British Baby Names

'Twas Ever Thus: Late Victorian Fashionable Girls' Names

The following article, entitled Female Names, appeared in the Newcastle Courant on Saturday 24 September 1892. It was cited from "The Globe." 

Of particular interest in this article is the perceptions that many names had at that time: Ann is severe, Anne is lovable, Anna is pretentious, Hannah is low-class, Annie is fashionable but frivolous.
Harriet was once an aristocratic name, but gradually permeated the masses to become a byword for a working class Cockney woman. On the other hand, a servant given the highfalutin' name Gladys was incongruous.  

Oh, and (much to my amusement) etymologists are "troublesome" folks. 

 

To begin in alphabetical order. Ada strikes one as an essentially modern name, a names certainly much commoner now that fifty years ago ; it is suggestive of girls with golden curls, and seems altogether reminiscent of music-hall ditties ; yet clap an h on to its last letter, and it becomes one of the most ancient of names.  Except Eve, Adah is the first woman mentioned in the Bible. It is curious that her co-wife, Zillah, has not been nearly so popular as a name-giver. Here, however, we forsee that one of those troublesome folks, called etymologists, may assert, that the modern Ada is derived from Adelaide, Adelina and Adela — words in German signifying nobility — and that the resemblance between this Ada and the Scriptural Adah is merely accidental.    Let us return to a much commoner name. Ann, deprived for the final e, has a severe, almost forbidding aspect. Anne, somehow, seems much more loveable. It will be remembered that when Pope wished to clothe with additional dignity Her late Majesty of that name, he called her Anna—  Here, though, great Anna! whom three realms obey Dost sometimes counsel take, and sometimes tea.    Here again, if we prefix and add an aspirate, a marvellous metamorphosis takes place. Anna sounds aristocratic not to say pretentious, Hannah, despite her honourable status as the mother of the Prophet Samuel, to modern ears suggests a hard-working woman with muscular arms; who is "all there" at window-cleaning or the wash-tub.  As for Annie, it is all very well when conferred as a pet name by friends and kinsfolk, but life is too serious for a woman to use only a diminutive as her baptismal name. Yet fashion nowadays runs in that direction, and more babies probably are christened Annie than Anne.  Concerning Augusta, we will only say that there is something about the second syllable (still worse when shortened to Gussy or Gusta) which makes it an ugly sounding name. G makes an awkward consonant. It makes Agnes, despite its lamb-like derivation, sound harsh, especially when familiarised to Aggie.     The grand old name Elizabeth resembles the Indian banyan tree in the number of shoots and suckers which it sets forth. Bess, Bessie, Bet, Betty (once again fashionable), Betsy, Eliza and Lizzy, all sping from the parent tree. Ellen, Eleanor, and Isabella, too, belong to the same pedigree. How much depends on the association of ideas! Isabel both looks and sounds pretty ; Jezebel, a variant of the same, seems atrocious.  Catherine, spelt in four different ways, still holds its own as a favourite name, especially in its diminutive forms, Kate, Katie and Kitty ; but several other good old family appellatives are rarer than they were forty years ago. Among these may be mentioned Amelia, Charlotte, Caroline, Emma, Harriet, Julia and Matilda. Emily is more in favour than Amelia, though both names have a common origin. Emma has possibly been vulgarised by its association with a song which a few years ago was in everybody's mouth.  In like manner Harriet has become a by-word, through its association with the 'Arry and 'Arriet of Bank Holiday notoriety. Time was when Henrietta and Harriet (especially when the latter was spelt with an o), had a savour of exclusive aristocracy. Lady Hariot and her yellow chariot seemed to be in as natural a position as a hand in a glove.  Another proof of the inconsistancy of fashion concerning names is afforded by Matilda and its diminutive Maud. While the former is decidedly out of date, the latter —both in novels and plays, as well as in real life — has been almost wearisomely popular for a good many years past.     When we see in the obituary the death of an old lady of seventy or eighty bearing the name of Ethel or Florence, we experience a sensation of surprise, and not without reason, for these names were rarely given in the earlier years of the century. They sprang into sudden popularity some 30 or 40 years ago, and are now so common that when the marriage list is tolerably long we are pretty sure to find an Ethel or a Florence figuring in it. The former name came into favour when Thackeray published "The Newcombes," there heroine of which story is an Ethel.     Jane and Jenny are still favourite names; so are Louisa and Lucy; so is Margaret with its variants, Madge, Maggie, Margery and Peggy; and so, we gladly records, is the simplest an sweetest of all names — Mary. When turned in Marie (that is, as an English name*) it loses its simplicity and becomes affected.  Any modern popularity which Martha possesses it gains through its diminutive, Patty, which bears little resemblance to its parent stem.     As a rule, it may be broadly stated that the poorer classes are gradually abandoning the good old traditional names, especially Scripture names, and are adopting all sorts of fine names, often borrowed from the sensational fiction which they peruse so eagerly. It is rare, nowadays, to find Sarahs and Susans among domestic servants, and the nobility will soon have a monopoly of those good old names; on the other hand, there is something incongruous about Yolande black-leading the parlour grate, or Gladys scrubbing the front steps. In actual facts, their highly refined names often cause these young ladies to "put up their backs" against such "menial" duties.     Lastly, let us call attention to the difference existing in the spelling of certain well-known names in this country and the United States. As a rule, the Americans use ie where we use y. They write Nellie, Lucie, Kittie, Sallie, Fannie, where we write Nelly, Lucy, Kitty, Sally and Fanny. But there is nothing more arbitrary than the spelling of the Anglo-American tongue, for our cousins write Katy and Jessy where we almost invariably write Katie and Jessie.— "The Globe."                                       The Newcastle Courant                                              24 September 1892

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The author was right. In 1890, many more babies were registered as Annie than Ann or Anne. 

*^{French Marie = ma-REE, English Marie = MARRY.}

 

'Twas Ever Thus: Sensible 1940s Names

Here is an article, written only three years after WWII, which sheds a light on fashions in Essex — most especially Chelmsford — in names. Change the names and many of these phrases can easily be found in modern magazine articles concerning names. 

The following article was written by Gilbert Saunders and appeared in the Essex Newsman on Friday 16th April 1948. 

All the spellings are exactly as they are printed in the original scanned newspaper page. Merilyn, I believe, should be Marilyn, given that it was #54 in 1944. 

 

Is your name SANDRA?    If it is, you have the most popular name of 1948. There are more Sandras being registered these days than any other name, although the CHRISTINEs, JAQUELINEs, and CAROLs are close runners-up.    Among boys' names the trend is less well defined.     The accent is on the short, manly, and old-fashioned names, which are coming back into favour again — JOHN, ROBERT, MICHAEL, DUNCAN -- with an occasional GARY, LANCE, and STEWART to relieve the monotony.     One feature for which Registrars are truly thankful is the fact that the recent war had hardly any influence on the names given to children.    Essex to-day has many middle-aged folk named REDVERS, BULLER, and KITCHENER; a sprinkling of MONS and HAIG, some ten to 15 years younger; and at least two ZEPPELINAs, from an obvious source.  FEW WINSTONS    But World War II. produced no Roosevelts or Arnhems, at least in Chelmesford. History went unrecorded except for a WINSTON here and there.     A spate of ELIZABETHs was expected after November's Royal Wedding, but it failed to materialise.    Although Registrars may make a mild remark about unsuitability when faced with a particularly combination of names, there is no law which governs either the types of names or the number of them.    Technically, there is nothing to stop you bestowing the complete Bible as the names of you son or daughter.     Extremes, however, are rare, and there are always second thoughts.     A Chelmsford mother not long ago insisted on " GEORGEOUS de" for her little girl. Later she changed her mind—but it was too later, and "GEORGEOUS de" it will officially be for life.    Once the wheels of registration are fully turned there is nothing anyone can do about it.     A man's name, intended to be JAMES, was once entered as JANE and the mistake was noted too late to have it altered.    Officials report that the humbler the circumstances of the family the more exotic some of the names given to children.  FILMS INFLUENCE    NICOLA, LOIS, MARIEANNE, BRIONY, CHERILE, GLORIA DAWN,  and RUBY DAWN (the last named an increasingly popular choice), have been registered in Chelmsford lately.     So, too, have ROSANN (which I am told is a "fine old Essex name"), PINA VIVIENNE, ERICA, and MAXINE ROBERTA.    Where do parents get some of the names from? Magazines, romantic novels, and the films supply many of the most glamorous selections. But at least one names was dubbed APPLEDORE after the Devon retreat in which his parents spent their honeymoon.     Some of the most common names in use a few decades ago seem to have gone for ever. Rare indeed to-day is a GLADYS, GERTRUDE, ALICE or MARJORIE.     They have been replaced by DIANE, MERILYN, LINDA and JENNIFER.   POPULAR ANN    MARION, too, is often chosen for girls, although the parents are probably unaware that, in that form, it is a male name. The correct female version is MARIAN.    Easily the most popular second name for girls just now is ANN. CAROL ANN had a prodigious run during the war, but it is now dropping off in favour, as is PENELOPE ANN.     Abbreviations and corruptions are beginning to appear more frequently, such as VICKY, TONY and PEGGY.     But a recent parent played safe in this respect and gave his son the names of TONY ANTHONY.                                       The Newsman, Essex                                              16 April 1948

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The Birth Index has record of a Georgeous J De G.Birch in Chelmesford in the first quarter of 1943.

 

 

'Twas Ever Thus: Edwardian Name List

An intriguing article entitled Fashion and Things Feminine by Miss Ida Meller appeared in the Morpeth Herald on September 12th 1908. 

It begins by discussing the fashion for long coats for autumn -- dark blue, powder blue or raspberry-red with velvet collar and cuffs are recommended -- flannel striped shirts, and the ultimate space saving device in the bedroom: laundry bags!

But then it moves on to listing fashionable names for babies, the extract of which I have listed below.

All the spellings are exactly as they are printed in the original scanned newspaper page (I had to check Imorgen several times).

 

BABY'S NAME    When the moment arrives for deciding on a name for baby, it is not always that a choice of pretty names comes readily to the mind. The following little reference list of a few names for the boys and girls may give acceptable suggestions for christening days.  Girls' Names:– Adela, Adelaide, Adeline, Alexia, Aline, Alison, Alma, Althea, Amabel, Angela, Annette, Antoinette, Audry, Aveline, Avice, Babette, Barbara, Beatrice, Beatrix, Belinda, Bernadine, Bertha, Beryl, Blanche, Brenda, Bridget, Bride, Camilla, Camille, Carlina, Carmela, Catherine, Cecile, Cecilia, Celia, Celine, Clarissa, Charity, Christabel, Christina, Clair (or Clare), Claribel, Clarice, Clarimond, Claudia, Claudine, Clementine, Clothilde, Colinette, Cordelia, Coriana, Cornelia, Cynthia, Deborah, Dinah, Decima, Diana, Delora, Dolores, Dorette, Dorothea, Drusilla, Dulce, Dulcibella, Dulcima, Edna, Eileen (or Aileen), Eirene (or Irene), Elaine, Ellinor, Eleonora, Elfrida, Elizabeth, Elise, Elissa, Ella, Elsa, Elspeth, Emeline, Emelye, Enid, Ernestine, Esmeralda, Estelle, Esther, Ethelwyne, Eugenia, Eunice, Evangeline, Eve, Evaline (or Evelyn), Faith, Franchette, Felicia, Felicity, Fenella, Feodora, Flavia, Florinda, Floredice, Floria, Florise, Florentina, Francelia, Frances, Gabrielle, Genevieve, Gillian, Ginevra, Giralda, Gladys, Gretchen, Griselda, Gwendolen, Gwyneth, Gwynne, Helen, Hero, Hermia, Hermione, Hilda, Hildegarde, Honor, Hope, Hortense, Imorgen, Inez, Iris, Irmentrude, Ivy, Janet, Jean, Joan, Jocelyn, Jessica, Joyce, Judith, Julia, Juliet, Kathleen, Karina, Laura, Laurette, Lavinia, Leila, Lena, Lenora, Leonore, Letitia, Lettice, Lilias, Lilith, Lisbet, Lisette, Lois, Lola, Lucia, Lucille, Lucinda, Lucretia, Lydia, Mabel, Madeline, Magdalen, Maisie, Marcella, Marcia, Margaret, Margherita, Mariana, Maureen, Meta, Meg, Melina, Melissa, Melusine, Mercy, Mildred, Milicent, Minna, Mona, Monica, Muriel, Myra, Myrtle, Nancy, Narisse, Naomi, Nina, Nora, Octavia, Olga, Olive, Olivia, Pamela, Patience, Patricia, Patty, Paula, Paulette, Pauline, Peggy, Penelope, Petronia, Philippa, Phyllis, Pleasance, Portia, Prudence, Rachel, Regina, Rhoda, Rita, Robina, Robinetta, Romola, Rosabel, Rosalie, Rosaline, Rosalynd, Rosana, Rosette, Rosina, Rosemary, Ruby, Ruperta, Ruth, Sabina, Sadie, Salome, Sapphire, Sara, Selina, Serene, Sheelah (or Sheila), Sibyl, Sibila, Sylvia, Sophia, Stella, Suzanne, Suzette, Teresa, Theodora, Trixy, Ulrica, Una, Ursula, Venetia, Vera, Veronica, Victorine, Viola, Violette, Virginia, Virgine, Vivia, Vyvian, Winifred, Wilhemina, Yoldande, Zoe, Zara. Boys' Names:– Alaric, Alban, Aldred, Alfric, Allan, Almeric, Alphonse, Alvan, Alwyn, Ambrose, Andrew, Angus, Anthony, Archibald, Athelstan, Aubrey, Austin, Augustus, Baldwin, Bardolph, Basil, Bernard, Bertram, Brian, Bruno, Caspar, Cedric, Christopher, Clarence, Claud, Claudius, Clement, Constant, Conrad, Cuthbert, Cyril, Damian, Dan, David, Denis, Desmond, Donald, Duncan, Dunstan, Edgar, Egbert, Emanuel, Eric, Esmond, Eugene, Eustace, Evan, Everard, Everemond, Fabian, Felix, Francis, Ferdinand, Gabriel, Gaspar, Gaston, Geoffrey, Gerald, Gerard, Germain, Gideon, Gilbert, Godfrey, Godwin, Gregory, Griffith, Guy, Harold, Hector, Herbert, Hildebert, Hildebrand, Hilary, Horace, Hubert, Humbert, Hugo, Humphrey, Ivan, Jerome, Justin, Kenneth, Lambert, Lancelot, Lawrence, Leopold, Lionel, Lucian, Manfred, Marcus, Mark, Martin, Marmaduke, Maurice, Max, Meredith, Michael, Mervyn, Miles, Morgan, Neil, Nicholas, Nigel, Noel, Norman, Olaf, Oliver, Orlando, Oscar, Osmond, Oswald, Otho, Patrick, Paul, Peter, Philip, Pietro, Ralph, Randal, Randolph, Raphael, Raymond, Reginald, Reuben, Reynard, Richard, Robin, Rodolph, Roderick, Roger, Roland, Rufus, Rupert, Stephen, Sylvester, Silas, Terence, Theobald, Theodore, Timothy, Trystan, Ulric, Urban, Valentine, Vibert, Vincent, Vernon, Victor, Vivian, Waldemar, Wilfred.                              The Morpeth Herald and Reporter                                         12 September 1908

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I wonder if any babies were named from this list? Which ones are your favourite? 

 

Victorian Romany Names

Traveller families in the 19th century were often misunderstood and marginalised; nevertheless, Victorian society was fascinated by their customs and lore. As such, they became not only the subject of scholarship but also romanticised in popular culture and literature. 

Below are articles and excerpts from contemporary Victorian commentators which focus on the names which were in use in Victorian Britain by Romany Traveller families. Boswell, Lovell, Buckland, Faa, Hearn, Heron, Gray, Lee, Smith, Wood and Young were the most notable Romany families of the period, and much of the literature focuses on them.

This excerpt from The Worcestershire Chronicle (22 March 1890) is taken from a letter to the editor written by Shelsley Beauchamp (quite a name in itself!), under the title The Gispy Tribe of Boswell.

The Sylvester Boswell (also called by the nickname Wester Boswell) mentioned above has his autobiography immortalised in Bath Charles Smart's The Dialect of the English Gypsies (1875). In this work he gives a fascinating account of the names of his immediate family: 

(click to enlarge for lots of interesting names)

His parents, he says, were Teiso and Sophia Boswell (the respective children of Shadrach and Cinderella Boswell and Richard and Bonny Hearne); his siblings Maria, Lucy, Sage, Betsy, Dorelia, Edward and Delata. His own children were Simpronius Bohemia Boswell (known as 'Bui'), Byron, Mackenzie, Oscar, Bruce, Julia, Wallace, Trafalgar and Laura. 
I particularly like the footnote which describes Isaac Herne, son of Nearboy (Neabei) and Sinfi Hearne who had children 'Eza, Trainit, 'Lenda and Collia. 

Another significant 'gipsy-gentleman' was Silvanus Lovell. His family is mentioned in another excerpt from The Worcestershire Chronicle (24 May 1890):

Again Vashti, Cleopatra, Naomi and Diana are mentioned as being common in the community, and special mention is given again to Greenleaf, Mezelly, Britannia and Paradise. 

Members of both the Boswell and Lovell families can be found living on Buggins Lane, Wednesfield on the 1861 census:

1. Sampson, Sarah, Alfred and Ingram Boswell.

2. Celly and Speedwelly Lovell

3. Enoch, Emma, Keomi and Cashmere Lovell

4. Struddveras, Cinderella and Mochas Lovell

5. Alfred, Selina and John Boswell

6. McKenzie, Sarah, Zealand, Kenzilea Boswell

7. Rudolphus, Tranetta, Caroline, Orlando, Zuby, John and Rebecca Boswell

 

This excerpt comes from The Shields Daily Gazette (28 September 1900) and points to the numerous ways in which Romany names were spelt and corrupted. 

To curb my enthusiasm before I get too carried away with too many posts, here finally is a list of given names listed in The Rev. George Hall's The Gypsy's Parson; His Experiences and Adventures (1915).

Airant Aniel Artelus Baius Barendon Bartholoways Bohemia Bosko Boufi Buzi Craimia (possibly Crimea) Credi Dinki Dimiti Doval Dud Duraia Dusti Eros Evergreen Fell Fennix Fowk Ganation Glympton Goliath Goni Haini Harkles Harodain Hedji Inan Ithil Iza Jaina Kaivela Kashi Khulai Ladin (possibly short for Aladdin which was used by the Gray family) Lamerok Leshi Liberty Logan Loni Lumas Lusha Mairik Manabel Manfri / Manful Mantis Meriful Moelus Morpus Moti Motsha / Motshan / Motshus Muldobrai Nelus Niabai (or Neabei / Nearboy) Nipkin Nitshel Northalion Obi Oki Orferus Oseri Othi / Oti Penderbela Persuvius Perun Pesulia Piramus (Pyramus) Polius Potamus Rabai Raito Renda Righteous Rinki Ruslo Sairenda Santabelphijum Santalina Santanoa Seki Seneptune Shandres Shani Shiva Silas Simpronius Solivaino Studivares Swallow Taimi Taiso Teni Thurles Tudlin Tuti Vaina Wacka Waimore Wantelo Wingi Woodlock Yoben Zegul Zezil

Acorn Alamina Andelia Angelis Anis Ashena Ashila Aslog Begonia Bidi / Biti Bobum Boina Consuleti Daiena Darklis Delaia Delenda Deleta (Delata) Deloreni Dorenia Edingel Eldorai Elophia Elvaira (Elvira) Emanaia Erosabel (possibly derived as a feminine form of Eros) Everilda Ezi Fazenti Femi Fernet Fianci Fill Florentia Fluenzi Froniga Genti Glorina Gravelena Idade Inji Jeta Joni Kadilia Kerlenda Kiomi (Keomi) Kodi Kraisini Laini Lavaina (Lovina) Leanabel Lenda Leondra Levaithen (Leviathan - also used for boys) Lidi / Liti Linji Lurina Lusana Lwaiden Madona Maiburi Maireni Mandra Marbeleni Melvinia Memberensi Mezi Million Mino Mireli Miselda Mitoreni Mizereti Modiwench Morjiana Nareli Olovina Omi Oshina Paizeni (possibly Patience) Paizi Pamela Perpagelion Piki Plenti Polovine Pomona Queenation (I've also seen Coronation) Reni Repentance Repriona Richenda Rodi Romania Saibarini Saiera Sain Saiforela Saiki Sanspirela Savaina Sedinia Seluna Seni Separi Shorensi Shuri Sibela Siberensi Sibereti Sinaminta Sinfai (Sinfi, Sinfoy) Spidi Stari (Starlina) Suti Taishan Telaitha Tiena Traienti Treci Treli Trenit Vashti / Wasti Wadi Waini Wenti Weson Whipni Widens Wigi Wuzi Yunakrai (Eunice?) Zebra Zina Zuba

Many of these are variant spellings or nicknames. I have endeavoured to put a 'standardised' spelling in brackets where appropriate. 

 

'Twas Ever Thus: War Baby Names

One of the first ever 'Twas Ever Thus posts I wrote, looked at the late Victorian fashion for naming babies after significant events and people involved in the Boer War, a fact which cropped up again when I catalogued the Top 200 names in England and Wales in 1900 and could see a whole host of children named Redvers, Baden, Roberts and Pretoria. 

This fashion for war-inspired baby names, it seems, persisted right through to the First World War, as we can see from these articles:

 

Yorkshire Evening Post - Tuesday 12 January 1915 

Yes, the First Lord AdmiraI at this time was indeed Winston Churchill. 

I rather love the idea of boys named Jellicoe. It makes me wonder whether Jude Law and Sadie Frost's son Rafferty got this middle name from his family tree. 

This idea of war names was obviously prevalent enough to still be of note decades later:

Dundee Courier - Friday 29 April 1932

Amy Johnson, CBE was a pioneering British aviator and quite an amazing woman. I rather hope there were some girls named after her. 

By the time of the Second World War, opinions on war names seem to have swung the opposite way, with this cautionary advice given to prospective mothers.

Gloucestershire Echo - Thursday 13 August 1942

So, action men and movie starlets are in, politicians and battle places are out, and (thankfully!) no babies were named Stalin. 

 

 

'Twas Ever Thus

Following from the last poem entitled Ladies Names, here is another contemporary poetic commentary on Victorian names.

This one is less whimsical, bemoaning the use of "fancy" names for the working classes. Certainly, this was a trend that grew, as thirty years on the gap between 'upstairs' and 'downstairs' names had very much decreased. 

This entry is taken from the Essex Newsman, published on Saturday 16 June, 1877. The poem itself was not credied to any author. 

 

CALLING NAMES

Where are the old familiar names?
John and James and Mary and John?
We never hear of a Susan now,
And it's not Bill, but Frederick, who follows the plough.

You'll not travel far by second-class rail
But you are sure to encounter some Florence pale,
With much appreciation towards fashion in dress,
But with never a trace of loveliness! 

Our laundress's infants have no great charms,
Yet they have a Eugenie in arms;
While Victor Albert swings on a gate,
And muches on his bacon in village state. 

'Twould be hard to say there is any blame,
There is no monopoly on a name;
But it strikes one sometimes as rather absurd
That contrast between the child and the word. 

And what will it be when years have flown?
And these finely-named damsels are women grown?
When Evelyn Ada must polish the grates,
While Edith Amelia is washing the plates!

Think of it, ye sinsible mothers,
Before you arrange fine names for others;
For though not to-day, nor perhaps next Sunday,
 It will happen as sure as my name's Mrs Grundy.

Essex Newsman, Saturday 16 June, 1877

 

'Twas Ever Thus: Royal Baby Name Speculation

The recent Royal baby-name speculation was certainly nothing new.

The following articles were written between Prince Charles' birth (14 November 1948), and before his name, Charles Philip Arthur George, was officially announced at his Christening (15 Decemeber 1948).

George, Philip, Louis and Andrew were the favourites. Charles, you'll notice, wasn't on the list of possibilities...

 

 

Essex Newsman, Tuesday 14 December 1948

 

Evening Telegraph, Angus, Scotland, Wednesday 17 November 1948

 

Dundee Courier, Wednesday 17 November 1948

 

'Twas Ever Thus

There is an interesting poem entitled Ladies' Names which circulated several newspapers in the mid-19th century. The earliest copies of the poem attribute it to a "Henry" in the Family Herald which was published on 29 November 1851 and copied several times that December and during the following year. 

The poem is clearly meant to be a light-hearted skit, pairing girls' names with set attributes, but it does give an interesting insight into the names that were in use at the time as well throwing in some timeless adages. 

 

LADIES' NAMES

There is a strange deformity,
Combined with countless graces, 
As often in the ladies' names
As in the ladies' faces.
Some names are fit for every age.
Some only fit for youth;
 Some passing sweet and musical,
Some horribly uncouth;
Some fit for dames of loftiest grades,
Some only fit for scullery-maids.

Ann is too plain and common,
And Nancy sounds but ill,
Yet Anna is endurable,
And Annie better still.
There is a grace in Charlotte,
In Eleanor a state,
An elegance in Isabelle,
A haughtiness in Kate;
And Sarah is sedate and neat,
And Ellen innocent and sweet.

Matilda has a sickly sound,
Fit for a nurses trade,
Sophia is effeminate,
And Esther sage and staid;
Elizabeth's a matchless name
Fit for a Queen to wear —
In castle, cottage, hut, or hall,
A name beyond compare:
And Bess and Bessie follow well,
But Betsy is detestable.

Maria is too forward,
And Gertrude is too gruff,
Yet coupled with a pretty face,
Is pretty name enough.
And Adelaide is too fanciful,
And Laura is too fine,
But Emily is beautiful,
And Mary is divine:
Maud only suits a high-born dame,
And Fanny is a baby-name.

Eliza is not very choice,
Jane is too blunt and bold,
And Martha somewhat sorrowful,
And Lucy proud and cold.
Amelia is too light and gay,
Fit only for a flirt.
And Caroline is vain and shy, 
And Flora smart and pert:
Louisa is too soft and sleek,
But Alice gentle, chaste and meek.

And Harriet is confiding,
And Clara grave and mild,
And Emma is affectionate,
And Janet arch and wild.
And Patience is expressive,
And Grace is old and rare, 
And Hannah warm and dutiful,
And Margaret frank and fair:
And Faith, Hope and Charity,
Are heavenly names for sisters three.

Rebecca for a Jewess,
Rose for a country belle,
And Agnes for a blushing bride,
Will suit exceedingly well:
And Phoebe for a midwife,
Joanna for a prude,
And Rachel for a gipsy-wench,
Are all extremely good:
And Judith for a scold and churl,
And Susan for a sailor's girl. 

 

Phrase Names: How North West is nothing new

I very rarely comment on celebrity baby names; it's just not a subject for which I feel my opinion is particularly needed (or wanted). I've stayed well away from speculating on the upcoming Royal baby name, for example, though I have a good idea what it won't be (I'm looking at you, "Royal Historians" — James would cause a political nightmare; stop suggesting it as a possibility!). 

However, the recent arrival of Kim and Kanye's daughter North West lends itself as an exception because it highlights the fairly established niche trend of "phrase" or "pun" names. Historical records are littered with them. 

Sometimes they were caused by accident: we've all heard the stories of women who have married and ended up with a punning new name (Theresa Green, Eileen Dover, Sandy Shaw, Terri Bull, Jo King — my mum actually works with one). In previous centuries, when using family surnames as first names was common, sometimes the blending was simply unfortunate. However, blatently, in some cases the pun was entirely intentional.

So, let's explore just a handful of interesting 'Phrase Names' of the last 200 years from records in England and Wales. The last names are the surnames.

 

Directional Names:

North West (x6) - born between 1815 and 1900.

North North (b.1824)

West Shaw (b.1831) North Shaw (b. 1869)

West Wood (b.1838)

Northen North (b.1842)

Southern Hall (b.1842)

Westerby East (m.1854)

South Fort (b.1856)

North Hill (x 3) - born between 1844 and 1872. 
And others such as North Brooke, West Wood etc. 

 

Time Names:

Time Of Day (x3) - born between 1829 and 1900.

Winter Frost (x4) - born between 1820 and 1880.

Winter Day (b.1845)

Lucky Day (b. 1859)

Morning Dew (x3) - born between 1871 and 1924.

Merry Christmas (b.1874)

Autumn Winter (b. 1876)

May Holiday (b. 1878)

And hundreds of girls named May Day and a fair few children named Valentine Day.

 

Phrases:

Miles Long (b. 1661)

Experience Tingle (m.1689)

Christian Sustenance (b. 1742)

Honour Bound (d.1783)

Flower Ship (x2) - born in 1798 and 1876

Savage Beare (m.1822)

Hugh Dunnet (b. 1836)

Black Jack (d. 1839)

Black Man (d. 1840)

Happy Guest and Happy Butcher (b. 1841)

Water Ford (b. 1844)

Worthy Guy (m. 1844)

Summer Stunt (b. 1844)

Green Willows (x4)

Smalley Bogg (b.1846)

Green Wood (b. 1847)

Wild Stammers (b.1848)

Just King (x2) - born in 1848 and 1886.

Brown Leek (b. 1849)

True Love (x3) - born between 1820 and 1850.

Happy Hovel (b. 1851)

Lightwood Birch (b. 1851)

Water Board (b. 1853)

Wealthy Price (b.1854)

Strange Livings (b.1863)

Wilde Raven (b. 1863)

Wise Herdsman (b. 1866)

Chip Wood (b. 1867)

Thankful Joy - both boys and girls.

Lightfoot Longbottom (m. 1872)

Sensitive Readhead (b.1873)

Ann Archy (b.1886)

Minnie Woman (b. 1891)

Hazel Nutt (x3) - born between 1894 and 1929.

Wildfield Flowers (b. 1895)

Royal King (x5) - born between 1897 and 1910.

Scott Free (b. 1901)

Nora Bone (b. 1902)

Norman Conquest (b.1904)

Pearl E. White (b. 1908)

Eileen Back (b.1908)

Risque Booth (b.1909)

Spring Plant (b. 1942)

 

Tautologies and Oxymorons:

Happy Gay (b. 1844)

Brown Greenwood (d.1849)

Smallhope Byg (b.1585)

Orange White (m. 1845)

Blackbird Bird (b. 1889)

Orange Lemon (x3) - born between 1850 and 1890.

Young New (x3) - born between 1840 to 1900.

Worthy Crook (x3) - born between 1820 to 1900.

Starling Martin (x2) - born in 1865 and 1889. 

 

There was a popular story that circulated around Victorian newspapers in which a seemingly cute "punning" names had unfortunate consequences. According to the story, a Mr and Mrs Rose thought it would be adorable to name their daughter Wild Rose. Unfortunately, when she married a Mr Bull her new name became Wild Bull.

The Sheffield Independent: Saturday 3rd July 1886

This story appeared in several publications (such as the one above), but I have been unable to find any Wild Rose/ Bull in the records. I did find two women who were given Wild Rose for their first names.

 

'Twas Ever Thus

In the late 18th and 19th century  talk about names often bandied the phrase "romantic names" around. From all I can glean, it was used generally as a euphemism for any name considered slightly fanciful or outlandish, in much the same way "creative names" or "unique names" are used today.

The phrase appears in 1776 in Oliver Goldsmith's popular novel The Vicar of Wakefield. 

Our eldest son was named George, after his uncle, who left us ten thousand pounds. Our second child, a girl, I intended to call after her aunt Grissel; but my wife, who during her pregnancy had been reading romances, insisted upon her being called Olivia. In less than another year we had a daughter again, and now I was determined that Grissel should be her name; but a rich relation taking a fancy to stand godmother, the girl was, by her directions, called Sophia; so that we had two romantic names in the family; but I solemnly protest I had no hand in it.

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Several other works of fiction over the years have contained much the same idea:

Hyacinth! It’s the silliest name I ever heard of; but it’s hers, and I must call her by it.[...]‘And the worst is, she’s gone and perpetuated her own affected name by having her daughter called after her. Cynthia! One thinks of the moon, and the man in the moon with his bundle of faggots. I’m thankful you’re plain Molly, child.’  Elizabeth Gaskell       Wives and Daughters (1864)

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'Euphemia; it isn't a name common people would give a girl, is it?' 'It isn't the name any decent people would give to a girl,' said Buggins, 'common or not.' 'Lor!' said Kipps. 'Why?' 'It's giving girls names like that,' said Buggins, 'that nine times out of ten makes 'em go wrong. It unsettles 'em. If ever I was to have a girl, if ever I was to have a dozen girls, I'd call 'em all Jane. Every one of 'em. You couldn't have a better name than that. Euphemia, indeed! What next?...Good Lord!... H. G. Wells     Kipps (1905)

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'It's Lucia.' How could he have forgotten the absurd pretentious name? She had confided to him in the corner of a warehouse that she had a brother named Roderick. Her father was responsible. He was a great reader of the obscurer classics. Graham Greene       England Made Me (1935)

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The idea was, of course, also then picked up in essays and newspapers. Strangely, although we now tend to associate fanciful names with the aristocracy, it is the working classes who get the brunt of critism in much of the commentary.

The practice of romantic names among persons, even of the lowest orders of society, has become a very general evil: and doubtless many unfortunate beauties, of the names of Clarissa and Eloisa, might have escaped under the less dangerous appellatives of Elizabeth or Deborah. Isaac Disraeli   Influence of a Name in Curiosities of Literature Vol 2 (1791—1823)

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[...]Apropos of romantic names, I have it from a registrar of great experience that these are enormously affected by the lower orders, who get them from the romances in the penny papers. Their taste in this way, however, generally receives two checks. In the first place, they can seldom pronounce the names they admire; and in the second, they nine times out of ten fail in their efforts to set them down on paper with anything like an approximation to correct spelling.  The name of the Empress of the French has an enormous fascination for young mothers of romantic views and restricted means. They think Eugénie delicious; nor do they appear conscious that it loses anything of its delicate sweetness when pronounced "You Jenny!"                                           The Bradford Observer                                                     May 6, 1869

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[...]Ben Jonson brought the pretty classical name Earine into English use. But this name loses its beauty when it is mispronounced, as it often is by those unaquainted with the classics. It should be in four syllables, with the accent on on the second. But that it has turned into two syllables by uneducated people is evident. [...]    The female novelists of the present day have exhausted almost every form of female appellation; and the worse the writer, the more far-fetched and high-flown are the names.                                                  The Graphic                                       (London), November 16, 1878

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There was at least one supporter, however, from the Woman's Page in the Great Eastern Railway Magazine in November 1912.

Are we naming our daughters too fancifully? I am inclined to sympathise with the feeling that makes poor parents who have perforce to live in some soulless slum, seek for something sweet and wholesome, even if it be only a name, and I have given up moralising when I hear such a one called Doris or Ivy. It is ever so much better than condemning them to the hackneyed Mary Ann which seem to rob them of all chance. I like the flowers and gems, but I do not care about the mythological names such as Diana, Psyche and the like — they seem too heathenish.

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