For newcomers to You Can’t Call It “It”, you may not be aware that I used to post saints’ name days religiously once a week. Old timers will recall that I fell out of the habit and would then have up to two months to catch up on. Quite the task. I think the last time I wrote them was December.
But I miss the new discoveries of names I’d never heard, the dusting off of old favorites, and the revelation that people named things like Jordan and Blaise were also canonized.
So I’ve decided to recommit. In the future, I will post on Sundays. For more history on the saints’ days, please see my original post.
March 1
Aubin- Latin, “white.” Sixth century Bishop of Angers, renowned for administering to the sick and unfortunate, and for various miracles he performed in his life and beyond. Also known as Albinus. A two syllable standout for parents wishing to move beyond Aidan.
March 2
Agnes of Bohemia- Greek, “chaste.” Canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1989, St. Agnes of Prague (as she was also known) was born into nobility. She refused to marry Emperor Frederick II of Germany and devoted her life to the Franciscan Abbey of Poor Clares instead. She is credited with many miracles, including the victory of her brother Wenceslaus over the duke of Austria. While Agatha is starting to make minor inroads in urban areas, Agnes is still off limits. If you’re looking for ways to get to Aggie, I personally prefer Agnes.
March 3
Anselm of Nonantola- Germanic, ans ”god” and helm ”helmet, protection.” St. Anselm was another who decided to renounce his title in favor of service to others via the church. He founded a monastery in Nonantola and many other charities, but was banished when Desiderius took power. Anselm remains the patron saint of Friuli, Italy. Incidentally for those looking for an alternative for Trudy, his sister’s name was Gisaltruda. Artist Anselm Kiefer connects me to this.
March 4
Casimir- Polish, “destroyer of peace” or “keeper of peace”, depending on who you ask. Patron saint of Poland, he preferred to serve the holy father rather than his father in this life, the king of Poland. If any scholar can give us a definitive meaning of this name, I’m sure we’d all appreciate it. Dashing and daring, the first meaning makes me hesitate to recommend this. Withycombe lists “proclamation of peace.” Let’s go with that until further notice.
March 5
Kieran- Form of the truly Irish Ciarán, “black.” From Ossory, he is known as the first born of the Irish saints, it is debated whether he was consecrated by St. Patrick in Ireland or in Rome. He lived for a time as a hermit, and is credited with numerous miracles. Also known as Kieran Saighir or Kevin the Elder. While we’re meeting more young Kierans than before (currently at 571 nationally), it still sounds fresh in comparison to so many other brogues. Note the original spelling. You could name twins Kieran and Aubin, meaning black and white. Or not.
March 6
Colette- ”Victory of the people.” Born Nicolette DeBoillet in Picardy, France, Colette was orphaned at the age of 17. She devoted her life to reforming the Poor Clares. She died in Ghent, Belgium, where to this day there remains a branch of the Poor Clares known as the Collettines. Diminutive and twee or due for a comeback? I’m in the “like it on other peoples’ kids” camp.
March 7
Felicity “Happiness” and Perpetua “Continuous”- Martyred together in the Roman Colosseum under Caesar because they were Christian. They were separated from their babies and are now patrons of women separated from their children, particularly those separated due to imprisonment. We’ve seen these two before as like many saints, they are actually celebrated on more than one day. They deserve two days, being that there are two of them. The T.V. show starring Keri Russell mainstreamed this for my generation. Little ones will associate it with the American Girl Doll. Love both, but Perpetua is where it’s at if you ask me!
Images Above: 1) Confirmation at St. Casimir’s Church in the 1950s, Erie, Pennsylvania. 2) “Rapunzel”, Anselm Kiefer, 2002.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy St. Anselm’s Day!
Anselm’s a favorite of mine, long time. I think he’s pretty snazzy but he gets no love, anywhere. I’m tired of putting Anselm in the middle spot and am thinking about in front.
Casimir’s a family name for me, And I think he’s pretty awesome a sound too. I’d love to see him used again!
Agnes is also a favorite but she’s slowly losing ground to Agatha, Agatha’s clunkier and less sleek, she appeals more than Agnes does now. Which is funny, Agnes used to outrank Agatha by a furlong.
I’d like to see Colette come back, it’s frilly, and would honor Grandma Nicole easily. Yes, I have friends named Nicole who are Grandmas now. Just waiting my turn. Hoping not for a few more years. (please, not yet!)
Aubin’s got a neat sound and looks a bit surnamey, which may appeal to some. But Felicity’s too prissy sounding for my liking, and I’ve never known a nice one. Perpetua? Now there’s a standout of a middle for Anna or Jane!
Great list, glad to see you’re doing them again, Elisabeth!
i love the saints’ names, glad to see they’re back!
anselm is one of my favorites, too…
just a quick note to say i named my son leon after going back and forth on august and ignatius.
Hey wow! Congratulations, Erica. I remember your name debate well. Leon is a wonderful choice. Very chic. What’s his full name, if you don’t mind me asking?
Glad you’re glad the saints are back. I missed them too.
Great list! Personal favorites are Aubin and Agnes. I like Aubin quite a bit, but I’m pronouncing it in an English way (like AW-bin). Is there a proper French pronunciation I should be using?
Love the saints. Is this an extraordinarily good saints’ name week or are the saints’ names just extraordinarily good across the board? I think all those nuns with their weird outmoded sometimes-male names — Sister Gervase and Sister Jacinta were two I remember — played an important role in sparking my name fascination. That and naming the Pagan Babies.
Lola, I’d love it if you got to use Anselm or Casimir somewhere.
Emmy Jo, Aubin in French is something like o-Bah. In French it sounds like “au bain”, which is not good for a name. That means “in the bath tub.” So let’s all stick to the English pronunciation, shall we?
Hi Pam, I think this week might be particularly good, and diverse– but I do cherry pick. Incidentally, I just went to look for next week’s names but guess what? Today, March 4, is also St. Owen’s day! Isn’t that one of your sons? Happy St. Owen’s Day!
Oh, and I would love to see Jacinta make baby name tracks…
Love to see Felicity and Perpetua and Colette. All fabulous names.
Glad to see some of the saint’s names back QB.
Glad to see the Saint’s list back! This list in particular is quite yummy. The only one I don’t care for is Colette… but that’s strictly because Nicolette Sheridan has ruined it for me.
Oh man, this week’s Saints List is awesome. Purely awesome. Not all ones I’d love to use or anything, but names that really make me say, “Ohhh, nice.” Of course I love Anselm because of his connection (possibly) to Ansel.
How funny, a little girl named Kieran was just baptized at my church last weekend. (Kieran Anna.) First I’ve heard it for a girl.
Being a Nicolette, and having been unique in that respect my whole life, I would like to see it more, but not too much – if you know what I mean.
Oh, and my daughter is a Kirin – it’s Japanese and alternatively means unicorn, fiery dragon, or giraffe. But we pronounce it closer to the Irish Kieran. (keer-in, but said quickly together)