Petronella

Petronella is a Latinate feminine diminutive derived from the Roman family name Petronius, which is itself thought to stem from the Latin word petra, meaning rock or stone, ultimately borrowed from Greek. The name was borne by a minor early Christian saint, Petronella of Rome, traditionally regarded as a daughter or spiritual disciple of the apostle Peter, which helped cement its use throughout medieval Catholic Europe. It was especially popular in the Netherlands and Scandinavia, where it remained in steady use through the early modern period. Shortened forms and cognates include Petronille, Pernille, Pernella, and Nella.