Selma
December 3, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Unknown origin; possibly a shortened form of “Anselma”, a feminine form of the Germanic “Anselm”, meaning “divine helmet” or “protection of the gods”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Anselma, Ellie, Elly, Elma, Salma, Sellie, Selly, Selmah, Selme, Zellie, Zelly, Zelma, Zelmah, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Selma, the Nathanmeyer’s maid, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
WRITERS:
– Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940), Swedish author and Nobel Prize winner.
Katharine
November 24, 2014 § 3 Comments
ORIGIN:
Alternately spelled “Katherine”, “Catherine” / “Catharine”, etc., from the Greek for “pure”. Also an alternate spelling for the German “Katharina”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Cadi, Cady, Cait, Caitlin, Caitlyn, Caity, Caren, Carina, Casia, Cat, Catalina, Cate, Catey, Catharine, Catherine, Cathie, Cathleen, Cathrine, Cathryn, Cathy, Catie, Cato, Catrina, Catrine, Catriona, Caty, Catya, Ekaterina, Ina, Jekaterina, Kady, Kaia, Kaisa, Kaitlin, Kaitlyn, Kaity, Kaja, Kalena, Karen, Karin, Karina, Kasia, Kat, Kata, Katalin, Kate, Katenka, Katerina, Katey, Katharina, Katherine, Kathi, Kathie, Kathleen, Kathrine, Kathryn, Kathy, Kati, Katie, Katinka, Katja, Katka, Katri, Katrina, Katrine, Katy, Katya, Kay, Kaya, Kit, Kitti, Kittie, Kitty, Kylee, Kyleen, Nienke, Nina, Rina, Riona, Tina, Tineke, Trina, Trine, Yekaterina, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Katharine Priest, a professional singer who hires Thea as a rehearsal accompanist in Chicago, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
WRITERS:
– Katharine Lee Bates (1859-1929), American author, editor, educator, lyricist, poet, and songwriter.
– Katharine Coman (1857-1915), American activist, economist, educator, and writer.
– Katharine Gordon (b. 1916), Scottish novelist.
– Katharine Tynan Hinkson (1861-1931), Irish novelist and poet.
– Katharine Susannah Prichard (1883-1969), Australian activist and author.
– Katharine Pyle (1863-1938), American artist, children’s book writer, and poet.
– Katharine Sergeant Angell White (1892-1977), American author and editor.
Madison
November 23, 2014 § 3 Comments
ORIGIN:
English last name, meaning “son of Maud“. So, given that, it’s a bit strange that people started using it for girls as well as boys.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
For girls: Madi, Maddie, Maddison, Maddy, Madyson, Madisyn, etc.
For boys: Madeson, Maddeson, Maddesonne, Maddison, Maddyson, Madison, Madyson, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Madison Bowers, the best voice teacher in Chicago, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
WRITERS:
– Madison Cawein (1865-1914), American poet.
– Madison Jones (b. 1925), American novelist.
A Bevy of Very British Names
November 21, 2014 § Leave a comment
A series of links to articles on British names (you can find a second installment here). Some popular, some not-so-popular, but all veddy veddy British. Click through for more info on the names themselves!
10 Extremely British Baby Names for Girls:
Ada, Agatha, Amelia, Boadicea (or Boudicca), Edith, Frideswide, Gladys, Lettice, Myrtle, Nora, and Olivia
10 British Girls’ Names That Struggled to Cross the Pond:
Bronwyn, Bryony, Cerys, Hermione, Imogen, Nichola, Nigella, Poppy, Rhiannon, and Tamsin
10 Extremely British Baby Names for Boys:
Alastair, Conall, Crispin, Duncan, Ellis, Euan, Fergus, Kenzie, Lachlan, and Piers
10 British Boys’ Names That Struggled to Cross the Pond:
Alfie, Basil, Ewan, Gareth, Hugh, Menzies, Murray, Nigel, Rupert, and St. John
Most Popular Girls Names Since 1960
November 15, 2014 § Leave a comment
A Wondrous GIF Shows The Most Popular Baby Names For Girls (By U.S. State) Since 1960:
“Social Security Administration data visualized in the most lovely way imaginable”
1960: Donna, Julie, Karen, Lisa, Lori, Mary, and Susan
1961: Brenda, Lisa, Lori, Mary, and Susan
1962: Lisa, Lori, Mary, and Susan
1963-64: Lisa, Mary (way to branch out, people of the 1960s!)
1965: Lisa. (That’s it. Just “Lisa”. Most popular name in every state.)
1966: Lisa and Mary (ooh, Hawaii, you little rebel!)
1967: Lisa, Mary, and Michelle (Colorado throwing a curve ball)
1968: Angela, Lisa, and Michelle (this time it’s Louisiana trying to be unique)
1969: Angela, Jennifer, Kimberly, Lisa, and Michelle (now Utah and Alabama are breaking away from the pack!)
1970: Angela, Jennifer, Lisa, Kimberly, and Michelle
1971: Angela, Jennifer, and Michelle
1972: Angela, Jennifer, and Melissa (guess West Virginia wanted a different “M” name?)
1973-78: Jennifer. (And now we know why schools in the 1980s were so full of Jennifers.)
1979: Amanda and Jennifer
1980-81: Amanda, Jennifer, and Jessica
1982: Jennifer and Jessica
1983: Amanda, Ashley, Jennifer, and Jessica.
1984: Ashley, Jennifer, Jessica
1985-88: Amanda, Ashley, and Jessica (and just like that, “Jennifer” was over.)
1989: Amanda, Ashley, Brittany, and Jessica
1990: Ashley, Brittany, and Jessica
1991-92: Amanda, Ashley, Jessica, and Sarah (New Hampshire, bringing in some fresh blood!)
1993: Ashley, Emily, Jessica, Samantha, and Sarah.
1994: Ashley, Emily, Jessica, Megan, Samantha, and Taylor
1995: Ashley, Brittany, Emily, Jessica, Samantha, Sarah, and Taylor
1996-98: Alexis, Ashley, Emily, Hannah, Jessica, Madison, Samantha, and Taylor
1999: Alexis, Emily, Hannah, Madison, Samantha, and Taylor
2000: Alexis, Emily, Hannah, Kayla, and Madison (Hawaii being the odd one out again!)
2001: Alexis, Ashley, Emily, Hannah, Madison, and Taylor
2002: Alexis, Emily, Emma, Hannah, Kayla, and Madison
2003: Alexis, Emily, Emma, Hannah, and Madison
2004: Alyssa, Ashley, Emily, Emma, and Madison (this time New Mexico’s the rebel)
2005: Alyssa, Emily, Emma, Madison, and Olivia
2006: Ava, Emily, Emma, Isabella, Madison, and Mia (guess Arizona was feeling left out of the “not like the others” loop)
2007: Addison, Ava, Emily, Emma, Isabella, Madison, Olivia, and Sophia (this time Rhode Island bucks the trend!)
2008: Ava, Chloe, Emily, Emma, Isabella, Madison, and Olivia (looks like Hawaii really dares to be different)
2009: Addison, Ava, Emma, Isabella, Madison, and Olivia
2010-11: Ava, Emma, Isabella, Madison, Olivia, and Sophia
2012: Ava, Emma, Isabella, Olivia, and Sophia
Tanya
November 15, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Diminutive of “Tatiana” or “Titania”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Taina, Tania, Tanja, Tatiana, Tatienne, Tatjana, Tiana, Tonia, Tonya, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Tanya Harsanyi, Andor Harsanyi’s young daughter, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
Irene
November 15, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Usually pronounced “ie-REEN”, “ie-REE-nee”, or “ee-RE-ne”; from the Greek “Eirene”, meaning “peace”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Arina, Arine, Arisha, Eireen, Eirene, Ena, Ira, Irena, Irenka, Iria, Irina, Irine, Irja, Iryna, Rene, Renee, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Irene Andersen, who rents a room in the home she shares with her mother, Mrs. Lorch, to Thea Kronborg, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
WRITERS:
– Irene Ibsen Bille (1901-1985), Norwegian novelist and playwright.
– Irene Hunt (1907-2001), American children’s book writer.
– Irène Némirovsky (1903-1942), Russian novelist.
Aurelia
November 15, 2014 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
Alternate spelling of “Auralia”; feminine form of “Aurelius“, from the Latin for “golden”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Aura, Auralee, Auralia, Auralie, Aurelie, Ora, Oralee, Oralia, Oralie, Orelia, Orelie, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Aurelia S. Larsen, the Rev. Larsen’s wife, who writes devotional poetry, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
Lily
November 15, 2014 § 5 Comments
ORIGIN:
From the lily flower, a symbol of purity. Sometimes used as a diminutive of “Lillian” or “Elizabeth“, etc.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Lil, Lili, Lillie, Lilly, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Lily Fisher, Thea’s rival in Moonstone, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
– Lily Hiles, the amiable and generous proprietor of Newton’s only restaurant, in Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt (1964; set during the American Civil War, 1861-1865).
– Lily Pearl (sometimes also known as “Lily Moore” and “Lily Shaine”, and called “D” or “Doll” by her uncles), the young girl whose family life is recounted in Sleeping Arrangements, by Laura Cunningham (published 1989, set in the 1950s).
WRITERS:
– Lily L. Allen (1867-1952), Irish author and missionary.
– Lily Braun (1865-1916), German activist and author.
– Lily Brett (b. 1946), German-Australian essayist, novelist, and poet.
– Lily Brown (b. 1981), American poet.
– Lily Dougall (1858-1923) Canadian activist and author.
– Lily Goddard (1916-2002), Austrian author and designer.
– Lily Koppel (b. 1981), American novelist and nonfiction author.
– Lily Ross Taylor (1886-1969), American academic and author.
– Lily Tuck (b. 1938), American novelist and short story writer.
Paulina
November 14, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Feminine form of “Paul“, meaning “small” or “humble”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Lien, Lina, Paolina, Paula, Pauleen, Paulene, Paulette, Paulien, Pauline, Pavlina, Pol, Polina, Poll, Polly, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Paulina Kohler, Fritz’s wife, who “lived for her men and her garden”, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
WRITERS:
– Paulina Irby (1831-1911), British activist and travel writer.
The Art of Literary Nomenclature 