The Beauty of Names

Madeleine Hartog-Bel - Peru - Miss World 1967 I don't watch beauty pageants as closely as I did when I was little, but I do like to look at the names of the contestants. They are all so fascinating, just like the women who bear them, and I have to admit, I love the gossip and scandals as much as the next person. In our first installment I'll be covering the Miss World winners from the first pageant in 1951 all the way up to 1979. Kiki Håkansson - Sweden - 1951 (Kerstin Håkansson) May-Louise Flodin - Sweden - 1952 Denise Perrier - France - 1953 Antigone Costanda - Egypt (Greek-Egyptian) - 1954 (First African woman to win) Susana Duijm - Venezuela - 1955 (Carmen Susana Duijm Zubillaga; First Latin-American woman to win) Petra Schürmann - Germany - 1956 (Hildegard Petra Susanna Schürmann) Marita Lindahl - Finland - 1957 Penelope Coelen - South Africa - 1958 Corine Rottschäfer - The Netherlands - 1959 Norma Cappagli - Argentina - 1960 Rosemarie Frankland - United...

Eugène de Beauharnais Prince français Eugène de Beauharnais or Eugène de Beauharnais, 1st Duke of Leuchtenberg was born Eugène Rose de Beauharnais to Alexandre de Beauharnais and Joséphine de Beauharnais. He married Princess Augusta of Bavaria who was born Augusta Amalia Ludovika Georgia. Their children were: Joséphine Maximiliane Eugénie Napoléone, " Princess Joséphine de Beauharnais ", " Louise of Leuchtenberg ", later " Queen Josefina of Sweden " Eugénie  Hortense Auguste Napoléone, " Princess Eugénie de Beauharnais ", " Eugénie of Leuchtenberg ", later " Eugénie, Princess of Hohenzollern-Hechingen " Auguste Charles Eugène Napoléon, " Prince Auguste de Beauharnais ", later " Auguste de Beauharnais, 2nd Duke of Leuchtenberg " Amélie Auguste Eugénie, " Princess Amélie de Beauharnais ", " Amélie of Leuchtenberg ", later " Amélie, Empress of Brazil " Théodolinde...

Janet Gaynor Origin : English Gender : Female Meaning : Diminutive of Jane Pronunciation : JAN-it Other forms : Jeannette, Jane, Jeanne, Zsanett Thanks to my very own sister, Abby, for suggesting Janet! It's always strange to me how in the future names like Janet, Barbara, and Lois will be fashionable just like Evelyn, Ruby, and Matilda are now. On a semi-related note, it's also a strange thought that there will be Grandmother Neveah's and Grandfather Jaxon's, and that this will totally normal to them. It begs the question of what names do you think will become ultra fashionable in the future? I'm betting on Pamela, Eugene, Nancy, Leonard, Deborah, and Janet. What do you think will become popular? Moving back on to the main topic, which is Janet itself. I remember being really surprised when I started watching "Salem" how one of the main characters was played by an English actress named Janet Montgomery, who is only twenty-nine. When I think o...

Princess Marie-Cécile of Prussia Princess Marie-Cécile of Prussia was born Marie-Cécile Kira Viktoria Luise to Louis Ferdinand, Prince of Prussia and Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia . She married Duke Friedrich August of Oldenburg , who was born Friedrich August Wilhelm Christian Ernst. Their children were: Paul-Wladimir Nikolaus Louis-Ferdinand Peter Max Karl-Emich, " Prince Paul-Wladimir of Oldenburg " Rixa Marie-Alix Kira Altburg, " Princess Rixa of Oldenburg " Bibiane Marie Alexandra Gertrud, " Princess Bibiane of Oldenburg "

WAMPAS Baby Stars of 1928 The WAMPAS Baby Stars was a campaign that ran from 1922 to 1934, which usually honored thirteen actresses, and was sponsored by the United States Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers. The actresses that were chosen were thought to be just on the cusp of stardom, and those that got the honor of an award got extensive coverage in the media and went to the "WAMPAS Frolic" party. I find this whole thing extremely fascinating, and wanted to post the names of the girls chosen. 1922: Marion Aye, Helen Ferguson, Lila Lee, Jacqueline Logan, Louise Lorraine, Bessie Love, Kathryn McGuire, Patsy Ruth Miller, Colleen Moore, Mary Philbin, Pauline Starke, Lois Wilson, and Claire Windsor. 1923: Eleanor Boardman, Evelyn Brent, Dorothy Devore, Virginia Brown Faire, Betty Francisco, Pauline Garon, Kathleen Key, Laura La Plante, Margaret Leahy, Helen Lynch, Derelys Perdue, Jobyna Ralston, and Ethel Shannon. 1924: Clara Bow, Elinor Fair, Carmelita ...

Nicholas II with his wife and children Tsar Nicholas II of Russia was born Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov to Alexander III of Russia and Marie Feodorovna, or Dagmar of Denmark. He married Alix of Hesse and by Rhine , later known as Alexandra Feodorovna , who was born Victoria Alix Helena Louise Beatrice. The Romanovs are sadly best remembered for being murdered by the Bolsheviks. Their children were: Olga Nikolaevna Romanova, " Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia ", "Olishka", "Olenka", or "Olya" (Killed at age 22) Tatiana Nikolaevna Romanova, " Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russa ", "Tanya", "Tatya", "Tatianochka", or "Tanushka" (Killed at age 21) Maria Nikolaevna Romanova, " Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia ", "Marie", "Masha", or "Mashka" (Killed at age 19) Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova, " Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolae...

Isild Le Besco Just so people know for further posts - I can't always come up with three names for each gender, so sometimes there may be a few less, as is the case today! Isild - I came across French actress Isild Le Besco and loved her name. She is Breton, Algerian, Vietnamese, and French. My instincts are telling me it's a form of Isolde, via it's (possible) original form Ishild, meaning "ice battle". She also has a sister who is an actress and a director named Maïwenn, a brother named Jowan, and half-siblings Kolia Litscher (m), and Léonor Graser. Spyridon - A couple have been battling over the name of their baby, so they took the internet for help. The father wants Spyridon, the name of his father, and she wants Michael, the name of her father. So now he has a petition, hoping that he can win her over. Which would you pick? Enya - The Irish singer, who contributed music to "The Fellowship of the Ring", was born Eithne Ní Bhraonáin, but is...