I’m fascinated by names and trends in naming children. In my novels I take real care over the names I give my characters, and sometimes I am criticised for what some people think of as strange names, but as I have an unusual first and surname and married name too, I feel justified in having some ‘odd’ namings. But what is odd. When my children were born it was unusual to call a boy Wilfred, even rather comical, it’s very popular now, ditto Phyllis and Audrey… although obviously they are girls’ names – it would be very unusual to have a boy called Phyllis or Audrey. Sometimes, names ‘change gender – Shirley for example was originally a man’s name but now is almost always a female name; in fact, the only man I can think of is the late wrestler, Shirley Crabtree.
In the paper today there was a report which listed some of the names which are finding favour at the moment, and many of them come from the Middle Ages. Old English names, such as Alfred, Millicent and Elvina are being given to more children now, as well as Cole, Ned, Audley, Peyton, Wyatt and Kendra, Kim and Winnie. I read the birth announcements regularly, and I have to say that I haven’t noticed these names, and I did think Kim was always quite popular. The article goes on to give examples of some really unusual names, ‘Lansera (Arsenal spelt backwards), Galaxy Star, Egypt, Kaseza, Cash, Mysti-Rae and Woodrow’.
I’ll have to bear this in mind if i have any babies born in any of my stories!
Lois Elsden 
Too bad the babies don’t have a say in what there names are going to be then things would be different. It’s one thing to give a pet a silly name but babies grow up to be adults. By the way most of our cats when I was a boy in England were called Tibby. Somehow that sounded appropriate for a cat.
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I’d forgotten Tibby… I think my mums cat was Tibbles!
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I love playing with names. I found that our family tree is sure a rich source.
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Isn’t it just? So interesting to see the waves of names as fashion changes!
How are you Alice? Hope all is well with you!
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All is well here–I hibernated all winter. Missed my blog buddies and have been feeling refreshed.
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Glad to hear it! I hope spring is with you now!
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How about my friend’s cat Emanon–No Name–backwards. I think it sounds elfish.
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it does… I love the playful creation of names! Eartnillab Trop… my favourite place! (Backwards!)
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