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 (16th cen.) | Female names (16th cen.) |
| 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 (13th cen.) | Female names (13th cen.) |
| 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 (11th cen.) | Female names (11th cen.) |
| 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.
Image: Adapted from Elizabeth I of England (public domain)
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.