Ah yes, the Puritans. They were around when America was just gaining an origin story. People tend to have Colonial America on their mind around Thanksgiving time. They like to discuss the Puritans and the Pilgrims, so why not take another look at some of the interesting names they used to use.
The Art of Naming has covered Colonial Names several times. Not only the virtuous names like Hope, Grace and Faith, but also the more uncommon choices like Charity, Prudence, Prosper and Resolved. We also looked at names drawn from the bible like Lydia and Levi since these were common then and now.
Today, we're going to look at a list of names that most people would agree are unusual and rather unpractical for use today. There's no need to explain these since they're quite straight forward, but yes, these were actually given to people as names back in the day. Are there any that strike you as a guilty pleasure?
Abuse-not
Acts-Apostles
Aid-on-high
Be-courteous
Be-strong
Be-thankful
Die-well
Divine-authority
Do-good
Do-right
Do-well
Faith-my-joy
Fare-well
Fear-the-Lord
Fight-the-good-fight-of-faith
Fly-Fornication
Free-gift
Free-grace
From-above
Give-thanks
God-reward
Good-gift
Hate-bad
Hate-evil
Hate-ill
Have-mercy
Help-on-high
Hope-for
If-Christ-had-not-died-for- thee-thou-hadst-been-damned
Jesus-Christ-came- into-the-world- to-save
Job-raked-out-of-the-ashes
Joy-again
Joy-in-sorrow
Learn-wisdom
Live-well
Make-peace
More-fruit
More-trial
Much-mercy
No-merit
Praise-God
Safe-deliverance
Safe-on-high
Search-the-scriptures
Seek-wisdom
Sin-deny
Small-hope
Sorry-for-sin
Stand-fast-on-high
The-Lord-is-near
The-peace-of-God
Weep-not
What-God-will
Zeal-for-the-Lord
Zeal-of-the-Land
What a list! Thoughts?
Showing posts with label colonial names. Show all posts
Showing posts with label colonial names. Show all posts
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
24 Unusual Virtue Names Used in Colonial America
Around this time of year, America tends to reflect on our interesting origins as a country. One of the most popular tales revolves around the early settlers who arrived on the east coast in the 1600s. The fourth Thursday in November is Thanksgiving, a national holiday that commemorates the thanksgiving that the Pilgrims held for barely surviving their first winter in 1621. Tomorrow, this holiday will be observed by many.
The Puritans were a quirky group of English Protestants who settled mostly in the Boston area. There were about 10 Massachusetts Bay Puritan settlers to every 1 Pilgrim from Plymouth but they ended up merging together around 1691. While these two groups were initially very different, they and their descendants together form the popular image of America's early settlers that most people think about on Thanksgiving.
Let's take a moment to look back at some of the unusual names that popped up in Colonial America. Most of the common names were traditional ones such as John, William, Richard, Mary, Jane and Elizabeth but the Puritans also favored Old Testament names, virtue names and phrase names like Fear-Not or Safe-on-High.
In 2013, The Art of Naming listed many of the biblical and virtue names used by the first settlers. In 2014, we took a closer look at 10 of the best Old Testament names that they favored.
Today, we are going to take a closer look at 24 virtue names for girls and boys that were sometimes used. While a bit unusual, some of these names could potentially work on a modern child, but you may need to be a bold namer to follow through with it.
If you're not so bold, many virtue names would work well in the middle name spot, assuming you enjoy the message they send which will also be listed below. Many of the more common virtue names are very popular as middle names today such as Grace, Hope, Faith and Joy. Below are the less-common and even rare options:
Charity - /ˈCHerədē/ - noun: "the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need." Derived from Late Latin caritas meaning "generous love" which came from the Latin carus "dear, beloved". As a name, Charity peaked in popularity in 1974 with 1,408 births for the year. Currently the name fell out of the Top 1000 with only 243 births in 2014.
Clarity - /ˈklerədē/ - noun: "the quality of being clear, of being intelligible or of being easy to see or hear." Derived from the Latin clarus which means "clear". As a name, Clarity has only been used regularly since 1997 in the US. In 2014, there was a high of 63 births but it does not rank within the Top 1000.
Desire - /dəˈzī(ə)r/ - noun: "a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen." The name Desire was derived from the Latin desidero meaning "to wish for, to desire", but it was first used by the Puritans probably with the intended meaning of "desire the Lord". After that, it wasn't used again in the US until 1955 and remains rare with only 73 births in 2014.
Fidelity - /fəˈdelədē/ - noun: "faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support." Fidelity comes from the Latin words fidelis or fidere meaning "to trust". This name has never been in recorded usage for girls since 1880, however the male name Fidel has been a rare constant since 1892.
Modesty - /ˈmädəstē/ - noun: "the quality or state of being unassuming or moderate in the estimation of one's abilities. Behavior, manner, or appearance intended to avoid impropriety or indecency." As a name, Modesty comes from the Latin word modestus and modus meaning "measure." It popped up once or twice in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s but it gained regular yearly usage at the start of the 1990s. Never popular however, Modesty was given to 15 girls in 2014.
Prudence - /ˈpro͞odns/ - noun: "the quality of being prudent; cautiousness." Prudence comes from Prudentia which is the feminine from the the male Latin name Prudentius, which comes from the word prudens meaning "good judgement". This name has been given to girls since 1880 in the US. There were 58 births in 2014.
Remember - /rəˈmembər/ - verb: "have in or be able to bring to one's mind an awareness of (someone or something that one has seen, known, or experienced in the past)." This name comes from the Latin word rememorārī which means "to call to mind" and comes from the word memor meaning "mindful." There are zero births on record in the US for the use of Remember as a name.
Silence - /ˈsīləns/ - noun: "complete absence of sound." verb - "cause to become silent; prohibit or prevent from speaking." As a puritan name, Silence was likely derived from the words of Saint Paul: "Let the women learn in silence with all subjection". On the US birth record, this name only appears once. In 2005 there were 9 girls named Silence.
Temperance - /ˈtemp(ə)rəns/ - noun: "abstinence from alcoholic drink. Moderation or self-restraint, especially in eating and drinking". This name wasn't used in the US until 1972. It has increased since 2006, likely influenced by the main character from the TV show Bones. It ranked at #854 in 2014 with 320 births.
Verity - /ˈveritē/ - noun: "a true principle or belief, especially one of fundamental importance. Truth." Verity has recently ranked at #344 in England and Wales. However in the US, it's very rare. It dates back to 1966 but it has never been popular. There were only 59 births for girls in 2014.
Assurance - /əˈSHo͝orəns/ - noun: "a positive declaration intended to give confidence; a promise." For the puritans, this name likely refers to the promises made by God in the bible. Since 1880, Assurance has never been given to at least 5 children in one year.
Constant - /känstənt/ - adjective: "occurring continuously over a period of time." The puritans used Constant as a name based on its definition, but it also comes from the Late Latin name Constans meaning "constant or steadfast". This name was used the most between 1911 and 1951. It hasn't been given to at least 5 boys since 1995. Constantine would be a nice alternative.
Experience - /ˌikˈspirēəns/ - noun: "practical contact with and observation of facts or events." From the Latin words experientia and experīrī meaning "to try, test". As a name, it has never actually been given to boys in the modern US. It could be interesting in the middle name spot.
Increase - /ˈinkrēs/ - noun: "an instance of growing or making greater." The puritans used this name to refer to the biblical command of increasing in number. Neither the name Increased nor Increase are on record in the US for usage for boys.
Lament - /ləˈment/ - noun: "a passionate expression of grief or sorrow." The puritans tended to give this name only to the bastard children since its meaning refers to being sorry for sin. It's not surprising that this name has never been on record in the US.
Noble - /ˈnōbəl/ - adjective: "having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals." Noble has been used as a name for boys and girls, but it is most popular for boys. In 1920, there was a peak of 196 births for a ranking of #427. This is the one virtue name for boys that has decent usage and is currently re-climbing the charts. There were 129 births in 2014 for boys.
Prosper - /ˈpräspər/ - verb: "flourish physically; grow strong and healthy." Prosper comes from the Latin name Prosperus meaning "fortunate, successful". It has had spotty usage from 1913 to 1947 and again from 1998 to 2014. There were 10 births for boys in 2014 for the name Prosper, and 8 female births for the name Prosperity.
Reason - /ˈrēzən/ - noun: "the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic." Reason popped up as a name a few times around 1920 but it hadn't been heard from much until recently. It landed on record for the first time in 75 years in 2000 and has had a handful of births since then, including 8 male births and 5 female births in 2014.
Repentance - / rəˈpentəns/ - noun: "the action of repenting; sincere regret or remorse." Much like the name Lament, Repentance was mostly given to bastard children. Both would be heavy names to live with since they refer to feeling sorry for sins that were not even the child's fault. Clearly this isn't a name that's freely given to modern American children now.
Resolved - /riˈzälvd,-ˈzôlvd/ - adjective: "firmly determined to do something." Resolved was the name of the big brother of Peregrine White who was born on the Mayflower in Cape Cod Harbor, making him the first European born to the Pilgrims in America. Since then, the name Resolved has not been in use on record in the US.
Steadfast - /ˈstedˌfast/ - adjective: "resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering." This name referred to God's steadfastness as well as one's own steadfastness in their faith. It hasn't been used as a name on record in the US after 1880.
Truth - /tro͞oTH/ - noun: "the quality or state of being true." Truth was given to girls here and there around 1920 but fell dormant until the mid 1990s. It has been in regular usage for both genders since then. There were 35 boys named Truth in 2014 and 24 girls.
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What do you think of these odd but fascinating names? Are there any that you would like to see revived? Would they work better for a middle name or are you bold enough to make one of these a first name? Have you known someone with one of these names? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Learn more about the differences between Puritans and Pilgrims here.
*As a general note for those unaware, the United States Social Security Administration began recording the usage of names starting in 1880. Usage prior to that is harder to track down. The SSA will not list a name unless it has had at least 5 births in a single year. If a name only had 3 births in a year, we would never know that the name was used at that time. The data in this article reflects the number of births per year from 1880-2014. When "rank" is mentioned, that refers to popularity. For example, if a name ranks at #498, it is the 498th most popular name for that year.
The Puritans were a quirky group of English Protestants who settled mostly in the Boston area. There were about 10 Massachusetts Bay Puritan settlers to every 1 Pilgrim from Plymouth but they ended up merging together around 1691. While these two groups were initially very different, they and their descendants together form the popular image of America's early settlers that most people think about on Thanksgiving.
Let's take a moment to look back at some of the unusual names that popped up in Colonial America. Most of the common names were traditional ones such as John, William, Richard, Mary, Jane and Elizabeth but the Puritans also favored Old Testament names, virtue names and phrase names like Fear-Not or Safe-on-High.
In 2013, The Art of Naming listed many of the biblical and virtue names used by the first settlers. In 2014, we took a closer look at 10 of the best Old Testament names that they favored.
Today, we are going to take a closer look at 24 virtue names for girls and boys that were sometimes used. While a bit unusual, some of these names could potentially work on a modern child, but you may need to be a bold namer to follow through with it.
If you're not so bold, many virtue names would work well in the middle name spot, assuming you enjoy the message they send which will also be listed below. Many of the more common virtue names are very popular as middle names today such as Grace, Hope, Faith and Joy. Below are the less-common and even rare options:
Girls:
Amity - /ˈamitē/ - noun: "a friendly relationship." Derived from the Latin word amicitia. As a name, Amity may have had usage in colonial times, but it lost favor thereafter. It was not ranked in the US until 1960.* In 2014, there were 27 female births.
Charity - /ˈCHerədē/ - noun: "the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need." Derived from Late Latin caritas meaning "generous love" which came from the Latin carus "dear, beloved". As a name, Charity peaked in popularity in 1974 with 1,408 births for the year. Currently the name fell out of the Top 1000 with only 243 births in 2014.
Clarity - /ˈklerədē/ - noun: "the quality of being clear, of being intelligible or of being easy to see or hear." Derived from the Latin clarus which means "clear". As a name, Clarity has only been used regularly since 1997 in the US. In 2014, there was a high of 63 births but it does not rank within the Top 1000.
Desire - /dəˈzī(ə)r/ - noun: "a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen." The name Desire was derived from the Latin desidero meaning "to wish for, to desire", but it was first used by the Puritans probably with the intended meaning of "desire the Lord". After that, it wasn't used again in the US until 1955 and remains rare with only 73 births in 2014.
Fidelity - /fəˈdelədē/ - noun: "faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support." Fidelity comes from the Latin words fidelis or fidere meaning "to trust". This name has never been in recorded usage for girls since 1880, however the male name Fidel has been a rare constant since 1892.
Modesty - /ˈmädəstē/ - noun: "the quality or state of being unassuming or moderate in the estimation of one's abilities. Behavior, manner, or appearance intended to avoid impropriety or indecency." As a name, Modesty comes from the Latin word modestus and modus meaning "measure." It popped up once or twice in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s but it gained regular yearly usage at the start of the 1990s. Never popular however, Modesty was given to 15 girls in 2014.
Patience - /ˈpāSHəns/ - noun: "the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset." Patience comes from the Latin words patientia and pati meaning "to suffer". This is one of the more well-used puritan names and has been on record since 1880. It hit a popularity high in 2006 with 507 births and a rank of #578. In 2014 it was down to 267 births and a #988 ranking.
Prudence - /ˈpro͞odns/ - noun: "the quality of being prudent; cautiousness." Prudence comes from Prudentia which is the feminine from the the male Latin name Prudentius, which comes from the word prudens meaning "good judgement". This name has been given to girls since 1880 in the US. There were 58 births in 2014.
Remember - /rəˈmembər/ - verb: "have in or be able to bring to one's mind an awareness of (someone or something that one has seen, known, or experienced in the past)." This name comes from the Latin word rememorārī which means "to call to mind" and comes from the word memor meaning "mindful." There are zero births on record in the US for the use of Remember as a name.
Silence - /ˈsīləns/ - noun: "complete absence of sound." verb - "cause to become silent; prohibit or prevent from speaking." As a puritan name, Silence was likely derived from the words of Saint Paul: "Let the women learn in silence with all subjection". On the US birth record, this name only appears once. In 2005 there were 9 girls named Silence.
Temperance - /ˈtemp(ə)rəns/ - noun: "abstinence from alcoholic drink. Moderation or self-restraint, especially in eating and drinking". This name wasn't used in the US until 1972. It has increased since 2006, likely influenced by the main character from the TV show Bones. It ranked at #854 in 2014 with 320 births.
Verity - /ˈveritē/ - noun: "a true principle or belief, especially one of fundamental importance. Truth." Verity has recently ranked at #344 in England and Wales. However in the US, it's very rare. It dates back to 1966 but it has never been popular. There were only 59 births for girls in 2014.
Boys:
Assurance - /əˈSHo͝orəns/ - noun: "a positive declaration intended to give confidence; a promise." For the puritans, this name likely refers to the promises made by God in the bible. Since 1880, Assurance has never been given to at least 5 children in one year.
Constant - /känstənt/ - adjective: "occurring continuously over a period of time." The puritans used Constant as a name based on its definition, but it also comes from the Late Latin name Constans meaning "constant or steadfast". This name was used the most between 1911 and 1951. It hasn't been given to at least 5 boys since 1995. Constantine would be a nice alternative.
Experience - /ˌikˈspirēəns/ - noun: "practical contact with and observation of facts or events." From the Latin words experientia and experīrī meaning "to try, test". As a name, it has never actually been given to boys in the modern US. It could be interesting in the middle name spot.
Increase - /ˈinkrēs/ - noun: "an instance of growing or making greater." The puritans used this name to refer to the biblical command of increasing in number. Neither the name Increased nor Increase are on record in the US for usage for boys.
Lament - /ləˈment/ - noun: "a passionate expression of grief or sorrow." The puritans tended to give this name only to the bastard children since its meaning refers to being sorry for sin. It's not surprising that this name has never been on record in the US.
Noble - /ˈnōbəl/ - adjective: "having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals." Noble has been used as a name for boys and girls, but it is most popular for boys. In 1920, there was a peak of 196 births for a ranking of #427. This is the one virtue name for boys that has decent usage and is currently re-climbing the charts. There were 129 births in 2014 for boys.
Prosper - /ˈpräspər/ - verb: "flourish physically; grow strong and healthy." Prosper comes from the Latin name Prosperus meaning "fortunate, successful". It has had spotty usage from 1913 to 1947 and again from 1998 to 2014. There were 10 births for boys in 2014 for the name Prosper, and 8 female births for the name Prosperity.
Reason - /ˈrēzən/ - noun: "the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic." Reason popped up as a name a few times around 1920 but it hadn't been heard from much until recently. It landed on record for the first time in 75 years in 2000 and has had a handful of births since then, including 8 male births and 5 female births in 2014.
Repentance - / rəˈpentəns/ - noun: "the action of repenting; sincere regret or remorse." Much like the name Lament, Repentance was mostly given to bastard children. Both would be heavy names to live with since they refer to feeling sorry for sins that were not even the child's fault. Clearly this isn't a name that's freely given to modern American children now.
Resolved - /riˈzälvd,-ˈzôlvd/ - adjective: "firmly determined to do something." Resolved was the name of the big brother of Peregrine White who was born on the Mayflower in Cape Cod Harbor, making him the first European born to the Pilgrims in America. Since then, the name Resolved has not been in use on record in the US.
Steadfast - /ˈstedˌfast/ - adjective: "resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering." This name referred to God's steadfastness as well as one's own steadfastness in their faith. It hasn't been used as a name on record in the US after 1880.
Truth - /tro͞oTH/ - noun: "the quality or state of being true." Truth was given to girls here and there around 1920 but fell dormant until the mid 1990s. It has been in regular usage for both genders since then. There were 35 boys named Truth in 2014 and 24 girls.
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What do you think of these odd but fascinating names? Are there any that you would like to see revived? Would they work better for a middle name or are you bold enough to make one of these a first name? Have you known someone with one of these names? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Learn more about the differences between Puritans and Pilgrims here.
*As a general note for those unaware, the United States Social Security Administration began recording the usage of names starting in 1880. Usage prior to that is harder to track down. The SSA will not list a name unless it has had at least 5 births in a single year. If a name only had 3 births in a year, we would never know that the name was used at that time. The data in this article reflects the number of births per year from 1880-2014. When "rank" is mentioned, that refers to popularity. For example, if a name ranks at #498, it is the 498th most popular name for that year.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Jeremiah
After looking at all of the 4+ syllable boy names available, I wanted to pick one that was legitimately 4 syllables on its own as opposed to a name that earned 4 syllables by adding an -o to the end of a name that is usually 3-syllables. With this criteria, it was actually rather tough to find a good one that hasn't already been featured. I settled on the biblical Jeremiah.
Jeremiah comes from the Hebrew name יִרְמְיָהוּ (Yirmiyahu) meaning "Yahweh has uplifted". In the bible, he was one of the major prophets in the Old Testament who wrote the Book of Jeremiah as well as the Book of Lamentations. He lived in the 6th century BC during the time of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem.
In England, the Protestant Reformation brought about the usage of a lot of names that were later carried to Colonial America with the pilgrims. Jeremiah was one of those names. However, the shorter variation Jeremy was sometimes used since the 13th century in England.
Overall, Jeremy has had much more usage in the US than Jeremiah, but currently, their roles have swapped. Jeremiah has climbed the charts to #58 in 2013 while Jeremy's popularity of the 1970s-1980s has declined. Jeremy ranked at #159 in 2013 whereas it once ranked as high as #14 in 1976.
Jeremiah had a small peak of popularity in the late 70s during Jeremy's heyday but it is currently seeing its highest numbers ever, even though it has been in solid usage since 1880. Possible nicknames could include Jere/Jer, Jerry, Jem, Jeremy, Miah.
What do you think of Jeremiah? Or would you prefer Jeremy? If you're in the market for some sibling or middle name ideas, here's some I came up with:
Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Elizabeth, Hadassah, Leah, Michaela, Ruth, Simone
Brothers: Benjamin, Ezra, Isaac, Jonathan, Malachi, Noah
Middle Name Ideas:
Jeremiah Blake
Jeremiah Carter
Jeremiah James
Jeremiah Parker
Jeremiah Robert
As a Middle Name:
Colton Jeremiah
Henry Jeremiah
Lucas Jeremiah
Tyler Jeremiah
Wesley Jeremiah
What middle names would you pair with Jeremiah? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Jeremiah comes from the Hebrew name יִרְמְיָהוּ (Yirmiyahu) meaning "Yahweh has uplifted". In the bible, he was one of the major prophets in the Old Testament who wrote the Book of Jeremiah as well as the Book of Lamentations. He lived in the 6th century BC during the time of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem.
In England, the Protestant Reformation brought about the usage of a lot of names that were later carried to Colonial America with the pilgrims. Jeremiah was one of those names. However, the shorter variation Jeremy was sometimes used since the 13th century in England.
Overall, Jeremy has had much more usage in the US than Jeremiah, but currently, their roles have swapped. Jeremiah has climbed the charts to #58 in 2013 while Jeremy's popularity of the 1970s-1980s has declined. Jeremy ranked at #159 in 2013 whereas it once ranked as high as #14 in 1976.
Jeremiah had a small peak of popularity in the late 70s during Jeremy's heyday but it is currently seeing its highest numbers ever, even though it has been in solid usage since 1880. Possible nicknames could include Jere/Jer, Jerry, Jem, Jeremy, Miah.
What do you think of Jeremiah? Or would you prefer Jeremy? If you're in the market for some sibling or middle name ideas, here's some I came up with:
Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Elizabeth, Hadassah, Leah, Michaela, Ruth, Simone
Brothers: Benjamin, Ezra, Isaac, Jonathan, Malachi, Noah
Middle Name Ideas:
Jeremiah Blake
Jeremiah Carter
Jeremiah James
Jeremiah Parker
Jeremiah Robert
As a Middle Name:
Colton Jeremiah
Henry Jeremiah
Lucas Jeremiah
Tyler Jeremiah
Wesley Jeremiah
What middle names would you pair with Jeremiah? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
The 10 Best Colonial Names For Modern Boys and Girls
Colonial names are full of history and laced with virtues and biblical associations. Sometimes these names are even comprised of long phrases.
You probably won't see many boys named Comfort or girls named Modesty today, and something like The-Peace-of-God or Fight-the-good-fight-of-faith probably won't work well for official documents. This led me to wonder what the most usable, wearable names that were favored in early America might be.
With much thought, scrutiny and consideration, I narrowed it down to my top 5 boy names and top 5 girl names that date back to the colonial era but can still sound fresh and usable today.
Girls:
Charlotte
The lovely Charlotte is the French, feminine form of the name Charles which is typically listed as meaning "free man". Modern parents love this name so much that it now ranks at #11 in 2013. If that is too popular for you, there are plenty of other forms of the name from Lottie to Charlize to Carolina to Karla. This name dates back to England in the 16th century as well as the colonial times here in America but Charlotte is definitely usable today, too!
Middle Name Ideas: Charlotte Abigail, Charlotte Grace, Charlotte Louise, Charlotte RubyThe lovely Charlotte is the French, feminine form of the name Charles which is typically listed as meaning "free man". Modern parents love this name so much that it now ranks at #11 in 2013. If that is too popular for you, there are plenty of other forms of the name from Lottie to Charlize to Carolina to Karla. This name dates back to England in the 16th century as well as the colonial times here in America but Charlotte is definitely usable today, too!
Eleanor
This name dates back to Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, the wife of King Louis VII of France in the 12th century. Eleanor became popular in England during the Middle Ages before it was carried to Colonial America. While there are plenty of diminutives and other similar forms of the name, Eleanor itself ranks at #106 in 2013 and has been climbing steadily. It may land in the Top 100 soon which means it is definitely very wearable.
Middle Name Ideas: Eleanor Alexis, Eleanor Juliet, Eleanor Rose, Eleanor Sophia
Hannah
Hannah gained use in Europe after the Protestant Reformation and the Puritans took it with them to Colonial America. This is one of the many biblical names that gained favor in that time period. It is a Hebrew name meaning "favour" or "grace". It is related to Ann, Anne and Anna which were also used in those days. In modern times, Hannah's popularity peak happened in 2000, reaching as high as #2 in the US. She's declining now but was still ranked at #23 in 2013.
Middle Name Ideas: Hannah Catherine, Hannah Josephine, Hannah Lily, Hannah VioletHannah gained use in Europe after the Protestant Reformation and the Puritans took it with them to Colonial America. This is one of the many biblical names that gained favor in that time period. It is a Hebrew name meaning "favour" or "grace". It is related to Ann, Anne and Anna which were also used in those days. In modern times, Hannah's popularity peak happened in 2000, reaching as high as #2 in the US. She's declining now but was still ranked at #23 in 2013.
Lydia
Another biblical favorite, the Greek name Lydia actually refers to a region in Asia Minor called Lydia. Like Hannah, this name has been in use since the Protestant Reformation. In the US, Lydia had small peaks of usage around 1916 and in the 1950s, but it is at its highest ranks today. With over 3200 baby girls given the name in 2013, it ranks at #96!
Middle Name Ideas: Lydia Annabelle, Lydia Harper, Lydia Madeline, Lydia Scarlett
Susanna
Susanna is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Shoshannah. It is said that it means either Lily or Rose in Hebrew and possibly Lotus in Egyptian. Susanna was used in the Middle Ages and was common after the Protestant Reformation in Europe but mostly as Susan. These days, neither Susanna nor Susannah rank within the US Top 1000. Susanna ranked well until it fell out of the Top 1000 in 1998. Despite the low rank, Susanna is a lovely name that deserves more modern day usage.
Middle Name Ideas: Susanna Elise, Susanna Hazel, Susanna Ivy, Susanna Willow
Boys:
Amos
Post-Reformation, Amos was very popular among the Puritans. Meaning "carried" in Hebrew, this is an Old Testament name that has been regularly used in the US at least since records began in 1880. It did well around 1920 but declined afterward. Currently, the name is on the rise again! It ranked at #778 in 2013. With the newly trendy S-ending for boy names, Amos should fit right in.
Middle Name Ideas: Amos Clark, Amos Joseph, Amos Michael, Amos WilliamPost-Reformation, Amos was very popular among the Puritans. Meaning "carried" in Hebrew, this is an Old Testament name that has been regularly used in the US at least since records began in 1880. It did well around 1920 but declined afterward. Currently, the name is on the rise again! It ranked at #778 in 2013. With the newly trendy S-ending for boy names, Amos should fit right in.
Cyrus
This name has a long ancient history. It is possibly the Greek form of a Persian name meaning "far sighted" or "young" but it is also associated with another Greek name meaning "lord". Most notably, it was the name of several Persian kings, including Cyrus the Great of the Old Testament. It was well-used by the Puritans after the Protestant Reformation. In the modern US, Cyrus has been ranking in the #400-500 range for the past decade, ranking #436 in 2013. It is a cool, handsome choice that would work well on a boy today.
Middle Name Ideas: Cyrus Alexander, Cyrus James, Cyrus Oliver, Cyrus Quentin
Elias
A form of Elijah, the biblical Elias was used in the Greek New Testament, therefore making it popular among Puritans in Colonial America. There were many similar names beginning with El- that were used in those days, but this one in particular is already gaining popularity in the modern US. It has been on an upward path since the 1980s, ranking at a high of #113 in 2013.
Middle Name Ideas: Elias Frederick, Elias Henry, Elias Julian, Elias NathanielA form of Elijah, the biblical Elias was used in the Greek New Testament, therefore making it popular among Puritans in Colonial America. There were many similar names beginning with El- that were used in those days, but this one in particular is already gaining popularity in the modern US. It has been on an upward path since the 1980s, ranking at a high of #113 in 2013.
Levi
Another name that popped up after the Reformation, Levi is a biblical favorite meaning "attached" in Hebrew. This name ranks fairly well in many countries including #2 in the Netherlands and #23 in New Zealand. In the US, Levi has been climbing straight up the charts! In 2013, it hit a record-high #50 with over 7,300 births. With biblical history and the flair of the coveted letter V, Levi is definitely wearable today.
Middle Name Ideas: Levi Anthony, Levi Emerson, Levi Jackson, Levi Warren
Silas
Silas is the short form of Silvanus, which in Latin refers to "wood" or "forest". This is another biblical name that popped up Post-Reformation among Puritans in Colonial America. Today, Silas is quite favored in the baby name community. The numbers agree: Silas has been climbing straight up the chart since around 2000. It currently ranks at #116 and will probably keep going up!
Middle Name Ideas: Silas Adrian, Silas Damien, Silas Jasper, Silas Porter
Which of the above names do you like best? Do you like any other names favored by the Puritans? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Middle Name Ideas: Silas Adrian, Silas Damien, Silas Jasper, Silas Porter
Which of the above names do you like best? Do you like any other names favored by the Puritans? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Favorite Female Colonial Name?
Favorite Male Colonial Name?
Friday, March 21, 2014
Asa
I just could not decide which 3-letter boys' name to highlight this week so I picked a few that I liked and took the question public! I put up a poll and 53 of you voted for the next featured name! The winner was Asa with 13 votes. So let's learn a little more about the boys' name Asa, pronounced AY-suh.
According to BehindTheName, Asa is a Hebrew name meaning "doctor". However, Nameberry says the meaning of Asa is "born in the morning". BabyNames agrees with both meanings, listing Asa's meaning as "physician" and including a note that in Japanese, Asa means "Born at Dawn". This led me to look a bit further. According to Wikipedia, there are several different meanings for this name in different cultures around the world so take your pick!:
Biblically, it was worn by the third King of Judah who reigned for forty years in the Old Testament. The name gained popularity with the Puritans in the 17th century since they were big on Biblical names. A more modern association was that of patriarch Asa Buchanan on the soap opera One Life to Live. This was the first place I ever heard the name Asa. He was a big character on daytime TV from 1979-2008. There is also a young British actor quickly rising to fame who goes by the name Asa Butterfield.
The name Asa is very old and has been in [recorded] use in the US since the 1880s. Parents might consider this name as a formal way to get the nickname Ace, or even as an alternative to the fast-rising Asher. It fits in well with other soft boys names that end in the A-sound like Noah. Despite ranking at #562 on the US Top 1000 in 2012, this name has never been popular.
Asa had the tiniest of popularity spikes around 1915 which lasted through the 20s. It wasn't until the late 70s and early 80s that this name slowly climbed upward on the chart again. With ups and downs over the past 40 years, Asa is now ranking the highest it has ever ranked. However, the number of births per year is still shy of 500. Asa is perfect for those who are looking for something known and familiar but still flying under the radar. It will surely continue to slowly rise in popularity but I don't see it becoming "the next big thing" anytime soon. That's good news!
There is also a handful of girls who receive this name every year but it is all boy to me!
What do you think of the name Asa? Would you use it or do other biblical names catch your eye instead? If it is in consideration, perhaps you'd benefit from the following name ideas:
Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Abigail, Calista, Evelyn, Hannah, Mira, Rebecca
Brothers: Cyrus, Ezekiel, Jonah, Levi, Malachi, Silas
Middle Name Ideas:
Asa Lemuel
Asa Miles
Asa Nathaniel
Asa Porter
Asa Theodore
As a Middle Name:
Benjamin Asa
Caleb Asa
David Asa
Henry Asa
Reuben Asa
Similar Alternatives:
Abel, Adam, Amos, Asher, Eli, Ezra, Ian
These are just suggestions that I came up with. What would you pair with Asa?
According to BehindTheName, Asa is a Hebrew name meaning "doctor". However, Nameberry says the meaning of Asa is "born in the morning". BabyNames agrees with both meanings, listing Asa's meaning as "physician" and including a note that in Japanese, Asa means "Born at Dawn". This led me to look a bit further. According to Wikipedia, there are several different meanings for this name in different cultures around the world so take your pick!:
- Hebrew: Healer and/or physician
- Yoruba Nigerian: Hawk or little hawk
- Igbo Nigerian: Beautiful
- Japanese: Morning
- Indonesian: Hope
- Portuguese: Wing
Biblically, it was worn by the third King of Judah who reigned for forty years in the Old Testament. The name gained popularity with the Puritans in the 17th century since they were big on Biblical names. A more modern association was that of patriarch Asa Buchanan on the soap opera One Life to Live. This was the first place I ever heard the name Asa. He was a big character on daytime TV from 1979-2008. There is also a young British actor quickly rising to fame who goes by the name Asa Butterfield.
The name Asa is very old and has been in [recorded] use in the US since the 1880s. Parents might consider this name as a formal way to get the nickname Ace, or even as an alternative to the fast-rising Asher. It fits in well with other soft boys names that end in the A-sound like Noah. Despite ranking at #562 on the US Top 1000 in 2012, this name has never been popular.
Asa had the tiniest of popularity spikes around 1915 which lasted through the 20s. It wasn't until the late 70s and early 80s that this name slowly climbed upward on the chart again. With ups and downs over the past 40 years, Asa is now ranking the highest it has ever ranked. However, the number of births per year is still shy of 500. Asa is perfect for those who are looking for something known and familiar but still flying under the radar. It will surely continue to slowly rise in popularity but I don't see it becoming "the next big thing" anytime soon. That's good news!
There is also a handful of girls who receive this name every year but it is all boy to me!
What do you think of the name Asa? Would you use it or do other biblical names catch your eye instead? If it is in consideration, perhaps you'd benefit from the following name ideas:
Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Abigail, Calista, Evelyn, Hannah, Mira, Rebecca
Brothers: Cyrus, Ezekiel, Jonah, Levi, Malachi, Silas
Middle Name Ideas:
Asa Lemuel
Asa Miles
Asa Nathaniel
Asa Porter
Asa Theodore
As a Middle Name:
Benjamin Asa
Caleb Asa
David Asa
Henry Asa
Reuben Asa
Similar Alternatives:
Abel, Adam, Amos, Asher, Eli, Ezra, Ian
These are just suggestions that I came up with. What would you pair with Asa?
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Primrose
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| Purple Primroses |
There are many "Rose" names out there. Beyond just Rose, there are Rosa, Rosalie, Rosamund, Roseanne, Roselyn, Rosemary, Rosetta, Rosemarie, etc. I have never been a huge fan of any of these. And then I found Primrose.
It switches the "rose" to the end of the name and is an entirely different flower altogether than a rose, which I like! I'm one of those odd girls that do not like roses just because everyone else does. The primrose is very lovely, though, and comes in many colors! (Don't let the name fool you! The Primrose flower comes from the family Primulaceae and is not closely related to the rose family Rosaceae.)
This name was originally used as a Scottish surname but it ultimately derives from the Latin "prima rosa" which means "first rose". And as its name indicates, it has the word "prim" in it which lends to the saying "prim and proper." Many people view this name as somewhat uppity but I think it is uniquely cool.
Primrose has been used in several British novels and TV series so it does have a British air about it that may not work as well in America. But despite the general vibe that it gives, it is definitely a bold and attractive choice! It is a great alternative to other popular flower names like Lily and Daisy and Rose itself!
The most recent Primrose that may be familiar today is the character Primrose "Prim" Everdeen in the Hunger Games trilogy, who is of course the younger sister of Katniss. I think that it was that exact character that influenced the 16 births of girls named Primrose in 2012.
Before 2012, there were no girls being given this name for 30 years! There were 5 born in 1982, 6 in 1973, 5 in 1960, 7 in 1940 and a total of 66 Primroses born between 1914 and 1932. Basically, this name is a rare gem! If you are looking for something pretty and unique, this is it! It has the beautiful image of flowers to back it up and she can still be called Rose or Rosie as a nickname. Win win!
I would pair this name with something somewhat classic or traditional since it is a very unique choice. Something short and sweet! What do you think of this name? What would you pair with it?
[Sidenote: I had to choose Primrose after I chose Peregrine last week. They are my two favorite P-names and they just sort of "go together" in my mind. I would love to meet boy/girl twins named Peregrine and Primrose! Both super unique and rare and nature related! Pip and Prim or Perry and Rosie. Just my thoughts!] :)
Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Amity, Cordelia, Everly, Honora, Junia, Lavinia, Magnolia, Octavia, Pearl, Verity
Brothers: Amadeus, Declan, Emmett, Faustus, Hawthorne, Merritt, Peregrine, Theodore, Ulysses, Vincent
Middle Name Ideas:
Primrose Eve
Primrose Hope
Primrose Kate
Primrose Lucille
Primrose Susanna
As a Middle Name:
Anna Primrose
Claire Primrose
Hester Primrose
Lydia Primrose
Tabitha Primrose
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Colonial Names for Boys and Girls
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| The Freake Limner (American Colonial Era Painter, active 1670-c 1680) Mrs Elizabeth Freake and Baby Mary 1674 |
They also had some interesting names, some of which you don't hear often today, and others that might just be cool enough to actually use again. These names were popular in colonial times, taken straight from the 18th century!
Some of these overlap with the Biblical names list, and they seem to be much different than the names popular in England during the Victorian era. If you're looking for some cool, historical choices, perhaps you'll find a name that you like here!
| Boys: Abel Abiel Abijah Abimael Abner Abraham Absalom Adonijah Ajax Alden Amias Amiel Ammiras Amos Amzi Ansel Archibald Asa Asahel Azariah Balthasar Barnabas Bartholomew Bazel Benajah Boaz Chauncey Clement Comfort Constant Cotton Cyrus Duncan Ebenezer Elbert Eleazar Eli Eliab Eliakim Elias Elihu Elijah Eliphalet Elisha Emanuel Emory Enoch Enos Ephraim Experience Ezekiel Garvan Gawen Gerrard Gideon |
Hannibal Hercules Hezekiah Hiram Holmes Homer Horatio Hosea Increase Isaac Isaiah Isham Israel Jabez Jared Jedidiah Jehu Jeremiah Jethro Job Jonas Josiah Jothan Kenelm Lazarus Lemuel Levi Linus Matthias Micajah Miles Nehemiah Noble Obadiah Philo Philomon Phineas Prosperity Reason Rufus Salmon Sampson Seth Silas Simon Solomon Thaddeus Theophilus Truth Zaccheus Zachariah Zadock Zebulon Zephaniah Zophar |
Click here to view an updated report on the 10 Best Colonial Names for Boys and Girls!
As for the girls, the list is a bit more limited. Again, there are some biblical names but also some virtue names that were popular with the puritans.
| Girls: Abigail Abitha Amity Anne Aphra Aurinda Azuba Candace Catherine Charity Charlotte Chastity Clarity Comfort Cornelia Constance Dorcas Edith Eleanor Electa Elizabeth Emeline Esther Fanny Fidelity Georgine Harriet Hecuba Helen Henrietta Hepzibah |
Hester Isabella Jane Joy Judith Keturah Keziah Lydia Mahala Martha Mary Mercy Modesty Patience Phila Phoebe Primrose Prudence Rebekah Remember Rosanna Sarah Selah Silence Susanna Tabitha Temperance Theodosia Verity Virginia Zipporah |
Friday, June 21, 2013
Virtue Names
Virtue names are usually accredited to the Puritans for their earliest, most-frequent usage. However, names that had powerful and important meanings were also popular with Ancient Greeks and Romans. Around 1590, the Puritan movement developed as a sect of the Church of England. They began using the names of saints and martyrs instead of virtue names by order of the Catholic Church.
Then the Puritans fled to America to escape religious persecution. It was then that they freely used their virtue names, as well as phrase names and scriptural names such as "Fight the good fight of Faith" as a name. While these long phrase names didn't catch on, many of the virtue names did and are still in use today. Here is a list of both popular and not-so-popular virtue names for boys and girls:
Girls:
Amity
Charity
Clarity
Clemency
Comfort
Constance
Faith
Felicity
Fidelity
Grace
Honor
Hope
Joy
Mercy
Merritt
Modesty
Patience
Prudence
Remember
Sage
Serenity
Sincere
Sincerity
Temperance
Tranquility
Unity
Verity
Boys:
Able
Anchor
Bravery
Bright
Calm
Chance
Constantine
Hardy
Free
Freedom
Harbor
Increase
Justice
Loyal
Lucky
Merit
Noble
Pax
Prosper
Revere
Sage
Sincere
Tranquil
True
Valor
Vigor
Worth
Zen
Can you think of any good ones that I missed?
Then the Puritans fled to America to escape religious persecution. It was then that they freely used their virtue names, as well as phrase names and scriptural names such as "Fight the good fight of Faith" as a name. While these long phrase names didn't catch on, many of the virtue names did and are still in use today. Here is a list of both popular and not-so-popular virtue names for boys and girls:
Girls:
Amity
Charity
Clarity
Clemency
Comfort
Constance
Faith
Felicity
Fidelity
Grace
Honor
Hope
Joy
Mercy
Merritt
Modesty
Patience
Prudence
Remember
Sage
Serenity
Sincere
Sincerity
Temperance
Tranquility
Unity
Verity
Boys:
Able
Anchor
Bravery
Bright
Calm
Chance
Constantine
Hardy
Free
Freedom
Harbor
Increase
Justice
Loyal
Lucky
Merit
Noble
Pax
Prosper
Revere
Sage
Sincere
Tranquil
True
Valor
Vigor
Worth
Zen
Can you think of any good ones that I missed?
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