The naming patterns in the Middle Ages often reflected cultural beliefs and traditions. Many individuals were named after popular saints during baptism, contributing to a limited pool of names. For instance, numerous nuns in a fifteenth-century convent were named Agnes, highlighting the influence of saints on naming practices. Though royal figures like Henry VIII had wives sharing the same names, historical records indicate that medieval parents also opted for a variety of names, suggesting personal preferences were not completely restrained by tradition.
In the late fifteenth-century collection of mystical poetry from the Franciscan convent at Villingen, the twenty-two named nuns include several with the name Agnes, reflecting the popularity of saints' names at baptism.
Despite the dominance of a few names among royals and saints in medieval times, records show that parents often chose a variety of names, demonstrating personal choices in naming.
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