French Arthurian Women's Names
Women are severely underrepresented in Arthurian romances. Judging
by the number of names given, the Arthurian universe was 80% male,
15% female, and 5% horse—which sheds new light on why nine
out of ten Arthurian romances begin with someone faffing off with
someone else's woman. Many women who appear in the romances aren't
even named; they are the Lady/Damsel of <Castle Name> or the
Lady of <Attractive Feature>, which cuts down even farther
on the list of women's names. If you want to pad out the list a
bit, pull some names from a list of real women's names from the
period.
|
Name
|
Variants |
Meaning |
| Alemandine |
|
|
| Alienor |
Alyenor |
|
| Amice |
|
Possibly "amity" |
| Amie |
|
Possibly "beloved" |
| Andelise |
|
|
| Andri(e)uete |
Androëte |
|
| Anne |
|
Anne |
| Arondele |
|
|
| Audain |
|
Alde |
| Beatris |
Autandre |
Beatrice |
| Benuz |
Venuz? |
|
| Berte |
Bertain |
|
| Biauté |
-s, -z, Belté, -s, -z, Bia(l)té(s),
Biautei, -ez |
|
| Biblis |
Bliblis |
Byblis |
| Blancemal |
Blanchemal |
|
| Blancemor(n)e |
Brangemore |
Brangemuer? |
| Blanchandin(n)e |
|
|
| Blanche |
|
white |
| Blancheflor |
Blanceflo(u)r, Blancheflours |
white flower |
| Blanchepart |
|
|
| Blonde Esmeree |
|
|
| Brangepart |
Brangespart, Branguespart |
|
| Brengain |
Brangain, Brangien, Brengien, Brenguien, Brengve(i)n,
Brigvain |
|
| Bride |
|
Brigid |
| Brimeholz |
|
|
| Bruneheut |
Brunehout, Brunchor |
|
| Canacé |
|
Canace |
| Chrestine |
Estrestine |
Christine |
| Cilla |
|
Scylla |
| Claire |
|
Claire |
| Clarete |
|
|
| Claris(s)ant |
Clarisans, Clarisanz, Clairisens, Claris(s)ent,
Clarisens, Clarisenz, sclarisant |
|
| Co(n)stance |
|
Constance |
| Damelehaut |
|
poss. a misreading of "de Malohaut" |
| Dëianirra |
|
Deianira |
| Dido |
Didoz, Dydo |
Dido |
| Dionise |
Dyonise |
var. of Dionysia, Denise |
| Eco |
|
Echo |
| Ecuba |
|
Hecuba |
| Elain(n)e |
Elanne, Elayne, Eleinne, Elenne, Eylaine, Helain(n)e |
Helen |
| Elie |
|
|
| Eme |
|
|
| Enide |
Enyde |
Enid |
| Enna |
|
|
| Enygeus |
Enyseus |
Enygeus, sister of Joseph of Arimathea |
| Ero |
|
Hero |
| Esclarmonde |
Esclarmondine |
|
| Escolasse |
|
poss. Escotaise, "a woman of Escoce" |
| Esotil |
|
|
| Eve |
Evain, Evein |
Eve |
| Faukain |
|
|
| Felinete |
|
|
| Felinors |
|
|
| Fenice |
Fenyce |
|
| Fenise |
|
|
| Fillis |
|
Phyllis |
| Flor Desiree |
|
|
| Florence |
|
Florence |
| Florete |
Flourete |
|
| Galiene |
|
|
| Gille |
|
|
| Guenievre |
Gahunmare, Ganievre, Gen(i)evre, Genoivre, Guenevre,
Guenoivre, Guimart, Guinemars, Jenevre |
Guinevere |
| Guenlöie |
Genlöie, Guenelöie, Guinloïe,
Winlogee |
|
| Guigenor |
Aguigenor, Guingenor |
|
| Gui(g)nier |
Guimen, Guiner |
|
| Guilladon |
|
|
| Guilorete |
Galoïete, Guinloiete, Guiolete |
|
| Hebe |
|
|
| Helie |
Elie |
|
| Heloin(n)e |
Eloine, Heleinne, Heloine |
Helen, Elaine, Helaine |
| Hypermnestra |
|
Hypermnestra, daughter of Danaus |
| Idain |
Ide, Ydain, Yde, Idane |
|
| Ingle |
|
|
| Jehanne |
|
Jehanne, Joan, Jean |
| Jolïete |
|
|
| Juno |
|
Juno |
| Katerine |
|
Catherine |
| Laudine |
|
|
| Lavine |
Laivine |
Lavinia |
| Lidaine |
Lidainne, Lidayn(n)e, Lidoine, Lidoyne, Lydain(n)e,
Lydoine, Ydaine, Ydoine |
|
| Lingrenote |
|
|
| Lore |
Lores |
|
| Lorete |
|
|
| Lorie |
Leurie, Lore |
|
| Lunete |
|
|
| Madoine |
Madoigne, Madoyne |
|
| Margerie |
|
Marjory |
| Marie |
|
Mary |
| Marie Madelaine |
Marie la Madaleinne |
Mary Magdalen |
| Marine |
|
|
| Marot |
Maros |
|
| Marte |
|
|
| Medea |
|
Medea |
| Melye |
|
|
| Mira |
|
Myrrha |
| Morc(h)adés |
Marcadés, Morgadés, Noncadés,
Norcadés |
Morgause |
| Morgain |
Morgant, Morgans, Morganz, Morge, Morghe, Morguain,
Morgue |
Morgan |
| Odeliz |
|
|
| Violete |
|
Violet |
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