Traditional British names are more populer than ever, according to the latest survey released this week. Celebs may love dreaming up outlandish monikers for their offspring (we're looking at you, jamie Oliver), but most of us prefer good old fashioned names like Harry, Sophie, Jack and Lily. But are these as british as we think? We checked out of the most the top 5 populer boys and girls names of 2010 to find out
The top five boys
1. Name Oliver
Where is it from?
Our version derives from French 'Oliver', probably arrived in england during the Norman Conquest. Going further back into the mists of time it may have originated from Scandinavian ' Oleifr'.
What does it mean?
if oleifr' is the genesis then: The Ancestor Remains or Ancestor's relic - which sounds a bit gloomy to us.
Famous Oliver Twist, Cromwell, Reed
2. Name Jack
Where is it from?
There's some confusion here. One school of thought is that it's good old English : a pet from Jhon derived from 'Jankin'. Other reckon it evolved from Jaques, the french variant of Jacob. Either way, both are Hebrew and found in the old Testament.
What does it mean?
Jankin is literally 'little Jan/jhon'. Jacob is more interesting: Hebrew for 'supplanter' - it's the name of one of Isaac's sons in the bible. An evil twin who tricked his blind dad into blessing him, Jacob also fathered Joseph - of 'Tehnicolour Dream Coat' fame.
Famous Jack The Ripper, The Lad, Frost
Famous Jack The Ripper, The Lad, Frost
3. Name Harry
Where is it from?
A pet from Henry hich become populer during the Middle Ages (It was Henry V's nicknames - according to Shakespeare anyway). Henry itself is derived from the old Germanic word 'Haimric; and was bought here by the Norman (them again).
What does it mean?
'Haim' means home and 'ric' means power or rule - so literally, er 'home rule'. Probably so many kings liked it.
'Haim' means home and 'ric' means power or rule - so literally, er 'home rule'. Probably so many kings liked it.
Famous Harry : Truman, Potter, Windsor
4. Name Alfie
Where is it from?
A variant on old school favourite Alfred, which also spawned 'Fred". Amazingly, this actually English and comes the early medieval name Aelfraed. A dark Age classic.
What does it mean?
\one who is councilled by elves' (Aelf is 'elf' and raed 'council') or simply 'magical counlcilor'. We havent been reading too much Tolkien; this would have sense in superstitious world of 9th century England, apparently.
Famous Alfie : Moon
5. The name : Charlie
Where is it from?
Charles and pet name Charlie derive from an old Norse word 'karl' - which became Churl in Old English. Charles is a French version made famous by ass kicking king Charlemagne('Charles the great) and our very own Charles I, who was so rubbish his subject executed him.
What does it mean?
The original Scandinavian version simply means 'man'. When it came from to English it came to donate 'free man' - a chap (probably with flagon of mead) who was not a peasant, but not nobility either. Think an old English equivalent of a Waitrose customer.
Famous Charlie : Bucket, Sheen, Chaplin
1. The Name : Olivia
Where is it from?
Apparently the current spelling was first dreamt up by Shakespeare, who used it in Twelfth Night. There's some debate amongst baby boffins though over where he lifted it from, though/ Option a) is a female version of Oliver, while option b) is a variant on Latin Olivia
What does it mean?
If it's the latter, then it's just Oliver or Olive branch.
Famous Olivia : Newton-Jhon, Wilde
2. The Name : Shopie
Where is it from?
It's French version of Shopia, a Coptic Greek name. May have became populer because of orthodox Christian saint 'Shopia the Martyr', who tragically saw her daughters 'Faith, Hope and love ' killed by the Romans.
What does it means?
The original Greek word means 'wisdom'. Anyone who watched Shopie Dahl's cookery show will know this is appropiate.
Famous Shopies : Choice, Elis-Bextor
3. The Name : Emily
Where is it from?
Another name that begun life in Roman times, probably as a derivative of Aemilia. Experts reckon this could be the feminine from of Aemilius - the surname of one of Ancient Rome's poshest families.
What does it mean?
No one's quite sure but may think the Aemilius took their name from the Latin word 'aemulus'-which means 'trying to excel' - or just 'rival'
Famous Emily : Bronte, Blunt, Watson
4. The Name : Lily
Where is it from?
Obviously it's derived from the flower, and like most things botanical, lilies have a fancy Latin name - in this case Lilium. Famous Swedish plant botherer Carl Linnaeus coined the term in his epic natural classification tome Systema Naturae. A cracking bedtime read. 'Lily' is the English version, and became populer in the 19th century.
What does it mean?
Lilies traditionally symbolize purity and perfaction, but also death - as they're populer at funerals.
Famous Lily : Allen, Munster
5. The Name : Amelia
Where is it from?
For you cleaver clogs who though it was a variant of Emily; you're wrong. It's actually another name that hails from darkest Old Germany. It really took off over here during the mid- 18th century, after the Henry Fielding novel "Amelia" came out.
What does it mean?
The Germany word means 'hard-working', but the name donates industriousness and fertility.
Famous Amilias : Earhart (the pilot)
4. Name Alfie
Where is it from?
A variant on old school favourite Alfred, which also spawned 'Fred". Amazingly, this actually English and comes the early medieval name Aelfraed. A dark Age classic.
What does it mean?
\one who is councilled by elves' (Aelf is 'elf' and raed 'council') or simply 'magical counlcilor'. We havent been reading too much Tolkien; this would have sense in superstitious world of 9th century England, apparently.
Famous Alfie : Moon
5. The name : Charlie
Where is it from?
Charles and pet name Charlie derive from an old Norse word 'karl' - which became Churl in Old English. Charles is a French version made famous by ass kicking king Charlemagne('Charles the great) and our very own Charles I, who was so rubbish his subject executed him.
What does it mean?
The original Scandinavian version simply means 'man'. When it came from to English it came to donate 'free man' - a chap (probably with flagon of mead) who was not a peasant, but not nobility either. Think an old English equivalent of a Waitrose customer.
Famous Charlie : Bucket, Sheen, Chaplin
The Top Five Girls
1. The Name : Olivia
Where is it from?
Apparently the current spelling was first dreamt up by Shakespeare, who used it in Twelfth Night. There's some debate amongst baby boffins though over where he lifted it from, though/ Option a) is a female version of Oliver, while option b) is a variant on Latin Olivia
What does it mean?
If it's the latter, then it's just Oliver or Olive branch.
Famous Olivia : Newton-Jhon, Wilde
2. The Name : Shopie
Where is it from?
It's French version of Shopia, a Coptic Greek name. May have became populer because of orthodox Christian saint 'Shopia the Martyr', who tragically saw her daughters 'Faith, Hope and love ' killed by the Romans.
What does it means?
The original Greek word means 'wisdom'. Anyone who watched Shopie Dahl's cookery show will know this is appropiate.
Famous Shopies : Choice, Elis-Bextor
3. The Name : Emily
Where is it from?
Another name that begun life in Roman times, probably as a derivative of Aemilia. Experts reckon this could be the feminine from of Aemilius - the surname of one of Ancient Rome's poshest families.
What does it mean?
No one's quite sure but may think the Aemilius took their name from the Latin word 'aemulus'-which means 'trying to excel' - or just 'rival'
Famous Emily : Bronte, Blunt, Watson
4. The Name : Lily
Where is it from?
Obviously it's derived from the flower, and like most things botanical, lilies have a fancy Latin name - in this case Lilium. Famous Swedish plant botherer Carl Linnaeus coined the term in his epic natural classification tome Systema Naturae. A cracking bedtime read. 'Lily' is the English version, and became populer in the 19th century.
What does it mean?
Lilies traditionally symbolize purity and perfaction, but also death - as they're populer at funerals.
Famous Lily : Allen, Munster
5. The Name : Amelia
Where is it from?
For you cleaver clogs who though it was a variant of Emily; you're wrong. It's actually another name that hails from darkest Old Germany. It really took off over here during the mid- 18th century, after the Henry Fielding novel "Amelia" came out.
What does it mean?
The Germany word means 'hard-working', but the name donates industriousness and fertility.
Famous Amilias : Earhart (the pilot)
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