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ArchivesNames from the manga God Child - were these used in England?
I've discovered the manga God Child by Kaori Yuki and like it a lot, but get a bit irritated at some anachronisms. There are, for example, a girl called Drew. And the story is set in England in the end of the 19th century. So, I have some questions about the names in the manga.
One character is called Riffael (nn Riff). Is this a "real" name?
Another character is called Mikaila. Is this spelling ever used in England?
A French maid is called Siobhan. I know the name is Irish, but has it ever been used in France, historically? I doubt it.
Could a man in the 19th century spell his name Dominique or only Dominic?
Is Katina used in England?
Is Grifford a "real" first name?
And were these names used in England before the 20th century:
Karen
Emile
Suzette
Neil
Alexis
Marjorie
Arina
Clyde
Allen
One character is called Riffael (nn Riff). Is this a "real" name?
Another character is called Mikaila. Is this spelling ever used in England?
A French maid is called Siobhan. I know the name is Irish, but has it ever been used in France, historically? I doubt it.
Could a man in the 19th century spell his name Dominique or only Dominic?
Is Katina used in England?
Is Grifford a "real" first name?
And were these names used in England before the 20th century:
Karen
Emile
Suzette
Neil
Alexis
Marjorie
Arina
Clyde
Allen
This message was edited 6/1/2008, 3:11 PM
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Replies
Thanks for your answers! nm
nm
nm
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Siobhan in France
Siobhan was not used in France until 1980s, after 1981 (the statistics show 1988 as the first year with a minimum of three girls named Siobhan) and, even since then, the use has been purely marginal (less of seventy girls named Siobhan).
After the law 11 germinal, an XI (April 1, 1803), it was forbidden to pick a name outside an official list of names (that was, approximately, coincident with the saints' list); it was, then, impossible to use Siobhan in France (if some parents could have known it in a trip to Ireland, for example). The law was modified in 1966 to include several mythological names, regional names, compound names and some variants and diminutifs, but not foreign names; again, Siobhan was impossible.
I cited 1981 because then the law was again modified in order to accept, among others, foreign names.
As you pointed, Siobhan is not credible at all as name for a French girl in the 19th c.
Siobhan was not used in France until 1980s, after 1981 (the statistics show 1988 as the first year with a minimum of three girls named Siobhan) and, even since then, the use has been purely marginal (less of seventy girls named Siobhan).
After the law 11 germinal, an XI (April 1, 1803), it was forbidden to pick a name outside an official list of names (that was, approximately, coincident with the saints' list); it was, then, impossible to use Siobhan in France (if some parents could have known it in a trip to Ireland, for example). The law was modified in 1966 to include several mythological names, regional names, compound names and some variants and diminutifs, but not foreign names; again, Siobhan was impossible.
I cited 1981 because then the law was again modified in order to accept, among others, foreign names.
As you pointed, Siobhan is not credible at all as name for a French girl in the 19th c.
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If the man named Dominique is French, that certainly could be his name. Dominique is both the male and female form in France.
Neil and Marjorie would definitely both have been in use in England before the 20th century. Allen would probably have been there occasionally as a spelling variation of Alan. Emile & Suzette might have been used by English parents who were fascinated by the French, and Alexis might have been used by parents who had some knowledge of eastern Europe (though it probably would have been for a boy in the 19th century, not a girl.) I suppose if Arina and Alexis were in the same family, it might make a little sense. It does seem a bit early for a Karen, but again, someone who had a connection with Denmark might have used it.
Since the English have always had complete freedom to name their children whatever they want, it's hard to say that any of these names would have been completely impossible in the 19th century. But only Neil, Marjorie, and Allen would have been at all common; they others would have been quite rare, if they existed.
Neil and Marjorie would definitely both have been in use in England before the 20th century. Allen would probably have been there occasionally as a spelling variation of Alan. Emile & Suzette might have been used by English parents who were fascinated by the French, and Alexis might have been used by parents who had some knowledge of eastern Europe (though it probably would have been for a boy in the 19th century, not a girl.) I suppose if Arina and Alexis were in the same family, it might make a little sense. It does seem a bit early for a Karen, but again, someone who had a connection with Denmark might have used it.
Since the English have always had complete freedom to name their children whatever they want, it's hard to say that any of these names would have been completely impossible in the 19th century. But only Neil, Marjorie, and Allen would have been at all common; they others would have been quite rare, if they existed.
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