Rosebuds become Brownies

A junior section was created in 1914 under the name Rosebuds. In 1915 it was renamed Brownies.^[1] It was for girls under 11, in Girlguiding’s own words; secondary accounts give the range as about 8 to 11, though the lower age is not yet confirmed from the rules of the time.^[3][2]

A new name

The girls reportedly disliked “Rosebuds”.^[5] The new name, suggested by Robert Baden-Powell, came from Juliana Horatia Ewing’s story “The Brownies” (1865), in which children choose to be helpful brownies rather than idle boggarts.^[4] Evidence status: Unconfirmed There is some doubt about both points: they come from later accounts, including a centenary blog, and we have not yet confirmed them from a source of 1914–15.

A new world

Over the next few years the name brought a whole imaginative world with it. According to a Girlguiding centenary blog, by 1917 Brownie patrols had become SixesA small group within a Brownie unit, led by a Sixer with a Second as deputy. Six names traditionally drew on folklore, with gnomes, pixies, elves, imps, sprites and kelpies among them. Animal names are said to have been added in the 2000s, but that date is not yet confirmed., named after fairy folk such as gnomes, pixies, elves and imps.^[4] We have not yet confirmed the 1917 date from a source of the time. When the toadstool entered Brownie practice is also uncertain. The first Brownie handbook followed in 1920.^[1]

Why it matters

The change shows the movement deciding that younger girls needed something different from older ones: not a smaller version of Guides but a separate programme built around play, home and fairy tale. Later redesigns of Brownie uniform and imagery kept returning to that choice.

People and objects

• 1920

  The first Brownie handbook (1920)

  The first handbook written for the Brownie section, by Robert Baden-Powell. Sources give its 1920 title in different forms, and no first edition has yet been seen.

Sources

1. Girlguiding North West England, “Guiding history (blog post 1)”, 2023-09. Accessed 25 September 2026. Regional summary; use as a lead and check against rules editions.
2. Girlguiding, “Our history”. Accessed 25 September 2026. (section: Our evolution)Institutional self-description. Authoritative for what Girlguiding says about itself; not an independent evaluation.
3. Little Gem Museum (West Lancashire Scouts), “Story of Guiding – 1908 to 1929”, 2022-03-15. Accessed 25 September 2026. A volunteer-run heritage timeline; a useful lead, to be checked against primary sources.
4. Girlguiding, “Brownies Timeline: Important events through Brownies 100 year history”, Girlguiding Brownies centenary blog, 2014. Accessed 25 September 2026. details to check Centenary blog; use as a lead and confirm against the Girl Guides' Gazette.
5. Girl Guides of Canada–Guides du Canada, “History of Guiding (fact sheet 14.3.1.3)”, Girl Guides of Canada. Accessed 25 September 2026. Another national organisation's own history; useful for early dates, not an independent evaluation.