Phrase Names: How North West is nothing new

I very rarely comment on celebrity baby names; it's just not a subject for which I feel my opinion is particularly needed (or wanted). I've stayed well away from speculating on the upcoming Royal baby name, for example, though I have a good idea what it won't be (I'm looking at you, "Royal Historians" — James would cause a political nightmare; stop suggesting it as a possibility!). 

However, the recent arrival of Kim and Kanye's daughter North West lends itself as an exception because it highlights the fairly established niche trend of "phrase" or "pun" names. Historical records are littered with them. 

Sometimes they were caused by accident: we've all heard the stories of women who have married and ended up with a punning new name (Theresa Green, Eileen Dover, Sandy Shaw, Terri Bull, Jo King — my mum actually works with one). In previous centuries, when using family surnames as first names was common, sometimes the blending was simply unfortunate. However, blatently, in some cases the pun was entirely intentional.

So, let's explore just a handful of interesting 'Phrase Names' of the last 200 years from records in England and Wales. The last names are the surnames.

 

Directional Names:

North West (x6) - born between 1815 and 1900.

North North (b.1824)

West Shaw (b.1831) North Shaw (b. 1869)

West Wood (b.1838)

Northen North (b.1842)

Southern Hall (b.1842)

Westerby East (m.1854)

South Fort (b.1856)

North Hill (x 3) - born between 1844 and 1872. 
And others such as North Brooke, West Wood etc. 

 

Time Names:

Time Of Day (x3) - born between 1829 and 1900.

Winter Frost (x4) - born between 1820 and 1880.

Winter Day (b.1845)

Lucky Day (b. 1859)

Morning Dew (x3) - born between 1871 and 1924.

Merry Christmas (b.1874)

Autumn Winter (b. 1876)

May Holiday (b. 1878)

And hundreds of girls named May Day and a fair few children named Valentine Day.

 

Phrases:

Miles Long (b. 1661)

Experience Tingle (m.1689)

Christian Sustenance (b. 1742)

Honour Bound (d.1783)

Flower Ship (x2) - born in 1798 and 1876

Savage Beare (m.1822)

Hugh Dunnet (b. 1836)

Black Jack (d. 1839)

Black Man (d. 1840)

Happy Guest and Happy Butcher (b. 1841)

Water Ford (b. 1844)

Worthy Guy (m. 1844)

Summer Stunt (b. 1844)

Green Willows (x4)

Smalley Bogg (b.1846)

Green Wood (b. 1847)

Wild Stammers (b.1848)

Just King (x2) - born in 1848 and 1886.

Brown Leek (b. 1849)

True Love (x3) - born between 1820 and 1850.

Happy Hovel (b. 1851)

Lightwood Birch (b. 1851)

Water Board (b. 1853)

Wealthy Price (b.1854)

Strange Livings (b.1863)

Wilde Raven (b. 1863)

Wise Herdsman (b. 1866)

Chip Wood (b. 1867)

Thankful Joy - both boys and girls.

Lightfoot Longbottom (m. 1872)

Sensitive Readhead (b.1873)

Ann Archy (b.1886)

Minnie Woman (b. 1891)

Hazel Nutt (x3) - born between 1894 and 1929.

Wildfield Flowers (b. 1895)

Royal King (x5) - born between 1897 and 1910.

Scott Free (b. 1901)

Nora Bone (b. 1902)

Norman Conquest (b.1904)

Pearl E. White (b. 1908)

Eileen Back (b.1908)

Risque Booth (b.1909)

Spring Plant (b. 1942)

 

Tautologies and Oxymorons:

Happy Gay (b. 1844)

Brown Greenwood (d.1849)

Smallhope Byg (b.1585)

Orange White (m. 1845)

Blackbird Bird (b. 1889)

Orange Lemon (x3) - born between 1850 and 1890.

Young New (x3) - born between 1840 to 1900.

Worthy Crook (x3) - born between 1820 to 1900.

Starling Martin (x2) - born in 1865 and 1889. 

 

There was a popular story that circulated around Victorian newspapers in which a seemingly cute "punning" names had unfortunate consequences. According to the story, a Mr and Mrs Rose thought it would be adorable to name their daughter Wild Rose. Unfortunately, when she married a Mr Bull her new name became Wild Bull.

The Sheffield Independent: Saturday 3rd July 1886

This story appeared in several publications (such as the one above), but I have been unable to find any Wild Rose/ Bull in the records. I did find two women who were given Wild Rose for their first names.