Æbbe is an Anglo-Saxon female given name attested in early medieval England. It is the Old English form of Ebba, but the names are effectively identical: the modern spelling Ebba often represents the same historical name. The etymology of Æbbe remains uncertain; it may be a shortened or pet form of a longer Germanic name or perhaps derived from a word related to "boar" or "strength," though no conclusive root has been identified. Historical and Saintly Associations The name Æbbe is borne by several early Christian saints in England. The most prominent is Saint Æbbe of Coldingham (c. 615–683), also known as Æbbe the Elder. She was a daughter of King Æthelfrith of Bernicia, who united the kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira (forming Northumbria). Æbbe became a nun and founded a monastery at Coldingham in Scotland, serving as its abbess. According to Bede, she was a pious and respected religious figure. Also named Æbbe is an abbess in the late seventh century known from the Kentish royal family: Domne Eafe, or Saint Æbbe of Minster-in-Thanet. In the ninth century, another abbess called Æbbe (sometimes "the Younger") is said to have martyred herself when Viking raiders approached: according to legend, she cut off her nose and upper lip to make herself unattractive and avoid rape, and other nuns followed suit. The existence of this saint is uncertain, but the story reflects the period of Viking raids on English religious houses. A convent near St Albans also venerates a Saint Æbbe of Oxford, about whom few details survive. Linguistic and Distribution Notes As an Old English name, Æbbe was largely replaced after the Norman Conquest but survived locally for a time. It remains in use as a rare archaic name revived occasionally, mainly in England. The modern Scandinavian name Ebbe (of different origin — a Danish short form of Eberhard) should not be confused with it. Variants include the standard diminutive Ebba, a common modern spelling in Scandinavia (for the Saint Ebba commemorated in the Swedish calendar). The name also has a masculine form in Anglo-Saxon times. In English naming tradition, it ranks among numerous obscure female Saxon saints. Meaning: Unknown, perhaps a contraction or diminutive form of a longer name. Origin: Old English / Anglo-Saxon. Notable Bearers: Three or more early medieval abbesses and saints. Usage Regions: Historically England; sporadically revived in modern times.