Meaning: Wisdom. Jean. Irene. I agree with you that, for me, Ethel, Edith and Dorothy sound very old-fashioned. The argument is that as Christianity spread, this became less important and so naming patterns changed accordingly. But by the time of the conquest, its likely that both Old English and Continental Germanic names had stopped being formed dithematically, and people just used names as we do today, naming their child Richard or Edward, without forming them from two parts. Elsa. I'm actually hunting Scandinavian names from pre 1600+/-. It should also be noted that most people whose names have been recorded in early documents were the upper class; and I strongly suspect that many of the peasantry were still using Saxon names almost through to Tudor times. 73. Gertrude. 7. This is the English version of the Welsh name Gwenfrewi, which means fair and peace. The spelling Clare was more popular until the late nineteenth century when Clara overtook it in popularity. Timothy (Greek origin), the name means "honored by God". In the past, there would have been much more of a taboo about blasphemy. These names from the Middle Ages include magical-sounding names, strong warrior names, religious names, and much more. In Greek, this name means good. This name was originally a surname written as dArcy, and it indicated that the person came from Arcy in France. I always check the names I use in Everymans Dictionary of First Names by Leslie Dunkling and William Gosling as well as in Withycombes Oxford Dictionary od English Christian Names.. Adeline (#78) is the most fashionable baby name among these. Thank you. It gives me somewhere to select names for my characters. It also has roots in Old French, in which it means fate. This is the short form of the German name Wilhelmina, which is the female form of the name William. 8); and Lottie (no. Ruth. Charlotte 4. Do you spot some beloved fictional characters on here? A common nickname for Gwendolyn is Gwen. For girls, Ema, which means "love and jasmine" topped the list . A cute nickname is Cece. In Old English, the name means rich friend. Its also a name of a flowering shrub. This is the French female form of the male name Yves. Olivia claimed the top spot for the fourth year in a row! This name both means the flower as well as the name for the Greek goddess of the rainbow. 52) or maybe Ellen, Elaine or even Helen. Girl names from the 1800s back in fashion include Violet, Mabel, Phoebe, and Ada. This comment has been removed by the author. Ada Lovelace, daughter of Lord Byron and computer pioneer. Ethel. that's splendid! Annie is now allowed to be a given name it was not unknown for a vicar to refuse to christen a baby girl by a pet version of the name their parents wanted, and instead to christen the baby by what he considered to be the appropriate full name. 100. These do have some regionality, but many of these names are the same right across Europe, like John. Their lives are in full view of each other all the time in the fields that they're working in to create food, and in the same communal spaces, like churches. Its a very regal-sounding name with a strong meaning. Clearly there were a few from 1100-1300 with that name. Quite a lot if youre studying the changing nature of personal names in England over a 500-year period, as the University of Hulls Dr James Chetwood has done. 81 Iris; 82 Anna; 83 Abigail; 84 Ayla; 85 Maryam; 86 Lilly; 87 Annabelle; 88 Sara; 89 Edith; 90 Beatrice; 91 Clara; 92 Summer; 93 Heidi; 94 Margot; 95 Martha; 96 Zoe; 97 Lara; 98 Lyla; 99 Mabel; and 100 Felicity. However, the good news was that once more, parents were allowed a choice of names and there was quite a variety on offer. I left it in because I was unable to trace back a clear etymological path. According to the SSA, these are the most popular names for baby girls in the United States right now. Not as popular as other girl names. The name may have Germanic roots. Denise. Bear in mind that in early times there were a number of variants on names and that the use name might not be much like the name in the parish register. This is the German diminutive of Margareta. Beckford (Old English origin) meaning "to tie a river crossing"; the name of Willian Thomas Beckford. 90. Cora. Florence. Welsh legend has it that a princess with this name drowned in the River Severn. Edna. Catherine was 10th in 1700 but a hundred years later, had dropped to 14. Explaining the reasoning behind her name Ashley, 35, says: "We thought Ada was a really beautiful name and I was also inspired by Ada Lovelace, who was a famous mathematician and scientist. You're welcome! Joan was the most common form of what later became almost exclusively Jane; one might have found Jean,Jehanne, Joanne, Johanna, Jennet etc. Florence owes its popularity to Florence Nightingale, heroine of the Crimean War, who fought tirelessly for Army reform; and the popularity of Alice is thanks to Lewis Carrolls Alice in Wonderland which appeared in 1865. For example, Millie was originally a pet name for Amelia or Emily, or earlier, for Mildred or Millicent. Another variant of the name is Jillian, and nicknames include Jill or Gill. Surnames came into common use around the early Middle Ages so that people could distinguish between persons of the same given name. One of our favorite features of Old English girl names is the meaning behind them. Period Medieval Medieval baby names: what were people called in the Middle Ages? This creates a society where being like other people is more beneficial. Odette. 21. 50. Let me know how it goes! When flower names first came in towards the end of the 19th century, they caused much comment. Nancy. Youll also likely recognise this name from the comic book series and sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch. p397 of the paperback under Sealeaf [surname] giving the original as Saelufu, Salove, Seluue. This name can either be a diminutive of the Russian name Anastasia or the medieval name Eustace. Love finding things like this with the names and it is interesting how modern names can be traced back in time. Aria (no 42) is unlikely to come from an operatic aria; its probably a variation of Arya, a character in the popular TV series, Game of Thrones. Its up to you which meaning you like best, and either way this girls name has old-fashioned written all over it. The form Saelova probably came from a random other mention in the book of a female with another surname, it was the usual way it changed in medieval records even as -gifu became -[g]iva. I find it interesting to see the way that names, especially womens names, come and go in popularity over the generations. It was a common name in Puritan times before going out of style and then being revived in the twentieth century. The Bump has great ways to find the perfect name for your baby: look up a name to view details for a specific name, search baby names, or browse . 42. Edith. This is useful for a children's story I'm writing. 19. The name became popular after the main character in the novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. 78. She was alighthouse keepers daughter on the Farne Islands who saved the lives of four men and a women from the wreck of the Forfarshire steamboat in 1838. lol. 32. If you like historic baby names but want to move beyond the Victorian names and biblical baby names we've heard so much of in recent years, consider these names culled from Revolutionary War rolls and eighteenth-century town histories. Ethel is the name of Charlotte Mary Yonges heroine in The Daisy Chain, 1856, a book which almost instantly became a best-seller. Thank you for your comment, Huon. The meaning of this old-fashioned and beautiful girls name is uncertain, but it possibly means fame and joy in German. It was very popular among the Puritans. This is a form of Margaret that was influenced by the name of the herb marjoram. 3 Aurelia. There is also Lilly at no 86, and Rose at no 55, which confuses matters. It was introduced to English-speaking countries in the late nineteenth century. Top 1,000 most popular baby girl names Olivia Emma Charlotte Amelia Sophia Isabella Ava Mia Evelyn Luna Harper Camila Sofia Scarlett Elizabeth Eleanor Emily Chloe I think it's fascinating how many of the girls' names are popular today! So what has happened to the female name pool recently? Its also the name of one of the main characters in the play A Streetcar Named Desire. Delia. There was very little repetition of names and any two people within a community or family would be unlikely to share the same name, Taking someone elses name was tantamount to stealing their souls, In some towns 50 or 60 per cent men would all be called one of about four or five names, CLAIM YOUR BOOK this summer when you subscribe to either BBC History Magazine or BBC History Revealed. Thank you so much for this chart, Sarah! are parents given? Bright as the god of thunder, from Thor (the Norse god of thunder) and the Anglo-Saxon beorlit (bright). The wanderer, from the Anglo-Saxon wendan, to go, to turn, etc. 36. The name has been popular since the Middle Ages, so its definitely an old-fashioned girls name that stands the test of time. In Irish mythology, Brighid was the goddess of fire, poetry, and wisdom. 81. Kimberley has been stolen by females as has Shirley, which is Anne Bronte's fault, though men have stolen Morgan. Gianna. Just what I needed to answer a question. Got it! This is the English version of the Irish name Muadhnait, which means little noble one. Ramblings about the Mary Rose and Renaissance ship Colours used in the Regency and Georgian ers. 37. Old English dates between the 400s and 1100, while Middle English existed between the 1100s and 1400s. Following this line of thought, taking someone elses name was tantamount to stealing their souls. Tiffany surprised me until I discovered it's nothing more than a mangling of Theofania, or Theophania, a saint-name. In fact, for a venerable and short one-syllable name, we think it packs a surprising amount of punch, as compared to the related Jean and Joan. 2023 Nameberry.com.Nameberry is a registered trademark of Nameberry, LLC. With this name your baby girl could also have a cute nickname like Birdie, Bobbie, or Robyn. As a parent, you will want to have the best phrase for your baby girl. But the name may also be a diminutive of Elizabeth. From the Irish name Muirgel, Muriel was brought to England by the Normans. Celeste. The name Wendy rose to popularity after the play. Tracey in a Regency instantly jerks me out of the story! It was also the name of a saint who was the wife of a German king. In Hebrew, this classic name means 'my father is joy'. This is the French form of the name Lucilla, which is a diminutive of Lucia. Both are the French feminine form of Henri, which has German roots and means home ruler. Many famous Russian actresses and ballerinas have had the name Tamara. Wanda. This name of Hebrew origin means friend. Choose this name for your baby girl if you want a traditional old-fashioned name from the 1800s. 52. Its also associated with the Irish goddess Sionann. The same thing applies to Sophia at no. 74) comes from Grace (no. Are you thinking about a name with some history to it, a beautiful vintage girls name that has spanned the centuries? Oh, and he was Lord Chanc Time is not measured by Rollex in previous eras. It may even originate from Loreto, a town in Italy that means laurel grove. I am stunned that the name Tiffany was around then. Lydia is a very early place name, that of an area of Asia Minor whose inhabitants are credited with the invention of coinage and of having strong musical talentas well as great wealth. Winifred. Lorraine. Names like Ethel, Edith and Dorothy are, for me, very much associated with grandmotherhood and are perhaps for that reason have become unfashionable. The name was rare until the nineteenth century. Why did we start using surnames? In the Bible, this is the name of Saint Timothys mother. Abigail. Is there any names that are more unusual for them? To understand the term Old English a little better, you need to know that the Englishlanguage is broken into three categories. Due to Saint Ursulas popularity, the name became more commonly used in the Middle Ages. Lorelai and Rory make the cut (hello, "Gilmore Girls"), along with nearly every "Bridgerton" woman you can think of. yes, it's interesting which ones have staying power, and that we are familiar with names like Matilda and Hilda which are close on 2000 years old even though they aren't exactly up in the popularity stakes. Like many of the other cute old-fashioned baby girl names on this list, Elsa has a whimsical sound. 7; Sophie at no. This short form of Elisabeth has German, Dutch, and Scandinavian roots. For instance in 1300-1399 Joan and Marjorie were equal 6th, which means the next name, Amice, was 8th. Footage of the assault shows the man repeatedly . Princess Charlotte of Wales (1796-1817) by George Dawe, 1817, courtesy of Wikipedia. Bridget. Is eliza a popular name? Marjorie. 3. Some modern sounding names like Tiffany are deceiving of course, but I find it irritating when a writer does use what seems to be a name which doesnt belong to the period; a heroine called Welcome! In Greek, this name means maiden and is spelled Kore. Dr Chetwood sees some merit in that idea, but thinks it doesnt completely explain as the system of dithematic naming continued long after Christianity took hold in various parts of western Europe. And Mary has disappeared completely though there are other names, like Mia and Maya, which sound a bit like Mary which are in the top 100 but neither of them derive from Mary. Its derived from the German word adal, which means noble. As travel began to grow and communities met with more strangers, the practice became more general. Wilma. Sophia 7. This girls name means first-born daughter in the Native American Dakota language. But feel free to choose either spelling of the girls name. HiMy first time on your blog and i love it.Please visit my blog baby blog thanks. "Old English" dates between the 400s and 1100, while "Middle English" existed between the 1100s and 1400s. Though perhaps a somewhat unsavoury way to finish, its a fascinating piece of research thats interesting in its own right for our understanding of personal names, but also for a wider reflection of how society transformed during the medieval period. In Hebrew, this name means pleasure. Isla 4. The name has been in use since the Middle Ages and was revived in the nineteenth century after Benjamin Disraeli's novel Sybil. Top 100 Medieval Girl Names We've put together a compelling list of some of the most recognizable medieval girl names. One impact of this is that people increasingly start to choose the same names for their children, to an almost extreme extent. I shall give the top 50 names of each period. See The Mutability of Names with regard to pronunciation, Jane and the Christmas Masquerades (Jane, Bow Street Consultant), 100 years of Cat Days: 365 cat stories spanning a century, Poison for a Poison Tongue (The Felicia and Robin Mysteries). Charlotte. I've come across the odd Angrebod and Godiva and Saelova up to the 16th century and Loveday and Lovechild survived even longer, especially Loveday. The name was popularized by England's Queen Charlotte Sophia, wife of King George III. Here are some more flower names for your baby girl. It was a popular name among Puritans and grew in popularity in the mid-twentieth century. This German name comes from a word meaning battle. Gwendolyn. This name originated as Dorothea before getting simplified to Dorothy. Gracie (no. This is a Russian diminutive of Sophia, which means wisdom in Greek. Pearl is on the Cute Old-Fashioned Girl Names list. crumbs! Donna. This name was originally a French nickname meaning fair or white. Well most of the time excepting the ones named Blue or Grass or something odd. This simple name means fairy in Middle English. 3. Maria Cosway, miniature painter (fl.1820), self-portrait. As a result, there was very little repetition of names and any two people within a community or family would be unlikely to share the same name. Amelia. Theres a city with this name in the Lorraine region of France. 84. Hubert Clayton Wilson Harley Curtis Cleveland Cecil Eli Wiley Nicholas. I suspect that few people nowadays can recognize a Bible name, or the story behind that name: the resentful housewife Martha, or the beautiful but devious Delilah; and I worry that something important has been lost. Yet another F Thomas Wolsey, Catlover. This unique name has been popular in many European countries since the late nineteenth century. 67. I hope that helps! Listen: James Chetwood explores the origins of peoples names in the Middle Ages and how names changed over the centuries. By the 13th century, religious names of Greek, Roman or Biblical origins had become very popular, but many of these sorts of names didn't come over straight after the Norman conquest. 70. The name pool settled down and, by 1700, the top ten girls names were: 1 Mary, 2 Elizabeth, 3 Ann(e), 4 Sarah, 5 Jane, 6 Margaret, 7 Susan, 8 Martha, 9 Hannah and 10 Catherine. See more Royal names for girls and boys. Eleanor. Get to know them with us. In the Native American Choctaw language, this name means leaping waters. 41. There still a few Bible names around: Anna (no.82), and Abigail (no.83); Sara (no 88), and Martha (no. 11. Theophania is an awful name to inflict on a little girl, I'm glad it became Tiffany very quickly! The antiquarian and well-respected historian, William Camden (1551-1623), grew up fully aware of the huge religious changes which had taken place. There's someone called Tesco. It is considered a unisex name. Many colonial names for girls have fallen out of favor for long enough now to sound fresh and even cool again. Mabel. The fine rolls were basically financial records. 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