What is Mother Teresa's given name?

Mother Teresa (born 1910-1997), was a Roman Catholic nun who started the Missionaries of Charity and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. For over forty years, she took care of those without money, orphans, the sick, and the dying in Calcutta.

Teresa was born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Ottoman Empire, now the capital of North Macedonia. Anjezë is an Albanian form of the name "Agnes". She was the youngest child of Nikollë and Dranafile Bojaxhiu. Her father was involved in Albanian politics and died in 1919 when she was eight years old.

Anjezë left home in 1928 at 18 to join the Sisters of Loreto and become a missionary in India. She took her first religious vows on 24th May 1931 and chose to be named after Thérèse de Lisieux, the patron saint of missionaries. Since one of the sisters was already called Thérèse, she opted for the Spanish spelling "Teresa".

By the 1970s Teresa had become internationally well-known as an advocate for the poor and helpless. Her fame escalated after the release of the book and film, 'Something Beautiful for God' by Malcolm Muggeridge.

The much loved Mother Teresa caused controversy when she announced she did not think women had the right to have abortions. Nonetheless, following her death she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and given the title Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.