British Baby Names

Diminutive Names

This week's list looks at one of the most popular trends in British names -- diminutives. 

Over the last decade traditional dimuntives have rocketed up the Top 100. So much so that you are now more likely to find the diminutive form on the birth certificate than the original name. And this quite clearly shows in the popularity rankings. 

Evie ranks #10, whereas Eva is #37, Evelyn #87 and Eve is #112. Alfie sits high at #4, while Alfred is down at #154. Jack, Harry and Charlie can also boast Top 10 status. 

Some short forms have been around for centuries, others have more recent usage, but one thing is for certain; nicknames have had a promotion!

Alby / Albie Alex Alfie Ali Andy Archie  Arnie Artie Barney Ben Benji Benny Bernie Bertie  Billy Bobby  Charlie / Charley Coby / Cobie  Danny Davie Denny Donny / Donnie Dougie Eddie Ernie Franky / Frankie Freddy / Freddie Geordie Georgie Gerry Gil Gilby Harry

Herbie Howie  Huey / Hughie Jack Jake Jamie  Jay Jem Jimmy Joe Joey Jonny / Johnny Jonty Kenny Kit Larry Laurie Lenny / Lennie  Liam  Manny Marty Matty Max Micky / Mickey Mikey Monty Ned Nate Nicky Olly / Ollie Ozzy / Ozzie Paddy Ralphie / Ralfie

Reggie Richie Ricky Robby / Robbie Ronny / Ronnie Rudy Sam Sammy Stevie Ted Teddy / Teddie Theo Toby / Tobey Tom Tommy /Tommie Tony Vinny / Vinnie  Will Zac  / Zak / Zack

Abby / Abbie Ally / Allie Angie Annie Becky Bess Bessie Beth Betsy Betty Billie Bobbie Bridie Callie Carrie Cassie Charlie / Charley Chrissy Christy / Christie Cindy Connie Daisy Danni Debbie Demi Dolly Dotty / Dottie Edie Effie Ellie Elsie Emmie / Emme Etta

Etty / Ettie Evie Florrie  Frankie Gabbie Georgie Ginny Gracie  Hattie Hetty / Hettie Indie Izzy Jamie Janey Jenny Jessie Josie Kathy Katy / Katie Kitty Kizzy Lainey / Laney Lexi / Lexie  Libby  Liv Lizzy Lottie  Lulu  Maddie Maggie Maisie  Mandy Marcie

Matty Meg / Meggie Milly / Millie Mindy Minnie Missy Molly / Mollie  Nancy Nell Nelly / Nellie Patsy Peggy Penny Pippa Polly Reenie Romy Ronnie Rosie  Roxy / Roxie Sadie Sally Stevie Susie / Suzie Trudy / Trudie Tess Thea Tilly Toni Tori  Trixie Vicky Winnie

All the names above appeared in the rankings for 2010.

 

The Turners of Brymbo

Whilst researching for my upcoming post Finds from 1849, I came across a curious entry:
Turnerietta de Joanna Jane de Faith Turner. 

No, it's not a mistranscription. Turnerietta was the daughter of John Turner and Lavinia Rebecca Turner. And it turns out that they had a rather interestingly named family. 

The 1851 census is hard to read but the family appears as such:

John, Rebekah, Alfred (15), Bernard (13), Cornelius (13), Doiasdast? (8), Eignhard (most likely Einhard) (7), Fionghal (5), Turnwell (3) and Turnerietta (1)

Turnwell (3) appears twice on the census, as that night he was also visiting with his 16 year old sister Turneranna, who was a house servant for an elderly couple. 

A consult of the BMD Index throws up:

Turnerina de Margaret (m. 1854)
Turnerica Henrica Ulrica da Gloria de Lavinia Rebecca (b.1840)
Turnwell de Pringle William Owens (b. 1848) / Turnwell de Pringle William Ap Owen (m. 1879)
Turnerietta de Joanna Jane de Faith (b. 1849) / Turnerietta de Jane (m. 1877)

A little bit more digging shows the family appearing in Lighter Moments from the Notebook of Bishop Walsham How (1900) by Frederick Douglas How: 

Talking of family Bibles, when Bishop Walsham How was Rector of Whittington he copied the following list from the entries in the family Bible of some people called Turner. The names are those of the twelve children of the family:

1. Turnerina de Margaret.
2. Turnerannah de Mary Elizabeth.
3. Alfred Fitz Cawley de Walker.
4. Bernard de Belton.
5. Cornelius la Compston.
6. Turnerica Henrica Ulrica da Gloria de Lavinia Rebekah.
7. John de Hillgreave.
8. Eignah de George Turner Jones.
9. Fighonghangal o Temardugh Hope de Hindley.
10. Turnwell William ap Owen de Pringle.
11. Turnerietta de Johannah Jane de Faith.
12. Faithful Thomas

So, from reading between the transcription errors and spelling mistakes, it would appear that John and Lavinia Rebecca had Turnerina, Turneranna, Alfred, Bernard, Cornelius, Turnerica, John, Eignhard, Fionghal, Turnwell, Turnerietta and Faithful. 

I wonder what they would have named a fifth daughter. Turnerella? Turnerissa? Turnerenna?

Red Names

Red is the colour of fire and strong emotions. Mars, the Red planet, is named for the Roman god of war, and for centuries red has been connected with war and valour. It was for this reason that Roman armies fought in red, and generals upon receiving a triumph would paint their entire body red to celebrate. Red is used in national flags as the colour of courage and sacrifice, while "Red-blooded" refers to someone who is brave or ardent. 

On the other hand, red is also the colour of Romance. Red roses, red hearts, red lipstick, strawberries, rubies all give red a passionate angle. In Feng Shui red signifies richness and luxury, and for the Chinese red symbolises good fortune. 

Words used to desribe the colour red include: excitement, energy, heat, love, determination, strength, power, confidence, action, passion, impulse, daring, fire, vigorous, enthusiasm, energetic.

There are several shades of red including: 

Auburn 
Burgundy
Carmine
Carnelian
Cherry
Coral
Cornell
Crimson
Magenta
Maroon
Ruby
Scarlet 

 

Red is found sometimes used as a first or middle name. Seven boys were named Red in 2010 in England and Wales, and there is some occasional use for girls. The word itself derives from the Old English Reed which was also used on seven boys in 2010. 

Irish Gaelic has Flann "bright red" which has been used on both notable men and women in early Irish history. The element is also found in the diminutive Flannagan, Flannan, Flannat, Flannery "red valour" and Flannacha "red-warrior," from which we get the surname Clancy. Ruadh in Gaelic refers to "red-hair" and is anglicised as Roy. From this we get Ruadhan (Rowan) and Ruaidri (Rory) "red-haired king."
Ceara (or Cera) which also means "red", is a feminine name borne by three virgin saints.

Red options for girls include Akane in Japanese; and the precious stones Ruby, from the Latin ruber "red", and Garnet, from Middle English gernet "dark red." For boys we find Edom in Hebrew; Altan "red-earth" in Turkish; Pyrrhus "flame-red" in Greek; Russell "little red" in French; Rufus, the Latin term for "red-haired"; Rumen "red-cheeked" in Bulgarian; and Rohit in Sanskrit. 

Unisex options are found in Shani, the Hebrew for red/scarlet and Phoenix, the mythical bird derived from the Greek φοινιξ (phoinix) meaning "dark red".

For further translations we could look to Rouge (French), Rojo (Spanish), Rosso (Italian), Ruth (Cornish), Read (Frisian) and Mena (Malagasi).

 

Name of the Week

 

A soft biblical gem that's swiftly becoming a fashionable favourite.

  

Origin:

From the Aramaic word for gazelle. Tabitha is a charitable woman in the New Testament who was brought nack to life by St Peter. Dorcas is the Greek translation.

Usage:

Tabitha came into use in Britain after the Reformation, and was popular through the 17th century with continued use through to the 19th century.  Tabby and Tibby are traditional British nicknames but there is also the German pet form Tabea (ta-BAY-a). Tabitha has been slowly rising over the last decade. In 2010 the name ranked #183 with 245 births in England and Wales, which has risen from 190 births in 2000.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Tabitha appears in the New Testament as a charitable woman who was raised up by St Peter.  * Tabitha Babbitt (1784–1853) was an American tool maker who is supposed to have invented the circular saw.  * Tabitha Gilman Tenney (1762-1837) was an early American author Literature and Popular Culture: * Tabitha King is an American author, wife of Stephen King.  * Tabitha Twitchit is a beloved character of Beatrix Potter. * Tabitha Smith is a Marvel superhero * Tabitha Stephens, was the daughter of Samatha in the TV series Bewitched.  Other: * Tabitha Hodge Broderick (2009), twin sister of Marion "Loretta" is the daughter of Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick.

Variants:

Dorcas (Greek) Tabita (Latin)

Pronunciation:

TAB-i-thə (UK) [key]

Diminutives:

Abby, Bea, Baya, Beth, Bitha, Tabby, Tia, Tibby

Sibling Names:

Jemima     Perdita     Miriam     Eloise     Harriet     Matilda  Henry     Finley     Hugh      Edmund      Julian      Gabriel

Name Lists:

Vintage   Victorian Darlings   Popular Biblical   Beatrix Potter

If you like Tabitha you may also like:   Alice, Susannah, Talitha, Esther, Clara, Lois, Felicity, Constance, Philippa, Martha

 

Fruity Nicknames

Last week I read a wonderful post at Marginamia which had a little girl called Georgia -- with the nickname Peach. What a clever idea, I thought! That musing was followed by a request on the Nameberry board for names that have a ready symbol or emblem associated with them, which led me to think about other fruit varieties that are well known first names. 

If Peach works as a nickname for Georgia, why not Plum for Victoria, or Cherry for Florence?

Here are a few posibilities:

Peach

As well as the Belle of Georgia varieties of peach (from the UK, France and the US) also include:

Alexandra Aline Amanda Anita Barbara Catherine

Coraline Dolores Dorothée Early Amber Elberta Eva's Pride

Felicia Fidelia Gladys Glenna Lucie Madison

Manon Maria Bianca Merril Lisbeth Mireille Polly Valentine

Plum

Ariel Avalon Black Amber

Catalina Grand Rosa Guinevere

Joanna Red Marjorie's Seedling Mirabelle

Rosemary Ruby Mirabelle Victoria

Cherry

Adriana Angela Annabella Belle Agathe Bianca di Verona  Celeste

Early Amber  Florence Giorgia Isabella Kristin Linda

Margit Peggy Rivers Regina Sandra St Margaret  Stella

Sylvia Venus Valera Victoria Vittoria Viva

Apple (or Pomme)

Ambrosia Anna Annie Elizabeth Ariane Bailey Beverley Pippin Bonnie Best

Carolina Cybele D'Arcy Dawn Edith Smith Fearn's Pippin Filippa

Florina Geneva Ingrid Marie Katya Mollie's Delicious Paula Red Priscilla

Scarlet O'Hara Sharon Sonya Virginia Gold

Celtic Surnames

Take a look back at the Top 100 in 1974 and you might notice new arrivals; Lindsey, Kelly, Kerry, Scott and Ryan. What they all have in common is their roots as a Celtic surname. 
Below is a list of well known names that all originated as a Celtic surname (sometimes, ultimately, as a placename). You may be surprised at some...

Blair Brady Broderick Brody Bruce Cameron Carey Casey Cody Craig Desmond Donovan Douglas Errol

Ewert Flynn Fraser Glenn Gordon Graham Grant Gregor Keegan Keir Keith Kenzie Kyle Leslie

Lindsay Logan Mackenzie Maxwell Murray Nolan Riley Ross Ryan Scott Stuart  Trevor  Wallace

Carey Casey Cassidy Cody  Fallon Kelly Kerry Leslie Lindsay Lindsey Mackenzie  Shannon  Tracey

Rising up as a fresh crop, there are a few Celtic surnames that have seen some usage in recent years:

Bevan Bowen Boyd Braden Brannon Brennon Campbell Carson Cowen

Daley Delaney Dempsey Finnegan Keane Keefe Lennon Lennox Madden

Maddox Malone Murphy Quaid Quinn Ramsey  Sullivan  Vaughn   Vaughan

Delaney Dempsey  Greer Kennedy Kenzie Mckenna Riley Tierney

And as a triple whammy this week, here is a list of Celtic surnames that aren't commonly found as first names.  

Annwyl Baird Benneth Breen Callaghan Callin Callow Carmody Connolly

Conroy Conway Costain Cunnigham Curran Donnelly Dougan Duffy Fannon

Ferguson Flanagan Forbes Gallagher Gelling Gill Griffin  Hannigan Hogan

Keig Keelan Kerr Laird Lewin Maguire Matheson Mullan  Parry

Penry Price Prosser Quane  Sheridan

 

Sibling Spotlight for Erastus

As requested by Emily, below is a selection of British siblings containing Erastus, from the last century to modern times. The year relates to the decade of birth for the Erastus in that set. 

1850s: Edwin Andrew Ellen Penelope Reuben Catherine Augusta Archibald Frederick Erastus  Rufus Isaiah Erastus Marantha Althira Erastus Mary Jane Eber    1860s: John Matthew Glaud Roger Charles Alonzo Erastus    Erastus Ann Tom Steward Arthur Fairfax (b) Mary William Jane William Henry Mary Ann Isabella Sarah Erastus John Margaret David Augusta Angelina Simon Eliza Rhoda  Albert Samuel

1880s: Thurston George Hedley John Roadley Hobson Annie Glenawyn Erastus William James Harold  Caroline Elizabeth Erastus John Thomas Mary Ellen Dorothy Alphonsus Clifford Emily    1900s: Violet Letitia Erastus Hubert Richard Redvers    1910s: Norah V Erastus H Winifred Barabara    Agnes I Elizabeth J Erastus C Harry E Henry L Eileen Sheila M   1990s: Joshua James Lewis Erastus Bethany Erica   James Omondi Leon Erastus

Blue Names

Blue is a colour of serenity. For centuries it has been used to represent both the sea and the sky and the deities that resided over them. In Feng Shui, blue is considered to be healing and calming and is used in areas of rest such as the bedroom. It is also the colour of the UN flag, used to represent unity and peace.

In today's society we use blue for baby boys, and pink for girls, however, this was not always the case. Blue was originally the colour for girls, as it reflected the mantle of the Virgin Mary. 

Words used to desribe the colour blue include: peace, tranquility, calmness, harmony, honor, soothing, understanding, devotion, patience, comfort, forgiveness, unity, devotion.

There are several shades of blue including:

Aquamarine
Azure
Alice Blue 
Aqua
Beryl
Celeste
Carolina Blue
Cerulean 
Cobalt Blue
Cyan
Indigo
Iris
Lovat
Maya Blue
Mazarine
Navy
Periwinkle
Sapphire
Slate
Teal 
Tiffany Blue
Turquoise 

Blue itself is finding some use for both boys and girls; as is the French Bleu and Italian Blu. As a first name it is mostly confined for boys (12 boys were named Blue, 12 named Blu and 9 Bleu in 2010) but we do find it used as a middle name for girls. Blewett, Blewitt, Blouet and Bluett are surnames used in Britain that derive from the Old French bleuet "bluish", a diminutive of bleu 

In other countries we can find some "blue" names in use. Nilima "blue," Nila "dark blue" and Sunil "very dark blue" in Sanskrit are found as names in India. The poetic Finnish form of blue, Sini, is found in Finland, and Odeta, which is believed to be derived from deti "blue" is used in Armenia. The English name for Sapphire, the distinctly blue gemstone, derives ultimately from the Hebrew sappir. Sapphira appears as a character in the New Testament.

The Proto-Celtic *glasto- "green, blue, grey" has lent to the adjective glas in both Welsh and Irish. The boundaries between the colours were less distinct originally in the Celtic languages, so glas could be used for shades of green, blue and grey. Irish derivatives include Glass, borne by a legendary king of Munster; Glaisne, a king of Ulster and favourite among the Mac Mahons; and Glassan, a saint, and prince of Ulster. 
Welsh variants include Glesni, Glesig, Glasfryn (glas + bryn "hill"), Glasnant (glas + nant "stream") and Glasynys (glas + ynys "island").

Direct translations in other languages include azul (Spanish, Portuguese), mavi (Turkish), modry (Czech) and sinine (Estonian).

Name of the Week

 

Saintly and literary, but with a super-star edge.

 

Origin:

There are several possible sources for Beckett's use as a surname.  1) As a local surname the name is taken from two place names in England. Beckett in Berkshire (Becote, Buccot, Bockote) is taken from the Old English beo "bee" and cot "cottage, house, shelter." Beckett in Devonshire derives from the Old English "Beocca's house." Beocca most likely derives from beort "bright, famous" and in found in several other place names including Beckford "Boecca's ford," Beckham "Beocca's village" and Beckley "Beocca's clearing." 2) One other likely source is that it is a dimunutive of the Old French bec "beak." Suetonius writes how Antonius Primus was given the nickname Becca, due to his prominant nose. 3) It may also be derived from place names (such as Bec in France) containing the Old Norse element bekkr "stream."

Usage:

Beckett was a popular surname in the 12th and 13th centuries in the form Beket.  Between 1840 and 1900 68 children were given the name Beckett. Most exclusively male. In 2010 the name ranked #4678 with 3 births in England and Wales. The shorter form Beck had 9 births. The name was given to 4 boys in 2009 and 9  in 2008.

Famous Bearers:

* St Thomas Becket (was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 - 1170 and an important political figure. He became a very popular saint in the Middle Ages after his death.  * Samuel Beckett (1906-1989) was an influential, Nobel prize winning, Irish author and poet.  Several celebrities have chosen the name Beckett in recent years, including: * Beckett Robert Lee (b. 2008) son of Stella McCartney * Beckett Taylor (b. 2004) son of Malcolm McDowell * Beckett (b. 2005) son of Conan O'Brien

Variants:

Becket, Beckitt

Pronunciation:

BEK-ət (UK) [key]

Possible Diminutives:

Beck, Keb

Sibling Names:

Willa     Esme     Calla     Harper     Bryony     Audra  Owen    Roman     Miles     August     Dylan    Lorcan

 

If you like Beckett you may also like:   Archer, Lennon, Miller, Quinn, Maxwell, Ellis, Fletcher, Gregor, Fraser, Finnan

 

Finds from 1848

Some finds from the GRO Birth Records for England and Wales in 1848. 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.

Aaron Albert, Moses Henry & Miriam Leonorah (triplets) Adonijah Ebenezer Frederick Albinus Joshua Alexander Cyrus Sebastian Arthur Archimedes Arthur Tristram Asdrubal Frederic John Avery Thomas Boyle Frederic Henry Brian Horatio Briggs John Cornelius Milton Ebdomos Cosmo William Decimus Charles Edmund Theodosius Elihu Theophilus Enos Wesley Ferdinand Adolphus Francis Morocco (sn: Leather) George Fredolin Thomas Guy Fawkes Joseph* Jabez Vivian Jeremiah Timothy  Jerusalem Gedaliah Jesse Jethro Josiah Constantine Jules Alexis Henri Eugene Lamartine Franklin Melchizedek William Metellus Nathan Jude Obededom Oleander George Omega Bonus Orlando Randolph Oxley Vernon Percival Cadwallader Pharoah Frederic Phinehas Fox Powell Percy Raffaello Michael Revel John Shelly Samuel Silas Horatio George Silvanus Llewelyn  Solomon Abel Sylvester Plato Thorold Taylor Torquato Salvatore Rodolf William Nero Worthy James Zebulun Thomas

Adora Sarah Anne Aloysia Alice Ambrosine Emily Annaretta Rosetta Maria Anne Eliza Desdemona Antonia Elwina Ann Arabina Augusta Aseneth Aulannah Cordelia Bethulia Amelia Blandina Dominica Cassa Wappy Charlotte Climpernella Christiana Eve Constant Mary Cornelia Decima Delilah Tryphena Edith Delicia Catherine Emily Magdalene Avice Felicia Alexandrina Finnetta Josephine Vincentia Gwendeline Euphemia Habariah Comfort Happy Rachel Hermina Ernestine Indianna Mary Isabella Iphigenia Isabella Wilhelmina Jacobina Carolina Adelina Julia Persevena Leonora Sabrina Letitia Georgina Valentina Love Lucetta Sophia Mahala Bathsheba Martha Ivory Medora Adela Myra Matilda Philippa Vivian Rechabina Selina Ritty Ann Rosa Philadelphia Salome Josephina Sarah Thusnelda Sebastiana Louisa Letitia Stephenia Clementa True Hannah Truelove Xantippe Anne Zara Eleanor Zebudah Zilpah Clementine Zina Lucy Zurada Mary

* Appropriately found, given the time of year.