Ivy


While most plants are pleasant to touch, one is more dangerous than others. The few-flowered climbing plant has the potential to sting. That plant has a name from the Old English "ifig": Ivy.

In the ancient world, the ivy symbolized fidelity, love, determination, and immortality. That did not make the term a name, of course. Because it was associated only with the plant, Ivy entered English-speaking usage with the majority of nature names in the nineteenth century.

Ivy ranked most years in the United States since 1880 with its initial peak in the 200s. However, it was more popular in England where was a top 100 name from the 1890s through the 1930s. Ivy was probably not as common in America because of the poison ivy association. According to dicitonary.com, the term was coined in late eighteenth-century America. 

Ivy declined in both nations in the middle of the twentieth century only to return within this past decade. It  returned to the English top 100 in 2012 and debuted in the American top 100 in 2018. This means that parents are finally resisting the poison ivy association.

Ivy is also popular in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Canada, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, and even the Netherlands. It has seen some use in France as well. 

Ivy has the same vintage-but-modern style as Ava, another name at its peak today. It is also a nature name in the key of Hazel. The poison ivy association gives it a Gothic vibe as well. All these ingredients make Ivy the popular hit it is today.

STYLES:

Compact, Nature, Vintage

SISTERS:

Luna, Scarlett, Poppy, Esme, Hazel, Zoe, Jade, Willow 

BROTHERS:

Leo, Felix, Jasper, Sterling, Miles, Duke, Wyatt, Ezra

ALTERNATIVES:

Briar, Clover, Dove, Ida, Navy, Posy, Raven, Sylvie

What do you think about Ivy? 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hazel

Image
In the Northern Hemisphere, there is a common broadleaf tree. It produces nuts with a certain shade of brown. The tree and nut have one name in common: Hazel. The nature name, which derives from the Old English hæsel , has been in sparing use as a unisex name between the late 1700s and early 1800s. It became a common feminine name alongside Myrtle and Olive in the late Victorian Era. Hazel was a top 100 American name between 1886 and 1936, peaking in the top 20 in 1897.  Hazel was popular in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand around the same time as its American run. However, it did not enter the British top 100 until 1924. It remained popular in England and Wales until 1954, making it more retro over there.  As Hazel declined in popularity, pop culture reminded the public of its dated sound. A comic strip featuring a troubled housekeeper by the name and Witch Hazel from Looney Tunes did the job.  Hazel dropped out of the American top 1000 in 1976. It began its revival when it reentere
Read more

Predicted Top 100 Girls' Names 2022

With the new name data coming out this Friday, it is time to predict the popular names once again.  I will begin with the girls' top 100. There have been few changes last year, but I expect more to happen this year. Here are the names I think will enter the top 100: Eloise -Eloise does not just fit in our era of "el" names, but its kidlit connections also makes this today's Madeline. It rose nearly 30 spots last year to #109, so it will take under 10 spots to make this popular. Iris -Iris is a goddess name in the key of Luna and Aurora and a vintage nature name like Hazel and Ivy. It has also risen 20 spots to #107 last year. Maeve -This has risen from the 170s all the way to the 120s last year under the influence of the television series Sex Education . Rising just 25 more spots will make this popular. Raelynn -This has risen little this past year, but its similarity in country-singer association to Paisley gives it potential.  When new names enter the top 100, there
Read more