CelerinusmLate Roman, History (Ecclesiastical) Derived from the Latin word celer, meaning "quick, swift", followed by the masculine diminutive suffix -inus. This was the name of an African martyr, revered for his suffering while imprisoned by Emperor TrajanDecius in Rome... [more]
CeolfriðmAnglo-Saxon, History (Ecclesiastical) Derived from the Old English elements ceol "keel (of a ship)" and friþ "peace". This name was borne by an Anglo-Saxon Christian abbot and saint, and also gave rise to the surnames Chilvers and Chorlton, and the place name Chorlton-cum-Hardy in Manchester.
CharitinafLate Greek (Latinized), History (Ecclesiastical) Latinized form of Charitine. Saint Charitina of Amisus (also known as Charitina of Rome) was a virgin martyr from Asia Minor, distinguished by strict chastity and piety, while Charitina of Lithuania (died 1281) is a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
ChrodechildefHistory (Ecclesiastical) French form of the Germanic name Hrothildis (see Rothild). This was the original name of Saint Clotilde (for whom the names Rohilde or Rotilde would be more accurate).
ChrysanthusmAncient Greek (Latinized), History (Ecclesiastical) Latinized form of Chrysanthos. Saints Chrysanthus and Daria (3rd century – c. 283) are saints of the Early Christian period. Their names appear in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum, an early martyrs list, and a church was built in their honour over their reputed burial place in Rome.
ChrysorroasmGreek, History (Ecclesiastical) Means "streaming with gold" in Greek, from Greek χρυσός (chrysos) "gold" and ῥοάς (rhoás) "stream", derived from ῥοή (rhoé) "river, stream" (Compare river Chrysorrhoas)... [more]
ClodoaldmFrankish, History (Ecclesiastical) From Clodoaldus, a latinized form of Chlodowald. This was the name of a 6th-century Frankish saint, better known as Saint Cloud. He was a grandson of King Clovis I who became a hermit and monk.
CointhafHistory (Ecclesiastical) Latinization of Kointa, itself a Hellenized form of Quinta. Saint Cointha suffered martyrdom during the persecutions of Emperor Trajanus Decius. Cointha was martyred by having her feet tied to a horse then being dragged through the streets of Alexandria.
CollenmMedieval Welsh, History (Ecclesiastical) Derived from Middle Welsh collen "hazel", ultimately from Old Welsh coll. Collen was a 7th-century monk who gave his name to Llangollen.
ComasiafItalian (Rare), History (Ecclesiastical) Comasia was bore by a II-IV century martyr and saint who would help during drought and dryness. A legend says that her name was unknown even in the past so she was named Santa (Saint) come sia meaning "be that as it may" in Italian and later became Comasia... [more]
ConsortiafHistory (Ecclesiastical) Derived from the Latin adjective consors meaning "having a common lot, of the same fortune" (genitive consortis). This name was borne by a 6th-century saint who is said to be venerated at Cluny, France.
ConstabilismHistory (Ecclesiastical) From Late Latin constabilio meaning "to establish, to confirm, to strengthen". This was the name of an 11th-century Italian abbot and saint.
ConvalmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Saint Conval (died c.630) was an Irish-born missionary who, when pondering his vocation, was carried by the stone he stood on across the Irish Sea to Inchinnan in Scotland. He was active in the Kingdom of Strathclyde in the area of East Renfrewshire, where there were “Conval wells” in Barrhead and Thornliebank.
CruithnechánmHistory (Ecclesiastical), Old Irish Means "little grain" in Old Irish, from Old Irish cruithnecht "wheat, grain" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of a 6th-century Irish saint known as one of the mentors of Columba.
CubymHistory (Ecclesiastical) Cornish form of Cybi. Saint Cuby was a 6th-century Cornish bishop, saint and, briefly, king, who worked largely in North Wales.
DecumanmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Means "large, chief" in Latin, derived from Latin decumanus meaning "tenth". This was the name of one of the Celtic saints who came to Somerset from Pembrokeshire (-706).
DefendensmHistory (Ecclesiastical), Late Roman Derived from Late Latin defendere meaning "to defend, to protect". The soldier-saint Defendens of Thebes (Italian: San Defendente di Tebe) was, according to Christian tradition, a member of the Theban Legion, and thus martyred at Agaunum... [more]
DerwafCornish, History (Ecclesiastical) Likely derived from Cornish derow "oak trees" (ultimately from Proto-Celtic *daru "tree"). Saint Derwa is the patron saint of Menadarva (Merther Derwa in Cornish, translating to grave of St Derwa in English) in the parish of Camborne, Cornwall... [more]
DevotafHistory (Ecclesiastical), Ligurian Saint Devota (died ca. 303 AD) is the patron saint of Corsica and Monaco. She is sometimes identified with another Corsican saint named Julia, who was described in Latin as Deo devota ("devoted to God")... [more]
DisciolefHistory (Ecclesiastical) Meaning unknown. The 6th-century Frankish saint Disciole (or Disciola), a niece of Saint Salvius of Albi and a favourite companion of Queen Radegund, "was noted for her saintly death, which is described in detail by Gregory of Tours".
DodafFrankish, Medieval Polish, History (Ecclesiastical) Diminutive of names beginning with Do-, or possibly from either Old High German toto meaning "sponsor, godparent" or Old High German *dodh meaning "judgement". As such it is the feminine form of Dodo... [more]
DrosisfHistory (Ecclesiastical) Variant of Drusa via the form Drosa. According to Orthodox Christian ecclesiastical traditions St. Drosis was the daughter of the Emperor Trajan (98-117 AD)... [more]
DubricmHistory (Ecclesiastical), Judeo-Christian-Islamic Legend, Arthurian Cycle In Welsh legend, he is said to be the illegitimate son of the daughter of King Peibio Clafrog, ruler of Ergyng (located in present-day Herefordshire, England), Efrddyl. Her father tried to drown her in the River Wye, but didn’t succeed... [more]
EbrulfmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Ebrulf (517–596) was a Frankish saint, hermit, and abbot. A Merovingian courtier at the court of Childebert I, he was a cup-bearer to the king and an administrator of the royal palace.
EdeyrnmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Saint Edeyrn (c. 6th century) was a pre-congregational saint of Wales, related to Vortigern and the royal house of Powys and the brother of Saint Aerdeyrn and Elldeyrn. Edeyrn is the patron saint of Lannédern in France and Llanedeyrn in Wales, where he founded a monastery of over 300 people.
EgipcíacafHistory (Ecclesiastical, Hispanicized) From Latin Aegyptiaca meaning "Egyptian woman" or "woman from Egypt". Saint Mary of Egypt (c. 344-c. 421), a patron saint of penitents, is known as Maria Aegyptiaca in Latin and María Egipcíaca in Spanish.
ÉgyptiennefFrench (Archaic), Malagasy (Rare), History (Ecclesiastical) Derived from French Égyptienne, the feminine form of the noun Égyptien "Egyptian (person)". This name is generally given in honour of the catholic and orthodox saint Marie l'Égyptienne (known in English as Mary of Egypt).
ElessafGreek (Rare), History (Ecclesiastical) The Holy Martyr Elessa of Kythira was a young woman from the Peloponnese who lived in the latter half of the fourth century. She was martyred by her father who objected to her becoming a Christian. St... [more]
ElfinmMedieval English (?), History (Ecclesiastical) This was the name of an obscure local saint venerated in medieval Warrington, a town in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. It is allegedly a British derivative of Latin Alpinus (see Alpin; also Elphin, Alvin).
ElidiusmHistory (Ecclesiastical) This name is best known for being one of the names that the 8th-century Cornish hermit saint Lide (also known as Elid, Elida, Elide, Lyda and Lyde) was known by... [more]
ElpidephoursmHistory (Ecclesiastical) St. Elpidephours was a Persian Christian and ordained priest. He was arrested and slain for the faith during the reign of King Shapur II.
ElwenmCornish, Welsh, History (Ecclesiastical) Saint Elwen was an early saint venerated in Cornwall and Brittany. A chapel at Porthleven in Sithney parish, Cornwall, dedicated to Elwen, existed from the 13th century until 1549, and in Brittany several sites and placenames are associated with possibly related figures.
ÉmilandmFrench (Archaic), History (Ecclesiastical) Variant of Émilien. Saint Émiland de Nantes, also known as Émilien de Nantes (Émilien of Nantes in English), was a French religious leader who was canonized by the church as a martyr for dying in a fight against the Saracens in Burgundy in 725 AD.
EmmerammGerman (Rare), History (Ecclesiastical) Germanic name, in which the second element is hramn meaning "raven". The first element is often said to be heim meaning "home" (which would thus make this name a relative of Heimeran), but it could also be amal meaning "work, labour" or ermen meaning "whole, universal"... [more]
EnnathafHistory (Ecclesiastical) Possibly a Hellenized form of a name derived from Syriac anafat meaning "pride" or ennaf, annaf meaning "good, benefit". This was borne by a Christian saint from Gaza who was martyred in Caesarea, Palestine in 309 AD along with Saint Valentina... [more]
EnnemondmFrench (Rare), History (Ecclesiastical) French form of Annemund. This name was borne by Ennemond Gaultier (c. 1575 – 17 December 1651), a French lutenist and composer. He was one of the masters of the 17th century French lute school.
EobanmMedieval Dutch, History (Ecclesiastical) Eoban (died 5 June 754 at Dokkum) was a companion of St. Boniface, and was martyred with him on his final mission. In Germany, he is revered as a bishop and martyr.
EphigeniafHistory (Ecclesiastical) Variant of Iphigenia. Saint Ephigenia of Ethiopia (also known as Iphigenia of Ethiopia; 1st century), is a folk saint whose life is told in the Golden Legend as a virgin converted to Christianity and then consecrated to God by St... [more]
EpistemefLate Greek, History (Ecclesiastical) Derived from Ancient Greek ἐπιστήμη "knowledge, understanding; skill". Saint Episteme was a 3rd-century Syrian Christian martyred under the reign of Decius.
ÉrigemHistory (Ecclesiastical, Gallicized) French form of Arigius. Saint Érige is venerated in the Southern French Alps, in Saint-Etienne de Tinée and in Auron nearby where a chapel to his name is located.
EulabiosmLate Greek, History (Ecclesiastical) Derived from the Greek noun εὐλάβεια (eulabeia) meaning "discretion, caution" (see Eulabeia). Also compare the Greek adjective εὐλαβής (eulabes) meaning "taking hold well, holding fast, clinging" as well as "discreet, cautious, undertaking prudently".
EuprepiosmLate Greek, History (Ecclesiastical) Means "well-looking, comely, seemly", derived from Greek εὖ (eu) "well, good" and the verb πρέπω (prepo) "to be clearly seen, to be conspicuously fitting"... [more]
EupsychiusmAncient Greek (Latinized), History (Ecclesiastical) Latinized form of Eupsychios. This name was notably borne by Eupsychius of Caesaria, a 4th-century Christian martyr and saint from Asia Minor. He is venerated in both the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.
EustochiafPolish (Rare, ?), History (Ecclesiastical) From a Greek word meaning "well-aimed", derived from εὖ (eu) "good" and στόχος (stochos) "an aim, shot". This was borne by Saint Eustochia Calafato, a 15th-century nun from Sicily.
EvelliusmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Evellius (died 66 AD) was an early Christian martyr. He was a counselor to Nero, but was eventually martyred at Pisa after he converted to Christianity.
FantinusmHistory (Ecclesiastical) This was the name of two saints, namely Fantinus the Elder (294-336) and Fantinus the Younger (c. 927-1000). Both hailed from the deep south of what is now Italy: Fantinus the Elder was born either on the island of Sicily or in the mainland region of Calabria (sources disagree), whilst Fantinus the Younger is certain to have been born somewhere in Calabria.... [more]