What were the top names of the Elizabethan era?
Elea of British Baby Names recently published a great list of names popular during the Elizabethan era (late 16th century) in the Norfolk region. Here are the top 10 names for each gender:
Male Names | Female Names |
---|---|
1. John 2. Thomas 3. William 4. Robert 5. Richard 6. Edward 7. Henry 8. Edmund 9. Nicholas 10. James | 1. Elizabeth 2. Margaret 3. Mary 4. Ann 5. Agnes 6. Alice 7. Dorothy 8. Joan 9. Katherine 10. Bridget |
I thought it would be fun to compare this list to a couple of earlier historical name lists from England, so here are the most common names from King Henry III’s fine rolls (13th century):
Male Names | Female Names |
---|---|
1. William 2. John 3. Richard 4. Robert 5. Henry 6. Ralph 7. Thomas 8. Walter 9. Roger 10. Hugh | 1. Alice 2. Matilda 3. Agnes 4. Margaret 5. Joan 6. Isabella 7. Emma 8. Beatrice 9. Mabel 10. Cecilia |
And, even further back, here are the most-mentioned male names and female names in the Domesday book (11th century):
Male Names | Female Names |
---|---|
1. William 2. Robert 3. Ralph 4. Aelfric 5. Alwin 5. Hugh 7. Roger 8. Godwin 9. Walter 10. Godric | 1. Aldgyth 2. Aelfeva 2. Leofeva 2. Wulfeva 5. Bricteva 5. Edeva 7. Emma 7. Godiva 9. Goda 10. Edith |
The last two lists may not represent the top given names of their time periods very accurately, but they do give you a sense of how given names in England have changed over time.
Very interesting lists!
For some reason, the Henry VIII one seems the most hip.
Glad you liked them!
It does, I agree — the girls’ side especially.