Elizabethan Names

This list came about after hearing one too many characters called "Chastity Sweetlips" or some other unrealistic name. I decided to find out what the real names were that they used. So, I went down to UCLA's Research library, picked out a book that contained the registers of a period church and started collecting names. I picked out about 300 male names and 300 female names and counted the frequency with which they occurred. In this list I have omitted the ones that occurred only once. So, here it is, a list of what parents were really naming their children back then. -- Gary Kephart, Feb. '96

Naming References

Chris Laning's newest (3rd) version of
Faire Names for English Folk:
A Simple Guide to Late 16th Century English Personal Names

Also see St. Michael's
Modern Surnames from Period Occupations

The format is:

[name] ([# of times appearing]): variation (# of times appearing)

Female Names

Elizabeth (54): Elizabeth (24), Elizabethe (30)
Anne (43): Ann (2), Anna (5), Anne (33), Annes (3)
Mary(30): Marie (14), Marye (16)
Margaret (22): Margaret (4), Margarett (7), Margerie (2), Margerye (1), Margret (5), Margrett (3)
Sara (15)
Dorothy (10): Dorithie (9), Dorothee (1)
Jane (10)
Katherine (10): Katherine (7), Katheryne (3)
Susanna (10): Susanna (9), Suzanna (1)
Francis (7): Frances (3), Fraunces (4)
Joane (7)
Judith (6): Judeth (1), Judith (1), Judithe (4)
Alice (5): Ales (1), Alice (2), Alyce (2)
Ellen (5): Ellen (1), Ellyn (4)
Grace (3)
Isabell (3): Isabel (1), Isabell (2)
Martha (3)
Susan (3)
Winifred (3): Wynefreed, Wynefrede, Wynnefreede
Avis (2): Avis, Avice
Bennet (2): Bennet, Bennett
Christian (2): Christian, Christean
Constance (2)
Cybil (2): Sybell, Sybyll
Ester (2)
Rebecka (2)
Rose (2)
Sidney (2): Sindony, Syndony

267 Total

Male Names

John (55): John (50), Johen(5)
Thomas (50)
William (35)
Richard (20): Richarde (13), Richard (4), Rycharde (3)
Robert (15): Roberte(9), Robert(6)
George (15)
Edward (15): Edwarde (11), Edward (4)
Nicholas (8): Nicholas (4), Nycholas (3), Nicholaus (1)
James (7): Jeames(5), James(2)
Henry (6): Henrie(4), Henry (1), Henrye (1)
Edmund (6): Edmonde(3), Edmond(2), Edmund (1)
Harry (5): Harrye(4), Harry (1)
Anthony (5): Anthonye(3), Anthonie(2)
Roger (4)
Peter (4)
Nathaniel (4): Nathaniell(2), Nathaniel (1), Nathanyell (1)
Stephen (3)
Jeffrey (3): Jeffrye(2), Geoffraie (1)
Francis (3)
Andrew (3): Androw(2), Androwe
Valentyne (2)
Samuell (2)
Ralph (2): Rafe, Raphe
Michael (2): Michael, Mychaell
Leonard (2): Leonard, Leonarde
Josias (2)
Humphrey (2): Humphrey, Humphrie
Hughe (2)
Gabriell (2)
Emanual (2): Emanuell, Emanuel
Daniel (2): Daniel, Danyell

288 Total

_{Originally created 15 February 1996

by
Gary Kephart}