I had a good breakfast this morning and the subject of names came up in conversation. Fashions in given names is a subject that has some interest to me.
According to this Wikipedia article, the most common given names in the UK in 2008 were Jack for boys and Katie for girls.
This more recent survey sees Jack still at number one, but Katie replaced by Olivia.
During the conversation it was suggested to me that the name 'Wendy' has quite disappeared. I remarked that the name 'Wendy' was invented by J.M. Barrie, but actually, it seems that might not be quite true, as this article explains.
Other names that – it was suggested to me – have disappeared in Britain in those under thirty are Jane, Anne and Claire.
Whereas these are disappearing, names that were popular in Victorian times – I forget the examples given – are returning.
"But names with a moral to them aren't coming back," I said. "Names like Constance, Prudence and so on."
I was told of the existence of a young Verity who is an exception to this possible rule.
I wondered if moral names might be popular again if the morals themselves were updated to suit modern sensibilities.
We arrived at three modern 'moral' names in the mould of Prudence, Charity, Faith and so on. They were:
Apathy
Envy (also ideal for text messages since it can be shortened to 'NV')
and
Celebrity
Incidentally, Hilary was, I believe, and is quite properly a boy's name. Can readers suggest to me other names that have changed gender over the years in the popular conception?
The trouble is all the short term names that fly around like Kylie,Jade etc
Micah comes to mind.
I suppose “Ashley” is the most striking example.”Zak” was the 100th most popular British name in 2008, apparently.
The trouble is all the short term names that fly around like Kylie,Jade etc Yes, you have to duck as they whizz past, or you’re liable to get a thick ear.Micah comes to mind. I’ve just looked this up. Apparently it means “who is God”. Is that a bit like being called, “Who’s the daddy?”, I wonder.I suppose “Ashley” is the most striking example. I actually think Ashley is a better name for a boy than a girl anyway.I wondered about Vivian. I know it can be a male name, but I’m not sure if this is entirely dependent on spelling, or which gender laid claim to the name first.There was another one I was thinking of, but it’s just slipped my mind again…Oh, perhaps it was Nicola. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone called Zak, but I suppose 2008 was not long ago.
Never knew you would have breakfast with another soul except for a certain Mr. Wu in London.
Ah yes, well, the thing is, in one’s life there are many rooms, and in some of those rooms, sometimes, there are other people.But I hesitate to name them on this blog.Except for Mr. Wu and Justin Isis whose names I shall drag through the dirt of my blog unmercifully.Actually, there are others I mention on occasion.For the most part, however, the figures in my life must remain veiled, or pixellated out.
Of course. It’s just somehow you gave the impression that you would be in pajama with a cup of tea … 😆 How about Sam being used on a girl. Gosh, I really have an avertion to it.
Of course. It’s just somehow you gave the impression that you would be in pajama with a cup of tea …I think I probably was. There are dogs on my pyjamas.How about Sam being used on a girl. Gosh, I really have an avertion to it.But presumably that’s short for Samantha rather than Samuel. I think Samuel would be unusual for a girl. Actually I hadn’t mentioned names that migrate the opposite way, from male to female. I suppose they exist, like, for instance…Charlie? Etc.