British Baby Names

Reader's Advice Needed: Cassandra vs Kassandra

Fiona and her partner are expecting their second child soon. They have chosen a name -- Cassandra / Kassandra -- but they need your help with the spelling. Their first daughter has a name used by Jane Austen. Fiona has discovered that Cassandra has an Austen-link too, but this is just coincidence, and wouldn't affect their choice of spelling. 

Fiona writes:

We are considering 'C' because it feels more traditional, and default spelling. 
However, we are drawn to 'K' because it is the original Greek, and we like it better. 

 

What we are concerned about is that the 'K' would be viewed as a cheapening / 'Kardashian-isation' of the name, rather than people realising it is the original spelling. 

 

My Thoughts:

For me, this debate is quite straight forward. You like Kassandra better, so that should be the defining factor. Style-wise, Cassandra is more natural, but is that worth a lifetime regretting that you didn't go for the spelling you love?

Cassandra is the default spelling that most people will automatically write down when they hear the name. However, an "it's Kassandra with a K" is no more hassle than the millions of people who say "Anne with an e" or "Stephen with a ph" or "Aimee with an i double ee." 

C and K have been interchangeable for centuries. Catherines can be Kates without any worry about switching the letters, and in many countries, such as Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, K is the default spelling. 

Will most people know that Kassandra is the original Greek spelling? No, probably not. Most people don't realise that Rebekah is an older spelling of Rebecca as Khloe is for Chloe and Hektor is for Hector, but it doesn't follow that they will be dismissive of a spelling they are unfamiliar with. In a world where you can have an Isabelle, Isabel, Isobel and Isobelle in the same school, and Polish parents are using Dawid, while Muslim parents are choosing Dawud, people are very tolerant of different spellings. 

While Kassandra may surprise some people, that can ultimately be a good opportunity for a taking point. 

 

 

Fiona is very keen for readers' thoughts and imput. Please vote in the poll below or comment with your opinions to give this couple a helping hand.

 

 

UPDATE: Welcome Kassandra Mathilde, a little sister for Marianne Isabella, born to British Australian parents in (German speaking) Switzerland. Her doting parents went with their hearts and it feels right for them, and has been well received by family and friends. Congratulations!

 

UK Birth Announcements 6/4/15 - 12/4/15

A compilation of names from BAs announced in newspapers in the last week, including a national paper (Telegraph) and a broad range of local newspapers from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sibling names are in brackets. 

 

Boys:

Aiden-Johann Dieter

Edward Arthur Samuel

Harry Alexander (Molly Elizabeth)

Harry William (Jamie & Amy)

Jack Robin

Massimo James (Rosco Christopher Leonardo & Cecilia Altea)

Maximilian Gilbert Henry David

Maxwell Scott

Seth Thomas (Jude Lenton)

Tyler Joseph

Walter David Rupert

Zachary Stephen Roderic

 

Girls:

Amelia Daisy

Ava Eleanor

Ava Grace (Jack Adam)

Clara Matilda (William James & Emilie Francesca)

Eliza Caroline Irene

Emily Isabella (Jessica Louise)

Eva Drew (Ellie & Emily)

Eve Kathryn

Isabella Emma Hope (Grace Isabella & Olivia Hope)

Lily Mae (Ethan)

Ophelia Sylvianne Fortune (Merlin Charles, Lorcan Sebastian & Hector Sylvester)

Peggy Stella (Daisy-Mae)

Ruby Violet

Sophie Grace

Taylah Emily

 

Name of the Week

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A heroic Welsh staple, borne by Arthurian knights, kings and saints,
in use for over a millennium and still going strong. 

 

Origin:

Owen is an anglicised form of the Old Welsh Ouein/Owein (modern Owain), cognate with the Irish Eoghan and Scottish Ewan.  There have been several etymologies proposed for the name over the centuries. One was that it was derived from the Welsh oen "lamb," while another that it was from the Irish eoghunn "youth." Given the name's longevity however, these both seem unlikely.  Most prevalent of all is the theory that Owain, Eoghan and Ewan are Celtic forms of Eugene, derived from the Greek Eugenios (eu + genos) "well born." All three forms were Latinised as Eugenius in medieval records, and earlier forms Ougein, Eugein, Euguen and Iguein also give weight to the theory.  Modern scholarship, however, now favours a Celtic origin for Owain, Eoghan and Ewan. Their reconstructed Proto-Celtic form of the name is Esugenios (which is actually cognate with the Greek Eugenios) made from the elements *wesu- “excellent” and *geno- “born.” This first element could be meant for Esus, a prominant Celtic god whose name was most likely derived from *wesu. Another theory currently gaining the most weight behind it, is that Owen derives from the Proto-Celtic *yewo- “yew” and *geno- “born.” The yew tree was a sacred tree to the Celts and several other names such as Ivar, Ivo and Iobhar also derive from this common route.

Usage:

Owen/Owain has had remarkably steady usage, having been used consistently for at least 1500 years. Legend has it that Owain Finddu (Black Lips), born c.355, was a son of the famous Emperor of Britain and Gaul, Magnus Maximus (Macsen Wledig) who became king of Mid-South Wales. One early notable bearer that is almost certainly historic is Owain Ddantgwyn (White Tooth), a 5th century king of Rhos in North Wales who some scholars have connected as the "real man" behind the legend of King Arthur. There is also Owein mab Urien (d. c. 595) the son of Urien, king of Rheged. He was incorporated into the Arthurian legends as Ywain/Yvain, the main character in Chrétien de Troyes's Yvain, the Knight of the Lion and the Mabinogian tale Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain. It wasn't only Wales where the name was in use. As the Celtic kingdoms were interconnected across the British isles in the early Middle Ages, we also find the name appearing in other kingdoms, sometimes with the form Owein/Eugein, Eoghan and Ewan interchanging. Eugein I was king of Aut Clut of Cumbria in the 7th century, while Owen I (Ywain) was a 10th century king of Strathclyde. Owen even counts among the saints names. St Owen (d.c.680), or Owin, was a Benedictine monk who served as chamberlain to Queen Etheldreda and studied under St Chad. He is often conflated with St Ouen (the Breton spelling of Owain), who also lived in the 7th century, and who was Archbishop of Rouen. Owain was very common in the Middle Ages and numerous Welsh royals bore the name: Owain ap Gruffydd (c.1100–1170), a king of Gwynedd, is considered one the most successful of all the north Welsh princes; Owain Cyfeiliog (c.1130-1197), was a prince of Powys and a notable poet; and then there is the great hero Owain Glyndŵr (1359–c. 1416), or Owen Glendower to the English, last Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales who almost managed to beat the English for control of Wales. Owen was, from an early date, used as an anglicised spelling, but also arose as in South Wales from the habit of the colloquial dialect to change -ai to -e. It was used not only in Wales but also common in the Marches -- the Anglo-Norman borderlands of England and Wales. The Domesday Book of 1086 lists the name four times (spelt Ouen, Ouuin and Owine) in the areas of Cheshire, Derbyshire, Essex and Herefordshire. The popularity of the given name meant that several surname forms cropped up including Owen, Owens, Owenson, Owan, Howen and Bowen.  Data from The Surname Atlas. Click to enlarge According to Leslie Dunkling's rankings for England and Wales, Owen was #43 in 1700 and #49 a century later in 1800, demonstrating its consistency. Owen was #53 by 1860, #57 in 1870, #65 in 1880, #76 in 1890 and #88 in 1900.  Data from the 1881 UK census shows that, although Owen was most common in North Wales, it was quite well distributed across Britain.  Rank-wise, Owen declined below the top 100 in the mid 20th century. It was #94 in 1904, #98 in 1914, and #99 in 1924, after which it fell out of the top 100 until it returned to #99 in 1994.  However, Dunkling's data for the number of boys registered with the names Owen  in every 10,000 births in England and Wales shows that Owen maintained fairly good use, even picking up a bit in the 1970s:  1900 1925 1935 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985  1990    6    2    6    4    2    7    6    5   14    2    10    14 In Scotland, Owen fluctuated in rank between #108 (1988) and #148 (1984) from 1974 to 1990 and first moved back into the top 100 in 1991 at #94. It rose steadily from that point, peaking at #33 in 2009.  In England and Wales, Owen moved swiftly and sharply from #100 in 1996 to #35 in 1999. It peaked at #31 in 2002 and has since been declining.  In 2013, Owen ranked #85 in England and Wales -- separately, #55 and #89 in Wales and England respectively. Owain was #91 in Wales but only #1286  in England.  Owen was also #70 in Scotland in 2014 and #118 in Northern Ireland.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Owain Ddantgwyn, 5th century prince of North Wales, proposed as possible candidate for the "real" King Arthur. * Owein mab Urien (d. circa 595), son of Urien, king of Rheged.  * Owain ap Gruffydd (c.1100–1170), a king of Gwynedd. * Owain Cyfeiliog (c. 1130 - 1197), prince of part of Powys and a notable poet.  * Owain Glyndŵr (1359–c.1416), last Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales. * Owen Tudor (c. 1400–1461), grandfather of Henry VII and founder of the Tudor dynasty. * Owen Wister (1860–1938), American author. * Owen Davis (1874–1956), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright.  * Sir Owen Willans Richardson (1879–1959), British physicist.  Contemporary: * Owen Wilson (b. 1968), American actor. * Owen Garvan (b. 1988), Irish footballer. Literature and Other Media: * Sir Yvain, a figure of Arthurian legend based on Owain mab Urien.  * Owen Lars, a character in the Star Wars universe, adopted uncle of Luke Skywalker. * Owen Meany, title character in John Irving's novel A Prayer For Owen Meany (1989). * Owen Hunt, a character in Grey's Anatomy. * Owen Harper, a character in Torchwood. Other: * Owen Falls, a waterfall on the Victoria Nile.

Variants:

Owain (Welsh), Eoghan (Irish), Ewan (Scottish)

Pronunciation:

Ō-ən [key]

Possible diminutives:

Owie

Sibling Names:

Eva     Lucy     Anna    Thea    Carys     Esme      Leo     Rhys     Ellis     Max     Dylan     Luke

Name Lists:

Slim Softies   Terrifically Tudor

 

If you like Owen you may also like:    Rory, Evan, Jowan, Ioan, Eoin, Rowen, Leon, Noah, Jonah, Lowen

 

Thanks to Dawn for requesting this post.

Name Help: A sibling for Tabitha

Felicity "Flissy" and James are expecting their second child in a few months, a brother or sister for their daughter Tabitha "Tabby". Their surname begins with an E. 

Flissy writes:
For girls I really like longer names that can have a nickname (and for some reason feel that nickname should start with the same letter as the real name to avoid confusion). I like Ophelia and Ottilie and love the nickname Effie (not so keen on Euphemia!). I stupidly named my cat Effie and so am worried can't use this - then thought what about Ettilie (Ettie for short). This is how I came across your website as a set of twins in one of your lists is Ettilie & Elodie.  Having googled Ettilie I realise it doesn't seem to be a real name - is this a problem? Should I stick with 'real' names? Also, is E E [initials] a good idea or should I go with a name beginning with a consonant? Growing up as a Flissy I really don’t want a daughter to have a popular name.

For boys I prefer more royal, popular (top ten type) names. Charles and Henry were my top but my husband has recently suggested Crawford as it's his old school house. I think I quite like it but it's the complete opposite of being popular and safe and I'm worried it's a bit too out there.

Their list:

Girls:
Ettilie
Ottilie
Ophelia (Opsey)
Euphemia (Effie)
Cosette
Cressida (Cressy)
Cressetta (Etty or Cressy)
Genevieve
Winifred
Wilimena (Minnie)
Gwyneth
Octavia
Beatrix -- Flissy worried it has too much of a Potter connection with Tabitha. 
Allegra 
Hermione
Aurelia

Boys:
Henry 
Charles 
Crawford
Ralph
Douglas (Dougie) - James likes this but Flissy is not keen
Rufus
Gilbert (Bertie or Gilby)
Rafferty -- Flissy worries it sounds too Irish -- they have no Irish connections. 
Fergus
Arthur

 

※    ※    ※    ※

 

Firstly, I think you have a fabulous list of names. I really do. They all sound great with Tabitha and would all make a fabulous name for your baby.

Firstly, I don't think E.E. initials should in any way deter you. Alliterative names have long and fashionable use, think Marilyn Monroe, Amy Adams, Emilio Estevez, Brooklyn Beckham, Betty Boop, Peter Parker...

In terms of Beatrix, I don't think many people would even get the Beatrix Potter connection, but for those like me who think of it as an afterthought, it's a charming connection. And Rafferty has taken on the image of a hip surname-firstname. Its being Irish is a secondary appeal. 

I'm tempted to say that you don't need any more suggestions -- you already have a great selection to choose from -- but I get the sense that your issue boils down more to a heart vs head situation. I think your heart likes Ettilie, Effie and Crawford, but your head is getting in the way. 

 

Ettilie:

There are a lot of names out there which are 'new' creations as first name (such as Nevaeh or Brayden), and there are also lots of "real" names out there which are so rare, most people would think they were made up. Is it a problem if Ettilie is your own twist on a traditional name? No, I would say. Not at all. 
I search though historical records frequently looking for names and the one thing I realised a long time ago was that the idea of a 'proper' spelling of a name is a very modern concept.
In ages passed spelling varied wildly in documents, even when written by the same person. Shakespeare signed his name six times, and spelled it differently each time!

As you say, you found Ettilie in one of the birth announcement posts last October. Twin sister is Elodie so you get the sense that the parents deliberately tweaked the spelling Ottilie to complement her twin so they shared the same initial (Olodie doesn't work quite so well, does it?)
Completely coincidentally, after you emailed me, I found another little Ettilie in the mid-march birth announcements. In this case, older brothers are Beau and Otto, so I would surmise that the parents liked Ottilie but felt it was too close to Otto. A quick change to Ettilie and voila! 

So we do know Ettilie is getting some new usage, and, like yourselves, parents seem to be intentionally changing the spelling of Ottilie to Ettilie to suit their needs. 

As for Ettilie not being a real name ... well that depends. Most names have evolved over centuries and morphed forms. Add to that the periods when spelling wasn't standardised, and there can be dizzying varieties in the spellings some names have been recorded in over the years.

Ottilie comes from Odila, a feminine form of Odo "wealth, riches" which also became Odilia, Ottoline, Odelia, Odette, Odile, Otylia, Odalys and many more. Ettilie can be seen as just one more branch of this elaborate name-family. 

There are a small handful of historical records where 'Ettilie' is used. Most are from 19th century American census records with the bearer hailing from Germany, suggesting it was used as a spelling variant for Ottilie. 

If I haven't persuaded you, here are some other ways of getting to Ettie as a nickname:

Elizabeth -- If Betty/Bettie works, so does Ettie in my book. 

Elettra -- A pretty Italian form of Electra "bright, beaming."

Eteri -- A Georgian name meaning "air."

Esther -- Both Essie and Ettie work equally well for this gentle biblical antique. 

 

Effie:

On to Effie. My first question would be, is the cat Effie still alive and well and living with you? If not, I'd say go for it. Your family may say "Didn't you have a cat called Effie?" for awhile, but very soon person Effie will dominate over memories of feline Effie.

As for little Effie herself, rather than leave her thinking she was named after your beloved pet, explain to her that you loved her name so much, you originally gave it to a pet, but when she came along, you couldn't bear not to give it to her. A nice name story goes a long way when it comes to having positive feelings about one's own name. 

If the cat is still present, the above still stands -- you just have to decide if it will be confusing shouting "Effie" and having both a child and cat respond. 

Beyond Euphemia, here are other ways of getting to Effie as a nickname:

Effeny -- An old medieval form of Euphelia is Effeny or Effemy. 

Ephelia -- Did you know that Ephelia is an old variant of Ophelia? There was a 17th century poet who used the pen name Ephelia, and currently there is as five star resort in Seychelles named Constance Ephelia. If you like Ophelia and love Effie, then Ephelia "Effie" seems like the perfect option.

 

Crawford:

Crawford is an unusual name -- and yet it's not. Crawford (the "crow ford") is a village in Lanarkshire which has been a surname since the middle ages. As such it has the advantage of being rather familiar, and falls in alongside all the other surnames that have been used as given names.

It also isn't quite as unusual as you might think. It has ranked six times in the official rankings since 1996. Five babies in 1999, 2000 and 2002, four in 2006, three in 2007 and three in 2009. The official data only shows names with 3 or more births so several more Crawfords are around. In 2001, for example, there was one baby boy named Crawford, but that does not show in the rankings.

Crawford has a distinguished air about it, which can be lightened by a clever nickname. Crawfie itself is rather sweet for a baby, but Ford also works. I would be tempted to play on the 'crow' meaning of the name. Corbie is the Old Scots and English dialect name for crow, Corvo is the Italian and Varis is Finnish which I think work well as nicknames. Then there is raven, which is Raaf in Dutch and similar in other Scandinavian languages, leading me to think Raf or Raffi would work for Crawford. 

I think Crawford also lends itself as a very distinguished middle name. Henry Crawford could go by "Hawk" or "Huck" and sounds like a dashing hero out of an Austen novel. 

 

I hope this has helped answer your questions and given you more to work with. Please keep us updated!

 

 

Top 200 Most Popular Names in England and Wales in 1860

Below are the compiled rankings for the most popular births in England and Wales in 1860 from the England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915. 

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 accurately 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 1860: 

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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 83 85 86 87 88 89 89 89 92 93 94 95 96 97 97 99 100 101 102 103 104 104 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 116 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 124 126 126 128 128 130 131 131 131 134 134 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 143 145 146 146 148 148 150 150 152 152 154 154 154 157 157 159 159 159 162 162 164 164 164 164 168 168 170 171 171 171 174 175 176 176 176 179 180 180 182 182 182 182 186 186 186 186 186 191 191 191 194 194 194 194 198 198 200 200

William John Thomas George James Henry Charles Joseph Frederick Robert Alfred Edward Arthur Richard Samuel Walter David Harry Albert Edwin Francis Frank Benjamin Herbert Daniel Tom Isaac Fred Peter Ernest Michael Stephen Patrick Matthew Edmund Frederic Alexander Philip Mark Evan Andrew Abraham Hugh Christopher Sidney Lewis Jonathan Jesse Ralph Joshua Sam Martin Owen Josiah Jacob Reuben Joe Leonard Edgar Eli Enoch Job Oliver Anthony Amos Horace Elijah Timothy Cornelius Moses Jeremiah Sydney Louis Nicholas Aaron Percy Ebenezer Willie Luke Dennis Jabez Levi Augustus Adam Nathaniel Harold Allen Griffith Ben Bernard Rowland Ellis Rees Archibald Ambrose Lawrence Morgan Noah Simon Ephraim Caleb Elias Reginald Isaiah Roger Phillip Jonas Nathan Clement Solomon Morris Charley Emanuel Gilbert Paul Hubert Maurice Simeon Abel Wilfred Dan Emmanuel Jim Ezra Squire Seth Theodore Horatio Wright Theophilus Vincent Wilson Alan Stanley Sampson Miles Wallace Israel Smith Humphrey Hiram Howard Cecil Felix Allan Oswald Silas Austin Nelson Douglas Hedley Enos Eugene Edmond Percival Spencer Robinson Septimus Adolphus Joel Luther Cuthbert Jonah Bartholomew Donald Elisha Uriah Johnson Laurence Lionel Clarence Llewellyn Oscar Norman Dick Charlie Godfrey Herman Colin Harvey Walker Claude Denis Hezekiah Zachariah Duncan Harrison Julius Llewelyn Roland Jackson Jasper Victor Giles Hartley Jenkin Lancelot Gerald Valentine Clifford Thompson

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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 86 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 96 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 106 108 108 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 121 121 124 125 126 126 128 128 128 131 132 132 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 141 143 143 145 145 147 147 148 150 151 151 153 154 154 156 157 157 159 159 161 161 163 163 165 166 166 167 167 170 171 171 171 174 175 175 175 178 178 180 181 182 182 182 185 186 186 188 188 188 191 192 192 192 192 196 196 196 199 199 199 199

Mary Elizabeth Sarah Ann Jane Emma Ellen Alice Eliza Margaret Emily Hannah Martha Harriet Louisa Catherine Annie Fanny Clara Charlotte Maria Caroline Anne Frances Lucy Agnes Kate Isabella Ada Amelia Florence Esther Julia Eleanor Susan Edith Matilda Rebecca Susannah Harriett Laura Anna Rachel Sophia Lydia Jessie Catharine Ruth Rose Selina Betsy Amy Henrietta Rosa Grace Susanna Helen Phoebe Bridget Rosina Nancy Priscilla Lavinia Adelaide Rosanna Gertrude Rhoda Minnie Jemima Georgina Bertha Dorothy Eva Isabel Janet Georgiana Betty Bessie Lizzie Betsey Marian Christiana Rosetta Constance Beatrice Dinah Flora Barbara Miriam Helena Leah Maud Marion Lizzy Johanna Hester Phebe Teresa Augusta Thirza Letitia Emmeline Naomi Angelina Bessy Cecilia Celia Blanche Mercy Kezia Theresa Phillis Elinor Katherine Lilly Adeline Joanna Ethel Sabina Lilian Honor Honora Mabel Olive Marianne Katharine Louise Alma Dora Prudence Deborah Josephine Lois Christina Abigail Lily Winifred Ida Sally Rachael Dorcas Clarissa Ella Marie Rosannah Blanch Evelyn Polly Adah Eunice Nanny Victoria Margaretta Arabella Millicent Pamela Hephzibah Jennet Violet Maude Diana Elisabeth Patience Zillah Judith Clare Edna Eveline Kathleen Margery Gwenllian Leonora Tamar Annette Amanda Cordelia Tryphena Mahala Norah Gwen  Adela Emeline Evangeline Mildred Melinda Kitty Olivia Charity Joan Tabitha Cecily Eugenie Euphemia Juliana  Myra Drusilla Lillian Wilhelmina Annis Lucretia May Thomasine

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

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The #1 names for boys and girls remain the same for 1900, 1890, 1880, 1870 and 1860: William and Mary. Once again, The difference lies in the declining number of children given these names over that time period: 

William
1860 - 51,229 births
1870 - 51,299 births
1880 - 50,525 births
1890 - 45,925 births
1900 - 44,912 births

Mary
1860 - 54,632 births
1870 - 47,108 births
1880 - 39,612 births
1890 - 27,802 births
1900 - 22,194 births

 

Some 22 boys in 1860 were given the name Garbaldi, putting it not far below the top 200. Several children were given the name as a middle name, and girls even sported Garibalda and Garibaldine. This coincides with Giuseppe Garibaldi's Sicilian Campaign of 1860 which gained a lot of press in Britain.

 

UK Birth Announcements 30/3/15 - 5/4/15

A compilation of names from BAs announced in newspapers in the last week, including a national paper (Telegraph) and a broad range of local newspapers from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sibling names are in brackets. 

 

Boys:

Arthur Jago Oscar

Benjamin George

Charlie Arthur (Isabelle Mary "Izzy" & Harry John)

Edward George

Felix Riley (Leo Riley)

Finley Easton (Licia)

Freddie James (Niamh Elizabeth)

Harry Alan Patrick (James Joseph & Oliver William)

Harry James (Zachary George)

Humphrey Prakash Sen Wykeham

Jack Edward George (Emilia Genevieve)

Jacob Mariusz

Noah George Andrew

Noah James (Harry Sean &  Jack Edward)

Noah Timothy

Oliver Thomas

Rhys Dennis (Jamie Dylan & Seth James)

Rueben Harris (Jonah John Paul)

Ryan Peter Levi (Evan Ryan Floyd)

Stuart John Alexander

Thomas William Morgan

Timothy Peter John

Toby Duncan (James Andrew)

William Alexander (Euan Robert)

 

Girls:

Ailish Valerie Anne

Araya Alice (Evie & Amber Simone)

Charlotte Mabel Ellesmere (Isabelle Victoria, Louisa Anna & Violet Mary)

Cressida Rose (Carina)

Daisy Rhian (Mollie)

Eden Dorothy

Esmée Nora Rose

Eve Kathryn

Faye Elizabeth (Riley Summer)

Freya Pauline (Gracie Kath)

Imogen Louise (Alfie)

Iona Philomena (Isobel Marie Grace)

Isla Pamela (Lewis)

Lucy Ann

Matilda Lalage Mary

Melissa Elizabeth

Molly-Rose Hope (Bradley-James Douglas)

Nell Ryder Cecilia

Phoebe May

Primrose Kathleen (Romah George)

Serena Rose

Sybil Coco Featherstone

Vesta Lee

 

Twins:

Adam John "AJ" & Evie Rose

Agnes Constance Joan & Wilfred Edwin Ferdinand

Alice Elizabeth Bardy & George Peter Raine (William Alexander Fyers & Annabel Daisy Wynn)

 

Name of the Week

A feisty Cornish name which spiked in the 70s
thanks to flame-haired actress Angharad Rees.
With a new lavish adaptation, will Demelza have her day again?

 

Origin:

Demelza is the name of a hamlet in St Wenn, Cornwall. It was adopted as a given name by Winston Graham for the name of his heroine Demelza Carne in his Poldark novels (1945-2002). Perhaps in an attempt to find a more poetic meaning, the most popular etymology for Demelza is "Maeldaf's fort." Dinas is the Cornish word for 'fort' or 'castle'; the idea being that Demelza is a contraction of Dinas Maeldaf. Maeldaf itself is an obscure Welsh name derived from mael "prince." The problem with this theory is that Maeldaf is an extremely rare name, not found outside of Wales.  In the novels, Demelza's name is given to mean "thy sweetness." Apparently, Graham took this definition from an 18th century book on the Cornish language called Archaeologia Cornu-Britannica : or, an essay to preserve the ancient Cornish language by Dr William Pryce.*  The internet will tell you that (according to Graham and Pryce) de means "thy" and melza means "honey, sweetness" in Cornish.  This neat cod-etymology, however, is simply not accurate. The Cornish word for "sweetness" — which Pryce himself correctly cites* — is melder. If Graham did use this source for the etymology of Demelza, he must have taken melder as its source.  Most likely, Reverend John Bannister, author of A glossary of Cornish names, ancient and modern, local, family, personal, &c (1871), was correct in his assertion that Demelza derives from ty "house" and malsai "eel," especially when we consider the importance of the fishing trade in Cornwall (of which, conger eel was one of the biggest exports*). A place named the "eel house" in Cornish is perfectly logical for this location.

Usage:

Demelza only came into use as a given name after the publication of Winston Graham's first three novels in his Poldark series: Ross Poldark (1945), Demelza (1946) and Jeremy Poldark (1950) The first real Demelza that appears on the Birth Index of England and Wales is a Demelza Cotterell in the Oct-Dec quarter in 1951 in Penzance, Cornwall. However, in his autobiography Poldark's Cornwall, Winston Graham claimed that the first child named Demelza (after his character) was the daughter of British writer Denys Val Baker, born in 1951.  The name came into uncommon but fairly consistent use after that, with most of the births situated in Cornwall. With the emphasis on Cornish revival in the 1960s and 1970s, Demelza was naturally picked up as a "Cornish" given name to reflect this revival.  The name received further exposure from 1975 to 1977 when the BBC adapted the novels into a wildly popular television drama which ran for two series (1975 and 1977). The Downton Abbey of its day, Poldark, starring Angharad Rees in the starring role of Demelza, was watched by millions of viewers in Britain, and shown in over 40 countries world wide. It is widely regarded as Britain's most successful television adaptation of all time next to the BBC's 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.   click to enlarge Births in England and Wales (selected years): 1950s - 12 births overall 1960s - 13 births overall 1970s:     1971 - 1 birth     1972 - 6 births     1973 - 8 births     1974 - 4 births     1975 - 17 births     1976 - 72 births     1977 - 68 births     1978 - 81 births     1979 - 44 births 1980s:     1981 - 26 births     1985 - 15 births     1989 - 7 births Even in other countries, the popularity of the television show saw a Demelza spike. In Spain, both Demelza and variant Demelsa can be found in Spanish birth records in the late 1970s and 1980s. Since 1996, Demelza has had consistent usage each year of between 2 and 11 births, putting it well below the top 1000. In 2013, Demelza ranked #5742 with 3 births.  The new 2015 BBC adaptation of Poldark starring Eleanor Tomlinson and Aidan Turner returned to British screens on March 8th and has already gained a popular following. Could more little Demelzas be on the horizon?

Famous Bearers:

Contemporary: * Demelza Fellowes (b. 1980), Australian netball player. * Demelza Reveley (b. 1991), Australian model.  Literature and other Media: * Demelza Carne, the heroine of Winton Graham's Poldark novels (1945-2002). * Demelza Robins, a Griffindor Chaser in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling. Other: * Demelza, a hamlet in Cornwall.

Variants:

Demelsa (Spanish)

Pronunciation:

də-MEL-zə [key]

Possible  Diminutives:

Demi, Mel, Dezzi, Missy, Melzi

Sibling Names:

Morwenna      Finola     Lamorna     Tamsin     Rhiannon     Bronwyn  Trevelyan      Jago      Orlando     Fergus     Perran     Alistair

Name Lists:

Cornish Names   Clunky Celtic

 

If you like Demelza you may also like:   Angharad, Fenella, Zennor, Rowena, Bryony, Minerva, Kerenza, Gwyneth, Constanza, Esperanza

 

Thanks to meerkat for requesting this post. 

Name Help: A sister for Sunniva

Maria and her German partner are expecting their second child, a sister for their daughter Sunniva. Maria wants a name which reflects both their heritages but finding a 'German' name they can both agree on is proving difficult. 

First time round, they finally settled on Sunniva -- a Scandinavian form of a Saxon name -- to reflect the Germanic language, despite Maria suggesting several obscure German names. 

Maria writes:
The problem seems to be that every Germanic name I suggest sounds to him and other Germans like Nazi names or just dowdy. Therefore, it would be necessary to choose a name that does not sound so typically Germanic (like Sunniva) or a name that is Germanic in origin in another language.
Also, I would like a relatively obscure name with a pleasant meaning-- that rules out names like Rosalind ("gentle horse!"). Scandinavian names are also an option, but they are very trendy in Germany and therefore I prefer not modern or obviously Scandinavian names.

Maria likes Idony, Fryswith, Amalindis and Minnegard. However, her partner has vetoed those.

They have agreed on Theodora as a strong candidate, but even if they use it as a first name, Maria still wants to find a Germanic middle name.

 

※    ※    ※    ※

 

Being completely honest, I am not particular au fait with current German name trends, so I don't have a natural feel for what is considered old fashioned or trendy to a German speaker. This request did set me down a fascinating path of discovery however, and so hopefully there will be a balance here between your taste for rare historic gems and your partner's aversion to anything dowdy. Fortunately, Germanic names are a staple among appellations. Longstanding for centuries, they have permeated into many cultures and societies.

The hardest part in your request was actually not finding suitable names, but finding ones which fit your criteria of a pleasant meaning for modern English speakers. The ancient Germanic cultures valued traits and viewed the world in a way which we cannot fully comprehend. The many Germanic names containing fierce elements such as "bear," "spear," "battle," "strife,"  "horse" etc most likely had a highly symbolic and positive,  perhaps even protective, meaning for the bearers which is lost to us today. Though there were a great many, I've tried to skip over these names -- though one or two may have slipped past if they were too good to resist. 

 

Uncommon "German" choices:

First let's look at some names, either from German heritage or from a German route, which have never been too popular in Germany and still remain uncommon both here and there:

Franziska -- The German feminine form of Franciscus, essentially meaning "a Frank" (the Germanic tribe) but later came to mean "free, generous, sincere." Ziska and Franzi are found as nickname forms in Germany. 

Cölestine -- A German form of Celestine, a feminine form of the Roman Caelestinus ""of the sky, heavenly." Zölestine is another pretty German variant. 

Kreszentia -- The German form of Crescentia, a Roman name meaning "blooming, blossoming." Kreszenz is a sleeker form of the name, while Zenzi and Senta are used as diminutives. 

Annalena -- A German combination of Anna and Lena (a short form of Helena). 

Euphemia -- Not a German name itself -- like Theodora, it's Greek meaning "well spoken." -- but what has caught my eye is an old German short form Femeke. Two birds with one stone!

Elzebe -- An old German (possibly Frisian) variant of Elizabeth. Elseby and Elzaby are found as old Swedish variants. 

Tabea -- A German short form of Tabitha meaning "gazelle" in Hebrew. 

Romy -- A short form of Rosemarie used in Germany. 

Viveca -- The Latinised form of Wiebe, a medieval German name derived from wig "war" or wiga "warrior, fighter, hero."

 

Flower Power:

Flower names are fashionable choices with lovely associations. Here are some uncommon choices with German heritage:

Zinnia -- This sunflower-type flower was named after German botanist Johann Zinn. 

Freesia -- A pretty pink flower named after German physician Friedrich Freese whose surname is a variant of Friese "a Frisian".

Fuchsia -- This flower was named after German botanist Leonhart Fuchs whose surname means "fox" in German.

 

Ancient Germanic (and their descendants):

Aveza -- An ancient Germanic name, a feminine form of Avo, which could either be connected to the Germanic tribe of the Aviones or from the old Germanic alfi "elf." Bear in mind, elves were regarded as magical, mystical beings and were highly revered by the Germanic tribes. They even used alfi in terms which meant "beautiful." Avice and Avis were medieval English versions, perhaps influenced by the Latin avis "bird."

Olenta -- A form of Audelinda, Odelind, Odelinda, Odelendis deriving from aud meaning "wealth, fortune" and linde "gentle, tender". 

Fredelinde -- An old Germanic name derived from frithu "peace" and linde "gentle, tender."

Mazalina -- The Germanic staple Matilda, borne by empresses and warrior queens, can also be found in the medieval variant forms Mazalina and Matelina. Or perhaps you might like Portuguese form Mafalda. 

Maganza / Meginza -- Feminine old Germanic name derived from magan "strength."

Clarimond -- A blend of the Latin clarus "bright, shining," which was adopted into Germanic languages, and mund "protection." Also found as Claremonde, Esclarmonde and Claramunda. 

Amelot -- Amelot and Emelot were medieval diminutive forms of Emmeline, Ameline, derived from amal "work," or possibly a corruption of Adeline "noble." 

Amiza/Amisa -- A rare medieval form of the ancient Germanic Amala, derived from amal "work.,"

 

The Adals:

Adal "nobel" is a key Germanic name element which had hundreds of names derived from it. The most famous, of course, is Ada, Adelheid/Adelaide, Adeline, Adela and Adele, but there are also several more uncommon choices:

Athala -- An older form of Adela. 

Edila -- Another medieval variant form of Adela. 

Acelina -- A feminine form derived from the Germanic name Azo. It's generally thought to be a derivation of adal but may also derive from anzus "a God." Azelina, Aceline and Azeline are variant forms. 

Edelmira -- The Spanish feminine form of Adelmar adal + meri "famous, excellent." It can also be found as Almira.

Adeliza -- A variant form of Adela, borne by a queen of England. Other spellings include Adelize, Adelaisa, Adelais and Adelaisa.

Aline -- A slimmer variant of Adeline used in the Middle Ages. 

Adelita -- The Spanish diminutive form of Adela. 

Aleida -- A German short form of Adelheid.  

 

The Swinthas:

Another common name element is swind meaning "strong, brave" which was used almost exclusively for girls. It lend to a variety of endings: -sind, -send, -senta, -sent, -cent, -sindis, -sant(e) and -sande, all of which can be added to any of the names below depending on your preference.

Millicent -- From amal "work" + swind. Variants include Melisande, Milesenda, Melisenda, Melissent etc.

Alsinda -- From adal "noble" + swind. Alsenta, Alsindis and Alisent are variants. 

Maissent -- From mahti "mighty" + swind. Also found as Maysenda, Maysant etc. 

Elissent -- From heil "whole, healthy" + swind. Also found as Helisent, Elysant, Elisind. 

Belisent -- From bili "suitable, proper, fitting, amiable" + swind. Also found as Bellicent, Belissent, Belissenda, Belisencia, Belsante and Belisera.

Fressenta.-- From frith "peace" + swind. Also found as Fredesendis and Fressenda. 

 

Old English:

When the Angles, Saxons and Jutes came to England, they brought with them their Germanic culture and languages, eventually evolving into Old English.
Sunniva also derives from Old English so the links seems quite easy. 

Ailith -- Aileth, Ayleth and a range of variants derived originally from the Saxon name Æðelgýð, -- æðel "noble" and gyð "battle, combat."

Merewen -- A medieval form of the Anglo-Saxon name Mærwynn, --  mǣre "famous, renowned, great, excellent, sublime, splendid," and wynn "joy, rapture, pleasure, delight, gladness." Also found as Merewina, Merewenna, Merwenna and Meriwenna.

Lewenna -- A later form of Leofwynn -- leof "beloved" and wynn "joy," also found as Lewen. A similar name is Sewenna  from sǣ "sea" + wynn. 

Sedemay -- Also found as Sedemai, this name derives from sidu "custom, manner" and mægden  "maiden."

 

Ancient Gaulish Deities:

Even further back, we can look to inspiration from the Ancient Gauls who lived in what is now Germany centuries ago. 

Alauna -- Known from inscriptions at Pantenburg, Germany, Alauna (Alaunia or Alaudia) was a Gaulish goddess whose name may derive from the Proto-Celtic alauno "nourishing." The Gaulish Alauduni tribe derived their name from her. 

Belisama -- A Gaulish goddess of light identified with the Roman goddess Minerva. Her name probably meant "most powerful."

Nehelennia / Nenhelennia -- A Celtic-Germanic mother goddess of commerce, sailing vessels and the hearth and home who is found in several inscriptions across Germany. Her name most like means "seafarer." 

 

Lots of luck. I hope this lists provides some inspiration for you. Please keep us updated. 

 

UPDATE: Welcome Theodora Merewen! What a lovely name.