Collected Precedents of the S.C.A.: Mythical and Literary Names

Name Precedents: Mythical and Literary Names

General Issues

Laurel: Date: (year.month.date) Precedent:

General

Jaelle of Armida 1999.02 Period literature such as histories, romances, sagas, legends and myths occupy a slightly unusual position as sources for period names. While the documents themselves are undeniable period themselves, the names in them range from names that can be clearly documented as being used by humans from other, more prosaic sources, to names assigned to humans in literature that appear to be unique to a particular character and cannot be documented to have been used by real medieval humans to names which are clearly assigned to supernatural creatures in the literature. Given this range of possibilities, period literature must be used cautiously as a source for medieval names.
A researcher must look carefully at the source, its purpose and the character that bears the name. As a rule of thumb, a literary work whose purpose is historical is going to be more accurate about naming practices in that culture and time than a mythological source, with the caveat that the further back a "historical" source goes from the writer's own time, the more fantastical elements may creep in. The fidelity of the translation must also be considered. The modern editions of many medieval sources are translated or the spelling regularized or modernized. This means that a documentable name may appear in a translated or modernized source in a form inappropriate to the period and culture from which the source originates. It is also generally necessary to look at the actual naming practices of the time period in which the work of literature was produced and thereafter, as some works have affected subsequent naming practices. If you can document the name from a more standard source, it is usually better to use the standard source rather than the literary work as documentation. However, names from period literature may be used, with some caveats.
1. Try other sources first - often better documentation can be found.
2. It has to be a name of a human being in the story. God/dess, elf, dwarf, etc. names aren't usable.
3. Beware of allegorical names in sources such as the English mystery plays. It is extremely unlikely that we would register Everyman as a name, even though it is found as a name of a human being in period mystery plays, unless actual documentation is found for it as a name for a real person.
4. And this is subjective - minor characters from minor works may or may not be acceptable. Especially if they do not fit the naming patterns of the time period. (Jaelle of Armida, CL with the February 1999 LoAR, p. 2)

Jaelle of Armida 1998.05 [Mahliqa bint Ali] The only documentation for Zibec came from Arabian Nights. According to al-Jamal, "One must be extremely careful in using any version of Alf Layla wa Layla (The Thousand Nights and One Night) as documentation for names. Many, many names in the Nights are (1) not of mere mortals, and/or (2) allegorical rather than "real" names. Additionally, the stories, while most of them are period, originate from a number of different places. In other words, not all of them are Arabic; there are Persian, Turkish, and Indian stories. As a consequence, not all of the names in them are Arabic, either, but Persian, Turkish, Indian, etc. These other languages have different ways of constructing names than does Arabic. So just because a name is found in this particular work does not mean that it is a real name or that it is constructed properly or that it may be incorporated into an otherwise Arabic name. " Since no documentation could be found for Zibec as a given or byname, we have dropped it. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR May 1998, p. 7)

Jaelle of Armida 1998.02 [Poukka, Canton of] A possible problem was mentioned with the name for this group since it appears to be similar to the word Pooka, which is an English malevolent spirit. There are often words in one language which appear to be similar to a word in another language. Since the group name is formed correctly in Finnish, the and two words do not sound the same in Finnish, we see no problem with registering this. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR February 1998, p. 5)

Jaelle of Armida 1997.11 A book on Celtic Myth is not evidence that a name was used by human beings during our period. Barring such documentation, the name [will] have to be returned. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR November 1997, p. 12)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd year, 1st tenure) 1991.12.11 "There was much discussion [on a particular submission] regarding the propriety of continuing the registration of Elvish names of any kind. Mistress Alisoun, shortly before stepping down as Laurel, expanded the allowance of Elvish from Sindarin only to include Quenya as well. The overwhelming majority of recent commentary on this issue by the College, however, was in favor of banning the registration of any Elvish names in the future. I am therefore proposing such a ban, to become effective as of the February, 1992 Laurel meeting. Unless a significant number of the members of the College (or the Society as a whole) feel differently, and write to tell me about it, on and after that date we will no longer register Elvish names." (CL 11/12/91 p.2).

Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane 1990.05.28 The commentors who noted the precedent that allowed Sindarin names from Tolkien but not Quenya names to be used were correct. There seems no really compelling reason to make this distinction: both linguistic sets derived from Tolkien's lectures on medieval linguistics and both use period elements to form names in a period manner, albeit of a language that did not actually exist in period. The basis of the distinction seems to have been a feeling that "High Elven" would have been used only by Elves and "Low Elven" could be used by Men and other races and thus that Quenya names were a claim to Elvish origins. This seems an unjustifiable conclusion and one that is too restrictive, given the common derivation of both languages from period linguistic morphemes and morphological practises. [Quenya allowed] (LoAR 28 May 90, p. 4)

Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane 1989.04.30 The position that the existence of a name in a piece of fiction from a pre-technological era automatically compels acceptance by the College is contrary to a long tradition in the College of Arms.... This is one of the oldest "allowances" and is restrictive rather than permissive. In other words, it was placed in the rules at the time to prohibit certain forms of fantasy names, not to legitimize fantasy names as a category. Indeed, the wording of the current rules specifically says that fantasy names may be accepted, not that they must be and there is a long tradition of requiring proof of compatibility for the use of such names. For as long as we can remember, names drawn from fantasy have had to obey other strictures (e.g., the ban on names which include titles or claims of rank) and this clearly is still the case. On the basis of [the principal herald's] thesis, the College would be required to register "Smurf", if an enterprising fantasy writer named one of his or her characters that (formally or informally). Somehow we doubt that is what is intended! (LoAR 30 Apr 89, p. 17)

Baldwin of Erebor 1985.01.05 The College of Arms has a long-standing policy of not permitting names that conflict with those of major characters in science fiction and fantasy stories. [BoE, 5 Jan 85, p.21]

Wilhelm von Schlüssel 1981.07.29 Names from Darkover are not acceptable. WVS [48] [LoAR 29 Jul 81], p. 11

Wilhelm von Schlüssel 1981.05.12 Society names must either be made of names that were used by mortals in our period or that are created names that are acceptable variants of period names or are in keeping with period name construction. Names were coined in period, and so they may be coined now, but only in keeping with period practices. Names from fictional sources may be used if they satisfy the requirement of being in keeping with period practices. Names which are out of period but are in keeping with period practices should also be allowed, as the date of creation shouldn't matter if the name is in keeping. WVS [41] [CL 12 May 81], p. 4

Wilhelm von Schlüssel 1981.03.10 Groups (territorial branches, offices, guilds, clans, brotherhoods, etc.) that are not personal households may not make use of names or words or languages from fantasy sources in the name of the group. Specifically, a group name may not make use of the languages of Middle Earth ... This does not in any way restrict the use of words or names from fantasy for use by individuals or for the names of personal households. WVS [37] [CL 10 Mar 81], p. 1

Wilhelm von Schlüssel 1980.10.20 It is the consensus of the College of Arms that we continue to allow the use of names and place names from fiction and mythology. So be it. The fantasy source must be compatible with our period. A culture with post sixteenth century technology is not compatible. The fiction must be about a place where mortals dwelled and the name or place used must not violate the prohibition against claiming to be non-mortal. If the fiction deals with events on Earth it must be using a pre-1600 time period. Barbarian tales of the far future are not compatible. WVS [26] [CL 20 Oct 80], p. 2

Karina of the Far West 1978.01.10 We will, of course, retain our chief peculiarity: that we do not allow conflict with names or arms of fictional persons, especially in the science fiction and fantasy field. One of the functions of the Kingdom (and now Principality) heralds is to point out such names when they are applied for; I don't have time to keep up with everything published, nor can I remember all I to read. (KFW, 10 Jan 78 [17], p. 2)

Abaddon

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 1st year) 1994.03 No evidence was presented either in the appeal or in the commentary that [Abaddon] was ever used by humans, in or out of period. As a consequence, we are unable to register it here. [3/94, p.17]

Acrisius

Jaelle of Armida 1998.09 [Acrisius Sospes] This is being returned for several reasons. … Second, even if documentation had been provided, it is not clear that Acrisius is an acceptable name for use in the Society. While it is found in Greek and Roman mythology, it appears to be the name of a mythological king, and not a real person. Barring documentation that it was used by a real person, it must be returned. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR September 1998)

Adriana

François la Flamme 2002.06 Adriana was documented as the name of a character in Shakespere's Comedy of Errors. Since Bardsley (p. 161 s.n. Carn) dates Adriana Lynch to 1547-8 as the wife listed on a marriage license, the name Adriana is documented as a feminine given name used in England in period, in addition to being a name used in literary works. [Adriana Featherstonehaugh, 06/2002, A-West]

Aegir

Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane 1989.09.30 The name "Aegir" is not Celtic, as stated on the letter of intent, it is the name of the Norse god of the sea and, as such, is not eligible for use in the Society unless it has been documented to be used by normal human beings in period. Such documentation has not been forthcoming. (LoAR 30 Sep 89, p. 14)

Agravaine

Jaelle of Armida 1996.07 [registering Agravaine] (Agravaine Rhiwallon) Given the use in period of many names from Arthuriana, we find the use of an undocumented name of a significant character whose name appears in period Arthurian literature in this form acceptable. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR July 1996, p. 11)

Alcyoneus

François la Flamme 2002.04 This name is being returned for lack of documentation of both the given name and the byname.
Alcyoneus was documented as a character from Plutarch. However, as Metron Ariston points out, this name may well be metaphorical:
For one thing, both Latin and the Greek forms of the word means pertaining to Alcyon or the halcyon bird. It is documented from the Greek classical and Hellenistic literature as the name of a giant who was immortal when in his native land and who was slain by Hercules. (Thus he was not only non-mortal but immortal unlike most Greek giants!) As noted in the documentation Plutarch is a Greek author and wrote in Greek so the standard transliteration of the adjective would be either Alcuonios or Alcyonios. Moreover, Plutarch frequently uses metaphorical names for his supernumerary characters in the parable sections of his narratives so the use of the name derived from Alcyon is not really convincing, failing outside evidence of his existence, which I was unable to find. The actual name of the author of The Fall of Troy in Latin sources is Quintus Smyrnaeus or Quintus of Smyrna and he too originally wrote in Greek in the fourth century A.D. The context of the section quoted by Saker is important. He appears in a single instance in the context of a list of the companions of Memnon, son of the Dawn, many of whom are themselves also of distinctly mythological character. And the final citation for Pierre Alcyonius [a Renaissance humanist] is reasonable evidence for assumption of a classicizing surname but is no evidence at all for its use as a given name.

As a metaphorical name, this name is not registerable according to the guidelines for registration of literary names outlined in the Cover Letter for the February 1999 LoAR. A metaphorical name falls in the same category as an allegorical name. Lacking documentation that they were used as the name of a real person, they are not registerable. Metron Ariston found one alternative that the submitter may wish to consider. She found a "Latinized Germanic name Alcuinus which Morlet (Les noms de personne, I, 28b) documents in that spelling and others from the seventh to the eleventh century." [Alcyoneus de Battenhelm, 04/2002, R-Calontir]

Amalthea

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1994.11 No evidence has been found that Amalthea was a name used by humans in period. The only documentation for the name is that of the goat who was the nurse for Jupiter, as one of the two nymphs who fed the infant god on goatsmilk and honey, as a Roman sibyl who sold some books to the king of the Romans, Tarquin, and as a star in the constellation Auriga. We need some evidence of its use by humans in period before we may register this. (Da'ud ibn Auda, LoAR November 1994, p. 14)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd year, 1st tenure) 1992.04 "Lempriére shows Amalthea as the daughter of Melissus, King of Crete. Given this documentation (of a human bearing the name), we believe Amalthea to be registerable in the SCA." (LoAR 4/92 p.6)

Angelica, Angelique

Jaelle of Armida 1999.03 This is being returned for lack of documentation. While it is true, as the LoI states, that Angelique is found Withycombe, it is not dated to our period. Without such documentation the name must be returned.(Jaelle of Armida, LoAR March 1999, p. 10)

Jaelle of Armida 1997.07 No evidence was presented, and none could be found for the use of Angelica as a personal name in period. While the name does appear in Withycombe, Withycombe says that Angelica has been occasionally used in England, France and Germany since the 18th century. That is not evidence that is was used prior to 1600. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR July 1997, p. 15)

Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme 1992.08 Withycombe, p.24, cites Angelica as the "name of the lady beloved by Orlando" in the works of Ariosto (1474-1533); we find it, and its French form Angelique, acceptable. (Angelique Marielle DuBois, August, 1992, pg. 20)

Arachne

Baldwin of Erebor 1984.08.28 The consensus was that the name Arachne, which appears to be associated uniquely with the character from Greek mythology, should not be used in conjunction with spiders. [BoE, 28 Aug 84, p.3]

Arafel

Da'ud ibn Auda (1st year of 1st tenure) 1991.03 [Arafel] "The name was submitted as invented by C.J. Cherryh (in The Dreamstone). However, the name there was used only by an elf (the last living one in that world), and hence not suitable for humans. The purported derivation by Cherryh of Arafel from Aoibheil seems extremely unlikely. And although the two themes of the name, 'ara' and 'fel', appear in Searle's Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum (pp. 72 and 240, respectively), the fact that they appear without any examples of their use in actual names (and that they are not in his extensive list of themes on pp. xv-xix) makes them suspect, to say the least. (Searle seems to indicate that '-fel' may be a misreading of '-wulf', and 'ara' revers the reader to 'Haraldus', where it is more clearly not a protheme.)" [the name was returned] (LoAR 3/91 p.7).

Aramis

Jaelle of Armida 1998.01 [Brandon de Loire] The submitter explains Aramis as a constructed name from the Hebrew Aram and the French ending -is. This is, in fact, not a period form of name construction, and barring documentation of Aramis as a period name, it must be returned. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR January 1998, p. 21)

Argus

François la Flamme 2002.03 Argus was documented from Y Saint Greal, the Welsh version of the Grail story, as the name of another son of Elaine, the mother of Galahad. The registerability of names from literary works was discussed in the Cover Letter with the February 1999 LoAR. Among the points it outlined was:
4. And this is subjective - minor characters from minor works may or may not be acceptable. Especially if they do not fit the naming patterns of the time period. (Jaelle of Armida, CL with the February 1999 LoAR, p. 2)

While the Arthurian tales are certainly significant, it is important to note that the character of Argus has only been documented as appearing in the Welsh version. As such, he is even less significant than minor characters who appear in multiple versions of the tales. Given this single reference to this character, he is not significant enough to be registerable under the literary name guidelines, especially combined with the fact that the characters named Argus from Greek legend (neither of whom are human) were certainly much more widely known in period as well as today. [Argus Caradoc, 03/2002, R-Meridies]

Arianrhod

Jaelle of Armida 1997.01 Arianrhod ferch Don, the personage named in the cited documentation, is mythological; no one has been able to present any evidence that the name has been found in use by actual human beings in period. Without such evidence, the name may not be used in an SCA name. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR January 1997, p. 15)

Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme 1992.12 Arianrhod is the name of the Welsh moon goddess, and has not been shown to have been used by humans in period. It has been returned ere now (LoAR of Aug 87, p.13); pending evidence of its period use, it must again be returned. (Sela nic a'Phearsoin of Clan Chattan, December, 1992, pg. 18)

Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane 1990.03.31 Arianrhod was the Welsh moon goddess and, failing evidence for human use of the name in period, may not be used in the Society. (LoAR Aug 87, p. 13) (See also: LoAR 31 Mar 90, p. 6)

Banba, Banbha

François la Flamme 2001.10 Submitted as Banba MacDermot, Banba was documented from Ó Corráin and Maguire (p. 28 s.n. Banba) which states that "Banba was the wife of Mac Cuill, one of the gods of the Tuatha Dé Danann". Since no documentation was presented and none was found that Banba was used by humans in period, it is not registerable. [Banbnat MacDermot, 09/01, A-Calontir]

Elsbeth Anne Roth 1999.10 ... the documentation for Banba indicates that it was used only as a place name or as the wife of a god. [Banba McGowen, 10/99, R-Calontir, returned for lack of paperwork]

Jaelle of Armida 1996.11 This is being returned for lack of a given name. SCA given names must be documented to having been used as the name of a human being in period. According to Ó Corráin & Maguire, the name Banba (now Banbha) was originally applied to the plain of Meath and later became another name for Ireland. They note that it was also used as a feminine name in mythology, Banba having been the wife of one of the gods of the Tuatha Dé Danann. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR November 1996, p. 13)

Bedivere

Elsbeth Anne Roth 1999.06 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, 06/99, A-Atlantia]

Belphoebe

François la Flamme 2003.01 Her previous submission, Belphoebe de Givet, was returned in February 2002 with the explanation:
Belphoebe is a name unique to Spenser's The Faerie Queen. This character, the Fairie Queen, was an allegory for Elizabeth I. Belphoebe is unregisterable for two reasons. First, as it is allegorical, rather than being the name of a regular human character, it is not registerable as a name from period literature. Additionally, since Belphoebe was the name of the Faerie Queen, this name violates RfS VI.2, "Names containing elements that allude to powers that the submitter does not possess are considered presumptuous .... Such claims include ... given names that were never used by humans."

The current submission documents Bell and Phoebe as English given names, with Bell being a diminutive of Isabel.
There was also some concern that the combination of two given names that sounds identical to the returned Belphoebe did not clear the previous issue with Belphoebe. A parallel issue with the name Lora Leigh has previously been ruled on:
It was our feeling that the registration of Lora Leigh <surname> (from which this name is sufficiently different by the Rules) established a precedent in not calling conflict with the classical Lorelei, more so since there were no allusions to Lorelei in the armory. (LoAR 12/90 p.4).

Bell Phoebe is similar to Belphoebe in the same way that Lora Leigh is similar to Loralei. Therefore, given the Lora Leigh precedent cited above, Bell Phoebe is registerable in this name. [Bell Phoebe de Givet, 01/2003 LoAR, A-Atlantia]

François la Flamme 2002.02 Belphoebe is a name unique to Spenser's The Faerie Queen. This character, the Fairie Queen, was an allegory for Elizabeth I. Belphoebe is unregisterable for two reasons. First, as it is allegorical, rather than being the name of a regular human character, it is not registerable as a name from period literature. Additionally, since Belphoebe was the name of the Faerie Queen, this name violates RfS VI.2, "Names containing elements that allude to powers that the submitter does not possess are considered presumptuous .... Such claims include ... given names that were never used by humans". [Belphoebe de Givet, 02/02, R-Atlantia]

Beowulf

François la Flamme 2001.12 [...] there was some question of whether Beowulf was a unique legendary name, and thus not registerable. Reaney & Wilson (p. xl) say of this name:
In Old English the name Beowulf is known only from the Old English epic of which he is the hero. Since there are no other medieval references to the poem, it is impossible to know whether it or the name of its hero were at all widely known during the Old English period. But the name of Beowulf certainly survived until at least the end of the thirteenth century: Bowulf 1195 PN D 604; Bowulf de Rugeberge 1196 P (D); William Bewlf 1264-5 FFSx; William Bewolf 1296 SRSx; William Beowoulf 1297 MinAcctCo. This would suggest either that a knowledge of the poem and of its hero long survived the Conquest, or that Beowulf was a normal Old English name, and not simply an invention by the author of the poem.

Given the dated examples provided by Reaney & Wilson cited above, Beowulf is registerable as a Middle English name. [Beowulf fitz Malcolm, 02/03, A-Æthelmearc]

Jaelle of Armida 1999.01 [Hákon Beowulf] Note: Reaney and Wilson's A Dictionary of English Surnames cite William Beowoulf from 1297. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR January 1999, p. 10)

Briana, Brianna, Brianne

François la Flamme 2003.03 The name Brianna is no longer SCA compatible. The Cover Letter for the December 2001 LoAR states:

So, the summary of changes to the registerability status of the name Briana is:
Briana is registerable as a Spanish feminine given name.

Briana is registerable as an English feminine given name.

Since Briana has been documented, it is no longer SCA compatible.

As of the July 2002 decision meeting, the spelling Brianna will no longer be registerable.

As the submitter allowed no changes, we were unable to change the given name to Briana in order to register this name. [Brianna ni Shea, 03/2003, R-West]

François la Flamme 2002.08 Submitted as Brianna Maharg, the submitter requested authenticity for Irish. The spelling was changed at Kingdom to Briana Maharg because, when the status of Briana changed from SCA-compatible to registerable as a literary name in Spanish and English (see the Cover Letter for the December 2001 LoAR for details), registration of the form Brianna was discontinued beginning with the July 2002 decision meeting.
[...]
We were able to find no evidence that any form of Briana was used as a name by real people (as opposed to human characters in period literature), and found no evidence that the name was known in Ireland. Lacking examples of this name used in Ireland in period, we were unable to make this name authentic for Irish as requested by the submitter. [Briana M'Quharg, 08/2002, A-East]

François la Flamme 2001.12 So, the summary of changes to the registerability status of the name Briana is:
Briana is registerable as a Spanish feminine given name.
Briana is registerable as an English feminine given name.
Since Briana has been documented, it is no longer SCA compatible.
As of the July 2002 decision meeting, the spelling Brianna will no longer be registable.

[Ed.: see the 12/01 Cover Letter for a discussion of the documentation] [12/01, CL]

Elsbeth Anne Roth 2000.01 Briana is SCA compatible. [Briana MacNamara, 01/00, A-Atlantia]

Elsbeth Anne Roth 1999.10 Briana is SCA-compatible. [Briana Dolfin, 10/99, A-Ansteorra]

Jaelle of Armida 1997.01 Note: Briana has been ruled SCA compatible. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR January 1997, p. 10)

Jaelle of Armida 1997.01 Submitted as Brianne [N], Brianne takes the hypothetical Brianna one step further from period practice. We have substituted Brianna which the submitter permits. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR January 1997, p. 10)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1996.06 In December I noted that in period Latin inflections do not appear to have been used to change the gender of Welsh (and for that matter Gaelic) names. That is, such feminizations as Briana, Morgana, and Alana are, so far as we know, post-period inventions. The first of these has been declared 'SCA-compatible' on account of its great popularity. As I noted in December, the other two have enjoyed less popularity and are represented by significantly fewer registrations. I called for commentary on whether to continue to allow these and other similarly-formed names for which there is no evidence of period use, promising a decision in May. As things turned out, May was an uncommonly busy month, and the matter was delayed until this month. At any rate the question stimulated little controversy (or even discussion), so a decision is not difficult: the names Morgana and Alana, as well as any other similarly feminized masculine names for which there is no evidence of period use (and which have not already been declared 'SCA-compatible'), are not considered 'SCA-compatible'. In other words, the argument based on the Latin/Romance practice of using inflectional endings to change the gender of a name is not automatically valid; it must be supported either by evidence of period use of the specific name or by evidence that the practice was in general use in the linguistic culture of that name. (Talan Gwynek, Cover Letter to the June 1996 LoAR, p. 2)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1996.06 Brian(n)a, a modern feminization of Brian that follows no known period model, was declared 'SCA-compatible' in the 12/95 Cover Letter. (Talan Gwynek, Cover Letter to the June 1996 LoAR, p. 2)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1996.05 Brianna is a modern name that has been ruled 'SCA-compatible'; its use is a definite 'weirdness' and costs the name any further benefit of the doubt (see SCA-Compatibility is Weird in the 1/96 Cover Letter). (Talan Gwynek, LoAR May 1996, p. 24)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1996.01 [Rhonwen Briana MacLean] Rhonwen does not seem to have been used by human beings in our period; it is the modern Welsh form of a name used by Geoffrey of Monmouth for a fictional character. Briana is a modern name that does not appear to have been used at all in period. Both have been ruled `SCA-compatible'; in accordance with current practice, we are therefore registering the name. However, we consider the use of one these names a `weirdness'; use of two is excessively weird and will be grounds for return as of the May, 1996, Laurel Meeting. For more information please see the Cover Letter. (Talan Gwynek, LoAR January 1996, p. 8)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1995.12 What Names Are 'SCA-Compatible'?... Having found that my own baronial herald was slightly confused on the subject of 'SCA-compatibility', I thought that it might be helpful to list the status of some of the most common names that have been considered under this rubric. The post-period English name Fiona, which is not to be confused with the period Irish name Fíona (earlier Fíne), has long been considered 'SCA-compatible'. So have the names Cer(r)idwen (Ker(r)idwen), Rhiannon, Bronwen, Branwen, Rowen(a), and Rhonwen, all of which may be found in Welsh myth and legend, but none of which seems to have been in actual use by real people in our period. Guendolen/Gwendolen, a name based on a misreading of a masculine name and attested only in fiction, was declared 'SCA-compatible' in the 8/95 Cover Letter; more modern spellings of the name were disallowed. Brian(n)a, a modern feminization of Brian that follows no known period model, was declared 'SCA-compatible' in the 12/95 Cover Letter.

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1995.12 Latinized forms of Continental Germanic masculine names were not uncommonly feminized by change of ending (e.g., Amalrada from Amalradus), but the process does not appear to have operated on Irish masculine names; despite early Latinization of Brian to Brianus, the feminine Brian(n)a is modern. The name has been registered so often, however, that we are unwillingly obliged to declare it `SCA-compatible'; please see the Cover Letter for more details. (Talan Gwynek, LoAR December 1995, pp. 4-5)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1994.08 Brianne is a modern name and apparently could only arise as a French version of Brianna; a hypothetical French form of a probably non-existent Latinized feminine form of a masculine Irish name [to borrow Palimpsest's wording] is farther from documented practice then we are willing to go. (Brianne nic Auslan de Buchanan, 8/94 p. 18)

Britomart

Karina of the Far West 1976.06.16 [Britomart the Adamant.] The name will not do; it is used by the Embodiment of Chastity in Spenser's Faerie Queene and the Maiden aspect of the Triple Goddess. (KFW, 16 Jun 76 [6], p. 12)

Cairenn

Elsbeth Anne Roth 2001.07 While the given name appears in Ó Corráin and Maguire's Irish Names, they say that The only bearer of this name was Caireen Chasdubh ('of the dark curly hair'), daughter of the king of the Britons, and mother of Niall of the Nine Hostages, legendary ancestress of the high-kings of Ireland. Because of this, the name has already been ruled unregisterable in August 1991. [Cairenn inghean Dubhthaigh, 07/01, R-Calontir]

Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme 1992.09 Kairenn (Cairenn) appears to be a unique name, that of the mother of Njall of the Nine Hostages of Irish legend. It has been returned before now (Cairenn of CuaRuadh Keep, Aug 91). (Kairenn Suile Gairitecha, September, 1992, pg. 53)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd year, 1st tenure) 1991.08 Cairenn as spelled here appears to be a unique name, that of the mother of Niall of the Nine Hostages." (LoAR 8/91 p.17).

Cassair

François la Flamme 2002.02 Ó Corráin & Maguire (p. 46 s.n. Cassair) gives this as the name of a holy virgin included in the legend of Saint Kevin. No evidence has been found that this name was used by humans in period. Names of saints are registerable, regardless of whether they are apocryphal or not. This policy is due to the practice in many cultures (though not in Gaelic) of naming children for saints. (For more details, see the Cover Letter for the September 2001 LoAR.) As Cassair was not herself a saint and the name has not been documented as having been otherwise used in period, it falls into the category of a legendary name and is not registerable. [Cassair Warwick, 02/02, R-Atlantia]

Celeborn

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd year, 1st tenure) 1991.12.11 "There was much discussion [on a particular submission] regarding the propriety of continuing the registration of Elvish names of any kind. Mistress Alisoun, shortly before stepping down as Laurel, expanded the allowance of Elvish from Sindarin only to include Quenya as well. The overwhelming majority of recent commentary on this issue by the College, however, was in favor of banning the registration of any Elvish names in the future. I am therefore proposing such a ban, to become effective as of the February, 1992 Laurel meeting. Unless a significant number of the members of the College (or the Society as a whole) feel differently, and write to tell me about it, on and after that date we will no longer register Elvish names." (CL 11/12/91 p.2).

Karina of the Far West 1979.06.30 [Celeborn of N.] Surprisingly, the name is acceptable; our Elvish experts tell us that Sindarin names were used by mortals, and the place name distinguishes him from Celeborn of Lorien. (KFW, 30 Jun 79 [25], p. 20)

Ceridwen, Cerridwen

Elsbeth Anne Roth 2001.07 Submitted as Ceiridwen Bach, only the spellings Ceridwen and Cerridwen have been ruled SCA compatible in August 1995. [Ceridwen Bach, 07/01, A-Calontir]

Elsbeth Anne Roth 2000.11 Cerridwen has been ruled SCA compatible in this spelling as well as the more usual ones. [Cerridwen de Skene, 11/00, A-Æthelmearc]

Elsbeth Anne Roth 2000.11 The given name was ruled SCA compatible in this spelling in June 1996. [Cerridwen of Kildare, 11/00, A-West]

Elsbeth Anne Roth 2000.08 Ceridwen is SCA compatible. [Ceridwen Sais, 08/00, A-Caid]

Elsbeth Anne Roth 2000.02 Ceridwen is SCA-compatible. [Ceridwen merch Tudwal Penwyn, 02/00, A-Atlantia]

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1996.05 Ceridwen is a goddess name that does not seem to have been used by human beings in our period; however, it has been declared 'SCA-compatible', and the name is registerable. (Talan Gwynek, LoAR May 1996, p. 29)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1995.12 What Names Are 'SCA-Compatible'?... Having found that my own baronial herald was slightly confused on the subject of 'SCA-compatibility', I thought that it might be helpful to list the status of some of the most common names that have been considered under this rubric. The post-period English name Fiona, which is not to be confused with the period Irish name Fíona (earlier Fíne), has long been considered 'SCA-compatible'. So have the names Cer(r)idwen (Ker(r)idwen), Rhiannon, Bronwen, Branwen, Rowen(a), and Rhonwen, all of which may be found in Welsh myth and legend, but none of which seems to have been in actual use by real people in our period. Guendolen/Gwendolen, a name based on a misreading of a masculine name and attested only in fiction, was declared 'SCA-compatible' in the 8/95 Cover Letter; more modern spellings of the name were disallowed. Brian(n)a, a modern feminization of Brian that follows no known period model, was declared 'SCA-compatible' in the 12/95 Cover Letter.

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1995.11 The name was submitted as Cyneburh Ceridwen MacDougall, which contains at least four `weirdnesses': (1) the names are from three different cultures and languages; (2) Ceridwen seems not to have been used by human beings in period and is allowed only on sufferance; (3) there is a huge chronological gap between Cyneburh and MacDougall; and (4) the overall structure has been documented only for the language of the weakest element (Ceridwen) or for a date completely incompatible with Cyneburh. We have replaced the given name with a later form to ameliorate the last two and consider the first two not quite extreme enough to warrant further changes. Nevertheless, the name would be far more authentic without the Ceridwen. [Registered as Kyneburgh Ceridwen MacDougall] (Talan Gwynek, LoAR November 1995, pp.1-2)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1995.06 Submitted as Ceridwyn [N], the spelling with a "y" is a hypothetical masculine version which does not appear in any documentation. (You might also let her know that Ceridwen was never used by humans in period, but was only the name of the Welsh goddess.) (Da'ud ibn Auda, LoAR June 1995, p. 3)

Da'ud ibn Auda (1st year of 1st tenure) 1990.10 [Keriwyn] "The given is not a reasonable variant of Keridwen. No one could demonstrate that the 'd' would have been dropped in any variant of the name." (LoAR 10/90 p.21).

Baldwin of Erebor 1985.12.29 I regard Rhiannon and Ceridwen as exceptions to the general ban on names of deities that have not been shown to have been used, in period, by humans. They should probably never have been allowed in the first place; but having been allowed, and frequently, they have gained some degree of acceptability. We had the opportunity to disallow them as the result of the October 1981 edition of the Rules for Submissions, and Master Wilhelm even attempted to do so..., but this effort obviously did not succeed. I do not see anything to be gained by attempting to do so now. The effort did succeed in the case of Gwydion, so the latter is no longer an exception. [BoE, cvr ltr, 29 Dec 85, p.6]

Baldwin of Erebor 1985.03.10 The name Ceridwen should not be used in conjunction with a cauldron or kettle -- the cauldron of Ceridwen was the fount of poetry and knowledge. [BoE, 10 Mar 85, p.16]

Ciarnait

François la Flamme 2003.03 No evidence was presented and none was found that the name Ciarnait was used outside of legend. Lacking such evidence, it is not registerable. (However, the related name Ciar, a saint's name, is registerable.)
The byname inghean Dhonngaile combines the Early Modern Irish Gaelic (c. 1200 to c. 1700) form inghean with the Middle Irish Gaelic (c. 900 to c. 1200) Dhonngaile and so violates RfS III.1.a, which requires linguistic consistency in a name phrase. Additionally, names beginning in D do not lenite if the previous word (in this case, inghean) end in the letter n. Therefore, the correct Middle Irish Gaelic form of this byname is ingen Donngaile and the correct Early Modern Irish Gaelic form of this byname is inghean Donnghaile. [Ciarnait inghean Dhonngaile, 03/2003, R-An Tir]

Cleindori

Karina of the Far West 1978.03.10 The name Cleindori is Casta (High Darkovan) for "Golden Bell," and as a future language is not acceptable. Try a Spanish or Italian translation. (KFW, 10 Mar 78 [18], p. 6)

Cloelia

François la Flamme 2002.07 Cloelia was the name of a Roman girl whose tale is told in Virgil's Aeneid, among other places. She was held hostage by the Etruscans and fled home across the Tiber. Metron Ariston notes that she appears in Renaissance art:

Vergil was by no means the first to mention the heroic maiden Cloelia as she appeared in Livy's history of Rome and a very famous equestrian statue of her swimming across the back of the Tiber on the back of a horse was erected on the Via Appia. (It is by no means clear, however, that it is the same statue that can be seen today.) Cloelia was also a favorite motif in Renaissance and Baroque art. Between Livy, Vergil, Plutarch and the artistic motifs, there is no doubt that Cloelia would have been familiar to an educated period audience.

Given the prominence of Cloelia, her name is registerable under the guidelines for use of literary names given in the cover letter for the February 1999 LoAR. [Cloelia of the Mists, 07/2002, A-Atlantia]

Culhwch

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd year, 1st tenure) 1992.06 [Culhwch] "All of the documentation indicates that Culhwch is a unique, probably allegorical name. Since it is not constructed of elements that appear in other names, we cannot even argue for it as a constructed name."[The name was returned for this reason.] (LoAR 6/92 p.14).

Dáirine

François la Flamme 2002.06 This name is returned for lack of documentation of Dáirine as a given name used by humans in period. Ó Corráin & Maguire (p. 69 s.n. Dáirine) says of this name that it was the name of a daughter of "the legendary king of Tara, Túathal Techtmar. The foster-mother of St Colmán of Daire Mór was also called Dáirine." The first example is legendary and so is not support for the registerability of this name. In the second example, Dáirine is the name of a foster-mother of a saint and is not noted as being a saint herself. Names of saints are registerable, regardless of whether they are apocryphal or not. This policy is due to the practice in many cultures (though not in Gaelic) of naming children for saints. (For more details, see the Cover Letter for the September 2001 LoAR.) As Dáirine was not herself a saint and the name has not been documented as having been otherwise used in period, it falls into the category of a legendary name and is not registerable. [Dáirine ingen Chiaragain, 06/2002, R-Atlantia]

François la Flamme 2001.11 This name is returned for lack of documentation of Dáirine as a given name used by humans in period. Ó Corráin & Maguire (p. 69 s.n. Dáirine) says of this name that it was the name of a daughter of "the legendary king of Tara, Túathal Techtmar. The foster-mother of St Colmán of Daire Mór was also called Dáirine." The first example is legendary and so is not support for the registerability of this name. In the second example, Dáirine is the name of a foster-mother of a saint and is not noted as being a saint herself. Names of saints are registerable, regardless of whether they are apocryphal or not. This policy is due to the practice in many cultures (though not in Gaelic) of naming children for saints. (For more details, see the Cover Letter for the September 2001 LoAR.) As Dáirine was not herself a saint and the name has not been documented as having been otherwise used in period, it falls into the category of a legendary name and is not registerable. [Dáirine ingen Chiaragain, 06/02, R-Caid]

Dechtire

François la Flamme 2001.11 Dechtire is only found as the name of mother of Cú Chulainn. Barring evidence that Dechtire was used by humans in period, it is not registerable. [Dechtire ingen Ruairc, 11/01, R-Caid]

Delia

François la Flamme 2003.07 Deliah was submitted as a variant of Delia, which was submitted as a literary name. No evidence was found to support the addition of the h to the end of the documented Delia. Regarding Delia, the LoI stated:
Support for "Delia" is found in period England based upon the fact that the sonnets of poet Samuel Daniel (published 1592) are dedicated to "Delia". <http://www.sonnets.org/daniel.htm>, <http://www.sonnets.org/erskinec.htm>

However, it turns out that Delia is not a name used in literature for a specific human person. Rather, it is a name used for an idealized woman. Aryanhwy merch Catmael provided information from Withycombe regarding this name:
Withycombe s.n. Delia says that it was "an epithet of Artemis, derived from her birthplace Delos. It was a favourite name with pastoral poets in the 17th and 18th C."

Metron Ariston provided a further explanation of the use of Delia in period poetry:
[...] Daniel almost certainly was drawing on Latin sources in his use of Delia as a code name for his ideal lady. Delia appears as the name of the object of the affection of the classical Latin poet in his love poems which were quite popular in the Renaissance. (Machiavelli specifically refers to reading Tibullus during a rural retreat in letter to a friend, Francesco Vettori, written in December 1513: "I have a book in my pocket, either Dante or Petrarch, of one of the lesser poets, such as Tibullus, Ovid, or the like. I read of their tender passions and their loves, remember mine, enjoy myself a while in that sort of dreaming.") The name also appears as the name of a love interest in Vergil's Eclogues which were even more popular in period and were certainly known to Daniel who did some Vergilian translations.

Lacking evidence that Delia was used as a name for a human character, rather than as an allegorical reference to an idealized woman, this name falls into the same category as "Everyman" (see "Using Names from Literary Sources" in the Cover Letter to the February 1999 LoAR for more details). As the only use of Delia we have in period literature is allegorical, it is not registerable as a literary name. [Deliah MacMurrow, 07/2003 LoAR, R-Meridies]

Diana, Dyana

François la Flamme 2002.12 No documentation was presented and none was found that Dianna is a reasonable period variant of Diana, which is dated to 1580 in Withycombe (pp. 83-84 s.n. Diana). [Dianna Regina Oettel, 12/2002, R-Atenveldt]

Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme 1993.05 [Dyana Greenwood, Argent, on a tree proper issuant from a base purpure, a decrescent argent] The submission has two problems, each sufficient for return. The first is conflict ...The second is excessive reference to Diana, the Roman goddess of the moon and forest. We've ruled (LoAR of 23 Aug 92) that a deity name used by period humans may add a single additional reference to that deity. The use of Greenwood, the tree and the crescent each constitutes an allusion to the goddess Diana; we find the combination excessive. We've registered the name, but any device resubmission should avoid any references to the goddess Diana. (Dyana Greenwood, May, 1993, pg. 17)

Wilhelm von Schlüssel 1981.07.29 Diana was the goddess of the moon and of wild animals (including the horse). Rhiannon was a Celtic goddess also linked to the moon and specifically to a white horse. Coupled with the white horse's head, crescent and stars, this is a clear claim to divinity, and is thus not allowed. WVS [48] [LoAR 29 Jul 81], p. 11

Dulcinea

Elsbeth Anne Roth 2000.04 The given name Dulcinea appears first in Miguel Cervantes Saavedra's Don Quijote. Unfortunately, the first volume of the novel was published in 1605. Furthermore, even in the book Dulcinea was not the person's real name but instead a "romance" name given by Don Quijote to his love. [Dulcinea Hurtado de Mendoza, 04/00, R-Atenveldt]

Éile

François la Flamme 2002.11 Éile was documented as a secondary header form listed in Ó Corráin & Maguire (p. 84 s.n. Éle). However, no documentation was presented and none could be found that the name Éile was used outside of legend. Lacking such evidence, this name is not registerable. [Éile Keldeleth, 11/2002, R-Outlands]

François la Flamme 2002.03 No documentation was presented and none could be found that the name Éile was used outside of legend. Lacking such evidence, this name is not registerable. [Éile Dallas, 03/2002, R-Caid]

François la Flamme 2002.02 No documentation was presented and none could be found that the name Éile was used outside of legend. Lacking such evidence, this name is not registerable. [Éile ingen Áeda, 02/02, R-Atlantia]

Éire

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1994.08 Submitted as Eira ní Dhaniél, Eira as a name is a modern invention. However, Harpy noted that Éire, though primarily known as that of the goddess after whom Ireland is named, has been used as a name by humans. As the submitter allowed changes, we have therefore substituted it as the closest documentable name to Eira. (Da'ud ibn Auda, LoAR August 1994, p. 6)

Éirne

François la Flamme 2002.08 Éirne was documented only as the name of a woman in Irish legend. Lacking evidence that it was used by humans in period, it is not registerable. [Éirne inghean Domhnaill, 08/2002, R-Outlands]

Emer, Eimhear

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1994.12 Emer (of which Eimhear is a variant) appears to have been a unique to a legendary figure and not one used by humans. We have therefore dropped Eimhaer to register the name. (Da'ud ibn Auda, LoAR December 1994, p. 5)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 1st year) 1994.03 [Returning Emer ni Maeve.] Émer appears to be a unique name, that of Cúchulainn's lady. It does not seem to have been borne by any other human. Ó Corráin & Maguire doesn't give a modern form, lending support to this belief. Coghlan, p. 19, gives the modern form as Eimhear, noting that the name has had a "modern revival". [3/94, p.20]

Eórann

François la Flamme 2001.10 No documentation was provided, and none could be found, that the feminine given name Eórann was used outside of legend. The only documentation found for this name was in Ó Corráin & Maguire (p. 88 s.n. Eórann), which says:
In Irish story Eórann is the wife of Suibne, king of Dál nAriaide and hero of Buile Shuibhne, which tells how Suibne was cursed by a saint, went mad of terror at the battle of Moira, and spent the rest of his life as a wild birdman wandering through the woods of Ireland.
... barring documentation that Eórann was used by non-legendary humans in period, it is not registerable under our current rules. [Eórann inghean Fhaoláin, 10/01, R-Atlantia]

Eriu

Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme 1992.10 Eriu is both the name of a country (Ireland) and a goddess. We cannot register this without more definite evidence that this name was used by humans in period. (Eriu Morgana Nic Dhubhghlaise Crawford, October, 1992, pg. 29)

Este

Wilhelm von Schlüssel 1981.04.20 Este is the name of [one of the] Valar in Middle Earth and thus may not be used. WVS [40] [LoAR 20 Apr 81], p. 7

Fafnir

Jaelle of Armida 1997.01 No documentation was presented to show that Fafnir was used by humans in period, and Lind, from where the name was documented, marks it as mythological. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR January 1997, p. 20)

Ferogain

François la Flamme 2003.01 Ferogain was documented only as a legendary name, "one of the five human foster brothers to Cuchulain of Muirthemne. The legend can be found on-line at: http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/cuch/". Metron Ariston provided information about this name:
[A]part from references to the submitter, a quick search of the web produced only one reference with this spelling: an on-line version of Lady Augusta Gregory's rendition of the tale of Cuchulain, which is more or less notorious for its renditions of names found in the original sources. She gives the names of the five boys as "Ferger, Fergel, Ferogain, Ferobain, and Lomna Druth the Fool". While Ferger may represent an original Ferchar ( Ó Corráin and Maguire, Gaelic Personal Names, s.n. Ferchar) and Fergel a fairly obvious Fergal ( ibid., s.n. Fergal), the other names are problematic and the source given is clearly legendary. Based on current precedent without any evidence that the name was borne by humans outside that legendary context, that name cannot be registered. Since he says that he will accept any changes, perhaps he would accept the documented given name Ferganainm which Ó Corráin and Maguire (Gaelic Personal Name s, s.n. Ferganainm) say "was fairly common in Ireland down to the early modern period though I know of no very early examples".

Given the poor quality of the renditions of the names in Lady Augusta Gregory's work, we have no evidence that the spelling Ferogain is even a valid Gaelic name. Were evidence provided that it is a valid name in Gaelic, we still have no evidence that the name is not unique to this legend. Lacking evidence that it was used by humans in period, it is not registerable. [Ferogain of River Shannon, 01/2003 LoAR, R-Calontir]

Fiamuin

François la Flamme 2003.11 Precedent states:
Names of saints are registerable, regardless of whether they are apocryphal or not. This policy is due to the practice in many cultures (though not in Gaelic) of naming children for saints. (For more details, see the Cover Letter for the September 2001 LoAR.) As Dáirine was not herself a saint and the name has not been documented as having been otherwise used in period, it falls into the category of a legendary name and is not registerable. [Dáirine ingen Chiaragain, 06/02, R-Caid]

Similarly, Fiamuin is only found as the name of the mother of Saint Berchán of Clonsast. As she was not herself a saint and as the name has not been documented as having been otherwise used in period, it falls into the category of a legeendary name and is not registerable. [Fiamuin Kareman, 11/2003, R-East]

Finnabair, Fionnabhair

François la Flamme 2003.06 No documentation was provided, and none could be found, that the feminine given name Fionnabhair was used outside of legend. Lacking evidence that it was used by humans in period, it is not registerable. [Fionnabhair inghean Thighearnaigh, 06/2003 LoAR, R-Caid]

Freya, Freyja

Jaelle of Armida 1998.06 [Freyia av Bergen] According to the LoI "[Lind's Norsk-Islandsk Personnamen col.283] has a reasonable entry for Freyia." This is not correct. While it is true that Freyia is found in Lind, the references are all to the Goddess, and not to a human being. Barring documentation that the given name was used by humans in our period as a given name, this name must be returned. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR, June 1998)

Jaelle of Armida 1997.05 [returning Freyja the Cunning] There is no documentation for the name Freya/Freyja being used for anyone but the Goddess in our period. SCA given names must be given names used by Human beings in our period. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR May 1997, p. 9)

Gandalfr

Da'ud ibn Auda (1st year of 1st tenure) 1991.04 "Given that Gandalfr is cited in Geirr Bassi as a name clearly given to a human in period, and that there are no other references to Gandalf the Gray, I can see no real bar to registering the name. It seems to me to be in the same class as the name Conan, which may have very strong associations for many people with one specific character, but which is none the less an acceptable Society name." (LoAR 4/91 p.4).

Gwydion

Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane 1989.06 [Gwydion Caithnes of Wyk] The name "Gwydion" has recently been ruled acceptable for Society use in the case of Gwydion Rhys ap Rhianwen. (LoAR 06/89)

Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane 1989.02.26 [Gwydion Rhys ap Rhianwen] The submittor has provided documentation from period legal documents that one Gwydion Bola (which means something like Gwydion the Fat, according to Brachet) was beadle of the English County of Carmarthen in the early fourteenth century. Brachet has added further citations from period sources in support of the use of Gwydion by humans in period. It is the consensus of the College that the case is more than adequately proved and the name Gwydion may be used in the Society so long as there is no other reference to the Gwydion of Welsh legend. (LoAR 26 Feb 89, p. 8)

Baldwin of Erebor 1985.12.29 I regard Rhiannon and Ceridwen as exceptions to the general ban on names of deities that have not been shown to have been used, in period, by humans. They should probably never have been allowed in the first place; but having been allowed, and frequently, they have gained some degree of acceptability. We had the opportunity to disallow them as the result of the October 1981 edition of the Rules for Submissions, and Master Wilhelm even attempted to do so..., but this effort obviously did not succeed. I do not see anything to be gained by attempting to do so now. The effort did succeed in the case of Gwydion, so the latter is no longer an exception. [BoE, cvr ltr, 29 Dec 85, p.6]

Baldwin of Erebor 1985.10.20 Gwydion may not be used as a given name in the Society. [BoE, 20 Oct 85, p.8]

Jessica

Jaelle of Armida 1997.07 [registering the given name Jessica] [Jessica Marten] The Rules for Submission state "New name elements, whether invented by the submitter or borrowed from a literary source, may be used if they follow the rules for name formation from a linguistic tradition compatible with the domain of the Society and the name elements used." (Rule II.3, Invented Names) Elizabethan English qualifies as a linguistic tradition compatible with the domain of the SCA. Shakespeare qualifies as a period author and the Merchant of Venice just fits into our time period (ignoring the "gray" period from 1601 to 1650). The character in the play is human. Jessica may be "modern" according to Withycombe, but it is an acceptable SCA given name according to our rules. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR July 1997, p. 5)

Kálsvísa

Elsbeth Anne Roth 2000.08 The byname Kálsvísa, justified as a kenning based on the name of a legendary horse, has serious problems. No evidence was submitted that proper names appeared as kennings, that is, allusive names used primarily in scaldic poetry; the most the College could find was that names were used as parts of kennings. Furthermore, the argument presented in the submission does not address the issue of whether Kálsvísa as a name refers to a particular legendary individual in such a way that its use should be prohibited. It is also unclear whether the byname is a claim to superhuman powers and therefore presumptuous. [Kormákr Kálsvísa, 08/00, R-Atenveldt]

Kambreda

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 1st year) 1993.12b [Kambreda] also appears to be a name unique to one of the daughters of Brychan. This being the case we need additional documentation for its existence and its use by others before we can register Kambreda in the SCA. [12b/93, p.13]

Karchar

François la Flamme 2003.07 Submitted as Karchar of the Blue Eyes, the submitter requested authenticity for 12th to 15th C Turkey and allowed any changes.
The LoI stated that "Karchar is a Turkish masculine name, which appears in the Book of Dede Korkut, which was recorded between the 12th and 15th Century" and that "'of the Blue Eyes' is the English Translation of the Arabic epithet 'al-Azmaq', which is dated to 1230." No indication was provided on the LoI of where in The Book of Dede Korkut the name Karchar is found. Additionally, no reference was provided in the LoI at all for where the information regarding the byname al-Azmaq was found. This is a case of inadequate summarization of documentation on the LoI and is cause for return. The College cannot judge information that is not provided to them, hence the requirement of proper summarization of all documentation on LoIs.
al-Jamal provided an evaluation of this name. It illustrates clearly why proper summarization is necessary for documentation referenced in LoIs:
Is there any indication of where in The Book of Dede Korkut the name Karchar appears? Or do I have to reread the entire text to see if I can find it? (My copy is the old Penguin Classic; it has no index.)
The Book of Dede Korkut (Dede means "grandfather" (Introduction, p. 12), and Korkut as a name "was in fact quite common" (Introduction, p. 13). Not entirely unlike "Mother" Goose. The best support for his having been a real person is that "certainly there is no evidence that he was not". Introduction, p. 12. On the other hand, he is said to have lived for 295 years. Ibid.) is basically a collection of folk tales. Like many folk tales, some, and even perhaps most, of the names therein may be allegorical or invented (for example, how many real people were named Rapunzel? Or Cinderella? Would their appearance in a collection of period folk tales be sufficient for us to decide to register them? In The Book of Dede Korkut, the name Kazilik occurs as a personal name, as the name of a mountain, and as the name of a breed of horse (Notes, p. 196). The boy Basat (Attack-horse) is named so because he attacks a herd of horses and sucks their blood. Notes, pp. 205-206. There is no indicatio[n] that Basat is an otherwise reasonable name for a person). Is there any indication of whether Karchar is or is not an allegorical or invented name also? [...]
Metron Ariston found an online copy of The Book of Dede Korkut and was able to locate the name Karchar. Looking at this name in the context of that part of The Book of Dede Korkut, there is no indication that the name Karchar is allegorical (as is the name Basat found by al-Jamal). As we have no evidence that Karchar is not being used as a true masculine given name in this context, we are giving the submitter the benefit of the doubt and registering Karchar as a given name. [Karchar the Blue-eyed, 07/2003 LoAR, A-Atlantia]

Kveldulf

Da'ud ibn Auda (1st year of 1st tenure) 1991.04 "Kveldulf is a unique name, applied to the grandfather of Egil Skallagrimsson, given to him because he came alive only at night and apparently had werewolf-like tendencies. As a unique name, its use in a patronymic form is a claim to relationship, which is disallowed by RfS V.5." (LoAR 4/91 p.14).

Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane 1988.10.30 "Kveld-Ulfr" may well be a unique name like "Skalla-Grimr": the adjective "kveld" was added to the given name "Ulfr" for the grandfather of Egil Skallagrimsson, a famous berserker. He was apparently given the name because he only came alive in the evenings and possibly because he was considered by some to be a werewolf in actuality. (LoAR 30 Oct 88, p. 13)

Lamorak

François la Flamme 2002.04 Lamorak was one of the knights of the round table mentioned in Arthurian literature. Therefore, his name is registerable under the guidelines for use of literary names given in the cover letter for the February 1999 LoAR. Lacking evidence that this name was used by real people in period, it is not authentic. [Lamorak of Dunsinane, 04/2002, A-Middle]

Laufey

François la Flamme 2002.04 The only documentation found for Laufey was as the name of the non-human mother of the Norse god Loki. Lacking documentation of Laufey used by humans in period, it is not registerable.
The closest name to Laufey that the College was able to find was Ljúfa which is listed on p. 13 of Geirr Bassi. As the submitter did not allow major changes, we were unable to change the given name to a different name in order to register this name. [Laufey rauðrefr, 04/2002, R-Lochac]

Laurelin

Baldwin of Erebor 1984.12.16 Laurelin is the younger of the Two Trees of Valinor, and is no longer an acceptable Society name. [BoE, 16 Dec 84, p.14]

Lavinia

François la Flamme 2002.03 Lavinia is registerable under the guidelines regarding names from literary sources set down in the Cover Letter that accompanied the February 1999 LoAR. Lavinia is the daughter of Latinus and the second wife of Aeneas in the Aeneid. Metron Ariston stated that "As the Aeneid was a staple of medieval education, both in the original Latin and later in vernacular versions, the given name would certainly have been familiar." [Lavinia Betteresse, 03/2002, A-Atenveldt]

Llew, Lleu

Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane 1988.02.21 [Llew ap Nuada] The given name Llew has previously been ruled to be ineligible for use in the Society since it is the name of a Welsh demi-god. Although Nuadha has been used as the name of several ecclesiastics in period, it is best known as the name of the ancient Irish lord of the Otherworld, who appears in the early genealogies of many Irish noble families (much as Mars appeared in the genealogies of the Romans). Used in conjunction with the name of a Welsh demi-god with stars and a silver sword in the device, this is clearly not acceptable (one of the primary attributes of Nuadha Silverhand was a magical sword of great power). (LoAR 21 Feb 88, p. 12)

Baldwin of Erebor 1985.08.25 The only instance of Lleu of which we are aware is the demi-god Lleu (or Llew) Llaw Gyffes, whom Charles Squire equates with the Gaelic sungod Lugh Lamhfada. [BoE, 25 Aug 85, p.15] [The name was disallowed for SCA use.]

Baldwin of Erebor 1984.11.24 The only instance of Llew of which we are aware is the demi-god Llew Llaw Gyffes. [BoE, 24 Nov 84, p.6] [The name was returned.]

Llyr

François la Flamme 2004.03 Submitted as Aeddan ap Cai ap Llyr, the submitter allowed the final element to be dropped if needed for registration.
The registerability of Llyr has varied. It was prohibited in 1987:
Llyr does indeed appear in early Welsh genealogies, just as Mars appears in the early genealogies of Rome: he is the Welsh sea god and there is no doubt that the use of his name here will be interpreted as a claim to more than human descent. ... There can be no doubt that Llyr, as he appears in the Mabinogion is described sometimes in terms that would suit a Mabinogion mortal king, as is Beli, but it is equally clear that such heroes as Bran, son of Llyr and grandson of Beli, are not really considered as of wholly human descent. [Emrys ap Llyr, 12/87 LoAR, R-East]

It was then registered without comment in 1996 and 1998, presumably on the basis of the Llyr ap Einion Yrth mentioned in the Letter of Intent.
Two men named Llyr are mentioned in Bartrum as legendary ancestors of saints and kings. The first is the Llyr of the Mabinogion, who is clearly superhuman and legendary. The second, Llyr ap Einion Yrth, is listed only as a remote ancestor of saints and early Welsh kings. As such, his name is also legendary. These were the only two examples found of the name Llyr. Therefore, Llyr, like names only found in these legendary contexts in Irish texts, is not registerable. [Aeddan ap Cai, 03/2004, A-Calontir]

Karina of the Far West 1978.08.17 Llyr is a Celtic god; you cannot claim to be his son. (KFW, 17 Aug 78 [21], p. 7)

Lorelei

Da'ud ibn Auda (1st year of 1st tenure) 1991.02 [Lorelei Bocciardo di Romagna] Lorelei is the submitter's legal given name.

Da'ud ibn Auda (1st year of 1st tenure) 1990.12 [Lora Leigh] "It was our feeling that the registration of Lora Leigh <surname> (from which this name is sufficiently different by the Rules) established a precedent in not calling conflict with the classical Lorelei, more so since there were no allusions to Lorelei in the armory." (LoAR 12/90 p.4).

Baldwin of Erebor 1984.09 [Lora Hamlin (submitted as Lora Lye Hamlin)] NOTE: Lora Lye is too apt to be read and pronounced as Lorelei, which is not acceptable under our rules. We have dropped the middle name in order to register the device.

Marine

François la Flamme 2004.02 Marine was documented from Louis-Fernand Flutre, Table des Noms Propres Avec Toutes Leurs Variantes Figurant dans les Romans du Moyen Age (s.n. Marine). However, the LoI did not provide the required summary of what this entry says about this name. As Siren notes, "Flutre is a listing of literary characters. We need to know something about the characters to know if it is a human character, and therefore possibly registerable." As this submission included photocopies of the relevant pages from Flutre, we were able to determine that at least one person referenced in this entry was a female saint, making the literary character in question likely to be human. As a result, the form Marine is registerable as a French feminine given names under the guidelines for the registerability of literary names.
We would also note that no translation was provided for the submitted documentation from Flutre. We would remind submission heralds that translations are required for submitted documentation that is not in English. For most submissions where the documentation is in French, this is not usually an issue, since the LoIs routinely quote the relevant entries and members of the College who read French are able to evaluate the information provided in the entry. Since this submission (1) was not properly summarized in the LoI and (2) no translation was provided for the submitted French documentation, most of this entry may not be used as support for this submission.
The submitter requested authenticity for "early 1500s France". As the only documentation for the given name was as a literary name and the only documentation provide for the byname was as a 13th C English byname, we were unable to make this name authentic for the submitter's requested time and culture. [Marine Perle, 02/2004, A-Atlantia]

Meenakshi

François la Flamme 2002.05 The documentation provided for Meenakshi show it only as the name of the consort of Shiva. Lacking documentation that it was used by humans in period, or even a pattern of Indian given names in period being taken from the given names of deities or their consorts, this name is not registerable. [Meenakshi Singh, 05/2002, R-Outlands]

Melkor

Wilhelm von Schlüssel 1980.11.28 Melkor was the Middle Earth version of Satan. This name may not be used. WVS [30] [LoAR 28 Nov 80], p. 7

Melusine, Melusina

François la Flamme 2001.12 This name is being returned for lack of documentation of Melusine. Melusine is listed on p. 137 of Louis-Fernand Flutre, Table des Noms Propres avec Toutes Leurs Variantes Figurant dans les Romans du Moyen Age Écrits en Français ou en Provençal et Actuellement Publiés ou Analysés (Poitiers: Centre d'Études Supérieures de Civilisation Médiévale, 1962) as the name of a character in a medieval romance. Unfortunately for the submitter, the character described in this entry is not a human. As summarized by Metron Ariston:
While it is true that in the Lusignan legend, Melusine's father is said to be the King of Scotland, her mother is said to be the fairy Pressina. The locus classicus for her tale is the Chronique de Melusine written by Jean d'Arras around 1387. In this classic fairy tale story, Melusine is said to have been cursed by her mother to be transformed every Saturday into a hideous monster with a serpent's tale [sic] and, if ever seen in this form by a mortal, to be destined to take this form forever.
As we have no evidence that the name Melusine was used by humans in period (not even as a human literary character), we are upholding the precedent barring registration of Melusine:
There are only a bare handful of Melusines registered, and the only documentation is post-1650; I think I can safely disallow the name, pending evidence that it's period. I'd be willing to believe it a variant form of Melisenda, Millicent --- but as it's also the name of a mythical monster, I'd like to see some evidence of its period use by humans. (Melusine d'Argent, October, 1992, pg. 21)
[Alessandra Melusine di Mantegna, 12/01, R-Drachnewald]

Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme 1992.10 There are only a bare handful of Melusines registered, and the only documentation is post-1650; I think I can safely disallow the name, pending evidence that it's period. I'd be willing to believe it a variant form of Melisenda, Millicent --- but as it's also the name of a mythical monster, I'd like to see some evidence of its period use by humans. (Melusine d'Argent, October, 1992, pg. 21)

Wilhelm von Schlüssel 1980.03.18 [Melusine N. the M.] She found a historical use of Melusina in 1667. Inasmuch as she submitted three years ago, I am willing to give the benefit of doubt that it might have been used earlier and grant her the use of the name ... Notice that there is both a surname and a modifier to difference the name from the original Melusine. WVS [13] [LoAR 18 Mar 80], p. 4

Karina of the Far West 1979.06.30 "Melusine" is apparently a corruption of Melisante, but it also means a two-tailed mermaid. Please document it as a proper name (KFW, 30 Jun 79 [25], p. 3)

Midir, Midair

Jaelle of Armida 1997.02 Midir, which is the standard form of Midair, is a mythological name, and no evidence was provided, nor could be found that it was used by human beings in period. Given names must be documented as having been given names used by human beings in period. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR February 1997, p. 24)

Miranda

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 1st year) 1994.03 [Returning Miranda of Halidon Hill.] Miranda was coined by Shakespeare after the close of our period. While we have often registered names used by people documented only from the "grey area" (1600-1650), fictional names from literature are more problematic. Given the relatively small number of prior registrations of Miranda, as well as the dates of these registrations, we do not feel compelled to continue registering the name as SCA-compatible. [3/94, p.18]

Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme 1993.10 Miranda has been registered often enough to be considered compatible with period usage. Shakespeare appears to have made up the name for the character in The Tempest (1611) using principles dating from period. At any rate, I see nothing to be gained from banning it now. (Miranda Jourdaine MacDowel, October, 1993, pg. 8)

Mirrim

Baldwin of Erebor 1986.02.16 Mirrim appears to be unique to Anne McCaffrey's Pern stories, which, being post-technological, are not considered compatible with the SCA. [BoE, 16 Feb 86, p.15]

Mordred

Karina of the Far West 1979.06.30 You can't be Mordred. There was only one of him, and that was quite enough. (KFW, 30 Jun 79 [25], p. 78)

Morgana, Morgaine

François la Flamme 2002.08 The name Morgana was once registerable as an SCA-compatible name. However, that status was revoked in the Cover Letter for the June 1996 LoAR:
In December I noted that in period Latin inflections do not appear to have been used to change the gender of Welsh (and for that matter Gaelic) names. That is, such feminizations as Briana, Morgana, and Alana are, so far as we know, post-period inventions. The first of these has been declared 'SCA-compatible' on account of its great popularity. As I noted in December, the other two have enjoyed less popularity and are represented by significantly fewer registrations. I called for commentary on whether to continue to allow these and other similarly-formed names for which there is no evidence of period use, promising a decision in May. As things turned out, May was an uncommonly busy month, and the matter was delayed until this month. At any rate the question stimulated little controversy (or even discussion), so a decision is not difficult: the names Morgana and Alana, as well as any other similarly feminized masculine names for which there is no evidence of period use (and which have not already been declared 'SCA-compatible'), are not considered 'SCA-compatible'. In other words, the argument based on the Latin/Romance practice of using inflectional endings to change the gender of a name is not automatically valid; it must be supported either by evidence of period use of the specific name or by evidence that the practice was in general use in the linguistic culture of that name. (Talan Gwynek, Cover Letter to the June 1996 LoAR, p. 2)

The name Alana has since been found in period. Gage's LoC dated 15 Jun 2001 references this information: "Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn cited (1381) [Robertus filius Radulfi] and [Alana filia eius]. This citation is from: Fenwick, Carolyn C. Poll Taxes of 1377, 1379, and 1381, Part 1: Bedfordshire-Leicestershire p. 112."
The name Briana has since been found in period literature. The Cover Letter for the December 2001 LoAR summarizes this information in the section entitled "From Pelican: Changes to the Registerability of the name Briana".
However, no evidence has been found that the name Morgana existed in period either as a name used by humans or as a name of a human in period literature. Lacking such documentation, the name Morgana remains unregisterable. [Morgana of the Mists, 08/2002, R-Meridies]

Jaelle of Armida 1998.09 [Morgana MacKay] According to the LoI Morgana is SCA compatible. That is not the case. Barring documentation that Morgana was used by a human as a given name prior to the year 1600, this name must be returned. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR September 1998, p. 9)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1996.06 In December I noted that in period Latin inflections do not appear to have been used to change the gender of Welsh (and for that matter Gaelic) names. That is, such feminizations as Briana, Morgana, and Alana are, so far as we know, post-period inventions. The first of these has been declared 'SCA-compatible' on account of its great popularity. As I noted in December, the other two have enjoyed less popularity and are represented by significantly fewer registrations. I called for commentary on whether to continue to allow these and other similarly-formed names for which there is no evidence of period use, promising a decision in May. As things turned out, May was an uncommonly busy month, and the matter was delayed until this month. At any rate the question stimulated little controversy (or even discussion), so a decision is not difficult: the names Morgana and Alana, as well as any other similarly feminized masculine names for which there is no evidence of period use (and which have not already been declared 'SCA-compatible'), are not considered 'SCA-compatible'. In other words, the argument based on the Latin/Romance practice of using inflectional endings to change the gender of a name is not automatically valid; it must be supported either by evidence of period use of the specific name or by evidence that the practice was in general use in the linguistic culture of that name. (Talan Gwynek, Cover Letter to the June 1996 LoAR, p. 2)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1996.02 Morgaine is apparently an English spelling of the masculine Welsh name Morgan, as may be seen from Bardsley's mention (s.n. Hailstone) of the 1583 marriage of Morgaine Hubble and Tomison (Thomasine) Halestone. Morgaine therefore cannot well be the daughter of Cadwr. (Talan Gwynek, LoAR February 1996, p. 21)

Karina of the Far West 1977.08.18 The name Morgana, taken with the mullet voided, implies magic. (KFW, 18 Aug 77 [15], p. 3)

Myrddin

Jaelle of Armida 1996.12 The submitter asked for a review on the use of the name Myrddin, which had been previously ruled unacceptable for SCA usage, and provided information that was hoped would result in the overturn of this ruling. I can do no better than to quote some of Harpy's (copious) commentary on the name.
"As with just about everything with Arthurian associations, you can find books out there that will claim just about anything. Frankly, I'm very skeptical about any book with John (or Caitlin) Matthews as an author -- their work is highly speculative. Geoffrey Ashe is considerably more respected, but his actual reference in the cited work is to Geoffrey of Monmouth's knowledge of "traditions of a more or less historical bard named Myrddin". This is a considerable step away from Ashe claiming that there actually was a historic bard by that name, as opposed to a story about a supposedly historic bard by that name. I have not found evidence of any period use of the name for any individual other than the highly suspicious poet/prophet. In short, the submitter's evidence, while presented in perfectly good faith, is nothing new and does not affect the conclusion that Myrddin was not an actual Welsh given name in ordinary use in period." (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR December 1996, p. 13)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1996.04 According to Harpy, Myrddin is a unique legendary name. Henceforth it will not be acceptable (unless, of course, evidence of actual period use can be found). (Talan Gwynek, Cover Letter to the April 1996 LoAR, p. 3)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1996.04 Not Another 'SCA-Compatible' Name. According to Harpy, Myrddin is a unique legendary name. Henceforth it will not be acceptable (unless, of course, evidence of actual period use can be found). (CL 4/96)

Ninian

François la Flamme 2002.09 Niniana was submitted as a hypothetical feminine form of the masculine name Ninian. No documentation was provided and none was found that such a feminization is plausible with this name. Therefore it is not registerable per the ruling:
In December I noted that in period Latin inflections do not appear to have been used to change the gender of Welsh (and for that matter Gaelic) names. That is, such feminizations as Briana, Morgana, and Alana are, so far as we know, post-period inventions. The first of these has been declared 'SCA-compatible' on account of its great popularity. As I noted in December, the other two have enjoyed less popularity and are represented by significantly fewer registrations. I called for commentary on whether to continue to allow these and other similarly-formed names for which there is no evidence of period use. [...] [T]he question stimulated little controversy (or even discussion), so a decision is not difficult: the names Morgana and Alana, as well as any other similarly feminized masculine names for which there is no evidence of period use (and which have not already been declared 'SCA-compatible'), are not considered 'SCA-compatible'. In other words, the argument based on the Latin/Romance practice of using inflectional endings to change the gender of a name is not automatically valid; it must be supported either by evidence of period use of the specific name or by evidence that the practice was in general use in the linguistic culture of that name. [Talan Gwynek, Cover Letter to the June 1996 LoAR, p. 2]

Mona was documented as the Roman name for the island of Anglesey. However, no documentation was provided that de Mona is a properly formed Roman Latin locative byname. Lacking such evidence, this byname is not registerable.
There was some commentary regarding possible conflict of this name with the Arthurian character of the Lady of the Lake. Metron Ariston explains:
The given name is fairly obviously the Arthurian Niniane whose human origins are somewhat dubious. In some versions she is associated with the Lady of the Lake and in others is stated to be a powerful sorceress, possibly of Druidic origins, and is associated with the deceit of Merlin. A number of modern "romantic magic" sources associate her with Mona/Anglesey, possibly because of legendary associations between Anglesey and the "island in the west" and also with late survival of Druidic rites.

We are declining to rule on this possible conflict at this time. If this name is resubmitted in a form similar to the current submission (for example, Ninian de Mona), the new submission should address whether the Lady of the Lake would be referred as of Anglesey or as of Mona/de Mona. Such information would help the College evaluate whether or not the submitted name would or would not conflict with the Lady of the Lake. [Niniana de Mona, 09/2002 LoAR, R-Caid]

Niobe

François la Flamme 2002.05 The only previous registration of Niobe was in December of 1989. Metron Ariston provided information regarding references to Niobe in period literature and art:
Niobe was major character in Greek myth, and appeared commonly in classical art and literature as early as Homer's Iliad. She had six or seven sons and the same number of daughters (the precise number depends on the author). When she boasted that she was at least equal to Leto who had borne only Apollo and Artemis, Leto's children killed all her children. The motif of her grief and the story of Niobe herself being turned to stone appear in a number of classical authors familiar in period (Homer, Apollodorus, Ovid, etc.) and it was a very popular motif in classical and Renaissance art. For instance, Anna Comnena uses her as a symbol of sorrow in book XV of the Alexiad. Dante mentions her in Canto XI of the Purgatorio. Chaucer similarly uses her ("To walwe and wepe as Niobe the quene, Whos teres yet in marbel been y-sene.") in ll. 699 700 of Troilus and Criseyde.

The character of Niobe has an unusual status in period literature. She was a human character in Greek myth. However, the references to her in medieval and Renaissance art and literature cited by Metron Ariston specifically use Niobe as a symbolic reference. So, the name Niobe had taken on a significantly well known allegorical meaning by the medieval and Renaissance periods. The guidelines for using names from literature set down in the Cover Letter for the February 1999 LoAR require that the name reference a human character. They also caution that allegorical names may not be registerable. Niobe falls into both of these categories. Names found only as an allegorical reference have been previously returned (Belphoebe de Givet, February 2002 LoAR). So, the question is whether Niobe is a name that would plausibly have been used by parents naming their child in the Middle Ages or Renaissance. At that time, the allegorical meanings associated with Niobe are more significant than her position as a human character in literature. Therefore, lacking evidence that Niobe was more well known in the Middle Ages and Renaissance as a human character rather than as a symbol, or that the name Niobe was used by humans in period, this name is not registerable. [Niobe the Forgetful, 05/2002, R-Atlantia]

Nuada

Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane 1988.02.21 [Llew ap Nuada] The given name Llew has previously been ruled to be ineligible for use in the Society since it is the name of a Welsh demi-god. Although Nuadha has been used as the name of several ecclesiastics in period, it is best known as the name of the ancient Irish lord of the Otherworld, who appears in the early genealogies of many Irish noble families (much as Mars appeared in the genealogies of the Romans). Used in conjunction with the name of a Welsh demi-god with stars and a silver sword in the device, this is clearly not acceptable (one of the primary attributes of Nuadha Silverhand was a magical sword of great power). (LoAR 21 Feb 88, p. 12)

Odin

François la Flamme 2003.02 There was some discussion whether the use of Odin in this name was presumptuous. Indeed, the byname Odinsson was ruled unregisterable long ago:
Of course he can't be "Odinsson" without proof of his parentage. (KFW, 17 Aug 78 [21], p. 9)
[N. Odinsson.] Let him submit a history form documenting whose son he is, or change his name. (HB, 5 Aug 72 [56], p. 1)

In this case, the submitted documentation shows that Odin is found as "a man's name found once in Nicolaa de Bracton's article, 'A Statistical Survey of Given Names in Essex Co., England'" (http://members.tripod.com/nicolaa5/articles/names.html). Sommelier also found that Reaney & Wilson (pp. 327-328 s.n. Oden, Othen) "date Oudon 1066, Odin Goldeberd 1327, and Thomas Oden 1332 (among others)." These examples are sufficient to support the use of Odin as a rare name used by humans in English. As such, it is registerable in the patronymic form FitzOdin so long as there are no additional references to the mythological Odin or a child of Odin.
Note, though, that no documentation was found of Odin used by humans in period in Old Norse. Lacking such evidence, it is continues to be unregisterable in an Old Norse patronymic byname. [Alan FitzOdin, 02/2003 LoAR, A-Æthelmearc]

Baldwin of Erebor 1985.07.14 [Thorin Njalsson] This leads us to the oversight, which is the problem of perception. Let us say that I could demonstrate that the name Odin was actually used by humans. If Goodman Jack meets a person named Orm Odinsson, he is going to assume that the guy is claiming to be the son of the god, because that is how he perceives the name. ... The fact that N. is likely to be perceived as a dwarf name by the average SCA member might still make it unacceptable. [BoE, 14 Jul 85, p.14]

Karina of the Far West 1978.08.17 Of course he can't be "Odinsson" without proof of his parentage. (A few ash leaves in midwinter?) (KFW, 17 Aug 78 [21], p. 9)

Harold Breakstone 1972.07.05 [N. Odinsson.] Let him submit a history form documenting whose son he is, or change his name. (HB, 5 Aug 72 [56], p. 1)

Olivia

François la Flamme 2003.09 The submitter documented the name Olivia from Withycombe (s.n. Olive). However, this entry only supports Olivia as a literary name in period used by Shakespeare in his play Twelfth Night. As this play was first performed in 1599-1600, Olivia is registerable under the guidelines for using names from literary sources found in the Cover Letter to the February 1999 LoAR. [Olivia de Calais, 09/2003, A-Ansteorra]

Olwen

Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane 1989.08.27 While there can be (and has been) some debate as to whether the name "Olwen" is the unique perquisite of the lady with the unusual powers in Welsh myth, certainly the conjunction of the trefoils with the name is excessive, given the origin of the name itself in her stated power of "perfloration". (The Laurel staff really liked that terminology for the ability to have clovers spring from your footprints!) (LoAR 27 Aug 89, p. 26)

Pamela

François la Flamme 2003.07 Pamela was submitted as an Italian name. However, no evidence has yet been found that Pamela was used in Italian in period:
Though the name Pamela is listed in De Felice Dizionario dei nomi Italiani (s.n. Pamela), this entry gives no indication that the name Pamela came into use in Italy in period. 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). However, lacking evidence that this name came into use in Italy in period, this name is not authentic for 16th C Italian. [Pamela Gattarelli, 04/2003, A-East]

Similarly, this name is registerable as an English given name in an otherwise Italian name. [Pamela Maria Serafino, 07/2003 LoAR, A-Caid]

François la Flamme 2003.04 Listed on the LoI as Pamela Gattaerelli, this name was submitted as Paméla Gattaerelli. The accent was dropped from the given name at Kingdom because the accents used in De Felice are pronunciation guides and are not part of the name.
The submitter requested authenticity for 16th C Italian. Though the name Pamela is listed in De Felice Dizionario dei nomi Italiani (s.n. Pamela), this entry gives no indication that the name Pamela came into use in Italy in period. 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). However, lacking evidence that this name came into use in Italy in period, this name is not authentic for 16th C Italian. [Pamela Gattarelli, 04/2003 LoAR, A-East]

Pandora

Da'ud ibn Auda (1st year of 1st tenure) 1990.12 "Pandora appears to be a unique name, borne only by the half-human heroine of myth. Barring documentation that the name was given to people in period, we cannot register it. [re: the device] The chest was... too great an allusion to the mythical Pandora (along with the anchor, the symbol of hope, the last thing to be released from Pandora's box)." (LoAR 12/90 p.16).

Phaedra

François la Flamme 2002.08 Phaedra was also documented as a name from Greek literature. Since "[t]he story of Phaedra was very well-known in period, particularly in Renaissance France" (as noted by Metron Ariston), Phaedra is registerable in this name under the guidelines for use of literary names (see the Cover Letter for the February 1999 LoAR for more details). [Phaedra filia Roberti, 08/2002, A-Calontir]

Protesilaus, Prothelaus

François la Flamme 2001.12 Prothelaus is registerable according to the "Using Names from Literary Sources" requirements set down in the February 1999 cover letter. Louis-Fernand Flutre, Table des Noms Propres avec Toutes Leurs Variantes Figurant dans les Romans du Moyen Age Écrits en Français ou en Provençal et Actuellement Publiés ou Analysés (Poitiers: Centre d'Études Supérieures de Civilisation Médiévale, 1962), p. 160, documents Prothelaus as a variant spelling of Protesilaus, a human character known in medieval literature. The tale of Laodamia and Protesilaus, known in medieval literature (including "The Franklin's Tale" in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales), derives from the Iliad. [Prothelaus Louvetier, 12/01, A-Drachenwald]

Pryderi

Wilhelm von Schlüssel 1981.07.29 Pryderi was a demi-god, the son of Rhiannon and either Pwyll or Manawyddan, all of whom were immortals. You cannot use Pryderi unless you can show that it was used as a given name in period. WVS [48] [LoAR 29 Jul 81], p. 12

Prydwen, Pryddwyn

Jaelle of Armida 1997.01 Prydwen is given in the form that Gruffudd uses for modern names; it is also clearly described as the name of Arthur's ship. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR January 1997, p. 21)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd year, 1st tenure) 1991.11 [Pryddwyn] "The Welsh experts in the College find this dithematic name to be highly unlikely. Even were it a likely combination, it would most likely be Prytddwyn. Additionally, it remains too close in appearance to the name of King Arthur's boat, which has previously been disallowed." (LoAR 11/91 p.22).

Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane 1989.08.27 The name "Prydwen" is only documented in period as the name of Arthur's boat. While the analysis of name elements provided ... opens several possibilities for similar names, it was our feeling that the name is so closely associated with this special vessel that it is inappropriate for use in the Society, failing some solid documentation for period use as a given name. (LoAR 27 Aug 89, p. 13)

Baldwin of Erebor 1985.01.05 Prydwen, as a number of commenters noted, was the name of King Arthur's ship in Welsh folklore. This does not necessarily mean that it is not a given name (I believe ships were sometimes given women's names in period), but in this case a period example of its use as a given name seems to be in order. [BoE, 5 Jan 85, p.2]

Pwyll

Jaelle of Armida 1997.02 [Denison ap Morgan] Pwyll is strictly a mythological name, and therefore not suitable for use in SCA names. We have dropped Pwyll in order to register the rest of the name. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR February 1997, p. 17)

Pythias

Elsbeth Anne Roth 2000.06 The given name had two problems. First, names from classical literature are not known to have been used in the Netherlands in period. This in itself would not have warranted a return by our rules, as Netherlands had access to classical authors. Second, Pythias in the context of Damon and — seems to be a misreading of Phinthias; the only classical references to Pythias refer to females. [Pythias of Rotterdam, 06/00, R-Caid]

Rhea

Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme 1993.05 Rhea is documented only as the names of two goddesses: the mother of Zeus, and the deified mother of Romulus and Remus. It was disallowed (LoAR of Nov 83) pending evidence of its period use by normal humans; such evidence remains to be presented. Without documenation, the name must once again be returned. (Rhea of Alexandria, May, 1993, pg. 18)

Rhiannon

François la Flamme 2003.04 The submitter requested authenticity for 14th C Welsh/English. The name Rhiannon is SCA-compatible, but no evidence has yet been found of it being used as a given name by real people in period. Lacking such evidence, we were unable to make this name authentic for the submitter's requested time and culture. [Rhiannon of Shrewsbury, 04/2003 LoAR, A-An Tir]

François la Flamme 2002.10 Rhiannon was ruled SCA-compatible in the cover letter for the October 1985 LoAR. Mixing English and Welsh in a name carries no weirdness. Therefore, this name is registerable with only one weirdness for use of an SCA compatible element (in this case, Rhiannon). [Rhiannon Boyle, 10/2002, A-An Tir]

Elsbeth Anne Roth 2001.07 Rhiannon is SCA compatible. [Rhiannon of Sevenoaks, 07/01, A-West]

Elsbeth Anne Roth 2000.02 Rhiannon is SCA compatible. [Rhiannon Llygad Flaidd, 02/00, A-Atenveldt]

Elsbeth Anne Roth 1999.10 Rhiannon is SCA compatible. [Rhiannon of Lough Derg, 10/99, A-Calontir]

Elsbeth Anne Roth 1999.09 Rhiannon is SCA compatible. [Rhiannon of Pembroke Castle, 09/99, A-An Tir]

Elsbeth Anne Roth 1999.08 Rhiannon is SCA compatible. [Rhiannon MacPherson, 08/99, A-Caid]

Jaelle of Armida 1997.01 Note: Rhiannon has been ruled SCA compatible. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR January 1997, p. 14)

Jaelle of Armida 1996.07 Please inform the client that while the name Rhiannon has been ruled SCA compatible, it does not seem to be a name used by humans in our period. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR July 1996, p. 14)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1996.02 Rhiannon is a name from Welsh mythology that does not seem to have been used by human beings in period; it has been ruled 'SCA-compatible', however. (Talan Gwynek, LoAR February 1996, p. 15)

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1995.12 What Names Are 'SCA-Compatible'?... Having found that my own baronial herald was slightly confused on the subject of 'SCA-compatibility', I thought that it might be helpful to list the status of some of the most common names that have been considered under this rubric. The post-period English name Fiona, which is not to be confused with the period Irish name Fíona (earlier Fíne), has long been considered 'SCA-compatible'. So have the names Cer(r)idwen (Ker(r)idwen), Rhiannon, Bronwen, Branwen, Rowen(a), and Rhonwen, all of which may be found in Welsh myth and legend, but none of which seems to have been in actual use by real people in our period. Guendolen/Gwendolen, a name based on a misreading of a masculine name and attested only in fiction, was declared 'SCA-compatible' in the 8/95 Cover Letter; more modern spellings of the name were disallowed. Brian(n)a, a modern feminization of Brian that follows no known period model, was declared 'SCA-compatible' in the 12/95 Cover Letter.

Da'ud ibn Auda (2nd tenure, 2nd year) 1995.09 Please inform her that Rhiannon is a goddess-name not known to have been used by human beings in period. (Talan Gwynek, LoAR September 1995, p. 17)

Da'ud ibn Auda 1995.05 Please let the submitter know that the name Rhiannon was never used by humans in period. (Da'ud ibn Auda, LoAR May 1995, p. 8)

Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme 1992.10 [Rhiannon de Licorne] "It is a long-standing policy that the name Rhiannon may not be coupled with horses or unicorns, in view of Rhiannon's function as a horse goddess." [AmCoE, 27 Sept 86] (Rhiannon de Licorne of Carreg Cennen, October, 1992, pg. 27)

Baldwin of Erebor 1985.12.29 I regard Rhiannon and Ceridwen as exceptions to the general ban on names of deities that have not been shown to have been used, in period, by humans. They should probably never have been allowed in the first place; but having been allowed, and frequently, they have gained some degree of acceptability. We had the opportunity to disallow them as the result of the October 1981 edition of the Rules for Submissions, and Master Wilhelm even attempted to do so..., but this effort obviously did not succeed. I do not see anything to be gained by attempting to do so now. The effort did succeed in the case of Gwydion, so the latter is no longer an exception. [BoE, cvr ltr, 29 Dec 85, p.6]

Baldwin of Erebor 1985.06.09 The name of the Welsh goddess Rhiannon should not be used in conjunction with horses or birds, both of which are strongly associated with her in legend. [BoE, 9 June 85, p.1]

Wilhelm von Schlüssel 1982.02.26 [Rhiannon.] A Book of Welsh Names, by Trefor Rendell Davies (London: Sheppard Press, 1952), lists Rhiannon as a common Welsh given name. Therefore, even though it is the name of a goddess, it may be used so long as the name and the device sufficiently differentiate the person from the goddess. WVS [63] [LoAR 26 Feb 82], p. 6

Wilhelm von Schlüssel 1981.10.26 Rhiannon is the name of a goddess and does not seem to have been used as a given name in period. Therefore, it may not be used under the new rules. WVS [55] [LoAR 26 Oct 81], p. 10

Wilhelm von Schlüssel 1981.07.29 Diana was the goddess of the moon and of wild animals (including the horse). Rhiannon was a Celtic goddess also linked to the moon and specifically to a white horse. Coupled with the white horse's head, crescent and stars, this is a clear claim to divinity, and is thus not allowed. WVS [48] [LoAR 29 Jul 81], p. 11

Harold Breakstone 1972.01.16 Rhiannon N.... wishes to know if her name is all right or if she should go back to being M. No one seems to know; she must prove that the name was used by humans, not gods only, and before the nineteenth century when anything went. The College operates under the Napoleonic code: otherwise we would never get anywhere. (KFW, 16 Jan 72 [22], p. 1)

Harold Breakstone 1971.02.07 N. reports that the name Rhiannon is a female name, but a mythological one, belonging to a great and famous lady. (HB, 7 Feb 71 [12], p. 8)

Harold Breakstone 1970.12.02 [Rhiannon.] Let her be told that the arms are acceptable but her name is not only used in myth and fiction, but is a male name; Rhiannon was one of the bards of Wales. (HB, 2 Dec 70 [9], p. 3)

Roane

Baldwin of Erebor 1986.03.09 We have just discovered, to our considerable chagrin, that roane is the Gaelic name for a seal; and more specifically, a skin-changer akin to the silkie. (Briggs, An Encyclopedia of Fairies, pp.340-341) Unless it can also be shown that Roane was used as a given name (in period), "ni Roane" is a claim to non-human ancestry. [BoE, 9 Mar 86, p.9]

Rosalind, Rosalynd, Rosalynde, Rosalyn, Rosalinda

François la Flamme 2003.02 The submitter requested authenticity for "late period English (16th to 17th C.)". Rosalind is registerable under the guidelines for the registerability of literary names (see the Cover Letter for the February 1999 for details). However, no evidence has been yet been found that this name was actually used by humans in late period England. Ildhafn is the name of the submitter's SCA branch. While registerable in the form of Ildhafn in a personal name, no evidence has been found that this placename is appropriate for 16th or 17th C English. As we were unable to find support for either of these elements being used in personal names in 16th to 17th C England, we were unable to make this name authentic for the that time period as requested by the submitter. [Rosalind of Ildhafn, 02/2003 LoAR, A-Caid]

François la Flamme 2002.02 Withycombe (p. 257 s.n. Rosalind) says that the given name derives from the Old German Roslindis and that "[t]he name was carried to Spain by the Goths and took root there as Rosalinda." To date, no form of Rosalinda has been found dated in period in Spain. So this may be a case where Withycombe (whose strength is in English names) is incorrect. However, given the continuing research in Iberian naming practices and the citation in Withycombe, we are giving the submitter the benefit of the doubt.

Garnet found additional information about this name that affects the following precedent:
[Rosalind atte Rylle] The only documentation for Rosalynd in the LoI said that it was proposed as a variant of Rosalind first used in Shakespeare's As You Like It. Since that is from the end of our period, we do not think it is likely that a variant form of the name was used during our period. Therefore we have changed it to the form found in Shakespeare. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR March 1999, p. 6)
Garnet found that "Rosalynde is found as a romance character in 1590, in the work of that name by Thomas Lodge (the basis for 'As you[sic] Like It')." Given this information, Rosalynde is also a registerable English variant of this name. [Rosalinda of Castile,

Collected Precedents of the S.C.A.: Mythical and Literary Names

Name Precedents: Mythical and Literary Names

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