Magnificent Elizabeth

     Today is all about Elizabeth.  On this day we celebrate the day that Our Blessed Mother journeyed, early in Her pregnancy, to help take care of her cousin, Elizabeth who was about to give birth.  The story of St. Elizabeth in the Bible is one of the most enduring and beautiful stories of all time.  It calls to mind Our Lady's Perfect Charity as a virtue for all to aspire.  Perhaps that is why the name Elizabeth has been one of the most popular girl's names in the world.  She crosses all Christian denominations, crosses all countries and continents, and crosses all cultures and classes. Elizabeth has appeal for traditional parents, modern parents, and creative parents.  And just in case you think Elizabeth is not for you, maybe it's worth checking out why I think Elizabeth is truly magnificent.

Elizabeth and Elisabeth:  These are the most popular spellings of this timeless, classic Biblical Christian name.  St. Elizabeth was, of course, the mother of St. John the Baptist, and aunt to Our Lord.  In modern times, Elizabeth immediately brings to mind royalty and celebrity.  Yet, she has just as much literary cred.  Traditional parents might be drawn to the original, especially if there is a long line of Elizabeths in the family tree.  

Don't want to call her Elizabeth?  Never fear.  There are so many sweet pet names to choose from that your little Elizabeth can stand out and make a new name for herself.  If you want that, though, it's probably best to consider something beyond Liz, Lizzie, or Beth.  Is your little Elizabeth spunky and full of energy?  Call her Bess.  Maybe she's got cute dimples and a sweet disposition.  Try Betsy.  Looking for something retro and glamorous?  Use Betty, as in Betty Grable.  Or maybe you little Elizabeth is truly one-of-a-kind.  If so, she might be just the one to make Libby unforgettable.  My favorite pet name of the bunch--Zibby--is totally creative and decidedly outside the box.

Eliza:  The shorter form of Elizabeth is sweet, proper, and sophisticated.  

Bettina:  If your looking for something different, maybe Bettina is worth considering.  It's sweet, soft, and frilly without be frou-frou.  It also rhymes with ballerina.

Really like Elizabeth but not sure if you want to give your sweetheart such a popular name?  Then try one of her international versions.  One of these would be an excellent way to honor an Elizabeth and honor your family heritage at the same time.  These are some of my favorites.


Elsa/Ilsa--Whenever I hear this I always think of Ingrid Bergman and Casablanca.  It's another soft name, similar in sound to Ella.

Elsbeth or Lisbeth--Both of these German names are contractions for Elizabeth and worth considering.  Elsbeth seems gentle; while Lisbeth has a feisty spark.

Elspeth--Although this sounds like Elsbeth, it's actually the Scottish version.  Both are lovely and gentle and the come with the absolutely adorable and underused nickname, Elsie.

Eilish--Given the fascination with Ireland, this form of Elizabeth might just work if you are looking for something different.  As typical with the Irish names, you might find yourself having to repeat it very slowly.  It's still a lovely name, though, and worth the hassle.  (Pronounced E-leesh)

Eliska--This one is my favorite on the list.  This Slavic form of Elizabeth is interesting and crisp, yet familiar. 

Lisette--Yea, I know it sounds pretty 1950s Mickey Mouse Club.  But young children don't have any recollection of that old show and they will think little Lisette is as warm as the French sun in Saint-Tropez.

Elise--This French version has always been a personal favorite.  It's simple to pronounce, easy to spell, and rolls sweetly off the tongue.  It's cute for a baby, and sophisticated enough for a young woman.

Elisa--If you like the sound of Elise but are looking for those 3 syllables, try the Spanish Elisa.  Just don't call her Alyssa.  

Elisabetta--I saved the best Elizabeth for last.  She has it all.  She's Italian.  She is undeniably feminine.  And she has those 4 syllables that lots of modern parents go ga-ga over.  

Let's talk about Isabel---

Isabel is the Spanish variation of Elizabeth.  Every St. Isabel is also known as St. Elizabeth.  They are the same name.  And there are as many variations and nicknames of Isabel as there are for Elizabeth.  Isabel, Isabelle, Isabella, Isobel, and Sabella are just a few.

Normally, I would end this blog post about right here.  But since this is the Feast Day of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Elizabeth, I have one more name to mention, Charity.  On this day we reflect on the Christian virtue of Charity--love towards our neighbor.  Considering the popularity of Hope and Faith, why not name your daughter Charity, the greatest of the cardinal virtues.  The Spanish form, Caridad, is also quiet beautiful.  This would be a most beautiful way to honor Our Blessed Mother and St. Elizabeth both.

The Surnames Have It

     A few days ago, my son was busy playing around with his friend Bailey.  Ordinarily, I wouldn't have thought much about it, but when Bailey's little brother Oakley joined in, I recognized that the boys mother had gotten in pretty early on in what has become a popular naming style---the Surname-as-firstname Trend.  Being a Southerner by birth, I don't mind the practice at all.  In fact, using family surnames has been a long Southern (and Protestant) practice.  But I don't see why today's Catholic parents couldn't adopt the practice themselves.  Generally speaking, though, there aren't a whole lot of saints who actually had surnames, but if you were so inclined, it might be kind of fun and very interesting for modern Catholic parents to scour the Breviary or Butler's Lives of the Saints for consideration.  To get you started, here are a few that I have heard recently.

Kolbe  I know a precious little girl (not Catholic) who has this name, so she was part of my inspiration.  It's worthy of either a boy or girl and obviously honors St. Maximillian Kolbe who lost his life in a concentration camp during WWII.  Kolbi could be an alternate spelling.

Story/Storey  When I heard this name on the playground last week, I wasn't quite convinced it was such a good idea.  But since, I've rolled it over in my head a few times and I think it could work for the right kind of parents, maybe writers or English professors.  While it could work for either a boy or girl, I'm leaning a little towards the feminine.  Blessed John Story was an English martyr during the Protestant Revolt.

Vianney  St. John Vianney is one of my favorite saints and is also the patron of priests.  Pronounced with a soft "ah" and not the nasal "aa", I think it could make an interesting choice for girl.  

Garnet  This is my favorite name of all on this list.  I think the jewel names are long overdue for a comeback. And Garnet would fit right in with Opal, Pearl, and Ruby, yet she would be sparkling different.  St. Thomas Garnet was a Jesuit priest martyred in England, also around the time of the Protestant Revolt.

Fisher  I thought of this one primarily because June 22 was the Feast Day of St. John Fisher who was executed by order of King Henry VIII.  Considering the popularity of many of the occupational names, I think Fisher would stand out.  It also brings to mind the Apostles, whom Our Lord called "Fishers of Men."

Forest  To non-Catholic ears, this manly name might bring to mind the deep woodlands or remind some of the endearing and dutiful Forrest Gump.  But it would be a great opportunity to talk about the martyrdom of Blessed John Forest in England when he opposed King Henry VIII.  

Becket  The most known English martyr under King Henry VIII was St. Thomas Becket.  This is one of the favorites in celebrity circles, but not so out there that modern Catholics couldn't consider it for themselves.  It's handsome, strong, and traditional.  You could also spell it Beckett.

Three Or More

     A friend of mine is soon to give birth to her fourth daughter.  This little sweetie, much to my delight and honor, is to be my one and only God-daughter!  (Did I mention how honored I am?)  While I was reflecting on what that means and what an amazing responsibility that is,  I found some inspiration.  My friend likes 3 syllable names, probably because they roll off the tongue rather sweetly and they often have pet names that are simple and just as sweet.  But while my friend is sifting through all the female saints, I thought to go through the list of male names as well.  Below are my favorites from each letter of the alphabet.   I think any of these fabulous three-or-more syllable names could give any modern Catholic some great inspiration!

Boys:

Atticus--A literary inspiration and Hollywood favorite. A 4th Century Bishop.
Bartholomew--Quirky, cool, and cutting-edge.  One of Our Lord's Apostles.  
Cornelius--Irish without all the vowels.  A 3rd Century Pope.
Damian--Long past it's horror movie days.  Manly, yet gentle.  St. Damien of Molokai.
Ezekiel--A cool Biblical name.  Call him Zeke, but you could get Ezee, too!
Finnian--Fun, whimsical, and Irish.  St. Finnian was the father of Irish monasticism.
Gideon--Another fresh choice for Biblical name leaning parents.
Ignatius--Bold, brave, and decidely Catholic.  Even Iggy is fab!  St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Jeremiah--A Biblical name to replace Jeremy.  Plus, he's on the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
Leonidas--The loudest "lion" in the pack.  Many saints bear this bold, brave name.
Malachy--Traditional and Irish, with long-e on the end.  St. Malachy's Papal Prophecy.
Nikolai--International flair makes the old seem new.  Russian form of St. Nicholas.
Obadiah--Another Biblical choice with a sci-fi flair.  You know, Obi Wan....
Peregrine--Cutting-edge with literary cred.  St. Peregrine is patron of cancer patients.
Raphael--Exotic and cool, with a fab nickname.  The Archangel that gets overlooked.
Sebastian--Perfect for your little sport.  He's the patron saint of atheletes.  Call him Sebbi!
Tobias--A definitely Catholic Biblical name with the cowboy/country nickname, Toby.
Vittorio--Italian version with fab "v" and cool "o."  Fresh spin for St. Victor.
Xavier--No matter how you say it, this is way cool.  St. Francis of Xavier.
Zacharias--Biblical name in place of old fashioned Zachary.  St. John the Baptist's father.



Girls:

Adelaide--A personal favorite.  Sweet and strong.  St. Adelaide was filled with many graces.
Beatrice--Classic but fresh.  Try Beatrix for spunk.  St. Beatrice de Silva.
Cecilia--Sweet and melodious.  Patron saint of musicians.  Mary Cecilia is heavenly!
Dorothea--Modern, sleek, romantic, and quaint.  St. Dorothy was meek and humble.
Eulalia--Soft and sing-songy with a nautical connection.  St. Eulalia is patron of sailors.
Felicity--Means happiness.  Seems perfect.  St. Felicity was martyred in the 3rd century.
Genevieve--Strong and French with great nicknaming potential.  The patron saint of Paris.
Helena--No matter how you say it, she is fab.  St. Helena found the True Cross of Our Lord.
Isadora--Perfect replacement for the overused Isabelle/a.  St. Isidore the Farmer.
Josephine--Traditional and sweet.  Spunky JoJo; sweet Josie.  A way to honor St. Joseph.
Lucilla--More complete than Lucy, but still as sweet.  Several saints bear this name.
Marguerite--Delicate and French, not frilly.  Call her Daisy.  Plenty of St. Margarets.
Naomi--A Biblical girl's name for out-side the box parents.  Sweet, with the long-e.
Octavia--Romantic and exotic "o" name.  St. Octavianus was a North African martyr.
Philomena--Feminine, hip, and definitely Catholic.  She's the patron of youth.
Rosalie--Another soft, sweet name.  St. Rosalia is patron of Palermo.
Seraphina--Perfect for your little angel.  Also a celebrity favorite.  
Theodora--Dorothea backwards!  This version gets a slight edge.  Cute nicknames, too.
Virginia--What's not to love about naming your daughter after the Blessed Virgin Mary?
Zenobia--Exotic with a literary twist.  St. Zenobius was Bishop of Florence.

A Good Name is the Best of All Treasures.

     Today is the Feast Day of St. Boniface, patron of Germany.  In honor of my German immigrant ancestors, I thought today would be a great day to talk about German names.  Our country has a rich German history which I think, unfortunately, gets overlooked.  While the overwhelming majority of German immigrants were Lutherans, many German natives were Catholic, just as my ancestors were.  Not only did they bring with them Catholic traditions, especially the Christmas tree, but also a host of beautiful names to remind them of their home country and their saints.  If you claim German ancestry, perhaps some of these names might be worth considering.  While there are many, many German saint names to choose from, these are a few of my favorites that would feel right at home in the 21st Century.

Adelaide  St. Adelaide was not only the model of grace and beauty, she was extraordinarily brave and cunning.  She was also a Queen with a quit wit and incredible political finesse.  The story of her life is quite fascinating and remarkable.  And although she rose to highest position a woman could hold in those days, Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, she was also the model of humility.  Her Feast Day is December 16.  While Adelaide is beautiful in her own right, parents might consider Adele, Adela, Adeline, or the lovely Adelia.

Marcellina  St. Marcellina, who was born in Germany, was the only sister of St. Ambrose.  She elected to live her life as a consecrated virgin.  St. Ambrose loved her greatly and she spent her years devoted to acts of piety.  Another similar name is Marcella.  Both of these names were pretty popular many years ago, and seem just about ready for a revival.

Matilda  St. Matilda was also a Queen, yet in a different spirit than her daughter-in-law, Adelaide.  Matilda had a gentle and generous spirit, spending her life in acts of piety and great charity.  St. Matilda's Feast Day is March 14.  Interestingly enough, St. Matilda is the patron of large families.  Matilda has such a sweet ring to it, don't you think?  She also comes with the perfectly charming nickname Tillie.

Odilia  St. Odilia was not a queen, but a nun.  She was born blind to noble French parents.  Upon her baptism, her sight was miraculously restored and the young girl dedicated her life to Christ and His Church.  A convent in Germany bears her name.  While Odilia rolls off the tongue rather nicely, Ottilia is also another alternative.  

Benno  Oh, Benno.  This is such a cool name really worth considering.  It has that playful "o" at the end and it sounds masculine and strong.  At the same time, it carries a long history connected to one of Germany's important saints during the Middle Ages.  St. Benno was Bishop of Meissen who reformed his diocese and defended the Pope against King Henry.  He lived to the ripe old age of 95.

Leo  Here's another "o" to think about as well.  Pope St. Leo IX was an extraordinary man.  He excelled in everything from science to music.  He was an aristocrat, with incredible stature and intelligence and above all he had extraordinary sanctity.  He would make and incredibly namesake for any young boy.

Magnus  This is one powerful name that would rest well on any modern Catholic boy.  Magnus, which of course means "great", was the title given to at least two of Germany's saints.  St. Albert the Great and Magnus of Fussen.  Little Magnus on the playground would certainly make a statement!

Rupert  There isn't much known about St. Rupert.  However, I wanted to include this name for those parents who might be looking for something a bit different, yet traditional.  Rupert is the German form of Robert and might make an interesting choice for modern parents.

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.                  

The Rich Treasure of Royal Saints

     This year our children have decided to dress up as Royal Saints for our annual Saint's Day celebration.  So I thought this would be a good time to look through the lists of all Royals to see which names, or variations thereof, might be good inspiration for those parents who might be looking for something classic and traditional or fresh and contemporary.  
     The Church is filled of monarchs who exhibited great virtue, generosity, and piousness.  The list of the men and women who have used their power and wealth to glorify God and extend his Kingdom on earth would be quite a long one indeed.  As such, I have only listed the names that, I think, translate to American sensibilities.


Elizabeth:  There have been at least two royal Elizabeths who the Church calls saints and one was named for the other.  Princess Elizabeth of Hungary was born to King Andrew in 1207.  She was totally devoted to using her wealth to tend to the sick and feed the poor.  She built a hospital at the foot of her castle where she cared for the sick herself.  She was also known to have fed 900 hungry people every day.  Her niece, St. Elizabeth of Portugal took her duties as wife and queen very seriously.  Her constant prayers and sacrifices helped convert her pagan husband.  She dedicated her life to mending the royal family rivalries and potentially dangerous squabbles.  As such, she is know in the Church as Peacemaker.  Isabel is the usual form in Spain and Portugal.


Find Elizabeth and Isabel too popular?  Then try some of her variations; there are plenty.  There's the sleek and beautiful Eliza and the Scottish charm of Elsbeth.  The Italian Elisabetta is soft yet glamorous. Betty might be too retro for modern parents, but Bess might just appealing with her one-syllable simplicity and vintage flair.  The options really are endless.


Margaret:  St. Margaret of Scotland was known for her piety and charity.  She was mother to 3 Kings of Scotland.  She founded several churches and was known to have many religious treasures, especially a relic of the True Cross.  She was revered in Scotland for over 1000 years, making her name one of the most popular names given to Scottish and Irish young girls alike.   


The Irish nickname Megan continues to be one of the most popular girl's names in the U.S.  But there are plenty other Margaret variations and diminutives that any Catholic parent could be happy with.  If Megan isn't Irish enough for you, try Mairead or Marged.  Greta and Rita bring to mind the heyday of Hollywood glamour.  For the French lover, there's Marguerite and Margot.  For those parents that are looking for something spunky and fresh, there's Pearl and Daisy, since Margaret means "pearl" and Marguerite is a variety of lovely a daisy.


Adelaide:  St. Adelaide was princess of the King of Burgundy.  She was full of life, beautiful, determined, and resourceful.  At a young age, she married the King of Italy and became Queen.  Her husband was poisoned by a political rival, making her a widow.  When she refused to marry the son of her husband's murdered, she was imprisoned.  She escaped.  She sought aid by arranging a very good marriage for herself to Otto the King of Germany, heir to the Holy Roman Empire.  She was a model of piety and fortitude, always acknowledging the magnificent graces she received from God.  


Adelaide is fantastically lovely.  For the parents who want to honor St. Adelaide but aren't sure how the name translates, there's always Ada, Adele, Adella, and Adelia.  There's also the spunky Della or the classic Alice.  


Henry:  St. Henry II was often called the "Good King Henry."  He was a German King and Holy Roman Emperor about 1020.  He was incredibly pious and God gifted him with remarkable good sense.  He strengthened the Church in Germany with great love and zeal.  His military prowess and fortitude helped him to defeat the barbarian troops that waited to destroy the Empire and Christianity.  He was both a great emperor and a great saint.


Henry has remained one of the most popular names in the U.S. for a long time.  It reeks of royalty thanks to the long list of British royals, both good and bad.  But if Henry is not your style, there are other variations that might you consider.  Enrico and Arrigo or Harry and Hank.  Another variation worth considering is Emmerich, which could also be used to honor Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich.


The female versions of Henrietta and Harriet are long overdue for a comeback in the U.S and come with the adorable nickname, Hattie.


Edmund:  St. Edmund was King of East Anglia (England) in the year 869.  He was crowned on Christmas Day at the age of 14.  He was known to be a model ruler with incredible piety and faith.   Even though he was young, he was always aware of the dangers the pagan Scandanavians posed to his country.  He fought ardently to keep them at bay but was eventually captured and the country ransacked.  When he was brought before the Danish chief with offers of peace, St. Edmund refused to give his subjects over to pagan influences.  He was subsequently tortured and murdered.


Edmund is much more accessible than the related name Edwin.  There is also the fresh choice of the Irish Eamonn. (pronounced Ay-mon.)  For those parents looking for an attractive one-syllable name, there is the nickname Ned which could stand on its own.


David:  The most notable St. David is, of course, the King David of the Bible, King of Israel, great-grandson of Boaz and Ruth, slayer of Goliath, ancestor of Our Lord.  King David was both a horrible sinner and a repentant man.  He was filled with piety, justice, generosity, and faith.  The Scripture is filled with stories of his life from birth to death.  He was a great ruler, a prophet, a poet, and a musician.  While King David has his roots in Jewish culture, David has been the name of several saints in the Catholic Church, including the Patron of Wales.


There doesn't seem to be any other way to say David other than the traditional.  The surname Davis, though, might make and interesting choice for modern Catholics who were looking to be somewhat contemporary and stylish.


Throughout human history, the Kings and Queens have ruled the world, changed the world, and conquered the world.  The Bible is filled with stories of good rulers and bad rulers.  Our history books have stories of Kings and Queens who accomplished many things and brought nations together.  Our Catholic faith, in many ways, is founded on the zeal and faith of the leaders who have led us, died for us, and saved us from paganism and barbarism.  It seems fitting, then, that our own children bear the names of these Royal Saints that were infused with graces from God to lead us.

Brrr! Cool Saint's Names for Cool Weather

     In October, the weather gets cooler and the leaves begin to fall.  This month also has Feast Days for a saint or two beginning with Br.  In fact, there are many saint's names with the friendly, familiar Br.  Some are old favorites, brought to popularity in the 60s and 70s, but many are exciting and could make fresh new choices for contemporary parents looking for a combination of familiar and cool.


Bruno:  St. Bruno was a quiet and eloquent preacher, philosopher and teacher during the 11th Century. His Feast Day is October 6.  Bruno sounds strong, masculine, yet modern and hip.  It also has that cool "o" at the end.  Unfortunately for the girls, I don't think any of the feminine versions of the name translate very well.


Bridget:  St. Bridget of Sweden was a descendant of the royal family in the 14th Century.  She was kind, generous, and pious and her marriage to her husband produced 8 children, at least one of whom was also a saint.  Over the centuries she became one of the most celebrated saints in that part of the world.  Her Feast Day is October 8.  Bridget is also the English version of the beloved St. Brigid of Ireland.  This name is so popular across the globe that there any number of spellings and variations.  This name is simply, yet spunky, and not overly used.  The French Brigitte and the German Brigitta are both lovely.   There's also the unisex Britt, for those parents who are so inclined.  There is also the related name Bedelia, as long as it's not preceded by Amelia.


Brendan:  St. Brendan the Navigator became renowned in Irish history for his voyages across the sea.  St. Brendan was born in the 6th century, when the Catholics in Ireland were sending missionaries across Europe. Most American parents are probably more familiar with the 90s favorite, Brandon.  Brennan is another variation of the name that flows off the tongue.  The female version, Brenda, is a bit outdated, but Brenna is modern, fun, and still feminine.  It's also the name of one of our daughters.


Breccan, Brannock, Brice, and Brogan:  The names of these Celtic Saints would make interesting replacements for the over-popular and unsaintly crop of Celtic-sounding names like Braxton, Braydon, and Logan that modern parents are attracted to.