British Baby Names

Name Musings: September 2016

 

Blimy! What a September! The new school term has started with a full and hectic schedule and summer seems a far distant memory. But as Autumn gets underway so does more exciting name discoveries and reminders. 

 

Pomona

A day trip to Cirencester's Corinium museum, with its fabulous collection of Roman artifacts, reminded me of Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruitful abundance. Her name actually derives from the Latin pomum "fruit, fruit tree," and survives in the French pomme "apple." Here she is in a surviving mosaic floor from Cirencester depicting the four seasons. Pomona represents Autumn and is shown carrying a pruning knife.  

With Paloma rising into the top 1000 thanks to Paloma Faith, Pomona looks more and more like a usable choice, especially with Poppy, Mona or Apple as a nickname. 

  

Clowance

The second series of Poldark is back again! (Can you tell I'm excited?). The latest episode of the BBC's remake of this popular 70s historical drama based on Winston Graham's novels saw Demelza give birth to her second child -- a boy named Jeremy. 

It reminded me of the names of all the Poldark children in Graham's novels -- Julia, Jeremy, Clowance, Isabella-Rose and Henry. All historically sound and pretty common-place by modern standards. All except for Clowance. 

Clowance -- like Demelza's own name -- is a place name in Cornwall, which inspired the named of many of Graham's characters. Clowance is the family seat of the St Aubyn baronets in Crowan. 

Sound-wise it sits between fashionable Clemence and and Constance, with a Celtic-Cornish twist. 

 

Botticelli

Sandro Botticelli, famous Italian painter of the Early Renaissance, most famous for his The Birth of Venus, has been inspiration for a first name -- and for a girl at that.

A few weeks ago I came across this name in birth records: Botticelli Verily Boadicea, born in 1990. Even better? Her younger sister is Piranesi Vita Lolita after another Italian artist. 

 

Lexon

The biggest event for me in September was, of course, the release of the 2015 England and Wales statistics. Delving down below the top 1000, I came across Lexon this year -- a name that has never before ranked officially in the E&W data (3 or more births are needed in any given year to rank). Lexon is the name of a few small companies in Britain, but I doubt that is the inspiration behind it. The most likely source is the new addition of Jaxon to the top 100: the fashionable 'x' and -on ending. Saxon and Maxon have also risen. 

 

Beowulf

Has anyone else done a double take when this television advert for the new HP Spectre x360 comes on?

Wait? What did he say? What is his name? Beowulf? 

This was what went through my mind several times before I took the time to investigate. Yes, his name is Beowulf, son of American-Hungarian historian Gabor Boritt. His brothers are the prosaically named Jake and Daniel so I would love to know how he came about this fabulous legendary Anglo-Saxon name. 

 

Veyron

The final September episode of The One Show tonight featured the Moxham family. Dad Matthew is a classic car fanatic and, though he couldn't afford to buy one, he decided to name is first child after a classic car. The trend stuck and now he and wife Trudy have five children all named after classic cars: Mercedes (22), Bentley (18), Sapphire (16), Aston (4) and the youngest Veyron (3). 

I managed to guess the first four. All of them are or have been recently in the top 500 in England and Wales. However, the youngest Veyron took me by surprise. It has only ranked once in E&W, in 2013 when it was given to three boys -- one of whom was little Veyron Moxham. 

 

Judge

Another TV show which is back on our screens this September is the new series of Strictly Come Dancing. Among the celebrities this year is Robert Rinder, better known as Judge Rinder -- Britain's answer to Judge Judy. One thing that has slightly bugged me about the show so far is how all the other celebrities are listed by their first names, yet Rob keeps getting "Judge Rinder." That's not his name. it's his title, my poor name-obsessed mind screeches. 

But, actually, Judge could be a name. Afterall, Prince, Duke, Lord and Earl are all used as given names. Judge has only ranked once in 2005 in the E&W data when there were three boys given the name.

 

Name Help: A sibling for Harris

 

Tamsin is expecting her second child -- the gender a surprise -- to join her son Harris Robert. Their surname is long and unusual. 

Tamsin writes: "Harris was chosen as we liked the fact it is not common but at the same time it isn't too unusual. My husband and I have a strong connection to Scotland which also inspired the name choice. 

"I like names which are shorter and like to avoid names which can be shortened to nicknames.

"For girls we liked Isla and Poppy but feel both names are too common now. For boys we like Isaac and Ethan but wondered if they are too boring! 

"My husband likes names I really wouldn't choose and to give you an idea of his tastes (which I vetoed), for girls he likes Penelope & Philippa and for boys his first choice was Sebastian  My husband does however like Poppy and Isla as I do but they have both become very popular recently. We also agree on Ethan but I just don't feel 100% happy with it."

 

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Harris Robert is such a great name to encapsulate your preferred style: nickname-proof, recognisable but not to common and with ties to Scotland. Isla certainly ticks all that criteria. It is pretty popular as a top 5 choice, but bear in mind that names in the top ten are not used in the same numbers as they used to be. Ethan and Isaac are great solid Biblical choices which are study and nickname proof (as well as any name can be!). 

Hopefully these suggestions will hit a similar not as Harris did for you:

 

Girls:

Penny – Between Poppy and Penelope is sweet Penny. It is traditionally used as a nickname for Penny, but many people have used it as a standalone name and it wears just as well in its own right as Poppy. As I wild shot, I will also suggest using Poppy as a nickname/every day name and Penelope as a formal name. 

Orla – In a similar vein to Isla is the equally Celtic Orla, a name which hails from Irish mythology with the lovely meaning of "golden princess."

Lila – Another name with shared sounds to Isla but far less common is Lila (or Lyla). It is a variant of Leila, a medieval name of Arabic romance meaning "night."

Ivy – Short, sweet and floral. Ivy is just as lissom and fashionable as Poppy but not nearly as popular. 

Cora – The Latinised form of the Greek name Kore meaning "the maiden." An alternate name for the spring goddess Persephone who was revered for her important role in agriculture. 

Ayla – Both a Hebrew name meaning "oak tree" and also a Turkish name meaning "moonlight." Both are pronounced the same as Isla. 

Ailsa – A Scottish island name, just like Isla, pronounced AYL-sa. Fresh, familiar yet uncommon. 

Vaila – An even rarer, but oh-so-usable choice is the Scottish name Vaila, also taken from the name of a Scottish island. It is mostly used in Shetland and is pronounced VAY-la. 

Lara – Chic, trim and exotic, Lara is short but packs an elegant punch. Also worth considering is Hollywood-inspired Lana.

Mirren – A top 100 choice in Scotland, Mirren is a modernised form of the Old Gaelic Muirenn, either from muir "sea" and fionn "white, fair," or cognate with the Welsh morwyn "maiden."

Luna – The goddess and personification of the moon with an uncommon but highly familiar and fashionable name. 

 

Boys:

Fraser – Charming Scottish favourite which has bags of history but feels very current. 

Arran – Like Harris, Arran is the name of a Scottish island. Plenty of Scottish heritage with a modern style. 

Blake – A cool and sleek surname with a polished literary nod thanks to William Blake. 

Euan – Euan (or Ewan) is quintessentially Scottish and still feels fresh and friendly. 

Evan – A solid and sturdy Welsh choice which has all the same charm as Ethan but not nearly as common. 

Brody – A Gaelic surname which ticks off the nod to Scotland as being not too common yet familiar. 

Miles – Stately yet fancy-free, Miles is a dependable and familiar choice that sits below the top 100. 

Caleb – Like Isaac, Caleb is a trim Biblical name which is receiving a modern revival. 

Joel – Another sturdy Biblical name. Frills-free, homely and solid. 

Flynn – Gaelic Flynn is a dashing loveable rogue inspired by Hollywood.

Keir – A Scottish surname which hails from Scotland's Viking past. 

 

I hope this has been of use. Please keep in touch. 

 

 

UK Birth Announcements 19/9/16 - 25/9/16

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:

Benjamin Richard Welby "Benji"

Charlie John (Isabella)

Cohen Edward

Dylan Robert

Edward Adam

Finley Joseph

Freddie Julian Edward (Willa)

Hugh Krishna (Anjali Christina)

James Horatio Charles

James Michael

Jenson-James Stanley

John William "Johnny"

Matthew James

Noah John William

Patrick Jack

Patrick Paul

Rory John (Oscar Thomas)

Rory Peter Kinloch

Sean James

Theo Jay

Xavier Julian James

 

Girls:

Alice Margaret Lois

Alizah Beth (Arianna)

Audrey Isabella (Maximilian Douwe Peter)

Beatrice Elizabeth (Georgia Margaret)

Constance Hannah (James Alexander)

Eliza Charlotte (Philip Thomas)

Elizabeth Agnes

Emma Beatrice Suki (Alice)

Holly Jane

Imarni-Rose

Lola Sienna

Margaux Mary (Otto Jack Peregrine & Eloise Grace)

Maria Storm

Nansi Cet (Jac Owen & Elis Dafydd)

Mathilde Grace (Amelie Rose & Hugo Alexander)

Olivia Anne

Paige Elizabeth

Pippa Rae Karen

  

Name of the Week: Garth

 

Origin:

Garth was adopted as a first name from the surname Garth, derived from the Middle English garth "area of enclosed ground, yard, garden," which ultimately derives from the Old Norse garðr "enclosed area, courtyard, fence, garden, farmyard." Most likely the name was given to a person in charge of an enclosed piece of land such as a garden, cloister or enclosure where cattle were kept.  The Old English cognate geard became our modern English word yard however garth still survives as a dialect word in the North West thanks to the strong Viking heritage there.  Garðr itself was actually used as an Old Norse given name with Gerðr as a feminine form, and several dithematic Germanic and Norse names contained it as an element -- mostly as a feminine suffix. There is, however, no evidence of the name Garðr in use in Britain, or that it influenced the surname Garth.

Usage:

The first recorded citation of Garth as a surname is John del Garth in 1297 in Yorkshire, followed by a Mariota del Garth in Cumberland in 1332. Data from the Surname Atlas (click to enlarge) The surname continued to be prevalent in the North of England, and even by the 1881 census, it was still most common in Yorkshire and the the surrounding counties, and Lanarkshire in Scotland. These hot spots of popularity correspond directly to the use of Garth as a given name which, at this time, was adopted as a family surname.  This all changed after 1909 when Florence L. Barclay's novel The Rosary was published, featuring Garth Dalmain as the romantic hero whose love stays true to the woman he loves even through terrible hardships. The book was a sensation, translated into eight languages, and was declared the Number 1 bestselling novel of 1910 in the United States by the New York Times. In the 1920s, the book was still popular and was even adapted for the Parisian stage. The impact of this can clearly be seen in the rise in number of children registered with the first name Garth.  Registered births per decade in England and Wales: 1840s: 2 births 1850s: 1 birth 1860s: 2 births 1870s: 2 births 1880s: 11 births 1890s: 20 births 1900s: 30 births 1910s: 83 births 1920s: 162 births 1930s: 354 births 1940s: 725 births 1950s: 201 births 1960s: 235 births 1970s: 154 births Some of Garth's fall in usage in the 1950s may be due to the popularity of Gareth which moved into the top 100 in England and Wales in the 1954 and remaining there until 1994. This may have deterred some parents from using Garth due to confusion with more popular Gareth.  Garth has hefty credentials as a comic book hero, being both the "real" name of DC Comic's Aqualad (later Tempest) from 1960-2010 and of Lightning Lad (1958-). Garth was also the hero of the Daily Mail comic strip Garth which ran from 1943 to 1997. Australian cricketer Graham "Garth" McKenzie (b. 1941) is said to have got his nickname from the latter character due to his muscular physique.* From the late 1980s onwards, Garth has been rarely registered as a given name in Britain. Since 1996, Garth has only ranked (i.e. given to three babies or more) ten years in the last twenty, with no more than ten births in any given year. It last ranked at #4678 (3 births) in 2010.  In Scotland, there have been no more than two registrations for the name in any given year since 1974 and no registrations at all since 2000 when it ranked #514 (2 births).

Famous Bearers:

Contemporary: * Graham "Garth" McKenzie (b. 1941), Australian cricketer. * Garth Brooks (b. 1962), American country music artist. * Garth Ennis (b. 1970), Irish comics writer. Literature and Other Media: * Garth Dalmain, hero of Florence L. Barclay's novel The Rosary (1909).  * Garth, titular hero of the Daily Mail's comic Garth.  * Garth, DC Comics superhero known as Aqualad and Tempest. * Garth Ranzz, DC Comics superhero known as Lightning Lad.  * Garth Fitzgerald IV, a character from the TV series Supernatural.

Variants:

Garðr

Pronunciation:

GARTH

Possible diminutives:

N/A

Sibling Names:

Dixie     Hazel     Olive     Betty     Mavis     Fallon  Rhett     Clark     Travis     Cash     Woody     Jarvis

Name Lists:

N/A

 

If you like Garth you may also like:    Garrett, Cody, Trevor, Graham, Gavin, Grant, Zane, Ray, Gerard, Lance

 

Thanks to Kathryn for requesting this post.

No Frills Feminine: Flawless -'f/v' Endings

This third installment of the No Frills Feminine series focuses on names ending with a -v or -f sound.

These are gentle, timeless sounding names with an exotic twist. They are fuss-free but delicately feminine.

Not a large list of the type, but a style that is perfectly formed I feel. 

 

Aviv Dove Elif Ellisif Eve Fauve

Genève Genevieve Haf Ingeleiv Josèphe Liv

Love Lyubov Madelief Maeve Mariève Mauve

Merve Minerve Neve Niamh Oliff Olive

Rahaf Seraph Silkisif Siv Viv Yudif

N.B. This is not an exhaustive list of every name that ends in a 'f'/'v' sound. 

UK Birth Announcements 12/9/16 - 18/9/16

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:

Adam Robert (Stephen)

Archie John Peter

Charlie Leonard (Elsie)

Elis James (Finlay David)

Eric Adam

Ernest Michael

Finley George

Finley Oliver Lovell (Max William Lovell & Theo Lewis Lovell)

Frankie James

George Robert Alexander

Harry George

James William (Harry Michael Hilton)

Joshua George Hudson

Liam Thomas (Logan)

Mason Hayden Leon

Oakley Adam

Oisín Charles

Ryan Alexander

Samuel George Ogilvie

Thomas Frederick "Tom"

 

Girls:

Alexandra Leander Laura Jane

Astrid Ena Sabine (Inigo Guy Walter)

Daisy Nicola (Isabelle "Izzy")

Elizabeth Frances

Ella Matilda (Finley Daniel)

Ellie Anne (David Alan)

Evie Olivia

Grace Clara

Ivy Rose (Isla Grace & Will James)

Lauren Noeleen (Alexander David "Sandy")

Lexie Grace (Millie)

Lottie Mae

Shianna

Saphia (Prius Gordon)

Sophie Eve (Liam Dennis)

Sophie Louise (Alastair Robin)

Syenna Kendal

 

Twins: 

Beaux Blossom & Bonnie Violet (Bailey Rose)

Llio & Rhys (Ifan)

Phoebe Kitty & Theodora Anna (Jemima Eliza)

 

Name Help: A brother for Owen

 

Laura and Brian are in search of a boys' name for their impending arrival, a brother for their son Owen David. 

 

They have a short one syllable surname which is also a common noun, so are looking for a name with two syllables or more which is not a also a noun. The middle name will be Charles, and Brian does not want a name which can be shortened. They don't want a top 10 name, but don't want something completely unusual either. 

Their list:

Colby -- Laura loves but is a brand of cheese.
Emmett 
Callum 
Cordell
Anderson

 

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What strikes me about your list is the interesting mix of fashionable Celtic heritage choices and tailored surname picks, all with a modern, fresh sound. In this list I have tried to combine the best of both worlds for you:

 

Ellis – A medieval form of Elijah which now has surname-style. It also, like Owen, has Welsh pedigree having been used commonly there for centuries. 

Corby / Corben – In a similar vein to Colby is Corby, a surname derived from an Old Norse place name meaning Kori's settlement. Alternatively there is Corben, from a French surname which was derived from corbeau "raven."

Tiernan – An anglicised form of the medieval Irish Tighearnán, meaning "little lord." Both ancient and modern sounding at the same time, with surname pedigree to boot. 

Cormac – A name of Irish myth and legend, and borne by medieval kings. It either means "raven" or "charioteer."

Coran – Like Cormac, Coran, or Corran, is a medieval Irish heritage choice with a modern sound and tailored surname style. 

Lachlan – A sleek and dapper Scottish name with links to the Vikings. Accessible yet not too common. 

Beckett – Cool surname with both saintly and literary links. 

Miller – Forget Taylor and Mason, Miller is a fresh occupational surname which is just as fashionable. 

Conall – A legendary Irish name derived from *kwon "hound" or *kuno "high" and *walo "prince, chief."

Fletcher – A dapper surname which echoes memories of medieval archers. Stylish but not too common. 

Griffin – The English vernacular form (and later surname) of the Welsh name Gruffudd (Griffith), which, like Owen, has long links to Welsh royalty. 

Caelan / Callan – Caelan is a revived Old Irish form of Caolán meaning "slender." 

Lorcan – An ancient Irish name with a modern sound meaning "fierce little one."

Nolan – The anglicised form of the Irish surname Ó Nualláin which has been used in England for centuries but sounds much fresher. 

Kendrick – A surname which is simultaneously English, Welsh and Scottish all in one. Accessible, familiar and yet unexpected at the same time. 

Fintan – An Irish staple with links to mythology. Yes, Finn could be used as a nickname, but having known some little Fintans, it's amazing how easily Fintan stands on its own without being shortened.

Galen – An ancient Greek name meaning "calm," which was borne by a famous Roman physician. Despite its age, it still feels fresh and current. 

Calahan – An anglicised and surname form of Cellachán, an ancient Irish name, borne by medieval kings. 

 

I hope this has been of use. Please keep in touch. 

 

 

UK Birth Announcements 29/8/16 - 11/9/16

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:

Anderson David

Archibald Albie Oliver

Arthur John Vere

Arthur Martin

Ashley Thomas

Atreyu

Benjamin Thomas

Benjamin Stephen (Lois Isla & Samuel Micah)

Bertie Raiph Dudley

Blair Alexander

Calvin James

Charles Alexander Vladov

Cohen James

Edward Nicholas Herbert

Ethan Felix Vaughan

Euan David

Finlay Robert Anthony

Gregor William (Murray)

Haaiz Mo (Nur Ayesha & Misha Aliyah)

Harlan Benjamin (Satine Ruby)

Harry George Murray

Harry John

Harvey Robert

Hector George Stevenson (Poppy Arabella)

Henry George Albert (Arthur William Henry)

Henry Lawrence

Isaac William Finn

Jack Edward Thomas

Jack William (Annabelle)

Jacob John Clive (Poppy)

Jaxon Robin (Sienna & Layla)

Jonathan Henry (Edward James Crese)

Joshua James

Louis Francis 

Mason Andrew James (Kira Leigh)

Mason James

Michael Bay (Tobias John "Toby")

Michael John Forrester

Noah George (Luke & Jamie Brian)

Otto Alastair Johnson

Percival Philip (Rupert Edward & Bertram George)

Rex Ludo Marcelles

Samuel James

Samuel John Cuthbert "Sam"

Thomas James (Evie Olivia)

William Scott (Jessica)

 

Girls:

Alexandra Louise "Lexi" (Henry Robert Branson)

Alice Elizabeth (Henry John Francis & Hector Willoughby Denis)

Alice Romola Ena (Mary Colette Evelyn)

Allegra Juliette

Arabella Caroline

Arabella Mary Elspeth (Matilda Catherine Ruth)

Ava Lily

Desiree Amelia

Constance Kathelijne Anne (William Bernard & Alexander Prosper)

Eden Rose

Eliza Marley

Emily Grace (Sophie Louise)

Estelle Liora

Evangeline Violet Grace

Eve Peggy Georgia

Evelyn Megumi Elizabeth (Vivienne Mizuki Florence)

Flora India (Matilda Rose)

Florence Alexandra Olivia

Freya Elizabeth

Harper Frances Alice (Jensen Thomas & Freddie Noah)

Harriet Alexandra "Hettie" (Elizabeth Florence "Betsy")

Henrietta Phyl "Hetty"

Ilayda Lily

Imogen Davena (Benjamin Alexander "Ben")

Iona Elza Rose (Rory & Lewis)

Isabelle Florence

Ishbel Lily

Jade Elizabeth

Kaitlin Rose (Charlie James)

Kitty Joy Eleanorah

Lila Grace (Max Edward)

Lucy Anne Kristine

Marina Lulu Mirabel (Theodore Philip Noel)

Mia Elizabeth

Nyla Rae (Lorcan)

Pippa Noelle (Jude)

Poppy Olivia June

Sadie Louise

Sarah Claire (Cameron)

Sofia Emily

Sophia Ioanna Elizabeth

Zoe Elizabeth (Molly)

 

Name of the Week: Alba

 

Origin:

Alba is an ancient name, established as a place name for thousands of years.  Alba is the Gaelic name for Scotland, once the name given to the former Pictish kingdom which eventually incorporated the entire Scottish Kingdom of Alba. Before that the related name Albion was used as a name for Britain as a whole, and now regarded as a poetic name for England. Both Alba and Albion have been traced back to the Proto-Celtic word *albiyo- "world" which was used to mean the light upper world, as opposed to the dark underworld.  Alba was also a Latin word -- the feminine of albus -- meaning "white, clear, bright." It was frequently used as a place name in the Roman world, the most famous of which being Alba Longa. This was an ancient town even to the Romans and they cited it as the place where their famous founders, Romulus and Remus, were born.  Most scholars agree that the Celtic *albiyo- and Latin albus are both from the same ancient Proto-Indo-European root: *albho- "white." The branches of this word can be found in many languages, and have long been connected with the dawn, presumably because sunrise brings with it the bright clear light. Alba is the Italian, Spanish, Romanian and Catalan word for "dawn, sunrise," and cognate forms such as the French aube and Portuguese alva are prevalent.  Alba was the Occitan word for dawn also, which became associated in the Middle Ages with a type of lyrical poetry describing lovers who separate from each other at dawn. This, in turn, inspired the medieval aubades -- a love song or poem, opposite to a serenade, sung to a lover at dawn -- which was taken from the Provencial auba and French aube "dawn".

Usage:

Albus (Alba in its feminine form) was used by the Romans as a cognomen. Examples of the name Albus for Roman men are uncommon in use however. There are no examples of Roman women named Alba, but given that the names of very few Roman women have been preserved down the ages, and the family name was already uncommon, perhaps that is understandable. It appears that the cognomen was very soon lengthened to Albinus, as was the fashion. Here, we find many more instances of Albinus in use, and also the feminine form Albina. St Albina was a 3rd century Roman martyr, and there are several other Roman martyrs who answered to the name.  There is evidence to suggest that Alba was in some little use during the Middle Ages, most likely as a feminine form of Albus, Alban or Albin(us), the latter of which were in use thanks to the veneration of Saint Alban and Saints Albinus. One female named Alba in mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Norfolk in 1315, and the DMNES has a record of one Albana in France in 825. Overall, however, the name was rare.  There are a few examples of the name in use in the 16th century, especially focused in and around Kent. This was still the case by the time of the 1881 census, when the name was recorded 13 times as a given name, mostly in the South East.  Alba has been used as a surname since the Middle Ages across the Continent. In Britain, it took the form Albe or Aube, based on the French descendants of albus. In Spain, Alba is an aristocratic family name, belonging to the Dukes of Alba.  Alba was the name initially given to Lord Byron's daughter with Claire Clairmont after the dawn, but when Byron took custody of the child, her name was changed to Allegra.  The name continued to be used moderately from the 16th through to the 20th century. Births in England and Wales per decade were as follows: 1840s: 1 birth 1850s: 3 births 1860s: 3 births 1870s: 5 births 1880s: 3 births 1890s: 11 births 1900s: 15 births 1910s: 7 births 1920s: 8 births 1930s: 9 births 1940s: 11 births 1950s: 15 births 1960s: 11 births In 2003, Audrey Niffenegger's debut novel Time Travelers Wife was released. It became a best-seller and won a National Book Award in 2006 in the Popular Fiction Award category. The success of the book, and of the follow up film in 2009, can be seen in the notable change in popularity of the name in Britain.  Another current influence on the name is most likely Alba Violet Bale, daughter of Welsh professional footballer Gareth Bale who plays for Real Madrid and the Wales national team. Alba Bale was born in October 2012, but she hit the media when Gareth was transferred to Real Madrid for a record breaking fee. More recently, young Alba Bale has received media attention, when she appeared on the pitch after Wales' success in the World Cup of 2015.  From 1996 to 2006, Alba was used in the same moderate in England and Wales use as it had been throughout the 20th century, averaging between 4 and 15 births each year, and remaining well below the top 1000.  After 2006, the name began to rise, and by 2010 the name ranked #773 (47 births). The name has been rising ever since, reaching #378 (118 births) in 2013 and #273 in 2015.  Curiously, in Scotland, the name was little used in the latter part of the 20th century, and was not registered at all in the 1970s and only two girls received the name in the 1980s and five in the 1990s.  It has been used more regularly in the 21st century, picking up from 2005 when it ranked #687 (3 births). It has been used consistently and increasingly each year since, jumping up from #802 (3 births) in 2010 to #229 (19 births) in 2011. It peaked at #155 (30 births) in 2013. In 2015 the name ranked #156 with 29 births.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Alba Silvius, an ancient Roman king of Alba Longa. * Alba Clairmont (1817-1822), birth name of Allegra Byron, daughter of Lord Byron.  Contemporary: * Alba Milana (b.1959), Italian long-distance runner. * Alba Gaïa Bellugi (b. 1995), a French actress. * Alba Bale (b.2012), daughter of footballer Gareth Bale.  Literature and Other Media: * Alba DeTamble, a character in Audrey Niffenegger's 2003 novel The Time Traveler's Wife and 2009 film.  Other: * A flower of the hybrid Rosa × alba.

Variants:

Alva (Portuguese)

Pronunciation:

AL-bə [key]

Possible  diminutives:

Albie

Sibling Names:

Cora     Lena     Willa     Esme    Belle    Nova  Leon     Jude     Arlo     Maxwell     Rex     Lochlan

Name Lists:

Modern Antiquity  Ripe Renovations  Resonant Roman

  

If you like Alba you may also like:   Juno, Hebe, Livia, Elsa, Lila, Margot, Orla, Aoife, Avalon, Luna

 

 Thanks to Jennifer for requesting this name. 

The highest rising names in England and Wales, 2015

We know by now that Oliver and Amelia kept their places in the number one spots, and which names moved up into the top 100. But which names made the most significant jumps upwards, and are these just flashes in the pan, or ones to watch for the future?

I've been looking at the top 1000 names, analysing which names have moved up the most in rank and which have increased the most in actual birth numbers. 

The highest rising name in rank for boys in 2015 was Rogan, moving from #1819 (12 births) up to #450 (90 births). The inspiration most likely was die to Rogan O'Connor who became a reality-TV star when he appeared on the second series of Ex On The Beach in early 2015.

For girls, the highest rising name was the Scandinavian Arla. moving from #1966 (14 births) to #923 (39 births) There doesn't appear to be a direct inspiration source for this -- although it is a dairy company -- but it is most likely rising as parents look for an alternative to popular Isla.

More intriguing is the rise of Adeline from #1456 (21 births) to #643 (64 births). The spelling Adaline also made big leaps below the top 1000, from not ranking at all in 2014 to ranking #1711 (17 births) in 2015. This was most likely give a boost by two movies released in 2015: romantic film The Age of Adaline starring Blake Lively and horror Adaline. Octavia also made a significant jump up from #1272 (26 births) to #564 (77 births), perhaps thanks to the character Octavia Blake in the television series The 100. 

 

Below is a chart of the top 50 boys' and girls' names within the 2015 England and Wales top 1000 whose rank increased the most since 2014. The first number denotes the name's rank in 2015, the last number denotes the number of places each name increased by.

450 ROGAN  +1369 places 996 EDDISON  +823 821 RIAAN  +809 640 KIAAN  +730 833 FRANKLYN  +727 888 YASSIN  +672 903 ANDERSON  +657 996 TADHG  +634 833 CLARKE  +588 903 IANIS  +583 977 KAISON  +583 927 SAXON  +559 950 AXL  +536 856 HARLOW  +514 856 IGNACY  +514 977 AAMIR  +509 856 BEAR  +471 950 SHILOH  +471 833 NIAM  +448 977 MONTAGUE  +444 996 KAJETAN  +425 807 GUS  +416 873 ELVIS  +408 927 DONNIE  +400 927 KENDRICK  +400 977 THEON  +393 950 VLAD  +377 927 LOWEN  +354 873 NIHAL  +350 977 PRANAV  +350 833 ABDALLAH  +345 727 ALEXIS  +334 538 DOMINYKAS  +328 903 HUZAIFA  +320 903 JOAO  +320 702 GREYSON  +310 702 VALENTINO  +310 807 KARTER  +310 977 DAWOOD  +304 740 ISHAAQ  +295 856 OMARI  +288 996 CONAN  +285 779 REYANSH  +282 656 AYYUB  +279 903 ENOCH  +275 903 JULIUS  +275 950 CHE  +273 438 CALUM  +257 702 AVERY  +257 888 KUSH  +256

923 ARLA  +1043 places 965 ROZA  +833 984 AMANAH  +814 643 ADELINE  +813 775 NALA  +787 564 OCTAVIA  +708 845 AAIRAH  +656 891 MENAAL  +610 923 ANDREEA  +533 984 DARLA  +517 984 ENID  +517 984 ANIELA  +472 909 MIYAH  +458 702 HARPER-ROSE  +418 760 AKIRA  +417 860 NUALA  +412 745 AIYLA  410 794 AMBER-ROSE  410 891 ADELINA  408 787 REBECA  390 891 ISLA-GRACE  381 860 KENDRA  374 831 ALARA  373 831 ALISSIA  373 307 NELLIE  361 942 SOPHIA-ROSE  357 923 IGA  349 722 AVERY  348 831 HETTY  346 487 AMIYAH  345 860 INAAYAH  344 909 ANNABELL  325 923 EZMAE  311 923 PALOMA  311 787 ANANYA  307 965 DARCIE-MAE  307 965 LULA  307 602 AMAL  305 625 AMAYAH  295 745 ROBIN  295 583 NOLA  294 942 SUMAYYA  292 674 RAVEN  289 656 EMA  284 760 FLORRIE  280 525 NOVA  269 965 ELLA-GRACE  269 432 EVERLY  267 449 NELLY  266 577 MARCIE  265

This chart is inevitably full of names lower down in the top 1000 because it is far easier for them to make gains with just a small increase in birth count. Once you get below the top 500, an increase of just 10 births can cause a name to move up over a hundred places in the rankings.

Below is a chart of the top 50 boys' and girls' names within the Top 1000 whose birth count increased the most from 2014 to 2015.  The first number denotes the name's rank in 2015, the last number denotes the number of places each name increased by.

4 GEORGE  +549 births 42 TEDDY  +413 37 ARTHUR  +317 80 JAXON  +302 1 OLIVER  +292 127 EZRA  +236 102 ARLO  +222 82 JACKSON  +216 45 THEODORE  +212 88 ROMAN  +206 55 HUGO  +197 17 FREDDIE  +196 20 ISAAC  +193 6 CHARLIE  +189 129 LINCOLN  +188 43 DAVID  +185 26 EDWARD  +176 46 ELIJAH  +169 48 JENSON  +165 94 CARTER  +159 74 RORY  +157 133 HUNTER  +157 72 ALBERT  +155 65 GABRIEL  +147 73 ELLIOT  +146 12 MUHAMMAD  +142 91 REGGIE  +140 231 CHESTER  +131 147 COOPER  +114 38 ADAM  +113 217 JAX  +105 122 RALPH  +99 176 HUDSON  +98 103 DOMINIC  +97 33 THEO  +95 198 JAXSON  +95 142 PARKER  +89 212 REX  +85 313 LOCHLAN  +84 57 FRANKIE  +82 90 ELLIS  +80 106 TOBIAS  +80 172 GRAYSON  +78 450 ROGAN  +78 184 WILFRED  +76 245 EDDIE  +72 111 ROWAN  +70 107 ALBIE  +67 53 LUCA  +66 95 FELIX  +66

6 ELLA  +563 births 63 HARPER  +357 58 THEA  +342 27 MATILDA  +334 23 FLORENCE  +272 28 EVELYN  +264 69 PENELOPE  +257 5 AVA  +243 100 ARIA  +241 24 ALICE  +223 71 NANCY  +202 38 ESME  +189 42 IVY  +172 41 WILLOW  +166 45 EMILIA  +161 79 MILA  +159 20 DAISY  +156 37 MAYA  +154 185 ESMEE  +150 136 AURORA  +149 95 ARABELLA  +146 91 CLARA  +141 2 OLIVIA  +129 114 MYA  +120 105 MOLLIE  +119 9 MIA  +115 169 INAAYA  +113 124 ESMAE  +105 207 AIZAH  +103 68 VIOLET  +100 97 MADDISON  +100 165 AMAYA  +99 259 PRIMROSE  +99 120 BONNIE  +98 242 CLEO  +98 307 NELLIE  +98 201 ELLA-ROSE  +96 123 ARIANA  +94 104 FAITH  +93 106 ORLA  +83 74 DARCIE  +82 148 AUTUMN  +80 187 ADA  +76 273 MARGOT  +74 56 HARRIET  +73 64 GRACIE  +73 84 ROBYN  +73 192 ALIZA  +73 183 ROSA  +72 167 AOIFE  +69

 

And what about the greatest faller? This year that prize goes to Elsa, dropping from #104 (537 births) in 2014 to #262 (190 births) in 2015. Clearly, the Frozen association has taken its toll.