British Baby Names

Name of the Week: Seth

 
 

Origin:

In the Old Testament, Seth is the name of the third son of Adam and Eve. The name is traditionally translated as "appointed, placed," which fits with his birth story in the Old Testament. Seth was born after Cain had killed Abel. According to Genesis 4:25, Eve "bore a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, has appointed me another child instead of Abel, whom Cain slew." Many scholars agree, however, that the name is more complex and mysterious than this neat derivation suggests.  The verb שית (shiyth), from which Seth traditionally derives, is used 83 times in the Bible and is such a wide encompassing verb that a single English translation is totally inadequate. It can sometimes mean "to make" or can mean "to put, to lay"; sometimes "to give" or "to fix, to set in place".* Furthermore, one of the verb's derivatives is the masculine noun שת (shath) which means "basis, national foundation" and is much closer to the Hebrew script for Seth (שֵׁת).* This is the etymology given in Rabbinical literature which considers Seth "the founder of the world."* Seth was the ancestor of Noah and therefore the father of all mankind because all other humans perished in the Flood. In another twist, שת shath (and Seth - שֵׁת) is almost identical to שֵׁת (sheth) which means "buttocks." Sometimes the two are linked as "foundation of the body."*  Sheth, in turn, is also linked to* the verb שָׁאָה (sha'ah) which signifies a loud crash, rumble or some action that leads to tumult/devastiation.* Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon p852* For a much more nuanced look at Seth's Hebrew etymological links, I highly recommend reading Abarim Publication's article on the name Seth. To summarise, they say: "When Eve names Seth she says, "God has appointed (שית) me another offspring..". (Genesis 4:25), and traditionally readers have understood that therefore the name Seth must come from שית. But this is by no means certain. It may be that the name Seth is really the word שת (shat), meaning national foundation, but the Masoretic punctuation made the name Seth identical to the word for buttocks, and even the assumed contraction of שאון, meaning tumult." And also: "In a grand poetic sense, we here at Abarim Publications suppose that no definitive solution should be pursued: all possibilities are equally true." Seth is also the traditional spelling (via the Ancient Greek Σήθ) of Set, the name of the Egyptian god of the desert, storms and chaos. He accompanied Ra on his solar boat to repel the serpent of Chaos.  Seth was lord of the red land (desert), while Horus/Osiris was the lord of the black land (fertile soil). Horus/Osiris were dominant for half of the year after the Nile flooded, and Seth was dominant in the other half of the year when the sun dried up the land.  This balance of power was represented in the Osiris Myth - one of the most prominent parts of Egyptian mythology - in which Seth usurps Osiris and is challenged by Osiris's son Horus. In Egyptian art, Seth and Horus were often shown together crowning the new pharaohs as a symbol of their power over both Lower and Upper Egypt, and later the two gods were combined as the god Set-Horus.  As with the Hebrew Seth, the Egyptian Seth's etymology is also shrouded in mystery. Plutarch (c. 46 AD - 120 AD) asserted that it "means "the overmastering" and "overpowering," and it means in very many instances "turning back,"* while the Egyptians attributed the meanings of "deserter" and "instigator of confusion."* It has also been linked to the meanings "pillar" and "to dazzle."

Usage:

Image from Christian Names in Local and Family History Seth is generally considered to be one of the many Biblical names which came into use after the Reformation in the 16th century. However, George Redmonds has effectively demonstrated that Seth's usage actually predates this, and was not uncommon among Yorkshire gentry families.   In Christian Names in Local and Family History (2004) p147, he says:  "Writers have largely ignored its early history and we are invited to believe that it was one of the Old Testament names brought into use after the Reformation. [...] The reality is that Seth is on record, in good numbers, a century before most Old Testament names were at all popular. It is difficult to say exactly when it was first used, as the earliest recorded bearers were adults. The first use though must have been c.1450 at the latest, for a man called Seth Gillow was made clerk of Bishop Booth's markets in Durham in 1476. [...] The Gillows would almost certainly have known William Snawsell, the goldsmith and alderman of York whose son and heir Seth was admitted to the Guild of Corpus Christi in 1483, and it is tempting to think that they were kinsmen. [...] The wider use of Seth in and around Bilton is probably evidence of the Snawsells' network of kith and kin, but it does not explain why such an unusual name was given in the first place. Perhaps it was chosen by well-educated individuals who were aware of its meaning and symbolism, or perhaps both Seth and Wilfrid were attempts by these families to emphasise their gentility or anti-clericalism. Alternatively, those who made the choice may have encountered the name in the Cursor Mundi, or one of the source works from which it derived. Seth figured prominently in that section of the book which dealt with the story of the cross, and the author was a northerner whose poem is thought by some to have been written near Durham. Sadly, we cannot be certain what motivated the original name-giver, but his choice was a remarkable innovation for that period." Though it was never popular, Seth remained in regular use into the 19th century, as birth records in England and Wales, show: 1850: #117 1860: #126 1870: #149 1880: #168 1890: #216 1900: #221 It declined over the course of the 19th century, and fell of the map in during the 20th century. By 1996, Seth was down at #441 (45 births).   In America, Seth became more popular in the 1970s and first entered the US top 100 in 1980, peaked at #63 in 2000, and left the top 100 again in 2006.  In Britain, Seth was much later to the party. It began to rise in the early 2000s and first entered the top 100 at #91 (683 births) in 2012. This period was also a time when several American Seths were exposed to British popular culture. The actor Seth Green starred as "Oz" in Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 1997-2000, then Seth Cohen was a principle character in The OC from 2003-2007. Both of these programmes were massively popular in Britain during these years and no doubt contributed to Seth's birth count increasing ten-fold from 1997 to 2007 in E&W. Added to this, actor Seth Rogen had his breakthrough Hollywood role in Knocked Up in 2007. Seth remained in the 90s in England and Wales from 2012 to 2015. In 2016, it fell to #107 (611 births). However, individually, it ranked #95 in Wales and #106 in England.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Seth Jermy (1653–1724), British naval officer. * Seth Eastman (1808–1875), American painter. * Seth Boyden (1788–1870), American inventor. * Seth Holt (1923–1971), British film director. Contemporary: * Seth MacFarlane (born 1973), American television producer. * Seth Meyers (born 1973), American actor and comedian  * Seth Green (born 1974), American actor. * Seth Lakeman (born 1977), British folk singer. * Seth Rogen (born 1982), Canadian actor. Literature and Other Media: * Seth Cohen, fictional character in the television series The O.C.. * Seth Clearwater, fictional werewolf in the Twilight novels by Stephenie Meyer. * Seth Lord, fictional character in the play and film The Philadelphia Story.

Variants:

Sheth (Hebrew)

Pronunciation:

SETH [key]

Possible diminutives:

N/A

Sibling Names:

Esther    Zoe     Cora     Eden     Leila     Zara  Jesse     Levi     Ezra     Jonah     Eli     Asher

Name Lists:

Ripe Renovations   Slim Softies    Popular Biblical   Short and Sweet

 

If you like Seth you may also like:   Amos, Leon, Sonny, Joel, Elias, Abel, Kian, Ruben, Zayn, Otis

Thanks to Victoria for requesting this name.  

 

UK Birth Announcements 18/9/17 - 24/9/17

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:

Benedict Mitchell Walter

Callum James Tait 

Calum Iain

Charles Michael Christopher "Charlie"

Charlie Lukas

Charlie Steven (Lewis & Owen)

Cole Thomas (Noah David)

Edward George Talmai

Elwood Jack

Fox Alexander

George James Edward (Harry Frederick Anderton & Florence Lily)

Ignatius Arthur Kenneth

James Rupert (Florence Mei & William Edward)

Jorge Thomas (James Andrew)

Leo George

Machair Henry John

Magnus David (Orlando Peter)

Max Arthur

Oliver Gregory 

Oliver William

Ronnie James

Rufus Hugh Grenville

Theo Daniel

William Albert Ragnar

Xabier (Ander)

 

Girls:

Aurora Kathryn Esme

Ella Rose Elizabeth

Emilia Joan Barbara

Erin Orla

Florence Lillie Magdalene Victoria

Florence Lucy (George Richard & Arthur)

Grace Agnes Ivy 

Grace Isobel (Freya)

Hallie Grace 

Isabel Mae (Oscar)

Isabella Matilda

Josie Anne

Lilah Rebecca (Geordie Robert & Caspar Alexander)

Lily-Ann Florence

Lily Jemima

Livia Lucie Patricia

Matilda Anne 

Pixie (Faith, Leon and Kay)

Ruby Elsie (Stanley)

Sasha Isobella

Skyler Grace 

Sophie Eloise

 

Twins:

Allegra & Violet

 

Top 100 Most Popular Names in England and Wales 2016

 



The #1 names in 2016 were Olivia and Oliver! Olivia managed to topple Amelia off the top spot after five years while Oliver remains #1 for the fourth year running. 

New to the top 100 are Albie, Arlo, Ezra, Finn, Jasper, Jesse, Felicity, Iris, Luna and Lydia.

These replaced Callum, Connor, Jamie, Kian, Seth and Sonny, Bethany, Hollie, Katie and Lacey which fell out of the top 100. 

Reggie showed the largest rise for names already in the top 100 for boys, followed by Jackson, Louie, Caleb and Ronnie.

Aria showed the largest rise for names already in the top 100 for girls, followed by Harper, Charlotte and Beatrice.

Luna and Arlo were the highest rising names overall in 2016's top 100. 

 

Top 100 Boys' Names 2016			.	Top 100 Girls' Names 2016
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 55 57 58 59 59 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 92 94 95 96 97 98 99 100	OLIVER  HARRY  GEORGE  JACK  JACOB  NOAH  CHARLIE  MUHAMMAD  THOMAS  OSCAR  WILLIAM  JAMES  LEO  ALFIE  HENRY  JOSHUA  FREDDIE  ARCHIE  ETHAN  ISAAC  ALEXANDER  JOSEPH  EDWARD  SAMUEL  MAX  LOGAN  LUCAS  DANIEL  THEO  ARTHUR  MOHAMMED  HARRISON  BENJAMIN  MASON  FINLEY  SEBASTIAN  ADAM  DYLAN  ZACHARY  RILEY  TEDDY  THEODORE  DAVID  ELIJAH  JAKE  TOBY  LOUIE  REUBEN  ARLO  HUGO  JAXON  LUCA  MATTHEW  HARVEY  HARLEY  REGGIE  TOMMY  JENSON  LUKE  MICHAEL  JAYDEN  JUDE  FRANKIE  ALBERT  STANLEY  ELLIOT  GABRIEL  MOHAMMAD  OLLIE  RONNIE  LOUIS  CHARLES  BLAKE  ELLIOTT  LEWIS  FREDERICK  NATHAN  TYLER  JACKSON  RORY  RYAN  CARTER  DEXTER  ALEX  AUSTIN  CALEB  KAI  ALBIE  ELLIS  BOBBY  EZRA  LEON  ROMAN  JESSE  AARON  IBRAHIM  LIAM  JASPER  FELIX  FINN	0 +1 +1 -2 0 +1 -1 +4 0 0 -3 -1 +2 0 -2 0 0 +1 -1 0 +1 -1 +3 -1 +3 -1 0 -4 +4 +7 -2 0 -3 -3 +1 -1 +1 0 +2 0 +1 +3 0 +2 -11 -2 +16 +3 +53 +5 +29 +1 -6 -4 -3 +36 +3 -10 -1 -5 -12 -1 -5 +8 -6 +7 -2 0 +8 +13 +7 -6 -11 -3 -19 0 -13 -8 +3 -6 -12 +12 -4 -9 +4 +13 -1 +19 +1 -23 +36 -7 -4 +16 -8 0 -16 +6 -4 +26		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 49 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 88 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100	OLIVIA  AMELIA  EMILY  ISLA  AVA  ISABELLA  LILY  JESSICA  ELLA  MIA  SOPHIA  CHARLOTTE  POPPY  SOPHIE  GRACE  EVIE  ALICE  SCARLETT  FREYA  FLORENCE  ISABELLE  DAISY  CHLOE  PHOEBE  MATILDA  RUBY  EVELYN  SIENNA  SOFIA  EVA  ELSIE  WILLOW  IVY  MILLIE  ESME  ROSIE  IMOGEN  ELIZABETH  MAYA  LAYLA  EMILIA  LOLA  LUCY  HARPER  ELIZA  ERIN  ELEANOR  ELLIE  HARRIET  THEA  MAISIE  HOLLY  EMMA  GEORGIA  AMBER  MOLLY  HANNAH  ABIGAIL  JASMINE  LILLY  ANNABELLE  ROSE  PENELOPE  AMELIE  VIOLET  BELLA  ARIA  ZARA  MARIA  NANCY  DARCIE  LOTTIE  ANNA  SUMMER  MARTHA  HEIDI  GRACIE  LUNA  MARYAM  BEATRICE  MILA  DARCEY  MEGAN  IRIS  LEXI  ROBYN  AISHA  CLARA  FRANCESCA  SARA  VICTORIA  ZOE  JULIA  ARABELLA  MADDISON  SARAH  FELICITY  DARCY  LEAH  LYDIA	+1 -1 0 0 0 +2 +6 -1 -3 -1 +1 +13 -3 -3 -1 -1 +7 -2 +2 +3 -2 -2 -5 -2 +2 -9 +1 -2 +2 -1 +2 +9 +9 -4 +3 0 -3 +1 -2 -5 +4 -2 -11 +19 +4 -3 +7 -1 +7 +9 +2 -8 +7 -2 +2 -10 -2 -7 -11 -10 -1 +3 +6 -2 +3 -8 +33 +4 +4 +1 +3 +6 -3 -8 -8 +4 -13 +52 -4 +13 -2 -5 -7 +18 -4 -2 +1 +3 -5 -3 +1 -3 -7 +1 +2 0 +14 -9 -1 +3

                  

 See also The Top 1000 names in England and Wales, 2016.

 

Below are the individual Top 100 for Wales and for England separately in 2016:

Top 100 Names in Wales				.	Top 100 Names in England
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 19 21 22 23 24 24 26 27 28 28 30 30 32 33 34 35 35 37 38 39 40 41 42 42 44 45 45 47 47 49 50 50 52 53 54 54 56 57 57 59 60 60 60 60 64 65 66 66 68 69 70 71 71 73 73 75 75 77 78 78 80 81 81 83 84 84 86 87 87 89 89 91 91 91 91 95 95 95 98 99 99 99 99 99	OLIVER  JACOB  NOAH  JACK  OSCAR  HARRY  CHARLIE  ALFIE  GEORGE  WILLIAM  LEO  THOMAS  THEO  LOGAN  JOSHUA  DYLAN  JOSEPH  JAMES  HARRISON  LUCAS  ARCHIE  HARRI  MASON  ETHAN  ISAAC  FREDDIE  OSIAN  FINLEY  MAX  ELIJAH  HENRY  SAMUEL  OLLIE  RILEY  CARTER  JAXON  JAKE  DANIEL  TOMOS  BENJAMIN  TOBY  LOUIE  REUBEN  ALEXANDER  EDWARD  RHYS  JAC  JENSON  SEBASTIAN  ELI  ZACHARY  ELLIS  EVAN  ARTHUR  TYLER  MORGAN  JACKSON  LUCA  JAYDEN  ARLO  ELLIOT  HARLEY  JESSE  CAI  OWEN  BLAKE  ELIS  THEODORE  CALEB  TOMMY  IOAN  ROWAN  ADAM  DAVID  HARVEY  MACSEN  DEXTER  GETHIN  TOBIAS  MATTHEW  LUKE  MOHAMMED  LEWIS  EZRA  FRANKIE  SONNY  AUSTIN  CONNOR  LOUIS  ROMAN  AIDEN  ELLIOTT  RYAN  ZAC  FINN  MUHAMMAD  SETH  JAXSON  ALEX  COLE  JONAH  LEON  TEDDY	1 2 3 4 5 6 6 8 9 10 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 23 25 26 26 26 29 30 31 31 33 34 35 35 37 38 39 40 40 42 43 44 44 44 47 48 48 50 50 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 60 60 60 64 65 65 67 67 67 70 70 72 72 74 75 75 75 78 78 78 81 81 83 83 85 85 87 88 88 88 91 91 93 93 93 93 93 93 99 100 100 100	OLIVIA  AMELIA  ELLA  AVA  ISLA  EMILY  EVIE  MIA  LILY  ISABELLE  SOPHIA  ISABELLA  RUBY  FREYA  ERIN  SEREN  GRACE  CHARLOTTE  HARPER  POPPY  SCARLETT  SOPHIE  ELSIE  WILLOW  FFION  DAISY  EVELYN  ROSIE  JESSICA  THEA  CHLOE  MEGAN  ALICE  MILLIE  LAYLA  SIENNA  IMOGEN  ESME  ARIA  IVY  PHOEBE  EVA  MATILDA  ALYS  ELLIE  FLORENCE  SOFIA  LOLA  MALI  BELLA  MAISIE  GRACIE  HOLLY  DARCIE  LOTTIE  MOLLY  LUCY  LILLY  ABIGAIL  AMBER  ELIZA  EMILIA  HARRIET  NANCY  AMELIE  ROBYN  AURORA  LEXI  MILA  EIRA  MADDISON  HALLIE  PENELOPE  MYA  ANNABELLE  MARTHA  MAYA  CADI  GEORGIA  NIA  LUNA  SUMMER  HOLLIE  JASMINE  ELIZABETH  VIOLET  LOWRI  CERYS  LACEY  LILLIE  CARYS  HANNAH  BROOKE  ESMAE  MARNIE  MOLLIE  PAIGE  SKYLA  AUTUMN  ANNA  FAITH  ROSE		1 2 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 57 59 60 61 62 63 64 64 66 67 67 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 95 97 98 99 100	OLIVER  GEORGE  HARRY  JACK  JACOB  NOAH  CHARLIE  MUHAMMAD  THOMAS  OSCAR  WILLIAM  JAMES  HENRY  LEO  ALFIE  JOSHUA  FREDDIE  ARCHIE  ETHAN  ISAAC  ALEXANDER  JOSEPH  EDWARD  SAMUEL  MAX  DANIEL  ARTHUR  LUCAS  MOHAMMED  LOGAN  THEO  HARRISON  BENJAMIN  MASON  SEBASTIAN  FINLEY  ADAM  DYLAN  ZACHARY  RILEY  TEDDY  THEODORE  DAVID  TOBY  JAKE  LOUIE  ELIJAH  REUBEN  ARLO  HUGO  LUCA  JAXON  MATTHEW  HARVEY  REGGIE  MICHAEL  HARLEY  JUDE  ALBERT  TOMMY  LUKE  STANLEY  JENSON  FRANKIE  JAYDEN  GABRIEL  ELLIOT  MOHAMMAD  RONNIE  CHARLES  LOUIS  ELLIOTT  FREDERICK  NATHAN  LEWIS  BLAKE  RORY  OLLIE  RYAN  TYLER  JACKSON  DEXTER  ALEX  AUSTIN  KAI  ALBIE  CALEB  CARTER  BOBBY  EZRA  ELLIS  LEON  ROMAN  IBRAHIM  AARON  LIAM  JESSE  JASPER  FELIX  JAMIE	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 92 94 95 96 96 96 99 100	OLIVIA  AMELIA  EMILY  ISLA  AVA  JESSICA  ISABELLA  LILY  ELLA  MIA  SOPHIA  CHARLOTTE  SOPHIE  POPPY  GRACE  EVIE  ALICE  SCARLETT  FLORENCE  FREYA  ISABELLE  DAISY  PHOEBE  CHLOE  MATILDA  EVELYN  RUBY  SIENNA  SOFIA  EVA  ELSIE  WILLOW  IVY  MILLIE  ELIZABETH  ESME  MAYA  IMOGEN  ROSIE  EMILIA  LAYLA  LOLA  LUCY  ELIZA  HARPER  ELEANOR  ERIN  HARRIET  ELLIE  EMMA  MAISIE  THEA  GEORGIA  HOLLY  AMBER  HANNAH  MOLLY  JASMINE  ABIGAIL  ANNABELLE  LILLY  ROSE  PENELOPE  VIOLET  AMELIE  BELLA  ZARA  ARIA  MARIA  NANCY  ANNA  HEIDI  DARCIE  LOTTIE  SUMMER  MARTHA  MARYAM  GRACIE  LUNA  BEATRICE  DARCEY  MILA  IRIS  AISHA  FRANCESCA  SARA  CLARA  LEXI  ROBYN  MEGAN  VICTORIA  JULIA  ZOE  SARAH  ARABELLA  EDITH  FELICITY  LEAH  BETHANY  DARCY

 

The statistics on this page are supplied by the Office for National Statistics.
These tables were coded and formatted by me.

Name Help: A Sibling for Vivienne, Gemma and Alastair

 

Cory is expecting her fourth child in a few months -- a surprise! -- to join Vivienne, Gemma and Alastair. 

Cory writes: "We would like the name to have a good meaning with a different sound and initial as their siblings.

Popularity is definitely an important factor.  I prefer a name not be in the top 100 (I live in the US). Style wise...my husband and I like classic/traditional names but, I like a name with some spunk!

I would like to do a 2 syllable name this time.  As our previous kids are 3-2-3...

[We would like]  a name with European flair that can stand the test of time.  If it helps my husband and I love anything from the Victorian era...such as Emma, Jane Eyre, Love and Friendship, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, North and South, Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Wuthering Heights etc.... I believe if the name comes from a novel/film we both like it might bring us to common ground!"

Names on their list:

Bridget
Edith
Sybil
Winifred -- Cory's husband likes but Cory feels its a bit clunky for their sibset. 

Edmund
Harvey
Winston

Names eliminated/already taken:

Frances, Maude, Poppy, Willa, Louise, Rose
Callum, Clement, Rafferty, Rupert, Rhys, Frederick, Thomas

 

※    ※    ※    ※

 

Girls:

Florence – A gorgeous Victorian darling which brings to mind Florence Nightingale. Here in England, it's at #22, but it doesn't crack the top 1000 in the US. For me, it fits the bill of being classic/traditional but also a little bit spunky -- and it's two-syllables! 

Harriet – Emma's faithful companion in Jane Austen's Emma and a British staple through the 18th and 19th century. Charlotte Bronte was a big fan of first female sociologist Harriet Martineau. Harriet doesn't rank at all in the US top 1000, though sweet short-form Hattie is at #503. 

Hester / Esther – Both Esther and cognate Hester were Regency and Victorian staples. Both Hester and Esther were used in Bronte novels, and Esther was used in Jane Austen's Sanditon. Charles Dickens's Esther Summerson from Bleak House is also a wonderful character. Esther ranks at #183 in the US, while Hester sits outside the top 1000. 

Imogen – A pretty Shakespearean names which the Victorians were also fond of. It's a top 100 staple here in Britain but doesn't even make the top 1000 in the US. 

Matilda – Borne by characters of Austen, Dickens, Gaskell and the Brontes, Matilda is a historic name with plenty of vintage charm, especially with the diminutive Tilly. It ranks #479 in the US. 

Philippa / Pippa – Jane Austen used queenly Philippa as a character in her juvenilia 'Love and Freindship'. Pippa, the standard short-form of Philippa, was made famous by Robert Browning's Pippa Passes (1841) and so also has Victorian literary pedigree. 

Sylvie / Sylvia – Both Sylvie and Sylvia are beautiful and elegant vintage gems. Sylvia has more stature in the English-speaking world, while French Sylvie has the advantage of having two syllables. Sylvia is the heroine of Elizabeth Gaskell's Sylvia's Lovers (1863) and Sylvie is a character in Charlotte Brontë's The Professor. 

Tess – Sweet Tess has a delicate lady-like charm with a bold streak. Thomas Hardy's masterpiece Tess of the D'Urbervilles makes the name firmly  Victorian and romantic. Tessa is #229 but Tess is outside of the top 1000 in the US.

Nancy – Jane Austen, Anne Brontë and Dickens all wrote of character's named Nancy. Today, it has a cheeky-but-sweet vintage charm. Nancy ranks #900 in the US. 

Helena – One of the daughters of Queen Victoria, Helena is an elegant and romantic name which ranks at #518 in the US. 

Beatrice – Another of Queen Victoria's children which is still used by royalty. Sweet Beatrice was much beloved by the Victorians. It's in the top 100 in England and Italy but only #559 in the US. 

Rosa / Rosine – Both Rosa and Rosie are adorable Victorian lovelies. Rosina and Rosine were also used during this period, and Rosine features in Charlotte Brontë's Vilette. 

Mabel – Meaning "lovable," Mabel is one of the medieval names that the Victorians went mad for. Wordsworth used the name in his sonnet St Catherine of Ledbury (1835) and it was given a bigger boost when Charlotte MaryYonge used it in her bestselling novel The Heir of Redclyffe (1854). It currently ranks #513 in the US. 

Bethan – Like Alastair, Bethan has a rich heritage but with a Celtic twist. Bethan is a traditional Welsh shortform of Elizabeth. While English girls answered to Betty or Bessie, Welsh girls answered to Bethan or Betsan. Like Gemma, Bethan also strikes the balance of having plenty of history but feeling fresh and modern. 

Polly – You've considered and discarded Poppy, but I wonder if Polly is worth considering. A character in Charlotte Brontë's Vilette and a traditional nickname for Mary which was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. Penelope (a Jane Austen character), Paloma and Ophelia could all be used as longer forms. 

 

Boys:

Byron – A name with elegance and history, a literary pedigree, but also a fresh, modern sound. It ranks #669 in the US. 

Silas – Charlotte Brontë, Dickens and George Eliot all used stylish Biblical Silas for characters. It currently ranks at #119 in the US. 

Ralph – A friendly name with bags of history and much loved by the Victorians. Ralph ranks #992 in the US but the alternate phonetic form Rafe sits outside of the top 1000. 

Heath – A rugged and amiable nature name which brings to mind Emily Brontë's immortal brooding hero Heathcliff. It ranks #876 in the US.  

Lewis – The English phonetic form of Louis, Lewis has a straightforward charm and plenty of heritage. It also shares a Scottish link to Alastair as the name of the largest island of the Outer Hebrides. It ranks #510 in the US. 

Bennet – A nod to Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Bennet (or Bennett) is a fresh and modern-sounding name which has plenty of history. Before it was a surname, Bennet was the English vernacular form of Benedict. Bennett ranks #140 in the US but Bennet isn't in the top 1000. 

Tobias / Toby – A debonnaire Biblical choice which has an adorable Victorian-vibe. Tobias ranks #246 in the US and Toby #765. 

Fergus – Anne Bronte used Fergus in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. It's a sturdy-yet-delightfully playful name which has plenty of Gaelic charm. It does not rank in the top 1000 in the US. 

Jonas – A sleek and stylish Biblical classic which was very popular in the Bronte's home county, Yorkshire. No wonder the name makes an appearance in Jane Eyre and also Dickens's Martin Chuzzlewit. It ranks #388 in the US.  

Felix – Ranking #247 in the US.  Felix has an affable and gentlemanly charm. The meaning -- happy, lucky, blessed -- is great, too. 

Eamon – Edmund is on your list -- and it's a great choice! -- so I'm going to throw in Eamon: the Gaelic form of Edmund. It looks sleek and modern, with a classic pedigree. It does not rank in the top 1000 in the US. 

Ewan – Scottish Ewan has a modern sound, with an ancient history. It does not rank in the top 1000 in the US but feels familiar thanks to lovely Scottish actor Ewan McGregor

Ewart – Like Eamon, Ewart is a Celtic twist on an English classic: in this case, a medieval Scottish form of Edward. Hoards of British Victorian boys were named Ewart in the 19th century thanks to Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone. 

Malcolm – A genial Scottish name with a Shakespearean twist and plenty of charm, ranking #410 in the US. 

Maxwell – A nod to The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Maxwell is a charming Scottish surname with plenty of style. It ranks #111 in the US.  

 

I hope this has been of use. Good luck with the name choosing!

 

UK Birth Announcements 11/9/17 - 17/9/17

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:

Alfie Lee

Arlo Leo

Arthur Jack Lowen (Edwin William James & Elsa)

Cohen Jacob (Millie Rae)

Donnacha (Ruadhan)

Ethan Arthur

Freddie Charles (Kellan Edward)

Freddie Johnathon

George Beau (half-sibs:  Lila, Euan & Iris Ruby)

Harley Joseph Stephen

Harry Cole (Kaley Louise, Reece James, Daley Elliott, Corey, Evie Michelle & Ellis Richie)

Harry James

Henry Austin (Jessica Amelia & Sophie)

Jack Neville 

Joseph Frank

Joshua Sean Keith (Georgia Rachael)

Lucas James

Nathaniel Jacob "Nate" (Finlay)

Oliver George

Presley Jaxon

Teddy Joel

Theo Harry

Thomas James Robert Ian

Tobias Edward Ian "Toby" (Nicholas James David & Patrick Stuart George)

 

Girls:

Abigail Rose

Aila Anne

Ava Lily 

Eden Rose (Daisy & Sofia Georgia)

Ellie Anne

Elodie Rose Miriam

Erin Faye

Florence Anna Margaux (Charlotte Katherine Rose & Henry George de Winton)

Francesca Carmella

Francesca Paige (Stewart James)

Gracie Anne (Dolcie Rose)

Harley Joules 

Isabella Mary

Ivy Rose 

Lola Rae

Lucie Rose

Lucy Beth

Madeleine Rosamund

Mara Maisie (Murray James & Fearne Elizabeth)

Margaret Philippa

Mia Alice 

Molly Jessima [sic] (Noah James)

Nola-Rose

Phoebe Ella (Joshua John & Sophie Anne)

Rose Josephine (Daniel James Felski)

Sophia Kitty

Suki Skye Cresta (Stella Ivy Juno)

Zara Grace

 

Twins:

Leo & Leyla

 

Name of the Week: Isla

Origin:

Isla is a modern Scottish name taken directly from Scottish geography.  Though there are a few small rivers named Isla in Scotland (one in Moray and in Perthshire), the name most likely arose as a variant spelling of Islay – the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides. It is worth noting that both the rivers Isla and the island Islay were named Ìle in Gaelic (EE-leh) and both are pronounced the same in modern Scotland: Ī-lə (rhyming with tyler). The Isle of Islay is known as "The Queen of the Hebrides" thanks to its beautiful landscape and is famous for a single malt whisky produced there.  The meaning of the island's name is unknown and much debated. Older forms of the name include Ili, Yle, Ila, Yla and Ilay. The 's' became more common in the 19th century as an anglicised form, perhaps to make it similar to the English word island which is similarly pronounced.  A.D. Mills in The Oxford Dictionary of British Place Names attributes a possible meaning of 'swelling island' though admits that the actual meaning is likely pre-Celtic. This was probably influenced by W.J. Watson's The Celtic Placenames of Scotland (1926) in which he wrote: "The name [Ile], anglicised as Islay, occurs often in Irish records and literature, usually as Ile, sometimes Ila; the modern Gaelic form is Ìle, which would represent an old Iliä. If the name is Celtic it might be compared to the Gaulish Ilio-marus, a man's name, in which Ilio- may be some part of the body, like Latin ilium, ilia, the flanks of a man or animal: Ilio-maros would thus mean 'big-flanked' or 'big-buttocked.' The Welsh verb ilio, 'ferment,' may be compared: the route notion is 'swell'. The perculiar shape of the island lends itself to such an origin for its name; compare the Irish Aru, the Isla of Aran, from aru, gen. árann, 'a kidney'." The "swelling" idea certainly would explain the rivers named Isla, but, for the Isle of Islay, a Celtic route ignores a glaring point: the -ay (-a) ending of Islay is one that is shared by the vast majority of Scottish islands. In the Inner Hebrides alone, the islands Canna, Colonsay, Eriska, Gigha, Gometra, Jura, Kerrera, Lunga, Oronsay, Raasay, Rona, Sanday, Scalpay, Shuna, Soay and Ulva all share this same suffix which comes from the Norse -ey/-øy "island". Islay then probably represents _(Il)_+ey. The most convincing theory is that the first element represents the Norse name Yula – therefore "Yula's island." Though it isn't certain what Yula's origins are, it most likely comes from the Old Norse jól "Yule", the Norse mid-winter festival.  Folk-lore on Islay itself actually specifies this Yula. In some versions, she is a Danish princess, in others, she is a Norse goddess, but either way, the story goes that Yula left Denmark in search of her lost love with an apron full of stones. As she travelled, the stones fell out one by one, forming the Hebridean islands. When she died, she was buried on the Isle of Islay which was named for her.  This, of course, is wonderfully fanciful, but often folklore derives from a kernel of truth. Perhaps there was a Danish woman who inspired the story who was named after the island, or the story arose as a way to explain the island's name.  As a given name, Isla may also have been influenced by the name Ailsa (also the name of a Scottish island) which was also pronounced Ī-lə in Scotland. See more information here.

Usage:

Like other Scottish island-names such as Ailsa and Iona, Isla's use as a given name dates from the 19th century. Both Isla and Islay were used as spellings, and it was originally a unisex name, though always more common for girls. On the 1891 UK census, for example, 7 males were named Isla and 14 Islay; for women, 37 were named Isla and 7 Islay.  Queen Victoria named one of her dogs – a Skye terrier – Islay. In her diary, on 13th March 1839, she wrote: "I am charmed with my new little dog, whom I have called Islay. He is so gentle, so good-natured and friendly and so funny, for he begs delightfully."* He was, apparently, the Queen's favourite pet, and even has his own talking statue outside the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney, Australia. [Interestingly, in the recent ITV series Victoria, Islay is erroneously referred to as "her"] Birth records from both Scotland and England & Wales show how the name was uncommon in the 19th century but gradually grew in usage by the turn-of-the 20th century.        Scotland   England & Wales   Isla  Islay Isla Islay 1840s: 1850s: 1860s: 1870s: 1880s: 1890s: 1900s: 1910s: 1920s: 1930s: 1940s: 1950s: 1960s: 0 births 1 birth 0 births 1 birth 0 births 2 births 6 births 17 births 39 births 43 births 80 births 101 births 153 births 0 births 2 births 4 births 3 births 2 births 7 births 9 births 3 births 8 births 16 births 9 births 15 births 10 births 0 births 0 births 2 births 2 births 9 births 18 births 30 births 58 births 62 births 50 births 61 births 37 births 84 births 1 birth 0 births 2 birth 1 births 3 births 8 births 9 births 6 births 15 births 9 births 7 births 12 births 11 births Leslie Dunkling's sample for girls named Isla in every 10,000 births  in England and Wales shows that the name spiked in the 1960s, the late 70s, and then increased in popularity in the early 1990s  1900 1925 1935 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990   -   -   -    -    -    1    -   -   1    2   -   4 Some of the name's increased use in the 1970s could possibly be attributed to actresses Isla Blair and Isla Cameron and singer and TV presenter Isla St Clair. St Clair became a household name in 1978 when she became co-host of the BBC's The Generation Game. She was co-host until 1982, and during this time, appeared on prime-time TV shows such as Morecambe and Wise, The Royal Variety Show, Parkinson and Blue Peter, so this would certainly explain the spike in 1980.  In Scotland, Isla ranked consistently between #120-#230 (18 to 45 births) every year from 1974 to 1995.  It broke into the top 100 in 1996, when it shot up from #138 (34 births) in 1995, to #95 (59 births). Some of this may have been thanks to actress Isla Fisher starring in Australian soap Home and Away from 1994-1997, which was popular viewing in Britain at the time.  Isla rapidly moved up the Scottish top 100 from that point, reaching #25 in 2005 and #5 in 2010. It has been in the Scottish top 10 ever since.  In England and Wales, Isla was later to pick up popularity, but once it did it also rose rapidly. From 1996 to 2002, the rank was quite consistent, having no more than 150 birth registrations per year. In 2003, its steep rise started when it jumped to #200 (233 births) and was #125 (432 births) two years later in 2005.  It broke into the top 100 at #93 in 2006, was #30 in 2009 and #5 in 2013. It has been in the top 5 ever since.  Isla ranked #4 (391 births) in Scotland in 2016, and #4 in England and Wales (3474 births) in 2015.

Famous Bearers:

Contemporary: * Isla Cameron (c. 1930–1980), Scottish actress and singer. * Isla Blair (born 1944), British actress. * Isla St Clair (born 1952), Scottish actress and singer * Isla Fisher (born 1976), Australian actress. * Isla Traquair (born 1980), Scottish broadcast journalist. * Isla Phillips (born 2012), great-granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II. Literature and Other Media: * Isla Forsythe, character on soap Emmerdale from 2005-2006.  * Isla and the Happily Ever After (2014), novel by Stephanie Perkins. * Princess Isla, character from Across a Star Swept Sea (2013) by Diana Peterfreund. * Isla the Ice Star Fairy, character in Rainbow Magic book of the same name (2011) by Daisy Meadows.

Variants:

Islay, Iyla

Pronunciation:

Ī-lə [key]

Possible  diminutives:

Ily

Sibling Names:

Sofia     Ava     Ruby     Freya    Esme     Olivia   Noah     Max     Oliver     Leo     Teddy     Finlay

Name Lists:

Short and Sweet   Cosy Celtic   River Names

 

If you like Isla you may also like:   Orla, Maya, Layla, Ivy, Skye, Iona, Aria, Eilidh, Violet, Ella

Thanks to Danielle for requesting this name.

 

Name Help: A Sister for Maxwell

Sarah is due soon with her second child, and is looking for girls' names to go with her son's name Maxwell Scott "Max"

Sarah writes: "I'm struggling to find something sweet and girly but with a slight prim and proper feel as with Maxwell. We like 'e' ending names (not too popular like phoebe etc) I would also have loved a two syllable name that could be shortened like Maxwell is to Max.."

Names on the list:

• Kate - sounds modern but also classic. I love this as a middle name more as this fits the one syllable middle name requirement. 
• Lucy/Louise - because we like Lulu (although lulu is a bit far out for us as a standalone name)
• Frankie
• Isabel - classic and not as common as Isabella 
• Eden 
• Milly/Mollie - a friend has a baby with this name. 
• Addie - love this but don't like any of the longer names 
• Ellie
• Ada/Ivy - maybe a bit too vintage sounding 

Names eliminated:

• Phoebe - I fall in and out of love with this name as it's different sounding but classic, I think the nail in the coffin was it is quite popular at the moment. 
• Marcie/Lily - a bit to sweet sounding 
• Ella - my favourite name of all time but [too similar to family name].
• Vivienne & Juliette - I love these but my husband doesn't
• Violet/Scarlett 
• Ruby - can't because of Max and Ruby TV show. 

Ideal attributes:

• Two syllable one syllable ideally but not essential to follow Maxwell Scott. 
• Classic and elegant not too modern or unheard of. 
• Must be able to have a nickname like Max with Maxwell. I think we almost prefer nickname names but would like to give options for when they are older. 
• Not too harsh sounding like Cara/Clara/Harriet etc

※    ※    ※    ※

Hm... This request was unexpectedly difficult. Once I started digging, I discovered that there are surprisingly few two-syllable girls' names that fit your style that can be shortened easily. Many are either stand-alones that don't obviously shorten (Phoebe, Ruby, Lily, Scarlett) or they are already diminutive-names (Ellie, Frankie, Milly etc). 

So, I have had to be a bit more flexible on the number of syllables, but kept usable and stylish nicknames in mind for my selection. 

 

Annabel – As sweet, historic and elegant as Isabel but far less common. Even when spellings Annabelle and Annabel etc are added together, it ranks #43 compared with Isabel/Isabelle/Isobel etc's rank at #9. Anna, Annie, Belle, Bella and Abbie all work as nicknames. 

Evelyn – An elegant, lady-like classic which isn't too heavy. Evie or even Ellie can be used as a nickname. 

Eliza – Sparky and bright Eliza has a modern appeal but historic heritage. Ellie would work perfectly as a nickname. 

Amelie – I know Milly has been used by a friend, but perhaps it could still be used as a nickname. Chic, stylish and historic Amelie makes for a great formal option for Milly. 

Penelope – Chic and stylish: the beauty of Penelope is that is vintage gem with modern appeal and plenty of nickname possibilities including Penny, Polly, Nell, Ellie, Poppy.

Elodie – A pretty French import which has oodles of history and charm. Either Ellie or Edie would make lovely nicknames. 

Eloise – Another chic classic French name with lots of style that not only can give you the nickname Ellie, but also Lulu. 

Grace – There are two main types of nicknames in British naming: hypochoristics -- a shortened form of the name (Ben, Tom, Joe, Max etc) -- and diminutives -- where the original name has a suffix added on (Johnnie, Georgie etc). Both are equally established. Which leads me to sweet, elegant and classic Grace with its built in nickname of Gracie. A Grace Ruby or Grace Phoebe would have the same syllable pattern as Maxwell Scott, just inverted. 

Rose – In the same vein as Grace, there is also fragrant Rose with its sweet nickname Rosie. 

Rosalie – If Rosie is up your street, there are several longer forms including charming and sweet Rosalie. 

Marnie– If Marcie is a little too sweet, how about the similar sounding Marnie which is equally vintage but a little bit sassier. 

Beatrice – I have a feeling Beatrice may be filed alongside Ada and Ivy as a little 'too vintage sounding' but it certainly fits the criteria of being "sweet and girly but with a slight prim and proper feel." There are lots of nickname options including Bea, Betsy, Bess, Trixy and Bix. For a edgier twist, there is also Beatrix. 

Charlotte – Charlotte is two-syllables, classic, elegant, girly and prim all in one. The nickname Lottie gives it an unexpected twist. 

Stella – If Ella is off the table, perhaps Stella will appeal. It is vintage and girly but also proper and elegant. 

Tessa – An uncommon name that is commonly known -- an illusive name to find! It also lends itself perfectly to the sweet and literary nickname Tess. 

Madeleine – Girly and ladylike, Madeleine has plenty of nickname options: Maddie, Mally, Milly...even Addie!

Ophelia – A romantic and graceful name which could be shortened adorably to Effie, Poppy and Polly.

Primrose – Sweet and charming with a hint of pluckiness. Not only would Rosie/Rose work as nicknames, there is also Posy/Posie. 

 

 

I hope this has been helpful. Best of luck with choosing the perfect name. 

 

UK Birth Announcements 4/9/17 - 10/9/17

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 James 

Adam John

Alexander David James

Alexander Mungo

Andrew Michael (William Douglas)

Ellis Jacob

Freddie William Ronald (India Poppy)

Harrison Edward 

Isaac Max

Isaac Noah 

Jack Oliver 

Jasper William (Julia Grace)

Kasper George (Ethan & Oscar)

Layton James (Imogen & Madison)

Leander John George (Acacia)

Leo Asten (Elsie Lila)

Lewis Fraser (Murray)

Logan John (Lucas, Ethan & Leela)

Nicholas Timothy (Samuel Joseph, Daniel Stephen & Heidi Christina*)

Otto Louis Alexander (Humphrey)

Owen Stephen Ian (Megan Maria & Molly Elizabeth)

Rory David

Toby Lee

William Fox

Woody Carter (Lewis, Noah Jack, Daisy May, Leo Findlay & Indiana Jessica Jane)

 

Girls:

Amari 

Chloe Lynne (Cameron Andrew)

Eleanor Anastasia

Ella Olivia

Isabelle Victoria (William Robert)

Lily May

Lucia Alexandra

Matilda Florence

Merran Louise (Keir Andrew)

Nancy Caroline Florence

Nancy Violet (Hollie, Hazel and Florence Ivy)

Octavia Siena Josephine

Stella Ruth (Esme Lynn)

Tydwen Mary Haf (Eirys Winifred Nan)

 

Twins:

Erin & Nathan

 

Name of the Week: Patrick

 

Origin:

Patrick is the English form of the Roman name Patricius meaning "a patrician." The patricians were the ancient Roman elite class from which senators were usually drawn. The word itself derives from patres "fathers" because they were the families which descended from the founding fathers of Rome. In later centuries, the word patrician came to mean "nobleman." Much of the name's use is associated with, and attributed to, Saint Patrick. Patrick was a Romano-British Christian who was captured by Irish slave-traders as a teenagers, taken to Ireland, and enslaved for six years. He later returned to Ireland as a missionary and is credited with converting Ireland to Christianity.

Usage:

Patrick was in use in Britain from at least the 12th century, especially in Scotland where it was common. It wasn't very much used in the southern England, but it was well used in the north, most likely because of the cultural and geographical closeness to Scotland.  Patrick was used in a continual line for the Earls of Dunbar (from 1152 to 1369): important Anglo-Scottish magnates who held dominion over the Scottish border ("Scottish March"), were descended from the ancient Earls of Northumbria and who had married into Scottish royalty. Patrick IV de Dunbar, Earl of March (1242-1308) was even a contender for the crown of Scotland in 1291. Data from the Surname Atlas (click to enlarge) According to George Black, Patrick was "one of the most popular names in the west of Scotland in pre-Reformation times"* and Patrick was still prevalent in this area by the end of the 19th century, as data from the 1881 census shows (see image, right). Patrick's early medieval use led to the development of several diminutive forms [taken from the Anglo-Norman (Old French) tradition of adding the suffixes -in, -on, ot etc.] such as Pate, Patin, Paton and Pateman, and the surname-forms Patrick, Patrickson, Pate, Pates, Patey, Patton/Pattin, Pattinson and Patterson.  Despite the reverence given to Saint Patrick, his name was not used in Ireland until the 17th century — and even then it was probably due to Scottish settlers in Ulster. The reason for this is that the Irish Gaels considered the name to be too holy, and avoided using the names of their most revered saints. Instead, the names Giolla Phádraig "servant of Patrick" and Maol Phádraig "devotee of Patrick" were used. This taboo was also shared by the Scottish Gaels (though they had dropped the practice by the 15th century and began to use Pádraig alone) and their Celtic cousins, the Welsh, who used the similar Gwas Patrik "servant of Patrick."* Though late in use, once Patrick had been introduced to Ireland, it quickly established itself as one of Ireland's most popular names. Indeed, Patrick and the diminutive form Paddy were so common by the 18th century, that "Paddy" became a generic name for an Irishman in English.  Several Gaelic forms of the name developed in Scotland and Ireland, including Pádruig, Páruig, Páthruig, Para, Pádair and Pátair. The last two were confused with Peter, and, in Scotland, the two became interchangeable.  G. F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland p651 According to George Black (1946): "In Scotland, not only is Patrick frequently called by the endearing diminutive Peter, but Peter is often called Patrick. In fact, as it has been said, Patrick is the 'Sunday name,' Peter the everyday one."* Black also cites several examples of this in practice (see image, right).  In the 19th century, the name got a royal boost when Queen Victoria gave the name as a middle name to her son, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn who was christened Arthur William Patrick Albert in 1850. It is said that on her trip to Ireland in 1849, one woman in the crowd cried out, "Queen, dear, make one of them Prince Patrick and all Ireland will die for you." True or not, the Queen used Patrick for the first child born after her trip to Ireland.  Prince Arthur's son also bore the name — Arthur Frederick Patrick Albert (1883-1938) and one of his daughter's was named Patricia because she was born on St. Patrick's Day. The future Edward VIII (1894-1972) was also christened Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David: his four final names in honour of the patron saints of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.  Throughout the 19th and 20th century, Patrick was a top-100 staple in England and Wales, often in the top 50: 1850: #51 1860: #33 1870: #36  1880: #51  1890: #63 1900: #73 1904: #44 1914: #38 1924: #44 1934: #32 1944: #31 1954: #39 1964: #35 1974: #67 1984: #65 1994: #71 2004: #89  In 1996, Patrick ranked #66 (1039 births) in England and Wales, and from that point, it began to decline in usage, leaving the top 100 in 2006, until it reached its nadir of #127 (487 births) in 2012. It has since picked up again, ranking #117 (543 births) in 2015.  In Scotland, Patrick was #18 in 1900, #28 in 1950 and #69 in 1975 after which it slowly declined in use. It had a brief blip — going from #85 in 1997 to #103 in 1998, but back up to #81 in 1999. It then stayed in the top 100 until it fell out permanently in 2007. In 2016, Patrick ranked #129 (49 births) in Scotland.  Naturally, it's Northern Ireland where Patrick really shines. In 1997 it ranked #19 (164 births) and it has only been out of the top 30 twice since then.  In 2016, Patrick ranked #26 in Northern Ireland with 86 births.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Patrick Cary (c. 1624–1658), British poet. * Patrick Henry (1736–1799), American Founding Father.  * Patrick Pearse (1879-1916), Irish poet. * Patrick Troughton (1920–1987), British actor. Contemporary: * Sir Patrick Moore (1923-2012), British astronomer. * Patrick Swift (1927–1983), Irish painter. * Patrick McCauley (1927-2015), American journalist and author. * Patrick Lane (born 1939), Canadian poet. * Patrick Stewart (born 1940), British actor. * Patrick Swayze (1952–2009), American actor. * Patrick Jones (born 1965), Welsh poet and playwright. * Patrick Dempsey (born 1966), American actor. * Patrick Kielty (born 1971), Irish comedian and television presenter. * Paddy McGuinness (born 1973), British comedian and TV presenter. Literature and Other Media: * Patrick Jane, main character in The Mentalist. * Patrick Harper, Sharpe's right-hand man from the Sharpe book and television series * Patrick Star, character on the television series SpongeBob SquarePants.

Variants:

Pádraic, Pádraig (Irish), Pàdraig (Scottish), Padrig (Welsh), Pherick (Manx), Patrik (Scandinavian, Slavic), Patrice (French), Patryk (Polish)

Pronunciation:

PAT-rik (UK) [key]

Possible diminutives:

Paddy, Pat, Rick

Sibling Names:

Victoria     Niamh     Annie     Molly     Georgina     Abigail  Matthew     Michael     Joseph     Christopher    Connor     David

Name Lists:

Cosy Celtic   Bronte Names   Enid Blyton Names

 

If you like Patrick you may also like:   Cormac, Oscar, Malachy, Finnian, Alistair, Malcolm, Samuel, Nicholas, Dominic, Zachary

Thanks to Jess for requesting this name.  

 

Name Help: A Brother Name for Rocco

 

Abbie and Robin are expecting their second baby very soon and need help finalising his name. 

Abbie writes: "although I think we have settled on a first name for him we are REALLY struggling with a middle name/names.

Our first born is named Rocco Winston and so we want a name that complements this for our second son. We love the name Rocco as it is a little different but not commonly used and so we are thinking of calling his brother Oz (Ozzie). We also like Raffa, Rio, Sid, Moby, Ziggy…and are still open to suggestions here…??

 

We chose Rocco's middle name, Winston, as it was his nickname for bump while we were expecting. Robin, my husband, wanted it for a first name, but found it a little too formal for a baby. I do love it as a middle name though and as a nod to Churchill…perhaps something similar for round 2?

 

Robin is a huge fan of the stoic philosophers and is very keen on using "Seneca" but I think it sounds like a cleaning product and am not a fan. Are there any philosopher names that are more friendly? I've had a search but haven't found any I love!! The only one I vaguely like is Aurelius… as  in Marcus Aurelius..but I'm not sold on it. 

 

I also like the idea of using family names for middle names. My maternal grandfather was called Tighe Sterling and paternal grandfather Henry Fredrick…but Robin isn't very excited about any of these…

 

We'd be very happy with a formal sounding name, along the lines of Winston, with a historical/philosophical meaning, We just haven't found a name we like the sound of…."

 

※    ※    ※    ※

 

First Name alternatives to Ozzie: 

It seems like you've got a solid list and are pretty happy with Ozzie, but as you've asked, here are some other suggestions that might appeal. 

Abe
Artie
Asa
Axel
Buddy
Buster
Dougie
Enzo
Ezio
Kit
Lenny
Mack
Moss
Nate
Otis
Paddy
Rafe
Ringo
Rudy
Shiloh
Sol
Sonny
Vinny
Woody
Zeb (Zebby)
Zeke

 

Stoic Philosophers:

If a nod to Stoic philosophy is important to you, here are a few options that I feel could work both as middle names in their own right and capturing a Stoic heritage:

Lucius – If Seneca is an important figure in particular, how about using his praenomen - Lucius? Lucius is a formal, elegant name but with a dash of whimsy just like Winston. 

Zenon – Zeno of Citium was the founder of Stoicism. Zeno is the anglicised form: his name in Greek was actually Zenon which feels more formal and cultivated. 

Ariston – Aristo of Chios was another influential early Stoic philosopher. As with Zeno, Aristo was actually Ariston in Greek - a name which feels both ancient and modern at the same time and means "the best, the greatest" which is pretty darn cool. 

Rufus – Perfectly matching Winston's quirky and adorably fusty style, Rufus also makes a nod to Stoic philosophers Musonius Rufus and Publius Rutilius Rufus. 

Rhodes – A sleek and tailored name which matches Winston's heritage as both a place name and surname turned first name. While there are no Stoic philosophers called Rhodes, the island of Rhodes was one of the key centres of stoicism in the ancient world -- famous for producing notable Stoic philosophers such as Panaetius, Hecato and Geminus. 

Theon – Theon of Alexandria was a Stoic philosopher and mathematician. His name feels fresh thanks to its similarity to popular Theo and Theodore yet also retains some of its ancient gravitas. 

Aratus / Arius – Aratus of Soli and Arius Didymus were both Stoic philosophers. While both names are uncommon, they both feel sophisticated and stylish. 

 

Other Middle Name Options:

Henrik – I'm a big fan of honouring family in names, even if it is subtly done. If neither Henry or Fredrick feel right, how about combining the sounds to get Henrik -- which is actually a variant form of Henry itself. Henrik has bags of history and substance yet also has a quirky charm like Winston. 

Friedrich – Another way of honouring Henry Fredrick is to use the German form of Frederick. Bonus: Friedrich Nietzsche was a notable and influential philosopher. 

Bertrand – Extending out from the Stoics to other philosophers, Bertrand is not only a name which fits Winston for style and era, it has the added bonus of being born by British philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970). Equally, you could use Russell to the same effect. 

Franklin – Another name which matches Winston in style, and is also reminiscent of Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), who was not only a statesman like Churchill but also an inventor, scientist and philosopher.

 

 

Of these options, I think the following make fantastic, complimenatry and meaningful pairings:

Rocco Winston and Ozzie Henrik
Rocco Winston and Ozzie Rufus
Rocco Winston and Ozzie Rhodes
Rocco Winston and Ozzie Bertrand

 

I hope this has been of use. Best wishes for finding the perfect name for your son.