British Baby Names

UK Birth Announcements 20/11/17 - 26/11/17

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:

Aariyan James

Arty (Bobby)

Charlie Mark Alfred (Eva Primrose)

George David

Hector Bertie (Archie)

Jack Rafferty (Molly Henrietta & Max Andrew)

James Nick Arthur

Louis Charles 

Matthew Arthur (Maisie)

Maximilian Patrick Oliver

Niall Finbarre

Oliver James

Oscar Harry (Eva Lilly)

Rory Beckford (Florence Minnie Beckford)

Rupert James

William Patrick (Rosanna Georgina)

 

Girls: 

Annabella Hope

Ariana Rose (Jason, Chloe, Liam, Kieran, Tia, ​K​ayden & Ronnie)

Eleanor Frederica Lily (Harriet)

Ellie Olivia

Emelia Rose

Isabel Beth

Kacie Elise

Luca Thea Elize (Joseph Luca Boaz)

Megan Louise

Millie Rose (Olivia Jane)

Penelope Olivia Jean 

Rose Elizabeth (Grace Emilia & Arthur Henry Quartly)

 

Twins:

Edward Nicholas & Alexander Benjamin 

 

Name of the Week: Lilian

 

 

Origin:

Lilian/Lillian started life as a medieval diminutive of Lylie/Lilie with the Old French suffix -an/-on. Lylie itself was most likely a pet-form of Elizabeth.  Elizabeth is the English form of the Latin Elizabetha, from the Greek Elisabet which was, in turn, derived from the Hebrew Elisheba (el "God" and shaba "to swear, to promise an oath.")

Usage:

Evidence for Lylie/Lilie's medieval use, though sparse, comes from the 13th century when we find it as a byname (surname). One Alan Lilie is listed as a witness in the Bedfordshire Assize Rolls in 1247; a Hugh Lily is in the Hundred Rolls of Lincoln for 1275 and a "Thomas son of Lylie" is mentioned in 1296 in the Court Rolls of Wakefield.  The diminutive Lilian itself is found in the instance of Geoffrey Lilion in the Bedfordshire Hundred Rolls in 1279. Reaney and Wilson argue that "the modern surnames Lelliott [and] Lilliard point to other derivitives" of Lylie/Lilie in use as well as Lilion.*  It is almost impossible to tell how common Lilian was in the Middle Ages. Aside from the fact that records are scant, it was clearly used as a pet-name; any woman called Lilian in the 13th century would have been officially named Elizabeth.  In George Redmonds' top 50 names from the poll tax returns of ten English counties 1377-81, Elizabeth ranks at #17, which he categorises as "quite popular." By the late 16th century, it was the #1 name in England and it is during this century that we find Lilian itself recorded as a given name and the variant Lilias in Scotland.  Despite this, Lilian didn't come into regular use until the 19th century, and by the end of that century it had risen dramatically in usage. In 1850, 5 girls were named Lilian and 1 Lillian. A decade later in 1860, there were 128 Lilians and 45 Lillians. By 1870, Lilian was solidly in the top 100 and continued to rise.  Birth rankings in England and Wales:   Lilian Lillian 1850:  1860:  1870:  1880:  1890: 1900:  1904:  1914:  1924:  1934:  1944: #274 #120  #65  #34 #18 #14 #15 #16 #25 #40 #88 N/A #195  #129  #115  #155 #128 #66 #71 #90 *out of top 100* *out of top 100* Through the 1910s and 1920s, Silent Cinema was dominated by American actress Lillian Gish (1893-1993) who gained the title "First Lady of American Cinema." Interestingly, while Lilian was always the more dominant spellings in Britain during the 19th and 20th century, in America, the favourite spelling was Lillian.  The name also got royal credentials when two British women married into European royalty. Princess Lilian of Belgium (1916–2002) married King Leopold III of the Belgians in 1941 and Welsh-born Princess Lilian of Sweden (1915-2013) married Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland in 1976. In 1996, in England and Wales, both the spellings Lilian and Lillian were just below the top 500, and both — up until 2002 — had a birth count each year of between 30 and 60 births.  Both spellings rose in usage with Lillian pulling ahead as the more dominant spelling after 2000. In 2007, Lillian ranked #363 (120 births) and Lilian was not far behind at #451 (90 births). By 2012, however, the gap was greater with Lillian ranking #349(138 births) and Lilian having fallen to #624 (67 births).    In 2016, Lillian ranked #293 (169 births) and Lilian ranked #630 (67 births) in England and Wales. In Scotland, Lillian ranked #453 (7 births) and Lilian was #798 (3 births).  In America, Lillian has seen a revival — entering their top 100 again in 2002 and ranking in the top 30 since 2008.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Lillian Lawrence (1868–1926), American theatre and silent film actress. * Lillian Gish (1893-1993), American silent film actress.  * Lilian Constantini (1902-1982), French actress. * Lillian Hellman (1905–1984), American playwright. * Princess Lilian of Sweden (1915-2013) wife of Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland. * Princess Lilian of Belgium (1916–2002) second wife of King Leopold III of the Belgians. * Lillian Hoban (1925–1998), American author. * Lillian Pulitzer Rousseau (1931-2013), American fashion designer. Contemporary: * Lilian Bryner, Swiss racing driver. * Lillian Board MBE, British Olympic runner. Literature and Other Media: * Lillian Rearden, character in the book Atlas Shrugged. * Lillian DeVille, from the TV series Rugrats and All Grown Up!.

Variants:

Lilias, Lileas (Scottish), Liliana (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Polish), Liliane (French)

Pronunciation:

LIL-ee-ən [key]

Possible  Diminutives:

Lily, Lally

Sibling Names:

Iris    Martha     Eleanor     Flora     Catherine     Josephine  Maxwell     Christopher     Nicholas     Frederick     Alexander     Felix

Name Lists:

Vintage Names   Victorian Darlings   Dickensian Names   Tennyson Names   Golden Age Hollywood

 

If you like Lilian you may also like:   Sylvia, Gwyneth, Harriet, Audrey, Clara, Violet, Georgina, Rosa, Beatrice, Alexandra

Thanks to Dawn and Maisie for requesting this name.

 

Name Help: A Brother for Winnie and Harry

 

Sarah is expecting her third child -- a boy! -- to join  Winifred Frances "Winnie" and Harold Paschal "Harry". 

My husband and I are expecting our third child next spring, and are seeking assistance with a name with British/Germanic origins. We adore strong, formal given names softened with a homespun nickname. We think it may be a bit much to have another child with the “ie or y” ending to a nickname.

We like the history of the first name George (particularly after your name spotlight blog post), and consider this our top pick thus far...but are concerned about the name’s rise in popularity. I also like the single syllable of the first name. 

 

Other names I like:

Rupert, Edmund/Edward, Sebastian, James, Charles, Philip, Wallace, Leon, Otto, Dietrich, Valentine 

 

My husband (Josh) likes:

Robert, Gregor, Theodore, Wolfram, Max/Maximus

 

Our other dilemma is that my husband would like to honour his father (Gregory Allen) by using Gregor as our son’s first or middle name. I vetoed the use of Gregory/Gregor when we were naming our last child (but now my husband has brought it up again), and neither of us care for my father in law’s middle name of Allen. If you could offer a suggestion in this instance as well, we would really appreciate it!"

 

※    ※    ※    ※

 

I love the bold choices of Winifred and Harold coupled with the sweet nicknames Winnie and Harry. Your list has so many great choices that it is very difficult to find better suggestions. George is certainly popular as a top 10 staple but you could always go for an unconventional nickname like Geordie or Jory. 

 

Magnus – With the Roman grandeur of Maximus and gentlemanly charm of Rupert and Edmund, Magnus is strong and stylish name (it literally means "great, mighty"). As an added bonus, Magnus could have Max as a nickname, or the adorably homespun Gus.

Fergus / Augustus / Angus / Gustav – Speaking of lovely Gus, all three of these grand and fabulous names lend themselves effortlessly to this easy and friendly nickname. 

Christopher – Robert, James, George, Philip, Charles... the natural addition is classic Christopher. Nicknames not only include the favourite Chris, but also the antique Kit (ala Marlowe and Harrington) and traditional vernacular Kester.

Benedict – Sleek, saintly and stylish, Benedict is Continentally appealing with a heritage much like that of Sebastian, Theodore, Valentine and Maximus. Ben is a classic go-to nickname, but I prefer the oh-so-stylishly medieval Ned.

Rufus – A kingly name with a solid yet quirky quality. Part Rupert, part Maximus. 

Julian – A classic, solid and refined staple. Jules or Jude make for easygoing nicknames. 

Gilbert – A smart Germanic name which was brought to Britain by the Normans and it became an established staple. Gil and (my favourite) Gib were preferred in the Middle Ages as short forms, but Bert(ie) also works. 

Bertram  – Another Norman-introduced Germanic name is dapper Bertram. Both Bert(ie) and Bram would work well as nicknames. 

Leopold – A Germanic name meaning "strong man of the people" with princely British credentials and easy nickname of Leo. 

Ranulf/Ranulph – A bold Germanic name derived from hraben "raven" and wolfa "wolf" (literally the same elements as Wolfram in reverse). Ralph and Rafe would make for excellent homely nicknames. 

Bernard – The Norman French form of both a native Old English name and its Germanic cognate. A strong and solid name with lots of history but with the adorably friendly nickname Bernie. 

Peregrine – A Late Latin name meaning traveller which has been in use in Britain since the 13th century when it was also used as a name for falcons. Nickname possibilities are numerous: Pippin (aka LoTR character Peregrin "Pippin" Took) , Pip, Perry, Piers/Peers and Iggy.

Alexander – A strong and heroic classic name with plenty of nicknames to choose from. Beyond Alex there is also Alec, Alick, Lex, Sandy and Xander. Also worth considering is the Scottish variant Alistair/Alasdair.

 

Honouring Gregory Allen:

Beyond Gregor, Gregory is a tricky one to to find variants for. The international variants include Grigor, Gregers, Gregorio (Goyo), Gregoire and Grigoriy, -- all of which are in a same ball park as Gregory and Gregor.

There are a few variants that offer a different sound. The Scottish diminutive form of Gregor is Greig. (which is pronounced GRAYG -- a  very slightly longer vowel sound than Greg).

There are also the surname forms which derive from Gregory: Greer/Grier and Grix.

The most basic way to honour is to use Gregory as a middle name, but you could also use the same initials of G.A. -- George Alban or George Alistair for example. 

 

 

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

 

UK Birth Announcements 13/11/17 - 19/11/17

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:

Alexander Cameron

Alfred Christopher George

Austin Ian

Conor Angus (James Alexander)

Edward Felix (Charles Andrew)

Freddie David 

Harry Simon 

Hector Inigo (Ophelia Bay)

Henry Marmont Hugh

Hugo Thomas Oliver

James Xavier Antoine Thomas (Pia-Stella Norah)

Jesse

Leo Basil

Leyton James (Lacey-Jo)

Owen Lee (Morgan)

Peter Ian 

Thomas Edward

William Thomas

Zaid Nicholas (Alayna Shamin Patricia)

Zander Freddie

 

Girls: 

Amber Robina 

Aria (Ava & Isla)

Ava Shona (Cody Taylor)

Beatrix Margaret Mary

Céleste Yvonne Sauvé

Chloe Lauren

Clara Sofia (Isla Maria)

Claudia Elise (Jared Ethan)

Darcy Ann

Fiona (Struan)

Flora Elizabeth

Georgia Pauline Nicola

Isobel Rose

Iyla Faith

Karly Evelyn (Katy, Chloe & Callan)

Maisie Teresa

Matilda Rose

Sasha Constance Eyre

Scarlett Munro

 

 

Name of the Week: Thomas

 

 

Origin:

Thomas is the Greek form of the Aramaic name Ta'oma (תאומא) derived from the word תאמא tāma "twin". According to Biblical tradition, it was created as a byname for the one of the apostles named Judah. This Judah was given the epithet Didymus ("twin" in Greek) and therefore also Thomas in Aramaic, presumably to distinguish him from the other two apostles named Judah.

Usage:

Thomas established itself in Britain after the Norman Conquest. Prior to this, it was only found as the name of an Anglo-Saxon priest, but, thanks to its Biblical pedigree, came into general use by the 11th century. Two of the first Norman Archbishops of York — Thomas of Bayeux (d. 1100) and his nephew Thomas of York (d.1114) — bore the name, as well as Archbishop of Canterbury and later saint Thomas Becket (1118−1170). Becket's opposition to his good friend King Henry II's plans to curb the power of the church and clerical privilege led to his murder, when four overzealous knights acted on, what they assumed, to be the King's will. Very soon after Becket's death, he was hailed as a martyr and miracles were said to occur at his tomb. Soon, Canterbury became one of the principal pilgrimages in Europe — Henry II built the great Dover Castle chiefly to court European nobility who made their way to England for this pilgrimage — and, two years after his death, Becket was canonised.  It was the martyrdom (and hugely popular cult) of Thomas Becket, E. G. Withcombe argued, that led to Thomas becoming one of the commonest men's names of the Middle Ages, pointing out that: "Most of the church dedications in this name were originally to St. Thomas of Canterbury, but Henry VIII, who had a special dislike to the memory of the recalcitrant archbishop, had them altered to St. Thomas the Apostle."* Whether Becket was the main reason for the name's popularity or not, what is indisputable is that, but the 14th century, Thomas was one of the most popular names in Britain. Redmonds' survey of 1000 names from ten English counties 1377-81 puts Thomas at #3 behind John and William and before Robert and Richard, though the latter three, he notes, could change order depending on the region.  Three further saints bearing the name were canonised in the 13th century (two English, one Italian); two in the 14th century, and three in the 15th century. Thomas also had some use among English royalty (though it wasn't commonly used). The fifth son of Edward I was Thomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of Norfolk (1300–1338). The story goes that, when he was born, his mother had prayed to Thomas Becket during her difficult labour and so he was named for the saint. Thomas of Brotherton was Keeper of England when his brother Edward II was away fighting in Scotland, and was later a principle advisor of his nephew Edward III. Perhaps it was for his uncle that King Edward III named his youngest son Thomas of Woodstock (1355–1397). Thom, Thome, Tome, Tom, and Thomlyn are all recorded as diminutives in 1379* and the French diminutive Mace/Masse (which was both a nickname for Matthew and occasionally Thomas) and Tam were also in use.  The numerous surnames derived from Thomas include Thomas, Thoms, Tomes, Thomason, Thomazin, Thompsett, Thompson, Tomkin, Tompkins, Tomkinson, Tomlin, Tomblin, Tomlinson and MacThomas to name just a few. Furthermore, Thomas was so common that it formed many common phrases in the English language. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable has over twenty entries under "Tom" in which is described as indicating an "ordinary sort."* Examples include Tom-cat, Tom Tiller, Tom-boy, Tom-tit, Tom Foolery and "Every Tom, Dick and Harry."   Like Philip and Nicholas, Thomas was also used occasionally for girls in the Middle Ages, such as the woman named Thomase found in the Wills in the Court of Probate, London in 1395. Withycombe points out that both Thomasinus and Thomasina can be found in the Feudal Aids of 1346, but that the diminutive Thomasin eventually became the usual feminine form of the name. In France, the diminutives Massine and Massiotte can also be found.* Smith Bannister's rank of top 50 names from 1538 to 1700 in England puts Thomas consistently in either 2nd or 3rd place, interchanging with William behind John:  1538-49: #2; 1550-9: #3; 1560-9: #2; 1570-9: #2; 1580-9: #3; 1590-9: #3; 1600-9: #2; 1610-9: #3; 1620-9: #2; 1630-9: #3; 1640-9: #2; 1650-9: #3; 1660-9: #3; 1670-9: #3; 1680-9: #3; 1690-1700: #3.  This top three status continued through to the 19th century. Dunkling puts Thomas at #3 in England and Wales in both 1700 and 1800, and this top 5 status continued up until the 1930s though it was never out of the top 50: 1850: #3 1860: #3 1870: #4 1880: #4 1890: #4 1900: #4 1904: #4 1914: #4 1924: #5 1934: #12 1944: #19 1954: #24 1964: #24  1974: #40  1984: #11 1994: #1 Click to enlarge From reaching #1 in 1994, Thomas remained in the top 3 (as it had done from the 14th-20th century) up until 2009 when it fell to #6. Throughout this period, the birth count gradually declined year on year even as the rank remained steady. For example, Thomas was #2 in 1999 with 9454 births and #2 in 2007 with 6530 births.  In Scotland — having ranked at #7 in 1900 and #6 in 1950 — Thomas has been within the top 30 since 1974, but only twice (2005 and 2006) has ranked in the top 20.  In 2016, Thomas ranked #9 (3898 births) in England and Wales, #23 (225 births) in Scotland and #14 (117 births) in Northern Ireland.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Saint Thomas Becket (1118–70), English martyr, archbishop of Canterbury. * Thomas of Erceldoune (fl. 1220?–1297), Scottish seer and poet. * Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225–74), Italian philosopher and theologian, Doctor of the Church. * Prince Thomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of Norfolk (1300–1338), fifth son of King Edward I and principle advisor of his nephew Edward III. * Prince Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester, 1st Earl of Buckingham, 1st Earl of Essex (1355–1397), son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault. * Thomas à Kempis (ca. 1380-1471), German priest, monk and writer. * Sir Thomas Malory (d. 1471), English author of Morte d'Arthur. * Sir Thomas More (1478–1535), an English lawyer, social philosopher, author, statesman, and noted Renaissance humanist. Venerated by Roman Catholics as Saint Thomas More. * Thomas Erastus (1524–83), Swiss Protestant theologian and physician. * Thomas James (1593–1635), English navigator and explorer. * Thomas Gray (1716–71), English poet. * Thomas Gainsborough (1727–88), English portrait and landscape painter. * Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), American statesman and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. * Thomas Moore (1779-1852), Irish poet. * Thomas Hardy (1840–1928), English novelist and poet. * Thomas Edison (1847–1931), an American inventor. * Thomas Mann (1875–1955), German novelist and essayist. Contemporary: * Thomas "Tom" Brady, American football player for the New England Patriots. * Thomas "Tom" Chaplin, British singer of band Keane. * Thomas "Tom" Clancy, American author. * Thomas "Tom Cruise" Mapother, American actor. * Thomas "Tom" Felton, British actor and singer. * Thomas "Tom" Fletcher, British singer of McFly.  * Thomas "Tom" Hanks, American actor. * Edward Thomas "Tom" Hardy, British actor. * Thomas "Tom" Hiddleston, British actor. * Sir Thomas Woodward "Tom Jones", Welsh singer.  * Thomas "Tom" Petty, American musician and singer-songwriter. Literature and Other Media: * Thomas the Tank Engine, a locomotive character from The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry. * Thomas Barrow, the underbutler on the series Downton Abbey. * Thomas, the main character from the novel and film The Maze Runner.

Variants:

Tomos, Twm (Welsh), Tomás (Spanish, Portuguese, Irish), Tàmhas/Tavish, Tòmas (Scottish), Tommaso (Italian), Tuomas (Finnish), Tomáš (Czech, Slovak)

Pronunciation:

TOM-əs [key]

Possible diminutives:

Tom, Thom, Tommy, Tam, Mace

Sibling Names:

Sophie     Emily     Charlotte     Emma     Lucy     Olivia  William     George     Harry     Oliver     James     Joseph

Name Lists:

Medieval Favourites   Terrifically Tudor  Gorgeously Georgian   Victorian Darlings   British Royalty   Shakespearean Names   Austen Names   Dickensian Names   Tennyson Names   Bronte Names   Beatrix Potter Names   Disney Names   Gilbert & Sullivan Names

 

If you like Thomas you may also like:   Charles, Jacob, Lewis, Samuel, Daniel, Benjamin, Matthew, Luke, Joshua, Nicholas

Thanks to Chris for requesting this name.  

 

Name Help: A Brother for Thomas and Pippa

 

Tory is expecting her third baby -- a boy -- to join Thomas Jed and a Pippa Xanthe.

Tory writes: "Expecting baby no 3 who we know is a boy. Sadly my husband and I differ hugely in our ideas for names!! You can probably tell that I have been relegated to middle names for the last 2.

My current list includes:

Kyrian 

Kit

Jude

Ivo

Jasper

Rex

Wilf

Austin

 

Needless to say my husband isn't that taken with any of these. I am trying hard not to become attached as that happened with Jed and I was then heartbroken when I wasn't allowed to use it as a first name. Subsequently, I don't feel a major affinity to any names and am left feeling a bit uninspired. 

 

It's difficult to be specific about what has been eliminated. I don't like Alfie/Archie type names, and am looking for something different to Harry/Henry/James/David etc. My husband can refuse names on the basis of teasing at school, sounds bad with our surname, just doesn't like it. 

 

Ideal attributes are individuality, easy spelling, sounds "normal". I like short names but that's not a requirement."

 

※    ※    ※    ※

 

I'll be honest: this request started out easily enough -- I can list numerous suggestions to match your list -- but trying to find names that were similar to your taste but would also fit a middle ground for a traditionalist proved harder. I can see why you have struggled to find the perfect name. 

 

Miles – For me, Miles/Myles fits the perfect middle ground of a name which is perfectly traditional and widely recognisable, but yet also uncommon in usage (#179) and a little quirky. 

Gabriel – Just as solid and Biblical as Thomas (and at #67 it is hardly unusual) but with an individuality and urbane edge. 

Ned – I solid and traditional name with heaps of individuality and charm. It is similar to Jed, but that could be a nice link between brothers. 

Ellis – A modern sounding name which is centuries old. Ellis was in good use in the Middle Ages because it was the English vernacular form of Elias. It is easy to spell but not overly common. 

Jesse – A biblical patriarch and an 18th century country boy, Jesse has a sturdy lineage while still retaining a quirky charm. 

Ralph – A traditional name which hails back to the Vikings, Ralph is a name with serious affable appeal and style. 

Rafe – Or how about the phonetic spelling of the alternate (but equally traditional) pronunciation of Ralph?

Ewan / Euan – The Scottish cognate of Owen - both ancient and sleek Celtic names - which is easy to spell and pronounce as well accessible. It's not overused however (both spellings below the top 300) with a great fresh feeling. 

Finn – An ancient, heroic name of Irish mythology which is easy to spell, traditional, yet still spunky. At #100, it isn't overused either. Variants Finlay, Finnian and even Griffin are worth considering as well. 

Finlo – For a further twist on Finn, how about the cool Manx form of the name, Finlo? 

Vaughn – Vaughn's usage and history are ancient. It's the anglicised form of the Welsh word fychan "little" and was used as name from the Middle Ages to mean "Junior" or "the Younger." It's cool and sleek but not too outlandish. 

Joel – An amiable and sleek Biblical choice which is perfectly ordinary without being at all common. 

Lance – An ancient Germanic name which feels sleek and cool without being too showy or flashy. Lance is a name which everyone knows but is a hidden gem below the top 1000. 

Willem – William is a strong, classic, kingly name, but sits in the "Harry/Henry/James/David" camp. So how about the Dutch form Willem -- easy spell and pronounce but with a slight twist on a perennial classic. 

Otis – Heaps of character, easy to spell, easy to pronounce. Otis has a high-society feel as well as a a cool factor thanks to Otis Redding. 

Jowan – The Cornish form of John, Jowan has familiar sounds (part Joseph - part Dylan) with an easy spelling but cool individual streak. 

James "Jem/Jago/Jamie" – I know James is one of the traditional names that you want to break away from, but as a perfect compromise, how about using a quirky familiar name with James as the formal name. Medieval nickname Jem, Scottish Jamie or Cornish form Jago all make cool and quirky "familiar" names for James. 

 

 

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

 

UK Birth Announcements 6/11/17 - 12/11/17

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:

Arthur Rafe Charles

Arthur Stuart

Bobby Ben (Mazie Grace & Millie Rose + cousin Minnie-Mae)

Danny (Oriana)

Dudley Walter Noel (Jasper Archibald Hendrik)

Elliott Joseph (Mia Grace)

Ezra Joshua (Dylan John)

Freddie David (Erin Rose)

Harry Finn (Ben Alan James)

Hayden Noah (Finley Daniel & Ella)

Jago Arthur Inigo Carlyle (Rex Alexander Bruce)

Jaxon Peter (Sam)

Jonah Edward Fox (Rose)

Leo Alexander Alfred

Mason Frank

Oliver James (Thomas David "Tommy")

Otto Edward Robert (Rudy John Andrew)

Rory Elliot

Ruairidh Scott (Brodie Wallace)

Theodore Christopher Bullen

Wilfred Alexander Leofric

William Clive (Isabella Jane Fearn)

William James

 

Girls: 

Alicia Elizabeth Rose (Arthur Frederick George)

Annabelle Rose

Charlotte Isabella (Thomas Stephen)

Flora Helen

Hannah Grace

Hermione Thea (Felix Lysander)

Ilona Marianne

Isabelle Mary (Henry George Richard)

Isla Rose

Lilly Louise

Megan Rose

Olivia Victoire

Ottilie Georgia

Scarlett Munro

 

 

Twins:

Evelyn Mae & Hamish Eric

Heidi Nicola Margaret & Flora Jessica Mary (Rory David Ned & Toby George Bartholomew)

Louisa Margaret & Harry Joseph (Jack Christopher)

 

 

Name of the Week: Grace

 

 

 

Origin:

Grace is a given name taken from English vocabulary. The noun grace derives from the Old French grace "pardon, mercy, favour, thanks, elegance, virtue," which itself comes from the Latin gratia "favour, good will, kindness, esteem, regard, pleasing, agreeable, gratitude." From at least the 13th century, we find the word used in the context of something received from God to give strength to endure a trial i.e. divine grace. By the 14th century, it was also used to mean an attractive personal quality – an elegant, refined, or accomplished mode of behaviour.* In ancient Greek and Roman mythology, The Graces (Charites in Greek; Gratiae in Latin) was the name given to a group of goddesses of beauty, charm, joy and festivity. Their number differed according to sources and sites of worship, but generally there were three – Aglaia (glory, splendour), Euphrosyne (good cheer, mirth) and Thalia (plentiful, festivity, blooming). Charis / Gratia alone was used to refer to the divine personification of beauty and refinement.

Usage:

Generally, Grace is considered to have first been used by the Puritans in the 17th century, but the truth is that Grace was already firmly established as a given name before this. Gracia and Gratia can be found as Latinised forms in the Middle Ages – as well as Grecia, Gracye, Grece, Grecie and Gricia – with Grace and Grece as vernacular English forms. These latter spellings suggest that the name may have been a Latinised form of an Old Germanic name, possibly deriving from grisja "grey" or as a short form of a name which contained this element such as Griselda. The form Gratia, however, indicates that either the name was conflated with "grace" or perhaps we are dealing with distinct names. In A Dictionary of English Surnames (p201-2), Reaney and Wilson argue that it was scribes who popularly associated this unknown Germanic name with grace: Either way, Gracia/Grace was not particularly common in the Middle Ages. It does not rank at all in George Redmonds' top 50 names from the poll tax returns of ten English counties 1377-81 for example, though he does note a few examples of the name found in Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.* By the 16th century, the name had grown considerably in usage, as we can see from Smith Bannister's rank of top 50 names from 1538 to 1700 in England : 1538-49: #30; 1550-9: #28; 1560-9: #26; 1570-9: #28; 1580-9: #29; 1590-9: #18; 1600-9: #17; 1610-9: #15; 1620-9: #13; 1630-9: #16; 1640-9: #16; 1650-9: #17; 1660-9: #15; 1670-9: #17; 1680-9: #13; 1690-1700: #14.  In Redmond's study of 300 female baptisms from Halifax and Leeds from 1590-1592, Grace ranked #3 in Halifax and #5 in Leeds, showing how popular the name was locally in Yorkshire. This he attributes to its use by powerful and influential Yorkshire families such as the Saviles and Broadleys among whose contemporaries and neighbours the name spread.*  It was also #20 in Elizabethan Norfolk (1558 -1603). By the "Puritan Age" (1600-1660), Grace was a firm top 20 staple across England. And, though the Puritans can't be credited with introducing and creating the name, it is clear why the name would have appealed with its association with divine salvation. Grace's use also paved the way for other virtue names in the late 16th century.  As George Redmonds (p153) puts it:  "It is more than likely also that [Grace] helped other abstract nouns to become acceptable as names, some time before the Puritans found them attractive. Smith-Bannister has Charity in the 1540s and Bardsley found Patience being used in Cornwall in 1549; in the same year Fayth, the wife of Richard Smith, was buried at Howden in East Yorkshire. [...] From the 1560s, the use of such names increased, at least in some parishes, and some of these are likely to have been Puritan innovations. [...] In most parishes though such names remained occasional choices and only Grace was at all popular generally. [...] Once the precedent had been set many more names of the same type came into use, for example Hope, Silence, Peace, Comfort and Unity, but as these in their turn became accepted, more adventurous choices were made, including Repentance, Temperance, Reconciliation and Discretion. The majority of these were given to girls of course, and they appear to have been most popular with Puritans, but it has been noted that Grace was also used occasionally for men and among Catholics, so assumptions are dangerous and the evidence needs to be studied carefully in each case." Grace's momentum continued in the following centuries. According to Leslie Dunkling's ranks, Grace was #17 in 1700 and #27 in 1800.  Birth rankings in England and Wales: 1850: #45 1860: #55 1870: #59 1880: #50 1890: #49 1900: #42 1904: #38 1914: #42 1924: #51 1934: #81 Grace fell out of the top 100 in England and Wales after 1938 and didn't return again until the 1990s. Such a long run in the top 50 had taken its toll and even the fame of Hollywood actress Grace Kelly (1929-1982) in the 1950s and her high-profile royal marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco wasn't enough to revive the name's fortune.  In Scotland, however, Grace stayed in the top 100 a little longer, having ranked #22 in 1900 and #58 in 1950. It was below the top 200 by 1975, however, but returned to the top 100 at #84 in 1999.  In the 1990s, Grace returned to the top 100 in England and Wales, ranking #41 (1421 births) in 1996. By 2002 it was #19 (2519 births) and quickly rocketed up to #11 (3393 births) in 2004, #7 (3653 births) in 2005 and peaked at #1 (5026 births) the following year in 2006.  Afterwards it began to steadily recline.  In 2016, Grace ranked #15 (2498 births) in England and Wales; #11 (257 births) in Scotland and #2 (198 births) in Northern Ireland.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Grace Mildmay (c. 1552–1620), English noblewoman, diarist and medical practitioner. * Grace Elliott (1754–1823), Scottish socialite and spy. * Grace Kennedy (1782–1825), Scottish writer. * Grace Darling (1815–1842), English heroine, involved in the rescue of survivors from the shipwrecked Forfarshire in 1838. * Grace Frankland (1858–1946), English microbiologist. * Grace Bussell (1860–1935), Australian heroine, involved in the rescue of the SS Georgette. * Grace Raymond Hebard (1861–1936), American historian, suffragist, writer and political economist. * Grace Livingston Hill (1865–1947), American novelist. * Grace Hudson (1865–1937), American painter. * Grace Benham (1876–1968), American silent film actress. * Grace Valentine (1884–1964), American actress. * Grace Drummond-Hay (1895–1946), British journalist and aviation pioneer. * Grace Arnold (1899–1979), British actress. * Grace Bradley (1913–2010), American film actress. * Grace Kelly (1929-1982), American actress and princess consort of Monaco.  * Grace Jantzen (1948–2006), feminist philosopher and theologian. Contemporary: * Grace Cavalieri (born 1932), American poet, playwright and broadcaster. * Grace Jones (born 1948), Jamaican-born singer, actress and model. * Grace Woodward (born 1978), British fashion stylist and television presenter. * Grace Cassidy (born 1993), British actress. Literature and Other Media: * Grace Cavendish, detective and the central character in the Lady Grace Mysteries. * Grace Jeddler, character in Charles Dicken's novella The Battle of Life (1846). * Grace Adler, character in the television comedy series Will and Grace. * Grace Holloway, character in the 1996 television movie Doctor Who.

Variants:

Gratia (German), Gracia (Spanish), Grazia (Italian), Graça (Portuguese), Gracja (Polish), Grayse (Manx)

Pronunciation:

GRAYS [key]

Possible  Diminutives:

Gracie, Gray

Sibling Names:

Lily     Phoebe     Isabel     Sophie     Emily     Lucy           James     Leo     Oliver     Henry     Max     Harry

Name Lists:

Dulcet Dainties  Terrifically Tudor  Gorgeously Georgian   Victorian Darlings   Dickensian Names   Bronte Names   Golden Age Hollywood   Names of Roses

 

If you like Grace you may also like:   May, Rose, Alice, Tess, Hope, Kate, Eve, Daisy, Esme, Annie

Thanks to Liz for requesting this name.

 

Name Help: A Sister for Artemis, Valentine and Vivienne

Jo is due soon with her fourth child -- a sister to join Artemis, Valentine and Vivienne.

Jo writes: "Our first boy is named Artemis, second boy is Valentine and third girl is Vivienne. We live in Kenya and are not exactly conventional with our name choices however for the girls we really wanted something pretty and lovely. Perhaps that starts with an A to keep things simple! But then again I am really open to any name!

We are considering India, Domino, Georgina... that's about all we have right now." 

※    ※    ※    ※

I love how chic and refined and yet earthily ancient and mystical your name choices are. I hope I can deliver suggestions which do them justice.

 

A Names:

Amabel – Derived from the Latin amabilis "loveable," Amabel is a medieval gem, that sounds familiar yet stands out from the crowd. 

Adelise – A medieval form of the Old Germanic name Adalheidis, from adal "noble" and heit "sort, kind, type," which was also found as Adeliza, Adelisa and Adelais. Adeliza/Adelais was the name of the second wife of Henry I who was Queen of England from 1121 to 1135. 

Araminta – A grand and lyrical name coined in 17th century poetry. It has the same upright style as Georgina and the jollity of India and Domino. 

Arista / Aristeia – Both a Latin name meaning "ear of corn" which makes up part of the constellation Virgo, and a feminine form of the Greek Aristos "excellent, best." The Greek name Aristeia (a-ris-STAY-a) "excellence, the best one can be" is a bold yet gorgeous choice. 

Asteia –  A coining from the Greek asteios "beautiful, elegant." Pronounced as-STAY-a. 

Allegra – Meaning "cheerful" in Italian, Allegra is a sleek and stylish Continental name. 

Amaris – A rare but pretty choice which coincides with the Latin word amaris "you are loved."

Amicia – A popular medieval name, derived from the Latin amicus "friend." Amicia was the Latin form, with Amice (Amis/Amys) as the English vernacular. 

Avicia – The Latinised form of the medieval names Avice / Avis, influenced by the Latin avis "bird."

Alethia / Althea – Both ancient Greek names, Alethea (rhymes with Amelia) means "truth" and Althea means "wholesome."

Audra – A sleek variant on vintage and ladylike Audrey. It is also a Lithuanian name meaning "storm."  

Amaryllis – A pretty and elegant floral name. Amaryllis, derived from the Greek meaning "to sparkle," is the name of a heroine in Virgil's epic poem 'Eclogues'. Beauty entrepreneur Liz Earle has a daughter named Amaryllis who goes by "Lily".  

Aurelia – Derived from the Latin aurum "golden," Aurelia is a lyrical and mellifluous classical gem. 

Aurora – Another Roman heritage choice is Aurora, the goddess of the dawn which has an elegant and striking edge. 

Ariadne – Direct from Greek mythology, Ariadne is a beautiful and evocative name.

Astrid – Part sweet vintage, part Viking warrior-woman, Astrid is a striking feminine ancient Nordic choice. 

Atara /Atarah – a Hebrew name that means "crown." It was born by the wife of Jerahmeel in the Old Testament. 

Amadea -- A feminine form of Amadeus, best known as Mozart's middle name. 

 

I've noticed that Valentine and Vivienne both start with V and end in -ne. For that reason, I'm drawn to Adelais, Amaris and Amaryllis to match the A___is pattern of Artemis. 

 

Other Ideas:

Briseis
Callista
Calixta
Celestine
Cressida
Dulcie
Elysia
Eulalia
Eumelia
Guinevere
Iolanthe
Isadora
Jessamy / Jessamine
Juno
Larissa
Lelia
Leonor
Leviva
Lilias
Loredana
Mirabelle
Mireia
Octavia
Ophelia
Parisa
Persephone
Romilly
Seraphine/a
Thessaly
Thisbe
Venetia
Viveca
Xanthe
Zinnia

 

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

 

UK Birth Announcements 30/10/17 - 5/11/17

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:

Alexander David (Jacob Shane)

Alfred Steven (Richard)

Borislav Evgeny Sergeyevich

Callum Fraser 

Charles George "Charlie"

Charlie Andrew (Rosie Isabelle)

Edward Albert

Harvey David

Henry Montague Lord (Matilda Florence Susanna)

Herbert Robin

Herbie Alexander (Toby George & Jago Sebastian)

James Leo 

Orin George

Theodore Walter Etienne

Vincent Xavier (Leonard Denis)

 

Girls: 

Alba Mae 

Amelia Margaret (Matthew)

Annabel May

Edie Grace

Frances Lily

Henrietta Beatrice Rose (Ottilie Florence Louise)

Holly Elizabeth Margaret

Isabelle Grace

Isabelle Louise

Margot Honor

Martha Rose

Molly Anne

Nelly Rose (Frankie)

Olive Alexandra (Albert Oliver, Florence Grace & Esmé)

Olivia Nicole Rose (James Kevin)

Rhea Francesca

Rosamund Mary (Madeleine Edith & Olivia Georgia)

Rose Elizabeth

Sapphire Beau (Marcie)

Savannah Eleanor

Sofia Rose

 

Twins:

Isaac & Noah