Period or Not, part 3

[lumineaux]

Back to female names:

Arianwen

Laurana

Ayla

Godiva

Niniane

Comments

[subdivisions.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure that Laurana is nothing more than a name made up by Weisman & Hicks - I believe it was a tribute to Tracy Hicks' wife, whose name was Laura.

Ayla is likewise from a book, although I can't say for sure that this isn't actually a period name.

My intuition is that Godiva is actually a period name.

Not sure about the other two.

I'm not a herald in any way, shape, or form, however, so I could be totally and completely wrong.

[subdivisions.livejournal.com]

Although Godiva is probably a period LAST name, not a first name. :-)

[rhiannon14.livejournal.com]

Arianwen - Certainly *could* be- the syllables are all used in other period women's names.

Laurana - I would guess not.

Ayla - No idea.

Godiva - As "Godgiva" or "Godgifu," yes. I believe that even the legend is period.

Niniane - I believe so, from Arthurian legends. Now, whether that's allowable for SCAdians to use is not clear- the CoH is usually dismissive about names from period works of fiction.

[math5.livejournal.com]

the CoH is usually dismissive about names from period works of fiction
Not so much: there's something called the literary name allowance for that :)

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

They are dismissive of names from legend. Names that are found in written period *literature* are registerable because there is a historical pattern of real people adopting those names in practice. There are dozens and dozens of documented Lancelots, for instance, a name completely made up and appearing only in Arthurian literature. For some examples of literary names being registered:

"Current precedent is to accept the names of significant characters from period Arthurian literature as there is a pattern of such names being used in England and France in period." [Bedivere de Byron, 06/1999 LoAR, A-Atlantia]

[Ygraine ferch Rhun, 10/2001 LoAR A-Artemisia]

"As the name of a major character in Arthurian literature, the name Balin is registerable." [Balin Kendrick 2/2007 LoAR A-Calontir]

"Withycombe (s.n. Pamela) indicates that Philip Sidney invented this name for a character in his poem "Arcadia" in 1590. Pamela is registerable as an English name under the guidelines for registerability of literary names (Cover Letter for the February 1999 LoAR)." [Pamela Gattarelli, 04/2003 LoAR, A-East]

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

I should add that, for a literary name to be used, it has to be the name of a human character. Rhiannon is the name of a goddess, so it is no longer registerable.

[math5.livejournal.com]

You'll note I'm still being good and not answering :)

[bds-duncan.livejournal.com]

I recall a number of years ago that Master Richard the Poor of Ely put together a "Medieval Jeopardy" for an EKU held up in Northpass. It comes to mind that you could adapt this to a target audience of would-be heralds in a schola environment. Listening to the lines of reasoning, and the detailed explanation, is fascinating.

Think it would fly?

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting idea. I'll have to play test it.

[bds-duncan.livejournal.com]

"I'll take obscure Polish heraldic charges for $1000 Alys"