Every few months, about as often as I allow myself to relish a hot caramel sundae and with about the same amount of delicious anticipation, I dip into the London Telegraph birth announcements to see what the upper-crusty British baby namers are up to.

　　And as with that sundae, the results rarely disappoint.  There are always plenty of eccentric three-name combinations, lots of charming sibsets, and a collection of names not often heard in my neighborhood of New Jersey.

　　One trend asserting itself in this collection: R names, with a raft of children (far beyond those mentioned here) called Rory, Rufus, Rupert, Rex, and Rowley, and on the girls’ side, Ruby, Rose, Rosemary, Rosalind (and Rosalyn) and Romilly.  R is a letter that’s seemed dowdy for quite some time — blame all those Baby Boom Roberts and Richards — and is due for a resurgence.

　　The best of the recent British baby names are, for girls:

　　Clementine Annabel Emily, sister for Rupert

　　Daphne Olga Amelie, sister for Henry and Beatrice

　　Eliza Miranda Rosemary, sister for William

　　Ella Persephone, sister for Charlie and Evie

　　Freya Audrey Barbara, sister for Hugh

　　Grais Bridget, sister for Liam

　　Harper–Rose Bluebell, sister for Arnold and Madame Cholet

　　Henrietta Daphne Mabel, sister for Harry, Digby, and Rowley

　　Hermine Halcyon Margaret Isabel

　　Isabella Allegra Jessica and Jemima Alice India (twins)

　　Loveday Celestine Primrose Kennedy

　　Luella Helen Willa

　　Marie-Sixtine Alice Verity, sister for Max

　　Matilda Daisy Margery, sister for Charlie

　　Natsumi Emilia Kashima, sister for Jolyon

　　Orla Eleanor Veronica

　　Ottilie Ruby, sister for twins Lettice and Edith

　　Poppy Angela, sister for Martha, Molly, and Agatha

　　Rosalyn Mairead, sister for Fintan

　　And for boys:

　　Alasdair Lorne Leonardo

　　Albert Thomas Harry, brother to Anna and Fred

　　Algernon Frederick Hanson

　　Augustus George Barden, brother for Hugo

　　Ezra Martin, brother for Dolly, Albertine, and Lilac

　　Hugo Rupert William, brother for Francesca

　　Ignatius Mungo, brother for Atticus Monty, Octavius Kit, and Ptolemy Ned

　　John Innes Archie

　　Leo Michaelis Brocas

　　Rex Patrick Wood

　　Rory Sinclair Willasey

　　Rufus Alexander, brother for Daisy

　　Rupert Thor Hastings

　　St. John Michael Nicholas

　　Tancred Thomas Granville (Ruskie), brother for Inca Skye, Inigo Somerset, and Francis    Doune

　　Thomas Maximilian Neame, brother for Flora

　　Wilfred Rocky Otto