Rachel Evans
When joining a religious order, Catholic nuns are often required to take on a new name, symbolic of their new life. The names are usually inspired by Catholic doctrine and history, with many nuns taking the names of saints, martyrs, or epithets for Mary. Some orders emphasise the names of particular saints, such as Franciscan Sisters, Poor Claires, and Benedictine Sisters. Latin words that describe positive attributes for women are also used, such as Charitas (charity), Gratia (grace), and Vita (life). Family members can also be a source of inspiration for a nun's religious name.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Inspired by Catholic doctrine and history | Trinitas, Epiphania, Nativity, Illuminata |
| Latin words describing positive attributes | Charitas, Gratia, Humilitas, Vota, Vita, Pieta, Illuminata |
| Family members | Names passed down to family members who enter the congregation |
| Saints' names | John Evangelista, John Vianney, John Cantius, John de Britto, John Nepomucene, Majella, Theotista, Theopista, Theodista, Theodolinda, Theonilla, Theota, Theodoretta, Theona, Theodomira, Theodulpha |
| Marian titles | Madonna, Immaculata, Concepta, Amabilis, Dolorosa, Purissima, Maris Stella, Annunciata, Della Strada, Socorro, Mercedes, Milagros |
| Combination of saint names | Mary Agnes, Mary George, Mary Serafica |
| Other | Gudelia, Jacunda, Lybia, Balthasara, Johanna, Septima |
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What You'll Learn
Names inspired by Catholic doctrine and history
When joining a religious order, some communities require new entrants to take on a new name, symbolic of their new life as a nun. Others allow them to keep their baptismal name. A nun's new name is often inspired by Catholic doctrine and history, such as Trinitas (the Trinity), Epiphania (the Epiphany), or Nativity. For instance, Sister Illuminata Allen’s religious name is derived from the Latin word for "enlightened".
Latin words that describe positive attributes for women in religion are also used, such as Charitas (charity), Gratia (grace), Humilitas (humility), Vota (vows), Vita (life), Pieta (piety), and Illuminata (enlightened).
Some nuns are named after saints, either taking on their full name or a variation of it. For example, a novice could be named John Evangelista, John Vianney, John Cantius, John de Britto, or John Nepomucene. A saint's name could also be broken down into parts, with one sister named Sister Gerard Majella, and another Sister Majella.
The School Sisters of Notre Dame, a congregation dedicated to the Blessed Mother, often use titles and epithets for Mary, such as Madonna, Immaculata, Concepta (Immaculate Conception), Amabilis (Loving Mother), Dolorosa (Mother of Sorrows), Purissima (Most Pure), Maris Stella (Star of the Sea), Annunciata (Annunciation), and Della Strada (Our Lady of the Good Road).
Some orders emphasize the names of "their" saints. For example, Franciscan Sisters/Poor Claires often name sisters after St. Francis. The location and time period also play a role, as naming practices and recognized saints differ depending on these factors.
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Names derived from Latin
The Catholic Church has a rich history of naming traditions for nuns, with names often derived from various sources such as saints, the Bible, Latin words, and family names. When it comes to names derived from Latin, there are several interesting practices and conventions that have been followed.
One approach is to use Latin words that describe positive attributes for women in the religious order. For instance, a nun might be named Charitas (charity), Gratia (grace), Humilitas (humility), Vota (vows), Vita (life), Pieta (piety), or Illuminata (enlightened). These names not only sound beautiful but also embody the virtues and ideals that the nuns strive to uphold in their religious lives.
Another creative practice is to use Latin words with numerical meanings to signify the order of birth. For example, the seventh daughter of a family who entered the novitiate was given the name Septima, which is Latin for seven. This adds a unique and playful element to the naming tradition.
In some cases, nuns' names are derived from the Latin forms of saints' names. For instance, Sister Jerome Kuszewski's original religious name was Hieronyma, which is the Latin equivalent of Jerome. Similarly, masculine saints' names can be feminized, such as Valentina from Valentine or Josepha/Josephine from Joseph. Additional letters can also be added to existing names to create new forms, as seen with Thomasina, Thomasella, and Thomasetta, which are variations of Thomas.
Furthermore, Latin has been used to create names related to Catholic doctrine and history. For example, Trinitas refers to the Trinity, Epiphania refers to the Epiphany, and Nativity signifies the birth of Jesus. These names serve as constant reminders of the nuns' devotion to their faith and the foundational events in Christianity.
The choice of Latin-derived names for Catholic nuns showcases the creativity and thoughtfulness that goes into the naming process. Each name carries a deeper meaning that connects the nun to her faith, her order, and her personal attributes or life circumstances.
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Names based on family members
The practice of women receiving a new name when joining a religious order dates back to at least the sixth century. The act of taking on a new name is symbolic of entering a new phase in life and leaving behind one's previous family identity. While naming customs vary between congregations, it is not uncommon for a nun's new name to be inspired by her family members.
For example, a nun may choose a name that is derived from a family member's given name. In the case of Sister Illuminata Allen, her religious name is derived from the Latin word "illuminata", meaning "enlightened". Other Latin words describing positive attributes for women in religion have also been used as names, such as "charitas" (charity), "gratia" (grace), and "vitae" (life).
A nun's new name may also be inspired by the names of saints or blessed individuals with familial connections. For instance, a nun might choose the name of a saint who shares their birthday or who has a feast day that coincides with a religiously significant event in their life, such as their baptism or confirmation. Alternatively, a nun may select the name of a saint to whom they feel a particular connection or devotion.
In some cases, a nun's religious name may be chosen by a superior within the congregation, with no input from the individual. However, in other instances, the nun may be allowed to submit a list of preferred names, from which the final religious name is selected. While a nun's religious name is typically unique within her province, it is not uncommon for the name to be passed on to a family member who later joins the same congregation.
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Names of saints
When taking their vows, Catholic nuns traditionally take a new Christian name. This is usually the name of a saint or a blessed person, often one that is particularly meaningful to the nun in question. For example, a nun may choose the name of a saint who embodies qualities that she herself aspires to embody. Alternatively, she may choose the name of a saint whose life story she finds particularly inspiring.
There are many female saints whose lives and work have been particularly influential, and whose names are often chosen by nuns. For example, St. Brigid of Ireland, who was born around the year 453 in Faughart, Ireland, and devoted herself to the service of God at the age of 15, becoming a nun and later founding several monasteries for women across Ireland. St. Gertrude, who was born in 1263 to a Saxon family of nobility, is another example. She was placed into a Benedictine abbey for her education and later became a nun herself, known for her obedience to all of the monastic observances. St. Geneviève, who dedicated her life to God at the age of seven and became known for her mystical experiences and prophecies, is also a notable female saint. Her prayers and prophecies are said to have saved Paris several times, which is why she is the patron saint of the city.
Other notable female saints include St. Scholastica, the twin sister of St. Benedict, who founded a religious haven for women about five miles from her brother's monastery; St. Benedict himself, who founded the Benedictine Order and is known as the patron saint of Europe; and St. Theresa of Avila, a Carmelite nun who wrote extensively about her spiritual experiences and is considered one of the great mystics of the Catholic Church.
In addition to these female saints, there are also many male saints who are revered by Catholic nuns. For example, St. Francis of Assisi, who founded the Franciscan Order and is known for his love of nature and animals; St. Anthony of Padua, a Franciscan priest and preacher who is invoked for finding lost items; and St. Joseph, the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the patron saint of workers.
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Names based on place and time
In the Catholic tradition, taking on a new name is symbolic of entering a new place in one's life. This is also common in other religious traditions and cultural traditions. For example, in the Bible, Abram became Abraham, indicating a significant change in his life.
When a Catholic nun takes her vows, she usually takes a new name, often with some religious significance. This could be the name of a saint or another Christian-inspired name. For example, a nun may choose the name of a saint whose feast day falls on the nun's birthday, baptism, or confirmation.
Some orders have assigned names at final vows, while others allow the nun to choose from a list of names provided to the superior of the monastery. In some cases, nuns may choose to keep their baptismal name or a variation of it.
While the practice of taking on a new name is still common among Catholic nuns, there are some who choose to retain their birth names, particularly after Vatican II.
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Frequently asked questions
Many religious communities require new entrants to take a new name as a sign of their new life as a nun.
Some nuns take the names of famous saints and holy martyrs, often with Mary as the first name. For example, Mary Magdalene or Mary Theresa. Some orders emphasise the names of "their" saints—Franciscan Sisters/Poor Claires and Benedictine sisters are known to do this. Other nuns take names inspired by Catholic doctrine and history, such as Trinitas (the Trinity) and Epiphania (the Epiphany).
Some communities allow nuns to keep their baptismal names as their vocation is linked to their baptismal call.
Nuns may also be named after their family members or take inspiration from Latin words that describe positive attributes for women in religion, such as Charitas (charity) and Gratia (grace).
