Summer is here! And Britain is in the crux of a heatwave and World Cup fever. So, in between enjoying a bit of sunshine, here are some names that have peaked my interest this month.
Aroha
New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, has given birth to a baby girl whom she and partner Clarke Gayford have named Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford.
The first name Neve is a conscious anglicised spelling for "simplicity" of the Irish Niamh ("bright, radiant") with Ardern saying they chose this to avoid the spelling mistakes 'Clarke with an e and Jacinda with a d' had gone through. (Though apparently this has already been slightly in vain, as media outlets were spelling the baby's name Niamh before the spelling was confirmed.)*
Mum has been quoted saying ""When we met her we thought she looked like she suited the name [Neve]. Also it means, in various forms, bright and radiant and snow, which seemed like a good combination for Matariki (Maori new year) and for solstice."
Neve's middle name, Te Aroha, is the name of a New Zealand town which takes its name from Mount Te Aroha. It's name is Maori for "The Love" and has many layers of significance for the couple. Ardern has been quoted saying:
"“Te Aroha was our way of reflecting the amount of love that this baby has been shown before she even arrived. I thought, how do we reflect all of the generosity, particularly of all the Iwi [Māori tribes] who gifted us names? And Te Aroha seemed to be a way to show that love and generosity. It is also the place where all my family is from, and I grew up under that mountain.”
Aroha itself is the Maori for "love" and is used in New Zealand as a given name. Aroha Newby is a NZ model and Aroha Harawira and Aroha Hathaway are TV and radio presenters. The A-a pattern is highly fashionable at the moment, especially with Amelia in the top spot. Ava, Aria, Anna, Aisha, Arabella, Aurora, Alexandra, Anaya, Ariana, Ayla, Amaya, Ada, Alexa, Alana, Arya, Anastasia, Alisha, Aliza, Amira, Aleena and Alyssa are all in the top 200 of England and Wales.
Aroha is currently rare here, but it was given to 3 babies in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Lena
Another Royal baby arrived this month. Zara Tindall, daughter of Anne, Princess Royal, and her husband Mike Tindall have welcomed their second daughter to join big sister Mia. After a lengthy wait, the name was announced recently as Lena Elizabeth Tindall.
Lena is 19th in line to the throne and the Queen's seventh great-grandchild.
The middle name Elizabeth is a clear nod to the Queen, but is also a middle name of grandmother, Princess Anne and mum Zara herself. Of the name Lena, a spokeswoman for the couple has said "it was just a name they liked."
Lena is a pan-European short form of names ending in -lina/lena such as Helena or Magdalena and has traditional use in Russia, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia and many Slavic counties. Its heyday in Britain was in the late-19th century when it ranked #136 in 1880, #119 in 1890 and #118 in 1900. In America, however, it was even more popular (likely because of immigration from across Europe, particularly Germany, Russia and Slavic countries) ranking in the US top 100 from 1880 to 1920.
In the last two decades, Lena has had a huge rise in usage in popularity in England and Wales. From ranking #823 (27 births) in 1996, it rose to #461 (84 births) by 2006 and then had a steep upward curve from 2008 onwards. It peaked in 2013 at #128 with 427 births and was #138 with 407 births in 2016.
Having been used across Europe, the pronunciation is a bit of an issue. Some countries opt for LEE-na and others for LAY-na or LEH-na. As it was never especially popular here historically, there is no set consensus.
Mike Tindall has confirmed that the couple are pronouncing the name LAY-na. News broadcasters no doubt will continue to confuse the issue. They still pronounce Princess Eugenie's name anything from you-JEE-nee to you-ZHAY-nee, even though she herself has publicly said its YOU-jen-ee.
Coincidentally, the news of Lena Tindall's name came not long after the DMNES announcement of the publication of their latest addition -- and it includes Lena! According to the new entry, Lena is "a hypocoristic of any name ending in -line or -lina, such as Adeline, Emmeline, or Leceline (cf. Lettice)." and they have a Latinised entry of Lenota from the Suffolk Poll Tax in 1381. A Dictionary of English Surnames also has records of Lina, and Linet and Linota from the 12th and 13th century.
The -ota was a Latinised form of dimutive suffix -ot (found in Emmot, Amelot, Anot, Belot, Gunnot, Gillot, Mallot, Mabot and many many more names) and was usually attached to a shortened form e.g. Mary > Mal > Malot / Isabel > Ebb > Ebbot.
Theodram
The new publication of DMNES's latest addition also includes many other fascinating additions, including the gem Theodram.
At first, my mind was emphasising the -dram part, but when I thought of it as a cross between Theodore and Bertram, my tongue found it settled on the much softer THEE-o-drum pronunciation.
Just like Bertram, Theodram's second element derives from the Old High German (h)ram "raven". The first is from Old High German þeud “people.”
Cassia
Cassia is another addition to the DMNES new edition. It is far from a new name to me -- though it was never common, it was in use as a feminine form of the Roman Cassius and is also the Latin name for cinnamon -- but the detail added to the entry is fascinating. The DMNES has found an example of a Cassya from Florence in 1366 as the name of a Tatar slave.
I can't help wondering what this Cassya's life was like, and all the places she had seen.
Cassia itself has a stylish edge to it but is uncommon enough to be a un. However, even though it has ranked in every year since 1996 in England and Wales, it has rarely ranked above the top 1000. It's peak was at #761 (33 births) in 2002 and as of 2016, ranks at #1278 with 26 births.
Kyffin
To celebrate his centenary year, this month, the BBC aired their documentary Kyffin Williams: The Man Who Painted Wales on the life of Welsh artist Kyffin Williams.
Kyffin was born John Kyffin Williams in Anglesey in 1918. Kyffin was his grandmother's maiden name which he later adopted as his professional name.
Pronounced KUFF-in (y in Welsh makes an 'u' sound), Kyffin is a Welsh surname which derives from various places in Wales with the name Cyffin or Gyffin which derive from the Old Welsh word cyffin "border, boundary."
Kyffin has not ranked in the official data of England and Wales from 1996 meaning that it not been given to 3 or more children in any given year. This does not mean that it has not been used in small numbers, however. Kyffin has been used as a first name in small numbers since at least 1839 in Wales.
'Twas Ever Thus: 1820 Name List with Meanings
I love a good name list — especially an antique one. It's fascinating to see the names which made (or didn't make) the list, and also meanings are attributed.
The following article featured in Westmorland Gazette on 24th June 1820.
It's aim (as is says in the introduction) is to provide a list of names "and to suggest the advantage of paying attention to this apparently trifling matter."
It starts by discussing how names are bestowed in the early 19th century and then gives a (curiously put together) list of names with their meanings and notable namesakes.
CHRISTIAN NAMES
The object of the following list is to call to mind the significations of the Christian most in use with us; to recommend the revival others; to show who has given any of them a grace or a lustre; and to suggest the advantage of paying attention to this apparently trifling matter.
We think it greater objection than appears first sight, to our names general, that they are unmeaning sounds by which individuals are merely known, A man of the name George or Thomas might as well, to all understood purposes, be called Spoon or Hatband.
Names are usually given, after some family relation; and doubtless this is often a good and social thing; but as it is done in general to please the elder people, and not the younger, who grow up without any very fond recollections of them, or perhaps scarcely remember them at all, the least that can be done for the possessors is to give them an additional Christian name; by which they may be called, if they preferred it, when they arrive to maturity.
The next principle, upon which, children are named, is that of the sound or beauty the name; and this we think too much undervalued. People in humble life, is true, are sometimes justly laughed for giving their children fine names: but it only when they do so through an obvious and unmeaning vanity. It as well, certainly, not to call parcel of idle and ragged young rogues by the titles of Augustus, Orlando, and Theodore: nor does it sound very fitting and heroical to hear a father cry out pompously to his little boy, as we did once, " You, Sir, there, —Maximilian, —come out of the gutter."
But if elegant names, not pompous, are given in humble life by sensible parents, they may influence the holders afterwards to very good purpose. They may assist in producing an unvulgar spirit, properly so called; one that sees how vulgarity and the reverse of it may be produced by circumstances, and are not confined to this or that rank in life; —one that is just conscious enough of something graceful and peculiar, to feel that it has kind of title upon it without any actual privileges, and that it must resort to a sentiment to maintain and warrant it.
To give a child the name of a favourite hero or heroine is also a good thing. A boy, christened after Alfred the Great, by a father who really feels the merits of that wonderful man, is likely, if he inherits anything of his father's sense, to turn the name into a perpetual memorandum of worthiness.
Care, however, must be taken not to give great professional names, —as that of, Michael Angelo to a boy intended for artist or Shakespeare to one that is intended to be literary. If the youth does not turn out clever, his name becomes a burlesque; and if he should be otherwise, the comparison will still be awkward.
Aaron, Hebrew. A Mountain. Haroun al Raschid.
Abel, Heb. Camden says just; some say vanity which is curious. We know nothing about Hebrew and must leave the point to others.
Abraham, Heb. The Father of Many. This is the same word as Patriarch in Greek. It was the Christian name of Cowley.
Adam, Heb. Red Earth. These scripture names of men are more prevalent among the Scotch than the English, and have given rise to some curious inapplicabilities, as Adam Smith, and David Hume, two infidel philosophers. On the continent almost all Christian names came from the Virgin or Saints, and at last produced similar; as Denys Diderot, Peter Bayle, Francis Mary Arouet de Voltaire, —after St. Francis and the Virgin; for nothing was more common among the Catholics than to give her name to men well as women. The celebrated constable Montmorency was called Anne after the scriptural saint.
Agnes, Gr. Chaste. It was an unlucky for the beautiful patriotic mistress of Charles the Seventh, Agnes Sorel; who was nevertheless a noble creature
Alexander, Gr. A Helper of Men. Alexander the Great. Scanderbergh, or Lord Alexander, the name given to the celebrated Prince of Epirus, John Castriot. Alexander Pope.
Jemima, Heb. Meaning unknown to us.
Jeremy, Heb. High the Lord. Jeremy Taylor.
Jessica, Jessy, Heb. We know not the signification; but the little music-loving Jewess in the “Merchant of Venice," has rendered its pleasant simplicity still pleasanter.
John, Heb. Gracious. Giovanni in Italian. Jean in French. The commonest Christian name in use, given originally from the most amiable of the Apostles. Its being so great a favourite seems at last to have turned the tables upon it, and brought its familiarity into disrepute; as was the case with Humphrey and Anthony. This is another reason for bringing the word Jack from it, as every body does; otherwise we should have thought it came from Jacques or James. Jack has been tagged to'every possible name of homliness, ridicule, and contempt:—as Jack-a-napes, Jack-ass, Jack-daw, Jack-pudding, Jack-a-dandy, Jack (to roast with), Black Jack (to hold beer). Jack Boots. Every Jack has his Gill. Jack-a-lantern. Jack in the Green. Jack in the Box. Jack the Corner. Jack Sprat. Jack Priest. Jack Ketch. A Jack in Office. But now hear the name resume its dignity in John Milton, John Hampden, John Fletcher, John Webster, John Evelyn, John Ford, John Howard, &c- &c. Then in the French there is Jean Racine, Jean Baptiste Moliere, Jean de la Fontaine, Jean le Rond d'Alembert, Jean Jacques Rousseau : and Italian, Giovanni Boccacio, Giovanni Lodovico Ariosto, Giovanni Pasillo, &c.
Jonathan, Heb. God's Gift. The same as the Greek Theodore and Theodosius, and the Latin Deodatus. Jonathan Swift.
Joseph, Heb. Addition. Joseph Addison. Joseph Hadyn.
Laetitia, Lettice, Lat. Joy.
Lancelot, Launcelot, Lancilloto, a Little Lance. Spanish or old French. It is supposed to have been invented for the famous hero of romance. Launcelot of the Lake; from whom it became a common name.
Westmorland Gazette
24 June 1820
....And that's it.... Six A names, jumping straight to J and then on to L, after which the article abruptly ends to be followed by advertisements.
Perhaps the author became bored or baffled by the task of researching names. Perhaps the Ms (Mary, Margaret, Mark, Michael, Matthew) were just too daunting a prospect. Or maybe many more names were originally written of, but the editor had a fit when he saw how long it was and liberally chopped chunks out. We'll never know, but it is a fascinating read non-the-less.
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Posted at 08:45 PM in Historical Name Commentary | Permalink | Comments (1)
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