British Baby Names

Name Help: A Sibling for Wilfred

 

Katie is expecting her second child -- gender unknown -- who will be a sibling for big brother Wilfred Arthur.

Katie writes: "We are looking for a wearable name that is not very common (we prefer to stay out of the top 100). We like names with some English heritage but that is not essential.  We avoid nicknames as first names, surnames as first names, "fashionable" or new/made-up names.  We like names that can be shortened but that's not essential.  That said nicknames are quite important to us. Lydia is a name I'm put off because of the nickname Lyds, Clementine because of the nickname Clem/Clemmy (which sounds too close to clammy for us) and Henry is a name Husband likes but we don't want to use because of the likely nickname Henners.

Names that we like but cannot use: Frederick (because Wilf's name ends with Fred-we feel this is too close in sound, otherwise this would be our boy name), Pearl and Bruce.

Husband likes: Edward, Max, Rex, Astrid, Rose, Thea, Dora (I don't mind Rose and Thea but I really can't stand Dora and I'm not a fan of Astrid as I think it sounds harsh and I'm not sure what it would be shortened too).

I like: Ranulph (my absolute favourite), Auden, Odette, Ottilie, Freya, Belle, Imogen (Husband doesn't mind Auden as a middle name, thinks Freya has had its day and isn't a fan of the others).

Names we like but aren't 100% about: Oscar, Hector, Barnaby, Rose.

Had Wilf been a girl his name would have been Rose-Husband has always loved this more than me, hence us still considering other girls' names.

I think I'd describe my taste as traditional with an eclectic edge, whereas Husband's taste is traditional with a modern edge/Classic with a twist. I think we tend to veer towards quite feminine female names. We tend to steer away from names that evoke a strong religious or pop culture reference.  We don't tend to like very long names."

 

 

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Ada – Sweet like Belle with the strong snappy vowel sounds of Thea and Dora. Its heyday in the late 19th century / early 20th century matches Wilfred's. 

April – Feminine and quirky which is strong like Astrid but with a softer feel.

Athena – A beautiful and powerful goddess name that takes Thea to the next level. 

Beatrice – A sweet princess name with a sweet nickname of Bea. Lots of parents choosing this name consciously adopt the honeybee as a childhood motif. 

Edith – Like Wilfred, Edith is an Anglo-Saxon staple, revived by the Victorians, which has the lovely nickname Edie. 

Elodie – Similar in style to Odette and Ottilie, Elodie is a chic French choice that can be shortened to Ella or Edie. 

Emmeline – A versatile Victorian gem that is "feminine with a backbone". 

Iona – A beautiful Scottish island name that came into use by the Victorians. 

Mabel – From the Latin amabilis "lovable", Mabel was a medieval favourite which is now stylish again. Belle could be used as a nickname. 

Olive – A softer alternative to Astrid with the O of Odette and Ottilie. 

Opal – Another strong O name that is the name of a lovely gemstone, adopted by the Victorians. 

Primrose – A lovely Rose name that lends itself to being a longer form for Rose. Prim, Posy, Rose or Rosie could all be used as nicknames. 

Rosalie – Another beautiful elaboration of Rose that has the same cadence as Ottilie. 

Sylvie / Sylvia – Both variants of the Ancient Roman name Silvia are chic and stylish but not too common. 

 

Albert – Princely like Frederick but quirky like Oscar and Barnaby, Albert not only boasts a rich history but can also be shortened to either Albie or Bertie.

Bertram – Like Wilfred, Bertram is an early medieval name with a dithematic meaning. In Bertram's case, it means "bright raven". 

Franklin – Another early medieval name, Franklin means "a free man" but has earlier connotations with the Franks whose name derives from "a lance". 

Magnus – Half Max-half Hector, Magnus is a stately Roman name meaning "great, mighty, important." It has been used by royalty since the Middle Ages.

Myles / Miles – Miles was brought to Britain by the Normans -- their form of the Germanic Milo meaning  "mild; good, generous" Miles is also the Latin for "soldier, knight".

Nathaniel – A Biblical name that has a laid-back style and cool nickname Nate. 

Otto – The masculine equivalent to Ottilie and Odette that is as punchy as Rex.

Rafe  – Similar in style to Rex, Rafe is great on its own, but could also be a short-form for Ranulph. Classic-with-a-twist Raphael is also a possible longer form. 

Robin – A medieval version of classic Robert which is also linked to the sweet British bird. There is also a cool link between literary medieval hero Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe and medieval legend Robin Hood. 

Sidney – Like Wilfred, Sidney's roots lie with the Anglo-Saxons. They are also both names that were revived and popularised by the Victorians giving both a vintage feel. 

Theodore – As Thea and Edward are on your husband's list, I wonder whether Theodore would appeal. It has the same elegant style as Frederick and Edward and can also have Theo or Teddy as a nickname. 

Tobias – A Biblical name that was used in the Middle Ages, developing the English form Toby. 

Vincent – A Roman-heritage name meaning "winning", Vincent has been used in Britain since the Middle Ages and has the same adorable Old-man charm that Wilfred has. 

 

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

UPDATE: Welcome, Beatrice Rose!

 

Name Help: A Brother for Willow and Corran

 

Alana is expecting her third baby -- a brother for Willow and Corran.

Alana writes: "We'd like a Scottish name, or at least a Celtic flavour but not too common. Corran is obviously rare and while Willow has now shot up the charts it wasn't in the top 100 when we picked it. Our other constraint is no C/K names - there are so many in our extended family it's become a bit of a running joke. Spelling needs to be not too difficult - my own name is either spelled wrong or pronounced wrong on an almost daily basis so I'd like to avoid that if possible. 

Our current ideas, in no particular order, are: Ruairidh, Alexander, Struan, Logan, Flynn and Blair.  My taste for boys has been towards uncommon Scottish names. My favourite names at the moment are probably Logan (but it's so popular it puts me off) and Ruairidh (hubby isn't so keen). My husband tends to go more left field. Yesterday's suggestion was Loki! He likes Struan and previously favoured Torin (before we had Corran obviously). He has previously mentioned names with a more Scandinavian/mythology flair but is also keen for a strong Scottish name."

 

 

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Looking at the names you've considered, I've noticed that all but Struan and Flynn are in the top 100 in Scotland currently. I can see your dilemma; while you don't want an especially popular name, you are drawn to names that are stylish and will be easily recognised.

That is why I haven't completely ignored the Scottish top 100, but have stuck to options below the top 50, meaning names given to fewer than 100 boys per year. 

While researching options, I found myself drawn to Scottish heritage names (like Corran) with links to indigenous Scottish trees (like Willow); a perfect match between Willow and Corran and keeping the Scottish natural theme.

 

Aulay - From the medieval Scots Gaelic name Amladh which was itself a Scottish rendering of the Norse Olaf. It ranked at #711 in Scotland in 2020. 

Blaine – From the Gaelic bla "yellow, blonde". Blane (without the i) was borne by a Scottish saint. Blaine ranks at #536 and Blane at #891 in Scotland. 

Brae –  A name found all over the map of Scotland, derived from the Scots Gaelic bràigh "upper part," though in some cases it may be from the Old Norse breiðr "broad." It ranks at #1274.

Euan / Ewan – A sleek Scottish heritage name with an ancient history. It likely means "born of the yew tree". The yew tree is a native Scottish tree and was sacred to the ancient Celts. Euan ranks at #126 and Ewan at #159.

Fraser – A stately Scottish clan name with a modern sound. The Fraser Fir tree is named after Scots Botanist, John Fraser. It ranks at #59. 

Innes – A place name derived from the Scots Gaelic innis "island". It ranks at #83.

Lachlan – A handsome name that is quintessentially Scottish but with a Nordic heritage. It ranks at #101. 

Lennox  – A Scottish place name -- like Corran -- which derives from the Gaelic name Leamhnachd made up of leamhan  "elm" and achadh "field". Like Willow, the elm is an indigenous tree in Scotland. 

Lorcan – An Old Gaelic name derived from the Old Irish lorcc  "fierce" and the diminutive suffix -án.

Magnus – This Roman name, meaning "great", became a Scandinavian royal staple in the early Middle Ages and from there passed to Scotland. Magnus was even in the top 100 in Scotland back in 1900. It currently ranks at #119. 

Maxwell – A Scottish clan name, derived from a pool in the River Tweed near Kelso which means "Maccus's stream". Maccus is thought to be a Scottish form of Magnus. It ranks at #350.

Rowan – A multifaceted name that links Willow and Corran seamlessly. Firstly, Rowan is the name of a native Scottish tree which ultimately takes its name from Norse for "red" (thanks to its berries). It is also a Scottish surname derived from places named Roan (Ayr, Berwick, Roxburgh). It is also an anglicised form of the Gaelic name Ruadhán derived from the Old Irish ruad "red, red-haired"

Shay – An Anglicised form of the Scottish name Seaghdh -- the Irish form was Séaghdha -- which in Old Gaelic meant "majestic, learned, esteemed." It ranks at #164. 

Sorley – A Scottish variant of Somerled and the Gaelic Somhairle which are derived from the Old Norse name Sumarliði meaning "summer-wayfarer. Somerled/Somhairle was not uncommon in medieval Scotland. Sorley ranks at #426. 

Stirling – A city in central Scotland with a strong, handsome sound. It ranks at #1274. 

Tavish – The Anglicised form of Thàmhais, the Scottish form of Thomas. It ranks at #891. 

Tiernan  – A modern form of the Old Gaelic Tighearnán meaning "little lord". It was used by royalty in medieval Ireland and Tigerna (a Latinised form) can also be found in medieval Scottish records. 

Tristan – Tristan is a Celtic name that traces back to the Pictish name Drustan. It was borne by Pictish kings and one, in particular, Drustan son of Talorc, appeared in Scottish legends as saving a princess from giants when he travelled to the Hebrides. It ranks at #426.

 

I hope this has been of use. Best wishes with settling on the perfect name.

 

UPDATE: Welcome, Ruairidh!

 

Name Help: A Brother for Cosmo

 

Carla is expecting her second baby -- a brother for son Cosmo.

Carla writes: "We ended up calling our little boy Cosmo August (mostly because they were the only names the other one hadn't vetoed!) We love the fact that Cosmo is a traditional name but now rarely used. We also like its upbeat feel.

We're really struggling with names for his little brother. Ivo is my current favourite but my partner thinks two names ending in O might be too matchy-matchy.

 

Others on our list are:

Clement (I like this but my partner's not sure)

Indie (we both like this, but neither wants a nickname as a name)

Remy (partner's choice)

 

We liked Hector but I couldn't get past the meaning of the verb. We also Magnus, but wonder if it might be too weighty a name to burden a child with.

 

Our taste is probably best described as awkward! We like fairly old/traditional but also unusual names. We also like upbeat names but not silly/novelty feeling. 

 

I probably like "out there" names and also older names more than my partner does e.g. he has vetoed Bede, Ernest and Percy.

 

We'd quite like one of his names to begin with C as we have a theme running now (all of us beginning with C) but it doesn't have to be the first name. 

 

 

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It can be so hard when you are naming from two different pages, especially when you feel like all you have is obstacles and no real options. I can appreciate what your partner is saying about another -o ending name, but it proved difficult for me honestly, as so many quirky upbeat names that match the style of Cosmo also end in -o (Finlo, Ludo, Inigo, Rollo etc). Hopefully, some of the options below will be to your liking, or at least help spark a renewed debate. 

 

Amias - An upbeat name used since the Middle Ages which derives either from the Medieval French Amé, from aimer "to love", or the Medieval English Amis, derived from the Latin amicus "a friend" -- probably both! Spencer used the speling Amyas in his Faerie Queene and Amyas Leigh is the hero of the novel Westward Ho! (1855).

Amos – A friendly Biblical name that means "carried" or possibly "courageous". The English surname Amos derives from Amis (above).

Asa –  A quirky Biblical name that means "healer" but also appears as a name in many other languages.

Dante – A medieval form Durante derived from the Latin durans "enduring, lasting, remaining". A famous bearer is Dante Alighieri, the 13th-century Italian poet.

Emrys – The Welsh form of the Ancient Greek name Ambrosios meaning "immortal, divine" which is embedded in Arthurian legend.

Evander – An Ancient Greek Trojan hero whose name meant "good man". 

Kester – Kester is a Tudor vernacular form of Christopher with literary heritage.

Llewelyn / Lewin – Llewelyn handsome Royal Welsh name which means either "lion likeness" or "leader likeness". Lewin is a later medieval form of the Anglo-Saxon name Leofwine meaning "dear friend". 

Rhydian – An Old Welsh name meaning "red" -- cognate with Rowan. 

Soren – The Danish form of Severin -- a derivative of the Roman Severinus, itself derived from Severus "serious, strict, severe".

 

C Names

Cadoc / Caradoc – Cadoc and Caradoc are both ancient Welsh names. Cadoc means "battle" and Caradoc means "beloved". Caradoc is better known as the Ancient Celtic hero Caractacus. 

Caius –A variant of the Roman staple Gaius which  the Romans themselves linked to the Latin gaudere "to rejoice" but could derive from Gaia. 

Carrick – Derived from the Gaelic for "rock", found in many place names across Britain, and used as a given name since at least the 18th century.

Carwyn – Another historic Welsh name derived from car "love" and gwyn "white fair, blessed". 

Cedric – First used by Scott in Ivanhoe, Cedric was either based on Old English Cerdic (from the same source as Caradoc, above) or from the Welsh Cedrych meaning "bounty". 

Clark – With Clark Gable and Clark Kent, this sweet name packs quite a dashing punch.

Claude – The  Anglicised form of the Roman name Claudius belonging to one of the most powerful families in Ancient Rome. 

Clifford – A place name meaning "ford by a cliff" it one belonged to one of the most powerful families in the Middle Ages. It has been used as a given name since the 16th century. 

Clive / Clyde – Both Clive and Clyde have ties to nature. Clive means "cliff" and Clyde is given to the famous Scottish river. 

Cormac – An Old Irish name which appears in several Irish legends. It derives from the Irish cairb "charioteer". 

Cyprian – A third century saint derived from the Roman name Cyprianus meaning "of Cyprus". 

Cyrus – A Greek-style name to match Cosmo, Cyrus was famously borne by the great Persian king. 

 

Name Help: A Sister for Astrid and Saskia

 

Liz is expecting her third daughter  —a little sister for Astrid and Saskia.

Liz writes: "I would really appreciate your help in finding a name for my soon-to-be third daughter, sister to Astrid and Saskia.

She will have a very common surname so I’m looking for something more unusual, but not too “out there”. She has English, Scottish and Polish heritage but her name doesn’t need to reflect that necessarily.

We’d prefer “full” names rather than nicknames, but happy for names with a shortening (eg Francesca vs Frankie). Would prefer more than one syllable but not bothered about medium vs long. 

I prefer strong names and I’m not a fan of cute/girly names like Poppy or Daisy. Non-frilly is also preferred! I probably err more towards the traditional, or at least not so keen on more modern names e.g surname type names (like Harper). I also like nature-inspired names. My partner likes unusual/alternative-type names. 

 

One of the things I like about my daughters’ names (Astrid and Saskia) is that they're generally known/heard of but not very common. We’re definitely looking for a less popular name. 

 

We’d prefer to avoid matching initials so no “A” or “S” names. Alliteration is fine though e.g. Celeste.

 

Names I have considered but my partner has declined include Marianne, Iona, Hester and Petra. 

 

I addition to the names my partner has vetoed, names I like but can’t use include Anouk, Rowan, Rowena, Soraya, Elin, Zelda"

 

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Astrid and Saskia are positively swoon-worthy! I love how strong and Euro-chic they feel so I've based my suggestions on names that evoke a similar image. 

 

Calista – A mellifluous Ancient Greek name meaning "most beautiful" which is more suited to an Amazonian queen than a frilly fairytale princess. 

Claudia – A pan-European elegant name descended from the Romans. It currently ranks at #554 -- between Astrid and Saskia's current rank.  

Clio – Meaning "to celebrate, make famous", Clio was the name of the Greek goddess of history (one of the Nine Muses). Clio ranks #2170 and Cleo #191. 

Cosima – A lyrical Italian name, the feminine form of Cosimo -- itself from the Greek Kosmas meaning "order, decency". 

Eriska – Eriska is a small tidal island off Scotland's west coast and part of the Lynn of Lorn National Scenic Area. It has recently been used as a given name even though the name itself is ancient. Another beautiful Scottish island name (in use as a given name since the 19th century) is Vaila. 

Ines – An exotic alternative to her more serious sister-name Agnes -- Ines is the Italian, Spanish and South Slavic form. It ranks at #641.

Juniper – A grown-up nature name, ranking comfortably at #562.

Juno – The name of the Roman queen of the gods and protector of women. Regal, interesting and not too unheard of at its rank of #485.

Kinvara – A seaport village in County Galway, Ireland which has been in use as a given name since the mid-20th century. 

Larissa – Derived from the Ancient Greek name Larisa -- the name of a nymph in Greek mythology (for whom a moon of Neptune is named) and an ancient city. Larissa is the Romanised form that is most common in Britain (ranking #980) but it was made famous in modern times by the character Larisa "Lara" Feodorovna in the Russian novel Doctor Zhivago.

Lowenna – A melodic Cornish name meaning "joy, happiness" ranking at #1153. In a similar vein is the fellow Cornish Elowen meaning "elm tree" which ranks at #838.

Maelys  – A popular top 100 name in France which is regarded as the feminine form of the Breton Mael meaning "chieftain". It is thought Maelys is based on the French town Maylis (used as a given name earlier than Maelys) which derives from "mother lily" in Occitan. Similarly, the Tahitian name Maeva (meaning "welcome") has enjoyed great success in France at the turn of the century. In England and Wales, it ranks #682.

Mirren – A top 100 name in Scotland but rare in England and Wales. Mirren is regarded as a Scottish diminutive of Marion. Similar sounding is the Cornish Merryn meaning "born of the sea".

Odessa – Odessa is a city in Ukraine, often called the "pearl of the Black Sea", named after the ancient Greek city of Odessos. It has been in use since the 18th century -- possibly as a feminine form of Odysseus. 

Paloma – An elegant Spanish name meaning "dove", ranking at #980. 

Romilly – The name of several Norman settlements that derive from the Roman name Romulus and in use as a given name since at least the 19th century. Romola is an Italian feminine form. 

Thalia – This Ancient Greek name was not only borne by the goddess of comedy and poetry (one of the Nine Muses) but also the goddess of festivity (one of the three Graces. Her name was derived from the Greek adjective thalia which, when applied to banquets, meant rich, plentiful and luxuriant" but could in a springtime context mean "to blossom". It ranks at #609.

Willa – Regarded as a feminine form of William, Willa is sleek and chic in style and ranks at #897.

Xanthe – An Ancient Greek name derived from the Greek xanthos "yellow, fair-haired" which was used for a pale-coloured stone in ancient times. The name was also used in Greek mythology. It currently ranks at #796.

 

Of the above, I'm drawn most to Romilly, Odessa and Thalia but I think all of them would fit in seamlessly with your set.

 

UPDATE: Welcome, Elowen! 

Liz says: "She was very nearly called Calista but in the end we opted for Elowen."

 

 

Name Help: A Sister Name for Lewis and Theodore

 

Danielle is looking for a girls' name to compliment her sons' names — Lewis and Theodore. 

Danielle writes: "We have decided if it's a boy he'll be named Thomas but we are stuck on a name for a daughter. We will be using Eileen as the middle name. We have compiled a list but are having a tough time sticking with one. I think the biggest issue is finding a nickname, since we use Lou and Theo a lot, the name definitely has to have a nickname. Here is our list:I

Evelyn Eileen

Nora Eileen

Clara Eileen

 

I love vintage names personally, my husband isn't as picky as I am so he's more open but says he likes vintage names too. I love that Lewis and Theodore pair well together. I am a little worried about repeating initials, I'm not sure if it looks strange (for example Evelyn Eileen) plus they are related names too I believe? I keep it on the table because I have "lynns" in the family and it has several cute nicknames.

 

I can't use Amelia, Thea, Lily, Sarah, Lillian, Eleanor, Alice any H name because of our surname."

 

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Evelyn, Clara and Nora are all beautiful options, though, with the exception of Evelyn, the latter two are difficult to nickname. The options below have been chosen with their nickname options in mind and using your current list as a guide.

 

Anais – A sleek French gem, Anais has been linked to Anna for centuries, but it is now thought that it is the French form of the Greek Anaitis, derived from Ancient Persian goddess Anahita whose name meant "pure". 

Annabel(le) – A sweet Victorian darling, Annabel hails back to the Middle Ages when it developed as a medieval Scottish form of Amabel meaning "loveable". The nickname potential is wide from Annie, Anna, Abby or Belle/Bella.  

Arabella – A relative of Annabel, Arabella possibly derives from the same source as Annabel or else derives from the Latin for "exorable, benevolent". Ari, Aria, Abby and Belle/Bella could all be used. 

Aurora – The Roman goddess of the dawn with Nora's ending and Evelyn's romance. Aura or Rory could be short forms. 

Beatrice – Queen Victoria put this royal medieval and Shakespearean name back on the map when she gave it to her youngest daughter in 1857, catapulting the name back into the top 100. It has numerous nickname options including Bea, Bebe, Bess, Betsy, Betty, Bree, Trissy etc. A similar option is Potter-inspired Beatrix. 

Charlotte – A sweet Georgian name which has been royally endorsed since the Middle Ages. Lottie is a sweet go-to nickname. 

Delilah – The independent "bad girl" of the Bible who is now receiving a redemption of character. It wasn't too uncommon a name in the 18th century, and only started declining under the puritanical Victorians. It is now having its heyday again.

Edith – It's staggering how many amazing women in history have answered to Edith and it is now proudly back in the top 100 again. Edie is an adorable short form which is also proving stylish.

Elodie – Another way to get to Edie (or Ellie/Ella for that matter) is chic French Elodie which ranks just below the top 100. 

Eloise – And speaking of chic French imports, Eloise is a medieval staple which is pretty stylish.

Emilia – Emmy or Millie work perfectly with sleek Emilia, the Latinised form of perennial Emily. 

Evangeline – You are right to say that Evelyn does mean the same as Eileen -- they both derive from Avelina. However, Evangeline has all the same nickname choices as Evelyn (more, arguably!) but with a completely separate origin. 

Felicity – A lively and happy name (matching its meaning of "happiness, bliss") with a vintage feel. 

Imogen – A sweet Shakespearean choice connected to an ancient British queen. Immy, Ginny or Gina can be used as nicknames. 

Matilda – A medieval powerhouse, borne by numerous warrior queens, and was revived by the Victorians giving it a vintage vibe. Matty, Millie, Tilly and Maddy can be used as nicknames. 

Ottilie – A ladylike vintage option which can be shortened to Tilly, Ottie, Ollie or Lottie.

Penelope – Faithful Penelope hails from Greek mythology. Her ancient name is now a stylish modern choice, and the nickname options are numerous -- Penny, Polly, Poppy, Nell and Ellie to name a few. 

Rosa / Rose / Rosalie – Not only the name of the beautiful rose, long before Rose was adopted as a given name in honour of the flower in Britain it was already in use as an everyday English form of the Norman name Roheis meaning "famous, renowned one".Rosa was its Latinised form and Rosalie is an elaborate French form. All can have the sweet nickname Rosie. 

 

 

I hope this will help give some new inspiration for girls' names. 

 

Name Help: A Brother for Cecilia and Wilfred

 

Keira and Edmund are expecting their third baby -- a brother for Cecilia and Wilfred. 

Keira writes: "Current names on my list are Otto, Rafferty, Ludo and Theodore. My husband likes Augustus and Hercules.  We both quite like Laurence but don’t love it, and I like Laurie but not Larry as a nickname. 

We like strong, classic boys names, preferably longer names that can be shortened and not super popular. We have a Cecilia and a Wilfred so another saints name would be good. Our last name begins with a hard C so we can’t use Max or Felix.

 

This is our third child so we are prepared to go a little left field."

 

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Cecilia and Wilfred are so swoon-worthy. I can see why you want another name just as good. I also think it's great that you are willing to push the boat out a bit for this baby as it opens up a whole world of exciting name choices. 

All the names suggested below are saints names.

 

Alban - Alban is the anglicised form of the Latin name Albanus meaning "of Alba Longa" (the ancient Italian city). Three saints have borne the name; the most famous was the British soldier martyred in the 3rd century for whom St Albans is named. His name is often thought to derive from the Latin name Albanus but, as legend has it that he was a Romano-British native, it is likely to derive from the Celtic *albiyo "world".

Atticus – A Roman name meaning "from Attica" (putting it in the company of Sebastian, Luke, Adrian and Laurence and the like which all derive from ancient places). It has been borne by saints, a philosopher and the notable literary character. 

Augustine –  The anglicised form of Augustinus, a derivative of Augustus. Its medieval usage was inspired by Saint Augustine of Hippo and Saint Augustine of Canterbury. 

Barnaby – Saint Barnabas was an early disciple of St Paul. Barnaby is the English form of the name and Barnaby was historically commonly used in places with churches dedicated to the saint.

Finnian – Perky Irish Finnian belonged to a whole host of saints. It derives from the Old Irish find meaning "white, bright, blessed". 

Ignatius – Stately Roman Ignatius is a great saintly choice with plenty of style. It has plenty of nickname options, including Iggy, Gus, Nash or Nate. 

Inigo – Saint Ignatius of Loyola was born Íñigo -- possibly a form of Ignatius itself, or else a Basque name meaning "my little one". Renowned architect Inigo Jones is a famous bearer, also. 

Leander – A strong, heroic Greek name meaning "lion of men" which can be shortened to Leo, Lander, Anders etc.

Magnus – A great (if you'll excuse the name pun) Latin name which has been borne by emperors, kings and saints.

Malachy – An Anglicised form of either Máel Sechnaill -- "disciple of St Sechnall" (ultimately derived from Latin Secundus "second") -- or Máel Máedóc -- "disciple of St Madoc" (ultimately derived from Aed "fire"). Malachy itself was also borne by a saint. 

Nathaniel / Nathanael – St Nathanael is an alternate name for the apostle St Barthlomew with the great meaning of "God has given."

Nicander – The Latin form of the Greek Nikandros meaning "victory of man" -- pulling together elements (and sounds) found in Nicholas and Alexander. It was borne by 2nd-century BC Greek poet, a Spartan king and six saints. 

Octavius – The original name of Emperor Augustus with just as much gravitas. As in Disney's Cinderella, I'm a fan of Gus as a nickname for Octavius, but Ovie, Oggy, Tavi and more are options. 

Peregrine – Peregrine is a Latin name meaning "traveller" and borne by five saints. It is also the name of a falcon. Pip, Perry and Reggie could be used as a diminutive.

Quentin – Deriving from the Roman name Quintus, Quentin has a decidedly suave style. 

Raphael – Famously borne by an archangel but also borne by saints (as both Raphael and Rafael). Raffy, Ralph or Rafe could be used as short forms. 

Silas – Derived from the Latin name Silvanus: the name of the Roman god of the forest. Silas appears in the New Testament for a companion of Paul who is considered a saint.

Sylvester – From the Roman name Silvester meaning "forest", borne by several saints and popes.

Thaddeus – Often shortened to Tad (though you could also use Ted/Teddy), Thaddeus is a Biblical saint's name with various appealing meanings.

Thorfinn – A striking Scandinavian name -- not uncommon in the Shetland islands -- which was borne by a 13th century saint.

 

 

Update: Welcome Barnaby Augustus!

 

Name Help: A Sibling for Wilberforce and Cornelia

 

Abigail is expecting her third child -- gender unknown -- who will be a sibling for Wilberforce "Wilber" and Cornelia "Corrie".

Abigail writes: "I am a textile artist [...and] my husband is an English scholar who studied romantic English literature and is now an Anglican vicar.

We like our children's names to have meaning and be named after people who have made a difference in the world. Which we hope and pray our children will do too. Even though we live and work in Kenya and both our children have been born here, as will the third, we like to hold onto our British roots and culture.

Our son is called Wilberforce Alfred Chesterton.

 

Wilberforce after William Wilberforce.

Alfred after my grandfather.

Chesterton after GK Chesterton the famous theologian and writer.

We call him Wilber. 

 

Our daughter is called Cornelia Ellen Beatrix.

Cornelia after Corrie Ten-Boom who hid Jews during the 2nd world war.

Ellen after my husband's grandmother.

Beatrix after Beatrix Potter.

We call her Corrie.

 

We have a few names we like but nothing we love or jumps out at us! 

 

For a boy the names we like are;

Huckleberry, (from Huckleberry Fin) Not sure what we could shorten it too!?) Eugene, (wrote the message version of the Bible) Headley, (husband's grandfather) Mountbatten (HRH prince Philip surname) Horatio (wrote the hymn "It is well with my soul" after his four daughters drowned travelling across from England to America) 

 

For a girl the names we like are;

Bronte (after Charlotte Bronte) Bernice (after my grandmother) Clarice (Clarice Cliff a beautiful potter) 

 

We are struggling with the order and the fact that a few of the names start with the same letter. Got to be careful about the initials and what they spell!? I would like to carry on naming each child after a grandparent. 

 

I love the work of William Morris (I gained a lot of inspiration from his work when I ran my own textiles company) however don't like either of the names! 

 

 

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This is, without a doubt, the most challenging Name Help post I have ever done. It was hugely enjoyable, but so hard to follow in the footsteps of the carefully thought-out names you have already chosen. 

So many names that fit the style of Wilberforce "Wilber" and Cornelia "Corrie" -- such as Gwendolyn or Algernon -- lacked the literary, artistic or notable namesake, while names of worthy people (such as Amy for Amy Carmichael) lack the same 'oomph' as Wilber and Corrie. Trying to find a suitable balance was an interesting challenge for me.

I love so many names from your current list. Bronte is wonderful as is Horatio and Eugene, and I love the idea of Mountbatten with the nickname Monty! Huckleberry is very striking too. Besides Huck as a nickname, how about Bucky?

I agree that you should absolutely use Headley or Bernice as the second name to follow the established family pattern.

Though I imagine some of these names below were more suitable for middle names, I have put potential nicknames in brackets for you to consider:

 

Edith (Edie) – Edith is a name borne by a whole host of estimable women such as Edith Cavell (1865–1915), the famous British nurse who, during WWI, treated soldiers on both sides indiscriminately and set up escape routes for hundreds of Belgian and allied fugitives; Edith Cowan (1861-1932), Australian social reformer who worked for the rights and welfare of women and children; Edith Pechey (1845–1908), one of the first female doctors in Britain as well as a campaigner for women's rights; Edith Abbott (1876–1957), American economist and a pioneer in the profession of social work and a leading activist in social reform, and Edith Durham (1863–1944) was British writer and anthropologist who travelled extensively in Balkans, advocating the rights of the Albanian people and working in various relief organisations. 

Evangeline (Eva, Evie, Lina, Vina) – A true literary name thought to have been invented by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow for the heroine of his poem Evangeline (1847) and made famous by Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. A real-life namesake is Evangeline "Eva" French  (1869-1960), who alongside her sister Francesca and Mildred Cable, was a missionary pioneer in central Asia in the early 20th century.

Harriet (Hattie, Hettie, Harrie, Etta, Ettie) – There are many estimable Harriets in history. Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896), author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, was a prominent anti-slavery campaigner and several British babies were named for her in her lifetime. Harriet Martineau (1802-1876) was a British philosopher who is considered to be the first female sociologist, and Harriet Tubman (1822-1913) was a famous abolitionist. 

Helen (Nell) – Helen Keller (1880-1968) was an author, lecturer, and crusader for the disabled. Dr. Helen Roseveare (1925-2016) was a famous English missionary to the Congo who built hospitals and trained nurses. 

Hephzibah (Heppy, Eppie, Effie, Ziba, Zibby, Zippy) – Hephzibah is a Biblical name meaning “My delight is in her." In Isaiah 62:4, the name is used as an alternate name for Zion [“No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married.”], given by God as a symbol of forgiveness. Hephzibah "Eppie" is also the virtuous heroine in George Eliot's Silas Marner, who stays loyal to her impoverished adopted father, turning down the opportunity to be raised as a gentleman's daughter.

Lilias / Lilian (Lily) – Lilias Trotter (1853–1928) was an artist and missionary to Algeria who spent her early days volunteering to aid the poor of London. Lilian Trasher (1887-1961) "Nile Mother" was a notable missionary who founded Egypt's first orphanage. 

Margaret (Maggie, Meg, Peggy, Daisy, Pearl, Greta) –  There are so many worthy women in history named Margaret. Just a few include philosopher and poet Margaret Cavendish (1623-1673), social reformer Margaret Byers (1832-1912), British textile historian Margaret Swain (1909–2002) and Margaret Haughery (1813–1882), a philanthropist known as "the mother of the orphans". The beauty of Margaret is the wealth of diminutive options. I'm partial to Pearl as an option for you, as a nod to author Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973), the first female recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature. 

Rosetti (Rose, Rosa, Rosie, Etta, Ettie) – Rosetti is a surname that I think works really well for a girl with all the potential nicknames. It can be given in honour of Christina Rosetti, renowned poet responsible for the hymns "In the Bleak Midwinter" and "Love Came Down at Christmas" and her brother Dante Gabriel Rosetti, an eminent Pre-Raphaelite artist who influenced William Morris. 

Roseveare (Rose, Rosa, Rosie, Vera) – I've mentioned Helen Roseveare above, but as her surname has so many lovely surname options, I thought it was worth a separate mention. 

Susannah (Susie, Suki, Zuzu) – Susannah Spurgeon (1832-1892) was the wife of preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon. In her own right, she was responsible for a fund supplying theological books to clergymen and ministers who were too poor to buy them.

 

Aneurin (Nye) – Aneurin "Nye" Bevan (pronounced an-NYE-rin) was responsible for the creation of the National Health Service and also made many progressive steps as housing minister. A very principled man, in 1951, he resigned from the government in protest at the introduction of prescription charges for dental care and spectacles. 

Clifford (Cliff) – Clifford can be used as a nod to Clarice Cliff and also to several other notable Cliffords such as philosopher William Kingdom Clifford, theologian William Clifford and civil rights activist Clifford Durr to name a few. 

Desmond (Des) – Bishop Desmond Tutu is revered worldwide for his anti-apartheid and human rights activism. 

Edison (Ned, Ted, Teddy, Sonny) – Not only was Thomas Edison (1847–1931) a remarkable inventor and engineer, but he also rescued a three-year-old boy from a runaway train while in his teens. From an early age, Edison developed a severe deafness, which ultimately left him almost 90% deaf. He never saw it as a disability, however, and refused to let it hold him back.

Faraday (Freddie) – Michael Faraday (1791-1867) was an eminent British scientist who was born to a poor family in London. Despite lacking formal higher education, he was an avid reader and was mostly self-taught, becoming one of the country's greatest scientist in spite of this. He held deeply religious beliefs, which is thought to have been a reason why he refused the British government’s request that he develop chemical weapons for the Crimean war. 

Linus – Linus Pauling (1901-1994) was one of a few people who was awarded both the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and the Nobel Peace Prize for his peace activism. 

Livingstone (Levi, Vinnie, Sonny) – The first name that came to mind immediately when I read your request was Livingstone for David Livingstone (1813-1873). Not only does Livingstone match up to the style of your other names beautifully, but Livingstone's reputation as an explorer, imperial reformer, anti-slavery crusader speaks for itself. 

Nahum – Nahum is an Old Testament name, borne by one of the twelve minor prophets, which means "comforter". Nahum Tate (1652-1715) was a poet and hymnist (responsible for hymns such as "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks") and the third Poet Laureate.

Raleigh – John Raleigh Mott (1955-1865) was a long-serving leader of YMCA who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946 for his work in establishing and strengthening international Protestant Christian student organizations that worked to promote peace. It also brings to mind the famous Elizabethan explorer Sir Walter Raleigh. 

Raphael (Raffi, Rafe) – As a nod to William Morris, Raphael springs to mind as a variant on "Pre-Raphaelite" , the artistic movement which inspired his work. 

Tennyson (Tenny, Ted, Sonny) – Alfred, Lord Tennyson remains one of Britains most popular poets and was the eleventh Poet Laureate, penning "The Charge of the Light Brigade", "Idylls of the King" and "The Lady of Shalott" to name but a few. 

Woodford (Woody) – William Morris spent his childhood at Woodford Hall in Woodford, Essex. 

 

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

 

UPDATE: Welcome, Huckleberry Eugene Dietrich. 

Abigail writes: "His siblings Wilberforce and Cornelia already adore him!

Heard of the song moon river; 'Huckleberry Friend' is a term for the right person at the right time in other words the perfect friend

He's been prayed for and waited for...so coming at God's time, the perfect time - he is our Huckleberry friend.

Eugene after Eugene Peterson who wrote the message version of the Bible and lots of other books and things.

Dietrich after Dietrich Bonhoeffer who was a pastor during the second world war. 2 PHDs by the time he was 24 years old. Was caught in a group plotting to kill Hitler."

 

Name Help: A Sibling for Hali and Esmee

 

Marina is expecting her third child -- gender unknown -- who will be a sibling for big sisters Hali and Esmee.

Marina writes: " I would love a short, perhaps similarly 2 syllable name that is unique but pretty. I came across a name Lacie the other day for a girl which I thought was pretty and rare. I’m also very interested in sea-inspired names (like mine & Hali's) but I feel I’ve been through them all and either they are a bit too out there for me (e.g. River) or perhaps don’t go with Hali & Esmee (short, 2 syllables).  I’m thinking Arlo for a boy but for some reason I’m now hearing this a bit now too (I don’t mind as much for a boy)."

Marina sent me an extensive list of names she has already considered which included choices such as Darcy, Elodie, Aurora, Kaia, Sierra, Lexi, Harper, Soraya, Byron, Cooper, Atlas, Winston, Logan, Arnie, Otis and Clay so her style is pretty broad and open-minded. 

 

 

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Arlo is a great choice with your girls' names and, if it feels right, go for it. One reason you may be hearing it a lot more is that it is a hot favourite at the moment, ranking at #34 having only been in the top 100 for 3 years. 

For the most part, I've chosen names that are not too common but now too out-there (the elusive sweet spot) and highlighted some sea-themed names as well.

 

Ainara / Enara – Common in native Spain but rare in Britain, Ainara is the popular Spanish form of the Basque name Enara meaning "swallow bird".

Cleo – A sassy and bright Ancient Greek name meaning "glory, fame."

Delphi – An ancient sacred site which derives from Greek delphis "dolphin", giving a suitable 'sea' theme.

Dolcie / Dulcie – Meaning "sweet", Dulcie and Dolcie are names that date back to the Middle Ages and are in a similar vein to Lacie.

Juno – June made your list as a potential middle name, so I wanted to suggest June's namesake Juno -- Roman queen of the gods. It ranks at #485 making it 'known but not commonplace. 

Lena – A flapper-style name that has plenty of style.

Meri – A sweet Finnish name meaning "sea".

Merryn – A lovely Cornish name meaning "sea-born" which is linked to a legend of a mermaid.

Mira – A Sanskrit name meaning "sea" which was borne by a 16th-century Indian princess.Mira also means "peace" in Slavic languages.

Naia – Rhyming with Maya and Kaia on your list, Naia is a Basque name meaning "wave, seafoam".

Posie – A delicate as Lacie, Posie is a sweet and unexpected floral choice. 

Romy – Close to Remy on your list, Romy is a traditional nickname for Rosemary. 

 

Beckett – A sleek and stylish surname-firstname which is easily accessible but rare in use.

Blake – A literary name with a cool sound. 

Bodhi – A term of enlightenment now used as a fashionable boys' name.

Ivo – Historic Ivo has the cool sounds of Arlo but is much more unique.

Jago – A sleek and stylish Celtic form of James. 

Koa – A great Hawaiian name meaning "warrior" which makes a rarer alternative to Noah.

Levi – A fashion-forward Biblical choice which sits below the top 100.

Leon – While brother Leo sits right near the top of the top 100, suave Leon is near the bottom. Just as stylish without the popularity.

Milo – A pocket-powerhouse. Milo is both friendly and sophisticated.

Zane  – While Zain is an Arabic name meaning "grace, adornment, excellence", Zane is a West Country name derived from the Anglo-Saxon name Saewine meaning "friend of the sea". 

 

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

 

Name Help: A Floral Sister for Hattie

 

Kate is expecting her second daughter —a sister for Louisa Hortensia "Hattie"

Kate writes: "I’m searching for the perfect name for my second daughter. My first daughter is named Louisa Hortensia, and we call her Hattie. Her middle name is after my grandmother, Hortense (who was also nicknamed Hattie). 

My grandmother, Hortense, was one of 6 sisters, all named after flowers. The other sisters were Lillian, Rosalie, Marguerite, Flora, and Maile. Their father owned a popular florist shop, and each sister worked there at one point or another. The flower shop and the building itself went on to be somewhat of a historic landmark where I live with my family.

 

So, my dilemma is that I absolutely love the Victorian/Edwardian style floral names that the “sisters” all had, but I’d prefer to not reuse any more of their names, after using Hortense/Hortensia. My other grandmother (from my mother’s side) was named Marta, and I was very close with her. I wouldn’t feel right naming a child after a great aunt before naming one after her. I don’t think I can get on board with the name Marta, though, because of the hard “d” sound that Americans add to it (marDa).

 

So, long story short, I’m searching for a perfect flower name that is similar in style to the “sisters.” We are also Catholic, and it’s likely we would use a Christian name as the first name, and a flower name as the middle name, and possibly nickname her based on the middle (like we did with Hattie)."

 

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Oh, I do so love Victorian floral names. I just love how they embraced pretty much all flower names, not shying away from Bluebell, Snowdrop, Tulip, Orchid or Daffodil. One my early posts was about Victorian and Edwardian floral themed sibling sets and you can see just how wonderfully bold their floral tastes were.

 

Honouring Marta

I completely understand the feeling of wanting to honour a beloved relative, but not feeling like their name is usable for your tastes. My son has both of my grandfather's names, but my grandmothers' (Edna and Phyllis) never made the cut on our girls' list. I did, however, have plenty of E and P options as a nod to them. 

The obvious way to honour your grandmother Marta would be to use a variant of her name (as you did with Hortense > Hortensia). Martha has a much softer sound and would make a great first name coupled with a floral middle: Martha Lavender or Martha Delphine for example. Martha is also a rose variation.

Alternatively, you could use a floral M name, especially one that echoes the same letters as Marta:

Magnolia – Beautiful flowering shrubs and trees named for Pierre Magnol, Magnolia has a great Victorian feel and could easily become Maggie or Nola.

Manettia – Named for Saverio Manetti but commonly known as the Candy Corn Plant or Firecracker Vine. Minnie or Etta could be nicknames. 

Maranta – All the same letters and order as Marta but with an additional 'an'. Maranta is named after Bartolomeo Maranta but commonly known as the Prayer Plant. 

Marigold – Sweetly old-fashioned, Marigold is a combination of (the Virgin) Mary and "gold" referring to its colour. It can be shortened to Mari, Maggie, or Goldie. 

Martynia – As close a floral name as you can get to Marta, Martynia is named in honour of botanist John Martyn; its common name is "cat's claw" or "tiger's claw". Mari, Minnie or Tina could be nicknames. 

Mignonette – A favourite for the Victorians (there are several in my Victorian Floral Siblings post) Mignonette means "little darling". Minnie, Midge, Nonie or Etta could be nicknames.

 

Other Florals:

Amaryllis – Sporting the -is ending that the Edwardians loved so much, the amaryllis is named for Virgil's heroine in his epic poem Eclogues, the name means "to sparkle". It can be shortened to Amy, Mari, Mallie, Millie and Lily. 

Angelica – Called "angel-like" for their healing properties, Angelica are waterside perennial plants.

Azalea –  Beautiful plants known as the “Royalty of the Garden” because of the vibrant flowers. Zelie makes for a lovely nickname and also doubles as a saint's name.

Camellia – Another Victorian floral favourite (there were nearly 200 women and girls named Camelia/Camellia on the 1901 UK census) the fowering shrub is named for Georg Josef Kamel. Cammy, Callie or Millie could be nicknames. 

Cassandra – A romantic vintage name -- Jane Austen's sister was named Cassandra, for example -- which is associated with several plants including the leatherleaf, chrysanthemum and Clematis. 

Clematis – A gardener favourite due to its masses of different coloured and shaped flowers, Clematis a sweet yet unexpected floral name which the Victorians used. 

Dahlia – Named after Andreas Dahl, dahlias are relatives of sunflowers and daisies. Dolly can be used as a vintage short form. 

Jessamine / Jessamy – Poetic versions of the fragrant Jasmine, Jessamine/Jessamy was used throughout the 19th and early 20th century.

Juniper– The name of a tree which produces sweet berries which can be shortened to Juno or Junie.

Nolana – Meaning "little bell" due to the same of the flowers, Nolana easily lends itself to vintage Nola or Nonie.

Primrose – A sweet Spring flower which can be shortened to Posy, Rose, Rosie or Prim.

Rhodora – Also known as Canada rosebay, rhodora is a flowering plant that was named after the Greek rhodon "rose" because of the colour of the flowers. 

Thespesia – A flowering plant related to the hibiscus which could be shortened to Thea or Tess.

Valentina – The valentina (or acis valentina) is a pretty white flower native to Spain. The name itself derives from the Latin valens meaning "strong, vigorous, healthy".

Veronica  – This saintly name is also the scientific name of the speedwell flowering plant -- though they are more commonly called "veronica plants" these days.

 

I hope this has been of use. Good luck with settling on the perfect name for your new family addition. 

 

UPDATE: Welcome, Josephine Magnolia! 

 

 

Name Help: A Sister Name for Everly and Mabel

 

Joanna is expecting her third child (gender a surprise) —a little sibling for Everly Pearl and Mabel Grace.

Joanna writes: "We're really struggling to find a girls name that we both like to go with siblings. I like the names Posie (my favourite but husband hates it), Thea, Delphine (this is my grandmothers middle name).
My husband likes Ivy (too common for me) and Iris (I think sounds a bit too mature and difficult to nickname)""

 

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Firstly, let me just say that I love every sing name on your list. And the fact that you have Delphine as a family name seems too much of a wonderful gem to pass up. 

For the suggestions below, I've been drawn particularly to names with Ls and Es that Everly and Mabel also share as well as different endings to -y and -el.

 

Ada – Sweet Ada fits the Edwardian revival era of Ivy and Iris and the bell tones of Thea. Genius mathematician and pioneer, Ada Lovelace, makes a great namesake, also. 

Alba – A Romance language name meaning "dawn, sunrise" as well as "white, bright, shining". At #175 in England and Wales, it sits in the perfect not-too-hot-not-too-cold bracket that Everly and Mabel occupy. 

Anais – A similar name to Iris but with a fresher feel and more nicknamable. Anais has been linked to Anna for centuries, but it is now thought that it is the French form of the Greek Anaitis, their form of the Ancient Persian goddess Anahita whose name meant "pure". 

Athena – At #204, Athena is a rising, fashionable choice that sits between Everly and Mabel in the rankings. As the name of the Greek goddess of wisdom, warfare and crafts, she makes for a strong namesake. 

Clara – An elegant Roman name with a vintage feel and a feisty style. 

Cora – Short, vintage and vowel heavy like Ivy, Iris and Thea. Cora is a small name with a long and rich history that dates back to an ancient goddess.

Delphi – Combining Delphine and Posie, Delphi is the name of the ancient town on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, home of the sacred oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world and was considered the centre of the world to the Greeks. The name -- just like Delphine -- derives from Greek delphis "dolphin". 

Dulcie – Sweet like Posie, Dulcie -- which literally means "sweetness" -- has been used as a given name since the Middle Ages.

Lara – An elegant literary name with Greek roots. Possible meanings include "sweet, pleasant", "comorant" or "larch". 

Lena – An elegant vintage name that's similar in sound to Thea but far less common (#169 vs #46). 

Nola – A Victorian revival name which ranks comfortably at #310.

Nova – A Golden Age Hollywood name which ranks in the not-too-hot-not-too-cold sweet spot of #186.

Olive – Sweet Olive is similar in style to Iris but with nickname options of Liv, Livvy or Ollie.  

Ophelia – Bold Shakespearean Ophelia has a lovely lyrical sound and a rising profile -- currently at #177. 

Polly – Sweet Polly is akin to Posie but may be more to your husband's liking with its vintage style. 

Primrose – The lovely Primrose is a lovely Spring flower. As a given name, it can be shortened to Posie, while still sounding as grown-up as Iris.

Rosa – Not only the Latin form of the beautiful rose, Rosa is also the Latinised form of the medieval Roheis meaning "famous, renowned one".It ranks at #154.

Sadie – A bubbly vintage short form of princessly Sarah, ranking at #142. 

Seren – A Welsh gem meaning "star" which is sleek and stylish.

 

I hope this will help spark renewed inspiration for girls' names. Good luck with settling on the perfect name for your new family addition.