Name of the Week

 

An elaborate Victorian favourite -- with a heritage of medieval 
romance and bold namesakes -- that makes an 
interesting alternative to Isabel and Annabel.

  

Origin:

A compound name composed of "Christ" and "Belle" (cf. Claribel, Rosabel, Dowsabel). The first element derives from Christos, the name for Jesus which derived from the Greek χριω (chrio) "to anoint". Its use is also likely thanks to the popular medieval name Christian / Christiana.  Belle derives from the Old French bele "beautiful". It is also likely to have been a shortening of Isabel -- another popular medieval name.

Usage:

The earliest instance of this name come from the Medieval romance of Sir Eglamour d'Artois (c.1350). It also appears in some versions of the Ballad of Sir Cauline (e.g. Percy's). The name can certainly be found in baptism records from the 16th century, but it was particular used in the 19th century thanks to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's popular poem Christabel (1816). The poem, combined with the Victorian love of all things medieval made Christabel a hit -- as well as the variant Christabella.   In 2010 15 girls (rank #1815) were registered as Christabel in England and Wales. 3 were given the variant Christabelle.

Famous Bearers:

* Dame Christabel Pankhurst DBE (1880 - 1958) was a Suffragette and daughter of Emmeline Pankhurst. Nancy Ellen Rupprecht described her as "beautiful, intelligent, graceful, confident, charming, and charismatic". She was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1936. * Christabel Rose Colerigde (1843-1921) was a British writer and protegee of Charlotte Mary Yonge.   * Christabel Bielenberg (1909 - 2003) was a British writer who married German lawyer Peter Bielenberg. Her experience of WWII and her attempts to shelter Jews were made into BBC television series Christabel in 1988 with Elizabeth Hurley in the title role. In the 70s she became involved in the Irish Peace Marches and recieved the Gold Medal of Merit by the European parliament.  * Christabel Marshall (1871 - 1960) was an author, playwrite and campainer for women's suffrage. * Christabel Baxendale (1886 - 1956) was a British violininist and composer.  * Christabel Cockerell (1864 - 1951) was a British artist who was married to notable sculpter George Frampton.  Literature: * In Sir Eglamour d'Artois (c.1350) Christabel is the daughter of an earl with who Sir Eglamour is in love with. The knight is given several daring tasks to win her hand.  * Thomas Percy's Ballad of Sir Cauline (1765) Christabel is the beautiful daughter of a medieval king of Ireland, with whom Sir Cauline is in love.  * Christabel (1816) is an epic poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in the style of a medieval romance. In the poem she is described as “The lovely lady Christabel". Coleridge's own granddaughter was named Christabel Rose (see above).  * Christabel LaMotte is a character in Possession: A Romance (1990) by A.S.Byatt.  Other: * Lake Christabel is the name of a small lake in New Zealand.  * Christabel (1972) is a composition by John Zorn.

Variants:

Christabella, Christabelle, Christobel, Cristabel

Pronunciation:

KRIS-tə-bel (UK) [key]

Diminutives:

Belle, Bella, Bria, Brisa, Brista, Britt, Chris, Chrissy, Christa, Christy, Reba, Rista, Stella, Tabby, Trista

Sibling Names:

Lavinia     Sylvia     Estella     Aurelia     Violet     Tatiana  Theodore     Alexander     Francis      Julian      Dominic      Rufus

Name Lists:

Upright Elegance   Strong Names for Girls 1

 

If you like Christabel you may also like:   Clementine, Dorothea, Gabriella, Melusine, Gwedonline, Cecily, Maribel, Christiana, Evangeline, Dulcibella