Times and Telegraph: Twinsets, Trends and Diminutives 2011

If we dig a little deeper into the birth announcements from The Times and The Telegraph newspapers we can find some interesting quirks and gems.

I'll start off with the the use of diminutives. I always find it interesting when both a formal name and a nickname are listed in a birth announcement as it implies that the parents are looking for a formal name that will age well, alongside a lighter and familial nickname for everyday use. The fact that they have already decided on the nickname at birth shows a clear idea of what name they want to use.
Here are all the names that were announced in The Times and The Telegraph in 2011 that were listed with a nickname:

Elizabeth Florence "Betsy" Evelyn Catherine "Evie" Harriet Rose Alice "Hattie" Isabella Emily "Izzy" Catherine Aoife Mary "Kitty" Catherine Evelyn "Kitty" Katharine Isabel "Kitty" Katriona Elizabeth "Kitty" Elizabeth Rose "Libby" Elizabeth Camilla "Lizzy" Elizabeth Annabel "Lizzy" Lucinda Alice "Lucy" Tallulah Valentine "Lulie" Margaret Violet "Maggie" Camilla Daisy "Milly" Mary Laura Frances "Molly" Mair Elisabeth Patricia "Polly" Josephine Alice "Posy" Primrose Carole Enfys "Posy" Jacquetta Margot "Quetta" Rose Jane "Rosie" Matilda Beatrice "Tilly"

Albert Hugo "Albie" Archibald John "Archie" Bertram David Douglas "Bertie" Julian Albert Hardy "Bertie" William George "Billy" Robert Arthur "Bobbie" Robert Michael Oliver "Bobby" Charles John "Charlie"  Charles Alexander "Charlie"   Charles Richard Patrick "Charlie" Franklin Michael "Frankie" Alfred Charles Edward "Freddie" Frederic William Daniel "Freddie" Frederick Nigel James "Freddie" Frederick Thomas Basil "Freddie" Augustus David Seymour "Gus" Henry Richard "Hal" Henry John "Harry" Henry Thomas "Harry"  Henry William "Harry" Inigo Edward Fawkes "Iggy" John Edward "Jack"

John Peter "Jack" John Digby "Johnny" John Edward James "Johnnie" Joseph Garner "Joe" Christopher Michael "Kit" Leonard Boswood "Lenny" Leopold James Fiachra "Leo" Maximilian Arthur "Max" Miles "Milo" Montgomery Addison Barnaby "Monty" Montgomery Edward "Monty" Nicholas Frederick Attilio "Nico" Philip Winston James "Pip" Reginald Alwyne "Reggie" William Macleod "Tank" Edward Laurence "Ted" Edward Andrew "Teddy" Thomas Eliot Riou "Tom" Wilfred Percy "Wilf" Alexander George Wallace "Xan" Zachary James "Zak"

Then there are the Times and Telegraph twins:

Alexander Lucas & Jessica Faith
Archie Jack & Ottilie Rose
Arthur & Honor
Benjamin George & Marissa Penelope
Douglas William & Genevieve Mabel
Henry Charles & Agatha Esme
Hugh Queensborough & Georgina Fleur
Leo & Heloise
Oliver Joseph & Kitty Bridget
Quincy Otis Aubrey & Viola Agnes Blue
Rafferty Joseph & Mia Charlotte
Samuel William Barnard & Martha Jennifer Hannah
Sebastian James & Stella Gabrielle
Thomas "Tom" Eliot Riou & Maya Rose Elizabeth

Alexander Winston & George David
Archie Jack & Jasper Oliver
Barnaby Robert Kirkland & Philip "Pip" Winston James
Bruno Nick & Ralph Tony
Caspar & Felix
Dexter & Theodore
Edward Anthony & Samuel David
George Richard Herbert & Johnnie Arthur James
Harry Anton Jack & Henry Alan Hartmut
Hughie & Milo
Robert Stanley & Thomas Chapelle

Abigail Sophia Judy & Lola Isabella Valerie
Agatha Poppy & Beatrice Rosa
Alexandra & Katharine
Alia Alexandra & Maya Amelia
Babirye Naccwa Scarlet & Nakato Namika Isabella
Beatrice Rose & Charlotte May
Blossom Harriet & Daisy Rose
Claudia Rose & Honey Amanda
Chloe & Florence
Chloe Hanna & Lara Marietta
Emily Rose & Katharine Susan
Esther & Ines 
Evie Jane & Lila Jane
Florence Rose & Lara Beatrice
Isabella Alexa Louise & Matilda Rose Amelie 
Jemima & Willa 
Jessica Louise & Lily Jane 
Oluwani Elizabeth-Sarah & Oluwata Catherine-Anne

 

A few trends also jumped out at me in 2011.
First there were the nature names that go beyond the popular Daisy, Rose, Lily, Iris, Violet etc: 
Alfie Silver, Amelia Jonquil Angharad, Beatrice Blossom, Berry Thea, Blossom Harriet, Cressida Blueberry, India Pearl, Isla Acacia, Isla Cerise, Ottilie Bluebell Molly, Rosalie Cinnamon Honeyman, Serena Honora Silver, Serenity Lilac, Ursula Cherry, Wren Sarah, Zinnia Alice Victoria, Zinnia Mary.

Alongside were word names: Amalie Sparkle, Elijah Magic, Florence Mabel Peace, Isabel Truth, Laurence Happy John, Liberty Alexandra, Liberty Rose, Liberty Valentina, Martha Love, Ophelia Phoenix, Otto Phoenix, Phoenix Alexander Frederick, Phoenix Thomas Bear, Tabitha Liberty, Unity Bettina. 

And places: Amalfi Cordelia, Bali Evelyn, Montserrat Anais, Vienna Lucy.

Could the popularity of the BBC's Merlin have had an influence on names?: Charlotte Gwenevere Alice, Crispin Giles Lancelot, Elian Joseph, Hugo Christopher Merlin, Robert Lancelot. 

But, my favourite has to be the out-of-the-ordinary names from Greek and Roman mythology: Alice Calypso Louise, Ariadne Mary, Artemis Cosmo, Athena Cecily Talitha, Calypso Mary, Charles Timothy Pax, Charlotte Athene Alexandra, Eleanor Honor Athene, Elektra Rose Elizabeth, Harry Edgar Apollo, Henry Leonidas Tiberius, Hero Genevieve Tallulah, Lamia, Juno Mary, Lysander Charlie, Ophelia Maryrose Danai, Pandora Winifred, Persephonie Ella, Seraphina Pandora, Xanthe Sophia