Wondering which names were the most popular in Austria, say, 116 years ago? Of course you are!
Luckily, the New York Times has the answer. In 1895, the paper reported that the most popular names in Austria “according to the last census” were these:
Male Names | Female Names |
---|---|
Franz (1,834,000 males) Johann (1,380,000) Josef (1,085,000) Leopold (584,000) Wenzel (448,000) | Anna (1,780,000 females) Maria (1,632,000) Elizabeth (1,260,000) |
The name Wenzel comes (via Wenceslaus, via Václav) from the Slavic name Veceslav, made up of elements meaning “more” and “glory.”
In 1895, Austria was actually part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a dual monarchy ruled by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. (The 1914 assassination of his nephew/heir presumptive, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, is what kicked off WWI.)
Sources:
- “Austria’s Most Popular First Names.” New York Times 28 Aug. 1895: 4.
- Wenzel – Behind the Name
Image: LOC