ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1243 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1243 ************************************ 15 Sep 1998 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked for help choosing a medieval or renaissance Italian name meaning "Cecilia the Fertile". Here is what we have found. We have not found the name in use in period Italy, but it may have been used. The cult of Saint Cecilia was popular throughout western Europe, and her name was common among the Normans [1]. We haven't found any Italy epithet meaning "fertile". The modern Italian word does mean "fertile, fruitful" [2], but we have not seen it used as a name. We did find the modern Italian surname "springtime". This name probably originated as a personal nickname, perhaps for a child born in early spring [3]. Since the spring is a time of birth, this name might carry an implication of fertility. is a plausible medieval Italian name that might have the meaning you intend. In formal documents, Italians were most commonly identified as their father's children or, in the 15th century and after, by family names. For example, if you were a 14th century whose father was , then you would most often have been called . Later in period, the daughter of would have been called . I hope this letter has been useful. Please write us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Talan Gwynek. For the Academy, Arval Benicoeur 15 Sept 1998 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] Withycombe, E.G., _The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names_, 3rd ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988). [2] _The Concise Cambridge Italian Dictionary_, ed. Barbara Reynolds (New York & Hammondsworth, England: Penguin Books, 1975). [3] Fucilla, Joseph G., _Our Italian Surnames_ (Evanston, IL: Chandlers' Inc., 1949), p.223. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Correction, Arval, 3 Sep 04: We do have evidence of the Italian form of , which is . See report 880.