Enid Blyton Characters

After writing about Enid and her famous namesake author Enid Blyton, I thought it might be fun to look at some of the names that she used in her stories.

Keeping in mind that Enid Blyton was writing (approximately) from 1922 to 1967, her stories are reflective of a different time and society, often containing views that are now unacceptably racist and sexist. This has led to some of her books being banned at times, and heavily edited and revised in other cases. But the names remain something of a time capsule, a glimpse into a time when the given names Dick and Fanny or nicknames Fats and Podge wouldn't automatically lead to bullying by your peers.

Here's a list of as many of them as I could dig up, although I'm sure there's plenty more. I've tried to stick to just children's names - the names of the pets alone would be enough for another post! Nicknames or the name the character most often went by are in brackets, although there are a few that are quite probably nicknames that I couldn't see a full name for. At least, not without trying to re-read every Enid Blyton book! With that in mind, here is a list of some of the gorgeous vintage gems that can be found within the pages of her well-loved stories.

The Boys

Andy Barnabas (Barney)     Benjy Bill Bob Bobby Bonaparte (Bony) Brock Claude (Podge) Colin Cyril

Dan David x2 Dick Edgar Ernest (Ern) Francis Fred Frederick (Fatty) Fric Gareth George Henry (Harry)

Jack Jeffery Jimmy Jocko John Jo Julian Ken Kenneth Kit Lawrence (Larry) Len

Leonard Michael Mickey Mike Nick Nicky Richard Robert Robin Roderick (Roddy) Roger Rory

Patrick (Pat) Paul Percy (Perce) Peter (Snubby) Peter Philip Philip (Pip) Sam Sidney (Sid) Tom Tony William

The Girls

Alicia Alison Alma Amanda Amelia Jane Amy Angela Anna Anne Anne-Marie Annette Antoinette April Arabella Barbara Belinda Bessie Betty Biddy Bonnie Bridget Carlotta Catherine Christine Clare

Clarissa Claudine Connie Daphne Darrell Deirdre Delia Diana Dimity (Dimmy) Dinah Dora Doris Edith Eileen Ellen Elsie Elizabeth (Bets) Elizabeth (Lizzie) Elizabeth Emily Erica Esme Eunice Fanny Fay

Felicity Fenella Georgina (George) Gillian Gladys Gwendoline (Gwen) Gwyneth Hannah Harriet (Harry) Henrietta (Henry) Hilary Hilda Irene Isobel Ivy Jane Janet Jean Jennifer Jill Joan Josephine (Jo) Joy June Katherine

Kathleen Katie Laura Lotta Louella Lucy Lucy-Ann Margaret (Daisy) Margery Marilyn Mary Mary-Lou Maureen Mavis Melisande Millicent Mirabel Moira Mollie Molly Nora Olive Pam Pamela Patricia (Pat)

Pauline Peggy Penelope Penny Prudence Rachel Rita Roberta (Bobby) Ruth Sadie Sally Sheila Sophie Susan Susie Suzanne Sylvia Tessa (Tessie) Vera Veronica Violet Wilhelmina (Bill) Winnie Yolande Zerelda

There are so many interesting things about the names here, but here are a few fast facts for you:

• Peter and Jack were the boys names Enid Blyton used the most
• And Pam/Pamela was the most popular girls name, closely followed by Susan and Rita 
• In case you're wondering, the girls list is much longer mainly due to the number of books Enid Blyton wrote that were based in girl's boarding schools. But it seems a lot of them preferred to go by quite boyish nicknames, such as George, Bill, Henry and Bobby.
• Enid also named a few sets of twins in her stories. A couple of notables were David and Delia (I love this combination!) and "The Harry's" - twins Henry who went by Harry and Harriet who also went by Harry.

What are your favourite Enid Blyton names? Are any of these names on your list because of an Enid Blyton character? Or have you perhaps used one already?