British Baby Names

Name Musings: June 2016

 

 

As a Name Nerd, I eat, breath and dream names. They are omnipresent for me, and I can't go a day without turning something around to names in my mind (or in conversation if those around me are unlucky enough). Here are some of the names which have been rattling around my mind this month for various reasons. 

 

Mireya

I was reminded recently of an old favourite I had in my late teens. Mireya is the Spanish cognate of the French Mireille, both of which were based on the Occitan name Mirèio. I had already discovered the name by the time I went to Andalusia at the age of seventeen and was delighted to see it -- and the Catalan spelling Mireia -- on personalised hats and mugs etc. As it derives from the Latin mirar "to admire," I've always appreciated its connection to my sister Miranda's name. 

 

Kitto

I have a feeling Kit may make big leaps this year. At least, it certainly has the potential to do so. Not only is Kit Harington making waves in the world of celebrity, it was also chosen this year by Wayne and Coleen Rooney for their third son. But, it strikes me that Kit may be a little short for some tastes. 

Of course, Kit itself is traditionally a nickname for Christopher. Even Kit Harington revealed to James Corden that he didn't realise that his full name was Christopher until he was eleven years old. However, like Kit (and Corden) I think many people won't realise the Christopher-Kit connection. 

This brings me to Kitto, which seems to me a prefect alternative longer form for Kit.

Kitto is a Cornish name and, because of its similarity to Kit, many have long thought of it as a diminutive of Christopher. However, its original origins more likely lie with the Welsh Gruffudd (Griffith). In the Middle Ages, Guto (GIT-ō) developed as a diminutive for Gruffudd, and Kitto would have been its Cornish cognate. 

 

Jon

Kit Harington is most famous for bringing Game of Thrones character Jon Snow to life on our screen. John has been a perennial favourite for centuries, though it has been declining in recent years, falling down to #101. The more svelt spelling, Jon, was at a peak in the 1980s, but may once again start to pick up thanks to GoT. 

This name was brought to mind recently while teaching my class. A mention of a Victorian named John Snow had one of my ten year old girls whisper "Jon Snow! Jon Snow is in Game of Thrones," excitedly to her fellow classmate. It seems Mr Harington's appeal is quite wide. 

Personally, I'm neutral on the spelling. I have an uncle named John and a fellow-80s-born cousin named Jon, so both seem very natural to me. I do have a rather vivid memory, however, of writing a "what I did at the weekend" piece when I was seven and being very proud that I knew how to spell my cousins' names: Neal and Jon. I was very put out when I got it back and my teacher had crossed them out in red pen, replacing them with 'Neil' and 'John'. Oh, the trials of name obsession.  

 

Alba

Another name which I'm going to be carefully monitoring when the 2015 stats come out in August is Alba, currently at #312 and rising. I've long had my eye on it, but with the nation recently enchanted when Gareth Bale's daughter, Alba Violet Bale, stole most of the limelight with her cuteness in the Wales vs Northern Ireland quarter-finals Euro 2016 match recently, I can see the name having even more impact in 2016. 

 

Vaila

I still have no idea why Vaila hasn't caught on. True, it's a name mostly confined to the Shetlands, being the name of a Shetland island, but Scottish islands are vogue at the moment. Just look at Isla, Skye, Arran and Harris! Add in the fashionable V and the two-syllable -a ending with strong vowel sounds and it's hard to think that, if this name were a little bit more widely known, it wouldn't catch on. 

So come on, world. Let's spread the word about Vaila. Who knows where it may lead?

 

Bryher

Trawling through the 2014 data a few weeks ago, I came across a new name for me. Given to just five girls that year, Bryher is the smallest of the inhabited islands of the Isles of Scilly. Regional data from 2010 has Bryher only appearing in the data for the South West (given to four girls that year) which means that, like Vaila, it most likely is used only within the local area. It is pronounced the same way as Briar -- a name I'm also a fan of -- but with a bit of a topographical and Cornish twist. 

 

Lewin

My mind recently keeps being drawn to Lewin. It ticks so many stylish boxes: it's a surname, it's two syllables and it halfway between popular favourites Lewis and Owen. Lewis is not just a surname though; originally it was a medieval given name -- an inheritor of the Anglo-Saxon Lēofwine from leof "beloved, dear" and wine "friend." It is a rare given name, but is in consistent use having been registered for between 4 and 13 boys every year in England and Wales since 1996. 

 

Liveva

Another leof inheritor is Liveva. Unlike Lewin, it hasn't survived from the Middle Ages, but I feel it has bags of potential. Yes, it may seem like a Liv + Eva smoosh, but that makes it more accessible to modern sensibilities to my mind. The name actually derives from the Anglo-Saxon Lēofgifu meaning "beloved gift" and is also found in the spellings Liviva and Leviva. 

 

 

 

No Frills Feminine: Seamless -'s' Endings

 

So much of our female nomenclature is dominated by either traditional latinate -a endings or the sweet 'ee' sound endings of y/ie. The current top 10 is made up solely of these names:

But there are several girls' names with less garnish -- more tailored and svelt. These are, for me, the No Frills Feminine names. They come in all shapes and sizes, but this edition will simply look at the wide variety of -'s' sound ending names. 

Looking at the most common and enduring -s names one begins to see a style image forming. Grace, Alice, Florence, Rose... all are elegant in a simple and gentle way. Neat and trim without the fuss. 


Familiar Top 1000 Choices:

Agnes Alexis Alice Alys Anais

Annalise Beatrice Carys Cerys Constance

Elise Eloise Florence Frances Grace

Ines Iris Lois Louise Paris

Primrose Rose  Tess

Old Timers:

Adelais Amice Annis Ardis Avis Berenice Bernice Bess Betrys

Blanche Clarice Clarisse Clemence Denise Dilys Dolores Dorcas Doris

Ellis Eunice Glenys Glynis Hawys Heloise Hortense Janice Joyce

Lettice Lilias Maris Mavis Nerys Patience Patrice Peace Persis

Phyllis Prudence Rohais Temperance Therese Tuppence Wallis

Exotic:

Adelise Alanis Almas Amaris Amaryllis Amitis Aravis Artemis Athenais Blaise Bliss Briseis

Cadence Candice Caritas Cerise Charis Chryseis Clematis Daenerys Damaris Eirlys Eirys Enas

Enfys Ennis Eos Eris Felice Francoise Eris Felice Genesis Gervaise Hatice Herdis

Isis Katniss Lamis Laurence Llinos Loris Lourdes Lucrèce Maelys Maylis Melis Mercedes

Merrilees Myrtis Narcisse Nieves Parmis Praxedis Praxis Thais Thordis Venus

UK Birth Announcements 20/6/16 - 26/6/16

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

Alexander Martin

Archie Jack James

Charles Siegfried Smyth

Cuthbert

Dylan James (Olivia)

Dylan Tomos

Edward Albert Quentin (Catherine Ann & George James Quentin)

Eric Daniel

Freddie George (Oscar Jay)

Freddie Thomas

George Bernard

Kyle John James

Niall Donald Rennie

Robert Jock

Robert Tilahun (Isla)

Sam James

Sam Thomas

Sebastian Gabriel (Theodore Emmanuel "Theo")

Zak David

 

Girls:

Amelia Georgiana (Isabella Matilda)

Amelia Rose (Matthew Stephen)

Anna Wyn

Annabella Dianne

Asha (Max)

Aurora Katherine

Beatrice Amélie (Eléanor Grace "Ellie")

Constance Arabella Minhae (Edmund Albert Peregrine & Prudence Sherry Elizabeth Jihae)

Emily Mary (Jacob Morrin)

Erin Mary

Florence Laura

Francesca Alice Hermione

Georgia Alice Celia (William Cahal)

Jemima Elizabeth (Cecilia Mary & Harry Padraic Charles)

Mati Adora Alcott (Griffyd Hunter Heber "Griff" & Betsan Rosita River)

Rose Evelyn (Jacob John)

Summer Ella

Summer Ffion Rose (Ethan John Kenneth & Olly John Morgan)

 

Name of the Week

 

Origin:

Darcy is an English surname, adopted as a first name. It was brought over by the Normans in the form de Areci or d'Arcy -- a locational surname from Arcy in La Manche in Normandy. The origins are uncertain. One theory is that it derives from the Latin Arsacum: ars "bear" and acum "settlement," but this is unsubstantiated. In Ireland, Darcy is used as an Anglicised form of Gaelic surname Ó Dorchaidhe meaning "descendant of Dorchaidhe," itself derived from dorcha "dark," most likely originally used to describe someone with dark hair or features.

Usage:

It is believed that Norman de Areci was one of the Norman barons who fought with William the Conqueror in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. In some genealogies he is traced as being the son of William (Pontius) of Normandy, son of Richard II, Duke of Normandy. This would have made Norman and William first cousins. What we do know for certain is that Norman de Areci had been granted over thirty manors in Lincolnshire by the 1086 Domesday Book as well as the wealthy Abbey of St Mary in York. Every other early record for the surname in England up until the 14th century also comes from Lincolnshire, indicating that they are all members this same aristocratic family.  In the 14th century, some of the Darcy family were appointed to senior positions in Ireland and the name went with them. There it was used to render the already established clan name Ó Dorchaidhe. The fact that Darcy was an aristocratic surname is one of the reasons why it was adopted as a given name from the 17th century. The names of Peerage families (such as Percy, Howard, Dudley, Montague, Neville, Stanley) were often adopted within the nobility itself. Sons were often given family surnames as given names as a way of passing on more than one illustrious name and advertising their aristocratic links. Eventually, they were adopted more widely, as middle class families wanted a name which sounded aristocratic.  Research suggests that those with surname Darcy today (and others descended from Norman nobilty) are more likely to be wealthier than those with artisanal surnames, giving the name a continuing upper-class edge.  The epitome of this is Jane Austen's dashing literary hero, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy (often referred to, as was convention, simply as "Darcy"), in her most famous novel Pride and Prejudice (1813).  As a first name, Darcy (in various spellings) was consistently used across the 19th and 20th century with an average of 10 births per year. Though it was originally masculine in use, it began to be used for girls as well from the late 19th century. The 1881 census, for example, listed 122 people with the name Darcy. Of those, 108 were male and 14 were female. Change to the name's fortune occurred during the 1990s, partly thanks to the BBC's fabulous adaptation of Pride and Prejudice in which Colin Firth charmed audiences as Mr Darcy, and the fame of ballerina Darcey Bussell.  Girls: In England and Wales, Darcy was, at first, the more common spelling (ranking at #327 (107 births) in 1996) followed by Darcie (#549) and then Darcey (#753). However Darcey has preceded as the dominant spelling from 2007-2009 and 2012-2014.  By 2008, all three spellings were in the top 200. Darcey broke the top 100 first at #89 in 2012, while the other two spellings followed closely at #107 and #122 respectively. In 2014, all three spellings were in the top 100: Darcey - #72 (727 births) Darcie - #80 (677 births) Darcy - #93 (606 births) When all of the variant spellings are added together, the name actually ranked at #25 in England and Wales in 2014. Making it far more popular than it seems.  Boys: Interestingly, despite rising rapidly for girls, Darcy has also been in use for boys, actually reaching a peak in 2014 at #650 (52 births). This may be thanks to Canadian illusionist Darcy Oake appearing on Britain's Got Talent as a finalist in 2014.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Henry Darcy (1803–1858), French scientist who made several important contributions to hydraulics and hydrogeology and for whom the unit of permeability is named. Contemporary: * Darci Kistler (born 1964), American ballet dancer. * Darcey Bussell CBE (born 1969), British prima-ballerina, children's author and Strictly Come Dancing judge.  * Darcy Dallas (born 1972), Canadian ice hockey player. * Darcy Oake (b. 1987), Canadian illusionist.  * Darcy Blake (born 1988), Welsh footballer. * Darcy Rose Byrnes (b. 1998), American actress and singer-songwriter. Literature and Other Media: * Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, hero of Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice (1813). * Darcy Tyler, a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Mark Raffety (2000-2005). * Darcy Lewis, a character in Marvel's Thor series, played by Kat Dennings.  * Darcy Silverman, character in 2010 film "Gulliver's Travels"

Variants:

Darcey, Darcie, Darci

Pronunciation:

DAR-see [key]

Possible  diminutives:

Didi, Dars

Sibling Names:

Layla     Maya     Sienna     Freya     Mila     Ruby  Blake    Sonny    Jackson    Zachary    Theo    Austin

Name Lists:

Names from Jane Austen

  

If you like Darcy you may also like:   Macey, Lexi, Esme, Lacey, Ayla, Zara, Skye, Lyla, Neve, Marnie

 

 Thanks to Darci for requesting this name. 

Baby Name Book Review: Best Baby Names for 2016 - Siobhan Thomas

Best Baby Names for 2016 by Siobhan Thomas can be currently found in most high street booksellers in Britain with an RRP of £6.99. It was published by Vermilion in November 2015.

Siobhan Thomas is a senior editor of babynames.co.uk, and this book is an updated version of her previous three editions: Best Baby Names for 2013, Best Baby Names for 2014 and Best Baby Names for 2015. 

 

Layout

Of standard A5 size and 368 pages, Best Baby Names for 2016, is an averaged sized book, equivalent to most novels. 

The book is split into four parts:

• Introduction
• Advice on finding the right name
• Inspiration lists
• A-Z Boys / A-Z girls

The introduction is interesting and (given Siobhan's journalist experience) well written. She describes the journey in how she came to write this book, her experiences growing up with the name Siobhan, and how he came to pick her own children's names (Erin, Cora and Austin). There is also advice on how to best use the book effectively. 

The second section is, for me, the most interesting and useful part of the book. It is well written, and gives helpful pragmatic advice. None of it is ground breaking, but for anyone who is floundering, or who doesn't often read baby name blogs or articles, it would be very useful.

Twenty seven pages make up this section of the book with several topics covered, including all the legal requirements in registering a baby's name in the UK, places to find inspiration, spelling variations and advice on how to deal with disagreements with your partner. 

The third section covers inspiration lists. While I love name lists -- I think they make a great addition to any name book -- this is the most disappointing section of the book in my opinion. The lists are all very short and usually no more than ten names for each gender in each list. They mostly cover famous people -- Hollywood Names (16 actors listed), TV Names (18 British actors listed), Stage Actors, Famous Comedians, High Achievers, Classical Musicians, Pop Musicians, Hip-Hop Musicians etc -- or names from TV or famous authors -- Game of Thrones, Twilight, Harry Potter, Shakespeare, Bronte, Austen, Dickens. There aren't any 'style' lists other than a 'nature name' list and 'Traditional/Old Fashioned'. 

The fourth section is split into two: an A-Z of boys' names and an A-Z of girls' names, displayed in standard dictionary style.  

 

Information and Veracity

The etymology for the names listed in this book is pretty sound and comprehensive -- and I realise that I am one the hardest people to impress in this area and make the worst critic. The majority are accurate and, while I personally would prefer more information for each name, it is generally more comprehensive than most name books on the market. 

Each name fits the following model:

Name
Meaning: (phrase)
Origin:
Pronunciation:
Description: (1-3 sentence meaning)
Alternative spellings

The pronunciation is particularly useful, especially as there is a broad range of Irish, Welsh and Scottish names, as well as those from other cultures (Arabic, Ancient Greek, Hebrew etc). There were some I queried -- Welsh Eira pronounced AIR-a? -- but most were spot on. 

With over 8,000 names listed, there is a broad selection to choose from. There are some very obscure choices such as Nausicaa, which I appreciate as a name nerd but I'm not sure that many Brits are going to be swayed into using them.

There are also some strange omissions. Arlo is not listed at all. Already having risen sharply to #141 in 2014, and I would bet my last pound that it will be in the top 100 this year (at least, it will when the 2016 stats are released in August 2017) it is strange for a book titled "Best Baby Names 2016" to miss such a crucial name out. Given that the 'Celebrity Baby' list has its latest addition born in June 2015, it indicates that the book was written around that time, before the release of the 2014 data. This, of course, is understandable with tight publishing dates, but to have a "2016" book based on pre-2014 official data makes it a little skewed, and will always be an issue for any of the many baby name books which claim to have the 'best' baby names for that current year. 

 

Ideal For...

This book is great for parents who are looking for a wide range of names, especially those from other cultures or which are a little bit different. The advice section is very useful and would be ideal for a couple who are struggling. 

 

Overall Rating

Best Baby Names for 2016 is comprehensive, dictionary style book with useful advice and information. The list section is a little disappointing, as is the slightly unavoidable misnomer of "2016" names, but overall it is a very enjoyable book for a name lover, and a valuable tool for prospective parents.

Rating: 8.5/10 

Click the link below to purchase on amazon.co.uk:

 

UK Birth Announcements 13/6/16 - 19/6/16

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:

Alistair James

Atticus

Bobby Christopher Charles (Joe Alan Charles & Ruby Jacqueline)

Brinley George

Eirik Torsten

Elliot Richard

Ewen David

Freddie Daniel

Harrison Lucas (Finley Jacob)

Jack Jamie

Jack Walter

Jakob Thomas

James Robert

Joshua Kai

Joshua Samuel (Daniel Michael)

Joshua Simon

Lewie Peter Jack

Lewis Robert (Fraser David)

Luke Thomas

Oswald Walter "Ozzie" (Margot Doris & Wilbur Theodore)

Patrick Walter Geoffrey (Martha Miranda Grace)

Rory John (Aaron)

Samuel Anakin

Toby David Andrew

William Robert

 

Girls:

Alice Olivia (Wilfred Evelyn)

Beatrice Lily Mai

Beatrice Rose

Cara Aurelia Joan (Christopher David Doucas "Kit")

Cosima Clementine

Edith

Eleanor Maria

Iris Edith Mary May (Ivy Gwendolyn Bridget & Edward Patrick Brian)

Isla Grace

Jennifer Isla

Katie Elizabeth Fordyce (Sam Alastair Ogilvy & Callum Alastair Ogilvy)

Letitia Phoebe Mignon (Clementine Elizabeth Manon)

Lucy Evelyn

Madalaina

Molly Violet (Phoebe Mae)

Poppy Rose Sienna

Reagan Margaret Catherine (Logan & Kieran)

Sara Isabella (Ruaridh Fraser & Flora Hutchinson)

Sophie Ellen (Alfie)

 

Name of the Week: Zain

 

Origin:

Zain/Zane is a multicultural name which derives from several sources: Zain (or Zayn, Zein, Zeyn) are transcript forms of the Arabic زَيْن -- a noun meaning "beauty, adornment, grace, excellence" and adjective meaning "beautiful, comely, handsome, graceful, charming, lovely, fair, radiant, good-looking, fine." It is most commonly masculine in use, but is generally considered a unisex name, and can be used for girls. Zane is an English surname which comes from the West Country. It is descended from the Old English personal name Saewine, made up of the elements sǣ "sea" and wine "friend." Zane (or Zani/Ziani) is Venetian form of Gianni, itself a pet form of Giovanni, the Italian cognate of John. According to Brian M. Scott and Joshua Mittleman's article Fourteenth Century Venetian Personal Names: "One variation typical of Venetian names is the substitution of initial Z for a soft G or Gi: Zusto for Giusto, Zanino from Gianino."

Usage:

Saewine does not seem to have been an especially common Anglo-Saxon name, though there are references to a moneyer by the name of Saewine in Shaftsbury under the reign of Æthelred II (c. 968–1016). Saintbury in Gloucestershire was originally Saewineburg "Saewine's fort." From this came the surname Sainsbury.  Data from The Surname Atlas As a surname, Zane developed specifically in the West Country -- Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. Data from the 1881 census (right) shows that, though it was rare in use, even by the late 19th century, all of the surname's use was in southern England and the majority of that was in Devon.  The Arabic Zain was not in use in pre-Islamic Arabia, and was not used itself by a Quranic figure. However, it is Muslim tradition to bestow names with 'good' meaning on children, and Zain fits this criteria.  As for the Venetian Zane, by the 14th century Zane was used as a patronymic surname. Matteo Zane (d.1605), for example, was the Patriarch of Venice from 1600 to 1605. I can find no record of Zane specifically being used as a given name officially, but it was likely used as a vernacular Venetian form, even if Gianni was used in records, much like Jack was used for John in Britain. Other forms of Giovanni, such as Zanetto and Zanetta, were certainly in use. These latter two were used in Britain from the 19th century also.  Zane was not common as a given name in Britain.The first record from 1830 to 1980 is one in Cirencester in 1840. After that Zane was not used as a first name until 1925.   Zane Zain(e)/Zayn 1920s: 1930s: 1940s: 1950s: 1960s: 1970s: 2 births 3 births 3 births 29 births 69 births 105 births 0 births 0 births 1 birth 9 births 15 births 21 births The small surge of the name's use in the 1950s may be attributed to the popularity of American Westerns, often inspired by the work of American author Zane Grey (1872–1939). There seems to have been some uncertainty about his gender though (perhaps because his full name was Pearl Zane Grey) which may have been why parents were reticent to use it.  click to enlarge In 1996, Zain ranked #241 with 123 births in England and Wales. Since then it has been gradually rising, peaking at #137 (459 births) in 2011.  Originally, Zane and Zayn both averaged between 20 and 50 births per year. Zane began to rise after 2004, peaking at #233 (208 births) in 2011 making it the more common spelling of the two. That was, of course until the great success of boyband One Direction featuring member Zayn Malik (born Zain). It began rapidly rising after 2010 and is still on an upward curve.  Zain is the only spelling to have ranked in the official data for girls, ranking just once at #4798 (3 births) in 2005. In 2014, Zain ranked #176 (316 births), Zayn ranked #239 (231 births), Zane ranked #341 (132 births), Zayne ranked #680 (49 births) and Zaine ranked #866 (34 births).  With all the different spellings combined, Zain and co. rank at #97 in the 2014 Combined Spellings rankings.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Zane Grey (1872–1939), American author. Contemporary: * Zane Radcliffe (b. 1969), British writer. * Zane Lowe (b. 1973), New Zealand radio presenter * Zane Lamprey (b. 1976), American comedian and actor. * Zane Beadles (b. 1986), American football player * Zain "Zayn" Malik (b. 1993), a British singer. * Zane Huett (b. 1997), American actor.

Variants:

Zain, Zane, Zayn, Zein, Zaine, Zayne, Zeyn

Pronunciation:

ZAYN [key]

Possible longer forms:

Zanetto, Constanzo, Florenzo, Fiorenzo, Lorenzo, Vincenzo, Zebulon, Zenone, Zolestin

Sibling Names:

Saffron     Layla     Aisha     Lyra     Calla     Amaya  River     Gulliver     Qais     Wyatt     Roscoe     Iskandar

Name Lists:

Lively Lads  Arabic Names

 

 

If you like Zain you may also like:    Rio, Greyson, Archer, Blaise, Fletcher, Blake, Rex, Quinn, Layton, Flynn

 

Thanks to Louise for requesting this post.

Finds from 1873

 

In 1873 Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone resigned, but then returned to office a mere two days later. Britain was involved in the Third Anglo-Ashanti War, and Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, the first Englishwoman to qualify as a physician, was admitted to membership of the British Medical Association.

Below is a selection of names from the GRO Birth Records for England and Wales in 1873. 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.

Abberthue George Acheson Arundel Campbel Achille Eugenio Admiral George Aesop Alcimus Alcwyn Jones Alonzo Florenzo Alured George Alwyn Quinton Amphlett William Anchor Edward Archduke Herbert Aretas Iden Argent George Ariel Montagu Aristotle Arminius Ernest Arno Vale Clifton Arrow Leithead Ascelinus Astolpho George Athaling Alfred Axel Walter Fritchioff Bakewell Edward Balaam Eliezer Ezekiel Faulkner Bamborough Fenwick Barzillai Cornelius Bellamy Herbert Beuno Francis Bigland Bowler Bismark Ganderton Breeze Benjamin Brabazon Brooke (sn: Barnett) Brinnan Rob Roy Captain Cuthbert Collingwood (sn: Coombes) Castledine Ward Derwentwater Henry Cary (sn: Wall) Doctor Barnabas Egbert Ethelbert Eiddon Rhys Enos Ferdinand Frederick Alphabet Guido Oscar Ignatius Columbus Taliesin Kinderbee William King Albert Meadows William Melancthon Melchisedec Thomas Mendelssohn Menelaus Alexander Nar-ed-deen Edwin Nebuchadnezer Nethersole Claude Numa Rodolphe Odessa William Quintilian Hosken Joseph Ulrich Norman Urban Cornelius Vicksburg Spiers Vivus Oliver Xmas Edmund Zerah Henry Zerubbabel Zethri Zebina Zurishaddai

Adeliza Meredith Adolphine Charlotte Clare Adria Louisa Alathiea Alberta Alda Benedicta Mellicent Aldenia Harriet Aldyth Joyce Algo Orpha Alvarella Catherine Alzada Minnie Amiati Annie Ampliss Maude Anchorite Emma Aolti Maud Ashfield Lucy Athene Jessica Azingra Bathsheba Lavinia Beatrix Leyla Marjory Wentworth Bella Love Bessie Virgo Bijou Alice Binfield Rosetta Blanche Annunziata Bliss Elizabeth Brenda Liberta Carmalina Victoria Cinderella Consulletta Cranogwen Crissy Charles Crozette Minnie Deltah Jerusha Desdemona Selina Egberta Lucretia Eglantine Dora Elvina Goldina Harriet Everetta Maud Exelor Emmeline Exantippe Ezetta Gertrude Ezit Annie Fortuna Frederica Louise Gunnela Amy Barton Herodias Cordelia Ildefonsa Indaruby Maria Innocent Jane E. Louender (g) Melody Sarah Melvener Kate Merintha Althera Nevada Eleanor Oliveria Cromwell Olympia Harriet Omega Clarissa Queen Ruth A. Sensitive Eleanor (sn: Readhead) Syndonia Kerenhappuch M Ularia Eva Ulla Alice Urania Winifred Ursula Ethelwyn Valentine Hephzibah Venus Evangeline Vinnie Emmeline Violet Oak Virdurina Rhodes Zebby Jane Zenith Jane Zerneen Elizabeth Zezenia Elizabeth Zoar Emma Zonover Ann

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

UK Birth Announcements 6/6/16 - 12/6/16

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:

Anthony Christopher (Ross Alexander)

Charlie Jace Michael

Charlie Jacob

Charlie John Peter

Daniel James

Dara Richard (Faith Janet)

Dexter

Edward David

George Lionel

Harry Arthur John

Harry Charles (Mazie)

Hugo Xavier

Isaac William John

Jacob Mitchell

Jamie Stephen

Joseph Alexander (Isla Grace)

Luke Ivan Andrij

Otto Dominic (Florence, George Xavier, Benedict Rufus, Ivo James & Theodore Inigo)

Percy Alexander Solomon (Henry, Louis & Jasper)

Robert Lewis Hugh (Douglas Jardine)

Samuel Scott

Thomas Vernon (Tillie Grace)

 

Girls:

Alice Martha (Evelyn Margaret Elizabeth & Florence Jennie)

Amber Louise

Arabella Elizabeth

Aria Elizabeth

Carys Dawn Martha

Ciara Jill (Callum Mitchell)

Chloe Ida Rose

Eliza Daisy (Ayla Violet)

Florence Isobel Lettice

Freya Dorothy

Georgina Thea

Henrietta Evelyn Rose (Peter Charles Monro & Edward Donald Ian)

Isabella-Rose

Lara Kay (Jay)

Leah Veronica

Lexie Grace (Caitlin Hope)

Martha Olive Katharine (Benjamin Jago Hester)

Molly Robyn (Evie)

Ottilie Lila Nora (Theo Elijah)

Peyton Julia (Mason Campbell)

Pippa Elora Victoria

Sophia Rose

Sophie Rae

Victoria Elizabeth Anne

 

Name of the Week: Antonia

 

Origin:

Antonia is Latin name -- the feminine form of Antonius -- originally given to women born to the Roman gens Antonia, a family which grew to prominence in the first century BC. The origins of the name are not clear. Traditionally the gens derived their descent from Anton, a son of the demi-god Hercules, attributing to themselves a divine ancestor -- a common move in the aspiring families of Republican Rome. However, most likely, Antonius derives from the place of Antium, a great city in Latium south of Rome, which was written as Antion (Άντιον) in Ancient Greek. Alternatively, it may derive from the Latin ante "before," perhaps originally referring to a premature child.

Usage:

Being such a prominent gens, bearers of the names Antonius and Antonia is ancient Rome are numerous. The most famous member of the family is Marcus Antonius -- or Mark Antony to us -- who propelled the influence of the family to the rival the Julii. Mark Antony himself had no fewer than three daughters named Antonia: Antonia Prima, Antonia Major ("the elder") and Antonia Minor ("the younger"). All three women made influential marriages, becoming the grandmothers of emperors and queens.  The influence of the gens led to Antonius becoming a common name during the Roman Empire and later Byzantine Empire. It was borne by numerous saints, the most famous of which was Saint Antony the Great (251-356) who became much venerated in the Middle Ages from the time of the Crusades and was the popular subject of art and much invoked for healing.  This veneration launched the use of the name in Britain in the Middle Ages, augmented by the popularity of St. Anthony of Padua (1195 - 1231), who was a favoured disciple of St. Francis of Assisi.  Antony (or Anthony from the 16th century) was not very common at first, though it did lead to the surnames Anthony, Anthoney and Anthonies. It grew much more common in the 16th century, however; Smith-Bannister's top 50 rankings for 1538-1700 has Anthony ranking within the top 30 consistently throughout this period, peaking at #10 in the 1580s.  During this period, the feminine form of Anthony (or Anthonye) was not Antonia, or even the French Antoinette; the vernacular form of Antonia in Britain was Anthony. This puts Anthony in the same company as Philip, Julian and Nicholas -- late medieval unisex names in which the masculine and feminine vernacular forms were the same. Baptism records for Antonia in the 16th and 17th century are most often Latinisations or daughters born to European-immigrant (often Spanish or German-speaking) parents.  The form Antonia didn't come back into use in the 18th century in Britain. It featured as the name of the heroine in Matthew Lewis' widely popular Gothic novel The Monk (1769) and was in use among the royal houses of Europe -- Marie Antoinette (a Prussian princess born 'Maria Antonia') was one of the most famous examples.  Despite this however, the name was uncommon throughout the 19th century, as birth registrations per decade in England and Wales show: 1840s: 21 births 1850s: 40 births 1860s: 49 births 1870s: 47 births 1880s: 54 births 1890s: 86 births 1900s: 138 births Antonia continued to be used under the radar for much of the 20th century. However, curiously, short-from Toni took on a life of it's own and became moderately popular as Dunkling's data for the number of children registered with the name Antonia in every 10,000 births in England and Wales demonstrates:    1900 1925  1935  1950  1955  1960  1965  1970  1975  1980  1985  1990 Antonia     -    -     -     1     -     -     4     1     -     2     4    2 Toni             2     2    12     8     -     6    18   22 Though Antonia became more common during the 1980s, it never broke into the top 100. Toni, however, ranked at #100 in both 1984 and 1994. Tony for boys had been in the top 100 individually since 1944, but fell out after 1984.  Since 1996, Toni has been on a steady decline. Less popular Antonia, also declined, but less rapidly and has actually succeeded Toni as the more popular form since 2002.  In 1996, Antonia ranked #190 with 234 births. From that point it gradually (and slightly sporadically) fell to its nadir of #538 (74 births) in 2010. Since then it has been gradually rising, reaching #315 (147 births) in 2014.  In Scotland, Antonia ranked #318 (12 births) in 2015.

Famous Bearers:

Royalty: * Antonia of Balzo (1355–1374), queen consort of Sicily. * Antonia of Württemberg (1613–1679), princess of the Duchy of Württemberg. * Marie Antoinette / Maria Antonia (1755–1793), Archduchess of Austria and Queen of France. * Antónia of Portugal (1845–1913), Infanta (princess) of the House of Braganza. * Antonia of Luxembourg (1899–1954),the last Crown Princess of Bavaria. * Antonia of Prussia (b. 1955), Duchess of Wellington, Duchess of Ciudad Rodrigo, Princess of Waterloo. History: * Julia Antonia (104 BC-after 39 BC), mother of Mark Antony. * Antonia Prima (b. 50 BC) daughter of Mark Antony. * Antonia Major (b. 39BC), daughter of Mark Antony and grandmother of Roman Emperor Nero. * Antonia Minor (b. 36 BC), daughter of Mark Antony and mother of Roman Emperor Claudius. * Antonia Tryphaena (10 BC - 55), a Princess of the Bosporan, Pontus, Cilicia, Cappadocia and a Roman Client Queen of Thrace. Granddaughter of Antonia Prima.  * Blessed Antonia of Florence (1401-1472) * Antonia Maury (1866–1952), an American astronomer. * Blessed Antonia Mesina (1919-1935) Contemporary: * Antonia Fraser (b. 1932), British historian and novelist. * Dame Antonia  Duffy, DBE (b. 1936), an English novelist, poet and Booker Prize winner, known as A. S. Byatt. * Antonia Kidman (b.1970), Australian journalist. * Antonia Thomas (b. 1986), British actress. * Antonia (Iacobescu) (b.1989), popular Romanian singer. Literature and Other Media: * Antonia, heroine in the Gothic novel The Monk (1769). Other: * 272 Antonia, an asteroid.

Variants:

Antoinette (French), Antonella, Antonietta (Italian diminutives), Antonie (Czech), Antónia (Portuguese, Slovak, Hungarian)

Pronunciation:

an-TŌ-nee-ə [key]

Possible  diminutives:

Annie, Anna, Nia, Noa, Toni, Tonya, Tia

Sibling Names:

Valentina     Helena     Sabina     Tatiana     Alexandra     Claudia  Maximilian     Felix     Augustus     Magnus     Oscar     Casper

Name Lists:

Resonant Roman   Upright Elegance  Operatic Appellations  Butterfly Names

  

If you like Antonia you may also like:   Aurelia, Victoria, Marina, Renata, Clarissa, Octavia, Cecilia, Livia, Regina, Eulalia

 

 Thanks to Lottie and Bree for requesting this name.