Unique Sicilian Names of the past -- Mentioned in Parish Records

[andbin]

Throughout my research I've come across a few unique names that seemed to have been popular around the 15, 16, and 1700s mostly in Sicilia. A few of the names I have not been able to find an origin for, but they were real names that were used. Below are the names that I've came across, feel free to add a few names of your own that you've found or names that you're curious about.

I will probably add names as I go and find more, or think of more, but so far this is my list.

Not all of these names are "extinct", or unique, but were also commonly used in the time period of the 15-1700s in Sicilia.


BOYS:
Iconio (Anconio, Aiconio, Aconio)
Erculano
Hieronymus (commonly Geronimo, also seen as Girolamo)
Orsolo (Ursulus)
Gregorio
Crispino/Grispino
Apollonio
Tofanio (same name as Epifanio, commonly given to boys born on January 6th/7th)
Timoteo
Saturnilo/Saturnino
Innocenzo (usually used synonymously with the name Nunzio)
Nofario (Onofrio)
Cosmo
Celestino (also seen as Celestrino)
Blandano (Biondo, Blandanus)
Martiro (comes from Petrus Martyr, saint; not to be confused with Martino, also seen as Martire or Pietro Martiro)
Liberato
Liborio
Arcangelo
Giovanni Maria, Giuseppe Maria (common to give boys Maria as a second name)
Calogero
Simone (seen as Simeone or Simonis)
Aloisio (variant of Luigi, or Louis)
Modesto
Gioachino (Joachim)
Signorello
Fratello
Mercurio
Colantonio (Nicolo Antonio)

GIRLS:
Zenobia
Marsilia
Mendotia (unsure of origin, similar to surname Mendoza, used as a given name for women at times)
Marchiona (synonymous with Melchiora; also seen as Martiana or Marcionna)
Ninfa
Susanna
Diadama (possibly comes from Greek mythology Deidamia)
Belladama (also seen as Belladonna or Belladamma)
Martira (feminine of Martiro/Martire, not to be confused with Martina)
Apollonia
Crisostoma
Gregoria
Arcangela
Liberata
Aurora
Iconia (also Anconia or Aiconia)
Itria
Modesta
Hyeronima (Geronima, also Girolama)
Soccorsa (seen as Siccurisa)
Accorsa (seen as Accursia)
Assunta (seen as Assentia or Sentia)
Nofaria (Onofria)
Tofania (same name as Epifania, commonly given to girls born on January 6th/7th)
Mercuria
Innocenza (commonly synonymous with Nunzia)
Catalda
Lucarella/Luce (also seen as Lucia or Luca)
Andreana (also seen as Adriana)
Eleonora (seen as Nora or Norella)
Signorella
Serafina (sometimes seen as Fina)
Severina
Prudentia (Provvidenza, "prudence")
Calogera
Crispina/Grispina (not to be confused with Cristina)
Agrippina
Natalizia (also Natala)

[MarcuccioV]

I have deeper Sicilian roots (still unconnected by paper trail but confirmed through DNA) on my maternal side. My mother and great-grandmother were named Modesta. It was not a common first name in my grandparent's home commune (in Lazio SE of Rome), so it could very well have been a holdover from previous Sicilian ancestors. Oddly, many of the first names in both my grandparent's families were not common in their town...