Clelia

St. Clelia

Clelia, used in the Italian film Le Amiche and several other movies, also the name of several Italian actresses such as Clelia Rondinella, Clelia Bernacchi, and Clelia Matania. This is pronounced CLAY-lee-ah, and was the name of Dr. Clelia Duel Mosher, a Victorian era female doctor who researched sexual knowledge before Kinsey and commented on the dangers of Victorian sexual beliefs with evidence in tow. The name is derived from the Latin name Cloelia meaning "illustrious, famous," which seems dead-on considering all the famous Clelia's. Clelia Barbieri was an Italian saint, the youngest founder of a religious community in Catholic history, and Clelia Strepponi was an opera singer. Cloelius was a Roman family name. Also, Cloelia was the name of a female hostage given to the Etruscans by the Romans, who was able to escape by swimming the Tiber.