Monthly Archives: February 2015

Famous Name: Georgina

18 Wednesday Feb 2015

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Famous Namesake
The Channel 9 mini-series House of Hancock has just come to an end, having enjoyed a certain amount of notoriety and controversy. The series is based on one of Australia’s real life soap operas: the family of wealthy Western Australian mining magnate Lang Hancock.

The main focus of the mini-series is on the relationship between Lang and his daughter Georgina (called Gina), brought under pressure when the teenaged Gina married a man old enough to be her father, which is increased when freshly-widowed Lang married his Filipina maid, who was young enough to be his daughter. The story then follows Gina’s relentless rise to wealth and power as Lang’s heiress, accompanied by family ructions.

Gina Rinehart is the chair of Hancock Prospecting, founded by her father Lang. She is the richest person in Australia, and a few years ago was the world’s richest woman, but is now only the sixth-richest. She was named after her father, who has George as one of his middle names, while her middle name Hope is her mother’s name.

Mrs Rinehart took legal action against the makers of House of Hancock, with her lawyer calling the program “almost entirely fiction”, “replete with falsehoods”, and its depiction of true events as “twisted.” Part of her legal team’s argument was that actors in House of Hancock breached consumer law against misleading and deceptive conduct by pretending to be someone else. I can only think a lot of actors, if not all of them at some time or another, have similarly breached consumer law.

Her lawyers were successful: Gina was granted access to the second episode before it went to air, and certain cuts were hastily made to key scenes before the show went to air, leading to a very abrupt ending. Despite all the cuts, House of Hancock was a hit, attracting more than 25% of the audience, or nearly 2 million viewers per episode. Actress Mandy McElhinney (Rhonda from the AAMi commercials) has garnered praise for her outstanding performance.

Although the details haven’t been made public, apparently one of the things Gina objected to was her father’s ghost coming back to chat with her, which she assures us did not happen. I for one believe her story, and don’t need a lawyer to convince me. She also says that she never fought with her stepmother, and in fact never spoke to her at all, painting a picture of happy family life in the process.

Despite making sure that House of Hancock came with a disclaimer that it had been fictionalised for dramatic purposes and was not a documentary, Gina Rinehart is still fuming, and will now sue Channel Nine for defamation. No stranger to the courtroom, she mounted an eleven-year legal battle against her stepmother Rose Porteous, claiming that she had hastened Lang Hancock’s death (the coroner determined he had died of natural causes). In turn, Gina has been in a long-running legal feud with her children over the family trust.

So that’s Georgina Rinehart – large, in charge, rich as filth, and liable to sue you if you claim she talks to ghosts and her stepmother.

Name Information
Georgina is a feminine form of George. Like its male counterpart, it has been in use for many centuries, but only gained prominence after the House of Hanover began to rule Britain in the 18th century, with George becoming a traditional royal name.

Georgina has been used as a middle name in the royal family – an example is Princess Maud of Fife, grand-daughter of Edward VII. It’s also been used by the aristocracy: Georgina Ward, Countess of Dudley, was one of the great beauties of the Victorian era, while Georgina Gascoyne-Cecil, Marchioness of Salisbury, was the wife of British prime minister, Lord Robert Cecil.

Georgina has been rather a favourite for characters in children’s literature, with the best known perhaps Georgina Kirrin from Enid Blyton’s Famous Five series. Georgina is a tomboy who is always called “George”. In the TV series Gossip Girl, the character of Georgina Sparks has been turned into one of the show’s villains; she goes by “Georgie”.

Georgina is an underused classic name which has never left the charts, yet never been popular. It was #171 in the 1900s, and hit its peak in the 1970s at #109 – it may not be a coincidence that the Famous Five series was on TV in that decade. Currently it is around the mid-200s, and I see the name Georgina quite often in birth notices.

Georgina is more popular in the UK, where it is #173 and falling, but doesn’t chart in the US. This gives it a rather “British” feel, although it’s used internationally, including in Spain, the Netherlands, and Central and Eastern Europe.

This is a stylish yet solid choice which has all the advantages of a classic name that doesn’t feel dated, without any popularity to worry about. It has a rather upper middle class image in Australia, but has a number of breezy, carefree nicknames to go by, including George, Georgie, Gia, Gina, Ginny, Gigi, and Nina.

POLL RESULTS
Georgina received a creditable approval rating of 73%. People saw the name Georgina as familiar without being common (21%), and stylish and classy (16%). However, 10% were put off the name by Gina Rinehart.

(Photo of Gina Rinehart from news.com.au)

Historical Naming Patterns in the House of Windsor – Part 1: Brothers for Prince George

15 Sunday Feb 2015

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In 2012 I did an article on the historical naming of British monarchs, in preparation for the birth to the next heir to the throne, who turned out to be Prince George Alexander Louis – a slight score for me, as these were the first three boys’ names I suggested.

As Prince George is now expecting a brother or sister, I thought we’d take on what is a rather more difficult challenge – the naming of younger siblings of the future monarch: “spares” to the heir.

I haven’t gone back to the misty beginnings of English royalty, or to William the Conqueror, or even to the House of Hanover, or the reign of Queen Victoria. This will be a modern prince or princess born in the 21st century, and I thought that just looking at those close to the throne in the House of Windsor would be quite enough information.

I earlier looked at the “rules” of naming monarchs, and found that there are also “rules” to naming a monarch’s siblings. We can keep these guidelines in mind as we go, to ensure our expectations remain realistic.

  • All those who were the child of a monarch or an heir to the throne had a name earlier used by royalty – what we think of as traditional English royal names.
  • Nearly all of them had a name that had earlier been used for a British prince or princess. Those that didn’t had names of previous kings and queens. Not one was given an obscure royal name.
  • Perhaps surprisingly, very few of them seem to have been directly named after a relative or family member (although in some cases that information may have been kept private). Those that were, were named after royal grandparents or great-grandparents, usually deceased. Feminisations of male names for girls have not been been used so far (although female Windsors are less common than males, so there is less data to work from).
  • In my earlier article, I pointed out that monarchs were almost never given a name from royalty’s distant past, and that expecting a Queen Matilda or a King Edmund was therefore a forlorn hope. However, not so with a monarch’s siblings. Some were given a name from hundreds of years ago, and one or two even had names from the Middle Ages, so a wider variety of names can be considered.
  • Re-using royal and family names is common, even if there are other members of the royal family who are still alive with the same name – hardly surprising when they are drawing upon a relatively limited number of names. So we can’t rule out a name just because it’s already in use by a cousin or great-uncle. This applies to titles: it seems to be fine for there to be another Prince Soandso, as they can be told apart by their full title. For example, Prince Edward, Earl of Essex doesn’t get muddled with his mother’s cousin, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. Again, this widens the pool slightly.
  • All those who were the child of a monarch or an heir to the throne were given a name that was relatively popular at the time of their birth. Nearly all of them had a name in the Top 100 for their era, while none had a name below the Top 200. This drastically shrinks the number of names on the table.

To find possible names for the siblings of Prince George, in theory all it takes is cross-referencing the UK Top 200 with a list of British royalty (kings, queens, princes, and princesses). Let’s see what the results are for a possible brother to Prince George, a future prince of the United Kingdom, once we remove Prince George’s own three names (slightly risky, as royals have been known to receive a sibling’s middle name as their first name).

Arthur #43
While the idea of a King Arthur would invite ridicule, a Prince Arthur seems suitable. In use by the English monarchy since the Middle Ages, it is a traditional royal name. Queen Victoria’s favourite son was Prince Arthur, while his son was the most recent Prince Arthur, born in the 19th century. The queen’s father had Arthur as one of his middle names, as do Prince Charles and Prince William, so this would link a prince with his father, grandfather, and great-great grandfather. I like the idea, and George and Arthur sound good as brothers. But do the royals consider this middle name material only?
My rating: seven and a half coronets

Frederick #82
There have been three Prince Fredericks, with the most recent the second son of King George III, born in the 18th century. The name is in use by the royal family; for example, Lord Frederick “Freddie” Windsor. Frederick is also a traditional name in the Spencer family, which makes this seem eminently suitable. George and Frederick sound great as brothers – maybe too much so, as this fraternal combination has already been used, by J.K. Rowling! Could the royals cope with the princes being dubbed The Weasley Twins by the press? I hope so.
My rating: seven coronets

Alfred #136
Alfred the Great was King of Wessex, a direct ancestor of the current royal family, so this name has some serious royal clout. There have been three Prince Alfreds, with the most recent a grandson of Queen Victoria who was born in the 19th century. He’s thought to have shot himself after going mad from syphilis, which doesn’t seem that auspicious (although his only crime was being born before the discovery of penicillin). I hope this isn’t a stumbling block, as George and Alfred sound perfect as brothers, while the popular nickname Alfie is very lovable.
My rating: seven coronets

James #9
James is a very royal name, because St James’s Palace is the official residence of the monarchy. As a prince’s name it could be problematic, because the only Prince James was the Scottish “Old Pretender”, who illegally claimed the British throne. Another slight issue is that Prince Edward’s young son is named James, Viscount Severn, and although he isn’t a prince, there is a legal question mark over his non-princely status that an actual Prince James may underline.

A traditional name in the Scottish monarchy, two of Scotland’s King Jameses have been kings of England, ruling as James I and II. With Scotland voting to remain part of the union, the royal family may be eager to choose a Scottish name.

My main objection is that I don’t much like George and James as royal brothers: to me they are too alike and could be confused in public announcements. I feel the heir to the throne needs a distinctive name, and would prefer James in the middle. However, the royals may think differently.
My rating: five and a half coronets

Charles #61
Prince Charles will be the hypothetical prince’s grandfather, and Charles is a traditional British royal name. There have been two kings named Charles, and several princes with the name, controversially including Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Young Pretender of the Jacobite cause. Charles is a name which comes from the Stuarts, and you could see this as another pro-union Scottish choice. It’s also traditional in the Spencer family, and presumably wouldn’t even be shared for that long, as Prince Charles is due to become king. There is nothing concrete against it, but my gut says no to this, except in the middle. (My gut is often wrong though).
My rating: five coronets

Henry #18
Wonderfully royal, the name Henry has been borne by eight kings and several princes, and is already in use by Prince William’s brother, known as Harry. A non-ruling prince hasn’t been given the name of an uncle before, and while this could happen, I don’t think it shows much imagination for a second son to be given the same name as the previous second son. Besides, what nickname could they give him, because Harry’s taken?
My rating: two and a half coronets

William #8
A suitable royal name, borne by four kings, and multiple princes going back to the Middle Ages. One of those princes is the Duke of Cambridge himself. Although it’s not impossible that a son could be named after him, it’s never been done before in the House of Windsor. Even in non-royal families, it’s not considered traditional for a second son to be named for his father, so this would be a surprise.
My Rating: two coronets

Edward #33
While Edward VIII ruined this name for a future king by his abdication, it’s still fine for a prince, and there have been several Prince Edwards. In fact, there are already two Prince Edwards – the son of Queen Elizabeth, and her cousin. Adding a third seems going a bit far to me.
My Rating: two coronets

David #50
This is a name from Scotland’s royalty. David I was a medieval King of Scotland, who had a strong relationship with the English monarchy, and married an English bride. This is another Scottish choice to celebrate the union, but the royal family have only used this as a middle name (it’s one of Prince Harry’s middle names).
My rating: one coronet

Michael #53
There is already a prince with this name in the royal family, the queen’s cousin, Prince Michael of Kent. He was named after his ancestor, Grand Duke Michael of Russia, and this is not a traditional British royal name. I don’t consider this name likely at all, although not impossible as a middle name.
My rating: half a coronet

Robert #98
A name from Scottish royalty, with the best known example Robert I, or Robert the Bruce, one of Scotland’s national heroes. He fought against England in the Wars of Independence, and because of him, the English crown was forced to recognise Scotland as an independent country. Not only does this name seem anti-union, there is a horrible ballad called Prince Robert, about a man who is poisoned by his mother. Despite being a traditional name in the Spencer family, I can’t feel happy about this.
My rating: half a coronet

Albert #99
Prince Albert was consort to Queen Victoria, and his name became traditional in the royal family as either a first or middle name. The last Prince Albert became King George VI, the queen’s father, and using this name would be a nice gesture were it not for the genital piercing called the Prince Albert. This is a non-starter in my book, although very likely as a middle name.
My rating: zero coronets

John #107
As mentioned in the earlier article, this name has been forbidden in the royal family.
My rating: zero coronets

Andrew #154
Prince Andrew is the second son of Queen Elizabeth, and he is named after his paternal grandfather, Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark. Because his name is not from English royalty, and because the prince is currently embroiled in an international paedophile scandal, his name is unlikely to be used.
My rating: zero coronets

So judging by history, my picks for the prince’s name would be Arthur, Frederick, or Alfred, with an outside chance of James or Charles. There is no overwhelming contender, as there was with Prince George’s name, so I wonder if a surprise choice is on the way, or if a new trend in royal names will make itself felt. Perhaps a royal name from further down the popularity charts is on its way?

UPDATE: The royal baby was a princess named Charlotte, so none of the names for a prince were necessary after all.

POLL RESULTS
People’s favourite choices for a possible prince were Arthur, Frederick, and Alfred, while the names William and Andrew received no votes at all. The 4% of people who thought the royal couple would start their own trend in baby names were obviously off base.

(Picture is of Queen Victoria with her son Prince Arthur, a painting by Franz Xaver Winterhalter)

Waltzing More Than Matilda’s Fourth Birthday

13 Friday Feb 2015

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Here we are at the four-year mark, and rather than simply light the candles and blow up a few balloons, I thought that my readers deserved some sort of explanation.

The past year has been quite a challenging one. It started off with mass layoffs in my workplace, and while I understand that losing your job is a horrible experience, it’s stressful for the people left behind as well (the higher workload for no extra pay was the least of our problems).

Just I’d started to adjust to the new situation at work, my husband became seriously ill with a mystery complaint. He was hospitalised several times, and otherwise pretty much out of action, so it was up to me to take on a heavier load, in between worrying my head off. (His problem was eventually diagnosed and successfully treated, and he’s now fighting fit – thank you to everyone who sent kind thoughts in his illness, it was very much appreciated).

About the point when everything seemed to be at their absolute worst, we decided to undertake some home renovating projects, for reasons which seemed sensible at the time. It turned out to be a lot harder than we had anticipated, and in the process, I fractured my hand a couple of weeks before Christmas. Recovery has been painful, but my hand is quite a lot better now I’m seeing a physio, and because the time needed to heal is longer than my sick leave allowance, I won’t be returning to work. Renovations are still ongoing, but we hope to finish them fairly soon.

Has all this affected my blogging? You bet it has. I did wonder whether I should just stop blogging entirely until everything was back to normal, but I had no guaruntee that normality would ever return, and I feared I might never get back to my blog at all. In the end, I decided it was better for the blog to remain active, even if it suffered in the process. And there were definitely days when Waltzing More Than Matilda was the only thing keeping me sane.

This is not just an explanation, it’s an apology. I’m aware that I have been a sub-par blogger, and I’m sorry for the missed articles, the slow updating and maintainence, the missing or incorrect polls, and for all the spelling and grammatical errors which I notice when I read over blog posts.

I’m sorry if I didn’t visit your blog, or leave comments, or took ages to answer your e-mail, or didn’t answer it very well, or failed to re-tweet, or didn’t update Facebook. I’m sorry if I didn’t reply to your blog comment, and I’m sorry that I had to turn off comments on posts more than a few months old because I didn’t have the time and energy to deal with all the spammers and trolls.

And of course thank you for being patient and forgiving, thank you for your kind e-mails offering support and encouragement, thank you for reading, and commenting, and voting on polls, and retweeting, and Facebooking, and liking, and subscribing, and buying books, and nominating names, and sending in your own name stories, and continuing to stick with the blog even through tough times. It’s appreciated more than you could ever imagine.

Now it’s a case of onwards and upwards (or at least onwards) as I work to get the blog back on track. Name polls from last year have all been calculated with the results published, and the top-rated names of 2014 have now been added to the Best Baby Names page. Because there were no polls in 2011 and 2012, I am going to be editing and re-blogging old posts on “Throwback Thursdays” so you can have a chance to re-read them, and vote on them. The first one will be next Thursday, February 19.

That’s it for another year!

Celebrity Baby News: Media Babies

12 Thursday Feb 2015

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Radio host Michael “Wippa” Wipfli, and his wife Lisa, welcomed their first child on February 6 and have named their son Theodore George Jack, to be known as “Teddy“. Michael announced Teddy’s name on air on February 9. Michael is co-host on Nova FM’s Fitzy and Wippa, with fellow celebrity dad, Ryan “Fitzy” Fitzgerald. Lisa apparently liked the name Hugo, but Michael vetoed it because Ryan’s oldest son is named Hewston, nicknamed “Hewie“, and he feared the mockery should the radio partners have sons named Hewie and Hugo.

Sports broadcaster Tiffany Cherry welcomed her daughter Vivienne on January 1 at 8.31 pm, Epworth Freemason’s Hospital in Melbourne [pictured]. Vivienne was conceived with IVF using an international sperm donor. Tiffany has worked as a sports broadcaster in Australia and the US, and set up the Melbourne bureau of ESPN. She was the AFL’s first female boundary rider on Fox Footy, and been a host for the 2000 Olympics, 2008 Australian Open, 2010 Winter Olympics, the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and the 2012 Olympics. Trained in sports medicine, Tiffany is a hurdler who has represented Australia internationally, and has been Cathy Freeman’s training partner.

Famous Name: Liberty

12 Thursday Feb 2015

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On February 1, award-winning Latvian-Australian journalist Peter Greste was freed from the Egyptian prison where he had been confined for 400 days. While on temporary assignment for news service Al Jazeera in Egypt, Peter was arrested with two of his colleagues in December 2013, charged with aiding the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. After a farcical show-trial in which no evidence was presented, the three of them were sentenced to seven to ten years imprisonment as terrorists.

Regarded as political prisoners by the international community, there has been a concerted global campaign by journalists to free the Al Jazeera staff, using the slogan: Journalism is not a crime. Along with diplomatic negotiations, this resulted in a retrial being announced, followed by Peter being deported to Australia.

Peter kept himself sane in prison through exercise and meditation, and undertaking a degree in International Relations. He thought of the things he wanted most – to watch the sunset, to see the stars in the sky, and to feel sand between his toes.

Once released, he tweeted a photo of himself at the beach in Cyprus, saying how sweet freedom was. Peter is elated to be back with his family, but is concerned about his colleagues Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohammad, who are still in prison. Let the campaign to free Al Jazeera staff continue until they all can be at liberty.

The word liberty means “freedom”, ultimately from the Latin libertas. Libertas was the Roman goddess of liberty.

Our modern ideal of political liberty comes from the ancient Greeks, and is closely bound up with democracy. A free society, where all citizens live in liberty, is generally seen as one where slavery does not exist, and where everyone has equal political rights.

Liberty, in conjunction with equality and fraternity, was the catch-cry of the French Revolution, now the motto of modern France. For a time, Lady Liberty replaced the Virgin Mary on altars, and the French Republic symbol of Marianne portrays the goddess of Liberty, an allegory of democracy, reason, and freedom.

Liberty has also been a guiding principle for the United States, with the the Declaration of Independence promising “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”, while Abraham’s Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address speaks of a nation “conceived in liberty”.

The Pledge of Allegiance offers fealty to a nation who stands for “liberty and justice for all” (taken directly from the French motto), and the patriotic song My Country, ‘Tis of Thee praises the “sweet land of liberty” – referenced in Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech.

As a sign of their shared love for the ideal of liberty, the people of France gifted the people of the United States with a giant statue of Liberty Enlightening the World, known as the Statue of Liberty. Standing on Liberty Island in New York City’s harbour, it is one of America’s best known icons, symbolically welcoming immigrants to a land of freedom.

Liberty is also a Christian virtue, symbolising being set free from the slavery of sin. There are several mentions of liberty in the Bible, including the quote from Leviticus which is written on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia: Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.

Liberty has been used as a personal name since the 18th century – the time of the French Revolution and the American War of Independence. In the beginning, it was far more common in America, strongly resonating with the American desire for freedom. The name Liberty was given from the time of the first protests against British taxation, under the Liberty Tree in Boston.

In the United Kingdom, the name Liberty was particularly associated with Kent during the 18th century. Kent has long been an area of military importance, and Chatham Dockyard on the River Medway built naval ships for centuries. During the 18th century, the UK was at war with France and Spain, and Kent was a major centre for the defence of Britain. Interestingly, many of the Libertys were born around the Chatham area.

Liberty is often thought of as a “hippie” name, symbolic of the flower child yearning for personal freedom. However, it must have many times been given patriotically, with political freedom in mind.

Historically, Liberty has been given to boys more commonly than to girls, perhaps because it has often been connected with military events and political power. The goddess Liberty (“Lady Liberty”) certainly helps give it a feminine air, and these days it is thought of as a primarily female name, although the film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (with Lee Marvin in the title role) is a reminder of its unisex status.

The name Liberty turns up on the US Top 1000 at three historically apt moments. First in 1918, at the end of World War I, then in 1976, in the American bicentenary, and it has been on the charts since 2001, the year of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Currently it is #532 and fairly stable.

Liberty is most popular in the UK, where it is associated with the prestigious Liberty department store in London’s West End, which has been selling luxury goods since the 19th century. (The store’s name has nothing to do with freedom, but is named after its founder, Arthur Liberty, whose surname means “lead worker”). Liberty silks and prints have helped give it a fashionable air.

Having been in the Top 500 since before 1996, Liberty peaked in 2003 at #157, when conservative MP George Osborne chose it for his daughter, perhaps giving it an aristocratic stamp. The name had a small boost of popularity after the 2005 London Bombings, and is currently #373.

Liberty has never charted in Australia, and is a rare find in historical records here, more often used in the middle. It does seem to have been fairly evenly chosen for both boys and girls in the late 19th century. A famous Australian with the name is Liberty Wilson, the sister of comedian Rebel Wilson, while one with Liberty as his middle name is Walter Liberty Vernon, the architect who designed the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Liberty is an interesting virtue name that is very rare in Australia compared to its use in the UK and US. I can see it appealing to a wide variety of people from all walks of life, and a broad spectrum of political views. Libby or Libbie is the obvious nickname, but for a boy named Liberty, or for a girl who wants a boyish nickname, there is always Berty. In Australia, Liberty Eggs may be a slight issue, although free range chickens seem a positive thing to me, while the Subaru Liberty makes this a car name.

POLL RESULTS
Liberty received a decent approval rating of 68%. People saw the name Liberty as interesting and different (24%), having a wonderful meaning (22%), and pretty or beautiful (16%). However, 14% thought it was too hippy-dippy. 2% of people were reminded too strongly of the Liberty Subaru or Liberty eggs.

Waltzing With … Anna

08 Sunday Feb 2015

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Famous Namesake
On Thursday February 12, it will be the 134th birthday of the Russian prima ballerina Anna Pavlova. At a time when the rules of classical ballet were rigidly enforced, the dainty Anna performed in a graceful, romantic style, with less emphasis on precision and acrobatics. The principal artist with the Imperial Ballet and the Ballets Russes, she formed her own company and became the first ballerina to tour as an international star.

It was during one of her tours to Australia and New Zealand in the 1920s that Anna Pavlova would be honoured with the creation of an iconic Australasian dish, and in the process spark a rivalry between the two Trans-Tasman nations, who both claim it as their national dessert.

A pavlova is a meringue cake which has a crisp outer shell, and a soft marshmallow-y filling; a delectable, sweet, melt-in-your-mouth treat which is traditionally smothered in whipped cream and fresh summer fruit. Supposedly, the fragile pavlova was inspired by light-as-air Anna Pavlova, with its meringue casing designed to emulate the soft folds of her white ballet skirt.

Both New Zealand and Australia have some rather dubious stories as to how the pavlova first came to be made and named, but indefatigable research by a New Zealand food historian shows that it definitely originated in New Zealand, with a 1929 recipe being found in a New Zealand magazine. Meanwhile, it didn’t make an appearance in Australia until the early 1930s. So New Zealand gets the honours for inventing the pavlova, although it really does feel as if Australia has embraced the pavlova more heartily – it is a favourite choice to celebrate Australia Day.

I always have a pavlova for my Name Day cake: it not only reflects my name, Anna, but is perfect for a hot summery February Name Day. It’s also very appropriate, because my dad is from New Zealand and my mum born in Australia, so it symbolises the two countries coming together.

Name Information
Anna is the Latinised Greek form of the Hebrew name Hannah, meaning “favour, grace, graciousness”, sometimes translated more freely as “God has favoured me”, or “the grace of God”. The New Testament uses the Greek form Anna, in contrast to the Old Testament Hannah.

The Gospel of Luke tells of Anna the Prophetess, an old widow perhaps more than a century in age, who was very devout, and spent all her time fasting and praying. At the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, celebrated as Candlemas in early February, she immediately recognised the infant Jesus as the redeemer, and gave thanks to God for having been allowed to see Jesus in her lifetime. Despite having a walk-on role in the Gospels, Anna is recognised as a saint.

According to Christian legend, the mother of the Virgin Mary was also named Anna (or Hannah), but she is usually referred to as Saint Anne in order to avoid confusion with Anna the Prophetess. The use of the name Anna was inspired by Saint Anne rather than the aged prophetess.

In classical mythology, Anna was the sister of Dido, Queen of Carthage; she appears in Virgil’s Aeneid. According to the poet Ovid, this Anna was the same being as the Roman goddess Anna Perenna, whose name refers to the “circle of the year” (per annum, in Latin). Her feast day marked the first full moon of the year, and people offered sacrifices so that the year should be successful.

Ovid relates that Anna escaped from Carthage to Italy, where she accidentally drowned and became a river nymph – he translated her name as meaning “perennial stream” (amnis perennis). Ovid says that the goddess was a tiny old woman who baked cakes, and that crude jokes and songs were sung at her festivals. She may have been a mother goddess, and originally Etruscan – if so, her name might be from the Etruscan nanas, meaning “to bear, to beget (a child)”.

Another mythological Anna is the half-sister of King Arthur, usually referred to as Morgause; in many stories she bears Arthur a son, to his downfall. Morgause seems to be a title, meaning “of the Orkneys”, so Anna would have been her personal name.

It may be that she is based on the Irish goddess Anu, sometimes called Ana or Annan. One possibility is that Anu is another name for the mother goddess Danu/Dana, while the war goddess the Morrigan was sometimes called Anand. The British had a winter storm goddess that they referred to as Gentle Annie or Annis, apparently from terror of her hideous powers (this is another link with the name Agnes in Britain). The name is speculated to come from the ancient Celtic anon, meaning “deity, spirit”.

While we’re looking at the name Anna in different cultures, it is worth mentioning that it is also a man’s name, because Anna (or Onna) was an Anglo-Saxon king. One theory is that his name was a nickname for Ethelmund, meaning “noble protection”, or one of the other Ethel- names. Don’t ask me how Anna is short for Ethelmund!

The name Anna has been in common use in the west since the Middle Ages, and has historically been more popular in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, where it was used by the nobility. It was traditional in the Russian royal family, and the 18th century Empress Anna of Russia was a nasty piece of work. Apart from Anna Pavlova, another famous Russian Anna is the beautiful Anna Karenina, title character of the tragic novel by Leo Tolstoy, considered one of the greatest works of fiction ever written.

Anna is a classic name which has never left the charts. It was #208 in the 1900s, and sunk to its lowest level in the 1920s at #353. After that, it began climbing and joined the Top 100 in the 1950s at #89. The rise into popularity may have been influenced by the 1948 film version of Anna Karenina, starring Vivien Leigh, and helped along by the 1956 film The King and I, with Deborah Kerr in the role of Anna. These movies probably helped give Anna a touch of exoticism.

The King and I was based on the Broadway musical of the same name, in turn based on the book Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon, from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens about her experiences as a royal teacher in Bangkok in the 1860s (Anna Leonowens lived for a few years in Western Australia). Anna and the King was made into a TV show in 1972, and although it flopped in the US, had a decent lifespan on Australian television as re-runs, giving the name Anna a fair amount of exposure during the 1970s.

Anna peaked at the start of the 1980s at #34, then gradually sank into the bottom half of the Top 100. It has not shown any signs of serious decline, but remained relatively stable. In 2013, Anna was #64 nationally, #60 in New South Wales, #81 in Victoria, #87 in Queensland, where it rejoined the Top 100 and was one of its fastest-rising names, #47 in Western Australia, and #71 in the Australian Capital Territory. Preliminary results for 2014 suggest Anna may have improved its position, and is one of Victoria’s fastest-rising names of last year.

One of the factors helping the name along must surely be Princess Anna from the 2013 hit Disney film Frozen, the younger sister of “snow queen” Elsa. Anna is an attractive heroine who is brave and hopeful, with a strong, loving heart. I know many little girls – and even some not so little ones – who adore Anna for being sweet and genuine, with an endearing awkwardness. I wonder how many baby Annas have had their name suggested by an older sister?

Anna is still popular and stable after many decades, and even shows signs of a recent boost. It is a popular name all over the world, but tends to be most popular in central and Eastern Europe, and is the #1 name in Austria. Last year blog readers voted Anna their favourite internationally recognisable girls’ name.

I have found Anna a very easy name to wear. It’s a common name never out of use, but has never been highly popular, so I don’t actually know many people with my name, although everyone has heard of it. Nobody has had any problems spelling it (I learned to write my name as a toddler in about a minute!), and everyone can pronounce it to my satisfaction, even those who don’t speak English. The biggest issue is that it sounds similar to other names, such as Hannah and Emma, which can cause a slight hold-up over the phone.

I can’t pretend that Anna is a very exciting name, but for such a short and simple one, I don’t think it is completely boring either. It’s a palindrome, which tickled me as a child, and it has quite an interesting history – it fascinates me that so many Annas from legend have been elderly women, sometimes with quite a dark side! Its “foreignness” made it popular in the mid twentieth century, and even now I think it has a slight touch of European exoticism: Disney chose it for a Scandinavian princess, after all.

POLL RESULT
Anna received a frankly unbelievable approval rating of 100%, making it the highest-rated girls name in the Waltzing With … category, the highest-rated girls name overall, and the highest-rated overall name of 2015. 46% of people loved the name Anna, and nobody disliked or hated it. I have trouble accepting that I have the perfect name, and can’t help thinking that everyone was too polite to say they didn’t like it!

(Picture shows a pavlova; photo from Just LilDaisy)

Can Cousins Be Named Mai$ie and Macy?

07 Saturday Feb 2015

Posted by in Naming Assistance

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Vanessa and her husband are expecting their fourth child next month. They already have a son named Darcy, and two daughters named Molly and Matilda, and would like a traditional name which fits in with this sibset.

They live in a rural area, and would like a “country” style name which would suit their farming background (by this they mean an Australian country name, not an American “cowboy” type name). If they have a boy, they are considering the name Digby, which is the name of a good friend.

If they have a girl, they have fallen in love with the name Mai$ie. However, Vanessa’s sister-in-law, who lives not too far away and who she is reasonably close to, is expecting a baby girl several weeks after her, and is planning to call her daughter Macy.

Vanessa thinks Mai$ie and Macy are two separate names that are pronounced in different ways. Unfortunately, her sister-in-law disagrees. She believes that Vanessa has “betrayed” her, and “stolen her thunder”, and has made every effort to cut Vanessa out of her life (as much as is possible when you are family members living nearby).

Vanessa is having trouble understanding what her sister-in-law’s issue is, and she wonders what people think of this problem.

* * * * * * * *

I’ll get straight to the sister-in-law issue, which I suspect is your main reason for writing in. This is an extension of the “name stealing” issue – some people not only want their child to be the only one (in their family or their town) with a particular name, but they don’t want anyone else to choose a name which even sounds alike. This is a problem, as there are so many names which sound similar to other names that obeying this request can seriously limit your pool of name choices.

That your sister-in-law feels “betrayed” suggests that she announced her name choice before you did, and is now angry that you picked a name that she sees as uncomfortably close to her favourite name, Macy. I wonder if this is her first baby, as that might increase feelings of wanting to feel “special”: in any case, she probably feels that announcing Macy’s name will have had a bit of shine taken off it.

Funnily enough, the last couple who wrote in to the blog considering the name Digby had a name-stealing issue too, as friends of theirs already had a son named Digby. After some deep soul-searching, and considering other names they could use instead, they decided to use Digby anyway, as it was the only name they really loved. Their friends were quite upset over their choice, and after that things became quite cool between them.

The trouble is, it’s a bit harder to just press on regardless when it’s a family member who is upset with your decision. This is your sister-in-law, who lives an hour’s drive away and who you felt quite close to. You’ve already had a taste of being cold-shouldered for just thinking about using the name Mai$ie, and I’m sure it’s made things quite awkward and unpleasant for you, and possibly for the extended family as well.

As you previously got on fairly well, I hope you will be able to get your relationship with your sister-in-law back on track. If you are are able to talk to her, it might be an idea to find out what exactly she is so upset about. Does she hate the idea of the cousins having similar names that might be confused, as they will be very close in age? Or does she just hate the idea of you being the first?

As both of you are aware you are due to give birth before her, and are therefore in the stronger position, and the default “winner” in this situation. I wonder what she would do if the positions were reversed – would she kindly step aside and choose a different name for her daughter so that you could have Mai$ie? Something tells me that she would stick with Macy, even though it meant risking having two cousins with similar names.

The basic etiquette in this situation is “first in, best dressed”. As the “loser” with less power in this situation, it is her role to accept this as gracefully as she can, and to realise that she has the choice of either picking a different name (if she can’t bear the thought of cousins named Mai$ie and Macy), or of learning to live with the situation if she can’t bear the thought of giving up the name Macy.

As the “winner”, it is your role to be as gracious, understanding, and sympathetic to her plight as possible. It’s perfectly okay to be sorry that she’s unhappy without feeling responsible for it, or changing your behaviour to suit her. You can let her know that you didn’t have any intention to hurt her, and that if you have a daughter named Mai$ie, it won’t in any way make her little Macy any less special, or loved, or welcomed into the family.

I don’t think it would be helpful to your relationship with your sister-in-law for you to choose another name, unless you genuinely feel that this whole episode has spoiled the name Mai$ie for you, or you fall in love with another name.

If you name your daughter Mai$ie as you always intended, then most likely she will eventually get over it, especially if she finds that the names aren’t any huge problem, and that the whole family easily copes with having a Mai$ie and a Macy. Be brave, and be prepared to continue being gracious and compassionate to your sister-in-law until everyone gets used to it.

And most of all, don’t make too big a deal about any of this until the baby is born, as you don’t even know at this point whether you are having a girl at all. It would be silly to have a big fight or a huge drama over something that might never happen. It might be a good idea to gently remind your sister-in-law that for all you know, it is a boy on the way for you.

In some ways, it would be rather convenient if you did have a boy – I’m sure your sister-in-law thinks so, anyway! If you did, Digby would be a great choice. It’s a handsome name, has a nice country feel to it while also being quite hip, and is a lovely way to honour your friend.

Readers, what do you think about Vanessa’s “name-stealing” dilemma, and what advice do you have for her?

Obi Rex and Zeb Barry

06 Friday Feb 2015

Posted by in Birth Announcements

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10711118_10152405986586608_8744561442002715930_nTwins
Liana Belle and Tynan Andrew (Alara)
Marcus Patrick and Travis Patrick

Girls
Adelaide Zoe
Annabel Western Susan
Ayla Jill (Ella)
Bella Catherine Lynn
Chloe Jane (Reef)
Evie Annie Ada
Felicity Fay (Hayden)
Floredre
Frankie Summer (Alex, Poppy)
Genevieve Hope (Anna)
Georgia Dale
Grace Anissa
Liara Louise
Luca Lucia
Madelyn Min (Taylor)
Molly Glenda
Nyah Lilly
Poppy Gwendoline Rose
Scarlett Belle (Edwin)
Tabitha Wendy (Holly, Kinzie)
Tayla Destiny
Thea Frances (Elijah, Meggie)
Trinity Elizabeth (Ayrton, Jensen)
Xana-Lee
Zara Jean (Jake, Max)

Boys
Alessio Luke
Aston Edward James (Isla)
Aurelio Fabrizio (Emilio, Dante)
Barlin (Emery)
Cecil Joshua (Amelia, Juliet)
Clancy Cash (Olive)
Eli Nathaniel
Floyd
Gadsby
Henry Beau
Jack Ronan
Joel Dean Hutchinson (Ava, Elise)
Kingston Mark (Hunter, Lennox)
Lachlan Alfred
Micah Bryce (Addison, Ella)
M-J
Obi Rex
Oliver Lyell (Harlee, Jayda, Nikita)
Rafael John (Josiah, Xavier)
Remy Louis Patrick (Hudson, Matilda)
Rhythm
Taj Peter
Vincent Van (Lincoln)
William Hugh (James Michael)
Zeb Barry

(Picture shows The Pyramid of the Dawn at Founders Square in Concordia Capital District in The Province of Aurora in the Empire of Atlantium. The Empire of Atlantium is a sovereign state located in the Lachlan River Valley of New South Wales: it was originally formed in 1981 by three teenagers; photo from its Facebook page).

Famous Name: Philip

04 Wednesday Feb 2015

Posted by in Famous Names

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Famous Namesake
Australia Day is a day not just to celebrate, but to honour Australians for their achievements and service to the community. However, this year even the Australian of the Year was almost completely forgotten as everyone was swept up in a media maelstrom when Prince Philip was named a Knight of Australia.

Former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam replaced the British honours system in 1975 with the Order of Australia, and Knights and Dames were added to it in 1976 by former prime minister Malcolm Fraser. Knights and Dames were then dumped by the Hawke government in 1986.

Last year Knights and Dames were re-instated by the current prime minister, who declared that they would celebrate pre-eminent Australians such as Governors-Generals, chief justices and the like. The prime minister didn’t consult his senior colleagues over the decision, which many felt to be a mistake which could come back to bite him. This is the moment it bit.

There are several reasons why declaring Prince Philip a Knight of Australia went down badly. For one thing, the prime minister didn’t consult any of his colleagues over the decision, which re-ignited fears of an arrogant leader making “captain’s calls” which could alienate his own cabinet. For another, Prince Philip wasn’t a pre-eminent Australian, so the appointment was outside the stated brief.

The prime minister’s decision has been widely criticised, and had scorn poured upon it. The decision has been described as “a time warp” and “ludicrous … cultural cringe” by some in the Opposition, while those on the prime minister’s own side labelled it “April Fool’s Day”, “total craziness”, and “a joke”. High profile supporters of the prime minister, such as conservative commentator Andrew Bolt and media baron Rupert Murdoch thought it was “pathetically stupid” and “an embarrassment”. No wonder the newspapers have dubbed it a “Knightmare“.

Comedian Adams Hills commented that, “Giving a Knighthood to Prince Philip is like giving a Beyonce CD to Jay-Z. Surely he could just pick one up at home”. In fact, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, already has three British knighthoods, and has had knighthoods bestowed upon him numerous times by various countries, including Nepal, Peru, and a whole bunch of others you never knew cared.

So an Australian knighthood isn’t completely bizarre, and Prince Charles is already a Knight of Australia, while Prince Philip is a Companion of the Order of Australia. In fact, in Vanuatu Prince Philip is worshipped as a god, which makes a knighthood look pretty low-key in a “least we could do” sort of way.

The problem is that the prime minister was already floundering in a sea of unpopularity, and when you are in dangerous waters, you cannot afford to make a mistake. The knighthood to Prince Philip was the equivalent of a drowning swimmer cutting his leg open, and now (to continue this laboured metaphor), the sharks have the scent of blood and are circling in a menacing sort of way.

The Coalition have already lost the Victorian state election after only one term, and after the Prince Philip debacle, it performed so dismally in the Queensland state election that it is predicted to have lost its majority from a seemingly unassailable 78 seats, and former premier Campbell Newman has lost his seat and left politics. Many pundits are now predicting a federal leadership spill.

Name Information
Philip is the English form of the Greek name Philippos, meaning “friend of horses”. The name isn’t just about being an animal-lover – in ancient Greece, only the wealthiest people could afford to own horses, so the name proclaims a high status. (In the same way, knights are also high-status and connected with horses). Aptly, Prince Philip is a keen equestrian who still participates in carriage driving, a sport which he helped develop.

The name Philip was traditional in the Macedonian royal family, and Alexander the Great‘s father was named Philip. Because of this, it was a highly popular name in Macedonia, although common in the rest of the Hellenic world. Prince Philip was born in Greece to a prince of Greece and Denmark, so his royal Greek name is very suitable.

There are two saints named Philip from the New Testament. One is the Apostle Philip, who seems to have been a friend of Peter and Andrew; according to tradition, he was martyred by being crucified upside down. The other is Saint Philip the Evangelist, mentioned as being one of the deacons chosen to help care for the poor.

The name Philip came into common use in western Europe by the Middle Ages, and was a traditional name in several royal houses, including France, Spain, and Portugal. Philip was used in England from medieval times too, with a notable example being the Elizabethan courtier Sir Philip Sidney, who created the name Stella for a poem.

However, the name became less common for a time because of King Philip II of Spain, who tried to invade England, and whose Spanish Armada was famously defeated by the English in 1588. Philip had actually been king of England for a short time, due to his marriage to Mary I, and they hadn’t been a popular couple. However, under Philip’s rule Spain reached the peak of its power, and was called “the empire on which the sun never sets”. The Philippines is named after him.

By the 19th century, everyone was over the whole Spanish Armada thing, and Philip was completely rehabilitated, no doubt assisted by Phillip, the surname form of the name – which has an Australian link, thanks to Captain Arthur Phillip, the founder of Sydney (Phillip Island in Melbourne, and the suburb of Phillip in Canberra are named after him).

It’s not hard to think of famous Philips and Phillips, including poet Philip Larkin composer Philip Glass, self-help guru Dr Phil McGraw, novelist Philip Pullman, singer Phillip Everly from The Everly Brothers, actor Philip Seymour-Hoffman, and record producer Phil Spector, to name a few. Funnily enough, when I think of fictional Philips, most of them seem to be cartoons, such as Philip J. Fry from Futurama, Phillip Argyle from South Park, and Prince Phillip (!) from Sleeping Beauty.

Philip was #69 in the 1900s and Phillip was #95; they both peaked in the 1950s at #33 and #19 respectively. Philip left the Top 100 in 1989, while Phillip managed to last slightly longer, until 1996. Philip has fallen more dramatically, with not enough births since 2009 to show up in the records, while Phillip is around the 400s.

Philip is still getting reasonable use in the UK and US, but while Phillip has a similar popularity to Philip in the United States, in the 300s, Phillip (#709) is far less common in the UK than Philip (#288). One can only speculate why we all have taken a different position in regard to Philip and Phillip. Philip is most popular in Denmark and Norway.

As I already covered my brother Edward’s name, I will mention that Philip was the name my dad chose for my youngest brother, named for his cousin and best friend. Philip’s middle name is Andrew, after my mother’s favourite great-uncle, who was from the Scottish Highlands.

However, both these choices turned out to be superfluous, because almost as soon as Philip was brought home and settled into his cot, my dad said admiringly, “He’s so brown – like a little brown bear”, and from then on he was Little Brown Bear, and eventually just Bear. He never goes by Philip.

(I should probably add that my family are otherwise very fair skinned with light hair, so Philip’s handsome olive skin and dark hair seemed like an exciting novelty to us. This colouring turns up in many families of Cornish heritage, and legend has it that they are descendants of the Spanish Armada, or Moorish pirates, which is almost certainly complete fiction).

Philip is a classic name with ancient roots, a royal history, and a biblical heritage. It has become less common than its surname twin Phillip, although neither is used extensively. It has some great nicknames – if you’re not excited about Phil, there’s always Pip, the hero of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, while Philo, Flip and Pippin would also be possibilities.

POLL RESULTS
Philip received an approval rating of 57%. 21% of people saw Philip as too dated and old-fashioned, but 19% thought it was sensible and honest. 10% were put off the name by Prince Philip, while nobody thought the name was snobbish or stuck-up.

(Picture shows Prince Philip with a friend at the Royal Windsor Horse Show last year; photo from The Express).

Names of Australian Prime Ministers

01 Sunday Feb 2015

Posted by in Name Themes and Lists

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Some people say you should give your son the kind of name that will sound good on a prime minister. Here’s ten names borne by prime ministers, as either first names, middle names, or surnames. Maybe one of them is right for your child.

Aloysius
Joseph Aloysius Lyons was the 10th prime minister, swapping from the Labor Party to lead the conservative United Australia Party. Genial and laidback, he was one of the most popular of our prime ministers, and the nation mourned when he died suddenly in 1939, becoming the first PM to die in office. He is the only Tasmanian prime minister, and his widow Dame Enid Lyons became the first woman to sit in the House of Representatives. Aloysius is the Latin form of Aloys, an old Occitan form of Louis, used to Latinise the Italian form, Luigi. Aloysius Gonzaga is a 16th century Italian saint from a noble family, who lost his life caring for plague victims not long after becoming accepted as a Jesuit. Because of the saint, Aloysius is seen as a specifically Catholic name, and is more common in the middle position. It has strong scientific credentials, as Aloysius Lilius was the first to propose the Gregorian calendar, and Dr Aloysius Alzheimer identified the first case of the disease which bears his name. Rich and flamboyant, Aloysius is usually pronounced al-uh-WISH-us in Australia.

Andrew
Andrew Fisher was the 5th prime minister, a Labor leader who served as PM three times. Originally from Scotland, he had a background working for the miner’s union. He was prime minister at the time of the Gallipoli campaign, and ultimately responsible for getting Australian troops out. Andrew is the English form of the Greek name Andreas, meaning “manly, brave”. The name came into common use because of Saint Andrew, one of the Apostles, and the brother of Saint Peter; Andrew was the first Apostle, who led the other disciples to Jesus. Tradition says Andrew preached around the Black Sea, and legend has it that he was crucified on an X-shaped cross, now called the St Andrew’s cross, or saltire. Saint Andrew is the patron of Scotland, where his relics are supposed to have been taken in the 6th century. The place of their safekeeping was renamed St Andrews, and the saltire is on the Scottish flag. Andrew is a classic which has never left the charts. It was #56 in the 1900s, and peaked in the 1970s at #4; it only left the Top 100 last year. A handsome classic with ties to Scotland, this name has had some recent bad publicity.

Christmas
Earle Christmas Grafton Page was the 11th prime minister, and leader of the Country Party, the forerunner to the National Party. He is our longest-serving federal parliamentarian, spending nearly 42 years in parliament, but was only prime minister as caretaker for three weeks after the death of Joseph Lyons. Christmas is the holiday in honour of the birth of Jesus Christ, literally meaning “Christ’s mass”. Christmas has been celebrated since the 4th century, with the December 25 date originating in Rome. While a Christian festival in origin, Christmas is commonly seen as a secular holiday that brings everyone together. Christmas has been given as a first name since at least the 16th century, and early examples were born around Christmas time. Originally Christmas was given fairly equally to boys and girls, but overall is historically much more common as a boy’s name. This may be because Christmas is also a surname, perhaps originally a nickname given to someone who organised Christmas festivities. A sweet middle name for a baby born during the Christmas season (although Earle Page was born in August), as a first name it can shorten to Chris, Christy, or Chrissie.

Deakin
Alfred Deakin was a leader in the movement towards federation who became the 2nd prime minister, serving as PM three times. The founder of the Commonwealth Liberal Party, he is honoured as a founding father by the modern Liberal Party. A man liked and admired by almost everyone, he is almost certainly Australia’s most spiritual prime minister. A sincere spiritualist, his diaries show that he prayed constantly for divine guidance, read scriptures and mystical works, and wanted his influence on the world to be one of light and truth. The surname Deakin is a variant of Deacon, an occupational surname for someone who served in the church ranking just below a priest, and whose duties included assisting the priest and carrying out parish work; the word is ultimately from the Greek for “servant”. A very old surname, it originates from Suffolk, and possibly dates to before the Norman Conquest. I have quite often seen Australian boys named Deakin (far more than ones named Deacon), and the prime minister may well be an inspiration, although Deakin University means it could be after an alma mater.

Fraser
Malcolm Fraser was the 22nd prime minister, who came to power after the controversial Dismissal of Gough Whitlam. He won three successive elections for the Liberal Party, and has had a distinguished retirement in roles for the UN and Care International. He is now estranged from the Liberal Party, and often speaks out on human rights issues. The Scottish Clan Fraser trace their origins to France, although the surname’s meaning is uncertain. One theory is that it is derived from a (now lost place name) La Frezeliere in Anjou. Another idea is that it comes from fraise, the French word for “strawberry”, and the Clan Fraser displays strawberries on its coat of arms. Although a charming notion, this is almost certainly folk etymology. Known for their skills as warriors, the Frasers fought with William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, and took part in the Battles of Bannockburn and Culloden; at the last, they were massacred in great numbers, and a great stone marks where the Frasers fell. This is a handsome name, popular in Scotland, that I quite often see in birth notices.

Grey
John Grey Gorton was the 19th prime minister and a Liberal leader, the only Senator to become PM. Although a popular man with a bit of a larrikin streak, he was a poor public speaker, and the media portrayed him as a buffoon, in contrast to the eloquent Opposition leader, Gough Whitlam. The surname Grey, a variant of Gray, could be a nickname given to someone with grey hair. It can also be a Norman name, coming from the place name Graye in Normandy; this is from the Gallo-Roman personal name Gratus, meaning “welcoming, pleasing”. This second origin seems to be the earliest, and comes from the north of England. Grey can also be given directly as a colour name – the colour grey is associated with modesty and humility, business and professional life, twilight and elves, and also ambiguity (shades of grey). The subdued Grey has been used as a personal name since at least the 16th century, and is historically more common for boys, although it works well in the middle for either sex.

Melbourne
Stanley Melbourne Bruce was the 8th prime minister, a leader of the conservative Nationalist Party. He oversaw the transfer of the national capital to Canberra, became the first PM to live at The Lodge, and modernised federal government administration. He later became an excellent ambassador and highly influential in British politics, taking a key role at the League of Nations. He was eventually raised to the peerage; the royal family attended his memorial service in London, although his ashes are scattered over Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra. Melbourne is the capital of Victoria, and considered our cultural capital. In the 19th century, it became the richest city in the world, and the second-largest after London, gaining the moniker of “Marvellous Melbourne”. Stanley Bruce was from a wealthy Melbourne family, and born in the 1880s when the city was booming and bustling, so the name was a badge of pride. Founded by John Batman from Tasmania, Melbourne was originally called Batmania, but almost immediately someone re-named it after the British prime minister William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne. A member of the Irish peerage, Lamb’s title was after his Derbyshire estate, Melbourne Hall; the nearby town of Melbourne means “mill stream”. A distinguished middle name, although Batmania has its attractions.

Paul
Paul Keating was the 24th prime minister, delivering a shock record fifth election victory for the Labor Party during the recession years of the 1990s. Cultured and intellectual with an acerbic wit and colourful range of insults, he loves Mahler and collects French antique clocks. Paul is the English form of the Roman name Paulus, meaning “small, humble” in Latin; it seems to have begun as a nickname, and gradually become accepted as a personal name. Although common in ancient Rome, the name has become widespread because of Saint Paul, the Apostle most responsible for spreading Christianity throughout the Western world. Both a Jew and a Roman citizen, the saint’s name was Saul, but his Roman name was Paulus. The New Testament tells of his dramatic conversion. A zealous persecutor of Christians, Saul had a vision on the road to Damascus where the resurrected Christ reproached him for his actions, leaving him temporarily blinded. From then on, he became an equally zealous Christian, and in the process, changed history. By tradition, Paul was martyred in Rome. Paul is a classic name which was #132 in the 1900s, and joined the Top 100 in the 1920s before peaking in 1967 at #3. It left the Top 100 in the early 2000s, and is currently in the mid-200s. A softer-sounding boy’s classic which works well as both a first and middle name.

Reid
Sir George Reid was the 4th prime minister, and leader of the conservative Free Trade Party. A humorous and entertaining orator, audiences flocked to his election meetings, although his enemies viewed him as a clown. After his term in office, he was appointed Australia’s first High Commissioner in London, where he made himself so popular that he was elected to the British House of Commons during World War I. The surname Reid is a variant of Read, Reade and Reed, and generally accepted as a Scottish form, as the reid spelling comes from Northumberland near the Scottish border. It is derived from read, the Old English word for “red”, and began as a nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion. Reid has been used as a first name since the 17th century, and was first used this way in Scotland. Strong, short and simple, I occasionally see this in birth notices, although more commonly as a middle name: I have even seen it chosen for a girl.

Winston
John Winston Howard was the 25th prime minister, winning a record number of seats for the Liberal Party at the 1996 election so that the party would have been able to govern in its own right. He served four terms as PM, spending almost twelve years in the role. The name Winston is strongly associated with inspirational wartime British prime minister, Sir Winston Churchill, who John Winston Howard is named for. Churchill was named after his 17th century ancestor Sir Winston Churchill, whose name was his mother’s maiden name: she was Sarah Winston, daughter of Sir Henry Winston of Gloucestershire. After this, the name became traditional in the Churchill family. There is an Anglo-Saxon personal name Wynstan, meaning “joy stone”, usually given as the origin of Winston. The Churchill’s Winston surname is probably from the village of Winstone in Gloucestershire, which means “Wynna’s stone”, with Wynna meaning “joy”, so having much the same meaning. However, if it ultimately comes from the village of Winston in Suffolk, it means “Wine’s settlement”, with Wine meaning “friend”, so “friend town”. Nice either way. This is fast becoming seen as a hip, sophisticated choice.

POLL RESULTS
People’s favourite names were Winston, Reid, and Fraser, and their least favourite were Paul, Melbourne and Christmas.

(Picture shows a poster for the centenary of Federation at an exhibition at Deakin University in Victoria)