[Opinions] Re: WDYTO Kelly???
in reply to a message by Miranda
I doubt Kelly was used as a Victorian first name. Irish surnames are a new phenomenon. And when Victorians used surnames, they were nearly always upper-class people using surnames that were (a) fancy English ones and (b) family names, or names with some other definite reasoning behind them.
Besides, the Irish were much looked down on by the British in Victorian times, partly because in the British context, Irish equalled working-class and an immigrant, and the Victorians were snooty that way. I'm sure that an aristocratic family would be amazed at the use of Kelly, Ryan, Reagan or anything like that. The situation in the States was probably different, but as you said "Victorian" I assumed you meant in Britain :-S
_____________________________________________________________________
"Dream like you'll live forever. Live like you'll die today."
♥Elinor♥
Besides, the Irish were much looked down on by the British in Victorian times, partly because in the British context, Irish equalled working-class and an immigrant, and the Victorians were snooty that way. I'm sure that an aristocratic family would be amazed at the use of Kelly, Ryan, Reagan or anything like that. The situation in the States was probably different, but as you said "Victorian" I assumed you meant in Britain :-S
_____________________________________________________________________
"Dream like you'll live forever. Live like you'll die today."
♥Elinor♥
Replies
I said "Victorianesque", not "Victorian"
-esque simply means "In the manner of; resembling". To me, Kelly has a Victorianesque air to it, like Ashley and Lindsay for boys. I didn't mean Kelly was actually used in the Victorian era, just that it kind of sounded like it did to me.
Miranda
"Six hours later I still haven't done my homework, but I did come up with 245 name combos, seven of which I might name my child." — Modified LJ icon quote
Proud adopter of 15 punctuation marks.
-esque simply means "In the manner of; resembling". To me, Kelly has a Victorianesque air to it, like Ashley and Lindsay for boys. I didn't mean Kelly was actually used in the Victorian era, just that it kind of sounded like it did to me.
"Six hours later I still haven't done my homework, but I did come up with 245 name combos, seven of which I might name my child." — Modified LJ icon quote
Proud adopter of 15 punctuation marks.