British Baby Names

Name of the Week

From Arabic gem, to operatic heroine. 
Once Zara was associated as a princess name; now it practically is.

 

Origin:

Zara is almost certainly a derivative of the Arabic زهراء zahra "bright, shining, radiating," which is most commonly spelt Zahra, or occasionally Zahara, as a feminine Arabic and Persian name. Fatimah, one of the daughters of the Prophet Mohammed, was given the honorific name Fatimah Zahra — "Fatimah the Shining One."  The similar Zahrah (زهرة) means "to flower, to blossom" and most likely shares the same ultimate route.

Usage:

For centuries, Zara has been associated and confused with the name Sarah. In the 16th and 17th century, where Zara is found in records, it is as a misspelling of Sara(h). This S-Z switch wasn't uncommon; Zusan, Zusanna, Zamuel, Zabina, Kesia, Hesekiah etc, can also be found. Even the indomitable Charlotte Mary Yonge attributed Zara as an Arabic name, derived from the Hebrew meaning "princess." Within her study of the name Sarah in 1863 she writes "...the daughters of Sarah were occasionally called by her name, and Zara has been, with what correctness I know not, used as an eastern name."* Zara was also known as an the Italian (and once common) name for the Croatian city of Zadar, once the heart of the Dalmatian Empire. The Seige of Zara (1202) was a major event of the Fourth Crusade and led to the army being excommunicated by the Pope.  Probably the first time Zara was used as a name in its own right was in 1697 when William Congreve used the name for a character in The Mourning Bride. In the play, Zara is a beautiful Moorish queen and her origins give an indication that Congreve was aware of, and intended, the Arabic name Zahra. Voltaire used a French form Zaïre for the main character for his tragedy Zaïre in 1732. It was promptly translated into English by Aaron Hill under the title Zara: A Tragedy, and became a big hit on the London stage. In the play, Zara is a Christian woman brought up in the household of the Sultan of Jerusalem. The pair agree to marry, but her brother interceeds (horrified that Zara will marry a Muslim) with tragic consequences. The interplay between Christian and Muslim characters and use of Fatima as the name of Zara's friend is telling — again indicating that the Arabic Zahra was the inspiration for the name. The play also inspired two operas: Zaira (1797) by Nasolini and Zaira (1829) by Bellini.  Zara from that point on became a favourite name for tales of beautiful Persian or Arabic noble women. One such story, Zara; Or Royal Justice, a Tale appeared in the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette in August 1762 in which Zara, the lovely daughter of the Sultan's former vizir Giafar, impresses the Sultan with her kindness and intelligence and is aided in getting her long lost love back. "Zara was fairer than words can express, and had more Graces than the Daughters of Paradise." In the early 20th century, the British press were all a flutter over a new play by Sir Arthur Somervell called Princess Zara, an operetta with all the hallmarks of an Edwardian equivalent of a Disney princess film. In this tale, Zara is the princess of a mythical land, in love with Prince Florizel. Her mother, Queen Buonocora, decides to hand over the crown to Princess Zara, just as the witches cast a wicked spell. Zara starts to believe that her friends are enemies and orders the prince and her mother to be executed. Fortunately, all is saved by the Buttlefly Fairies who lift the spell just in the knick of time. In terms of actual usage in the 19th century, Zara was never especially popular but it was used consistently, averaging around 3 birth registrations per year in England and Wales. It gradually picked up a little usage in the 1920s and by the late 1970s it was averaging around 50 birth registrations per year.  In May 1981, Anne, the Princess Royal named her daughter Zara Anne Elizabeth, and the impact of the "royal baby name" effect can certainly be seen in that year:  Jan-Mar: 6 registrations Apr-Jun: 15 registrations (including Zara herself) Jul-Sep: 47 registrations  Oct-Dec: 48 registrations The name has gone from strength to strength since. In 1996 the name ranked #168 (265 births); it was #113 (436 births) in 2000 and finally broke the Top 100 in 2002 (rank #100, 456 births). From that point it increased in use every year until it hit a peak in 2008 at #71 (938 births). In 2011 the name ranked #73 with 790 births. In Scotland in 2005, Zara ranked #95 (52 births); it was #49 in 2008 (117 births), #69 in 2010 (79 births) and #57 (86 births) in 2012.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Zahra Khanoum Tadj es-Saltaneh (1883—1936), a Persian princess who advocated freedom for women. * Zara Cully (1892—1978), American actress. * Zarah Leander (1907—1981), Swedish actress and singer. * Dame Zara Bate (formerly Holt) (1923—2001), Australian fashion designer and community worker. Contemporary: * Zara Phillips (b.1981), Olympian equestrian; daughter of the Princess Royal.  Other: Zara is a clothing retailer.

Variants:

Zahra, Zarah

Pronunciation:

ZAR-ə [key]

Possible  Diminutives:

Zari, Zaza, Zazu, Zazi

Sibling Names:

Isabel     Thea     Eloise     Lilia     India      Eve    Max     Damon     Joel      Rex     Blake     Xander

Name Lists:

Operatic Appellations

 

If you like Zara you may also like:   Thalia, Elodie, Zoe, Atarah, Aria, Lyra, Xanthe, Katia, Alexa, Yasmin

 

Thanks to T's Mummy for requesting Zara. 

 

Finds from 1862

A selection of names from the GRO Birth Records for England and Wales in 1862. All are first names and middle names — the surnames are not included unless indicated by 'sn' — and have been checked against other records for accuracy.

Aaron Manasses Achilles Harry Mantell Alexander Agrippa Almeric Montmorency Amedee Absalom Americus Cecil Archelaus Clarence Arrowsmith Hide Ashton Bruce Cohendoz Drayton Harold Dryden Morrell Edwin Omri Ethelbert Augustine Ezra Silvanus Farewell Field Marshall Suarrow Flowerday Flower Russell Pearce Hamlet William Frederick (sn: Denmark) Hedley Henry Hartwell (sn: Harris) Hyacanus Liberty Charles James Pythagoras Jehoida Jehosaphat Davy Jules Augustin John Baptist Gustave Edward Andrew Kerlogue Adolphus Naboth William Offspring* Othniel Edward Pennant Athelwold Rehoboth Robert  Rolly Hemus Sandyland Salcome Pompet Sergeant Hizkijah Slater Pharoah Trayton Owen Waldron Wells Watkin William Wynne  William Eutychus Vyell Vyvyan Zephyr Caledoni

Achsah Rhoda Adelaide Adora Adelpha Adria Susan Josephine Alethea Eugenie Corinna Leoni Alberta Zephora Imogine Alice Delta Emily Alphoea Emma Amanda Ottilie Arianwen Frances Athalina Theresa Averina Bella Beatrix Feodore Clara Grace Boadicea Eliza Cadeilla Christophera Charlesina Cresentia Seferina Debonnaire Fleetwood Desolata Eliza Isa Zanna Leonora Elizabeth Bluebell Ellen Arabia Epiphany Annie Etheldreda Minna Gonzelia Angela Inez Greena (sn: Greenwood) Holly Matilda Charlotte Hester Caroline Huzzab Rebecca Intercydony Jeshimon Mary Ann Jesseline Lilla Aurora Maria Providence Matthanah Frances Merab Hannah Linda Meriel Nichola Lucy Meyrick Mytilene Octavia Orythia (sn: Oram) Octavie Cesarine Ophenia Petina Maria Petronella Myra Gerarda Sarah Barefoot Etheldria Harriet Seraphine Georgetta Serfiah Ann Sodona Sophie Arnoldine Louise Theodosia Olympia Thirza Elfleda Topsy Ann Urania Lucretia Verena Delila Amelia Wilmotina Zada Georgina Zittilla Eugenia Zoe Augusta Zorado Zuba Lizzie

* This was not a temporary name; it also appears on his marriage and death entry.

 

Name of the Week

There are more saints and popes of this name than you can
shake a stick at. Now the name is also gaining a distinguished
bent from actor Benedict Cumberbatch. 

 

Origin:

From the Late Latin name Benedictus meaning "blessed," derived from benedicte "bless (you)" which was originally made up of the words bene "well, good" dicere "to speak" In the 19th century, the name Benedict also became used as a word for a newly married man who had long been a bachelor.

Usage:

Benedict was widely used across Europe in the Middle Ages, partly because of its religious significance, and also thanks to the popularity of St Benedict — the founder of the highly influential Benedictine Order. One Benedict appears on the Domesday book in 1086 but, for the most part, the name seemed to flourish from the 12th century onwards.  Benedictus is often recorded in the medieval Latin records, but such men were more likely called Bennet — the standard British vernacular form — in every day. The wide usage of the name can be seen in the propensity of the surnames Bennet, Bennett, Bennitt and Bennitts. Even as late as the 18th century, Benedict and Bennet were sometimes interchanged in parish records.  As well as several saints, the name has been borne by no fewer than sixteen popes. For this reason, Benedict has more often traditionally been adopted by Catholic families.  In the 19th century the name was not particularly popular, but it was always used consistently in England and Wales, averaging around 5 birth registrations per year and increasing slightly in the 1880s. There were 69 males named Benedict on the 1841 UK census (68 living in England, 1 living in Wales); 90 on the 1871 census (86 in England, 3 in Scotland, 1 in Wales) and 163 in 1900 (151 in England, 7 in Scotland, 5 in Wales) Benedict has traditionally been used rarely in Scotland, but has seen more usage (especially in Catholic church records) since the 19th, and particularly the 20th, century. In recent years in England and Wales, Benedict reached a slight peak in 1999 at #165 (209 births) but has since steadily declined. In 2005 the name ranked #211 (177 births), was #382 (99 births) in 2008, #449 (84 births) in 2010 and #420 (94 births) in 2011. Occasionally, girls have been registered with the name Benedict, though they have never numbered more than 3 in a year. The feminine forms Benedicta, Benedicte and Benita are used a little more (between 2 and 15 times per year).  Since 2005, Benedict has been registered between 1-10 times each year in both Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Saint Benedict (d.c. 547), founder of the Benedictine order. * Benedict Biscop (c. 628–690), Anglo-Saxon abbot, later considered a saint. * Saint Benedict of Milan (d.c.732), Archbishop of Milan. * Saint Benedict of Aniane (c.750–821), a leading reformer of French monastic houses * Benedict of Szkalka (10th c.), a Hungarian Benedictine monk. * Saint Benedict the Black (d.1589), a Franciscan lay brother whose humility and extraordinary powers as spiritual director caused him to be made Superior. * Saint Benedict Joseph Labre (1748–1783), a French mendicant. * Benedikt Roezl (1823–1885), Czech botanist. There have also been 16 Popes who have borne the name. Contemporary: * Benedict Cumberbatch (b.1976), British actor. Literature and Media: * Benedick, a character from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

Variants:

Bennett (Medieval), Benoit (French), Benito (Spanish), Benedetto (Italian), Benedikt (German), Pentti (Finnish), Bento (Portuguese)

Pronunciation:

BEN-ə-dikt [key]

Possible Diminutives:

Ben, Bennet, Bick, Ed, Ned, Nic, Ted

Sibling Names:

Leonora     Hester     Camilla     Rosalind     Mathilde     Ursula  Crispin     Elias     Julius     Linus     Cassian     Ewart

Name Lists:

Vintage Names    Upright Elegance    Saintly & Stylish    Resonant Roman   Medieval Favourites  Names from Tennyson

 

If you like Benedict you may also like:   Erastus, Dominic, Tarquin, Rufus, Sebastian, Felix, Jaspar, Xavier, Gabriel, Corentin

 

Thanks to Rebecca for requesting Benedict as this week's NotW. 

 

The Stuarts of Seaforth

Peter Stuart – known as the "Ditton Doctor" – was a Lancashire shipowner, merchant and lay homeopath. An extensive account of his life was written by his son, Mazzini, and it makes for fascinating reading. He did many great works during his life including devoting one afternoon a week for forty years to giving homeopathic medication to the poor; founding the firm Stuart and Douglas in West Africa, and banishing the slave trade from that region. According to his son: He was proud of the fact that he never made a cent out of the slave trade; a form of commerce which he detested.

Peter married Ellen Moss in 1840 and the couple moved their family from Ditton to Elm House in Seaforth in 1861. They had nine children in all; two daughters first and then seven sons consecutively.

Selina Stuart was born in 1841 and named after her mother's sister Selina Moss (Aunt Moss) who was, according to Mazzini, "like a second mother to the Stuart family". Young Selina became ill of health in later life but still took great pleasure in entertaining and providing for three to four thousand wounded soldiers during WWI. 

Rachel Ann Stuart, "who of all Peter Stuart's children was the only one given two names," was born in 1843. The reason for her two names was to honour both grandmothers: Rachel was Ellen's mother, Ann was Peter's. She took after her father in taking an interest in homeopathy, also treating and curing many patients. According to her brother she was "endowed with a sweet and sympathetic disposition, and spent her life in endeavouring to assist others to carry their burdens." She married Thomas Walls Stephens and had children Thomas, Peter, Cromwell, Ellen and May. 

Hahnemann Stuart was born in 1845 and named in honour of Samuel Hahnemann, the German physician who created the practice of homeopathy, and whom Peter Stuart greatly admired and corresponded with. Hahnemann follwed his father into the company of Stuart and Douglas.

Cromwell Stuart was born in 1847 and died young at the age of 22 while in West Africa. "He took a most ardent interest in his work, and his death was caused through his being over-foolish in going about unprotected from the sun...His death was a great grief to his parents." He was likely named for Oliver Cromwell.

Milton Stuart was born in 1849. He took over the shipping branch of his father's company and was a great supporter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, constantly putting a paid advertisement in the paper to advocate the cause. He was likely named for the poet Milton.

Peter Stuart was born in 1852. He was also a homeopath like his father, for whom he was named, as well as sharing the family trait for charity. According to his brother, he "was a man with a bright and sparkling disposition...a friend of the poor, and many to-day will testify as to the fees which he returned. He would have died a richer man but for this; but all credit to him, and he received the blessings of hundreds all over Lancashire." He married Edith Kate Simpson and had two sons, Francis Ronald and Peter Dudley.

Bellamy Stuart was named in honour of John Bellamy, a controversial Biblical Scholar who produced a new translation of the Bible, and a good friend of Peter Stuart. Bellamy was born in 1854 and also entered the family firm, but died at a young age from heart failure.

Orsini Stuart was born in 1857. He was named in honour of Felice Orsini, an Italian revolutionary with whom Peter was friends with and of whose cause he was a great supporter. Orsini Stuart was also a great advocate of homeopathy and had a son and a daughter, Royden and Mary. 

Mazzini Stuart was born in 1861 and named in honour of Giuseppe Mazzini, another friend of Peter's and a fellow Italian patriot of Felice Orsini and advocate of homeopathy. Mazzini Stuart was made a justice of the Peace, in 1910, for the City of Liverpool and was a fellow supporter of homeopathy.

 

Milton Stuart had the largest brood of children, all also raised in Seaforth. In 1872 he married Margaret Molyneux (who was, quite literally, the girl next door) and together they had eleven children:
. 

Selina Stuart was born in 1875 and most likely named either after Milton's sister or aunt (or both). She became a nurse and was one of the first to proceed to the Front with the British Expeditionary Force, receiving the Mons ribbon. Her uncle, Mazzini, refers to her as Lena.

Esther Molyneux Stuart was born in 1877 and most likely named after Margaret's aunt Esther by whom she was raised. Young Esther took her M.D. at London University when aged 21 but sadly died young.

Jeanie Stuart Molyneux Stuart was born in 1878. Quite why she was given Stuart as a middle name as well as a surname is a mystery to me, but I suspect she was named after a "Jeanie Stuart" I have not been able to identify.

Ellen Cromwell Stuart  was born in 1880 and was probaby named after Milton's mother Ellen and late brother Cromwell. Mazzini refers to her as Nellie.

Peter Stuart was born in 1881, named in honour of Milton's father.

Winstanley Maggie Stuart  was born in 1884 and it is tempting to think her name came from another notable person, as was family custom. Her uncle Mazzini refers to her, rather adorably, as Wincy.

William Molyneux Stuart was born in 1886. William was the name of Margaret's uncle and guardian, the first Mayor of Bootle. He owned extensive property which Margaret and Milton inherited; the roads became named after family members (Bellamy Road, Hahnemann Road etc). 

Milton Molyneux Stuart was born in 1887 and both he and his brother William served with destinction in WWI. 

Dallas Ruby Stuart was born in 1889.

Thomas Simpson Stuart was born 1891 and most likely named after homeopath Thomas Simpson, a friend of Peter Stuart.

Robert Wylie Ayrton Stuart was born in 1893 and was the couple's youngest child.

 

 

Sibling Spotlight for Conan

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

After the Middle Ages, the name Conan was barely used in Britain until the late 19th century; some were most likely helped by the fame of Arthur Conan Doyle.

1890s: Samuel Clifford Conan Jeffrey Lillian Kathleen    Norah Brian Denis Donovan Conan  Thelma Therese    1900s: Conan Leo Mary Eileen Winifred    Frank Conan Denis Lorna Theresa    Conan Arthur Nellie Agnes Mildred A. Kathleen A. L.   Norah Edith Conan Joseph    Henry John "Harry" Conan Gilbert Vincent    1910s: Conan Cecil Reginald H    Conan Ralph    Margaret Conan Robert Edward Audrey Vivienne   Kenneth Elsie Conan Stanley Olive Joseph Mary Elizabeth    1920s:  Conan M. Muriel I.    Conan L. J. Joy S. A. Eunice E. J. Madeline R. J.    1940s: Henrietta Conan Winifred    Conan F. P. Carmel M.    Malcolm H. Conan A.    1950s: Conan James Olivia Ann Gillian Mary Angela Christine    Emma  Sophie Henry Edward Conan Sacheverell     Cavan B. Patrick E. Lorna Fay Conan F.

1960s: Clinton K. Conan K.    Turlough Denis Conan Hungerdell  Louise C. T. Jacinta M. G. Sandria Domenica M. T. Conan Benedict St C.   1970s: Cormac Roman A. Conor Enda A. Conan Brendan D.   Conan Aragon Tao   Rebecca Louise Conan Quentin Eva Saint-Marie Makenzie Kate Travis Lawrence    Tanith Zoe Conan Art Candice Eve   Conan Andrew Brennan Paul Thomas Charles Holly Catherine   Chad Ashton F. Matthew Jareth Nathan Emanuel L. Conan Jacques Aaron Pio J. Joseph Martin   1980s: Conan Nathaniel Mercedees Alexander  Sarah Jayne Gemma-Louise Ellen & Laura-Beth Jean Conan Robin   Conan Alex E. Piers Cameron A.   Ashley David Conan Wesley Jordan James   1990s: Conan Colin V. Molly Anna C.    Callum Darrell Conan Kieron   Anthony James Lee John Amy Patricia Conan Michael Cody May Emma Lesley   Conan John P. Paige Eunice S.   Kealan Patrick Megan Angela Lorcan Sean Conan Cahir    Casey Gabriello & Conan Rafaelle   Conan Lewis Kane Austin   2000s: Conan Tom Mairead Bernadette    Conan Arnardo Thor Juan    Conan James Baron Rhys Ebony Marie    Alicia Elektra C. Katja Shakira L. L. Conan Maximus T. H.

This post was requested by NL.

 

Name of the Week

Other Scottish islands — Isla, Skye, Iona, Harris, Arran — are 
seeing plenty of use at the moment. Why not consider Ailsa,
with its nod to classic Elizabeth? 

 

Origin:

Ailsa Craig is the Anglicised name of a Scottish island. Craig/Creag literally means "rock" in Scots Gaelic while Ailsa comes from the Vikings, who named the island Alfsigesey meaning "Alfsigr's island". The name Alfsigr derives from the Norse alf "elf" and sigr "victory." It is a cognate of the Old English name Ælfsige, which is also the origin of the surname Elsie, Elsey, Elcy.  Ailsa Craig is sometimes reconstructed as Aillse Creag in Scots Gaelic which literally means "fairy rock". This, however, is more likely a later Gaelicised rendering, rather than the origin itself. The official Scots Gaelic form of the island's name is Allasa, though it is most commonly referred to as Creag Ealasaid meaning "Ealasaid's rock" or sometimes Ealasaid a' Chuain "Ealasaid of the sea." Ealasaid is the Scots Gaelic cognate of Elizabeth and Ailsa has, on occasion, been used as an Anglicised form. Alternatively, in the Irish legend Buile Shuibhne (The Madness of Sweeney) the island is referred to as Carraig Alasdair "Alasdair's Rock."

Usage:

The island is known for being a sanctuary for many different species of coastal birds, and for hundreds of years has been owned by the Kennedy family. Archibald Kennedy, 12th Earl of Cassilis (1770—1846) was created the Marquess of Ailsa in 1831 and the title "Lord Ailsa" has been passed down ever since.  Records in Britain show that Ailsa has been used as a given name since the early 19th century, though only very occasionally. The 1841 UK census lists 10 Ailsas: 9 in Scotland, 1 in England and there were still only 10 by the 1881 census, though this time more were living in England.  When the acclaimed Victorian actress Dame Ellen Terry visited Ailsa Craig with her son she is reported to have said "What a good stage name!...A pity you can't have it, Ted [her son Edward]. I shall give it to Edy [her daughter Edith]."* When her children were baptised as teenagers, her daughter was named Edith Ailsa Geraldine in honour of the island, and both children also adopted Craig as a surname. Edy herself became an actress like her mother, assuming the name "Ailsa Craig" when she first took to the stage. She later dropped it in favour of Edith to avoid confusion with another actress who had also taken Ailsa Craig as a stage name.  At the beginning of the 19th century, only a handful of Ailsas were registered each decade in England and Scotland. The turning point came in the 1890s when at least three births were registered every year in both countries. At this time, Ailsa Craig's stage career was becoming more prominent* so this may have been an influence. Some girls even had Ailsa Craig as their full name; in these cases, inspiration may have come from the either the island or the actress. Whichever way, the late 19th century was a period when Celtic names in general came into fashion so Ailsa would have been among good company. From the 1890s the name gradually increased in England and Wales (e.g. 1895: 13 births, 1902: 19 births, 1910: 19 births, 1916: 25 births, 1921: 32 births, 1928: 30 births), plateauing from the 1920s to the 1950s with 30 to 40 births per year. A similar trend appears in Scottish records, with Ailsa being used much more frequently from the 1890s onwards increasing in usage every decade until it reached a plateau from the 1970s. Ailsa has never been in the Top 100 in either Scotland or England and Wales, but it has had consistant usage. In 2005 , Ailsa ranked #139 with 33 births in Scotland. It was #144 (32 births) in 2006, #136 (36 births) in 2007, #171 (26 births) in 2008, #143 (34 births) in 2009, #175 (26 births) in 2010 and #145 (29 births) in 2011.  In England and Wales, Ailsa has had a count of between 20-41 births from 1996 to 2010. In 2011 the name ranked #1196 with 27 births.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Edith Ailsa Geraldine Craig (1869—1947), actress, theatre director, producer and early pioneer of the women's suffrage movement. * Ailsa Mellon Bruce (1901—1969), American socialite. * Ailsa Tanner (1923—2001), Scottish art historian and researcher Contemporary: * Ailsa Piper (b.1959), Australian television actress. Literature and Media: * Ailsa Stewart, long-standing character in the Australian soap Home and Away. * Ailsa Povey, character in children's novel A Pack of Lies (1988) by Geraldine McCaughrean.

Variants:

Allasa

Pronunciation:

AYL-sə (common) IE-lə (alternate)  [key]

Possible  Diminutives:

Ace, Aylie

Sibling Names:

Mirren     Elspeth     Iona     Morven     Esme     Lois     Angus     Fraser     Rory      Struan     Murray     Declan

Name Lists:

Cool Celtic

 

If you like Ailsa you may also like:   Elsie, Aalin, Isla, Eilidh, Rosa, Eloise, Maris, Liesa, Orla, Alba

 

Thanks to Ailsa for requesting her own name as this week's NotW. 

 

Guys and Dolls

Throw on your dancing shoes, it's time to trip the light fantastic and explore the saucier side of the early 20th century. 

The boys here are dapper tough guys, blending vintage heritage with cheeky chap style. They ooze the same boyish charm that Marlon Brando (pictured) and Frank Sinatra embodied in the film.

The girls' names are very similar in criteria to the Dulcet Dainties: vintage, spare and feminine. These dolls, however, are more sassy than soft; more feisty than frilly. 

Archie Arlo Artie Axel Barney Billy Blaine Blake Bobby Bruno Buddy Buster Carl Cash Charlie Clyde

Dale Danny Dean Duke Frankie Grey Harry Harvey Jack Jake Jay Joe Lenny Leo Leon Mack

Max Nate  Nathan Nico Otis Ray Reggie Rex Rocco Rhett Rudy Sol Sonny Vinny Vito  Wade

Angie Anita Audra Bella Betsy Betty Bibi Bridie Coco Connie Cora Dixie Etta Frankie Gigi Hattie

Hazel Jessie Liza Lola Lula Lulu Leila Lyla Maggie Marcy Marnie Marla Maxine Molly Mitzy Mimi

Missy Nancy Nell Norah Patsy Peggy Queenie Romy Roxie Ruby Sadie Stella Tilda Vera Vida Zita

Name of the Week

A truly ancient British name, borne by a legendary king, 
a military hero, and several royal princes. Yet, for such a grandly
borne name, it feels remarkably homely. 

 

Origin:

Where does Arthur come from? That is a question that many have asked for centuries and yet the answer still remains elusive. What we do know is that the King Arthur of legend was mentioned by name as early as 796, when a Welsh monk named Nennius described the exploits of a dux bellorum ("war leader") in the Historia Brittonum. Many scholars believe that name comes from the Proto-Celtic arto- meaning "bear," which later became arth in Welsh. Given that most of the evidence for the name comes from Wales, a Celtic route seems quite obvious. Other early names contained this element, include the Brythonic Arthgen meaning "bear born", Arthgal meaning "vigour of a bear", or the Artognou mentioned on the famous stone found in Tintagell. There was also a well attested ancient Celtic goddess named Artio. Scholars such as Stefan Zimmer favour the construction Artorigios meaning "bear king" as the origin for Arthur itself. The element *arto is also reconstructed in Proto-Celtic as meaning "stone" in some cases, but the evidence for this is scant.*  Another long-standing theory is that Arthur is the Welsh form of the Roman family name Artorius. A Roman general, Lucius Artorius Castus — a Dalmatian career soldier who commanded VI Victrix at York in the 2nd century — is thought by some scholars to be the "real" man behind the legend of King Arthur. The name Artorius itself was not especially common among the Romans, and its origins are obscure. To make it more complicated, some believe Artorius is Roman in origin, while others think it is the Latinised form of the Celtic Artorigios (above). N. J. Higham claims that the move from Artorius to Arthur is "phonologically perfect" and maintains that if Arthur came from the Celtic *arto-wiros "bear man" then in Middle Welsh it would have become Arthwr and not Arthur. This, he argues, proves that the name was Roman in origin; he does not, however, look into the possibility that Arthur came from a different compound of *arto such as Artorigios.  There is no doubt that the Romans had a strong influence over British culture, religion and nomenclature. Rather than Artorius, this Roman connection may have come through a different route. Arcturus, the brightest star in the constellation Bootes, was the Latin spelling of the Greek Arktouros — derived from arktos "bear" and ouros "guardian, warden". In Greek mythology Arcturus was placed in the heavens by Zeus to protect Arcas and Callisto, whom the jealous Hera had turned into bears. The loss of the c was not uncommon in Medieval Latin (arcticus became articus, for example) and there are instances where Arthur was actually Latinised as Arcturus (or the genitive Arcturi) in medieval texts, as well as the more common Arthurus and Arturus.  Graham Anderson even proposes that the mysterious Artorius may itself have been an adjectival form Ar(c)turus, fitting the same pattern as other names derived from the divine e.g Dionysus > Dionysius or Artemis > Artemisius. Others, however, believe that the Celtic Arthur and Latin Arcturus were only connected by scholars in the Middle Ages, assumed to be the same name thanks to their cognate meanings.  Another theory is that Arthur derives from the Old Norse name Arnþórr (Arnthor) meaning "eagle of Thor," though quite how the Scandinavian Arnthor became prominent in Wales is unsubstantiated and lacks credibility.  Personally, I find the evidence for the Celtic *arto highly convincing. And whether you favour Artorigios or Arcturus, the Greek arktos "bear" and Proto-Celtic *arto "bear" are most likely descended from a common Proto-Indo-European word (often reconstructed as *rkto-). To attribute, therfore, a meaning of "bear" to Arthur fits quite comfortably to my mind.

Usage:

The Domesday Book mentions two Arthurs in 1086 — one spelt Artur and one spelt Artor. A few examples of the name can be found in the 12th and 13th century, though instances are not especially common. What we can tell is that the name was used at least enough to form the surnames Arthur, Arthurs and Arter at this time.  The name seems to have had almost consistant usage in Wales since the early Middle Ages, though examples are sparse. In 1187, Constance, Duchess of Brittany, wife of the recently deceased Geoffrey, son of Henry II (and brother of Richard I and John I) named her posthumous and only son, not Geoffrey, after his late father, but Arthur. Her two daughters, Eleanor and Maud, were clearly named for her husband's mother and grandmother, so it is curious why she chose a non-family name for her son. Arthurian legends were popular subjects for courtly troubadours at the time, so it is supposed that Constance was inspired by the legend of King Arthur.  The name seems to have fallen out of favour after the 13th century in England. However, in Yorkshire at least, the name began to pick up in usage again in the 1460s.*  In 1487, Henry Tudor (later Henry VII) baptised his eldest son Arthur. As a Welsh lord, Henry had his lineage traced back to Cadwallader and King Arthur; in naming his son Arthur he was clearly claiming the Tudors as the rightful heirs to the throne. In his frequency tables from 1538-1700, Smith-Bannister demonstrates that Arthur was a Top 50 name across England (generally between #35 and #50) from 1538 to 1639. It dropped in general use in the 17th century, though still maintained some popularity among the aristocracy.  Much of the name's huge popularity in the 19th century was thanks to the extraordinary fame of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769–1852), whose victory at the battle of Waterloo in 1815 firmly cemented him as a national hero. The name was further boosted by Queen Victoria who used the name for her third son in 1850. Her Arthur was given his name because he was born on Wellington's birthday, who also acted as the prince's Godfather.  We can certainly see the impact of the royal baby name on the UK census. In 1841 there were 13,825 Arthurs listed. On the 1851 census (taken 11 months after the prince was born), there were 27,556 Arthurs, 16% of whom were born after the royal prince.  The name ranked #6 in England and Wales in 1890 and 1900. It had risen to #5 in 1904 and then very slowly began to decline: #6 in 1914, #9 in 1924, #25 in 1934, #47 in 1944 and #72 in 1954, after which it fell out of the Top 100.  In 2000, Arthur ranked #201 in England and Wales with 161 births. It has steadily risen since, and finally returned back to the Top 100 in 2009 at #93 (712 births). In 2011, the name ranked #68 with 961 births. In Scotland, Arthur ranked #199 in 2011 with 22 births.

Famous Bearers:

Royalty: * Arthur, Duke of Brittany (1187–1203), nephew, and once heir of, Richard I.  * Arthur, Duke of Brittany (1262–1312), grandson of Henry III.  * Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales (1486–1502), eldest son of Henry VII.  * Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1850–1942), third son of Queen Victoria.  * Prince Arthur of Connaught and Strathearn (1883–1938), Governor-General of South Africa (son of above). History: * Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769–1852), heroic military leader and statesman.  * Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860), German philosopher. * Sir Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), English composer.  * Arthur Balfour (1848–1930), British Prime Minister from 1902 to 1905. * Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930), Scottish author, famous for creating Sherlock Holmes. * Arthur Miller (1915–2005), American playwright. Literature and Media: * Arthur (1981), comedy film staring Dudley Moore.  * Arthur Dent, the protagonist in Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1978). * Arthur Weasley, a character in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.   * Arthur Fonzarelli "Fonzie", a character in TV sitcom Happy Days.

Variants:

Artur (Scandinavian, German, Polish), Arturo (Spanish, Italian), Artair (Scottish)

Pronunciation:

AR-thə [key]

Possible Diminutives:

Art, Artie, Arth

Sibling Names:

Evelyn     Rose     Florence     Alice     Catherine     Eliza  Louis     Stanley     Wilfred     Charles     Edward     Henry

Name Lists:

Victorian Darlings    Royal Names    Dickensian Names    Names from Jane Austen   Names from Tennyson   Demi-Gods and Mortals of Mythology

 

If you like Arthur you may also like:   Alfred, Ernest, Arlo, Oscar, Atticus, Patrick, Amos, Hector, Edmund, Alastair

 

Thanks to Aure for requesting Arthur as this week's NotW. 

 

Name Length: Are names getting shorter in the UK?

My last post examined whether there are any trends to be found in initial letters; this post moves on to focus on name length to see if any patterns can be found. 

Purely coincidentally, this post makes an interesting counterpart to a very similar study posted recently by Laura Wattenberg at Baby Name Wizard. Her study examines the average name length in the US from 1880 to 2006. The results are quite different here, though it should be mentioned that the US data was for all given names for those years -- us Brits only have the Top 100 to look at pre-1996. 

 

Boys' names in the Top 100 in England and Wales 1904-2011: 

Average name length:

In England and Wales, longer names were at a peak for boys in 1904 and 1914 and, over the course of the century that followed, name length steadily decreased.

The only 11-letter name to make it all the way through until 2011 was Christopher.

3-letter names have seen the most change in England and Wales. In 1904 only Tom was in the Top 100, but by 2004 there was Ben, Max, Sam, Joe, Leo, Kai, Jay and Tom.

 

Boys' names in the Top 100 in Scotland 1900-2011:

Average length:

Scotland's boys show a very similar pattern to those in England and Wales, with only 0.05 difference between the overall average name length. 

If there is anywhere Scotland differs it's in the greater decrease in length. Longer names were especially popular in Scotland in the early 20th century, including five 9-letter names: Alexander, Archibald, Cornelius, Frederick and Nathaniel.

On the opposite end, boys in 2011 were even shorter in Scotland than England and Wales with a whopping twenty-six 4-letter names and seven 3-letter names.

 

 

Girls' names in the Top 100 in England and Wales 1904-2011:

Average length:

Length of names for girls in England and Wales is a little more convoluted than the boys. 1904 showed a broad mix in name length, from seven 3-letter names (Ada, Amy, Ann, Eva, Ida, Ivy, May) to six 9-letter names (Catherine, Charlotte, Christina, Constance, Elizabeth, Millicent) and 10-letter Gwendoline.

By 1964 longer names were in fashion; the use of 3 and 4-letter names had declined and 7, 8 and 9-letter names were at a peak.

Now fashion favours shorter names: 3 and 4-letter names are at their highest point since 1924.

 

Girls' names in the Top 100 in Scotland 1900-2011:

Average length:

Unlike the girls in England and Wales, Scottish girls fit very much the same pattern as the boys, showing steady decline in length. 

Long names were especially popular in 1900, including 11-letter Alexandrina, 10-letter Williamina and Wilhelmina and 9-letter Annabella, Catherine, Charlotte, Christian, Christina, Constance, Elizabeth, Henrietta, Josephine and Thomasina.

 2011, on the other hand, marked the highest use of 3, 4 and 5-letter names, and the lowest use of names with more than six letters.

 

The most common name length for boys in Britain is six letters, followed by five and then seven. The most common name length for girls is five letters, followed by six and then four.

 

Initial Letters A-Z: Do initials have their own trends in the UK?

Are naming trends reflected in initial letters? Are the first letters of names generally used consistently or do they rise and fall in popularity much like the names themselves? To find the answers to these questions, I have delved into the data from England & Wales and Scotland to see what patterns emerge.

 

Firstly, here is a break down of all the initial letters used in the Top 100 Girls' names every decade in England and Wales from 1904 to 2011. (The numbers in red indicate the most popular initials for that year).

The most striking thing to note from these statistics is the similarity between 1904 and 2011. E and M were both popular initials for the Edwardians; both began to decline over the century but are now back on an upward curve. This, of course, is partly due to specific names coming back in fashion, but there are still differences. Out of the fourteen E names used in 2011, nine of them were the same as those 1904. However, Ellie, Evie, Emilia, Erin and Esme are used now rather than 1904's Edith, Edna, Eileen, Ellen, Esther and Ethel. Could this mean that the vintage E initial is more influential than the names themselves?

Interestingly, for girls, there does seem to be a spike in popularity of the initial used in the most popular name for that year. M names were at a peak from 1904 to 1944, when Mary and Margaret were #1. S reached a peak from 1954 to 1984 when Susan, and then Sarah, was the top ranker, and R was at its highest point in 1994 when Rebecca was #1. 

 

I did the same analysis on the Top 100 Girls' names in Scotland, and though there was much variation in the names used compared to England and Wales, the stats looked remarkably similar:

What generalisations can we make from both these statistics?

• A is the most consistently popular initial for girls.
• A, E, J, M and L have the highest total across all years in Britain. 
• E and M were popular initials for girls at the beginning of the century, declined mid-century and are now on an upward curve.
• C, K, S, and D initials reached a peak from the 1950s to 1980s.
• L names are now on the rise for girls.
• J names are now declining for girls.

 

 

The initial letters used in the Top 100 Boys' names every decade in England and Wales from 1904 to 2011: 

Unlike with the girls, there is no obvious similarity between 1904 and 2011 though it is interesting to note that in 2011 H names (one of the most popular initials of 1904) were at the highest point since 1924. As with the E initial for girls, the H initial itself is more influential than the names themselves. Only Harry and Henry appear in both 1904 and 2011's Top 100. Harvey, Harley, Harrison and Hayden are now used instead of Harold, Hector, Herbert, Horace, Howard, Hubert and Hugh. 

The initial of the most popular names seem to have no influence on the popularity of that initial for boys. The J initial was lower from 1914 to 1944 when John was #1. C names were at a low point when Christopher was #1 in 1984, and top ranker Thomas had no effect on the T initial in 1994.

 

The Top 100 Boys' names in Scotland tell a similar story to England and Wales:

General patterns:

• A is the most consistently popular initial for boys.
• A, C, D, J, M and R have the highest total across all years in Britain. 
• H and L names were high at the beginning of the century, declined mid-century and are now on an upward curve.
• G, R, and S names reached a peak mid-century.
• J names are now on the rise for boys.

 

So, A and M are popular for both genders, J names are going up for boys but down for girls and E and H are vintage revivals. Perhaps in 50 years we'll see a surge of G, K and S names again...