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She’s a hippie chic name at home in Windsor Castle.
Thanks to Kelly for suggesting Autumn as our Baby Name of the Day.
Autumn debuted in the US rankings in 1969, made it to #180 by 1979, #91 in 1997, and peaked at #72 in 2001, before slipping to #81 in 2010.
In other words, Autumn is a modern marvel. Virtually unknown as a name until the late 1960s, she’s caught on rapidly. In 1969, it took just over 100 (118 to be precise) instances for a name to make it into girls’ top 1000. A handful of other nature names, like Laurel and Misty were also catching on, but the entire category is definitely more mainstream in 2011. Autumn was among the vanguard.
In fact, Autumn is so expected these days that it doesn’t read especially outdoorsy. It is a tailored choice for a daughter, not one that implies you’re spending all your free time hiking and camping in the wilderness.
The au vowel combo appears in lots of other names, both the established and the up-and-coming:
- Hollywood glam Audrey;
- Borrowed from the boys Aubrey and Aubree;
- Disney princess and dawn goddess Aurora;
- Ancient Aurelia;
- Gender neutral newcomers like August and Auden.
Au also appears in the middle of mainstream monikers like Laura and Paula.
But where does the word come from? The simple answer is the Latin autumnus, possibly from an earlier Etruscan word, via the French automne. In English, the season was called Harvest into sixteenth century, and it is still commonly referred to as Fall, too.
There’s a John Keats poem “To Autumn,” and countless other literary references. There’s also Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” and the short-lived, but influential Autumn Records, the San Fransisco label responsible for the release of the original version of 60s staple “Somebody to Love” as well as the Beau Brummels’ hit “Just a Little.”
While Autumn wasn’t in common use until the later part of the twentieth century, there are Autumns to be found farther back in history. US Census records reveal a handful of bearers of the name, split between men and women.
Today, two notable women might come to mind:
- Canadian-born Mrs. Peter Phillips is mom to Savannah and granddaughter-in-law to the queen of England;
- Best known for her turn on The O.C., actress Autumn Reeser is mom to son Finn.
There are plenty of reasons to consider naming a child after the season. You might be really into pumpkin patches and sweater weather. Your daughter might arrive in October. Or maybe you and your other half said your I-Dos in the fall. It turns out that despite our Tons of references to the season that are lesser known. September is among the most popular months for weddings.
Despite all of these compelling reasons to consider Autumn for a daughter, there’s one strike against her: if you’re trying to land on a truly unusual name, she’s no longer the surprise that she might’ve been twenty years ago. But she remains a good option for parents seeking a frills-free, nickname-proof option that speaks to such a gorgeous season.
I went to school with an Autumn who was a total rhymes-with-itch (and spoiled the name for me, unfortunately). There was also a Summer, Winter and a Spring. How can you tell there’s a Waldorf school in my hometown LOL
In the fifth grade I had a teacher’s aide whose fn was November (last name was a place name, think London). One day, we were doing a project where we had to do something with our names and I asked Miss November what her middle name was and she replied “Autumn. My parents were hippies.” I was too young to really register this but now I look back and think, really? November Autumn London?
Anyhow, the name Autumn is really pretty, but too common for me
My doctor’s daughter is named Season, and I think that’s probably something I’d pick over Autumn.
Coincidentally, Autumn Phillips’ maiden name was Kelly
It’s still a newish sort of name here, and not hippie chic so much as sleek American.
That’s fascinating – but I can see her as a very American name, and she certainly strikes a nice balance between the feminine and the frilly. Compared to the pretty, vintage Lily or Daisy, Autumn really comes across as strong and modern.
Oh yes, I think it seems very modern, but not glitzy. It reminds me a bit of Lauren in sound and style.
I know a teenage Autumn and I never really thought about her name being a season. We mostly call it Fall around here anyway.
There are tons more nature names that I’d pick over Autumn (and Summer… Summer is just pushing it, for me, somehow). But it’s a nice name overall and sort of becoming a classic.
I’ve known several lovely Autumns, so the name does indeed sound more common to me. Of all the seasons, the name Winter sounds most appealing.
Since Jr. High, I’ve collected a mental list of words that are fun to say: attaché, melancholy, periwinkle, codswallop, etc. Back in the day, Autumn would have made the list because it’s such a yummy word to say.
I’m sure my husband has had students with the name or the kids have had classmates or teammates with the name, but no one is sticking in out in my mind… Probably a sign that Autumn is no longer unconventional. It’s not unexpected, but it’s still a pleasing name.
I know two Autumns – one is 20, the other is 4 months old. I’m pretty sure that the baby was named for her parent’s favorite season. They’re outdoorsy folks who wanted a nature name that wasn’t unfamiliar or too out there; I think they got it right. For me, Autumn is one of those names that because it’s never cracked the Top 50, it doesn’t feel overused. I agree with Julie – Autumn isn’t unexpected, but it’s lovely and the season is beautiful.
I knew an Autumn in school and I’ve always, always loved this name.
Funny enough though – since it’s true that kicknames are hard to come by for this name, the Autumn I knew went by her first and middle name (Autumn Rae) as her nickname!
I always had an odd dislike for the name, probably because by my generation it was “too common” for my taste. And because I’ve always thought of the season as fall, and it has never been my favorite time of the year anyway.
But in recent years I’ve actually come to love the season in it’s own right. The end of high school meant that fall no longer means the dreaded return to that particular agony (and did mean a return to college, which is a good thing), and then in college I added a certain Somebody to my life whose birthday happens to be in September. It’s truly a beautiful time of year, which might actually have redeemed the name for me. But sadly, the aforementioned Somebody had an ex named Autumn, who effectively re-ruins the name for me. She was not a very good girlfriend, and I probably won’t ever shake the association. If we decide to reference the season, we’ll have to do it in another way. Thankfully, I’m a huge fan of most of the fall months as names. September, October… mmmm
I know an Autumn and a Summer. Now I hope to meet a Spring and a Winter.
I totally agree that the name is sounding much more tailored these days, especially with the proper pairing of first and middle. I have known several Autumns, though, and all of them have been quintessentially hippie. I’ve wondered if they selected their names, or their parents did. I think it’s totally changing, though (not that hippie is a bad thing.) I also worked with a September and she was a total character! And I, too, would love to hear a Spring! I knew a Winter, same story as all the Autumns, but I’m positive she selected her own name. Winter seems to be going the very same route in terms of being more tailored, even more so than Autumn, I think. All things nature are lovely in my book!
Don’t forget Autumn at the very end of 500 Days of Summer!
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The more I hear it, the more I love it. Favorite season. Tailored sound. Not frilly at all. It kind of hits most of my check list.