Amelia is expecting her second child -- gender unknown -- who will be a sibling for her big sister Adelaide.
Amelia writes: "We like the names Frederick, Edward, Sebastian. If Adelaide was a boy she would have been Rafferty but we have since had friends use this name.
Other contenders for Adelaide were Margot (shortened to Maggie) which we still love but a friend called their daughter Margot, so we are possibly thinking Magnolia but is this less classic?
Other girls names we like are Henrietta, Verity, Genevieve, Beatrice, Elizabeth (but this is our daughters middle name).
We like longer traditional sounding names that can be shortened. Adelaide gets shortened to Addie or Ada."
※ ※ ※ ※
What I love about Adelaide is that it an elegant royal name that is both classic and quirky. From its medieval roots and noble meaning -- the eldest daughter of William the Conqueror was named Adeliza / Adelida / Adelidis / Adelaide (spelling wasn't fixed at this time) -- up to its Regency and Victorian era vibe bolstered by charitable Queen Adelaide.
Personally, I think Magnolia is a beautiful way to get to Maggie. Other options include Magdalene, Magdalena, Marigold and Magda.
Annabel – The medieval Scottish form of Amabel (from the Latin amabilis "lovable") which feels chic and ladylike. The poem Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe gives the name a literary edge.
Aurelia – A lovely lyrical Latin Aurelia has the fabulous meaning of "golden" and is connected to the Roman elite.
Cecily – A medieval powerhouse that English princesses answered to starting with a daughter of William the Conqueror. It was used by Oscar Wilde in The Importance of Being Earnest lending it a Victorian literary vibe.
Constance – Another of William's daughters answered to this sweet and steady name as well as many other royal women, including the reigning rulers of Sicily and Antioch.
Eloise – Like Adelaide, Eloise's origins are ancient Germanic via Norman French. It became famous thanks to a renowned romance and it still retains its romantic qualities today. Ellie
Elspeth – A twist on traditional Elizabeth but just as classic. Elspeth is actually the source of Elsie but Ellie and Eppie also work.
Emmeline – Just like Adelaide, Emmeline is a flowing, elegant name with medieval roots and a darling Victorian-era style.
Evangeline / Evelina – Evangeline is a gorgeous literary name, penned by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow for the heroine of his poem Evangeline (1847) and made famous by the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Evelina shares Adelaide's philological journey (Germanic → Norman) and is a relative of Ava.
Helena – From Empress Helena, the revered and canonised mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, to the daughter of a mythical king of Britain, and later Princess Helena, daughter of Queen Victoria. There is plenty of regal namesakes for Helena. Nell or Lena make for sleek nicknames.
Lilian – A medieval pet form of queenly Elizabeth that is now classic all in its own right. Lily or Lila could be short forms.
Marina – An epithet of Venus and a Shakespearean heroine. Princess Marina of Greece became a darling of the public in 1934 and there was a spate of little Marinas named after the glamorous princess. Mari, Marnie, Mina or Minnie could be used as a nickname.
Theodora – A stately name with ancient pedigree borne by several Byzantine empresses and Edwardian princesses (a sister of Prince Philip was Theodora).
Virginia - Borne from royalty thanks to Queen Elizabeth I. Ginny, Vinny, Vera could be used as nicknames, or if you are feeling uber-cool, Virgo.
Vivienne –The sleek French form of the Latin Viviana, ultimately from the Latin word for "alive".Viviane is the name of the Lady of the Lake in Arthurian legend which likely comes from an ancient Celtic name. Tennyson used the spelling Vivien for his poem 'Vivien' (1859) as the name of the enchantress who captured Merlin.
Alistair – A stately twist on Alexander which lends itself nicely to upbeat Alic.
Barnaby – Quintessentially English, Barnaby is the medieval anglicised version of Biblical Barnabas which became known around the country thanks to the Saint. It's quaint Victorian vibe comes thanks to Dickens.
Cedric – A literary name created by Sir Walter Scott for his novel Ivanhoe (1819) based on a similar ancient Celtic name. While retaining its Victorian style, Cedric has been given a modern literary image thanks to heroic Cedric Diggory.
Douglas – Friendly, charming and unexpected, Douglas has an old-time appeal that works well amongst today's Archies, Stanleys and Chesters while still standing out.
Franklin – Another 'fits in but still stands out' name. Franklin has ancient roots right back to the estimable Frank tribe and has a literary link thanks to Chaucer's The Franklin's Tale.
Gabriel – Similar in style to Sebastian, Gabriel is a stylish, urbane name that has royal links and heavenly associations.
Laurence – Just like Sebastian, Laurence comes from an ancient place name and, thanks to its meaning of "laurel" is connected with victory. Suave Laurence Olivier epitomises the name.
Magnus – With Roman and Norse links, Magnus has a wealth of history and even royal credentials. Gus, Mags, Mack or Max can all be used as short forms.
Matthias – Kings and emperors have answered to this Latin form of Matthew which feels chic and interesting while still being familiar.
Maximilian / Maxwell – Maximilian has been used since the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I (1456-1519) and was well used within royal houses after. Maxwell comes from Scotland meaning "Mack's (aka Magnus) stream"
Nathaniel – A sleek and sophisticated Biblical name, sitting between Frederick and Rafferty in terms of style. Nathaniel can also boast literary roots thanks to Shakespeare and Dickens.
Tobias – The longer, original Greek and Latin form of Toby which has plenty of old-school charm.
Wilbur – With Anglo-Saxon roots, Wilbur has both engineering and literary pedigree thanks to Wilbur Wright and Wilbur Smith.
Wilfred – A stylish Anglo-Saxon name with literary roots and Victorian vibes.
I hope this has been of use. Best luck with finding the perfect name.
UPDATE: Welcome, Beatrix!
