domenica 28 maggio 2017

Forgotten Victorian names.


When we think about the names dating back to the Victorian age, when everything was much simpler and more essential than today,  we're led to think that everyone then were called John and Mary ... yes, maybe someone, but not everybody, and not only... Names were much more complex than today in order to the symbolic value that our Victorians attributed to everything that was part of the 'habitus vivendi' of their time ...



First of all, it should be said to be more different than ours today were mostly the female names, and both males and females had at least two names, or three: often the first name was derived from the Sacred Scriptures, from the novels already famous at that time, such as those by Charles Dickens or Sherlock Holmes, from the newly born states - Texas, Nevada, Tennessee; for girls the name was often chosen among virtues - Charity, Hope, Temperance - while for males people were also looking at the heroes of classical history or mythology - Hector, Augustus, Achilles.

The second name was almost always a surname to became name, maybe that of the mother or of an affectionate friend, the common name of a trade, the father's one or that of a close relative or even the nickname with which the child was affectionately called inside the family: they came out, as you can imagine, some rather unusual names like John Butterfield Smith, Christopher Columbus Johnes, Marcus Doctor Harvey, Owen Captain Johnson, or Fitzhugh Lafayette Smith!

Looking at the pages of the first registry office that appeared in America in 1880, we do find really curious things: the first thing to be said is that Victoria was in absolute the most popular name and we understand why, but next to it we read feminine names that seem to be diminutive or pet-names - in the first column of the list they're all ending in -ie, in in the second they're even shorter and they all finish in -a; in the others column I put some names completely fallen in disuse, in the third one they're feminine, in the fourth column, they're masculine ...


Alcie Alla Alpha Aquilla
Arrie Ara Araminta Asa
Avie Bena Celestia Bufor
Cordie Cinda Delphia Commodore Perry
Dessie Effa Drusilla Eldon
Dillie Eola Electa Elisha Emmet
Dovie Esta Etna Jeptha
Fronnie Ila Fidelia John Wesley
Hassie Iola Leta Marcellus
Jettie Letta Mahala Masheck
Lovie Linna Mahulda Meriwether Lewis
Ludie Loma Orpha Mordecai
Lutie Manda Ottilie Nimrod
Manie Netta Parthenia Ninian
Mintie Nolia Permelia Obediah
Nealie Orilla Preshea Octavius
Neppie Sina Rowenia Ora
Osie Ula Sula Oral
Rillie Vena Vertiline Pleasant
Sudie Zona Zylphia Uriah



Of course we should not laugh at the names of people who have died so much time ago, but a good-natured smile, let's allow it ourselves ... how much things have changed during these years my friends!



I hope you enjoyed this topic a bit unusual,
but certainly interesting and curious for some of you
and with sincere gratitude, 
I take my leave of you by wishing you the very best you may want


see you soon 💕



















Quando pensiamo ai nomi risalenti all'epoca vittoriana in cui tutto era molto più semplice ed essenziale di oggi, ci viene di fatto di pensare che tutti allora si chiamassero John e Mary ... sì, forse qualcuno, ma non tutti e non solo ... allora i nomi erano molto più complessi di oggi in virtù del valore simbolico che i Victorians attribuivano ad ogni cosa che facesse parte dell'habitus vivendi del tempo ...



- fotografia 1



Innanzitutto va detto che se ad essere più diversi da oggi erano soprattutto i nomi femminili, sia i maschi che le femmine avevano almeno due nomi se non tre: spesso il primo nome era tratto dalle Sacre Scritture, dai romanzi del tempo già famosi, primi fra tutti quelli di Charles Dickens o di Sherlock Holmes, dagli stati da poco nati - Texas, Nevada,Tennessee; per le fanciulle esso era sovente scelto tra le virtù - Charity, Hope, Temperance - mentre per i maschi si guardava anche agli eroi della storia classica o della mitologia - Hector, Augustus, Achilles.

Il secondo nome era quasi sempre un cognome che diventava nome, magari quello della madre o di un amico affezionato, il nome comune di un mestiere, quello del padre o di un caro vicino oppure ancora il vezzeggiativo con cui veniva chiamato il bimbo affettuosamente in famiglia: ne uscivano, come potete ben immaginare nomi per noi alquanto inusuali del tipo John Butterfield Smith, Christopher Columbus Johnes, Marcus Doctor Harvey, Owen Captain Johnson o Fitzhugh Lafayette Smith !

Dando un'occhiata ai primi fogli anagrafici che fecero la loro comparsa in America nel 1880 si scoprono cose davvero curiose: la prima cosa che salta agli occhi è che il nome più diffuso in assoluto era quello di Victoria e ben comprendiamo perché, ma accanto ad esso leggiamo nomi femminili che sembrano dei diminutivi o vezzeggiativi - nella prima colonna sotto tutti terminanti in - ie, nella seconda, ancor più brevi, tutti in a -, e nomi ormai del tutto caduti in disuso, femminili, nella terza colonna, maschili nella quarta ...




- fotografia 2 - tabella




Per certo non dobbiamo ridere dei nomi di persone che sono defunte da tempo, ma un sorriso, bonario, lasciamocelo sfuggire ... quanto sono cambiati i tempi amici miei !



Spero che abbiate gradito questo argomento un po' insolito, 
ma di certo interessante e curioso per alcuni di voi 
e con sincera gratitudine prendo congedo da voi augurandovi quanto di meglio possiate desiderare



62 commenti:

  1. Things have changed and so have names over time. The one constant in life is change.

    Have a fabulous day, Dany. ♥♥♥

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Sandee
      you're like a bright ray of cheerful sunshine, I heartily thank you, Dearie !

      Hope you're having the best of weeks,
      I'm sending blessings on your coming days ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina
  2. The history of names is a very interesting topic. And I absolutely adored the baby photos.
    Have a beautiful week Dear Friend,
    All my Love,
    Andrea

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Andrea
      I'm always far delighted by welcoming you here, sweetest friend of mine, and to read that you loved it, well, it truly makes my day !

      Trusting you also are enjoying a pleasant week,
      I'm sending my dearest love to you,
      with sincere thankfulness ✿⊱╮

      Elimina
  3. A very interesting post. I especially enjoyed the baby photos! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Marci
      Dearest One, thanks most sincerely for your so beautiful words, they fill my heart to overflowing !

      Wishing you a joy-filled day, today,
      and peaceful days to comes,
      filled with gladness and smiles ❥

      Elimina
  4. A fun and informative mini lesson in the history of Victorian names. The babies are adorable in their period piece attire!

    Have a lovely week,
    Poppy

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Poppy
      you're so heartily welcome, sweet friend, thank you for your nice and kind words !

      Hope you're having the best of weeks,
      I'm sending all my love to you,
      thanking you once again *•♥♥•*

      Elimina
  5. Oh how beautiful is your mosaic of babies in their elaborate Victorian perambulators! Most of the Victorian names might sound strange to our modern ears but there are some in the list that I like very much. Wouldn't you love to meet a little girl named Araminta? I know I would.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Maggie
      I'm so, so glad you loved it, I heartily thank you, Dearie, I so love your comments which seem to make my days a bit brighter, and I'm so grateful to you for this !

      Sending blessings on the remainder of your week
      with utmost gratitude ღ❀ღ

      Elimina
  6. Interesting reading about names and the babies are cute <3

    I personally happen to have three names: Helmi-Riitta Marjatta. Helmi translates as Pearl, my mother and granddaughter bear Helmi too. Riitta has no special meaning, maybe translates as Rita. Marjatta comes from our national epic Kalevala :) I blog as Riitta but in real life use Marjatta, which causes problems in official forms while being the last name. So many a time my first name appears to be Helmi :)

    Sorry this personal explanation - wishing you a lovely week dear Dany.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ riitta
      you needen't to apologize, darling, precious friend, indeed, I found your comment so very interesting and I'm grateful to you for sharing your personal explanation with us !

      Thinking of you and sending wishes for a peaceful and beauty-filled remainder of your week,
      ♥♡♥ with sincere thankfulness ♥♡♥

      Elimina
  7. It is fun to look at how names change. The fact is, many of the names today will be smiled over in the years to come.

    When it came time to name my own children, i decided to use more common names, the kind that "wear well in the wash and don't fade," so to speak. If they wanted to have an odd nickname with their friends, i decided i'd let them pick that for themselves.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ messymimi
      as for today's names you're so right, dearest friend of mine, and as for your children names I think you've done the right thing, if they love some funny name, they may always choose it as their nickname :) !

      Sending all my love to you,
      with utmost gratitude ༺♡❀♡༻

      Elimina
  8. Hello Dany, what an interesting topic. The baby pictures are adorable. I have heard of some strange names lately. Thanks for sharing. Happy Monday, enjoy your day and the new week ahead!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ eileeninmd
      thanks for gracing my blog today, sweetest friend, you always put me in such high spirits with your so precious presence here !

      Thanking you for your kind and nice words too, as well,
      I'm sending blessings on your day,
      may it be filled with love and smiles ⊰✽*♥*✽⊱

      Elimina
  9. I don't think I would name my son Nimrod! Thank you for linking to Blue Monday!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Magical Mystical Teacher
      for sure I do agree with you :) !!!

      It is I who thank you, Dearie,
      ♥∗✿ blessed be ✿∗♥

      Elimina
  10. So interesting! And some of these come back in use and go out again, etc. Great baby photos!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ podso
      I cannot believe that some of them are coming back in use !

      So happy to read that you enjoyed this post of mine,
      I'm sending hugs and ever much love to you,
      I'm sincerely overjoyed by welcoming you here today, sweet friend ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  11. Fun post. Some of those names are making a comeback. Enjoyed the baby photos!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Snap
      I'm sincerely delighted to read that I've entertained you pleasantly, dear, dearest friend, thank you !

      Hope you're enjoying the best of weeks,
      I'm sending blessings across the miles ⊰♥⊱Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ⊰♥⊱

      Elimina
  12. Such sweet little babies in their carriages... no matter what their parents called them. I've certainly never heard of many of those names, but Victoria is still in use today! My mother named my brother after her father (first name) and her mother's maiden name for his middle name.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Sallie
      I think that Victoria is the only one which hasn't fallen in disuse at all, at least till now, but the others sound so unusual to us today, don't they ?

      And reading your words I understand that some mores are still current today, I heartily thank you for letting me know it !

      Sending blessing across the many miles, my Lovely Lady,
      may the month of June be as Beautiful as you ❥

      Elimina
  13. Risposte
    1. @ Gillena Cox
      much love to you too, darling friend, and lots of thanks for taking the time for stopping by and for commenting, with your presence here you always make my day, blessed be !

      Wishing you a most beautiful weekend to come,
      with sincere gratitude ❀≼♥≽❀

      Elimina
  14. i enjoyed this very much! i love your research. these names are wonderful! have a lovely week, sending many good and loving thoughts your way. xo Michele

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Michele
      I welcome you with a big hug, Dearie, you always make my heart sing with joy !

      I felt your loving thoughts and hope you'll feel mine too !

      ❖ May your day be filled with gladness and smiles ❖

      Elimina
  15. Ed ecco spiegato il perchè di molti nomi strani
    e curiosi che si sentono spesso nei libri o nei film
    ambientati nell'epoca vittoriana.
    Se voglio sapere qualcosa devo solo rivolgermi alla mia carissima amica Daniela e lei saprà soddisfare ogni mia curiosità!!
    Un abbraccio mia dolcissima amica e buona giornata
    Love Susy ♥

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Susy
      buongiorno tesoro e felice giornata di festa a te !
      Che meraviglia averti qui, non immagini la gioia che mi dai con le tue parole, dolcezza !

      Ti invio un abbraccio forte forte dal profondo del cuore
      e ti ringrazio come non mai augurandoti un sereno weekend ... ormai d'estate,
      e possa il mese di giugno recarti tutta la gioia e la serenità che meriti,
      mia cara ♥∗✿∗♥

      Elimina
  16. Daniela, Your post was very interesting. Great research. Thanks for sharing. Have a great week. Sylvia D.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Sylvia
      it is I who thank you, wholeheartedly, your words bless my heart, Sweet Friend !

      Hope you're having the best of weeks,
      I'm sending all my love to you ♥♡♥

      Elimina
  17. Mi è piaciuto molto leggere gli insoliti nomi che usavano nell'epoca vittoriana. Le immagini dei piccoli bimbi sono incantevoli
    Bacioni Alessandra

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Alessandra
      felicissima di averti intrattenuta piacevolmente, ti abbraccio con il cuore augurandoti una serena giornata ed un mese di giugno prodigo di gioia e di soddisfazioni !

      Bacioni anche a te,
      mai dolce ♡ஐ♡

      Elimina
  18. Bel post , molto particolare , che mi mette a conoscenza di un aspetto della quotidianità Vittoriana che mi mancava.
    A proposito , sai che il nome Drusilla mi piace ?!
    Un saluto grande ,
    Franca

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Franca
      mia dolce, sai che con il nome Drusilla mi sono sentita trasportare di colpo nel mondo della nostra poesia, al mio amatissimo Eugenio Montale che della poetessa Drusilla Tanzi fu il marito ... dapprincipio sentivo l'altisonanza di questo nome, ma non riuscivo a recuperarlo nella memoria, ... poi di colpo mi sono illuminata, evviva !
      Sì, anche a me non spiace e forse di quelli sopra è davvero l'unico che potrebbe ancor oggi essere portato con disinvoltura, oltre Victoria, ovviamente !

      Ti abbraccio forte forte ringraziandoti come sempre ed augurandoti un lieto prosieguo di questo giorno di festa e del nostro lungo weekend, buona serata preziosa amica mia ❥

      Elimina
  19. This was such an interesting post. Many of these names I have never heard of before. Have a wonderful sun filled week.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Decor To Adore
      I'm so grateful to you, dearest, cherished Laura, your words of interest truly make my day ... it's always such a blessing to me to have you here, my sweet-hearted lady !

      Wishing you a wonderful end of your week,
      always thinking of you with much love ಌ❀ಌ

      Elimina
  20. I've always been fascinated by names and naming trends, so I enjoyed this post and the list. I was surprised to see the name Mahala on the list. My mother's great-aunt was named Mahala and she's the only one I've ever heard of. Some of the other great old names in my mom's family are Opal Cleo (her mother), Civilla Alzora, Burr Griffith (Griffith was his mother's maiden name), and Burnis Gillespie; there were also Lafayette and Jasper, whose middle names I've forgotten. These old names sometimes make me giggle, but they're no worse than some of the "new" ones I've heard.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Anonimo
      thanks most sincerely for your contribution to this post of mine, with your own life and experience you gave it a touch of reality, you're so heartily welcome !!!

      Sending hugs and love on your weekend,
      with heartfelt thankfulness ✿⊱╮

      Elimina
  21. Interesting post. We still have plenty of odd names. l

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Linda
      dearest friend of mine, I think that every age has its strange names, indeed, that names which seems normal sound strange when they fall in disuse with the flowing of the time.

      With utmost gratitude,
      I'm sending my dearest love to you,
      and may your weekend be filled with smiles ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  22. Dany, I love this post. I like reading about unusual names, though I wish people wouldn't name their babies strange names. My father had a cousin named Alpha Omega! What's a girl to do with a name like that!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Jean
      thank you for gracing my blog today, Dearie !
      To be honest, this is the very first time I hear such a name,
      I will hope that she hadn't had problems, expecially as a child and as a young girl, with a name which for sure had no comparisons with the others of the girls of her same age, poor darling !

      I think that sometimes parents don't think about the embarrasement that a name could bring to their baby, they just choose the one they like most ...

      Thanking you more and more, but never enough, for your so precious presence here,
      I'm sending blessings on your weekend,
      may it be full of joy and love,
      sweetest friend ⊰✽*Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ*✽⊱

      Elimina
  23. What a great post, Dany!
    And how names have changed!!
    Many of these names, I really like, but some of them...
    Let's just say that if I were named Ludie, I may have to change my name. :-)
    Have a wonderful weekend, sweet friend.
    Sending you hugs from across the ocean.
    xo.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Lisa
      loving friend of mine, you're lucky to have to chance to change your name, if you don't like it, for us it's not possible, we have to keep all life long the one our parents have chosen, alas !
      When I was a little girl I didn't like mine at all, but now I see that I could be less, less fortunate, and after all Daniela is not too bad :)

      Sending much love to you ♥¸.•*´¨`*•.♥

      Elimina
  24. Dearest Dani, as always, your posts are like a whisper from another era. So much research goes into them, and I feel your passion in every word and image. Love, Mimi xxx

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Mimi
      your words bless my heart with the deepest joy ever, I'm sincerely grateful to you, my Lovely Lady !

      With utmost gratitude,
      I'm sending hugs and ever much love to you ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina
  25. What an interesting post, Dany !
    And I so love those cute baby photos !
    Have a wonderful weekend, sweet friend !
    Hugs,
    Sylvia

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Sylvia
      may your weekend too be filled with joy and wonder, adorable friend of mine, thank you for your words of appreciation, they really fill my heart !

      ⊰♥⊱ MUCH LOVE ⊰♥⊱

      Elimina
  26. Hi Dany, what an interesting post about the history of names. Loved reading the list of names. I see one similar to mine. Wishing you a wonderful weekend my sweet talented friend.
    xo

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Celestina
      you're always so generous with me, my Beautiful Lady !

      May you enjoy a wonderful end of your week,
      filled with so many little things which to be glad for ✿⊱╮

      Elimina
  27. Interesting post! I will always remember when, in my 20's, someone told me my name, Betty, was an 'old' name.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ bettyl-NZ
      yours is truly a very old name, Dearie, old and wonderful, indeed !

      Wishing you a most lovely remainder of your week,
      I'm sending blessings on your way ಌ❀ಌ

      Elimina
  28. All very interesting, Dany! I hadn't even heard of many of those names....our children are all named after family members gone before us, plus confirmation names, then of course our last name. Pretty simple, really:) Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm! xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Kathleen
      Dearest One, it's truly pretty simple and normal for nowadays life, but once things went in another way, it was quite complicate to choose the name for a new baby, there was a always such a study behind it ... and how strange they sound, don't they ?!

      Hope you're having the best of weeks,
      I'm sending my dearest love to you ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  29. I love old fashioned names. I have one granddaughter and her name is Eva...lovely just like she is! Hugs, Diane

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Diane,
      Dearest One, I also love old fashioned names and Eva is truly wonderful!
      With sincere thankfulness for this so nice visit of yours,
      I'm sending hugs and ever much love to you ✥*⊰♥⊱*✥

      Elimina
  30. All is changing ... but sometimes things get back, it's a question when. We see this phenomen in the fashion too. I love this Post, thank you for sharing.

    Many hugs to you

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. EricaSta,
      Many hugs to you too, and thank you for your so lovely comment, Dear!
      And happy month of February ஜ♥♡♥ஜ

      Elimina
  31. Fascinating topic, Daniela. In my family, the names of the men were used over and over, which makes it very difficult to track a family history! Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Angie,
      To link my posts to Mosaic Monday is my pleasure, sweet friend of mine!
      With sincere thankfulness for your words of appreciation,
      I'm sending my dearest hug across the many miles ✻ღ*✷*ღ✻

      Elimina

I THANK YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND WORDS, SO PRECIOUS TO ME.