Blaise

Blaise is a French masculine name with Latin origins. The Latin “blasesus” means “lisping” so most likely the name developed as a cognomen (nickname) in ancient Rome. The name survived beyond Antiquity not because parents wanted to point out their children’s manner of thpeech but rather because of a notable early saint. One of the most common naming practices in the Middle Ages was to name one’s child after some venerated early saint around whom legends and cults became popularized during precarious medieval times (it was seen as a protective measure). Saint Blaise of Sebastea (modern-day Turkey) was a 4th century physician and a bishop. However, it wasn’t until much later in the 11th century during the Crusades when Western Christians were exposed to the saint’s legends (spreading usage of the name westward, particularly among the French). Legends regarding Saint Blaise’s miraculous ability to cure both the body and the spirit led to stories of wild animals arriving in herds to be healed by the pious saint. Blaise was martyred when the then-Emperor Licinius ordered all the Christians be killed during the pagan days of the Roman Empire. Blaise’s Feast Day is February 3 and he’s the patron saint of throat ailments (but could he cure lisping? We’re not sure). The most famous French name bearer in modern times was mathematician Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) who invented the adding machine (an early crude form of the calculator).