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[Opinions] Blanche & Philippa
Delving into one of my great loves earlier today history. In the 1300s John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and son of King Edward 111 married Blanche and their eldest surviving daughter was Philippa who was likely named after her grandmother the queen. I have loved the name Philippa for a long time but recently the name Blanche has also been growing on me. WDYT of Philippa and Blanche?
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Replies

I love the name Blanche! Philippa is okay.
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Yes to Philippa (definitely this spelling) and no to Blanche. Blanche has never struck me as particularly nice-sounding - I've always equated it with sounding... I don't know, disgusted. Also, probably showing my age here, but my first association is with The Golden Girls.
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Yes, yes, yes to Philippa and Blanche. Adore both.Coincidentally, when Pippa Middleton was getting married I had a name nerdy notion that her daughter would be Eleanor Blanche or Blanche Eleanor. I think the idea came to me after I had read a book on Kathryn (Catherine) Swynford, mistress (then wife) to John of Gaunt. Her sister married Geoffrey Chaucer, btw. I've thought it would make a great mini series for some clever British producer. Anyway, there was a Blanche in there too, maybe John of Gaunt's first wife?

This message was edited 6/26/2023, 11:21 AM

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Blanche of Lancaster was John of Gaunt’s first wife and they had 3 surviving children Philippa later Felipa queen of Portugal, Elizabeth, Duchess of Exeter and Henry Bolingbroke later king Henry 1V.Constance of Castile was his second wife and they had one surviving child Catherine or Catalina who became queen of Castile by marriage. One of her descendants was Catalina later Catherine of Aragon first wife of king Henry V111.Katherine or Catherine Swynford was his third wife and they had four surviving children (all before they were married) whose descendants were involved in the War of the Roses.Katherine Swynford’s descendants are still on the British throne today.

This message was edited 6/26/2023, 2:34 PM

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Kindred spirits! (Except one of us -- you -- is a lot more informed) :0)
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Blanche is what happens when you put vegetables into boiling water for a very short time. I like Philippa very much indeed; better than Philip.
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I do like Phillipa, but cannot work up any enthusiasm for Blanche. Another contemporary name I would prefer is Berenice.
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Not a fan of Philippa but I love Blanche. That being said, being French speaking, I prefer the pronunciation in my language (BLAWNSH). The English pronunciation is harsher to my ears.
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Agree that the French pronunciation of Blanche is much prettier. :0) If only it would be used more here where I live (U.S.). :0/
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Don't really like them
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