Blanch
Meaning of Blanch
Blanch traces its lineage to the Old French “blanche,” meaning “white” or “fair,” a nod to the pale fabrics prized at medieval courts and, perhaps, to the clear-complexioned children who first bore the nickname. In English it rhymes with “branch,” while the French blahnsh offers a softer, nasal flourish—together capturing a blend of Anglo-American plain-speaking and Continental polish. Officially unisex, the name has historically leaned feminine, though Social Security records reveal a sprinkling of boys sporting it, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when it briefly grazed America’s Top 200. By the 1950s its popularity was eclipsed by the slightly dressier “Blanche,” and after the early 1980s it slipped into near-obscurity—an outcome that now lends it boutique appeal for parents seeking a vintage rarity. Literary minds may think of Blanche DuBois, culinary types of scalded vegetables, yet the streamlined spelling sets Blanch apart: crisp, uncluttered, and, in a quietly ironic way, rather proud of the missing “e.”
Pronunciation
French
- Pronunced as blahnsh (/blɑ̃ʃ/)
English
- Pronunced as blanch (/blæntʃ/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Blanch
| Blanch Ackers - |
