“Watch out for that cyclist, Richard”, bellows Hyacinth Bouquet (Bucket) in several episodes of Keeping up Appearances. Richard’s driving prowess was always equal to any threatening situation but one of the most fascinating facets of this family was the flower names of Hyacinth and her sisters, man-adoring Rose, patient Daisy who had scored Onslow as a husband, and of course, “my sister Violet whose house has space for a swimming pool and a pony.”
During the Victorian era the language of flowers and their mellifluous sounds attracted great social interest, generally called floriography. Between 1880 and 1920 many British families extended the vogue by giving their daughters botanical names, think of characters in transAtlantic period dramas like Bridgerton (Hyacinth, Violet and Daphne).
The overall genetic category, most often transformed into the French version Fleur, was popularized globally by John Galsworthy’s Forsyte Saga published in 1922. Although the revered Florence Nightingale was named for the wonderful Italian city, her name was remembered throughout generations by thousands of Florries or, every so often, as Flora. These lasses were accompanied by garden delights regularly discovered on most school admission registers including Daphne, Lily/Lillian, Iris (with rainbow connotations), May, Poppy, and Zinnia. Rose was propagated widely with Rosalie, Rosa, Maryrose, Rosita and even Rosella providing variety.
Some parents chose trees. In this forest will be found Myrtle (a species which includes eucalyptus), Holly, Magnolia, Willow, Hazel, perhaps Erica, part of the inclusive Heather family. Eglantine meaning sweet briar, introduced by Chaucer, was revived during the late-19th early 20th centuries flower name rage.
Clover summons up images of wide green meadows and daisy chains. On the other hand, vines and climbers contributed options such as Clementine, Ivy, Virginia, Wisteria and also, Jasmine from the Persian Yasmin. Herbs and spices also mushroomed with Rosemary, Sage and an occasional Cinnamon, Pepper or Ginger still transferred, often as a nickname. British floral examples included Bluebell, Buttercup, Daffodil, Primrose, Honeysuckle (think Honeysuckle Weeks who played Samantha Stewart in Foyle’s War) and twins, Pansy and Tansy.
Many genera with names derived from Latin or Greek were adopted in several locations. For example, Violet became Yolande in Latin, which the Italians adapted to Viola embraced as Shakespeare’s heroine in Twelfth Night, and to the delight of Gilbert and Sullivan (the contemporary dramatist and his musician partner), Iolanthe in Russian. So many families favoured Daisy for fun-loving, frivolous daughters while others preferred the more exotic French species, Marguerite or Minette. Furthermore, in the New Testament the Hebrew word for Madonna Lily, Shushana, was adapted as Susannah. This appellation and all its derivatives, Susan. Suzannah, Suzette and pet-names Sue/Suki/Sanna/Susie have been used ever since. Dahlia proved to have Swedish origins.
Frequently families were following the example of wealthy New York social-climbers who in these years were intermarrying with the aristocracy and financially bailing out impoverished nobility who lacked the sterling necessary to maintain impossibly large mansions, castles and extravagant entertaining. San Franciscan Flora Sharon and her husband Sir Thomas Fermor-Hesketh together with Lily Whitehouse of New York, later the Honourable Mrs Charles Coventry when she married the second son 9th Earl, were companions of the Prince of Wales. Known as Bertie’s, or Edward VII’s set, they added piquancy and spice with intriguing nomenclature which encouraged widespread duplication. Princess Margaret of Prussia, the youngest sister of Emperor Wilhelm II, was known throughout Europe as Mossy.
Many popular ditties emphasized floral attractiveness ensuring wider acceptance. Daisy, Daisy Give Me Your Answer Do, competed with an Hawaiian necklace contributed by Sweet Leilani, as crooned by Bing Crosby in the 1937 film Waikiki Wedding. Lily of Laguna, my father’s favourite, became background music in our house.
Additionally, contemporary literature ensured endorsement. George Bernard Shaw selected a flower girl who sold violets outside St. Paul’s cathedral as his Pygmalion/My Fair Lady heroine. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Daisy inspired The Great Gatsby, while Henry Miller’s Daisy Miller, embracing ‘European social rumpus’, enthralled many readers. William Wordworth’s Daffodils extended the Lake District’s beauty to millions of school children while currently, book and film culturally symbolic figurehead Harry Potter, boasts an Aunt Petunia.
While harvesting these spring beauties, a cursory review of current personalities reveals that the trend has persisted. Twenty-two-years ago Hollywood star Gwenyth Paltrow bestowed Apple upon her daughter while more recently Australian influencer and model Tammy Hembrow named her new baby, Posy, which originated as a nursery shortening of Josephine. Sting’s (frontman for Police) eldest daughter is Fuschia while TV chef Jamie Oliver’s bundle of joy blossoms as Petal. My own family history reflects the satisfaction evident in planting pretty gardens with carefully tended buds. Ivy, Daphne and May, were sisters born 1915-8, who each bloomed and spread scented hours among their contemporaries while giving their children more traditional first names.
During the belle epoque another element was evident in the terminology of stylish female identity. These forenames were based on a more class-conscious passion, precious metals and stones. Which family of that period did not have a Beryl, Ruby, Sylvia or Pearl? Once again, this lexicon is extensive and covers many categories found within the flowery bunches commencing with the generic G/Jemma, a gem or jewel. Among other shiny treasures will be found Amber, Celeste/Celestine, Coral, Jade, and every so often, Opal.
Two contenders unaccountably largely ignored are the valuables, gold and diamonds. Aurelia, golden one, now is gaining popularity while Elodie, foreign riches, extends the theme. The prefix Gold most often is reserved more for family names (surnames), as represented by Golding, Goldman and surprisingly, Gould. Diamonds, similarly relegated, unfortunately seem to be attached mainly to gangsters and gamblers. Jack ‘Legs’ Diamond swaggered through Prohibition in New York and Philadelphia, Diamond Jack Alterie operated around Chicago, and Alice Diamond and her Forty Thieves gang terrorized London during the years between the two World Wars. All of these naturally gained adverse publicity. Sapphire is another lesser used English praenomen emerging mainly in Indian designations as Neelim from the Sanskrit description of Egypt’s blue Nile.
Of the American heiresses, no doubt (Maud) Emerald Cunard, a London society hostess in the 1920-30s was probably the most legendary. Rather than marrying an English lord, she wed the New York Cunard shipping scion. After a marital separation she chose to settle in London where she lavishly entertained the friends of the Prince of Wales (Edward VIII) and subsidized orchestra conductor Sir Thomas Beacham’s successful career. Her brilliant name was always in the social columns of newspapers and magazines.
Undoubtedly, the oyster’s rich prize, the pearl, the crowning initiator of multiple names and multiple diminutives, resounds and glows around the world. Originating in Greece often as Madge, its lustre was adopted in German as Greta and as Mairead in Ireland. English versions of Pearl unexpectedly can be located as the basis of some of our best-loved first names like Margaret/Maggie/Maisie/Margot/Marguerite/Margarita and Marjory. Rita, Megan and Polly also are sibling derivatives.
Once more, well known artists have selected these tags. In 2020, Australian model and musician, Iggy Azalea, combined both crazes when naming her son Onyx. At the time she explained that Iggy her stage title was adopted from her pet dog and hometown street, Azalea, while her son’s black-stone forename reflected her real name, Amethyst Amelia Kelly. Her family also includes a sister Sapphire.
May these names continue to shine and bloom throughout your family history. With just a little arranging and burnishing, your stories about them will prove show prizewinners, thriving, sparkling and bringing happiness.
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