Bridge between Waverley Abbey house and the Abbey; Image by stephen_dedalus via Flickr
Today’s literary choice is perfectly in step with current trends, but has yet to catch on.
Thanks to Amanda for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day: Waverly.
Waverly sounds like a surname, but first appears in the historical record as the name of an abbey, constructed in 1128. It lasted into the 1500s, when the combined forces of flooding from the nearby River Wey and Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries forced it into ruin. Waverley Abbey’s name is tricky to trace, too. I’d thought it might relate to the nearby River Wey, but that’s not clear.
A few references link Waverly to aspens, and that tracks with the -ley ending, which usually signified a clearing, meadow, or field. Nearly every reference talks about “quaking aspens,” and our word waver traces back to the Old English wæfre – restless. So Waverly picks up yet another appealing aspect – a nature name vibe.
In 1814, Sir Walter Scott scored a smash hit with his novel Waverley. His hero is called Edward Waverley, a well-born soldier sent to Scotland during the Jacobite Rebellion in 1745. (This makes Waverly one of the first historical novels.) Edward falls in love with Flora, the sister of a Scottish chieftain. This brings us back to the trees: he describes her harp playing as “the soft sigh of the evening breeze in the rustling leaves of an aspen.”
There’s much intrigue, but no happy ending. Despite Flora’s chieftain brother Fergus springing Edward from jail, Edward marries the sensible Rose.
Some link the novel’s name to Waverly Abbey, but that might just be coincidence. Likewise, the 64 baby girls given the name in 2009 according to Nancy are probably not linked to the novel.
What could inspire parents to choose Waverly?
- She’s a popular place name throughout the English-speaking world. She appeared on the New York City street names blog post at Nameberry, but you can find this name on the map from Alabama to Wisconsin;
- Amy Tan’s 1989 Joy Luck Club included a character named Waverly, named for the street where her family lived in San Francisco;
- The Princess Bride was a 1973 novel, a 1987 film, and an undeniable cult classic. Later editions of the novel contain a brief epilogue and hint at a sequel, all about the daughter of Westley and Princess Buttercup. Her name? Waverly;
- If you’ve seen The Disney Channel in recent years, you might’ve caught The Wizards of Waverly Place, a successful comedy about a trio of wizards-in-training who have to keep their powers secret. The show is set in New York City’s Greenwich Village, where there really is a Waverly Place, which was named after the novel – which takes us back to the beginning.
In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Waverly occasionally surfaced as a boy’s name. But today, she sounds like a likely successor to Delaney – and undeniably feminine. And while her name links to trees, her first syllable might remind parents of the beach. If girls can be called Ocean and Sea, why not Waverly?
I should also say I love original names,I have another daughter named Maddely and a son named Risto. I didn’t realize there were actual brands named Waverly.
My daughter is names Waverley after the set of novels. We love it its unique and well I am a bit of a book lover.
My name is Waverly…and I have yet to find someone with the same name!! My mom got my name from the Joy Luck Club and happy she did!!
Full Name: Waverly Symone Jennings
My husband grew up on Waverly Drive and his mother still lives there! I wonder if that would make his love or detest the name for a girl? I’ll have to ask him because I like it!
Our 20 month old daughter’s name is Waverly Rose and there is no other name that could ever suit her better. Everyone that we have encountered absolutely loves her name. We call her “Wavy” and “Wave” most often, ironically she has blonde wavy hair. I have no regrets and would name her Waverly 1000 times over!!!
Hi my name is Waverly don’t think my name is preppy I believe its unique and unusual different just like me . I like my name . You don’t hear it very often. Sometimes i’m called wavey wave wave wacky wave and sometimes Wavy Gravy. What gets me is when they ask you what your name is you tell them Waverly they say no your first name. That’s what gets me. My last name is Williams. I get stuff in the mail addressed to Mr William Waverly. I LOVE MY NAME WAVERLY ANN WILLIAMS!! COOL
I have a 6 year old Waverly and I am pretty far from preppy lol. I don’t see that at all, also its not as “branded” here in Canada. Ppl on pregnancy boards 7yrs ago when I was pregnant with her told me about the small towns, crackers and fabrics but I had never of them and still don’t see them where I live so its a none issue but I can see why it would be. We are ALWAYS complimented on her name, always, basically anytime we introduce her and all her teachers have commented on it positivly as well. I am surprised to see negative responses here but to each their own, no name is loved by all lol.
That’s absolutely true – my lovely neighbor Anne remains horrified that we’re calling our daughter Clio … she tries not to show it, but I suspect she has Very Strong Opinions about all of these wacky modern names.
My name is Waverly. I don’t think it sounds very preppy. It’s a strong name that only strong people can have. When I’m asked my name, and i answer, I love the reactions i receive. It’s like a pair of fancy shoes that never gets old. To each his own, but I believe its a great name, being as though I was named after the novel.
My name is Waverly and although I have never met another person with the same name I always get compliments on it! I was named after the town in Virginia because my uncle’s name started with a “w” and he had recently passed before I was born so it was in honor of him. I do get called Wave for short.
oops……. I also get called Wave by some of my friends.
Hi my name is Waverlea prounced Waverly and I get so many compliments on my name as it is unusual and they have never met a Waverlea before…..I also love my name.
I love it! I always dreamt of having two little girls named Waverly and Wellesley.
Back in 1942 I lived in Wellesley Hills and was around 12 yrs when I read this book and there was a young girl named Waverly in it. She had such a wonderful life and I remember wishing I was her. I remember very little else other than she had her own horse and went to wonderful places.
When my first daughter was born I named her Waverly Ann. I wonder if anyone would know of that book?
My name is Waverly and I’m a girl so of course I’ll like the name Waverly. Not many people out there have this name. Why have a common name like Sarah or John when you can have something not so common?
My son is called waverley and i love it! he is 4 year old, it really suits him and its unusual,i never heard the name before i named him i spotted a lorry with wave written on the side when i was pregnant and i just decided that was gonna be his name,i think its a brilliant name for a boy or girl,unisex name and my son loves being out in nature as well so really suits his personality.
I LOVE it ! I’ve never heard of any products related to it (doesn’t geography and culture change just things?) or many of the other references.I was searching for unusual girl names a few years ago and fell in love with it.It also doesn’t preppy either. It’s bohemian, whimsical and romantic.It’s so unusual, that when it comes to aging, the fact that is so striking makes it work. Waverley is in the same camp as names like Astoria for me.
I do really like Waverly. I associate this name with the ocean, no thoughts of brands or preppiness. But then again, I think Archer is woodsy while my mother thinks it’s preppy and waspish. Maybe I’m just not tuned in to preppy culture.
My daughter’s name is Waverly. Picked out years before she was born because no other name compared. And with a meaning like “the meadow surrounded by quaking aspen trees” how could you not fall in love with it? Love that it is unusual but easy to spell and sound out. And she has the nickname Wave which suits us as beach lovers. And seeing it has Buttercup and Westley’s daughter makes it extra sweet. I have a hard time understanding the dislike of the name esp. since the connotations of fabics and esp crackers is so very dated. To each her own, I suppose. I certainly have no regrets with the name. The only problem now is finding one I love as much for baby number 2!
Naming your second child when you’ve found the perfect name for #1 is a challenge!
I grew up next to the small town of Waverly, MI and have never heard it as a given name, so I have a difficult time picturing this on a real person. To me, Waverly doesn’t have the same crossover appeal of London or even Aspen as far as place names go.
I went to high school with a female Waverly (I’m guessing she was born around 1982 or 1983). I’ll have to send her this!
There is a town here in Nebraska called Waverley, and the year our one-act play made it to state, Waverley High did the same play we did…and beat us. Needless to say, I have no love for this name (and agree that is very preppy sounding), and would be jeered out of my circle of friends for using the name of our high school rival. That, and my best friend’s daughter is named Aspen, and it would be weird to me knowing that Waverly means ‘”quaking aspens.”
Oh, Lady Gwyn, that’s a horrible AND a fabulous story all at once!
I quite like Waverly. One of the few surname-names on girls I actually really like.
I’m not familiar with the brand[s] or most of the other references listed. I’m definitely not a fan of Waverley on a girl — when I saw the name listed I assumed it was for boys — but then I tend to be old-fashioned and generally think that surnames/place names wear better on men than on women.
The Scott novel sounds interesting, but what I find even more interesting is that wikipedia.org states that it’s often called the first historical novel. I’d be fascinated to find out why, since by the time of its publication the Gothic novel craze had already occurred — Gothic at the time being used as a synonym for Medieval. Actually, _The Mysteries of Udolpho_ (1794) is set in 1584; not really Medieval, but certainly historical. I suppose Gothic novels are being treated as an entirely different genre of literature than that of historical fiction.
A complete side-note, but for some reason this post, and all its comments, only appeared for me early this morning (the 24th).
Charlotte, I saw that note, too and had the same reaction – it didn’t feel right to me, but I know very little about the terms, so I just skipped it.
Anyone take an English lit class recently?
I remember admiring Waverly’s name when I originally read The Joy Luck Club, but that was 18 years ago when I was also crazy about Bailey and Darby. While I’m not familiar with the fabrics or the crackers, the association with a brand name isn’t helping me get rid the perception of fake affluence. It reminds me of the grandiose names given to mobile home parks masquerading as fancy neighborhoods: Waverley Village Estate, Waverly Hills, etc.
grandiose…exactly.
Strongly dislike. I love Sage compared to this one. I’d expect to see it as Waverleigh.
I have loved the name Waverly since seeing The Joy Luck Club. Maybe I over-identify with the character and her relationship with her mother… (That also keeps it from being WASPy for me, but preppy does seem to fit.) Either way, when I noticed it on fabric and crackers, I was disappointed, because I wouldn’t want people to associate my daughter’s name with a brand. Still, I love the sound. And you’re right about the “Delaney” similarities, I’m sure, as I have a little Laney, so maybe it’s no surprise that this name appeals to me.
She was an epic ditz on our homegrown soap opera. So obnoxious, so annoying. Much like the show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdmI3pXk9C4
The ‘name’ is dead to me.
My grandparents lived on Waverly so I love it for that reason!
I’ve never heard of the brand Waverly. When I first got pregnant there was a woman on one of my pregnancy boards with a daughter names Waverly. She said they get tons of compliments on it. I like it. It’s fun and unusual. I personally don’t get how it’s WASPy at all.
I’m going to be a rebel and go towards the pro-Waverly camp. It’s probably because in England there aren’t any brands called Waverly and I don’t mind a bit of preppiness.
Also, Flora and Fergus is a great pair.
I think preppy is the better word.
The ultimate proof? There’s a Lilly Pulitzer style of shirt called Waverly, discontinued but still available on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290494556930&hlp=false&rvr_id=189022737928&crlp=1_263602_304652&UA=M*F%3F&GUID=bf0b107312c0a06c1c467386fff0d29a&itemid=290494556930&ff4=263602_304652
I’ve heard others say that this is a bad moment for baby names that signal affluence – stereotypical New England Boarding School names, like Carter and Brooks – while “working” names, like Miller, are on the upswing. Time to pack away our Nantucket reds and take out the Carhartt – as if any of us chooses our backgrounds. It’s the kind of comment that makes me think analyzing baby name trends is silly. (Though I do every day of my life.)
I do think Waverly’s sound fits in, but there could be something to the idea that her moment might have passed – without having ever arrived!
I agree that preppy is the better word, for it doesn’t bring ethnicity or religion into the discussion.
Ok. I have to ask, What’s wrong with WASPy names? Please be careful about how you phrase things.
There is nothing wrong with waspy names, but I dislike it when they seem sort of faux-pedigreed. Waverly seems like it is intentionally TRYING to sound preppy, at least to my ears.
I know a Waverly. She’s well-respected in my profession. I don’t know where her name originated. I think, as was said in the post, it’s a nice companion to the Delaney’s out there.
Add me to the “dislike” camp! When I open my pantry, there’s Waverly, on the cracker/cookie shelf.
Feels stiff & preppy. I might not have a problem with it as a boys middle name with something sort of classic: Edward, George, Clarence but I’ve heard this one suggested before as a girls name where it strikes me as far, far too Waspy & stuffy for comfort. Waverly gets a blergh and :thumbsdown: from me.
^trying TOO hard *blush*
I agree with the pp. There is something about Waverly that sounds so “branded” to me. Waverly crackers, Waverly fabrics…it would be the perfect name for a new subdivision of McMansions. Waverly Trace. It’s just seems uber-waspy and over-polished and trying-to-hard to me.
All I can think of is fabric! Having been a Waverly fabrics fan in a past life, I’m gonna have to say “no” to the name.
Huh. I’m taking a sewing class now, and the instructor HAS mentioned Waverly more than once. Still, I completely missed the reference.
What’s interesting is that Waverly was apparently a deliberately chosen name, not the surname or hometown of anyone involved with launching the line in the 1920s. And there was something aspirational about the line, so … that’s interesting.