Naming style focus #3: Vintage Names

Credit to www.pinterest.com

My first post for August (where is the year going?!) will be about vintage names. I'm not totally crazy about the new trend for vintage names, though I do have a few vintage favourites on my list.

Edith

One of my favourite names is derived from the Old English name Eadgyð and has the charming nickname opportunity of Edie. Popular in the Anglo-Saxon era as well as the nineteenth century, Edith is now starting to come back into fashion and a famous namesake includes Edith Piaf. In its native England, it ranked at #164 in the popularity charts in 2013, whilst in the United States, it ranked at #718 in the popularity charts that same year.

Emmeline

Another favourite, Emmeline comes from the old Germanic name of Amelina, which means "work" as it is derived from the element amal. Emmeline was first introduced to England by the Normans; and features in one of A.A. Milne's poems. In England and Wales, it ranked at #445 in the popularity charts in 2013, whilst in the United States, it had a ranking of #907 a year later.

Lillian

Also spelt as Lilian, this name has been suggested as being an English diminutive of Elizabeth, which has a meaning of "God is my oath". In England and Wales, Lillian ranked at #339 in the popularity charts in 2013, whilst in the United States, it had a ranking of #25 a year later.

Evelyn

Evelyn comes from an English surname which itself derives from Aveline, which has a meaning of "hazel nut" in French. It first started to be used as a male given name in the seventeenth century, though in recent years it has taken off as a girl's name, largely thanks to the related name, Evelina. In England and Wales, Evelyn ranked at #45 in the popularity charts in 2013, whilst in the United States, it ranked at #16 in the popularity charts a year later.

Nettie

This charming name is originally a diminutive of names ending in "-nette". In the United States, it was most popular back in 1880, where it ranked at #65 in the popularity charts. The last time it appeared on the US popularity charts was in 1962, where it ranked at a much lower #979.

Elsie

Elsie is another English diminutive of Elizabeth. In England and Wales, it ranked at #47 in the popularity charts in 2013, whilst in the United States, it had a ranking of #334 a year later.

Edeline

Another favourite, Edeline is a cognate of Adeline, which itself is a diminutive of Adele, which itself is a short form of Adela, a Germanic name meaning "noble".

Rose

The name of my own grandmother, Rose comes from the flower and is another name that was brought to England by the Normans, originally in the forms of Roese and Rohese. In England and Wales, it ranked at #68 on the popularity charts in 2013, whilst in the United States, it had a ranking of #194 a year later.

Violet

Another flower name, Violet first had its usage as a name in Scotland in the sixteenth century, whilst in nearby England, it first started to be used as a name in Victorian times. In England and Wales, it ranked at #78 on the popularity charts in 2013, whilst in the United States, it had a ranking of #67 in the popularity charts a year later.

Flossie

Flossie is an adorable diminutive of Florence, which comes from Florentius and has a meaning of "prosperous; flourishing". In the United States, it last made an appearance on the popularity charts in 1950, where it ranked at #971.

Lily

The name of my own great-aunt, Lily comes from the flower, which is a symbol of purity. It is of English origins and in it's native country, it ranked at #12 in the popularity charts in 2013, whilst in the United States, it had a ranking of #27 a year later.