The name Petronella was also used a fair amount in medieval England alongside other names such as Hawise and Juliana and Jacosa which we either don’t associate with English speakers today or have disappeared altogether.
There is a new series on PBS Masterpiece titled The Miniaturist. It takes place in Amsterdam in probably the 17th Century. The protagonist is named Petronella. Nella for short. Petronella is an interesting name. Not unappealing.
I've liked this ever since being cast as Petronella Van Damme in an 8th-grade production of The Diary of Anne Frank (the only time I've ever heard it, honestly)... even if it does seem like a portmanteau of "petroleum" and "citronella." XD It's still an attractive, strong, elegant name.
This name is alright, really, when I think about it, but it does sound a bit overly-feminine, and just a bit flouncy, but Nella is an ok nickname. I suppose. :)
Yes, this is the name of one of Cinderella's evil step sisters in the Swedish version of Disney's Cinderella. That has put me off this name, I hated Petronella with a passion growing up. ;)
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Petronella