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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Unusual Victorian/Edwardian names please

139 replies

Jimjamjools · 25/03/2019 18:26

Purely hypothetical as baby number 2 doesn't exist yet, but I've been broody and currently obsessed with unusual period names.

I have an ancestor from about 1900-1910 called Mahala which I think is beautiful, and an Everilda (less so...)

For boys I love Rudyard, but think that might be a passing thing!

So, what other unusual slightly out there period names are there?

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namechange1796 · 26/03/2019 20:46

I had a great great Auntie called Keturah - it’s a biblical name. She was known as Kitty.

Gedge77 · 26/03/2019 20:07

I have a Nimrod and a Reba in my family tree.

Original poster
Jimjamjools · 26/03/2019 18:41

Brilliant suggestions, what a great read to come back to after a day at work!

OP posts:
Grinchly · 26/03/2019 15:22

Sexa (yes really)
Crimsworth

PhilODox · 26/03/2019 14:51

Albertine
Amandine

DixieLandReject · 26/03/2019 12:59

Edgar

Isitmybathtimeyet · 26/03/2019 12:56

I also have a random Alonso in my late Victorian family. All siblings/parents etc have very normal names. I wonder why he was so exotically named.

Sophronia · 26/03/2019 10:20

Salome

mummyzombie · 26/03/2019 09:01

Elmer, Stanley, Alonzo and Dorcus were all very popular in the victorian times.

PissOffPeppa · 26/03/2019 04:18

We have a Christmas in ours.

I know a 90 year old Willoughby which I think is just lovely.

hiptobeasquare · 26/03/2019 02:10

Arabella
Corisande
Venetia
Sophie
Phoebe
Frederica
Amabel
Cressida
Prudence
Alathea
Augusta
Phillida
Catriona
Hester
Judith
Annis

These are mostly Georgette Heyer characters. Grin

bridgetreilly · 26/03/2019 01:49

Winifred nn Freddie
Cressida
Drusilla
Eugenia
Venetia

BitOfFun · 26/03/2019 00:17

The famous Mrs Beeton was an Isabella.

GoodGravy · 26/03/2019 00:07

My paternal grandmother, born in the late 1890s-1900 ish was called Pretoria.
Never found any South African connections, though.
(I think there may have been a battle there in the Boer wars.)
Sadly she changed it to Geraldine in her 40s.!

MollyYouInDangerGirl · 26/03/2019 00:07

I was going to suggest Adelaide but someone already said it! It was used for quite a lot of princesses in I think Victorian times.

Have a look back through the royal family, there are some good name ideas there!

MsChicken · 25/03/2019 23:58

We've got in the tree......

Dulciebella
Sissy
Helnora
Albina
Ottilie
Nanny
Stella
Beulah
Bertha
Hubert
Clarence
Spicer
Lance

Almost every other boy is called John.

Hippopotas · 25/03/2019 23:41

I have a few Alonzo’s in my family tree. No idea where it came from as far back as I can track no Italian influences.

Pieceofpurplesky · 25/03/2019 22:59

Bessie
Nancy
Nelly

cwg1 · 25/03/2019 22:58

Lesbia. Or you could just number them in Latin - Septima/Septimus, Octavia/Octavius Grin

fourquenelles · 25/03/2019 22:53

Elkhanna
Serenity

driftingcloud · 25/03/2019 22:52

Rosina

littlebillie · 25/03/2019 22:50

I forgot

Gilbert

Blythe

DialANumber · 25/03/2019 22:46

We have a Christiana in our family tree, which reminds me of the girls in Jane Eyre ie Georgiana

We also have lots of names that wouldn't be out of place now - Alice, Sarah, Mary, Annie, Ettie, Matilda, Jane etc

ASauvignonADay · 25/03/2019 22:46

Great thread!

redredrobins · 25/03/2019 22:42

Alethea
Atticus
Barnabas
Beatrice
Felicity
Georgina
Maximus
Daisy
Olive
Annie

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