Algernon

Where Algernon comes from

From Old French als gernons (“having mustaches”), from als (contraction of a and les) + gernon, variant of grenon (“mustache”), from Vulgar Latin *granonem (“facial hair, mustache”), from Proto-Germanic *granō (“awn, beard-hair, hair-tips, mustache”), related to Old High German grana, granu (“mustache”), Old Norse grǫn (“mustache, (upper) lip”), Old English granu (“mustache”). Mustaches were often a prominent cultural component for men of some early medieval Germanic societies (contrary to popular culture, beards were uncommon), whence the name originates from. However, the particular distinction owing this name vis-a-vis other families is unclear.
— Wiktionary's entry for Algernon
  • French
Along the way
  1. 1837
    Algernon Charles Swinburne born
    English poet, playwright and novelist
  2. 1869
    Algernon Blackwood born
    English short story writer and novelist
  3. 1886
    Debut at its peak, #959
    #959 among boys with 5 babies — the first year it was published, and still its best.
  4. 1887
    The fade
    The first year with half the peak's births.
In the dictionary
  • A male given name from French.
Namesakes
  • Algernon Charles Swinburne · English poet, playwright and novelist, 1837–1909
  • Algernon Blackwood · English short story writer and novelist, 1869–1951
  • Algernon Sidney · British politician and political theorist, 1623–1683
  • Algernon Freeman-Mitford, 1st Baron Redesdale · British noble, diplomat, collector, and writer, 1837–1916
  • Algernon Seymour, 7th Duke of Somerset · British soldier, politician and landowner, 1684–1750

Sources: the origin note and dictionary entry are quoted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0); the namesakes come from Wikidata (CC0); the milestones are worked out from the SSA record.