Image by jcoterhals via Flickr
She’s an intriguing rarity – easy to pronounce, with hints of a medieval past, and a very attractive meaning.
Thanks to Clio for suggesting Kerensa as our Baby Name of the Day.
Kerensa has a straightforward definition: she is literally the word for love in Cornish, putting her in the company of choices like Amy and Carys.
But is she a relatively modern coinage, or a long-standing appellation? The exhaustive Glossary of Cornish Names, compiled in 1871, fails to mention Kerensa, or any name with similar roots. Elea calls her “traditional” in her list of Cornish Baby Names at Nameberry, but traditional isn’t a precise term.
My first assumption was that Kerensa was probably an early 20th century invention, something like Brooke or the Welsh Seren – around long enough to feel familiar, but lacking centuries of use. You can rent a vacation cottage called Kerensa in Cornwall, but mentions of women wearing the name are rare. This tracks with US records – pre-1900, there’s just one Kerensa mentioned, and there’s some doubt as to whether her name was recorded properly.
Except that there is a medieval song called Na Carenza, written in Occitan, a romance language spoken in Southern France and neighboring parts of Italy and Spain. The authors call themselves Alais or Alaisina and Iselda; Carenza is the older woman they praise and question. It’s a fragment, preserved through happenstance, probably dating to the twelfth century. There’s debate as to the song’s meaning and purpose – and, of course, it is possible that the names are not the names of real people at all.
Carenza also appears as an Italian surname, and occasional first name, too. Carenza Lewis is an archeologist known for her appearances on Time Team, a Channel 4 production showcasing archeological digs in the UK.
Other spellings are possible – Kerenza surfaces from time to time. All are exceedingly rare in English, never appearing in the US Top 1000, and it is unclear if they’re related, or just a fluke. Emphasis is on the middle syllable: keh REN sah or ker EHN sah.
If you can live with Kerensa’s uncertain roots, she’s a stunningly different choice for a daughter. And she’s practical, too:
- Some might interpret her as an elaboration of baby boomer staple Karen. Though they’re not related, Kerensa feels like an appropriate update;
- Kerensa could also serve as a formal name for parents attracted to trendy choices like Kenzie;
- With feminine-but-strong choices like Alexandra and Samantha popular in recent years, Kerensa feels right at home.
Besides Kenzie, nickname options include Kera, Keri, Kenna, and Ren. Take some liberties with the spelling, and Carensa could lead to Casey, too, though you sacrifice the Cornish legacy and certain meaning.
If you’re after a versatile rarity that fits right in while standing out, Kerensa is one to consider.
Love the sound, love the meaning – such a pretty name.
I remember reading a book, I think by Victoria Holt (“The Seventh Virgin”??) with a main character named Kerensa – set in Cornwall, I believe, and there was talk about the name’s roots and meaning. As a twelve year old, I remember thinking it was such a beautiful, exotic name.
I read that book too and loved it! That’s also where I fell in love with Kerensa
It’s got that sci-fi and/or made-up feel to me. Sounds African, too. Definitely not my naming style.
Kerensa is pretty, but I too get the sci-fi/made-up feel.
It’s got a lovely meaning but all I hear is the Karen in there and Karen was my childhood nemesis. Can’t do more than admire Kerensa from afar!
I adore Kerensa. When I was a teenage I was obsessed with having twins called Cerys and Kerensa. Both are great…maybe not together…
According to the Civil Birth Index for England and Wales (started in 1837) there is a Kerenza listed in 1893, and one in 1902. The spellings Kerensa and Carenza isn’t found until the 1930s. It’s always been a pretty rare name — it still is. I listed it under the general term traditional because it has much older usage that the recent ‘word-names’ and compounds such as Rosenwyn or Delennyk. “Cornish” names are notoriously difficult to find in the records. Even the digitised records are patchy and the long-standing names like Jory and Lowena are few and far between. I think that because Cornwall was so rural — and notoriously insular for many hundreds of years — they didn’t register the births officially (this happens in other similar areas). Most “Cornish” names in the records actually appear in Wales.
I remember trying to do some research into Cornish names back when I was in the SCA and the lack of records makes it so frustrating.
There is an old joke about how insular the Cornish were which said that the people of Cornwall considered even people from other villages to be “outsiders”. Ironically Cornwall gets it’s name from the Anglo-Saxon word for “foreigner”.
It doesn’t help that Cornish almost died out by the 18th century — at least in the records — although it has has a revival since. I reckon that, like with Scottish and Welsh names, many Cornish names were being heavily Anglicised.
Now that’s interesting – the whole Cornish/Welsh crossover – and yes, there’s even a similar effect in the US, as social security numbers weren’t standard-issue for newborns until after 1937.
Oh, yes, also about the Kerenza/Kerensa spellings. Z and S are often interchangeable in the Cornish language. You see this in other names such as Rosen/Rozen and Demelsa/Demelza
I’m intrigued by Kerensa’s meaning, but sound-wise I just hear Credenza. I like the Biblical and more straight-forward Keren more.
You know, this is really gorgeous. My only concern would be that people might think, as a couple posters above said, that it’s a modern, made-up moniker. (Kind of like how some would assume Jessamine is just a combo of Jasmine and Jessica.) Still, as soon as you told them that it was actually Cornish for “love” I think you would win over some fans!
It automatically makes me think of “credenza”. I has a nice sound, but I’m not a fan as a name.
My mother’s name is Karen, so I’m definitely intrigued by Kerensa! All of the names on our girl list are 2 syllable, and with a 2 syllable last name we really want to find some 3 syllable middles. I could see using Kerensa as a variant of Karen to honor my mom, especially with that gorgeous meaning! My favorite variant (sound-wise) is still Karenina though.
I do find the pronunciation a tad bit difficult and I’m not psyched about her murky origins, but on the whole I like Kerensa
The pronunciation is further complicated by the fact that the ‘s’ is a ‘z’ sound.
Ah, one of my fave K names. I like the Kerenza spelling, but it is pretty with the S, as well. I really like this one, and my love affair with Welsh names (Arianwyn, Brynna, Gwynn, etc.) is obvious in this choice! And, unlike other Welsh or names with difficult spellings (like any authentic Gaelic name), it is easy to pronounce.
Very pretty and usable; I think it would only take one prominent person to name their daughter Kerensa or Kerenza, and this name would take off like a rocket.
Thanks so much for featuring Kerensa! I first came across this name while looking for a way to honor my best friend Karen! I fell in love with the meaning, sound, & look of the name! Oh, I hope no one famous uses this name….I don’t want it to become too popular!
How interesting that this was posted on June 15th – my mother Karen’s birthday was that day!
I’ve often considered Kerensa as a way to honor my mother, but the tenuous connection always holds me back. I prefer Karina anyway – which, by the way, I didn’t see in your master list (though I did notice Katrina). Any way you could sneak in Karina for a NotD?
I have a separate question – does anyone think that, not as first names together, Katherine and Karina would be acceptable for siblings? My grandmother’s name is Katherine and my mother is Karen. I know the names are related, but I’m afraid just using one name to honor both wouldn’t quite make it through to them. (I doubt my grandma knows that Karen is related to Katherine.) Katherine would be a middle name. For example, two combos I have right now are Karina Florence and Eloise Katherine. It’s a niggling thing in the back of my mind; I’m just wondering what others think.
Not pregnant yet, of course, this is all just speculation.
I don’t think it would be an issue at all if one was a first name and the other was a middle name. They sound distinct enough not to be confused, and the fact that they are family names is always special and significant.
My sister was given the middle name Helen because my mum liked the fact that it was a variant of her own name, Elaine, and my name, Eleanor (this was when all name books listed Eleanor as “a variant of Helen”). No one else gets the connection, but we quite like the sentiment behind it.
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My middle name is Kerenza ! Not sure i like it though:/
I think Kerensa is so sweet, I like that it is definitely different but with a familiar sound