British Baby Names

Name of the Week

 
A goddess, a queen, a saint, and a patron of Europe.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a name with more illustrious namesakes. 

 

Origin:

Brigitta started life as a Latinisation of Brigit. It is now more commonly used as a Scandinavian, German and Dutch form of the name.  Brigit's routes are, quite literally, ancient. To the Celts of Ireland, Brigit was a most revered goddess. She presided over many aspects, including fire, inspiration, learning, poetry, smiths and healing, and some even believe she was a sun goddess.  Her name, often translated as "exalted one" or "high goddess," comes from the Proto-Celtic *brig or *brigant meaning "high" (and related to *briga / *brigo "power," "might"). The same elements can be found in the name of the Brythonic goddess Brigantia, thought to be cognate with Brigit, who was worshipped by Celtic tribes across Europe.

Usage:

Brigit was a name borne by as many as fifteen early Irish saints. The most famous of whom was Brigid of Kildare, one of Ireland's most prominent saints. She shares many attributes with the ancient Celtic goddess and it is widely thought that much of the goddess' cult was transferred onto the saint during Christian assimilation of indigenous Pagan worship. Indeed, St Brigid's cult has been so prominent across Europe, she represents a highly successful transformation of a revered Pagan deity into a popular Christian saint.  Curiously, the name Brigit was not much used in Ireland until the 17th century, presumably because it was considered too sacred to use. It was, however, used in the early medieval names Gilla Brigte "servant of Brigit" and Mael Brigte "devotee of Brigit" as well a whole host of place names across Ireland and Britain (Kilbride, Kirbride, Brideswell). In Scotland and England the name was more commonly found as Bride, of which we can find some early medieval usage as a given name. The Welsh form of the name was Braint which, in its lenited form Ffraid, can found in several place names.  The anglicised form Bridget appears in occasional use in England as early as the 14th century, but doesn't significantly appear on the map until the 16th century, when it was one of the Top 20 most popular names. It gradually declined over the 18th and 19th centuries until it ranked #140 in 1900.  As early as the 12th century we find Brigitta (or Birgitta) used in Scandinavia. The King of Norway, Harald IV (d.1136), had a daughter named Brigida who went on to become Queen consort of Sweden. The name was quite prominent among medieval Scandinavian nobility, particularly after the early canonisation in 1391 of Birgitta Birgersdotter (1303—1373), now known as St Brigitta, or St Bridget of Sweden.  It is unclear when the name Brigit was taken to Sweden, but we can find earlier examples of St Brigit's cult in mainland Europe. Her worship in Alsace and Belgium can be dated back to at least the 8th century and churches dedicated to her can be found in Germany, Spain, Italy, France and Portugal. In 1999, Pope John Paul II named Saint Birgitta as a patron saint of Europe — highly appropriate, given the name's history and its usage, in various forms, across the continent. The spelling Birgitta is first attested in Sweden 1293 and became the more common spelling there through the following centuries. We can find early examples of both Brigitta and Birgitta*, demonstrating that the ri / ir changeover occurred through the process of metathesis. The spelling of Birgitta may also be partly thanks to its similarity to Birgir: a well used Scandinavian masculine name derived from the Old Norse bjarga "to help, to rescue" — it was the name of both St Brigitta's father, and the third husband of Brigida Haraldsdotter.  Brigitta has been in Hungary's Top 100 since 2003, however it has not had much usage in Britain. The spellings Brigita and Brigitte have had a birth count of between 1 and 6 in England and Wales since 1996. In 2011, 4 girls were called Brigita; 34 were named Bridget.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Brigida Haraldsdotter (c.1131—c.1208), Swedish queen consort of Magnus II. * St Brigitta "St Bridget of Sweden" (1303—1373), venerated mystic and saint; a patron saint of Europe. * Brigida Banti (1757—1806), noted Italian soprano in the 18th century. Contemporary: * Princess Birgitta of Sweden and Hohenzollern (b.1937), sister of King Carl XVI Gustaf. * Birgitta Haukdal (b.1979), Icelandic singer.  Literature, Stage and Other Media: * Brigitta Von Trapp, one of the Von Trapp daughters portrayed in The Sound of Music.  * Brigitta MacBridge is a character in Disney's Donald Duck universe.  * Brigitta (1843), a novella by Austrian author Adalbert Stifter.

Variants:

Bridget (Anglicised) Brigid, Brighid (Irish), Bride (Scottish), Ffraid (Welsh), Brigitte (French, German), Brigida (Italian, Spanish), Birgitta, Birgit, Birgitte, Birgita (Swedish)

Pronunciation:

brig-EE-ta (UK) brig-it-a* (German)  [key]

Possible  Nicknames:

Bea, Beetie, Bibi, Birdie, Bitta, Bree, Bride, Britt, Britta, Gitta, Gida

Sibling Names:

Magda     Claudia     Astrid     Emmeline     Anneliese     Gisela  August     Gregor     Magnus     Soren     Torsten     Eric

 

If you like Brigitta you may also like:   Beatrix, Annika, Marita, Eleanora, Louisa, Ingrid, Esther, Helena, Ottilie, Ursula

 

Thanks to Shelby for requesting Brigitta as this week's NotW. 

Contemporary Combos for Soren

Below are all the first name combinations for Soren, registered from 1985 to 2005 in England and Wales (excepting those with maiden-names as middle names). Over that period the name has had a yearly count of beween 3 and 10 births. It has since risen in popularity.

Soren Alexander Soren Anders Soren Andrew Soren Angel Soren Argenti Soren August Soren Ayrton Soren Boel Soren Caleb Soren Cole  Soren Edward F Soren Edward J Soren Elizabeth Soren Etienne K Soren Everest St John

Soren Frederick Soren Gabriel B Soren George Soren Harry Soren Idris Soren Indigo Soren Isobel Soren James Soren Jay Soren Joshua Soren Jude Soren Kahn Soren Kevin Soren Kristian Soren Laurence

Soren Lee I  Soren Leif  Soren Lightning R Soren Loki Soren Lukas  Soren Malachy Soren Marcus Soren Matteus Soren Matthew Soren Michael  Soren Morgan Soren Nicolas L  Soren Normand  Soren Pascal Soren Patrick

Soren Redvers Soren Robert Soren Santander Soren Samuel Soren Shiv Soren Sophia Soren Stephen Soren Terence Soren Terry Soren Thomas Soren Tom A Soren Tony Soren Val Soren Vincent

Other combos contain Soren as a middle name. Here are a selection from 1985-2005: 

Alec Soren Alexander Soren Amedeo Soren L Arthur Soren Benjamin Soren Charlie Soren David Soren Deacon Soren

Elliott Soren L Finn Soren Gabriel Soren V Gregory Soren Harvey Soren  Henry Soren  Jamie Soren Jonathan Soren

Kai Soren Karl Soren Kyle Soren Lewis Soren Louis Soren Luke Soren  Marcus Soren Misha Soren

Nathanael Soren Quinn Soren Robin Soren Romey Soren Sebastian Soren Tom Soren  Tyger James Soren Zakari Soren

The Robertses of Bournemouth

By the time of the 1911 census, Edward George Roberts and his wife Florence Rabbetts had been married for 24 years and had had six children. Edward was a market gardener and Florence had been a dressmaker before her marriage. 

It is interesting to note that of the six (first and middle) names they chose for their children, none were the names of their parents or siblings — as was common. Edward's parents were named George and Angelina; Florence's parents were George and Georgina, yet no "George" name was used for their children.   

The Roberts family on the 1911 census

 

The couple were both born in Dorset and were married there (in Poole) in late 1886. A year later, their first child, Violet Elaine, was born in Poole. Given Edward's occupation as a gardener, it seems fitting that they gave her a floral name.

At some point within the next few years the family moved to Bournemouth, as their second child, Reginald Edward, was born there in 1890. He was followed in 1893 by Stella Muriel. 

The couple opted for something a lot less mainstream for their fourth baby: Vola Snowflake was registered in the January-March quarter of 1895. It is quite possible that she was born in late December, or early January when the falling snow may have inspired her middle name. She is the second Vola to have been registered in England and Wales since 1838 (the first Vola was registered in 1889) and she was only one of nine from 1838 to 1920. I am no Latin scholar, but a quick search suggests that Vola is related to the Latin volo "to fly" — which gives a wonderfully evocative image of snowflakes blowing swiftly in the winter winds. 

In 1900, the couple welcomed Victoria Ladysmith. The Second Boer War was in full swing, and many babies were being commemorative names. In this year, Victoria was at a notable high point of popularity, and the majority of these Victorias had a "Boer Battle" middle name. The Battle of Ladysmith took place in late 1899 and was one of the first notable conflicts of the war. 

The last Roberts baby was another daughter, born in early 1903, named Pyrethrum Delphina. At least, I think it is Delphina; the birth index lists only "Pyrethrum D" and Edward's handwriting on the 1911 census is rather hard to decipher (see image above). We can definitely make out "Delph___" at least. 
Pyrethrum is a type of daisy, and it would seem that — as with Violet — Edward's work as a gardener inspired her name choice. She is the only Pyrethrum to have been registered in England and Wales since 1838. 

 

Name of the Week

 

With Kit getting more attention, it may not be long 
before brother-name Kester is considered for revival.

 

Origin:

A diminutive of Christopher. Christopher derives from Christophoros — composed of the the Greek elements Χριστος (Christos) and φερω (phero) "to carry, to bear" — meaning "bearing Christ"  It has been suggested that the name was originally used as a symbolic name for converted Christians. A legend grew up, however, around the literal meaning of the name, of a St Christopher, who was said to have carried Christ across a river. Although the saint is now considered to be fictitious, he was the focus of an extremely popular medieval cult, and is still looked to today as the patron saint of travellers. Thus, Christopher went from a by-name to a given name.  Kester is also found as a surname, which may derive from the given name, but in some cases may derive from the place names Caister, in Norfolk, or Caistor, in Lincolnshire.

Usage:

Christopher has been in use as a first name in Britain since the 13th century, though examples at this time were rare. Kester first starts appearing on the radar from the 15th century which, incidentally, is when Christopher started to gain popular usage. So much usage, in fact, that Christopher became one of the Top 20 most popular masculine names from the 15th to the 17th century, thanks to the popular cult of St Christopher. It is difficult to find many examples of Kester in official records. Christopher is recorded many times, but it is almost impossible to know how many were called Kester in the vernacular. Some tantalising references can be found, however, showing that it very much was used as a diminutive form. George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham (1592—1628), a favourite of James I, used his influence to ensure his brothers John and Christopher "Kit" were promoted to grooms of the Bedchamber. This led to a snide little rhyme around the court:  Above in the skies, shall Gemini rise, And Twins the court shall pester, George shall call up his brother Jacke, And Jacke his brother Kester. While we know that Christopher Villiers was most often referred to as "Kit" at court, this jingle does show us that Kester was a recognised vernacular form of Christopher at this time. Christopher was well used through the 18th century — when it is estimated to have been among the Top 50 — and we can assume that Kester was used throughout this time. Elizabeth Gaskell chose the name for a character in Sylvia's Lovers (1863), set in the 1790s. Here we can also see the name's vernacular use when she writes: "...first about Kester, whom his sister would persist in calling Christopher, as if his dignity as her elder brother was compromised by any familiar abbreviation" (p478). In 1851, the UK census lists 26 Kesters, all living in England. There were 23 in 1871, 30 in 1891 and 21 in 1911. The birth index for England and Wales shows a low, but consistent usage for Kester, averaging around 9 births every decade from 1840 to 1910. There seems to be a perpetuated myth floating around the internet that Kester is specifically Scottish. However, between 1855 and 1961, not one Kester was registered in Scotland's birth index. Kester is currently used in Scotland — from 1962 to 2009, 17 Kesters were been registered in Scotland — but to localise the origin of the name to Scotland is completely erroneous. On the other hand, there are several examples of Chrystal, the anglicised spelling of Criostal, the Scots Gaelic form of Christopher, in Scottish birth records. Since 1996 between 4-16 boys have been registered with the name Kester every year in England and Wales. In 2011 the name ranked #2390 with 8 births.  The name was registered once in Scotland in both 2010 and 2011.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Paul Kester (c.1870–1933), American playwright. * Kester Berwick (1903–1992), Australian actor and writer.   Literature and Film: * Kester is a character in Elizabeth Gaskell's Sylvia's Lovers (1863). * Kester Woodseaves is the romantic hero in Mary Webb's Precious Bane (1924). * Kester was a supporting character in the 1930s TV serial The Lone Ranger.

Variants:

Christopher, Chris, Kit, Topher (UK), Christoph (German), Christoffel (Dutch), Kristoffer, Risto (Finnish), Cristobal (Spanish)

Pronunciation:

KES-tə  [key]

Possible Diminutives:

Kess, Kett, Kit

Sibling Names:

Elodie     Iris     Polly     Rosabel     Mary    Sylvie  Rollo     Willem     Rafe     Emery     Finian    Lucan

 

If you like Kester you may also like:   Prosper, Jasper, Kerr, Fletcher, Kellan, Caspar, Bennett, Alasdair, Lester, Casimir

 
Thanks to Charlotte for requesting Kester as this week's NotW. 

'Twas Ever Thus...

Ever wondered what started the late-Victorian floral-name craze? These contemporary letters shed a fascinating light on the subject.

On the April 4, 1892 The Standard newspaper contained a (rather caustic) review of an article by Sir Herbert Maxwell, entitled "Personal Names," that had appeared earlier in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine. The journalist notes:

"It is curious, says SIR HERBERT, how few female names are derived from flowers. He can only think of three, ROSE, VIOLET, and LILY. DAISY, indeed, he has occasionally met with — though he is not likely to meet with it any more. But we suppose there must sometimes have been a NARCISSA in real life, as well as in POPE'S verse. But our English names of flowers do not lend themselves very readily to the purpose. We could not call a young lady a _(?)_, or a geranium, or a hollyhock, or a chrysanthemum, or an orchid. But there are one or two that might be pressed into their service. Why should not dahlia do as well as DELIA, or bluebell as well as ISABEL?"

Several responses to the article came pouring in to the Editor over the following days, mostly from vicars who were witnessing new fashions amongst the names of their newest parishioners, and some of the talk focused specifically on floral names.

Below are the accounts of those who witnessed the birth of the floral names craze in the late 19th century. Their opinions and theories on this "new" fashion are varied — which makes for all the more fascinating reading — and shows that, even then, people were divided over "trendy" names.

PERSONAL NAMES                           TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD    SIR, — In the Article in The Standard of to-day on Sir Herbert Maxwell's essay in "Blackwood" on Personal Names you truly say that "more Scripture names linger among the working classes than Sir Herbert seems aware of." Also, the same authority is not quite correct (so far as my knowledge goes) when he says that "few female names are derived from flowers." In this parish during the last five years or so there has been a revival of floral names at our old font. This may be from the exquisite care bestowed on our floral decorations at Easter and Whitsuntide.     I have baptised since April, 1887, three "Violets," one "Lily Rose," one "Vera Rose," (a unique beauty of a name), two "Lilys," one "May," one "Ivy," one "Daisy"; and in 1886 I notice three "Roses," and we have two "Daisys" and three "Mays" besides in our Sunday school. [...] It is certainly to be noted that floral names have much increased in this parish during the last few years, and I should like to know if there is another "Vera Rose," or even "Lily Rose," baptised anywhere lately. I am, Sir, your obedient servant,       A.L.FOULKES Steventon, Berks, April 4.

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Were there any other Vera Rose or Lily Rose? Other readers responded to the challenge:

SIR, — Perhaps you will allow me to supplement the remarks of the Vicar of Steventon by a few facts taken from the wider field of the Index of Births for the whole of England and Wales. Turning to the great family of the Smiths, there are found in one quarter's index — Elizabeth, 69 instances; George, 95; John, 125; Mary, 80; Sarah, 41; William, 130; and of the more modern names (that is, modern as to fashion), Albert, 61; Arthur, 49; Edith, 57; Ethel, 51; Florence, 69; Frederick, 53. [...] While as to floral names there are — Daisy, 14; Erica, Iris, Ivy, 4; Lily, 20; Olive, 6; Rose, 13; Violet, 9. The writer of your article suggests that names of common English flowers are not well adapted for personal names; doubtless that is so, and yet I have met with Hollyhock, Lavender, Dahlia (not infrequently), and others of the like.  [...]    I can assure the Vicar of Steventon that Lily Rose, or even Vera Rose is by no means absent from the indexes. One of the latest combinations is Gladiolus Azalea, and I may mention also, that many children born of the late years on the 19th of April have been named Primrose.                              I am, Sir, your obedient servant,                                                                               B.           April 5.

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SIR, — Let me supplement Mr. Foulkes's interesting list. I have a dear young friend somewhere in this country who (about eleven years ago) was christened Erica. "Only that and nothing more," Her parents, it was rumoured, had plighted their troth "Out in the sunshine, over the heather." Perhaps other instances may be quoted.                               I am, Sir, your obedient servant,                                                                     H. E. G.             April 5.

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SIR, — In reply to the inquiry of the Vicar of Steventon whether anybody has been christened "Lily Rose" in late years, I beg to inform him that I have a daughter whose names are "Violet Lily Rose."                              I am, Sir, your obedient servant,                                                                            J. P.             April 6.

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SIR — I cannot contribute a "Vera Rose" to Mr. Foulkes's catalogue of recently revived or invented floral appellations, but I have baptised, on April 22, 1888, a "Myrtle Rose" — unique, I believe; also, on February 7 of the present year, a "Daisy Rhoda," and on September 27, 1885, a "Lilian May." Indeed, Lilian, May, and Daisy, singly or in conjunction with something else, are now as common as possible here.                              I am, Sir, your obedient servant,                                                           C. G. R. BIRCH             Brancaster, Norfolk, April 6.

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SIR — An infant was, twenty years ago, presented to me for baptism in an Oxford Church, under the name "Virgo Maria." The god-parents were ignorant of the meaning of the words, but the mother, on being asked where they had obtained that name, replied, "You see, Sir, my husband is a gardener, and there is a geranium named 'Virgo Maria,' so we thought it would be a nice name for our little girl."    So, "Virgo Maria" must be added to the list of floral names. Could we not also find "Myrtle" and "Rose Mary"? "Basil" is a boy's name. What of "Flora," goddess of flowers? The growing disuse of "Jane" is much to be regretted.                             I am, Sir, your obedient servant,                                                                A. C. DOWNER  St. Cuthbert's Rectory, Bedford, April 6.

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SIR — In one of the letters in the above subject in The Standard of to-day, the question is asked, "Could we not find Myrtle and Rose Mary?" I have a cousin called Rose Mary, whose surname is Flowers. Her great grandfather's name was Field Flowers.                              I am, Sir, your obedient servant,                                                     MARY FLOWERS.             April 8.

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The following letter by Philip Bartlett is by far my favourite of all the correspondents not only because it gives us a wonderful insight into some of the superstitions against using floral names at the time, but also because of the lovely sentiments it contains.

SIR, — It was my good fortune recently, on a railway journey, to make the acquaintance of a perfect nosegay of children, all members of one family, and all justifying the sweetness of the names that had been given them — Daisy, May, Lily, Violet, and Olive. There had also been a sixth, Pansy, but she, I was informed, had been transplanted to a better and brighter garden than any on earth.     There is, I may mention, a strong prejudice existing in some minds against naming children after flowers, on the ground that children so called are supposed, like the flowers, to be short lived. I hope my little travelling companions may, at any rate, belie the superstition.    In addition to the other ethical names enumerated by your Correspondents, I have baptised a child Repentance, who has proved one never to be repented of.                               I am, Sir, your obedient servant,                                                       PHILIP BARTLETT. Christ Church Vicarage, Lancaster, April 8.

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Sibling Spotlight for Gulliver

Below is a selection of British siblings with Gulliver, from the 19th century to modern times. 

1860s: Lizzie Gulliver Gulliver Hall Edward Atkinson George William C. Charles Eyles Harry Harrison Eleanor Louisa James    1880s: Frederick Thomas Lily Esther Matthew Gulliver  Rosie Pink  1910s: Gulliver Douglas   1950s: Fleur Gulliver   1960s: Gulliver Dylan Tovey Charlotte    Candida Clare Gulliver J Barnaby Bruce   Gulliver T C Maximilian Jode    1970s: Gulliver Jack George Finn Gareth Charlotte Sophie Camden    Gulliver Magnus Luke Bartholomew Jessica Saffron   Gulliver  Gamel  Felix Roland L Gulliver William J    Anna Lucy Melanie Jane  Gulliver Thom Saffron Mary    Gerald Troy Gulliver Dermot Gavin William    1980s: Gulliver James Orlando David Alexander Patrick Hamish Paul    Gulliver George Naomi Vivienne  Lily Azura    Katherine Elizabeth Gulliver Anthony Dulcinea Marina    Gulliver Damon H Dickon John G Zachary Giles A

1990s: Gabriel Robinson Gulliver William Jasper Horatio Felix Henry Emily Louise  Gulliver Barnaby Tobias  Bethany Patience    Gulliver Reece Kingsley Mortimer    Gulliver William Harriet Rose  Oscar Gulliver Hector   Fabian Toby Fenella Poppy Gulliver Michael    Jessica Elizabeth Louis Joseph Gulliver Milo    Samuel Charles G Joseph Francis K Noah Cornelius H Gulliver Frederick A    Gulliver Edward Amelia Josephine Katrina Anne    Jack Bramwell Gulliver Anthony & Isadora Rae    Gulliver Thomas W Barnaby Sirius G Elliott Barnaby Cicely Eden Gulliver James 2000s:  Willow Mai Gulliver Timothy    Gulliver Benedict Michael Molly Odette I    Gulliver Ian & Laurie George    Jasper John Zebedee Gulliver James E    Gulliver Vernon Honor Rose George Theodore    Merlin Richard Zane Michael Gulliver Lee Vincent Peter    Sally Anne Gregory Charles Garfield Peter Gulliver George    Barnaby William Casper James Gulliver Lawrence Cecilia Vivien    Sampson William John Gulliver Ellis Jack

Name of the Week

 

A quirkily vintage petname that certainly isn't ordinary, 
but, next to current revivals Betsy, Elsie and Nancy 
and the like, it doesn't seem wholly outlandish.

 

Origin:

Bunty started life as a term of endearment in both England and Scotland. One popular theory is that it derives from a dialect name for a lamb, taken from the Middle English bunt meaning "to butt." There is stronger evidence, however, that the name derives from buntin, a term in both English and Scottish dialect that means "plump," better explaining the name's prevalent use in Scotland. The name Bunting was used properly as the name of an adorably chubby species of bird (which is most likely why it got its name), but also as an affectionate name for children. The Oxford English Dictionary describes bunting as "a term of endearment", derived from a dialect adjective (dated 1570-1599) meaning "swelling, plump." Similarly, Jamieson's Dictionary of the Scottish Language lists buntin as an adjective meaning "short and thick" (object), or "a plump child." The most illuminting source is The Dictionary of the Scots Language which lists both buntin and buntie/bunty as related terms. Buntin is an adjective meaning "plump" or "stout," while Buntie is "a short, plump person" which is "often used as a nickname". Furthermore, it cites “Wee buntie” as a term applied to a child.  There is a strong possibility that the word buntin, or bunting, originally derived from the Old French bon "good" with the double diminitive suffixes et and in / on (Bon + et + in). The surnames Bonnetin and Bonneton are still in use in France, while the surname Bunting has been in use in England and Scotland since at least the 12th century. We could assume that the transformation from 'good little one' to 'plump child' is in an implicated meaning of a 'good healthy baby' or 'dear little one.' The well-known nursery rhyme Bye Baby Bunting, dating back to at least 1760, shows the longterm use of the name as an affectionate pet-name. Sir Walter Scott, (in his Familiar Letters) also wrote in 1817 "James has got a little buntin baby" when he describes a proud new father.  Thus, Bunty seemingly has much the same history and usage as Bonny — also a pet-name-turned-first-name, taken from a Scots and English dialect word, ultimately derived from the French bon "good".

Usage:

We can find early evidence of the surnames Buntin and Bunting from the 12th century onwards but examples as first names are rare. We do however have an intriguing female character mentioned in The Coventry Mysteries in the 15th century by the name of Bontyng the Brewster.  There are a four boys named Bunting recorded in the England and Wales Birth Index from 1852 to 1859, which may have been influenced by the publication of the lullaby Bye Baby Bunting in The Mother Goose: Containing All the Melodies the Old Lady Ever Wrote (1850). The first time we find Bunty registered as a formal name in Scotland is 1910, and 1912 in England. This date coincides perfectly with the highly popular comic play Bunty Pulls The Strings (1910/1911) in which the main character was a plucky young woman named Bunty Biggar. The play, written by Scottish playwright Graham Moffat, was a huge hit in London's West End and later in New York's Broadway. The play was made into a silent film in 1921. From 1902 to 1992, 99 Buntys were registered in England and Wales, spread evenly across the decades. In Scotland there were 27 births registered during that period.  Since 1996, the name has only appeared on the England and Wales data once, when 3 births were registered in 2008. This is due to only names of more than three births being released. Birth records show that Bunty has been registered 1 or 2 times each year, and has further use as a middle name.  These figures may suggest that you are unlikely to meet a Bunty in Britain — but that just isn't so. Many more examples can be found of Bunty used as a petname in Britain. I say petname because, much like Bonnie, Queenie, Lucky, Buddy and Junior, Bunty is not an established nickname for any particular name. The many examples I have found of women named Bunty have sported formal names of Agnes*, Ivy*, Lilian**, Ruth**, Theresa and many others.  The petname has also been used in aristocratic circles. Katherine Elizabeth "Bunty" Tottenham was the wife of the 8th Marquess of Ely, Katharine Margaret "Bunty" Johnston was the former Lady Dunpark, and Kathleen Louisa Isabel "Bunty" Bellamy was the daughter of the Hon Sir Alfred George Lascelles. The Bunty of British fashion label "Belle & Bunty" is designer Hannah Coniam-Thompson.  Writing a letter to the Daily Mail in 2005, one Mrs Bunty Cambell from Wallasey explains how she came about the nickname: "When I was a little girl we had Baby Bunting dolls to play with, just like little girls nowadays have Barbie dolls. I was called Bunty because I was like the Bunting dolls....I am still called Bunty and have had the name all my life, although my real name is Jessica." In rare cases, Bunty has also been used as a pet-name for men (such as cricketer Bunty (Edmund) Longrigg and Canadian politician Bunty (Gilbert) Hutton).

Famous Bearers:

Contemporary: * Ethel Elizabeth "Bunty" Gee (1914—1984), a member of the Portland Spy Ring. * Bunty James (b.1933), television presenter best known for the children's programme HOW in the 60s and 70s.  * Carolyn "Bunty" Avieson (b. 1962), Australian journalist and novelist. * Theresa "Bunty" Bailey (b.1964), English model and actress. Literature, Stage and Other Media: * Bunty Pulls The Strings (1911), popular comic stage play by Graham Moffat.  * Bunty Pulls The Strings (1921), silent film based on the popular play. * Bunty, a very popular comic for girls throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s. It featured the comic strip of "Bunty—A Girl Like You" each week as well as several other short comic-strip stories, letters pages, competitions, puzzle pages and cut out dolls and clothes.

Variants:

Buntie

Pronunciation:

BUN-tee  [key]

Possible  Longer Forms:

Bunty has long been used as a pet-name for a wide variety of unrelated names. For something a bit more obvious, consider names with the B, N or T sound prevalent: Beatrice, Beatrix, Betony, Bettany, Berenice, Bernadette, Benedict, Benita, Bridget, Birgitta, Elizabeth, Roberta, Tabitha

Sibling Names:

Mitzy     Clara     Etta     Margo     Ferne     Effie  Angus     Kit     Ralph     Archie     Fergus     Peter

 

If you like Bunty you may also like:   Bonnie, Tillie, Nesta, Betsy, Letty, Betsan, Birdie, Pippa, Biddy, Betrys

 

Thanks to Hannah for requesting Bunty as this week's NotW. 

Top 200 Most Popular Names in England and Wales in 1890

I have been busy compiling rankings for the most popular births in England and Wales in the 19th century from the original scanned pages of the England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915. Last month I researched the Top 200 Names in 1900 and am slowly working my way backwards through the decades. I have just completed the Top 200 most popular names for 1890. 

Disclaimer: It should be noted that the data is not without its flaws. Births were originally recorded by a registrar (in their own handwriting) which were later typed up into the register. Some names are invariably recorded incorrectly and it is impossible to know where the mistake was made. Also, I have been compiling the ranks myself, and while I have endeavored to record the number of names as accuarely as possible I am also liable to human error. This, however, should not affect the rankings very much overall.
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The Top 200 names in England and Wales in 1890: 

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 187 189 190 191 191 193 193 195 196 197 198 198 200

William John George Thomas James Arthur Charles Frederick Albert Henry Joseph Ernest Alfred Robert Harry Walter Edward Frank Herbert Richard Harold Percy Samuel David Fred Francis Sidney Stanley Leonard Edwin Reginald Sydney Horace Bertie Benjamin Tom Edgar Cecil Alexander Daniel Willie Archibald Wilfred Peter Ralph Stephen Wilfrid Philip Christopher Isaac Hugh Cyril Norman Bernard Lewis Michael Matthew Hubert Percival Andrew Gilbert Evan Patrick Bertram Edmund Victor Leslie Louis Jesse Lawrence Oliver Mark Clifford Douglas Reuben Owen Maurice Abraham Charlie Arnold Lionel Martin Jonathan Sam Howard Gerald Jack Joe Rowland Eric Roland Jacob Wallace Clarence Anthony Gordon Oscar Donald Frederic Morris Raymond Clement Joshua Claude Ronald Vincent Claud Oswald Allan Amos Ivor Laurence Allen Eli Enoch Augustus Kenneth Geoffrey Alan Josiah Moses Ben Archie Ellis Charley Griffith Nicholas Cornelius Elijah Ambrose Dennis Colin Nathan Aaron Austin Timothy Simon Solomon Basil Rupert Luke Nathaniel Jim Paul Gwilym Rees Guy Llewellyn Nelson Theodore Cuthbert Morgan Aubrey Adam Job Jeremiah Roger Vernon Lancelot Alec Godfrey Montague Levi Denis Wilson Herman Bert Elias Leo Harvey Hedley Valentine Ebenezer Noah Israel Hyman Algernon Emmanuel Ephraim Luther Malcolm Roy Harris Stuart Noel Trevor Humphrey Isaiah Carl Jabez Septimus Dudley Eugene Leopold Russell Dan Spencer Dick Vivian  Simeon

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 190 192 193 194 194 196 197 198 199 199 199

Mary Elizabeth Florence Annie Alice Edith Ethel Sarah Margaret Ellen Emily Ada Lily Elsie Mabel Gertrude Jane Lilian Beatrice Dorothy Emma Nellie Rose Maud Catherine Louisa Hilda Eliza Agnes Martha Ann Minnie Clara Daisy May Winifred Hannah Frances Kate Jessie Amy Harriet Violet Gladys Lucy Bertha Eva Eleanor Grace Charlotte Fanny Isabella Laura Caroline Esther Olive Amelia Dora Ruth Bessie Maria Lizzie Eveline Constance Maggie Ida Kathleen Helen Rachel Rosina Lydia Ivy Rosa Matilda Nora Doris Florrie Rebecca Julia Susan Henrietta Evelyn Phoebe Mildred Blanche Susannah Selina Nelly Janet Marion Norah Isabel Miriam Muriel Rhoda Sophia Helena Flora Lillie Georgina Ella Anne Leah Betsy Irene Adelaide Millicent Marjorie Marian Bridget Lavinia Gwendoline Phyllis Harriett Rosetta Lottie Theresa Ruby Lena Polly Christina Cecilia Maude Priscilla Barbara Anna Marie Lilly Margery Katie Hetty Edna Nancy Louise Blodwen Vera Rosanna Blanch Louie Marguerite Alma Jennie Jenny Josephine Eunice Phillis Sybil Clarice Adeline Emmeline Christiana Cicely Katherine Letitia Lillian Madeline Celia Carrie Rosie Lois Florry Gwladys Thirza Stella Margaretta Effie Catharine Jemima Sylvia Mercy Naomi Teresa Clarissa Susanna Dinah Myra Augusta Florie Johanna Linda Hester Deborah Victoria Leonora Dorothea Christine Lotty Gwenllian Wilhelmina Flossie Millie Rosalie Madge Enid Joan Milly Alberta Prudence Eileen Gwendolen Honora

                                                   Statistics compiled by Eleanor Nickerson at britishbabynames.com
                                                              No unauthorised copying without credit or permission.

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The names in the Top 100 do not show a great deal of change between 1890 and 1900, though the rankings do shift around much more the further down the list you get. Names such as Victor, Leslie, Clifford, Jack, Eric, Donald, Violet, Gladys, Olive, Kathleen, Ivy, Doris and Evelyn were all several places lower in 1890 than 1900. Wilfrid, Isaac, Matthew, Louis, Jesse, Oliver, Mark, Charlie, Maud, Eliza, Ann, Maria, Lizzy and Susan, on the other hand, were all several places higher in 1890 than 1900. 

Br-ee-zily Pl-ee-sing Surnames

Alongside the -n surnames currently finding favour (Mason, Harrison, Jenson, Maddison and co), -ee surnames are perhaps the most popular sound for surnames-turned-first names. The most popular surname-firstname used in 2011 in England and Wales for boys was Riley, while Lacey won the poll for girls. Other top 200 favourites include Harley, Bailey, Corey, Bradley, Marley, Mackenzie, Ashley, Darcy, Macey, Courtney and Casey.

It isn't hard to see why these names have gained popularity. The top rankings are littered with the coverted "ee" sound: Harry, Alfie, Charlie, Lily, Emily, Sophie and Ruby are all in the Top 7. There is also a precedence for the sound among surname-firstnames. Some are so long established, we actually forget their origins. You'd be forgiven for forgetting Beverley, Dudley, Lindsey, Hayley, Kelsey, Tracy, Stanley, Percy, Wesley and Sidney all started out as such.  

The list contains an additional selection of -ee surnames. Some have already seen a little usage as firstnames; others are waiting to be discovered. 

Abrey Addey Alfrey Alvey Amberley Amery Ansley Appley Ardley Arley Ashby Audley Avely Barclay Beckley Bellaby Bellamy Bickley Bingley Bissy Blakeley Body Bonamy Bracey

Bramley Brayley Brierley Cassidy Colley Consedy Corby Cordrey  Corley Daly Damary Danby Dancey Darby Darley Debney Delaney  Digby Ealey Ellery Ellerby Emery Everley Farley

Fernley Fillery Finney Fleury Forley Foxley Galey Greeley Hadley Hardy Hartley Hatley Henley Hennessy Henty Huntley Imrie Ingrey Jeary Jennery Kembry Kemmery Kempsey Kenley

Kennedy Kennerley Kesby Kiersey Kimsey Kingsley Kinley  Kinnerley Kinsey Kinsley Kirby Knightley Landrey Langley  Laverty  Limsey Lindley Livesey Madeley Mailey Mallory  Maxey Medley Morley

Murphy  Nateby Oakley Orrey  Quincy Quinney Rafferty Rainey  Raleigh  Ramsey Reaney Renny Ridley  Rigby Ripley Romilly  Rowley Saxby Sealey  Selby Sibley Silby Summerby Tawney

Tempany  Temperley Thackeray Thorsby Thorley Tilsley Tinsley Vaisey Varley Vicary Wacey Waley Waverley Weatherby Wellesley Whitley Wiley Wilkie Willacy Willoughby  Winley Yardley Zealey Zelley

 

Name of the Week

 

Familiar, but not overly used, Nathaniel feels like 
Jonathan's natural successor.

 

Origin:

From the Hebrew name Nethan'el (נְתַנְאֵל) , composed of the elements nathan (נָתַן) "to give, given" and el (אֵל) "God". The name was borne by several characters in the Old Testament, including a chief of Issachar and a son of Jesse. The Greek form Nathanael was used in the New Testament for an early apostles, often identified as Bartholomew.

Usage:

Back in the Middle Ages, Nathaniel was extremely rare -- in fact, I can only find one example. It was thanks to the Protestant Reformation, in the late 16th century, that several previously rare Old Testament names were brought into popular usage, and Nathaniel was one of those at the forefront of revival.  It was picked up by the aristocracy including the Curzons, Fiennes, Alexanders and Barnardistons.  It is estimated that Nathaniel was the 35th most popular name from 1570 to 1579, and continued to fall within the Top 30 right up to the end of the 17th century.*  In Norfolk, for example, we can see a consistent usage of Nathaniel in baptisms from the 16th to 19th century.  In the 19th century the name was still in steady usage. The 1841 UK census records 6,561 men named Nathaniel and 208 named Nathanael; 91% of whom were living in England, 5% in Scotland, and 4% in Wales In the 1881 UK census the number of Nathaniels listed was still at a very consistent figure of 6,728, and had fallen to 6,053 by the 1901 UK census (84% in England, 9% in Scotland, 7% in Wales).  Of the total births in 1890 in England and Wales, Nathaniel ranked #142, which had fallen to #159 in 1900. In Scotland, however, the name ranked #87 in 1900. In the 20th century, Nathaniel never quite made it into the Top 100 in England and Wales, often fallen within the Top 150. The similar Nathan, however, has been a Top 100-ranker since the 1970s. Since 1996, Nathaniel has had a consistent rank of between #110 and #130 in England and Wales. In 2011, Nathaniel ranked #119 (535 births), Nathanael was #638 (52 births) and Nathanial was #1600 (14 births).  In Scotland the name ranked #239 in 2009, #209 in 2010 and #208 (21 births) in 2011. In Northern Ireland, the name has not had more than 10 births from 1997 to 2011.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Nathaniel Fiennes (1608–1669), politician and Parliamentarian during the Civil War. His grandson Nathaniel (1676–1710) became the 4th Viscount Saye and Sele and the name has since passed down the Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes family. The current (21st) Baron Saye and Sele is Nathaniel Fiennes (b.1920), while another descendant, Ralph Fiennes (b.1962), actor, has it as his middle name. * Nathaniel Smith (1730–1794), a high-ranking official in the Honourable East India Company and later a politician. * Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland (1735–1811), notable portrait painter and politician.  * Nathaniel Dance (1748–1827) was a commodore in the East India Company who was knighted for his service and hailed as a hero of the Napoleonic Wars. * Nathaniel Bowditch (1773–1838), American mathematician who revolutionised maritime navigation.  * Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864), American novelist. * Nathaniel Buchanan (1826–1901), Australian pioneer and explorer.  * Nat King Cole / Nathaniel Adams Coles (1919–1965), prominent American musician.   Literature: * Sir Nathaniel is a character in Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost (1594). * Nathaniel Winkle is a character in Charles Dickens's The Pickwick Papers (1836).

Variants:

Nathanael (Biblical Greek), Nataniel, Natanael (Spanish, Portuguese), Natanaele (Italian)

Pronunciation:

nə-THAN-ee-əl,  nə-THAN-yəl  [key]

Possible Diminutives:

Nat, Nate, Nathan

Sibling Names:

Madeleine     Naomi     Francesca     Rebecca     Martha     Susanna  Jonah     Tobias     Michael     Zachary     Benjamin     Elijah

Name Lists:

Popular Biblical   Terrifically Tudor   Gorgeously Georgian   Shakespearean Names   Dickensian Names

 

If you like Nathaniel you may also like:   Gabriel, Ethan, Jonathan, Raphael, Caleb, Samuel, Daniel, Aaron, Isaac, Jasper