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.
