MovieChat Forums > The White Queen (2013) Discussion > Children's names

Children's names

posted 8 years ago by hollyjoy13
8 replies | jump to latest

I'm just wondering why in the world Elizabeth Woodville would name two of her sons Richard? Was there a shortage of names back then? Her sons from her first husband were John and Richard. And then she named her second son from Edward.. Richard. Why would she do that? Wouldn't that be confusing? In the book her mother suggested she name the new baby Richard and I half expected her to be like "Mom don't you remember I already have a son named Richard?" But no. She didn't. I know this is based on something that really happened but why would a mother do that?

[–] njgill 8 years ago

Richard Grey's elder brother was named Thomas, not John. Richard York was Edward's 2nd (legitimate) son, and was named after the brother he liked most - he waited until the third son to use "George". That Richard York and his elder brother Edward V should have perished at the decree, if not the actual hands, of their uncle Richard III seems a cruel twist of fate.

[–] eyeguy72 8 years ago

There's no proof that Richard III was involved.

[–] hollyjoy13 8 years ago

Your right. It was Thomas not John. Not sure whete I got that. I just remembered being bothered that she would name two sons the same name. I get that it eas Edwards brothets name, but still wouldn't that be confusing?

[–] eyeguy72 8 years ago

I was going to say that's unheard of today, but then I remembered that retired boxer George Foreman named ALL his sons George!

[–] llbfgt 7 years ago

He even named a daughter George.

[–] njgill 8 years ago

I get that it eas Edwards brothets name, but still wouldn't that be confusing?

Not to Edward - all that mattered to him was his blood family. And he was the King...

What Elizabeth wanted would have been immaterial, even if she had expressed an opinion.

[–] There_Is_No_Sayid 7 years ago

Well Edwards father was Richard, so my guess is that they named him after his grandfather.

There does seem to be a real dearth of first names in that time, however. All these nobles seem to have one of maybe sex different names: the guys are all Richard, Edward, Henry, or John. The women are all Anne, Mary, Elizabeth.

[–] shellieeyre 7 years ago

Cecily, Margaret, Catherine ...

I'm the clever one; you're the potato one.