Cool Britannia
Friday, September 7, 2007 at 07:54PM The Telegraph birth announcements provide us with a dazzling guide to what’s ‘hot’ on the baby naming circuit in high society England. This year, Max and Isabella continue to reign supreme and there are the usual crop of Henry’s, Hugo’s and Camilla’s... To be honest with you the whole thing can read a bit like the ‘official Sloane Ranger guide to naming your child’ but I guess that’s all part of the charm – darling!
I’ve heard it said that names look upwards but move downwards, bouncing off the social ladder and multiplying as they go! Well, who knows but with this in mind what most interests me about the Telegraph birth announcements is spotting the more eccentric and unconventional naming choices – the ones that could be the next big thing…
So far, some of the real gems from 2007 include:
- Columba Benedict, brother for Agnes and Dorothea.
- Cecily, sister for Fitz, Florence , Tuppy, Millie, Clara, Octavia and Theo.
- Frederik Leopold.
- Cosmo George Frederick, a wonderful little lad to join brother Max as an opening bowler in years to come.
- Celeste Willow, heavenly sister for Cecily, Constance and Cosima.
- Jago Harry, a brother for Woody and Hector.
- Poppy Ottilia Lulu.
- Wilfred Robin, brother for Isabel and Douglas.
- Clementine Honor Rose, sister for Hugo, Flora and Felix.
- Henry Louis George Urqhart, brother for Maximilian and Hugo.
- Delphine Octavia, sister for Georgina , Christopher, Charlie, Clementina, Gabriella, Montgomery , Cordelia, Angelina, Serephina and Decima. Ist XI!
Tara
Hello lovely readers, I would like to introduce you all to our 'Foreign Correspondent' Katharine who is here to share naming news from the Old Dart.
This is the first special guest article for anamebyanyotherrose but we are all very excited about the whole idea! I am fascinated by these Telegraph names and very grateful to Katharine for sharing them with us.
Look forward to hearing more from you Katharine!
Tara
Katharine - Foreign Correspond
Who’s The Most Stylish Of Them All?
The English ‘posh’ set and their penchant for eccentric (and lets face it sometimes down right bonkers names!) is a known fact and all this talk of the latest birth announcements in The Telegraph begs the question: Precisely who is the most fashionable of them all?
Is Rupert still all the rage? Is Henrietta still hot to trot? Or Araminta the last word in high society chic?... So, I’ve complied a list of what I think are the most Telegraph-tastic names for 2007 – let me know what you think!
Contenders for this ‘in vogue’ award include:
Cecily Arthur
Isadora Frederick
Ophelia Monty
Ottilie Otto
Isla Benedict
The Runner up award for 'uber trendy' name goes to:
Wilfred - From the old German, meaning ‘desiring peace’, Wilfred is a funky alternative to the classic William. Famous namesake: The 7th century English Saint Wilfred.
Clementine - of French and Latin origin meaning ‘merciful’, Clementine is the feminine diminutive of Clement. Variants include Clemence and the latinised form Clementina. Famous namesake: Winston Churchill’s wife and Claudia Schiffer’s offspring. There is also a well know song called ‘My darling Clementine’ and of course, a citrus fruit!
Finally, the achingly hip award for the 'name trend setter' goes to:
Hector – the Latinised form of the Greek Hektor (which by the way would be even cooler!) meaning ‘holding fast’ or steadfast. Famous namesake: in Greek Legend Hektor fought against the Greeks.
Agnes – of Greek origin, meaning pure. Variants range from Anais and Anissa to Ines, and Ynez (FYI: The French and Spanish variants Ines amd Inez are also pretty hot right now!) Famous Namesake: The martyred virgin Saint Agnes.
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (27)
Do you think Camilla is going to go up or down as a baby name now that Prince Charles has married her?
We were part of the wave of Isabella's in 2006.
Do you think Cosmo George Frederick's parents had a thing for the Weasley twins?
I think Camilla might go down a little in popularity but I doubt whether this set will be put off by the link with Camilla Parker Bowles that much...
Isabella is still very pretty Ginchy and the nn Bella is darling (way nicer than Issy if you ask me!)
Honestly I doubt whether Cosmo George Frederick's parents gave Harry Potter a thought! - my guess is that they just chose George and Frederick because they are both trendy classics.
Personally, I love the little comments about being a 'future opening bowler' in years to come! and the last entry: '1st xi' classic! :-)
Katharine,
I didn't realise that those little extra's where from the paper, I thought they were your commentary! :) How cute. I can't beleive that family named their tenth child Decima!!!! Hehe.
Ginchy, I predict that Camilla will increase in popularity. Milla and Milly are such popular 'girly' names and parents who want the back up of a more sophisticated full name will start to get bored of Amelia and Millicent and will start to look to Camilla as a real option.
Tara
How popular is Camilla in Australia then? I'm guessing pretty rare? While it could never be described as popular in the UK, it has quietly been staple of the posh set for a long while now and is certainly more popular than Millicent - which I would have said is the fresher option for the Milly nn (although my personal favourite is Emilia - lush!)...
I think Camilla would be very rare here in Australia. But then again so is Millicent! :) Amelia and Emilia are actually quite popular here though. It is great to have your insider perspective to what is going on in the motherland.
ARRRRRGHHH!!!!! two of our faves for this baby are on that list. I refuse to be part of the zeitgeist! damn and blast!!
Welcome Katharine - I've enjoyed your comments, so looking forward to your contribution on a more formal level :)
oh thank you Sara, I thoroughly enjoyed writing it... do tell which ones were on your list??!
Don't be put off them just because they're on this list - these were just the announcements that really jumped out at me and not necessarily all of these names are going to take off in a big way, for example I doubt whether Columba will be the next big thing!
Tara - Yep Amelia is huge here! (no 16 currently) Emilia not so much - in fact it's really quite rare and I think that's why I liked it. The Italian, more Shakespearean look to it really appealed although I have to say that I'm marginally put off by the fact that its fairly popular in Oz, ah well...
I just adore the name Poppy. I adore it so much I'd put aside the fact that we have a last name starting with P *sigh* but alas it obviously isn't meant to be as we have a 'Poppy' as a grandparent.
Welcome Katharine :)
Is Hugo a popular name over there?? It was mentioned a couple of times in the list.
Hi Lee, I don't think that having a grandparent called Poppy matters (they might even be honoured if you chose their name for your little girl - you don't have to tell them that it wasn't really because of them!) It's such a fresh, happy sounding name don't you think?
Hugo is very popular with the 'Telegraph' set in the UK, overall though its not that popular, certainly not top 100...
Katharine, I'll give you one - Cecily or in our case Cecilia. I didn't really like it anyway so no great loss ;) The boy's one I'll hang onto in case we end up using it anyway.
I like it Sara! and guess what it's on my (hypothetical) list too! The only thing that slightly puts me off is the that the names Cecilia is derived from the latin Caecus which means blind - but then who's going to know that except me?!
I don't want to overstate the popularity of some of these Telegraph names, for the most part they really are in usage just among a certain set of folks in this country and I haven't seen any of them in my local rag yet...
Ah yes, but today's Columba and Celeste are tomorrow's Hazel and Phinnaeus!
My husband likes Cecilia because St Cecilia was the patron saint of music. And he and my daughter were born on St Cecilia's day. Then, his name is John and his other suggestion for a girl's name was Johnnie so maybe he's just a narcissist!
oh fark, I just saw your update - I liked Hector too. harrumph!!
hehe! too true! but while Cecily seems to be gaining ground with this brigade I rarely see Cecilia make an appearance.
To me Cecilia is one of those names which everyone has heard but no one really considers (like Teresa, Susanna and Antonia) and that's part of the reason that I like it!
Alas my other half does not share my enthusiasm and once when I commented on how beautiful it sounded, he gave me a puzzled look and said 'sounds a bit French to me' (sigh!)
I know Hector is to die for isn't it?!!
Sair, I think we have discussed before that because everyone is looking for something special and unique the ONLY names that are not of the zeitgeist are 'recent retro' names like Maureen, Kathleen, Tracey and Michelle; Jason, Brett, Barry and Scott. Choose one of those and you are sweet!
Anyway, do not worry I have decided the name that you MUST use as the long form of Gus. But I think there is a whole blog post in the idea... so I am holding off. :)
Tara
I loooooooooove Susanna but it would sound stupid with our surname so it's out.
Oh excellent Tara! Can't wait to hear it. Would you believe Kathleen was on my list but one's just been born in our little village so sterrr-ike!
you will faint away and die if we have a girl. We've chosen the name and it breaks several of my rules!
Sara, Do you mind if I ask what your daughter is called?
You seem to have great taste so I'm sure anything you choose will be just fine... and oh my word! a little Kathleen - (my lovely nan's name) who would have thought...
I totally get what Tara's saying, choosing a 70's name would be very brave indeed (if name trends continue to follow the usual pattern we won't see many of them for a good many years to come) So, go on, choose Tracey. I dare you! :-)
Sorry Katharine I just saw this - our daughter's name is Zoe Kate. Not uncommon at all, I don't mind common names, what I don't one is the next 'It' name that every bogan or chav names their kid in an attempt to be unique, trendy or like Nicole Kidman.
I like Tracey and I also really like the name Sharon - beautiful Hebrew name sadly destroyed for at least a generation :)
Thank you Sara and I know what you mean about Sharon...
I cannot believe I have both a Max(well) and Hugo - both on your list. I am now struggling however with a girls name that would suit for my third child. I hadn't considered Isla and may put this one out there to my husband - we are considering Laila?! Any thoughts/comments appreciated.
I love Isadora from the list...I find it beautiful. Emilia is gorgeous as well. Someone I know named her child Emilia and I find it very pretty.
my daughter and her husband are naming their new daughter ,Isla Aannamari, Their other three daughter's names' are, Siri Helena ,Elsa Annelise,and her twin, Vena Anneise...We are Norwegian, and her husband , German. The new baby is named after her other grandma , Marie , and Isla sounds like my name , Twyla...My daughter used the traditional Norwegian double AA Aannamari.....