Lois is expecting her fourth child—a girl!—a sister for Mabel, Leonard and Hester.
Lois writes:
"We like unusual-ish but proper names and we seem to have a two syllable theme (although that's not completely fixed!). Names we considered in the past but didn't use have included Agnes, Muriel, Celia. But for some reason none of those completely work now."
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I love your style! Sweet and genteel gems which had their heyday in the Edwardian era. As such, I've delved straight into the 1911 England census for inspiration for this list.
Cynthia – Like Muriel, Cynthia is a three-syllable name but subtly so. Cynthia was once an epithet of the Greek goddess Artemis and adopted by poets in the 17th century.
Ada – Sweet Ada was a top 30 favourite in the Edwardian period, but its roots (from the Germanic adal "noble") are ancient. St Ada was the sister of Charlemagne and a 7th century abbess. The fantastic namesake of mathematician, inventor and all-round genius Ada Lovelace gives it an added intellectual feel.
Blythe – Breezy and cheerful Blythe is late medieval gem which derives from the Old English bliðe "joyful, merry, gentle, kind." Of a similar ilk is Blanche, another medieval favourite which was revived by the Victorians.
Cecile – If Celia isn't quite right, how about the sweet French variant Cecile, which peaked in Britain in the 1910s and 1920s? The same vintage ending is echoed in the equally charming Lucille.
Audrey – Chic and ladylike, Audrey is a late medieval form of the royal and saintly Anglo-Saxon Etheldreda/Aethelthryth meaning "noble strength."
Sybil – Sleek, gentle, yet somewhat mysterious, Sybil is the most common English form of the Latin name Sibylla, the name given to important religious figures and prophetesses in Ancient Greece and Rome. It was well used in the Middle Ages and resurrected by the Victorians. Sybil is/was the most common modern form, though Sibyl is also used.
Avril – The same buttoned-up flatter-style ending of Sybil is reflected in Avril
Avis – In the Middle Ages, the name Avis / Avice (probably a variant of Ava or Hawis) was not uncommon. Avice was brought over by the Normans and was Latinised as Avicia. Soon it became associated with the Latin avis "bird" and so Avis became the more dominant spelling through to the early 20th century. It can be pronounced to rhyme with Alice (like the Latin avis), or to rhyme with Mavis.
June – There is something very wholesome yet unexpectedly delightful about June. The name derives from that of Juno, the chief Roman goddess, whose name meant "youthful" or "vital force." Junia or Juniper are similar options.
Bronwen – A sweet and solid Welsh gem. Exotic and familiar at the same time with heaps of antique charm.
Delyth – Another streamlined and vintage Welsh choice, coined by the Edwardians, which derives from the Welsh del "pretty, neat."
Lillian – In use since the 16th century and particularly embraced in the late 19th century, Lillian/Lilian has a sweet vintage elegance. The Scottish form is Lilias / Lileas, which dates from the same period.
Elspeth – Speaking of Scotland, this Scottish form of Elizabeth (from which we get Elsie) has bags of charm.
Greta – The German and Swedish diminutive of Margaret which came into fashion in Britain in the late 19th century. A variant form, also worth considering, is Gretchen.
Alma – Alma came to life in the Middle Ages, either from the Latin almus "kind," or as a Latinised form of the Old English names Ælfmæge "elf + maiden" and Æthelmæge "noble + maiden." Spenser used the name for the "Head of Temperance" in his Faerie Queen. but it really picked up use during the Crimean War (1853-56) from the name of a Crimean river which derives from the word "apple."
Dora – A late Victorian/Edwardian favourite which stems for sweet antique Dorothy.
Vera – A stylish Russian name which hit Britain by storm in the late 19th century. In Russian it means "faith," but it can also be considered the feminine form of the Roman family name Verus meaning "true."
Olive – The same vivacious v of Vera is echoed in Olive: delicate yet bold at the same time.
Rosina – A staple of the 18th and 19th century, Rosina and Rosetta were jewels of their age. They are now uncommon, but their vintage gleam still sparkles.
Rowena – Or how about Rowena, made famous by Walter Scott's Saxon heroine in Ivanhoe (1819), which sparked a generation of Victorian namesakes.
Ingrid – Looking at Agnes on your list brings me to Ingrid, the ancient and royal Scandinavian name which brings to mind Golden-Age Hollywood glamour thanks to Ingrid Bergman.
Imelda – The Spanish and Italian form of the Germanic Irmhild ("strength in battle") which was borne by a 14th century saint. It came into use in Britain in the 19th century.
Prudence – Prudence, Patience, Constance, Clemence... pretty much all the virtue -ence names go wonderfully in your set I think.
I hope this has been helpful. Best of luck with the name hunting.
