Regency Reader Question
Hi! I’m writing a book and my protagonist’s name is Marianne but she spells it with two Rs. Could that happen during the 1810s? Was it common then? Thanks!
| Source of Question | Just curious |
| Additional comments | This website is sooooooooo helpful!!!! |
Hi Bethany! Thanks for being a Regency Reader, and thank you for the question.
Marianne was most commonly a combination of the names Mary or Marie and Ann or Anne. As such the most common 19th century spelling would have been Marianne.
However, I was able to find reference to a Marrianne-Barbarina and a Georgiana-Marrianne-Catherine of the Carvick’s of Wyke from the era, as well as one or two odd listings of a Marrianne, so it would be rare, but not impossible for your heroine to spell her name with two Rs.
Good luck with the book!
