Blanche

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Blanche

Gender: Feminine.
Language: English and French
Etymology:
Blanche is a French name, meaning “White” or “Fair,” from “blanc” meaning “White.”

History:
Blanche began life as a nickname for blonde girls from French “blanc” meaning “White.” It may have also been a French translation of St. Candida, whose name means “White” in Latin, and who may have originally been named Wite.

It became a royal name in France and Spain. One of the first was Blanca of Navarre (1133-1156) and her granddaughter Blanche of Castile (who was also a granddaughter of King Henry II of England). It was introduced to England when Blanche of Artois (1247-1302), granddaughter of Blanche of Castile) married Edmund, the Earl of Lancaster (son of King Henry III of England) in 1276.

Blanche was popular in the Middle Ages, but by the 1800s it was considered old-fashioned. It was revived at the end of the 19th century, but has since become unpopular again.

Pronunciation: blanch.

Alternates: Blanch.
Czech: Blanka.
Hawaiian: Palanka.
Irish Gaelic: Bluinse.
Italian: Bianca.
Polish: Blanka.
Spanish: Blanca.

See also: Blanca, Bianca.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Blanche Lamontagne-Beauregard (1889-1958)
French-Canadian poet.
Blanche Thomas Barrymore (1908-1996)
American writer.

Royalty:
Blanche of Castile (Blanca de Castilla) (1188-1252)
Granddaughter of King Henry II of England, wife to King Louis VIII of France, mother of King Louis IX. A powerful regent of France.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.055 % named Blanche
0.041 % named Blanca
0.015 % named Bianca
0.004 % named Blanch

Popularity of Blanche:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 417th most popular.
1875: 99th most popular.
1900-1910: 58th most popular.
1910-1920: 79th most popular.
1920-1930: 140th most popular.
1930-1940: 229th most popular.
1940-1950: 400th most popular.
1950-1960: 556th most popular.
1960-1970: 999th most popular.
1970-2000: N/A

In France...
1900: 30th most popular.
1910: 45th most popular.
1920: 71st most popular.
1930: 103rd most popular.
1940: 144th most popular.
1944: 193rd most popular.
1950-2000: N/A

Popularity of Blanch:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 444th most popular.
1910-1920: 520th most popular.
1920-1930: 536th most popular.
1930-1940: 978th most popular.
1940-2000: N/A