Is that an awesome English name or what? “Camilla Cavendish!” I just love to say it. It’s all class, like Luke Ford.
According to the FT: “A former associate editor and chief leader writer of The Times, she is a research fellow at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, Harvard Kennedy School. She was head of the Downing Street Policy Unit under prime minister David Cameron, and is a winner of the Harold Wincott and Paul Foot awards for journalism.”
Here are my favorite English names of real people right now:
Tiger Lily Cavendish: This is an actual name in the Devonshire family line.
Octavia Fitzmaurice: This name combines a Roman numerical first name with a Norman French surname.
Inigo Philbrick: While he is a controversial figure in the art world, the name Inigo is a classic marker of a certain type of high-society background.
Tatiana Mountbatten: This name carries the surname of the royal family and a first name that suggests the “international jet set” of the mid-20th century.
Humphrey Butler: A name often found in the world of high-end jewelry and auction houses.
The Ducal and Peerage Dynasties
These are individuals from the highest tier of the British aristocracy.
Cosima Grosvenor: The daughter of the current Duke of Westminster. The surname Grosvenor belongs to one of the wealthiest land-owning families in the world.
Peregrine Cavendish: The 12th Duke of Devonshire. As discussed, the Cavendish name is synonymous with Chatsworth House and deep political history.
Edward Fitzalan-Howard: The 18th Duke of Norfolk. He is the Earl Marshal, meaning he is responsible for major state ceremonies like the Coronation.
George Montagu-Douglas-Scott: The Earl of Dalkeith and heir to the Dukedom of Buccleuch. This family is the largest private landowner in the UK.
Ludovic Spencer-Churchill: A younger member of the family that holds the Dukedom of Marlborough (and includes Winston Churchill).
The “High Society” and Media Set
These names belong to people who move in the same circles as Camilla Cavendish—think journalists, politicians, and advisors with high-status backgrounds.
Araminta Birch: A prominent figure in London’s luxury fashion and society circles.
Cressida Bonas: An actress and model well-known in royal social circles.
Flora Vesterberg: A granddaughter of Princess Alexandra and a fixture in the London art world.
Algernon Percy: A member of the family that holds the Dukedom of Northumberland (owners of Alnwick Castle, often seen in Harry Potter).
Allegra Stratton: A prominent journalist and former government advisor.
Mungo Montgomery: A name frequently appearing in business and legal circles that signals a specific Scottish aristocratic heritage.
The “Telegraph” Style (Real Recent Births)
If you look at the birth announcements in The Telegraph, which is the traditional way the elite announce new arrivals, you see these real full names today:
Ottilie Sasha Clementine
Balthazar Frederick Tassilo
Fenella India Rose
Casper Louie Oscar
Henrietta Madeline
The “poshness” often comes from having two or three middle names, frequently using a family surname (like Waldorf or Howard) in a middle slot.
