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ArchivesMy column on Ariana and Arianna
Here is the link to today's column:
https://omaha.com/life-entertainment/local/cleveland-evans-arianas-roots-go-back-centuries-but-the-name-spiked-in-popularity-in-2014/article_0c003dc4-2905-11ef-a315-a3b545f79a46.html
This is the third woman's name in a row (following Tammy and Stacy) where I was surprised how far back its use in English speaking countries could be traced. It was rare back in the 18th and 19th century but did exist, and probably, as I mentioned in the column, because of its use in several operas. In the column I mention the mother of the USA's second secretary of state was named Ariana, as were her mother and a granddaughter. I didn't have space to mention that her daughter, the granddaughter's mother, was also Ariana -- so we have four generations in a row of Arianas following each other in the same family, and example of how much more common it was back then for daughters to be named after their mothers.
https://omaha.com/life-entertainment/local/cleveland-evans-arianas-roots-go-back-centuries-but-the-name-spiked-in-popularity-in-2014/article_0c003dc4-2905-11ef-a315-a3b545f79a46.html
This is the third woman's name in a row (following Tammy and Stacy) where I was surprised how far back its use in English speaking countries could be traced. It was rare back in the 18th and 19th century but did exist, and probably, as I mentioned in the column, because of its use in several operas. In the column I mention the mother of the USA's second secretary of state was named Ariana, as were her mother and a granddaughter. I didn't have space to mention that her daughter, the granddaughter's mother, was also Ariana -- so we have four generations in a row of Arianas following each other in the same family, and example of how much more common it was back then for daughters to be named after their mothers.
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Replies
I've actually been aware of Ariana's historical English-speaking usage since I found a few historical Arianas on Find a Grave. I was surprised at first too. Ariana's modern popularity has definitely overshadowed its historical usage, to the point where you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a recent coinage.
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