Given names motivated by names of early Christian female martyrs

Abstract

Paper cites twenty two early Christian female martyrs and saints whose names are a motivation for first names in Croatian and other nations. Martyrs who have suffered martyrdom for testifying their belief in Jesus Christ from his crucifixion until the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD are called early Christian (old Christian, first Christian) martyrs. Among the Croatian female first names which are inherited from the names of female early Christian martyrs are: St. Catherine, St. Barbara, St. Margaret, St. Felicitas, St. Cecilia, St. Apollonia, St. Agatha, St. Violet, St. Valeria, St. Daria, St. Lucia, St. Agnes of Rome, St. Susanna, St. Serena (Vedrana), St. Philomena, St. Anastasia, St. Euphemia, St. Julia, St. Dorothea. Numerous names are derived from the above mentioned names. The paper first cites female Holy Helpers: St. Catharine, St. Barbara and St. Margaret and the remaining early Christian martyrs are cited in the diachronic order according to the years of their martyrdom.