Name of the Week

 

A historic name which remains rarely used in Britain. 

Origin:

From the Latin perpetuus meaning 'unending', 'continuous'.

Usage:

This name was borne by a 3rd century saint, martyred with St Felicity in 203AD. It fit the conventions of Late Antiquity whereby women were given names from Latin and Greek vocabulary - usually with an overlayed Christian meaning - such as Clementia, Serena and Theodora. Perpetua has had rare usage in Britain across the centuries. Three girls were given the name in England and Wales in 2009 and none are recorded for Scotland in 2009 or 2010.

Famous Bearers:

* Félicité et Perpétue is another name for the Rambler Rose.  * Cape Perpetua is situated on the coast of Oregon. * Perpetua Nkwocha is a Nigerian football player.  * Middle name of actress Pauline Quirke.

Variants:

Perpétue (French)

Pronunciation:

per-PET-yoo-ə  (UK) [key]

Possible diminutives:

Etta, Petra, Peta, Peppa, Pippa

Sibling Names:

Jocasta      Araminta     Eugenie     Cornelia     Astrid     Sybilla  Horatio     Augustus      Barnabas     Octavius      Montague     Ferdinand

Name Lists:

Upright Elegance   Saintly & Stylish   Resonant Roman   Harry Potter

If you like Perpetua you may also like:   Hypatia, Octavia, Apollonia, Isadora, Philomena, Zenobia, Portia, Ginevra, Damaris, Juniper