British Baby Names

Finds from 1868

1868 was a packed year for Britain. It started with the British Expedition to Abyssinia in January and ended with the world's first traffic lights being installed in Parliament Square in London in December.
Joseph Norman Lockyer discovered the chemical element helium and public hanging was abolished. It was also a year of three PMs: The Earl of Derby, Disraeli and Gladstone.

Below is a selection of names from the GRO Birth Records for England and Wales in 1868. 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.

Abiathar Amos Achilles George Africk Prentice Ahinoam Aidan Ignatius Alphord Edward Aquilla Obadiah C. Arden Thickness Vernon Ashby Hyacinth St John Aubert Alpheus Aubrey Oswald Augustus Debonnaire John Augustus Shadrach Azariah Augustus Barzallai Montague E. Buenaventura Pablo "Ventino" Cadwaladr Hugh Caesar Joseph Captain Simeon Collatinus Thomas Copernicus Corti Cameron Cuthwald Hubert Cyrenius Charles De Lozano Destainville Deodatus Tamelier Doreo Atticus R Ernest Chrysostom Fortunato Constantine Garibaldi Emanuel Giacomo David Gwyn Zinzan Gwrthefyr Hamlet Horace Hampton Oakley (sn: Court) Hippolyte Theodore Holly James Idloes Cleaton Ilbert Cornish Bassett Iorwerth Golyddan Jehoida Jonadab Josiah Keyworth Ebenezer King William Kirjath-Arba Lemon William Leofric Leighton Machon Unwin Mackworth Gustavus Major Job Major Septimus T. Master Gabriel Melchizedeck William Menotti Garabaldi Napoleon Edmund Naptheli Jesse Nigel Decimus Nimshi Abraham Noble Hall Ocean Frederic Obed Ezer Olinthus Gilbert Gregory Onslow Alfred Onward Honey Otter Green Peregrine Lot Perinett Percival Prideaux Patterson Quill Moss Rising (sn: Newstead) Plato Pliny Probert Roberts Reuben Ruby Rudolph Chrysanthus Seabold Eli Secret Powell Severn Lysander Shakespeare Brady Sidney Antrobus Southern Smailes Speedwell Boswell Swan John Townsend Dixon Undecimus Valdemar Hawkes Vandeleur Bright Vandloo George Victor Napoleon Virgo Henry Watson Mordaunt Clement Wolfe Zeddic Young Amos Younger Harry Zenas Percy

Abyssinia Lilian Adeliza Venus Agnes Zibiah Appolina Dorothy Argentine Emily Armour Selina Lucy Aseneth Merina Asia Cecilia Athiah Dosia Athaliah Alice Atholine Amelia Auretta Dagmar Averilda Sophia Avonia Frances Ayesha Marion Azelpha Bathenia Mary Britannia Boadicea  Calphurnia Capitola Bertha Capriella Mary [triplets] Charity Mary, Faith Elizabeth & Hope Martha Cherrie Evelyn Dogetta Zilpah Donnithorne Flora C. Ellen Tymandra Elystra Esther -- named after grandmother. Ethel Brunetta  Etheldreda Chichelé Eugenie Arcada Harriett Evis Arwin Faerie Edith Lilian Faithful Faerie M. Florence Gooseberry Fuchsia Matilda Fulleretta Guildinah Elizabeth Gundreda Gertrude Honorine Adolphine Horatia Lilias Jessie Hughetta Keinwen Arianwen Kerenhappuch Emma Kresenz Alice Lehannah Kate Leona Zuline Leonora Honoria Lucebella Margarita Macey Jane Marguerite Katinka Matilda Varanna Mazarina Florentia Medora Maude Mehetabel Frederica Meliora Louisa Mellony May Milborough Louise Milcah Selena Minda Orpha Minnigrey Louisa -- Minnigrey was title of a romantic novel. Modesta Elizabeth Mooretta Flora -- Father's name was Moore. Oceana Grace Ocena Louisa Ooryala Mary Orinthia Mary Othella Caroline Penelope Bathsheba Phanetta Louisa [twins] Philippa & Vignette Plethora Poppy Selina Quinine Quinta Isabella Rechabina Alberta Repentance May Ruthetta Louisa Samuelina Ada Helen -- Father's name was Samuel.  Sidney Sophy Siegwardine Cornelia Nina Silence Ann Theodosia Angel Thirza Jael Thyra Christiane Topsy Violetta Travillian Isabella Urania Catharine Vanda Mary Venus Ann Vienna Elizabeth Violet Andalusia Virgo Maria Virtue Lavinia Wencke Ranghilda Xenophina Louisa

For a look back at previous years' "Finds from" posts, click on the category links below ↓

UK Birth Announcements 3/8/15 - 9/8/15

A round-up of names from birth announcements announced in British newspapers in the last week.

Sources include a national paper (The Telegraph) and a broad range of local newspapers from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sibling names are in brackets. 

 

Boys:

Albie James

Alby Thomas (Carter)

Alex James

Dacre Andrew (Esme Annie)

Frederick Beaumont "Freddie" (Grace, Thomas & William)

Guy Ian (Katie & Neve)

Hamish Russell

Harris Stanley (Lila Anne)

Heath James

Hedley Charles Herbert (Rosie Louisa)

Jacob Daniel

James Kramer

James Ronald Kittow (Fiona Rosemary Isobel & Holly Diana Emily)

Max Alan Harry

Owen Alan (Harry)

Remy Joshua

Robert Wilson

Ronnie Michael (Wren Katharine)

Rufus Nicholas Francis

Seth Hendrix

William David (James Alan)

William Ernest Hugh

 

Girls:

Connie (Bella)

Ephra Alice

Freya Elizabeth

Isobel Harper (Luke)

Jemima Margaret Eleanor (Poppy Evelyn Alexandra & Daisy Florence Elsa)

Katarina Eliza (Samuel Charles)

Lily Grace

Madison Valerie

Margot Anne Coco

 

Twins:

Harry & Olly

 

Name of the Week

A symbolically majestic name with a cosy-crusty vibe.
Now given new life in the European pronunciation thanks to 
a superstar football player.

 

Origin:

Lionel is a medieval diminutive form of the Old French Leon, itself a form of the Latin name Leo "lion," using the diminutive suffix -el. Because of this suffix, several sources fancy the meaning of Lionel as "little lion."

Usage:

We can trace the name Lionel right back to Arthurian legend. Sir Lionel was a son of King Bors of Gaul and double cousin of Lancelot. When his father died, legend has it that Lionel and his brother were raised with Lancelot by the Lady of the Lake and, like his cousin, later became a Knight of the Round Table.  There are a few smatterings of the name in use in the early Middle Ages, but, overall, they are difficult to come by. A Lunell Wodeward is mentioned on the 1273 Essex Hundred rolls, and a Lionet (another diminutive of Leon analogous to Lionel) is found on a London Subsidy Roll of 1292. Posterity also remembers a Lionel de Bradenham who laid seige to Colchester in 1350. Overall however, the name was very rare until it was used by Edward III for his third son. It is well known that Edward III was fascinated by knightly chivalry and was always keen to emulate King Arthur. He specifically adopted for himself the lion passant guardant, known as a leopard in heraldic terms, and used the symbol in a very effective form of early royal propaganda -- he even kept real leopards and lions at the Tower of London. The lion was king of beasts and a symbol of Christ, used as a archetype of kingship for many generations so it made for an obvious kingly metaphor for Edward.  Intriguingly, in 1334, Edward entered a tournament at Dunstable under the name 'Sir Lionel' with his own newly created arms. Historians such as Juliet Vale* have suggested that Edward specifically assumed the name Lionel, not only because it gave him an Arthurian knightly association but also served as a symbolic 'royal persona' which didn't demote him socially to the lower rank of knight.  Essentially, through the name Lionel "little lion," Edward became the embodiment of his royal symbol during the tournament. Four years later, in 1338 he gave the name to his son, Lionel of Antwerp, and still seems to have been attached to the name himself, using the 'Sir Lionel' arms once again in a tournament in 1342.  As Caroline Shenton put's it, "This, more than any other example, strikingly indicates how imaginative was Edward III's manipulation of the traditional imagery of English kingship. The diminutive coinage, 'Lionel', was not simply an affectionate play on words. 'Lyonellus' or 'little lion' - the meaning intended at the 1334 tournament - can also, obviously, be interpreted as 'son of the lion.' [...] From then on, Edward had a living metaphor, in the form of his son, to embody his view of kingship and the role of his family in sustaining that image.* The name seems to have caught on, at least a little, after this royal namesake. By the 16th century surname forms Lynell, Linell, Lunel and Linnell appear in records, while the contracted form Lyall/Lyell was common in North England and the Scottish lowlands. It was in low-moderate use from the 16th to 18th century, appearing twice in Norfolk baptism from 1585-1603 and twice again from 1660-1702.  In Smith Bannister's rank of top 50 names from 1538 to 1670 in fourty English parishes, Lionel appears in the top 50 in only one decade: #46 in the 1630s.  Lionel was well used among the peerage. The name is notable among the earls of Middlesex, the first of whom was Lionel Cranfield, 1st Earl of Middlesex (1575–1645), and also frequently by the Tollemache family, later earls of Dysart. Most famous among name fans is the Reverend Ralph William Lyonel Tollemache-Tollemache (1826-1895) who not only named his eldest son Lyonel (later Sir Lyonel Tollemache, 4th Baronet), he also have his other children a series of eccentric names, all based on the name Lyonel. His four youngest daughters were Lyonesse, Lyona, Lyonella, Lyonetta, and all but one of his sons had a related name: Leo, Leone, Lyunulph and Lyulph Ydwallo Odin Nestor Egbert Lyonel (the initials of which spell "LYONEL"). Thanks to the Victorian love of the medieval, Lionel had a surge in popularity in the latter half of the 19th century. In 1860 Lionel ranked only #169, but had risen to #122 in 1870, #95 in 1880, #81 in 1890 and #97 in 1900.  Data from the 1881 census shows that Lionel was most popular, relative to population size, in the South of England.  It remained in the top 100 in England and Wales up until the 1930s -- #86 in 1904, #81 in 1914 and #90 in 1924 -- after which it fell out. From 1996 to 2006, Lionel had no more than 10 births in any given year in England and Wales. Since then, it has been sporadically rising, most likely thanks to football star Lionel Messi. It is impossible to tell from the data how many of these little Lionel's share Messi's European pronunciation of the name (lee-ō-NEL) as opposed to the British pronunciation, but I have met and know of little Lionel's who were named for the footballer.  Lionel was not in the top 100 in Scotland in 1900, 1950 or 1975 and since 1974, has only been registered on nine boys.  In 2013, Lionel ranked #1339 (18 births) in England and Wales, and did not rank at all in Scotland.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence (1338-1368), son of King Edward III of England. * Lionel Woodville (d. 1484), Bishop of Salisbury, brother of Elizabeth Woodville, Queen consort of England. * Lionel Duckett (1511–1587), Lord Mayor of London. * Lionel Cranfield, 1st Earl of Middlesex (1575–1645), English merchant and nobleman. * Lionel Barrymore (1878–1954), was an American actor. Contemporary: * Lionel Hampton (1908-2002), American jazz musician. * Lionel Jeffries (1926-2010), English actor. * Lionel Bart (1930-1999), British composer. * Lionel Cox (1930–2010), Australian cyclist. * Lionel Blair (b. 1931), British dancer and actor. * Lionel Richie (b. 1949), American singer, songwriter. * Lionel Messi (b.1987), Argentine footballer. Literature and Other Media: * Sir Lionel, a knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend.

Variants:

Lyonel, Lyell

Pronunciation:

LĪ-ə-nel / LĪ-nəl (UK) lee-ō-NEL (Europe) [key]

Possible diminutives:

Leo, Lio, Lyle

Sibling Names:

Agnes     Blythe     Contance     Sybil     Audrey     Wilhelmina  Virgil     Eugene     Reginald     Giles     Sylvester     Cedric

Name Lists:

Funky Clunky   Upright Elegance   British Royalty   Victorian Darlings   Golden Age Hollywood   Gilbert and Sullivan Names

 

If you like Lionel you may also like:    Linus, Alphonso, Leopold, Inigo, Leoline, Eustace, Leonard, Randolph, Chester, Llewelyn

 

Thanks to Paula for requesting this post.

Name Help: A sibling for Raphael

Theresa and Michael are awaiting the arrival of their second child soon, a brother of sister for their son Raphael Ethan "Raffi".

Theresa says they liked the name because it has: "biblical reference, unusual but not too out there, multi-syllable, strong sounding, shortening options. We like to have a longer name with shortening possibilities.  For example, we tend to call our son Raffi as a more familiar, everyday use but still like to use the more elegant or potentially formal Raphael at other times.  

They are looking for the same criteria for another child, boy or girl, and as Catholics would like a biblical name, but it is not essential.

Their List:

Gabriella Maria – They not sure if having another angel name is a bit too much.

Thaddeus – They don't like Thad as a nickname.
Emmanuel – They don't like Manny.
Tobiah – They have a short B surname and are not sure that it goes well. 

※    ※    ※    ※

Looks like you already have a solid list so far. I personally think that Gabriella is enough removed from Gabriel as to not be too obvious connected as another archangel name, but then I can't say whether it would be so for you family and friends. 

 

Girls

Trying to find good unusual but not too out there biblical names for girls is a difficult task. There are few biblical names for girls that aren’t either very well known (Elizabeth, Abigail) or incongruous sounding to English ears (Hoglah, Bashemath). And, of the uncommon names which do have a pleasant sound, several don't have very emulable biblical stories (Athalia, Jezebel etc)

Bethia – I’ve mentioned it several times before on this blog, but Bethia (the anglicised form of the Biblical Bithiah meaning “daughter of God”) really is a great choice for parents looking for a usable yet uncommon biblical name. Beth makes an easy nickname, and, with your surname, Bibi (BB) would also work.

Martha – A sweet and solid Biblical choice which isn't too popular but easily accessible. St Martha is a lovely biblical namesake -- she's even a dragon slayer -- with a name that has Regency style. Mari, Marty, Matty and Patsy could all be used as nicknames. 

Kezia  – Kezia, or Keziah, was one of the beautiful daughters of Job. The name means "cassia," from the spice tree. In use since the 16th century, Kizzy was once a common nickname. 

Cassia – A sweet spice related to cinammon and also the feminine form of the Roman name Cassius. Since the 16th century, it has been used as an alternate form of the biblical Keziah not only in sound but also in meaning. 

Jedidah / Jedida – A rare yet pleasant sounding biblical name meaning "beloved." 

Sepphora / Seffora – In the Old Testament, Zipporah is the estimable wife of Moses. The Greek form of the name is Sepphora, which became Seffora in Latin. Seffie or Effie would make great nicknames. 

Mariana – I notice that you are planning on using Maria as a middle name, but would you consider a Maria variant? Mariana is chic and pretty with lots of nickname potentials from Mari, Mia, Maia and Ria. 

Eliza – Speaking of variants, Elizabeth may be too homespun for your taste, but vintage Eliza has just enough wow factor while still retaining its biblical heritage. 

Liliana – Other forms of Elizabeth are elegant Italian Liliana, Slavic Lilia and Scottish Lilias. 

Annika – The Hebrew Hannah features in the Old Testament, and the Greek Anna in the New. Annika is an exotic yet accessible Scandinavian form. 

Josephine – As Gabriella is a feminine form of a biblical name, sweet Josephine is worth considering. It is familiar yet much underused, only ranking #257. It also has a whole host of fabulous nicknames including Josie, Posy and Effie. 

Francesca – Speaking of feminine forms, Francesca is a chic multi-syllabic import which is familiar yet not overly used in Britain. It isn't biblical, but it does evoke the estimable St Francis. 

Eliana – A later form of the Roman Aeliana, which was born by an early Christian martyr. In modern Hebrew Eliana has also developed the meaning "my God has answered."

Eliora – A pretty Hebrew name meaning "God is my light."

Ramona –A feminine form of Raymond, a name born by no less than five saints. Romy would make a sweet and stylish nickname with Raffi. 

Penelope – A stylish and fashionable choice which is still underused at #130. The nickname options are numerous: Penny, Poppy, Polly, Nell, Ellie, Lola. Penelope was the birth name of St Irene of Thessaloniki.

Aurelia – A mellifluous Latin name, born by a saint, which means "golden."

Zelie – A pretty French name most famous for being the name of Blessed Marie-Azélie Guérin Martin, known as Zelie, the mother of St Theresa, due to be canonised in October this year. In terms of longer forms, Zelie could be used as a nickname for botanical Azalea (of which Azélie is the French form). Zelie is also a name used for St Solange (Solene), whose name derives from the Latin solemnis "religious, consecrated."

Natalia – The Latin form of Natalie, born by a saint, and with lots of nickname options. 

 

Boys

Phineas – An uncommon but stylish biblical choice made more appealing with the nickname Finn. 

Asher – I'm astonished by how uncommon friendly Asher still is given its stylish sound and easy nickname Ash. Even better it has a great meaning: "happy".

Barnaby – In the New Testament, St Barnabas was an apostle and companion of St Paul. Affable Barnaby is the British form.

Matthias – With a Matthew in the family, you might consider the related Matthias, a name of another apostle. If Matt is too close as a nickname, you could use Ty. 

Nathaniel – A great underused yet familiar staple with charm and class. Nate, Thane and Nat are cool nicknames. 

Eliezer – Eli is a stylish biblical choice at the moment, but may be a little short for what you are looking for. Beyond Elijah or Elias, Eliezer is a solid biblical choice, meaning "My God is help," which Eli could be a nickname for.  

Ezekiel – The name of a estimable prophet meaning "God strengthens," with Zeke as a nickname. 

Malachi – Another prophet is Malachi. Mally or Kai both make accessible short forms. 

Solomon – The great and wise King of the Old Testament. Though Solomon is a grand, strong name, Sol or Sonny are great choices fro everyday names. 

Zacchaeus / Zacharias – Friendly Zack is cool and stylish. While Zachary may be too common for you, Zacchaeus or Zacharias are stylishly uncommon.

Xavier – A sophisticated Spanish (or more specifically Basque) choice, made famous by St Francis Xavier. Xavi as a nickname would make a great parallel next to Raffi. 

Benedict – A saintly name, meaning "blessed," borne by no fewer than fifteen popes. Ben or Ned make great nicknames. 

Augustine – A prominent saints name in use from the Middle Ages. I'm also a fan of the Continental form Augustin. Gus is an adorably friendly nickname, or you could go for the medieval vernacular, Austin. 

Leander – A saintly ancient Greek name meaning "lion of a man." Potential nicknames include Lee, Leo, Lando or Anders. 

Maximus – Another saintly name, meaning "greatest" in Latin. Gentlemanly Maximilian is also worth considering.

Laszlo – The name of a Hungarian saint, sometimes found spelled Lazlo. 

 

Best wishes on your new arrival! Please keep us updated.

 

Name Help: A brother for William

 

Rebecca and her husband are expecting their second child soon, a brother for their son William Thomas.

They are looking for a traditional name which can be shortened and would suit a tall, well built man. They want to avoid a name ending in an 'ee' sound or a modern coinage. 

Names they have considered but rejected:

George - too royal with William 
Henry / Harry - as above
Ben - put off by Bill and Ben 
Leo - already in use in their social circle
Jonah - Rebecca likes but husband feels is 'too unlucky'

Their List:

Edward "Ted"
Noah
Isaac
Josiah

※    ※    ※    ※

William is such a versatile, classic name with so much wonderful history, it's understandable that you would want something that can stand up next to it. Personally, I think Edward is a great choice as it reflects William's accessible, gentlemanly quality and long regal history of use.

 

The Classics

In names, "classic" is a subjective term, mostly because it's definition [something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality] applies to only a small handful of appellations. Fashions come and fashions go -- especially with names -- and very few weather the storm and remain strong favourites for every generation. Both William and Thomas (which have never been out of the top 50) most certainly do apply. The names below have never been out of the top 100 since 1900 and can truly be considered as 'classic'.

James – Equally as royal as William yet not overtly so given that the only current royal James is young Viscount Severn who lives his life outside of media attention. Jamie, Jim, Jimmy and even medieval Jem make for excellent nicknames. 

Alexander – Once borne by Scottish kings, Alexander is a stately ancient Greek name, meaning "defender of men," made famous by Alexander the Great. Alex, Alec, Lex, Xander and Anders would all make great nicknames. 

Joseph – Friendly Joseph is your strong silent type, that shortens to solid Joe, cheeky Joey or even hipster Zeph. 

Daniel – A a biblical classic and favourite in Britain since the Middle Ages. Danny works for a boy; Dan is for a teen/adult.

David – Another biblical classic, borne by a British patron saint and never out of popularity since the Middle Ages. 

Michael – An archangel responsible for the army of heaven, Michael is found in many forms all over the world. Mike, Mikey, Mick, Mickey or Kai can all be used as nicknames. 

 

The Nearly Classics

Next there are longstanding, ancient names, that, like girls’ names Emma, Louise and Amelia, have fluctuated in and out of the top one hundred over the centuries yet still feel like classics. Some of them are recently back in fashion; others have spent a century in the top 100 and are now sitting below.

Oliver – The king in all but name, Oliver is a stylish choice with friendly nickname Ollie. 

Jacob – Another solid biblical choice which has been in moderate use for centuries and is now a fashionable favourite. Jake, Jay and Coby have all been used as diminutives. 

Joshua – Like Jacob, Joshua has ancient biblical charm yet feels thoroughly modern. 

Frederick – Stately Frederick, meaning "peaceful ruler," was king we never had. Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales was the eldest son and heir of George II but predeceased  his father. Fred, Freddie and even Rick work as nicknames.

Arthur – Ancient Arthur, related to bears, is one of Britain's greatest legendary heroes. The name is both heroic and sweetly vintage at the same time. Artie or Art is the standard nickname, but some have even used Bear as a nickname. 

Matthew – A solid and charming name which feels very down to earth, especially with nickname Matt. 

Samuel – Only out of the top 100 in the 1950s and 1960s, Samuel is a solid dependable classic with friendly nickname Sam. 

Louis / Lewis – Louis is the French form of an ancient royal Germanic meaning "famous in battle." Louis is loo-ee in the French pronounciation, but was once pronounced loo-iss in Britain. This is where the spelling Lewis comes from [Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales was also spelled Frederick Lewis in his lifetime] and is also the name of a Scottish island. 

Patrick – A Roman name, meaning noble, which became notable in Britain thanks to the British saint who converted the Irish. Paddy makes for a friendly nickname, while Rick or Trick would be edgier. 

Nicholas – Yet another stately ancient Greek name which has been a favourite since the Middle Ages. Nick is the go-to diminutive, but others perfer Cole. 

Edmund – Like Edward, Edmund is also a royal Anglo-Saxon heritage choice which gives the nicknames Ted or Ned. 

Peter – A staple for milennia, Peter has fairly recently fallen out of the top 100 making it well known but underused. Siblings William and Peter have a classic war time era vibe.

 

Never Out-of-Styles

The following are ancient appellations that have been around in good use for centuries, but never made it into the top ranks, though always moderately and consistently used.

Dominic – Classic Dominic is suave and sophisticated. Dom is the standard nickname, but Nick also works. 

Nathaniel – A smooth and stylish biblical name with cool in-built nickname Nate.

Maxwell – A Scottish surname long used as a sleek given name thanks to nicknames Max and Mac.

Hugo – An ancient Germanic name with the oh-so-stylish -o ending. 

Theodore – A great underused yet familiar staple with charm and class. Nicknames range from Theo to Teddy. 

Jasper – A stately and stylish biblical choice which sits just beneath the top 100. 

Tobias – A gentlemanly Hellenised form of a biblical choice with friendly in-built nickname Toby. 

Gabriel – An ancient name that spans through millennia and continents, but has always remained relatively uncommon.

Sebastian – A solid Roman staple now back in fashion. Seb and Baz are both found as nicknames.

 

The Biblicals

Biblical names have always been a staple of British nomenclature, from John and James to current favourites Noah and Ethan. 

Lucas – The Latin form of of the Biblical Greek Loukas. Luke is the English form, but works equally well as a shortform for Lucas. 

Elijah  – An intriguing Biblical staple with the fashionable long 'i' and 'ah' ending. Eli or Lij are the most common nicknames.  

Elias – The Greek form of Elijah, which, in Britain, became Ellis with the diminutive form Elliot. All great traditional choices with William. 

Caleb – A stylish Old Testament choice which can be shortened to Cale, Cabe or Cal.

Reuben – An affable gentleman with Biblical routes and straightforward sound.

 

I hope this has been of use. Please keep us updated.

 

UPDATE: Welcome Joseph Edward!

 

 

UK Birth Announcements 27/7/15 - 2/8/15

A round-up of names from birth announcements announced in British newspapers in the last week.

Sources include a national paper (The Telegraph) and a broad range of local newspapers from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sibling names are in brackets. 

 

Boys:

Alexander David Nicholas

Archie Ralph Thomas (Harry Walter Peter)

Arthur Harry

Barnaby Jack 

Carter Barrie (Elisha & Chaniah)

Charlie William

Daniel Oliver

Daniel Thomas (Callum James)

Edward William (Jack Leonard)

George Francis Nicholas

Jack David

Louis Cecil

Oscar Lewis (Oliver Reece)

Rafferty

Rory Aidan

Wilfred Alexander (Jasper Julian)

 

Girls:

Amber Nicole Forbes (Sophia Isobel Pyper)

Amelia Carol Elizabeth

Annie Rose

Ava Mae

Charlotte Rose

Eliana Sophie Ann Remilly

Ella Victoria

Emily Jess

Esther

Evelyn Rose Cuyler (Charles Thomas James "Charlie")

Evie Rose

Hazel Joanne (Charlie)

Henrietta Elizabeth Alexandra (Humphrey Leonard Glenville & Hugo Henry Jamieson)

Isla Louise

Isla Rose (Ruby Anne)

Katie Helen (Molly)

Molly Elizabeth (Agnes Catherine & Francis David Playfair)

Natalia Jane (Tamara Emma)

Olivia Marie

Scarlett Ann (Kara & William)

Sienna Rose

Tegan Mae

 

Twins:

Archie & Harris

Charlotte & Emily

Jack & Travis

Name of the Week

 

Origin:

Charlotte is a feminine form of Charles, itself an old French form of the Germanic name Karl. The Latin form Carola (the feminine form of Carolus) developed the diminutive suffix -ot which became Charlotte in French and Carlotta in Italian.   Karl itself was a Germanic word meaning "man, husband" which stemmed from the Proto-Germanic *karilaz "little man, young man", a word that can be found in use in many languages throughout Europe. In Old English, for example, ceorl (later a carl or churl) referred to a freeman: a status between a noble and a serf. They held the right to bear arms, attend local courts, and payed dues directly to the king. In Slavic languages, the word came to mean "king" thanks to the Carolingian dynasty (e.g. Polish krol, Lithuanian karalius, Czech and Slovakkrál, Russian король).

Usage:

Many onomasticians -- including the indomitable Charlotte M. Yonge and Elizabeth G. Withycombe -- track the first Charlotte back to Charlotte of Savoy (1411-1483). She married Louis XI of France, thereby 'introducing' the Italian Carlotta to French court, which was Frenchified as Charlotte.  However, a deeper delve shows a more complex picture, and not one that necessarily started with Carlotta and ended with Charlotte. The Duchy of Savoy, where Charlotte was born, ruled territory between France, Switzerland and Italy which made for a language melting pot. Early records in Italian* do call her Carlotta, but, as her family were of French nobility, she may have been called Charlotte also. Her immediate family tree was also littered with other Charlottes, and she certainly wasn't the first. Another Charlotte was her first cousin and later sister-in-law Charlotte of Lusignan (1444– 1487) who was born only three years after Charlotte of Savoy. She was heir to the throne of Cyprus and later reigned as queen in her own right. Charlotte de Bourbon (1449–1478), was another distant member of the de Bourbon line who was born soon after. Both Charlotte of Savoy and Charlotte of Lusignan were, in all likelihood, named after their mutual grandmother Charlotte de Bourbon-La Marche (1388–1422), Queen consort of Cyprus. This Charlotte was born in France in 1388, daughter of John I, Count of La Marche, and is known for bringing about a revival of French culture to the Cyprian court. Though she may have been 'Regina Carlotta' to her people, it is more likely that her French family called her Charlotte. It is possible that she was named in honour of King Charles VI of France, whom her father fought with on campaign in Flanders in 1382. From the 14th century onward, then, Charlotte/Carlotta was well established among French royalty and the houses they married into. It took a little longer to travel to British shores. In 1626, the 7th Earl of Derby married French aristocrat Charlotte de La Trémoille (1599-1664) (yet another branch of the de Bourbon tree). Charlotte is famous for having withstood an eleven-week Parliamentarian siege of Lathom Castle in 1644, with only 300 men. Her bravery was immortalised in romantic novels of the 19th century, including one by Sir Walter Scott. Following that, in 1682, the Duke of York, later James II named his daughter Princess Charlotte Maria of York. Sadly, however, she died aged only two months old.  In the aftermath of the Civil War (1642-49), culminating in the beheading of Charles I, royalist families began to increase their honorific use of Charles as a given name, moving it up to the top 15 most popular names in the latter half of the 17th century. Charlotte may also have been used as an honourific royalist name, as Dunkling ranks it #41 for girls in England and Wales in 1700. This made it by no means popular, but it does show it was in regular use by that time. A century later, in 1800, Charlotte had shot up to #10 and was still a respectable #19 by 1850. The most likely influence was thanks to Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of George III, who was Queen of Great Britain and Ireland from 1716-1818, and also its use as the name of the heroine in Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774) which was a huge international success.  Queen Charlotte is remembered for being a passionate supporter of arts and science and for founding many orphanages. She was mother to fifteen children and took an active part in their upbringing, ensuring that her daughters were highly educated. She also founded a maternity hospital, which is now known as Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, one of the oldest of its kind in the world.  Charlotte, Princess Royal (1766–1828), her eldest daughter, followed, as did Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales (1796–1817) her granddaughter, and the only daughter and heir of George IV.  This latter Charlotte was the People's Princess; deemed as a breath of fresh air for the British public, compared to her perfidious father and ailing grandfather (who was widely thought to be insane). When she died, aged only 21, in 1817, the country went into an intense period mourning. Linen-drapers ran out of black cloth and shops, law courts and docks were closed for two weeks. She was certainly the Diana of her day. Her death caused a crisis of succession. King George III's (by then middle-aged) bachelor sons scrabbled to provide the next heir, and, as a result, Princess Charlotte of Clarence was born in March 1819 to William, Duke of Clarence (later William IV). Tragically, she died within hours of her birth, denying the country another ruling Queen Charlotte.  Two months later, Princess Alexandrina Victoria was born, the future Queen Victoria. Charlotte was one of the names which she was supposed to be given, but was rejected by the Prince Regent. Perhaps this pettish act is why Victoria did not use the name Charlotte for any of her own children. When her eldest daughter Vicky, used the name for her first born in 1860 (Princess Charlotte of Prussia "Charly"), the queen was vocal in her dislike of the name.  Charlotte was not used as a given name by the immediate British royal family until the birth this year of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. The one royal exception is Charlotte the parrot, the beloved pet of George V who he took everywhere with him.  This lack of royal namesakes, combined with it eventually being considered a "grandmother" name, saw the name gradually decline in use over the course of the 19th century: #20 in 1860, #25 in 1870, #35 in 1880, #50 in 1890 and #64 in 1900.  Charley and Lottie were well established as nicknames, and C.M. Yonge also lists Chatty as a variant. E. G. Withycombe makes the intriguing observation that, although the 17th spelling "Charlet" shows that the name was pronounced the same then as it is today, in the 19th century it occasionally became three syllables: Charlotty. Though they may, in some cases, be transcription errors it is interesting to note that the 1881 census has 47 instances of Charlottee, 35 of Charlottie and 18 of Charlotty.  Charlotte was still in the top 100 in England and Wales at the beginning of the 20th century, ranking #75 in 1904 and #96 in 1914, after which it fell out of the top 100 until it returned again in the 1970s. Dunkling's data (births per 10,000) shows that Charlotte was at its lowest usage of '2' in 1955, but increased swiftly from '39' in 1970 to '74' in 1975.  In 1974, Charlotte was back in the top 100 at #41 and was #22 by 1984.  It peaked at #4 in 1994 and remained in the top 10 until 2006. Though the rank has fluctuated, the birth count has been steadily decreasing each year. Time will tell if the recent birth of Princess Charlotte will boost the name up again.  In 2013, Charlotte ranked #21 with 2242 births in England and Wales. It ranked #21 (213 births) in Scotland and #35 (73 births) in Northern Ireland in 2014.

Famous Bearers:

Royalty: * Charlotte de Bourbon-La Marche (1388–1422), Queen consort of Cyprus and titular Queen consort of Armenia and Jerusalem. * Charlotte of Savoy (1441–1483), Queen consort of France, wife of Louis XI. * Charlotte of Lusignan (1444– 1487), Queen of Cyprus, Princess of Antioch and titular Queen of Jerusalem and Armenia. * Charlotte de Bourbon (1449–1478), Countess of Buchan. * Charlotte d'Albret (1480–1514) Duchess of Valentinois and regent for her daughter after her husband's (Cesare Borgia) death. * Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel (1650–1714) Queen consort of Denmark and Norway, * Princess Charlotte Maria of York (1682-1682), daughter of James, Duke of York, later James II.  * Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans (1700–1761), wife of Francesco III, Duke of Modena. * Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744–1818), Queen consort of Britain and Ireland, wife of George III. * Charlotte, Princess Royal (1766–1828), Queen consort of Württemberg and eldest daughter of George III. * Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales (1796–1817), daughter of George, Prince of Wales, later George IV. * Charlotte (Carlota) of Mexico (1840–1927), daughter of Leopold I of Belgium and Empress of Mexico. * Princess Charlotte of Prussia (1860–1919), Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen.  * Charlotte of Nassau-Weilburg (1896–1985), Grand Duchess of Luxembourg. * Princess Charlotte of Monaco, Duchess of Valentinois (1898–1977), daughter of Louis II, Prince of Monaco, and Hereditary Princess of Monaco. * Archduchess Charlotte of Austria (1921–1989), daughter of Emperor Charles I of Austria. * Princess Charlotte of Cambridge (b.2015), Fourth in line to the throne of the United Kingdom.  History: * Charlotte de La Trémoille (1599-1664), Countess of Derby and royalist heroine. * Charlotte Lennox (c. 1730–1804), Scottish author and poet. * Charlotte Smith (1749–1806), English Romantic poet and novelist. * Lady Charlotte Guest (1812-1901), translator of The Mabinogian.  * Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855), English novelist and poet. * Charlotte Mary Yonge (1823–1901), English novelist. * Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860–1935), American feminist and reformer. Contemporary: * Charlotte Gainsburg (b. 1971), Anglo-French actress and singer. * Charlotte Dujardin OBE (b. 1985), British dressage rider and Olympic gold medallist. * Charlotte Church (b. 1986) is a Welsh singer-songwriter Literature and Other Media: * Charlotte "Lotte", the heroine of Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774). * Charlotte Lucas, a character in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (1813). * Charlotte "Charley" Neckett, a character in Charles Dicken's Bleak House (1852/3).

Variants:

Charlene, Charlize; Carlotta (Italian), Carlota (Spanish, Portuguese)

Pronunciation:

SHAR-lət   [key]

Possible  Diminutives:

Char, Charlie, Charley, Charles, Charla, Chattie, Lotte, Lottie, Lotta, Lola

Sibling Names:

Amelia     Emily     Lucy     Harriet     Eleanor     Victoria  Thomas     Louis     Edward     Oliver     George     Frederick

Name Lists:

Gorgeously Georgian   British Royalty   European Royalty   Austen Names   Bronte Names   Dickensian Names   Disney Names   Names of Roses

 

If you like Charlotte you may also like:   Clara, Matilda, Emma, Julia, Caroline, Florence, Isabelle, Catherine, Eloise, Imogen

 

Thanks to Charlotte for requesting this post.