Last updated at 17:29, Friday, 17 August 2012

AMELIA and Harry might be the top 2011 choices for baby names, according to the Office for National Statistics, but what were Barrow mums and dads chosen 100 years earlier.

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We have taken a look at the newly available 1911 census to pick out the top choices made that year before the national headcount was taken on April 2.

A total of 163 boys were born in Barrow in the first three months of 1911 and John was the most frequent choice of name by a good margin.

A total of 20 parents picked it – just over 12 per cent of the total.

In second place, with 13, was George, followed by William, with 12.

Other popular names were Thomas,Arthur and Frank – all chosen five times.

Unusual single selections for Barrow include Theophilus and Cledvaldo.

Barrow saw the birth of 151 girls by April 2 in 1911 and the top choice for a name was Mary with 17 – or 11 per cent of the total births.

Next came Annie, nine, followed by Dorothy, Elizabeth and Margaret, all with six, and Elsie, with five.

Unusual single choices from 1911 include Dorces, Flossie, Bratrice and Edthel.

Influences on Barrow parents may have included worthy politicians – such as Herbert Henry Asquith, who was in charge of the country from 1908 to 1916.

Sporting stars might also have provided inspiration for names – such as Barrow RL star George Dobson.

He signed as a professional in 1909 and by his final game in December, 1922, had made 284 first-team appearances – scoring 101 tries and kicking 49 goals. 

Choices for girls’ names in 1911 may have been swayed by the latest stars of the stage or music hall – such as Mary Austin or Lily Elsie The top 10 girls’ names in 2011 were Amelia, Olivia, Lily, Jessica, Emily, Sophie, Ruby, Grace, Ava and Isabella.

The top 10 for boys was Harry, Oliver, Jack, Alfie, Charlie, Thomas, Jacob, James, Joshua and William.

First published at 17:25, Friday, 17 August 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk