The Beauty of Names

The Cottages of Auvers by Paul Cézanne For those that aren't in the know, Cottagecore is a type of style that has taken the world by storm. Here's what the dictionary has to say on the word: "an aesthetic or imagery inspired by an old-fashioned, rural lifestyle, characterized by rustic décor and fashion, a revival of traditional handicrafts, etc.: For many, cottagecore can seem like a respite in our overstimulated world."  Cottagecore is a style I like for myself very much, and reminds me of Little Women + Studio Ghibli , reading by the fireplace, tending to the chickens, wearing vintage clothing and baking endless loaves of bread. Now, I've been pondering what sort of names could fit that style, and these are what I've come up with! What are your thoughts on Cottagecore , and do these names fit it? For similar names to these, check out Names from Brambly Hedge ! Little Women: Alice Alma Amaryllis Aster Autumn Beatrix Billie Blythe Briar Bridget Clover Cora/C...

Detail from 15th century miniature featuring Timarete Names from The Wolf Den - I recently had the pleasure of reading The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper, which releases on the 29th of this month (look for a review from me around that time on the other blog ). It is set in Ancient Rome, Pompeii to be exact, and follows the life of a prostitute. The main character is given the name Amara (her pimp tells her it is half way between love and bitter -- amare and amarum ), but was born Timarete, in Aphidnai. Timarete means comes from the elements τιμη, meaning "honor, esteem", and ἀρετὴ, which means "virtue or excellence". It is also the name of a famous artist from Ancient Greece, who is sometimes credited as Thamyris. Other characters are Dido, Cressa, Victoria, Beronice, Fabia, Drusilla, Drauca, Attice, Paris, Gallus, Felix, Rufus, and Menander, whose real name is Kallias. Mikey, for a girl - I've always been a huge fan of a boy's nickname for a girl, like Freddie f...

Today we're going to be focusing on a style I like to call "plucky heroine"; names for girls who are mystery-solvers, whose favorite toy is a microscope and favorite stories feature Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Think Harriet the Spy, Nancy Drew or Flavia de Luce. What do you think of this sort of style? It's personally one of my favorites, and I love the mix of quirky, studious and vintage! Ada Agatha/Aggie Alice Beatrice/Beatrix Bernadette Cora Cordelia/Cornelia Dorothea/Dorothy/Dora Edith/Edie Esme Esther Frances Frieda Harriet Henrietta Hester Iris Ivy Jerusha Josephine Juno Louise/Louisa Lucille Lucinda Mabel Margot Matilda Maxine Millicent Nora Penelope Perdita Petra Susanna/h Theodora/Thea Thomasina Vivian Winifred Zelda

Mary Astor Starting out, my posts featuring " Names Worn By " by different actors and actresses (usually vintage ones) were some of my favorite! I can't really say what caused me to stop writing them, but I would love to get back to it! So for my first new one, I've chosen the beautiful Mary Astor. Born on May 3rd, 1906 as Lucile Vasconcellos Langhanke to a father who immigrated from Germany and an American mother, Mary's first foray into film was when she auditioned for Lillian Gish, who was so enamored of her recitation of Shakespeare that she shot a thousand feet of Astor. She went on to make her film debut at the tender age of fourteen in Sentimental Tommy , but her small scene ended up being cut. After being dropped by Paramount and starring in some small films, she was eventually picked back up and went on to star in Beau Brummell at the behest of John Barrymore who saw her photo and demanded she be cast. The couple would end up having a long affair (desp...

Jenny and Ben Comedian Jenny Slate and her fiancé, Ben Shattuck, have welcomed their first child together, a girl they named Ida Lupine.

Below is a guest post written by my sister, Abby, who occasionally blogs over on The Beautiful Strange . We hope you enjoy this post and have a fun and safe Halloween! What exactly is Giallo ? The Italian word for yellow, originally a term to used to describe cheap mystery books with yellow covers that enjoyed an immense amount of popularity in Italy, but in the late 1960s, a genre of film emerged that would take the same name.  A traditional Giallo film includes many themes that would ensure its skyrocketing popularity in the early-to-mid 1970s: mystery elements, thrills, psychological horror, sometimes with black-gloved slashers or wide-eyed mediums. While all of these aspects are not always guaranteed to be featured, and many critics argue about how to define a genre so unique and with so many archetypes, one thing you’re certain to find in every film is great style and European aestheticism. If you’re a big fan of the 70s’ and 60s’, horror films, and intriguing thrills, be sur...

"Alexandrine Le Normant d'Étiolles" by François  Boucher Origin: French, Greek Gender: Female Meaning: Diminutive of Alexandra; "Defending Men" Pronunciation: A-LEK-SAHN-DREEN, A-LEK-ZAN-DREEN Other Forms: Alexandra, Alexandrina, Alexandria, Alessandra This diminutive of the strong and ancient Alexandra gives the name a bit of feminine frill. Alexandra itself is the female form of Greek Alexander, which comes from alexo , which means "to defend, help", and aner which means "man". Alexandra was the Mycenaean epithet for the Goddess Hera, who held dominion over marriage and birth and considered the cow, lion, and peacock sacred animals. Illustration of an Alexandrine Parakeet from around 1770 to 1786 Alexandrine is a purely French concoction, with a few royal and aristocratic namesakes, like  Alexandrine Le Normant d'Étiolles, the daughter of Madame de Pompadour, one of Louis XV's most famous mistresses, who he was the ...

Dorothy Dandridge Origin: Greek Gender: Female Meaning: "Gift of God" Pronunciation: DOR-eh-thee, DOR-thee Other Forms: Dorothea, Dorthe, Dorete, Dora One of my favorite vintage names, Dorothy has a sweet simplicity that can't be beat. The English form of Dorothea, which is in itself a feminine form of the Greek Dorotheos. It means "Gift of God". Dorothy has been on and off the US charts since it first came about in 1880, and in 2018 ranked #586, making it another one of those delicious sweet spot names. Everyone's first thought when they hear Dorothy is of Dorothy Gale, the heroine of L. Frank Baum's "The Wizard of Oz", played by Judy Garland in the 1939 film. But there are many other namesakes, from Nobel Prize Winner Dorothy Hodgkin, who developed protein crystallography, also known as X-ray crystallography, or XRC, to a plethora of Olympic medalists. A more recent bearer is actress Bel Powley, although it's only a middle - ...

Sybil Fane, Countess of Westmorland Sybil Fane, Countess of Westmorland was born Lady Sybil Mary Mary St Clair-Erskine to Robert   Francis St Clair-Erskine, 4th Earl of Rosslyn and Blanche Adeliza Fitzroy . She married Anthony Mildmay Julian Fane, 13th Earl of Westmorland . Sybil was renowned for her beauty, and even used cosmetics to enhance her looks, which was uncommon at the time, especially for a lady of her standing. She attended the Duchess of Devonshire's ball, held in honor of Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee. The members of the party were asked to dress as allegorical or historical figures, and she came dressed as Hebe, the Greek personification of youth, complete with a golden cup and a large stuffed eagle strapped to her shoulders. She was only 38 when she died. Their children were: Vere Anthony Francis St Clair Fane, Lord Burghesh, later " Lt.-Comm. the Hon. Vere Anthony Francis St Clair Fane, 14th Earl of Westmorland " Lady Enid Victoria Rache...

Françoise - Origin: French Gender: Female Meaning: "Frenchman" Pronunciation: FRAHn-SWAZ Other Forms: Francine, France, Francette, Fanny, Frances; Francis, Franciscus,  François Combos:  Françoise Lily,  Françoise Odette,  Françoise Marianne,  Françoise Vienne,  Azélie  Françoise If you haven't caught on yet, I'm obsessed with French names. This one is another favorite, but I'm really unsure of how it would do in English speaking countries. To me the pronunciation is pretty intuitive, but you really never know. Françoise is the feminine version of  François, the French form of Francis. Francis came from Latin Franciscus, which meant "Frenchman" and Franciscus itself came from the Germanic tribe called the Franks, who were called so for a type of spear they carried. It was because of the popularity of St. Francis of Assisi the name became so widespread in Europe. Órlaith - Origin: Irish Gender: Female Meaning: "Golden Princes...

Tyrone Power Origin: Irish Gender: Male Meaning: "Land of Eoghan" Pronunciation: tye-ROAN, ter-ROAN, teh-RON Other forms: Tyron If you're a Old Hollywood nerd like me, your first association with this name is probably quite different than most people's - that of devilishly handsome Tyrone Power. Tyrone Power was born Tyrone Edmund Power III in Cincinnati, Ohio to Helen Emma "Patia" Reaume and Tyrone Power Sr., who was called "Fred". Tyrone was a name that went way back in the family, his father was named after his great-grandfather, an Irish actor and comedian born in 1795 - and that Tyrone came from a Tyrone as well. Power also pronounced his name similar to "teh-RON", instead of the now more common "tye-ROAN". And I don't think it's a huge jump to conclude that their name came from County Tyrone, Ireland, one of the six historic counties in the country. Tyrone comes from  Tír Eoghain, which means "l...

"Miriam" by Anselm Feuerbach I'm currently enjoying my first day off since the 21st so I thought I'd try and post a little bit! We've been having tons of huge school groups at work so every time before when I had a day off I just wanted rest and quiet, so blogging wasn't on the forefront of my mind. But I finally got a little bit of rest and am back in the swing of things. My Name, 2017 Style - Time Magazine has this great little gadget where if you enter your name and birth year, it will tell you what your name would have been in 2017 going on what your name was ranked the year you were born. My name, Bree , was ranked 713th in the year I was born, making my new name Dalia . In 2016 I would have been Akira , in the 1920's I would have been called Rosebud , and in the 1900's I would have been the zippy Zara . What would you have been? Salem - I've gotten a new cat - a kitten from a litter at my grandmother's house, which is currently b...

"Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog" by Caspar David Friedrich For boys I imagine men in fancy suits or cravats, walking together on a misty moor, or a little boy lost in the library of a crumbling estate. Smells are leather, grass, plain white candles, and books. Sounds are a bird's call from somewhere far away, the ocean, feet crunching on gravel. Isidore Graeme Victor Dorian Soren Fitzgerald Laurence Ulysses Penrose Ephraim Julius and Julian Francis Sterling Dashiell Percival Octave Alistair Robin Devereux Rory Ignatius Montague Sebastian Noel Adrian Brighton Vaughn Augustine Casper Peregrine Christian Anthony

Here's the second and last part to the previous post. Hope everyone who read enjoyed! Madge Lessing Margaret Halston Marie George Marie Studholme Miss Flopp Miss Forster Miss Fortescue Miss Kerin Miss M. Morris Miss M. Sayre Miss Marie Shields Miss McNaughton Miss R. Maitland Mrs. Brown Potter Mrs. Patrick Campbell Muriel Beaumont Nina Sevening Nora Lancaster Olga Nethersole Phyllis Rankin Ruby Verdi Sarah Brooke Vera Beringer Winifred Emery

Starting in 1875 in the US by the Allen and Ginter tobacco company, cigarette cards, which were sold in packs of cigarettes to not only stiffen the cigarette package, but also as a bit of clever advertising. They would feature anything from boxers, actresses, nature, military heroes, and sportsmen. They went extinct during WWII, being discontinued to save paper, and never really picked back up, however one company, Doral, started trying to do so in 2000. I came upon the Ogden's St. Julien collection called "beauty series" featuring actresses some time in the 1900's, and thought it would rather interesting to list their names! Tell me what you think of this post, and which names were your favorites, of course! Blanche Thorpe Cissie Loftus Clara Butt Dora Barton Dorothea Baird Esme Beringer Ethel Barrymore Ethel Irving Ethel Matthews Evelyn Millard Frances Earle Helen Macbeth Hilda Gunn Isabel Jay Jane May Jessie Mooney Julia Arthur Kate Cove ...

"Women in a Garden" by Claude Monet My definition of a romantic name is something usually long, frilly, sometimes a little heavy and dusty or sometimes whispery and soft, a name I could imagine on a lady walking through a garden in Victorian clothes, or at a ball, dancing in pink, lilac, or blue. Maybe even on a girl with hair cropped to her chin, wandering outside barefooted, a notepad in her hand, drawing butterflies and getting caught in the rain. The smells I imagine are petrichor, linen, and roses. Sounds are water in a fountain, rustling of leaves, pencil on paper. What do you consider a "romantic" name? Do any of the ones I listed make you feel the same? Please let me know in the comment section below. Cassandra Theodosia Gwendolen and Guinevere Helena Marguerite Georgette Francesca Winifred Euphemia Thomasina Louisa Marisol Fenella Esmeray Pernille Violette Josephine Giosetta Veronique Lilias Cecily and Cecile Philomena and  Philom...

Statue of Libuše in Prague Gus, Theo, and Ruby - At work I recently heard of a sibset consisting of eldest brother Gus, and then Theo, and a little sister named Ruby. It's so unusual (especially in my small southern town) to hear such stylish names that I was pretty floored when I heard it. Augustine - Another name sighting from work - a little boy was calling for his friend all across the arcade - his name was Augustine. Libuše - I've really been into Czech names here lately, and this one is one of my favorites. It comes from the Czech lib - which means "love". In legend,  Libuše, also sometimes called   Lubuše, Libussa, or Lubossa, was the name of a Princess and the founder of Prague.

Jolie is seated in the front and from l-r is Magda, Zsa Zsa, and Eva. Known as much for their beauty and style as for their multiple marriages, the three Gabor sisters, all actresses and socialites in their own rights, were an interesting bunch. Born in Hungary to  Vilmos Gábor, a soldier, and Janka "Jolie" Tillman, her nickname being the French word for "pretty", though she purported her name was Jancsi, a name for boys', saying that it was because her parents were so eager to have one. Jolie was born to a Jewish couple from Galicia, and owned a jewelry shop called "The Diamond House". She had two older sisters, Zseni "Janette", and Dora, along with a younger sister Rozalie "Rozsika", and a younger brother Sebastian. Jolie eventually divorced  Vilmos  and would go on to marry twice more. They narrowly escaped Hungary in WWII. The Gabor sisters are: Magdolna "Magda" -  Magda, the eldest and least known of the sis...

Hazel Forbes by Alfred Cheney Johnston The "Ziegfeld Follies" were theatrical productions on Brodway which ran from 1907 to 1931, with two more shows in 1934 and 1936. They were the brainchild of Florenz Ziegfeld (though his wife probably thought it up), who was inspired by the Folies Bergère, a famous cabaret music hall in Paris. Almost as famous as the shows themselves were the "Ziegfeld Girls", beautiful chorus girls in elaborate dresses. Many actresses were also Ziegfeld Girls, from Marion Davies to Barbara Stanwyck (a few listed below later became actresses) and just as many were turned down, including Lucille Ball, Norma Shearer, and Joan Crawford. Here are interesting names from just as interesting women. Cecile Arnold Joan Blondell Adrienne Ames Billie Dove Justine Johnstone Kitty Kelly Tamara Geva Micki Marlo Caja Eric Bird Millman Kay English Geneva Mitchell Mitzi Mayfair Nita Naldi Lucia Pamela Alice Wilkie Muriel Finlay Ruby Keeler...

Bibi Andersson in "Wild Strawberries" Bibi Andersson was born Berit Elisabeth Andersson in Kungsholm, Stockholm, to Karin, a social worker, and Josef, a businessman. Her elder sister, Gerd, was a ballerina who eventually became an actress, while Bibi did bit parts and commercials to further her career. It was in a commercial for detergent that she first worked with Ingmar Bergman, who would go on to become one of the most famous directors of Sweden, and who would give her much of her work. She started attending the Royal Dramatic Theatre's acting school, but quit to follow Ingmar, who she had started a relationship with. Her role as Alma in "Persona" (which she won an award for), furthered her career greatly, and she started getting work outside of Sweden, like in the Western "Duel at Diablo", opposite James Garner and Sidney Poitier. The 90's saw her working as a theatre director, and a supervisor for Road to Sarajevo. Unfortunately, it was repo...