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Category Archives: Naming Issues

Hyphenated First Names from the WMTM 2015 Name Survey

26 Sunday Jun 2016

Posted by A.O. in Naming Issues

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

hyphenated names

The Roses
Ashlynn-Rose
Charlie-Rose
Destiny-Rose
Eden-Rose
Ella-Rose
Grace-Rose
Isla-Rose
Layla-Rose
Montannah-Rose
Mylah-Rose
Veronika-Rose
Zahlie-Rose

The Lees
Dakoda-Lee
Esmee-Leigh
Laylah-Leigh
Ruby-Leigh
Shakyah-Lee
Stevie-lee
Xana-Lee

The Mays
Angel-May
Ashanti-May
Evie-May
Jarrah-Maie
Maggie-May

The Jades
Avah-Jade
Lolita-Jade

The Janes
Mary-Jane
Samantha-Jane

The Other Girls
Frankie-Blossom
Hannah-Louise
Mahalia-Joy
Millie-Belle
Olivia-Grace
Ra-Elle
Ruby-Jules
Shy-Anne
Willow-Raigne

The Boys
Ha-rang
Hunter-Ray
Lincoln-Jensen
M-Jay

POLL RESULTS
91% of people would not choose a hyphenated name for their child, with 52% having a real dislike of this name trend. The remaining 9% would at least consider it, with 3% loving the trend.

The Fastest Rising Top 100 Names of 2015

23 Monday May 2016

Posted by A.O. in Naming Issues

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

famous namesakes, fictional namesakes, international name trends, name trends, popular names

maleficent mark 2GIRLS

Aurora
Aurora joined the Top 100 in 2015 and was the fastest-rising girl’s name in the country, going up at least 23 places to make #78. Aurora was also new to the Top 100 in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, and among the top-rising names in those states. Princess Aurora is the name of the Sleeping Beauty in the animated 1959 Disney film, and the name received fresh attention after the 2014 live-action film Maleficent, a revisionist re-telling; Princess Aurora was played by Elle Fanning. A golden name associated with true love’s kiss, Aurora shares a similar sound with popular Aria. Already popular and rising in New Zealand, the US, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland and Norway, Aurora is rising in the UK.

Billie
Billie was another Top 100 debut last year, gaining at least 19 places to make #82, and joined the Top 100 in New South Wales. It was the fastest rising girl’s name in Victoria, where it was already a Top 100 name. Billie first charted in the 1930s and ’40s, and rejoined the charts in the 1970s. It has been zooming up the charts since 2010, when the hit TV drama series Offspring first screened, with Kat Stewart as straight-talking big sister Billie Proudman. This retro name is only a success story in Australia, so has genuine local appeal.

Penelope
Penelope was one of the fastest-rising names of 2013 when it rejoined the Top 100 that year, and in 2015 it rose 17 places to #62. It was also the fastest-rising girl’s name in Queensland, and among the top rising names in New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. Chosen by a number of celebrities for their babies, this is a name with star power. Also popular in New Zealand and the US, it is rising in Europe and only just outside the Top 100 in the UK.

Piper
Piper has been solidly on the Top 100 since 2008, rising after the witchy TV series Charmed, with Holly-Marie Combs as sensible sis Piper Halliwell. Last year it rose 17 places to #49, joining the Top 50, and was one of the fastest-rising girl’s names in New South Wales. The name was boosted by women’s prison drama Orange is the New Black, starring Taylor Schilling as upmarket drug smuggler Piper Chapman. Already popular and rising in the US and New Zealand, Piper is also rising in the UK.

Eve
Eve was last on the Top 100 in 2013, and after a year away returned in 2015, rising at least 14 places to #87. It rejoined the Top 100 in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, and was one of the top rising girl’s names in Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. In 2014 Evelyn was one of the fastest rising names, and it is no surprise that clean, stripped-back Eve has taken its place. Fitting in with short V-sound names like Ava and Ivy, Eve is a natural choice for someone wanting the nickname Evie. Apart from Australia, Eve is only popular in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland – it’s used to Anglicise the Irish name Aoife, giving it another layer of meaning.

BOYS

Harvey
Harvey debuted in the Top 100 last year, and was one of the top rising names of 2014. In 2015 it did even better, becoming the fastest rising boy’s name in the country, rising 31 places to reach #53, and was one of the fastest rising boy’s names in New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania. Harvey benefits both from the fashionable V sound, as in Oliver, and the AR sound found in names such as Archer and Darcy. Harvey also joined the Top 100 in New Zealand last year, and has been popular in the UK for many years.

Theodore
Theodore was another Top 100 debut of 2014, and last year made significant gains, rising 30 places to #66. It was the fastest rising boy’s name in New South Wales, and among the top rising names in Victoria and Tasmania. Among its many attractions are the nicknames Theo and Ted, already gaining in popularity as independent names – Teddy cannot be far behind, and even Bear is a possible nickname. Theodore is also popular and rising in New Zealand, the US, and UK.

Nathaniel
Nathaniel debuted in the Top 100 of 2013, and was one of that year’s fastest rising names. While it fell significantly the following year, Nathaniel has bounced back, rising 20 places to #80, and was one of the top rising boy’s names in new South Wales. This name provides a way to get to popular Nate. A busy namesake for the year was the singer Nathaniel, who released his first album, with the single going platinum and a cover song being chosen as the theme for I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! Nathaniel has been popular in the US since the 1970s, and we seem to be catching up just as they prepare to let go of it.

Beau
Beau has been in the Top 100 since the 1980s, so is an old favourite, although it has never become very popular. Nonetheless it had a surprise jump in 2015, going up 19 places to #61, and was the fastest rising boy’s name in Victoria. I had a request to cover the name Beau last year, and I’m impressed by how quickly blog readers tune in to name zeitgeist – Penelope had a huge leap after I was asked to cover it, and now even reliable old Beau has made significant gains. Blog readers know! Beau is only popular in Australia and New Zealand, but is rising in the US.

Carter
Carter debuted in the Top 100 in 2014, and last year went up to 19 places to #79; it was also the fastest rising boy’s name in New South Wales for 2015. Surnames are on trend (and not just for boys – hello Piper!), and Carter has that fashionable AR sound shared with Harvey. Carter is already popular in New Zealand, the US, and Northern Ireland, and rising fast in the UK.

POLL RESULTS

The public’s favourite fastest-rising names of 2015 were Eve and Theodore, and their least favourites were Piper and Carter.

 

Unisex Names from the WMTM 2015 Name Survey

20 Wednesday Apr 2016

Posted by A.O. in Naming Issues

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

unisex names

Boys Names Sometimes Given to Girls
Mason – 36 boys, 1 girl
Hudson – 32 boys, 1 girl
Riley – 28 boys, 3 girls
Aidan/Aiden – 23 boys, 1 girl
Luca/Luka – 20 boys, 2 girls
Beau/Bo – 17 boys, 1 girl
Harvey – 16 boys, 1 girl
Billy – 17 boys, 1 girl
Lenny – 17 boys, 1 girl
Koby – 13 boys, 1 girl
Elliot – 12 boys, 2 girls
Bailey – 11 boys, 2 girls
Spencer – 11 boys, 2 girls
Alex – 10 boys, 2 girls
Dylan – 8 boys, 2 girls
Parker – 7 boys, 2 girls
Jett – 9 boys, 1 girl
Harley – 8 boys, 1 girl
Finlay/Finley – 6 boys, 1 girl
Micah – 6 boys 1 girl
Oakley – 5 boys, 1 girl
Clancy – 4 boys, 1 girl

Girls Names Sometimes Given to Boys
Harper – 41 girls, 1 boy
Madison/Maddison – 41 girls, 1 boy
Marley – 26 girls, 2 boys
Mackenzie – 16 girls, 1 boy
Frankie – 15 girls, 1 boy
Addison – 8 girls, 1 boy
Emerson – 8 girls, 1 boy
Taylor – 7 girls, 2 boys

Unisex Names More Common for Boys
Charlie – 41 boys, 18 girls
Darcy – 13 boys, 9 girls
Jordan – 12 boys, 4 girls
Lleyton/Leighton – 5 boys, 2 girls

Unisex Names More Common for Girls
Remy/Remi – 13 girls, 5 boys
Eden – 10 girls, 3 boys
Asher – 6 girls, 2 boys
Quinn – 4 girls, 2 boys

Unisex Names Fairly Equally to Both Sexes
Brooklyn – 7 girls, 5 boys
Miller – 3 boys, 2 girls
Casey – 3 boys, 2 girls
Henley – 2 boys, 2 girls
Koa – 2 boys, 2 girls
Blair – 2 boys, 1 girl
Reggie – 2 boys, 1 girl
Cory/Corey – 2 girls, 1 boy
Kalani – 2 girls, 1 boy
Shelby – 2 girls, 1 boy
Sloan/Sloane – 2 girls, 1 boy
Vali – 2 girls, 1 boy
Aspen – 1 girl, 1 boy
Briley – 1 boy, 1 girl
Rocket – 1 girl, 1 boy
Tully – 1 girl, 1 boy

This isn’t a complete list of all unisex names. A few of them are taken, not from the data sheet, but from my original notes to reflect spelling variants.

One of the problems as to deciding whether a name is unisex or not is there is often a differently-spelled version for each sex. For example, I did not include Andie and Andy, because only girls were called Andie, and only boys Andy. Does it it make any difference if your daughter Andie Smith is in the same class as a boy named Andy Smith? I would assume it would be equally confusing (or equally straightforward) as a girl Andie and a boy Andie.

You can see why parents of boys are more likely to get upset over unisex names, as it is more common for a girl to be given a name much more popular for boys than the other way around. They may also be cross to discover that Mackenzie and Emerson are classified as girls’ names, because there are significantly more girls than boys with the names. It certainly doesn’t look like a level playing field, although in all fairness surname names are more likely to be used by both sexes, and these are generally more common for boys.

However, there are still genuinely unisex choices (although they nearly always seem to be names that are rare), and the numbers of girls called Mason and boys called Maddison are very low overall. You may also feel that spelling really does matter, and are therefore unconcerned about all the girls called Charlie (for example), as their name may very well be Charli or Charlee.

POLL RESULTS

There was a slight preference for not choosing a unisex name for a child, with 54% saying they probably wouldn’t, or definitely wouldn’t choose a unisex name – 20% actively hated the idea. 31% were fine with the idea of giving a unisex name to either a boy or a girl, with 13% loving the idea. There was very little difference when it came to giving unisex names to one gender and not the other: 8% would only give a unisex name to a girl, and 7% would only give a unisex name to boy.

The public were fairly evenly divided on whether the spelling of a name made a difference when indicating gender in unisex names. 52% though that the spelling made almost no difference, or very little difference, while 48% were sure that spelling was a major signifier of gender, and saw the masculine and feminine versions as completely separate names.

 

Choosing a Surname for Baby: One Couple’s Story

25 Sunday Oct 2015

Posted by A.O. in Naming Issues

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

birth registries, choosing a surname, created surnames

shaving-cream-mix

I was recently sent a very interesting article by a writer named Lorelei Vashti, which describes the process she and her partner Jeremy went through to choose their baby’s name. They didn’t have any problems giving her a first name, but the surname required a great deal more thought!

While researching the topic, Lorelei discovered that 90% of married couples and 75% of unmarried couples in Victoria will give their children the father’s surname, even if the mother has elected to keep her own surname.

That did not feel fair at all, but then it seemed equally unfair for their daughter to receive Lorelei’s surname. Hyphenating their names was not an option, as it did not lead to a surname that felt natural or easy to say.

Their dilemma led Lorelei to research the history of surnames, and see how surnames are bestowed in other countries – sometimes quite differently to how it’s done in English-speaking countries. It also made her realise that a cultural shift can change the way people choose surnames, and that such a custom is not fixed, but open to fresh interpretations.

In the end, Jeremy suggested that they create a new surname for their daughter by combining each of their last names, which at first Lorelei thought was a ridiculous idea. However, the more they thought about it, the better it stacked up against their other surname options. Most of the objections they heard against the idea turned out to be inaccurate, or based on outdated information and attitudes.

Only 3% of parents in Victoria have chosen a newly created surname for their children, but it turned out to be the right choice for Lorelei and Jeremy.

Their daughter is almost one, and they have had no problems with everyone in the family having a different surname. Medicare, doctor’s appointments, air travel, and daycare have all been the same to organise as if their child shared one of her parent’s surnames.

The biggest and best surprise was how easy it was to register their daughter’s name. There was no special paperwork to fill out, no questions from the birth registry, no assumptions from bureaucracy that their daughter would receive one surname rather than another.

They just filled out the birth registration form as usual, and the birth certificate arrived in the post. Just like any other name, just like any other baby.

So if you have also been debating how to approach the surname issue, a newly created surname for your child could be the right choice for you as well. It’s good to learn that it’s not only a simple process, but hasn’t led to any particular problems either.

POLL RESULTS
Most people (67%) would not consider creating a new surname for their child. 36% approved of the idea, but felt it just wasn’t right for them, while 31% didn’t like the idea. Of the remaining 33%, 25% were interested in the idea, and wouldn’t rule it out, and 7% would seriously consider it. One person said they had already chosen this option.

(Some) Names From (Recent) Australian Teen and Young Adult Fiction

18 Sunday Oct 2015

Posted by A.O. in Naming Issues

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

fictional namesakes, Indian names, name trends, nicknames, sibsets, unisex names

cornerofwhite__span

If you want to turn this into a drinking game:

Drink if you see the same name used again
Drink if the character’s name provides a major plot point
Drink if there’s some quirky or interesting story behind a character’s name/nickname
Drink if the character is named after food
Drink if the character is named after an animal
Drink if the character’s nickname has nothing to do with their full name
Drink if the character’s name is highly unlikely for their age group

I, Wolf by Matt Boyd
A werewolf story. The hero is called Romy, short for Romulus (DRINK!), and he’s an Australian boy who has to move to Austria for health reasons. His love interest is Antonia, and friends are Dimitri and Nat.

One of my pet peeves is when the character’s name tells you what’s going to happen. However, after reading endless teen fiction where the heroine has some boyish nickname like Alex or Bill or George, it’s refreshing to read one where the hero has a nickname more common for girls.

Holier Than Thou by Laura Buzo
Heroine is Holly, a young social worker – her nickname is Holier-than-Thou (DRINK!). Her boyfriend is Tim, but she has unresolved feelings for her friend Liam, and finds herself attracted to a colleague, Nick (nicknamed Nickolarse).

The Roxy Ran series by Tiffany Hall
Roxy Ran is a teenage ninja, initiated into the mysteries of the Tiger Scrolls or something by Jackson Axe, who has a brother named Morgan. Roxy’s big sister is Electra (a samurai), and her friend is Cinnamon (DRINK!). The school bully’s name is Hero, which is a major plot point give away (DRINK!).

The Elly Pickering books by Wendy Harmer
The heroine is Eleanor “Elly” Pickering, who has a big sister named Matilda “Tilly“. Her friends are Carmelita and Rosie, while the popular “mean girl” is called Bianca, and love interest is a boy named Tyler. In one book, Elly gets a job which brings her into proximity with a Hollywood teen heart throb called Jake Blake.

For some reason Biancas are often unpleasant in fiction. I had an issue with movie star Jake Blake – it reminded me too strongly of Jack Black, so although he is meant to be a Zac-Efrony sort of guy, I was picturing something far different.

I’ll Tell You Mine by Pip Harry
Kate is the heroine, an upper middle class Goth teenager at boarding school. Her best friend is Maddy, and Maddy’s brother Lachy provides a love interest.

I have an aversion to heroines named some version of Katherine, but my very least favourite is Kate. It shows such a massive lack of imagination that I fear for the rest of the book.

And All the Stars by Andrea K. Höst
Madeleine “Maddie” (DRINK!) Cost is a teenage artist trying to win the Archibald Prize by painting her gorgeous and famous cross-dressing actor cousin Tyler (DRINK!). But forget most of that plot, as the book is actually about an alien invasion in central Sydney. The love interest is a science nerd named Fisher “Fish” (DRINK!) Charteris, and best friend a girl named Noi (a Thai name).

There’s a cast of dozens in this book. Most of them have nicknames, some of which are creative, such as a boy named Lee, who is called Pan (DRINK!) for the fairly unlikely reason he resembles the god Pan (DRINK!). You just know you’ve sent your kid to a superior school when their playground nickname is a Greek god.

The Mosquito Advertising books by Kate Hunter
Brisbane teenagers run an advertising agency. Heroine is Katie Crisp (DRINK!), and others on her team are best friend Lorraine Crabbe (DRINK!), neighbour Joel Maguire and his cousin Dominic Pyne-Davies, arty Clementine Bailey (DRINK!), and “bad girl” Jasmine Jolley. Katie’s mum is Vanessa, and Lorraine’s is Pippa (DRINK!). Clementine belongs to a brilliant family, and has siblings named James, Cordelia, Evangeline, Rupert, and Nathaniel. Dominic has twin little sisters named Janie and Susan (DRINK! DRINK!). Jasmine has big brothers named Eli and Byron who are famous rock musicians. Katie’s aunt and Vanessa’s sister is named Nancy (DRINK!).

Not only a variation of Katherine, but a variant of the author’s own name, which seems particularly lazy. The names are all of out of synch: a teenager named Lorraine, little girls named Janie and Susan, and a youngish aunt named Nancy, sister to Vanessa!

Divine Clementine by Hayley S. Kirk
Teenager Clementine (DRINK!) Footner falls apart when her beloved aunt Stella (DRINK!) dies (Stella is not much older than Clementine and is like a big sister). There’s also an aunt named Penny, an uncle named Dorian, and a niece named Auggie; friend is Thom.

The family is quite ahead of the curve, so look out for girls named Auggie in the future.

The Tribe series by Ambelin Kwaymullina
Set in a dystopian future world informed by the Australian Aboriginal Dreamtime. The heroine of the first book is Ashala Jane (DRINK!) Ambrose, otherwise known as Ashala Wolf (DRINK! DRINK!). Her friends are Ember Crow (DRINK!) and Georgie Spider (DRINK!), and they lead a tribe of environmentally-aware children. Love interest is Justin Connor – called by his surname – and Ember’s boyfriend is Jules ; the baddies are Neville Rose and Dr Miriam Grey.

It makes sense that everyone is still using the same names three hundred years in the future, as society broke down right about now. I do like Ashala, but it bothers me that she is called Wolf as a tribal name in Australia – we don’t have wolves!

Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan
A vampire satire set in a town in Maine where humans and vampires live side by side: the vampires are immigrants to the US. The heroine is Mel (DRINK!), her best friends are Cathy (DRINK!) and Anna, and the vampire is Francis Duvarney (DRINK!). Mel’s love interest is a boy called Kit, whose name is short for Kitten (DRINK!) – it’s a long story (DRINK!).

You might chuckle over a vampire named Duvarney, because of the Victorian pulp-fiction classic, “Varney the Vampire”. Mel and Cathy are remarkably dated for teenagers; they seem very 1970s to me, as an Anna who went to school with about eighty Mels and Cathys (it feels like).

Losing It by Julia Lawrinson
Four 17-year-old best friends vow to lose their virginity before the end of the final school year, American Pie style. The girls are Zoe, Bree, Mala, and Abby. Abby has a brother named Zeke, and Mala has a cousin named Mo. The girls’ male friend is Matty.

Mala and Mo are from a different ethnicity, but it is never said what it is, although Mala is an Indian name, and Mo might be short for Mohandas?

The Convent by Maureen McCarthy
Set in the historic Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne, and based on the author’s own family history. It starts during World War I, when Sadie is forced to relinquish her daughter Ellen, who is brought up by the nuns at the convent. In the 1960s, Ellen’s only daughter Cecilia takes the veil at the convent and becomes Sister Annuniciata, and Cecilia’s daughter is Perpetua, called Peach (DRINK! DRINK!). Peach also has a connection with the convent, as she works at the arts centre now housed in its buildings. Peach’s sister is Stella (DRINK!), and her best friends are Cassie and Det.

It makes sense that great-grandmother’s name is popular again now, and also that a nun’s daughter should be given a saint’s name.

The Colours of Madeleine series by Jaclyn Moriarty
A fantasy series about teenager Madeleine Tully (DRINK!), who ran away from a world of opulence to live a simple life in Cambridge, England with her mother Holly (DRINK!). Madeleine’s best friends are Jack (an admirer) and Belle, but she has a pen-friend named Elliot Baranski in a parallel universe. Can anyone else guess that poor Jack does not stand a chance against a farm boy from a parallel universe who is heading a crew of loyal rebels?

I liked the way that people in the parallel universe had much the same names as we do – Elliot’s friends are Samuel and Keira, and his love interest is Kala. The princess is named Ko, but then she’s royalty. They like the letter K in the parallel universe.

Friday Brown by Vicki Wakefield
Liliane Brown is nicknamed Friday by her mother Vivienne because of a family curse that she will die on a Saturday (DRINK! DRINK!). Friday becomes a runaway street kid, and makes friends with a mute boy called Silence (DRINK!), and comes under the control of charismatic but unlikable young woman named Arden. The other street kids are AiAi, Darcy (female), Joe, Carrie, Bree (DRINK!), and Malik. The love interest is a boy named Wish (DRINK!).

Love-Shy by Lili Wilkinson
Penny (DRINK!) Drummond is a neurotic over-achieving student journalist, and she takes on a project of investigating/fixing a boy at her school named Nick (DRINK!) Rammage. Her friends are Rin and Hamish, who she tries to match up together. Other classmates are Rory, James (DRINK!), Clayton, Perry, Arabella, and Max. Penny’s dad is gay, and his partner is Josh.

From William to Oliver: Life Cycles of the #1 Boys Names in New South Wales

12 Sunday Jul 2015

Posted by A.O. in Naming Issues

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

celebrity baby names, famous namesakes, fictional namesakes, name data, name popularity, names from films, popular names

number-1-ribbon

William 1900s and 2009-2013
Was the #1 name of the 1900s (previous history unknown, but in the UK was #1 for the second half of the 19th century). Left the Top 10 in the 1950s, sinking to its lowest level in 1980 at #50. The name began rising after the birth of Prince William in 1982, and reached the Top 10 in 1997 (the year of Princess Diana’s death, putting her eldest son in the public eye). The name went to #1 during William’s courtship of Catherine Middleton, remaining there during the years of their engagement, wedding, and the birth of their first child. Currently #2. William is the overall #1 name of the twentieth century.

John 1910s, 1920s, 1930s and 1940s
Was #2 in the 1900s, and the #1 name of the following four decades (previous history unknown, but in the UK was stable in the Top 10 for the second half of the 19th century). Left the Top 10 in 1972, and the Top 50 in 2001. It reached its lowest level in 2010 at #100, but then rose again. Currently #93. John is the overall #1 boys’ name in Australian history.

Peter 1950s and 1960-1961
Was #64 in the 1900s, and joined the Top 50 in the 1920s. Top 10 by the 1930s, it was the #1 name of the 1950s and the beginning of the 1960s; this correlates with the career highlights of British-Australian actor Peter Finch, who starred in A Town Like Alice and The Shirralee. Left the Top 10 in 1982 and the Top 50 in 1997. Left the Top 100 in 2007. 2011 position was #125.

David 1962-1970
Was #28 in the 1900s, and joined the Top 10 in the 1940s – rise coincides with the 1935 film version of David Copperfield, with Freddie Bartholomew as the young David, and the beginning of actor David Niven’s career. The #1 boys’ name for nine years, David was the overall #1 name of the 1960s. It left the Top 10 in 1990 and the Top 50 in 2004. Currently #92.

Jason 1971-1973
First charted in the 1950s at #290, the decade that the popular Italian film Hercules was released, with Fabrizio Mioni in the role of Jason. Joined the Top 100 in 1964 at #97, the year after the release of classic fantasy film Jason and the Argonauts, starring Todd Armstrong as Jason. Reached the Top 50 in 1966, and the Top 10 in 1970 (it may amuse some readers that Kylie and Jason were #1 in the same year, 1973). Left the Top 10 in 1978, the Top 50 in 1999, and the Top 100 in 2006. 2011 position was #133.

Michael 1974-1981 and 1983
Was #44 in the 1900s and joined the Top 10 in the 1940s. Was #1 for nine years, and the overall #1 boys’ name of the 1970s. It was paired with Michelle, the #1 girls’ name of that decade, making them the most similar boy and girl #1 names until Oliver and Olivia last year. Left the Top 10 in 1997. Currently #46.

Matthew 1982-1987 and 1989-1991
Was #89 in the 1900s, falling to its lowest level in the 1940s at #161. It rose again in the 1950s, and by 1960 was #63. It joined the Top 50 in 1961 and the Top 10 in 1971, spending nine years in total at #1, and was the overall #1 boys’ name of the 1980s. Left the Top 10 in 2006. Currently #44.

Daniel 1988
Was #58 in the 1900s, falling to its lowest level in the 1930s at #116. By the 1940s it had returned to the Top 100, and by 1960 was #72. Joined the Top 50 in 1967, and the Top 10 in 1974. Left the Top 10 in 2007. Currently #25.

Joshua 1992-1996 and 1998-2003
First charted in the 1960s at #283. Joined the Top 100 in 1971 at #78, and was in the Top 50 by 1975. Joined the Top 10 in 1982, spending eleven years in total at #1. Not only the overall #1 boys’ name of the 1990s, it is the longest-serving #1 boys’ name since 1960. Left the Top 10 in 2013. Currently #17.

Jack 1997 and 2004-2008
Was #24 in the 1900s, falling to its lowest level in the 1960s at #277. Rejoined the Top 100 in 1986 at #88 (a year after rocker Ozzie Osbourne welcomed his son Jack) and was in the Top 50 by 1989. Joined the Top 10 in 1994, and spent six years in total at #1, the overall #1 boy’s name of the 2000s. Currently #4.

Oliver 2014
Was #83 in the 1900s, falling to its lowest level in the 1960s at #418. It began rising in the 1970s – surge in popularity corresponds with the 1968 release of the award-winning musical film Oliver!, with Mark Lester as Oliver Twist. Rejoined the Top 100 in 1986 at #100, and was Top 50 by 2000. Joined the Top 10 in 2008, and reached #1 last year.

You only need a quick glance at the post to see how it differs from the one on the #1 girls’ names. For a start, it is much shorter, with just 11 #1 boys’ names as opposed to 18 for girls. And although different types of boys’ names got to the top of the charts, nearly all of them are classic names. Jason and Joshua stand out as the only #1 names which were new to the charts before their rise.

Not only are nine of the names classics that have never left the charts, nine of them were Top 100 names in the 1900s, and six of them were in the Top 50 of the 1900s! That extreme conservatism in popular boys’ names tempts one to look at the 1900s Top 100 to see if any more of the popular names of that era could become future #1 names. Could names such as George, Alexander, Harry, Patrick, Edward, Henry, or Samuel be destined for the top spot?

The main trait that #1 boys’ names tended to share with #1 girls’ names is the speed with which they got into the Top 50 (although this is made more difficult due to the fact so many boys’ name started out already in the Top 50). This would make names such as Hudson and Flynn look like possibilities for future #1 names.

The notable exception to this is Oliver, which took 14 years to get from the bottom half of the Top 100 into the top half. Interestingly, Olivia was the exception amongst the girls, taking 12 years to get into the Top 50 once in the Top 100. Both these names made #1 in 2014, which may be a sign that things are changing.

There was a very definite break in the pattern in the girls’ name, which became evident around the mid-2000s. That there is no such obvious break in the pattern of the boys’ names may mean that boys’ name popularity is so much more conservative than girls that they will continue on as they have done so far – or it may mean that change is just slower coming. It may even have already started. We will just have to wait and see!

POLL RESULTS
People’s favourite #1 boy’s name was William, gaining 21% of the vote, and Jack was very close behind on 20%. The least favourite was Michael, which only one person voted for.

From Mary to Olivia: Life Cycles of the #1 Girls Names in New South Wales

05 Sunday Jul 2015

Posted by A.O. in Naming Issues

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Appellation Mountain, brand names, celebrity baby names, classic names, dated names, famous namesakes, fictional namesakes, modern classics, name data, name popularity, names from films, names from songs, nicknames, popular names, retro names, royal names, UK name popularity

pink_first_prize_ribbon_oval_decal

Recently Abby from Appellation Mountain had a great article on the #1 girls names in the United States – such a good idea that I had to steal it! As we don’t have national data stretching back to the turn of the century, I’ve looked at the #1 girls names in New South Wales, since it is the most populous state, and has the best data. Annual data is only available from 1960, so until then the #1 names are for the decade only.

Mary 1900s and 1910s
The #1 name of the 1900s and 1910s (previous history unknown, but in the UK was #1 for the second half of the 19th century). Left the Top 10 in the 1940s, and the Top 100 in 2009. 2011 position was #101. Mary was the overall #1 girls’ name of the twentieth century.

Betty 1920s
Was #276 in the 1900s. Joined the Top 100 in the 1910s at #62 – sudden increase in popularity correlates with matinee idol Betty Blythe starting her film career. Shot up to #1 in the 1920s, the peak era for Blythe. Left the Top 10 in 1940, and the Top 100 in 1950. Left the charts in the 1990s.

Margaret 1930s and 1940s
Was #6 in the 1900s (previous history unknown, but in the UK had been stable in the Top 10 for the second half of the 19th century). Made #1 for both the 1930s and 1940s, coinciding with the early life of Princess Margaret. Left the Top 10 in the 1960s, and the Top 100 in 1970s; Princess Margaret attracted some controversy at this time. Failed to chart in 2010, but in 2011 was #428 – higher than before the drop. Margaret is the overall #1 girls’ name in Australian history.

Susan 1950s
Was #149 in the 1900s. Joined the Top 100 in the 1940s at #14 – sudden increase in popularity correlates with actress Susan Hayward starting her career. The #1 name of the 1950s, the peak of Susan Hayward’s career. Left the Top 10 in the 1970s, and the Top 100 in the 1980s. Although in steady use for many years, it failed to chart in 2011.

Jennifer 1960-62
Joined the charts and Top 100 in the 1930s at #75. Surged in popularity during the 1940s, correlating to career success of actress Jennifer Jones. Was #1 in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Left the Top 10 in 1970, and the Top 50 in 1995. Left the Top 100 in 2005. 2011 position was 260 and stable.

Karen 1963 to 1966
Joined the charts in the 1940s at #104 and the Top 100 in the 1950s at #13. By 1960 it was Top 10, and overall Karen was the most popular girls’ name of the 1960s. Left the Top 10 in 1977, and the Top 50 in 1983, leaving the Top 100 in 1987. Sudden drop in popularity correlates with the death of singer Karen Carpenter from anorexia nervosa, and the death of Karen Ann Quinlan, who had been in a long-term coma after a radical starvation diet. Left the charts in 2009, but made a slight recovery in 2011, ranking #631.

Michelle 1967-72 and 1974-75
First charted in the 1940s at #248 and joined the Top 100 in the 1950s at #52. By 1960 it had reached #18, and was in the Top 10 by 1961. Reached #1 in 1967, when The Beatles song Michelle won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. Michelle reached #1 again in the mid 1970s, the most popular girls’ name of that decade. Left the Top 10 in 1985, the Top 50 in 1995, and the Top 100 in 2003. 2011 position was 233 and stable.

Kylie 1973
Joined the charts and Top 100 in 1965 at #93. Reached the Top 50 in 1968, and the Top 10 in 1970. Left the Top 10 in 1982, but managed to get back into it in 1987, the year of Kylie Minogue’s onscreen wedding to Jason Donovan in soap opera Neighbours. Left the Top 50 in 1989 and the Top 100 in 1990 – sudden fall in popularity correlates with Mary-Anne Fahey appearing as grouchy schoolgirl Kylie Mole in The Comedy Company television show. Left the charts in the late 2000s.

Rebecca 1976 to 1982
Was #179 in the 1900s, and left the charts in the 1930s. Made a comeback in the 1940s at #366, the same decade that Alfred Hitchcock’s film Rebecca was released. Joined the Top 100 in 1966 at #93, and the Top 50 in 1969. Joined the Top 10 in 1972, and was #1 four years later, staying in the top spot for eight years. Left the Top 10 in 1998, and the Top 50 in 2004. Left the Top 100 in 2008 – sudden fall in popularity correlates with actress Rebecca “Bec” Cartright leaving soap opera Home and Away. 2011 position was 188 and stable.

Sarah 1983
Has been on the charts since the 1900s, falling to its lowest level in the 1940s at #284. Began rising in the 1950s, and joined the Top 100 in 1964 at #98. Joined the Top 50 in 1970, and the Top 10 in 1976. Despite only being #1 for one year, Sarah was overall the most popular girls’ name of the 1980s. Left the Top 10 in 2005. Currently #44.

Jessica 1984-97 and 2000-01
Joined the charts in the 1960s at #437; similarity to Jennifer probably a major factor. Joined the Top 100 in 1976 at #97, and the Top 50 in 1979. Joined the Top 10 in 1982, spending thirteen consecutive years at #1 and managing to get there again at the start of the 2000s. Overall Jessica was the most popular girls’ name of the 1990s. Left the Top 10 in 2008. Currently #40.

Emily 1998-99 and 2002-2004
Has been on the charts since the 1900s, falling to its lowest level in the 1950s at #455. Began rising in the 1960s, and joined the Top 100 in 1977 at #77. Joined the Top 50 in 1981, and the Top 10 in 1989. Made #1 twice for a total of five years between 1998 and 2004, and was overall the most popular girls’ name of the 2000s. Currently #6.

Olivia 2005 and 2014
Joined the charts and Top 100 in 1978 at #65, the year that Newton-John starred as as Sandy in the movie Grease. Joined the Top 50 in 1990, and Top 10 in 1998. Currently #1 again, correlating with a busy period for actress Olivia Wilde.

Chloe 2006 and 2011
Joined the charts in the 1970s at #674, the decade when French fashion house Chloé was at its peak. Joined the Top 100 in 1985 at #98, the same year that actress Candice Bergen welcomed a daughter named Chloe. Joined the Top 50 in 1986 – sudden rise in popularity correlates with the birth of Olivia Newton-John’s daughter, Chloe Lattanzi. Joined the Top 10 in 1996 and was #1 ten years later. Made #1 again in 2011, a key year for young actress Chloe Moretz. Currently #7.

Isabella 2007 and 2009-10
Has been on the charts since the 1900s, dropping off in the 1950s and the 1970s. Came back in the 1980s at #499, after actress Isabella Rossellini began her career in American films. Joined the Top 100 in 1993 at #78 and the Top 50 in 1994 – sudden surge in popularity correlates with actress Nicole Kidman welcoming a daughter named Isabella by adoption. Joined the Top 10 in 1998. Reaching #1 in 2007, it was back again in 2009, the year after the first Twilight film, with Kristen Stewart as Isabella “Bella” Swan. Currently #9.

Mia 2008
Joined the charts in the 1960s at #464 for the decade, the era when Maria “Mia” Farrow, daughter of Australian director John Farrow, began her career on soap opera Peyton Place. It joined the Top 100 in 1997 and the Top 50 in 2003 – sudden massive surge in popularity correlates with The Princess Diaries being released on DVD, with Anne Hathaway as Princess Mia. Joined the Top 10 in 2005, and was #1 for one year. Currently #2.

Ruby 2012
Was #21 in the 1900s and left the charts in the 1950s. Came back in the 1980s, at 548, the decade comedian Ruby Wax began her career on British TV. Joined the Top 100 in 1996 at #100, and the Top 50 in 1998 – sudden surge in popularity correlates with Ruby Wax getting her own interview show. Joined the Top 10 in 2010, just after the name Ruby was chosen for a baby on hit drama series, Packed to the Rafters. Two years later it was #1. Currently #8.

Charlotte 2013
Was #96 in the 1900s, and left the charts in the 1940s. Came back in the 1960s at #513, just as actress Charlotte Rampling began her career. Joined the Top 100 in 1989 at #86, and the Top 50 in 1998. Joined the Top 10 in 2003, and was #1 a decade later. Charlotte is currently #3.

What do the #1 names have in common? They include classics and retro names, but many had never appeared on the charts before they began their ascent to the top.

The amount of time it took to go from obscurity to popularity varied. Some leaped straight from nowhere into the Top 100, while others took decades – Mia had around 30 years between appearing on the charts and joining the Top 100. The average was 13 years.

One thing that nearly all the names had in common was the swiftness with which they went from the bottom half of the Top 100 into the Top 50: the average amount of time it took was just four years, and some managed it in a single year. The longest was Olivia, which took 12 years to get into the Top 50.

Once in the Top 10, the longest any names took to reach #1 was ten years. It took them at least two years before they reached the #1 spot, with the fastest being Jessica and Ruby. The average was six years.

Having made #1, names tended to stay in the Top 10 for a while, an average of twelve years. It took Kylie 17 years to finally leave the Top 10 for good, while Jessica was gone in just seven.

After they left the Top 10, most names were fairly quick to depart the Top 100, except Jennifer, which had 35 years of further popularity. Kylie had just three. Most of the names remained in reasonable use, so #1 names don’t usually become horribly dated, unless they become associated with something unpleasant or comical.

Can we draw any inferences for the future? It’s apparent that the nature of the #1 name has changed – the days of one name being at the top for several years are over. The change set in around the mid-2000s, which is when we all became a lot more conscious about name popularity. Since then, it seems as if being #1 is a job-sharing position, with several Top 10 names taking it in turns to wear the crown.

Could other current Top 10 names get to #1? Ava reached the Top 10 in 2008 and Amelia in 2009, so they still have until 2018 and 2019 to make the ten year deadline. However, Sophie joined in 2004, so time has run out – she should have been #1 last year if we accept a ten-year time-frame.

Speed of rising is a predictor of potential #1 success. If we look at names currently rising, Aria and Evelyn look like possibilities for the future, taking just 2 years to go from the bottom of the Top 100 to the Top 50. Harper, Isla and Ivy seem even more likely, as they took only one year.

Maybe that’s making parents of Arias and Islas feel a little nervous, but there’s one thing to remember: out of all the names given to babies in New South Wales since 1900, most didn’t get to #1. In other words, whatever name you love, the odds are on your side that it will never become the most popular name of the year.

POLL RESULTS
People’s favourite #1 girl’s name was Charlotte, gaining 20% of the vote. The least favourite was Michelle, which nobody voted for.

Popular Names in Regional Australia for 2014

07 Sunday Jun 2015

Posted by A.O. in Naming Issues

≈ Comments Off on Popular Names in Regional Australia for 2014

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Bonds Baby Search, middle names, name trends, popular names, rare names

Nimbin-bus

The #1 names in Australia last year were Olivia and Oliver – the first time two names beginning with O have been #1, and the most similar pair of names at #1 since Michael and Michelle in the 1970s.

However, that doesn’t mean they were necessarily the #1 name in every region, so here’s a round up of the most popular names around Australia, as reported by regional newspapers.

NATIONAL

The most popular names of babies and children taking part in the Bonds Baby Search competition were Ruby and Oliver; Olivia was #5 for girls. Other popular names were Noah, Cooper, and Jack for boys, and Charlotte, Ava, and Mia for girls.

NEW SOUTH WALES

In Lismore, the most popular names were Mia and Noah. Oliver was #3 for boys, but Olivia was not in the Top 10 for girls. Other popular names were Willow, Isabella and Sophie for girls, and Mason, Charlie, and William for boys.

In Forbes, the most popular names were Mason, William, and Jack – if you include variant spellings, Mason came out on top. For girls, the most popular names were Isla, Airlie, Hallie, and Layla – and Ruby, if you include variant spellings. There was one Oliver born in the town, but no Olivias.

In the Shoalhaven district, which includes the city of Nowra, the most popular names were Georgia and Isaac. Other popular names were Summer and Mia for girls, and Flynn for boys.

QUEENSLAND

In Ipswich, the most popular names were Olivia and Cooper; Oliver was #2 for boys. Other popular names were Isabella, Ruby, and Charlotte for girls, and Jack, Liam, and William for boys.

In Mackay, the most popular names were Mia and Oliver; Olivia was #6 for girls. Other popular names were Ruby, Charlotte, and Emily for girls, and Jaxon, Connor, and William for boys.

In the Wide Bay area, which includes the cities of Bundaberg and Gympie, the most popular names were Charlotte and Hunter; Olivia and Oliver were both #4. Other popular names were Amelia, Mia, and Chloe for girls, and Cooper, Thomas, and Lachlan for boys.

At Warwick Hospital, a midwife noted a lot of Masons, Logans, and Jacksons. She has noticed a push towards traditional names like Edward and George, but overall there is a lot of variety.

At Sunshine Coast Private Hospital in Buderim, the most popular baby name was Harry – for one week at least. Five baby boys were welcomed in a single week, and they were all given the name Harry.

VICTORIA

In Ballarat, the most popular names were Ruby and Jack; Olivia and Oliver were both #4. Other popular names were Charlotte and Henry. Unique names from local birth notices included Lowanna, Ginger, Spencer, Ecco, Romi, Taylen, and Minti for girls, and Huon, Lennox, Rocco, Tahvo, Tyce, Tiger, Oaklan, and Brax for boys.

In the area around Warnambool, the most popular names were Sophie and Harry; Oliver was #3 for boys. Other popular names were Alexis for girls and Jack for boys. The paper noted a trend for girls names to start with L, such as Lilly and Layla, and boys names to start with H, such as Hugo and Harley. Unique names for the area included Michaeleen and Budi for girls, and Fox, Xander, and Tilba for boys.

In the Wimmera region, which includes the city of Horsham, the most popular names were Edie/Eadie, Indi or Indigo, and Jack or Jackson. Matilda was the next most popular name (most popular overall if not including variants), and Olivia and Oliver were both popular. Unique names for the year were Boh, Letty, and Sari for girls, and Reginald, Hendrix, Macklin, and Korbyn for boys.

At St John of God Hospital in Geelong, the most popular names were Adele and Noah. Other popular names were Zarah and Evie for girls, and Finn and Harry for boys.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

In Whyalla, the most popular names in birth notices were Isla and Jarrod; Lucas was also a popular boy’s name. The most popular middle names were Rose for girls, and James for boys. The newspaper also noted some of the year’s unique names, including Bohdi, Floredre, La’Tarnya, Isaiah, Titan, and Loki.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

In the City of Cockburn in Perth, the most popular names were Georgia and Ryan. Other popular names were Emily and Finn.

TASMANIA

Olivia was the most popular name on the south-west coast, which includes the cities of Burnie and Devonport, with Sophie and Charlotte also popular choices.

(Photo shows the Nimbin bus in Lismore)

The Fastest Rising Top 100 Names of 2014

31 Sunday May 2015

Posted by A.O. in Naming Issues

≈ 1 Comment

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birth notices, classic names, famous namesakes, fictional namesakes, name trends, names from films, New Zealand name popularity, nicknames, popular names, retro names, royal names, US name popularity

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GIRLS

Hazel
Hazel just joined the national Top 100 as its fastest-rising name, going up 63 places to make #88: the last time it was a Top 100 name was in the 1940s. Hazel was also new to the Top 100 in New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, and one of the Apple Isle’s fastest-rising names. The catalyst for Hazel’s debut in the Top 100 is last year’s teenage tearjerker, The Fault in Our Stars, based on the novel by John Green, and with Shailene Woodley in the role of Hazel. A fashionable retro name with a cool Z sound, chosen by several celebrities, Hazel was due for popularity. Just outside the US Top 100, it’s aready in the Top 50 in New Zealand.

Aria
Aria has been on the Top 100 since 2012, and in 2013 was the #1 fastest-rising name nationally. Last year Aria was the #1 fastest-rising name in New South Wales and Western Australia, and also rose significantly in Victoria and South Australia. I saw many more baby girls named Aria in birth notices too, so this pretty name is still going strong.

Ariana
Hard on Aria’s heels is Ariana, which just squeaked into the national Top 100 in 2013. Last year it was the #1 fastest-rising name in Tasmania, and rose 27 places to become one of the fastest-rising names nationally. It was also one of the fastest-rising names in New South Wales and Queensland. The major influence on the popularity of this name is American pop singer Ariana Grande, who has a couple of Australian connections: she dated Jai Brooks from The Janoskians in 2013/14, and her 2014 song Problem featured Iggy Azalea: it was Grande’s first Top Ten hit in Australia. Not only a multicultural choice, Ariana benefits from looking like an elaboration of Aria (it isn’t though).

Eleanor
Eleanor was new to the national Top 100 last year, and one of the fastest-rising names, as it went up 31 places to debut at #84: a classic never off the charts, Eleanor has not been in the Top 100 since the 1900s. It was also one of the fastest-rising names in New South Wales and Queensland. This is in line with international trends, as Eleanor joined the US Top 100 last year, and has been Top 100 in the UK for decades. Elegant Eleanor fits in with the trend for El- names for girls, and can be shortened to Elle, Ella, Ellie, Nell, Nellie, and Nora, among others. Such a lot of popular and fashionable nicknames!

Evelyn
Evelyn has been on the national Top 100 since 2011, and is a classic name which was last on the Top 100 in the 1940s. One of the fastest-rising names of 2013, Evelyn continues its ascent, as last year it was a fast-rising name in New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia. I saw an increase of Evelyns in birth notices during 2014.

BOYS

Maxwell
Maxwell was new to the Top 100 last year, and was the #1 fastest-rising name nationally, going up 43 places to debut at #97. It was also one of the fastest-rising names in Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. Maxwell is a classic name never off the charts, and was last in the Top 100 during the 1950s. Fitting in with the trend for boys’names that shorten to Max, Maxwell is rising in the both US and UK, but has not yet become popular in either. Because of the Victorian connection, I wonder if the retirement of Nick Maxwell, captain of Collingwood, had any effect.

Fletcher
Fletcher joined the Top 100 last year, and went up 26 spots to make #99. It also joined the Top 100 in Victoria, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory, having already been Top 100 in Tasmania for some time. Although Fletcher was not a fast-rising name in any particular state or territory, that’s because it is so new on the charts that there is no data yet for that to show up. Fletcher has been rising in the charts since the 1990s, and has been a Top 100 name in New Zealand since 2010: it is still quite a way off becoming popular in either the US or UK, so this is a Trans Tasman trend.

Harvey
Harvey debuted on the Top 100 last year, rising 20 places to reach #84; this made it one of the fastest-rising names nationally, and it also rose significantly in Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory – which seem to have a strong influence on the Top 100 for boys’names this year! A retro name which charted from the 1900s to the 1950s, rejoining the charts in the 1990s, Harvey has never been on the Top 100 before. It’s been a popular name in the UK since the late 1990s, so it’s in line with British trends. The death of veteran journalist Peter Harvey in 2013 may have been on influence on its rise.

George
George is a solid classic which has never been out of the Top 100, but last year it joined the Top 50 for the first time since the 1970s. After the birth of Prince George, the name George became one of the fastest-rising names of 2013, and its upwards progress continues. One of the fastest-rising names in New South Wales and Victoria, I saw many more Georges in birth notices, especially from rural and regional areas.

Nate
Nathaniel was one of the fastest-rising names of 2013, and last year more parents opted to go straight for the short form, Nate, which was one of the fastest-rising names in both New South Wales and Victoria. Nate has been in the charts since the early 2000s, and is only popular in Australia, although it once made the bottom of the Top 100 in New Zealand, and is rising in the UK.

NOTE: A quick reminder that the fastest-rising names of 2013 were Aria, Evelyn, Penelope, Samantha and Lola for girls, and Louis, Hudson, Nathaniel, George and Lincoln for boys.

I have chosen those names which increased in popularity in the most number of states and territories, making their popularity widest across the board in Australia. For the positions of each name in individual states and territories, please refer to the Name Data category for more information.

POLL RESULTS
People’s favourite fastest rising names were Hazel, gaining 38% of the vote, and Maxwell, gaining 27% of the vote (George was close behind on 26%). The least favourite were Ariana (7%), and a tie between Harvey and Nate (15%).

Historical Naming Patterns in the House of Windsor – Part 2: Sisters for Prince George

22 Sunday Feb 2015

Posted by A.O. in Naming Issues

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

famous namesakes, honouring, middle names, popular names, royal names, saints names, sibsets, UK name popularity

queen1

Last week I examined how babies have been named in the House of Windsor, with a look at the factors common to the names of those close to the throne. By following those methods used in the past, I looked at names that could be considered for a brother for Prince George.

In case you can’t be bothered reading the whole post, the basic thing to keep in mind is: names of royals (kings, queens, princes, and princesses) that are currently popular. Now it’s time to look at what a possible sister to Prince George could be called.

Elizabeth #39
There have been several princesses named Elizabeth, five British queens, and one queen of Scotland named Elizabeth; of course Elizabeth II is the current monarch, and her mother’s name was Elizabeth too. Elizabeth is also the middle name of the duchess. Current gossip says that Elizabeth is the name that the Duke and Duchess have already chosen for their baby, should they have a girl, and gained permission from the queen. As 2015 is the year that Queen Elizabeth is set to become the longest-reigning monarch in British history, it would seem like the perfect gesture, especially if the baby arrives on Queen Elizabeth’s birthday. A cute connection is that Lily could be used as the nickname, which is one of Catherine’s favourite flowers.
My rating: nine coronets

Alice #27
A name introduced to the royal family by Queen Victoria, there have been four princesses named Alice. The most recent was an aunt of Queen Elizabeth, who was married to the Governor-General of Australia, and lived here for two years after World War II. She reached the greatest age of anyone yet in the British royal family, passing away at the age of 102. Another was Alice of Battenberg, a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria who married into the Greek royal family, and became the mother of Prince Philip. Alice is one of Princess Anne’s middle names, and it is also a prominent name in the Spencer family, as Alice Spencer was a patron of the arts. And don’t George and Alice sound adorable together? No wonder this has often been tipped as a possibility.
My rating: eight and a half coronets

Victoria #88
This only became a British royal name with the accession of the teenaged Alexandrina, who used her middle name to rule as Queen Victoria. The last of the Hanoverians, the longest-reigning British monarch so far, and a powerful symbol of the British Empire, Victoria is an eminently suitable royal name which has been handed down to seven princesses – Queen Victoria’s mother was another Princess Victoria. In fact, Alice of Battenberg’s first name was Victoria, making this another possibility to honour the mother of Prince Philip. A popular choice with the bookies, Victoria is said to be one of Catherine’s favourite names (more gossip!). The timing is perhaps not as good as for Elizabeth, with the queen set to overtake Queen Victoria’s record reign next year.
My rating: eight coronets

Eleanor #57
This name was introduced to English royalty by Eleanor of Aquitaine, a wealthy, powerful French duchess who married Henry II, and was the mother of two kings – Richard I, and King John. Other medieval Eleanors married English kings, and the name was handed down to multiple princesses.  This seems a very suitable name for a princess; elegant and restrained with an impeccable royal pedigree. It’s the name of one of Prince William’s Spencer cousins, which isn’t necessarily a drawback – all three of Prince George’s names are shared with Spencer cousins.
My rating: seven and a half coronets

Amelia #1
There have been two British princesses named Amelia – one a daughter of George II, and the other a daughter of George III. The latter Amelia (called Emily) was beautiful and charming, and great hopes for held for her future, but unfortunately she died of measles, and her death devastated the royal family, helping to precipitate her father into madness. There is an Amelia in the Windsor family, a grand-daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and one in the Spencer family as well, a cousin of Princes William and Harry, who is considered rather “wild”. There is no historical reason a #1 name would be rejected (the queen’s sister Princess Margaret had the #1 name of her era), and Amelia is in with a genuine chance, although it may come with some baggage.
My rating: six coronets

Sophia #15
This is a truly royal name, because Sophia of Hanover was the mother of King George I, and to be in the line of succession to the British throne, you must be a direct descendant of Sophia. There has been a queen named Sophia (George I’s wife), and three princesses, with the most recent being born in the 18th century. Sophia has been used as a middle name in the royal family fairly often, although I think George and Sophia as royal siblings are a bit much.
My rating: five coronets

Alexandra #102
Queen Alexandra was the wife of Edward VIII; a Danish princess by birth, she was elegant, fashionable, and extremely popular with the British public. There have been a number of princesses named Alexandra, including ones still living – a notable example is Princess Alexandra, who is a cousin of the queen, and one of the most active members of the royal family. It’s a popular royal middle name, and the queen herself has Alexandra as one of her middle names. To me this would be a slightly odd choice, as Alexander is one of Prince George’s middle names
My rating: four coronets

Sophie #9
This is a name from Prince Philip’s family, because Princess Sophie of Greece and Denmark was the Duke of Edinburgh’s sister. Another family connection is that Prince Edward’s wife is named Sophie, and she has reportedly been a good friend to Catherine, as well as a favourite of Queen Elizabeth. Despite not being a name of a British queen or princess, I don’t think Sophie can be entirely ruled out.
My rating: three coronets

Charlotte #21
Queen Charlotte was the wife of George III, and there have been two Princess Charlottes in the British royal family named after her. The last one was Princess Charlotte of Wales, who died young in childbirth, deeply mourned by the public, who had hoped she would one day be queen. Although not used for a princess since, Charlotte is in use as a middle name in the current royal family. Charles Spencer, brother to Diana, Princess of Wales, has a very young daughter named Charlotte Diana, so a bit awkward to use it if the duke and duchess also want Diana as the middle name. Although the name could seem like a nod to Prince Charles, so far the royal family has not used feminised forms of male names to honour men. Charlotte is also the middle name of Pippa Middleton, sister to the duchess; although some people think this makes the name more likely, to me it makes it less likely, because the royals probably don’t want the name to seem as if it is honouring a commoner in-law.
My rating: two coronets

Isabella #8
This was a reasonably common royal name in the Middle Ages, introduced by a beautiful French countess who married King John. Another beautiful queen was the Isabella who married King Edward III; a French princess, she became known as The She-Wolf of France for her intrigues against her husband, which led to him being deposed, and their son Edward III becoming king. For ever after, she has been viewed as a femme fatale figure. This name has also been used in the Spencer family, but its wolfish image is problematic. I think it’s too ornate for a British princess, and the Twilight connection probably isn’t a help.
My rating: one coronet

Matilda #36
This name goes right back the beginning of English royalty, because Matilda of Flanders was the wife of William the Conqueror. There have been three other medieval English queens named Matilda, and one princess who became the Empress Matilda and claimed the English throne during a period of anarchy – she was never proclaimed queen, but rather Lady of the English, and her son was made king when he was old enough. In more modern times, Matilda has been used as a middle name within the royal family. This name would greatly please the royal family’s Australian subjects, although I can’t think of any reason why they would particularly want to please us, unless that toy bilby we gave Prince George was a bigger hit than it seemed at the time. I can’t say this is impossible, but it doesn’t seem at all likely.
My rating: one coronet

Emma #55
This royal name pre-dates the Norman Conquest, because Emma of Normandy married both Ethelred the Unready and Cnut the Great, and was the mother of Edward the Confessor, once regarded as a patron saint of England. She was the first English queen to have a portrait, and was both rich and influential. Despite being way, way back, she is an ancestor of the current royal family. However, I do think this is just too mists-of-timey.
My rating: half a coronet

Edith #164
Edith was a common royal name in Anglo-Saxon times, and one princess named Edith was a saint. Edith of Essex was the wife of Edward the Confessor, and highly influential. While this is very ancient history, Matilda of Scotland, who married Henry II and was the mother of the Empress Matilda, was baptised Edith, only receiving the Norman name Matilda upon her marriage to a Norman king. Although she was a stand-out queen, and the link between modern royalty and the Anglo-Saxon kings, this is a pretty flimsy connection, and regrettably it seems most unlikely, although personally I would love it. So English, so regal, so refined, and quite a fashionable name to boot.
My rating: half a coronet

Maria #83
Maria d’Este was an Italian princess who became queen through marrying James II, but she was known as Queen Mary in England until her husband fled to France during the Glorious Revolution. Too foreign.
My rating: zero coronets

Beatrice #95
This has a long, if sparing, use as a royal name. Beatrice of England was the daughter of Henry III, while Queen Victoria had both a daughter and a grand-daughter called Princess Beatrice. It’s currently in use by Princess Beatrice of York, Prince William’s cousin, and her name was considered an unusual choice at the time. As she is the daughter of the controversial Prince Andrew, I don’t think this is in with any sort of chance.
My rating: zero coronets

Unlike the potential princely names, which had no glaringly obvious choice, there are some very clear winners for a princess. I am tipping Elizabeth, Alice, or Victoria, with some chance of Eleanor or Amelia, and Sophia as an outsider. With solid options on the girls’ list, I can’t see any reason why the royals would need to look beyond it, and feel pretty confident one of the names in this post will be used.

UPDATE: The royal baby was a princess named Charlotte!

POLL RESULTS
People’s favourite choices for a princess were Alice, Victoria, and Eleanor. 10% of people voted for Elizabeth, and 9% voted for Charlotte, the next two most popular choices. Nobody voted for the names Sophie or Maria. 3% of people felt that the royal couple would start a new trend in baby names, which was very far from happening – the chosen name fits in well with all the historical naming patterns identified in the articles.

(Picture shows a photo of Queen Elizabeth II as a very young child – could there soon be another Princess Elizabeth in the House of Windsor?)

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