British Baby Names

'Twas Ever Thus: Fanciful Flapper Names

 

 

The article below, published on Friday 16 April 1926 in the Diss Express, is a typical look at "crazy" baby names. Nowadays, such articles often add "celebrity" in the title as well, but very little in the tone of the article has changed. 

Freak Christian Names   Of the fifty or sixty Christian names in common use in this country more than a half are reputed to have some religious, meaning. Yet nowadays, although baptism is a religious ceremony, names are bestowed without any regard for their meanings.    Not long ago a Leeds publican with the three Christian names, Baron Roth Child, bequeathed legacies to a brother who had been christened General Roberts, and sister named Princess Beatrice.    Sanger, of circus fame, who was christened Lord George, found his name very useful in business, but whether the numerous children who ten years ago were given such Christian names Kitchener, Jellicoe, and Anzac, will be grateful to their parents is doubtful.    A William Smith, who was known as the “Sausage King Smithfield,” settled the problem of finding names for his three sons calling them William No. 1, William No. 2, and William No. 3 respectively.    There is a well-known story of boy who, on stating that his name was Shadrach Nebuchadnezzar Zoots, was asked who gave him such names. His vehement reply that he didn’t know, but that if he ever found out somebody would be sorry for it, must have been echoed by many unfortunate bearers of freak names.    Some years ago a correspondent of “The Daily Chronicle” vouched the authenticity of the following Christian names: “Shadrach Swaddling Pontius Pilate”; “Mahershalalhasbaz”; “Nimrod”; “Hyena”; and “Charles Caractus Ostorius Maximilian Gustavus Adolphus.”    A rag-and-bone merchant of Norwich whose name by a coincidence was Bone,” became the proud father of a daughter, and in his exuberance he gave her the name “Shelomith Bathsheba Adora.” There are children who suffer because their parents at baptism perpetuated upon the defenceless babies the names of respected aunts Tabitha, Matilda, Georgiana, or Jemima, or of revered uncles Obadiah, Zachary, or Algernon.    The strangest set of Christian names was surely that reputed to be possessed by the daughter of a laundryman named Pepper! She was said have been christened alphabetically: Ann Bertha Cecilia Diana Emily Fanny Gertrude Hypatia Inez June Kate Louisa Maud Norah Ophelia Patricia Quince Rebecca Starkey Teresa Ulysses Venus Winifred Xenophon Yeni Zeus! Diss Express 16 April 1926

The Diss Express is a Norfolk newspaper so many of the reputed cases are in and around Norfolk and its county city Norwich.

It is worth noting that Norfolk was (and still is in many parts) very rural and spread out with a once largely illiterate farming communities who mostly had church sermons to use for name inspiration. Norfolk has more medieval churches and pubs than any other British county -- An interesting combination! There was a famous phrase that Norwich had a Church for every week of the year and a pub for every day of the year. The likes of Bathsheba, Shadrach, Mathusela etc were not without historic precedence since the 16th century in Norfolk.

 

 

'Twas Ever Thus: Naming from an Edwardian Woman's Perspective

 

In the early 20th century, The Bystander published a series of articles entitled "The World of Women" written by a woman under the nom de plume Calpurnia with a decided feminist outlook. The header prefacing the articles speak for themselves. 

The article below, published on Wednesday 24 August 1904, discusses fashions in names, how they shift in generations, and the (all too modern sounding) dilemma of naming with a partner. 

On Christian Names I went to see a friend the other day who was puzzling her brains to find a name for a small daughter who had just come into the world. If it had been left entirely to her she would not have had much difficulty, but she was blessed with a husband— a gentleman whom I do not like and invariably escape if possible — and her husband was troubled with ideas which made the choosing of a name a matter of some difficulty. In the first place, he refused to have any of his children called after anybody else. No reason was given for this remarkable fad. "John didn't like it," and there was nothing more to be said. I suggested "Mary," which I think is the most beautiful of women's names, but "John says that sounds like servants'," was the objection here, and John being the sort of snob indicated by that remark — all the simple, old-fashioned English names were barred out. "Well, what sort of name does John like I asked. He would like to call baby Theodora,' said my friend he says it means the gift of God."' "Then why doesn't he?" I asked. Because he says all the children are gifts of God," was the reply, "and it wouldn't be fair to give the name to this one only." This objection seemed to me so fatuous that I refrained from offering any further suggestions, and the child was eventually christened "Yseult," a charming name in itself, but not one that goes well with the surname of Diggle, which was John's patronymic — or something like it. Girls' Names I wonder if my readers have ever noticed how names, especially women's names, go in generations. Our grandmothers were called Anne, and Emma, and Susan, and Ellen our mothers Adelaide, Louisa, Henrietta, Caroline our own con temporaries--I am speaking of women in middle-age are Winifreds, Hildas, Ethels, and Muriels; our daughters are mostly Dorothys, Dorises, Veras, and Sheilas while for the little grandchildren who are beginning to appear on the scene, we are getting back again to the old-fashioned names of Betty, Nancy, Joan, and the like. To say that one prefers the names that are being conferred on the rising generation is nothing more than to acknowledge one's self influenced by the current fashion, but the taste does rest on a worthy love of simplicity and directness, old English virtues, which the fancy collection of names of the Yolande variety does not. I think that the taste will go further still, and we shall get back to Elizabeth, Sarah, and Anne again. We may leave it to people of the habit of mind of my friend's husband to object to these names, because they sound like servants'." All the servants will be christened Victoria by that time. Boys' Names Boys' names do not seem to exhibit the same change as those of girls. There always have been, and always will be, plenty of Johns, Edwards, Williams, Richards, and Roberts. I have the greatest objection personally to christening boys with fancy names, however allowable it may be in the case of girls. But, perhaps, this is only a fad, as foolish as John's objection to naming children after somebody else. It is curious to notice how many men's names come out of the Bible. All the Bible names of men are far more used than those of women but here is another curious fact, that all the names used to-day are those of good men those of the questionable characters are seldom, if ever, copied. 'Jude' is sometimes found, but Judas never. There have been plenty of Abels, but no Cains, and nobody has ever heard of an Ahab or a Balaam, or a Naboth or a Pilate. The Bystander 24 August 1904

 

'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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'Twas Ever Thus: The trouble with "famous" names

 

The following article appear in The Spectator Magazine on 2nd July 1864. I found the same article in many redacted forms across numerous local newspapers over the succeeding two weeks. 

The article discusses some of the more "outlandish" naming practices among Victorian parents, but particularly pays attention to the (what the author sees as) trouble with naming your child after a famous person. 

BABIES' NAMES THE earnest little discussion which arises in a new nursery as to "dear baby's name seems a little absurd to outsiders, but the instinct of mothers is right. The baby will not be Lord High Chancellor or an Archbishop, as mamma and nurse think so probable, but through life one of the most direct influences bearing upon his fortunes will be his name. It is almost a quality which his mother gives him, something which may smooth his path like a new faculty, or retard it like some physical want or bodily deformity. So great is its influence that it seems a little hard the parent should have so despotic a power, that the child himself should not, say at fifteen, have the right to insist if he sees fit upon a legal rechristening. He must accept the family cognomen like any other decree of Fate, and consent, to be Sim for the same reason that he consents to be red-haired. But he need not be Sardanapalus Sim any more than he need have his eyebrows shaved, and it is a little unjust that a Byron-struck mother should have the right to inflict such a deformity. We do not allow a mother to tattoo a child, or burn letters upon its forehead, or snip bits off an already snub nose, and why should she be permitted to brand her child still more effectually, burden his life with a name like Adonijah, or Alietta Mehetabal Chinnery Stubbs, or Susannah Marianna Moneybuckle Clayton, all real names of to-day, or render it ridiculous by calling him,—we know the man,—Noah's Ark Hodgson? The mother would be hooted if she deliberately bred her son as a scamp, yet she may call him Jerry,—or taught him to be a sneak, yet she can compel all men to call him Uriah. It is very hard, and in that coming time when the dignity of humanity is fully appreciated, we expect to hear of a revolt of universal childhood in favour of extending that dearly loved privilege of babies, "doing things one's ownself," to the right of rechristening. Mothers, however, are usually pretty sensitive to ridicule, and horrible names are consequently growing less common ; but still there is a want of principle in the matter, a need of a nursery law to which the injudicious, or the weak, or the over-political may at a pinch appeal. Women are imaginative, and apt to fall under the influence of novels and superstition, leading to names like Zanoni Tompkins, and Mephibosheth Britain ; and fathers are disposed to name their children not with any reference to their comfort, but to advertise their own connections, or convictions, or, worse than all, admirations. Whether any man ever really called his son Acts because "he'd used up the Evangelists, and wanted to compliment the Apostles a bit," may reasonably be doubted, but the habit of "complimenting" the great by using their names is very widely diffused. Percy at one time because so common as to be regularly admitted into the list of "Christian names," and Victor will from this year be added to that very limited repertoire. There must be scores of children by this time all ticketed Garibaldi, a process equivalent to branding a date on their foreheads, and it is lucky for the next generation of girls that the Princess's name is an old one, for if it had been Caesarea or Napoleona they would have borne it none the less. So long as the name is generic mere ugliness does not greatly matter to the child, but a name given from admiration is almost always peculiar, and if the original wearer were widely known it is difficult to inflict on a child a deeper injury. It puts him throughout his whole life out of gear with his associations, dislocates the idea of the man from the idea of his name till the mere mention of him excites a smile. If his career is utterly unlike that of his namesake there is a sense of dissonance, if it resembles it there is the impression of inferiority. Nothing could be worse for a rising general than to be named Napoleon, yet the title would sound as ridiculous if attached to a white-faced curate. In most instances the secret idea of the unlucky man would be to live up to his name, to be Mirabeau Stubbs the Revolutionist, an idea sure to spoil his life ; but even if it worked the other way, half his energy would be exhausted in merely getting rid of his burden. There is or was a very respectable shoemaker in Norwich to whom his father, a free-thinker like most cobblers, gave the names of Voltaire Paine Smith. Smith grew up a meek, godly Sunday- school teacher, with no brains, and his name would have proved a serious embarrassment to his piety but that his neighbours fortunately for his repute in class meeting could not pronounce it. They called him in their ignorance Vulture Smith, and the poor man complained with tears in his eyes that he, best meaning of imbecile mortals, was universally believed to have earned a nickname by cruel usury. "Napoleon Price" of Bond Street, we suspect, has found his name worth an annuity, for nobody can forget his advertisements, from the absurd contrast between the ideas suggested by the conqueror's name and the hair oil his namesake sells, but in private life it must be a very considerable bore. There is the poor man who died this week so suddenly at the St. Pancras meeting, Mr. Washington Wilks. He was, we believe, a decidedly intelligent man, very earnest in his somewhat advanced opinions, and a very good speaker, but if he had been an orator beyond compare he never could have lived down his name. Somehow the treble relation called up by it, the remembrance of Washington and of Wilkes, and of the difference between the two, and the sense of the contrast between both and a vestry agitator, was too strong for common sense or kindliness. We heard a very good-natured man remark on the catastrophe, "natural for such a name to die of a public meeting," and probably except among those who knew him there was not one who could quite escape the sense of incongruity between the horror of the event and the effect of the sufferer's name, and all incongruity is grotesque. Byron Brown may be a most respectable man, but nobody will ever believe in his verses, and Demosthenes Jones had better follow any trade than that of a public speaker. The mothers may rest assured that of all the mistakes they can make, that of giving their babies names which suggest to all men distinct associations, calling their boys Gracchus or their daughters Semiramis, is the very worst. There is some reason for the growing dislike to the twelve or fifteen names once called distinctively Christian, probably because they have no relation whatever to Christianity,—for the use of a name is to ensure distinctiveness, and when whole clans are named Henry, distinctiveness is not attained. But if they want a new list let them shun the conquerors, and poets, and politicians, and agitators, and ancient Hebrews, and either employ a surname,—the use of the mother's surname as the eldest son's praenomen is a blameless and useful custom, and very "aristocratic,"—or revert to the old Saxon reservoir now so liberally drawn upon for girls, but still neglected for boys' names.                                                               The Spectator                                                                  2 July 1864

 

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I find this article especially interesting given this request to Babynames.com a few days ago (link found via Clare's wonderful scoop.it site) asking to remove Donald Trump from the entry of the name Donald due to his being "too controversial of a figure." It really does show that there is nothing new under the sun when it comes to naming issues.

'Twas ever thus indeed!

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'Twas Ever Thus: Victorian Name Poems

 

The following two articles appeared in the Leicester Chronicle. The first on Saturday 18 February, 1893 and the second on Saturday 12 February, 1898.  

NAMING THE BABY We searched the list from first to last    To find a name appropriate; To crown our curly-headed boy    We wanted something strong and great. First Leonard struck us lionlike —    A goodly name—alas! and when The owner reaches man's estate.    He'll thunder down old time as "Len." Philander troubled us awhile—    For man should love his fellow-man; But 'tis so easy to behead    To common "Phil," we never can.  Now Roderic is rich in fame—    We well; we won't. 'Twill never do To place out boy beneath the ban    Of common "Rod" his life all through. A charming name was Lancelot,   Or Valentine, Augustus—all; But "Lance" and "Val" and "Gus" are not    The names we wanted folks to bawl.  Then Constantine and Bertram shone.    But "Con" and "Bert" we didn't like; And "Sol" is easy cut from Saul—    It seemed a name we never strike.  My wife persued the novels strong,    While aunts and cousins entered in The list with names that should belong—    Of course each claim could never win. The baby grew, and found his tongue,    And set our fancies to his will, And yelled one night, with boyish din,    "Come off the roof, and call me 'Bill!'"                      Leicester Chronicle                           18 Feb 1893

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THE BABY'S NAME "Mordaunt," she called him. In a novel book    His mother found the name she give to him; I didn't like it, for kinder took    A sort of notion favor'ble to "Jim." But when she looked up at me from the bed,    Half dead, but happy, an' she said: "I want That you shall name him, after all," I said:    "Why, blame it all, of course, it is Mordaunt." She knew the way I felt about such names    An' that this was a sacrifice, fer she Had often heard me say that honest "James"    Had just about the proper ring fer me; But though 'twas disapp'intment, still I thought    She was the one that had the right to choose, An' I—there wasn't any question—ought    To reconcile my wishes to her views. He was so delicate—so teeny small,    But smarter than the cracker of a whip; I don't believe he ever cried at all—    Sometimes he'd pucker up his little lip An' look at you until you was ashamed.    Of all the sins you knew he knew you'd done; I often thought he grieved because we'd named    By such a name a helpless little one.  An' thinking that, when we two was alone,    I called him by the name I liked so well, His mother would 'a grieved if she'd 'a known,    But neither Jim nor me would ever tell. We never told. He'd laugh and crow to hear    Me whisperin' so happ'ly to him; "Yer name's Mordaunt, old boy, when mother's near;     But when there's only me about, it's Jim." We never told our little secret, and    We never will—we never, never will; Somewhere off yonder, in a flow'ry land    A little baby's toddlin', toddlin' still, A-seeking in the sunshine all alone    The God that give an' then that sent for him— Mordaunt's the name carved on the little stone,    But in my heart the name is always Jim.                       Leicester Chronicle                           12 Feb 1898

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'Twas Ever Thus: Victorian Hero Names

 

The following article appeared in the Dundee Evening Telegraph on Thursday 11 June, 1885, concerning the use of hero-names for Victorian children. 

 

During the Russian war Raglan and Arnand (sic) became numbered among English Christian names ; so did Garibaldi at the times of that hero's prominence. When the struggle was going on at Plevna, Osman was often given to our children ; and Suleiman appeared as a British praenomen about the same time.  Later still the appellations of Sir Garnet and sometimes Garnet Wolseley have commemorated in the the registers the prowess of the living British General.  But neither is the heroism of the past entirely forgotten in naming, for the writer has met with the registered appellations Alcibiades, Julius Caesar, Boadicea, William the Conqueror, Richard Coeur de Lion, Peter the Great &c. ~ The desired qualities may have been exhibited in the lives of religious characters, and here, perhaps, the past is more resorted to that the present. The following may all be found in English registers of recent years : — Simon Peter, Jos. Arimathaea, Tabitha, Cyprian, Martin Luther, Melancthon, John Bunyan, Selwyn, and Morley Punshon. Luther has been a good deal used in England since the recent four hundredth anniversary of the reformer's birth.                                                                            Dundee Evening Telegraph                                                          11 June 1885

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Raglan
For FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (pictured) who was commander of the British troops sent to the Crimea in 1854. The name was first registered in England and Wales in the fourth quarter of 1854 when it was given to five children. This most likely followed the Battle of Balaclava in October 1854. The following year fourteen children were registered, and the name continued to be used intermittently up until 1971. 

Arnand
This is seemingly a spelling mistake or typing-error. It is most likely meant to be Arnaud for General Jacques St. Arnaud, the French colleague of Lord Raglan with whom he jointly commanded an Anglo-French force in the Crimean war. St Arnaud died shortly after commanding at the Battle of the Alma in September 1854. Arnaud (and spelling variants Arnand, Arnauld and Arnard) were -- like Raglan -- first registered in the fourth quarter of 1854. One girl was even named Arnauda Isabella. 

Osman
Osman Pasha was an Ottoman field marshal and the hero of the Siege of Plevna in 1877. Though Osman had been registered occasionally before this date (averaging one registration per year), in 1877 alone 27 children were given the name, followed by 90 children in 1878. Many were boys but there was at least one girl (Osman Clara). Others were named Osman Plevna, Osman Pasha or Osman Sulieman. 

Sir Garnet / Garnet Wolseley
Named for Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley who is considered one of the most influential and admired British generals having served in Burma, the Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny, China, Canada and widely throughout Africa. Two boys were named Sir Garnet in 1883. Garnet Wolseley was registered 31 times from 1874 to 1900 with the peak year in 1882. 

 

 

'Twas Ever Thus: What's vogue in the 1930s?

 

 

The following article appeared in the Falkirk Herald on Wednesday 24 May, 1939 and the Western Daily Press on Saturday 27 May, 1939 on both their "Feminine Reflections" pages.  

 

Though fashions in children's names change with passing years, it must be admitted that the vogue for Victorian names is, and has been, very popular recently. Apparently, although young mothers are not keen on Victoria, they are delighted with Caroline, Laura and Ann.     To-day's fashion in names differs in one important respect from that of the Victorian era. Victorian babies were blessed with three or four names. Nowadays, one is enough; two abundant.       Many mothers are calling their little daughters Sally; but few know that this means a lady of possession. Perhaps a lucky omen.                                IRISH INFLUENCE     Irish blood in the family is a good excuse for such pretty-sounding names as Kathleen and Eileen; for boys, Patrick and Brian.      Ian and Douglas, both very familiar just now, hailed from Scotland originally.      Christopher has been much employed since Mr A. A. Milne's verses gave it a fillip. Crispin was the unusual name chosen for the grandson of a peer.      Romantic mothers choose such attractive names as Tristan for a boys, and Guinevere for a girl.     Sometimes a devotional flavour creeps into a name, such as Cecilia.      And all the names of the apostles are certainly lavished on little boys these days -- with Peter leading.                               ANOTHER APOSTLE     John is another great favourite. Those parents who have an eye on the future, and who want something important for their offspring are choosing John, if not Roderick, Roger or Kenneth.     William, David, Anthony and Arnold all have a good native sound about them, and many new Georges and Stephens have been registered lately.      Hugh should express a thoughtful personality.      Grace is a quaint, yet nor a "date"-able name. Neither is Amelia and Rebecca. There have been occasional Phoebes lately; but this is not a name many mothers are instantly attracted to; given a striking personality it would be distinctive. But not otherwise.                              THESE ARE UNUSUAL     Hermione and Marda are unusual and worth considering that is if the parents have not decided on Margaret, which always pleases, or Mary or Elizabeth for their baby girl.      Few daughters are likely to object to Catherine later on -- but they might to Maude, which is enjoying a sudden "come-back."     Isobel is one of those soft-sounding names handed down from the middle-ages which mothers are finding particularly attractive. And a bright eyed baby was christened Lucinda a few weeks ago.     Whether the daughter will thank her parent for this name in years to come remains to be seen. But who can tell? So long as a child is not given some utterly eccentric name the future is not likely to bring regrets. After all, if there are a million Marys in the next generation, the complaint of a single Mary that she doesn't like her name is not likely to win much sympathy.                                                        Falkirk Herald                                                        24 May1939

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'Twas Ever Thus: A meaning beyond etymology

Anyone who read the Name of the Week post on Venetia may remember mention of actress Venetia Stephenson, a celebrity baby of her day, daughter of actress Anna Lee, whose birth in 1838 was widely publicised. 

Her full name was Joanna Venetia Invicta, and here, in an interview with The Daily Mirror, father Robert Stevenson explains the name choice — particularly her unusual third name — and it's really rather heartwarming. 

 

THEY SAY SHE WAS NAMED     AFTER A STEAM ROLLER .    Joanna Venetia Invicta, that's the name of the ten-month-old daughter of film star Anna Lee and her producer husband, Robert Stevenson.    "Joanna is my wife's name," Mr. Stevenson told the "Daily Mirror." "And Venetia is a family name. We always intended to give the baby those names if it were a girl.    "Invicta―well, that's different. My wife was born in Kent, and we wanted something to suggest the Kent countryside. Invicta is the motto on the Kent coat-of-arms.     "Our friends always joke about Invicta and ask if the baby was named after the steam-rollers — because they all carry that name on front.    "Of course, Invicta has another meaning— unbeatable. We had that in mind, too," he added proudly.     She's an unbeatable baby, too, don't you think?                                                       The Daily Mirror                                                       11 January 1939

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'Twas Ever Thus: Twin Names

The following article from the Edinburgh Evening News was published on Saturday 17 February 1883 and focuses on quirks of naming twins. The idea of themes for twin names is definitely nothing new!

 

NAMES OF TWINS    Twins or triple births supply opportunities for the selection of unusual names. Some of these are pretty. Twin girls were lately registered Pearl and Ruby at Wantage, and others near Cranleigh, Sussex, Lily and Rose.  In 1878 a labourer at Robertsbridge, in the same county, presented with three daughters at a birth, called them Faith, Hope and Charity ; and a farm labourer near Bridport recently gave the names of Faith and Hope to twin sons. But sometimes dual births render parents positively cruel in their choice of appellations. We have known the name Huz and Buz applied to twin boys. Peter the Great Wright and William the Conqueror Wright figure in registrations as twins.     Another fancy created by two-fold births is that of furnishing the children with identical names transposed. Twin sons of a gardener at Chard were a few months since endowed respectively with the names James Reginald and Reginald James and at Ixworth, Suffolk, not long ago, died Horace Horatio, whose brother Horatio Horace attested the death entry.     A historian of parish registers remarks that about the sixteenth century it was not unusual for parents to give the same name to two or more of their children, with the view, perhaps, of increasing the likelihood of its perpetuation in their families. He cites, by way of proof, the following quotation from the will of one John Parnell de Gyrton : -- "8 Mar, 1544, Alice my wife and Old John my son to occupy my farm together till olde John marries, and then She to have the land and cattle. Young John my son shall have Brenlay's land plowed and sowed at Old John's cost."     Places occasionally give their names to children as in the cases Matilda Australasia Yarra Yarra Holden, Odessa Silly, &c. It may be supposed that in these instances there is usually some family connection with the locality at the time birth.                                                     Edinburgh Evening News                                                       17 February 1883

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'Twas Ever Thus: Upper-crust Edwardian choices

Here is an article, entitled What's In A Name?, from the Dundee Courier which was published on Saturday 28 December 1901. 

It concerns the most common, and unusual, choices used by Edwardian aristocracy. Sarah was a favourite of the Spencers -- a name still borne today by Diana, Princess of Wales' sister -- and Geraldine was a favourite for the Dukes of Leinster. 

To prove how sacred were these names to these families, some girls, we are told were named Arthur, and a boy named Anne. 

 

WHAT'S IN A NAME?                                         It is a Precious Heirloom    That there is "magic in a name" is proved by the persistence with which many distinguished families adhere to one special Christian name throughout the course of centuries. The Dukedom of Somerset shows marked favour for the name Jane. Long ago the family name was spelt Seymour, not St Maur, and in the distant past -- as everyone knows -- a beautiful Jane Seymour became one of the ill-fated wives of Henru VIII., and the name has been faithfully retained down to modern times, Lady Jane Graham of Netherby, one Lady Jane Seymour, being its present day representative.    The Dukes of Norfolk prefer the name Phillippa, and there have been many Lady Phillippa Howards. Indeed, one who formerly bore that name now walks the earth in the person of Lady Phillippa Stewart, sister to the present Duke of Norfolk.     The Dukes of Beaufort are faithful to the name of Blanche. In 1607 a Lady Blanche Somerset married the Lord Arundell of Wardour of that period, and has gone down to history as a first-class heroine, in that she defended Wardour Castle, during the absence of her husband, for nine days against the Parliamentary army, and in the end surrendered on honourable terms. Since that date she has had a long string worthy successors, and at the present time there is a baby, Lady Blanche Somerset, daughter of the reigning Duke of Beaufort.                                 Names in Ducal Families    The Dukes of Marlborough hold sacred the name of Sarah, in honour of the intrepid founder of their fortunes, Sarah Jennings, first Duchess of Marlborough. Lady Sarah Wilson acts as the modern representative of her might ancestress. Lord Spencer's family owns the same descent, and his sister, Lady Sarah Spencer, now continues the hereditary name.  The Dukes of Hamilton care much for the name of Anne. Indeed, so deep is their devotion that a man of the family had the name Anne inflicted on him in compliment to his Royal godmother, Queen Anne.  The Dukedom of Leinster has long been identified with the name of Geraldine, the connection dating from the days of Lady Elizabeth FitzGerald, immortalised in the Earl of Surrey's poems as "The Fair Geraldine." Among Christian names belonging to the Saxon period are Elfrida, Elaine, Mildred, Edna, Ela and Ermyntrude. Lady Edeline Strickland is a sister of Lord De La Warr, and Lady Ella Russell and Lady Ermyntrude Malet are sisters to the Duke of Bedford.  Of Norman names are Blanche, Maud, Isabel, Sibyl, Eleanor and Adeline. Celtic names are found in Irish and Scottish families, with a certain variance in the two countries. Sheelah, Kathleen and Bridget, in Ireland, correspond with Sheila, Kate and Bride in Scotland. Olga and Vera hail from Russia, while Thyra and Dagmar are pf Scandinavian origin; and Theresa, Carmen and Dolores show signs of Spanish descent.  The Puritan spirit dies hard among the agricultural poor, and such names as Charity, Mercy, Hope, Faith, Patience and Prudence, austere legacy of Cronwellian days, are still found in our remote country villages.                                  In Smart Society   Smart society favours flower names. There are Lady Rosemary Cairns, Lady Lily Milles, and Lady Violet Beauchamp. Lady Essex's little girl is Lady Iris Capell; Lady Angela Forbes' child is called Marigold; and Lady Algernon Lennox's daughter has the name of Ivy. One of the Miss Finches owns the uncommon name of Jasmine.  Precious stones have numerous representatives. Lady Edward Churchill's two daughters are Miss Ruby and Miss Beryl Churchill. Another Miss Finch has the pretty name of Pearl; one of Miss Frances Wolseley's names is Garnet; and Lady Lamington's little girl owns the uncommon name of Gem.     There must be something in the science of names. Helens hadve had their rightful dower of beauty, from the days of Helen of Troy onwards, and Lady Helen Vincent affords an excellent mordern example.  Pamela is another name to conjure with. The first radiant Pamela was the wife of Lord Edward FitzGerald (the FitzGerald family seem to monopolise attractive names); and 1901 has two beautiful Pamelas in Mrs Edward Tennant and Miss Pamela Plowden.  Alliteration appeals to some of us -- Miss Cynthia Charteris, daughter of Lord and Lady Elcho; Miss Crystal and Miss Cerise de Crespigny; and Miss Vera Vincent, only child of Sir Howard and Lady Vincent. Among the many old Roman Catholic families in the three kingdoms, the names of Mary, Agnes and Elizabeth are frequent -- the name of Mary being well-nigh invariable -- for reasons that need no explanation.                                 Classic and Homely Names   Arthur is the name held in high esteem by the Annesleys. All their men, and -- strange to say -- nearly all their women, bear the name of Arthur. There are a few classical names going about. Mrs Algernon Bourke's little daughter Daphne, the Duke of Abercorn's eldest daughter is Phyllis, and Mrs Farquharson of Invercauld is Zoe.  Ancient Egypt finds itself revived in the name of Lady Maxwell's little girl, who is called Phylae, after a temple not far from Cairo.  Shakespeare has provided not a few pretty names for well-known society women. Of these are Lady Audrey Buller. Lady Juliet Lowther, and Lady Beatrice Pole Carew.  Tennyson's "Idylls of the King" have been productive in a like interesting manner. There is a little Lady Enid Fane, Lady Westmoreland's small daughter, and Mrs Ernest Villiers was once Miss Elaine Guest.     There are certainly many Nancys, Bettys, Joans and Peggys. Mr and Mrs Harry Lindsay have a little girl called Nancy and Sir John and Lady Dickson Poynder's daughter is one of our many Joans/  The name of Diana -- at once classical and sporting -- seems to belong by right to a hunting country. Lady Diana Somerset (says M.A.P.) is the two-year-old baby-girl of the Duke of Beaufort, a famous master of hounds, and Lady Diana Manners is the daughter of Lord and Lady Granby, born and bred in the country of the Belvoir hunt.                                               The Dundee Courier                                                28 December 1901

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