Several genea-bloggers are celebrating “Celebrate Your Name Week” from March 2 through 8. I’ve missed out on some of the events, but today, March 4th, is set aside as “Unique Names Day”. Since my surname is unique enough, I’m glad my name isn’t quite that unique (although it’s definitely not as common as it was in the decade before I was born). To honor the unique names in my family tree, I’m going to link to an “oldie but goodie” post that I already wrote on this topic – “Call Me Ishmael”. While Ishmael doesn’t show up in my genealogy, several other unique first names do – and, like that opening line, you tend to remember them! Read all about my personal favorites among my family’s names, including Dionys, Kreszens, Wolfgang, and Walburga from Bavaria, and Hilary and Teofila from Poland. And if my sister-in-law is reading this (she who is expecting her third child next month) – I know you’re still looking for suggestions, but don’t even think about using any of these “favorites”!
What unique names are found in your family tree? Tell me!
What's Past is Prologue 
I have lots of names in my family tree that would sound odd to the modern ear – especially to English-speakers.
One of my favourites is Scholastica (sometimes seen as Scholastique). Scholastica is a Catholic saint (her day=Feb.10). She was St-Benedict’s sister and was the abbess of her own religious community. The name actually goes back to Roman times and means rhetorician.
I think the name attracts me because I’m a teacher and if there’s one thing I know how to do it’s talk!
Evelyn in Montreal