British Baby Names

Name Help: Swiss-Swedish-Celtic Name

 

 

Nadine and her husband Felix are expecting their first child.

Nadine writes: "My husband is Swedish, but has lived in Switzerland for much of his life and we live in Zürich currently. I adore some traditional names from Sweden such as Freja, Torbjorn amongst others whilst my husband, Felix isn’t as big a fan. I also do prefer traditional names but also enjoy more modern names. We both want a name that can be shortened and fit both a baby, child, teen and adult. 

My family background is British, with a mix of Cornish, Welsh, English and Scottish. Felix and I do want a name or names that show our heritage as such. Felix loves the name Demelza, but I’m not on the wall over nicknames as I hate the nickname Demi. We do have more of an agreement over a boy name, as we both really like the name Alexander, but aren’t completely set on it. I like the idea of nicknames such as Alex, Xan and Xander. I like the idea of Felix and Alex. 

 

Also for names, we want names that have good meanings and for if we have a daughter, a name that is inspirational for her perhaps. We do like flower names, but are stuck over the usual ones. We are unsure whether to name our child after someone inspirational etc. We are both involved with aid organisations as our fields of work, and like the ideas of hope, and so on. Leonardo, is a name we’re undecided on as well, as we both enjoy art history, and Emmeline is a name that Felix loves due its connection to Emmeline Pankhurst. Also as we live Zurich, we would like a name that can perhaps fit well there. 

 

Girls 

- Alice, Lily, Olivia, Julia, Linnea, Ella, Klara, Freja, Isabelle, Saga, Astrid, Emilia, Signe, Nova, Lea, Ines, Meja, Isabella, Matilda, Lovisa, Liv, Lova, Hanna, Iris, Melissa, Leia, Livia, Novalie, Anna, Amelia, Luna, Rosel, Rosalie, Aina, Amalia, Soren, Annalie, Atalie, Dagmar, Eleonora, Eva, Evelina, Tora, Isla, Ingeborg, Helena, Judit, Katarina, Laura, Lena, Lotta, Lydia, Malena, Malene, Pia, Viveka, Lilian, Emmeline, Harlow, Harper, Sophia, Honey, Zoë. 

 

Boys

- Alexander, Samuel, Rurik, Samson, Lucas, Oscar, Oliver, Elias, Charlie, Axel, Ludvig, Noah, Leo, Leonardo, Alfred, Isak, James, Gustav, Olle, Harry, Gabriel, Love, Jacob, Felix, Loke, Dante, Arthur, Artur, Tor, Georg, Tage, Hans, Harald, Thor, Jan, Jens, Kolbjorn, Luka, Matteus, Nansen, Noak, Oskar, Poul, Torsten, Valentin, Ruaridh, Isaac."

 

 

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Welsh/Cornish/Scottish:

This is an area I feel I can help you with most. Based on the names in your list, and what works well alongside names currently popular in Switzerland, here are some Welsh, Cornish and Scottish options:

Vaila – A pretty Scottish island which is used as a given name in Scotland. And as a bonus, it's roots are Nordic, which links to your husbands Swedish heritage. Derived from a Old Norse name Valey, possibly meaning "Celtic island" or "mighty island." Given that Ella, Olivia, Lena, Ava and Lea were all in the top 20 in Zurich in 2016, Vaila feels like it would fit in nicely whilst still being rare. 

Kerensa – A pretty and traditional Cornish name which means "love." Next to Jennifer, its one of the most recognisable Cornish names in Britain. 

Seren – A sleek and stylish Welsh name -- at the height of fashion in Wales itself -- which means "star." 

Eira – Echoing the likes of Iris, Aina and Klara, Eira is a Welsh gem which means "snow." There is also the floral Eirlys which means "snowdrop"

Nia – With Pia and Eva on your list, and Mia at #1 in Switzerland in 2016, Welsh Nia seems like a perfect addition. Nia is the Welsh form of the Irish Niamh -- the mythological queen and goddess which means "bright, radiant." 

Eriska – Like Vaila, Eriska is the name of a Scottish island, used as a given name in Scotland. It, too, also has Nordic roots: Old Norse Erikr + ey "island," therefore "Erik's island." Intriguingly, the Gaelic name for Eriska is Ùruisg, the Scots Gaelic name for a brownie -- a sprite who was believed to dwell in streams and waterfalls. For this reason, many translate Eriska as "water nymph island."

Merren / Merryn – Merren is a Scottish form of Miriam, while same-sounding Merryn is a Cornish name which means "sea-born" and has links to a legendary mermaid. 

Griffin – A medieval English form of the Welsh royal name Gruffudd (Griffith) meaning "strong lord." The Cornish form is Gryffyn. 

Finn – A name that is both Swedish and Gaelic (Scottish) in equal measure. Finn is not only a Swedish name  meaning "from Finland," but it is also an ancient Gaelic name, meaning "shining, bright," borne by a legendary hero and was most likely once a Celtic solar deity. 

Pasco – A Traditional Cornish name meaning "Easter." Given that Pascal is common in Switzerland, Pasco won't seem too far out. 

Gavin – A medieval form of the knightly name Gawain which became well established in Scotland. 

Evan – A staple of traditional Welsh names, Evan is the Welsh form of John. 

Ruan – A Cornish name borne by an ancient Cornish saint. 

Tristan – An ancient heroic name with links to both Cornwall and Pictish Scotland. 

 

Swiss/Swedish:

For these names I've looked at the official Swiss statistics as well as current Swedish favourites.

Elin – A triple threat. Elin is both the Swedish and Welsh form of Ellen (it appears in Welsh legend as the name of a beautiful princess) that is also currently fashionable in Switzerland. 

Svea – A Swedish name which is actually the poetic name for Sweden. It ranks within the top 200 in Switzerland, so it isn't unheard of. 

Tuva –  A top 50 name in Sweden which sits between Luna, Lova and Tora on your list. Tuva is the Swedish form of the Old Norse name Tófa.

Alina – A form of the medieval Germanic name Adelina (meaning "noble") which is a fashionable Swiss choice currently. 

Mira – Ranking in both the top 100 of both Sweden and Switzerland, Mira is a sweet gem which derives from the Slavic miru "peace."

Mael – A Welsh name with an ancient Celtic heritage meaning "chief, prince." It forms the basis of many Welsh and Cornish names, but is actually very rare in Britain. Luckily, ranks in the Swiss top 100, so this handsome gem is not unusual where you are. 

Casper – The Swedish form of Jasper which means "treasurer" in Persian. 

Levin – A later form of both the Germanic name Leobwin and Old English cognate Leofwine meaning "dear friend." Its more common as a surname in England but ranks in the top 50 in Switzerland. 

Luan – Both an Albanian name meaning "lion" and Portuguese name meaning "moon," Luan ranks in the top 50 in Switzerland.  

Arvid – A Scandinavian name descended from the Old Norse Arnviðr meaning "eagle forest." It ranks in the Swedish top 30. 

 

Good Meanings:

Aurora – The Roman goddess of the dawn, a symbol of hope, renewal and illumination. 

Alba – Similarly, Alba not only means "dawn" in Spanish and Italian, it is also the Gaelic name for Scotland.

Amela – The Slavic form of the Arabic Amal meaning "hope."

Ada – From the Germanic adal meaning "noble," Ada has a great namesake in Ada Lovelace (1815-1852), gifted mathematician and known as the world's first computer programmer.

Trueth – A Cornish name meaning "compassion." It's very rare -- and may be a little off beat for you as a first name -- but its worth considering as a middle name. 

Aurea / Aurelia – Two gorgeous Roman names which mean "golden." 

Clementine / Clemency – A sweet English name which means "mercy, compassion."

 

Leander – A heroic ancient Greek name which means "lion of a man." As cognate Leandro was #6 in Zurich in 2016, Leander will fit in perfectly. 

Nicolas / Nico – Nicolas / Nicholas meaning "victory of the people" is well used throughout Europe thanks to Saint Nicholas, famous for his compassion and alms giving to the poor. 

Jonah / Jonas – The name of Biblical Patriarch whose stylish name means "dove," a universal symbol of hope and peace. 

Nathan – A stylish Biblical name derived from the Hebrew natán "to give."

Dario / Darius  – The Greek form of the Persian name Dārayavahush, which was composed of the elements dâraya "to possess" and vahu "good". Three ancient kings of Persia bore this name, including Darius the Great. Dario is in the top 20 in Switzerland. 

Raphael – A Biblical name whose meaning is related to healing and a fashionable Swiss choice.  

 

 

 I hope this has been useful. Best wishes with the name choosing. Please keep us updated. 

 

UPDATE: Welcome, Alexander Tristan Olle!

 

 

UK Birth Announcements 19/2/18 - 25/2/18

 

 

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:

Atticus Alexander Campbell

Cedric Neville Urban Hamilton

Coen Alan

Frederick Arthur (Alice Martha)

George Exton

Gregor Alexander (Kit Hamilton)

Harry James

Jack James (Gracie Patricia)

James John Caleb Austin (Emily May & William Henry)

Jonas Charles

Kasey David Michael (Macie)

Levison Tiberius

Lochlan George (Iris Lavinia & Albert Anthony)

Oliver Thomas (Isabelle Grace)

Percy Albert

Reuben David (Draiden & Lilly-Mai)

 

Girls: 

Alice Madeline

Constance Grace (Charlotte Rose & Edward Rory)

Eleanor India (Isabella Grace & Lucinda Anna)

Elizabeth Catherine Rose

Emily Jayne (Jack)

Holly Ann (Audrey Olivia)

Honey Rose Sylvia

Louisa Helen

Sadie Rachel (Polly & Nell)

Violet Ripley

Zia Mills (Lily Jean)

 

Twins:

Amelia & Joseph

 

Name of the Week: Nova

 

 

Origin:

Nova is the feminine singular form of the Latin adjective novus "new." It is commonly used (sometimes actually as a short-form) in reference to Nova Stella "new star" — a term used to describe a new star not previously known.  A supernova is term used to describe a star that suddenly increases greatly in brightness  due to an explosion.

Usage:

Nova is first recorded as a given name in the late 18th century. Though it is only found in small numbers, it can be found across Europe.  From the late 18th century, there are baptism records from Hungary** — one of whom is for a girl who was baptised in the village of Nova in Zala, Hungary, which explains her name. There is also an early record for a boy named Nova baptised in Norway in 1779* but other Norwegian records from the late 19th century are female.**  In Britain, there are records for Nova dating from the early 19th century** but it is difficult to tell whether they are transcription errors for Nora or another similar name. For example, the record below from the July-September quarter 1849 in the England and Wales Birth Index has been transcribed as "Nova Hulbert," but it looks more like Rosa (see image below): The name was uncommon throughout the 19th century, increased in the Edwardian-era, and saw a spike in the 1930s, as birth records in England and Wales show: 1840s:  1850s: 1860s: 1870s: 1880s: 1890s: 1900s: 1910s: 1920s: 1930s: 1940s: 1950s: 1960s: 1970s: 1 birth (?) 0 births 0 births 1 birth 2 births 1 birth 4 births 12 births 5 births 136 births 146 births 48 births 79 births 189 births If we breakdown the births for the 1930s, we can see a definite spike in the 1930s and intriguing pattern: The Era - 01 August 1934 (click to enlarge) Year Quarter Births 1931 Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec 0 1 0 0 1932 Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec 0 0 0 0 1933 Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec 0 0 0 0 1934 Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec 2 1 0 9 1935 Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec 8 4 1 8 1936 Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec 5 4 1 14 1937 Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec 6 1 2 12 1938 Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec 8 3 7 12 1939 Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec 7 1 2 15 The initial spike in late 1934 is undoubtedly thanks to British actress Nova Pilbeam, whose first film role was in Little Friend in 1934, followed by Alfred Hitcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much (December 1934). Rather than using a stage name, Nova was her birth name; she was so named in honour of her grandmother who hailed from Nova Scotia.* She continued acting in British cinema and stage up to the late 1940s.  After that, it is interesting to note that the name was most commonly concentrate in the Oct-Dec and Jan-Mar quarter — a pattern which continued into the 1940s. Initially, this might be thanks to Nova Pilbeam's film releases. Her third film, Tudor Rose (in which she had the starring role), was released in September 1936 and, the next, Young and Innocent, in November 1937. The fact that it continued perhaps suggests the name was used in December (sometimes babies born in December would not appear on the Birth Index until the following quarter), maybe for babies at New Year.  From 1996 to 2000 in England and Wales, Nova was registered once or twice per year (and was also used a little as a middle name), but did not manage to reach the three births or more required to appear in the official ONS data.  After 2000, however, it came into better use, but with no more than 10 births per year up to 2011.  By 2012, it began to rise swiftly. From #1720 (17 births), to #1128 (31 births) in 2013, #794 (49 births) in 2014, #525 (82 births) in 2015 and #400 (112 births) in 2016.  The spelling Novah first ranked at #5691 (3 births) in 2014 and rose to #3252 (7 births) in 2015 and #2233 (12 births).  In the last four years, Nova has also ranked for boys: #4658 (3 births) in 2013, #4632 (3 births) in 2014, #2150 (10 births) in 2015 and #2027 (11 births) in 2016.  In Scotland, from 1974 to 2010, Nova was registered once or twice per year only in 1974, '75, '77, '78, '91, '96, '98, 2003, 2004 and 2009. By 2013 it saw a moderate rise, ranking #537 (6 births) in 2014, #361 (10 births) in 2015 and #223 (19 births) in 2016.  In Northern Ireland, Nova was not used at all until 2015 when it was used once or twice (the rank is suppressed as it is less than 3 births) and then reached #440 in 2016 with 3 births.  Internationally, Nova is also on the rise. In America, Nova was in the top 1000 from 1900 to 1938 — but never above the top 600. After this point (ironically, about the time Nova was at its most popular in the UK thanks to Nova Pilbeam) it fell out of the US top 1000 until 2011. Since then, it has risen rapidly, reaching #620 in 2012, #287 in 2014 and #136 in 2016.  Nova also currently ranks #29 in the Netherlands, #31 in Sweden, #79 in British Columbia and #145 in Norway.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Nova Pilbeam (1919–2015), British film and stage actress. Contemporary: * Nova Peris (born 1971), Australian athlete and former politician. Literature and Other Media: * Nova, a character on the TV series Once Upon a Time. * Nova, a character in Planet of the Apes.  Other: * Nova, a British magazine from 1965–75.

Variants:

Noova (Finnish), Novah

Pronunciation:

NŌ-və  [key]

Possible  Longer Form:

Novella, Novalee

Sibling Names:

Aurora     Luna     Alba     Lena     Ayla     Zelie  Roman     Axel     Jonas     Soren     Rocco     Arlo

Name Lists:

Slickly Continental

 

If you like Nova you may also like:   Nora, Stella, Inez, Livia, Nola, Iona, Noemi, Ilaria, Kyra, Anais

Thanks to Steph for requesting this name.

 

Name Help: A Sibling for Luca

  

 

Francesca is expecting her second child -- a surprise! -- to join their son Luca. 

Francesca writes: "We like traditional names and a biblical link would be nice too. I don’t think we would like to go for anything too trendy such as Rocco.

We knew that our son would be Luca from very early as we both fell in love with the name. His middle names are after my husband’s grandfather who sadly passed away shortly before Luca was born (Arthur) and Alberto was to honour my dad and my Italian heritage.

We have gone through baby name books, the internet and discussions with family and friends and we are still no closer to choosing a name that we both like. I would prefer that the baby didn’t share the same “L” first name initial and I also am not sure how I feel about the baby also having a 4-letter name. I

If we have a girl we would like to the middle name to honour my mum who is Mariannina. We haven’t yet decided if we will go for the full version or a shorter version such as Marie, Mary, Maria etc. On that note my husband has ruled out May/Mae.

My husband’s middle name is William and we have discussed using this as a middle name. I am not sure about having this as first name due to nicknames Willy and Billy.

I would say that on my side of the family there are some very strong traditional Italian names which I like but I would prefer a name that was more English/best of both/ accessible etc. My husband prefers the family names of his grandparents era such as William, Edward, Arthur and Henry.... specifically for middle names and he is very taken with the names Leo and Jack. 

 

Names for girls:

Isabelle (after my grandma Maria Isabella) – my husband feels we know too many Isabelle, Isabella, Bella etc.
Delilah – my husband is not keen this name – “why why why Delilah”
Florence – my husband is not keen
Violet
Clara
Grace
Sofia
Rose/Rosie – though we have a Rosa and Rosina already in the family
Ivy
Lily/Lara - but “L” initial, I feel that this would mean a third child would have to an L initial too.

Names for boys:

Jack – my husband loves this name but I am not sure this baby is a Jack. Plus searching this with our surname came up with Jack the Ripper articles. Maybe with a different middle name?
Edward – my husband likes this – I like this name but not with William as a middle name as then the baby’s initials with our surname would be E.W.W and not with Jack – Edward is also a family name
William – family name
Arthur – I really like this name but we used it as son’s middle name
John – Not our favourite
Joseph - Not our favourite
Leo – but “L” initial, I feel that this would mean a third child would have to an L initial too.

Ruled out by my husband but liked by me: Christian, Hugo, Frederick, Lorenzo, Alexander, Arlo. Lovely names but all taken by friends already and keen to avoid are: Eliana, Evelyn, Amelia, Sienna and Olivia."

 

 

 

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Girls:

Aurora – A gorgeous Latin name which is a perennial favourite in Italy, and fashionable in Britain. 

Imogen – A pretty Shakespearean name which has a refined and gentle quality. Part Isabelle, part Violet.

Beatrice – Beatrice is a Shakespearean heroine with a sweet English Victorian darling feel. On the flip side, Beatrice is also a romantic Italian staple (in the Italian top 30 for at least 30 years, pronounced be-a-TREE-che). Famously, Beatrice Portinari (1266-1290) was the love and muse of Italian poet Dante. 

Alice – Like Beatrice, Alice also has a dual English/Italian personality. In Britain, she's a sweet historic staple, popular in the Middle Ages and borne by Victorian princesses and sweet literary heroines. In Italy, Alice (pronounce a-LEE-che) is equally historic and perennial, ranking in the top 15 Italian girls' names for the last 30 years. 

Alessa / Alessia– The former a short-form of Alessandra, the latter the feminine form of Alexis, both of these lyrical Italian beauties are easily accessibly and stylish in Britain. 

Adele – A medieval royal powerhouse with a Victorian literary twist. Adele is both the English and Italian form of Adela which means "noble." 

Eva – The Italian (Latin) form of Eve which has plenty of history in Britain. The name also ticks the box of being a traditional name with a Biblical link. 

Lydia – Lydia is a bright and elegant Latin choice which was borne by one of the few women mentioned in the New Testament. It was a Georgian staple in Britain; in Italy, they use the spelling Lidia. 

Phoebe – A lively and sweet Ancient Greek name of mythology which also serves as a Biblical name. The Italians also use the name, though they prefer the spelling Febe. 

Esther – An eminent Biblical queen which has a sweet Georgian style in Britain. It is used in Italy in the spelling Ester, where it currently ranks #102. 

Jemima – One of the beautiful daughters of Job in the Bible, Jemima has a sweet and sunny, Beatrix Potter-esque charm. 

Iris – With Violet, Rose, Ivy and Lily on your list, it seems remiss not to mention fragrant Iris. Not only is it a floral name, and the ancient Greek personification of the rainbow, Iris also has Italian roots through the 19th century Italian opera Iris. 

Aria – Speaking of opera, Aria is a melodic name taken directly from the Italian dictionary which is highly fashionable in Britain. 

 

Boys:

Daniel – A strong yet friendly Biblical staple which is a perennial favourite in both Britain and Italy. 

Theo – If Leo is a front-runner, I wonder if Theo will also appeal. Long in use as a short-form of saintly Theodore, Theo has the same bold and lively sound as Leo without repeating the 'L' initial.

Jonah / Jonas – A gentlemanly Biblical name which was a staple Georgian / Regency-era choice in Britain. 

Noah – Currently ranking in both the top 100 ranks in both Britain and Italy, Noah is a Biblical staple recently revived to a new lease of life. 

Joel – A friendly and down-to-earth Biblical name (one of the twelve prophets) which feels historic yet fresh at the same time. 

Max – Mixing the Latin heritage of Leo with the strong swift sounds of Jack, Max is a great brother name for Luca. 

Zachary / Zack – A strong Biblical name with an affable charm. It's short-form, Zack, makes a great alternative to Jack. 

Toby – Playful Toby has old-style homeliness combined with dignified polish. As a British short-form of Tobias, it also has a Biblical heritage. 

Miles / Myles – Down-to-earth, affable and charming. Not at all flashy but completely enthralling and interesting. 

Oscar – An ancient Celtic name which is now stylish, continental and friendly.

Ivo/Ivan – As an alternative to Leo and Hugo, how about knightly Ivo (the form that is also used in Italy) or its brother-form Ivan?

 

Family-Honour Names:

Anna – A simple, sweet and eternally elegant name which incorporates part of Mariannina. 

Marina – A chic bilingual Italian and English name which means "of the sea" and neatly honours both Mariannina and Maria Isabella. 

Mirabel / Mirabelle – Akin to Isabelle on your list but with a twist. Mirabel (from the Latin word for "wonderful") also honours Maria Isabella. 

Maribel – A Spanish name which literally combines Maria and Isabella. 

Mia – Short but sweet, Mia is a dual English-Italian name which started life as a name as a short form of Maria across Europe. It is also the Italian word for "mine" and ranks in the Italian top 30. 

Maia – Take out the 'r' for Maria and you get the name of the ancient Roman goddess for whom the month of May is named after. Bonus: Maia is used in both Britain and Italy. 

Edward – Perhaps the diminutives Ned, Ted or Teddy could warm you to Edward a little more? Plus, adding an a extra middle name to match Luca's two would eiminate the inital dilemma: Edward Leo William W___, Edward Jack William W___...

 

I hope this has been of use. Good luck with settling on the perfect name!

 

 

 

Regional Favourites for Boys 2016

If you named your son Ralph in 2016, chances are you live in the south of England, according to newly released data from the Office for National Statistics, but if you named your son Cole, you most likely live up north. The data release lists all the names given to three or more babies ranked according to popularity solely within the nine official regions of England, and also Wales. 

In this post, I have identified all the names which appeared in the top 100 of each individual region that did not rank in the overall top 100 for England and Wales combined.

The following table is a breakdown of the ranks of the names which appear above:

	N. East	N. West	Yorkshire	E. Midlands	W. Midlands	East	London	S. East	S. West	Wales
Abdullah							#93
Ahmed							#96
Aiden					#99		#68			#91
Alfred								#89	#53
Ali							#51
Ayaan			#90		#59		#62
Billy			#87
Cai										#64
Callum	#95				#97	#100
Cody					#84
Cole	#87	#98								#99
Connor	#95	#79				#96		#99		#87
Dominic				#97			#94
Eli			#93						#81	#50
Elis										#66
Evan	#91									#53
Finlay	#87		#98
Gethin										#78
Grayson	#95			#97
Hamza							#79
Harri										#22
Hunter	#76		#100	#94
Ioan										#71
Jac										#47
Jamie	#95	#96				#95		#79
Jason							#99
Jaxson										#98
Joel	#63			#92
Joey	#42
John	#72
Jonah										#99
Kayden	#91
Kevin							#71
Layton	#93
Leonardo							#65
Lincoln	#87	#90							#100
Macsen										#75
Maximilian							#70
Maxwell								#91
Milo									#80
Mohamed							#49
Morgan										#56
Muhammed		#78	#78		#56		#90
Musa					#94		#63
Nathaniel							#95
Nicholas							#75
Oakley									#98
Omar							#89
Osian										#27
Owen								#95	#81	#65
Patrick		#99					#72
Ralph						#90		#80	#99
Raphael							#90
Rayan							#69
Rex									#100
Rhys										#45
Rowan			#85	#95					#62	#71
Rupert									#73
Seth		#89		#65					#94	#95
Sonny	#99	#93				#92			#78	#86
Spencer									#100
Syed							#96
Tobias			#91	#96	#99	#92		#99		#78
Tomos										#39
Yahya							#78
Yusuf			#95		#86		#34
Zac										#91
Zayn							#99
	N. East	N. West	Yorkshire	E. Midlands	W. Midlands	East	London	S. East	S. West	Wales

.
 

These statistics have been compiled and formatted by me based on data provided by the Office for National Statistics. 

 

Regional Favourites for Girls 2016

If you named your daughter Annie in 2016, chances are you live in the north of England according to newly released data from the Office for National Statistics. The data release lists all the names given to three or more babies ranked according to popularity solely within the nine official regions of England, and also Wales.

In this post, I have identified all the names which appeared in the top 100 of each individual region that did not rank in the overall top 100 for England and Wales combined.

The differences are interesting. For example, Alexandra is a top 50 pick in London alone yet #113 overall. Hallie is more popular in the North; Bonnie is more popular in the South. 

.The following table is a breakdown of the ranks of the names which appear above:

	N. East	N. West	Yorkshire	E. Midlands	W. Midlands	East	London	S. East	S. West	Wales
Aaliyah							#54
Aizah			#82		#99
Alexandra							#42
Alexis	#98
Alys										#44
Amaya					#97		#86
Amira							#95
Amy						#91
Anastasia							#90
Anaya			#95		#73		#52
Annie	#88	#70	#67	#83
Ariana							#65
Aurora				#83		#98				#67
Autumn										#99
Ayla							#68
Bethany				#92				#73	#72
Betsy			#98
Bonnie						#82		#85	#77
Brooke			#97		#69	#95		#91	#97	#93
Cadi										#78
Carys										#91
Cerys										#88
Connie	#76
Delilah						#90
Eden	#88							#90	#100
Edie			#84
Edith				#75	#81	#91
Eira										#70
Elena							#92
Eloise						#80		#80
Esmae		#99	#83	#73						#93
Esther							#82
Faith	#88			#97						#100
Fatima		#87	#81		#74		#63
Ffion										#25
Frankie			#87
Gabriella							#83
Hallie	#71	#79								#72
Hollie	#64	#87								#83
Inaaya					#88		#95
Isabel							#67
Isobel	#88			#100
Katie	#80
Lacey	#85			#79	#75				#90	#88
Lara							#63	#91
Laura							#98
Libby	#98
Lillie										#88
Lowri										#87
Lyla	#86	#89	#89	#97		#98
Madison					#99				#98
Mali										#48
Margot							#86
Mariam							#90
Marnie										#93
Mollie			#91			#95				#93
Mya										#74
Naomi							#95
Nevaeh		#90			#92
Nia										#78
Niamh	#98	#90			#84
Nina							#94
Orla		#83			#77				#88
Paige				#86					#85	#93
Pippa		#76						#98
Sadie	#98	#96
Savannah	#88
Seren									#96	#16
Skye	#88
Skyla										#93
Zahra							#59
Zainab		#93			#99		#54
	N. East	N. West	Yorkshire	E. Midlands	W. Midlands	East	London	S. East	S. West	Wales

.
 

These statistics have been compiled and formatted by me based on data provided by the Office for National Statistics. 

 

UK Birth Announcements 12/2/18 - 18/2/18

 

 

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 William (Frederick George Oliver "Freddie")

Jake Holland

Jaxson Blake (Oliver)

Jonty Roland Oliver (Ottilie Rosemary Jane)

Lodewijk Pieter Jeremy

Noah John Paul 

Ollie Denis

Ossian Wallace (Alexander Robert "Xander")

Rafferty Alexander Wilkie (Ottilie Isabella)

Wilfred Henry Atticus

William Anthony Cyril (Freddie)

William David Harradine (Cecily Eleanor Louisa & Rosa Florence Bethea)

William Robert Dease (Georgina Marion Dease & Poppy)

 

Girls: 

Amelia Yucheng

Annabelle Rose

Bonnie-May

Charlotte Ava Jean

Clementina Judeth Alexandra

Clementine Charmian Mary

Eadie Martha

Eliza Catherine

Francesca Caitlin

Holly Jane (Lily Alice , Amy Josephine & Hazel Mhairi)

Jessica Jane

Josephine Alice Maria (Clara Anne Franziska)

Lily Louise

Lindsay Rose

Margo Rose (Isla-Beau)

Penelope Alice Jane

Phoebe Elizabeth Rosemary (Sebastian John Dennis)

Maud Agnes Mary

Sophie Jessica

 

 

Name of the Week: Wesley

 

 

Origin:

Wesley is a geographical English surname which derives from places of the same name such as Westley in Suffolk, Westleigh in both Devon and Lancashire, and Westley Waterless in Cambridgeshire.  The name derives from the Old English elements west "west" and lēah "wood, clearing."

Usage:

The surname was first recorded in the 11th century at least. A Wlmar de Westle is mentioned in Feudal Documents from the abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk in 1095, and later Adam de Westeleg is recorded in Lancashire in 1242.  As with all surnames, it was in occasional use as a given name from the 17th century. In the case of Wesley, it is particularly credited with being used in honour of John Wesley (1703–91) who, alongside his brother Charles Wesley, founded Methodism.  John Wesley was ordained a deacon in the Church of England in 1725 and ordained a priest in 1728. He also became a tutor and Fellow of Lincoln College where he joined like-minded friends in the so-called 'Holy Club.' They were derisively called "methodists" for their methodical devotion to study and religious duties but this name later was used as the term for their religious movement. After a few years missionary work in America, in 1738, at a meeting of a small religious society in London, Wesley experienced a religious conversion while listening to a reading of Martin Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. He began to preach that salvation through faith in Jesus Christ was available to everyone. After his conversion, Wesley became involved in evangelistic work, undertaking open-air, or field, preaching. It is estimated that, in doing this, he preached 40,000 sermons, travelled 250,000 miles, and also wrote, edited or abridged around 400 publications. Though John Wesley said, "I live and die a member of the Church of England,"* by the time of his death the Methodist movement had grown as its own denomination of the Christian Church in Britain and abroad, especially America.  The impact of Wesley's work can be seen in the number of boys given the baptismal names "John Wesley" in the late 18th and 19th century in both Britain and America. American explorer, geologist, and ethnologist John Wesley Powell (1834-1902), for example, was born to English itinerant Methodist preachers. Some children in the early 19th century were named "Wesley Whitfield" (George Whitefield was a co-founder of Methodism). Other children named simply "Wesley" in the late 18th century in Britain were notably baptised in Wesleyan Churches.*  There are even examples girls being given the names Welseyanna and Wesleyna in the 19th century. There are two other indicators that the Wesleyan Methodist movement was a key factor in the use of Wesley as a given name in Britain. Firstly, it was common historically for given-names-derived-from-surnames to be used to honour family members, therefore we often find them in use in the same areas as the surname. However, The Surname Atlas (using data from the 1881 UK census) demonstrates clearly that the surname Wesley and Westley were most common in the Midlands, whereas use of the name Wesley was more widespread, especially in places where Methodism was well established such as Lancashire and West Yorkshire, the Isle of Man, Norfolk and Cornwall (see image, right).  Secondly, data from the 1881 census shows that Westley was a more common spelling for the surname (1227 individuals) than Wesley (1166 individuals) yet Wesley was a far more common spelling as a given name, as birth registrations in England and Wales show:   Wesley Westley 1840s:  1850s 1860s: 1870s: 1880s: 1890s: 1900s: 1910s: 1920s: 1930s: 1940s: 1950s: 1960s: 1970s: 103 births 101 births 206 births 242 births 352 births 505 births 533 births 456 births 371 births 250 births 237 births 239 births 623 births 2472 births 8 births 12 births 16 births 20 birth 15 birth 18 births 18 births 24 births 18 births 9 births 8 births 17 births 43 births 391 births In the 19th century, Wesley ranked within the top 300, but never quite broke into the top 200 overall in England and Wales. By the 1970s, it had risen significantly.  In America, Wesley was consistently in the top 150 from 1900 to 1940, after which it fell a little but was still within the top 200. By 1976, it rose to #119 and reached a peak of#66 in 1977. After this point it declined again, leaving the top 100 in 1989. It has never, however, left the top 200, and since reaching a nadir of #195 in 2007 it has been rising again, now ranking at #117.  Though Wesley has never ranked in the top 100 in England and Wales, it did see a peak in the 1980s, as Leslie Dunkling's sample for boys named Wesley in every 10,000 births in England and Wales shows. This most likely put it just below the top 100.    1900 1925 1935 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 Wesley   2   4   2        2    2    4   2      16   16   6 Westley                      1    4     By 1996, Wesley was #178 (185 births) in England and Wales. From that point, it steadily began to decline in use, reaching its lowest point of #655 (51 births) in 2013. Since then, however, it has plateued, ranking #594 (61 births) in 2016.  In Scotland, Wesley went from #347 (2 births) in 1975, to not ranking at all in 1976 then leaping up to #100 (33 births) in 1977 (the same year it peaked in America). The following year it had fallen to #163 (11 births) and has for the most-part seen a decline since.  In 2016, Wesley ranked #1308  with 1 birth in Scotland.

Famous Bearers:

History: * John Wesley (1703–1791), an English cleric and theologian who founded Methodism. * Charles Wesley (1707–1788), younger brother of the above, Methodist leader and prolific hymn writer. * Wesley Merritt (1834–1910), the first American Military Governor of the Philippines. * Wesley Burrowes (1930–2015), Irish playwright and screenwriter. Contemporary: * Wesley "Wes" Anderson, American film director. * Wesley "Wes" Craven, American film director. * Wesley Snipes, American actor. Literature and Other Media: * Westley, hero of The Princess Bride, a 1973 novel and 1987 film. * Wesley Crusher, character on TV's Star Trek: The Next Generation. * Wesley Pegden, character from Last of the Summer Wine. * Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, character from the television series Angel, originally introduced in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. * Wesley Rush, character from The DUFF film.

Variants:

Westley

Pronunciation:

WEZ-lee [key]

Possible diminutives:

Wes, Wels

Sibling Names:

Everly     Melody     Eden     Nola      Aubrey     Cora  Jesse     Sonny     Declan     Toby     Maxwell     Ewan

Name Lists:

Slim Softies   Disney Names

 

If you like Wesley you may also like:   Oakley, Weston, Sorley, Jowan, Everett, Silas, Roman, Miles, Harvey, Greyson

Thanks to wolfebriar for requesting this name.  

 

UK Birth Announcements 5/2/18 - 11/2/18

 

 

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:

Ben Fletcher

Dennis Edgar Luke

Edward Arthur Stamford (Thomas Leonard Fyers)

George Roy

Henry David

Hugo Lawrence 

Jack Robert Andrew

James Gary (Harry)

Jenson John

Jimmy George (Lacie Rose) - named after two great grandfathers

Lachie George (Willa Jemima & Edward Wynn "Eddie")

Luca Robert (Evan)

Maximillian Walter

Nairn Martin Tegid (Rowan -girl)

Robbie (Sophie)

Seth Charlie (Miles Ray)

Theodore Harold Emmanuel

Wilfred Peter

 

Girls: 

Alice Clara

Alice Zara (Phoebe Lois)

Annabella Beatrice Mary

Bethany Faith (Imogen Grace & Megan Hope)

Catrin 

Chloe Ada May

Dorothy Sally Catherine (Edward Walter Michael & Joshua)

Eliza May

Ella Rose (Ava Grace)

Elsie Ann (Henry William)

Emma Hilary Marit (Charles Harry Peter "Charlie")

Erin Marie 

Evelyn Amelia Grace (Isla Rose)

Freya Frances

Margot Elspeth Jane (Rory David & William Edward)

Olivia Diana (George Charles Warcop Preston)

Penelope Violet

Zoe Forgan 

 

 

 

Name Help: A Brother for Margot

 

 

Natasha is expecting a boy to join big sister Margot and is looking for suggestions. 

Natasha writes: 

"We adored the name Margot as it has old fashioned charm, not too commonly used, but also because Dad has French roots. We'd like a name that works in French and English but this isn't essential. We mainly want something that stands out (not too outrageous) and complements Margot. 

We're both keen on Aubrey and may well end up using it, although considered using this for a girl and slightly concerned many may see it as a girls name. 

Other possibilities are Eliot, Dorian, Sebastian (although there are lots of little Sebastian's about), Rory, Rufus, Felix, Ambrose.

Names I like but Dad has rejected: Emmet, Edmund, George (very common) and Gregory."

 

 

※    ※    ※    ※

I love the refined and elegant vibe with a quirky twist that the names on your list have. Hopefully, the suggestions below suitably emulate your already-fabulous list.

 

Bastien – If Sebastian feels a little too common-place, how about the slimmed-down French short form Bastien? It currently ranks in the French top 100, and easily works for English speakers. Bastian is a variant spelling. 

Alban – Mixing the sounds of Aubrey and Sebastian, Alban is a Roman name used in the Middle Ages thanks to the eminent 4th century British saint. It feels both modern and ancient at the same time, and has the bonus of being in good use in France (currently ranking #154). 

Crispin –A dignified Roman name with a medieval heritage perfectly summing up the refined-yet-quirky vibe. Cris is an obvious nickname but I love the idea of the nickname Kip or Chip. 

Cyrus – With serious cool-factor, Cyrus is a stately gem that was once born by great Persian kings.  

Tristan – A heroic Arthurian name with a strong Celtic past and has good use in France. It peaked at #47 in 2001 in France (currently #139). 

Bertrand – A bilingual French and English name with an ancient Germanic heritage and refined medieval style. 

Ralph – A genial and sophisticated name with Viking heritage and medieval style.

Raphael –  Currently super-popular in France at the moment is the cultivated biblical choice, Raphael. At #235 in England and Wales, Raphael is uncommon but also recognisable with sophisticated style. 

Barnaby – A name that can be both playful and polished in equal measure. Barnaby is a historic name with plenty of charm and familiarity. 

Augustin – This French form of elegant medieval Augustine (ranking #48 in France) has a cool effortless style in English. 

Thaddeus – A quirky biblical name with a strong artistic streak. A rare yet recognisable name with history.

Hector – A mythic hero whose name has echoed down the ages. At #255 in England and Wales (and #261 in France) it is uncommon but not outlandish. 

Evander – A cool ancient Greek name (meaning "good man") which wears well in a modern world. 

Linus – Another sleek ancient Greek name from mythology which feels both cool and quirky at the same time. 

Lionel/Leopold– Two lion-like names (though the latter is actually Old German for "bold man of the people") which are familiar but a little bit different. Lionel was in the French top 100 from 1933 to 1989 while Leopold was in the French top 100 up until 1923 and is now seeing a small revival. 

Ewart – The gravitas of Stuart combined with the airiness of Ewan. Ewart is a Norman form of Edward, which was made famous in the 19th century by Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone. 

Quentin – A quirky Norman name borne by a French saint, sounding both modern and antique at the same time. 

Victor – Ranking at #28 in France, Victor is a solid old-timer that is poised for revival. 

Gideon – A heroic and handsome biblical name which is familiar but strangely rare in use. 

Xavier – An exotic, stylish saintly choice with a fashionable 'x' and superhero edge.

 

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