Lovely English Names

On 10/24/10, I wrote about my weakness for the English accent, as well as for all things English. Another thing I encounter and get pleasure from when reading British novels is the novelty (from an American point of view) of some of the characters' names. Those evocative (to me, at least!) names show me that I am -- while reading the novels -- happily in England (or perhaps a non-American English colony). Some of these very British names for women are Edwina, Philippa, Fiona, Delia, Penelope, Rosamund, Beatrice, Briony, Fanny, Sophie, Louisa, and Augusta. British men's names include Nigel, Clive, Rowan, Winston, Rupert, Alastair, Cecil, Eustace, Sebastian, and Reginald. Just typing these lists makes me feel a bit British!