ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1048 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1048 ************************************ From: 23 Jul 1998 Here's the information we found on "Brigitte le Flambeau," which you wanted to use as a French women's name. became popular in France in honor of S. Birgitta of Sweden (1303-1373), who cas canonized in 1391. (1) Thus, it would not have been used until around 1400. is the modern French word for "torch." The Middle French word for "torch" was , and we found the names and (probably meaning "a person who makes torches"). A was also a kind of boat used in Normandy, and it is possible that also referred to people who made or used these boats. We also found the name , meaning "little flame." (2) Thus, the names , , and were all used in period, and had meanings involving flame. In Middle French, was the word for "cable." It is entirely possible that could have been a name for a cable-maker. We also found the word , which means "little flame." (3) Although we didn't find examples of these names, we're fairly sure that (meaning "cable-maker") or (meaning "little flame") would be appropriate for French between 1400 and 1600. You could combine any of the names we've suggested with to create a historically accurate name. Talan Gwynek, Lindorm Eriksson, Arval Benicoeur, Fergus MacAvaty, and Walraven van Nijmege contributed to this letter. We hope this has been helpful, and that we can continue to assist you. In service, Alan Fairfax Academy of S. Gabriel (1) Withycombe, E.G., _The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names_, 3rd ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988), s.n. "Bridget" (2) Dauzat, Albert, _Dictionnaire Etymologique des Noms de Famille et Prenoms de France_ (Paris: Libraire Larousse, 1987), s.n. "Flambard" (3) Godefroy, Fre/de/ric. Lexique de l'ancien franc,ais, J. Bonnard & Am. Salmon, eds. (Paris: Librairie Honore/ Champion, 1994).