British Baby Names

Gemstones

In the late 19th century, gemstone names became highly fashionable. Ruby, Beryl, Pearl and Jasper took the limelight back then, and when they faded Amber and Jade moved forward. 

It's not hard to comprehend why gemstones have seen popular use: they all hold a desirable association with a precious object, used for millenia as symbols of status and importance. 

Ruby is now back in favour, and Amber is holding ground; even Jasper is creeping up. Perhaps it is time for other gemstone names to see more usage. 

Listed below is a selection of gemstone names: 

Agate Alexandrite Almandine Amber Amethyst Ametrine Ammolite Andalusite Andesine

Aquamarine Axinite Azurite Beryl Carnelian Cassiterite Chalcedony Charoite Citrine

Coral Diamond Drusy Emerald Epidote Garnet Iolite Jade Jadeite

Jasper Kyanite Larimar Lazuli Malachite Melanite Morganite Obsidian Olivine

Onyx Opal Opalite Pearl Peridot Quartz Rubellite Ruby Sapphire

Seraphinite Serpentine Tanzanite Tiffany Topaz Tourmaline Turquoise Verdite Zircon

Arboreal Names

Take a moment to think about it, and tree inspired first names are actually more common than you might have first thought. Certainly, Hazel, Myrtle and Olive are well established tree-names-turned-first-names that became big hits back in the 19th century, and roll on through the 20th century and several other gems, such as Holly, Laurel, Linden, Rowan and Willow, were added their ranks. 

In recent years, more and more trees have been creaping into children's names: from the fruity Apple and Cherry, or almost-familiar Cassia, Maple and Alden. Keep a look out -- you may be seeing many more in years to come.

Listed below is a selection of common and scientific names for trees. 

Acacia Acer Albizia Alder Annona Apple Apricot Aralia Areca Argan Arolla Ash Aspen Balsam Banyan  Bay

Bayberry Beech Betula Birch Carya Cassia Cedar Cercis Cherry Cinnamon Clementine Copper Cordyline Cypress Douglas Durio

Ebony Elm  Evodia Fir Fern Fraser Halesia Hawthorn Hazel  Hickory Holly Jacaranda Jamun Jeffrey Juneberry Juniper

Kahikatea Karri Kauri Larch Laurel  Lemon Linden  Maclura  Magnolia Mahogany Maple Mulberry Myrica Myrtle Nyssa Oak

Olea Oleaster  Olive Palmyra Peach Pear Persea Persimmon Pine Pistacia Plum  Pyrus  Quince Redbud Rhus Robinia

Rowan Senna Sequoia Silverbell Snowbell Spruce Tara Teak Thorn Tilia Tulip Tupelo Willow Winterberry Yew Zelkova

Slickly Continental

Sleek, stylish and striking, "Slickly Continentals" quite shamlessly take the cream of the crop from around the world. They have the distinct advantage of sounding exotic, but not too outlandish or eccentric. They are, in fact, quite recognisable — either from their historic use or from a shared cultural style — without feeling commonplace. 

This list contains much loved gems from around the world that can claim a rich pedigree, an exotic style, easy (or at least familiar) spellings and pronunciations, but are quite underused in Britain. 

Alban Alonso Anders Andreas Anton August Augustin Axel Bastian Casimir Casper Conrad Constantin Cosmo Damian Dante Diego  Dorian  Elias Enrico Enzo Ezio Fabian Florian Franco Gerard

Henrik Ivan Ivo Joachim Johan Jonas Koen Lars Leander Leandro Leif Leonardo Lorenzo  Lucian Magnus Maxim Marco Marius Mathis Matthias Matteo Mikkel Milan Nico Niels Nikodem

Nikolai Otto Quinten Raphael Rasmus Raul Riccardo Rocco Rodrigo Roman Romeo Roque Sander Santiago Soren Silas Stefan Stellan Teo Tygo Valentin Vidar Viggo Vito Willem Xavier

Adriana Alessa Alethea Alina Allegra Amalia Anaïs Anneliese Annika Anouk Ariadne Astrid Aurelia Aurora  Bianca Calista Caterina Charis  Chiara Coralie Danae Daphne Delphine  Ekaterina Eleni Elettra

Eliana  Elodia Estella Eulalie Evadne Evelina Giada Ginevra  Ilaria Ines  Ione Julienne Katya Leilani Lenka Leonor  Leora Lena Linnea Livia Loredana Luciana  Madalena Maelys Malena Margot

Mariana Marina Melina Mila Mireia / Mireya Naiara / Nayara Nerea Noa Noelle Noemi Nova Océane Paloma Petra Pia Romola Salome Seraphina Sidonie Thalia Tyra Valentina Viola Xenia Zelie Zoya

Medieval Favourites

image by Jeff Cottenden

Castles, Knights, Jousting, Longbows, Wimples...lovely evocative images that the Middle Ages conjure. And the best thing? Medieval names are just as enticing as the era they hail from. 

"Medieval" technically encompasses an entire century of European history: the fifth to fifteenth. So many different names were used across this era, and Britain alone had a huge variety of lingual influences.

But by the twelfth century England was united; the Normans ruled and had also conquered parts of Wales. Although evidence is sparse, and there were wide regional differences, it isn't surprising that at this time we begin to see a bit more uniformity in naming emerge.

With a pool so small it is difficult to define any of the names used at this time as "popular," but we can see certain names being used again and again for many different people. John was most certainly the most common masculine name, followed by William. Alice, Agnes and Matilda appear most prevalently for women.

Here are the favourite choices for medieval parents from the twelfth to fourteenth century:

Adam Alan Alexander Andrew Arnold Bartholomew Benedict Clement David Denis Edmund Edward Ellis Eustace Everard Fulco Geoffrey George

Gerard Gervase Gilbert Giles Gregory Godfrey Guy Henry Hugh  Humphrey James  John Jordan Laurence Luke Martin Matthew Maurice

Michael Nicholas Peter Philip Ralph Randolph Reginald Reynold Richard Robert  Roger Simon Solomon Stephen Thomas Warin Walter William

Agatha Agnes Alice Aline Amabel Amice Annabel Anne Avice Beatrice Cecily Christian(a) Christina Clarice Constance Denise Douce Edith

Eleanor Elizabeth Ellen Emma Eve Evita Felice Gillian Godeleva Gunnilda Gunnora Hawise Helen Helewise Idony Isabel(la) Isolde Joan

Julian(a) Katherine Lettice Lucy Mabel Margaret Margery Marion Mary Matilda  Millicent Osanna Petronilla Rose Sarah Susan Sybil Wymarc

Manx Surnames

As a Gaelic language, Manx shares many of the same names as Ireland and Scotland, particularly the patronymic "Mac" surnames for which Gaelic is so well known. But, what makes the Manx names so unique is the way they have been rendered. While Scotland and Ireland have McEwan, the people of Mann had long contracted it to Kewin. McPhilip is Killip and MacShane is Quane. Others, such as Lewin and Gorry, are wholly Manx in origin and offer up a greater variety of Celtic names to add to the pot. 

With their slick C, K, and Q sounds, Manx surnames offer interesting inspiration for first names with a Celtic kick. 

Boyd Brew Caine Calcott Caley Callin Callister Callow Cannell Cannon Carine Carran Cashen Cashin Castell

Caveen Christory Clague Clegg Clucas Collister Colvin Comish  Coole Corkill Corkish Corlett Corteen Corran Corrin

Corris Costain Cotter Cottier Cowell Cowen Cowin Cowley Craine Crebbin Creer Cregeen  Crellin Crennell Curphey

Duggan Faragher Fayle Gell Gelling Gorry Joughin Kaighan Kaighin Karran Kee Kegg Keig  Kennaugh Kennish

Kerruish Kewin Kewish Kewley Killey Killip Kinley Kinnish Kinrade Kinvig Kissack Kneen Lace Leece Lewin

Mylrea Mylroie Mylvorrey Quane Quay Quayle Quilliam Quillin Quine Quinney Quirk Sayle Stowell Teare Vondy

Metronymic Surnames

The last three lists have looked at patronymic surnames from the British Isles; this week we focus on metronymics.

As with patronymics, metronymic surnames still retain the masculine "son of" element, but the route personal name is derived from a feminine name. It is often thought that metronymics were given when a boy was born illegitimately, or raised by a widowed mother. In some cases this is undoubtedly true, but it would be a mistake to assume this was always the case. Back when family, titles and land were everything, women took their family status and wealth to their marriage. Men would often associate themselves with the most powerful branch of their family — and sometimes that was their mother's. We find Henry II, for example, more often associating himself with his mother, Matilda — daughter of a king and empress by marriage — than his father, Geoffrey — a lower ranking count. One of his bynames was, in fact, FitzEmpress "son of the Empress".

 These men were the sons of their mothers, not the sons of their fathers. 

Alletson Annison Avison Babson Bellson Bethson Betson Bettenson Bettison Bridson

Casson Clarson  Cusson Dyerson Dyson Ebbatson Eddison Edson Elletson Elinson

Emmons Emson Evason Everson Goodison Gunson  Hibberson Hillson Ibbeson Ibotson

Iddison Ideson Ineson Ison Kitson Letson  Mabson Magson Malkinson Malleson

Mallinson  Margetson Margison Maryson Maudson Mawson Meggison Megson Milson Mollison

Molson Moxon Nanson Nelson McBride Sibson Tilson Tillison Tillotson

All the surnames above literally translate as "son of (feminine name)".

 

Patronymic Scottish Surnames

Hereditary Scottish surnames developed after the 15th century. Prior to that, patronymics weren't permanent and changed with each succeeding generation, so, Alexander Donaldson, recorded in 1481, is listed as the son of Donald Symonson*.  The practice of using the same name down the generations started in the Lowlands and was furthered when it was adapted by the clan system. It was common for a Laird to take his surname from the estate (which itself was often named after the owner). People looking for protection in times of strife would frequently attach themselves to a powerful clan and take on its name. This resulted in large numbers of people who all had the same last name, but no specific surname of their own, and not necessarily with a hereditary link to the family of the clan. 

Much like the Welsh map, the Gaelic term for "son" was mac, and was prefixed to many first names. Some Scottish patronymic surnames also adopted the Anglican "son" suffix. 

Through the generations various spellings have formed. We find Mackenzie also as MacKenzie, Mckenzie, Makenzie and many more. For continuity, the list below contain lower case letters within the names and the 'Mac' rather than 'Mc' spellings.

Anderson Davidson Donaldson  Eason Farquharson Ferguson Finlayson Grierson Henderson Howison Macaddie Macalister Macallen

Macalpine Macandrew Macarthur Macartney Macaskill Macauley Macauslan Macbain Maccaffray Maccallum Maccall Maccarthy Maccloy

Maccomish Macconnall Maccormac Maccorkindale Maccoubrey Maccrindell Maccutchen Macdermot Macdonald Macdonell Macdougal Macdowell Macduff

Macewan Macilroy Macfadden Macfadyen Macfarlane Macfee Macgee  Macgaurie Macgillivray  Macgowan Macgregor MacHendry Macinnes

Maciver Mackay Mackeller Mackenna Mackenzie Mackeown Mackinnon Maclachlan Maclamon Maclaren Maclean Maclaine Maclennan

Macleod Macnaughton Macneill Macnicol Macpherson Macquarrie Macqueen Macrae Mactavish Manson Matthison  Morrison Patterson

Patronymic Welsh Surnames

Up until the 16th century Welsh male names took the form  [first name] son of [father's name]. The "son of" element in Old Welsh was mab or map (which later became ap and ab) and changed with each generation. For example, the 12th century Welsh hero Rhys ap Gruffydd had a son called Maelgwn ap Rhys, who, in turn, had a son called Maelgwn ap Maelgwn. Women's names used ferch "daughter of" instead of ap "son of", as we can see with Rhys' daughters Angharad ferch Rhys and Gwenllian ferch Rhys. 

It was during the reign of Henry VIII that surnames in Wales became hereditary -- the fashion starting amongst the gentry and eventually spreading to the masses. Instead of a Welshman's name being deriving directly from their own father's name, the same surname was passed down through generations. Although it is worth noting that, even up until the 19th century, some people in Wales still took their father's first name as their surname. 

Welsh patronymic surnames generally take two forms: either with a genitive -s (such as Owens or Evans), or with the ab or ap element. The 'a' was dropped in vernacular speech leading to forms such as Bowen (ab Owen) and Powell (ap Hywel). 

Baddam Batho Beddow Bedward Bellis Benian Bethell Bevan Bevin Bevor Beynon Birrian Bithell

Boliver Bollen Bollin Bowen Brice Brobin Broderick  Buffrey Burian Daniels Davies Edwards Evans

Gettins Gittins Givens  Givons Griffiths Harris Hopkins Hoskins Howells Hughes Humphreys Jeffries Jenkins

Jennings Jevons Jones Maddox Matthews Nicholls Parbot Parry Pendry Penry Pernad Perry Phelps

Phillips Pomfrey Poskin Povah Povey Powell Predith Price Priddy Prichard Probert Prosser Protheroe

Prys  Pugh  Pullin Richards Roberts Rogers Rowlands Stephens Thomas Walters Watkins Wellings Williams

 

Patronymic English Surnames

Patronymic surnames are derived directly from the father's name, and, back when surnames were beginning to become established, being known as "William, son of Edmund" was one of the ways of distinguishing yourself from 'the other William', who was son of John.

Most patronymic names contains two parts: the masculine (father's) name, and the "son of" element. The English patronymic surnames derive from a variety of sources: Old English, Norse, Norman French and Germanic, and they are usually formed with either a -son suffix, or a genitive -s. Fitz is a prefix which derives from the Norman French fiz "son".

Adamson Addison Alberts/on Albinson Allanson Anderson Andrews Arnison Atkins/on Barson Bates/on Bason Batterson Bennison Benson Bryson Climpson Coleson  Colson Collins/on Coxon Cusson

Dandison Danson Davidson Davis Dawson Dayson Denison Dickins/on Dixon Dobson Dodson Duxon Edmundson Elverson Emberson Emmerson Fairson Fennel Fillary Filson FitzAlan FitzHerbert

FitzHugh FitzJames FitzJohn FitzNeal Fitzroy Fitzsimmons Fitzwater Fitzwilliam Folkson Foxon Garrison Gemson Gibbs Gibson Gillson Gregson Hampson Hanson Harbison Harris/on Hendison Henson

Hobson Hodson Howieson Howson Hudson Hughes Hulson Huskinson Hutchinson Ingerson Ingleson Iveson Jackson Jacobs/on  Jameson Jefferson Jenkinson Jepson Jetson Jobinson Johnson Judson

Juson Juxon Kitson Lawson Madison Markson Mathison Morrison  Nelson Nicholson Nickson Nixon Patterson Pelson Pierson  Rawlings/on Richards/on Rixon  Roberts/on Robinson Robson Roginson

Rollinson Sanderson Simpson Stimpson Tamson Tennyson  Thompson Tipson Tolson Tomlinson Towlson Townson Wadeson Watson  Wilkins/on Williams/on  Willis Wilson  Winson

Welsh, Scottish and Irish patronymic surnames are to follow.

 

Operatic Appellations

Many people dream of seeing their name in lights, so how about a name that has already lit up the stage? Opera provides a host of name inspiration, from the commonplace to the extravagant. Mythological and literary characters are a heavy draw, and, of course, Italian variations are hugely prevalent, but we also find some interesting coinages.

Many operas derive their names directly from principle characters and, interestingly, many of these are feminine: Aida, Carmen, Genoveva, Iolanta, Martha, Mireille, Norma, Semiramide and Thaïs to name just a few. 

This week's list contains a selction of names from the roles of many operas from the 17th century to the 20th. 

Achille  Acis Adario Admeto  Adolar Aeneas Agamemnon Agenore Alessandro Alessio Alfonso Alfred Ali Alidoro Amida Aminta Amonasro Amore Andrès Andronico Angelo Annio Antonio Apollo Arcas Argirio Armidoro Aronte Artémidor Arturo Assur Athamas Augustin  Bajazet Balthasar Bartolo Basilio Bastien Bayan Bertarido Bertram Besso Boris Buonafede Cadmus Caronte Caspar Castor Claudio Claudius Colas Conrad / Konrad Creon Crespel Cuno Damon David Dormont Dorvil Douglas Drago Eco Egeo

Enzo Ercole  Ernesto Eustazio  Evandro   Ezio Faust Fernando Ferrando Figaro Finn Flavio Florestan Foresto Frank Friedrich Fyodor Gabriel Germano Geronimo Giasone Giovanni Giove Goffredo Grimoaldo  Guglielmo Haly Hans Hariadeno Hermann  Huascar Idamante  Idomeneo Jaquino Jarno Jason Jonas Jupiter Kilian Lensky Leone  Leopold Lindoro Lothario Louis Lucio Luther Luzio Lyonel Malcolm Manrico Marcello Mars  Masetto  Mathéo Mathisen Max Miguel  Mustafà  Nathanaël Nerillo  Nero Nerone

Nettuno Oberto  Orbazzano Orfeo Orlando Ormindo Oronte Ory Oscar Osman Otho Ottavio Ottone Ottokar Pallas Paolino Pedro Pisandro Pizarro Pollux Radames Raffaele Ramfis Ramiro Ramon Raoul Renato Renaud Rinaldo Rocco Rodolfo Rodrigo Rudolf Ruggiero Ruiz Ruslan Samiel Selim Sesto Siegfried Somnus Tacmas Taddeo  Tamerlano Telemaco Thaddeus Thespis Thoas Tito Tonio Tristan  Ulisse  Unulfo  Urbain Valentin Valere  Vasco Veit Vincent Wilhelm Wolfram Yevgeny  Zacharie

Adalgisa Adele Adina Agathe Agnes Agrippina Aida Alaide Albina Alceste  Alcina Alice Alinda Alisa Almirena Amelia Amenaide Amina Amneris Anna Angelica Angelina Antonia Armida Asteria Azema Azucena Barbarina Bastienne Beatrice Belinda Berginella Bradamante Brambilla Carolina Cecchina Celia Clarice Clarine Clémence Clitemnestre  Clorinda Clotilde Cuniza Dalinda Damigella Delfa Despina Diane Dido Dircé Dorabella Dorella Dorinda Drusilla Eduige Eglantine  Elena Elettra  Elisa   Elisetta Elvira  Elsa

Emilie Erice Ericlea Erisbe Eudoxie Euridice Euryanthe  Eva Fatima  Federica Fidalma Fiordiligi Flaminia Flora Fortuna Galatea Genoveva Ginevra Gioconda Giulia / Julia Giulietta / Julietta Guadalena Harriet  Hébé Hélène Ida Ilia Imelda Imogene Ines / Inez Ino Iolanta Iphigénie  Irene Iris Isabella Isaura Isifile Ismene Isoletta Juno Konstanze Kseniya Larina Laura Leonora Leonore Lisa Lisetta Lucia Lucilla Lucinda Luisa Lyudmila Magdalena Manuelita Marcellina Margaretha Marguerite Mariana Maria / Marie Martha Marzelline

Mastrilla Medea / Médée  Melanto Melide Micaëla Mignon Mimi Minerva Mireille Mirinda Morgana Musetta Naina Nancy Néris Ninetta Norma Odabella Olympia Ottavia Rachel Rodelinda Rosalinde Rosina Rosmina Paoluccia Pallade Pamela Penelope Phani Phébé Phénice Philine Poppea Proserpina Sandrina Sélika Semele Semiramide Servilia Sicle Sidonie Speranza Stella Susanna Tamiri Tatyana Télaïre Teresa Thaïs Thalie Tisbe Valentine Venus Vincenette Violetta Virtu  Vitellia Zaida Zara Zerlina Zima  Zulma