The given name "MANON"

[Newfloridian]

A curiosity in our South Normanton Naylor family, at least three girls have been given a second middle name of "Manon". Even more curious, each girl was christened Ruby.

I am aware that a particularly delicious make of Belgian chocolate names one variety Manon Cafe. Google suggests that Manon is a French form of Madeline (or Marie) and in Welsh, means "wished-for" child.

Any thoughts on how it arose in Derbyshire?

Alan

[Lisajb]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manon_(given_name)

[CaroleW]

1889 birth Basford has mmn Calladine and 1891 birth Mansfield  mmn is Haywood.  Were the fathers related?

[Newfloridian]

Brothers: John Henry (b 1867*) and Edwin (1863-1933)

There was a lot of cross-naming of children between the Naylor, Calladine, Haywood and Marriott families but no-one with the surname Manon

Alan

*I knew his three children in my own childhood as maternal aunts and uncle. It is said that John Henry named his first born daughter Ruby Manon after Edwin's daughter Ruby Manon, who died in November 1889; and his son Lancelot (b 1899) after Edwin's son Lancelot Calladine who died in infancy in 1890.

[Newfloridian]

As yet unproven, it is a possibility that John Henry Naylor and Lilly Haywood were (some degree of) cousins. John Henry's grandmother was Ann Haywood (b abt 1808 Riddings)

Alan

[brigidmac]

I think Manon is a lovely name

Do you know the French book or film "Manon des sources" the heroine was a bit of a lonely wild child .Its a classic but ive forgotten the author .

So could the( Ruby) Manon have been named aftwr a French or Belgian lady .

By the way I never come across it as a surname 14 years lived in Fance .

[Viktoria]

I was thinking the same,Manon Lescaut was written in the 1700’s  but Puccini wrote  the  opera in the late 1800’s .
It would be a bit controversial I think, Manon was perhaps misused -?
The fact that more than one girl was so named is curious but did they all survive as the custom of naming children after dead siblings was quite common.
Best of luck with the mystery.
Viktoria.

[kanskar]

Manon des Sources was written by Marcel Pagnol

[Viktoria]

I am speaking of Manon  Lescaut by Antoine Prevost in 1731,from The adventures of a man of quality.
The Puccini opera was written between 1890/93.
Viktoria.