Ladylike Name: Eleanor

Gender: Female

Origin: Greek

Meaning: "Shining Light"

Common Nicknames: Ella, Ellen, Ellie, Nell, Nelly, Nellie, Nora

Regency Popularity: Its use was fairly steady in the 17th and 18th centuries. First introduced into England by Eleanor of Aquitaine (12th century) who was heiress to a large portion of France, wife of two kings and mother of two more (Richard the Lionhearted and John). Her powerful personality, intelligence, and inexhaustible energy made her unique in her time.

Jane Austen Usage:

• Northanger Abbey - Eleanor Tilney is the sister of hero Henry Tilney and daughter of General Tilney. She is a truly elegant young woman and presented as an idealised friend for heroine Catherine Morland, in strong contrast to the vain and selfish Isabella Thorpe. Eleanor's own marriage to a Vicount directly effects the subsequent marriage of her brother and his heroine.
  
• Juvenilia: Frederic and Elfrida - Miss. Eleanor Roger

Ladylike Names: Elinor

Gender: Female

Origin: Greek

Meaning: "Shining Light"

Common Nicknames: Ella, Ellen, Ellie, Nell, Nelly, Nellie

Regency Popularity: Its use was fairly steady in the 17th and 18th centuries. First introduced into England by Eleanor of Aquitaine (12th century) who was heiress to a large portion of France, wife of two kings and mother of two more (Richard the Lionhearted and John). Her powerful personality, intelligence, and inexhaustible energy made her unique in her time.

Jane Austen Usage:

• Sense and Sensibility - Elinor Dashwood, age nineteen, is joint heroine with her sister Marianne. The story centers around their lives after their father dies and their older half-brother inherits the family fortune. She falls in love with Edward Ferrars.

Ladylike Names: Catherine

CATHERINE

Gender: Female

Origin: English and French from the original Greek

Meaning: "pure"

Common Nicknames: Kitty is the most common in Jane Austen's works but Kate and Kathy were also common in this era.

Regency Popularity: Very commonly used in this era and in Jane Austen's works.

Jane Austen Usage:

• Northanger Abbey - Catherine Morland is the seventeen-year-old heroine of the book. She is the oldest daughter of Rev. & Mrs. Morland and younger sister of James Morland. Although naive she is sweet and quickly gains the heart of Henry Tilney.
• Pride and Prejudice - Miss Catherine Bennet, usually called Kitty, is the fourth born Bennet sister. Although she follows her flighty younger sister Lydia, Jane Austen intimates at the end of the story that she will mature and be more sensible.  
• Pride and Prejudice - Lady Catherine de Bourgh is Mr Collins' patron, Mr. Darcy's aunt and mother to Miss Anne de Bourgh.
• Lady Susan - Mrs. Catherine Vernon is married to Charles Vernon making her the sister-in-law of Lady Susan vernon. She is the daughter of Sir Reginald and Lady De Courcey, sister of Mr. Reginald De Courcey and mother of several children.

Ladylike Name: Anne

ANNE

Gender: Female

Origin: English/French version of the Hebrew Hannah and Channah and Greek Anna. Anna was the faithful prophetess Anna in New Testament who await the birth of Jesus Christ. 

Meaning: "He (God) has favored me", "gracious", "grace"

Common Nicknames: Nancy, Nan, Nanny, Annie. Jane Austen uses Nancy most often as a nickname.

Regency Popularity: Very popular among most classes. Most lower classes would probably use Hannah or the nicknames more, but the upper classes would use Anne. Among the royalty Anne was and still is quite popular.

Jane Austen Usage:

• Persuasion - Anne Elliot is the heroine of the story. She is the second daughter of Sir Walter Elliot, devoted friend, aunt, sister, and constant to her true love Captain Frederick Wentworth.
• Sense and Sensibility - Miss Anne Steele is the older sister of Lucy Steele, nearly thirty years old; 'never succeeded in catching the Doctor'. She is usually called Nancy by her sister.
• Pride and Prejudice - Miss Anne de Bourgh is the sickly daughter of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Named after her aunt Lady Anne Darcy a match is made by the two mothers for her to marry her cousin Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.
• Pride and Prejudice - Lady Anne Darcy, born Lady Anne Fitzwilliam, is the deceased mother of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Miss Georgiana Darcy. Wife of the elder Mr. Darcy, sister of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, aunt of Miss Anne de Bourgh and Colonel Fitzwilliam.
• Northanger Abbey - Anne Thorpe is one of Mrs Thorpe's two younger daughters. Although not as beautiful as her older sister Isabella, she does very well by pretending to be as handsome as her sister, imitating her air, and dressing in the same style.
• Emma - Anne Taylor is governess to heroine Emma Woodhouse until she's marries Mr. Weston. At the end of the book she has a daughter who is named Anna after her mother.
• Northanger Abbey - Anne Mitchell is mentioned as a 'friend' of Isabella Thorpe's who had tried to put on a turban like Isabella's but who had apparently made wretched work of it.
• Juvenilia: The Three Sisters - Miss Anne (also called Miss XXX) is the friend that Georgiana Stanhope writes to and dictates her plans for her sisters.
• Juvenilia: Evelyn - Mrs. Anne Augusta Webb, wife of Mr. Webb and mother of Maria.
• Juvenilia: Catharine, or the Bower - Anne, also called Nanny, is the heroine Catharine's maid. 

Ladylike Name: Anna

ANNA

Gender: Female
Origin: From Hebrew Hannah and Channah. Name of faithful prophetess Anna in New Testament who await the birth of Jesus Christ.

Meaning: "Grace, graceful, gracious."

Nicknames: Annie, Anne, Nancy

Regency Popularity: Widely used but perhaps not as popular as Ann or Anne.

Jane Austen Usage: 

• Emma - Anna Weston, baby daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Weston and half sister to Frank Churchill, born toward the end of the novel . 
• Sense and Sensibility - Anna-Maria Middleton is daughter of Sir John Middleton's who is about three years old.
• Juvenilia: A Beautiful Description - Miss Anna is mentioned.
• Juvenilia: A letter from a young lady - Miss Anna Parker is mentioned
• Poems: In measured verse I'll now rehearse - Miss./Mrs. Anna is mentioned.