British Baby Names

Gorgeously Georgian

Powdered wigs, stockings and hoops, right up to the slim-lined elegance of the Regency; the Georgians really knew how to go out in style. Whether you think of Austen's heroic Mr Darcy, the outrageous Byron, or the lavish Georgiana Cavendish, you most likely have a vivid picture of this era. It was a time of great political and social reform, great architectural achievements and military heroics. 

The Georgian era spanned almost all the 18th century, and a little of the 19th, and was so named for the reigns of four consecutive King Georges of Great Britain. The first, a German duke from Hanover, was crowned in 1714. He was actually 52nd in line to the British throne but, thanks to a quip in the line of succession stating that only Protestants could rule, he was the closest viable candidate. It is fair to say that George was a German through and through. He spoke very little English, and loved returning back to his homeland as often as possible. Aside from being a little problematic for a British king, this did have the knock-on effect of a Germanic influence in the names of the royal dynasty, which eventually filtered out to British aristocracy.

Working class parents generally favoured biblical names, whereas upper classes tended to opt for Germanic or classical options. 

Here are some of the most popular choices for Georgian parents in Britain:

Aaron Adam Abraham Adolphus Alexander Allan Ambrose Andrew Anthony Augustus Bartholomew Benjamin Charles Christopher Cornelius Cuthbert Daniel Ebenezer Edmund Edward Erasmus Ernest  Francis Frederick Gabriel

George Giles Henry Horatio Hugh Humphrey Isaac Jacob James Jasper Jeremiah Job John Jonas Jonathan Joseph  Joshua Josiah  Laurence Leonard Louis Luke  Mark Marmaduke Martin

Matthew Michael Miles Moses Nathan Nathaniel Nicholas Octavius Peter Philip Ralph Richard Robert Roger Samuel Simeon Simon Solomon Stephen Theophilus Thomas Timothy Valentine Walter William

Adelaide Agnes Alice Amelia Amy Anne Arabella Augusta Barbara Bridget Catherine Caroline Cecilia Charlotte Christiana Clara Deborah Diana Dinah Dorothea Dorothy Eleanor Eliza Elizabeth Ellen

Emily Emma Esther Euphemia Fanny Frances Georgiana Grace Hannah Harriet Helena Henrietta Hester Isabel Isabella Jane Jemima Joan Joanna Judith Julia Keziah Kitty Lavinia Louisa

Lucy Lydia Margaret Margery Maria Marianne Martha Mary  Matilda Mercy Olivia Patience Philadelphia Phoebe Rachel Rebecca Ruth Sally Sarah Selina Sophia Susan Susanna Theodosia Wilhelmina

Note: During this period, Maria was pronounced ma-RY-a, and Sophia was pronounced so-FY-a.
Where a name contains a 'th' it could be pronounced as a 't' at this time.

 

Name of the Week

  
An ancient name that seems to reach through millennia
and continents, but always remaining uncommon.
Its quiet, steady strength is now winning hearts in the 21st century.

 

Origin:

The Hebrew name of an angel who, like Michael, is recognised in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Gabriel is mentioned in the Old Testament as the angel who visited Daniel; in the New Testament as the archangel of the Annunciation, and also appears in Islam as the messenger who dictated the words of the Qur'an to the prophet Mohammed.  The name is made up of two parts: גָּ֫בֶר (geber) "man" and אל (el) "God." Properly, geber is said to mean "a valiant man" or a "warrior," but can also be generally used to refer to a man or a person*. It ultimately stems from the base form גָּבַר (gabar) "strong, mighty," leading many to suggest the meaning of "Strong man of God."

Usage:

Usage of the name in Britain can be dated to the 12th century, though instances of the name in documents are uncommon. What we do know is that the name was used at least enough to have established itself as the patronymic surname, Gabriel. Some scholars also believe that the surnames Gabbott, Gabett and Gabbutt derive from Gabriel*. They suggest that the medieval pet-form of Gabriel was most likely Gabb, and therefore Gabb-ot (with the well used French suffix -ot or -et) was its diminutive. The issue is complicated, however, by the use of the Old French gab "mockery, idle talk" in several other surnames.  The name was used intermittently up to the 18th century. Smith-Bannister, in his frequency tables from 1538-1700, ranked Gabriel within the Top 50 in eight out of the sixteen decades of this period, though never particularly high ranking: #40 1550-59; #50 1610-19; #46 1620-29; #46 1630-39; #42 1650-59; #34 1660-69; #38 1670-79; #44 1680-89. The feminine forms Gabriella and Gabriella have been in use in Europe from at least the 16th century, and Gabriel itself has also been used occasionally as a feminine name in Britain from the 19th century.  UK Census records show the consistency of the name for boys, and slightly increased use for girls over the 19th century: 1841 census: 1,156 male; 3 female 1851 census: 1,173 male; 9 female 1861 census: 1,200 male; 8 female 1871 census: 1,310 male; 10 female  1881 census: 1,306 male; 17 female   1891 census: 1,397 male; 14 female   1901 census: 1,420 male; 37 female    Gabriel never broke the Top 100 in Britain in the 20th century, however the name has steadily grown in popularity since the turn the 21st century. Back in 1996, Gabriel ranked at #176 (189 births); it rose to #138 in 1997, and was #117 in 2000. The name finally broke the Top 100 in 2002 at #99, dropped down to #103 the following year, but was back up to #98 in 2004. It has been steadily rising since to #78 (874 births) in 2010. Over the same period, Gabriel has been given to no more than six girls in any given year.  In 2011, Gabriel ranked #75 in England (837 births), #96 in Wales (37 births), #116 (50 births) in Scotland, and #158 (16 births) in Northern Ireland.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Saint Gabriel or Mor Gabriel (634–668), 7th bishop of Mor Gabriel Monastery and Tur Abdin in Turkey.  * Gabriel of Kakheti (d.881), Prince of Kakheti from 861–881.  * Gabriel Archer (c.1575–1609), British explorer of the Massachusetts coast. * Gabriel Téllez "Tirso de Molina" (1579–1648), Spanish Baroque dramatist and poet. * Gabriel Báthory (1589–1613), Prince of Transylvania. * Saint Gabriel Lalemant (1610–1649), Jesuit missionary and one of the eight Canadian Martyrs. * Gabriel Mouton (1618–1694), French scientist and founder of the metric system. * Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit (1686–1736), Prussian physicist who invented the mercury thermometer and Fahrenheit scale. * Prince Gabriel of Spain (1752–1788), fourth son of King Charles VII and V and Maria Amalia of Saxony.  * Gabriel Prosser (1776–1800), leader of an American slave rebellion in 1800. * Gabriel Voisin (1880–1973), French aviation pioneer. * Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924), notable French composer. Contemporary: * Gabriel Byrne (b.1950), Irish actor. * Prince Gabriel of Belgium (b. 2003), eldest son of Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant, the heir apparent to the throne of Belgium. Other: * HMS Gabriel, five ships of the Royal Navy have borne this name. * Gabriel Island, located in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago

Variants:

Gábor (Hungarian), Gabriele (Italian), Gabriels (Latvian), Gabrijel (Croatian), Gavrail (Bulgarian), Gavrel (Yiddish), Gavriil (Russian), Havryil, Havrylo (Ukranian), Jabril, Jibril (Arabic), Kaapo (Finnish)

Pronunciation:

GAYB-ree-əl  [key]

Possible Diminutives:

Bale, Biel, Gabe, Gil

Sibling Names:

Madeleine     Rosalie     Isabella     Tabitha     Lydia     Sophia  Dominic     Julian     Oliver     Edward     Adrian     Jonah

Name Lists:

Popular Biblical Names   Gorgeously Georgian   Dickensian Names   Names from Tennyson   Names from Harry Potter

 

If you like Gabriel you may also like:   Nathaniel, Benedict, Samuel, Reuben, Matthias, Sebastian, Raphael, Jasper, Tobias, Lucas

 

Thanks to Aurora for requesting Gabriel as this week's NotW. 

 

Top 100 Names in Scotland 1975

The groovy seventies!

The big hits in Scotland in 1975 followed a very similar pattern to the most popular name in 1950, but with a few distinct trends.

The most popular letter for boys was G with 13 different names: Gary, Gordon, Graeme, Graham, George, Grant, Gavin, Garry, Gerard, Greig, Gregor, Gerald and Greg.

The most popular letter for girls was L, also with 13 names: Louise, Lisa, Laura, Lynn, Lesley, Lorraine, Lorna, Lynne, Linda, Lynsey, Lee, Leigh and Lindsay. 

According to the GRO, in 1975 32.6% of all boys, and 20.2% of girls, had a Top 10 name. Yet another reduction from 1900 and 1950. 

Scottish Boys' Names 1975			.	Scottish Girls' Names 1975
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= 31= 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52= 52= 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61= 61= 61= 64 65 66 67= 67= 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76= 76= 78 79 80 81 82= 82= 82= 82= 86 87 88 89 90 91= 91= 93 94 95 96 97= 97= 99= 99=	David John Paul James Mark Scott Andrew Steven Robert Stephen Craig Christopher Alan Michael Stuart William Kevin Colin Brian Derek Neil Richard Gary Barry Martin Thomas Ian Gordon Kenneth Alexander Graeme Peter Iain Graham Jason George Allan Keith Darren Simon Douglas Ross Stewart Lee Grant Nicholas Joseph Gavin Anthony Jonathan Daniel Fraser Matthew Donald Malcolm Alistair Edward Raymond Charles Philip Bruce Garry Jamie Ryan Bryan Francis Alastair Duncan Patrick Ronald Alasdair Ewan Marc Wayne Hugh Robin Sean Calum Euan Adam Russell Cameron Gerard Murray Norman Angus Greig Justin Gregor Gerald Roderick Roy Benjamin Timothy Dean Samuel Greg Shaun Adrian Campbell			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= 26= 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35= 35= 37 38 39= 39= 41 42 43 44= 44= 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55= 55= 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73= 73= 75= 75= 77= 77= 79 80 81 82= 82= 82= 85 86= 86= 88= 88= 88= 91= 91= 93 94= 94= 96 97= 97= 97= 100= 100=	Nicola Karen Susan Claire Fiona Angela Sharon Gillian Julie Jennifer Michelle Louise Lisa Amanda Donna Tracy Alison Elaine Jacqueline Sarah Caroline Elizabeth Laura Lynn Deborah Lesley Margaret Joanne Pauline Lorraine Carol Kirsty Yvonne Lorna Emma Lynne Tracey Heather Catherine Pamela Helen Linda Jane Anne Kerry Suzanne Wendy Victoria Diane Mary Dawn Clare Gail Paula Ann Shona Hazel Christine Andrea Samantha Marie Lynsey Sandra Denise Lee Kelly Gayle Debbie Jill Kathleen Patricia Joanna Catriona Shirley Ruth Zoe Leigh Rachel Melanie Kirsteen Aileen Christina Janet Katrina Stephanie Audrey Kirsten Arlene Maureen Morag Marion Mhairi Allison Cheryl Maria Kim Anna Lindsay Rebecca Katherine Mandy

 

Statistics supplied by the General Register Office for Scotland.

Top 100 Names in Scotland 1950

Roll on half a century and we land in Scotland in 1950. 

The most popular letter for boys' names within the Top 100 was A, with 16 names, including four spellings of Alistair. The most popular letter for girls was J, with 15 names — eight beginning with Jan- or Jean-. 

According to the GRO, in 1950 53.3% of all boys, and 36.3% of girls, had a Top 10 name — a notable reduction compared to 1900. 

Scottish Boys' Names 1950			.	Scottish Girls' Names 1950
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= 48= 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60= 60= 62= 62= 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79= 79= 81 82 83 84 85 86= 86= 86= 89= 89= 91= 91= 91= 94= 94= 94= 97= 97= 97= 100	John James William Robert David Thomas Alexander George Ian Brian Andrew Michael Alan Peter Charles Ronald Gordon Kenneth Douglas Joseph Donald Edward Colin Hugh Allan Richard Francis Patrick Raymond Derek Alistair Henry Daniel Norman Neil Iain Graham Duncan Stewart Archibald Stuart Eric Malcolm Anthony Philip Stephen Alastair Angus Samuel Christopher Walter Dennis Arthur Leslie Roderick Martin Gerald Frank Matthew Frederick Paul Keith Terence Bruce Bernard Albert Gerard Denis Harry Adam Stanley Jack Graeme Roy Gavin Lawrence Robin Alfred Ernest Leonard Gilbert Fraser Maurice Laurence Victor Alasdair Bryan Hamish Cameron Nigel Geoffrey Kevin Russell Alister Harold Nicholas Adrian Desmond Roger Owen			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= 42= 44 45 46 47 48= 48= 50 51 52 53= 53= 55 56 57 58= 58= 60 61 62= 62= 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80= 80= 82= 82= 84= 84= 86 87 88= 88= 90 91 92= 92= 94 95= 95= 95= 98 99 100= 100=	Margaret Elizabeth Mary Catherine Anne Linda Helen Patricia Irene Agnes Kathleen Jean Ann Maureen Janet Sandra Sheila Christine Jane Marion Moira Isabella Joan June Frances Christina Barbara Jennifer Annie Carol Dorothy Susan Eileen Sarah Joyce Evelyn Rosemary Janice Janette Alison Isobel Jacqueline Jessie Eleanor Fiona Morag Brenda Heather Marilyn Pamela Norma Caroline Alexandra Alice Ellen Valerie Lorna Elaine Grace Jeanette Doreen Rose Sheena Marie Hazel Wilma Georgina Lesley Isabel Lynda Yvonne Aileen Josephine Sylvia Ruth Phyllis Williamina Jeanie Shirley Lorraine Marjory Maria Veronica Angela Edith Annette Pauline Anna Avril Marlene Katherine Audrey Gillian Janis Martha Muriel Theresa Marjorie Carole Bridget Violet

 

Statistics supplied by the General Register Office for Scotland.

Top 100 Names in Scotland 1900

Let's take a look back at the most popular names in Scotland in the year 1900. If you think this list will be very similar to the Top 100 in England and Wales in 1900, then you'd be wrong. Some of the difference are quite marked, particularly with the popularity of certain names — Hugh at 12 in Scotland, 61 in England and Wales; Jemima at 27 in Scotland, 222 in England and Wales — and the prevalence (quite obviously) of Scottish-origin names. 

Another big trend is the -ina feminised names for girls: Christina, Georgina, Williamina, Robina, Wilhelmina, Alexandrina, Davina, Alexina and Thomasina, as well as "Bella" names. For boys, surnames, particularly clan names such as Sinclair, Hamilton and Campbell, are prevalent. 

According to the GRO, in 1900 68.4% of all boys, and 58.1% of girls, had a Top 10 name.

Scottish Boys' Names 1900			.	Scottish Girls' Names 1900
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13= 13= 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32= 32= 34 35 36 37 38 39 40= 40= 42= 42= 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58= 58= 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73= 73= 75= 75= 77 78 79= 79= 81= 81= 83= 83= 83= 86 87= 87= 87= 90 91= 91= 93= 93= 93= 93= 97 98= 98= 98= 98= 98= 98=	John James William Robert Alexander George Thomas David Andrew Charles Peter Hugh Joseph Archibald Henry Donald Edward Patrick Francis Samuel Daniel Walter Duncan Arthur Hector Frederick Richard Matthew Michael Adam Alfred Norman Neil Angus Albert Allan Malcolm Harry Kenneth Douglas Frank Colin Ernest Gordon Bernard Herbert Roderick Christopher Gilbert Isaac Ian Ronald Stewart Gavin Lewis Benjamin Philip Harold Murdo Dugald Lawrence Owen Martin Anthony Leslie Cecil Edwin Stephen Laurence Sydney Lachlan Ralph Hamilton Murdoch Finlay Louis Victor Eric Abraham Denis Ebenezer Mark Cornelius Edmund Felix Oliver Campbell Nathaniel Sidney Alan Ewen Wilfred Magnus Maxwell Simon Terence Jacob Dennis Moses Reginald Sinclair Stuart Wallace			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= 29= 31 32 33 34= 34= 36 37 38= 38= 38= 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51= 51= 53 54 55 56= 56= 58= 58= 60 61 62 63 64 65 66= 66= 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80= 80= 82 83 84= 84= 86 87 88 89 90 91 92= 92= 94 95= 95= 97 98= 98= 100	Mary Margaret Elizabeth Annie Jane Agnes Isabella Catherine Janet Helen Jessie Christina Jeanie Sarah Maggie Ann Marion Ellen Martha Barbara Alice Grace Georgina Susan Williamina Euphemia Jemima Robina Edith Lizzie Eliza Flora Charlotte Bridget Rose Violet Nellie Dorothy Hannah Rachel Marjory Joan Lily Elsie Ethel Frances Maria Winifred Florence Betsy May Rebecca Mabel Jean Henrietta Bella Kate Annabella Esther Wilhelmina Bessie Emily Harriet Louisa Gertrude Alison Matilda Alexandrina Davina Cecilia Julia Anne Beatrice Caroline Minnie Emma Sophia Amelia Fanny Anna Kathleen Eleanor Lillias Evelyn Johan Elspeth Lilias Alexina Thomasina Ruth Johanna Eva Katie Hilda Gladys Norah Lucy Christian Josephine Constance

 

Statistics supplied by the General Register Office for Scotland.

Name of the Week

 

Fun, fiesty and fabulous! 
(though I am very biased)  
One of those elusive names that is well known, but little used.

 

Origin:

From the Latin mirandus "worthy of admiration, admirable." It derives from the route word miror "to wonder, marvel, be astonished, be amazed, admire," from which we get the English word miracle. The English word for 'admire' also comes from the related Latin words admiror and admirandus.

Usage:

One of the earliest record found of Miranda as a name comes from Shakespeare's play The Tempest (written 1610-11). He has, therefore, been widely credited with the invention of the name, however, there are a few tantalising records of the name already in use. There is one lone reference to a woman named Admiranda in the Feet of Fines for Kent, 1231-32. Even more teasingly, an obscure reference appears in 14th century Périgueux, France dated 1366-1367, though it isn't certain whether it is a first name. It could be a surname, as during this same time, France and Spain used miranda as a word (derived from the Vulgate Latin mirare "to see") which meant "watchtower" or "vantage point." Consequently, several places cropped up with the name — Mirande in Southern France, Miranda del Ebro in northern Spain, and Miranda do Douro in Portugal. These place names led the use of Miranda as a surname.  It is impossible to say whether the Bard coined it himself straight from the Latin, or whether he was inspired by existing names.  The first examples of Miranda as a name in "proper" use can be found in baptisms dated to the late 17th century (the earliest I have managed to find was in Worcester in 1679). The name increased in usage over the 18th century, although was not especially common. The 1841 UK census lists 179 females names Miranda (in various spellings) — 178 of whom lived in England, one in Wales and none in Scotland. The number had risen to 418 in 1861 (99% living in England, 1% in Wales), 879 in 1881, and 1,040 in 1901.  Throughout the 19th century, usage of the name in England was maintained, with a peak mid-century. It declined at the beginning of the 20th century, but picked up in usage in the 1940s.  1840: 9 births 1850: 22 births 1860: 30 births 1870: 31 births 1880: 41 births 1890: 19 births 1900: 12 births 1910: 18 births 1920: 11 births  1930: 5 births 1941: 23 births  1950: 61 births  1961: 91 births  The name remained in this higher usage throughout the rest of the 20th century, with a particular peak in the 1990s. In 1996, Miranda ranked #313 in England and Wales with 113 births. From that point on, the name has gradually declined in usage, and in 2010 the name ranked #862 with 41 births. The name has been much more popular in the US and Australia. Miranda reached the Top 100 in America in 1991 at #90, hitting its peak at #57 in 1995. Since then, just like here, the name has been on a steady decline. Miranda has also been in Sweden's Top 100 from 1998 to 2009.  In 2011, Miranda ranked #894 (40 births) in England and Wales, and #1421 (1 birth) in Scotland.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Miranda Hill (1836—1910), British social reformer and founder of the Kyrle Society; a forerunner of the National Trust. Contemporary: * Miranda Richardson (b.1958), award winning British actress. * Miranda Otto (b.1967), Australian film and theatre actress. * Miranda Hart (b. 1972), British comedian, actress and writer of the hit sitcom Miranda. * Miranda Lambert (b. 1983), American country singer-songwriter. * Miranda Kerr (b.1983), Australian model. * Miranda Cosgrove (b.1993), American actress and singer. Literature and Media: * Miranda, a principal character in Shakespeare's The Tempest. * Miranda Frost, a "Bond Girl" in Die Another Day, played by Rosamund Pike.  * Miranda Hobbes, a character in the US series Sex and the City. Other:  * Miranda, the eleventh moon of Uranus.

Pronunciation:

mə-RAN-ə  [key]

Possible  Diminutives:

Mand, Manda, Mandy, Mia, Mir, Mira, Miri, Panda, Randa, Randy

Sibling Names:

Arabella     Juliet     Emilia     Lyra     Clemency     Eleanor  Hector     Rafferty     Christian     Benedict     Sebastian     Magnus

Name Lists:

Upright Elegance    Shakespearean Names    Astronomical Names    Names from Harry Potter   Names of Roses

 

If you like Miranda you may also like:   Imogen, Cordelia, Adela, Lydia, Sabina, Romilly, Ophelia, Melissa, Juliana, Selena

 

This post is for my sister Miranda, because today is her birthday.

 

Sibling Spotlight for Cleopatra

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

1830s: Mordecai Cobbett Esther Victoria  Eunice Christiana Cleopatra Mary    Joseph Elizabeth  Cleopatra James Oliver Frederick Daniel Catherine Sophia Sarah    Freeman (b) Selina Edwin Octavia Victoria Cleopatra  Caroline  Papirah    1840s: Sarah Ann Mary Ptolemy Samuel Henry Amanda Cleopatra Malvina Robina Cornelius Agrippa Messalina Lucina Augusta Louisa Bernice Jennett Josephine Christopher Augustus Robert Alexander    Betsy Ellen Frances Steward Cleopatra Blanche    Catharina Christina Helena Sophia John Frederick Ulrich Margaret Victoria Alice Napoleon Josephus Cleopatra    1850s: Zaccheus Amos Amy Kate Roiland (b) Othello Cleopatra Hamlet Arabella Sabina Juliana Joe Orlando    Socrates  Cleopatra Naomi   Margaret Martha Samuel Adolphus Ambrosine Priscilla Cleopatra Georgiana  Sympath Randolph John Arthur Florence Beatrice Maud M S William W    Mary Ann Cyrus Lewis Cleopatra Adeline    Enoch William Wilmot Webby Winterflood Waterpark  James Albert Arson Granvilly Savaran Lorenzor Shambor Oliver Rinnersley Harriet Wilmot Cleopatra  Lavinia Evander    1860s:  Elizabeth Arnold Cleopatra Susanna Otho Victor Richard Oscar Homer Wilson Minnie Laura Sarah Jane L. Bartlett John Annie Florence    Millington Lewellen Rupert Lola Annie Maria Cleopatra Beatrice Ethel Blanche Stella Harriet  Milly Florence N. B. C.  Llewellyn Dudley A. E. B. Rodney Evarard B R Andronicus Leonidas Felix   Charles Joseph James Joshua Emily Amelia Constance Martha Edward Martin William George Albert Francis Florence Hastings Cleopatra Mabel Lilian Beatrice Harold Percy Camilla Caroline  Wentworth Thomas    James Charles Mary Ann Cleopatra Isis Menotti (b) Ricotti (b)   Mary Jane Olympia L. Roderick D. Cleopatra  Elizabeth Maggie Jessie    1870s: Penelope Alexander Cleopatra Calliope   Montague Raphael Antony Cleopatra    Maud Julia Cleopatra Camelia Georgina    John William Anne Maria Benjamin Joseph Betsy Louisa Margaret Louisa Zachariah John Joseph Cleopatra Alice Maud Mary Eleanor Alexandrina  Adelaide Richard Martha Mary Victoria Beatrice    1880s: Cleopatra Ivy Frances Daisy Alma Cobbey (b)  George Dory Joyce    Helen Eugenia Gustavus Alexander Annie Antiope Eugenia Clementina Cleopatra Adelina    Lilian Mary Percy James Cleopatra Nellie Bernard Henry Sydney Joseph    1890s: Henry James "Harry" James Samuel Constance Hastings Edward Albert Florence Amelia Maud Jane Wlliam George Cleopatra Mabel Thomas Dorothy Beatrice

1900s: William Edward Eliza Ann Mary Jane Emily Lottie George Victor John Lydia Winifred Margaret Esther Theodora Cleopatra Edwin Thomas Albert Eric    Raymond Loftus Cleopatra Doreen  Mostyn Richard Baden Frederick Dorothy Elizabeth Cleopatra Kathleen   Rowland Mornington Mildred Julian Hilda Doris "Doris" Constance Cleopatra "Cleopatra" Kenneth Philipson   1910s: Eugene N. R. Cleopatra S. H. Marcel A. G.    Max N Margaret L Cleopatra    1920s: Nora E. Cleopatra D.    Mercia Irene Leopold K. Audrey E. Edna P. Carmen B. Delphine P. Jean M. Aster A. Hughson L. Malcolm D. Gloria P. Cleopatra A. Ophelia M. Karl S.   1960s: Cleopatra Photis C. Alexander Nicholas Andrew Cleopatra M. Rossana Maria  1980s: Cleopatra Maria Trudy Ann Arthur Wesley C.    Anthony Cleopatra Eileen    Cleopatra Constance C. Josephine Charlotte L. Zenobia Clarissa G. Alexander Adrian G.   Cleopatra Veronica Saul Alexander    Amy Angela Cleopatra Liana Samson John    Anthony Alexander Cleopatra Etta Angelo Benjamin  Zoie Rebecca B. Cleopatra Elizabeth N.  1990s: Claudius Emmanuel Theodore Horatio Cleopatra Clementine Boadicea Delilah Theseus Germanicus    Rupert Walter Brigitte Eve Cleopatra Elizabeth R.    Cleopatra Alice Ged Anthony    Jarvis Jacob China Cerys & Cleopatra Clara (twins) Cleopatra Rosina V. Marlon Nathaniel Shaniah Touree   Matthew Christopher Luke Andrew Cleopatra Marina   Roxanne Maria Cleopatra Kathryn Yasmin Alexandra    Cleopatra Bronwyn Calypso Elisabetta Elliot Theodore    Matthew James Cleopatra Joy Barnaby Edward   Calypso Helen Oliver John Tristram Cleopatra Rose Eugenia    Darius Benjamin Cleopatra Salomie R. Caius Antony    Cleopatra Alexandra Portia Chelsea    Cleopatra Lauren Raphael Neo   2000s: Cleopatra Libby Karnan Lewis    Cleopatra Mae Galatea Kathleen    Dorothy Diane Wulfstan Wallace Cleopatra Cordelia   Jed Jasper P. Cleopatra Scarlett F.    Melody Belinda Sylvester Skyler Cleopatra Summer    Cleopatra Ilia Theodora Ilia Elen Ilia    Elijah Noah Cleopatra Carmen   Theodore Edward Cleopatra Poppy   Alexander Solomon Cleopatra Lauren

 

Name of the Week

 
There are so many facets to this name that it is hard to 
sum it up. Quirky, edgy, clunky, refined and nerdy all in one.

 

Origin:

An Anglicised spelling of Silvester, derived from the Latin silvestris meaning "of the forest," "wild" or "woody" and ultimately from silva "forest, wood." From this route also comes the word sylvan, and the Latin name Silvanus: the name of the Roman god of the forest.

Usage:

Examples of Sylvester as a given name date back to Late Antiquity. Most notable is Saint Sylvester (Sylvester I), a Roman-born pope from 314–35 under Emperor Constantine. Two later popes and one antipope chose to change their name to Sylvester during their papacy in honour of him.  St Sylvester's feast day is December 31 and, consequently, many countries call New Year's Eve "St Sylvester's Day," or even, as in many Germanic or Slavic language speaking countries, simply, "Silvester." Another medieval saint of the name (St Sylvester Gozzolini), and a companion of St Francis of Assisi, helped put the name in use in the Middle Ages across Europe. In Britain, the name was not very common, but there are enough examples for us to establish that it was a "known" name. The lay subsides of London, for example, mention one Silvester in 1292 but non in 1319 (though there is a reference to a pepperer named Silvester working in 1293).* The number of surnames that derive from the first name also give us a clue as to how it was used: Silvester, Sylvester, Selvester, Siveter and Siviter. Scott Smith-Bannister did not find that Sylvester ranked within the Top 50 most popular masculine names for any year between 1538-1700, however there are several hundred examples of the name in baptism records in England from 1500-1700.* Only a handful of examples can be found in Wales or Scotland.  According to the 1841 UK census 774 males were recorded with the name Sylvester (in both the Sylv- and Silv- spellings), with 90% living in England . The number rose to 862 in 1861, 1,268 in 1881 and 1,639 in 1901. Interestingly, in 1841 the spelling Silvester represented 81%. This slowly began to shift over the following decades and in 1901 the spelling Sylvester was in the majority at 62%. The name was also recorded for girls (6% in 1841 and 1861, 5% in 1881, and 4% in 1901), though sometimes in the spelling Sylvesta, or in the feminised Sylvestra. In terms of registrations per year in England and Wales, Sylvester never made it into the Top 200 in the 19th and 20th century, but it did maintain consistent usage up until the 1940s, with a few noticeable peaks: 1840: 26 registrations (11 Sylv/15 Silv) 1850: 32 registrations (10 Sylv/22 Silv) 1860: 36 registrations (9 Sylv/27 Silv) 1870: 38 registrations (12 Sylv/26 Silv) 1880: 44 registrations (17 Sylv/27 Silv) 1890: 57 registrations (24 Sylv/33 Silv) 1900: 38 registrations (21 Sylv/17 Silv) 1910: 53 registrations (34 Sylv/19 Silv) 1920: 31 registrations (25 Sylv/6 Silv) 1930: 25 registrations (21 Sylv/4 Silv) 1940: 6 registrations (5 Sylv/1 Silv) Between 1996 to 2010 Sylvester has had a birth count of between 1 and 7 births per year. In 2011 it ranked #1688 with 13 births.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Pope Sylvester I (d.335), also known as Saint Sylvester, Pope under Constantle the Great. * Pope Sylvester II (c.946–1003), scientist and intellectual. * Pope Sylvester III (d.1062) * St Sylvester Gozzolini (1177–1267), founder of the Sylvestrines religious order. * Sylvester of Assisi (d. 1240), companion of Saint Francis of Assisi. * Sylvester of Worcester (d. 1218), Bishop of Worcester. * Silvester Diggles (1817–1880), Australian artist, musician, entomologist and ornithologist. Contemporary: * Sylvester McCoy (born 1943), Scottish actor. * Sylvester Stallone (b.1946), American actor. Media: * Sylvester the Cat, a Looney Tunes character.

Variants:

Silvester (UK, German), Sylvestre (French) Silvestro (Italian) Silvestre (Spanish), Sylwester (Polish)

Pronunciation:

sil-VES-ta  [key]

Possible Diminutives:

Lev, Sev, Sly, Sully, Vester

Sibling Names:

Antonia     Minerva     Cordelia     Prudence     Marianne     Flavia  Julius     Percival     Casper     Ambrose     Lucius     Valentine

Name Lists:

Funky Clunky   Upright Elegance   Resonant Roman   Gothic Victoriana   Names from Tennyson

 

If you like Sylvester you may also like:   Augustus, Chester, Peregrine, Corentin, Ferdinand, Linus, Terrence, Cornelius, Lester, Vernon

 

Thanks to Cheryl for requesting Sylvester as this week's NotW. 

 

Contemporary Combos for Jessamy

Below are all the first name combinations for Jessamy, registered from 1985 to 2005 in England and Wales. Some combinations appeared several times (and in a few spellings) but have only been recorded once for easier scanning.

Jessamy Alanda Beatrice Jessamy Alice  Jessamy Amber  Jessamy Amberley R. Jessamy Amelia Jessamy Ann Jessamy Asta Jessamy Beth Jessamy Bliss  Jessamy Caitlin  Jessamy Charlotte  Jessamy Christabel A. Jessamy Clare D. Jessamy Diane Jessamy Dawn  Jessamy Drew  Jessamy Eleanor Jessamy Elizabeth  Jessamy Ella  Jessamy Ellen M.

Jessamy Ellie  Jessamy Eloise  Jessamy Emma  Jessamy Erin Jessamy Eve  Jessamy Evelyn Emily Jessamy Fern Jessamy Frances  Jessamy Grace  Jessamy Hannah Jessamy Helen  Jessamy Holly Jessamy Hope Jessamy India Jessamy Isobel Jessamy Jade Jessamy Jane C. Jessamy Jen  Jessamy Joan Jessamy Judith

Jessamy Julia Jessamy Kate Jessamy Katherine  Jessamy Lara Jessamy Lauren  Jessamy Leigh  Jessamy Lilian Jessamy Lily Jessamy Lois Jessamy Lola Jessamy Louise  Jessamy Lorraine  Jessamy Lydia  Jessamy Margaret  Jessamy Marie Jessamy Mary-Rose Jessamy May  Jessamy Morgan  Jessamy Patricia Jessamy Paula

Jessamy Rachel  Jessamy Rebecca  Jessamy Regan Jessamy Rhian Jessamy Rhianwen F. E. Jessamy Rosa Jessamy Rose Jessamy Ruth Jessamy Saada  Jessamy Sandra Jessamy Sarah  Jessamy Sian Jessamy Storm  Jessamy Sylvia G. Jessamy Synolda Jessamy Tara Jessamy Tegan Jessamy Thea Jessamy Virginia

Several other combos contain Jessamy as a middle name. Here are a selection from 1985-2005: 

Alice Jessamy Alicia Jessamy Amelia Jessamy Delilah Jessamy M Eleanor Jessamy Eva Jessamy Freya Jessamy

Gabrielle Jessamy Georgia Jessamy Grace Jessamy F  Iona Jessamy Africa Isabella Jessamy  Leah Jessamy  Madelaine Jessamy Sylvia

Matilda Jessamy Mia Jessamy Miranda Jessamy Niamh Jessamy Octavia Jessamy Olivia Jessamy Phoenix Jessamy

Rafaella Jessamy Rhiannon Jessamy Rowan Jessamy Skye Jessamy Thea Jessamy Xanthe Jessamy  Zinnia Jessamy Rosalind

 

The Family of Carter Moore

Carter William Daking Ireland Moore, a clergyman, and Lucy Fanny Parker married in 1856 in Carter's home county of Lincolnshire (Lucy was a Liverpool native originally). 

Carter had a rather colourful career and his family moved around quite a bit. His occupation on the 1871 census (below) is described rather lengthily as: Member of the Cambridge senate, MA of St John College, Cambridge, clergyman, curate of Woking, Hon. Chaplain to the Royal Dramatic College, Woking and domestic chaplain to Viscount Valentia.
An account of his career is even given in the Alumni Cantabrigienses:

Admitted sizar (subsidised student of moderate means), age 18, at St John’s 5 Dec. 1836, of Lincolshire.
Son of Rev. DWC (Daking William Carter) Moore;
Matriculated in the University Michaelmas Term 1837; gained B.A. 1841, M.A.I847.
Ordained deacon (Lincoln) Dec. 19 1841, priest 18 Dec. 1842; curate of Barton-on-Humber Lines, 1841-3; curate of St. Anne’s Limehouse 1843-6; curate of West Ham Essex 1846-8;
Curate in charge of Flordon Norfolk, 1848-5 2; ‘deprived of his licence by the Bishop of Norwich, for having, in full canonicals, cursed a magistrate of Norfolk as he was getting into his carriage at Flordon station; committed to Norwich Castle 21 March 1852;
Domestic chaplain to Viscount Valencia, 1855-84;
Curate of Leyton Essex, 1867-9; curate of Woking, Surrey, 1869-71; curate of St. Martin’s Colchester and curate of St. Peter’s Colchester, in 1878; chaplain of Colchester Union, 1875-84;
author: ‘Sermons: The Institution of the Sabbath’, etc
 

The Moore family on the 1871 census

 

The couple's first child was born in Twickenham, Middlesex in 1857. They named him Annesley Valentia Daking Ireland Moore. The first part of his name clearly mirrors that of Rev. Moore's employer, the Viscount Valentia, whose given name was Arthur Annesley, 10th Viscount Valentia, an Irish peerage title. The second part of the name mirrors that of Rev. Moore's, and that of his own father (Daking William Carter). Annesley went on to become an officer in the Essex Rifle Corps. 

Whilst still living in Twickenham, their first daughter was born. Mary Windham Mountnorris Moore arrived in 1859 and, again, there was another nod to the Annesley family in her name. Both the 8th and the 9th Viscount Valentia also held the title of Earl of Mountnorris. Windham is another aristocratic name, and there are a few examples of Windhams on the Annesley family tree. 
Mary worked as a governess before she married corn and coal merchant Charles Bartlett. Their children were named Charles William, Olivia May, Gwynedd, Douglas, Doris Evelyn and Eileen Moore.  

Next came another boy in 1862 who was named Haversham Anglesey Carter William Moore. The last two names were obviously after his father, while the Earl of Anglesey was yet another peer title held by the Annesley family. Haversham is a name that also appears (albeit distantly) on the Viscount Valentia's family tree: the 1st Baron Haversham was the second husband of Lady Frances Annesley* and their daughter also married into the family*. Haversham died at the age of 17. 

The family moved to Leyton, Essex in 1867, and that is where another daughter was born. She was named Drogheda Wentworth Mountcashel Moore in 1867 (Drogheda is pronounced either as DRAW-da or DRO-heh-da). The Earl of Drogheda is another Irish peerage title, created first for Henry Moore, 3rd Viscount Moore in 1661, while Earl Mount Cashel was created for Stephen Moore, 1st Earl Mount Cashell in 1781 (possible linking of the peerage titles with the family surname?). Baron Wentworth, unsurprisingly, is another peerage title. Drogheda died aged 11. 

The couple's last child, born in Woking, Surrey in 1870, was named Lucy Beaufort Noel Sarah Somerset Moore. Lucy is obviously after her mother, and Sarah was most likely in honour of her grandmother (Carter's mother). Originally, the title of Duke of Somerset was held by the Beauforts, children of the heroic John of Gaunt. Lucy became a lady's companion and lived to the grand old age of 79. 

 

I cannot tell from records whether Carter, in choosing these names, was trying to ingratiate himself with his emplyer; had aspirations to aristocracy, or whether he had a distant connection to these aristocratic families that he was trying to stake a claim to. I leave it to your imagination.