British Baby Names

UK Birth Announcements 14/10/19 - 27/10/19

Hello all! I'm just back from holiday, so here is a double whammy of birth announcements from the last two weeks. 

Below is a round-up of the birth announcements from British newspapers. Sources include a national paper (The Telegraph, The Times) and a broad range of local newspapers from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sibling names are in brackets.

 

Boys:

Bruce Anderson

Charles Thomas

Finn Charlie

Freddie David John

George Arthur John

Harris Andrew (Arran Andrew)

Henry Richard Tudor

Inigo Seton

James Samuel

Ludovic Arthur Frederick

Mace (Myla)

Murray James Liam (Aria Myriam Paula)

Percy Alfred Hugh (Felix Rufus Gordon)

Rafael Charles Michael (Spenser Mateo Edward & Alba Grace)

Ridley Dexter

Rocco Alf (Maci Violet)

Rory Ellis (Amelia Rose)

Ruairidh Jonathan Paul (Annabelle Rose)

Sullivan Peter Gordon

Wilbur Alexander Sidney (Ottilie Jemima Alethea & Isadora Sophie Emilia)

 

Girls: 

Betsy May

Emilia Edith (Leonardo)

Emily Primrose

Emma Luna

Esmé Ann (Flora)

Francesca Elizabeth Winefride

Georgina Elisabeth Nella

Hallie Faith

Isabella Daisy Beatrix

Kyla Clare Helen

Lily Margaret

Mia Patricia Beatrice (Oliver)

Mollie Freda (Nancy Rose)

Ottilie Samantha Siân (Boudicca Zoë Eileen)

Roberta Lilian Frida

Sula Grace Kathleen

 

 

I cross-reference older BAs to find the full names of the siblings, however often they are missing (especially the eldest siblings, or for half-siblings) which explains why you will sometimes see something like: George Henry (Lucy, Emma & Jack Arthur). "Lucy" and "Emma" may well have middle names as well; I simply cannot find them online. 

 

UK Birth Announcements 7/10/19 - 13/10/19

Below is a round-up of the birth announcements this week from British newspapers. Sources include a national paper (The Telegraph, The Times) and a broad range of local newspapers from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sibling names are in brackets.

 

Boys:

Alfred Robert Knyvett "Alfie" (Ruby Mary)

Atticus James (Eleanor Jane)

Charlie Jude Stephen

Maksim Duncan (Milena Jane)

Thomas William (Brenna)

William John Anthony

Xander Constantine William (Nicholas Armistice Mallard "Nicko")

 

Girls: 

Emeila Rae 

Emily Beth (Harry George)

Ionia Enna Mary (Hermione)

Ivy-Grace

Ivy Sophia (Frederick Edward)

Lily Rebecca

Marie Daisy (Emelia Rose)

Sybil Jane Velvet (Francis James Archibald "Frank" & Cecily)

 

 

I cross-reference older BAs to find the full names of the siblings, however often they are missing (especially the eldest siblings, or for half-siblings) which explains why you will sometimes see something like: George Henry (Lucy, Emma & Jack Arthur). "Lucy" and "Emma" may well have middle names as well; I simply cannot find them online. 

 

Name of the Week: Dimitri

Origin:

Dimitri is the French and Russian of the Ancient Greek name Demetrios meaning "devoted to Demeter", later Latinised as Demetrius.  Demeter was the Greek goddess agriculture, grain and all growing things, and one of the principle Olympian deities.  The most famous myth regarding Demeter concerns the abduction of her daughter, Persephone, by Hades. Demeter searched the whole world for her missing daughter and despaired when she couldn't find her. Helios, the sun god, told Demeter of her daughter's abduction and that Zeus, in conspiracy with Hades, had allowed it to happen. Demeter was furious with this deceit and, in retribution, refused to let the earth fruit until her daughter returned.  In Demeter's grief, the world endured perpetual famine. Eventually, Zeus had no choice but to capitulate and brokered a deal between Demeter and Hades: Persephone would spend half the year with her mother and the other half with Hades. For the half of the year that her daughter was in the Underworld, Demeter grieved and the crops did not grow (Autumn/Winter). When her daughter returned, the world became fruitful again (Spring/Summer).  Alongside her daughter, Demeter was worshipped in the ancient Eleusinian Mysteries, one of the most important, sacred religious rites of ancient Greece—reenacted for thousands of years — which promised initiates happiness in the afterlife.  The second element in the name Demeter is almost certainly the Greek μητηρ (mêtêr) "mother". The first element—the Doric dialect word da—is a little murkier. The traditional theory is that da is the Doric form of γη (gê) meaning "earth." Thus Demeter literally meant "earth-mother."  Another theory suggests that the first element derives from the Cretan word dêai meaning "barley" which still reflects Demeter's function as a fertility goddess.  Alternatively, it has been suggested that Da is the vocative form of Dan, a Doric form of Zen/Zeus. While it is unlikely that Demeter's name meant "mother of Zeus" (according to mythology, she was his sister), this second element could derive from the same source as Zeus name: the Proto-Indo-European deyw-o- "a God". Demeter, therefore, could mean "mother goddess" and she may have originally been a female counterpart to Zeus in pre-history. Intriguingly, another name for Demeter was Deo.

Usage:

Demetrios was in good use in Ancient Greece. Data from the Lexicon of Greek Personal Names ranks Demetrios at #2 in Attica; #2 in Macedonia Thrace, Northern Shores of the Black Sea; #3 in Coastal Asia Minor; #4 in the Aegean Islands, Cyprus, Cyrenaica; #8 in Inland Asia Minor; #8 in The Peloponnese, Western Greece, Sicily, Magna Graecia; #9 in Central Greece. These names were taken from "all available sources (literature, inscriptions, graffiti, papyri, coins, vases and other artefacts), within the period from the earliest Greek written records down to, approximately, the sixth century A.D." Demetrios was also a royal name, born by Macedonian, Bactrian and Seleucid kings which may be one of the reasons it was so well documented in Antiquity. One reason that Demetrius continued in use in the Christian Western Empire and into the Middle Ages was the many early saints to bear the name, most of whom were either early bishops or martyrs. The most famous saint to bear the name was St Demetrius of Thessaloniki, a 4th-century Greek-born deacon martyred at Sirmium, in the former Yugoslavia.  During the Middle Ages, Saint Demetrius became regarded as one of the principal military saints. He was often paired with Saint George and the two were both regarded as the patron of the Crusades. In Greece, Saint Demetrius also became the patron of agriculture and shepherds which were transferred to his cult from Demeter with the decline of the Eleusinian Mysteries.  Saint Demetrius was especially venerated in the Eastern Orthodox and is even patron of Thessaloniki in Greece, Siberia, Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia and Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo. This explains why variants of the name (such as Demetrios and Dimitri) became so common in Greece, Russia and Hungary.  An 11th-century king of Croatia and Dalmatia, a 12th-century king of Georgia, a 14th-century grand prince of Moscow, and a 15th-century tsar of Russia bearing the name also promoted the use of the name in Eastern Europe.  In Britain, however, variants of Demetrius were always rare. Much of its use in the 19th century was thanks to Eastern European immigration, and by the 1950s and 1960s, Greek immigration was the main source.  Records for Demetrius and Dimitri as a first name in the England and Wales Birth Index:   Demetrius Demetri/Dimitri/y 1840s: 1850s: 1860s: 1870s: 1880s: 1890s: 1900s: 1910s: 1920s: 1930s: 1940s: 1950s: 1960s 14 births 18 births 25 births 30 births 26 births 21 births 13 births 13 births 19 births 0 births 6 births 48 births 155 births 0 births 0 births 0 births 1 birth 1 births 5 births 7 births 9 births 4 births 3 births 4 births 6 births 12 births Dimitri has been used in small but consistent numbers in England and Wales since 1996, only once breaking just into the top 1000.  Variants Dimitrios and Demetrius are in rarer use.  In 2018, Dimitri ranked #1455 with 17 births; Dimitrios ranked #1875 with 12 birth and Demetrius ranked #2445 with 8 births.  In France, Dimitri ranked in the top 100 from 1980 to 2000, peaking at #47 in 1989.  Other variants also currently rank internationally. In 2017, Dimitar ranked #4 in Bulgaria. Demetre ranked at #7 in Georgia in 2016 and Dmitry ranked #7 in 2014 in Russia.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Demetrius of Alopece (4th century BCE), Greek sculptor noted for his realism. * Demetrius of Phalerum (c. 350–280 BCE), Athenian orator.  * Demetrius I of Macedon (337–283 BCE), King of Macedonia. * Demetrius II Aetolicus, King of Macedonia. * Demetrius of Pharos (c. 222 – 219 BC), King of Pharos.  * Demetrius the Chronographer (late 3rd century BCE), Jewish chronicler. * Demetrius I Soter (185–150 BCE), king of Syria. * Demetrius I of Bactria (d. 180 BCE), Greek king of Bactria. * Demetrius III Eucaerus (d. 88 BCE), Seleucid King. * Demetrius the Cynic (1st century), Cynic philosopher. * Pope Demetrius I of Alexandria, ruled in 189–232. * Demetrius of Thessaloniki (d. 306), Christian martyr and saint. * Demetrius Zvonimir (died 1089), King of Croatia. * Dmitry Donskoy (1350–1389), Russian prince and saint.  * Demetrius the Neomartyr (1779–1803), Orthodox Christian martyr and saint. * Dimitrije Avramović (1815-1855), Serbian painter. * Pope Demetrius II of Alexandria, ruled in 1861–1870. * Dmitri Mendeleev (1834-1907), Russian chemist, creator of the first periodic table. * Dimitrije T. Leko (1863-1914), renowned Serbian architect and urbanist. * Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975), Russian composer. Contemporary: * Dimitar Berbatov (born 1981), Bulgarian footballer.. Literature and Other Media: * Demetrius, a main character in William Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer Night's Dream. * Demetri, a fictional character in the Twilight fantasy series. * Dmitri Kissoff, a character in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.

Variants:

Dmitri, Dmitry (Russian), Dimitar (Bulgarian, Macedonian), Demetrio (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese), Dmitar (Croatian, Serbian), Demetre (Georgian), Dymitr (Polish)

Pronunciation:

də-MEE-tree [key]

Possible diminutives:

Demi, Dit, Dima, Mita

Sibling Names:

Viveka     Anastasia     Varvara     Ekaterina     Veronika     Laetitia Constantin     Quentin     Raphael     Xavier     Emmanuel     Maxim

Name Lists:

October Names

 

If you like Dimitri you may also like:   Florian, Johannes, Moritz, Andreas, Viktor, Aleksandar, Artem, Mikhail, Vladimir, Stefan, Nikodem

Thanks to Marina for requesting this name.  

 

Name Help: A Scottish-Yorkshire Name

 

Jamie and his wife are expecting their first child -- gender a surprise.

Jamie writes: "My wife and I live near Glasgow, she’s a local girl with a proud heritage from the Isle of Mull and I’m a Yorkshireman who made the leap to live in Scotland. 

We’re looking for uncommon or atypical names, without being too unusual or hard to spell. I was called "Jim" from ages 4-18 because there were 4 "Jamie"s in my primary school class and the teacher wanted to keep things simple for herself! If possible, I'd like to avoid that! I hadn't realised that Olivia was so popular, I've also heard that "Lilly" is also very popular, so I suspect they may get removed.

We also don’t fancy anything biblical; I tried looking for Yorkshire names but found nothing but bible names!

 

So far, here are our list of contenders, they’re not in any particular order and we’d likely use one of the girl’s names as a girl’s middle name. 

 

Boys names:

Rowan
Harris
Arran
Luca

Girls names:

Hazel
Rorie
Lilly
Maisie
Skye
Olivia
Holly

※    ※    ※    ※

You seem to have a solid list of names to go from. To help you narrow down, I've put the current rank in Scotland (2018 data) for each of the names on your current list below:

Rowan = #156
Harris = #7
Arran = #47
Luca = #48

Hazel = #225
Rorie = only Rory ranked for girls at #1571 (1 birth). Rory is #10 for boys.
Lilly = #61 (Lily is #15)
Maisie = #25
Skye = #44
Olivia = #1
Holly = #32

For more information, you can find the Top 1000 names in Scotland in 2018 here.

 

Suggestions:

Arlo – A fashionable surname-crossover which has links to Yorkshire. Arlo can be considered a variant of Harlow: a surname which derives from Harlow Hill in Yorkshire. Arlo ranks at #56 in Scotland. 

Blake – Sleek, stylish and with a great literary namesake. Blake derives from the English surname (one of the earliest bearers hailed from Yorkshire) which lends it its modern style. It ranks at #54 in Scotland. 

Brodie – A traditional Scottish name which hails from Moray and is borne by one of the oldest clans in Scotland. Brodie ranks at #25 in Scotland. 

Carson – Long used as a given name in Scotland, Carson is a traditional Scottish surname. It ranks at #101 in Scotland. 

Euan – A traditional Scottish equivalent of Welsh Owain and Irish Eoghan. Euan/Ewan used to also be used traditionally across the "Old North" which comprised of Yorkshire. So Euan/Ewan is both a traditional Scottish and Yorkshire name simultaneously. Euan ranks at #104 and Ewan at #264. 

Flynn – A Gaelic name with a cheery swash-buckling vibe. Flynn ranks at #162 in Scotland. 

Fraser – Hailing from the notable Scottish clan, tailored Fraser feels traditionally Scottish, but thanks to its surname-style, also feels modern and current. It ranks at #64 in Scotland.

Grayson – A stylish surname that originates from Yorkshire. Grayson ranks at #80 in Scotland. 

Lachlan – A traditional Scottish name meaning "a loch-lander" i.e. "a Scandinavian." It has been used from an early date in Scotland and many medieval clan chiefs had Lachlan as a given name. Today this Viking-inspired name has plenty of modern appeal and ranks at #121 (Lochlan ranks at #118). 

Leon – An ancient Greek name meaning "lion", Leon has the international flair of Luca and the broad shoulders of Arran on your list. Leon ranks at #70 in Scotland. 

Roman – Similar to Rowan on your list, Roman is a stately name which has been used by royalty across Europe. It ranks at #126 in Scotland. 

 

Aila – In origin, Aila is a Scandinavian name derived from Helga (meaning "holy" in Old Norse). However, in recent years, it has been adopted by Scottish parents thanks to its similarity to Ailsa and Isla, and deriving it from the Gaelic word ail "stone, rock." It ranks at #84 in Scotland. 

Alba – Alba is the traditional Gaelic name for Scotland. Thanks to its fashionable small size and long vowels, it has become a stylish name. It currently ranks at #104 in Scotland. 

Annabel – Thoroughly Scottish in origin, Annabel was created in the Middle Ages in Scotland as a variant of Amabel (from the Latin amabilis "loveable"). Annabelle ranks at #126 and Annabel ranks at #255 in Scotland. 

Bella – Sweet Bella was most common in Scotland and Northern England (including Yorkshire) in the 18th century, so it can be considered both a Scottish and a Yorkshire traditional. Bella ranks at #69 in Scotland. 

Bonnie – A traditional Scottish diminutive meaning "pretty, beautiful" which ranks at #72 in Scotland. 

Cora – An Edwardian gem which descends from an ancient Greek goddess. and ranks at #67 in Scotland. Similar in sound is traditional Scottish favourite Flora which ranks at #120. 

Elsie – Sweet vintage Elsie started life as the pet-form of Scottish Elspeth and has been used in Scotland since at least the 16th century. It currently ranks at #68 in Scotland. 

Harley – Although more commonly used for boys in England, the Scots much prefer Harley for girls (where it currently ranks at #109 for girls). The name Harley hails from Yorkshire. 

Lena – Sleek and vintage, Lena is similar in sound to Luna and Lola but with a distinctive edge. It ranks at #91 in Scotland. 

Lyla – Ranking at #120, Lyla has highly fashionable sounds without being commonplace. In a similar ilk is celestial Lyra which ranks at #244.

Piper – As you like Pepper but your wife wasn't a fan, perhaps Piper makes for a good compromise? Ranking at #78 in Scotland it is well known but not too overly used. 

Violet – While Violet was rare in the rest of Britain, it was well used in Scotland from the 15th century, making it a perfectly traditional Scottish choice. 

 

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

 

UK Birth Announcements 30/9/19 - 6/10/19

Below is a round-up of the birth announcements this week from British newspapers. Sources include a national paper (The Telegraph, The Times) and a broad range of local newspapers from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sibling names are in brackets.

 

Boys:

Blake

Cooper

Felix Leon Andrew (Isaac Richard Wilfred & Emmeline Leighton Susanna)

Manfred Bernard Lionel (Percival Herman Albert)

Maximilian Georg Clemens James (Clara Anne Franziska & Josephine Alice Maria)

Oliver Shaun (Thomas Arthur & Lily Rose)

Sebastian (Robert & Edward)

Stan Edgar (Ivy Elizabeth)

Theodore Heppe Montagu

 

Girls: 

Bonnie Marie Rose

Daisy Juliet (Oscar George)

Edith (Freya & Olivia)

Eliza Indy Rowena (Amelie Iyla & Laria Willow Rona)

Ellie Rose (Alexia Bluebell)

Emily Teresa Rose

Imogen Frances Mary

Indie Mae (Cooper)

Ottilie Inger (Knut Michael)

Piper Alba

Thea Molly (Torston James)

 

 

I cross-reference older BAs to find the full names of the siblings, however often they are missing (especially the eldest siblings, or for half-siblings) which explains why you will sometimes see something like: George Henry (Lucy, Emma & Jack Arthur). "Lucy" and "Emma" may well have middle names as well; I simply cannot find them online. 

 

Sibling Spotlight for Lachlan

 

Below is a selection of British siblings with Lachlan, from the last century to modern times. 

The year relates to the decade of birth for that set. Brackets around the first name indicates that the person was called by their middle name. For example "(William) Henry" would mean that person had the official name William Henry but was known familiarly simply as "Henry."

1830s: John Catherine Hector Malcolm Mary Murdoch Ann Lachlan Flora Dougall   Jean Lachlan Bethia Margaret   Farquhar Catherine Archibald Ann Lachlan Grace   1840s: Robert Isabella John Margaret Lachlan Euphemia Florentia Jane   Duncan John Murdo Lachlan Ann Hugh   Mary Flora Hector Agnes Lachlan Allan Bella Janet   1850s: Lauchlin Michael Lothian Jane Ann Washington (b)   James Elizabeth Christina Lauchlin Charles Archibald   Finley Lachlan Thomas Duncan Mary   Neil Helen Catherine Roderick Lachlan Euphemia "Effy" Dugald Christina "Christy"   Kenneth Miles & Peggy (twins) Lachlan   1860s: Margaret Catherine Lachlan Mary Ann Duncan John Allina Marjory Donald Charles Johan Margaret   Julia Lachlan Torquil Kenneth John Malcolm Catherine Lachlan Annabella Margaret "Maggie" Donald   Alice Marguerite Gordon Frances Mary Lachlan Richard MacKintosh Ida Mary Lilian Enid   Sarah Ann Thomas Charles George Ellen Louisa George William Mary Jane Ellen Jemima Harry Georgiana "Annie" Lachlan Cecil Clarissa (Blanche) Beatrice Aubrey Ellis Emary Jane   1880s: Dugald Margaret Alexander Lachlan Finlay John Bella   Mary Alexander Maggie Williamina Kenneth Flora John Annie Lachlan Neil   John Lachlan Neil Dugald Robert Annabella Colin Coll   Jessie Duncan Christina Dolina Robina Davina Lachlan Alick   Donald James Lilias Lachlan Annie Flora Colville Margaret William Archibald Alexanderina Christina John Orr Lachlan Betsy   Ella Lottie Lachlan Grace

1890s: Lachlan Allan Eva Annie Donald Marjorie Bridget   Margaret Thomas Hannah Catherine Agnes Muriel Jane Mary Emily Lachlan Bowie Timothy James   Lachlan Frederick Eila Mona Dora   John Colin Donald Dugald Alistair Lachlan Duncan   1900s: Neil Murdoch Rebecca John Lachlan Elizabeth   Monica Constance Lachlan Thomas Peter Litchfield   Francis Harmar Alastair Dora Lily Lachlan Norman Alfred Carew Rayer Marcella Lily   Eileen Honor Ewen Alexander Henry Lachlan Mary Mona Beatrice Gwendolen   1980s: Ciaran Isla Lachlan James Fionnvala Helga Ruairi Anthony   Lachlan Knox Kieran Frey   Blodwen Hazel Lachlan Donal  Gabriel Cathal   1990s: Lachlan Jonas Willa Hope   Hector Allan Cameron Augusta Jane M. Lachlan Donald H.   India Mary-Anne Aydua Lachlan William Normile   Fergus Henry  Rory Christopher Lachlan James   Kyra Jane Lachlan John   Callum William Jack Lachlan Michael John   2000s: Cleodie Davina L. Lachlan John Kinvara Honor   Lachlan Lloyd Capel James   Leila Grace Lachlan Alastair   Daisy Grace Kirsty Archie Brian Edward Tabitha Elizabeth Rose Lachlan Mark Peter   Islay Cleodie & Lachlan Charles (twins)   Angus Ross Alexander Lachlan Robert Campbell Archie Charles George   Lachlan Scott Rowan Ann Elsie Joanne   Hamish John Lachlan William   Lachlan Alexander Angus Iain Hamish Donald Morven Agnes   Caitland Drew Lachlan Stewart   2010s: Maeve Morag Lachlan Alexander   Lachlan John Struan James   Lachlan Hamish & Harris Stewart (twins)   Lachlan Innes Magnus Aurora   Lachlan Alexander Todd Amelia Charlotte Grace

 Thanks to Marisa for requesting this post.