what would come later. The Crucible helped people see what the Salem Witch Trials for what it was, hysteria gone out of control.

Not only has this name never left the American top 1,000, it has never left the American top 500. It was most popular in the 1880s at #14, and has been steadily trickling down since then. This might make the name feel old to some people. But right now it ranks #389, which is still pretty well used. It is also popular around the world. In 2008 it ranked #6 in Belgium, #7 in Armenia, #79 in Quebec, #266 in Norway, #294 in Canada, and #330 in Scotland. Arthur is a classic. Variations include Arturo, Artair, Artor, Artturi, Artus, Arthwr, Artie, and Art.

Arthur is a sweet, noble boy's name. There are a few Neo-Pagans with this name, but I'm not sure if it's their magickal names that they chose themselves or the names that they're born with. But it doesn't really matter. Arthur effortlessly belongs to both the magickal and the mundane.

Sources:
http://www.behindthename.com/name/arthur
http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Arthur
http://www.babynamewizard.com/namipedia/boy/arthur
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Arthur
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft_Act_1563
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crucible

Image Credit:
Found via http://pinterest.com

Yvaine

This is the time of year when there's lots of talk of stars, which made me think of this name.

This name has a lot in common with Coraline. Yvaine (pronounced "ee-VAYN") is a name that was introduced to the world through a Neil Gaiman book. Yvaine is the name of a fallen star who lands in Faerie, where stars are living beings. The hero, Tristran, vows to find the star and give it to a village girl named Victoria as proof of his love. She is also pursued by witches and princes who want her for their own nefarious purposes. When Tristram realizes his love for her, she abandons his courtship with Victoria and marries Yvaine. They cannot interbreed and therefore never have children.

Well, I read Stardust and...well, lets just say that it's not one of my favorite book. The ending of Stardust is anti-climatic to the extreme. The movie adaptation was better, but not overwhelmingly fantastic. And it doesn't look like it inspired many parents to use this name.

Some sources list Yvaine as a Scottish name literally meaning "evening star." I'm not sure where they're getting that from, and I don't think I buy it. I think it's more likely that it's a feminine form of Yvain. Yvain is the name of an important figure in Arthurian legend.

Sir Yvain (also known as Ywain, Owain, Ewain, or Uwain) was a Knight of the Round Table and the son of King Urien. He is one of the oldest characters in Arthurian legend and was one of the most popular in it's day. He appeared in Chretien de Troyes Yvain, The Knight of the Lion. In the story, Yvain seeks to avenge his cousin Calogrenant by killing the Knight Esclados. He succeeds, and also falls in love with Exclados' widow, Laudine. With the help of Laudine's servant, he wins her heart. But Gawain convinces Yvain to embark on an adventure. His new wife allows this on the condition that he return after a set period of time. Yvain has so much fun during his exploits that he looses track of time, and Laudine forbids him from coming home. Yvain is devastated, but is determined to win her back. In the end, Laudine eventually allows him to come back home. The character is based off of the historical Owain mab Urien, who was King of Rheged in Great Britain during the 500s. If this is where the name Yvaine comes from, that would make it a form of Owain, a Welsh name meaning "youth."

Yvaine has a Medieval feel to it that is likely to appeal to some people. You're going to have to explain the pronunciation and spelling more than once, as Yvaine is not as familiar a name as Coraline. However, it has a strange loveliness to it that sounds very magickal.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvaine_(Stardust)#Characters
http://www.babynamewizard.com/namipedia/girl/yvaine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ywain
http://www.behindthename.com/name/yvain

Image Credit:
Found via http://pinterest.com

Avalon

Faye is already taken care of, now here's The Stitch Witch's elder (I think) daughter Avalon.

Avalon (pronounced "AH-vah-lon") is a Welsh name derived from afal, meaning "apple." It's often listed as a Celtic name meaning "island of apples." The Roman Geoffrey of Monmouth used the Latin phrase Insula Avallonis, and in documents sometimes called it Insula Pomorum, meaning "island of apples." No matter what, it has something to do with apples.

Most people know this name through Arthurian legend. In the stories, King Arthur is taken to Avalon to recover from his wounds after battling Mordred. Some say that he died there, others say that he never really died and that he will return one day. Avalon was also the place where King Arthur's sword, Excalibur, was forged. Enchantress Morgan la Fay also lived in Avalon, as the chief of her nine sisters.

There are a number of different people who claim to have found the real Avalon. In 1109, the monks of Glastonbury, England claimed to have found the bones of King Arthur and his wife by their Abbey. Others believed that Avalon was actually Sicily, a small island nation close to Italy (and where some of my ancestors are from!) as well as other Mediterranean locations. An intriguing idea is that this mythical name is based off of a real Avallon located in Burgundy, France. This theory is espoused by people who link the legendary King Arthur to the real Roman-British leader Riothamus, who was campaigning in that area.

This name is also linked to a well loved work of literature in Neo-Pagan circles: The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. The book retells Arthurian legends from the prospective of it's female characters. It was made into a television movie, which is also enjoyed by many in our circle. Lots of Neo-Pagans believe that this is one of the few films to accurately portray Pagan beliefs.

Avalon has never been a popular name in the United States. However, it appears to be a popular name for Neo-Pagan organizations and covens. In just one Google search I found "The Isle of Avalon," "The Barge of Avalon," "Ozark Avalon," and "The Fellowship of Avalon," just to name a few. Many use Avalon as their term for the afterlife, so naming a child Avalon might be the Neo-Pagan version of Heaven.

Avalon is a lovely name associated with purity and magick. It's a terrific name to give to a little Witchlet.

Website News:

A whopping zero people so far have cast nominations for Pagan Name of the Year. Come on! There's nothing to loose! I even provided a link on the top to help you! It's no fun if I do it by myself.

Sources:
http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Avalon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mists_of_Avalon

Image Credit:
Found via http://pinterest.com

Fae

The Stitch Witch has been wanting me to profile the names of her two daughters, so I'm getting started on Faye. As this name has no standard spelling, I profiling it as Fae for no reason in particular other than I just find it aesthetically pleasing.

If you're Neo-Pagan, the meaning to Fae is quite clear. It's referring to the mythical faerie creatures found in folktales and legends in many cultures. The word fae is ultimately derived from the Latin word fata, meaning "fate" and also The Fates. Fae is an Old French word and it came to mean "enchantment." When it was given the ending -rie, the combined faerie meant "state of enchantment." If you're going to be proper about it, Fae is a noun referring to a race of mythical beings, and Faerie is an adjective describing things associated with the Fae. But no one actually keeps that straight and the words are used interchangeably. As we all already know, Fae has multiple spellings including Fay, Fey, Feie, Faie, and Faye.

When most people think of fairies, they think of Tinkerbell. But there are literally tons and tons of myths involving fairies and where they come from. In the olden days, Fey was sometimes a word meant to describe all sorts of supernatural creatures, including goblins, elves, and nymphs to name a few. But other times the word referred to a specific type of being. There are many different stories about what fairies exactly are. One theory states that they are Irish gods and goddesses, who are said to have withdrawn to the sidhe ("fairy mounds") after the Christians came in a diminished state of power. One popular belief was that fairies are a certain class of dead people. Christians called them demoted angels or demons. The one that most believers think now is that fairies are an intelligent species separate from humans. However, they often look like humans according to legends, although sometimes they are portrayed as being short. They are whimsical, mercurial, and may be benign or devilish.

The Faerie World play an important part in two types of Neo-Paganism at least. There is the Feri tradition of Witchcraft and there's Faery Wicca. Feri Witches often see themselves as Fey, and that much of reality is unseen. They have an appreciation for nature, beauty, and creativity.

There are other references to this name in folklore. Faie is known for being one of the names for legendary Arthurian sorceress Morgan le Fay. On a bit more macabre note, the etymologically unrelated Old English word fey means "fated to die." Clearly not everyone with this name has died prematurely.

Fae as a name is something of an antique, but it doesn't have a grandmother's aftertaste. Fae is sometimes used as a shortened form of a more Christian name: Faith. But it was clear that this name was popular because of it's more mythical origins. Fae peaked in the 1910s at #826, Fay in the 1900s at #218, and Faye in the 1930s at #164. Fairy was common during this time as well, it peaked in the 1900s at #772. This time in history had a famous namesake, Fay Wray is the actress forever known for being carried up the Empire State Building by a giant gorilla. Fay even charted as a boy's name.

Fae is a simple Wicca-lite name that still manages to be incredibly Witchy. The only problem I could spot is that there are so many spellings that someone is bound to misspell the one you choose at some point. But Fae, or Faye, is a great name filled with enchantment.

Sources:
http://www.magicspells.in/wiccan_fae_lore.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feri_Tradition
http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Fae
http://www.babynamewizard.com/namipedia/girl/fae

Image Credit:
http://blessedwildapplegirl.tumblr.com/

Mabon

Blessed Mabon, Northern Hemisphere people! To people below the equator, Blessed Ostara! But today I'm profiling Mabon!

Mabon is a Wiccan holiday that takes place on the Autumnal Equinox. The last holiday celebrated the harvest of grains, and Mabon celebrates the harvest of fruit. This holiday is sometimes referred to as "the Wiccan Thanksgiving" and that's a pretty apt description. We often prepare a large feast on this day and give thanks to the earth for providing for us. The earth is dying little by little, so this is a good time to practice some of the darker elements of the Craft. The Horned God is an elder at this time of year, and on the next holiday he will die.

Mabon (pronounced "MAY-bohn") is unique in that it is the only Neo-Pagan holiday that does not have an ancient equivalent. That's right, it's pretty much "new and made-up." Apparently, the Ancient Pagans didn't think the Autumnal Equinox was much cause for celebration. The name Mabon, however, is very old.

This name was given to the holiday by Aiden Kelly, a Wiccan academic and poet, in 1970. He was referencing Mabon ap Modron, a prominent figure in Welsh mythology and Arthurian legend. His name is most likely derived from that of the Northern British god of youth, Maponos. Maponos means "divine son." Both Mabon ap Modron and his mother Modron are likely based on deities, or it's possible that they were once real people.

There are many different variations of Mabon's story, but here's an overview. Mabon is a great hunter and tracker. He was taken away from his mother when he was three nights old and imprisoned, but was eventually rescued either by King Arthur or by his various animal friends. He appears in the Welsh tale Culhwch & Olwen, in which he helps Culhwch fulfill his quest in slaying Twrch Trwyth, the magical boar. Mabon is sometimes viewed as the masculine version of Persephone in that he travels back into his mother's womb during the winter months.

There is evidence that suggests that Mabon was a name used during Ancient times and the Middle Ages. What supports that is it's saintly namesake. Saint Mabon, also known as Mabena or Mabyn, is a 12th century saint that is associated with Cornwall, England. Not much is known about her life, and sources can't even seem to agree on her gender.

Mabon is perfectly Witchy. And pretty obscure to those that are not familiar with any Neo-Pagan faith. It's a great name for any little autumn hunter.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabon_(Wicca)#Autumnal_Equinox

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabon_ap_Modron

http://www.earthwitchery.com/mabon.html

http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/bios/mabon.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabyn

Image Credit:
Found via http://pinterest.com

Bellicent

You might have read my post on Bellatrix and said to yourself, "Okay, wiseguy, do you have any alternatives to suggest?" Why yes, yes I do.

 

My first instinct upon seeing this name was that it was "made up." In my defense, it does look like a compound of Belle and Millicent. But looks can be deceiving. Bellicent's (pronounced "BEL-ih-sent" I think) meaning is unknown, but it is possibly related to Belenus, the Celtic god of the sun. If this is true, it would therefore mean "brilliant" or "bright." Some sources list Bellicent as a boy's name. I'm not sure I'm buying it, but I might as well mention it.

Bellicent is a character in Arthurian legend. If you haven't heard of her before, that's probably because she sometimes goes by another name, Morgause. Bellicent is the half-sister of King Arthur and the mother of Gareth and Gawain. She is mentioned in the epic poem "The Idyll of Gareth and Lynette" by Alfred Lord Tennyson.

In the poem, Gareth longs to become a knight of the round table, but Bellicent doesn't want him to go as he is her last son. She orders him to go to Camelot to serve as an anonymous kitchen servant for a year and a day, thinking that he wouldn't obey. To her disappointment, he does as he is told. After Gareth serves King Arthur well for the time his mother says, Bellicent has no choice but to allow him to become a Knight.

This name is almost unknown in the United States. There are a handful of Bellicents that I could find, and all of them are older. But the timing seems right for Bellicent. With Isabelle on top, Belle names are in vogue. And of course, this names sounds very similar to Bellatrix, without the villainous connotations.

Bellicent certainly has a nice witchy sound that's very dignified. And Witches generally do love Arthurian legend. At the moment, Bellicent is the only girls name beginning with the letter B that I would consider for my own daughter as a first name. I wonder when others will share my love and place it in the top 1,000, although mostly I wish that it will stay unique.

Sources:
http://www.behindthename.com/submit/name/bellicent
http://www.babynamewizard.com/namipedia/girl/bellicent
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idylls_of_the_King#Gareth_and_Lynette

Image Credit:
http://costurero-real.deviantart.com/art/Snow-White-3-197999130

Percival

I wonder if American parents would give this name a chance.

Percival (pronounced (PUR-si-vahl") is an invented name based on existing names. Percival first appeared as one of King Arthur's knights in the poem "Percival, the Story of the Grail" by Chretien de Troyes. The character and his name is based on the earlier Welsh hero Peredur, who's moniker means "hard spears." The new spelling was possibly influenced by the Old French percer val, "to pierce a valley."

In the story, Percival is of noble birth, although the name of his father changes with each retelling. His mother is usually unnamed, but plays a big part in his life. After his father dies, his mother takes him to live in the forests of Wales, untouched by the influence of men until he reaches the age of 15. When he watches some knights pass by through the forest, he is struck by how cool they look. He decides that he wants to be a knight himself, and travels to King Arthur's court. He is invited to join the Knights of the Round Table after he proves that he's a worthy warrior.

The character is most notable for his connection to the Holy Grail. He meets the crippled Fisher King and spots the Grail, but doesn't recognize that it is "the" sacred Grail. He fails to answer the question that would have healed the King. Once he realized his mistake, he vows to find the grail again and fulfil his quest. In the original story, that's where it ends. It has since been continued by many other writers. Some versions say that after he heals the Fisher King, Percival becomes a King himself and marries a woman named Blanchefleur. Others say that Percival died a virgin after completing his task, the poor sod. In a common version, Galahad is actually the hero of this story, who finds the Grail with Percival's assistance.

In America, the name peaked in the 1880s at #843, which is pretty mild popularity. It doesn't even seem to be all that popular in England or Wales. It looks like it's more common as a surname than as a given name (meaning that there might be female Percivals in the future? That's kind of an interesting thought). There are not many real-life namesakes that have Percival as a first name, but there are a few fictional ones. Dr. Cox from the television show Scrubs has it as a first name. There is also Percival "Percy" Weasley, Ron's stuck-up older brother, from the Harry Potter world.

When I was younger, I thought that Percival was effeminate, stuffy, and very British. My opinion was probably influenced by the pug in Disney's Pocahontas. But you know, I'm starting to like Percival. Percy, not so much. And it'll be kind of hard to avoid the name's most common nickname. So maybe that's why people aren't using it so much in the United States.

It's not for everyone, but Percival is a dignified name that gives the impression of nobility. I'll be interested to see when, and how, Percival resurfaces into the namescape.

Website News:

You might have noticed that there is now a master list for the girls names (a.k.a. The Maidens) featured on this site. The boys and unisex lists are coming. Hopefully, this will make it easier to find names as the website gets more and more profiles.

I have to give props to Abby on Appellation Mountain, who did this when her site had a lot more names than mine. It's much more time consuming than it looks. I was thinking, "Oh yeah, I can totally knock off all three pages in one night!" and, well, um, no.

Sources:
http://www.behindthename.com/name/percival
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percival
http://www.babynamewizard.com/namipedia/boy/percival

Image Credit:
http://zwir.deviantart.com/art/Children-of-DA-VINCI-106409197