British Baby Names

Site Update: Normal service is suspended until December 25th

 

Over the next 25 days, BBN will have its own advent calendar.

The Christmas we know today is a wonderful mix of ancient traditions from the Roman Saturnalia, the Northern European Yule, and the Celtic winter solstice; incorporated with the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ. Add to that a hefty dose of Victorian manipulation and preening, and we now have a distinctive time of year, observed and celebrated, both religiously and secularly, by many different people in many different ways.

The symbols and pictures that we associate with Christmas have permeated through the centuries, and come from a myriad of different sources. Each day up until Christmas will count down a different Christmas symbol or image, attempting to trace its origins and usage, in order to dig up some conventional and unexpected Christmassy names. 

 

Ancient Greek A Names for Girls

Cleaning out some of my old university lecture notes yesterday, I came across the stash of names I had dutifully scribbled down from my Ancient Greece modules to pore over at a later date. 

Here are some of the delights used for women in Greek society that you aren't likely to find in a baby name book (although there were plenty of Alexandras). Most are taken from tomb reliefs or stelae. In many cases the masculine form of the name is most recognisable, but these were all borne by the women of Greek society, some more commonly than others. 

I'll start with the many that begin with A.

 

Abronike  
αβρος "delicate, refined" +  νικη "victory"

Abrosune / Abrosyne
"delicacy"
Lit. αβρος "delicate, refined" + συνη "joined with, perceived with"

Agathemeris 
αγαθος "good"+ μερος "parts, pieces"

Agathoboule
αγαθος "good"+ βουλη "will, determination, counsel"

Agathokleia 
αγαθος "good"+ κλεος "fame, glory"

Aglaotime
άγλαος "bright, shining" + τιμη "honour, virtue, worth"

Agne
αγνος "pure" 

Agnodike
αγνος "pure" + δικη "justice"

Agnothea 
αγνος "pure" + θεα "goddess"

Agnokrite
αγνος "pure" + κριτης "judge"

Agnostrate
αγνος "pure" + στρατος "army"

Alexibia 
αλέξω "defender, protector" + βιος "life" 

Alexippa 
αλέξω "defender, protector" + ιππος "horse"

Alkestis
αλκη "strength, courage"

Alkinoa 
αλκη "strength, courage" + νους "mind, intellect"

Ameinodora
ἄμεινον "better" + δωρον "gift"

Ameinokleia
ἄμεινον "better" + κλεος "fame, glory"

Amphikrateia
ἀμφί "concerning, about" + κρατος "power"

Archedike
ἄρχω "rule, command" + δικη "justice"

Archestrate
ἄρχω "rule, command" + στρατος "army"

Aristagora 
αριστος "best, noble" +  αγορα "market, meeting place"

Aristeia 
"excellence, the best one can be" 

Aristodike 
αριστος "best, noble" +  δικη "justice"

Aristonike
αριστος "best, noble" +  νικη "victory"

Aristomache
αριστος "best, noble" +  μαχη "battle" 

Artemidora
Αρτεμις "Artemis" +  δωρον "gift"

Asklepigeneia
Ἀσκληπιός "Asklepios" + γενης "born"

Athenagora
Αθηναις "Athens" + αγορα "market, meeting place"

Athenodora 
Αθηνη "Athena" + δωρον "gift"

Auge / Ayge
"dawn" 

 

N.B. Final 'e' is always pronounced (as in Zoe or Phoebe).

Sibling Spotlight for Leonidas

Below is a selection of British siblings containing Leonidas, from the last century to modern times. The year relates to the decade of birth for the Leonidas in that set.

1830s: Georgina Sarah Henrietta Sarah Georgina Leonidas Baker Frederick Jessy  Arthur Annie Frances Jane Henry George Ellen Leonidas Clint George Octavius Lucy Jane Mary Ann Elizabeth   1840s: Alvinah Leonidas Buxton Georgiana Elizabeth Henrietta Frederica Alvinah 1850s: Leonidas Ulric Florence Gertrude Oliver Archibald Violetta Ernestine Sidney Osborne Francesca Winefred C 1860s:  Penelope Alma Sebastopol (g)  Victor Hugo Cornelius Montalembert Hector Leonidas Maria Louisa Ernest  Athena Athanasius Helena Leonidas Constantine  Stephanos    1870s: Theophilus Leonidas Xion Horace Oscar Caleb Edith Louisa Rose Francisco Louisa Marianna Narciza Sarah Teresa Mary Anna Enjelica Leonidas M Isabella Henrietta  1880s: Minerva Grace Leonidas Janet Ada Mary Eva Medea Alice V Flora Amanda Frederick John Harry Annie Myra Lawrence Nicholas Demosthenes Alexandria Calliope George Constantine Socrates Epaminondas Leonidas John Ruby Violanthe  Augustus C Athena Olga Aristides Themistocles Leonidas   Mary Elizabeth Athalia Charlotte Frederick Charles Leonidas George James Henrietta Lucretia

1900s: Sidney Percival Leslie Charles Emmie Blanche Spencer Adolphus Clarice Maud Leonidas Cuthbert Olive Irene Rosie Eunice Charles Howard & Percy Clifford (twins) Roy Cecil   1910s: Leonidas P Alexander J 1930s: Leonidas G Ronald J Geoffrey Maria E Robert J    1940s: Androula Anastasia Christallena Leonidas George    Julian P Leonidas G Leonidas A Despina   1950s: Ira B Adonis G Leonidas A Renate V Chariton Sonja Lydia E Michael George  1960s: Leonidas L Andrew George   1970s: Leonidas Patrick Alexander Philip   1980s: Nicholas Leonidas Alexander Emelia Chloe   Natalie Alice Leonidas Nicholas  Athena Eva S Leonidas Declan E  2000s: Theodoulos George Leonidas Michael Leonidas Jason Alexandros Horatio  Emma Elisabeth Cameron-Scott Erik Leonidas Lysander Jason Adam  Jack William Leonidas Toby Maximilian James Leonidas Allen Bellayia Natalia Leonidas Athanasios

Yellow Names

Happy, bright and cheerful yellow, so often associated with light, sunshine, and summer in particular.
In Japan yellow symbolises nobility and courage, while in China yellow is the imperial colour. Feng Shui considers yellow to be the cheerful, friendly colour of sunlight, used to promote good health and well-being. 

Words used to describe the colour yellow include: joy, happiness, optimism, enthusiasm, hope, sunshine, summer, cheerfulness, self-esteem, health, motivation, leadership, enlightenment, stimulating, bright, rich.

There are several shades of yellow including:

Amber
Apricot
Cadmium Yellow
Jasmine
Jonquil
Lemon
Maize
Mikado Yellow
Naples Yellow
Saffron
Sunglow
Vanilla 

 

The Ancient Greek word for yellow, or blond, is ξανθος (xanthos). Xanthus was borne by several characters in Greek mythology, as was the feminine form Xanthe. Xanthia can be found as a more modern elaboration. The Greeks also coined the names Xanthippos and Xanthippe, meaning "yellow horse," which was borne by the wife of Socrates.

The Latin word for yellow/blond is flavus which was used as a Roman family name. Several emperors, including Constantine, borne Flavius as a name. Flavia is the feminine form, while boys in Italy, Portugal or Spain take the form Flavio. The Latin fulvus referred to a dark, tawny yellow, and spawned the Roman family name Fulvius. Fulvio is the modern Italian form, while Fulvia is the feminine. 

Bláán was used as a given name in early Irish and Scottish history which meant "yellow." St Bláán was a bishop of Kingarth in the 6th century, and widely venerated in medieval Scotland. Dunblane and Kilblain are named for the saint, which is anglicised as Blaine or Blane. 

Hari is found in Sanskrit as another name for the Hindu god Vishnu which means "dark, tawny yellow." Pita is the Sanskrit word for yellow, while Pitambara, another name for Vishnu or Krishna, means "yellow garments," traditionally worn at auspicious or religious events. 

For more creative translations we can look to amarelo (Portuguese), amarillo (Spanish), jaune (French), rumena (Slovene), sari (Turkish) and zard (Turkish). 

 

Name of the Week

 
 Underused but familiar, with an intriguing mix of 
tomboyishness and femininity.

  

Origin:

French and German feminine form of Leonius, a Late Latin name derived from the Latin leo "lion."

Usage:

The Latin forms Leonia and Leonina can be found in occasional use in the 13th century. Leonie became imported to British shores in the 19th century. The birth index shows that, at first, it was used by German and French families, before it began to spread wider a little wider. Leonie has never been in the Top 100, according to data released since 1904, although it has been used consistently.  Back in 2005 Leonie ranked #276 with 156 births in England and Wales. The similar sounding Leona ranked #509. In 2010 Leonie ranked #567 with 70 births, while Leona, thanks to the rise to fame of Leona Lewis in 2006, ranked #380.

Famous Bearers:

* Léonie Adams (1899 – 1988) was an American poet * Léonie Gilmour (1872-1933) was an American educator, editor, and journalist, and the subject of an upcming movie Leonie starring Emily Mortimer.  * Leonie Rysanek (1926 – 1998) was an Austrian dramatic soprano. * Leonie Kramer (b. 1924) is an Australian academic, educator and professor. * Leonie Frieda (b. 1956) is Swedish-born model, translator, and writer. * Leonie Schaller (b. 1978) is a German saxophonist. * Leonie Archer is a British academic and author.  Other: * Léonie Cassel (2010), sister of Deva, is the daughter of Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel

Variants:

Léonie (French) Leonia (Latin)

Pronunciation:

lee-Ō-nee (UK) LE-ō-nee (Germany) lay-ō-NEE (France) [key]

Diminutives:

Lee, Leni, Leo, Lio, Lia, Lolly, Nell, Olli

Sibling Names:

Eleni     Tessa     Amelie     Anais     Zoe     Elodie  Milo     Finn     Theo      Kit      Jules      Ellis

 

If you like Leonie you may also like:   Eloise, Noemie, Xanthe, Lilia, Delphi, Dulcie, Sylvie, Zélie, Mila, Linnea

 

Upright Elegance

Top hats, waistcoats and taffeta gowns: elegant ladies and distinguished gentlemen. Here are the names that epitomise refined propriety. 

They would all feel at home lighting the stage in an Oscar Wilde play, or gracing a rural stately home. In fact, stick "Lady" or "Lord" in front of any of them and they just roll easily off the tongue.

And while all these names bear a dignified elegance, they also have a solid and reassuring quality. 

Alexis Algernon Ambrose Anton Archibald Aubrey Augustine Augustus Barnabas Barnaby Basil Benedict Bertram Bertrand Caspian Cassian Casper Cecil Cedric Clement Constantine Cornelius Crispin Cyrus Digby Dorian Edgar Edmund Edwin Elgin Emmanuel Emmett Erastus Ernest Eugene

Eustace Evander Everett Ewart Fabian Felix Ferdinand Florian Gideon Geoffrey Gregory Hector Horatio Hubert Hugh Hugo Humphrey Ignatius Ivan Ivo Ivor Jasper Jolyon Julian Julius Laurence Leopold Linus Lionel Lucian Lucius Magnus Marcus Marmaduke Maxim

Maximilian Montague Montgomery Octavian Octavius Orlando Oscar Otto Piers Peregrine Percival  Phineas Quentin Randolph Ranulph Ralph Reginald Rufus Rupert Sebastian Sholto Silvester Simeon St John Tarquin  Thaddeus Tobias Torquil Tristan Tristram  Victor Willoughby Wilfred Winston  Xavier

Adela Alethea Alexandrina Allegra Amabel Anastasia Angelina Annabel Annabella Antonia Arabella Araminta Augusta Aurelia Aurora Beatrice Beatrix Blanche Camilla Cassandra Cecilia Cecily Celeste Clarissa Clementine Christabel Christiana Constance Cordelia Corisande Cornelia Cosima Cressida Delphine Diana

Dorothea Eglantine Eleanor Eleanora Eloisa Emmeline Eudora Estella Eugenia Eugenie Euphemia Evangeline Felicia Felicity Florence Frederica Genevieve Georgiana Georgina Geraldine Gwendoline Gwyneth Helena Heloise Henrietta Hermione Honoria Imogen Isadora Josephina Julia Juliette Lavinia Leonora Letitia

Lucille Lucinda Margaux Marguerite Marianne Minerva Mirabelle Miranda Octavia Ophelia Ottilie Penelope Perdita Perpetua Philippa Philomena Portia Rosalind Rosamund Rosemary Sabina Seraphina Sybil Sybilla Sylvia Tatiana Theodora  Venetia Verity Viola Violette Virginia Vivienne Wilhelmina Winifred

 

Finds from 1849

Some finds from the GRO Birth Records for England and Wales in 1849. All are first names and middle names -- the surnames are not included unless indicated by "sn" -- and have been checked against census records for accuracy.

Adolphus Cornelius Angelo Jethro Archibald Albert Tamatoa Bartholomew Phenix Barzillai Jonathan Ben Lysimachus Benaiah Francis Conway Theodore Marrett Corbin George Cornelius Agrippa Edgar Athaling Edmond Seneca Edmund Ironside Eutychus Faulkner James Ferdinand Jago Flint Giles Theodore Griffin Evan Hyginus James Dositheus Jeremiah Jabez King Charles Leonard Boaz Lovegrove Griffin Hubert Lovelace Alexander Luther Cornelius Napolean Bonaparte Nathaniel Togo Nonus et Undecimus Orlando Obadiah Pharsalia Daniel Pickles Plato Owen Cincinnatus Raphael Mordecai Rivoire Christopher John Saint Peter Samuel Ezekiel Zedekiah Servatus William Sylvester Temple Knollys Thompson Austin  Valentine Lilly Wainford Charles Brampton Washington Mazzini Whitmore York  William Janus Wolfe Alexander  Zenos John

Adelaide Zoe Agnes Undecima Albina Almeria Almida Penelope Almira Helen Alta Virginia Amanah Editha Lavinia Amelia Florinda Ann Liberty Annora Elizabeth Anslea Jane Lydia Asenath Lavinia Aurelia Caroline Isabella Sabina Averilla Priscilla Belvidere Sarah Francis Blessed Rose Brillianna Arletta  Camelia Charlotte Caroline Jacinta Celestia Clarissa Constance Geraldine & Edith Viola (twins) Cornelia Marcella Dorcas Bathsheba Effela  Elizabeth Avarina Emily Ruhamah Ermenilda Essyllt Mary Eusebia Jane Fairlie Mary Faith Hope Charity  Felicitas Ann Ferdinanda Cox Finnetta Edith & Josephine Blanche (twins)  Gentilla Arabella Georgina Dionysia Gift Grace Gulielma Sophia Happy Always Livesay Mary Makkedah Clauda Marcilla Urania Maria Ernestine Clothilde Marianne Amanda Mary Frideswide Oryndia Elizabeth Palacia Elizabeth Philomena Teresa Piety Rhyner Elizabeth Rosina Alphonsine Ruthetta Caroline Theodrey Philadelphia Tryphena Eliza & Trophosa Fanny (twins) Zettilla Lettice

 

Name of the Week

 

A dignified name that has the slick 'x' ending and upbeat meaning.

Origin:

From the Latin felix "happy, lucky, blessed" used as a cognomen, or nickname, by the Romans.

Usage:

The name Felix was very popular among early Christians. Not only does this name appear in the New Testament, it also has the distinction of being borne by no less than 44 saints and 3 popes. It was used in Britain in the Middle Ages, though it was never as popular as the feminine form Felicia, or used as much in Britain as the rest of Europe.  The Victorians, with their love of the medieval and rise of the Tractarian movement which dug up long lost saints names, revived the name somewhat.  In the 20th century Felix never broke into the Top 100. In 2010 however the name ranked just below at #122 with 511 births in England and Wales. Its usage has been increasing each year, from #143 (354 births) in 2005 and #145 (270 births) back in 2001.

Famous Bearers:

* In the New Testament, Felix appears as Marcus Antonius Felix, procurator of Judea. * Forty-four saints bore the name Felix, including Saint Felix of Cornwall, who was said to have been able to communicate with lions and cats.  * Felixstowe in East Anglia is named after St Felix of Burgundy, first bishop of the East Angles. * Three popes, and two anti-popes bore the name Felix.  * Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847) was a notable German composer. * Felix Hausdorff (1868–1942) was a German mathematician, considered to be the founder of topology.  * Felix Hoffmann (1868–1946) was the inventor of aspirin.  * Felix Bloch (1905–1983) was a Swiss physicist and Nobel Prize winner.  * Prince Felix of Denmark (b.2002) is the son of Prince Joachim of Denmark.

Variants:

Félix (French, Spanish, Portuguese) Feliks (Polish, Russian, Slovene) Phelix (Biblical Greek)

Pronunciation:

FEE-lix [key]

Possible Diminutives:

Eli, Leif, Lex

Sibling Names:

Tabitha     Aurelia     Hebe    Cecilia     Mercy     Helena  Hugo     Rufus     Linus      Jasper     Oscar      Lionel

Name Lists:

Vintage   Upright Elegance   Victorian Darlings   Saintly & Stylish   Popular Biblical   Resonant Roman   Harry Potter

 

If you like Felix you may also like:   Maxim, Philo, Fabian, Cassius, Lucian, Anton, Julius, Falco, Quentin, Phineas

 

Butterflies: Beyond Monarch and Emperor

Butterflies have been used in art for centuries, right back to Egyptian frescoes in Thebes over 3,500 years ago. It is thought that the image of the butterfly is one of the few examples of a motif used purely for its aesthetic qualities rather than for religious symbolism.

Several surviving mosaics show that the ancient Greeks represented the goddess Psyche ("soul") with having butterfly wings. Interestingly, the greek name for a butterfly was itself ψυχή (psyche) "soul".
Both the Greeks and the Romans represented the souls of deceased loved ones with butterflies. We also find this in Japan, where butterflies represent the personification of a person's soul.

More recently butterflies have been associated with regeneration and renewal, due to it's changing forms through evolution. 

Translation

Across the globe we can find girls being given the name "butterfly" in their native language. As far as translations go we can look to Chou and Chouko "butterfly child" in Japanese, Flutura in Albanian, Kelebek in Turkish and Parvana / Parvaneh in Persian. Mariposa is the Spanish name for a butterfly as well as a species name.  

Genus 

Several genus names for butterflies originate as first names, particularly from ancient Greek mythology, including: Aporia, Aricia, Calisto, Cressida, Cynthia, Dione, Enos, Eurybia, Euthalia, Ferentina, Greta, Hesperia, Justinia, Lucinia, Lysandra, Marpesia, Melete, Menander, Methone, Thecla, Thisbe, Una and Vanessa.

Digging a bit deeper, there are also some rather intriguing finds from the crop of genus names such as: 

Adelpha Aglais Anetia Aphrissa Caria Celastrina

Cissia Cynea Eresia Erora Erynnis Eucheira

Euchloe Eunica Eurema Issoria Junonia Lasaia

Lucida Melanis Mesene Micandra Nica Ocaria

Pontia Xenandra Zera Zerene Zerynthia Zizina

Species

As with genus names, a great number of butterfly species names are also personal names: 

Adrasta Alexandra Alexis Amelia Angelia Anicia Annabella Annette Antonia Aphrodite Apollo Arethusa Argus Artemisia Astarte Atalanta Athalia

Bellona Bettina Briseis, Caelina Camilla, Carissima Chryseis Cinxia Clodius Clothilda Clytemnestra Clytie Cybele Delphia Dorcas Electra Emilia

Eulalia Euphrosyne Eurydice Falerina Fatima Freija Genoveva Hecate Icarus Io Iole Iris Ismeria Josephina Julia Julitta Juno

Linda Laertes  Lisa Lua Lucinda Lucinia Luna Maera Margaretta Megara Melanthe Messalina Morgane Niobe Pamela Pandora Paulina

Phaedra Pomona  Selene Semele Sybilla Theona Theseus Thirza Titus Tullia Urraca Vesta Xenocles Zilda Zilpa Zina Zunilda

For further name-fodder you might consider:

Aristor Atala Atena Atesa Aurantia Aurinia Avalona Azia

Britanna Celida Cilissa Clarensis Cordillera Crisia Delila Dinora

Eimeri Elada Elathea Eucharis Gemina Indica Jemina Karsandra

Keila  Leanira Levana Lollia Nea  Rumina  Selika Telea

Thordesa Tiessa Velina Zaela Zea Zebina Zela  Zelica

Vernacular Names

All butterflies have a vernacular or common name, many of which, such as Edith's Copper, Queen Alexandra, or Adelina Metalmark, contain a first name:

Aaron Acacia Adelina Agave Alcmena Alberta  Aletta  Alex Alexandra Anna Ambrosia  Apollo Ares Asa Aster Avalon Aurelius Austin Beatrix Carla Carolina Cassius  Cecilia

Celia  Chara Christina Cleon Cleopatra Coral Dina Donella Dorcas Doris Edith Edward Elsa Esma Esperanza Estela Estelle Ethelda  Eufala Eunice Ezra Flora Georgia

Giulia Harmonia  Harvey  Henry Heraclea Hermes Hermione  Horace Indra  Ira Isabel Isabella Isidora Jacqueline Jason Joseph Joyce Julia Juniper Juno Jutta Kathleen  Laura

Laverna  Lavinia  Leander Leda Leila Leona Leonard Leonor Lila Lilly Linda Lucia Lyra Magdalena Magdalia Marina Mariposa Mary Melissa Mimosa Minverva  Mylitta  Olive

Olympia Orion Pamela Paula Pearl Peter Prosepina Rita Rosita Rubina Saffron Sally Salome Sara Sheridan Stella Sylvan Sylvia  Victorine Viola Violet Xenos Zephyr

 

Sibling Spotlight for Cordelia

Below is a selection of British siblings containing Cordelia, from the last century to modern times. The year relates to the decade of birth for the Cordelia in that set.

A middle name in speech marks indicates that this was the name they were called by.

1830s: Thomas Laurence Patience Prudence Cordelia   Antoinette Samuel Sarah John Caroline Cordelia Lavinia George Amelia Charles 1840s: Charles  Jonathan Kellow Werry James Cordelia Clementine Charles "Henry" Fanny Philippa Ann Julianna  Evelina  Laura Joyce Werry Thomas  Letitia Elizabeth Cordelia Adela Gill Edward Charles Silas Flemyng Brook Flemyng Cordelia Frances Blanche Georgina Loftus William Henry Cecil Alfred Jocelyn Walter Philip Oscar Benjamin Cordelia Mahala Maria  Sarah Isabella  Elizabeth Anna Augusta Christiana Cordelia Eleanor Mary Grace Adela Louisa John George Frayton Eliott   1850s: Elizabeth Bridgeman George Eliza Albert Lewis Hewett (b) Marcus Cordelia Ellen   Violetta Rosabella Cordelia  Orlando Rosalind Cordelia  Emma  Arthur 1860s: George Myrthil Warren Frederick John Warren Clara Adele Gustave Warren Ida Florence Charlotte  Cordelia Gertrude Myrthil "Francis" Reginald Alphonse Frederick Charles Juliet Rosaline Cordelia Romeo William Viola Ann Edgar Friend Hubert

1870s: Cordelia Elizabeth Phoebe Alice Lydia Amelia Emily Mary John Ellis Caradoc Samuel Cordelia Gwladys Myfanwy   Cordelia Jane Aquila George Esther Ellen Mariam Zillah Cordelia Lena Lois Penelope Edith Violetta Rosaline Gertrude W   1880s: Asa Percival Archibald Lear Frank Edgar Cordelia Winifred Ethel Violet Evelyn Clair (b) 1890s: Dominic Wilfred Beatrice Hermalinda Jane Mildred Rosamond Cordelia Joice Olive Myrtle Ida Leslie   1900s: Cordelia Agnes Wesley Alexander Florence Greta   Cordelia Maria Sylvia Gwendoline  1990s: Crispin John F Cordelia Vivienne C Sophia Isabella Cordelia Saskia Lucas Joel  Bertrand Wallace Hector Guy Drusilla Augusta Cordelia Hero 2000s: Cordelia Mary Mathilda Harriet Phoebe Clementine Cordelia Rose M Miranda Lily M Ophelia Poppy Marianna Cordelia Emily V Barnaby Robin Charles Cecily Florence Adeline Kinvara Kathryn "Olivia" Kathleen "Cordelia" Katya "Athena" Kingham "Edward" Georgina Alice Christopher Edward Charles John  Clementina Grace Cordelia Rose Gabriella Carlotta Montgomery George Angelina Georgette Seraphina Elizabeth Decima Katherine Delphine Octavia Florentina Emilie