Although most of these names had been in existence for many years, they did not become popular or were not found at all in Britain before the 17th century. Biblical names did not become really common until after the Reformation. Classical Greek and Latin names became popular during the 18th century, especially for girls. Fanciful adaptations of existing girls' names, often with the addition of '-bel' or '-inda' were made. The Latin forms of male names which had only been found in written form during the Middle Ages were revived as spoken forms (Phillippa, Juliana) and the practice of adding '-ine' or '-ina' to a male name to form a female one resulted in many new girls' names.
In the 19th century, there was a revival of interest in the Saxon and Norse mythologies which resulted in many long disused names being used, sometimes in Anglicised forms. Surnames began to be used as first names quite frequently, many of them those of noble families (such as Sidney, Neville).
Given Name and Variants | Diminutives | Origin and Meaning |
Alberic | Lat form of Aubrey (OG elf + power) | |
Algernon | Algy | 'with moustaches' |
Almarick | ||
Aloysius | Lat form of Louis | |
Angel | Gk angelos 'messenger' | |
Aquila | Lat 'eagle' | |
Aretas | ||
Augustus | Gus, Gussie | Lat great/magnificent |
Aurelian | Lat aureus 'golden' | |
Baptist | In honour of John the Baptist | |
Benezer | From Ebenezer | |
Bonamy | Lat 'good friend' | |
Chrysogon | ||
Clarence | Clarrie, Clary | |
Cosmo | Gk kosmos order/beauty | |
Endymion | ||
Erasmus | Gk Erasmos eran 'to love' | |
Ernest | Ernie | OHG eornost 'seriousness' |
Eubule, Ewball | ||
Euseby | Gk Eusebios 'respectful, pious' | |
Horace, Horatio | Etruscan | |
Hosanna | Heb | |
Jessamy | ||
Justinian | Lat 'just/fair' | |
Percy | Lat Persius | |
Sacheverell | Norman placename Saute-Chevreuil 'roebuck-leap' | |
Sholto | Gaelic Sioltach 'sower' | |
Sidney | Nor/FR surname Saint Denis or OE 'wide meadow' | |
Theophilus | Gk god + friend | |
Ybel |
Given Name and Variants | Origin and Meaning | |
Albertine | Fem of Albert | |
Albina, Albinia | Lat albus white (nomen) | |
Alethea, Alethia, Aletha, Aletea, Alithia, Althea, Alatheia, Aletea, Aletheia, Alethia, Alithea | Gk aletheia 'truth' | |
Allegra | It allegro 'gay/jaunty' (a daughter of Byron) | |
Alma | Lat almus 'nourishing/kind' (infl Battle of Alma) | |
Aloisia | Fem of Aloysius | |
Althea | Gk Althaia | |
Amanda | Lat 'lovable' | |
Ancilla, Annzella | Lat | |
Angel | Gk angelus 'messenger' | |
Anthea | Gk antheios 'flowery' | |
Aquila | Lat 'eagle' (cognomen) | |
Armine, Armin, Arminel | Ger Herman | |
Artemisia | Gk Artemis | |
Aspasia | ||
Augusta | Lat fem of Augustus | |
Aurea | Lat aureus golden | |
Aureola, Auriol | ||
Aurora | Lat 'dawn' | |
Berenice | Gk Pherenike 'bringer of victory' | |
Brilliana | For a girl born in Brill | |
Britannia | ||
Carina | From Cara or Karin | |
Clorinda | ||
Corisande | ||
Delia | Gk 'from Delos' (name for Artemis) | |
Dillian, Dilliana | ||
Dorinda | From Dora | |
Douglas | surname | |
Elizabella | Eliza + Bella | |
Elma | From Guglielma | |
Frusannah | Form of Susannah | |
Jacinth | Hyacinth | |
Lucasta | Fem of Lucas | |
Mariabella | Maria + Bella | |
Philadelphia | 'brotherly love' (US placename) | |
Saranna | Sarah + Anne | |
Sophronia | ||
Ulalia | Form of Eulalia | |
Urania | Fem of Uranus | |
Venetia | From Venice | |
Zenobe | Gk 'Zeus + life' |
This collection of names was compiled by Kate Monk and is ©1997, Kate Monk.
Copies may be made for personal use only.