Gender in Names

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Possible Gender Neutral Names:

Potentially period names that may have been used by either men or women, or sound like names used by either men or women, at some point in history - list started with contributions from Andreas, Alys Ogress, Sneferu, Staff an ap Kennydd...

Egyptian (demotic):

Ameniirdis, Djehutyiirdis, Hapiirdis, Heriu, Heryamon, Hetepamun, Hetepwsir, Userhotep, Horankh, Iahiirtis, Nesbastet, Nesdjehuty, Neshor, Neskhnum, Neskhonsu, Nesmete, Nesmeter, Nesmetere, Nesmin, Nespameter, Neswennefer, Sebekiirtis, Sechaiertben, Sechaiutawetey, Sedjemniykhnum [culled from a couple of books that were free off of the UChicago website]

English:

Alan, James, Philip, Dennis, Jone, Alexander, Nicholas, Gilbert,

Aubrey, Reynold, Basil, Eustace, Giles, Edmund, Simon, Florence, Douglas,

Hilary, Honor, Richard, Nichol, Jordan, Julian, Gail, Marion, Michael, Carol

Finnish:

Agda, Aili, Asta, Engelicka, Eura, Himottu, Hinkki, Härung, Jette, Jita, Janottu, Jänki, Kauki, Kersa, Kirko, Könikkä, Miemo/Memo, Miili, Namia, Peha, Siglögn, Sunno, Susse, Titti, Toikka, Ursa.

French:

Nicole, Camille, Claude, Dominique

Gille, Jude, Jherosme, Marque, Nicaise, Noël,

Philippe/Philipe/Phlippe/Phelipe

Gaelic:

Máel, Muire, Máel Fábaill, Cellach, Flann.

Japanese:

The most likely way to come up with something that is “gender neutral” is to go with a Buddhist name in religion. If you are intent upon registering such a name with the College of Arms, then you need to come up with a strategy for a byname. The fundamental problem is that becoming a Buddhist cleric pretty much meant leaving your family. This is reflected in the Japanese word 出家 shukke (lit. leaving the house) which means that you left the family structure. This is the word used for entering the Buddhist priesthood. Another problem is that if you have such a name, you really should shave your head. Regardless there are three possible patterns:

1) Two hōmyō (there are two different types) used by Zen Buddhists. 2) <temple name><hōmyō> 3) <family name><hōmyō> (This pattern was used by people who “retired” from life after officially putting their heir in charge of things. However, they often stuck around and ran stuff for real. Takeda Shingen is an example of this.)

There is a very provisional (and quite incomplete) table of hōmyō online at: @http:''www.demoivre.org/Japan/Houmyou.pdf<@http:''www.demoivre.org/Japan/Houmyou.pdf

Old Norse:

Ásfríðr, Auðr, Gríma, Gufi... [from Geir Bassi?]

Russian:

Ianka. See also http://sofyalarus.wikispaces.com/Gender+Bending+Names

Scots:

James, and Alexander

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Sources:

Academy of St. Gabriel "Medieval Names Archive" - [[1]] Database of medieval names (from the Medieval Names Archive) - http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/database/ Archive of St. Gabriel reports - [[2]]

Laurel Name Articles - http:heraldry.sca.org/laurel/

IGI Searches, batches beginning with C, J, K, M (except M17 and M18), or P are acceptable - [[3]]

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Precedents:

Precedents of the SCA College of Arms - [[4]] Morsulus Heralds Website - [[5]] (to search the LoARs and Precedents) Restatement Wiki - [[6]] (restatements of Precedents) Use the above links to be sure any precedents listed below haven't been superseded by newer precedents.

Collected Precedents on Gender:

[[7]]

Registerability:

From the <month> <year> LoAR:

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