Tom Day 1

4/6, thanks to a few good guesses

1.  Limerick, didn't read the question through, probably wouldn't have gotten it anyway.

2.  Rubella, german measles, thought my kids had this last year despite being vaccinated, turned out to be Fifth disease.  

3.  Bulgaria, "the name and its cognates..." narrowed me in on Sophia, which led me to Bulgaria.

4.  The Beatles, a guess.

5.  Athens, a lucky guess.

6.  Billy Jean King, a lucky guess, trailblazing being the key word.