Finding a name has been a trial for me to say the least. There is a limit to the books on surviving names for my period and location and they were not the most easy to find. Many of the lists available for women’s names online are woefully short and poorly cited. However, after second guessing myself and being a general pain in the ass I think I have settled on either Litta Celori or Litta Argentias.
Initially I hoped to put together a name with my real-life initials and something that sounded similar but wasn’t a fan of many of my options. There were some I really liked that were a mouthful. I suspect having an easy to read and pronounce name would help me connect with others better than something like Sennametomara Autriahenae.
All three components come from the same inscription. Argentias is a genitive singular of an ā-stem of the Gaulish word “Argenta/Argentia” which is the word for silver. It’s confirmed to be used as a name in several location across Gaul. Celori has only appeared in one source I can find as a likely a variation of Celorus or Celorius which general accepted as a Celtic to Latin name. Being that I plan on having a persona of mixed heritage, this works astoundingly well.
Litta is a funny one in which my google-fu leaves me perplex. It was clearly used in Latin; I have found one other period source located in Iberia; it was also a late medieval Italian name; is a stem for early Germanic names; comes up as both Latin, Spanish and Danish of origin for modern people…this name travels but doesn’t seem to claim an origin to any one period or culture. Since I have a period use in the right time, region and mixed with Gaulish names, I would say that it would be a win in general.
Heraldry was easier to work with as it came down to making up something I liked that was no used by another. I got the clear for use of:
Argent, an anille palewise sable between in fess two coneys sejant respectant azure.
Rabbits are one of my favorite things on this earth (I have three of my own after all) and I wanted something that somewhat resembled Gaulish shield designs. While there aren’t really Gaulish designs that were legal for use in the SCA I decided that I would vertically turn an anille and get something that reminds me of those same shield designs.
I’ll be submitting this week. I hope it all goes swimmingly.
Oh My Gaul 