For this royal week, Eleanor Nickerson starts her guest blog with name-loving Queen Victoria herself, then goes on to explore the name trends in the Britain of her era.

Queen Victoria not only gave her name to an entire era, she also ‘gave’ her name to generations of children who were named for her, and was arguably a huge name icon of the nineteenth century.

It is said that Victoria was very particular about the names she chose, selecting from family members and friends, and even tried to dictate what her grandchildren were named.  Her nine children were named:

• Victoria Adelaide Mary
• Albert Edward
• Alice Mary Maud
• Alfred Ernest Albert
• Helena Augusta Victoria
• Louise Caroline Alberta
• Arthur William Patrick
• Leopold George Duncan
• Beatrice Mary Victoria

It is clear to see from the vast number of children named Victoria and Albert (or Victor and Alberta/Albertine for the opposite gender) that the Royal couple were huge namesakes for British Victorians, as were the queen’s children and grandchildren.  Many a Victorian child had at least one name that was also used by a member of the royal family –in many cases, the whole name – as can be seen in the records by the great number of children named Albert Victor (after Prince Albert Victor) and Helena Victoria (after Princess Helena Victoria).

Some lovely Royal names include:

• Alix Viktoria Helena Luise
• Beatrice Leopoldine Victoria “Bea”
• Christian Victor Albert Ludwig Ernst Anton
• Franziska Josepha Louise Augusta Marie Christina Helena
• Leopold Charles Edward George Albert
• Marie Viktoria Feodore Leopoldine “May”
• Margaret Victoria Charlotte Augusta Norah “Daisy”

The Birth Index clearly shows that if a name was used for a Royal baby, that name would most likely rocket in popularity. For example, Melita is recorded for 104 children from 1837-1876. In November 1876 Prince Alfred named his daughter Victoria Melita and in 1877 alone 41 children were given the name –with 276 more Melitas recorded over the following twenty years, peaking again in 1894 when the Princess married.

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Our intrepid and ever inventive friend Nephele now ventures back to the future and into the fantastic territory of Steampunk names.

Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction that presents an alternative future or universe in which modern-day type inventions and conveniences are propelled by steam or inventive clockwork mechanisms.  Dirigible airships are also iconic to steampunk.

Although the steampunk movement emerged in the 1980s, there have also been novels, movies, and television series which are today identified as steampunk (or containing steampunk elements) that predate the actual coining of the term. 

The steampunk movement has inspired an entire subculture consisting of enthusiasts who meet at steampunk conventions and who tend to dress in fabulous fashions that meld a futuristic look with 19th century Victoriana.  Much of steampunk fashion incorporates goggles (the apparent badge of the Victorian scientist/adventurer).  Steampunk jewelry features clockwork motifs. 

The names in the following list include typical steampunk names (names which were in vogue during the latter half of the 19th century), character names appearing in popular works containing steampunk elements, and names of noted authors who have influenced the steampunk literary movement.

BOYS

• ALEKSANDAR – the young hero of Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan series.
• AMBROSE
• ARRONAX – from Professor Pierre Aronnax, a scientist in Jules Verne‘s, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
• ARTEMUS – after Artemus Gordon, secret agent partner to Jim West in the television series and movie, The Wild, Wild West.
• AUGUSTUS
• BARTHOLOMEW
• BERTRAM
• BLAYLOCK – a name honoring early steampunk author James P. Blaylock.
• BRISCO – the cowboy hero in the television series The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
• BYRON
• CORNELIUS
• CYRUS
• EMERSON
• GRANVILLE

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VINTAGE NAMES: What era are you?

Unless you’re a baby namer focused on finding a newly created or cutting-edge name, chances are you’ve considered using one from the past.  But which part of the past?  An ancient name or one from earlier in the 20th century?

So, the question of the week is: Which of these, if any, are you partiularly attracted to?

• Ancient names like Atticus?
• Medieval names like Isolde?
• Puritan like Prudence?
• Frilly Victorian valentines?
• 1880s-90s names like Minnie or Oscar?
• 1900s-10s choices like Ruby or Raymond?
• 1920s-40s like Betty or Billy?
• 1950s-60s such as Kimberly or Kevin?
• 1970s -80s like Amy, Ashley or Amanda?

Needless to say, many if not most names move across time and are rarely connected to only one decade or even era–future berries just  might think of  Atticus as a 2010s name.

How about you?  Is there one period whose names you are drawn to?  Do you have a favorite vintage name—perhaps one that hasn’t been widely rediscovered?

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Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) is a beloved children’s picture book author and illustrator whose stories have an enduring charm that will no doubt continue to delight readers well beyond our 21st century. 

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