In the 1700s, many girl names were influenced by virtue names that reflected desired traits like Patience and Prudence. Biblical names like Mary, Elizabeth, and Sarah remained popular. Names honoring royalty like Anne and Charlotte were also common. By the end of the century, Greek and Roman mythological names grew in popularity.
Popular 1700s Girl Names
Here are some of the most popular girls names from the 1700s:
- Mary
- Elizabeth
- Sarah
- Anne
- Margaret
- Catherine
- Jane
- Hannah
- Martha
- Rebecca
Mary was by far the most common girls name, a traditional biblical name that remained the top choice throughout the 1700s. Other popular biblical names for girls included Elizabeth, Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca, Hannah, Lydia, Deborah, and Esther.
Virtue Names
Virtue names for girls that reflected positive traits were very common in the 1700s. Here are some examples of popular virtue names for girls:
- Patience
- Prudence
- Temperance
- Charity
- Chastity
- Honor
- Grace
- Faith
- Hope
- Verity
Patience, Prudence, and Temperance were among the most widely used virtue names. Parents also chose names like Charity, Chastity, Honor, and Grace to represent virtuous qualities they wanted their daughters to embody.
Royal Names
Girls were often named after royalty and noblewomen in the 1700s. Here are some examples of royal names:
- Anne
- Charlotte
- Augusta
- Georgiana
- Louisa
- Caroline
- Frederica
- Amelia
- Wilhelmina
- Henrietta
Anne was an exceedingly popular name in the 1700s due to Queen Anne of Great Britain. Charlotte, Augusta, and Caroline gained favor as the names of King George III’s wife and daughters. Names like Georgiana, Louisa, Frederica, and Henrietta also reflected royalty.
Nature Names
Some girls in the 1700s were given names inspired by nature and flowers. Examples include:
- Rose
- Lily
- Daisy
- Violet
- Phoebe (Greek moon goddess)
- Flora
- Daphne (Greek nymph)
- Phoebe
- Ophelia
- Chloe
Flower names like Rose, Lily, Daisy, and Violet were fashionable. Phoebe, Flora, Daphne, and Chloe incorporated Greek and Roman mythological influences. Nature names were not nearly as common for girls as virtue names, but they did provide some feminine naming options.
French Names
Towards the end of the 18th century, French names started becoming trendy for girls in England and America. Examples include:
- Adélaïde
- Amélie
- Éléonore
- Joséphine
- Louise
- Sophie
- Claudette
- Claudine
- Françoise
- Yvette
The influence of French culture introduced elegant French variations of names like Adelaide, Amelia, Eleanor, Josephine, Louisa, and Sophia. French flair also appeared in names like Claudette, Claudine, Francoise, and Yvette.
Diminutives Ending in “Y”
Many girls received names that were diminutives ending in the letter “y” in the 1700s. For example:
- Betty
- Effie
- Nelly
- Millie
- Betsy
- Hetty
- Molly
- Polly
- Sukey
- Nanny
These cute, brisk nicknames were widely embraced as given names in their own right. Betsy, Hetty, Molly, and Polly were especially fashionable in the late 1700s.
Masculine Names for Girls
Some girls were given traditionally masculine names like:
- Charles
- George
- Thomas
- William
- Joseph
- Samuel
- John
- Benjamin
- Jacob
Charles, George, and Thomas were the most popular masculine names bestowed on girls. This naming custom reflected parental hopes that their daughters would embody traditionally masculine virtues like strength, courage, and leadership.
Creative Spelling Variations
Creative spelling was in style in the 1700s, with girls’ names being spelled in inventive ways like:
- Ann
- Jaine
- Jaine
- Emmaline
- Izabella
- Phillis
- Lucinda
- Zabina
- Sabra
- Tiphany
The lack of spelling standardization allowed for artistic license in rendering traditional names like Ann, Jane, Emmeline, Isabella, and Lucinda. Phillis, Zabina, Sabra and Tiphany demonstrate more unique creations.
Girls Names Influenced by Novel Characters
The rise of the novel in the 18th century also influenced girls’ names as parents chose names of popular heroines:
- Pamela
- Clarissa
- Emmeline
- Henrietta
- Sophia
- Charlotte
- Cecilia
Pamela and Clarissa were inspired by novels of the same names. Emmeline came from Henry Fielding’s “The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews.” Sophia and Charlotte were names featured in books by Fanny Burney and Jean-Jacques Rousseau respectively.
Greek and Roman Mythological Names
Towards the end of the 1700s, Greek and Roman mythological names started coming into fashion like:
- Delia
- Diana
- Cynthia
- Minerva
- Penelope
- Phoebe
- Iris
- Laura
- Flora
Delia, Diana, Cynthia, and Phoebe invoked goddesses associated with the moon and hunting. Flora, Minerva, Penelope, and Iris also had classical roots. This marked the growing influence of Neoclassical culture on naming.
Sample Names Combinations
Here are some first and middle name combinations that would have been fashionable for girls in the 1700s:
- Mary Elizabeth
- Anne Charlotte
- Sarah Jane
- Hannah Sophia
- Elizabeth Jane
- Louisa Henrietta
- Caroline Matilda
- Patience Emmeline
- Prudence Augusta
- Temperance Adelaide
Pairing a common first name like Mary or Anne with a royal middle like Elizabeth or Charlotte was very popular. Virtue names often matched with feminine royal/classical names. Middle names were also drawn from surnames like Jane and Emmeline.
Popularity by Decade
Here is an overview of the most popular girls’ names in the 1700s by decade:
Early 1700s (1701-1710)
- Mary
- Elizabeth
- Anne
- Sarah
- Jane
Mid 1700s (1721-1730)
- Mary
- Elizabeth
- Anne
- Sarah
- Frances
Late 1700s (1781-1790)
- Mary
- Elizabeth
- Sarah
- Ann
- Charlotte
Mary, Elizabeth, Anne, and Sarah dominated throughout the century. By the late 1700s, Charlotte moved up in popularity as a royal name.
Regional Variations
There were some regional differences in naming trends:
- New England – More biblical and virtue names like Faith, Prudence, and Patience
- Middle Colonies – More creative spellings like Jaine and Ann
- Southern Colonies – Royal/classical names like Charlotte and Henrietta more common
However, the overall top names were quite consistent throughout the American colonies and England. Mary and Elizabeth were always the top two names.
Naming Traditions and Customs
Here are some key facts about naming practices in the 1700s:
- Children were usually named after parents or grandparents
- Junior names were commonly used for sons named after fathers
- Middle names were increasingly popular, especially honoring maternal family names
- Virtue names were widely embraced for girls
- Surnames beginning to be used as first names (like Emmeline from Emmaline Pankhurst)
Biblical names and family names still dominated, but this period marked the beginning of more creativity and outside influences in naming. The increased use of middle names also allowed for more elaborate name combinations.
Conclusion
Girls’ names in the 1700s ranged from traditional biblical staples like Mary and Sarah to creative virtue names like Patience and Honor. Royal classics like Anne and Charlotte were also popular. Towards the end of the century, Greek and Roman mythological names started trending for girls as well. The 1700s marked the start of more diversity and experimentation in feminine naming customs beyond traditional biblical names.