although things could have been worse as an English Catriona or Eilidh.
I knew a pair of English Catrionas, who both pronounced their names with four syllables and a heavily emphasized 'o', although usually called themselves "Kitty". Plus a couple of Katrinas.
I’m adopted and arrived with my name which my parents kept. It was only when I got my birth certificate that I realised it was my birth mother’s middle name. Meant a lot more after that. I’ve noticed at baptism how all the old names are back. I’ve had Alfreds and Arthurs, Wilfreds and Seths. Along with loads of Hannahs and Lilys, Florences and even a Mabel.
I’m adopted and arrived with my name which my parents kept. It was only when I got my birth certificate that I realised it was my birth mother’s middle name. Meant a lot more after that. I’ve noticed at baptism how all the old names are back. I’ve had Alfreds and Arthurs, Wilfreds and Seths. Along with loads of Hannahs and Lilys, Florences and even a Mabel.
Sorry, but my daughter knows a 4 year old Maud. (It was my grandmother's name; grandmother refused to be called by it going by a couple of other names for preference. )
Lord Frederick Windsor and his wife Sophie have a 9yr old daughter named Maud.
Their second daughter's name, Isabella is equally antique, but seems to have remained, if not top of the popularity polls, in regular use in one form or another throughout the generations.
I thought there were more on this list, but I'm on a phone
I worked with a lady who was always impressed that I could remember her son's middle name. She was not of a religious bent or historically literate so couldn't see anything memorable in the choice of Calvin John for his names... I suggested Luther Martin as the names for a putative second son. Met with a very blank look.
I wasn't named after anyone in particular, but was born in Scotland to English parents. My first name was the most stereotypically English name they could think of. My middle name the most Scottish.
One of the specialists that Lord P saw as a child was a Jael. She was most impressed when I gave her the story behind her name - Jael was the lady who killed Sisera, the general of the army opposing Israel, by hammering a tent peg through his head.
Lord P’s Jael didn’t have any hammers or tent pegs to hand, I’m glad to say!
I surprised someone whose name was Tanith by asking if her mother was a fan of Denis Wheatley. She hadn't come across anyone else who'd read The Devil Rides Out.
One of the specialists that Lord P saw as a child was a Jael. She was most impressed when I gave her the story behind her name - Jael was the lady who killed Sisera, the general of the army opposing Israel, by hammering a tent peg through his head.
Lord P’s Jael didn’t have any hammers or tent pegs to hand, I’m glad to say!
Sounds as though she was not Jewish. I’ve encountered a few Yaels and they were all Israeli, though not all observant
One of the specialists that Lord P saw as a child was a Jael. She was most impressed when I gave her the story behind her name - Jael was the lady who killed Sisera, the general of the army opposing Israel, by hammering a tent peg through his head.
Lord P’s Jael didn’t have any hammers or tent pegs to hand, I’m glad to say!
I know a Jael. She's a missionary. I believe in her late 40s.
On other "old-fashioned" names:
I also know a woman who used Maud as her nickname as a teen in the 80s; she's also in her 40s now, but I don't know her well and don't know if she still uses the nickname.
And I know two women named Edith (well, one spells it Edythe; the other goes by Edie), both in their 50s, I believe.
So all of these folks, including Jael, are Gen-Xers like me.
I was deliberately given a "different" name as my parents did not want to name me after anyone. (We had a surfeit of Georges and back in the day it was quite confusing - the use of a surname was almost essential, and sometimes "big" or "little.")
I always find it interesting that families often have quite rigid traditions. I once knew a chap called William Stephen who told me that all the eldest sons in his family were called that, and his eldest son would be too when born. Being a total iconoclast I would (in his position) have named my son anything but William Stephen, but that's me and that's the difference!
Our very good friends come from Cornwall where it’s a tradition.
All first born sons have the same name, going back many generations. So Peter’s Dad was Peter, as was his granddad and great grandad. His son is Young Peter and his grandson is Little Peter.
My Grandfather was First Name Michael
My Father was First Name John
I was named First Name John. which meant that whenever someone called on the phone asking for First Name. we had to ask "Do you mean Big First Name or Little First name.
It brought me great adolescent annoyance that I was then and may always be the inferior.
I admired and revered my Grandfather so much more than my Father, and have often wished I was named First Name Michael.
(My apologies for hiding the real name -- small diocese, others here perhaps down the block, and trying to maintain anonymity)
You could do worse with traditions than Danish kings, who've alternated between Christian and Frederik for over 500 years now.
Queen Magrethe II (the first queen for even longer) actually went so far as to declare that she would count as a "Christian" for these purposes, which is why the heir to the throne is a Frederik.
Comments
I knew a pair of English Catrionas, who both pronounced their names with four syllables and a heavily emphasized 'o', although usually called themselves "Kitty". Plus a couple of Katrinas.
A grandmother was Mabel. A Maud yet?
And la vie en rouge said it was common in France.
I thought there were more on this list, but I'm on a phone
I am told by a friend with that name that the correct answer is “Not any more!”
Not quite.
The Mum in question was not a Bible-believing Christian...
Lord P’s Jael didn’t have any hammers or tent pegs to hand, I’m glad to say!
Sounds as though she was not Jewish. I’ve encountered a few Yaels and they were all Israeli, though not all observant
I know a Jael. She's a missionary. I believe in her late 40s.
On other "old-fashioned" names:
I also know a woman who used Maud as her nickname as a teen in the 80s; she's also in her 40s now, but I don't know her well and don't know if she still uses the nickname.
And I know two women named Edith (well, one spells it Edythe; the other goes by Edie), both in their 50s, I believe.
So all of these folks, including Jael, are Gen-Xers like me.
Ģood name for a hairdresser (or a barber), though!
I always find it interesting that families often have quite rigid traditions. I once knew a chap called William Stephen who told me that all the eldest sons in his family were called that, and his eldest son would be too when born. Being a total iconoclast I would (in his position) have named my son anything but William Stephen, but that's me and that's the difference!
All first born sons have the same name, going back many generations. So Peter’s Dad was Peter, as was his granddad and great grandad. His son is Young Peter and his grandson is Little Peter.
My Father was First Name John
I was named First Name John. which meant that whenever someone called on the phone asking for First Name. we had to ask "Do you mean Big First Name or Little First name.
It brought me great adolescent annoyance that I was then and may always be the inferior.
I admired and revered my Grandfather so much more than my Father, and have often wished I was named First Name Michael.
(My apologies for hiding the real name -- small diocese, others here perhaps down the block, and trying to maintain anonymity)
Queen Magrethe II (the first queen for even longer) actually went so far as to declare that she would count as a "Christian" for these purposes, which is why the heir to the throne is a Frederik.