Tag Archives: classic names

2012 Name Trends in Western Australia – Girls

09 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by in Name Data

≈ Comments Off on 2012 Name Trends in Western Australia – Girls

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Biggest Movers Up

  1. Ivy +23 at least
  2. Willow +19 at least
  3. Leah + 16 at least
  4. Evelyn +15 at least
  5. Harper +15
  6. Annabelle +13 at least
  7. Elizabeth +13
  8. Poppy +12
  9. Layla +10
  10. Sarah +10

This is another state where celebrity baby name Harper continued rising. While flower names were mostly down in Victoria, plant names are booming in the west, with Ivy and Willow the two biggest risers, and Poppy making creditable ground. Biblical classics also did well, with Leah, Elizabeth and Sarah increasing in popularity. Note the love of L and V sounds, such as in Layla and Evelyn.

Also Up

Caitlin, Mackenzie, Milla and Mila, Isabel/Isabelle, Alexis, Chelsea, Indiana and Indi, Violet, Zara, Skye, Anna, Kayla, Sophia/Sofia and Sophie, Alyssa, Imogen, Madison and Madeleine, Rose, Savannah, Scarlett, Aria, Charlotte, Olivia, Holly, Maya, Paige, Phoebe, Amelia and Amelie, Emily

No Change in Position

  • Ruby #3
  • Grace #11
  • Jasmine #24
  • Georgia #27
  • Mikayla #41

Biggest Movers Down

  1. Amber -14 at least
  2. Hayley -14
  3. Isabella -10
  4. Summer -10
  5. Evie -9
  6. Mia -9
  7. Molly -9
  8. Lucy -8
  9. Tahlia -7 at least
  10. Abigail -7

Also Down

Alice, Sienna, Stella, Ella, Ellie, Emma, Jessica, Hannah, Lily/Lilly, Amy, Bella, Jade, Eva, Isla, Addison, Maddison, Matilda, Zoe, Ava, Chloe

Once again we are left to ponder the strange workings of name popularity. Isabelle and Isabel are up, but Isabella and Bella are down. Flower names are up – except for Lily and Lilly. Evelyn and Ivy are up, while Ava, Eva and Evie are down. Milla and Mila are up, Mia and Molly are down. Elizabeth is up, while nicknames Ella and Ellie are down. Alyssa is up and Alice is down. Anna is up, but don’t add any Hs because Hannah is down.

New or Returned to the List

  • Ivy #28
  • Willow #32
  • Leah #35
  • Evelyn #36
  • Annabelle #38
  • Caitlin #42
  • Milla #42
  • Isabel #42
  • Mila #44
  • Violet #44
  • Skye #45
  • Anna #46
  • Rose #47
  • Indi #48
  • Aria #48
  • Amelie #49
  • Phoebe #49
  • Madeleine #50

Gone From the List

  • Amber #37
  • Tahlia #44
  • Amy #48
  • Ellie #50

Requested Famous Name: Naomi

27 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by in Famous Names, Requested Names

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

85th Annual Academy Awards - Arrivals

Name in the News
The 85th Academy Awards ceremony was held on February 24, and as with every year at this time, there was intense speculation in the Australian media as to whether any Australians would manage to win an Oscar.

One who was under consideration was actress Naomi Watts, who was born in England and came to Australia as a teenager, where she attended high school in Sydney (Nicole Kidman was one of her classmates). Her first acting jobs were in Australia, gaining experience in film and television. In the 1990s she moved to Los Angeles to continue her career; her big break came when she was chosen as the star of Mulholland Drive.

This year, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, for her role of Maria Bennett in The Impossible. She lost to Jennifer Lawrence, but has won several other awards for the film, as well as being judged one of the best-dressed on the red carpet at the Oscars.

Name Information
Naomi is a Hebrew name interpreted as “pleasant, agreeable, sweet”. In the Old Testament, Naomi is a central character in The Book of Ruth, and despite the lovely meaning of her name, things went so wretchedly for her that she told others to call her Mara, meaning “bitterness”.

Because of a famine in Judea, Naomi and her family travelled to the land of Moab, where her husband and both her sons died, leaving her alone with her daughters-in-law Orpah and Ruth. Although her daughters-in-law were foreigners and pagans, they did not desert Naomi, and when she told them she was going back to her own people at Bethlehem, both girls offered to accompany her.

Naomi managed to convince Orpah that she should return to her family and her own customs, but Ruth famously says:

Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

Naomi must have been a pretty wonderful mother-in-law to have evoked such love and loyalty. As mother-in-laws tend to get a bad rap, she really stands out as something special.

When Naomi returned to Bethlehem with Ruth (the famine was over by then), both of them were destitute, and poverty and misery had changed Naomi’s appearance so much that she was barely recognisable; no wonder that she felt she had been treated bitterly and deserved a bitter name.

However, she made lemonade from the lemons life had given her. She arranged for one of her husband’s relatives to marry Ruth, and after the happy couple had a child, she became the little boy’s nanny, caring for him as devotedly as if he had been her own son. I hope the rest of her life was as pleasant as her name.

Naomi is a Japanese name too, most frequently translated as “honest and beautiful” or “beautiful above all”. It is said differently to the Hebrew name, for while we generally pronounce Naomi as nay-OH-mee, the Japanese name is said something like NOW-mee. Although it is a unisex name, it seems to be much more common as a female name in Japan. You will often see Naomi suggested as a cross-cultural baby name for couples where one person is Japanese and the other from an English-speaking country.

Naomi is a classic girl’s name in Australia which has never left the charts. In rare use in the 1900s, it reached the Top 100 in the 1970s, and peaked in the 1980s at #67. It left the Top 100 in the early 2000s, and since then has been up and down the popularity charts in the 100s – most recently up, when it reached #152 in 2011.

As Naomi peaked in the 1970s and ’80s, it would be easy to dismiss it as a “mum” name. However, it never reached the Top 50, and is still in the 100s; it hasn’t been lower than the 100s since the 1950s. I think it manages to avoid being dated by never becoming highly popular, nor uncommon, so it seems very usable. I feel as if this name could belong to someone of almost any age group.

Despite being a familiar name, Naomi still seems slightly unusual, even exotic. It doesn’t sound like other Old Testament girls’ names which have reached the Top 100, like Deborah, Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca or Hannah. These seem solid and homely, perhaps to some ears, even stodgy. If you had never heard the name Naomi before, I wonder if you would guess it to be a name from the Bible? I might have picked it as Polynesian or Native American, if I didn’t know otherwise.

Naomi is a classic name with a distinctive sound and even a distinctive narrative, for the Old Testament Naomi has a Bible story quite unlike other Biblical heroines. I think this is a great choice of baby name for someone who wants something slightly different, yet not at all obscure.

Thank you to Brooke for suggesting Naomi as a featured name.

POLL RESULT
Naomi received an excellent approval rating of 84%, making it one of the best-liked names of the year. The name Naomi was seen as beautiful and distinctive (24%), still suitable as a baby name (17%), a good cross-cultural choice (15%), having an inspiring Bible story (15%), and a pretty classic (13%). However, 9% were put off by the fact that the name is “I moan” backwards. Nobody thought the Bible story of Naomi was depressing.

(Picture shows Naomi Watts at the 2013 Oscars)

Sibling Names and Sibsets

24 Sunday Feb 2013

Posted by in Your Questions Answered

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

sibling1wide-420x0These are questions on sibling names that people have Googled to reach my blog. I did have fun dreaming up matching sibsets.

OPINIONS ON SIBSETS

Isobel and Bella, names too close [as siblings]?

I think they are, since they are variations of the same name.

Arlo and Ezra [as] sibling names; [do they] go [together]?

They both begin and end with vowels, they both have two syllables, and they are both not-quite-unisex-but-not-quite-not-either. This makes them alike enough to go together without being super matchy, and this is a hip brotherly sibset.

Is Lucy a good sibling name for Arabella?

I think it’s an excellent sibling name. Arabella and Lucy sound very elegant together, like something from an 18th century novel.

Are Lachlan and Callum too similar names [as siblings]?

No, I think they make a nice Scottish sibset of popular names. I can only think that their sister will be Isla.

Olivia and Sophia as siblings

They sound almost too pretty together: actually Olivia and Sophia are the sisters in Oliver Goldsmith’s novel The Vicar of Wakefield. In the book, their names are both chosen from romantic novels that their mother is reading.

Reuben and Isaac as a sibset

Great! They are both Old Testament names that are patiently climbing the popularity charts, and go together really well.

Millie and Elsie – sibling names

I’d say this is a perfect match of cute vintage nicknames rising rapidly in popularity. It might be a little hard to add another sister without breaking the pattern or sending the cute factor through the roof though.

Stanley and Evelyn – sibset

I actually love them as siblings – they are both classic English names that are becoming more fashionable, but don’t sound matchy together. There’s just enough of a clash to seem interesting.

Are Lola and Iona too close girl’s names [as siblings]?

I’m not sure whether they are too close, but to me they are a slight mismatch. Iona seems a bit too serious for cute Lola, and I’d probably anticipate something like Ruby or Zoe to match her. However, these unexpected sibsets can be refreshing.

SIBSET SUGGESTIONS

Siblings for Layla (asked more than once)

Sisters: Evie, Grace, Jasmine, Sophie, Willow, Zara

Brothers: Connor, Fabian, Gabriel, Rylan, Samuel, Tighe

Matchy names to go with Poppy

I don’t think you can get any more matchy than other flower names, such as Daisy and Rose. Floral sibsets including Poppy seem quite popular.

Virtue names to go with Wyatt

Sisters: Amity, Blythe, Ever, Faith, Liberty, Temperance

Brothers: Justice, Lucky, Maverick, Pax, True, Zeal

Brother to Violet

Arthur, Caspian, Dexter, Edward, Henry, Sebastian

Names to go with Henry and Barnaby

General advice: I’d steer clear of another name ending in an -ee sound, or you’ll end up with a sibset that sounds like it’s from a cartoon (check nicknames also). For fun, try a four syllable name like Nathaniel or Octavia so that each name increases by one syllable.

Sisters: Alice, Cordelia, Eleanor, Florence, Jemima, Mabel

Brothers: Casper, Felix, Maxwell, Otis, Rupert, Wilfred

Siblings for Jude [using] popular names

Sisters: Abigail, Eden, Hannah, Lily, Piper, Scarlett

Brothers: Ashton, Elijah, Leo, Oliver, Toby, Zac

Biblical and Australian boy names to go with Matilda

If you want a Biblical name which reminds me strongly of Australia, it would be James, after James Cook. And I think Matilda and James do sound nice together.

Siblings to match Edgar

Sisters: Audrey, Beatrice, Cecilia, Daphne, Harriet, Penelope

Brothers: Albert, Charles, Giles, Hugo, Theodore, Vincent

Baby boy name to match Harper, Flynn and William

Angus, Patrick, or Riley.

Sibling names for Clementine

Sisters: Aurelia, Beatrix, Eloise, Genevieve, Isadora, Lucinda

Brothers: Alistair, Hugo, Jasper, Lysander, Miles, Rafe

Sister to go with sibset Robert and Matthew

I’m thinking another sensible classic, like Catherine, Elizabeth, Josephine, Louisa, Sarah or Victoria.

Do you have your own sibling suggestions for any of these, or can you think of something that would be a better match?

Famous Name: Miriam

06 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by in Famous Names

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

4485672-3x2-940x627On Australia Day this year, more than 17 000 people from 145 countries took the pledge and became Australian citizens. Prime Minister Julia Gillard, presiding over a ceremony in Canberra, told the crowd that the first citizenship ceremony was in 1949, and since then more than 4 million people had sworn loyalty to Australia. In fact, Ms Gillard was one of them – she was born in Wales and moved to South Australia as a child.

Amongst the 17 000-odd people becoming Australian citizens was British-born actress, Miriam Margolyes. Miriam has long been a mainstay in film, television and theatre, delighting audiences in such favourites as Blackadder, Little Dorrit, Babe, the Harry Potter films (she played Professor Sprout), and Wicked. A massive Charles Dickens tragic, Miriam has taken her one-woman show, Dickens’ Women, all over the world.

Miriam apparently got a bit of a crush on Australia when she was only a child, and kept on meeting wonderful Australian people, until at last, in 1968, she met her Australian partner Heather, which cemented the deal for good and all. She bought a house in the southern highlands of New South Wales around the time she was in Babe, and for many years now has been based in Australia.

Miriam promised that she hasn’t become Australian just for the beach and barbies, she wants to make a contribution to Australian society. Although she loves her country, she plans to use her democratic right to protest and speak out against things that need to change, and also wants to learn more about disadvantaged Australians. In other words, she will be a fantastic Aussie citizen.

Miriam is the original name on which the familiar Mary is based. In the Old Testament, Miriam is the older sister of Moses, and it is she who came up with the clever plan to save her baby brother’s life. Because Pharoah had decreed that newborn Hebrew boys were to be killed, she took Moses and hid him by the side of a river. She secretly watched as Pharoah’s daughter found and adopted him, then suggested that the princess use Miriam’s mother as a wet nurse, so that Moses was cared for in his infancy by his own family.

The Old Testament depicts Miriam as a strong, outspoken woman, and a leader amongst the Hebrews. One of the oldest parts of the Bible tells how she led the women in triumphant song and dance after the crossing of the Red Sea, the female chorus echoing the men, who were led by Moses. She was a prophetess, with the Bible implying that God spoke to her through dreams; the Bible speaks of the prophets Moses, Aaron and Miriam as if all three of them played vital roles in the Hebrews’ escape from Egypt.

According to Jewish tradition, the Hebrews were blessed by a well which followed them through the desert due to Miriam’s righteousness. When she died and was buried (in present-day Syria), God caused a spring of abundant fresh water to open up for the people. The spring was called Meribah, which means “quarrelling”, as everyone was grumpy from thirst. This story is very similar to another where the Hebrews were suffering from severe water shortage, only to find a well filled with bitter water. Moses turned the brackish water sweet with a particular tree, but the well was still called Marah – “bitterness”.

These two stories probably help to explain two suggested Hebrew etymologies for the name Miriam – “rebellious”, and “bitterness”. These are generally thought to be unpleasant meanings for a girl’s name, but as you can see, the stories were positive ones, although they don’t actually have anything to do with Miriam. In fact, it’s unlikely that Miriam’s name was Hebrew at all – she was born and raised in Egypt, and it is believed that both her brothers’ names were of Egyptian origin.

Miriam may be derived from the Ancient Egyptian word for “love” or “beloved”, or it could be a form of the Ancient Egyptian name Meritamen which means “beloved of Amun” – Amun was the chief god of the Ancient Egyptians, and his name means “hidden”. For this reason you will sometimes see Miriam and Mary translated as “beloved by God”, even though it doesn’t mean the God of the Abrahamic religions.

Miriam has never disappeared from the charts, but never been in the Top 100. It was #133 in the 1900s, which is the highest point it ever reached; its current rank of #458 is the lowest it has ever reached. After climbing steeply in 2009, the name Miriam fell dramatically in 2011 – although in real terms, that equates to just ten fewer babies called Miriam than there were in 2009.

I think the name Miriam has much to recommend it. It’s an underused classic, which means it’s familiar to everyone, yet rarely encountered. It is feminine, strong, sounds quite intellectual, and suits any age. In Jewish tradition Miriam was associated with water, and I do think Miriam has a liquid feel to it – cool and deep. It has a range of possible nicknames, including Mim, Mimi, Mima, Minnie, Mirri, Mirra, Mira, Mia, Mitzi and Remi.

Even a murderous Norah Jones sang that Miriam was “such a pretty name“. When your most vengeful enemy admits you’ve got a nice name, that takes some beating.

POLL RESULT: Miriam received an astounding 91% approval rating, making it one of the highest-rated names of the year. Miriam was praised for being strong and intelligent (45%), pretty and feminine (23%), having great nickname options (15%), and a desirable level of popularity (8%). However, 8% thought the name was too old-fashioned. Nobody thought that the name Miriam was “too Jewish”.

(Photo shows Miriam Margolyes receiving her citizenship certificate from Prime Minister Gillard)

She’s Having Last Minute Doubts About Their Baby Name

02 Saturday Feb 2013

Posted by in Naming Assistance

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Just before deadlineSarah and Rupert are expecting a baby girl, due in only a few days. They always agreed that their first daughter would be named Isabella, which is a traditional name in Sarah’s family. However, as time went on, the name Isabella became extremely popular, and also associated with the Twilight phenomenon, so Sarah grew less enthusiastic about using it.

Sarah’s solution was to use the name Isabel, which is traditional on the other side of her family. She and Rupert like its simplicity, and they plan to use another family name in the middle position.

However, with just a few days to go, Sarah is wondering if they have chosen the right name for their daughter. Although Isabel is towards the bottom of the Top 100, if you add up all the Isabellas and Isabelles, that makes quite a few girls called Issy or Bel. Sarah wonders if the name Isabel is really distinctive enough.

Sarah likes names in the style of Sibella, Arabella and Violet; Rupert prefers names like Molly, Ebony and Lila. As such, they haven’t really agreed on many names. The only other names Sarah and Rupert have agreed on are Camilla and Clementine. The Duchess of Cornwall puts Sarah off using Camilla, and for some indefinable reason, she can’t quite commit to Clementine.

Sarah wonders whether a personal meaning or family association is more important than popularity, and whether they should just stop discussing it and go with Isabel. She wants something classic and unique, yet can’t quite find it … and if she started meeting lots and lots of little Isabels she wouldn’t be happy about it.

Sarah has a very popular name, and it never bothered her, and Rupert loves his unusual name, so they know that children can be content with their name whether its common or rare. Sarah and Rupert have a nice solid one-syllable surname, such as Mack or Holt.

Sarah’s sisters, who have children already, tell her that once the baby arrives, she won’t give a thought to any of these worries, but right now they feel like genuine concerns!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The last few days before a baby arrives can be quite frustrating, and there’s so many “What ifs …?” involved. Some of us worry that the car will break down and we won’t be able to get to the hospital; some of us worry that we’ve packed completely useless things in our little bag; and some of us worry that we’ve picked the wrong baby name. I expect all these little worries are a coping mechanism to keep our minds off the really big worries that we could be having instead!

I think that you might just be having last-minute jitters. Like someone getting nervous before their wedding, you may be slightly anxious about committing to the name Isabel for life. You wonder if you’ve made the right choice – what if things don’t work out the way you hoped? And could there be a better name out there that you haven’t thought of yet?

The good news is that you are in a much better position than someone having doubts about their wedding. Unlike a wedding, you get to have the baby first and then decide if the name seems right. You don’t have to make any commitment until the baby arrives, and you get a good long time to make your mind up after the birth. Most importantly, the name Isabel won’t be heartbroken if you decide to go with another name instead.

At this stage, I believe it’s too late to be actively searching for, and arguing about, a different baby name. I think Isabel [Middle Name] [Surname] is a really delightful combination: one that’s a nice balance between pretty and feminine, and neat and sensible, and could belong to a wide variety of girls. It doesn’t sound like a name that someone has to live up to, or pull off, or get used to. To me it seems like a name that isn’t boring, but would be easy to live with.

Let’s take a good look at Isabel:

  • Isabel is a name both you and Rupert like You’ve only managed to agree on three girl’s names in the past nine months, so let’s face it – your chances of finding another name you both like in the next couple of days aren’t that high.
  • You haven’t come up with anything better The only other names you could use just don’t seem quite right. It’s not impossible you’ll change your mind once the baby is born, but for now they don’t seem like viable options.
  • Isabel fits both your requirements You like pretty, feminine names for girls like Arabella and Violet; Rupert prefers simple fuss-free names like Molly and Lila. Isabel seems like a perfect fit – as elegant as Arabella, with the clean lines of Lila.
  • Isabel honours your family heritage Isabel is a name from one side of your family, while also providing a distant nod to the Isabellas on the other side. As you don’t want to use Isabella any more (and it doesn’t seem possible to have both), Isabel appears to be a great solution to your dilemma.
  • Isabel is a classic that has never been common There is no such thing as a name which is both classic and unique, so I’m not surprised you haven’t managed to find one! The closest you could get would be an underused classic – one that has never left the charts, but never been popular. Isabel fits reasonably well, because it’s a classic, but never got any higher in popularity than the bottom quarter of the Top 100.
  • Isabel is falling in popularity That makes the chances of you running into lots of little Isabels in the future less likely. And as you can’t control what other parents name their children anyway, I wouldn’t give it another thought.
  • Popularity isn’t that big a deal anyway I do think that personal meaning and family associations are more important than popularity. You’ve eliminated Isabella for being too well known, which is fair enough, and Isabel seems like an excellent replacement. You know from having a popular name yourself that it doesn’t necessarily cause a child any problems – and your name is much more popular than Isabel.
  • If Isabel is not distinctive enough, what is? If you look at names for girls, there are certain family resemblances between them. Once a certain sound becomes popular, you tend to see it in other names too. I think you’d have trouble choosing something which sounded nothing like any other baby name being used – and still like it.
  • Isabel does not have to be an Issy or a Bel You could make her name distinctive by giving her a different nickname. There are old-fashioned nicknames for Isabel such as Isa, Ibby or Tibby, and more unexpected choices like Sabel, Tizzy, Whizz, Zibby or Zsa Zsa. Or you could not use any nickname at all.

My advice would be not to think any more about the name. Wait until the baby is born and then see how you feel about calling her Isabel. Once you have a baby to hold in your arms, it all becomes a lot more real. I truly believe that if Isabel is not the right name for your daughter, the perfect name will come to you by the time she arrives.

NAME UPDATE: The baby’s name is Isabel!

POLL RESULT: Most respondents thought Sarah should stick with the name Isabel, with 60% giving this as their answer. Another 33% thought that Sarah should wait until the baby’s birth before deciding. The rest thought that Sarah should keep looking for another baby name, or consider their suggestions.

Name Update: Master Lewis Waltzes In!

28 Monday Jan 2013

Posted by in Name Updates

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, ,

chocolate-names-lewisKate and Steve didn’t think they’d ever be able to choose a baby name, because she liked old-fashioned names, and he preferred something more modern. However, within a few weeks of writing into the blog, they were able to agree on both a girl name and a boy name.

Kate had a strong hunch that she was going to have a boy, and it turns out she was right. Their son was born early and unexpectedly, but in good health, on January 8, and his name is

LEWIS JOHN

little brother to Madeline.

Kate saw the name Louis amongst the celebrity baby name announcements on Waltzing More Than Matilda, and thought that an anglicised Lewis would make a better fit with Madeline. Both names are English versions of French names, and both are classics in Australia, with a similar level of popularity. The middle name is a family name, chosen to honour a loved one.

Congratulations on your baby boy, Kate and Steve, and for not only reaching agreement on a baby name, but finding one which is such a perfect match with his sister.

(Picture is the name Lewis written in chocolate)

The Top 25 Names of 1901

24 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by in Name Data

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , ,

With all the name data that is coming out in the papers, there nearly always seems to be a conclusion that old-fashioned names are back in style. So I thought it would be interesting to look at the Top 25 baby names from the year of Federation, and see how many of these old-fashioned names are back in style 110 years later – or perhaps never went out of style.

The information on Australian baby names from 1901 is from the Powerhouse Museum, and their current positions are for NSW, also supplied by the Powerhouse Museum.

GIRLS

  1. Dorothy (last charted in 1970s)
  2. Jean (last charted in 1980s)
  3. Mary (never left charts, currently #101 and rising)
  4. Winifred (last charted in 1950s)
  5. Marjorie (last charted in 1960s)
  6. Doris (last charted in 1960s)
  7. Kathleen (last charted in late 2000s)
  8. Bridget (never left charts, currently #416 and falling)
  9. Elizabeth (never left Top 100, currently #44 and stable)
  10. Eileen (last charted in early 2000s)
  11. Lilian (left charts during 1960s, currently #363 and rising)
  12. Daisy (left charts in 1940s, 1960s and 1970s, currently #134 and rising)
  13. Vera (left charts in 1980s, returned in 2011 at #626)
  14. Margaret (left charts in 2010, returned in 2011 at #428)
  15. Edna (last charted in 1950s)
  16. Gladys (last charted in 1950s)
  17. Florence (left charts in 1960s-1980s, early 2000s, currently #284 and rising)
  18. Doreen (last charted in 1960s)
  19. Violet (left charts 1960s-1990s, currently #72 and rising)
  20. May (left charts 1960s-1980s, currently #557 and fell in 2011)
  21. Joyce (left charts 1980s-early 2000s, returned in 2011 at #636)
  22. Phyllis (last charted in 1960s)
  23. Erica (charted almost continuously, currently #359 and rising)
  24. Olive (left charts 1960s-early 2000s, currently #136 and rising)
  25. Ivy (left charts 1970s-1990s, currently #32 and stable)
  • 14 names are currently in the charts
  • 3 names never left the charts
  • 1 name never left the Top 100
  • 3 names are currently Top 100
  • Of the 14 names currently in the charts, 12 of them are either rising or stable

BOYS

  1. John (never left Top 100, currently #77 and rising)
  2. William (never left Top 50, currently #1)
  3. George (never left Top 100, currently #57 and rising)
  4. James (never left Top 20, currently #11 and stable)
  5. Ronald (last charted early 2000s)
  6. Robert (never left charts, currently #107 and rising)
  7. Kenneth (left charts in 2010, returned in 2011 at #409)
  8. Frederick (never left charts, currently #212 and stable)
  9. Thomas (never left Top 100, currently #8 and falling)
  10. Keith (last charted in late 2000s)
  11. Eric (never left charts, currently #126 and rising)
  12. Alfred (never left charts, currently #541 and stable)
  13. Arthur (never left charts, currently #219 and rising)
  14. Charles (never left charts, currently #73 and rising)
  15. Leslie (last charted in 1990s)
  16. Dennis (left charts in 2009 and 2011)
  17. Joseph (never left Top 100, currently #43 and stable)
  18. Alan (never left charts, currently #354 and stable)
  19. Stanley (left charts 2010, returned in 2011 at #317)
  20. Ernest (last charted in 1970s)
  21. Harold (last charted in 1990s)
  22. Norman (last charted in 1980s)
  23. Reginald (last charted in 1970s)
  24. David (never left Top 100, currently #78 and rising)
  25. Francis (left charts in 2010, returned 2011 at #388)
  • 17 names are currently in the charts
  • 14 names never left the charts
  • 7 names never left the Top 100
  • 2 names never left the Top 50
  • 1 name never left the Top 20
  • 8 names currently in the Top 100
  • 4 names currently in the Top 50
  • 3 names currently in the Top 25
  • 2 names currently in the Top 10
  • Of the 17 names currently in the charts, 16 of them are either rising or stable

As you can see, when we say we adore the old-fashioned names, we’re being a bit selective, because Gladys and Ernest haven’t had much love for decades. And Edna peaked a century ago, so when does the alleged “100 year rule” kick in for her, I wonder?

On the other hand, about half of the girls names and more than two-thirds of the boys names are still in the charts, or have returned to the charts. Interestingly, nearly all of the names from 1901 which are currently in the charts are either rising or stable, so for those names which did manage to make it, they are doing pretty well for themselves.

POLL RESULTS: The dated names people most wanted revived were Winifred, Dorothy and Ernest, while not a single person voted to bring back Doreen or Dennis. 2% of respondents didn’t want any of the dated names brought back.

 

Their Rare Baby Name Isn’t Rare Enough!

19 Saturday Jan 2013

Posted by in Naming Assistance

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

gulgong-35961Elise and Alex are expecting their third child, and had already decided that if it was a boy, his name would be Digby. Digby is a rare name; unfortunately, it has been used often enough amongst Elise and Alex’s circle that they no longer feel as enthusiastic about using it.

They are now looking for a new boy’s name, and would ideally like something which is uncommon without being particularly unusual, and would sound at home in a country community. They like surname names for boys, and don’t mind if the name they choose becomes popular later, just as long as it isn’t popular now.

They would like it to match with their son’s name, Law$on, and as their daughter’s name also starts with L, they don’t want another name starting with that letter. Elise and Alex’s surname starts with M and ends in S eg Matthews.

Names on their short list so far:

  • Banjo
  • Baxter
  • Fred

Names they’ve crossed off or can’t use for some reason:

Abraham, Angus/Gus, Benjamin/Ben, Cameron, Charles/Charlie, Elliot, Eustie, Fletcher, George, Guy, Hamish, Henry/Harry, Hugo, Jack, Jed, Luke, Remington, Samuel/Sam, Sawyer, Spencer, Stirling, Sullivan, Thomas/Tom, Wilbur, Wilhelm, William/Will, Winston

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I felt quite distraught on first reading your e-mail, because Digby is one of my favourite names too, and it’s so uncommon that it doesn’t seem fair that it’s become overly used in your corner of the world. Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that choosing a name not on the Top 100, or even not ranked at all, ever, means you will be the only parents who like it. Underused doesn’t mean unused.

I grew up in a small town, so I understand why you want a name that nobody else is currently using. When you live in a small community, you see each so often on a daily basis that it almost feels like you’re one big family. Nobody really wants 8 Uncle Jacks and 13 cousins named Mia – not to mention all your brothers being named Sam.

You’ve already discovered that rare names can prove disconcertingly popular in pockets – the good news is that quite common names may be almost unheard of in your community. When I was born, my name was in the Top 50, and yet I was the only one, of any age, called Anna in our little town, or in all the towns surrounding us. It was only when I went to the city for holidays that I met other Annas – it just didn’t seem to be used in my region.

If you are concerned about too many other people choosing the same name, I wouldn’t worry too much about the overall popularity charts, but more about what’s popular and unpopular on a local level. Keep an eye on birth notices in your local paper, and also watch out for regional popularity lists (I have been putting these on Twitter as they come out).

The perfect name is probably one which your friends and neighbours think sounds “a bit different” the first time they hear it, but are used to within two days, and in two weeks time, are starting to really like it. That means you might want to consider a few names that you think sound a bit different at first!

It’s also a good idea to have several names on your list, in case someone else uses one you’ve picked out while you’re still pregnant. Luckily, you have plenty of time left to thoroughly explore your options.

YOUR SHORT LIST

Banjo

This is such a cool name, but for me, Banjo and Law$on are a little too much as brothers. Also, if your daughter’s name isn’t super-Aussie, I wonder if she might be a little left out of the theme?

Baxter

I think Baxter is a definite keeper. It’s got that perfect balance of being uncommon, yet sounding completely normal, and the nickname Bax fits in with familiar names like Max and Jax.

Fred

You’ve absolutely got me over a barrel on this one, because Fred is my dad’s name. To me Fred sounds kind and funny and sweet, just like my dad. Yes, I’m very biased. But being non-biased, I do think Fred sounds brilliant with your surname.

SUGGESTIONS

Archie

To me, Archie is very much like Digby – it’s cute and boyish, yet also sounds grown-up and dignified. Unfortunately, Archie is popular, increasing in popularity, and seems to be used more in the country than the city. However, I’m suggesting it because I love the way this sounds with your surname – it seems really happy and I just can’t help smiling when I hear it.

Arthur “Artie”

Arthur is one of those useful classic names which have been stable for decades (a “normal name”), yet also underused (“uncommon”). It’s very slowly increasing in popularity, but in no way trendy. The nickname Artie makes it seem like a replacement for Archie, for people worried about popularity. This is another name I think suits your surname

Dexter

Dexter is really similar in sound to Baxter, and has a similar level of popularity. I like this better with your surname, but I think Baxter makes a better sibset with your son’s name.

Huxley

Huxley reminds me both of Baxter and Digby – I feel as if someone who likes both these names might appreciate Huxley. And like Banjo, it has an Australian connection, because the naturalist T.H. Huxley travelled to Australia, which is where his scientific career began (he has a mountain named after him here). Huxley’s descendant Sir Leonard Huxley became a famous Australian physicist. You get the nickname Huck from Huxley, which somehow seems to tie in with Sawyer.

Beckett

Beckett is another name which reminds me of Baxter. It does have an Australian literary connection, because Beckett’s Budget was a famous men’s magazine of the 1920s and ’30s which combined hard journalism with saucy pictures (tame by today’s standards). Not quite as idealistic as Banjo, I admit!

Jasper

Jasper is another name which reminds me, in sound, of Baxter, yet somehow also has a little of Digby’s image. It might seem mad to consider this when it’s a Top 100 name, but when I thought about it, I couldn’t recall often seeing this name in birth announcements from rural areas. Could this be one of those names which are popular overall, but underused where you live?

Camden

I really like the sound of this surname, which as a place name, has played an important role in Australia’s colonial history. You’ve crossed Cameron off your list, so I wondered if Camden might appeal instead? This name, growing in popularity in the US, is extremely rare in Australia.

Theodore “Ted”

Like Arthur, Theodore is a classic, but rapidly growing in popularity, while still not a common name. I mostly thought of it because Ted is very much like Fred, and to me it sounds “country” but also quite patrician – Ted is  the gentleman farmer, while Fred is his trusty right-hand-man!

My favourites from your list are Baxter and Fred, and from my suggestions, I feel as if Huxley fits your criteria better than any other.

If you still feel unsure about your name list in 6-8 weeks time, write in to the blog again, and we’ll take another look at it. In the meantime, happy name hunting!

UPDATE: Elise and Alex decided to stick with Digby.

POLL RESULTS: The most popular choices for a new baby name were Fred, Archie, Arthur and Beckett, which each got around 10% of the vote.

(Photo is of Gulgong in New South Wales, the childhood home of Henry Lawson; in no way is this meant to identify where Elise and Alex live)

Famous Name: Rose

16 Wednesday Jan 2013

Posted by in Famous Names

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Gift_white_rosesThis Friday will be The Day of the Roses, which sounds lovely, but has a tragic meaning. January 18 this year marks the 36th anniversary of the Granville train  disaster, when a crowded train was derailed in a suburb of western Sydney, and hit the supports of a railway bridge. The bridge collapsed onto the train carriages, crushing the passengers inside. 83 people were killed, and more than 200 injured; it was then Australia’s worst peace time disaster, and is still the worst rail accident in Australian history.

The Granville Memorial Trust was established to commemorate the victims and to campaign for improvements to rail safety. Since the disaster, there has been a substantial increase in money spent maintaining the railways, and standards have improved. Each year on the anniversary of the crash, the Trust organises a memorial service, in which a bell rings 83 times, and 83 roses are thrown onto the railway tracks – one for each of the victims.

Rose is not the simple flower name it at first appears, for it began life as the Germanic name Hrodohaidis or Hrodheid, meaning “bright kind, famous kind” (kind in the sense of type, sort). It was the Normans who introduced it to Britain in the forms Roes, Rohais, Roheis and Rohese. The name Rohese was a fairly common one amongst the Norman nobility in England after the Conquest.

The form Rose began to be used by the early 1200s – even this early it was already being associated with the flower, whose name is French, derived from the Latin rosa. It goes back to an ancient word meaning “sweetbriar” (a wild rose also known as the eglantine rose).

Roses are tens of millions of years old, and have been grown in gardens for thousands of years – perhaps first in China, although they were grown in Persia, Babylon and ancient Egypt as well. The flower was sacred to the goddess Isis, and later the Greeks and Romans identified it with Aphrodite or Venus, so that it became seen as a blossom of beauty and eternal love – which is one reason why you are more likely to receive roses on Valentine’s Day than daisies or sweetpeas.

In medieval Christianity, roses became associated with the Virgin Mary, were carefully cultivated by monks, and in both Christian and Islamic mysticism, the rose can be a symbol of divine love. The rose is the national flower of England and the floral emblem of the United States; the red rose is the symbol of socialism; the white rose of peaceful resistance. The Romans used it as a symbol of secrecy, and to alchemists it meant balance and unity.

This ancient flower speaks to our hearts on so many different levels, and the rose has a richness of beauty we cannot help but admire. Yet it is mysterious too, and its thorns urge us to keep our distance, even while its loveliness attracts. Roses are by no means vain beauties, because they can be used to make perfumes, skin care products and medicines; rose hips can be made into jams, syrups and teas (in fact I am drinking a cup of it as I write). Rose petals are also edible.

We often think of Rose as being a quintessentially English name, and a beautiful Englishwoman is even called an “English rose”. Yet the name is also French, and Rose is Top 100 in France, as well as in England/Wales and Scotland.

In Australia, Rose is a classic which has always charted. It was #55 in 1900, and gradually fell until it left the Top 100 in the 1930s. It reached its lowest point in the 1970s, at #287, and after that began a stately rise, with its sharpest increase in the late 2000s. By 2008 it was near the bottom of the Top 100, and each year has continued to steadily gain. In 2011 it was #66 in New South Wales, and in Victoria and the ACT it has proved to be one of the names with the most growth during 2012. Rose is also extremely popular as a middle name.

Rose is an overwhelmingly feminine name, yet isn’t frilly. It’s both sensual and sensible, possessing the ripeness of a mature woman rather than a frivolous girl. It’s a short name, yet doesn’t seem abrupt or harsh but rather, soft and velvety as one of its own petals. Despite being an English word, there are many international variants of Rose, and it is easily understood in other countries. It is a name from fairy tale, reminding us of Briar Rose, the sleeping beauty, and Rose-Red, the vivid sister of fair Snow-White – and yet it also has a practical and wholesome appeal.

Increasing numbers of parents are choosing the name Rose for their daughters. In The Little Prince, the prince, who is in love with the only rose on his planet, cries in dismay when he comes to Earth and sees dozens of rose bushes; he has given his heart to something special, and found it commonplace. But a wise fox teaches him that his rose is unique, because it is the only one that he loves. There may be a garden of Roses in the world, but only one Rose who blooms there will be the one in your heart.

POLL RESULT: Rose received an approval rating of 86%, making it one of the most highly esteemed names of the year. The name Rose was judged to be beautiful and feminine (54%) and pretty and wholesome (21%), although 7% thought it was better left in the middle position. Nobody thought that the name Rose was boring.

Names Spotted at Home and Abroad (Spring Edition)

22 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by in Names Spotted at Home and Abroad

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

528324_419521648119669_1365182918_nA nurse saved the life of her daughter’s guinea pig Snowflake by giving it mouth-to-mouth. Her little girl is named Fauve, which in French literally means “wild beast”. In the early twentieth century, les Fauves were avant-garde artists whose style was characterised by wild brushstrokes and vibrant colours. Fauve as a name is as bold as the art it is named after, but still seems on trend.

A bittersweet baby story. Nei Nei Anderson, daughter of Pippin, is just about to have her first Christmas, but she never got to meet her father Jahminn, who died from cancer before she was born. Nei Nei is named after her Maori grandmother; neinei is the Maori word for a New Zealand tree whose Latin name is Dracophyllum traversii. These small trees can live up to 500-600 years.

Elvina Robson [pictured] was born very prematurely, and her little life hung in the balance for a while, but she is ready for her first Christmas too. Elvina’s mum and dad are Emma and Brendan, and her siblings are Marguerite, 16, Gilbert, 12, Lucy, 10, Walter, 4, Angelique, 3 and Stella (deceased). A very lovely and original sibset.

A baby who arrived in a great hurry was named Patience Mezzino. Her name was chosen before her birth, and turned out to be rather ironic.

I have been hoping to see a baby Diamond born in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Year, and finally I have. Diamond Andre Thomas Thompson arrived very unexpectedly, but that did not stop his mum Regine from attending her graduation ceremony the next day. Regine now has a Masters in Maritime and Logistics Management. Diamond’s dad is named Paul, and his big sister is Herleen, aged 3.

Hermione Quinn Penning was born just outside the local rubbish tip. Not the most glamorous start to life, but what a beautiful name parents Kelly and Travis picked out. Hermione’s older sister is Elena, aged 3.

Kellie-Anne, and her ex-partner Trent Ford, came up with their son’s name when they saw the back of of a Holden Commodore ute with Storm written on the back of it. They couldn’t afford the ute, but they could name their son after it, so they named him Storme Hunter Ford. Storme’s younger brother is Levi Ryder, who was named after a pair of jeans. Name inspiration can be found everywhere!

A gym for babies aged 2 months and over has opened on the Sunshine Coast. One of its first clients was a baby boy named Horizen Earle. The name seems to ask that he reach for the horizon – but in a totally Zen way. It somehow seems very Sunshine Coast!

A couple who each run their own winery have welcomed their first child, and their daughter is named Peggy Mignonne. Mignonne is French for “cute”, and I think this is an adorable name combination. Charles Mignon is a famous brand of French champagne, and Peggy’s Hill is a wine produced in Australia, but I don’t know whether they put two wine names together or not.

A gorgeous sibset I saw in the paper – Sebastian, Raphael and Augustine, sons of Emily and Mark Wolfenden. Emily and Mark have both donated kidneys to save Sebastian and Raphael’s lives; unfortunately Augustine did not survive.

Names of Adults

Peter Drouyn was a champion surfer in the 1960s and 1970s, but always felt different. Today she is Westerly Windina – she chose her new name because she had such happy memories of surfing in westerly winds. Ms Windina is now a lawyer.

Supreme Court Judge, Justice Emilios Kyrou, has a name which came as a shock to his parents. Born in a small Greek village, it was tradition there that the godparent would choose the baby name and have it baptised, and the name would be kept secret from the parents until announced by the local priest. Traditionally, the first-born son would be named after his paternal grandfather. However, Emilios’ godmother had other ideas, and named him after the hero of a best-selling romantic novel. Parents not pleased. His younger brother, now a doctor, was named Theodoros after grand-dad instead.

Names from Television

Did you watch Life at 7 on the ABC? The series has been following a group of children since they were babies, and now in this series they are seven years old, and for the first time, speak for themselves to us as they learn to navigate the world. The boys are Wyatt, Declan, Joshua, Jara’na and Daniel, and the girls are Haleema, Shine, Anastasia, Sofia and Loulou.

On the news, there was a young man who was the unfortunate victim of some white collar crime. He was called Armand d’Armagnac, and he was as romantic and exotic-looking as his name – but his Australian accent made it clear he probably wasn’t a French count after all.

Another news story: it was announced that the new head of Swimming Australia was a businessman named Barclay Nettlefold. His first name is said BARK-lee, like the British bank founder. I feel that just by telling you his name, you automatically know he is from a prominent family and a keen yachtsman.

Names from Real Life

I was persuaded to escort two young ladies to a posh hotel which throws children’s high tea parties each afternoon during the school holidays. I was informed by some mummy blog or other that only the hippest mothers and their progeny would be there (fathers, and most sons, seem to give it a miss). I was interested to see what the cool people are naming their kids; mostly they just seemed to have the same names as everyone else. However, I did manage to overhear a Bee/Bea, an Aspen, and a pair of sisters named Cleo/Clio and Isis. A rare and very small boy was named Roland.

Two brothers I met elsewhere were called Ziggy and Dash, which struck me as pleasingly zippy.

I also encountered a baby boy named Urban; I was too shy to ask his parents if he was named after the popes, or the cityscape, or the musical style, or Keith Urban.

Do some baby names seem controversial to you? I met a little boy named Aryan, which simply means “noble”, and is related to the Sanskrit name Arya. It refers to the Indo-Iranian languages, which together have one billion speakers, stretching from Russia to Sri Lanka. It really shouldn’t be any different from calling your daughter India or Persia. And yet …

I did part of my Christmas shopping with my friend Claire, who is in her 30s. As we joined the queue to pay, we heard someone talking to their baby girl in her stroller – the baby’s name was Claire. The plump grey-haired lady who served us had a name badge that said “Claire”. When I got home, I switched on the news and a pretty young reporter named Claire was covering the story. And the name Claire suited ALL of them perfectly! Go classic names.

On Twitter, Name Sociology mentioned the name Evolet, which is a character from the movie 10, 000 BC, and is “t(h)e love” written backwards. It reminded me of a woman I used to work with whose name was Evol, which is Love backwards. Sounds like a nice idea, except that until I saw her name written down, I thought she was called Evil.

Names of Babies Born to People I Know or Know Of:

Girls: Mary, Phoebe, Roma, Sanna

Boys: Boaz, Castel, Phoenix

If you are able to read this, it means the world probably hasn’t ended, yay! However, something has started – Christmas holidays – and I won’t be around much until January 7. Have a very merry Christmas season, and a happy New Year!

(Photo from The Blue Mountains Gazette Facebook page)