I was very privileged to write a guest blog this week for nameberry.com about the trends in Victorian naming.
Victorian Names: A Royal Legacy
The Victorians are so fascinating and diverse in their naming quirks that my original draft was absolutely huge. I had to make some drastic cuts just to make it readable. One part which I had to trim significantly was the names of Victoria's children and many many grandchildren. These royal progeny received a bevy of names each but from a relatively small selection of family names - approved of and guided by Victoria herself. For this reason the most fascinating aspect is the diverse range of nicknames by which they were known in the family to distinguish them from relatives with the same name.
The Royal Couple:
Alexandrina Victoria "Drina" (Queen Victoria) – originally meant to be named Victoire Georgina Alexandrina Charlotte Augusta
Francis Albert Augustus Charles Emmanuel (Prince Albert)
The Royal children:
Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa “Vicky”
Albert Edward “Bertie”
Alice Maud Mary “Alee” and “Fatima”
Alfred Ernest Albert “Affie”
Helena Augusta Victoria “Lenchen”
Louise Caroline Alberta “Loosy”
Arthur William Patrick Albert
Leopold George Duncan Albert “Leo”
Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore “Baby”
The Royal Grandchildren:
Albert Victor Christian Edward “Eddy” (Prince Albert Victor of Great Britain)
George Frederick Ernest Albert “Georgie” (George V)
Louise Victoria Alexandra Dagmar “Lulu” (Princess Louise of Great Britain)
Victoria Alexandra Olga Mary “Toria” (Princess Victoria of Great Britain)
Maud Charlotte Mary Victoria “Harry” and “Maudie” (Princess Maud of Great Britain)
Alexander John Charles Albert “Johnnie” (Prince Alexander John of Great Britain)
Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albrecht “Willy” (Kaiser Wilhelm II)
Viktoria Elisabeth Auguste Charlotte “Charly” and “Ditta” (Princess Charlotte of Prussia)
Albert Wilhelm Heinrich (Prince Henry of Prussia)
Franz Friedrich Sigismund “Sigi” (Prince Sigismund of Prussia)
Friederike Amalia Wilhelmine Viktoria “Moretta” (Princess Viktoria of Prussia)
Joachim Friedrich Ernst Waldemar “Waldy” (Prince Waldemar of Prussia)
Sophie Dorothea Ulrike Alice “Sossy” (Princess Sophie of Prussia)
Margarethe Beatrice Feodora "Mossy" (Princess Margarete of Prussia)
Victoria Alberta Elisabeth Mathilde Marie (Princess Victoria of Hesse)
Elisabeth Alexandra Louise Alice “Ella” (Princess Elisabeth of Hesse)
Irene Luise Maria Anna (Princess Irene of Hesse)
Ernst Ludwig Karl Albert Wilhelm “Ernie” (Grand Duke Ernst I)
Friedrich Wilhelm August Victor Leopold Ludwig “Frittie” (Prince Friedrich of Hesse)
Viktoria Alix Helena Luise Beatrice "Alicky" and "Sunny" (Princess Alix of Hesse)
Marie Viktoria Feodore Leopoldine “May” (Princess Marie of Hesse)
Alfred Alexander William Ernest Albert (Prince Alfred of Edinburgh)
Marie Alexandra Victoria “Missy” (Princess Marie of Edinburgh)
Victoria Melita “Ducky” (Princess Victoria Melita of Edinburgh)
Alexandra Louise Olga Victoria “Sandra” (Princess Alexandra of Edinburgh)
Beatrice Leopoldine Victoria “Bea/Bee” (Princess Beatrice of Edinburgh)
Christian Victor Albert Ludwig Ernst Anton "Christle" (Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein)
Albert John Charles Frederick Arthur George (Prince Albert of Schleswig-Holstein)
Victoria Louise Sophia Augusta Amelia Helena “Thora” (Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein)
Franziska Josepha Louise Augusta Marie Christina Helena (Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein)
Frederick Christian Augustus Leopold Edward Harald (Prince Harald of Schleswig-Holstein)
Margaret Victoria Charlotte Augusta Norah “Daisy” (Princess Margaret of Connaught)
Arthur Frederick Patrick Albert (Prince Arthur of Connaught)
Victoria Patricia Helena Elizabeth “Patsy” (Princess Patricia of Connaught)
Alice Mary Victoria Augusta Pauline (Princess Alice of Albany)
Leopold Charles Edward George Albert “Charlie” (Prince Charles Edward of Albany)
Alexander Albert “Drino” (Prince Alexander of Battenberg)
Victoria Eugenie Julia Ena “Ena” (Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg)
Leopold Arthur Louis (Prince Leopold of Battenberg)
Maurice Victor Donald (Prince Maurice of Battenberg)
Yvonne Demoskoff has provided some fabulous quotes from Victoria herself on the subject of names over at her royalty website. They give a great insight into Victoria's taste and her thoughts regarding names. They are definitely worth a read.
