Telegraph Names 2021 🤩

General Name Discussion
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Continuing the discussion from today’s blog…

  1. Which are your favorite eccentric British baby names?

  2. What would you name a boy and girl from these lists?

Here, as promised, is the full data from the Telegraph birth announcements for the past year :point_down:

And here are some of the most intriguing names and sibsets of the year!

Girl names

Alaia Mei Hua
Allegra Thomasina Rose
Alice Leonora CĂ©leste
Amaryllis Oriana Clio
Astrid Florence Merlin
Athene Rose Thomasina
Beatrix Venetia
Bonibel Monamy Una Lakshmi
Catinka Eugenie Mia
Charlotte Henrietta Sybil James
Clementine Athena Ottilie
Cosima Annabel Edith
Cressida Tamsin
Daisy Penelope Beaufoy
Delphine Eulalia Louisa
Dusty June
Felicity Catherine Hero
Flora Mima Charlotte
Francesca Rosamond Andrée
Grace Francesca Freda
Honor Ruth Flip
Huxley Dorothy Marston
India Rose Farquhar
Indigo Robin Vita
Jemima Margaux Cordelia
Juno Zennor Boudicca
Lara Xanthe
Lily Fenella
Lola Grace Devereux
Lucca Billie Rose
Lyra Veryan Tiger
Marina Linda Lavallin
Margot Sita Vanessa Runima
Millicent Cosima Artemis
Minerva May
Ottilie Flower Vandezee
Pandora Cleo Florence
Penelope Aubin
Romilly Winter Bo
Romy Beatrix Alma
Siena Saffron
Sybilla Eliza Juliet
Tabitha Mary
TinĂşviel Joanna Margaret Vyner
Topsy Malory
Tullia Teodora Bliss
Vaila Gianmarina Fraser
Violet Ethel Satchell
Vita Ottilie Gilbert
Xanthia Yasmin
Willa Florence Astrid
Willa Ottilie Jemima

Boy names

Alfred Winslow
Algernon Jake Rufus
Ambrose Ziggy Grenfell
Angus Edward Tennyson
Archie Percival Marsden
Arthur Santiago Balthazar
Artie Aubrey
Balthasar John Guillaume Maria
Bertie-Fox Burlington Leo
Caspar Constantine Boothby
Caspian Winter Campbell
Charles Tilden Laszlo
Cosmo John Benedict
Digby Arundell
Edoardo Hugh Italo
Felix Rafael Maximus
Ferdinand Maximilian Atoloye
Fiennes Albert Wykeham Charles
Francis Julian Valentine
Frederick Apollo William
Gus Henry Napier
Hamish Darcy
Hector George de Shordiche
Jago Aidan Sykes
James Horatio Somerled
Jonty Charles Quinlan
Lachlan Thomas Templeton
Louis Byng Holland
Ludo Percy Hansard
Magnus Theodore
Maximilian Aimé William
Merlin James Alexander
Mungo George Wilson
Orlando Valentine Lowry
Rafael Ruben Montgomery
Rafferty Charles Alexander
Raphaël John Perrin
RĂ©my Ambrose Achilles
Rex Henry Maxwell
Robin Iver Montague
Rollo Augustus Fuller
Rupert Bode Peveril
Sirocco Taraji Asiligwa
Theodore Bruin Figueroa
Theodore Wolf St Clair
Toby Willoughby Seabrooke
Valentine Patrick John
Vere Evelyn Michael
Xander Wylye Pakenham
Xavier Julius John
Wilfred Spencer Ives
Wolfe Nicholas Stanley
Wolfgang Phoenix

Sibsets

Albie, Edie and Sienna
Alexandra, Jemima, Francesca and Barnaby
Allegra, Violet and Otto
Antigone and Harrington (g)
Archer, Jacobi, Beau and Lucca (g)
Arthur, Ludovic and Vere (b)
Atticus and Wolfgang
Bertie and Jemima
Billy, Pippa and Jenny
Calliope and Barnaby
Cara, Cressida and Catinka
Cecilia, Wilfred and Barnaby
Celeste, Colette and Marceau
Clement and Jocelyn (b)
Coco and Ambrose
Cosmo and Caspar
Cosmo, Iona and Romilly
Digby and Nancy
Emerald and Bartholomew
Emmeline, Edith and Clara
Evangeline, Olive and Raphael
Florence, Ludo and Honor
Florence, Tobias, Barnaby, Arlo, Ottilie and Rafferty
Frank, Cosima and Daisy
Frank, Finetta, Edward and Octavia
Gia and Alba
Gabriel, Alice, Walter and Xander
Hamish, Rupert and Tobias
Hector, Edina and Douglas
Henry, Atticus and Margot
Herbert, Rocky and Huxley (g)
Hubert, Ziggy and Ovie (b)
Hubert, Beatrice, Emilia, Leo, Helena, Matilda and Alexia
Hugo and Cecily
Hunter, Indiana and Redford
Inigo, Ottilie and Honor
Iola and Antigoni
Iris, Lily and Clara
Jasper and Clementine
Juno and Rollo
Kezzie and Sephora
Kit and Nori
Lelio and Tullia
Lennox and Esme
Leo and Kristo
Ludovic and Tallulah
Lyra and Alba
Lysander and Amaryllis
Ned, Willow and Tiggy
Nell, Polly and Cosmo
Ophelia and Ottilie
Oscar, Jasper, Hamish and Willow
Otis and Reuben
Pia-Stella, James and Augusta
Ralph, Ronnie and Ned
Rex, Huxton and Delphi
Rory and Rafferty
Rowland and Constance
Sadie, Polly, Nell and Rory
Summer and Estella
Tessa, Charles and Flora (this rang a bell @KateHaynes!)
Tiggy and Effie
Theodora and Frederick
Walter, Cecily and Roland
Wilfred, Constance and Cecilia
Wilfred and Fergus
Willa and Cressida

Twins

Augusta Patience and Constantia Daphne
Barnaby David Thomas and Henry Joseph Thomas
Bartholomew Richard Peregrine Fitzjohn and Cordelia Noeline Annie Fitzjohn
Digby Fellows and Beau Fellows
Harry Holland and Annie Hartman
Hector Wilfrid and Toby Ignatius
Hector Guthrie James and Flora Diana Catherine
Huxley Harrison and Lilah Romalie
Jake Devereaux Pember and Rory John Bere
Mailys Jenny Campbell and Calla Joanie Rhoda
Otto Victor Ayoola and Leopold Felix Iyiola
Ralph Muir and Basil Richard
Zoe Elise and Nina Johanna

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What a wonderfully delightful list :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

Favourites…
[name_f]Annabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]
[name_f]Harriette[/name_f] (normally I love the [name_f]Harriet[/name_f] spelling, but this is gorgeous!)
[name_f]Henrietta[/name_f]
[name_f]Martha[/name_f]
[name_f]Ottilie[/name_f]
[name_f]Pandora[/name_f]
[name_f]Patience[/name_f]
[name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f]

[name_m]Alasdair[/name_m]
[name_u]Basil[/name_u]
[name_u]George[/name_u]
[name_m]Gilbert[/name_m]
[name_m]Hamish[/name_m]
[name_m]Ives[/name_m]
[name_m]Ivor[/name_m]
[name_u]Merlin[/name_u]
[name_m]Mungo[/name_m]
[name_u]Rafe[/name_u]
Rory/Ruaraidh

If I was naming, I’d probably go with…
[name_f]Harriette[/name_f] [name_f]Patience[/name_f] [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] & [name_u]Ruaraidh[/name_u] [name_m]Hamish[/name_m] [name_u]Basil[/name_u]

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these lists! :star_struck: :star_struck:

it was so hard to choose, but here’s my top 10 for girls & boys:
[name_f]Boudicca[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f]
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f]
[name_f]Estella[/name_f]
[name_f]Eugenie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ione[/name_f]
[name_u]Loveday[/name_u]
[name_f]Minerva[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosamond[/name_f]
[name_f]Thomasina[/name_f]

[name_m]Balthazar[/name_m]
[name_m]Beaumont[/name_m]
[name_m]Caspar[/name_m]
[name_m]Cosmo[/name_m]
[name_m]Ives[/name_m]
[name_m]Magnus[/name_m]
[name_u]Montgomery[/name_u]
[name_m]Marceau[/name_m]
[name_u]Willoughby[/name_u]
[name_m]Wolfgang[/name_m]

i think i’d probably go with [name_f]Rosamond[/name_f] [name_f]Ione[/name_f] & [name_m]Ives[/name_m] [name_u]Willoughby[/name_u].

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[name_f]My[/name_f] top tens from these lists…

[name_f]Astrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f]
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f]
[name_f]Flora[/name_f]
[name_f]Ottilie[/name_f]
[name_f]Tiggy[/name_f]
[name_f]Eugenie[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]
[name_f]Martha[/name_f]
[name_u]Hero[/name_u]

[name_m]Ambrose[/name_m]
[name_u]Henry[/name_u]
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m]
[name_u]Rory[/name_u]
[name_m]Atticus[/name_m]
[name_m]Cosmo[/name_m]
[name_m]Maximilian[/name_m]
[name_m]Horatio[/name_m]
[name_m]Magnus[/name_m]
[name_m]Caspar[/name_m]

If I was naming, I’d go with [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] [name_u]Hero[/name_u] and [name_m]Ambrose[/name_m] [name_m]Horatio[/name_m].

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This is too much of a feast! I’ve had to pause after the boys list to digest. The variety and eccentricity!

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Such gorgeous names! :heart_eyes:

My favorite combos:

Amaryllis Oriana Clio
Astrid Florence Merlin (I’m losing my mind over Merlin especially! :two_hearts:)
Catinka Eugenie Mia
Delphine Eulalia Louisa!!
Flora Mima Charlotte
Francesca Rosamond Andree
India Rose Farquhar
Indigo Robin Vita!!
Jemima Margaux Cordelia
Lily Fenella
Lyra Veryan Tiger!! (very cool)
Marina Linda Lavallin
Margot Sita Vanessa Runima
Millicent Cosima Artemis!
Ottilie Flower Vandezee !
Romilly Winter Bo!!
Romy Beatrix Alma (stunning!)
Sybilla Eliza Juliet (beautiful!)
Tabitha Mary
Vaila Gianmarina Fraser !!
Violet Ethel Satchell (Oh i love this)
Willa Ottilie Jemima !!

Ambrose Ziggy Grenfell
Arthur Santiago Balthazar !!
Baltasar John Guillaume Maria
Casper Constantine Boothby
Caspian Winter Campbell !!
Cosmo John Benedict !
Edoardo Hugh Italo (handsome!)
Felix Rafael Maximus (Wow!)
Frederick Apollo William
Merlin James Alexander!
Remy Ambrose Achilles (So cool!)
Rex Henry Maxwell!
Robin Iver Montague
Theodore Wolf St Clair!!
Valentine Patrick John
Xavier Julius John
Wolfgang Phoenix!!

From these lists, I would choose…
Alba
Margot
Cecily
Beatrix
Clio
Cordelia
Daphne
Flora
Leonora
Ottilie
Tallulah
Romilly
Vita
Bonibel!!
Catinka
Eulalia
Amaryllis
Loveday

Achilles
Constantine
Ives
Penrose
Ambrose
Bertram
Balthazar
Cosmo
Ivor
Maximilian
Montgomery
Merlin
Orlando
Valentine
Wolf
Rex

& honorary mention to: Bartholomew, Henry, Augustus, Alastair, Atticus, Magnus, Caspar, Leopold, Estella, Anabelle, Clementine, Beaumont, Gustav, & Italo

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First of all, thanks for describing posh! As an American I’ve been taking in the word with context clues, but name-wise it can be confusing because what is considered a posh name in [name_u]Britain[/name_u] might have a totally different vibe here (I’m specifically thinking of the name [name_f]Rosa[/name_f] which has been described as posh before, which is not regarded a posh-equivalent in the US). On the other hand, I think a name like [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] does come up more frequently in upper class families here.

[name_f]My[/name_f] favorite on the list all fall under that first category of girl names, that are featured in the Telegraph more than once: [name_f]Flora[/name_f], [name_f]Cecily[/name_f], [name_f]Leonora[/name_f], [name_u]Romilly[/name_u], with a lot of the other names in that section being strong love-for-someone-else names.

Under boys names, I would 100% use [name_m]Edgar[/name_m], and I like [name_m]Hector[/name_m] a lot too. Neither would be the equivalent of posh where I live though!

Overall from these lists I would name my son [name_m]Edgar[/name_m] [name_m]Orlando[/name_m] and my daughter [name_f]Flora[/name_f] [name_u]Romilly[/name_u].

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I personally don’t love the term because it’s all based in class divisions and class prejudice. But it’s an extremely common and versatile word in the UK.

“Posh” as an adjective can be good (elegant, refined, special) or bad (pompous, pretentious, exclusive), but it’s all based on social hierarchy and the perception that some things, including names, are intrinsically higher/lower class. Which is obviously an uncomfortable and controversial idea.

However, it’s impossible to deny that these class divisions still do exist in modern Britain — and are keenly felt and much discussed, hence the prevalence of the word “posh” to describe anything from home decor to spoken accents, or from food preferences to baby names. We’re still a class-obsessed society, unfortunately.

Anyway, sorry for the derail! I love your combos :heart_eyes:

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[name_m]Lysander[/name_m] & Amaryllis!!!

[name_u]Jasper[/name_u] & Clementine!!!

[name_m]Atticus[/name_m] & Wolfgang!!

Nice to see…

[name_m]Ambrose[/name_m]
[name_m]Atticus[/name_m]
[name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]
Catinka (I had no idea [name_f]Katinka[/name_f] was not just a username until I saw this and looked it up haha!!) I think it’s so cute and reminds me of childhood stories!
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f]
[name_f]Sephora[/name_f]
[name_f]Tallulah[/name_f]
[name_m]Ignatius[/name_m]
[name_m]Wilfred[/name_m]

And a number of others I’d list if it weren’t bedtime!

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I always feel so conflicted about the Telegraph names. Reading them is undoubtedly interesting but also a moment for reflection and critical thinking. Should I be worried that my favourites are there? Should I not care? Should I ask myself some questions about why I like the names I do (I already do this a lot)? I don’t know how to feel exactly but I’ll use the names I like and hope everyone else does the same.

One could write a dozen books about names and class especially given how both naming and the society have changed in just the past century. The upper classes have always had both classics and eccentric names while historically and generally the lower classes might have stuck to more popular and usual names to avoid standing out. The upper classes have felt more comfortable naming children Cressida, Vita and Algernon because they knew a name wouldn’t affect their children too negatively given all their privilege. These days, though, lower class names are very different from the past and I don’t really have any data on them. Today’s lower classes are extremely versatile as well while the upper classes to a lesser degree.

Anyways, some of my favourites are there.
The more unusual ones I like include Vita, Philippa, Artemis, Fenella, Jemima, Maximilian, Ignatius, Magnus, Augustus, Cosmo and Caspar to name a few.

But Grenfell??? :flushed: I can only wonder what the context for this choice was. And India with Britain’s colonial history just seems… wrong (though obviously I know nothing about the families that have used it).

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I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a family surname in this case. I checked and the baby in question wasn’t born around the anniversary of the tragedy. That or it was perhaps intended as a general honour name.

It’s been popular for a while in the UK, despite this history. It doesn’t sit comfortably with me either, but I think that for the general public (and certainly in Telegraph circles) it’s become quite a mainstream name now and not chosen to be “exotic”. I’m not saying that makes it OK to use, just that people are likely not even aware that there could be controversy around it.

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If I named a boy & girl from this list:

[name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] (nn Miri/Elena in Spanish)
&
[name_m]Ignatius[/name_m] [name_m]Wilfred[/name_m] (nn Nai/Inigo in Spanish)

or using 2 middles…

[name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]
(nn [name_f]Miri[/name_f], [name_f]Beatriz[/name_f] in Spanish)
&
[name_m]Ignatius[/name_m] [name_m]Wilfred[/name_m] [name_u]Valentine[/name_u]
(nn Nai, [name_m]Valentino[/name_m] in Spanish)

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I love the Telegraph names, there are so many gems! [name_f]My[/name_f] top 10s (using the blog post lists):

[name_f]Daphne[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]
[name_f]Flora[/name_f]
[name_f]Clio[/name_f]
[name_f]Philippa[/name_f]
[name_u]Romilly[/name_u]
[name_f]Araminta[/name_f]
[name_f]Eulalia[/name_f]
[name_f]Eugenie[/name_f]
[name_f]Tiggy[/name_f]

[name_m]Caspar[/name_m]
[name_m]Cosmo[/name_m]
[name_u]Valentine[/name_u]
[name_m]Rafferty[/name_m]
[name_u]Wolf[/name_u]
[name_m]Jago[/name_m]
[name_m]Jonty[/name_m]
[name_u]Willoughby[/name_u]
[name_m]Ives[/name_m]
[name_m]Achilles[/name_m]

I’d name a baby either [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_f]Philippa[/name_f] [name_f]Clio[/name_f] or [name_m]Caspar[/name_m] [name_u]Valentine[/name_u] [name_u]Wolf[/name_u] :white_heart:

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Oh this is tough! There’s so many great unique names!

Top 10 girls:
Astrid Florence Merlin
Clementine Athena Ottilie
Delphine Eulalia Louisa
Athene Rose Thomasina
Catinka Eugenie Mia
Minerva May
Ottilie Flower Vandezee
Romy Beatrix Alma
Cosima Annabel Edith
Francesca Rosamond Andrée

Top 10 Boys
Lachlan Thomas Templeton
Frederick Apollo William
Merlin James Alexander
RĂ©my Ambrose Achilles
Felix Rafael Maximus
Caspian Winter Campbell
Magnus Theodore
Arthur Santiago Balthazar
Toby Willoughby Seabrooke
Ferdinand Maximilian Atoloye

Top 5 sibsets
Calliope and Barnaby
Cosmo, Iona and Romilly
Hamish, Rupert and Tobias
Hugo and Cecily
Jasper and Clementine
Lyra and Alba
Iris, Lily and Clara
Oscar, Jasper, Hamish and Willow
Theodora and Frederick
Mailys Jenny Campbell and Calla Joanie Rhoda

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Some of these names are long-term favourites! These are the ones I love that weren’t really on my radar before: [name_m]Algernon[/name_m], [name_m]Balthazar[/name_m], [name_f]Sirocco[/name_f], [name_f]Alaia[/name_f] and [name_f]Lizanne[/name_f]. I’m also loving these spelling variations of [name_f]Harriette[/name_f], [name_f]Joanie[/name_f] and Romalie.

[name_f]My[/name_f] “posh” girl and boy name combos would be:
[name_f]Aline[/name_f] [name_f]Vita[/name_f] [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] and [name_m]Algernon[/name_m] [name_m]Leopold[/name_m] [name_m]Devereaux[/name_m] :green_book:

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I think these are a fascinating group of names. I find the mix of eccentric and ordinary, historical and modern, intriguing.

I do wonder what the demographic is of people who choose to pay for their child’s birth announcement to be placed in the Telegraph. I’ve lived in the UK for most of my life and I’ve never met anyone who has done that or even discussed it. I suspect it’s mainly people who come from established wealthy families, though that’s probably not always the case.

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It definitely is!! Not 100% of course, but there are many Lords, Ladies and noble surnames among the announcers.

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Late to the party (2 years late) but ah! Putting the baggage associated with Telegraph-reading aside, these names are stunning.
Top 10 girls (not including the names already on my list - [name_f]Nina[/name_f], [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], [name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], etc - because that would be boring):
[name_f]Gia[/name_f], [name_f]Constance[/name_f], [name_f]Sephora[/name_f], [name_f]Delphine[/name_f], [name_u]Cleo[/name_u], [name_f]Clementine[/name_f], [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f], [name_f]Vita[/name_f], [name_f]Elise[/name_f], [name_u]Romilly[/name_u]
[name_m]Rafferty[/name_m], [name_m]Wilfrid[/name_m], [name_m]Xavier[/name_m], [name_u]Francis[/name_u], [name_m]Eduardo[/name_m], [name_m]Cosmo[/name_m], [name_m]Magnus[/name_m], [name_m]Maximilian[/name_m], [name_m]Otis[/name_m], [name_u]Albie[/name_u]
Naming children from this list… girls would be [name_f]Nina[/name_f] [name_f]Sybilla[/name_f] [name_u]Bo[/name_u], [name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_f]Athene[/name_f] [name_f]Willa[/name_f], [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] [name_f]Vaila[/name_f] [name_f]Francesca[/name_f], [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f], and [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_u]Lucca[/name_u] Tamsin; boys would be [name_m]Cosmo[/name_m] [name_m]Rafael[/name_m] [name_u]Spencer[/name_u], [name_m]Rafferty[/name_m] [name_u]Archer[/name_u] [name_u]Beau[/name_u], [name_u]Arthur[/name_u] [name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] [name_m]Wolfe[/name_m], [name_m]Otis[/name_m] [name_u]Gabriel[/name_u] [name_m]Xander[/name_m] and [name_u]Albie[/name_u] [name_f]Devereux[/name_f] [name_m]Ned[/name_m].