A City, A Town, A Name

I must thank Dellitt for the idea for today's post. Location names are everywhere - Brooklyn, China, India, Boston, Dakota, Israel...There are many, many to pick from. Some have become bonafied names, others are still considered 'wacky'. Here are a few that I think could work quite well as given names. If you want something that isn't too out there but still unusual, these would be good options to consider. None of them featured in the England and Wales 2011 name list.

Arles - Many would pronounce it incorrectly, and he would often get confused for Charles, but the name of this Southern French town is a great find. Think Arlo or short, simple and slightly dated Al. He has a nice masculine sound without being over the top macho. 

Assisi - I have a tendency of spelling the name of this famous Italian town as Assissi - I like the balanced look of two sets of double Ss - but it's nice either way. She sounds like she could be Sienna's younger sister,  maybe there's even a third sister, Sistine. Okay, I'm getting carried away (but how fab would that sibset be, right?). The fact is, Assisi is perfect for anyone who likes frilly, very feminine names.

Benin - The Republic of Benin is a Western African country. It reminds me of Berlin without as many connections and far less recognisable, not to mention that it feels like a name - maybe an alternative way to get to Ben without having to go through Benjamin or Bennett.

Esher - Pronounced Ee-sher, it is a town in South East England. For those who like Alisha or Alicia, Esher could be another option to consider. She sounds trendy but feels like a legitimate name. For a similar name without the Ee sound, try Escher. It's not a location name - rather the surname of a Dutch artist whose drawings tend to give me a headache if I stare at them for too long - but it's worth a mention.

Isère -  A department in Eastern France, named after the river Isère. With this name you get two for one, location and nature. Isadora and Isaure come to mind, but I think pretty Isère may even trump them both. It seems to me that this is a name that has been well hidden from the masses but that deserves more exposure.

Junnar - An Indian city with a fantastic name. Its similarities to trendy Juno and quaint June make this a name ripe for the picking. Be it for a boy or girl, Junnar works.

Kinnitty - A hybrid between Kennedy and a litter of fluffy kittens. Yes, that's how I see it. It's the name of a village in Ireland, where the head of a princess is said to be buried. I find it charming and playful, a nice way to get to adorable Kitty.

Lazio - A region of Italy, Lazio doesn't even look like a location name. He could easily feature in name charts around the world. He fits in next to Enzo and Biblical Lazarus. He's cool, understated and modern.

Merida - I couldn't quite pick between Lerida and Merida, both which can be found in Spain. I went with Merida simply for personal tastes (and because she's the heroine in Brave, which my goddaughter loves). It isn't as soft or ethereal as Meridith, but it certainly is stronger. I love how easy it is to get to the nickname Merry from it. Plus, the city even had a great name when it was founded in 25 BC, Emerita Augusta. If that's not fabulous, I just don't know what is.

Vienne - Austrian capital Vienna is far more well known, but the name of this French department is equally as lovely and pretty. She's reminiscent of elegant Vivienne in a more simple way. She's fresh, delicate and wouldn't feel too out of place next to more mainstream names.

What's your favourite place name?

Image: Assisi Travel Poster 1920 by Vittorio Grassi.

The Other Royals

The British Royal Family is iconic. We all know about Prince Charles, William and Harry, maybe Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Olympian Zara Phillips. But the Queen's family is far more extensive than those few characters, so I've decided to take a look at some of the more hidden members of the Royal Family.

Xan Richard Anders (23rd in line to the throne) - Little Lord Culloden is the son of Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster, and is therefore second in line to the Dukedom of Gloucester. His name is with almost all certainty derived from his father's first name. It seems out of place in a family that has, in general, very traditional names, but it seems indicative of a move towards more modern names.

Cosima Rose Alexandra (24th in line to the throne) - Lady Cosima is the daughter of Alexander Windsor (named above) and sister to Xan. Her middle names are rather pretty, although very standard. Her given name, however, like her brother's, is a somewhat unexpected choice considering the family she was born in to, although it certainly has an upper-class feel. It comes from the Greek Kosmas, meaning 'order and decency', a meaning that I can see Elizabeth II probably highly approving of.

Davina Elizabeth Alice Benedikte (25th in line to the throne) - Lady Davina Lewis is a character full of wonderful, unusual names. Of her middle names, Benedikte is the breakout star. It can be traced back to her mother's Danish roots, and it means 'blessed'. But it isn't just Lady Davina's names that draws the eye. Her husband's family haa some interesting ones, too. Although her husband's name isn't particularly note worthy, his siblings' are. He has a sister named Donelle, a feminine form of Don (ruler of the world), and a brother Hore, which I'm sure has a lot of meaning, but that I would advise to against for obvious reasons.

Tāne Mahuta (26th in line to the throne) - Son of Lady Davina, his name is influenced by his father's New Zealand roots. Tāne Mahuta is the name of a giant kauri tree in New Zealand. It means 'Lord of the Forest'. Tāne's names are unquestionably a departure from traditional Royal family names, but so are his sister's.

Senna Kowhai (27th in line to the throne) - Senna is Tāne's equally fabulously named sister. Both of her names have links to nature, with her middle coming from the kowhai trees which are native to New Zealand, and Senna is a bush known for its bright yellow flowers. For obscure nature names, Senna and Kowhai are two fantastic options.

Lyla Beatrix Christabel (29th in line to the throne) - The granddaughter of the Duke of Gloucester, Lyla has a name that is thoroughly modern and on trend, but that still has connections to royalty. The mother of the Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, both have Christabel as a middle name. The name was used by Samuel Coleridge in his poem Christabel, but is found in earlier literature such as in the fourteenth century romance Sir Eglamour of Artois. And, of course, given the popularity of names with a double L sound, no family is complete without it. Lyla is considered a variant of Layla, an Arabic name meaning 'night', or perhaps the feminine form of English Lyle, 'of the island'.

Leopold Ernest Augustus Guelph (33rd in line to the throne) - His name is quintessentially British upper-class, a name you can see being given to a member of British royalty. Both Leopold and Augustus have clear links to past royal characters, including Prince Albert's uncle and a some of the sons of George III. Guelph, however, is interesting. Not only is it really fun to say, Guelph too has royalty written all over it. My first thought was that Guelph was a city in Canada, but a little bit of digging brings to light that George I was from the House of Guelph, whose members sat on the British throne until the death of Queen Victoria. It could be a fun, subtle option for royal enthusiasts.

Zenouska May (47th in line to the throne) - Her grandmother, Princess Alexandra, is the Queen's cousin and is currently the 41st person in line to the throne. Zenouska sounds Russian, but there are no sources that give definitive origins or meaning. She looks and sounds a bit like Anushka, a Russian diminutive of Anna ('grace', 'favour'), so maybe there is a connection. Her middle name is far more mainstream. It seems that Mae and May have over taken Marie as the name to stick in the middle, so it's no surprise to see it being used.

Image: Elizabeth and Philip 1953 by Cecil Beaton.

A Collection of Randoms

I'm a bit low on name inspiration at the moment. I think it must be because Christmas is just less than a month away and I'm focused on other non-name related projects. But there have been some pretty interesting names that I've heard and seen lately. So here are a few randoms that got me thinking:

Bethlehem - I shared this name on Twitter already, but it's worth another mention. I was stunned when I came across it and I still can't really get over it. I talk about unusual names so much that it is a joy to meet someone who I feel has a truly 'out there' name. But although I was at first taken back, I can now see it working. It's a location name that packs a punch; it's no romantic Paris or trendy London. Bethlehem is full of imagery, history and connotation. No matter where you go, people know at least one fact about Bethlehem. Its very strong religious connections may put people off, but if it is not a deal breaker then it is a fantastic option. The Bethlehem I know was hidden behind a very common nickname, Beth, which is often used for Elizabeth or Elspeth. Personally, I find Bethlehem a much more exciting, daring choice.

Holland - This pick has a literary connection for me. A while back I was reading a book where the main character's name was Holland, nicknamed Holly. It's really grown on me, and now Holland has shot up my favourites list. It works well for both genders, I think, and I would love to see it being used more often.

Mhairi - It's the first name of author Mhairi McFarlane. I'm currently reading one of her books, You Had Me At Hello. Not a very imaginative title, sure, but it's a sweet and fun read, and I can't wait to see how it all comes together. The characters' names are pretty standard - although an Ivor was sneaked in - but the author's name is quite interesting. It's the Scottish form of Mary, but pronounced VA-ree, which I find fascinating. It's like someone's taken proper, buttoned-up Mary and dropped her in a pot of va-va-voom red paint.

Mayim - The Big Bang Theory has had far too much influence on my name tastes lately. It has made me love Penny, made Leonard my favourite way to get to Leo, and has even warmed me up to Sheldon, but its Mayim that has really caught my eye. Mayim Bialik plays Amy Farrah Fowler, Sheldon's sort of girlfriend. I'm surrounded by 90s Amys, and little Mayas, so Mayim is a breath of fresh air. It's a Hebrew name meaning 'water'.

Bo - It's one of the few names that I like equally on boys or girls (Holland is another). I tend to like longer, more elaborate names so short, tiny Bo makes me a little nervous. There's always Beau, but there's something about it that doesn't appeal to me. Plus, I'm partial to the meaning of Bo in Swedish and Danish, 'to live'. So I've turned to Robert. If Robert can take us to Bobby, why not Bo? It may be a stretch, but it's one that can be easily explained.

Xenia - It's has a trendy vibe, it's spunky, fresh and unusual, Xenia is a name that I've actually see quite a lot of. There's something sweet but tough about her, a no-nonsense vibe that appeals to those who prefer to stay away from cute, girly names. To me, she sounds very modern, but she has ancient Greek roots, with the nice meaning of 'hospitality'. My personal favourite nickname for her is Zeze.


Image: Bethlehem 1698 by Cornelius de Bruijin.

What a Difference a Letter Makes: Part 2

Back in April I did a post about a few names that were separated by just a single letter. There were so many other names to include that only one post wasn't enough to cover even a small percentage of them. So, I thought I would go back and fill a few more gaps. Like with the previous post, the rankings were taken from the England & Wales chart, but this time from 2011. If a name is not followed by a ranking, it means it was given to less than 3 children.

Sidony & Idony

Sidony has slipped from many people's radar, but she is seeing use in France where her alternative spelling, Sidonie, is doing quite well and ranking in the 300s. She was in use in medieval England (as was Sidonie in France), but her origins stretch to modern day Lebanon. Sidony is the feminine form of the Late Latin name Sidonius, which comes from the name of a Phoenician city, Sidon. Idony was also in use in medieval England, as a form of Idonea. Both Idony and Idonea stem from a name I have mentioned previously, Iddun, the Norse goddess of Spring and immortality, whose name means 'to love again'. Both Sidony and Idony are currently absent from the England & Wales chart, but they seem like the types of names that are prime for a come back.

Ilta & Ilsa

Ilta is one of those beautiful words that works well as a name in another language. It comes from Finnish and means 'evening'. Parents are embracing word names that may evoke nice feelings or lovely images, such as Winter, Gale, Ever, Story, Clover... there are many to choose from. Itla fits in nicely with this groups and adds an extra international flavour, not to mention that it is less obvious than calling your child Evening. Ilsa (#5789), on the other hand, is one of the seemingly never ending diminutives for Elizabeth. She shares her origins with more mainstream Elsa, but would be a nice option for someone wanting a slightly different nickname for formal Elizabeth.

Sana & Suna

Sana (#332) is getting used a lot more than it might be expected, but Suna continues to hide in obscurity. Sana is an Arabic name with a meaning that may draw many parents to it - who wouldn't want their child's name to mean 'brilliance, radiance, splendour'? Not to mention that, although Sana is on the unusual side, it is also very easy to pronounce and spell. Suna, which is of Turkish origin, shares many of Sana's accessible qualities, as well as a pleasant meaning, that of 'swan'. 

Harland & Garland 

They may be a bit much to take on, but Harland and Garland would make for two very handsome names. Both originally started life as surnames but have been used as first names for quite some time. Harland ('hare land') is a tough guy name, no doubt, but he'll be at home next to Harley, Harding and Ryder. Garland's status is more complex. He sounds like a masculine name but he could just as easily be used as feminine one. As a word name, Garland conjures up images of Christmas and special holidays, which might be a perfect and quirky way to celebrate a child's birth at a particular festive time of the year.

Oran & Goran

Oran (#1447) is the Anglicized form of the Irish Odhrán, meaning 'little pale green one'. Oran's Irish roots and modern sound could certainly appeal to many. Although he isn't a big name player here in England & Wales, Oran is doing well in his native Ireland, where he is a top 100 name, sitting at #80. Another legitimate spelling of the name is Orrin (#2613), which is the one I've seen more of. Leaving Ireland behind and taking a step towards Eastern Europe, we find Goran, a Slavic name used in a number of countries. His meaning, 'mountain man', is perfect for nature-loving parents. Göran can also be found, although he has entirely different roots - he is a Swedish medieval form of classic, sturdy George.

Image: Bragi sitting playing the harp, Iðunn standing behind him

Seven Sisters and Seven Oaks

Taking a break from the Brazil series, I thought it would be fun to play a name game of sorts. I was thinking about the Seven Sisters Station and Sevenoaks, the latter named because of the seven huge oaks in the grounds of Knole House (now only one survives). I, of course, got to naming them straight away. My answer is below, and I even got my mum to join in! Yes, there was heavy amounts of eye rolling.

What would you name the Seven Sisters and Seven Oaks? I'd love to hear what name combos people have floating about in their heads :)

My Seven Sisters

Helena Margaux

Emmeline Jane

Lavinia Lucienne

Rosamund Estelle

Frederica Beatrice

Melisande Evangeline

Isadora Violette

My Seven Oaks:

Ptolemy Hart

Lucien Eli

Alexander Saxon

Magnus Orion

Peniston Adair

Sebastien Jem

Jasper Soren

My mama only did the Seven Sister because she was all 'I can't think of 14 boy names!'

Vitoria Carolina

Esther Sophia

Leonora Isabel

Livia Margarida

Beatriz Louisa

Gabriela Philippa

Petra Marisa

Image: Seven Sisters Station by Sunil060902