Novelist Therese Creed, and her husband Cedric, welcomed their fifth child and first daughter on April 28, and have named her Annette Kathleen. Annette Creed weighed 3.2 kg (7lb 2oz).
Therese’s first romance novel, Redstone Station, was published last year and became a best seller. Her latest book, Charlotte’s Creek, will be released next month. When not writing, Therese helps run the family cattle station in Queensland. Cedric is a farmer; he met Therese when she was riding the Bicentennial National Trail from Victoria to Queensland in 2003/2004. They live in Bajool, about an hour from Gladstone.
Therese’s heroines are named Alice and Lucy, but her daughter has a much less common name. Parents in country areas seem more likely to choose retro and vintage names, and I think this one is charming.
The data on popular names are all in, but maybe none of the current Top 100 names interest you. Or perhaps you are dismayed at how much your favourite names went up in popularity last year. If so, why not look at the popular names of ninety years ago, to see if there are some gems from times gone by that are ready to shine again?
Agnes
Agnes of Rome was a 3rd century child martyr. According to tradition, she was a member of the Roman nobility, raised in a Christian family, and a very beautiful young girl. She is said to have been only twelve or thirteen when she died, and like Saint Catherine, is one of the patrons of young girls; the eve of her feast day was a time for girls to perform rituals to discover their future husbands. The name Agnes was very popular in the Middle Ages; one of its attractions was probably that in medieval English it was softened into Annis, so that it sounded as it was related to Anne. The name Agnes is from the Greek for “pure”, but because it sounds similar to the Latin for “lamb”, agnus, Saint Agnes is often depicted holding a lamb. Agnes was #28 for the 1900s, and by the 1920s had fallen to #77. It left the Top 100 in the 1930s, and hasn’t ranked since the 1940s, but is now getting some use again. This soft, elegant name has been chosen for their daughter by several celebrities, including Jennifer Connolly. It is the name of a little girl in the movie Despicable Me, and currently popular in Scandinavia. It feels as if Agnes is already making a comeback.
Beryl
Gemstone name; beryls are stones which in pure form are colourless, but usually tinted by impurities in a variety of shades. Green beryls are called emeralds, and light blue ones are aquamarines, but all colours of beryl have their own name. The word beryl is ultimately from Sanskrit, probably derived from the town of Belur in southern India. Beryl has been used as a first name since the 17th century, but only became popular during the 19th, along with other gemstone names. Historically, it has been used as a male name too, mostly in the United States, perhaps as a variant of the surname Berrill (an occupational name from the wool trade), and the Yiddish name Berel (pet form of Ber, “bear”). Beryl was #61 in the 1900s, and peaked in the 1920s at #8. It left the Top 100 in the 1950s and hasn’t ranked since the 1960s. Beryl is the bossy cook in Downton Abbey, and the evil queen in the Sailor Moon cartoons. This would make a daring gemstone revival, and offers the nickname Berry.
Elva
Variant of the Scandinavian girl’s name Alva, or an Anglicised form of the Irish unisex name Ailbhe, pronounced like Alva, and one of the influences on the name Elvis. You could see Elva as a specifically feminine form of Elvis, and the Irish origin seems most likely in Australia. Elva was #160 for the 1900s, and peaked in the 1920s at #97, before falling steeply; it last ranked in the 1950s. Elva was a “trendy” name in its day, but its relative obscurity has saved it from seeming dated. I have seen several babies named Elva recently, and it doesn’t seem out of place amongst the Evas and Avas.
Gwendoline
Variant of the Welsh name Gwendolen, first used for a legendary queen of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his History of the Kings of Britain. According to this legend, Gwendolen was the daughter of King Corineus of Cornwall. She defeated her husband after he repudiated her in favour of his mistress; he was killed in battle, and Gwendolen had the mistress drowned. She then took the throne as the first independent queen of the Britons, and ruled for fifteen peaceful years. Gwendolen appears in Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene, and in the poems of William Blake, as a symbol of British sovereignty. Gwendolen has been translated as “white ring, white bow”, although it may have been an attempt to Latinise another Welsh name. Geoffrey re-used the name Gwendolen for the name of Merlin’s wife in his Life of Merlin. Gwendolen and Gwendoline were revived in the Victoria era as part of the fascination with Arthurian names, and names from British legend. Gwendoline was #68 in the 1900s, and peaked in the 1920s at #35. It left the Top 100 in the 1940s, and hasn’t ranked since the 1950s. It still receives occasional use, and has an upper-class British feel to it, while giving Gwen and Winnie as nicknames.
Hilda
Originated as a short form of Germanic names with hild in them, meaning “battle”. Hilda of Whitby was a 7th century saint from Northumberland, and her name in Old English is Hild. Born into royalty, she was baptised as part of the mission by Pope Gregory the Great to convert the English to Christianity. Hilda became a nun, then founded a monastery at Whitby (it was in the Celtic style, where men and women lived separately, but worshipped together). Hilda is described as a woman of great intelligence and energy, a fine abbess and teacher, so wise that rulers came to her for advice, yet caring towards ordinary people. Hilda was #27 in the 1900s, and #71 by the 1920s; it left the Top 100 by the 1930s, and hasn’t ranked since the 1940s. Hilda is a popular name in Sweden, giving this name a sexy Scandinavian feel as well as a sturdy English one; it doesn’t seem radically different from Heidi, and is even slightly like Matilda. It would be an unusual choice, but by no means a strange one.
Kathleen
Anglicised form of Cáitlin, the Irish form of Catelin, the Old French form of Catherine. The Irish Cáitlin can be said kat-LEEN, so it’s just a step to Kathleen. This name has a very Irish association, for Kathleen Ni Houlihan is an emblem of Irish nationalism representing the country of Ireland. She is usually depicted as an old woman who has lost her home and her lands, needing young men willing to fight and die for her. Once she has been rejuvenated by their martyrdom, she appears young and beautiful, and proud as a queen. It combines myths of both paganism and Christianity, and Kathleen Ni Houlihan has appeared in folk songs and poems, and the literary works of William Butler Yeats, Lady Augusta Gregory, Sean O’Casey, and James Joyce, amongst others. The name Kathleen was #10 in the 1900s, peaked in the 1910s at #5, and was #11 by the 1920s. A long time favourite, it didn’t leave the Top 100 until the 1990s, but hasn’t ranked since the late 2000s. Despite being out of fashion, this name was popular for more than eighty years, and still seems fresh and wholesome, with a hint of Irish charm.
Mabel
Short form of Amabel, from the Latin name Amibilis, meaning “lovable”. There were both male and female saints named Amabilis, and the female one is often known as Saint Mable to prevent confusion. Mabel was a popular name in the Middle Ages, and is found in a range of variant spellings; it is thought that it was originally said MAB-ell rather than the current MAY-bel. Mabel became rare in England, but remained in use in Ireland, where it was used to Anglicise the name Maeve. It was revived in the 19th century when Charlotte M. Yonge used it in her best-selling romance, The Heir of Reclyffe, for a character with an Irish background. Mabel was #30 in the 1900s, and had fallen to #90 by the 1920s, leaving the Top 100 the following decade. Mabel left the charts in the 1950s, but returned in the late 2000s. This retro name has plenty of spunk, and although it isn’t popular yet, don’t be surprised if it is again some day.
Monica
Saint Monica was the mother of Augustine of Hippo. A devout Christian, it was her dearest wish for her pagan son to become one as well, and after seventeen years her prayers were answered when he was converted by Saint Ambrose. Of course Augustine went the whole hog and ended up a saint, and a doctor of the church as well. Saint Monica was rather neglected after her death, but her cult became popular during the Middle Ages. Monica was from Libya and her name a Berber one that was common at the time; it is derived from the Libyan god Mon, a form of Amon, one of the most important of the Egyptian gods. In the Middle Ages, the origins of her name being unknown, it was decided that it must come from monere, Latin for “to advise, to warn”. Although this neatly tied in with Saint Monica’s story, it was etymologically incorrect. Monica was #141 in the 1900s, and peaked in the 1920s at #91; it had a minor peak in the 1990s at #127, coinciding with the sitcom Friends, which had the character of Monica Geller. Monica has never left the charts, but never been higher than the bottom of the Top 100, making it a genuine underused classic. It still sounds slightly exotic, and makes a pretty, sophisticated choice that’s never been common.
Peggy
Short form of Margaret, meaning “pearl”. It’s a variant of Meggy which has been in use since medieval times. Peggy first ranked in the 1910s at #189, and peaked in the 1920s at #63. It fell sharply, leaving the Top 100 by the following decade, and hasn’t ranked since the 1980s. Peggy is now staging a comeback, as it fits in perfectly with the trend for vintage and retro short forms. The ambitious career woman Peggy Olsen from Mad Men is a feminist icon, and this name has been chosen as a celebrity baby name by both MP Jacinta Allan, and media personality Chrissie Swan.
Una
Anglicised form of Úna, a medieval Irish name believed to come from the Old Irish for “lamb”. In Irish mythology, Úna was a fairy queen, wife of Finnbheara, the high king of the fairies. It is pronounced OO-na, and was sometimes Anglicised to Agnes, because of the lamb connection, as well as Winnie or Juno, based on similar sounds. Una is also a name created by Edmund Spenser for his epic poem, The Faerie Queene. In the allegory, Una represents the “True Church” (Protestantism), and defeats the representation of the “False Church” (Catholicism). Spenser seems to have based her name on the Latin for “one” (to reference unity and a single choice of faith); the name is said YOO-na. However, Spenser wrote his poem while living in Ireland, and it is hard not to wonder if he had been influenced by the Irish name. Una was #94 in the 1900s, and peaked in the 1920s at #69, leaving the Top 100 the following decade. It hasn’t ranked since the 1940s, but this name is really quite beautiful, and with its clear simplicity, doesn’t seem odd next to Ava and Mia.
(Picture shows women holidaying at Palm Beach in Sydney in the 1920s; photo from the State Library of New South Wales)
Businesswoman Roxy Jacenko, who runs fashion PR firm Sweaty Betty, and her investment banker husband Oliver Curtis, welcomed their second child on April 30 and have named their son Hunter. Hunter Curtis is little brother to Pixie-Rose, aged 2, whose birth was announced on the blog.
Since we last met the Curtis family, Roxy and Oliver have got married, Roxy has released a new book and been diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy, Oliver has been charged with and pleaded not guilty to insider trading, and Pixie-Rose has already become a star on Instagram, with her own account. Busy, busy, busy!
Comedian Hamish Blake, and his wife Zoe Foster Blake, welcomed their first child on May 10 and have named their son Sonny Donald. Sonny Blake shares his middle name with his father.
Hamish has been covered on the blog twice, once for his surname, and again for his first name. Zoe is a writer; her first novel, Air Kisses, was published in 2008, and her fourth, The Wrong Girl was released a few months ago. Zoe is also a blogger on beauty website Fruity Beauty, has written a book of beauty tips called Amazing Face, and has her own skin care range called Go To. She is the dating columnist at Cosmopolitan, and has written a dating and relationship guide called Textbook Romance, with contributions from Hamish. She writes a pop culture column for Sunday Style. Hamish and Zoe were married on December 11 2012, which was Hamish’s birthday.
Zoe and Hamish joked that they had called their baby Dracula Von Sandwich Twinklestar, and back in February, Zoe said in an interview that they still hadn’t decided on names, although there were several they liked and kept changing their minds. She noted that “odd” names are really popular now, and everyone is used to “kooky” names, so whatever name they picked would fit in. She did say they wouldn’t go “really crazy weird” though, as they would be naming an adult rather than a baby.
It sounds as if they were after a name that was “different but not too different”, and Sonny fits the bill, as it is not in the Top 100, but not too far away from it either.
Veteran journalist Peter Harvey was greatly loved and admired during his long career, and known to colleagues as “the voice of God”. A fifth-generation reporter, he won numerous awards for his work in Australia, Britain, and the United States. Peter passed away in March last year, and since then both his children have welcomed new babies to the family.
Peter’s daughter Claire Harvey is the deputy editor of the Sunday Telegraph, and she is married to Ross Neilson, director of the Salmon Neilson Company, which offers communication, media, and governmental advice to corporations and industry groups. On September 30 they welcomed their first child, a son named Reg, who was born at Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick.
Peter’s son Adam Harvey is a reporter on the ABC’s 7.30 Report, and he is married to Eliza Harvey, a presenter on the ABC’s Weekend Breakfast. Eliza is the daughter of award-winning journalist Geraldine Doogue, who for many years has been the host of ABC’s Compass, and retired journalist Tim Blue, who until recently was a senior finance writer for The Australian. At the beginning of the year, Adam and Eliza welcomed their son Sean.
With such pedigrees behind them, you would expect Reg and Sean to become their family’s 7th generation of journalists, but we will have to wait and see.
(Top photo shows Claire Harvey with baby Reg; bottom photo shows Adam and Claire with their parents Anne and Peter Harvey)
Model Megan Gale, and her partner, AFL footballer Shaun Hampson, welcomed their first child on May 13 and have named their son River Alan Thomas. River Hampson was born at 4.47 am weighing 3.87 kg (8lb 5oz). Rivers is Megan’s mother’s maiden name, Alan is after Megan’s father, and Thomas after Shaun’s father.
Megan won a Perth modelling competition at the age of 18, and has modelled for Italian fashion houses and Australian designers. She has appeared in advertisements in Italy, and in 2003 was chosen by the Australian Tourist Commission to represent the face of Australia in Italy. She was ambassador for department store David Jones for ten years; the longest fashion contract in Australia. Megan retired from catwalk modelling in 2008 after fifteen years, and has also worked as an actress and television presenter. Currently she is the host of Project Runway Australia, and an ambassador for L’Oreal .
Shaun played for Carlton from 2007 to 2013, and this year has signed with Richmond. He and Megan have been dating since 2011.
Leigh Sales, host of the ABC’s 7.30 Report, and her husband, animator Phil Willis, welcomed their son James in March. James Willis was born at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and joins big brother Daniel, aged 2; Daniel’s birth was announced on the blog. Leigh is currently on maternity leave.
Politician Alistair Coe, and his wife Yasmin, welcomed their first child on May 16, and have named their son Angus Bruce. Angus Coe was born at John James Hospital, weighing 3.2 kg and 50 cm in length. He and his father share the same middle name – and the same initials, ABC.
Alistair is a member of the Liberal Party, and was elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in the Ginninderra electorate in 2008. He is the deputy leader of the ACT Liberals, and holds several shadow portfolios. Yasmin is in the public service, and she and Alistair were married last year.
NRL star Corey Parker, and his wife Margaux, welcomed their son on May 18 and have named him Jagger Steele. Jagger Parker has a big sister named Memphis, aged 4, and a big brother named Wylei, aged 3. The Parkers have explained Jagger’s name wasn’t inspired by Mick Jagger, as they are Elvis Presley fans; they just liked the name. Corey has played with the Brisbane Broncos since 2001, and is the team’s co-captain. He also plays for the national squad, the Prime Minister’s XIII, and for his state team, the Queensland Maroons. He will be playing in the first State of Origin match this Wednesday.
Cricketer Michael Hogan, and his wife Rachel, recently welcomed a daughter who they have named Ambrosia. Ambrosia Hogan has a big brother named Buddy, aged 2. Michael has played for Western Australia and the Hobart Hurricanes, and since last year has been with the Glamorgan County Cricket Club in Wales. Although able to be in Perth for Ambrosia’s birth, Michael has had to return to Wales alone; his family will join him next month.
NRL player Tony Williams, and his wife, welcomed their first child a year ago and named their son Tremaine. Tony is so gigantic, at 192 cm (6’4″) and 118 kg (260 lb), that his nickname is T-Rex; however he says his son was a normal-sized baby, although getting to be a “big boy” now. With another T name, there could be a T-Rex Junior. After playing for Parramatta and Manly, Tony signed with the Canterbury Bulldogs last year. He has played for Australia, Tonga, New South Wales, and City.
Rugby union player Taqele Naiyaravoro, and his wife Ethel, welcomed their first child almost a year ago and named their daughter Ella. Taqele, who was 21 at the time, delivered Ella himself. Taquele is originally from Fiji, and started out in rugby league for the Wests Tigers before switching codes this season to play for the NSW Waratahs.
Channel 9 presenter Leila McKinnon, and her husband, Channel 9 CEO David Gyngell, welcomed their second child on May 21, and have named their daughter Gwendolen, nicknamed “Gwen“. Gwendolen Gyngell joins big brother Edmund, nicknamed “Ted“. Ted’s birth was announced on the blog.
Journalist and socialite Kate Waterhouse, and her husband Luke Ricketson, welcomed their first child on May 30, and have named their daughter Sophia Edie. Sophia Ricketson was born at the Mater Hospital in Sydney, weighing 3.1 kg (7 lb).
Kate is a freelance fashion journalist with her own blog, and has a weekly interview column at The Sun-Herald called Date With Kate. She is the daughter of horse trainer Gai Waterhouse and former bookmaker Robbie Waterhouse, and is the sister of bookmaker Tom Waterhouse. Tom and his wife Hoda had a baby girl named Rose last year, who is Sophia’s cousin.
Luke is a former rugby league star and captain of the Sydney Roosters who began his career in the 1990s. He was chosen for City and New South Wales in rep football, and played for both Australia and Ireland internationally. Luke retired in 2005 after playing 301 games with the Roosters, which still stands as the club record. He is the son of Doug Ricketson, who played rugby league for the Eastern Suburbs and Penrith in the 1960s. Kate and Luke were married in Italy in 2012.
Alternative country-rock singer Henry Wagons, and his wife Melvis Crawford, welcomed their daughterCasper Henrietta eight months ago. Henry refers to his daughter as “Casper the friendly girl”. Henry is the front man for Melbourne band Wagons, who are about to release their sixth studio album, and are on an Australian tour. Melvis was once a DJ on the Team Disgusting radio show on Life FM in the UK, which included alternative comedian Noel Fielding.
Artist Bindi Cole, and her husband Daniel Chocka, welcomed a baby boy named Eli earlier this year. Bindi is an award-winning Melbourne artist who works principally with photography, and her works have been exhibited at the National Gallery of Australia, Gallery of Modern Art, Art Gallery of Western Australia, and Horsham Regional Art Gallery. Many of her works explore Indigenous culture and heritage, and also her Christian faith. Bindi’s name has been covered on the blog, and it is worth mentioning that her father ascribes the meaning “morning star” to it.
(Photo of Henry, Melvis, and Casper from Melvis Crawford’s Facebook page)
Newcastle Knights player Akuila Uate, and his wife Samantha, recently welcomed their daughterMiriama Alumeci, a sister for Tatianna, aged 3; Tatianna’s birth was announced on the blog. Akuila is originally from Fiji, and moved to Australia to play rugby league while still a schoolboy. Even as a teenager, he was tipped to become a future star of the game. He has been with the Newcastle Knights for all his career so far, since 2008, and has won Winger of the Year three years in a row, in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Akuila has also played for Fiji, Australia, New South Wales, Country Origin, the NRL All Stars, and the Prime Minister’s XIII. The family’s surname is said yoo-AH-tay.
Former player Luke Patten, and his wife Rebecca, recently welcomed their son Brody Zane. Brody Patten’s birth was announced on ABC’s Grandstand this evening. Luke began his career playing for the Illawarra Steelers in 1998, and for the St George Illawarra Dragons after the clubs’ merger in 1999. He was with the Canterbury Bulldogs for almost ten years, and ended his career in the UK, playing for the Salford City Reds. When he retired in 2010, he was one of the last remaining former Illawarra Steelers players in the NRL. Last year, Luke took up a new role as a video referee, and often appears on Grandstand and other ABC shows to explain reffing decisions.
On June 6 it was the 70th anniversary of D-Day – the beginning of the invasion of Normandy by the Allied forces during World War II. D-Day was a turning point in the war, as the Normandy invasion provided a decisive victory for the Allied forces. More than 3000 Australians fought in the campaign, mostly in the air force.
D-Day veterans from all over the world gathered at the beaches of Normandy for the D-Day commemorations, and Australian former pilots Robert Cowper, Stuart Davis, Phillip Elger, Francis Evans, Ronald Houghton, Billy Purdy, and Frederick Riley joined the Australian Prime Minister on his visit to France for the official international ceremony. Six of these men were awarded France’s highest decoration, the Legion of Honour, for their part in D-Day’s aerial assault (Robert Cowper had already received the Legion of Honour in 2012).
The day after the commemorations, the Prime Minister continued his tour of France by visiting a town near Amiens, the scene of a 1918 battle on the Western Front which was a crucial turning point in World War I. Two Australian brigades took part in the counter-attack, with many losing their lives in the successful attempt to secure the town of Villers-Bretonneux, ending the German offensive in the Somme, and keeping the town out of enemy hands for the rest of the war.
After World War I, money donated by school children in Victoria was used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux, called the Victoria School. A plaque at the school pledges Australian friendship with France, and in the playground, and above every blackboard, is written Do not forget Australia. The townspeople never have forgotten: kangaroos decorate the town hall where the Australian flag flies, a service is held every Anzac Day, and the town maintains a war memorial to commemorate all Australians who died on the Western Front with no known grave.
To thank the people of Villers-Bretonneux for their kindness and warm welcome given to all Australian visitors to their town, and in recognition of the D-Day veterans given the Legion of Honour, today I am covering a name from northern France associated with honour.
Honoré is a French form of the Latin name Honoratus, meaning “esteemed, distinguished, honoured”. There are two French saints named Honoratus, and I will look at the one who was a 6th century bishop of Amiens – not only because of where he was born, but because he is most often called St. Honoré (the other one tends to be known as St. Honorat).
St Honoratus of Amiens was born in the Somme to a noble family, and is said to have been virtuous from birth. Because he was so humble, he didn’t want to become a bishop, considering himself unworthy of the role, but once he had been elected, a beam of light descended on his forehead and he found himself anointed with a mysterious sacred oil. That pretty much sealed the deal.
Legend says that when his hometown heard he been proclaimed bishop, his childhood nursemaid, who was baking bread at the time, refused to believe it. She said that she would believe the news only if the wooden shovel she was using to put the loaves of bread in the oven put down roots and turned into a tree.
Sure enough, when she planted the shovel in the ground, it turned into a mulberry tree which produced both flowers and fruit. The tree was still being shown to visitors in the 16th century, which is an extradordinarily long lifespan (some might say, suspiciously long) for a mulberry tree.
The cult of St Honoratus really took off after 1060 when the saint’s body was exhumed, and many miracles were said to have occurred. Reputedly, processions of his relics managed to prevent both droughts and floods, ensuring good wheat harvests, and therefore happy bakers.
In 1202, a baker donated land to the city of Paris to build a chapel in honour of St Honoratus. It became one of the richest chapels in the city, and gave its name to the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, now one of the most fashionable streets in the world, as it is filled with high-end boutiques.
In 1400 the bakers of Paris established their guild in the church of St Honoratus, and in 1659 Louis XIV ordered that every baker celebrate the feast day of St Honoratus on May 16, and give donations in the saint’s name to benefit the community. Even in modern France, bakers hold bread and pastry festivals on May 16, and during that week, bakers hold their annual meeting.
You may know the name of St. Honoré from the Gateau St. Honoré, a classic French dessert which has a puff pastry base with a ring of choux pastry around the edge. On top are small cream puffs dipped in caramelised sugar, and traditionally it is filled with crème pâtissière and whipped cream. It’s a popular birthday cake in France, and is also traditionally served at first communion parties.
The cake is said to have been created in the 19th century by the famous pastry chef Monsieur Chiboust, who named it both in honour of the saint, and because his own shop was on Rue St. Honoré in Paris – the street gaining its name from the church dedicated to St. Honoratus.
Honoré was a traditional name in the royal family of Monaco, and one its most famous namesakes is 19th century French novelist Honoré de Balzac. This is also an Australian celebrity baby name, because radio host Kate Langbroek has a son named Art Honore.
Honoré is an elegant, sophisticated boy’s name which could honour your French heritage, a connection to France, or even a family tradition of baking. The name is pronounced on-eh-RAY or o-no-RAY, making Onni or Ray fairly natural nicknames for an English-speaker. Although it might seem too challenging as a baby name in Australia, we have grown accustomed to Remy as a name here, so why not another French saint? Something to think about it is that, like Remy, Honoré has historically been used as a unisex name in Australia.
(Photo shows the plaque at the Victoria School in Villers-Bretonneux)
Actor Matthew Le Nevez, and his partner Michelle Smith, welcomed their first child last month and have named their son Levi.
Matthew is a NIDA graduate who has appeared in several films and television series. He won an AFI Award for the mini-series MarkingTime, and a Logie for the television movie The Society Murders. He has appeared in sci-fi show Farscape, and fantasy series The Seeker. Matthew became a fan favourite after joining the cast of hit drama series Offspring in 2011 as Dr Patrick Reid, and there was an outpouring of grief when Patrick was killed off last year. Despite leaving Offspring to pursue acting in the United States, Matthew will be joining the cast of Australian drama series Love Child, and has made appearances on Offspring in imagination sequences, with more appearances tipped for the future.
Michelle is an American who works in hospital equipment supply; she and Matthew live together in Los Angeles.
Imogen and Charles are expecting their second child later this year, and while they have had no difficulty choosing a boy’s name, they are struggling with girls’ names.
The couple already have a daughter named Allegra, and her name was always such a stand out for them that nothing else ever had a chance. Now they wish they could find that perfect name again: one that is strong, but still feminine, and not in the Top 100. It also has to be something that isn’t overshadowed by Allegra. Allegra has two family names as her middle names, one of which is Claire.
Imogen and Charles’ Short List
Iris
Clara
Margot
Greta
Greer
Other names they like (as an idea of their tastes):
Celine
Viola
Virginie
Sloane
Inneka
Charles favours the name Margot, while Imogen prefers Clara, Greta, and Greer. However, they have recently come up with Iris together, and at the moment this is their front runner.
Claire is a middle name which all the women in Imogen’s family carry, and they will use it again, unless they choose Clara as the first name. Their surname begins with H and ends with an -ee sound eg Hillary, Hardesty.
Imogen would love to know what people think of their name list, and if they have suggestions for other names they might like.
* * * * * * * * * *
This is such a common problem with a second baby – the name you chose for your first child was so utterly perfect it didn’t need to be thought about, but the name for the second doesn’t come as easily. Of course you want your second daughter to have a name as equally beautiful, distinctive and loved as her elder sister, and it will happen, even if it takes a bit more work to get there.
Iris
I went for a walk this morning, and saw a garden where there were some winter-blooming blue irises; I thought what beautiful flowers irises are, and what a lovely name Iris makes. I know Iris is your front-runner at the moment , and it’s probably my favourite on your list too. It does seem both strong and feminine, and I don’t believe it’s overshadowed by Allegra – it has its own style, and a beauty all it own. I also like that it’s a name you both chose together.
Clara
This is one of my favourite names, but I’m not sure about it with Allegra. You probably know that Allegra was the daughter of the poet Lord Byron, and her name was actually Clara Allegra – she went by her middle name. To me the two names seem a bit too much as sisters, especially as poor little Clara Allegra didn’t have a long life.
Margot
This is interesting, because just a few weeks ago a couple wrote in to the blog considering the name Margot for their second daughter. Margot suddenly feels like a name of the moment! No wonder, as it’s such a beautiful, stylish choice, and a great favourite with the public too, if the poll attached to the earlier post is anything to go by. I do like the way Margot sounds with your surname, and Allegra and Margot are gorgeous together.
Greta
Greta is definitely a strong name, and isn’t overshadowed by Allegra. Somehow when I say the two names together, they sound rather alike to me … They both have a strong GR and short e sound in them, and end with an -a sound. Some people really like similar-sounding sibling names like this, but I must admit to preferring them to sound more distinctive.
Greer
You seem to really like the GR sound in names! In theory, Greer should be the best match with Allegra as neither of them have ever charted, but to me this has the same issue as Greta, but even more so. Allegra and Greer almost seem to run into each other, as if Greer is the final syllable in Allegra given a little twist.
Other names you might like
Beatrice or Beatrix
Celia or Cecilia
Cora (a little like Clara)
Cosima (another Italian name, like Allegra)
Dahlia (another flower name like Iris)
Genevieve
Ingrid or Sigrid (other GR names)
Isadora
Marguerite (as you seem to like “Margaret” names)
Miriam
Pearl (literal meaning of Margaret)
Saskia
Seraphina or Sapphira
Theodora or Thea
Vivian or Vivienne
To me, all these names are very feminine, but still have strength to them, and they don’t seem mis-matched as sisters to Allegra. None of them are any more popular than the 200s; most are lower than that, and many don’t chart at all or have never charted.
However, I wonder if you have already picked out the perfect name? Good luck with your name search, and do let us know what name you eventually choose.
Readers, what do you think of the names Imogen and Charles are considering, and do you have any suggestions of names they might like?
(Painting shown is Irises by Vincent Van Gogh, 1889)
It was very hard to choose just ten Irish boys’ names, as there are so many commonly used Irish names for boys in Australia, especially if you include Irish surnames. It’s not surprising when you consider our strong Irish heritage, and because the Irish were here from the beginning of European settlement, they were never marginalised as happened in other countries.
Famous Australians with Irish heritage include bushranger Ned Kelly, Peter Lalor who led the Eureka Rebellion, actor Erroll Flynn, artist Sidney Nolan, rock singer Doc Neeson, philanthropist Daisy Bates, and our greatest prime minister, Ben Chifley. Those alive today include Governor-General Peter Cosgrove, Nicole Kidman, Kylie Minogue, surfer Mick Fanning, Socceroo Lucas Neill, author Tom Keneally, and former prime ministers Paul Keating and Kevin Rudd.
A reminder I haven’t included any names with fadas (accent marks), as they aren’t permitted in all states and territories.
Aidan
Anglicised form of Aodhán, a pet form of Aodh or Áed, meaning “fire” in Old Irish; there are many characters from Irish mythology named Aodh. St Aidan of Lindisfarne was an Irish-born monk known as the Apostle of Northumbria; he was famous for converting people by simply walking from village to village, politely chatting with people and introducing them to Christian beliefs by helping them in their daily lives. The name Aidan first ranked in the 1970s at #533, and by the 1980s was already #177. Aidan joined the Top 100 in 1993 at #92, and peaked in 2008 at #51. Currently Aidan is #99 in Victoria and #102 in the Australian Capital Territory. The Aiden spelling is more popular: this first charted in the 1980s at #368, joined the Top 100 in 1997 at #62 and peaked in 2009 at #35. Currently Aiden is #41 nationally, #45 in New South Wales, #45 in Victoria, #65 in Queensland, #47 in Western Australia, and #39 in the Australian Capital Territory. Even combining spellings, Aidan/Aiden is only #51 nationally. This doesn’t seem as if Aidan is very popular, yet it still has a reputation as an “overused” name because of the massive trend for sound-alike names, such as Hayden, Brayden, Caden, Jayden, Zayden etc. Aidan is #50 in Ireland and #43 in Northern Ireland.
Cian
In Irish mythology, Cian was a god and father of the hero Lugh of the Long Hand. According to folk tales, Cian possessed a magical cow which produced a superabundance of milk. During a quest to recover his cow after she had been stolen, he seduced a princess who had been locked up in a tower (it was the princess’ father who had stolen the cow). The tale sounds very much like the Greek myth of Danae, and the princess was imprisoned for the same reason – a prophecy said that the princess’ father would be killed by his grandson. Lugh the Longhand was born from this union, and eventually the prophecy was fulfilled when Lugh killed his grandfather in revenge for locking his mother in a tower. The name Cian means “long, enduring, far, distant” in Gaelic, and is pronounced KEE-in. It is often anglicised to Kian, which is in the 400s in Victoria. Cian is #15 in Ireland.
Connor
Variant of Conor, Anglicised form of the Gaelic name Conchobhar, meaning “lover of hounds”. There have been several real life Irish kings with this name, including a High King, and also the legendary Conchobhar mac Nessa, who was unsuccessfully married to both Queen Medb and Deirdre, but had many other wives. The name is the basis for the Irish surname O’Connor, meaning “grandson of Conchobhar”, and the Clan O’Conchubhair is a royal Irish dynasty whose lineage has provided one hundred kings of Connacht, and two High Kings of Ireland: some members of the noble O’Conor family of Ireland are the living descendants of the last High King of Ireland. Connor is a truly royal name, which must have an influence on its use. The name Connor has charted since the 1980s, debuting at #418. It joined the Top 100 in 1994 at #83, and peaked at #21 in 2003. Currently it is #43 nationally, #74 in New South Wales, #61 in Victoria, #33 in Queensland, #31 in Western Australia, #40 in Tasmania, and #69 in the Australian Capital Territory. Connor is #97 in Northern Ireland; Conor is #5 in Ireland and #17 in Northern Ireland.
Darragh
Variant of Dara, derived from from the Gaelic for “oak grove”. The oak was sacred to the Celts, and the word druid is directly related to the word for oak. The city of Derry in Northern Ireland has the same meaning. Darragh can also be an Anglicisation of the Old Irish name Dáire, meaning “fertile, fruitful, virile, sexually aroused”, but also “agitated, raging, violent, tumultuous”. It’s a very explicit meaning in regard to masculine sexuality, suggesting a sort of bestial lust. The Darini were an ancient peoples from Northern Ireland, and it would seem that Dáire was their ancestor or ancestral god. Several Irish noble families and Scottish clans claim descent from the Darini, as do the current British royal family. There are many kings and heroes from Irish legend named Dáire, but folklorists believe they are ultimately versions of the same mythological figure, who may have been a god of the battlefield. Darragh can be pronounced DAH-ruh, or DA-ra, and may seem like an updated Darren to Australians. Darragh is #20 in Ireland and #30 in Northern Ireland; Dara is #86 in Ireland, and Dáire is #88 in Northern Ireland.
Finn
Both the older Irish and Anglicised form of Fionn, meaning “blond, fair, white, bright”. Its most famous namesake is the mythical warrior and giant Find mac Cumail, transcribed in English as Finn McCool. Finn was a nickname – his real name was Deimne, meaning “sureness, certainty”, and gained his nickname after his hair turned prematurely white. Finn was brought up by a warrior woman who trained him in war and hunting, then he studied under a poet and druid. One day Finn was cooking a mystical salmon for his master which would give him all the knowledge in the world: he burned his thumb in the process, and instinctively put his thumb in his mouth to cool it, swallowing a piece of salmon skin. This gave Finn the wisdom of the salmon, and whenever he needed to draw on its power, he needed only to suck his thumb. Finn’s followers were called the Fianna, and it is from them the Fenian Brotherhood gained their name. According to legend, Finn is sleeping in a cave beneath Ireland, and will one day awake to defend Ireland in her hour of greatest need. Finn first charted in the 1990s at #287, and by 1997 was already in the Top 100 at #88. Currently it is #62 nationally, #68 in New South Wales, #60 in Victoria, #76 in Queensland, #40 in Western Australia, and #30 in the Australian Capital Territory. This is a handsome popular name that has helped drive the popularity of names such as Flynn and Finlay. Finn in #38 in Ireland and #56 in Northern Ireland; Fionn is #27 in Ireland and #70 in Northern Ireland.
Lorcan
Anglicised form of Lorcán, derived from the Irish Gaelic word for “fierce”. There have two been ancient Irish kings named Lorcán, and a medieval saint Lorcán Ua Tuathail whose name is Anglicised to Lawrence O’Toole. St. Lorcán was of royal blood, and became Archbishop of Dublin. He played a prominent role in the religious reform of the 12th century, spearheading a movement of spiritual renewal while bringing the church in Ireland closer to Rome. He was admired by both members of the church and the secular community for his many acts of charity to the poor – much needed at the time due to a severe famine. This is a cool Irish name which could be an alternative to names as Lachlan, Liam, or Declan. Lorcán is #67 in Northern Ireland.
Malachy
Anglicised form of Máel Sechlainn, meaning “follower of St. Seachnall”. St. Seachnall is an obscure 5th century Irish bishop who seems to have been of Italian origin; his name may be an Irish form of the Latin name Secundus, meaning “second (born)”, as he is also known as St. Secundius. The modern spelling of Malachy has been influenced by the Hebrew name Malachi, meaning “my messenger”, and therefore understood as “my angel”. However, Malachy is pronounced MAL-uh-kee, not MAL-uh-kie. There have two medieval High Kings of Ireland named Malachy, and also a St. Malachy, who was the first native-born Irish saint to be canonised. The saint’s name is an Anglicisation of Máel Máedóc, meaning “follower of St. Madoc”; Madoc was a 7th century Irish monk, and his name may come from the Welsh for “fortunate”. Malachy is an attractive name in occasional use, and AFL footballer Liam Picken has a young son named Malachy.
Oscar
Believed to mean “deer friend”. In Irish mythology, Oscar was the son of the warrior Oisin (“young deer”) and the fairy queen Niamh; he was the grandson of Finn McCool, and one of his warriors. Oscar was killed by a member of the increasingly corrupt Fianna, and upon his death, Finn wept for the first time in his life. The name Oscar was popularised in the 18th century by the poems of James McPherson; Napoleon was a great admirer of McPherson and gave his godson Oscar as one of his middle names. Later Napoleon’s godson became Oscar I of Sweden, and the name Oscar became traditional in Scandinavia. The Irish writer Oscar Wilde may have received his name because his mother collected Irish folk tales, but perhaps also because his father had travelled in Sweden, where he received honours from King Carl XV – Carl had a son named Oscar, born two years before Oscar Wilde, and sadly the little prince died just months before Oscar Wilde’s birth. Oscar was #103 for the 1900s, and sank before leaving the charts in the 1940s. It returned in the 1970s at #478, joined the Top 100 in 1998 at #98, and the Top 50 in 2004 at #47. Currently Oscar is #24 nationally, #27 in New South Wales, #20 in Victoria, #39 in Queensland, #34 in Western Australia, #19 in Tasmania, and #20 in the Australian Capital Territory. This tough, masculine yet snuggly retro name is more popular than it has ever been. Oscar is #61 in Ireland and #64 in Northern Ireland.
Ronan
Anglicised form of Rónán. Irish and Scottish legend tells of selkies, who swim in the sea as seals, but can shed their sealskin and become human on land. Male selkies were handsome and seductive; female selkies were said to make excellent wives, but could never forget their true home, and would gaze longingly out to sea – selkie tales are nearly always romantic tragedies. The children born of selkie women were called ronans, or “little seals”. The lovely film The Secret of RoanInish, set in Ireland, is about the selkie legend, and an Irish animated movie is due to come out this year on the same topic. St. Ronan was an educated Irish bishop who sought exile in Brittany and a peaceful life as a hermit. A magical fairytale name that sounds smooth and handsome, Ronan could replace popular Ryan; it will remind many of Irish singer Ronan Keating from The X-Factor. Ronan is #52 in Ireland and #40 in Northern Ireland.
Rory
Anglicised form of the Irish Gaelic name Ruaidhrí or Ruairí. The name means “red king”, referring to fox-coloured hair. There have been many Irish kings named Ruaidhrí, including Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, the last High King of Ireland before the Norman invasion. Rory has charted since the 1950s, debuting at #289; after a bumpy start (when it sank to #420 in the 1960s) it began climbing steadily, and peaked in the late 2000s at #125. Currently it’s in the mid 100s, and this is a rare example of a modern classic which has never become popular. Not only underused, Rory is cute but with a “tough boy” vibe, and could be an alternative to popular Riley, or fashionable Remy. Rory is #42 in Ireland and #44 in Northern Ireland; Ruairí is #81 in Ireland and #74 in Northern Ireland.
(Picture of a Harbour Seal or Common Seal from the Belfast Telegraph)
AFL star Nathan Jones, and his wife Jerri, welcomed their first child on June 23, and have named their daughter Bobbi Grace. Bobbi Jones weighed 3.3 kg (7lb 3oz) at birth.
Nathan has played for Melbourne since 206, and is the team’s co-captain. He won the trophy for best and fairest in 2012 and 2013. Jerri and Nathan are high school sweethearts, and were married in 2012.
Retired AFL star Jonathan Brown, formerly captain of the Brisbane Lions, and his wife Kylie, welcomed their daughter on June 25 and have named her Macy Rose. Macy Brown was born early in the morning at John Flynn Private Hospital on the Gold Coast, weighing 2.9 kg (6lb 7oz) and 48 cm long. She joins big sister Olivia, aged 4, and big brother Jack, aged 1; Jack’s birth was announced on the blog. Jonathan announced his retirement due to injuries the night before Macy was born.
Thank you to Nicole for sending in this celebrity baby tip! All celebrity baby news is gratefully received.
Television presenter Sally Bowrey, and her husband Richard Seddon, welcomed their first child on June 30, and have named their son Archer Robert, nicknamed Archie. Archie was born at 4.16 pm, and weighed 2.36 kg (5lb 2oz).
Sally is a reporter and news presenter for Channel Seven; when she returns from maternity leave in six months, she will be a weekend weather presenter on Channel Seven. Richard is a Sydney property developer, and he and Sally have been married for several years.
