British Baby Names

Top 10 baby names in the 2019 Census Rehearsal local authorities, 2018

 

 

Last October, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) carried out a census rehearsal in preparation for the next census in 2021.

The census rehearsal took place in four local authority areas across England and Wales. These were:

• Carlisle (North East England)
• Ceredigion (Mid-Wales)
• Hackney (London)
• Tower Hamlets (London)

Hidden away on the ONS website, is this little gem: a user data request which "provides ranks and counts for the top 10 baby boys and girls names in each of the 2019 Census Rehearsal local authorities. Based on 2018 baby names data."

 

The difference in the top ten names (in 2018) for each of these authorities is fascinating, and really gives us an insight into how local culture can really influence the names we choose. 

 

The data is as follows:

Rehearsal Area
Carlisle				Ceredigion				Hackney				Tower Hamlets
Name	Number	Rank		Name	Number	Rank		Name	Number	Rank		Name	Number	Rank
HARRY	13	1		OLIVER	6	1		DAVID	28	1		MOHAMMED	91	1
OLIVER	13	1		OSIAN	6	1		JACOB	20	2		MUHAMMAD	65	2
ALFIE	12	3		ALFIE	5	3		LEO	19	3		ADAM	36	3
ARCHIE	11	4		IFAN	5	3		CHAIM	18	4		NOAH	33	4
GEORGE	9	5		ELIS	4	5		JOSEPH	15	5		MUSA	28	5
JACK	9	5		JAMES	4	5		SAMUEL	15	5		MOHAMMAD	26	6
JAMES	8	7		JOSEPH	4	5		ALEXANDER	14	7		YUSUF	26	6
THOMAS	8	7		LEO	4	5		BENJAMIN	14	7		MUHAMMED	22	8
HUNTER	7	9		CAI	3	9		NOAH	14	7		AYAAN	20	9
LEO	7	9		CONOR	3	9		ELI	13	10		IBRAHIM	19	10
LOUIE	7	9		DION	3	9		EZRA	13	10		MD	19	10
NOAH	7	9		FREDDIE	3	9		JOSHUA	13	10
WILLIAM	7	9		HENRY	3	9		THEODORE	13	10
				IOAN	3	9
				JAC	3	9
				LUCA	3	9
				MACSEN	3	9
				OSCAR	3	9
				RHODRI	3	9
				STEFFAN	3	9
				THEO	3	9
				WILLIAM	3	9

 

Carlisle				Ceredigion				Hackney				Tower Hamlets
Name	Number	Rank		Name	Number	Rank		Name	Number	Rank		Name	Number	Rank
OLIVIA	16	1		LILI	5	1		LEAH	26	1		MARYAM	40	1
ROSIE	9	2		CADI	4	2		ESTHER	23	2		AMELIA	23	2
AMELIA	8	3		ELEANOR	4	2		SARAH	18	3		SARA	19	3
AVA	8	3		EVA	4	2		CHAYA	16	4		MAYA	16	4
EMILY	8	3		MABLI	4	2		MAYA	15	5		SOPHIA	16	4
FREYA	7	6		PHOEBE	4	2		MIRIAM	14	6		ELIZA	14	6
PHOEBE	7	6		ALAW	3	7		OLIVIA	14	6		KHADIJA	14	6
SCARLETT	6	8		ELLA	3	7		MALKY	12	8		SAFA	14	6
DAISY	5	9		FFION	3	7		RACHEL	12	8		AISHA	13	9
EDEN	5	9		GWENNO	3	7		HINDY	11	10		AMAYA	13	9
GRACE	5	9		LILY	3	7		MALKA	11	10		HANA	13	9
HARPER	5	9		LOLA	3	7						LIYANA	13	9
ISLA	5	9		LUNA	3	7						SARAH	13	9
LUCY	5	9		MAISIE	3	7
POPPY	5	9		NINA	3	7

 

Carlisle is the local authority that most matches the overall national rankings for 2018.
According to the 2011 census, it had a population of 78,470 with 94.3% identifying as White British (and of those, 65.1% had an "English only identity"). 67.7% of residents identified as Christian. 

In Ceredigion, 45% of the boys' names and 40% of the girl's names are Welsh names. 
According to the 2011 census, it had a population of 75,922 with 93.1% identifying as White British (and of those, 46.6% had a "Welsh only identity"). 57.9% of residents identified as Christian. 

Hackney has a large proportion of Yiddish and Hebrew names.
According to the 2011 census, 6.3% identified as Jewish, making it the third-largest Jewish community in England. Of the 245,643 residents, 36.2% were White British, 23% were Black British and 16.2% were "other white". 

Tower Hamlets has a noticeable number of Arabic names, including five spellings of Mohammed for boys. The abbreviation "MD" indicates that most of these boys will be known by their middle names, as is common among Muslim families. 
According to the 2011 census, of the 254,098 residents, 41.1% were Asian British and 31.2% were White British. Of the 65.5% who "has religion", 34.5% were Muslim. 

 

UK Birth Announcements 13/1/20- 19/1/20

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:

Alexander Herbert Alistair (James William Anthony)

Arthur George (Alice Freya)

Benjamin Richard John (George & Sophia)

Henry Alexander (Frederick Theodore)

Ivo Alexander

Jude

Lewis Mario Donald

Ludo Arthur Edward (Henry Richard Niall)

Milo John (Edward & Isabella)

Oliver Samuel

Rory Horatio William

Thomas James

Toby Lionel (Alexander Edward)

 

Girls: 

Eliza Florence

Esther Joan (Ezekiel)

Harper Suzanne

Harry Thomson (Libby Margaret)

Jessie Dora Hilary (Edward Christopher Stewart "Eddie" & Vera Alice Margaret)

Lily Milou Anne

Nephele Teodora Isobel (George Anthony Caesar & Athena Madeleine Alexandra)

Sienna Grace

Zoe Hazel

 

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: Rhiannon

Origin:

Rhiannon is an Old Welsh name, derived from the Proto-Celtic route *r-gan "great queen" and was famously borne in Welsh mythology by one of the key female figures in the Mabinogion. In the Welsh prose, Rhiannon is portrayed as a strong-willed, intelligent, generous and beautiful woman who comes from the Otherworld. The name Rhiannon is thought to be the later Welsh form of the reconstructed Brythonic Celtic name Rigantona, thought to have been an earlier Celtic goddess. The meaning of her name suggests that (like Maeve and Guinevere) Rhiannon was once a sovereignty goddess. Rhiannon was also notably connected with horses. When she is introduced in the First Branch of the Mabinogi, Rhiannon is first seen riding a beautiful white horse. Pwyll, the Prince of Dyfed, sends his best horsemen after her two days, but she always stays ahead of them, even though her horse never goes faster than a trot. Eventually, Pwyll himself goes after her. He, too, cannot catch up with her, and eventually entreats her to stop. When she does so, she chastises him for no doing so earlier, explaining that she arrived in the first place as she had decided to marry him rather than her current betrothed (this supports the ideas of her as a sovereignty goddess who confers leadership through marriage). Pwyll and Rhiannon's son, the hero Pryderi, not only grows at a super-human rate but also shows a remarkable affinity with horses, like his mother.  Some scholars equate Rhiannon, therefore, with the Gaulish horse-goddess Epona (whose name literally meant "horse"). It is interesting to note that Regina (Latin meaning "queen") is often found as an epithet of Epona's.*

Usage:

Like several other mythological Welsh names, Rhiannon was not used as a proper given name until the late 19th century when many Old Welsh names were revived. This was partly thanks to the Victorian love of medievalism and also a rise in Welsh nationalism.  It was very rare in use, and only confined to Wales, but started to see the beginnings of solid use in the early 1900s and boomed in the 1920s.  Birth records for Rhiannon in the England and Wales Birth Index: 1840s: 1850s: 1860s: 1870s: 1880s: 1890s: 1900s: 1910s: 1920s: 1930s: 1940s: 1950s: 1960s: 1970s: 0 births 0 births 1 birth 0 births 0 births 1 birth 11 births 19 births 93 births 140 births 197 births 230 births 403 births 961 births Even up to the late 1960s, Rhiannon was mostly confined solely to Wales, and those in England often had at least one parent with a Welsh surname. The boost in the 1970s⁠—and Rhiannon's wider use outside of Wales thereafter⁠—can be traced to Fleetwood Mac's 1976 song Rhiannon. Writer Stevie Nicks took the name from a character called Rhiannon in Mary Leader's 1973 novel Triad. According to Nicks, it wasn't until after she had written the song that she found out about the mythological Rhiannon and was struck by how well the song fit her story.   Rhiannon first entered the top 100 of England and Wales at #91 in 1994. Although there is no official data to prove it, it is likely that Rhiannon ranked in the top 100 of Wales alone prior to this. For example, in 1997, (according to official data from the ONS) Rhiannon ranked #36 in Wales alone with 88 births, while it was #94 in England. In 1983, however, there were approximately 120 girls born in Wales with the name Rhiannon, and there were around 100 in 1979 (according to the Birth Index) Though Rhiannon was likely popular in Wales much earlier, the early 1990s are distinguishable because popular Welsh names such as Megan, Sian, Bethan and Rhiannon all moved into the top 100 in England, also.  The table below shows the rankings for Rhiannon in England and Wales, Wales (alone) and England (alone). A * indicates that no data is available for that year:   E&W Wales England 1994: 1995: 1996: 1997: 1998: 1999: 2000: 2001: 2002: 2003: 2004: 2005: 2006: 2007: 2008: 2009: 2010: 2011: 2012: 2013: 2014: 2015: 2016: 2017: #91 * #84 #86 #83 #91 #97 #113 #121 #113 #164 #167 #188 #215 #295 #363 #438 #692 #844 #944 #1094 #1088 #1327 #1457 * * * #36 #32 #31 #46 #55 #46 #52  #97 #74 #96 #82 #95 * #101 #208 #242 * #301 #306 #423 #358 * * * #94 #88  #97 #99 #122 #132 #125 #167 #182 #194 #238 #341 * * * * * * * * * As we can see, Rhiannon ranked in the top 100 of Wales up until 2009, seeing a sharp decline in 2011. Currently, Rhiannon remains far more common in Wales than England.  In 2018, Rhiannon ranked #1170 with 29 births in England and Wales.

Famous Bearers:

Contemporary: * Rhiannon Giddens (born 1977), American musician. * Rhiannon Lassiter (born 1977), British writer. * Rhiannon Jeffrey (born 1986), American swimmer. * Rhiannon Roberts (born 1990), Welsh footballer. Literature and Other Media: * Rhiannon, a 1975 Fleetwood Mac song. * The Song of Rhiannon, a 1972 fantasy novel by Evangeline Walton. * The Sword of Rhiannon, a 1942 science fiction novel by Leigh Brackett. * Rhiannon's Ride, a 2004–06 series of novels written by Kate Forsyth. * Rhiannon Marcus, a character on TV's "Party of Five". * Rhiannon Abernathy, a character in film "Easy A". * Rhiannon Bates, a character on Australian soap "Neighbours". Other: 16912 Rhiannon, an asteroid discovered in 1998.

Variants:

Rhianon, Riannon

Pronunciation:

rhee-AN-non (Welsh), ree-AN-nən (English) [key]

Possible  diminutives:

Rhi/Ree, Annie, Ronnie, Non

Sibling Names:

Eleri     Catrin     Bethan     Tamsin     Lowri     Carys  Owen     Lloyd      Emrys     Ioan     Osian     Griffith

Name Lists:

Cosy Celtic    Demi-Gods and Mortals of Mythology

 

If you like Rhiannon you may also like:   Gwenan, Angharad, Branwen, Demelza, Fenella, Olwen, Arianwen, Briallen, Betsan, Aneira

Thanks to Rhiannon for requesting this name.

Name Help: A Sibling for Magnus

 

Gemma is expecting her second child -- gender unknown -- who will be a sibling for Magnus. 

Gemma writes: "Our surname is Scottish so we liked that Magnus has a semi-Scottish connection to match but we are not wedded to that as a concept for #2. I’m not sure I’m ready for hardcore Scottish names though! We would like another name which is well established but not too common. We tend to like strong-sounding names which can be shortened to something more playful. There are quite a few boys’ names which we are considering but are struggling with girls names. I don’t like anything too flowery (with the exception of Poppy) or girly. I tend to gravitate towards girls names with the -die / -ie / -y endings, or at least names whose nicknames have that ending. 

 

Boys names we have considered:

Otto - grandparents vehemently opposed to this due to historic connotations! But we still love it.

Frederick (Freddie/Fred) 

Rudi (but we have a Ru (Ruben)) in the family

Milo (? too soft) 

Ted (but not keen on Edward) 

Caspar 

 

Names we like but can’t use due to friends’/family’s kids:

Felix 

Barney 

Ruben 

Leo 

Hector 

Kit 

 

Girls names we have considered:

Margot (but diminutive too similar to that of Magnus)

Poppy - always loved this but v popular 

Heidi 

Ottilie - but we have an Eti in the family which could get confusing with Otti. 

Joni - but they may end up just being Jo which I’m less keen on

Edie (but not keen on Edith)

Madeleine (Maddy)

Audrey 

 

Names we like but can’t use due to family/friends’ kids:

Zadie / Sadie 

Ruby"

 

 

※    ※    ※    ※

It seems like you have a strong sense of style and a really good idea of which direction you want to go. My suggestions here are simply moulded in the same vein as your options. 

 

Otis – If you love Otto but are facing too much opposition, how about Otto's medieval English brother Otis? It has much the same charm with a dapper style.

Remy – An alternative to Rudi without being too similar to Ru. It ranks in the top 250 in the South of England and has a rising profile. 

Jago – Emulating the stylish -o ending of Otto and Milo, Jago is a cool Celtic form of James. 

Rex – A great compliment to Magnus is both style -- dapper and svelte -- and in meaning -- Magnus means "great, important"; Rex means "king".

Guy – An alternative to Ted which easily stands alone. Guy is an ancient name with medieval and aristocratic heritage, much like Magnus. 

Ralph – Sophisticated yet playful, Ralph has a strong style with oodles of history.

Fraser – A cool clan name which has a Scottish-vibe without being too obvious next to Magnus. 

Rafferty – An Irish surname which has the same bounce and refinement as Frederick. Rafe or Raffy can be used as short forms. 

Lennox – Another stylish Scottish clan name which isn't too "tartan-clad". Lenny or Lex could be used as nicknames. 

Xavier – An erudite name which exudes intelligence but with a quirky charm. 

 

Cora – Feminine but not overly girly, Cora is a name fit for a goddess in a compact package. 

Penelope  – If Poppy feels too popular, how about using Poppy as a nickname for Penelope? Or, of course, there is perky Penny, or even Polly or Nell to choose from. 

Elodie – If Edith isn't your thing, Edie could also be used as a short form for melodic Elodie. 

Eden – Another way to get to Edie is the heavenly Eden which feels sweet without being too girly. 

India – Retaining the same "die" sound you like in Heidi and Edie, India, meaning "river, sea" is an ancient name, which became used as a given name in the 19^th century and used for the character India Wilkes in Gone with the Wind.

Dolcie / Dulcie – Meaning "sweet", Dulcie and Dolcie are names which date back to the Middle Ages and has the 'd-ie' sound you like. 

Daphne – Also sporting the same striking D sound with a light '-ie' ending, Daphne is a sweet but sturdy name with a rising following. 

Adeline – A less-common alternative to Adeline with all the same elegance. 

Marnie – Part Margot, part Maddy, Marnie is a playful flapper-style name which is thought to have begun as a nickname for Marina. 

Pippa – Bouncy Pippa is a perfect alternative to popular Poppy. 

 

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

 

UK Birth Announcements 6/1/20- 12/1/20

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:

Edward Pelham Henry (Frank Lanoe Peter & Finetta Rose Elizabeth)

Felix Leopold Philippe Arthur

Fergus Francis (Matilda Rose)

George James Derek (Amy & Harry)

Griffyn Tai

James John Alexander (half-sibs: Francesca, Arabella & Sophia)

Joshua James

Kit Nicholas William

Lawrence David Hector

Lockie William

Peter Jack

River Nigel John (Harleigh Spencer James)

 

Girls: 

Ariana Siiri

Elisabeth Christine Rose "Tiggy"

Iona Jean Marquis

Isla Anne (Amelia Jane)

Kalliope Nia "Kalli"

Layla

Lily (Grace)

Maggie Elizabeth

Zara Carys

 

 

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: Dexter

Origin:

Dexter is a Latin word meaning "on the right hand, right side" but also "skillfull", "proper" and "favourable". Our words dextrous and dexterity derive from this source. It was used in Biblical Latin to refer "the right hand" (mentioned 166 times) often symbolic in biblical verses for strength. The right hand of God, in particular, represents power, authority and judgement.  The surname Dexter, however, is a variant of Dyster meaning "a dyer". It originates from the Old English deagstre meaning "a female dyer" though the term later was used for men also. Early forms of the surname include Dygestre and Deystere.

Usage:

Dexter appears as a surname from the 13th century and was particularly notable in Essex, Leicester, Suffolk and Warwickshire. One of the earliest examples is of a John and Ralf Dextere in the Friary Rolls of Leicester in 1262. Later we find a William Dexter in the Assize Rolls of Warwick in 1378. As was common, Dexter became used as a given name as a direct adoption of the surname, usually because it was a family surname.  Births in the England and Wales Birth Index: 1840s: 1850s: 1860s: 1870s: 1880s: 1890s: 1900s: 1910s: 1920s: 1930s: 1940s: 1950s: 1960s: 1970s: 1 birth 3 births 3 births 5 births 3 births 4 births 5 births 9 births 11 births 14 births 35 births 56 births 126 births 125 births As we can see, Dexter was rare as a given name in the 19th century but picked up in the early 20th century. There was a noticeable jump in 1957 when Dexter went from an average of three births from 1950-1955 to 20 alone in 1957. The most likely impetus for this was the release of the film High Society in 1956 featuring Bing Crosby in the main role of C. K. Dexter Haven "Dex". This was a musical remake of the 1940 film The Philadelphia Story in which C. K. Dexter Haven "Dex" was portrayed by Cary Grant. High Society also had a significant impact on the name Tracy for girls at this time and helped boost the name Samantha.  From 1996 to 2004, Dexter ranked just above the top 500 in England and Wales in moderate use. In the space of five years, however, Dexter had not only moved up to #295 (109 births) from #408 in 2005 but had rocketed into the top 100 at #98 (676 births) by 2010.  A few things in popular culture may have helped this swift rise. Firstly, the Cartoon Network's popular children's animation Dexter's Laboratory was produced from 1995 to 2003 and was shown in reruns in Britain afterwards as well. From 2006 to 2013, we also had the Emmy award-winning American crime drama Dexter which, in 2013, The Guardian described as "one of most talked-about television programmes of the past decade."  In 2009, the year before it entered the top 100, singer Charlotte Church and rugby player Gavin Henson welcomed their son Dexter Lloyd Henson. Throughout the year, the Henson family were featured several times on the front pages of British magazines such as OK and Hello.  Initially, from 2010-2012, Dexter was more common in England than in Wales. However, at Dexter's combined peak of #63 (1019 births) in 2013, Dexter individually ranked at #44 in Wales and #64 in England.  In 2018, Dexter ranked at #95 (676 births) in England and Wales—#87 in Wales and #95 in England individually.  In Scotland, Dexter also saw a marked rise from 2008 onwards, however, it has never managed to break into the Scottish top 100. It peaked at #160 (36 births) in 2012 but has since declined. In 2018, Dexter ranked at #288 (13 births) in Scotland.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Dexter Horton (1825–1904), founder of the first bank in Seattle. * Dexter Curtis (1828-1898), American inventor and politician. * Dexter M. Ferry (1833–1907), American businessman. * Dexter Gordon (1923–1990), American jazz tenor saxophonist. Contemporary: * Dexter Brown (born 1942), British painter. * Dexter Fletcher (born 1966), British actor. * Dexter Blackstock (born 1986), English football player. * Dexter Fowler (born 1986), American baseball player. * Dexter Roberts (born 1991), American country music singer. Literature and Other Media: * C.K. Dexter Haven "Dex", a main character in the 1939 play and 1940 film The Philadelphia Story. * Dexter Morgan, a fictional serial vigilante and blood spatter analyst created by writer Jeff Lindsay. * Dexter "Dex" Barrington, a character in The Country Bears. * Dexter Walker, a character in the Australian TV soap opera Home and Away (2009-2013). * Dexter Mulholland, a character from EastEnders (2009). * Dexter Hartman, a character from EastEnders (2013-2015). * Dexter, the main character from Dexter's Laboratory.

Variants:

Dex

Pronunciation:

DEK-stə [key]

Possible diminutives:

Dex, Dec

Sibling Names:

Luna     Delilah     Thea     Margot     Robyn     Eloise Elliot     Zachary     Ezra     Rowan     Blake     Finn

Name Lists:

Lively Lads

 

If you like Dexter you may also like:   Wyatt, Layton, Fletcher, Rex, Rhys, Archer, Jasper, Milo, Roman, Sonny

Thanks to Amy for requesting this name.  

 

UK Birth Announcements 23/12/19 - 5/1/20

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:

Aaron James (Daniel & Emma)

Alfie Randolf Roy

Calvin Derek Alexander

Ezra Thomas Paul (Isaac Joseph Paul)

Finnbar Parker

George Leo (Henry James)

Oscar Richard

Sam Harry William

Samuel Alasdhair Thomas

Sullivan "Sully"

Teddy Hunter

Wilbur George (Oscar Henry)

William Percival Harvey

 

Girls: 

Annie Jane

Aria Alicia Prem Kaur

Brooke Beth (Harvey Alex)

Cressida Molly Muriel

Dorothy Jane Rosetta

Eliza Kate (Alfred James)

Henrietta Elizabeth Maria "Etta" (Samuel Lewis Dawson "Sam" & Alice Maria Lucy)

Lily Grace (Harry Edward Walter & Felix Charles George)

Lyla Diana Helen (Jasper William David)

Margot Grace Isobel (Beatrice June de Galleani & Cecily Rose Elizabeth)

Matilda Laura

Serena Venetia Charlotte

Willow Rose

 

Twins:

Zoey & Zara (Erin)

 

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: Lucy

Origin:

Lucy is the anglicised form of Lucia, the feminine form of the Roman praenomen Lucius.  Both Lucia and Lucius are derived from the Latin lux meaning "of light".

Usage:

Lucius was one of the three most common praenomina in the Roman world, and, as such, Lucia was also abundant in antiquity.  Lucia of Syracuse (283–304), known as Saint Lucy or Saint Lucia, was a Christian martyr who died during the reign of Diocletian. She is one of eight women, including the Virgin Mary, explicitly commemorated by Roman Catholics in the Canon of the Mass. Her traditional feast day on 13th December is still widely observed across Europe. As her feast once coincided with the Winter Solstice, so St Lucia's Day has become a festival of light.  It is mostly thanks to Saint Lucia that her name became so prevalent in the Middle Ages. Lucia itself later became the Italian, Spanish, German and Portuguese form of the name. In Britain, Lucia was used in Latin records but women were known by the vernacular form Luce, Lucy and Lucie. The surnames Luce, Lucy and Lucey derive from this source.  By the 14th century, Redmonds calculates that Lucy was #28 for women living in 1377-81 amongst ten English counties which puts it in moderate use.  Smith Bannister's rank of top 50 names from 1538 to 1700 in England shows that Lucy was in consistent moderate use: 1538-49: #30; 1550-9: #33; 1560-9: #45; 1570-9: #25; 1580-9: #42; 1590-9: #29; 1600-9: #29; 1610-9: #44; 1620-9: #41; 1630-9: #45; 1640-9: --; 1650-9: #31; 1660-9: #43; 1670-9: #33; 1680-9: #46; 1690-1700: #46.  Dunkling puts Lucy at #36 in 1700 and #22 in 1800. The Latinised form Lucia came into its own usage in the 16th century alongside the elaborated form Lucinda.  The name remained at top 30 staple right up to the mid-19th century. It was in the top 100 of England and Wales up until 1924, falling below until it triumphantly returned in the 1970s.  Records for Lucy from the England and Wales Birth Index: 1840: 1850:  1860:  1870:  1880:  1890: 1900: 1904: 1914: 1924: 1934: 1944: 1954: 1964: 1974: 1984: 1994: #27 #24 #25 #28 #36 #45 #48 #50 #61 #92 __ __ __ __ #38 #24 #13 In England and Wales, Lucy ranked in the top 20 from the early 1990s, reaching the top 10 by 2001 where it stayed for six years. It peaked in births in 1998 when it ranked #10 with 4515 births.   Lucy declined in usage from 2010 onward. In 2018, Lucy ranked #61 with 910 births in England and Wales. In Scotland, Lucy was later to catch on, but it has seen a longer period in the top 10 than in England and Wales. Lucy reached the top 100 of Scotland in 1979 and the top 50 in 1993.  Lucy first reached the Scottish top 10 in 2003 where it remained for fourteen years until 2016.  In 2018, Lucy ranked #14 in Scotland with 221 births.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Lucy Barnes (1780-1809), American writer. * Lucy Clementina Davies (1795-1879), British writer. * Lucy Hooper (1816–1841), American poet. * Lucy Atkinson (1817-1893), British explorer. * Lucy Stone (1818–1893), American activist. * Lucy Larcom (1824–1893), American teacher, poet, author. * Lucy Virginia French (1825-1881), American author. * Lucy Hayes (1831–1889), First Lady of the United States. * Lucy Hamilton Hooper (1835–1893), American poet, journalist, editor, playwright. * Lucy Hall Washington (1835–1913), American poet and social reformer. * Lucy Morris Chaffee Alden (1836-1912), American author, educator, hymnwriter. * Lucy M. Hall (1843-1907), American physician and writer. * Lucy Wheelock (1857-1946), American educator and writer. * Lucy Burns (1879–1966), American suffragist and women's rights advocate. Contemporary: * Lucy Fisher (born 1949), American film producer. * Lucy Turnbull (born 1958), Australian businesswoman, philanthropist, former local government politician, and former First Lady of Australia. * Lucy Lawless (born 1968), New Zealand actress and singer. * Lucy Liu (born 1968), American actress. * Lucy Alexander (born 1971), British television presenter. * Lucy Davis (born 1973), British actress. * Lucy Worsley (born 1973), British historian. * Lucy Punch (born 1977), British actress. * Lucy Boynton (born 1994), British actress.  * Lucy Fallon (born 1995), British actress. Literature and Other Media: * Lucy Pevensie, a character in the Chronicles of Narnia book series and the film series adaptation. * Lucy Steele, a character in Sense and Sensibility (1811) by Jane Austen. * Lucy Honeychurch, the protagonist of A Room with a View (1908) by E.M. Forster. * Lucy Westenra, a character in the novel Dracula (1897) by Bram Stoker. * Lucy Snowe, the heroine of Villette (1853) by Charlotte Brontë. * Lucy van Pelt, a character in the Peanuts cartoon series and broader franchise. * Lucy Ricardo, the star character of I Love Lucy. * "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by the Beatles.

Variants:

Lucie (French), Lucia (Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Romanian, Slovak), Lleucu, Liwsi (Welsh), Liusaidh (Gaelic)

Pronunciation:

LOO-see [key]

Possible  diminutives:

Lu, Luce

Sibling Names:

Emma     Charlotte     Grace     Alice     Emily     Sophie       Jack     Harry     Thomas     James     Daniel     Samuel

Name Lists:

Medieval Favourites   Gorgeously Georgian   Victorian Darlings   Austen Names   Enid Blyton Names

 

If you like Lucy you may also like:   Rose, Amy, Eliza, Phoebe, Isabel, Lydia, Clara, Sadie, Eve, Harriet

Thanks to Andrea for requesting this name.

Name Help: A Sibling for Tabitha

 

Jessica is expecting her second child -- gender unknown -- who will be a sibling for Tabitha. 

Jessica writes: "I was so utterly convinced she was a boy when I was pregnant that I barely considered girls names, but had in the back of my mind that I would name her Honor, since it's my favourite girls' name of all time! However, I have a (distant) teenage cousin named Honor, and I asked her mum if she'd mind if I called my daughter Honor after she was born, and got a pretty negative response, so sadly couldn't use it! So then I was totally stumped. My husband has always loved Tabitha, so in the end I agreed to it, mainly because I had major newborn baby fog and couldn't think of a name I preferred! 

 

Here are names we've been considering: 

 

Girls: 

 

Layla - I love this, but not sure if it's too popular at the moment 

Lilah - similar to Layla (and prefer Layla I think) but again is it too popular...

Laetitia - this is my middle name (I am Jessica May Laetitia) and has been in my family for hundreds of years. I love it, and love Lettie for short, but not sure if it's a bit 'out there' for a first name. Would definitely like it as a second name though if not a first. 

Primrose - I think this is so sweet and love the alliteration of Primrose P(surname). My husband doesn't like as a first name, so would have to be a second name

Honor - so sad I can't use it, but just love the name!

Thea - think this is sweet, but not sure it goes very well with Tabitha 

Sadie - I like but husband hates!

Mia - again I like, husband not so keen

 

Boys: 

 

Robin: my husband's front runner after his grandfather, I like it, but not 100% sure

Rowan: This has really grown on me, but not sure if it's a temporary love affair! I like 'Ro' for short 

Rudy: I like this but husband doesn't!

Wilfrid: after my grandfather, we both like it for a second name

Lewis: My mother in law's maiden name is Lewis, and I like the idea of having this as a middle name 

Louis: Sweet name, worry it'll be too popular now though

Richard: SO traditional, don't like Richard itself but love all the shortenings - Rich, Richie etc.

Dexter: I like, my husband thinks too fashionable 

Ludo: I considered this for a time and like it as a name, but think it's a bit out there for me and my husband!

Quentin: I think this is a fab name, but my husband doesn't like it!

 

I’d err on the more traditional side for a boy, and for a girl, would be prepared to go a bit more quirky and would like it to sound pretty and feminine (but of course so difficult to define and horses for courses when it comes to prettiness of names!) I would tend to avoid names obviously from another language, eg Amélie with its accented e. I’m also not really into most of the old fashioned names that are now popular, like Mabel and Martha (although having said that I do like Stella and Edie, though my husband doesn’t!) I seem to lean towards ‘L’ sounds in girls names - I like Layla, Lilah, Laetitia etc. 

 

I’m not so bothered if the name appears in the top 50 names or whatever (although wouldn’t want a top 20 name I don’t think) more want to avoid what I experienced as the popular names of my youth (which I consider a bit boring) e.g. Emily, Emma, Kate, Sarah. Would also like to avoid fashionable ‘of the moment’ names, for example, I now know 3 baby Lunas, and think the name will date quickly. Ditto Ottilie, which is a shame as I adore the name!

 

 

※    ※    ※    ※

Firstly, I'd like to say that I think poetic, Arabic Layla makes a great compliment to Tabitha. In terms of popularity, Layla ranked at #44 in England and Wales in 2018 and is by far the most popular form of the name. Leila ranked at #221, Laila at #256 and Leyla at #440 which, when all its variants are combined, would put Layla et al at around the #25 mark. This is a decline from 2015 and Layla alone peaked at #29 in 2012, so I don't think we are going to see more of an increase of the name in coming years. 

For boys, I can absolutely see the appeal of Robin Wilfrid to honour two grandfathers. Though only just in the top 200, Robin is on the upswing at the moment and currently enjoying a quirky-cool revival alongside the likes of Chester, Vinnie and Ralph. This year, Strictly contestant Chris Ramsey showed how well the name wears for a child when the show featured footage of his 6-year-old son, Robin. 

 

Felix – As dapper as Quentin combined with the stylish zip of Dexter. It's historic without feeling uber-traditional. 

Flynn – A slick and dashing name which can be a nod to Robin given that the most famous portrayal of Robin Hood was Hollywood actor Errol Flynn. 

Hugo – Sharing the same quirky style as Ludo and Rudy but more mainstream at #53. 

Jasper – Part Dexter, part Robin, Jasper is an affable choice with a great meaning. 

Leon – Sleek and strong, Leon is the stylish bridge between super-popular Leo and traditional Leonard. Its leonine meaning is also appealing.  

Milo / Miles – Both Milo and Miles have historic heritage with a modern and personable style.

Rex – If you love the sound of Dexter but it feels too trendy, perhaps kingly Rex will strike the perfect chord?

Roman – An urbane sound-alternative to Rowan, this sleek choice has been borne by kings, emperors, philosophers and more. 

Reuben – A sound-alike alternative to Robin, Reuben is a distinguished Biblical name which has a friendly and sprightly feel. 

Rupert – A more formal alternative to Rudy which is both suave and friendly. 

 

Aurelia – A feminine and lyrical name with a beautiful meaning. 

Delilah – When all the spellings of Lilah (Lyla, Lila etc) are added together, it ranks around the #50 mark. Delilah, at #90, is a fashionable alternative with Lilah as an optional nickname. It also shares Tabitha's Biblical heritage.

Elodie – Combining the sounds of Sadie, Honor and Layla, Elodie is a melodic French name which ranks at #143. As a bonus, you could use Edie as a nickname. 

Estelle / Estella – Meaning "star" both Estelle and Estella have a pretty and mellifluous sound. You could also use Lettie as a nickname, especially if Laetitia is used as a middle name. 

Felicity – Meaning "joy, happiness", Felicity is another bouncy name which Lettie could be used as a nickname. 

Lilia / Liliana – Romantic forms of traditional Lilian. Lila could be used as a nickname for either 

Lyra – Celestial Lyra makes a great, less-common (at #142) alternative to Layla and Lilah whilst packing the same lyrical punch. 

Ophelia – A romantic Shakespearean name which makes a great sound-alike alternative to Laetitia and Primrose. At #161, 

Orla – Sharing similar sounds to Honor, Orla (meaning "golden princess" in Old Irish) is a sweet and stylish name which is familiar but not too common. 

Polly – Primrose and Sadie meet in the middle in sweet Polly which feels upbeat and not at all fusty despite its old-time style. Alternatively, Polly can be used as a short form for Paloma, Penelope or Ophelia. 

 

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

 

Most Popular Names in The Telegraph 2019

 

 

Here is the tally for the most popular names announced in The Telegraph in 2019, according to the Telegraph Announcements online database. 

Edward maintained it's #1 rank for the fourth year running, with Henry and Arthur still in second and third place.
For girls, Ottilie moved from #2 in 2018 to #1 in 2019. 

In a surprise fall, Margot has gone from first place in 2018 to joint 27th in 2019. 

Daisy, Nancy, Wilbur and Hector have made significant gains since 2018. 

 

In total 305 boys' births and 255 girls' births were announced between January 1st 2019 - December 31st 2019 (a sadly decreasing number every year). I have added variant spellings together for these rankings, an individual breakdown of which is underneath the ranking table. 

 

The top 50 most popular Telegraph names of 2019, with their number count, are as follows:

Boys' Names			.	Girls' Names
1 2 3 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 15 15 15 15 15 15 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38	Edward Henry Arthur George William Alexander Alfred Charles Frederick Harry Hector Maximilian Thomas Wilbur Felix Finn Louis Milo Rufus Sebastian Bertram Hugh Hugo Jack James John Leo Max Noah Oliver Oscar Percy Rafferty Robert Samuel Theodore Wilfred Albert Augustus Benjamin Bertie Caspar Freddie Isaac Joshua Leander Nicholas Patrick Rafael Rafe Rory Rowan Rupert Sam Stanley Teddy Theo Toby	14 12 10 8 8 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2		1 2 3 4 4 4 7 7 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27	Ottilie Florence Daisy Alice Isabella Nancy Eliza Poppy Beatrice Cecily Constance India Matilda Ophelia Theodora Amelia Elodie Emily* Eva Flora Iona Katherine* Kitty Rose Stella Sophia* Agatha Arabella Charlotte Clara Daphne Emilia Evelyn Georgiana Grace Harriet Imogen Iris Isla Lola Lyla Margot Martha Mary Mia Molly Orla Penelope Phoebe Scarlett Sienna* Willow Zara	9 8 7 6 6 6 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

* Emily: 2/Emili: 2, Katherine: 2/Catherine: 1, Sienna: 1/Siena: 1, Sophia: 2/Sofia: 1

 

The 20 most popular middle names (including second, third and fourth names) were as follows: 

Boys			.	Girls
1 2 3 4 5 5 5 8 8 10 10 12 12 14 14 14 17 17 17 20 20 20 20	James William Charles George Arthur Frederick John David Michael Henry Richard Alexander Peter Christopher Edward Patrick Andrew Anthony Robert Francis Hugh Louis Oliver	23 21 17 13 12 12 12 10 10 9 9 8 8 6 6 6 5 5 5 4 4 4 4		1 2 3 3 5 6 6 6 6 10 10 10 10 10 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15	Rose Elizabeth Ja(y)ne Florence Grace C/Katherine Charlotte Mary Olivia Annabel Beatrice Diana Margaret Nancy Agnes Ann/e Caroline Cla(i)re Frances Iris Isabel/le Joy Lily Maria Sarah	27 26 10 10 9 6 6 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

 Statistics compiled by Eleanor Nickerson at britishbabynames.com
from data provided by telegraph.co.uk