When you think of a grand, iconic British name, what moniker comes to mind?
Victoria - of course.
Elizabeth, perhaps?
Agatha?
Nigel?
Edwin?
Percival?
Quintessentially English names will never go out of style.
Here are some you'll fall in love with.
Cordelia
Anne of Green Gables said it best:
"No, it's not exactly my name.
Oh I would love to be called Cordelia."
"I don't understand what you mean."
"Cordelia's a perfectly elegant name."
As the virtuous, noble daughter of Shakespeare's King Lear, Cordelia is a British moniker for
the ages.
It means "heart" or "daughter of the sea," and it has a quaint old-fashioned ring to
it, as well, as it was quite popular in the late 1800s.
Cordelia has a long lineage of possible origins.
Some say it's derived from the Welsh, while there's also the German variant Kordula, or
it might be derived from the 4th century Saint Cordula.
Whatever its genesis, Cordelia will always belong primarily to Shakespeare and to the
British.
And with its lovely array of possible nicknames, from Delia to Cord, it lends itself to modern
versatility as well.
Laird
With a smooth, elegant sound to it, the Scottish name Laird shares an origin with the English
"lord."
Indeed, Laird has roots in the aristocracy, with a meaning similar to "baron."
Its popularity in 2018 isn't a far cry from its popularity in the 1920s, believe it or
not.
And not that long ago, Sharon Stone even chose it for one of her sons.
Despite its spelling, the name is generally pronounced "Lehrd" as opposed to "Layered,"
but, of course, pronunciations can be fluid, and they often vary according to region and
dialect anyway.
The bottom line is that Laird is a great choice, so if you're going to opt for it, there's
no reason not to flesh it out with your own unique spin.
Cressida
Cressida is another name that's probably best known from Shakespeare, specifically Troilus
and Cressida, the Bard's epic tragicomic love story.
Because of its ubiquitous association with English literature, Cressida is almost universally
regarded as a quintessentially British name, even though it's actually Greek in origin.
By itself, Cressida means "gold."
Since it's never been particularly popular in the U.S., you'll probably not have to worry
about a "gold rush" of parents choosing the name and making it too common anytime soon.
In celebrity Cressida circles, there's English model and actress Cressida Bonas, also known
as Prince Harry's ex.
There's also How to Train Your Dragon author Cressida Cowell and even a Kressida asteroid.
So if you're looking for a golden name for a golden child, Cressida might just be a solid
nugget for your little girl.
Marlowe
From English poet Christopher Marlowe to British-American novelist Raymond Chandler's iconic detective
Philip Marlowe, the name Marlowe has culture and sophistication written all over it.
Marlowe has traditionally been used as a surname, but it could be a first name, and it's also
trending as a girl's name.
Actor Jason Schwartzman and his wife Brady Cunningham have a little Marlowe of their
own, as do Sienna Miller and her fiance Tom Sturridge.
The meaning behind the name is actually "drained lake" or possibly "driftwood."
Still, Marlowe has a special kind of film noir-style intrigue that could lead to your
baby becoming a detective or a poet, or perhaps both.
Pippa
Even without Pippa Middleton to make the British association complete, the English name Pippa
is darling, catchy, and endearing.
Said to be descended from "Philippa," its meaning is "lover of horses."
It's hard to think of Pippa as anything other than a perfect name for an adorable, free-spirited
little girl.
Pippa experienced quite a spike in popularity starting around 2004.
An ebullient name for an ebullient personality, Pippa almost looks like it's jumping off the
page.
So if you have an active little girl kicking and tumbling away inside you, she might just
be trying to tell you what she wants her name to be.
Alastair
A derivative of Alexander, the name Alastair means "defender of mankind."
It's a Scottish moniker whose popularity has been on the rise in the United States since
about the late '80s.
The name is both unique and distinguished.
Among famous Alastairs, there's the great Scottish actor Alastair Sim, who's perhaps
best remembered for his superb performance as Ebenezer Scrooge in 1951's A Christmas
Carol.
There's also Alistair Cooke of Masterpiece Theatre, the Scottish poet Alastair Reid,
and magician, occultist, and poet Aleister Crowley, the subject of a classic Ozzy Osbourne
song.
Some say Crowley may have been more avant garde than ominous, despite his reputation
as "the wickedest man in the world."
In any case, Alastair is a great choice for your baby, and one with a decidedly intellectual
ring to it.