Blanchfleur (Blanch'-floor): a name sometimes given to Percival's
sister. It is often used as a second name for a woman.
Brangraine (Bran'-grain or Bran-gren'-ah): the maid of Fair Isolde
who administered the love potion to Tristain and Isolde.
Brisen (Briz'-in): described by Mallory as one of the greatest
enchantresses of the land, she engineered the night Lancelot spent with
Elaine of Corbenic, wherein Galahad was engendered.
Clarisant/Clarisse (Clair'-i-sant/Clair-ese'): according to a single
romance, she is the sister of Gawain who lived in a magical castle.
Cundrie/Kundry (Kun'-dree): the Loathly Lady who mocks and helps the
Grail Questors. She is recognized as an aspect of the Goddess, or
perhaps a servant of the Goddess. Though she is described as an ugly
crone, she is also the beautiful Grail Bearer of the Grail Procession.
Dindrane (Din-drain' or Din-drahn-ah): another name of Percival's
sister. In all of Mallory's work, she is the only woman who goes
questing alone, and so this is a popular name for female Knights of the
Order. She is associated with the Grail Quest, and willingly gives her
life to save that of a noblewoman.
Elaine (Ee-lain' or Eh-lan'-ah): there are several Elaines in the
Arthurian romances, and this is a very popular name for women in the
Order. Here are three of the most famous from the romances.
Elaine of Astalot: a maiden who fell in love with Lancelot,
and when he failed to return her love, she died of grief. Her body was
laid upon a barge, along with a letter explaining her misfortune, which
floated downstream to Camelot. When the letter was read, Arthur decided
to have Elaine buried with much ceremony, and Lancelot grieved for a
long time. Her brother, Lavain, remained a faithful follower of
Lancelot.
Elaine of Corbenic: daughter of the Grail King Pelles. Through
magic she became the lover of Lancelot and the mother of Galahad.
Elaine of Garlot: a daughter of Igraine and Gorlois, she is
thus Arthur's half-sister. She was married to King Nentres of Garlot,
thus reconciling this enemy and Arthur.
Enid (Ee'-nid): wife of Gerient/Erec, who discovered her weeping
because he preferred home life to that of a questing knight. He
believed she was weeping over a lover, and in punishment, he dressed her
as a man and took her on a series of adventures. He forbade her from
speaking to him, so she was unable to warn him of various dangers.
Eventually they were reconciled. Since Enid is another of the ladies
who goes questing, this is another popular name for women in the Order.
Guendolena/Gwendolena (Gwen-do-lee'-nah): Merlin's wife in the non-
Arthurian Life of Merlin.
Guenivere/Gwenivere/Guinevere/Gwenhwyfar (Gwen'-i-vere/Gwen'-hoo-
far or Gwen'-hoo-var): Arthur's wife and Queen, she was in love with
Lancelot. As with Lancelot, many blame her for the downfall of the
Round Table. But others hope to redeem her character and name by
calling themselves Gwenivere. Nevertheless this is not as popular a
name for women as Lancelot is for men.
Igraine/Ygrain/Igerna (Ih-grain', Ih-grain'-ah, Ee-grain', or Ee-
grain-ah/Ih-gern'-ah or Ee-gern'-ah): Wife first of Gorlois of
Cornwall, then of Uther Pendragon, she is the mother of Arthur. Her
children by Gorlois include Vivienne, Morgause, and Morgana le Fay.
This is not a very popular name today.
Isolde/Isold/Isolt/Iseult (Iz-old' or Iz-old'-ah/Iz-olt): There
are two Isoldes in the story of Tristain. The first is the Fair Isolde,
who is King Mark's wife and Tristain's lover. The Fair Isolde was a
skilled healer. The second is Isolde of the White Hands, of Brittany,
whom Tristain marries but leaves to return to his true love,