Ygraine Name Meaning & Details
Origin, Popularity, Numerology Analysis & Name Meaning of Ygraine
Discover the origin, meaning, and cultural significance of the name YGRAINE. Delve into its historical roots and explore the lasting impact it has had on communities and traditions.
Name
Ygraine
Gender
Female
Origin
Arthurian
Lucky Number
7
Meaning of the Name
Ygraine is a name from Arthurian legend meaning 'fair' or 'beautiful,' famously borne by the mother of King Arthur. It carries connotations of nobility, destiny, and maternal significance within the Arthurian mythological cycle.
Complete Numerology Analysis
Your Numerology Number
Based on Pythagorean Numerology System
Ruling Planet
Neptune (Ketu)
Positive Nature
Intuitive, analytical, spiritual, and inquisitive.
Negative Traits
Secretive, reserved, aloof, and can be overly critical.
Lucky Colours
Green, yellow.
Lucky Days
Monday.
Lucky Stones
Cat’s eye, moonstone.
Harmony Numbers
1, 5, 6.
Best Suited Professions
Scientists, researchers, spiritual leaders, detectives.
What People Like About You
Depth of knowledge, analytical skills, spirituality.
Famous People Named Ygraine
Ygraine of Cornwall
Arthurian Queen
Mother of King Arthur and Morgan le Fay in Arthurian legend
Igraine du Bois
Literary Character
Prominent character in T.H. White's Arthurian novel 'The Once and Future King'
Ygraine Pendragon
Fictional Character
Key figure in modern Arthurian adaptations as Arthur's mother
Name Variations & International Equivalents
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Cultural & Historical Significance
Throughout literary history, Ygraine has evolved from a relatively passive figure in medieval texts to a more complex character in modern retellings. She represents the transition from Celtic tradition to Arthurian romance, embodying themes of destiny, royal bloodlines, and the intersection of mortal and magical realms. Her character explores the tension between personal desire and political necessity, between maternal love and royal duty. In contemporary feminist reinterpretations like Marion Zimmer Bradley's 'The Mists of Avalon,' Ygraine gains greater agency and depth, reflecting changing attitudes toward women's roles in historical narratives while maintaining her essential function as the mother whose choices shape the course of British legend.
Extended Personality Analysis
Ygraine is traditionally characterized by her exceptional beauty, noble bearing, and inner strength—qualities that made her the object of desire for both Duke Gorlois and King Uther Pendragon. Medieval texts portray her as a woman of virtue and loyalty, initially devoted to her husband Gorlois but later accepting her role as Arthur's mother with grace and dignity. She demonstrates remarkable resilience in navigating the magical deception that led to Arthur's conception and the political upheaval that followed her husband's death. Her character suggests a woman capable of profound emotional depth and maternal devotion, qualities that would influence her famous son's character.
Modern interpretations often expand upon these foundations, depicting Ygraine as possessing intelligence, political awareness, and a nuanced understanding of her circumstances. She is shown as a woman who, while caught in forces beyond her control, maintains her integrity and makes conscious choices within her limited agency. This evolution reflects contemporary interest in giving historical and legendary women more complex psychological profiles. Ygraine embodies the archetype of the noble mother whose personal life becomes inseparable from national destiny, requiring wisdom, compassion, and the strength to bear the weight of prophecy and power. Her personality represents the ideal of medieval queenship—beauty coupled with wisdom, vulnerability balanced by fortitude.
Modern Usage & Popularity
In contemporary naming practices, Ygraine remains an exceptionally rare choice, primarily favored by parents with strong interests in Arthurian literature, medieval history, or unique mythological names. The name has never appeared on mainstream popularity charts in English-speaking countries, maintaining its status as an exclusive and literary selection. Its usage is most common among families of Celtic heritage or those seeking a name with deep historical resonance and feminine strength. Recent decades have seen a modest increase in interest coinciding with popular Arthurian adaptations in media, though it remains well outside conventional naming trends. The name's rarity ensures that bearers enjoy a distinctive identity while carrying the weight of centuries of literary tradition, making it particularly appealing to parents seeking something both meaningful and uncommon for their daughters.
Symbolic & Spiritual Meanings
Symbolically, Ygraine represents the archetypal mother of destiny—the vessel through which great historical transformations are born. She embodies the intersection of mortal and magical realms, serving as the human conduit for Arthur's prophesied kingship. Metaphorically, she signifies the sacred feminine principle that underlies patriarchal power structures, the maternal foundation upon which empires are built but often forgotten. Her story carries profound symbolic weight about the complexity of consent in mythological contexts, the price of greatness, and the way women's stories are often subsumed by the male heroes they birth. Ygraine symbolizes the idea that behind every transformative leader stands a mother whose narrative, while frequently marginalized, contains essential truths about power, legacy, and the human cost of destiny. She represents the eternal feminine as both creator and casualty of historical change.