Best of the thirties

 

Coming soon

My name is

One of my worst personal attributes, in my opinion, is my short attention span. I wish I wasn’t the type of person who picks up a project and remains enthusiatic about it for only a short period of time, but I am. This blog, however? I thought this would be different. One thing that I have remained enthusiastic about for as long as I can remember is names. I read appellationmountain virtually every day, if I can, and often drop in on other favourites- such as youcantcallitit- so I felt certain that writing my own would definitely keep my attention.

Alas (I love the word alas!)  it was not to be. Namingacrossthepond lay in the netherlands of the internet, gathering dust, while I pursued other interests, such as writing.

 Until today, that is. Because lying on the doormat of my email inbox today was a blog subscription (thank you!) and once I had opened the envelope there was no turning back.

Reading back on old posts was very much like reading an old diary; excrutiatingly embarassing. Was I really so pretentious and keen to play up my, well, Britishness? I suppose it’s understandable you can change a lot within two years. The nineteen-year-old I am now is nothing like the seventeen-year-old I was then. And you can see that even in my change of taste in names; back then I loved Beatrix and Quentin, right now I’m a little more happy to blend in with the crowd and consider more mainstream choices.

But what has really changed has my own sense of self. Back then, I hid behind a screen name, Esme Squalor. And when commenting on other sites, I may or may not have gone by Elizabeth. I hope my ever-changing identity didn’t confuse any of the site owners, because I’m not entirely sure I was very consistent. But I now feel safe to reveal my real name, because, really, what difference does it make? If by any chance someone I know in real life happens to deduce it is me I will hold my hands up and say ‘So? I like names’. And there isn’t anything wrong with that.

I am me; short attention span, geeky hobbies and all.

My name is Emma, and thank you for reading.

Best of the twenties…

It’s a day late, but nevertheless it is here! Just in case you don’t know, this is the second exciting instalment in my series of ‘Best of’ posts, chronicling six of the greatest names of the past nine decades.

Just about as soon as I hit ‘publish’ on last week’s post, I headed over to behindthename to put up a poll. I requested people let me know just what their favourite decade of naming was. And lo and behold, the twenties came out as the clear winner with fifteen votes (incidentally, the tens, last week’s subject, came second with thirteen). This immediately filled me with dread as I knew that this post had to be good. And I hope with the names I have chosen, it will be.

So, on with the Golden Twenties, the era of flappers, Virginia Woolf and prohibition…

• Josephine A firm favourite at 28 in 1920, she know resides at just 224. Those with impeccable taste may have the confidence to use her nowadays without pause (wink, wink) but others may need a little persuading. And I’m fine with that; such is the purpose of this blog! Many will recognise her as the wife to Napoleon Bonaparte, who many current European Royal families are descended from. Others may think of Josephine Baker, a great black icon (and original Angelina Jolie!). And others still will think of Josephine and that Flying Machine. While Joseph is on the rise as a girls name (and Jagger, and Blue), you would think Josephine could still be a likely contender.
• Martha Though she top choice in 1920 at 23, she now only just pips in at 586. I’ve seen several articles singing her praises recently, so I wonder what makes her such an uncommon pick. I have a theory; Martha Stewart. We don’t see much of her in Britain, but I imagine she may be an turn-off for some? Well, despite that, Martha is still worthy of look-in. Religious parents may be pleased to know she is a Saint. For patriotic Americans, she may remind them of the orginal First Lady. And Beatles fans may want to honour the band who sang Martha My Dear.
• June Everyone loves Jane in the middle. And what’s not to love; she’s got that one-syllable snappiness that just fits so well. But, please, will anyone consider June? She’s almost exactly the same, give or take a vowel. She’s a month, just like classics April and May. She could honour your childs birthdate, the month you got married or even the date you conceived her (though that I would not recommend!). She sits just inside the top 1000 at 993 so there’s no worries about popularity. Then there’s June Carter Cash, though she was born Valerie. Altogether, whether she’s boldly up front or tucked in the middle, she makes an appealing appellation, that, unlike many other names, will probably never be misspelled!
• Albert He was top 20 hot back in 1920, yet now he lags at 371. He is, I have to admit, not a particular favourite of mine, but it would only take one adorable little Bertie to change my mind. And besides, he means noble and bright- sounds like a pretty ideal son, no? Albert is a favourite with the Royals; Queen Victoria’s husband being the most prominent for most, I would imagine. He’s a surname, and surely a good alternative to all those Coopers and Bennets. And in French, he’s Al-bair, which might appeal now names like Etienne and Raphael are making their appearences on naming forums.
• Lawrence Some may pass this off as pretentious or upper-class. But what with the current vogue for such names, he may just be set to soar in street cred. It’s most likely he is derived from Laurel, which could appeal to nature-lovers. He is, again, a well-known surname. And he comes with a bunch of cool namesakes, including D.H. Lawrence and that one from Arabia.
• Theodore He’s cool. But he may be a little too cool for parents. Granted, it would take a confident parent to announce their son as Theodore. But Theo is a little more easy to swallow without losing any charm. And if anyone comments, just tell them it’s a Saint’s name and be done with it! Or alternatively, remind them of Roosevelt and they’ll see it in a whole new light. Just like his sister Dorothy, he means God’s Gift, an appealing choice for a newborn child. And if none of that does it for you, just consider his position in the top 1000; riding low at just 301.

So, that’s it. Any comments would be greatly appreciated. And just for your viewing pleasure, and because it fits with these vintage posts so well, please do check out this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv4c4ER8Pzo. I love it!

I humbly request your opinions

And now it is over to you. I was so excited about my next Best Of post for the 1920s that I busied myself perusing the Top 100 for Girls in 1920. And there were just so many good names I could imagine on the post, I thought I would just write them down here and see if any of you have any thoughts at all. So here they are, in all their glory…

• Florence
• Rose
• Martha
• Josephine
• Esther
• Elsie
• June
• Agnes
• Viola
• Ida
• Mabel
• Mae

Any thoughts would be much, much appreciated. Thank you!

Best of the tens

Well-respected sources and research often tell us that names carry much the same features as fashion trends. Miniskirts, for example, would have been entirely unacceptable in the Victorian Era. Likewise, just as the great Laura Wattenberg from babynamewizard.com discussed recently, Jack as a given name would have been considered most unwise, or at worse, an indication of insanity! And yet Jack has held on to the top spot of the UK top baby names for boys for the past 14 years, and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere!

So what is my point? Well, I have a query. If a name was extremely popular just fifty decades ago, what is it that makes it so inappropriate nowadays? Is it because most people view names like Linda or Leroy as dated? Most probably. I am, too, guilty of pigeon-holing names into an era, and pronouncing them off-limits because of it. But though you may look at that woman, over there, named Mary, and be unable to get past the image of an elderly woman, surely upon meeting a tiny one with the name you would alter your opinion? Perhaps, if we met more children with the names Deborah and Allen, we would be unable to claim it for one generation or another.

And so I came up with the idea to do a series of nine posts which would discuss six names from each of the past nine decades spanning from 1910 up until now, that are rarely used nowadays. The names would have to have been in the top one-hundred of their allotted decade and be near the tail-end, or preferably not in altogether, of the top one hundred for 2007. Unfortunately for any English (or other nationalitied) readers, I have chosen to use the American SSA List, simply because it provides more information.

So, beginning with 1910. The decade of handle bar moustaches, corsets and Penny Farthings (I think?).

• Beatrice This name sat firmly at 36 in 1910, and yet now it lingers in the bottom ranks of the top 1000 at 899. How could this lovely moniker be so neglected? Most reputable baby-naming sites will give you the meaning ‘voyager through life’ or something similar, which could appeal to parents looking for an elegant alternative to naming their beloved daughter Journey. But there is also ‘blessed’ or ‘fortunate’, which is equally as valid as a possible meaning, and could mean that this name is the perfect choice for parents looking for the modern equivalent of big-in-the-70s Joy. Though she isn’t altogether very popular here, some American parents looking for a ‘princess’ name but balking at the thought of a little Adrianna may take inspiration from the young Princess Beatrice, daughter of the Queen Elizabeth’s fourth and final son Edward. It is also a Shakesperean name, quite suitable for book worms and literature lovers like myself. I belief there may just be a comeback for Beatrice, popping uo here and there in more trendy regions before snowballing. That being said, I’d bet my bottom dollar it’ll never be a top ten favourite. As for me, I love Beatrice, but overall prefer the sassier Beatrix.
• Mary I simply could not mention her in the opening paragraph without picking up on her here. Just like swistle, I am a big advocate of the name Mary. I will grant you, she is in the top 100. But only the very dregs of it- the late nineties, to be precise. And really, how many babies do you know named Mary? Myself, none. Perhaps in the very Christian parts of America it is come across more often, but I couldn’t tell you as I’ve never been! Anyhow, I am of the opinion that Mary is a charming, neat appellation to bestow on any girly. I may be biased, as it is the name of my darling grandmother (actually, her full name is Gwendolyn Irene Mary, but she has never been anything but a Mary). As I touched on before, Mary carries deeply Christian associations, and many people may assume you are religious before they have even met you. That being said, it’s not a bad association. Mary is known as the Madonna, the virtuous virgin who brought the child of God into the World. And even Mary Magdalene, though she was a prostitute, became one of Jesus’ greatest companions and worshipers. If Mary is just too Christian, there are many websites which will give you alternatives- for a start, I just love Rosemary!
• Dorothy This just happens to be one of my sister’s favourites, and I believe it could be worn with ease in a playground full of Norahs and Amelias. Though Dorothy was riding high at number four in 1910, it does not appear anywhere near the top 100 now. In an age where people are discovering their babies can pull off the names Archie and Violet, I do not see why Dorothy should be any different. She comes complete with a cute pet name, Dotty, and an adult alternative, Fi. While the immediate association for most is Miss Gale, and Judy Garland as Miss Gale in particular, this may be a positive; think how adorable she’ll be in ruby slippers and a blue checked dress! Plus, it has a great meaning; Dorothy is the most popular Anglicized of Dorothea, meaning Gift from God. Whether you are religious or not, most parents will agree their child is, in fact, a gift (perhaps just for a day or two, at which point the Honeymoon period is terminally ended!). To take a phrase from Lola at her Onomastic Fits blog, Dorothy gets a thumbs-up from me!

Now boys, you may take it from here…

• Walter It’s like Marmite (I’m not sure whether non-Brits know what Marmite is, but oh well!). Some love it. Some loathe it. I, for one, love it. I think it has a handsome sound and while it sat comfortably at number 13 in 1910, it slipped in at just 378 in 2007. The Disney association is strong, but could be avoided if you refrained from using the nickname- or it could indeed be a plus for parents looking for a Disney-esque moniker but not really feeling Nemo or Pumba! There is another image it conjures up for me though, and doubtless many other Lost viewers; poor old Michael (that’s Harold Perrineau to non Lost fans) thrown off the raft, screaming WAAALT as his young son is whisked away by The Others. I get a lump in my throat just thinking of it. So, long story short, if you’re a hardcore Lostie, like I, but don’t fancy taking on Jack or Sawyer, this could be the one for you. Alternatively, for any particularly militant parents, Walter may appeal for it’s meaning- “Ruler of the Army”.
• Arthur Along with a Lily and a Freddie, my next door neighbours have an Arthur. And no, he is not nearing the end of his life. He is coming up to around five months old. And to be honest, I’ve been expecting it. I’m quite certain that old man/lady names are more popular here than they are in America, and a quick glance at the Telegraph birth announcements (which I first discovered on youcantcallitit, FYI) informs me I am right. What with Alfie doing a one-man race up the (UK) charts and names such as Harry and William in the top ten, people are peering further and further back into their family trees to discover ‘old-fart’ gems. And I thoroughly like Arthur. What with the association with the infamous King, and the meaning being stated as either ’bear’ or ‘rock’ on very reliable naming sites, could there be a stronger name than this one? Arthur held a very sturdy position at number seventeen back in, you guessed it, 1910, but by 2007 he had plummeted to just 374. Could it be time to resucitate him? I think so.
• Ralph Gosh, this was a hard decision. There were many a great name on the 1910 hit list, but a quick game of eeny meeny miney mo (do people play that outside of Britain?) narrowed it to this one fantastic appellation. I know many people think he has a silly sound. I can’t think why though; I believe Ralph is a fine name. And while it was rather unpopular in 2007 at just 869, it had a firm hold on the top 100 in 1910, coming in at 28. While there aren’t many obvious namesakes for this one; an NBA player here, a civil rights activist there, this could be a major plus for parents looking for a name with no expectations, no baggage, no “We named you after this great person, now go out and be great!”. And while perhaps it seems weaker or more effeminate than Arthur, it is actually derived from the Old Norse for wolf and thus just as macho. So in summary, a bold choice, perhaps, but one that, when you think about it, is rather rewarding.

So there we have it. And crikey, it was harder than I thought. I have a new-found respect for baby-name bloggers. Anyhow, I’d love to get feedback on this, if you were so kind?

P.S. I apologise if the picture happens to belong to you, but it was up on Google so I considered it fair game!

The Gashlycrumb Tinies

For anyone who has come across this book, you will know it isn’t exactly an ideal namesake book. The Gashlycrumb Tinies is a picture book by Edward Gorey documenting the (fictional!) deaths of 26 children in alphabetical order. You may wonder what anyone would like about such a thing. But I have to say that, in my defense, I have a rather dark sense of humour! Plus the pictures are charming and Mr Gorey is somewhat of a literary genius. But this is beside the point. I chose to base my second post on this book because it is a treasure trove of lovely names, along with some not-so-desirable. The Gashlycrumb Tinies was published in 1963, which may or may not give some insight into the names he gave to his little characters. I say may not because most of the names seem more appropriate for the Victorian Era, which is reflected in the clothing and backgrounds of the images. And so here they are, from A all the way to Z…

• Amy  I’m somewhat neutral on Amy. I think it is a lovely choice for parents who are looking for a neat pretty, choice for their darling daughter, but overall I prefer more ‘unusual’ names.
• Basil I must admit I’m a sucker for Basil; I think he’s adorable for a little’un. I do agree, however, it would take one confident male to pull this off with ease.
• Clara  J’adore Clara! I have heard a variety of comments about, including that it is too plain, too frilly and too old. But please, please give it the benefit of the doubt and simply repeat it in your head. Clara, Clara. Just beautiful!
• Desmond I have been adoring Desmond recently. I think he is strong and elegant. It helps that there is a character on Lost (one of my uber-obsessions) with this name.
• Ernest I must say, I am biased towards this name. Ethel and Ernest, a beautiful graphic novel by Raymond Briggs, is one of my favourite books, which makes me favour this overwise quite old-fashioned name. Plus, Ernest happens to be my favourite Gashlycrumb Tiny- he looks so sweet, unaware of his impending doom!
• Fanny Slang for vagina in the UK, slang for bottom in the US. A bad idea in my book.
• George Whilst I don’t love George, I think he is a fine choice for parents looking for a timeless classic.
• Hector Now I think about, I’m quite the fan of this name. There is a quite noble, if irritatingly skittish, character in A Series of Unfortunate Events named Hector, which makes it an immediate hit in my book. The sound, however, makes me slightly; not altogether undoable, but I do always think ‘tractor’ when I hear it!
• Ida I thoroughly like Ida, and would love to see parents go for this rather than ‘Huge In America’ and ‘Racing Up In England’ Ava.
• James I have a cousin named James, and he’s lovely. It’s a nice name, along the same lines of George, but it’s consistant appearance in the UK top tens puts me off it.
• Kate This, I don’t much like. I think it’s fine as a nickname to Katherine (my own middle name!), but just too… brief on it’s own. Although Kate from Lost does something to improve my opinion of it.
• Leo Oh, Leo, how I love thee. I’ve had to forget using him as a first name for a reason I shan’t divulge, but lament the loss regularly. I think he has everything going for him, and Leo Borlock, the lovely but disappointingly conformist narrator of my favourite book, Stargirl, makes a great namesake.
• Maud A wonderful, underused gem of a name. The world would be a better place with more Mauds in it!
• Neville Not perhaps the most fashionable of names, but perhaps famous Neville Longbottom, the lovable hero in the Harry Potter series, will give it some street cred. Me, I quite like it, but wouldn’t ever use it.
• Olive I like Olive a lot. I would be pleased as punch to meet a little one named this.
• Prue A fantastic nickname for an even more fantastic full name- Prudence. Underused and gorgeous.
• Quentin I have suddenly fallen for Quentin in a big way. I think it is so lovely, and could be an excellent twist on those -un, -en, -on endings so very popular in America. Q’s a fabulous letter, as well!
• Rhoda This one always surprises me a little, after so many traditional, vintage names before it. I like it a little, but not enough to ever consider it.
• Susan As with Rhoda, this comes as a surprise. Perhaps Mr Gorey was reaching the end of the alphabet and just thought, screw it, I’m going to have some fun! Whatever the reason, I like Susan in a way, if only for it’s deliciously declining popularity!
• Titus Though I can see many a good thing about this name, my first immediate thought is ‘tit’. And if it is for me, then what about those nasty little bullies on the playground? If you give your child this name, I think you should probably start training him to run fast from a very early age! (An exaggeration, of course, but you catch my drift!)
• Una Sorry, but I cannot get past the interfering mum-type in the film Bridget Jones. You know, “Gravy doesn’t need sieving, just stir it Una!”. For that reason, I get a dated vibe from this name.
• Victor A wonderful name that really needs resurrecting from the graveyard of the unused!
• Winnie For a long time, I didn’t whether this was a boy or a girl, but after some counting I discovered it must be a female to make it an even 13-13. I like this as a nickname only.
• Xerxes While I’m not a particular fan, I loudly applaud Mr Gorey for resisting falling back on Xavier when the going got tough!
• Yorick Just like Xerxes, love the fact Gorey chose an unusual one for this fairly difficult letter. And the name itself I think is actually quite handsome!
• Zillah Of all the illustrations, this is in my opinion the saddest- a tiny girl succumbing to the evils of drink. I would be quite intruiged to meet a little Zillah, though it’s not a particular favourite.

Whew! So, there it is. It is a shame because I ended up cutting out bits of etymology and meaning from this, but it was just getting far too rambly and I had to make it more succint. Even so, I do hope someone got something out of it, if not just a really great bunch of names! Looking over my post, I can quite securely conclude I like at least eighteen out of twenty-six, and I love a great deal. So when all is said and done, Mr Gorey, late Mr Gorey in fact, I’d like you to know you did a fantastic job!