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Baby names

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

Very English girls names

53 replies

molly84 · 19/05/2014 21:32

Hi, still struggling with a girl's name and would welcome any ideas. We want something very English and traditional, but not too overused or old-fashioned. Ideally a strong name that will stand out. Thanks so much for any suggestions xx

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
molly84 · 19/05/2014 22:07

Loving the p&p names! Very good idea- will go through the rest of the Jane Austen novels x

OP posts:
molly84 · 19/05/2014 22:08

There are some great ones here, thx

OP posts:
Vijac · 19/05/2014 22:50

Belinda, Emily, Tamsin, Sarah, Catherine, Rebecca, Judith, estelle, Margaret, Mary, Edith, Susannah, Nicola

minipie · 19/05/2014 22:56

Abigail
Arabella
Venetia
Felicity
Tamsin
Alice
Cecily
Caroline

Viatrix · 19/05/2014 23:29

Susanna
Cordelia
Marina
Constance
Judith
Frances
Margaret
Esther
Caroline
Ellen
Harriet
Joanna
Rosamund
Helena
Katharine
Ruth
Tamsin
Mary
Victoria

Messygirl · 19/05/2014 23:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hollyisalovelyname · 20/05/2014 00:00

Verity
Esme
Rosamund

Hardrockhallelujah · 20/05/2014 00:01

Frances or Vivien

TheWholeOfTheSpoon · 20/05/2014 00:02

Penelope/Penny

Mynewone · 20/05/2014 00:18

Elizabeth
Harriet
Victoria
Georgia
Charlotte
Mary

Mynewone · 20/05/2014 00:19

Emma
Alice
Emily

EnglishRose1320 · 20/05/2014 00:22

Iris
Martha
Alice
Clara

EnglishRose1320 · 20/05/2014 00:26

Elsa
Henrietta
Eve
Mary
Phoebe
Olivia
Violet

PunkAssMoFo · 20/05/2014 08:39

Imogen
Dorothea
Lavender
Blythe

OrchidFlakes · 20/05/2014 09:04

Agatha
Agnes
Viola
Valerie
Vivienne
Flora
Ada
Alice
Polly

SquirrelledAway · 20/05/2014 09:44

Emma
Ealdgyth
Edith
Matilda
Isabel
Eleanor
Margaret
Philippa
Joan
Catherine
Elizabeth
Anne
Jane
Mary
Alice
Cecily
Frances
Dorothy

baskingseals · 20/05/2014 15:54

Virginia

Marianne

Lydia

Clementine

Emmeline

Honor

guineapig1 · 20/05/2014 22:25

Harriet nn Hattie if you like
Seraphina
Caroline
Anna
Rachel

squoosh · 21/05/2014 00:21

Most of the names on this thread aren't one bit English, which is actually a very narrow field.

tgrayson · 21/05/2014 00:37

I like these;

Anna
Lydia
Kitty
Harriet
Henrietta
Ivy
Violet
Rose

Think girls names are much easier than boys.

Alisvolatpropiis · 22/05/2014 20:28

Not many English names here.

Mumzy · 26/05/2014 02:40

Anything from Jane Austen novels: Elizabeth, Eliza, Catherine, Mary, Lydia, jane, Marianna, elinor, Emma, Frances, Anne.

Others: Jenny, Rose, Sarah, Joan, maude, Alice

devoncreamtea · 26/05/2014 09:12

Come on then squoosh, put us right - what's on your list?!

workshyfop · 26/05/2014 11:41

Agnes
Alice
Avice
Cecily
Elizabeth
Emma
Isabel
Joan
Margaret
Margery
Matilda

Have all been used in England for centuries

florascotia · 26/05/2014 12:36

As others have said, very few names are of 'Old English' (ie Anglo-Saxon) origin. Like the English language itself, 'English' names are a blend of Anglo-Saxon plus a bit of Norse and celtic with Biblical/Christian influences and French/Latin imports. Foreign marriages of medieval/early royalty introduced new names; so did the arrival of the Hanoverian dynasty. Since the 1800s, if not before, there has been increasing use of names from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and many, many other countries.

The following have been used in England since the 1600s, some before:

Maud
Dorothy
Judith
Julian/Gillian
Hester
Blythe
Mariota (various spellings)
Hawise (medieval, really)
Deborah
Frances
Susan
Lettice (Laetitia)
Ann, Anna
Marian/Marion (Robin Hood!)
Mary
Bridget
Blanche
Katherine
Eleanor, Beatrice (mostly royalty)
Adeliza (= daughter of William the Conqueror - tho' he was Norman, of course. He also had daughters called Constance and Adela.)

Celia, Phyllis, Diana and other classical 'nymph'/goddess names were introduced by Renaissance poets; so was Stella, but none were widely used.

If, however, you want just Anglo-Saxon names, then these have survived,in modern form:

Elfrida
Ethel
Edith
Edwina
Godiva
Hilda
Mildred
Sunniva
Winifred

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