Marian Names (Redux)

Waaaaaay back in 2012 I did a post on Marian names, and have since been adding to it one at a time as I came across others. Recently, though, I found even more, which made me wonder just how many I managed to miss the first time. 😅

(I found a lot. In my defense, many are localized and/or rare)

So, instead of updating that older list, I've decided just to publish a new expanded and more detailed version. Enjoy!

If you're unfamiliar with the concept, Marian names are simply names given in honor of the Virgin Mary. As such, they're most common in Catholicism, but are occasionally used in other branches of Christianity as well.

[all are feminine unless otherwise stated]

• Abene (ah-beh-neh, Basque)--"pillar". Basque translation of Pilar. 
• Achiropita (ah-kee-ROH-pee-tah, Italian)--from Greek, "not created by human hands".
     Refers to the Madonna Santissima Achiropita in the Rossano Cathedral, Italy. 
• África (AH-free-kah, Spanish)--"Africa"
     Refers to shrine Our Lady of Africa of Ceuta, Spain.
• Ainhoa (eye-noh-ah, Basque, Spanish)--poss. from Basque, "little place". Spanish variant is Ainoa.
     Refers to town of Ainhoa, France, along the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James). 
• Aintzane (ine-tsah-neh, Basque)--"glory". Another form is Aintza (ine-tsah). Basque translation of Gloria. 
• Aitziber (eye-tsee-behr, Basque, Spanish)--from Basque, meaning unknown
     Refers to the Hermitage of Aitziber, Navarra, Spain.
• Aizpea (eye-speh-ah, Basque, Spanish)--from Basque, "under the rock"
     Refers to the Hermitage of Our Lady of Aizpea, Euskadi, Spain.
• Alazne (ah-lahs-neh, Basque)--"miracle". Basque translation of Milagros. 
• Alegría (ah-leh-GREE-ah, Spanish)--"joy" [much more common as a surname]
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Joy. 
• Almudena (ahl-moo-DEH-nah, Spanish)--from Arabic, "citadel"
     Refers to the Virgen de la Almudena in the Almudena Cathedral, Spain.
• Altagracia (ahl-tah-GRAH-see-ah, Spanish; ahl-tah-grah-SEE-ah, Portuguese)--"high grace"
     Refers to Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, patroness of the Dominican Republic. 
• Amatza (ah-maht-sah, Basque, Spanish)--poss. from Basque ama, "mother".
     Refers to the Hermitage of San Martín de Amatza, Euskadi, Spain.
• Ametza (ah-met-sah, Basque, Spanish)--from Basque, origin unknown [also a type of oak]
     Refers to the dedication Nuestra Señora de Ametza in Euskari, Spain. 
• Amparo (ahm-PAH-roh, Spanish, Portuguese)--"refuge"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Refuge. 
• Ángeles (AHN-jel-es, Spanish)--"angels"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Angels. 
• Angustias (ahn-GOOST-ee-ahs, Spanish)--"anguish"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Anguish. 
• Annunziata (ahn-noon-TSYAH-tah, Italian)--"announced". Masculine form is Annunziato. Respective diminutives, Nunzia (NOON-tsee-ah) and Nunzio (NOON-tsee-oh), are often used independently as well. Spanish form is Anunciación (ah-noon-see-ah-see-OHN).
     Refers to the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary. 
• Aparecida (ah-pah-reh-SEE-dah, Portuguese)--"appeared"
     Refers to Nossa Senhora da Conceição Aparecida, Patroness of Brazil. 
• Araceli (ah-rah-SEH-lee, Spanish)--from Latin, "altar of the sky"
     Refers to the Nuestra Señora de Araceli in Andalusia, Spain. 
• Arantzazu (ah-rahnt-sah-soo, Basque, Spanish)--from Basque, "thornbush". Variants are Arantxa (ah-rahn-chah, Basque), Arantza (ah-rahnt-sah, Basque, Spanish), and Arancha (ah-RAHN-chah, Spanish).
     Refers to the apparition Virgen de Arantzazu. 
• Asunción (ah-soon-see-OHN, Spanish)--"assumption". Other forms are Assunta (ah-SOON-tah, Italian), Assumpció (ah-soomp-see-OH, Catalan), and Asun (ah-SOON, Spanish).
     Refer to the Assumption of Mary into Heaven. 
• Auxiliadora (owk-seel-ee-ah-DOR-ah, Spanish)--from Latin, "gift of assistance"
     Refers to the title Mary, Help of Christians.
• Azahar (ah-sah-AR, Spanish)--"orange blossom", from Arabic zahrah, "blossom". Another form is Azahara (ah-sah-AR-ah).
     Refers to the dedication Virgen del Azahar in Región de Murcia, Spain. 
• Begoña (beh-GOHN-yah, Spanish)--from Basque, poss. "at the foot [of a mountain]".
     Refers to apparition Nuestra Señora de Begoña. 
• Bonaria (boh-NAH-ree-ah, Sardinian, Italian)--"good-natured" or "fair winds"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Fair Winds. 
• Callyvorry (kah-luh-vorr [rolled 'rr']-uh, [medieval, Anglicized] Manx)--"servant of Mary". Also appears in records as Calyvorra and Calyvorr.
• Candelaria (kan-deh-LAH-ree-ah, Spanish)--"Candlemas". Variants include Cande (KAHN-deh), Candelas (kahn-DEH-las), & Candela (kahn-DEH-lah). Masculine is Candelario.
     Refers to the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Candlemas. 
• Canòlic (cah-NAH-leek, Catalan)--origin unknown
     Refers to the Mare de Déu de Canòlic in Canòlic, Andorra. 
• Caridad (kah-ree-DAHD, Spanish)--"charity"
     Refers to Nuestra Señora de Caridad del Cobre, patroness of Cuba.
• Carmel (KAHR-mel, English; kahr-MEHL, Spanish)--from Hebrew, "garden". Other forms include Carmela (kar-MEH-lah, Spanish, Italian), Carme (KAHR-meh, Catalan, Galician), and Carmella (kar-MEL-lah, English). Masculine is Carmelo (kar-MEH-loh, Spanish, Italian).
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Carmel.
• Catena (kah-TEH-nah, Sicilian, Italian)--"chain"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of the Chain.
• Civita (CHEE-vee-tah, Italian)--"city"
     Refers to the Madonna della Civita, in the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Civita, Italy. 
• Concepción (kon-sep-see-OHN, Spanish)--"conception". Other forms include Conchita (cohn-CHEE-tah, Spanish), Concepta (con-SEP-tah, English, Irish), Concetta (cohn-CHET-tah, Italian), and Conceição (cohn-say-SOW, Portuguese).
     Refers to the Immaculate Conception. 
• Consuelo (kohn-SWEH-loh, Spanish)--"consolation". Variants include Consuela (kohn-SWEH-lah), Consolación (kohn-soh-lah-see-OHN), and Chelo (CHE-loh). Italian form is Consolata (con-soh-LAH-tah).
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Consolation. 
• Corazón (koh-rah-SOHN, Spanish)--"heart"
     Refers to the title Immaculate Heart of Mary. 
• Coromoto (koh-roh-MOH-toh, Spanish)--prob. of Native American origin, meaning unknown
     Refers to the apparition Nuestra Señora de Coromoto. 
• Covadonga (koh-vah-DOHN-gah, Spanish)--from Latin, "cave of the lady"
     Refers to the shrine Virgen de Covadonga of Asturias, Spain. 
• Deñe (den-yeh, Basque)--"annunciation". Basque translation of Annunciación. 
• Desanges (dez-AWNZH, French)--"of angels". Also spelled Desange. [more common as a surname]
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Angels. 
• Desneiges (deh-NEZH, French)--"of the snows"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of the Snows. 
• Dolores (doh-LOH-rehs, English, Spanish)--from Spanish, "sorrows". Other forms include Lola (LOH-lah, English, Spanish), Dolors (doh-LORZ, Catalan), Dores (DOR-ez, Portuguese), and Addolorata (ah-doh-loh-RAH-tah, Italian).
     Refers to the title Mary of Sorrows. 
• Edurne (eh-door-neh, Basque)--"snow". Masculine is Edur. Basque translation of Nieves. 
• Encarnación (en-kahr-nah-see-OHN, Spanish)--"incarnation"
     Refers to the incarnation of Jesus in Mary's womb.
• Esperanza (es-peh-RAHN-sah, Spanish)--"hope". Frence form is Espérance (es-pay-RAWNs).
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Hope. 
• Eunate (eh-oo-nah-teh, Basque, Spanish)--poss. from Basque, "good door".
     Refers to the Church of Saint Mary of Eunate in Navarra, Spain; along the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James). 
• Farners (far-NEHS, Catalan)--prob. from Latin "flour"
     Refers to the Church of Our Lady of Farners, Catalonia, Spain.
• Fátima (FAH-tee-mah, Portuguese, Spanish)--from Arabic, "abstaining"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Fátima and the apparitions at Fátima, Portugal. [the town name itself comes from the Arabic name Fatimah]
• Fuencisla (fwen-SEES-lah, Spanish)--prob. "flowing spring"
     Refers to the Virgen de la Fuencisla in Castilla y León, Spain
• Fuensanta (fwen-SAHN-tah, Spanish)--"blessed spring"
     Refers to the Virgen de la Fuensanta, patroness of Murcia, Spain.
• Gloria (GLOH-ree-ah, Spanish)--"glory". Portuguese spelling is Glória. [obvs. used in many different languages, but not necessarily considered a Marian name]
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Glory. 
• Guadalupe (gwah-dah-LOO-peh, Spanish)--prob. from Latin "wolf" + Arabic "river, valley", or Arabic "hidden river" [unisex]. Variants (originally diminutives) are Lupe (LOO-peh) and Lupita (loo-PEE-tah).
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Guadalupe and the apparitions at Guadalupe [now part of Mexico City], Mexico; or
     to the shrine Virgen de Guadalupe of Extremadura, Spain. 
• Henar (eh-NAHR, Spanish)--"hayfield"
     Refers to the Virgen del Henar in Castilla y León, Spain.
• Idoia (ee-doy-ah, Basque, Spanish)--poss. from Basque, "pond, swamp". Spanish variant is Idoya (ee-DOY-ah).
     Refers to the shrine Virgen de Idoya of Navarra, Spain.
• Ihintza (ee-heen-tsah, Basque)--"dew". Basque translation of Rocío. 
• Iker (ee-kehr, Basque)--"visitation" [masculine]. Basque translation of Visitación.
• Incoronata (een-koh-roh-NAH-tah, Italian)--"crowned"
     Refers to the title Holy Mary Crowned.
• Inmaculada (een-mah-koo-LAH-dah, Spanish)--"immaculate". Other forms include Immaculada (ee-mah-koo-LAH-dah, Catalan), Immacolata (ee-mah-koh-LAH-tah, Italian), and Imaculada (ee-mah-koo-LAH-dah, Portuguese).
     Refers to the Immaculate Conception. 
• Itatí (ee-tah-TEE, Spanish)--poss. from Guarani, "white stone"
     Refers to the title / shrine Our Lady of Itatí of Itatí, Argentina. 
• Itziar (eet-see-ahr, Basque, Spanish)--poss. "old stone" or "sea". Spanish variant is Icíar (ee-SEE-ahr).
     Refers to the Nuestra Señora de Itziar in Euskari, Spain. 
• Izarbe (ee-sahr-beh, Basque, Aragonese, Spanish)--prob. from Basque, "under stars"
    Refers to the Hermitage of the Virgin of Izarbe, Aragon, Spain.
• Letteria (let-TEHR-ee-ah, Italian)--"letter"
     Refers to Madonna della Lettera, patroness of Messina
• Liernia (lee-ehr-nee-ah, Basque, Spanish)--origin unknown. Another form is Lierni (lee-ehr-nee).
     Refers to the Hermitage of Our Lady of Liernia, Euskadi, Spain. 
• Lledó (yeh-DOH, Valencian, Catalan)--"hackberry"
     Refers to the Mare de Déu del Lledó in Comunitat Valenciana, Spain
• Loreto (loh-REH-toh, Italian, Spanish)--from Latin, "laurel" [unisex]. Variant is Loreta (loh-REH-tah).
     Refers to Loreto, Italy, home of the shrine and pilgrimage site Basilica della Santa Casa.  
• Lourdes (LOOR-dehs, Spanish; LORDZ, LUR-des, English; LORD, French)--origin unknown, poss. from Arabic, "the rose", or Latin, "sallow"
     Refers to the title and apparition Our Lady of Lourdes, Lourdes, France.
• Lujan (loo-HAHN, Spanish)--origin unknown, poss. from Latin lux, "light"
     Refers to Nuestra Señora de Luján, patroness of Argentina, Paraguay, & Uruguay.
• Luz (LOOS, Spanish)--"light"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Light. 
• Macarena (mah-kah-REH-nah, Spanish)--poss. from Latin, "blessed"
     Refers to the title Virgin of Hope of Macarena. 
• Madonna (mah-DON-nah, English)--from Italian, "my lady"
• Maolmoire (mool-MOY-reh, [archaic] Scottish)--"servant of Mary" [masculine]. Medieval Irish form was Maol Mhuire (mwel WID-eh) [unisex].
• Mar (MAHR, Spanish, Catalan)--"sea"
     Refers to the title Saint Mary of the Sea. 
• Maravillas (mah-rah-VEE-yahs, Spanish)--"wonders"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Wonders.
• Maris (MEHR-is, MAH-ris, English)--from Latin, "of the sea"
     Refers to the title Our Lady, Star of the Sea.
• Maristela (mah-ree-STEH-lah, Spanish, Portuguese)--from Latin Stella Maris "star of the sea".
     Refers to the title Our Lady, Star of the Sea.
• Mercedes (mehr-SEH-dehs, Spanish)--"mercies". Catalan form is Mercè (mur-SAY).
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Mercy.
• Meritxell (mur-eet-CHEL, Catalan)--from Latin, "midday"
     Refers to Mare de Déu de Meritxell, patroness of Andorra.
• Milagros (mee-LAH-grohs, Spanish)--"miracles"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Miracles.
• Montserrat (mohn-seh-RAHT, Catalan, Spanish)--from Catalan "saw-mountain". Spanish variant is Monserrate (mohn-seh-RAH-teh).
     Refers to Mare de Déu de Montserrat, patroness of Catalonia. 
• Nagore (nah-goh-reh, Basque)--prob. Basque, meaning unknown
     Refers to the Hermitage of Nagore, Navarra, Spain
• Naiara (nah-yah-rah, Basque, Spanish)--from Arabic, "between rocks". Spanish variant is Nayara.
     Refers to Santa María la Real de Nájera monastery in La Rioja, Spain. 
• Nekane (neh-kah-neh, Basque)--"sorrows". Basque translation of Dolores. 
• Nieves (nee-EHV-ehs, Spanish)--"snows". Other forms include Neus (NEH-oos, Catalan), Neves (NEH-ves, Portuguese) and Nives (NEE-ves, Italian).
     Refers to the title Our Lady of the Snows.
• Núria (NOOR-ee-ah, Catalan)--poss. from Arabic, "light". Spanish form is Nuria (NOOR-ee-ah).
     Refers to the shrine Mare de Déu de Núria of Catalonia, Spain.
• Olatz (oh-lahts, Basque, Spanish)--prob. from Basque "cabin" or "forge"
     Refers to the Hermitage of Our Lady of Olatz in Euskadi, Spain. 
• Olvido (ohl-VEE-doh, Spanish)--"forgetfulness, oblivion"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Forgetfulness, Triumph, and Mercies.
• Osane (oh-sah-neh, Basque)--"remedy". Basque translation of Remedios. 
• Panagiota (pah-nah-YOT-ah, Greek)--"all holy". Masculine is Panagiotis.
     Refers to the epithet Mary, All-Holy. 
• Paz (PAHS, Spanish)--"peace"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Peace. 
• Pigi (pee-yee, Greek)--"spring, fountain". Also transliterated as Piyi.
    Refers to the title Life-Giving Spring. 
• Pilar (pee-LAHR, Spanish)--"pillar".
     Refers to title / apparition Our Lady of the Pillar. 
• Purificación (poor-ee-fee-cah-see-OHN, Spanish)--"purification" [unisex, but usually feminine].  Variants (originally diminutives) include Purita (poo-REE-tah) and Pura (POOR-ah).
     Refers to the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Candlemas. 
• Queralt (keh-RAHL, Catalan)--poss. "high rock"
     Refers to the Virgen de Queralt in the Sanctuary of Queralt, Spain. 
• Regina (reh-JEEN-ah, English, Italian, Spanish; reh-HEE-nah, Spanish; reh-ZHEE-nah, Portuguese)--from Latin, "queen". [again, used in many different languages, but not necessarily considered a Marian name]
     Refers to the title Mary, Queen of Heaven and All the Earth. 
• Regla (REG-lah, Spanish)--"rule"
     Refers to the dedication Virgen de Regla in several places, including Spain, Cuba, and the Phillipines. 
• Remedios (reh-MEH-dee-ohs, Spanish)--"remedies". Catalan form is Remei (reh-MAY).
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Remedies. 
• Reyes (REH-yes, Spanish)--"kings" [unisex]
     Refers to the title Our Lady of the Kings. 
• Rocío (roh-SEE-oh, Spanish)--"dew"
     Refers to the Virgen del Rocío in the Hermitage of El Rocío, Spain. 
• Rosario (roh-ZAHR-yoh, Italian; roh-SAH-ree-oh, Spanish)--"rosary" [masculine in Italian].  Variants include Charo (CHAH-roh, Spanish), Rosaria (roh-ZAHR-yah, Italian) and Roser (roh-ZAY, Catalan).
     Refers to the title Our Lady of the Rosary. 
• Saleta (sah-LEH-tah, Galician, Spanish)--poss. from Germanic "room, house"
     Refers to the apparition Notre-Dame de La Salette.
• Socorro (soh-KOH-roh, Spanish)--"help"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Perpetual Help. 
• Soledad (soh-leh-DAHD, Spanish)--"solitude"
     Refers to the title Mary of Solitude. 
• Sonsoles (sohn-SOH-les, Spanish)--"Saint Zoilo"
     Refers to the dedication Nuestra Señora de Sonsoles in Castilla y León, Spain. 
• Sorne (sohr-neh, Basque)--"conception". Basque translation of Concepción. 
• Sterpeta (stehr-PEH-tah, Italian)--"brushland"
     Refers to the Madonna dello Sterpeto in Barletta, Italy. 
• Tindara (TEEN-dah-rah, Italian)--from ancient Greek Tyndareos. Masculine form is Tindaro (TEEN-dah-roh).
     Refers to the Madonna di Tindari in Messina, Italy. 
• Txori (choh-ree, Basque, Spanish)--from Basque, "bird"
     Refers to the Leyenda del Txori in Navarra, Spain. 
• Uxue (oo-shoo-eh, Basque, Spanish)--from Basque, "dove"
     Refers to the Virgen de Ujué in the Church of Santa María de Ujué, Spain.
• Visitación (vee-see-tah-see-OHN, Spanish)--"visitation"
     Refers to Mary's visit to Elizabeth.

No Relation.

Etymology can be a knotty field! I've been sort of mentally keeping track of muddled associations I've spotted on forums and baby-name sites, and finally decided to unravel them all (mostly for myself, but I hope others might enjoy, too). :)


Amelia and Emilia--Amelia is Latinized Germanic, meaning "work, vigor", while Emilia is from Latin, "competitor, rival". They may be pronounced nearly identically in English, but in many languages, they are quite distinct.

Cecelia and Celia--both are Latin, but Cecelia is from Caecilia ("blind") and Celia from Caelia ("heaven").

Eloise and Louise--both are French forms of Germanic names, but Eloise ultimately comes from Helewidis ("healthy and wide" or "healthy wood") and Louise from Chlodovech ("famous battle").

Ellen/Elaine/Helena and Eleanor--Helena is from Ancient Greek, prob. "torch". Ellen and Elaine are medieval English and French forms, respectively. Eleanor comes from Provençal Alianor, itself probably from a Germanic name, like Aldenordis ("old north").

Genevieve and Guinevere--both are medieval and Gallicized, but Genevieve is from Germanic Genovefa, prob. "tribe woman", while Guinevere is from Welsh Gwenhwyfar, prob. "white phantom".

Jerome and Jeremy--Jerome is Anglicized from Greek Hieronymos ("sacred name"). Jeremy is a medieval form of Hebrew Jeremiah ("Yahweh lifts up").

John and Jonathan--well, they're not completely unrelated: both are Hebrew and theophoric, but John didn't originate as nickname for Jonathan. John comes from Yehochanan ("Yahweh is gracious"), and Jonathan from Yehonatan ("Yahweh has given"). For some reason, John went through a lot more changes passing through Greek and Latin than Jonathan did!

Livia and Olivia--Olivia is a Shakespearean coinage, probably based either on Oliver or Olive (which are, incidentally, also unrelated to each other, see below), while Livia is a much older Latin name, poss. meaning "bluish, jealous".

Olive and Oliver--shockingly, Olive means "olive", taken almost directly from Latin ;) Oliver is Anglicized from French Olivier, itself from Old Norse Olaf/Áleifr ("ancestor's descendent") or from a Germanic name like Alfher ("elf warrior") or Aylward/Adalward ("noble defender").

Rose and Rosalind/Rosamund--although they're commonly interpreted as "beautiful rose" and "rose of the world", respectively, in Latin, Rosalind and Rosamund are not Latin names, but Germanic. The 'rosa-' part is actually derived from hros, "horse" (and there were many other Germanic -hros- names, but these two are by far the most well-known today): Rosalind is from Roslindis ("gentle horse"); and Rosamund from Rosmunda ("horse protection").

Legendary Princesses

Oh, princesses. They've been a part of pop-culture for a while, and I'm happy that the idea of a less passive-damsel-in-distress type princess is finally catching on. In the spirit of this trend, here are some legendary princesses (and a couple queens) who were known for more than just getting saved and/or married off. :)

• Æthelflæd (ATH-el-flad, Old English) of Mercia--"noble beauty". More modern form is Elfleda (elf-LEE-dah). 
• Anahí (ah-nah-EE, Spanish), Native American--from Guarani, poss. "ceibo flower"
• Aoife (EE-fah, Irish), Irish--"beauty". Her equally-awesome sister, with an arguably less-usable name, was Scáthach (SKAH-hahkh, prob. "shadow").
• Awilda (ah-WIL-dah, [Latinized] Old Norse), Scandinavian--"elf battle". Also called Alfhild, Alwilda or Alvilda. 
• Brunhilda (broon-HIL-dah, Germanic) of Austrasia--"armor-battle"
• Cordeilla (kor-DAY-lah, [literary] Middle English)--prob. from Welsh Creiddylad (krye-THUL-ad, poss. "heart-debt"). Also called Cordelia.
• Cynisca (sin-IS-kah, [Anglicized, ancient] Greek)--"female puppy". Greek form is Kyniska (koo-NEES-kah). 
• Disa (DEE-sah, Swedish)--from Old Norse, "goddess"
• Eréndira (eh-REN-deer-ah, Spanish), Native American--from Tarascan, meaning unknown. Also spelled Erendira (eh-ren-DEER-ah). 
• Gwendolen (GWEN-doh-len, [literary] Middle English)--poss. from Welsh, "white ring"
• Heledd (HEL-eth ['th' like in "that"], Welsh)--poss. "salt" or "estuary"
• Ness (NES, Old Irish)--prob. "not gentle". Also called Neas (NYAS, NAS), Neasa (NYAS-ah, NAS-ah), or Nessa (NES-sah). 
• Razia (rah-ZEE-ah, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu), Delhi--poss. "happy, content". Also transliterated as Raziyya.
• Tamar (TAH-mahr, Georgian; TAY-mar, English) of Georgia--from Hebrew, "palm tree". Also called Tamari (TAH-mah-ree). 
• Wanda (VAHN-dah, Polish; WAHN-dah, English), Polish--prob. from "Wend" [a tribal name, itself poss. from Germanic "friend" or Old Prussian "water"]
• Zenobia (zen-OH-bee-ah, [ancient] Greek), Palmyrene--poss. "Zeus-life" or from Arabic Zaynab (ZAY-nab, poss. "beauty")

More Matronymics

Some time ago (5 years, apparently!), I did a post on matronymic surnames. Since then, I've found more! Although there are nowhere near as many matronymics as patronymics, there are still quite a few more than I'd realized. :)

Prime surname-formation time was the Middle Ages, and many of the listed women's names only survived in surname form.

*unless otherwise stated, the name etymologies are Old English or Germanic
**in source names with two forms stated, the first was a common medieval form, the second the more familiar modern form

• Aldis, Edis--from Aldus ("old")
• Ames--from Amice (Latin, "friend") [can also be from the masculine form, Amis]
• Annett, Anning--from Anne (Hebrew, "grace") or Annis/Agnes (Greek, "chaste")
• Ansteys, Anstice, Anstis--from Anstice/Anastasia (Greek, "resurrection")
• Aylett--from Ailith ("noble war")
• Ayliff--from Aileva ("noble gift")
• Baseley, Bazeley, Bazell--from Basilia (Greek, "king")
• Bedloe, Bedlow--from Bedelove (poss. "battle-love")
• Belson--from Isabel (Hebrew, "my God is an oath") or Belsant (poss. "sword strength")
• Drewett--from Drueta (feminine of Drogo, poss. "ghost")
• Edney--from Idony (Old Norse, poss. "love again")
• Ellett, Ellet--from Ellen (Greek, "torch")
• Elvey--from Alviva ("elf gift")
• Elvis, Elwes--from Helewys/Eloise ("famous war")
• Ennever, Enever, Jenever--from Guinevere/Jennifer (from Celtic, "white phantom")
• Evatt, Evett, Evetts--from Eva/Eve (Hebrew, "life")
• Gillet, Gillette--from Gilia (feminine of Giles, Latin, "goat") or Gillian (Latin, "fuzzy-bearded" or "of Jove")
• Goldburg--from Goldburga ("gold fortress")
• Goodison--from Godith ("god-war")
• Hawes--from Hawisia/Hawys ("battle-wide" or "battle-wood")
• Hildyard, Hilliard--from Hildegard ("battle-protection")
• Ingrey--from Ingrid (Old Norse, "beautiful Ing")
• Issard, Izatt, Izett, Izzard--from Isolda/Isolde (poss. "ice-battle" or "iron-battle")
• Jeeves--from Geva/Genevieve ("kinswoman")
• Jennett--from Jane (Hebrew, "God is gracious")
• Jewett, Jowett--from Julian/Gillian (Latin, "fuzzy-bearded" or "of Jove") [Julian was unisex, and more common for girls in medieval England]
• Kimbro, Kimbrough--from Kinborough ("royal fortress")
• Letson, Lett, Letts--from Lettice/Letitia (Latin, "joy")
• Linney--from Linniva (poss. "linden-gift" or "shield-gift")
• Loveday--from Loveday (you guessed it--"love-day")
• Malkin, Marriott--from Mary (Hebrew, origin uncertain)
• Mott, Tillett--from Matilda ("battle-might")
• Parnall--from Petronilla (Latin, prob, "rock" or "rustic")
• Quennell, Quinell--from Quenilda ("queen-battle")
• Rain--from Regina (Latin, "queen") [may also be from masculine Germanic Ragin-names, like Reginald or Reinhard]
• Ravenell, Ravenhall, Ravenhill--from Ravenild ("raven-battle")
• Sealy, Seeley, Seely--from Sely ("blessed") [unisex, but more often feminine]
• Seavers--from Sefare ("sea-journey") [may also be from Severus]
• Sibley--from Sibyl/Sybil (Greek, "prophetess, oracle")
• Sisley, Sisterson--from Cecily/Cecilia (Latin, "blind")
• Stanbery, Stanberry--from Stanburg ("stone fortress")
• Summerhill, Summerill--from Somerhild ("summer battle")
• Swannell--from Swanhilda ("swan-battle")
• Tiffany--from Teffan/Theophania (Greek, "appearance of God")
• Wantling--from Wentliana/Gwenllian (Welsh, "pure-flaxen")
• Winney--from Wenyeva ("joy-gift" or "friend-gift")
• Whybray, Wyber, Wybrew--from Wigburg ("war fortress")
• Wymark--from Wimarc (poss. "war-famous" or Breton " ??? -horse") [unisex]

As you can probably guess, this is still nowhere near comprehensive! It was a great excuse to find more fun medieval girls' names, and unexpected forms of some modern girls' names, though. ;)

Names, Initially

It occurred to me the other day just how many great writers go by initials. I wonder why? Do they just have a more acute understanding on how words can affect biases? In the past, of course, many women were advised to publish under initials (or a male pseudonym) to attract readership, but I was surprised how few female writers I found that still might be recognized today.
Anyway, I'm sure I've missed some literary greats, so I look forward to your comments. ;)

• Abbott Joseph--A.J. Liebling
• Alan Alexander--A.A. Milne
• Alfred Edward--A.E. Housman
• Antonia Susan--A.S. Byatt
• Archibald Joseph--A.J. Cronin
• Archie Randolph--A.R. Ammons
• Carolyn Janice--C.J. Cherryh
• Catherine Lucille--C.L. Moore
• Cecil Scott--C.S. Forester
• Cleo Virginia--V.C. Andrews
• Clive Staples--C.S. Lewis
• David Herbert--D.H. Lawrence
• Edgar Lawrence--E.L. Doctorow
• Edith--E. Nesbit
• Edmée Elizabeth Monica--E.M. Delafield [Dashwood]
• Edward Estlin--E.E. Cummings
• Edward Morgan--E.M. Forster
• Elwyn Brooks--E. B. White
• Eric Rücker--E.R. Eddison
• Francis--F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Gilbert Keith--G.K. Chesterton
• Harold Lenoir--H.L. Davis
• Henry Louis--H.L. Mencken
• Herbert Ernest--H.E. Bates
• Herbert George--H. G. Wells
• Hilda Doolittle--H.D.
• Howard Phillips--H.P. Lovecraft
• Isidor Feinstein--I.F. Stone
• James Graham--J.G. Ballard
• James Matthew--J.M. Barrie
• James Patrick--J.P. Donleavy
• Jean-Marie Gustave--J.M.G. Le Clézio
• Jerome David--J.D. Salinger
• Joan--J. California Cooper
• Joanne Kathleen--J.K. Rowling
• John Boynton--J.B. Priestley
• John Davys--J.D. Beresford
• John Maxwell--J.M. Coetzee
• John Millington--J.M. Synge
• John Ronald Reuel--J.R.R. Tolkien
• Letitia Elizabeth Landon--L.E.L.
• Lyman--L. Frank Baum
• Mary Frances Kennedy--M.F.K. Fisher
• Navarre--N. Scott Momaday
• Pamela Lyndon--P.L. Travers
• Patrick Jake--P.J. O'Rourke
• Pelham Grenville--P. G. Wodehouse
• Philip Dey--P.D. Eastman
• Phyllis Dorothy--P.D. James
• Rafael Aloysius--R.A. Lafferty
• Robert Lawrence--R.L. Stine
• Ronald Stuart--R.S. Thomas
• Shira Judith--S.J. Rozan
• Susan Eloise--S.E. Hinton
• Terence Hanbury--T. H. White
• Theodore Francis--T.F. Powys
• Thomas Stearns--T.S. Eliot
• Vidiadhar Surajprasad--V.S. Naipaul
• William Edward Burghardt--W.E.B. Du Bois
• William Edward Butterworth--W.E.B. Griffin
• William Butler--W.B. Yeats
• William Henry--W.H. Davies
• Winfried Georg--W.G. Sebald
• Wystan Hugh--W.H. Auden

Dead Names.

Okay, yes, I know--there have been thousands, possibly millions of names that were once in use which, for whatever reason, just...stopped. Today, I'm going to have fun looking for now-obsolete names used in England within the last 5-700 years or so. A few survive today in surname form, but otherwise, they're gone--feminine or masculine, in pretty much any language I could find (apologies if I missed something).
(nowhere near a comprehensive list, obviously!)

Boys:

• Adelard--Old English or Germanic "noble" + "brave"
• Beneger--prob. from Germanic bern "bear" + gar "spear"
• Botolph--Old English "help", "messenger", or "battle" + wulf "wolf"
• Cuthbert--Old English cuæ "famous" + beorht "bright"
• Degory/Digory--prob. from French egare "lost", or possibly Anglo-Norman desgarry "dispossessed"
• Edulf--Old English ead "rich" + wulf "wolf"
• Gerlick--from Germanic gar "spear" + laic "contest"
• Hereward--Old English here "army" + weard "guard"
• Osgood--Old English os "god" + Germanic god "god"
• Osmer--Old English os "god" + mære "famous"
• Rocelin--from Germanic hrod "fame", via French & Germanic diminutives
• Turbert--Old Norse Thor + Germanic bert "bright"
• Warin--from Germanic war "guard"
• Wicard/Wychard--from Germanic wig  "war" + hard "brave"
• Wolfstan--Old English wulf + stan "stone"
• Wymark--from Germanic wig "war" + mar "famous", via Old Breton
• Wymer--from Germanic wig "war" + mar "famous"
• Wymond--from Germanic wig "war" + mund "protector"

Girls:

• Agenilda/Einilda--from Germanic agi "sharp" or haga "enclosure" + hild "battle"
• Ailith--Old English æðel "noble" + gifu "gift"
• Ailova--Old English æðel "noble" + lufu "love"
• Amice/Amicia--from Latin amicus "friend"
• Aldiva--Old English eald "old" + gifu "gift"
• Alviva--Old English ælf "elf" + gifu "gift"
• Belsant/Belsante/Belisencia--poss. from Germanic bili (?) "sword" + sinþ "journey"
• Brithwen--Old English beorht "bright" + wynn "joy"
• Claremonde/Claremunda--from Latin clarus "bright" + Germanic mund "protector"
• Estrild/Estrilda/Estrelda--Old English Eastre "Easter" [Germanic goddess] + hild "battle"
• Hawis/Hawisia--from Germanic hadu "battle" + widis "wide"
• Idemay--poss. Germanic id "work" + mæg "power"
• Idony/Idonea--from Old Norse Iðunn [Norse goddess]
• Kinborow--Old English cyne "king" + burg "fortress"
• Leva--Old English léofe "beloved"
• Levith--Old English léofe "beloved" + gýð "battle" 
• Leviva/Lyveva--Old English léofe "beloved" + gifu "gift"
• Maysant/Maisenta--from Germanic matha "council"(?)+ suent "strength", or magan "strength" + sinþ "journey"; via French
• Merewen--Old English mære "famous" + wynn "joy"
• Quenell/Quenilda--Old English cwen "woman, queen" + hild "battle"
• Queniva--Old English cwen "woman, queen" + gifu "gift"
• Rametta/Ramett--from Latin ramus "branch" or Germanic ragn "advice"
• Seilda/Seild--Old English sæ "sea" + hild "battle"
• Selova--Old English sæ "sea" + lufu "love"
• Welthian--unknown, poss. "Wealthy Anne"; or a corruption of "Welsh woman" or of a Welsh name (like Gwenllian)
• Wymark--poss. from Germanic wig "war" + mar "famous", via Old Breton

And yet again, I come up with more feminine names than masculine. I'm amazed at how many boys' names, even from over half a millennium ago, are still in use today. Girls' names really do have more turnover!

Elemental Names (or Nominal Elements?)

I admit, I'm always looking for ways to make fun namesake posts. I already did female scientists (nowhere near a comprehensive list), and have been looking for some way to do a more guy-centered list about science--difficult, since well, there have been quite a few more male scientists than female, and they've gotten much more attention for their works.
I think I found a fun way, though: here are the people--male, female; fictional or real--who've had elements named for them (albeit occasionally in a round-about way). :)

• Albert Einstein--German physicist; Einsteinium (Es, 99)
• Alfred Nobel--Swedish chemist; Nobelium (No, 102)
• Cadmus (m)--figure in Greek mythology; Cadmium (Cd, 48)
• Ceres--Roman goddess; Cerium (Ce, 58)
• Dmitri Mendeleev--Russian chemist; Mendelevium (Md, 101)
• Enrico Fermi--Italian physicist; Fermium (Fm, 100)
• Ernest Lawrence--American physicist; Lawrencium (Lr, 103)
• Ernest Rutherford--British physicist; Rutherfordium (Rf, 104)
• Glenn T. Seaborg--American chemist; Seaborgium (Sg, 106)
• Iris--Greek goddess; Iridium (Ir, 77)
• Johan Gadolin--Finnish chemist; Gadolinium (Gd, 64)
• Lise Meitner--Austrian physicist; Meitnerium (Mt, 109)
• Marie Curie--French chemist; Curium (Cm, 96)
• Mercury--Roman god; Mercury (Hg, 80)
• Neptune--Roman god; Neptunium (Np, 93)
• Nicolaus Copernicus--Polish astronomer; Copernicium (Cn, 112)
• Niels Bohr--Danish physicist; Bohrium (Bh, 107)
• Niobe (f)--figure in Greek mythology; Niobium (Nb, 41)
• Pallas--alternate name for the goddess Athena; Palladium (Pd, 46)
• Pierre Curie--French chemist; Curium (Cm, 96)
• Pluto--Greek god; Plutonium (Pu, 94)
• Prometheus--Greek god; Promethium (Pm, 61)
• Tantalus (m)--figure in Greek mythology; Tantalum (Ta, 73)
• Thor--Norse god; Thorium (Th, 90)
• Uranus--Greek god; Uranium (U, 92)
• Vanadis--alternate name for the goddess Freyja; Vanadium (V, 23)
• Vasili Samarsky-Bykhovets--Russian mining engineer; Samarium (Sm, 62)
• Wilhelm Roentgen--German physicist; Roentgenium (Rg, 111)

I admit, I was expecting more historical figures, and fewer mythological ones. Hmmph.

Saint Who? Part II--Surnames, Titles

While doing my post on unexpected saints' names a while back, I noticed some fun name possibilities with their surnames/titles. There are many Marian names that came about this way, but it's much rarer with other saints. However, at least one has made it into everyday American usage: Xavier, from Saint Francis Xavier.

• Agira (ah-JEE-rah)--from St. Philip of Agira, patron saint of U.S. Army Special Forces.
• Amasea (ah-MAH-see-ah)--home of a few saints, notably Theodore of Amasea, patron of soldiers and for the recovery of lost items.
• Aosta (ah-OH-stah)--home of two saints: Gratus of Aosta & Ursus of Aosta.
• Avila (AH-vee-lah, AV-il-ah)--home of several saints, most notably Teresa of Ávila.
• Bosco (BOHS-koh)--from St. John Bosco, patron of apprentices, laborers, students, and youths.
• Cabrini (kah-BREE-nee)--from St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, patroness of immigrants & hospital administrators.
• Cascia (KAH-shah)--from St. Rita de Cascia, patroness of desperate & impossible causes, against sickness & wounds.
• Cyrene (sye-REE-nee)--home of two saints: Simon of Cyrene & Lucius of Cyrene.
• Ely (EE-lee)--home of three saints: Ermenilda of Ely, Etheldreda of Ely, & Seaxburh of Ely.
• Evreux (AYV-reoo)--from St. Maximus of Évreux, patron against drought
• Genoa (JEN-oh-ah)--home of many saints, most notably Catherine of Genoa, patroness of brides, difficult marriages, & victims of unfaithfulness.
• Imola (EE-moh-lah)--from St. Cassian of Imola, patron of schoolteachers & clerks.
• Kildare (kil-DAYR, kil-DAH-rah)--from St. Brigit Kildare, patron of Ireland, and many, many other things.
• Lellis (LEL-lis)--from St. Camillus de Lellis, patron of physicians, hospitals, and the sick.
• Lunel (loo-NEL)--from St. Gerard de Lunel, patron of epileptics, against headaches.
• Marillac (mah-ree-AK)--from St. Louise de Marillac, patroness of social workers & widows.
• Merici (meh-REE-chee)--from St. Angela Merici, patroness of the sick, handicapped, and orphaned.
• Merida (MEHR-ee-dah)--from St. Eulalia of Mérida, patroness of widows & runaways.
• Milan (mee-LAHN)--home of many saints, notably Ambrose of Milan, patron of students, beekeepers, and chandlers.
• Mineo (min-EH-oh)--from St. Agrippina of Mineo, patroness againts infections, diseases, and storms.
• Myra (MYE-rah, MEE-rah, MEU-rah)--home of St. Nicholas (yep. Ol' Saint Nick).
• Nicomedia (nee-koh-MED-yah)--home of a few saints, most notably Juliana of Nicomedia, patroness against sickness
• Ravenna (rah-VEH-nah)--from St. Apollinaris of Ravenna, patron against epilepsy & gout.
• Savio (SAHV-yoh)--from St. Dominic Savio, patron of young boys, choirs, and juvenile delinquents.
• Trier (TREE-ehr)--home to many saints, most notably Eucharius of Trier, patron against plague.
• Verona (veh-ROH-nah)--from St. Zeno of Verona, patron of newborns and fishermen
• Vianney (vee-AHN-nay, vee-AN-nay)--from St. John Mary Vianney, patron of priests and many Midwestern dioceses.

Saint Who?

Thanks to Emily L. for the suggestion, even if it did take me forever to actually take you up on it. :)

Okay, so I went and actually looked at how many saints there are in the Catholic church, and holy crap. Over 2000! Most of us, regardless of religion, could probably name at least a few--Peter, Francis, Theresa. Actually, many names with long history of use in the Western world belong to at least one saint (and in the case of "classics", probably several)!
So, I went perusing for unusual/unexpected names. To make it easier on myself, I limited it to patron saints (which is still hundreds, so I guess it's not that much of a narrow-down).

• Afra (AH-frah, AF-rah)--patroness of penitent women, martyrs, & converts. Feast Day: Aug. 5.
• Arthelais (ar-tel-AH-ees)--patroness of the ill, exiles, and the kidnapped. Also known as Artellaide.  Feast Day: March 3.
• Bibiana (bee-BYAH-nah)--patroness of epileptics and the mentally ill. Also known as Viviana/Vivian. Feast Day: Dec. 2.
• Brieuc (bree-OO)--patron of purse-makers. Also known as Brioc. Feast Day: May 1.
• Cadoc (KAH-dok)--patron of the deaf and famine victims. Feast Day: Sept. 25.
• Cajetan (KAJ-eh-tan)--patron of job-seekers and the unemployed. Also known as Gaetano or Cayetano. Feast Day: Aug. 7.
• Cassian (KAS-see-an; KASH-an)--patron of schoolteachers and clerks. Feast Day: Aug. 13.
• Cloud (CLOWD)--patron of nail-makers. Also known as Clodoald. Feast Day: Sept. 7.
• Colman (COHL-man)--several saints.
• Devota (deh-VOH-tah)--patroness of mariners. Feast Day: Jan 27.
• Dwynwen (DWIN-wen)--patroness of lovers. Also known as Donwen or Donwenna. Feast Day: Jan. 25.
• Dymphna (DIMF-na)--patroness against mental & neurological disorders. Feast Day: May 15.
• Eulalia (yoo-LAHL-yah)--two saints: one patroness of sailors, Feast Day: Feb 12; the other patroness of runaways, Feast Day: Dec. 10. 
• Fabiola (fah-bee-OH-lah)--patroness of divorcees and abuse victims. Feast Day: Dec. 27.
• Foillan (FOYL-lan)--patron of surgeons, pediatric nurses, and dentists. Also known as Faolan or Faelan. Feast Day: Oct. 31; Nov. 5.
• Gemma (JEM-mah)--patroness of students and pharmacists. Feast Day: April 7.
• Gereon (GEHR-ee-on)--patron against headaches/migraines. Feast Day: Oct. 10.
• Hervé (ehr-VAY)--patron of the blind. Also known as Harvey. Feast Day: June 17.
• Ivo (EE-voh)--patron of lawyers and abandoned children. Also known as Yves. Feast Day: May 19.
• Kateri (KAH-teh-ree)--patroness of ecologists. Feast Day: July 14.
• Kentigern (KEN-tih-gehrn)--patron of bullying victims. Also known as Mungo. Feast Day: Jan. 13.
• Kilian (KIL-ee-an)--patron against rheumatism. Also known as Cillian. Feast Day: July 8.
• Lydwina (lid-WEE-nah)--patroness of the chronically ill. Also known as Lidwina or Liduina. Feast day: April 14.
• Macrina (mah-KREE-nah)--patron of widows and the poor. Feast Day: Jan. 14.
• Marciana (mar-CHAH-nah)--patroness of the injured. Feast Day: Jan. 9.
• Osmund (OZ-mund)--patron of the paralyzed and mentally ill. Feast Day: Dec. 4.
• Paraskevi (pah-rah-skeh-VEE)--three different saints, sometimes called Parascheva or Petka.
• Peregrine (PEHR-eh-grin)--patron of cancer victims. Feast Day: May 1. 
• Petronilla (pet-ro-NIL-lah)--patroness of mountain travellers
• Pirmin (PEER-min)--patron against poisoning & snake bites. Feast Day: Nov. 3.
• Solange (soh-LAWNZH)--patroness of rape victims and shepherds. Feast Day: May 10.
• Walstan (WAL-stan)--patron of farms & farmers. Feast Day: May 30.
• Zita (ZEE-tah)--patroness of servants. Also known as Citha or Sitha. Feast Day: April 27.

Quite a few have intriguing surname possibilities as well. Look for a part 2 at some point!

Brainy Girls

Having a good namesake is always a plus. Of course, academically-inspired names for boys abound--up until the last century or so, women in the sciences were pretty rare (and often given less credibility than their male colleagues). While many of these names are unknown today, most were quite renowned in their time.
And do I freely admit to being selective in this list by attempting to include as many fields, and unusual names, as possible. (there are so, so many more noteworthy Marias & Marys especially, as well as female physicians & astronomers!)

• Abella (medicine, 1300s)*
• Augusta Ada Lovelace (mathematics, d. 1852; constructed algorithms to be processed by a colleague's "analytical engine", and is thus considered the first computer programmer)
• Aglaonike/Aganice (astronomy, ≈200 BC; known for predicting lunar eclipses)
• Agnodice (medicine/midwifery, ≈400 BC)
• Anna Ǻkerhjelm (archaeology, d. 1693; posthumously ennobled for her work)
• Anna Atkins (botany, d. 1871; authored first photographically-illustrated book)
• Anna Morandi Manzolini (anatomy, d. 1774)
• Annie Jump Cannon (astronomy, d. 1941; co-created Harvard star classification system)
• Astrid Cleve (biology, d. 1968; her 5-volume encyclopedia on Swedish & Finnish diatoms is still in use today)
• Barbara McClintock (biology, d. 1992; only woman to receive an unshared Nobel prize in medicine, for her discovery of gene transposition)
• Beatrix Potter [yes, the children's author] (mycology, d. 1943; her drawings are still used in fungus identification today)
• Caroline Herschel (astronomy, d. 1848; discoverer of several objects, including 8 comets and 14 nebulae)
• Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin (astrophysics, d. 1979; determined stellar compositions by their spectra)
• Celia Grillo Boromeo (mathematics, d. 1777; said to be able to solve any mathematical problem given to her)
• Constance Calenda (optometry, 1400s)
• Dorothea Erlexben (medicine, d, 1762; first female doctor in Germany)
• Elena Cornaro Piscopia (philosophy/mathematics, d. 1684; first woman to earn a Ph.D.)
• Elizabeth and Emily Blackwell (medicine, d. 1910; first and second female doctors in the US)
• Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (medicine, d. 1917; several firsts, including first female doctor in the UK)
• Elsa Beata Bunge (botany, d. 1819)
• Ellen Swallow Richards (chemistry, d. 1911; co-founded the American Association of University Women)
• Émilie du Châtelet (physics, d. 1749; her translation/commentary of Newton's Principia Mathematica is still the French standard)
• Emily Warren Roebling (engineering, d. 1903; oversaw construction & completion of the Brooklyn Bridge after the original project leader fell ill)
• Amelie Emmy Noether (mathematics, d. 1935; a subset of algebraic structures is named for her)
• Enheduanna (astronomy/mathematics, ≈2250 BC)
• Etheldred Benett (geology, d. 1845)
• Eva Ekeblad (agronomy, d. 1786; discovered new uses for potatoes, including makeup/powder, flour, and alcohol)
• Faustina Pignatelli (physics/mathematics, d. 1785)
• Florence Bascom (geology, d. 1945; first woman to work for the USGS)
• Gerty Theresa Cori (biochemistry, d. 1957; first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in physiology/medicine)
• Saint Hildegard (botany/medicine, d. 1179)
• Henrietta Swan Leavitt (astronomy/mathematics, d. 1921; discovered Leavitt's Law, which allows accurate estimation of the distance of variable stars)
• Phoebe Sarah "Hertha" Ayrton (engineering/physics, d. 1923; first female elected member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers)
• Hypatia of Alexandria (mathematics, d. 415)
• Ida Noddack (chemistry/physics, d. 1978; first proposed/predicted the concept of nuclear fission)
• Inge Lehmann (geophysics/seismology, d. 1994; proposed the current layered-core model of the earth's interior)
• Irène Joliot-Curie (chemistry, d. 1956)
• Isala Van Diest (medicine, d. 1916; first female doctor in Belgium)
• Jane Colden (botany, d. 1766)
• Jane Sharp (midwifery, 1600s; her book is still in print today)
• Jeanne Villepreux-Power (marine biology, d. 1871; first to use aquariums to study marine life)
• Johanna Mestorf (archaeology, d. 1909)
• Katherine Blodgett (physics, d. 1979) 
• Katherine Johnson (mathematics; calculated NASA trajectories pre-computer)
• Kirstine Meyer (physics, d. 1931; founded the Danish journal of physics, Fysisk Tidsskrift)
• Laura Bassi (physics, d. 1778)
• Lise Meitner (physics, d. 1964; offered a position on the Manhattan Project, which she refused on moral grounds)
• Maria Lovisa Ǻhrborg (medicine, d. 1881; first female doctor in Sweden)
• Margaret Cavendish (natural philosophy, d. 1673)
• Margaret Eliza Maltby (physics, d. 1944)
• Maria/Mary the Jewess (alchemy/chemistry, ≈200 AD; invented several types of chemical apparatus)
• Maria Dalle Donne (medicine, d. 1842; first woman to earn a doctorate of medicine)
• Maria Gaetana Agnesi (mathematics, d. 1799)
• Maria Sibylla Merian (botany/entomology, d. 1717)
• Maria Mitchell (astronomy, d. 1889)
• Maria Telkes (physics, d. 1995; inventor of many solar & thermal devices, including a thermoelectric generator and a portable solar-powered desalinization unit)
• Marie Crous (mathematics, 1600s; introduced France to decimal system)
• Marie Curie (chemistry/physics, d. 1934; first person to get Nobel Prizes in two subjects)
• Mary Agnes Chase (botany, d. 1963)
• Mary Anning (paleontology, d. 1847)
• Mary Engle Pennington (bacteriology/engineering, d. 1952; first head of the USDA's Food Research Lab)
• Maud Menten (biochemistry, d. 1960)
• Merit-Ptah (medicine, ≈2700 BC, the earliest recorded female scientist)
• Mercuriade (medicine, 1300s)
• Nettie Stevens (genetics, d. 1912; co-discovered XY sex determination)
• Nicole-Reine Lepaute (astronomy/mathematics, d. 1788)
• Praskovya Uvarova (archaeology, d. 1924)
• Rebecca de Guarna (medicine, 1300s)
• Rosalind Franklin (biophysicist, d. 1958; helped discover the DNA double helix, her work was used by Watson and Crick)
• Sofia Kovalevskaya (mathematics, d. 1891; first woman to earn a doctorate of mathematics)
• Sophia Brahe (horticulture/astronomy, d. 1643)
• Marie-Sophie Germain (mathematics, d. 1831)
• Trotula of Salerno (gynecology, 1000s)
• Williamina Fleming (astronomy. d. 1911; discovered many objects, including 59 nebulae, 10 novae, and over 300 variable stars)
• Wang Zhenyi (astronomy, d. 1797)
• Zelia Nuttall (archaeology, d. 1933)

*If I've not listed any accomplishments, the specifics either have been lost to time, or are too complex to fit in a concise note.

Thanks to a few anonymous messages, adding some amazing women I'd initially missed!