"Bridgerton" names fit right in with the new Netflix series’ lavish costumes, sparkling dialogue, and beautiful people walking down beautiful vistas (with nary a horse dropping in sight).
Based on the romantic historical novels by Julia Quinn, the series revolves around the Bridgerton family who live in London in 1813. Most charmingly, the eight Bridgerton children are named alphabetically in order of age: Anthony, Benedict, Colin, heroine Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth.
Related: 'Bridgerton' season two is coming. Here's everything we know
Are these 19th century names used in "Bridgerton" part of the series’ enthralling fantasy or do they represent historical reality? Which Bridgerton nameswouldyou be likely to encounter if you visited the real 1813 London, and which most decidedly belong in fiction?
According to my research, the names fall into three groups.
Realistic 19th Century Names
These are the "Bridgerton" names that you would be most likely to encounter in early 19th century London, according to statistics.Girl names from the 1800sand commonboy names from the 1800sinclude:
Anthony— The eldest Bridgerton child, and the first to start the alphabet pattern in the family. In 1800, Anthony ranked #33 in England and Wales. The traditional English pronunciation to pronounce the "th" as a hard T as with Thomas.
Charlotte— Queen Charlotte is based on the real queen consort in 1813: Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Her husband KingGeorgealso features in the series and they even mention their daughter Princess Amelia who was known to the family as “Emily.” Charlotte also had at least two nephews namedFriedrich, though both died in childhood.
Genevieve— Genevieve is the French modiste who is privy to most of the gossip of the Ton. It was a well-used name in France in the 18th century thanks to its being borne by the patron saint of Paris and even 17th century French royalty.
Gregory— The youngest Bridgerton son is Gregory. The name had been in the top 50 in England in the 16th century but had gradually seen a decline. By 1813, the name was moderately used and sat just below the top 200 throughout the 19th century.
Henry— Sir Henry Granville is a friend of Benedict Bridgerton. Henry was #8 in 1800 and remained popular through the 19th century.
Kitty/Lucy— Both Kitty and Lucy are married ladies of The Ton. Familiar as Jane Austen characters also, Catherine was #14, Kitty alone was #36 and Lucy was #22 in England and Wales in 1800.
Marina— Marina Thompson is a cousin of the Featheringtons who causes a stir when she comes to stay for the season. Marina was in small to moderate use in the late 18th century with 352 women with the name on the 1841 census. Appropriately for a sea-themed name, it was most common in coastal Cornwall and Devon.
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Philippa/Prudence/Penelope— The Featherington daughters all share their mother Portia’s P initial. Queenly Philippa had for centuries been just the Latinized form — believe it or not, girls in England used to answer simply to “Philip” — but it had come into its own in the 18th century and it was moderately used throughout the 19th century. Slightly more common was Penelope, borne by the faithful wife of Odysseus who waited decades for his return, which was also in moderate use. The most common of the three was Prudence, which ranked just below the top 100 in the early 19th century.
Rose— Borne by Daphne Bridgerton’s lady’s maid, Rose was a top 50 name in England from the 14th to the 18th century and ranked at #65 by 1840.
Simon— The romantic hero of Series One is Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Simon ranked at #35 in 1800.
Violet— The matriarch of the Bridgerton family is Violet whose name had been in used as an, albeit rare, given name since the Middle Ages. By the 18th century, it was uncommon in England (ranking below the top 200), but it was more common in Scotland. Of the809Violets recorded on the1841census, 70% were living in Scotland compared with 30% living in England.
Will(iam)/Alice— Will Mondrich is a boxer and friend of the Duke. He and his wife Alice have perfectly popular names for their age. William was #1 and Alice was #19 in 1800 in England and Wales. Will even fights an opponent named Billy (presumably also a William) in one episode, which rings true given how common the name was.
Rare 19th Century Names
These "Bridgerton" names were rare in 1813 London, though they did exist.
Albion / Nigel— Albion Finch and Nigel Berbrooke are members of the Ton. Both names were in use at the end of the 18th century but can only be found in a handful of records.
Benedict— The name of the second Bridgerton son. Although this saintly name had been in regular use in the Middle Ages, by the late 18th century, you could count on one hand the number of boys Christened with the name each year.
Colin— Colin is the third Bridgerton son, but his name is somewhat strange choice for the name of an English gentleman in 1813. You see, the English name Colin (a medieval form of Nicholas) had by the 16th century become the familiar name for a country laborer and was commonly used as such in pastoral verse. This led to a general decline in the name in England. The Scottish Colin (from the Gaelic Cuilan), however, was in good use at this time.
Cressida/Portia— Thanks to Shakespeare’s heroines, Cressida and Portia were by no means unknown in 1813. Cressida was, however, extremely rare. There are only two on the 1841 census and previously there were only a handful of baptisms throughout the whole of the 18th century (the century the character would have been born in). Portia was only slightly more common with 26 women on the 1841 census.
Daphne— As a classical name which was borne by a tragic romantic heroine in Greek mythology, Daphne seems like a perfect choice for the eldest Bridgerton daughter. Daphne was incredibly rare from 1750 to 1850 with only a tiny handful of baptisms and only came into regular use at the end of the 19th century.
Eloise— The second Bridgerton daughter is Eloise. Her medieval name — which was also linked to a tragic romance — was marginally more common than Daphne, but it was still quite a unique choice for the time.
Fantasy "Bridgerton" Names
These names are part of the frothy "Bridgerton" fantasy world: It would be extremely unlikely to encounter anyone with these names in early 19th century Britain.
Francesca— The sixth Bridgerton child is Francesca, the Italian from of Frances in use in Italy from at least the 13th century. Fittingly, like Daphne and Eloise, Francesca was also associated with a tragic love affair. In England, Francesca appears several times in English baptisms in the 18th century, but in almost every case it is used in Latinized records: these girls, in fact, would have all answered to “Frances.” The tiny number of true Francescas on the 1841 census were all born to Italian parents.
Hyacinth— The youngest Bridgerton daughter is Hyacinth. Although it can be found in use France and Germany in 1813, Hyacinth was extremely rare in Britain. Moreover, wherever it was used, Hyacinth was (during this period at least) a masculine name, thanks to its being a modern form of the Ancient Greek Hyacinthus, which was not only a character in mythology, but also borne by several early male saints.
Siena— This beautiful Italian city is given to an opera singer in the series. It was used on the Continent in small numbers in the 18th century (especially in the Netherlands and Germany) in reference to St. Catherine of Siena (often Siena was a middle name after Catherine). It was extremely rare in Britain and the earliest records that can be found date from the 19th century — not the 18th. In the novels, she is named Maria — a far more likely choice.
Top 50 rankings for 1800 are taken from Leslie Dunkling’s The Guinness Book of Names. Rankings for 1840 and beyond are from my own data research (full lists at britishbabynames.com). Other records such as 1841 UK census and baptism records pre-1815 are taken from ancestry.co.uk, findmypast.co.uk and familysearch.org.
This story originally appeared on Nameberry.com.
FAQs
What is baby Bridgertons name? ›
During season two, Daphne casually reveals baby Basset's first name - Augie - which proves they stuck with Simon's request to follow the Bridgerton family tradition of alphabetizing kids' names. Perhaps Augie is a nickname for a longer Regency-era-worthy name like Augustus or Augustin?
Why must the baby's name begin with an A Bridgerton? ›The duke also jokes, after the birth of their first child in the season's final (and very affecting) scene, that he “believes” the child's name “must begin with the letter A,” as a nod to the first names of the eight Bridgerton children following alphabetic symmetry.
What are the names of Anthony Bridgertons children? ›Kate and Anthony have four children together: Edmund, Miles, Charlotte, and Mary.
What are Daphne and Simon's baby names? ›According to Julia Quinn's website, the Bridgerton family tree shows that Simon and Daphne have five children: Amelia, Belinda, Caroline, David, and Edward [via JuliaQuinn.com].
How many kids do Daphne and Simon have? ›Daphne and Simon have five children together: Amelia, Belinda, Caroline, David, and Edward.
Who is Violet bridgerton? ›Violet Bridgerton is the Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton. She is the widow of Edmund, and the mother of the eight Bridgerton siblings.
Who is the F child in Bridgerton? ›Everything to Know About “The First Lady”
Ruby Stokes's Francesca, the sixth Bridgerton child, was referenced throughout season one but remained off-screen until the very last episode. That finale appearance was intended to tee up a much bigger role for Francesca in season two.
Courses is an older, fancier way of saying “menses,” or a period. In the Bridgerton time period, the presence or absence of someone's period was essentially the only way of determining whether or not she could bear children or was pregnant, so much is made of courses by the women on the show.
Who is the F named Bridgerton? ›Francesca Bridgerton, played by Ruby Stokes, is the only Bridgerton sibling who is inexplicably missing from most of Bridgerton. Here's why. Bridgerton seasons 1 and 2 regularly featured all of the Bridgerton siblings except Francesca, who is noticeably absent — here's why.
What does Daphne name her son? ›Four years later, Daphne gives birth to their fourth child and first son, David. Simon knows he will love his son no matter what, just as he does his three daughters.
Who does Eloise marry in the books? ›
Eloise Bridgerton and Sir Phillip Cane
The printer's assistant with a passion for feminism seems like an ideal mate for Eloise, but it's actually Sir Phillip Crane — the elder brother of Marina Thompson's true love, Sir George — who wins her heart in the books.
By the events of Happily Ever After, Colin and Penelope have four children: Agatha, Thomas, Jane, and George.
What did Daphne and Niles name their baby? ›Daphne and Niles have their first child, David, in the final episode of the series, "Goodnight, Seattle". (He is named after the show's co-creator David Angell who died in the September 11 attacks.)
What did Daphne call her child? ›During season two, Daphne casually reveals baby Basset's first name — Augie — which proves they stuck with Simon's request to follow the Bridgerton family tradition of alphabetizing kids' names. Perhaps Augie is a nickname for a longer Regency-era-worthy name like Augustus or Augustin?
How many kids do Kate and Anthony have? ›In author Julia Quinn's Bridgerton book series, Kate and Anthony welcome four children: Edmund, Miles, Charlotte and Mary. They also have a dog named Newton. Ashley confirmed in March that she'll be returning for the show's upcoming third season.
Did Francesca Bridgerton have a baby? ›Francesca Bridgerton marries John Stirling, the Earl of Kilmartin and they share a blissful two years together, until he suddenly dies in his sleep. To make matters worse, she's in the early stages of pregnancy and loses the baby shortly after.
Does Eloise end up with Theo? ›Who does Eloise end up with in the Bridgerton books? The answer, sadly, is not Theo Sharpe. In To Sir Phillip, With Love, the fifth Bridgerton book, Eloise is dubbed a spinster for being single at 28, and she's just fine with that.
Does Eloise get pregnant in Bridgerton? ›Eloise does not become pregnant in Quinn's second book, but she does become a stepmum in the fifth book titled To Sir Phillip, With Love, where she is considered a “spinster” because she is unmarried at the age of 28.
Why do the Bridgertons only wear blue? ›The Bridgerton family's muted color palette symbolizes their prominence in society. "They're the prominent family of the social season so we wanted their color palette to be powdery — these pale blues, silvers, and greens that feel like whispers of color," Mirojnick told Vogue.
Who is Benedict bridgerton wife? ›In An Offer From a Gentleman, Benedict falls for Sophie Beckett, a woman he meets at a masked ball. Sophie, the illegitimate daughter of an Earl, becomes a servant for her stepmother and stepsisters after he dies. (Think Cinderella.) Two years after the masked ball (spoilers!), Benedict and Sophie reconnect and marry.
Who is poppy Bridgerton related to? ›
Poppy is cousin to Billie and niece of Viscount and Lady Bridgerton. Book four, First Comes Scandal focuses on Georgiana Bridgerton. Georgie is sister to Edmund and Billie. Helping you to take better care of yourself.
Why was Francesca missing in Bridgerton? ›During season two, showrunner Chris Van Dusen had hoped she would be in more of the season, but it wasn't possible. "I love Francesca, but we lost her midway through season two," Van Dusen told TVLine. "After exhausting all other options, she unfortunately had to come out due to reasons beyond our control.
Why did they skip F in Bridgerton? ›Only a few episodes into filming, she was forced to pull out of the series due to her prior obligations with Lockwood & Co. As Bridgerton showrunner Chris Van Dusen put it to TVLine, “I love Francesca, but we lost her midway through season 2.
Is there an F sibling in Bridgerton? ›Francesca (Ruby Stokes) Chances are, you don't recognize Francesca, the Bridgerton sister with the least amount of screen time. In season one, Francesca is visiting her aunt in Bath. in season two, Francesca disappears after three episodes.
Why is Edwina called Bon? ›Kate calls Edwina bon while Edwina calls her didi. While these might be perceived as cute nicknames, they're Bengali phrases for “younger sister” and “sister,” respectively.
Does Daphne touch herself in Bridgerton? ›Season 1, Episode 3 Where Daphne touches herself
Although this scene isn't a lovemaking scene, it portrays Daphne touching herself and knowing the idea of pleasure in sex for the first time. After a conversation about sexual pleasure with Simon, Daphne touches herself and embraces a discovery about her body.
Did Daphne have a miscarriage or a period? She's had a period. She cries in her mother's arms. As she sobs, Simon's eyes fill up as he watches the concert.
What does the B in Bridgerton mean? ›However, the bee seems to symbolize Edmund and how his death has significantly affected who Anthony is now. It's telling that the opening credits of the show include a beehive, for example. Jonathan Bailey, who plays Anthony on the series, even wore several bee pins while promoting the new season. Most Popular.
What is Daphne Bridgertons full name? ›Daphne Basset (née Bridgerton) is the female lead character of The Duke and I, the first book in the Bridgerton series.
Who does Edwina marry in the books? ›Edwina getting a happily ever after is something that happens in Quinn's novel, though it is not Prince Friedrich she marries because he is a character who appears solely in the Bridgerton series. In the books, Edwina ends up marrying Mr. Bagwell, a scholar and second son in his family.
Do Penelope and Colin marry? ›
Colin is the lead Bridgerton on book four
The pair marry, but have to deal with Cressida Cowper's threats to expose Penelope as Lady Whistledown. Instead, Colin proudly announces the revelation himself, leading to praise from the ton, while saving her reputation, and the pair live happily ever after in wedded bliss.
The year Colin finally came to his senses and married, Penelope Featherington. He also came into knowledge that she was Lady Whistledown, but later that year it would become common knowledge because he reveals at a ball hosted by his sister Daphne Bridgerton and her husband Simon.
Who married Prudence Featherington? ›Prudence is now married to Robert Huxley, a rather rowdy & obnoxious gentleman who still possesses a decent fortune. It took her five seasons to finally marry.
How old is Eloise Phillip with love? ›But, come the fifth book (that's To Sir Phillip, With Love, for anyone who's interested), Eloise has seemingly settled into her solitary life as a spinster at the ripe old age of 28.
Will Daphne be in season 3? ›Phoebe Dynevor has confirmed that Daphne Bridgerton will not appear in Season 3 of Netflix's “Bridgerton.”
Did Penelope ever remarry? ›What has finally led Penelope decide to remarry is the circumstance that her son, Telemachus, has now reached manhood. On leaving for Troy, Odysseus had spoken these words to her : "-when you see our son has grown a beard, marry the man you wish, and leave your home"(18: 269-270; trans. D. B.
Does Colin fall for Penelope? ›There Wasn't an Instant Connection. As we have witnessed, Penelope developed a crush on Colin long ago, but remained platonic with him due to her low self-esteem and image in society as a "wallflower." Even though Penelope had a developed love interest in Colin, he didn't feel the same way.
Does Violet Bridgerton marry? ›Edmund Bridgerton
Violet married Edmund within her first year of debuting, and the two became inseparable. Violet was devoted to her husband during their 20 years of marriage, and loved him as much as he loved her.
Daphne is pregnant, and she and Niles are keen to make an official announcement to the family over dinner.
What was Niles Crane Wife name? ›Maris Crane. Maris Crane is Niles Crane's wife for the first few seasons of the series. She is unseen on camera, but often the subject of plotlines and jokes. Maris is immensely wealthy, much wealthier than Niles, as well as spoiled, dominating, and neurotic.
Did Daphne know Niles loved her? ›
Daphne reveals that she knows about Niles' seven-year crush on her. She has tormented herself about her own feelings towards Niles and believes that she has fallen in love with him in return. Despite her impending marriage, Frasier urges her to confront Niles and discuss this with him before her marriage.
How many children does Daphne get? ›Much like her mother, Daphne follows family tradition and names her five children in alphabetical order. Starting with the couple's first child Amelia, the Hastings give birth to two more daughters, Belinda and Caroline, and then two sons, David and Edward.
Who is the father of Daphne's baby White Lotus? ›The whole thing is subtle, but it led to speculation about whether one, or both, of the kids might not be Cameron's. On a Jan. 12 episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Cohen asked James and Fahy if in White Lotus world, Daphne's trainer is indeed the biological dad to their characters' progeny.
Does Lady Danbury have kids? ›Not only does Lady Danbury have children, but her daughter, Anne, had a child out of wedlock. Anne's son, Gareth St. Clair, eventually goes on to marry Hyacinth Bridgerton in her novel, It's In His Kiss.
Why did Anthony Bridgerton hold up 3 fingers? ›"Perhaps you were the first person I found," he replies. Then Anthony softens, steps closer and playfully holds up three fingers to check her vision.
Does Kate get the adopted baby? ›Hailey Rose Damon is the adopted daughter of Kate and Toby Damon and the sister of Jack Damon.
Are Kate and Anthony twin flames? ›Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) and Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) were obviously twin flames from the start, but their mutual stubbornness nearly quashed their love story before it even began.
What happened to Lady Bridgertons baby? ›Violet and her daughter, Hyacinth, survived, but Violet was in a deep state of sadness. She lamented how she wished that she had died in childbirth so she could be with Edmund. She said that Edmund was her air, and without him, there was no air.
What is the second Bridgerton son name? ›Anthony Bridgerton
In the second season, which will likely be based on Julia's book The Viscount Who Loved Me, Anthony is expected to find the love of his life ... in the most unexpected way.
Regé explained himself that he quit because it felt 'like a limited series' to him, however rumours have since emerged that he left because he didn't like what was planned for his character in future. He said after his exit was announced: “It's a one-season arc.
What is the meaning of Bon in Bridgerton? ›
Kate calls Edwina bon while Edwina calls her didi. While these might be perceived as cute nicknames, they're Bengali phrases for “younger sister” and “sister,” respectively.
Does Eloise bridgerton have a baby? ›How many kids does Eloise Bridgerton have? Eloise and Phillip have three children: Penelope, Georgiana, and Frederick.
Will Daphne and Simon be in season 3? ›Phoebe Dynevor has confirmed that Daphne Bridgerton will not appear in Season 3 of Netflix's “Bridgerton.”
Will Simon Basset be in season 3? ›While Regé-Jean Page (Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings) appeared in season one, he's not expected to return for any future episodes.
Did Daphne and Simon actually do it? ›While Simon consented to sex with Daphne, he did not consent to ejaculating inside of her, thus making it assault. There is the added racial factor in the Netflix series, Simon is played by a black actor, Rege-Jean Page, whereas Daphne is played by a white actor, Phoebe Dynevor.
Why is Kate called Miss Sharma? ›Why do they call her Ms Sharma? “Miss”: The eldest daughter of any family is referred to as “Miss” followed by her surname, whereas subsequent daughters are called “Miss” followed by their whole name. Thus, Kate Sharma is introduced as Miss Sharma, while her younger sister is known as Miss Edwina Sharma.
Why are Kate and Edwina half sisters? ›The Sharmas are half-sisters: Kate is the daughter of a working-class tradesman who fell in love with Lady Mary, the daughter of an earl. Mary's parents disapproved of the relationship, so Mary ran off with him to India and soon gave birth to Edwina.
Why do the Bridgertons wear bees? ›However, the bee seems to symbolize Edmund and how his death has significantly affected who Anthony is now. It's telling that the opening credits of the show include a beehive, for example. Jonathan Bailey, who plays Anthony on the series, even wore several bee pins while promoting the new season.