In This House of Brede: nun names

[dustthouart.livejournal.com]

I just finished In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden, published in 1969, which is an excellent novel about a Benedictine female monastery in the 50s and 60s. I loved the book (strong recommendation) and I also loved the names of the characters, many of which suit my own naming style. The main character, Philippa, is actually my daughter's name too.

The book contains a list of the nuns and sisters, so here are the religious names from that, with birth names (if known and different) in parentheses:
Hester
Emily
Veronica
Agnes
Maura
Beatrice
Catherine
Perpetua
Colette
Edith
Ursula
Clare
Joan
Domitilla
Camilla
Mildred
Bridget
Teresa
Thecla
Gertrude
Winifred
Monica
Margaret
Anselma
Frances Anne
Simone
Paula
Priscilla
Jane
Ellen
Stephanie
Justine
Gabrielle
Hannah
Marianne
Xaviera
Julian (Barbara)
Constance
Benita
Nichola
Sophie
Louise
Elizabeth
Renata
Susanna
Hilary (Fiona)
Cecily (Elspeth)

My favorites (not necessarily to use): Beatrice, Colette, Thecla, Elspeth, Renata, Anselma

WDYT?

Comments

[gemmagic.livejournal.com]

I like quite a lot of those names. I even like "Hester", even though I only heard of it for the first time when I was reading Earthy Joys and Virgin Earth by Philippa Gregory. I have a cousin named Esther, so I would not name a child of my own Hester, but I like it.

[behindgrey-eyes.livejournal.com]

I like Ursula, Teresa and Elizabeth for names I'd actually use. Susanna and Constance are nice too.

[lipsty.livejournal.com]

Incidentally, I love the name Rumer but have been told by whoever I mention it to that it's "made up". It's an old English name, but I guess it has mainly fallen out of use. There are a couple of modern Rumers sneaking through, though!

[bingybingy.livejournal.com]

Emily
Beatrice
Bridget
Margaret
Gabrielle
Hannah
Sophie

[earn-my-wings.livejournal.com]

I was surprised to open the cut and see so many names I liked, considering the subject matter, but I do like quite a few!

I like:

Maura (it's like a more unique version of Laura to me)
Perpetua (although it's forever connected to a piece in my violin solo repertoire so I could never use it!)
Colette!!!! Love it!
Clare
Simone (I have good associations with an amazing beautiful woman with this name)
Jane (this one is classy and timeless to me. Never goes out of style in my book)
Justine
Cecile
Fiona
Constance

[earn-my-wings.livejournal.com]

Stupid auto correct: I meant Cecily

[hermione-vader.livejournal.com]

I saw some of these, like Domitilla and Frances Anne, and I was like, "Yeah, those are nuns, alright."

I like:

Beatrice
Catherine
Perpetua
Ursula
Clare
Domitilla
Camilla
Monica
Margaret
Simone
Paula
Priscilla
Jane
Stephanie
Justine
Gabrielle
Marianne
Xaviera
Nichola
Sophie
Louise
Elizabeth
Renata
Susanna
Fiona
Elspeth

[skittles22088.livejournal.com]

I like:
Philippa
Emily
Veronica
Catherine
Bridget
Winifred
Monica
Hannah
Sophie
Elizabeth

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

Agnes
Maura
Beatrice
Catherine
Perpetua
Colette
Edith
Clare
Margaret
Jane
Hannah
Sophie
Elizabeth
Cecily
Elspeth

[laminy.livejournal.com]

I like:

Philippa
Hester
Veronica
Agnes
Frances
Elspeth

[chaichilaquiles.livejournal.com]

I love the name Simone!! Unfortunately I had to kick it off my list because in Mexican Spanish (and baby is part Mexican) a slang way to say "yes" is simon. Sounds the same, and in Spanish it is more of a boys name anyway.

[dustthouart.livejournal.com]

Her full name was actually Margaret Rumer Godden, so it might work well in the middle slot.

[brittmarie.livejournal.com]

Emily
Veronica
Agnes
Catherine
Colette
Clare
Camilla
Margaret
Gabrielle
Sophie
Cecily