Finding a special name for your child is challenging, but a way to make it somewhat easier is to focus on a certain era. The Edwardian era, for example, was a time in British history that spanned the reign of King Edward VII, from 1901 to 1910. The influence of the period stretched into World War I, which started in 1914. The Edwardian era was preceded by the Victorian era, which ended in January 1901 when Queen Victoria died.
Among other things, the Edwardian era was known for elegance and luxury, so the names of that time mirrored that flair. According to British Baby Names, the most popular names for boys included Thomas, Arthur, Frederick, Albert, and Edward. The top names for girls were Mary, Florence, Margaret, Edith, Ethel, and Gladys. While these names are of the era, if you’re searching for a name that speaks to your love for Downton Abbey for your soon-to-be daughter or son, look no further. Enjoy these 30 elegant Edwardian baby names.
PHILIPPA
Philippa, or Philipa, has been a name in the news lately. With the impending birth of Harry and Meghan’s baby girl, there are actually bets about what they’ll name her, according to People. Following the death of Harry’s grandfather, Prince Philip, in April 2021, British bookies are betting 3-1 that Philippa will be her name. A feminine version of Philip, the name Philippa (sometimes also spelled Phillippa) is of Greek origin and means “lover of horses.”
PERCY
Percy sounds like a dashing heir to the throne, or he could be your sweet little boy. According to Think Baby Names, it’s said to be a “British aristocratic surname derived from Persius, a Latin version of a name used among the ancient Gauls.” As a surname, Percy derives from the French word percher which means “to pierce,” says British Baby Names. The name can also be used as a short form of Percival.
ALINE
Although it’s an Edwardian name, the spelling of Aline makes it feel modern. Aline is a Celtic name that means “good looking” or “noble.” The feminine version of Allen, it’s pronounced ay-LEEN, and we’ve also seen this name spelled Aileen. Aline is also said to be the medieval short form of the name Adeline. In Portuguese, it’s pronounced a-LEE-nee.
ROLAND
If your little guy is bound to have star power, the name Roland may be fitting. It means “famous land,” or “famous throughout the land,” and is of German origin. Nicknames for Roland could be: Rollo, Ro, Land, or Rolly. It’s a highly classic and vintage name that has been gaining popularity recently. On the Nameberry chart, it ranks No. 531 on the US Top 1,000 Names.
ADELAIDE
Adelaide is an elegant name meaning “noble” in German. It’s probably no coincidence that the similar-sounding name, Adele, (and the singer of the same name), has been on the rise for the past few years. Where Adelaide ranked No. 924 out of the US Top 1,000 Names in 2006, Nameberry predicts it will hit No. 51 on the chart for 2021. Adelaide is a city on the coast of Australia, and historically, Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen was Queen of the United Kingdom and Hanover as the wife of King William IV. We love the nicknames Addy, Ladie, and Adel.
LEONARD
A great, strong name for your brave little guy is Leonard. Said to be of German origin meaning “brave lion,” the name is composed of lewo meaning “lion” (of Latin origin) and hard meaning “brave, hardy.” Historically, Leonard was the name of a saint in the Middle Ages, known as a patron of prisoners and horses. Leo is the coolest nickname, but there’s also Len and Lenny.
ALWYN
Alwyn is a fairly rare name, but it’s oh so elegant with the meaning “friend” in Welsh. A gender neutral name, it falls into the category of nature names because it’s the name of a river in Wales. It’s also said to have an Old English meaning of “elf or magical being.” The name can also be spelled Alwen, Alwynne, or Alwin.
AUDREY
Audrey, or Audry, is an English name meaning “noble strength,” according to Nameberry. Spelled with an “e” makes us automatically think of the classic Hollywood elegance that was actress Audrey Hepburn. St. Audrey was a seventh century saint who was particularly revered in the Middle Ages. The qualities connected to Audrey include: powerful, gentle, diplomatic, and intuitive.
BERNARD
Bernard sounds like a super serious name, but thinking about the nickname Bernie gives it a more casual and accessible feeling thanks to 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders and the 1989 movie comedy Weekend at Bernie’s. Meaning “brave as a bear,” Bernard is of German origin, a combination of bern meaning “bear” and hard meaning “brave, hardy,” according to Behind The Name.
CLAUDE
Claude is a gender neutral name of French and Latin origins. According to Nameberry, Claude was used as a name for girls in France and in the 1880s, and it was also used in the US fairly regularly during that same time period. Though it’s a chic and stylish name, the meaning — “lame; enclosure” — leaves something to be desired. For variations on the name for girls try: Claudia, Claudette, or Claudine. Variations for boys include Claudius and Claudio.
CONRAD
Conrad is of Old German origin and means “brave counsel.” According to Behind The Name, it was the name of a 10th century saint and bishop of Konstanz which is in southern Germany. Conrad was also the name of German kings and dukes. Though it sounds like a serious name, Baby Name Wizard has come up with the cutest nicknames for Conrad, including: Rad, ConCon, ConMan, and Rado.
BABETTE
Babette is able to walk the fine line of being an elegant name and super cute at the same time. A sweet, endearing name, Babette is used in French, English, and German it’s said to have a few meanings. In French it means “my God is my oath,” and some say it’s a short form of Elizabeth or Barbara meaning “foreign woman” in French and Latin. In Hebrew, Babette means “dedicated.”
NELSON
Nelson is an English surname meaning “son of Neil,” but choosing it as a first name is said to mean “champion.” Winning! The powerful name can be traced back to Viscount Horatio Nelson who was a British naval commander and hero, and most notably former South African President Nelson Mandela, the Nobel Peace Prize winning hero and activist who fought long and hard against apartheid in South Africa. Fun fact: Canadian singer Celine Dion named one of her twin sons Nelson after Mandela.
FREDA
The name Freda is rarely used these days and possibly considered old fashioned, but you'll hear this name more commonly in the United Kingdom. Freda (pronounced FREE-da or Fred-a) is of Old German origin meaning “peaceful.” According to The Bump, it’s a short version of the names Alfreda (English), Frederica (feminine of Frederick) and Winifred (Welsh).
GARETH
Gareth is a name that’s rich in style. Of Welsh origin, it means “gentle.” It was the name of a “modest and brave knight in King Arthur’s court.” This honorable name is all about kindness and bravery. If you were a fan of the British version of The Office, you’ll remember Gareth as a character similar to the United States The Office character named Dwight. Suggested nicknames for Gareth from Baby Name Wizard: Gaz, Gary, and Gare-Bear.
MONA
Mona is a modern-sounding name that carries lots of elegance and it is said to have multiple origins. In Arabic, pronounced MOO-na, the name means “unreachable wishes” and is sometimes spelled Muna. Of Irish origin, Mona means noble. In Italian, the Mona Lisa is the famed portrait by Leonardo da Vinci and is said to be a short form of the name Madonna, which means “my lady.”
BASIL
Basil is a fragrant herb, but it’s also an elegant name for your little guy. Of Greek origin, it means “regal.” According to Behind The Name, Saint Basil (pronounced Baz-el) the Great, was “a 4th century bishop of Caesarea and one of the fathers of the early Christian church,” and the name has come to be popular with Eastern Christians because of him. Cute nicknames could be Baz or Bay.
ELEANOR
Eleanor is one of the more commonly used names on this list in the past and even in the present day. It has a regal sound to it without being too stuffy. Said to mean “bright, shining one,” the name is rooted in the Old French form of the name Alienòr, according to Behind The Name. The name has been popular since “the 12th century with Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was the queen of Louis VII, the king of France, and later Henry II, the king of England.” Of course we can’t forget about diplomat and activist former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who was the wife of President Franklin Roosevelt.
LAUREL
Laurel is a great choice if you’re a lover of all things elegant and classic. Of Latin origin, it’s a gender neutral name taken from the laurel tree. Laurel is more often used for girls, and if you chose this name it’s likely she’ll be the one with a unique name in her class — Laurel as a name peaked in popularity in the United States in 1956. According to Baby Name Wizard, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich was the feminist historian who was quoted as saying, “Well-behaved women seldom make history.”
SABINA
Sabina sounds like more of a modern name than an Edwardian name, but it’s elegant nonetheless. According to Baby Name Wizard, the name means “woman of the Sabine people,” and has interesting origins. Sabine is the Italian tribe from which, according to legend, the ancient Romans kidnapped their wives-to-be in order to populate their newly founded city. Also a place name, Sabina is a region of Reita, Italy. A popular name, according to Behind The Name, it’s used in Italian, Spanish, Russian, Croatian, Swedish, and more.
GERMAINE
Germaine is commonly spelled Jermaine, but we love this unusual take on the name. Of French/Latin origin, the name is considered gender neutral and is said to mean “from Germany.” That’s a pretty straight-forward meaning, but Baby Name Wizard also lists the name as meaning “sprout or bud.”
IDALIA
We love the name Idalia which is of Greek (some say Italian) origin and means “behold the sun.” According to BabyNames.com it’s of Spanish origin and is a combination of the names Ida and Lia, which is sweet and would actually make a lovely pair of names for a set of twin girls. Both of those names could also serve as nicknames for Idalia.
ALARIC
A solid and uncommon name, “Alaric was leader of the Visigoths when they sacked Rome in 410 AD.,” according to Baby Name Wizard. The name means “ruler, leader,” and has ancient German origin. Alaric feels like a combination of the names Alvin or Albert and Richard or Rick. Nicknames for this brooding little guy could be Ric, Als, Lars, or Alic.
ROSINA
If the name Rose is on your list but you’re looking for something a bit less standard, how about Rosina? Italian for Rose, it just gives a little more flair and elegance to the name. Other variations of the name include Rosa, Rosetta, and Rosella. We also love the Spanish Rosita, the Russian, Macedonian, and Polish spelling Roza, and Raisa in Yiddish.
JEROME
Jerome is a spiritual name derived from the Latin word Hieronymus, which is made up of the elements hieros (“holy”) and onyma (“name”) hence the meaning, "holy name." According to Behind The Name, “Saint Jerome was responsible for the creation of the Vulgate (the Latin translation of the Bible) in the 5th century. He is regarded as a Doctor of the Church.” A strong name for a boy, we love the nickname Rome or Romie for him. Did you know that comedian Jerry Seinfeld was born Jerome Allen Seinfeld?
OPAL
The lovely jewel of a name Opal is of Sanskrit (the classical language of South Asia) origin and it means “precious gem.” In English, the opal is also the gemstone for October births, so if you’re expecting a baby girl this fall, Opal could be the perfect name. A jewel name like Pearl and Ruby, Opal has been rising in popularity in recent years, according to Nameberry.
VALENTINE
All the love goes to little Valentine. As a gender neutral name, Valentine is from Latin meaning “strength, health,” though the girls' name (pronounced Val-en-teen, not like the holiday) is said to also be a French variation of Valentina. A perfect name for your February-born babe, according to Nameberry, the best known Valentine “is the third century martyr St. Valentine, whose feast day of February 14 coincided with the pagan fertility festival of the goddess Juno, all of which led to the modern Valentine's Day.”
PRIMROSE
Like Rosina, Primrose is another variation of the name Rose. Proper, elegant, and rare, the name is of Latin origin and means “first rose,” according to Baby Name Wizard. One of the first spring flowers to bloom, this is a lovely way to honor a daughter’s birth. Rising in popularity in recent years, Nameberry predicts Primrose will rank No. 246 of the Top 1,000 names on its chart for 2021. Adorable nicknames include Prim and Posey.
TREVOR
Here we have the dashing Trevor. The strong and masculine name has Welsh and English origins and was a surname meaning “belonging to Trevear," according to Baby Name Wizard. Trevear is a place name in Cornwall, England, meaning "the big farm, the big estate." This name became popular in the US during the 1980s, and according to Nameberry’s ranks, it was at No. 400 out of the Top 1,000 names in 2019.
THEODORA
Theodora is an obvious feminine version of Theodore, there’s so much more to the name. Meaning “gift from God” in Greek, according to Behind The Name, the name Theodora was “common in the Byzantine Empire, being borne by several empresses including the influential wife of Justinian in the 6th century.” Cute nicknames for her include Dora, Thea, Theo, Dori, Teddy, and Téa.
