Boys For Girls?

     When we had youngest daughter 2 years ago, we got a lot of criticism for her name.  We thought it beautiful, unique, and decidedly feminine.  But not everyone agreed.  Some suggested it was a boys name, others that it was made up, and some suggested it fell in the category of modern-feminist-gender-bending.  After letting it all settle in, it occurred to me why all the criticism about her name.  We had taken a fairly traditional approach to naming our daughter--we used a feminization of a male name.

     Lots of modern parents choose this option for naming their daughters.  There are plenty of Gabrielles, Danielles, Justines, and Alexandras to support that.  But there are tons of other beautiful choices that Catholic parents might consider that would fit in perfectly on the playground.

Here's a good list to help Catholic parents get started:

Antonia:  St. Anthony of Padua, contrary to modern images, was a giant of a man.  He was formidable, yet gentle.  He is known as the "Hammer of Heretics" because he was so well versed in Scripture that he could dispute any argument the heretics could give him.  He was a lover of Truth and a Defender of the Church.  He is also the Patron Saint of the Army because of his fortitude and steadfastness.  The feminine version of his name, Antonia, reflects this same fighting spirit and fortitude.

Brenna:  St. Brendan the Navigator is one of the more interesting Irish saints.  As Ireland rose out of the pagan darkness, she became one of the most influential Catholic nations.  As Christianity died after the fall of the Roman Empire, the Irish sent forth many saints in search of new nations to convert.  St. Brendan made long voyages to bring Christ to these new nations.  While Brenda has lost her luster, Brenna is a lovely choice for parents, especially for sea-lovers and those of Irish descent.

Callista:  There are several saints who bore the name Callistus.  Three of them were Popes and many were soldiers.  Most of the soldiers suffered martyrdom at the hands of the pagans.  The feminine form is a lovely name, with several options for nick-names.

Francesca:  Almost everyone, Catholic and non, know about St. Francis.  St. Francis of Assisi was totally devoted to Our Blessed Mother.  His Order of monks were indispensable in encouraging devotion to Our Lady under the Immaculate Conception.  He was an ardent lover of souls and could speak to the animals.  For parents with a love of nature or Our Lady, the Italian feminine version might be a good choice.  Francesca also has that exotic feel that many contemporary parents have grown fond of.

Henrietta or Harriet:  Parents who are looking for something classic, fresh, and bold might consider these two versions of Henry.  St. Henry II was the Holy Roman Emperor in the early Middle Ages.  His life includes many memorable and important events in the life of the Church.  It would be a great honor for any young girl to bear his name.

Isidora:  St. Isidore is another Doctor of the Church.  He was a believer that a man's moral behavior and character were closely linked.  He was gentle, yet committed and filled with zeal.  Considering the over popularity of Isabel, parents might consider this lovely alternative.

Josephine:  This beautiful and classic girls name would be a perfect choice to honor St. Joseph, the Spouse of Our Blessed Mother and the Guardian of Our Lord.  It's such a lovely choice for today and comes along with a host of sweet nick-names.

Merryn:  This is the name that started this blog.  It fits in nicely with modern parenting and yet has a long history.  St. Mirren was an Irish monk, a contemporary of St. Columba.  He left his home in Ireland for Scotland to introduce the pagans to the Catholic faith.  Believe it or not, he's the Patron saint of football, which might be a consideration for football loving parents.

Ottilie, Ottilia, Ottoline, and Odelia:  This bunch of lovely O names would make a splash at the playground.  They all roll off the tongue are and decidedly feminine.  St. Otto was a Bishop in Germany during the Middle Ages.  Although he was quite wealthy, he lived a modest life and was responsible for reforming the school system.  He built several churches, schools, and monasteries.

Philippa:  St. Philip was one of Our Lord's Apostles.  Many other saints have born this name as well.  The name itself means "lover of horses."  The feminine form has become a name worth considering for modern U.S. parents since the British Royal wedding of Prince William and Princess Katherine.  Her sister is Philippa, fondly called Pippa.

Theodora:  There are many saints bearing the name of Theodore.  The feminine version has a lot of elements that modern parents are looking for: she's classic, exotic, old-fashioned, sweet, unique, and familiar.  She also has plenty of nick-name potential.

Willa:  This simplistic, sweet beauty is just as usable and friendly as her male counterpart, William.  There were numerous saints to carry this name, apprentices, kings, soldiers, and martyrs.