Nameisms ~ Baby Name Blog

Retro Names from the 1950s

2011-09-01T07:18:00.000-06:00

The fifties were a time for enjoying the finer things in life. After World War II, America celebrated as men returned home to their families. They got new jobs, lived in new suburban homes, and bought new things. Men enjoyed fabulous cars while women learned to use new time-saving gadgets, and kids were lavished with toys. The entire country was growing in population as well as in industry. Communism was the new enemy, and we fought it with well-defined gender roles and conservative values.

Names that were at their height in the 1950s have a steadfast but chipper personality. While many aren't exactly popular these days, it's still fun to take a look back at naming trends from this time in American history.

I arrived at this list by researching names that reached a peak during that period, meaning they weren't as popular before or after the decade (eliminating some classic names like Mary, for example, which was even more popular in the 1800s). These names were very fashionable during the 50s and express the period well.

Retro Names from the 1950s

Nifty Names that Fit the Times

Girls

Brenda

Cheryl

Cynthia

Deborah or Debra

Diane

Donna

Gail

Janet

Janice

Jo

Linda

Marsha

Nancy

Pamela

Patricia

Peggy

Sheila

Susan

Theresa

Vicki

Boys

Barry

Bruce

Dale

Dana

Danny

Darrell

Dennis

Douglas

Gary

Gerard

Glenn

Keith

Kent

Perry

Peter

Randall or Randy

Richard, Ricky or Rick

Steven or Stephen

Terry

Wayne

Millicent

2011-08-27T10:26:00.000-06:00

Millicent ~ Industrious ~ German

I have a thing for three-syllable names that begin with M, and Millicent is no exception. Its sweet sound captures some of the flavor of its more popular counterparts like Madeline, Matilda, Michaela, or Melody. But Millicent is more unique and packed with charm. The similarity between the name and the word innocent also adds to our perception of the name, making it on par with a virtue name.

Popularity
Millicent may sound like an "old lady name" at first, because it hasn't seen much popularity in the U.S. since the 1950s. It has even dropped out of the top 1,000 names altogether for the past 45 years. But it's been more popular in Great Britain and Australia, and I think it has lots of potential to appear on the U.S. charts again soon.

The accessible nickname Millie is a major reason for my prediction. Millie was popular in America in the late 1800s, when it shared the spotlight with names like Callie and Nellie. Today, these pioneer names have made a comeback and Millie fits right in.

While Millicent may be a bit off-beat, it has a sound that's full of frills and charisma. It's a unique choice that is still familiar to most of us. Between that and its irresistible nickname, I think Millicent is a lovely choice.

Meaning
If you look online or through baby name books, you'll find several different interpretations of what Millicent means. The name actually comes from two Germanic words that mean "work" and "strength". I've found the following meanings for the name from 5 different sources:

highborn power
noble
industrious
ambitious
mild strength
brave strength
strong work
strong

Whatever interpretation you choose, Millicent has a meaning that conveys strength and diligence. For this feature, I chose the meaning that I felt most aptly describes its roots.

Famous Namesakes
Millicent Rogers, heiress and fashionista
Millicent Martin, English actress and singer
Millicent Fenwick, fashion editor and politician
~ find more on Wikipedia ~

Characters
Millicent Bulstrode and Millicent Bagnold from Harry Potter
Millicent Huxtable from One Tree Hill
Millicent Bystander from Flushed Away

You May Also Like...
Adelaide ~ Josephine ~ Madeline ~ Penelope ~ Pioneer Names ~ Virtue Names

Xavier

2011-08-13T12:15:00.003-06:00

Xavier ~ New House ~ Basque

The name Xavier has international appeal and is used (along with variants) in English, French, Portuguese, Catalan, Spanish, and Arabic. The ever-exotic "X" also adds to its intrigue for parents today. There are very few words that begin with x in the English language, making this name stand out. But while this name continues to dazzle us with an interesting sound, Xavier is becoming more common.

American Popularity and Use
Xavier has a humble history of use, beginning with a cameo appearance in name statistics in the year 1890. But Xavier really didn't start to find life here as a first name until the 1950s, when Xavier Cugat's orchestra was turning out hits like Mambo No. 5 and Mambo Jambo. After that point, the name began to slowly but steadily grow in popularity.

In the 1980s, the name Xavier was written on the tushie of every Cabbage Patch Doll sold. The inventor of the dolls, Xavier Roberts, became part of our culture as his name was introduced not only to the parents who bought the toys, but the kids who grew up with one.

In the last decade, the revival of comic book movie adaptations has also introduced a generation to Charles Frances Xavier, also known as Professor X and the name behind X-Men.

Today, Xavier is a popular name, ranked at 71 for 2010. It's been in the top 100 since 2001, and I think it still has enough momentum to someday see the top 50.

Second Best Becomes First
The Catholic saint Francis Xavier has inspired many parents in using that combination as a first and middle name. (Even Xavier Cugat's given name was Francis Xavier Cugat.) While the name Francis has seen more popularity than Xavier, Francis hit its height in this country in the early 1900s, but has since declined. It's now ranked at only 669 out of the top 1,000. As a result, Xavier has emerged from the shadow of its counterpart and become much more popular than Francis.

Variations
Haviero
Javier*
Javiero
Saviero
Xabier
Xavier
Xavon
Xever
Xzavier
Zavier

*a very popular Spanish variation

Celebrity Babies
Xavier, son of Donnie Wahlberg
Xavier, son of Tilda Swinton

Evangeline

2011-07-02T10:51:00.004-06:00

Statue of Evangeline,
Grand Pré National Historic Site, Nova Scotia

Evangeline ~ Messenger of Good News ~ English, Greek

Evangeline is ranked at #333 for 2010, which is the highest ever in recorded US history. While it was used with some frequency in the 1800s, we are seeing Evangeline make a comeback. I used to be surprised at the growing popularity of this name. Now I feel a little silly for ever wondering why it's being used today. Like many of you, I imagine, I have a name crush on Evangeline.

History & Meaning
Evangeline is derived from the Greek for "good" and "news". While it sounds like the type of name that has been around for ages, it was most likely invented by the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1847, who wrote a romantic-but-tragic epic poem entitled Evangeline. The poem tells the story of a young Canadian woman who spends years searching for her finacé after being separated from him during the Great Upheaval. In the end, Evangeline is only reunited with her love after she has found refuge in America and is working as a Sister of Mercy. He has been sickened by an epidemic and dies in her arms. The story of Evangeline was popular among both Americans and the Acadians of Nova Scotia.

Of course, the name is closely linked to a much older word, evangelism, which has its roots in the Greek writings of the New Testament of the Bible. In those passages, it refers to spreading the good news of Jesus throughout the world. While evangelism doesn't always carry the best connotations, we can tell from the meaning of the word that it was meant to be nothing but positive.

A Hidden Angel
I imagine some parents may choose the name based on its meaning, and the good news their daughter brought when when they found out they were expecting. But I also wonder how many people love this name for the following reason alone: Evangeline literally contains an angel inside. Yes, we get the word angel from the same greek roots, particularly the "messenger" portion.

All About Eva
After all this yammering on, I haven't even mentioned the name Eva yet! Eva is definitely a name that stands on its own. It's much more popular that way, hitting the charts at #91. However, for those looking for a name that feels more "full" or more unique, Evangeline is fitting the bill quite nicely. Eva is a natural way to shorten the name, but I also want to clarify that the full name Eva has its own roots and meaning.

In fact, all of the variations of Evangeline are hitting a sweet spot with English-speaking countries these days. And by "English-speaking countries" I also mean me.

Variations
Eva
Evangel
Evangelia
Evangelica
Evangelique
Evangelista
Eve
Evie
Vangie

Pronunciation
Ee-VAN-jel-een

Places
Evangeline, Louisiana
Evangeline, New Brunswick, Canada

People
Evangeline Lilly, actress known for her role on Lost

You might also like
Heavenly Names ~ Virtue Names

Celebrity Baby Names of 2011: Spring Season

2011-06-21T19:22:00.000-06:00

An editorial note: I'm changing the way I publish celebrity baby name updates from a monthly basis to seasonally. This makes the list more accurate, since details on some of the babies' names can be slow to trickle in. I'm hoping it also makes it easier for you to get a quick look at naming trends in one spot.

Listed are the baby's birthday, parents, and the baby's first and middle name (if available).

Baby Girls:

March 21, Giants quarterback Eli Manning and wife Abby: Ava Frances

March 25, model/t.v. personality Myleene Klass and fiancé Graham Quinn: Hero Harper

March 31, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and wife Ashley:
Twins! Son Marshall Williams, Daughter Mosley Thompson

April 14, news anchor Megyn Kelly and husband Doug Brunt: Yardley Evans

April 15, Bachelor alum Andrew Firestone wife Ivana Bozilovic: Anja Jasmine

April 22, singer Bryan Adams and girlfriend Alicia Grimaldi: Mirabella Bunny

April 30, singer Mariah Carey and host/comedian/rapper Nick Cannon:
Twins! Son Moroccan Scott, Daughter Monroe

May 8, actor David Schwimmer and wife Zoe Buckman: Cleo

May 31, actress Jennifer Connelly and husband Paul Bettany: Agnes Lark

May 31, singer Joey McIntyre and wife Barrett: Kira Katherine

June 2, singer Pink and husband Carey Hart: Willow Sage

June 10, No Doubt drummer Adrian Young and wife Nina: Magnolia Renée

Baby Boys:

March 21, golf pro Annika Sorenstam and husband Mike McGee: William Nicholas

March 22, Top Chef host Tom Colicchio and wife Lori Silverbush: Mateo Lev

March 24, celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe and husband Rodger Berman: Skyler

March 30, actress Elizabeth Banks and husband Max Handelman: Felix

March 31, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and wife Ashley:
Twins! Son Marshall Williams, Daughter Mosley Thompson

April 7, actress Drea de Matteo and fiancé Shooter Jennings: Waylon Albert 'Blackjack'

April 13, actress Jane Krakowski and fiancé Robert Godley: Bennett

April 22, actress Toni Collette and husband David Galafassi: Arlo Robert

April 24, actor Kevin James and wife Steffiana: Kannon Valentine

April 28, rapper Taboo and wife Jaymie: Journey Jameson

April 30, singer Mariah Carey and host/comedian/rapper Nick Cannon:
Twins! Son Moroccan Scott, Daughter Monroe

May 5, actor/comedian Jay Mohr and wife Nikki Cox: Meredith Daniel

May 5, actress Alicia Silverstone and husband Christopher Jarecki: Bear Blu

May 7, actress Autumn Reeser and husband Jesse Warren: Finneaus James

May 19, actress Marion Cotillard and partner Guillaume Canet: Marcel

June 8, actress Natalie Portman and fiancé Benjamin Millepied: Aleph

June 10, model/actress Devon Aoki and fiancé James Bailey: James

June 19, olympian Jennie Finch and husband, pitcher Casey Daigle: Diesel Dean

Spring 2011
Most Unusual Celebrity Names
Names that give celebs a reputation for using wild or odd names
I know that we secretly wish Drea de Matteo and Shooter had chosen Blackjack as their son's given name. In the meantime we'll have to console ourselves with...
WINNERS: Bear Blu and Hero Harper

Top Gender-Bending Names
Names that go beyond gender-neutral
WINNERS: Hero (girl) and Meredith (boy)

Most Normal Name
Names that no one pays attention to because they aren't wild enough
WINNER: James

Best Animal Names
WINNERS: Bear Blu and Mirabella Bunny

Personal Favorite
WINNER: Anja Jasmine

Share Your Thoughts
No matter what the style, we all love critiquing the name choices of the rich and famous. Please share your opinions in the comments!

You may also like: Celebrity Baby Names of 2011: Winter Season

Celebrity Baby Names of 2011: Winter Season

2011-03-20T12:38:00.000-06:00

An editorial note: I'm changing the way I publish celebrity baby name updates from a monthly basis to seasonally. This makes the list more accurate, since details on some of the babies' names can be slow to trickle in. I'm hoping it also makes it easier for you to get a quick look at naming trends in one spot. Below are the remaining celebrity birth announcements for March. Enjoy!

See January Names
See February Names

Listed are the baby's birthday, parents, and the baby's first and middle name (if available).

Baby Girls:

March 2, model Sophie Dahl and husband Jamie Cullum: Lyra

March 12, Design Star judge Vern Yip and partner: Lillian Beatrix

Baby Boys:

March 7, Wipeout co-host John Henson and wife Jill Benjamin: Jackson Wright

March 9, The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers and wife Tana: Henry

March 15, news anchor Kyra Phillips and husband John Roberts: Twins! Sage and Kellan

Share Your Thoughts
No matter what the style, we all love critiquing the name choices of the rich and famous. Please share your opinions in the comments!

You may also like: Celebrity Baby Names of 2011: Spring Season

Spring Baby Names

2011-03-06T07:02:00.002-07:00

If you're anything like me, you are excited that Spring is finally on the horizon. I can't wait to see the trees budding, the grass greening, and the earth thawing. Signs of life are everywhere during Spring, which is why this season is so celebrated and inspiring.

Below are names that reflect the season, along with the definition and origin.

Springtime Names

Girls

April ~ to Open ~ Latin

Avivah, Aviva ~ Spring ~ Hebrew

Basanti ~ Spring ~ Sanskrit

Bloem ~ Blossom ~ Dutch

Blossom ~ to Bloom ~ English

Bluma ~ to Bloom ~ Hebrew

Cerella, Cerelia ~ in Springtime ~ English

Chaya ~ Life ~ Hebrew

Chloe ~ Young blade of grass ~ Greek

Easter ~ Easter ~ English

Eve ~ Life ~ Hebrew

Flora ~ Flowering ~ Latin

Florence ~ Flowering ~ Latin

Gen ~ Spring ~ Japanese

Harue ~ Born in the Spring ~ Japanese

June ~ the month, derived from Juno ~ Latin

May ~ the month ~ English

Nana ~ Spring month ~ Hawaiian

Nouvel ~ New ~ French

Nova ~ New ~ Latin

Primavera ~ Spring ~ Italian

Phyllis ~ Green leaves ~ Greek

Spring ~ Spring ~ English

Vida ~ Life ~ Latin

Vita ~ Life ~ Italian

Zoe ~ Life ~ Greek

Boys

Arata ~ Fresh, New ~ Japanese

Aviv ~ Renewal ~ Hebrew

Neo ~ New ~ American

Tan ~ New ~ Vietnamese

Verlin ~ Spring ~ American

Vito ~ Life ~ Italian

Vasant ~ Spring ~ Sanskrit

You may also like: Nature Baby Names

Celebrity Baby Names of 2011: February

2011-03-01T09:52:00.004-07:00

February's list of celebrity baby names are a really interesting mix! This time we see trendy, popular, and unexpected choices as well (like Mason as a middle name for a girl.) For the most part, celebrities seem to be loving names that are contemporary and have a little extra creative flair.

Listed are the baby's birthday, parents' information and the baby's first and middle name (if available). This list will be updated as more announcements come in.

Baby Girls:

Feb 2, singer/musician Zac Brown and wife Shelly: Joni Mason

Feb 2, singer Rufus Wainwright and partner Jorn Weisbrodt, along with mom Lorca Cohen: Viva Katherine

Feb 3, magician David Blaine and fiancée Alizee Buinochet: name not announced

Feb 5, chef Richard Blais and wife Jazmin: Embry Lotus

Feb 16, reality star and host Melissa Rycroft and husband Tye Strickland: Ava Grace

Feb 17, actress Gretchen Mol and husband Tod Williams: Winter Morgan

Feb 24, author Tara Moss and husband Dr. Berndt Sellheim: Sapphira

Baby Boys:

Feb 7, actress Cynthia Nixon and fiancée Christine Marinoni: Max Ellington

Feb 16, singer/songwriter Rod Stewart and wife Penny Lancaster Stewart: Aiden

Feb. 19, guitarist Tom Dumont and wife Mieke: Koa Thomas

Feb 19 or 20, t.v. personality Kristin Dos Santos and husband Joao: Matteo Tomaz

Share Your Thoughts
No matter what the style, we all love critiquing the name choices of the rich and famous. Please share your opinions in the comments!

You may also like: Celebrity Baby Names of 2011: January

Romeo

2011-02-11T18:37:00.001-07:00

Romeo ~ from Rome ~ Italian

In honor of Valentine's day, I decided to feature what I believe to be the most romantic boy's name of all time. Can't you just hear Juliet calling for him from a balcony? Can't you just see a young Leonardo DiCaprio looking with astonishment at his fair Claire Danes? I thought so. The name Romeo makes us swoon almost as much as the famed character does.

Why is Romeo So Iconic?
Let me answer this question with another question: If Romeo was commonplace, would it be so intriguing? Probably not. The reason we strongly associate this name with Shakespeare's tragic love story is not only that it's one of the most famous plays of all time, but we have had very little else to associate the name with in our culture.

Shakespeare's two star-crossed lovers have made an irreversible impact on the world, especially influencing the arts. There are operas, movies, ballets, paintings, poetry and more dedicated to retelling this phenomenal story. It would be very hard to go through life without being influenced by it, and in fact many of us read the play in school or even participated in a production of it.

In short (too late), the name is iconic not only because the story is, but also because of how it has been used throughout history to refer to a passionate male lover, and not your average Joe. And speaking of name use...

Romeo Isn't Commonplace
It doesn't take an expert to know that the name Romeo isn't as common as some of today's favorites, like Ethan and Noah. And if you think about it, you might also realize that it doesn't seem like it was ever common. It's unlikely that you have had older relatives with this name or that you can think of famous Romeos from the past.

The truth is, Romeo is more popular today than it has ever been in U.S. history. It's on an upward trend and is ranked at 411, which isn't too bad out of 1,000 but still what I would deem a unique choice. However, it's likeable and many of us are coming into an admiration of this name for several reasons.

Why We Love Romeo Right Now

Romeo has a worldly, global appeal
It has Italian glamor and ends in o, just like Leonardo and Rocco
It's got handsome written all over it

Why We Are Unsure of Romeo

It may be difficult for Romeo to ever break out of its romantic stereotype
Romeo may be perceived as too lofty or bold
Many shy away from this name for teasing potential alone

Personally, I think Romeo is a choice that's a bit impractical, but lovely as well. Some will find the benefits outweigh the challenges that come with using this name. If not, alternatives to Romeo might be: Leonardo, Orlando, Rocco, Roman, Rome (also a variation of Romeo), or Ronan.

Celeb Babies
I'm sure a lot of you thought of this one: Victoria and David Beckham chose this name for their second son, born in 2002. I expected the popularity of the name to shoot up around then, but it actually dipped down temporarily in the year following. The name has recovered, however, and gained more momentum in recent years.

And one last thing
This song had all the girls singing about Romeo in 2008, and today too.

Celebrity Baby Names of 2011: January

2011-01-29T12:01:00.015-07:00

Is it just me, or has there been a surge of Hollywood pregnancies and newborns in January? We're only one month into 2011 and already it's been a really interesting year for celeb baby names.

In putting this list together, I decided it would be best to include babies who were born in the last week or so of December 2010, because we didn't find out about them until the new year and there were several surprises around the holidays.

Listed are the baby's birthday, parents' information and the baby's first and middle name (if available).

Baby Girls:

Dec 28 (2010), actress Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban: Faith Margaret

Jan 19, Samantha Harris (entertainment journalist/hostess) and husband Michael Hess: Hillary Madison

Jan 22, pro wrestler Kurt Angle and fiancée Giovanna Yannotti: Giuliana Marie

Jan 23, actor Brendan Fehr and wife Jennifer Rowley: Ellison Jane

Jan 24, musician Tony Kanal and girlfriend Erin Lokitz: Coco Reese

Jan 27, actress Christina Applegate and fiancé Martyn LeNoble: Sadie Grace

Jan 30, chef Tania Peterson and husband Phil: Zuzu Audrey

Baby Boys:

Dec 25 (2010), Alanis Morissette and husband Mario Treadway: Ever Imre

Dec 25 (2010), Elton John and partner David Furnish: Zachary Jackson Levon

Jan 3, chef Nikki Cascone and husband Brad Grossman: Jackson Robert

Jan 6, actor Orlando Bloom and wife, model Miranda Kerr: Flynn

Jan 14, actor Owen Wilson and girlfriend Jade Duell: Robert Ford

Jan 21, model Doutzen Kroes and husband Sunnery James: Phyllon (FILL-en) Joy

Jan 25, boxer Mike Tyson and wife Lakiha Spicer: Morocco Elijah

Jan 25, actress Penélope Cruz & husband, actor Javier Bardem: Leo Encinas (not yet confirmed)

Jan 26, musician Ziggy Marley and wife Orly Agai Marley: Abraham Selassie Robert Nesta

Jan 31, host Craig Ferguson and wife Megan: Liam James

Share Your Thoughts
Truth be told, most celebrity baby names are not wild or outrageous. We just wish they were. (Don't believe me? Check out name expert Laura Wattenberg's research on this topic.) But no matter what the style, we all love critiquing their choices. Please share your opinions in the comments!

You may also like: Celebrity Baby Names of 2011: February

Penelope

2011-01-23T17:50:00.006-07:00

Penelope ~ Weaver; loom worker ~ Greek origins

The name Penelope makes me sigh in a "it's so dreamy" sort of way. I've got a little name crush on this one because it has so many great qualities. It's fun to pronounce, it originates from Greek (I gravitate toward Greek names) and it has adorable variations.

I think Penelope strikes a balance between classically beautiful and contemporary. It has a sort of spunky sound while also carrying an epic historical element that makes it feel more traditional than it technically is. The name hasn't been used in America with any consistency, showing a peak in the 1930s, disappearing for awhile, and now returning to fashion.

History & Meaning
It's the name of Odysseus' wife in Homer's The Odyssey, estimated to be written in 8th century B.C. She is known for her faithfulness to her husband through two decades of his absence, as well as her cunning wit and strength of character.

The name Penelope has a somewhat complicated origin, and the meaning is debated. Check out this section of a Wikipedia article if you want the whole scoop.

Name Rank & Popularity
Penelope is ranked at 252 for the U.S. in the year 2009. It's showing an upward trend, as it wasn't even in the top 1,000 names ten years ago and is continuing to go up the charts.
Read about name ranking here.

Variations

Lopa
Nell or Nellie
Pela
Pen
Penna
Penny, Pennie, Peni, or Penney
Popi
Poppy ~a more creative pet form popping up in recent years~

Prominent Penelopes (I heart alliteration)

Penelope Cruz, actress
Penelope Ann Miller, actress
Penelope Houston, singer/songwriter

Celebs who named their daughter Penelope

Jessalyn Gilsig, actress known for her role in Glee
Taylor Hansen, musician/singer

You might also like
Elizabeth ~ Victoria ~ Iris ~ Sophia ~ Daphne

Biblical Baby Names

2009-09-26T16:00:00.009-06:00

There are TONS of names in the Bible! That’s why my list hits on the most prominent names and those that have impacted American culture. I only included names of people referenced in the Bible; I don’t include place names (like Zion, Eden, etc.) or other words that could work as names (like Olive, Jasper). One other thing to note: in comparison to male names, female names mentioned in the Bible are pretty sparse. You’ll notice this list is dominated by male names.

Scroll below for Classic, Trendy, Lesser Used, Unique, and Taboo Biblical Names! Let me know what you think, and feel free to add names or ask questions in the comments section. Names with more details are linked in the list.

Classic Biblical Names
These are names that have stood the test of time in America, maintaining frequent use throughout the past century (and longer!). They will never sound dated.
Aaron Abraham Adam Andrew Benjamin Daniel David Gabriel Jacob Jesse John Jonathan Joseph Luke Mark Matthew Michael Paul Peter Philip Samuel Stephen Thomas Timothy	Abigail Anna Elizabeth Esther Leah Lydia (both classic & trendy) Mary Naomi (both classic & trendy) Rachel Rebecca Ruth Sarah

Trendy Biblical Names
These are names that are showing a strong increase in popularity in recent years, but don't have a stable record of showing popularity in the past. They sound fresh and modern, but also have strong roots.
Asher Caleb Elijah, Elisha Ezekiel Ezra Isaac Isaiah Israel Jared Jeremiah Joel Jonah Joshua Josiah Judah Jude Levi Malachi Micah Nehemiah Noah Omar Saul Seth Silas Simon Titus	Chloe Delilah Hannah Phoebe

Lesser-Used Biblical Names
Not popular enough to be described as "trendy," these choices are familiar and a little more distinct.
Abram (ABE-rum) Felix Gideon Moses Solomon Zecharaiah, Zacharaiah	Deborah Eve Joanna Martha Miriam Priscilla Tabitha

Unique Biblical Names
It's exactly what it sounds like—these are names that are rarely used today, but still have some potential. Most of these names are actually around the 950+ mark in rank, meaning that they are just barely in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.
Amos Boaz Cornelius Hezekiah Japheth Lucius Obadiah Reuben Simeon Thaddeus Tobiah	Eunice Salome Suzanna

Taboo Biblical Names
I couldn't resist posting these taboo and/or humorous names from the Bible. There are plenty more where these came from, too—some of the ancient Hebrew names are quite funny sounding to our ears today.
Ahab Cain Goliath Judas Nimrod	Dorcas Jezebel

You may also like:
Heavenly Names ~ Virtue Names ~ Christmas & Holiday Names
Jasper ~ Josephine ~ Nevaeh ~ Raphael ~ Roman ~ Trinity

Owen

2009-07-15T07:00:00.000-06:00

Owen ~ Well-born ~ Welsh

This simple and very sweet boy's name has a lot of appeal. Between it's Gaelic roots, trendy sound and long history, it's definitely hitting a soft spot in the hearts of parents. It's got a sweet innocence about it but also ages well.

Most believe that Owen comes from the Welsh form of Eoin and Ywain, which shares roots with Eugene. Owen has a long history, as Ywain was the name of one of the Knights of the Round Table. Ywain was known for his honor and bravery. That's a pretty cool claim to fame for a little boy to bear.

Popularity
One thing to keep in mind is that Owen is not unique by any stretch of the imagination. Owen is three times as popular as it was 10 years ago! It's rocketing up the charts. If you choose this name, don't be surprised to meet other little boys with the same name. The upside to that is your child will have a very well-liked name, and he'll never feel like it's too unique.

Owen is ranked at #38 in the U.S.
Similar names: Evan, Ian, Ivan, Ewan
Celebrities named Owen: Owen Wilson
Celebs who named their son Owen:
Noah Wyle, Kevin Kline, Riki Lake, Stephen King
You may also like: Dylan, Gavin, Quinn, Rowan

Names of Teen Stars

2009-07-11T06:30:00.000-06:00

It seems like we've seen more young stars rise lately than ever before. The Disney Channel in particular has really cornered the market of pre-teens by finding teenagers with good looks who can often sing and dance in addition to act. These young stars have a strong following in tweens, but they also have the power to influence culture on a much grander scale.

A little magic must be in place for a teen star to create a naming trend. The name must be somewhat unique, already fit with trends, and sound good to parents' ears, otherwise it won't go anywhere.

Some great examples of this are the names Miley and Jonas. Miley can be solely attributed to the star Miley Cyrus (born Destiny Cyrus), which happened to come along at a time when names Kylie, Hayley, and Riley were already climbing the charts. The Jonas brothers contributed to the rise of the name Jonas, which was gaining some popularity before they hit the scene. This means that even though the Jonas brothers don't usually find fans in people of parenting age, their names, faces, and music find us everywhere. They permeate media and entertainment until even adults find themselves influenced by these young stars.

Most of the names below are already popular, like Emma and Dylan, so the addition of a teen star with the name only further cements these names' popularity.

Abigail Breslin
actress

Ashley Tisdale
actress, singer
known for High School Musical

Blake Lively
actress
known for Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Gossip Girl

Dakota Fanning (born Hannah Dakota Fanning)
film actress

Demi Lovato (full name Demetria Devonne Lovato)
actress, recording artist
known for Disney series Sonny with a Chance

Emma Rose Roberts
actress
known for Nickelodeon's Unfabulous

Emma Watson
actress known for Harry Potter

Hilary Duff
actress, singer

Jamie Lynn Spears
actress

Miley Cyrus
actress, recording artist
known for Disney's Hannah Montana

Miranda Cosgrove
actress known for iCarly

Selena Gomez
actress known for Wizards of Waverly Place

Taylor Swift
singer/songwriter

Vanessa Anne Hudgens
actress, singer known for High School Musical

Cole Sprouse, twin of Dylan
actor known for Big Daddy, Disney's Suite Life of Zack and Cody

Devon Werkheiser
actor known for Nickelodeon's
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide

Drake Bell
musician, actor
known for Drake & Josh

Dylan Sprouse, twin of Cole
actor known for Big Daddy, Disney's Suite Life of Zack and Cody

Josh Hutcherson
film actor
known for Bridge to Terabithia

Kevin Jonas,
Joe Jonas, &
Nick Jonas
known for pop boy-band Jonas Brothers

Nat and Alex Wolff
singers
known for The Naked Brothers Band

Robert Pattinson
actor, known for Twilight

Zac Efron
actor, singer
known for High School Musical

America

2009-07-03T07:40:00.003-06:00

I couldn't resist posting about this name for July 4^th. It's a charming baby name with a long history.

I hope you have a safe and happy Independence Day!

~ Laura

America ~ Ruler of the Home ~ English

History and Perceptions
I honestly didn't expect to find a meaning associated with this name other than "the country"... but I was wrong. The country America gets its name from the explorer Amerigo Vespucci, who determined that the continent was not part of Asia, but a "new world". His name is Italian and comes from Amalric, which has links to the name Henry and therefore shares its meaning. America is the feminine latin form of his name.

However, the name America can't be removed from the country. It's a name brimming with patriotism and, particularly for Americans, the weight that can only come from being named after the country you were born in. Whether positive or negative (hopefully positive!), this name will create a reaction the first time people hear it. It's a bold choice, but not a bad one.

I think most will find this name to have a nice sound. It's similar to other names (Angelica, for example) and it has potential for some cute nicknames—possibly Amy, Amery, Meri, or Erica.

Use and Popularity
Americans have been using the name America since Colonial times. After dropping out of the mainstream in the 20^th century, it's showing new signs of life.

I believe the events of 9/11 inspired parents to use this name as a show of support and pride for our country. It rose 193 places for 2001—the highest it has ever jumped in a year. Another factor that keeps this name on the minds of parents is the career of actress America Ferrera, who helped soften the name and made it feel more accessible.

America is currently ranked at 503.
Read about name rank here.

Leonardo & Leonard

2009-07-01T07:25:00.004-06:00

Leonardo, Leonard ~ Lion-hearted ~ Italian, German

It's obvious that these names are related, but to me they seem more like estranged cousins than twin brothers. Leonard has variations that are all over the map culturally and with a large range in popularity.

History
The historic reach of both names is quite extensive. Leonard is the German name that started it all. This is evidenced by the Saint Leonard of Noblac, a noble of the 5th century. His charitable work focused on prisoners, and with the permission of the monarch Clovis, he had the power to set free any prisoner he deemed worthy. He is patron saint of prisoners.

Leonard saw its greatest peak in American popularity in the 1920s. But since then, it has been steadily declining as the sound of the name has less appeal. The name Leonard is still apparent everywhere, however. Case-in-point: the nerdy-cool character Leonard on The Big Bang Theory, whose geeky status is upgraded a little by his ability to almost get the girl. You may also be familiar with Leonard as a surname.

Leonardo is the Italian form, most famously borne by Leonardo da Vinci and most recently revived by Leonardo DiCaprio. Da Vinci is best known for his masterful painting, though his inventions and general scientific genius earned him much fame as well. In fact, the very reason DiCaprio has this name is due to da Vinci.

Variations & Popularity
Below I've included the most popular variations along with ranking (What is Name Rank?), followed by lesser-used variations and nicknames.

Leonardo, ranked at 170
Leo, ranked at 227
Leon, ranked at 502
Leonard, ranked at 621

Un-ranked variations, not in the top 1,000 given names:
Len, Lenny, Lonke, Leontes, Linke, Lonnie or Lonny.

Celebrities Named Leonard
Leonard "Lenny" Kravitz, rock singer/songwriter
Leonard Nimoy, actor
Leonard Cohen, Canadian poet and songwriter
Leonard Bernstein, composer and conductor
Leonard Chess, record company executive

Celebrities Named Leonardo
Leonardo DiCaprio, actor
Leonardo Nam, actor
Leonardo Azzaro, tennis player

Like Leonardo? You may also like:
Orlando, Raphael, Sebastian

Naming Your Fictional Characters

2009-06-28T16:50:00.005-06:00

Much like parents have trouble finding a name for their children, authors often hit a wall in choosing names for their characters. I've been part of the naming process for several fictional characters, and it's not easy. Sometimes the quest for finding a perfect name goes on too long, delaying the story, or a "substitute" name is used in the meantime.

But I believe once you have a name that fits the character you are writing about, fully developing and understanding that character will be easier.

I recommend you choose names while you are in the process of outlining your story—basically before the "real" writing has begun in earnest. Here are some tips and things to consider when choosing your characters' names.

Meaning
One way to help you establish a connection to the character you are creating is to choose a name based on meaning. The reader won't necessarily know the meaning of your character's name, but this is a great way to inspire choices and give readers an interesting factoid to discover. You can read about how Shakespeare used this technique here. There are several tools you can use to look at names according to meaning, and one is the Babynames.com advanced search.

Pronunciation
It is usually best to choose a name that is easy to phonetically pronounce. I'm sure you can think of times when you read a word or name to have a different sound than the author intended. Once a reader gets to know a character it can be disappointing to discover that Hermione from Harry Potter, for example, was not the name you thought it was. Many readers did in fact think this name was pronounced HER-mee-own until the movie was released, revealing the correct pronunciation to be her-MY-oh-nee.

There are ways around this. Authors could include a pronunciation guide at the beginning of the novel or on an author website. You may be able to include the pronunciation in the story itself, perhaps when a character is being introduced to someone who mispronounces the name. Doing this will require some skill to avoid an obvious or awkward moment, however.

Quality of Sound
Many times an author will know a name just "sounds" right, often because the letters convey the quality of the character somehow. This may look like using:

hard consonants and grating sounds for a villain or disliked character.
names that roll off the tongue for protagonists.
unusual names for characters who are especially unique or had unique parents.
lilting, airy sounds for beautiful or magical characters.

Location and Time Period
I feel that this is more important than all of the above. If your story is set in a real place and/or time, your characters' names should reflect that. If you are writing a historical novel, pay attention to period names as you conduct your research. Your authority and believability will increase with accurate and appropriate character names.

Consider the following novels, which were written in a different time than the story is set.

Gone with the Wind, published in 1936, set in Southern U.S. in 1861.
Characters include Scarlett, Rhett, Ashley, Bonnie, Emmie, etc.

Outlander, published in 1991, set in several different time periods.
Characters include Claire, from the 1940s; Frank, from the 1940s; James, from the 18th century; Callum, from Scotland in the 1740s, etc.

To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1960, set in 1933.
Characters include Jean Louise (Scout), Atticus, Miss Maudie, Calpurnia, Mayella, etc.

If your story is set in a fictional world, you have several options. You can:

create unique names that fit in with the world you have invented.
Example: Eragon (dragon with an "e"), Ra'zac, Solembum, from Eragon

use existing names, but spell them slightly differently or combine existing names. This will help your readers keep your characters straight and also help with pronunciation.
Example: Mat Cauthon from the Wheel of Time series

use common existing names, keeping the spelling traditional.
Example: Luke Skywalker of Star Wars

use existing but unique names. This is often done with names that have Gaelic or German roots.
Example: Shea of the Sword of Shannara series

Many fantasy authors use a combination of all of these options in their stories.

Ethnicity
Of course, you will want to consider each character's ethnicity when picking out names. This will help your reader understand the character's background and culture. You can find many books that list names according to origin, or you can search babynames.com by origin here.

Don't Distract or Confuse the Reader
One thing I hate as a reader is encountering several characters in a book that have similar names. Make sure your main characters' names start with different letters and sound distinct from one another. You don't want your reader to have to go back and locate the introduction of a character to keep them straight. It's an easy trap to fall into, because everyone has names that they gravitate toward and those names often share similarities.

Another problem is creating characters that have names that stand out a little too much. Make sure your name isn't laughable, too over-the-top, too bizarre, or too obvious. There are some exceptions to this principle, but it has to be done well. Generally, you don't want your reader getting hung-up on your name choices. The focus should be on your story.

Check Your Choices
Once you have ideas for your characters' names, try the following.

Say your characters' names out loud to ensure you like the flow and sound.

Research each name, if you haven't already, to make sure the origin and meaning don't conflict with the character.

Write down your main characters' names and give it to a friend to read out loud. This will help you determine whether the names are easy enough to pronounce.

Do an internet search or mental check to make sure you haven't accidentally used a name from another book.

Recommended Reading
The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook This trusted resource lists names according to meaning and country of origin.
Nameisms Name Lists These lists include different time periods and unique categories to inspire you.

Allete

2009-06-23T21:28:00.006-06:00

Allete ~ Winged ~ French

Butterflies, birds, feathers and wings are what led me to this baby name. I stumbled upon it while looking for a name related to flight for a character in a story, and I fell in love with its simple but feminine sound. It is obviously French but not overly exotic to English-speaking ears, as it's not too far from other familiar names like Annette or Adele.

The only problem is I can't find many references to the name, let alone history or use stats. I did learn that the French word for winged is ailé, so this name has the suffix -et added. It is a little odd to me that it's -et and not -ette like most feminine French names.

So yes, I hesitated to write a post about this name since I usually have much more information to offer. I loved the sound and meaning so much I felt it was worth posting.

If you have any information on the name's history or use, or if you know someone with this name or who wants to use Allete for their child, please leave a comment! I'd love to collaborate and have more information added to this post.

Allete is not nationally ranked and is a unique name.
Aleta may be a Spanish variation, meaning "little winged one."
Allete is listed at Babynames.com and is currently well-liked, rated at 4+ stars, though there are only 169 votes.

Quinn

2009-06-12T07:15:00.002-06:00

Quinn ~ Wise ~ Gaelic, Irish

A Stylish Unisex Name
The burning question on all our minds is which gender this baby name should be used for. If that's you, you've come to the right place, but the answer might not be what you're looking for: both. Quinn has been used steadily in America for boys since 1960. It has a longer history as a boy's name, but like several Celtic names, the possibility for crossover is high (think Corey, Kelly).

We began to see Quinn used for girls first in 1995, after a short-lived appearance in 1979 at the bottom of the charts. It's been gaining momentum for girls at a fairly swift pace. Today Quinn is a unique girls' name but familiar and sweet.

History & Meaning
Quinn has long-standing roots as an Irish surname. The surname means "Descendant of Conn" but my most trusted sources cite the name's Celtic origins with the meaning "wise". Both are legitimate, and you'll find either of these definitions depending on your source.

Quinn is a familiar surname today, and not just for the Irish, but across Europe, North America, and Australia. In fact, Quinn is most popular in Canada. Quinn's history as an Irish surname means it's a gender free-for-all. The name is cute but not childish, and it sounds fresh and stylish for either gender.

Facts & More Information

Quinn is ranked at #280 for boys, and #516 for girls.
What is Name Rank?

Celebs with the surname Quinn:

Aidan Quinn
Colin Quinn
Aileen Quinn
Elizabeth Quinn

Celebs who chose Quinn for their child's name

Sharon Stone
Sean Young
Christopher (Kit) Culkin
Patricia Quinn

Quinn is a female character on Zoey 101.
Similar names: Quincy, Quentin, Quinley
You may also like: Harper, Bailey, Dylan, Blake
See all unisex names

Victoria

2009-06-06T11:00:00.004-06:00

Victoria ~ Victory ~ Latin, Ancient Roman

When I think of a beautiful, classic baby name, Victoria is one of the first to come to mind. Its strong roots and royal connections make it a stable and lovely choice with a sophisticated air.

History
Victoria is the name of the Roman goddess of victory. She was an integral part of Roman culture, reflected in the temples built in her honor and the homage paid to her with everyday items like coins and jewelry. She was the personification of victory, and was worshiped as such by generals as well as the rest of roman society.

Victoria was also the name of a 4th century saint from North Africa, but the name was seldom used until much later. Queen Victoria of England, for whom the Victorian Era is named, sparked interest in the name for English-speaking countries in the mid-to-late 1800s. After her death in 1901, the name dropped a little in popularity. Then in the 40s the name got its stride back, something I attribute to WWII. Victory was on the minds of all, and the Victoria Cross is England's most honorable award for valor in war. What's more, the variation Vicky fit with other spirited names of the time like Peggy, Betty, and Shirley.

Popularity
Just like the name suggests, Victoria has earned a triumphant top-ranking spot in popularity. It has been in the top 20 since 1991 and I don't see it losing momentum any time soon. Victoria will remain a classic even if it does drop a little in the long-term. It's elegant and well-established, it has a nice sound, and lots of variations that will keep the name appealing no matter the time period.

Facts & Stats

Victoria is the 27th most popular girls' name in the U.S.
What is Name Rank?
Variations:
Ria, Roria, Tori, Torie, Torrey, Tory, Toria, Vicki, Vicky, Vikki, Victoriana, Victorina, Victorine, Victory, Vitoria, Vittoria
Celebrities named Victoria:
Victoria Abril
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Brooks
Victoria Hamilton
Victoria Matthews
Victoria Principal
Victoria Recaño
Tori Spelling
Tori Amos
Vicky Hurst
Vicki Lawrence
Celebrities who chose Victoria for their child's name:
Muhammad Ali
Milton Berle
Betty Grable
Julio Iglesias
Paul Schaffer
Danielle Steel
Places named Victoria:
Victoria is the name of a state in Australia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada
Victoria, Minnesota
Victoria, Texas
You may also like these names: Elizabeth, Charlotte, Josephine

Dylan

2009-05-26T07:00:00.004-06:00

Dylan ~ Son of the Sea ~ Welsh

Trends & American Use
It's hard not to think of Bob Dylan when I first hear this name, and while some parents will love that, others won't. Those that aren't particularly Bob-Dylan-fanatics are taking this name back from the realm of enduring 60s folk, giving it not only a trendy feel that has nothing to do with the artist, but a bit of an Irish association that goes back to its roots.

The name has a past grounded in Welsh mythology, and parents have been using it for a long time, even in the United States. That was helped along not only by Bob Dylan, but by the famous Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, whose verses became well known and honored throughout the world, especially "Do not go gentle into that good night." Thomas' poetry readings in the U.S. were quite famous and well-attended, but only lasted three years, ending with his death in 1953.

The baby name Dylan first showed up on Social Security statistics in 1966, and it's been a strong choice since. While it did hit a peak in 2004, it is still an on-trend choice and one that will be well-liked by most who hear it. If you like trendy names that have strong roots, look no further.

Dylan is ranked at #31
What is Name Rank?
Variations: Dillan, Dillon
You may also like: Declan, Dominic, Damian, Rowan, Liam

Celebrity Baby Names
Celebs who chose Dylan for their baby include:

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas
Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee
Joan Cusack
Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith
Mia Farrow and Woody Allen

Famous Dylans

Jakob Dylan (musician)
Bob Dylan (musician, songwriter)
Matt Dillon (actor)
Dylan McDermott (actor)
Dylan Patton (actor)
Dylan Sprouse (actor)
Dylan Thomas (poet)

Heavenly Baby Names

2009-05-20T06:14:00.014-06:00

I was inspired to create a "bonus" list of celestial names while working on my Virtue Names list. These names are idyllic like virtues, but focus on all things heavenly instead of on positive human behavior and beliefs. They cover a broad range of styles: popular, trendy, retro, unique... You are bound to find one or two that you like.

Angel

Angela, Angelica

Avari ~ of the Heavens

Believe

Celeste ~ Heavenly

Celine ~ Heaven

Diane ~ Divine

Eden ~ Paradise

Eternity

Haven

Halo

Heaven

Gloria

Trinity

Miracle

Nalani ~ Heavens

Nevaeh

Seraphim, Seraphina ~ Angel

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner chose Seraphina for their 2nd daughter.

Salene ~ Heaven

Shiela ~ Heaven

Zulu ~ Heaven

Nevaeh

2009-05-19T06:51:00.008-06:00

Nevaeh ~ Heaven ~ American

What an incredible story this name has. Nevaeh (neh-VAY-uh), which is heaven spelled backwards, appeared in 2001 when Christian rocker Sonny Sandoval chose the name for his daughter. While he's not very well known, those who heard the name remembered it. My favorite name experts say Nevaeh spread by word-of-mouth, and through internet bulletin boards and chat rooms for expecting parents.

Nevaeh feels like it had been right in front of us all along, and I think that's why so many found it appealing. It's a pretty word with a blissful message that represents everything parents want to give to their child. This little name-that-could took off like a bullet train, debuting in the U.S.' top 1,000 names at #266! It is curently #34, sitting between Savannah and Gabriella.

That being said, this name tends to polarize people. Some are of the opinion that it invites teasing, is awkward to spell and pronounce, or isn't a "legitimate" name because it's newly invented. Some of those arguments are made less valid considering the popularity of the name alone. And there's nothing wrong with a choosing a creative, trendy name that's new to the naming scene (like Jaden or Addison). That's part of how language evolves with culture, and I'm thankful we have more choices than Mary and Matthew.

Personally, I think Nevaeh is kind of pretty. It's got a nice sound and I think it's cute that it spells heaven backwards. However, I'm not over the moon about it, and I think it will seem dated in a decade or so because of its fast rise in popularity. What do you think? Do you love it or hate it? Why?

Nevaeh is ranked at 34 for 2009. What is name rank?
Nevaeh is popular in the U.S., Australia, and Great Britain.
You may also like my list of Heavenly Names of all kinds (classic and trendy!)

Cannon

2009-05-15T19:00:00.001-06:00

Cannon ~ Clergyman ~ English

Similar Names & First Impressions
Surprised at this week's feature? Read on. Cannon fits right in with other trendy names but still sounds unique. It's similar to the name Cameron, which is a top choice for boys but is becoming more unisex with every year. Cannon, however, packs a definite masculine punch.

Considering the popularity of names like Camden, Caden, Conan, Cullen and Keenan; Cannon shouldn't be too surprising as parents look for a stylish name that's unique. That being said, it may sound odd to:

a) older generations, and

b) people who can't get the image of a war-torn weapon out of their head

when they hear the name!

Hopefully, what will remain after first impressions subside is a cute sounding boy's name with a tough, distinctive edge that ages well.

Background & Popularity
I admit, I wouldn't have guessed that Cannon could have much of a history. But I was wrong! The name comes from Canon, an English word that means clergyman. It's a common English surname originally used to indicate occupation. The name may also be inspired by the medieval war weapon, in which case it's cited as having American roots.

We have only seen Cannon in the top 1,000 names starting in 2003. It jumped 96 places in rank for 2008, which is really impressive. Cannon is on a steady upswing and has trendy written all over it.

The more I think about this name, the more I like it. Thanks to Veronica for submitting this name suggestion. Her boys are named Cannon and Garrison. How cute!

Cannon is ranked at 599 (in the year 2010)
Variations: Cannan, Canning, Canon
Celeb babies: son of Larry King (born in 2001)
You may also like: Chayton, Franklin, Maxwell, Wyatt, Zane

Annika

2009-05-11T06:42:00.003-06:00

Annika ~ Gracious, Merciful ~ Scandinavian and African roots

I wasn't sure what girl's name I was going to feature for the week, when the name Annika (ah-NEE-ka) came to mind. It's a lovely name used around the world, particularly in Sweden, Germany and other European countries, as well as Australia and Canada. When you read about the name online you'll usually find it is a Swedish variation of the name Ann. That being said, one of my trusted sources says it also has African roots in the Hausa word Annakiya, which means "sweet face".

Its background in both the African-American community and Europe use means Annika is a diverse crowd-pleaser with lots of potential. It has a trendy feel and I love the sound of the word, with its familiar prefix (ann) and bright consonant sounds (nika). It has a lot of variations to choose from and room for creativity.

Variations

Anica, Anika, Anikka, Anneka, Annica

Name Rank

Annika is ranked at 402, which is slightly deceiving because Anika is separately ranked at 573. The combination of the two mean this name is more popular than its rank implies. What is name rank?

Famous Namesakes

Sidney Poitier named his daughter Anika
Annika Sörenstam, pro golfer

Characters named Annika

Annika Hansen (Seven of Nine) in Star Trek: Voyager
Annika Settergren, Pippi Longstocking
Princess Annika, Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus

America's Most Popular Baby Names of 2008

2009-05-09T08:52:00.000-06:00

Background: Every year the Social Security Administration releases statistics on the most popular names in the United States according to social security card registrations. It's an amazing resource and without it, it would be nearly impossible to write with any authority on baby names. Read more about name rank here.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: The Top Ten of 2008
Big news this year! We have two new names in the top 10, and Emily fell from the number one spot, which it held for 12 years.

Rank
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Boys
Jacob
Michael
Ethan
Joshua
Daniel
Alexander
Anthony
William
Christopher
Matthew

Girls
Emma
Isabella
Emily
Madison
Ava
Olivia
Sophia
Abigail
Elizabeth
Chloe

Changes to the top ten

Emma and Emily switched places
Andrew fell out of the top 10
Madison rose while Ava fell, both by one spot only

New top 10 names

Alexander rose 5 places to #5
Chloe rose 6 places to #10
Both Alexander and Chloe have never been in the top 10 before!

Standout Names in top 1,000
Biggest Changes in Popularity

Rising names that became dramatically more popular

Female names

+ 469: Khloe A unique spelling of a name that’s already very popular, inspired by reality t.v. star Khloe Kardashian
+ 426: Marlee (spellings Marley and Marley also rose dramatically) Look for a feature on this name soon!
+ 354: Audrina A beautiful name that rose 354 places, most likely due to the reality star Audrina Patridge of MTV’s The Hills
+ 353: Adalyn This name got its inspiration from Madeline
+ 221: Jaslene The name of America's Next Top Model winner, 2007

More to note: Olive rose 181 spots to number 813, and Shiloh rose by 137 places to 650.

Male names

+ 200: Jacoby Pronounced jah-KO-bee more often than JACK-ah-bee
+ 198: Kane
+ 184: Beckett
+ 140: Paxton
+ 131: Kale
+ 126: August A truly vintage name

More to note: Maverick rose by 54 spots, thanks to the election!

Falling names that became much less popular

Girls: Angelique, Yoselin, Jaden, Kirsten, Anahi, Alissa
Boys: Aldo, Branden, Osvaldo, Leland, Billy, Noe

Names I’ve Featured
Since last year at this time, there are a few I’ve written about that stand out in their rank change.

Adelaide gained 161 places, to number 551. It's one of my favorites.
Elsie is now at 740, gaining 146 places. That’s huge!
Harper gained 142 places and is now at 297.
Rihanna gained 104 places.
Raphael gained 70 places.
Graham gained 60 places to number 323.
Violet gained 45 spots.
Sadly, India fell by 128 places. Yikes!

What is Name Rank?

2009-05-09T08:38:00.002-06:00

When I refer to rankings, I am talking about the name statistics released by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The U.S. SSA releases a yearly list of the top 1,000 names for boys and girls based on applications for social security cards. The names are listed so that the most popular name is #1, and the least popular name is #1,000. A lower number = more popular.

The SSA has been tracking names statistics since 1879, though Social Security cards weren't often applied for at that time. True accuracy begins closer to the year 1937.

The following is taken directly from the SSA, with encouragement to post:

Names are restricted to cases where the year of birth, sex, State of birth (50 States and District of Columbia) are on record, and where the given name is at least 2 characters long.
With one exception, name data are not edited. For example, the sex associated with a name may be incorrect. Entries such as "Unknown" and "Baby" are not removed from the lists. The only exception to our non-edit policy is for names exceeding 10 characters in length. The data file we use is limited to the first 10 characters, so that a popular name such as Christopher lacks the terminal letter r. We fix obvious truncated names where possible.
Different spellings of similar names are not combined. For example, the names Caitlin, Caitlyn, Kaitlin, Kaitlyn, Kaitlynn, Katelyn, and Katelynn are considered separate names and each has its own rank.
When two different names are tied with the same frequency for a given year of birth, we break the tie by assigning rank in alphabetical order.
Some names are applied to both males and females (for example, Micah). Our rankings are done by sex, so that a name such as Micah will have a different rank for males as compared to females. When you seek the popularity of a specific name (see "Popularity of a Name"), you can specify the sex. If you do not specify the sex, we provide rankings for the more popular name-sex combination.
My own note: Names are tracked from March–February. For example, information that I refer to as coming from 2008 includes name information from March of 2008–February of 2009. Don't ask me why; that's just how it's done.

I write about rank so much because it's the best way to get a pulse on the popularity of a name. Without these statistics, analyzing names would be guesswork. There aren't many countries that publish government statistics on name popularity. Thanks, SSA!

Virtue Baby Names Inspired by Puritans

2009-05-04T06:39:00.026-06:00

We love the names the early settlers of the U.S. chose for their children. Wanting to break away from typical English saint's names but also proudly pass on their beliefs, virtue names were the perfect way for the Puritans to express themselves. These days, their choices are inspiring parents because of the sweet, comforting words and connotations.

Celebrities are taking notice of these options as well. Meg Ryan named her daughter Daisy True; Jessica Alba chose Honor for her daughter (photo), and both Hope and Grace are common choices for a middle name among the famous. It also happens that the little girl Madonna is interested in adopting is named Chifundo, which means Mercy.

Below are names listed with rank (What is name rank?) following if the name is in the U.S. top 1,000 names. Virtue names are typically more suited for girls, but several are perfect for boys. In particular, Justice, Sincere, Loyal and Earnest lend themselves well as male names. Enjoy!

Amity

Charity, 673

Chastity or Chasity, 868

Comfort

Constance

Earnest

Faith, 74

Felicity, 707

Grace, 20

Harmony

Honesty

Honor, Honora

Hope, 206

Joy, 521

Justice, 399 for boys

Liberty, 643

Love

Loyal

Mercy

Merit

Noble

Patience, 654

Promise

Prudence

Purity

Remember

Serenity, 126

Sincere, 622 for boys

Temperance

Unity

Verity

Wisdom

~ More to read: You may also like this list of Heavenly Names ~

Naming Your Adopted Child

2009-05-01T06:30:00.007-06:00

Adoption is one of the most beautiful ways to make a family. For adults who want to give love to a child in need, and those who are longing to fulfill their wish of becoming a parent, it’s a perfect option.

A name is the first gift that a child receives, and adoptive parents often want to participate in that. Since they can face a variety of circumstances that are a little different from naming a biological child, here are some factors that come into play.

International Adoption
If you are adopting a baby from another country, the naming process should include cultural considerations. In these cases, the child will most likely already have a name by the time you meet. Sometimes the given name the baby has may be difficult for Americans to pronounce, or there may be unintended connotations that lead the parents to rename. But even if you are able to choose the name right away you may want to consider:

Keeping cultural connections by choosing a first name that reflects the baby's nationality. You can search names according to origin at Babynames.com. There are usually many options for names that sound great to American ears.
Using a middle name that reflects the baby's cultural heritage
Conversely, choosing a more American influenced name while maintaining a connection to the child's country of origin in other ways.

Age and Naming Your Adopted Child
Newborns–6 Months
If you are adopting a child from birth or soon thereafter, you will have input on what the baby is to be named. Often the birth parents and adoptive parents come to an agreement about how the name will be chosen. Sometimes the birth mother picks the first or middle name. Other times the adoptive parents choose the name on their own, which may or may not include naming the baby after the birth mother in some way.

6–24 Months
Around this age, a child learns to respond to his or her name. In fact, it may be one of the few words they know how to say. If you do want to rename the baby, it’s feasible to use a similar name (check out the list of options later in this post) if the name is phased in. A new name becomes a problem when the child doesn’t respond, so you may want to try out similar names with your baby before you make a decision.

Two Years and Older
Often at this age most adoptive parents choose not to rename the child. That’s because the child’s name is very much a part of his identity, and it’s a must for parents to keep that in mind. The child experiences a big transition in adjusting to a new lifestyle and becoming part of a new family. Since you’ll already be passing on your surname, it might be best to avoid a change that could cause identity problems.

If you do want to rename after this point, the decision must be in the best interest of the child. On one hand, the child may be old enough to express a desire to have a new name; or it may be done for safety reasons. On the other hand, it may feel negative for the child to remove the association with his identity and past, even if it was a difficult one. If the child wants to keep his name, don’t force it. Consider the child’s thoughts and feelings, and discuss it with him before making a legal change.

Renaming Options and Examples
Most experts feel that making a radical change should only be considered if there are special circumstances. So below are some ways to keep the child’s name similar enough that their identity is not lost, but different enough to embrace their new family.

Changing the spelling of the name, but keeping the pronunciation the same. Ex: Kayla becomes Kaila, Jason becomes Jayson
Changing the middle name only
Choosing a name that rhymes or is very similar in sound. Ex: Veronica becomes Victoria, Taylor becomes Tyler
Choosing a name that begins with the same few letters and sounds. Ex: Emily becomes Emma, Michael becomes Micah
Changing the child’s name to a variation of the same name (Andrew becomes Drew, Alexandra becomes Alexis), or vice-versa if the child’s full name is already a variation (Susie becomes Susan, Nathan becomes Nathaniel).
Using the child’s previous surname as a middle name. This might be done to honor the biological family. Ex: Aubrey Rose Smith becomes Aubrey Smith Jones or Aubrey Rose Smith Jones

Sources and More Information

Raising Adopted Children by Lois Ruskai Melina
An excellent book for adoptive parents that discusses the journey of adoption and special issues. Includes a section on naming.

Naming an Adopted Child
Choosing a name that connects with the child’s past

Getting Ready for Your Adopted Child
An article that leads with information on naming your child.

Considerations for Naming Your Trans-racially or Inter-Culturally Adopted Child
Discusses naming issues that are specific to international adoption.

Re-naming Adopted Children: A Guide for Workers (PDF)
While this is speaking to social workers, it contains valuable insights for parents as well.

One more note: If you are having trouble choosing a name that sounds similar to another name, or finding an international name that works well for Americans to pronounce, feel free to contact me for name suggestions.

Featured names in this post:
Andrew ~ Micah ~ Nathaniel
Susie ~ Tyler ~ Victoria

More reading:
8 Ways to Spark Name Ideas

Christopher

2009-04-29T06:53:00.003-06:00

Christopher ~ Christ-bearer, One Who Carries Christ in His Heart ~ Greek

Christopher is an old, storied name that Americans have been using for a long time. The word was used by early Christians to describe their beliefs, as the name comes from two Greek words for "bear" and "Christ" and came to meant bearing Christ in one's heart. The 3rd century brought about a legend of a saint who literally carried Christ as a baby. That is how Saint Christopher came to be the patron saint of travelers.

Christopher was the name of a Bavarian king who ruled Denmark, Sweden, and Norway in the 1440s. It's safe to assume the name was used as a given name as early as the 15th century.

Popularity
While Christopher has always been used in the U.S. with frequency, it really began to take off in the last half of the 20th century. It's been in the top 10 names since 1967! Parents love the sound of the name, which is soft but not too feminine. It comes with a genuine boy-next-door nickname: Chris. Christopher is used around the world, allowing for more globally-inspired variations.

Variations

Chris
Christof or Christoph
Christofer
Christo
Christos
Cris
Cristobal
Cristopher
Kit
Kris
Topher

Famous Figures Named Christopher:

Christopher Columbus, explorer
Christopher Gorham, actor on Ugly Betty
Christopher Reeve, actor
Christopher Plummer, actor
Christopher Robin, fictional character based on the son of the author of Winnie-the-Pooh
Christopher Walken, actor
Topher Grace, actor

Celebrities who named their son Christopher:

Anne Rice
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver
Billy Ray Cyrus
Burt Bacharach (spelled Cristopher)
Dean Cain
Donny Osmond

India

2009-04-23T06:33:00.005-06:00

India ~ the country ~ English Updated: May 9, 2009

There's a lot to love about the name India, including its sweet sound, "place name" status, and the country it refers to. India is a vibrant nation with food, music, and styles of clothing and decor that we love to borrow. The word, which comes from Sanskrit and means "body of water," reflects the unique culture that many of us appreciate.

History
It's a little unexpected that such a modern-sounding name has a long history of use. In the U.S., girls were named India as early as the 1800s. Why? The British were using the name because they viewed India as intriguing and beautiful. During the English rule ("Raj") in India, the name of the country was on the minds of many, influencing the U.S. and Wales. This is even confirmed by the character India Wilkes from Gone with the Wind, which is set in the 1860s. The choice of the name India is a prime example of author Margaret Mitchell's attention to historic detail.

Popularity and Use
Eventually India's popularity faded and it dropped out of the top 1,000 names in 1912. The 1936 novel Gone with the Wind became a phenomenon, won the Pulitzer Prize, and was made into a film which won an Academy Award; but the name India wasn't ranked in the top 1,000 again until the 1970s. Since India is a nation primarily of Hindus and Muslims, the 70s were a prime time for the name to return. Many were influenced by Eastern mysticism and Mahatma Ghandi, and India was used as a tribute to both. From there, the name steadily grew in popularity among all kinds of parents, regardless of background or religion.

India is a name likely to go through phases of waxing and waning in popularity. When India Arie's first album was released in 2001, the name rose in popularity by 100 spots. It is ranked at #815 for 2008, and is on a downward trend, making the choice more unique. It's exotic but familiar and grounded in history. I think India is a wonderful baby name with a pretty sound. I hope it continues to be used for years to come.

Celebrity
There are a lot of celebrity connections to this name. Celebrities named India include:

India Arie, recording artist
India Eisley, child actress in The Secret Life of the American Teenager
India Hicks, British actress and model with royal lineage

Celebrities who named their daughter India:

Sarah McLachlan, singer and songwriter
Philip Michael Thomas, actor known for his role in Miami Vice
Dan Cortese, actor who played roles in Seinfeld and What I Like About You
Cahterine Oxenberg, actress known for her role in Dynasty
Corey Hart, Canadian musician

Baby Name Stories: Cath's Story

2009-04-19T05:00:00.009-06:00

A story of a real mom and how her kids’ names were chosen.

I think choosing a name for a baby is a fascinating process. With every parent, the story is unique and comes with its own challenges and fun. In addition to the weekly name features, I wanted to include these real-life tales of parents who faced the world of baby names and found their own unique style.

Interview with Cath Oehlman, a.k.a. SquiggleMum: "I was a primary school teacher before becoming a fulltime Mummy (yes, I'm Australian). I've been married for 9 years and have two munchkins."

Lily Jade will be 3 in May; Reuben Lucas is 6 months old.

How did you and your husband choose each of their names? As a school teacher there were a lot of names I just couldn't choose! It wasn't that I didn't like the kids I taught (I loved them actually), it was just that those names already belonged to those kids. I have never had a Lily or a Reuben in my own class. We chose old first names with traditional spellings because they are timeless, but more contemporary middle names. Lilies are mentioned in the Bible in Luke 12:27 (Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these!) And in the Old Testament Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob. His name means, "Behold! A son!"

When I was pregnant with Reuben, we asked Lily what names she thought would be nice for her baby brother or sister. We'll never forget it. She thought that Tallulah would be good for a girl, and Garlic (!!) for a boy! Decided not to go with her opinion.

Did you have a moment when it felt "right"? I was well overdue with both pregnancies and had to be induced, so we had plenty of time to be sure about our choice of names! I think the moment it felt right though was when I first held them, said hello, told them their name and said I was their Mummy.

Were there any obstacles or challenges? One challenge we had when choosing names was being aware of initials. Our last name begins with O, so we had to rule out any names that would give our kids initials like B.O. (or worse...)

Are you happy with your choices? Am I disappointed that Lily has become such an insanely popular name? Yes, a little. But I still wouldn't change it. If I had chosen a different name for her, I would always have regretted it.

We love the kids' middle names, but didn't go with them as first names because they are both a bit "trendy" and will probably date. I like nouns as names and love the colour green - hence Jade. Lucas we just liked the sound of! And besides, it has some great geeky connotations. ;)

Email me at nameisms[at]gmail[dot]com if you are interested in telling me your Baby Name Story.

Zane

2009-04-15T12:59:00.002-06:00

Zane ~ God is Gracious ~ English

A Cool Cowboy Name
If you're like me, you might need a reminder as to where you've heard this name before. Zane was placed in the American consciousness by a famous author of Western novels, Zane Grey. He is probably best known for the book Riders of the Purple Sage. Grey's grandfather, Ebenezer Zane, not only inspired Grey's middle name (which he used as a first name) but founded the town of Zanesville, Ohio.

Maybe it's because I'm not too familiar with Western fiction, but I don't automatically think of Zane as a Western name. I'm in the minority! In fact, I've heard that some think the name is almost too cool and conjures a sexy cowboy image that would be hard for a guy to live up to. I disagree. I think the popularity of names like Zach and Zander make Zane a great choice that won't set the bar too high or be too distinctive.

Meaning & Origins
Zane comes from an English surname of unknown meaning, and possibly a variation of the name John. I say “possibly” because I have a feeling the use of the name in this country does not come from the Turkish and Hebrew variants of John. Those are valid origins on a more international basis and are great for assigning meaning. But in English-speaking countries, the surname Zane is the very reason it's in use as a given name. Grey is a great example of this, and his fame alone can be credited with its popularity.

Popularity & Western Use
Zane is gaining popularity at a steady pace. It is used throughout the country, but is most popular in Montana, Wyoming, and Oklahoma. I can attest to this, because my husband's friend named Zane is from—surprise, surprise—Montana. These states have obvious Western appeal, just like the name Zane does.

Zane is ranked at #232 for the year 2007
Variations include: Zayne, Zain, Zaine
Famous Zanes:

Author Zane Grey
actor Billy Zane

Marissa, Marisa, and Maris

2009-04-11T10:54:00.002-06:00

Maris ~ Star of the Sea ~ Latin

Marissa was the name of a dear childhood friend of mine. Together we had picnics in the backyard, played games with the neighborhood kids, and made forts in the livingroom. She had pretty dark hair and eyes, and a particularly fashionable mother. I have always loved her name.

I think Marissa's mother was a little ahead of the times by choosing a name that didn't hit its peak until 1995. It's a nice alternative to the more common Melissa, and it has a beautiful meaning. Derived from Maris, the name comes from an epithet for the Virgin Mary. The Latin is Stella Maris, meaning Star of the Sea. Gorgeous!

Popularity
This name and its variants are all over the map. Maris is not in the top 1,000 names at all. It sounds perhaps a bit less flowing and modern, and it doesn't help that Maris was the name of a (never-seen) neurotic character on the t.v. show Frasier. Marissa, the most popular form, is ranked well but falling a little in popularity since the mid-nineties. The spelling Marisa is substantially less popular and also dropping in rank. That doesn't make any of these names a bad choice, of course. Marissa is still a well-liked name with a nice sound and meaning. It will always have a soft spot in my heart.

Facts and Stats

Variations of Maris include: Marisa, Marise, Marish, Marisha, Marissa, Marisse
For 2007, Marissa is ranked at 133, and Marisa is at 515
Marissa is the name of a character on the O.C., and Marisa is a character from The Golden Compass

One-Syllable Names

2009-04-10T11:05:00.026-06:00

Perfect Options
for Middle Names
I created this post originally as a list of "one-syllable middle names," because I know a lot of you are on the lookout for short-and-sweet options. Personally, my surname is three syllables and I feel that a shorter middle name usually flows a little better in my case. But I also want to point out these names make perfectly wonderful first names as well!

What You'll Find
One-syllable names have typically been dominated by boys, and it shows. Traditionally, the quick, simple words are associated more with the male sex. But you will find the girls' names listed here are elegant, sweet, and feminine; I only wish there were more.

One more thing—I didn't include too many "nicknames" or shortened variants of longer names. Some examples are Bob (Robert), Mike (Michael), or Jan (Janet), though those would work too. Feel free to post any additional ideas in the comments section!

Ann or Anne

Belle

Bleu

Blythe

Bree

Brooke

Brynn

Cate or Kate

Claire or Clare

Cree

Dawn

Dea

Dove

Drew

Elle

Eve

Faith

Fawn

Fay or Faye

France

Gail or Gayle

Grace

Hope

Jade

Jane

Jean or Jeanne

Jill

Jo

Joan

Joy

June

Kay

Lane or Laine

Lark

Leigh

Love

Lu or Lou

Lynn or Lynne

Mae or May

Maeve

Maude

Nell

Neve

Paige

Pearl

Quinn

Rae

Rain or Raine

Reese or Rhys

Rose

Ruth

Shae

Sky or Skye

Sloane

Snow

Star

Sue

Tess

Wind

Wren

Wynn or Wynne

Yael

Abe

Ace

Art

Ash

Beau or Bo

Blake

Blaze or Blaise

Bram

Brant

Bray

Breck

Brent

Brett

Brock

Bronx

Bruce

Bryce

Brynn

Cade

Cash

Chad

Chance

Clark

Clay

Clive

Cole

Craig

Cree

Dale

Dax

Drake

Drew

Earl

Finn or Fynn

Flint

Fox

Fred

Fritz

Gage

Garth

Gene

Gent

George

Glen or Glenn

Graham

Grant

Gray or Grey

Guy

Hank

Hawk

Heath

Hugh

Jack

Jake

James

Jay

Jazz

Jett

John

Joel

Kai

Kade

Knox

Kurt

Lance

Lane

Lee

Lloyd

Luke

Mark or Marc

Max

Miles

Mitch

Nash

Neil or Neal

Oz

Park

Paul

Pax

Penn

Quinn

Ray

Reece, Reese or Rhys

Reed or Reid

Rhett

Rome

Ross

Sean, Shaun, Shawn, or Cian

Shane

Seth

Skip

Sky or Skye

Spence

Steel

Tate

Teague

Trace

Tre or Trey

Trent

Trig

Troy

Ty

Vance

Vaughn or Von

Vince

Wade

Walt

West

Wolf

Wray

Yale

York

Zac, Zack, or Zach

Zane

Baby Name Stories: Heather's Story

2009-04-07T19:58:00.007-06:00

Interview with Heather, graduate student, wife and mother of two.

Children's names:
Una Isabella Rose (age 6); Evelyn (Evvy) Nova (age 4)

How did you and your husband choose each of their names, and how did you know it was "right"? Una came from the Anne of Green Gables series, but I was reminded of the name while I was pregnant and reading Crime and Punishment, in which there is a Dounia. The letters reconfigured themselves in my head and I remembered the name Una, from the books I'd read in childhood. Rose, her middle name, is her great grandmother's and we just liked the name Isabella so we put them all together.

I used to think the name Evelyn was horrible and boring and old. Then, when I was in college, some family friends had a little girl and named her Evelyn. I thought they were nuts to do that to a baby. Then I met this little girl when she was 6 years old. She was zingy and sassy and smart and energetic and she went by "Evvy" (not sure if that's how they spelled it), but I fell in love with the name because of that girl. And it stuck with me for 4 years. Evvy's middle name, Nova, was the first name, after hundreds of names, read aloud from a baby book that my husband and I instantly loved.

Were there any obstacles or challenges? Yes, some friends thought one of our daughter's names was too similar to the name they were going to use. That created some relational problems.

Are you happy with your choice? I am fairly happy with our choices, although I wonder sometimes why we didn't just name Evvy officially "Evvy" instead of "Evelyn."

Email me at nameisms[at]gmail[dot]com if you are interested in telling me your Baby Name Story.

Read more: Carol Anne's Baby Name Story

Andrew

2009-04-04T17:45:00.006-06:00

Andrew ~ Manly ~ Greek

It's safe to say Andrew will never go out of style. A top-10 lister for 23 years now, this baby name has classic written all over it, with a hint of trendy as well. It's got some great variations, and I love its Greek origins (look for more Greek names at the end of this post.) Andrew is a very common name, and a nice choice if you are looking for something stable and familiar.

History
Andrew was the name of the first disciple called by Jesus. Its biblical roots combined with the Greek origin translates into worldwide popularity. Andrew was used for several Hungarian Kings, as well as British royalty including Prince Andrew, Duke of York. The 7th U.S. President, Andrew Jackson, and the unpopular 17th President, Andrew Johnson, shared the name in addition to their very similar surnames. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Russia and Romania.

Variations
It's nice that a person with this name can choose the variation he likes best, which may change over time. I've known a couple of Andrews in my life and they each went by different variations of the name. A friend from high school went by Andy, my manager at work is Drew. These variations are so distinctive that it's hard for me to imagine calling either of these people by their full name.

Variations include:
Andre, Andrei, Andy, Anders, Drew, Deandre

Celebrities who chose Andrew for their son:
Ralph Lauren, Rudy Giuliani, Erma Bombeck, Ann Jillian

Celebrities named Andy:
Andy Devine, Andy Garcia, Andy Griffith, Andy Warhol

Greek names featured on Nameisms so far:
Alexander ~ Callie ~ Coriander ~ Damien ~ Daphne ~ Iris ~ Sebastian ~ Sophia

Keira

2009-03-26T14:35:00.004-06:00

Keira ~ Black Haired ~ Irish

A Baby Name with Irish Roots
Ok, I know St. Patrick's Day is over. I don't usually do two names of the same origin in two weeks, but I couldn't help myself.

Keira is fascinating to me because it's an established Irish name that rose so quickly in the U.S. as to make it still seem unique to our ears. (Much like last week's name, Declan.) It's a no-frills name but also feminine and pretty. The meaning, which comes from the Irish Ciar meaning black, gives it even more of a sophisticated feel.

Popularity & U.S. Fascination
Keira is currently the most popular spelling in the U.S., thanks to the glamorous Keira Knightly. We know her particularly for playing Elizabeth in the box-office hit Pirates of the Caribbean. When the credits rolled, expectant parents were definitely paying attention. The year it came out, the name Keira gained 321 places in U.S. ranking stats. Its July theater release means that it only took 6 months of time for the name to take a jump that high!

Keira is a popular name, and this spelling alone was at 128 for 2007. Other spellings and variants really add up, making the rank of 128 deceivingly low.

How to Pronounce Keira
The popular spelling Keira is undeniably pronounced KEER-ah. Some of the variant spelling offer different pronunciations, as Kiera can either be pronounced KEER-ah or kee-AR-ah.

Variants & Rank

Keira, 128
Kiara, 211
Ciara, 258
Kira, 268
Kiera, 293

Keira Facts

Mount Keira is a mountain in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Kiara is the name of a lioness in Disney's The Lion King II

Declan

2009-03-19T19:31:00.007-06:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! This week's baby name is in honor of Ireland.

Declan ~ unknown, a saint's name ~ Irish

A modern-sounding baby name for Americans, Declan (DECK-lan) didn't show up on our charts until 1999. Considering its newfound use in this country, Declan took off incredibly quickly. It's distinctively Irish while also being easy to pronounce and on-trend in its sound.

So where does it come from, you ask? Saint Declan is a cherished and popular Irish saint, perhaps second only to...yes...Saint Patrick. He founded a monastery and converted many people to Christianity in Ardmore, Ireland, around the 5th century. His feast day is July 24th. You can read all about his lore and significance to the Irish people on this page.

Most sources indicate that the meaning of the name is unknown. A few out there cite it as "full of goodness," and that makes me smile. I think Declan is a cute name with a nice sound, and it's perfect if you want an Irish name that isn't common.

Declan is #349 for U.S. stats in 2007.
Celebrity babies with this name:

Pro wrestler Shane McMahon's son
Singer Cindy Lauper went with an alternate spelling for her son, Declyn.

There are characters named Declan in Kyle XY and Law and Order: Criminal Intent.

Violet

2009-03-12T19:05:00.004-06:00

Violet ~ the Flower ~ Latin Updated: May 9, 2009

There are a lot of pretty flower names for girls, but my favorite happens to be Violet. I love the color it brings to mind, and the unique sounds in the name. It's gorgeous and girly and delicate; while the nickname Vi is spunky and glamorous. I love everything about it.

Violet was used in Scotland and other European countries as early as the 16th century. Viola, a variation of the name, was a character in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, written in 1601. In the U.S., Violet was part of the floral name craze of the early 20th century. In 1919, it was ranked its highest at #74.

Violet fits in with a few trends—it's got vintage charm, it's a nature name, it's a color name, and it begins with an interesting letter. When Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner chose this name for their first baby, it was already on the rise. But I have a feeling little Violet Affleck is one of the biggest reasons the name rose more than 100 spots after her birth and is still rising today.

A girl named Violet is likely to feel a personal connection to the flower and the color. I can just imagine she would like a bedroom decorated with violet flower pictures and her bedspread in violet hues. How cute would that be?

Ranked at #184 for 2008. This name rose in popularity by 45 places last year!
Variations: Viola, Violetta, Violette
Hold on to your hat! The following fictional characters are named Violet:

Violet Bick, from the movie It's a Wonderful Life
Violet, a character in the Peanuts comic strip
Violet Baudelaire, a character from A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Violet Beauregarde, a character in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Violet Parr, a character in the Pixar movie The Incredibles
Dr. Violet Turner, a character in the t.v. show Private Practice
Violet, a character in the 1980's cartoon Rainbow Brite

Nature Baby Names

2009-03-03T18:32:00.012-07:00

If your first thought when seeing a list of nature baby names is that they are for hippies, you're in for a surprise. Nature names range from classic (Rose) to trendy (Aspen) and everything in between. With such a wide variety of choices, at least a few are bound to fit your style.

A lot of these names are unisex, so use your imagination even though I divided them into genders for easier reading.

Jump to:
Earth Names
Plants, Flowers, and Tree Names
Spice Names
Gem Names

Earth Names
Girls Aurora Autumn Brook/Brooke Butterfly Coral Dawn Ember Gaia Luna Meadow Misty Rainbow Savannah (read more) Star Summer Sunny Terra Windy Winter	Unisex Names Rain/Raine River Sky/Skye Storm	Boys Beach Breeze Canyon Clay Cliff Cove Dusty Flint Frost Glen Light Ocean Quarry Ridge Stone

Plants, Flowers, and Tree Names
Girls Acacia Azalea Blossom Cherry Clover Dahlia Daisy Freesia Hazel Heather Holly Iris (read more) Ivy Jasmine Laurel Lavender Lilac Lily Marigold Olive Poppy Primrose Rose Tulip Viola Violet (read more) Willow Zinnia	Boys Alder Ash Aspen Birch Bracken Briar Cedar Forest Huckleberry Juniper Leaf Linden Oak Reed Rowan (read more) Spruce

Spice Names
Girls Cayenne Cinnamon Ginger Laurel Myrrh Pepper Rosemary Saffron	Boys Basil Coriander (read more) Sage

Gem Names
Girls Amber Amethyst Diamond Emerald Garnet Gemma Jade (read more) Jewel Opal Pearl Ruby Sapphire	Boys Jade (read more) Jasper (read more) Onyx Silver Topaz

Wyatt

2009-02-25T07:02:00.006-07:00

Wyatt ~ Strength in War ~ Old English

Wyatt is quickly becoming a stylish name. It had seen a slow rise in popularity beginning in the 80s, until a little movie called Wyatt Earp came out in 1994. This epic silver screen hit cast Kevin Costner as the lead and was nominated for an academy award. And that's what lit the flame behind Wyatt's super-hot chart-climbing status. It jumped up 178 places that year, and the momentum has continued ever since.

Its history as the name of the famous sheriff of the wild west gives the name serious cowboy overtones. If you have a western lifestyle or a flair for country music, for example, you might love this choice. (Find more western names here.) You also might love it if you're looking for something that stands out from the typical trendy names for boys but is still fashionable.

Wyatt is on the same level in my mind as a name like Rhett. It's totally cute, but very iconic. If you choose this name it may take awhile for some people to adjust, but eventually they will probably find the name adorable and appealing. It is a more popular choice than many people might expect.

I do wonder if Wyatt is as fitting for a grown man as it is for a little boy, unless he's got some serious cowboy style. But considering its upswing in popularity, we'll all get used to adults named Wyatt in about 10-20 years or so.

Wyatt is ranked at #69 for 2007 in the U.S.
Celeb babies named Wyatt:

Famous Wyatts in history:

Wyatt Earp, western officer of the law
Thomas Wyatt, poet and knight, suitor of Anne Boleyn

The t.v. show Charmed features a baby named Wyatt, he is the son of the main character.

Madeline

2009-02-19T19:18:00.002-07:00

Madeline ~ of Madgala ~ French

Many of us know Madeline as the name of an endearing French girl who stood out from her 11 schoolmates in the famous Madeline books by Ludwig Bemelmans. In these stories, the precocious girl tours Paris and has many adventures with her class, showing bravery and spirit every step of the way. The beautiful Parisian illustrations combined with charming rhymed verse have made Madeline a star since the stories were first published in 1939.

I give a lot of credit for the love affair we have with the name Madeline to these wonderful books. They made a French name more accessible for Americans and created a soft spot in our hearts for the name.

The name Madeline has also taken off in the past 10 - 20 years due to its cultured air and flowing sound. If you choose this name you must be willing to share it with many other girls across America, and probably at least one in your daughter's school. Since Madison is also a popular name, the nickname "Maddy" is heard even more commonly. It's something to keep in mind, but it shouldn't deter you if you're looking for a beautiful and well-liked name.

How to pronounce Madeline
The most popular pronunciation is MAD-ah-linn. Only a few will use this name intending it to be pronounced mad-ah-LINE (long i). It's interesting that the Madeline series of books rhymes Madeline with words like "shine" "fine" and "time", leading me to believe Bemelmans meant it to be pronounced this way. In Europe, you may hear mad-LEEN or Mad-ah-LEEN.

Variations
Mada, Madalyn, Maddi or Maddie, Madelaine, Madeleine, Madelene, Madelyn, Madalina, Madge, Madilyn, Madga

More on Madeline

Rated #61 in the US for 2007 (it's been around the 60s rank for 10 years)
Celeb babies with this name:

David Duchovny & Tea Leoni's daughter
Lea Thompson's daughter
Doug Savant's daughter
Adam Sandler's daughter, Sunny Madeline
Jamie Lynn Spears named her daughter Maddie, a variation of Madeline that was inspired by Bemelmans' books

Characters named Madeline include

Madeline Fitzpatrick, a character in Disney's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
Madeline Hayes, a character in the 80s TV series Moonlighting played by Cybil Shepherd
Madeline Ferguson, a character in the 90s TV series Twin Peaks

Coriander

2009-02-12T19:01:00.001-07:00

Coriander ~ Romance, Spice ~ Greek

I know what you're thinking: Coriander? Really? But despite it's near-eccentric uniqueness, Coriander is a name with a lot of good qualities. First of all, I was surprised to find that few baby names have meanings related to romance. It's definitely a fitting choice if you're looking for a rare name (or a nature name) with a special connection to romantic love. And that's exactly what I was doing when I was searching for a name appropriate for the week of Valentine's Day.

The name Coriander comes from an herb that has been used since ancient times for its seasoning and medicinal properties, and even as an aphrodisiac. It's native to the Mediterranean and is used frequently in Indian, Asian, and Latin dishes. The Bible mentions it when comparing its color to the "manna" that fell from heaven, proving its existence as one of the oldest herbs known. You can find its leaves, called cilantro, in your grocery store. The more fragrant seeds are sometimes ground and used in salad dressings, pastries, or sausage; and they play an important role in curry seasoning.

It's perhaps the aphrodisiac effect of the herb that associates the word with its meaning, "romance". But let's face it—most people will think of a spice when they hear the name. It might take a little time for people to adjust to, but honestly, if names like Sage and Ginger are acceptable, why not Coriander? It sounds similar to Corey and Alexander, making it that much less surprising of a choice. In fact, I don't know why it's not used more frequently than it is. I think Coriander is an unusual but nice name with a lot of potential.

Coriander is a unisex name, though it's typically listed for boys
Coriander is very unique and not rated in the SSA's top 1,000 names
Coriander is listed at babynames.com and is rated with almost 4 out of 5 stars.
Find more spice names here

8 Ways to Spark Ideas for Picking the Perfect Baby Name

2009-02-10T11:07:00.007-07:00

For some parents, naming their baby is a no-brainer. Maybe they have a name they’ve always loved, a family tradition to pass on, or a relative to honor. Some women dream about their babies’ names in the same way they dreamed about their wedding day. When the time comes, it’s simply a matter of making the dream a reality—and hopefully no overbearing mother-in-laws are involved.

But if choosing a name is difficult, overwhelming, or even conflict-ridden, you might need a little inspiration. Here are a few tips to get the names flowing:

Buy a baby name book. Visiting your bookstore or library will provide you with a ton of name inspiration! If you are already overwhelmed with options, it might be best to pick up something small, but with lots of details or category lists. Spend a few relaxing evenings turning the pages and jotting down names that grab your interest. Keep it low-pressure and enjoy yourself.
Get inspiration from your surroundings. You can sometimes discover that the perfect name choice for you was near you all along. To spark ideas, think about the place you conceived the baby, the time of year, the month of your due date, the street you live on, or your favorite vacationing spot. Names like Aspen, June, Franklin, and Paris might come to mind. Keep looking around your community as well as thinking of places that are particularly special to you. The name of the park where you like to walk may end up being your perfect choice.
Think about your personal taste. It might seem obvious to consider your personal style, but sometimes the influence of others can get you off-track. Remember to pick a name that speaks to your soul. Think about whether you like traditional decor or contemporary. Do you listen to indie rock or inspirational ballads? Maybe traditional names like Elizabeth or William fit your family better than Maddox or Keira.
Think about your values. What you value in life is another factor that will play into the name you give your child. The most common way this takes place is through names that have significant meanings for you. You can search for a particular meaning by visiting the BabyNames.com advanced search page. (For example, try typing in “gracious” in the meaning search box.)

Another way to look at this is to ask yourself a few questions. Would you like names from the Bible, like Abigail or Noah? Maybe you’d like names that honor nature, like Autumn or River. There are also plenty of virtue names that might reflect your ideals, like Grace or Justice. Once you start looking for these kinds of names, you’ll definitely have a few more choices.
Comb through your family tree. It's a perfect way to find a meaningful name. Look at the first, middle, and last names of your ancestors for inspiration. Talk to your grandparents or other relatives to get the scoop on their favorite family members and the kind of qualities they had. If you can’t find a specific name you like, you can always try to choose a name that reflects your family’s nationality and cultural heritage by looking according to origin.
Play name games & exercises with your partner.
- Create a list of your top 10-20 favorites, without revealing it your partner, while they do the same. Then look at it together and see if your lists share any names. This is how my parents named me!
- Play with combining names. Try creating names by combining yours and your husband’s middle names, your grandmothers’ names, or any other combinations you can dream up. My husband and I discovered that by combining our two fathers’ names, Bruce and Dave, we created names like Brave and Deuce! It’s not exactly our style, but it was a fun exercise.
- Create a list of your top ten heroes in life, or those who inspire you. Don’t think about their names as you do this! You might list a relative, actor, inventor, philanthropist, author, or your 2nd grade teacher...there are no limits. Then delve a little deeper and research their full name. You just might find a choice that you love and already has meaning for you.
Keep your eyes & ears open. You can find inspiration almost anywhere. The key is having an open mind and listening or watching for a great idea. You might find a name you love in a novel you’re reading, or in the credits of a movie you’ve watched. Maybe you’ll hear a name you love at a visit to the supermarket or the coffee shop. Or you may have a favorite t.v. character or singer with a name you admire. And yes, there’s a difference between being inspired by a name you come across and naming your child “after” that person. Don’t be afraid to use a name you like, even if your inspiration was Captain Jack Sparrow.
Read Nameisms. Ok, enter the shameless plug. This blog is designed to be a fun and free way to get ideas for naming your baby! Here you can find posts including the history and meaning of a specific name, name lists in different categories, and articles on the naming process. After reading a few posts, you’ll see the value in knowing more about a name than a one-word definition. Read more about Nameisms here.

When you and your partner find the perfect name, it’ll just feel right. I wish you the best of luck in making your choice!

Western Baby Names for Cowboys & Cowgirls

2009-02-07T10:17:00.007-07:00

Living in the West has done a lot for my inner cowgirl. I love watching rodeos, and from the moment I attended one of the local competitions, I knew I'd have to write about the wonderfully western names I heard. After all, what could be a better place for western baby-name inspiration than a rodeo?

Yes—these are real cowboy and cowgirl names! My sources for this list include riders of the Colorado Pro Rodeo Association, the Wyoming Rodeo Association, and the Pro Bull Riders, Inc, as well one or two of my own ideas.

Cowgirls

Andie

Casey

Cassidy

Chelsea

Cheyenne

Dakota

Dallas

Darcy

Ginger

Jessie

Kashley

LeAnne

Lexi (Alexis)

Mary Jo

Morgan

Paisley

Riley

Ryan

Sierra

Tamalynn

Tandy

Taylor

Wynonna

Cowboys

Austin

Bo

Boone

Britt

Chance

Chase

Clint

Cody

Darnell

Flint

Hardy

Jarrett

Jesse

Justin

Lance

Ridge

T.J.

Tanner

Travis

Tripp

Troy

Wiley

Wyatt (read more)

Baby Name Search: Look up a name from this list
Related: Pioneer Baby Names

Allison

2009-02-05T18:14:00.006-07:00

Allison ~ Noble ~ German, French origins Updated: May 2009

I think Allison is a wonderfully feminine and friendly sounding name. It's a popular choice because it's got a great flow, cute nickname potential, and it ends in "son" like contemporary names Madison, Emerson, and Addison. But Allison isn't considered trendy. It's a tried-and-true baby name that's been charming us for more than half a century.

History
Allison is the more popular spelling, but I think it makes the history more clear to talk about Alison first. Alison is a French form of the German name Alice, which is why it lacks the second l. Unfortunately we don't have name statistics going back far enough, but it's known that Alison was used in France, Scotland and England as early as medieval times. The spelling Allison, which could have come from a surname that has different origins, was used a little bit in America for boys (yes, boys!) in the 1800s. But I believe it's the French variation that caught on for baby girls later in our country's history. It picked up momentum in the 1950s and even more momentum in the 70s. Today, Allison has slipped ever-so-slightly since the 90s, but not by much and it's a popular choice.

Demographics
I've read from several different sources that the name Allison is often chosen by mothers who are well-educated. A recent article in Time points out that "the name Allison is rarely given to girls whose mothers didn't finish high school but is frequently given to girls whose mothers have 17 years or more of schooling." It's an interesting factoid, but I don't place much importance on articles that associate names with status, which is what the article was hinting at. Take it for what you will.

A New Classic
I think Allison is great girl-next-door name that's destined to become a classic someday. It is rising in popularity and has been in the top 100 girls' names for more than three decades. I love it, but let me know what you think by voting at the end of this post. :)

Allison is ranked at #32, while Alison is lower at #273
(What is Name Rank?)
Variations

Beginning with Al:
Ali, Alisann, Alisen, Alisan, Alison, Alisun, Alyson
Beginning with All:
Allie, Allisen, Allisan, Allysann, Allyson, Allisun

Celebs with this name:
Celebrities who chose Allison for their daughter's name:

Clint Eastwood
Sally Jesse Raphael
Tom Berenger

Jasper

2009-01-29T13:01:00.002-07:00

Jasper ~ Treasurer ~ English

I was looking for a relatively unique but trendy-sounding boy's name and I found it: Jasper. It can sit alongside more popular baby names like Jayden or Harper, but it's also got an extensive history and deep meaning. I hope this name stays about where it is in rankings, because 471 is a perfect position for a unique but still well-liked choice. I just love it.

Jasper has been used since the 17th century as an English form of the name Casper, a Persian name used as early as the 9th century! Casper is traditionally one of the three wise men who brought gifts to honor Christ. Jasper is also the name of a semi-precious stone that comes in many beautiful colors and is found across the world. The mineral is referred to in many ancient texts, including the Bible.

Jasper doesn't have many variations. I've heard of parents shortening the name to what sounds like "Jazz," which is pretty cute. More on that below.

Ranked at 471
Variations: Casper, Gasper, Jaspar
Celeb babies: Don Johnson has a son named Jasper, born in 2002
Many cities and counties in the U.S. have the name Jasper
Jasper was at its height in U.S. popularity in the late 1800s

Baby Name Stories: Carol Anne's Story

2009-01-24T15:43:00.011-07:00

Interview with Carol Anne, photographer, wife and mother of three.

Oldest son: Timothy Craig, 7
How did you and your husband choose Timothy’s name, and how did you know it was "right"? We each lost an uncle in his twenties and we combined the first names. We went round and round with the question "will this cause our families more grief or honor our uncles?" After speaking with our parents and grandparents it was obvious that all would feel it an honor and not a constant reminder of lost sons and brothers. We put a lot of thought and prayer into it and I think it became most apparent that is was "right" when we continually hit brick walls with what we both liked. Timothy Craig was the one we always agreed on.
Are you happy with your choice? Most definitely!

Younger twin boys, first twin: Coble Alexander, 3, almost 4

How did you and your husband choose Coble’s name, and how did you know it was "right"? We really wanted family names, but all of the men in both families are William or some variation of that. Coble and Kellen are twins, so we had two boys to name and not one family name that we really liked. A friend I worked with asked what my maiden name was and I told her: Coble. She really liked that for a name, but when that was your last name for 21 years, it just doesn't sound right as a first name. I finally mentioned that exchange to my husband weeks later. He really like it as well, so there it was. And Alexander is pretty much the only name we both liked that we thought went well with Coble. Silly.

The funny thing about the twins is that my husband wanted the second born to be named Coble. His logic was: that was my last name and he would be (God willing) our last child. About a week before I delivered I told him no. I didn't know why, but that was wrong and Coble would be the first out. When they were born, neither of us can explain why, but that was just ... right. Coble was first, Kellen second. It wouldn't have been right the other way around.

Were there any other obstacles or challenges? Other than what is mentioned above, we didn't tell anyone, including the families, until they were born. We didn't want any obstacles or challenges. We worked hard to discover who God was sending us and we didn't want to deal with anyone questioning that.
Are you happy with your choice? Very happy. He has a unique name, but not a "get made fun of in the school yard" kind of unique.

Younger twin boys, second twin: Kellen Andrew, 3, almost 4
How did you and your husband choose Kellen’s name, and how did you know it was "right"? We found Kellen's name exploring a book. Poor Kellen is a male named after two females. We like the name because it was very close to his great-grandmother's - Helen. The Andrew, we say, is for the Anne in my name. It works well together and, for us, has a family background.
Are you happy with your choice? Very happy. He has a unique name, but not a "get made fun of in the school yard" kind of unique.

Email me at nameisms[at]gmail[dot]com if you are interested in telling me your Baby Name Story.

Gabrielle

2009-01-22T12:19:00.007-07:00

Gabrielle ~ Woman of God ~ Hebrew, French form

Gabrielle (Gab-ree-ELL) is a gorgeous name. Its sound is full of French elegance, yet it also comes with some pretty variants that are more down-to-earth. For example, when your little girl wants to play princess, she can assume the title Princess Gabrielle. When she's playing on the basketball team in middle school, she can go by Gabi. Or, when she feels like turning over a new leaf at college, she might try out Brielle. There are plenty of possibilities with this name, and all of them are lovely.

Even though it comes from the male name Gabriel, Gabrielle doesn't have the same classic feel. It's only been on the U.S. charts since 1957. Since then, it's become a popular choice for parents, remaining in the top 100 girls' names for almost 20 years now.

Gabrielle is at #67 in U.S. rankings
Gabriella is more popular at #38
Variations: Elle, Brielle, Gabi/Gaby, Gabriella, Gavi, Gavrina
Celebs with this name:
- Gabrielle Union - actress
- Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel - fashion designer
- Gabrielle Reese - pro volleyball player
- Gabrielle Anwar - actress

Franklin

2009-01-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

Franklin ~ Free Landowner ~ English

Franklin is a perfectly well-rounded name for parents to consider. It's got everything: a cute nickname (Frankie), an amazing history (more on that below) and it even manages to fit with today's trends by ending with that in-demand "en" sound. But Franklin has seen better days in terms of popularity. It's been in the 400s since the 1990s...which might be appealing if you're looking for a slightly unique name.

The glory days of Franklin was in the 1930s, and particularly 1933, the year Franklin D. Roosevelt took office. He arrived just when our country was in the depths of the Great Depression, promising (and delivering) hope for the future. But the history of the name goes back even further to the "original," Benjamin Franklin. His incredible contributions to society as an inventor, philosopher, and scientist inspired many parents to use his surname as their son's given name. Which is why, even before FDR, Franklin Pierce was the first American president with the name.

Franklin simply means "free landowner" and was used in medieval times as a term for those owning property. That might sound familiar if you've read Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, The Franklin's Tale . Here, "franklin" doesn't refer to a particular person but is being used as a term for landowner. The name has completely different origins from the full name Frank, which comes from a German surname. It's a little confusing, because Frank is a natural variation of the name Franklin.

More on this name:

Franklin is ranked at #470
Variations: Franklyn, Frank, Frankie/Franky
Celebrities with this surname include Bonnie Franklin (actress) & Aretha Franklin (singer/soul-queen)
Franklin is a character from the comic strip "Peanuts"
Most U.S. states have a city or county named Franklin.

Serenity

2009-01-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

Serenity ~ Peaceful, Serene ~ English

Ten years ago, no one would have guessed that the name Serenity would be so popular today. The girls' name rose from the bottom of the list to its current standing at #126 in a matter of years, making it a true Cinderella story in the world of baby names. Not even in early American history, when virtue names like Grace, Charity, and Prudence were being used by Puritans, was this name a top choice. The first time it appeared on our name records was in 1997, but it was still barely in use at number 979. Since then, the name has never lost momentum.

So what inspired us to begin using the name? It's hard to know where to begin. I believe Serena Williams, who made headlines along with her twin beginning in 1999 is a valid reason. Serena is a variation of Serenity, which may have influenced parents enough for Serenity to jump more than 300 spots that year. Another reason may be the name of the beautiful estate that Britney Spears purchased for her mother and family: Serenity. But perhaps the most influential factor was the fictional spaceship, Serenity, introduced in the short-lived t.v. series Firefly in 2002. Later, when a movie based on the t.v. series was released in 2005, the name of the spaceship took the title instead of the series name.

Whatever the inspiration behind the choice, parents love the name because it's got a beautiful sound and meaning. Virtue names are gaining popularity lately, and few sound as sweet as Serenity. Another thing the name has going for it is the wisdom of the Serenity Prayer, which far overshadows the albeit hilarious but less-helpful use of the cry "Serenity now!" from George on Seinfeld.

More on this name:

Variations: Serena, Serene, Sera
Similar names: Felicity, Eternity, Serendipity
Serenity is a beautiful and trendy name which is shooting high in popularity rankings at #126.

Tyler

2009-01-04T15:20:00.001-07:00

Tyler ~ Tile Maker ~ English

Tyler might seem like a trendy name since it started making waves in the 1980s and '90s, but it isn't a new name by any means. Americans were first familiar with Tyler as an English surname, taken from the occupation of a tile-maker. In fact, our 10th president, John Tyler, was one of those with the surname. He was the first to take the office via succession, after the 9th president died only one month into his first term.

Today, Tyler fits in perfectly with last names that have been transformed into given names. It's a unisex name that is more typically given to boys. Oddly enough, girls were given the name more often in the early '90s, but that trend did not last.

I personally like Tyler because it's got a great sound and is the name of my adorable 2nd cousin. It doesn't seem "invented" or unusual because it's so familiar to us as a surname with a long history. And I just love the nickname Ty.

Eve, a New Year's Baby

2009-01-02T16:35:00.000-07:00

Eve ~ Life ~ Hebrew

The first baby of the New Year in Colorado has been announced! As I did last year, I knew I would feature whatever the baby's name was for my first post in 2009. And what a good decision, as I just love the baby's name. Little Eve Maria Moser started giving her mother contractions during a New Year's Eve mass service. She was born just a few seconds into 2009.

I find the name Eve particularly appropriate for a New Year's baby, since Eve is the name of the first woman created by God. The meaning, life, is beautiful and makes me think of the fresh start we all like to claim during this time of year. Eve also hints at evening, the time when we are usually slowing down from a busy day and enjoying the company of our family. I don't know for sure if the parents picked the name for any special reason, but I think it's a beautiful choice.

As far as the history of the name, the origin of the human race is usually part of the picture, as I mentioned above. In several major religions Eve is considered the first woman of creation and, unfortunately, the first person to sin. But that hasn't tainted this name from being used, and it's become particularly fashionable in the past decade.

Eve and all its variations are doing extremely well these days, particularly Ava. It's quite a classic, as the "original" female name should be!

Eve is ranked at #55 in popularity
Variations: Ava, Eva, Evelyn, Evie
Celebrities: Eve (actress, singer/rapper), Eve Arden (actress), Eve Plumb (actress)

Most Popular Baby Names on Nameisms, 2008

2008-12-30T09:40:00.009-07:00

I thought it would be fun to determine which names were getting the most attention on my blog since I started Nameisms in December of 2007. Here is what you enjoyed most from the past year—click the name to read more.

Top 10
Girls' Names

1. Ella

2. Delaney

3. Bailey

4. Charlotte

5. Sophia

6. Callie

7. Abigail

8. Josephine

9. Adelaide

10. Iris

Top 10
Boys' Names

1. Kyler

2. Elliot

3. Charles

4. Maxwell

5. Eli

6. Rowan

7. Chayton

8. Micah

9. Gideon

10. Blake

Top 5 Name Lists

1. Vintage Baby Names

2. Christmas & Holiday Names

3. Pioneer Baby Names

4. Musical Names

5. Names from Gilmore Girls

Thank you for an awesome 2008. I've had so much fun blogging about names for your enjoyment, and getting great feedback from you. Here's to another year of name obsession!
~Laura

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

2008-12-25T08:00:00.004-07:00

While this message is posted, I'll be away enjoying the holiday with my family in the Rocky Mountains. Thank God for a much needed vacation! I hope you are having a wonderful holiday as well. Now that the end of the year is only a few days away, I'm looking forward to keeping Nameisms up to date, because baby names are one thing I don't need a vacation from!

Here's what you can expect in the next few posts:

The most popular baby names and name lists on Nameisms from 2008
A post featuring the name of the Denver area's first baby of 2009 (Read last year's if you'd like)
Of course, regular weekly postings featuring alternating boys' and girls' baby names.
If you can't find the name you'd like to see by using the search field in the gray bar at the top of the blog, please suggest the name. Or, you can email me at nameisms [at] gmail [dot] com.

Not ready to move on from the holidays? Me neither! Check out this list of seasonal and holiday baby names, which could be used all year round. :)

Orlando

2008-12-17T21:52:00.002-07:00

Orlando ~ Famous Land ~ Italian

I always learn a lot when I research a name, and I can safely say that I had no idea such a unique and interesting name would have originated from Roland. Roland doesn't exactly catch my interest, but Orlando is a much different story. Brought to our attention recently via Orlando Bloom, this name sounds much more modern and cultured than its predecessor. Adding to its appeal is the fact that Orlando is also a place name that can be attributed to the Florida city (in the same vein as other popular names of cities like Madison or Aspen).

Few names that sound trendy have such a striking history. Orlando was the name of a character in Shakespeare's play As You Like It, written in 1599. It's the Italian form of Roland, which was also the name of a fictional character in Renaissance literature. The word Roland has German roots, using a combination of the term for "famous" and "land". But it's the Italian form that has us fascinated. And even if Orlando doesn't sound like a typical boys name, it's been in use in America for a very long time, maintaining a quietly steady status and hitting a high point in the 70s. It's now at #368.

Potential nicknames: Orli, Lando, Andy
Celebrities: Orlando Bloom, Orlando Jones, Orlando Brown

Fiona

2008-12-11T20:04:00.008-07:00

Fiona ~ Fair, White ~ Scottish Updated: May 2009

History
The name Fiona was invented by a Scottish poet during the early 20th century, who wrote "Let the sighs of Fiona rise." The word was taken from the Scottish fionn, meaning fair. Fiona began to catch on in Scotland and other European countries soon after, but Americans didn't take notice until the 1990s, with the rise of popular Celtic girls names like Caitlin and Brianna. More were drawn to the name when singer Fiona Apple debuted her first album in 1996. More recently, the Shrek movies, featuring Princess Fiona, have brought it to an incredibly large audience and given it staying power.

Popularity & Personality
Last year Fiona took a minuscule dip in the SSA's name stats, but that's nothing out of the ordinary. Fiona will maintain use in America, particularly among parents with Scottish roots or those who are looking for something different and elegant. Not many girls' names start with F, and I'd argue that Fiona is unique based on its letters alone. Nice vowel sounds make this name airy but not lacking in personality. It's soft and lyrical.

Rank:

#347 in the U.S. for 2008
What is Name Rank?

Celebrity Babies:

Jennie Garth and Peter Facinelli had baby Fiona in 2006

Celebrities named Fiona:

Fiona Apple, 90s pop singer
Fiona Xie, Singaporan actress
Fiona Shaw, Irish actress

Similar names:

Fiora
Leona
Fiala
Iona

Nathaniel

2008-12-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

Nathaniel ~ Gift of God ~ Hebrew

Nathaniel has been sitting in the shadow of its more-popular antecedent, Nathan, since the dawn of name statistics, and probably the dawn of time. I think that's a shame. Nathaniel has a little more personality to me than Nathan, and it still comes with the especially cute variation Nate. The only Nate I've met was the little brother of a friend of mine with bright blond curls and a penchant for mischief. So while it's not my only association, I still think of an adorable, active boy when I see the name.

Nathaniel, on the other hand, is not a name of anyone I know. But like most Americans, I am fond of it. Nathaniel was first used in America by the Puritans because of its Biblical history, but for unknown reasons the original spelling, Nathanael, was changed. Regardless, the name was chosen because Nathanael was one of the disciples of Jesus.

Today, parents are picking this name because of its appealing sound, many variations, and Hebrew origins. Despite its high ranking and upswing in popularity, Nathaniel will probably never surpass its big brother, Nathan. We younger siblings shake our heads with sympathy.

More about this name:

Ranked at #82 in the U.S.
Variations: Nat, Nate, Nathan, Nathanael, Natty, Thaniel
Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of The Scarlet Letter, and Nat King Cole are famous bearers of the name.
Celebrities who chose Nathaniel for their son include:

Camille Prats
Heather Payne
Fiona Phillips
Ann Brashares

Fashion Designer Baby Names

2008-11-20T19:15:00.010-07:00

I'm not exactly a fashionista, but I wish I was! I love looking at designer clothing and accessories, even if they are way out of my price range, or even out of my comfort range. Fashion designers offer the world a bit of glamor and fantasy. It's truly an art form that, let's face it, we all want a little piece of.

Just like the fashions they create, designers also have names we'd like to try on. Some are very accessible and classic, and others are more eccentric and have a definite link to high fashion.

My picks for fashion designer baby names include:

Girls

Adeline ~ Adeline André

Anna ~ Anna Sui

Chanel ~ Coco Chanel

Chloe ~ Chloe (label)

Coco ~ Coco Chanel (label)

Diane ~ Diane Von Furstenberg

Donatella ~ Donatella Versace

Kate ~ Kate Spade

Lauren ~ Ralph Lauren

Marchesa ~ Marchesa (label)

Nanette ~ Nanette Lepore

Nicole ~ Nicole Miller

Paloma ~ Paloma Picasso

Rosella ~ Rosella Tarabini

Sonia ~ Sonia Rykiel

Stella ~ Stella McCartney

Vera ~ Vera Wang

Vivienne ~ Vivienne Westwood

Willow ~ Kit Willow, Willow

Boys

Alexander ~ Alexander McQueen

Armani ~ Giorgio Armani

Calvin ~ Calvin Klein

Christian ~ Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Christian Louboutin

Costello ~ Costello Tagliapietra (label)

Hugo ~ Hugo Boss (label, founded by Hugo Ferdinand)

John ~ John Galliano

John-Paul ~ Jean-Paul Gaultier

Karl ~ Karl Lagerfeld

Louis ~ Louis Vuitton

Marc ~ Marc Jacobs, Marc Bohan

Michael ~ Michael Kors

Oscar ~ Oscar de la Renta

Stephano ~ Stephano Gabbana of Dolce & Gabbana

Tommy ~ Tommy Hilfiger

Valentino ~ Valentino by Valentino Garavani

Zac ~ Zac Posen

Adelaide

2008-11-15T16:08:00.004-07:00

Adelaide ~ Noble, Kind ~ German

Update: Adelaide rose in popularity by 161 places for 2008. Watch for this name to keep rising over the next few years.

I can no longer keep my secret—Adelaide is my favorite girl's name and has been for awhile. I have never met anyone with the name and don't even recall seeing it in my baby name book, but one morning I woke up and was suddenly in love with its musical sound. Adelaide made me think of a girl from the pioneer era of American history, but at the same time it seemed almost modern, and I could easily imagine it as the name of a little girl in today's society. I thought of the potential for using "Addie" or "Adalie" for short, and I was hooked.

The same bell that went off in my mind must have rung in the minds of a lot of other Americans, because last year Adelaide rose 188 spots in popularity. It sits at #712 right now, which is pretty far from the top, but I have a feeling this name could catch on like wildfire. It fits in with the trendy name Addison because of its variations, as well as pioneer-revival names like Olivia. It's also a "place" name because of the Australian city, so I say look out Sydney!

Adelaide has been in use for centuries. It enjoyed popularity in Britain after King William IV married a German princess named Adelaide in 1818. That is how the well-populated city in Australia came to be named in 1836. America followed suit, but the name declined and fell out of use (for the most part) in the '50s. Much to my delight, Adelaide has a lot of potential for use again today.

More on this name:

Variations include: Adala, Adalie, Addie, Adele, Adella, Della, Edeline, Eline
Actress Rachel Griffiths & Andrew Taylor have a daughter named Adelaide, born in 2005
Ben Folds has a song called Adelaide (referring to the city)
Anberlin also has a song by the name Adelaide (referring to a girl)

Dominic

2008-11-14T11:22:00.006-07:00

Dominic ~ Of the Lord, Belonging to God ~ Latin

Dominic is a name that has been used for a very long time, traditionally for babies born on Sunday. Why? If you are familiar with Spanish, for example, you may know that the word for Sunday is Domingo (the day "belongs to God"). It all goes back to the Latin, dominica, for Lord. The history and meaning is really lovely, especially if you are religious. Several saints are named Dominic, including the founder of the Catholic Dominican Order. It might be that much more appropriate if your son is born on a Sunday as well, or if you have connections to the Dominican Republic.

Dominic is gaining popularity right now because of its sound. It's not overused, and it has a cultured air to it. Because it has such deep roots, you can be certain that no one will say they have never heard of it or think it's "out there." After all, it has been gaining popularity in America since the 1900s. I like it because the sound is just a little different, and I find it refreshing since a lot of popular boys' names are beginning to sound alike.

Ranked at #85 on SSA list
Variants include: Dom, Domini, Domingo, Nick
Alternate spellings: Dominick, Dominik
Celebrities:
Dominic Purcell (on Prison Break)
Dominic Monaghan (on Lost, movie Lord of the Rings)

Iris

2008-10-30T16:31:00.004-06:00

Iris ~ Rainbow ~ Greek

My husband recommended I feature this name next, and I was so glad he did. I love the name Iris. It's in the floral family of girl's names, and it sounds a little vintage without being too old-fashioned. It's popular enough that most will like it, but it's not overused and might be a good alternative to Lily or Rose. The sound is unique and I immediately imagine a flower when I hear it.

Iris is also a Greek goddess of the sea and sky, particularly of rainbows. The word is synonymous with rainbow or colors in many languages, and it's where we get the term for the colored part of the eye. Each person's iris is unique in colors and patterns, just like our fingerprints are one-of-a-kind.

A lot of art has been inspired by Iris one way or another. The flower is honored by Vincent Van Gogh in his painting titled Irises, and the name is used for a beautiful song by the Goo Goo Dolls. I suppose one could also credit some of the best childhood paintings and inspirational photos to iris as well, in the form of the rainbow.

Iris is ranked at #316.

Celebrity babies named Iris:

Jude Law & Sadie Frost's daughter
Melanie Brown & Eddie Murphy used Iris as a middle name: Angel Iris
Leslie Mann & Judd Apatow's daughter:

Iris is already an actress

Knocked Up

Blake

2008-10-27T16:16:00.002-06:00

Blake ~ Black; Pale ~ Old English

Blake is a name that takes us back to the '80s, when affluent families and primetime drama often drove name trends. But despite the '80s connotation and character from Dynasty, Blake is more popular today than it was then, or any other time for that matter. And that tells me that even if Blake maintains a sort of preppy '80s status at all, it will become more of an anecdote than the first thing we think of.

So what is the first thing we think of? It's a good question. After searching the web, I found opinions like these: masculine, handsome, feminine, rich kid, baseball player, preppy, rebel, blond hair, dark hair, spiked hair, tennis player, surfer. Here's my association: a singer in a rock band.

It's no wonder that there are a variety of images that Blake conjures for us; even the name's meaning is contradictory. But that's not a negative thing—it just allows the name to have a broader reach. Whatever the impressions of the name are, chances are high it's going to hit people really well. I really like it because the sound is nice and it's uncomplicated.

Famous Blakes:

Blake Shelton (country singer)
Blake Alderidge (British Synchro Diver)
Blake Lewis (American Idol contestant)
Blake Lively (female; actress on Gossip Girl and in Traveling Pants movies)

Popularity:

88 for boys
955 for girls

Rebecca

2008-10-18T09:08:00.003-06:00

Rebecca ~ Snare, to Bind ~ Hebrew

On Tuesday, my dear friend Rebecca gave birth to her second son, Judah, and this entry is in her honor. Because I've known her since middle school, I can give you the inside scoop on the transitions her name has gone through. She was known as Becky up until her college years, when she started going by her full name, with a few Beccas thrown in for good measure. It's the kind of arc I imagine the name takes a lot, because Rebecca is a great name that can grow with a girl. (Or should I say woman?)

It's a classic Biblical name with origins in Hebrew. In the Old Testament, Rebekah was the wife of Issac and mother of twin boys, Jacob and Esau. Her marriage was literally a match made in heaven, as God did a little divine intervention to bring her and Issac together. (Read that story here.)

Rebecca has always been in the top 200 names in America. It became popular in the 16th and 17th century in England, and I expect it will continue to stand the test of time. It is a beautiful name with some pretty cute variations; my favorite is Becca.

Rebecca is a popular baby name, ranked #105 in the U.S.
Celebrities with this name include:
- Rebecca Romijn Stamos (expecting twins in January!)
- Rebecca De Mornay
- Rebecca Gayheart
Alternate spellings: Rebekah, Rebeka, Rebeccah
Variations: Becky/Becki, Becca/Becka, Rivi, Reba, Rivka

Kyler

2008-10-10T16:52:00.002-06:00

Kyler ~ Church ~ Gaelic

Sometimes a name comes into popularity at just the right time and from a variety of sources. Kyler is more trendy than Kyle, more unique than Tyler, and more masculine than Skyler. I think the name's true roots are in the organic process of parents creating a name from different sounds and existing names. So while I'd say Kyler is most likely to come from the combination of Kyle and Tyler, the name still has a meaning. In Scotland, Kyler is a surname meaning church.

Creative and discerning parents really hit the mark with Kyler, which is cute and unique but not too unfamiliar. While other trendy names for boys seem to end in -an or -en, Kyler is just a little different. It first showed up on the a-list of baby names in 1986, when it was number 899. The name's popularity grew steadily and has been in the top 200 since 2001.

Kyler a unisex name, which means it could eventually be claimed more by girls than boys. But personally, it feels more like a boy's name to me. That's probably because I love the nickname Ky, which I have trouble imagining being used for a girl.

Kyler is #279 on the charts.
One celeb with this name is Kyler England, a female pop singer & songwriter
Thanks to Dana for suggesting this name! I'd love to get more name suggestions, keep 'em coming.

Pioneer Baby Names

2008-10-02T18:53:00.019-06:00

If you didn’t already know it, we’re in the midst of a baby name pioneer revival! Many of the names we like today, such as Ella, Chloe, Owen and Noah, can be found in the top names from the 1880s.

We have always been fascinated with this period of our history, when America was expanding west and average people were faced with make-or-break-it survival. The western frontier has been much romanticized over the years, from the wild west movies made in the ‘50s, to the charming t.v. series of the ‘70s, Little House on the Prairie. The stories of the early settlers will always inspire us, and for now, so do these names!

Girls

Abigail (read more)

Ada

Addie

Adelaide (read more)

Amelia

Belle

Callie (read more)

Celia

Chloe

Cora

Dovie

Eliza (read more)

Ella (read more)

Emma

Eva (read more)

Hannah

Harriet

Hattie

Lottie (read more)

Lucy

Lula

Mabel

Maggie

Mollie

Nellie

Nora

Olivia

Pearl

Roxie

Sophia (read more)

Susie (read more)

Viola

Winnie

Boys

Amos

Benjamin

Charles (read more)

Clarence

Daniel

Elisha (read more)

Emmett

Frederick

Gideon (read more)

Gus

Guy

Henry (read more)

Hezekiah

Ike

Ira

Issac

James (read more)

Jesse

Julius

Levi

Lewis

Lucian

Mack

Noah

Oscar

Otto

Owen

Roy

Samuel

Thomas

Walter

Wiley

William

Sophia

2008-09-25T18:37:00.001-06:00

Sophia ~ Wisdom ~ Greek

Sophia has a meaning as lovely as its sound: wisdom. The modern Greek word is used to refer to spiritual and philosophical wisdom in many different traditions, including Gnostism, Platonism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Christian mysticism. No matter the thought behind it, the wisdom sophia refers to is about insight, enlightenment, and good judgment instead of intellect or knowledge. It's a beautiful word with an idyllic meaning and deeply spiritual foundations.

But Sophia has another side—one of glamor, royalty, charm, and beauty. Sophia has been the name of several princesses and other royalty, but our recent fascination with it might have more to do with Sophia Loren, the Italian actress known for her beauty. Other fashionable women with the name include Sophia Tolli (wedding gown designer), Sophia Bush (actress on One Tree Hill) and Sophia Myles (played Isolde in the film Tristan + Isolde).

I think Sophia is elegant and pretty, while the variation Sophie is adorable and sweet. It's hard to go wrong with such a nice name, and America has chosen it so often it's number 6 on the charts. Is it trendy? Yes. But it's also classy.

More on this name:

alternate spellings/variations: Sophie, Sofia, Sofie, Sofiya, Sophy
celebs with daughters named Sophia: Julia Haworth, Sylvester Stallone, Chris Meloni

Graham

2008-09-18T09:34:00.002-06:00

Graham ~ Gray House ~ English Updated: May 9, 2009

There's something sweet about a boy who shares a name with the cracker of kid-dom. And though that's one of our first associations with the name, Graham is also an English surname with an extensive history. Americans have taken note of it as early as 1880, and it's always been in the top 1,000 names. The sound is appealing and unpretentious. To put it simply: it’s cute!

Because it's a fairly common surname, there have been lots of celebrities, politicians, and other recognized people named Graham. Among many others, they include Billy Graham, Frank Porter Graham, Heather Graham, and Lauren Graham. One of my favorite contemporary poets, Jorie Graham, shares the name as well.

But perhaps the most famous figure with this name is the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922). His well-known middle name was actually a gift for his eleventh birthday! It was chosen to honor a friend of the family whose surname was Graham.

More on this name:

Graham gained more popularity for 2008, and is ranked at #323.
What is Name Rank?
There are several small towns named Graham across the country; located in Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington.
Graham can also be spelled: Graeham, Graeme and Grahame
Celebs to use Graham for their son include Michael Landon and Heather Payne.

Delaney

2008-09-11T18:31:00.001-06:00

Delaney ~ from the adler grove ~ English

Like a top-40 song on the radio, Delaney keeps getting stuck in my head—but in a good way. It's got a lot of appeal right now because it's a surname and therefore unisex (though most often used for girls), and it's stylish but not snobby. Personally, I love the sound; and in case there's any confusion, it's pronounced Deh-LAY-nee.

The English meaning, from the adler grove, is so lovely. But don't be surprised if you see another definition floating around the web. Delaney is sometimes cited as having Gaelic roots. In that case, it's said to come from the Irish surname Dubhshláine. Honestly that's a pretty big stretch for me; whereas the English surname came directly from the French words de l'aunaie—practically a carbon copy of the English spelling. Besides, I don't like the definition of Dubhshláine, which is defiant. I'm going to pretend I never saw it because the English origin is more commonly accepted. You may just choose to do the same.

Delaney first showed up in U.S. rankings in the year 1998, so it's a relatively new name.
Delaney is currently the #204 name for girls.
Delaney is the name Martina McBride chose for her daugher, born in 1994
A somewhat obscure actress, Delaney Driscoll is the only celeb I could find with this first name.

Vintage Baby Names

2008-09-06T12:19:00.026-06:00

It was an era of flappers, gangsters, speakeasies and Model T automobiles; and the names were just as spirited as the times. They included jewels, months of the year, flowers, and anything short-and-sweet. Here is a little inspiration from the 1910s and 20s. These baby names are brimming with life and personality and are just a little bit vintage.

Vintage Names

Popular Names from the 1910s and 1920s

Girls

Clara

Daisy

Etta

Evelyn

Georgia

Hazel

Helen

Iris

June

Josephine

Lillian

Lucille

Marcella

May

Olive

Rita

Ruby

Rose

Sadie

Violet

Vivian

Zelma

Boys

August

Calvin

Cyrus

Earl

Franklin

Grady

Harrison

Henry

Hugh

Jasper

Jay

Julian

Josiah

Lawrence

Leo

Levi

Martin

Max

Oliver

Quincy

Theodore

Vincent

Raphael

2008-09-04T19:22:00.005-06:00

Raphael ~ God has healed ~ Hebrew Updated: May 9, 2009

I am happy to say that this was my first requested name, sent in from a fan of Nameisms. I love choosing baby names to write about, but I also think it's really important to have other people's input. So please follow suit and give me a recommendation!

The name submitted was Raphael, but I soon discovered that the Spanish-influenced spelling, Rafael, is more popular in America. No matter how you spell it, it conveys global, spiritual, and artistic qualities. Raphael appears in several religious works as the name of an angel in Jewish, Islamic, and Christian traditions. The angel is often associated with healing.

Raphael has a fluid, graceful sound, but still maintains unwavering masculinity. Both spellings are given to baby boys born in Spain, the United States, Germany, South America, Sweden, Canada, the U.K., and Austrailia (in that order). On a global scale, the name can be found in any country with Latin influence.

Its popularity was perhaps helped most by the Italian artist of the High Renaissance, Raphael. His works are celebrated as some of the most influential and beautiful of all time. He had stiff competition—or should I say inspiration—as he painted during the time of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. The three are often referred to together as the trinity of the Italian Renaissance. If you are thinking Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you'd be right—their names are based on the artists of this period.

Nicknames could include Raff or Rafie, spelled a variety of ways
For 2008, Rafael is ranked at 238, while Raphael is at 630.
Rafael is the name of a slew of Brazilian football players—meaning soccer players, of course!
Rafael Ferrer is Rosemary Clooney's son (he is cousin to George Clooney)
Celebrities to choose Raphael for their sons include: Juliette Binoche, Robert De Niro, and Helene Segara.

Elizabeth

2008-08-28T11:27:00.002-06:00

Elizabeth ~ God is my oath ~ Hebrew

Quite possibly the most classic female name of all time, Elizabeth has an impressive history with thousands of years of renoun. It was the name of at least 14 different European queens, including the current Queen of England. It was the name of John the Baptist's mother in the Bible. It has represented princesses, empresses, and saints.

Elizabeth has been a cherished choice among Americans as well as Europeans. The record speaks for itself: Elizabeth has never dropped below #26 in baby name rankings in our country's history. It has thrived not just because it has been passed down through generations of American families like an heirloom, but because of its appealing sound and rich history.

If you are wondering how this name will be received by others, let me assure you that nearly everybody in America likes it. I make no exaggeration. You like it. I like it. Your mother likes it. My friend Sean likes it, a guy who mused about naming his future daughter Elizabeth before he even met the woman he'd marry. Who can blame him? It's gorgeous.

If you find the full name too popular or traditional, Elizabeth has an insurmountable number of variations. My favorite is Lizzy, perhaps influenced by the character from Pride and Prejudice. Here is a list of 25.

Bess, Beta, Beth, Betina, Betsy, Bette, Betty, Elisa/Eliza, Elsie (read more), Elissa, Elsa, Isabel, Libby, Liliana, Lisa, Liza, Lisbeth, Lisveta, Liz, Lizzie/Lizzy, Sabella, Vetta, Ysabel, Zizi

Maxwell

2008-08-21T12:18:00.003-06:00

Maxwell ~ from Mack's spring ~ Scottish

There is something about this name that hits our buttons in America. Maybe it's the fashionable "x" or the Scottish roots, or maybe it's simply the fact that it's a common surname. My reasons for liking it are the x and a personal connection—my relatives named Maxwell immigrated from Scotland in the 1700s. For whatever reason, Maxwell and its nickname, Max, are doing pretty well these days.

When I first mentioned this week's pick for a boy's name, my husband said right away, "You have to talk about Maxwell Smart." The star of Get Smart, Maxwell is a loveable but klutzy secret agent who manages to get the bad guy in spite of his ineptitude. Even though the character first hit television screens across America in 1965, the name didn't catch on much until after the show was off the air.

But it did catch on, and it climbed the charts significantly over the past 30 years. It's very popular today and it sits at 153. But Maxwell may be headed for a slight dip as parents choose to use Max as a full name instead. Both names are popular, but Max has shown a steadier popularity throughout America's history, never dipping below #400 as long as we have records.

Maxwell is ranked at 153, and Max is at 141
Maxwell (photo) is the son of Ryan and Trista Sutter, of The Bachelorette
Max (photo) is the son of Christina Aguilera and her husband Jordan Bratman
Max (photo) is the name of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony's baby boy. On a side note, Max's twin sister was named Emme.

Favorite Names of the 2008 Olympic Swimmers

2008-08-14T21:11:00.009-06:00

I am an Olympics addict. I love the fierce competition, the uplifting moments, and the huge variety of sports. But what I had to share with you are the wonderful variety of names I’ve heard from all over the globe. If you are in need of some naming inspiration, look no further than the NBC broadcast of tonight’s events. But be careful: I tell my husband I can stop watching the Olympics whenever I want...it’s just that I never want to stop.

Favorite names from qualifying Olympic swimmers
Included is first and last name, and country represented

Girls

Antonella Bogarin (Argentina)

Aurelie Muller (France)

Bronte Barratt (Australia)

Cassandra Patten (Great Britain)

Chloe Sutton (U.S.)

Jiao Liuyang (China)

Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe)

Kylie Palmer (Australia)

Kristel Kobrich (Chile)

Larisa Ilchenko (Russia)

Lisbeth Trickett (Australia)

Natalie Coughlin (U.S.)

Nataliya Samorodina (Ukraine)

Rebecca Soni (U.S.)

Shayne Reese (Australia)

Boys

Alexander Sukhorukov (Russia)

Brenton Rickard (Australia)

Cullen Jones (U.S.)

Damian Blaum (Argentina)

Eamon Sullivan (Australia)

Garrett Weber-Gale (U.S.)

Gilles Rondy (France)

Grant Hackett (Australia)

Hayden Stoeckel (Australia)

Ky Hurst (Australia)

Leith Brodie (U.S.)

Park Tae-Hwan (South Korea)

Patrick Murphy (Australia)

Ryan Lochte (U.S.)

Takeshi Matsuda (Japan)

Harper

2008-08-12T17:17:00.003-06:00

Harper ~ Harp Player ~ English Updated: May 9, 2009

What's not to love about Harper? The sound is lovely, the meaning is nice, it's a surname, and it is unique (in my book). These qualities are making Harper a quietly rising star. Most people are going to love the sound of it when they hear it.

The greatest association we have with this name is Harper Lee. A true American legend, Lee is known for writing To Kill A Mockingbird. She was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for the novel, and received many other awards and honors as well. But Lee didn't complete any other novels. She preferred to stay out of the spotlight, hardly ever granting interviews or giving speeches.

This means that the name Harper, while it does remind us of a famous author, doesn't have a strong cultural stereotype. It's pretty much a clean slate. I think Harper will age well, meaning it sounds like a great name for a cute little girl as well as a grown woman. When you add it all up, this name has a lot going for it.

For 2008, Harper made great gains and is number 297 for girls, and 860 for boys.
Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters and wife named their 2nd daughter Harper Willow.
Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks named her daughter Harper, born July 25th.
Well-known people with this surname include: Ben Harper, Stephen Harper, and Hill Harper.
Harper is the name of towns in Iowa, Kansas, and Texas.
Related post: Musical Names

Gideon

2008-08-07T18:52:00.002-06:00

Gideon ~ Warrior, Feller of Trees ~ Hebrew

Gideon has been around for, well, a very long time. In the Bible, Gideon was a humble, average man chosen by God to be a warrior. He is known for requesting a sign from God on several occasions. As the name suggests, he had great success in battle.

The name Gideon became popular in colonial America during the early formation of the country, and it was used in the mid 1800s as well. You may have heard of the Gideons International, a group famous for distributing complimentary copies of the Bible in hotel rooms.

This name had completely fallen out of use in America until the year 2000. It's now at number 528. Not too shabby for a name that hasn't been in the top 1,000 for a century! It's gaining popularity because it's Biblical, ends with an "n" (think Aiden) and fits in with other pioneer names but is still unique. I personally like it because it has a strong meaning and hits all my "cute" buttons.

Popularity: Gideon is on a sharp upward trend in the U.S.
Nicknames: If it seems too odd to shorten this name to what sounds like "giddy," try Gid on for size. Kind of cute, but it sounds almost exactly like "kid". In the end, it might be best to go with the full name on this one.
Celebrity: Ziggy Marley—yes, Bob Marley's son—had a son with his wife in January of 2007. They named their 5th child Gideon.

Josephine

2008-08-01T17:46:00.007-06:00

Josephine ~ God will Increase ~ Hebrew

Josephine is an English version of the French name Joséphine. It comes from the Hebrew name Joseph, who was a man in the Bible known for his interpretation of dreams.

But when I think of the name Josephine, I think of Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte and their strangely romantic but depressing relationship. The couple's romance was forever preserved by Napoleon's letters to his wife, containing love-sick ramblings suited for poetry. Despite a genuine affection for each other, the two both had affairs, and after Joséphine could not conceive a child with him, she agreed to a divorce. Even still, Napoleon's last word was simply, "Joséphine."

There have been many well-known women by this name who have the ability to inspire. Josephine Baker, Saint Josephine Bakhita, and Josephine Ruffin are certainly a few of them. My favorite fictional Josephine is Jo March, the passionate and creative character from Little Women. She may be one of the best loved fictional characters of all time.

Josephine was most popular in the U.S. during the 10s and 20s. It is a sort of jazzy but classy name with a hint of French influence. And it's just lovely.

For 2007, Josephine is number 224 and appears to be growing in popularity.
Josephine is a song by Tori Amos
Variants include Jo, Jojo, Fifi, Joetta, Josie or Josi, and Joey.

Charles

2008-07-24T19:43:00.000-06:00

Charles ~ Man ~ English

Ah, Charles. It's a stately, flowing name immensely popular around the world. But lately, Charles' light has been dimming. It is number 62 in America right now, which is the lowest it's ever been in our country's history. While Charles may be on its way down the rungs of the popularity ladder, it's not going to plunge too far. I believe the name will always be a classic.

Charles simply means "man" and originated from Europe as early as 700 A.D. Translations occur in nearly every language, and the it has many variants. Charles has been the name of countless noblemen and several kings and Holy Roman Emperors. It gained popularity in Britain when King Charles I reigned during the 17th century.

If you love the name Charles and want people to use the full name, it will take a lot of conditioning! Few go by Charles these days, and it's especially difficult to think of using the full name for a baby or child. Though Charles has a royal quality, its variants are much more down to earth. They include:

Charlie or Charley
Chuck (more thoughts on this one below)
Chip
Chick (I do not kid)
Carl
Chaz or Chas
Charlton

A word about "Chuck": Chuck has been used a lot lately in the entertainment world as a name for a comical leading man. It is certainly lacking in elegance and lends itself to nicknames such as "up Chuck" "Chuck E. Cheese" and worse. Perhaps that's why it was used in the new t.v. series Chuck, or the movies Good Luck Chuck and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. These characters are likeable but also humorous and quirky for one reason or another.

A few famous men & celebrities named Charles:

Charles Dickens
Charles Schultz
Charlie Chaplin
Charles Darwin
Charles Nelson Reilly
The Prince of Wales
Charles Stanley
Charlie Sheen
Charles Barkely
Chuck Norris

Bailey

2008-07-20T15:26:00.003-06:00

Bailey ~ Bailiff ~ English

Who would name a child something that means "bailiff"? Well, anybody who loves the sound of the name and either doesn't know or doesn't mind what the meaning is.

After all, it's not a bad meaning, it's just very specific. Consideration has to be given to this name's origin as a surname. Like Baker or Carpenter, Bailey came into use because it describes a person's occupation. Bailiffs, who keep order in the courtroom, have an important job. But if it still seems like an odd meaning, some may prefer to think of it in more generic terms. "Steward" is often given as a definition for Bailey as well.

Whether or not you like the meaning, you will probably find the name appealing. Bailey has a sweet quality and while it's popular, it's still a fresh choice. British singer Corinne Bailey Rae has certainly given this name a boost in the past year or two. Scott Baio and his wife named their daughter Bailey, and British pianist Myleene Klass used Bailey for her daughter's middle name.

Bailey is ranked at 83 for a girl's name.
Bailey is considered a unisex name, though it's used more often for girls.
Similar names might include Brinley (boy's name), Riley (unisex), or Kailey (girl's name)

Micah

2008-07-17T07:16:00.001-06:00

Micah ~ Who is Like God? ~ Hebrew

The other day, a new employee was introduced to the company I work for in an email. My coworker called over our cube wall, "Hey, that must be a hippie name, huh?" A hippie name? I thought, truly perplexed. Then it dawned on me: the new guy, Micah, has a name that also sounds like mica, the mineral. And that is something entirely different.

No, Micah actually has Hebrew origins. It's a book of the Old Testament, named for a prophet, or a man chosen by God to speak to people. Micah calls the people to change their sinful ways, reminding them of the blessing that would follow. He speaks of mercy and compassion from God.

It's a lovely name with rich Biblical history, but I also like it for the odd-yet-obvious connection my coworker made: mica, the mineral. I used to admire it on vacation in the Black Hills, where it covered the forest floor, making the ground sparkle.

I have known one person with this name—a woman who was a friend of my sister's. Though it's traditionally a male name, some use it for girls too, and I can see the charm it has either way.

Micah is nationally ranked at 126
Micah is the name of a character in Heroes, a child prodigy who has special abilities with electronics.
Not many celebs are named Micah, but here's one: Micah Alberti

Ella

2008-07-10T19:20:00.003-06:00

Ella ~ Young Girl ~ Spanish*

A few months ago, I started the project of tracing my genealogical roots. I was eager to discover the missing branches of my family tree and to learn the places and stories behind my ancestors. I was also deeply curious about the names I would find (of course!).

One name that delighted and surprised me was that of my great-grandma, or Granny as we called her. My middle name, Amy, was chosen in honor of her, and I've always loved it. But what I didn't know is that her middle name was Ella.

By today's standards, Ella is on fire. And by "on fire" I mean that It went from nowhere-to-be-seen to number 21 in just sixteen years. Its clear that the lilting, feminine sound is quickly capturing the hearts of American parents.

To set the record straight, Ella was even more popular in the 1880s than it is today. It's just one of several girls' names from the pioneer era that is enjoying a revival. Aside from the favorable old-fashioned feel, other factors that have helped this name along include the popularity of Isabella/Bella, and the use of Ella by celebrities. Jeff Gordon, Ben Stiller (photo), John Travolta (photo), Annette Bening, and Alex Rodriguez all have daughters named Ella.

I have always liked the sound of this baby name, but used to feel a little turned off by what I thought was a trend. It just seemed a little too popular for my taste. Now that I know I have a personal connection to it, my attitude could better be described as "smitten". Having the perfect excuse to love this name has allowed me to freely gush. Ella's going on my list of favorites for sure.

*Ella has German origins as well, meaning "completley" or "all". It also came into use as a derivative of names like Eleanor and Ellen.

Names I Heard this Weekend

2008-07-05T11:04:00.007-06:00

There were a lot of kids running around the park this Fourth of July, and I heard several names as parents were calling for them or talking about them on the sidelines. I also saw and heard more names at a visit to the library, where kids were spending some of the holiday with their parents. Here's a list of the names I heard this weekend for a little inspiration.

Anna

Charlotte

Colleen

Kindra

Megan

Mariah

Nicole

Raven

Sierra

Austin

Ben

Bradley

Cole

Ethan

Josiah

Liam

Michael

Nick

Gavin

2008-07-04T11:13:00.001-06:00

Gavin ~ White Hawk ~ English

I used to think I was the only one who loved this name. I was drawn to boy's names starting with G, and this one was hitting a major sweet spot for me. It's cute, simple, and a little trendy sounding somehow. I put it on my list of favorites and thought maybe I'd use it someday and surprise the world with my unexpected but tasteful choice.

If you haven't already guessed, Gavin doesn't exactly spark surprise today. It has been popular for awhile now, and it was #32 last year. I was shocked to find this out. My perfect little name secret was no secret at all. But that's as it should be. Gavin is a great name.

English in origin, but Scottish at its heart, Gavin has been used with the most frequency in the past 100 years. Its roots can be traced to medieval times, when Gawain was a common given name in Europe.

Celebrities with this name include Gavin DeGraw (singer), Gavin Griffin (poker player), Gavin Newsom (mayor of San Francisco), and Welsh rugby player Gavin Henson.

Elsie

2008-06-21T10:36:00.002-06:00

Elsie ~ Noble ~ German ^a Updated: May 9, 2009

I needed some inspiration for my next name to feature, and I found it in Hobby Lobby. There was a style of scrapbook paper called Elsie, all done up in pinks and greens with old-fashioned prints, and it was quite adorable. Seeing it there in scripted font, the name looked so charming and sweet.

There's only one problem. Elsie is a name some of us associate with cows. That's Borden's fault, the dairy company who is responsible for creating one of the most recognizable icons in advertising. Elsie the Cow became so popular when it debuted in the 1930s that she even got her own movie. Since then, "Elsie" and "cow" went hand-in-hand. I do wonder why the name Elsie was chosen—was it just a cute name? Or was it already a common name for cows? Either way, Elsie has been tarnished by such a distinct bovine relationship.

But I can get past it. Elsie is a lovely name and is ripe for a revival.

Famous Elsies include: Elsie MacGill, the first female aircraft designer; and Elsie Carlise, a singer from the 20s.
Elsie began showing up in the top 1,000 American names in 2005, after a 30-year absence. It's number 740.
Alternatives to Elsie could include Eliza, Ellie, Elsa, or Kelsie.

^a It's difficult to pinpoint the correct origin and meaning for Elsie. Derived from Elizabeth, it would be Hebrew in origin, meaning "God is my oath" or "I pledge to God". Elsie is also a familiar form of Elsa, meaning "Noble" in German. Elsa is a Spanish name as well, with the same meaning and nickname. When it comes down to it, many consider Elsie to be German, but it is not limited to German origins.

Liam

2008-06-12T16:56:00.000-06:00

Liam ~ Warrior, Protector ~ Irish origins

This name might have been created from the last four letters of the name William, but it is distinctively different. Liam has a different origin and sounds much more Irish than its antecedent. In fact, if you think about famous figures named Liam, you'll notice a strong trend: most have Irish roots. There's the Irish actor Liam Neesen for one. The author Liam O'Flaherty was Irish, just like you might guess from his name. Even the child actor Liam Aiken was born to a mother who immigrated from Ireland.

But don't worry if you love this name for its sound but don't have any Irish connections. There aren't any rules to naming your child, and after all, this is America, the world's melting pot. I am honestly surprised it took the U.S. so long to catch up with England, Ireland, and Scotland in terms of its popularity.

Tori Spelling named her son Liam, born in 2007.
Characters named Liam appear on Veronica Mars, Lost & The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.
Liam is currently ranked at number 89.

Savannah

2008-06-04T18:15:00.002-06:00

Savannah ~ Open Plains ~ Native Spanish origins

I was surprised to learn that this lovely and trendy name has been in use in America for a very long time. Though it was nowhere to be seen from the 1930s to the '70s, Savannah was not unheard of in the 1800s and was number 335 in the year 1885. So how did those early settlers discover such an unconventional name, especially one that sounds so contemporary today?

Well, any southerner could probably tell you that Savannah, Georgia might be the reason. Named for the Savannah river, the city has been established since 1733. There are also three other american cities named Savannah: one in New York, one in Tennessee, and one in Illinois. There's a clear indication that the term from the Taínos people was already known as a word indicating plains.

So it might be obvious that the word has been around for awhile, but using it as a name indicates some creativity on the part of those pioneers. With names like Hannah and Anna being so popular at the time, it begins to make even more sense. Today, using the names of cities and other regions is especially in-vogue, and this name is no exception.

Savannah is ranked at number 30 for 2007
Variations:
Savana, Savannah, Savonna, Sevanna, Vannah
Savannah is the daughter of Marcia Cross and Tim Mahoney.
Country singer Darryl Worley also used this name for his daughter.
Find more nature names here

Henry

2008-05-29T16:17:00.002-06:00

Henry ~ Ruler of the home ~ German origins Updated: May 2009

Dignified. Historic. Royal. The name Henry couldn't get higher status if it wanted to. Eight kings of England and more than 10 kings of other European countries have borne this name, as have many other royal figures (including 16 Bavarian dukes alone). The name seemed destined for greatness from the very beginning, as the meaning is a combination of german words meaning "rule" and "home".

Even with all its noble qualities, Henry began taking a plunge in popularity in 1920. In particular, the 60s–the 90s was the worst period this name had seen, when parents were looking for down-to-earth names like Brian or Eric. Henry seemed like the name of an elderly professor, and society needed names to match female counterparts like Kimberly and Michelle.

But among several other trends, the past decade has seen the use of old-fashioned names, particularly from colonial and frontier eras of American history. And Henry fits right in, with the earliest records showing it was ranked at number nine in 1880. As a result, the past 10 years has brought new life to the name, and it has risen in the charts by 45 places.

Today Henry seems a little less like the name of an old professor, and a little more like the name of a dashing prince. Its previous decline in use means the slate has been wiped just a little bit cleaner. The old-fashioned feel it has adds to its appeal, while we've come to discover we actually don't know any professors named Henry.

Henry is ranked at 78 for 2008.
What is Name Rank?
Variations: Hal, Hank, Harry, Hendrik, Heinrich, Henri
Famous Henrys include: Henry James, Henry Hudson, Henry David Thoreau & Henry Ford
Henry is the name of Julia Roberts' son, born in 2007

Rihanna

2008-05-22T19:28:00.001-06:00

Rihanna ~ Sweet Basil ~ Arabic origins Updated: May 9, 2009

Rihanna is a gorgeous name with superstar status. But before R&B singer Rihanna debuted her first album in mid-2005, the name was nowhere near the top 1,000 names in America. Today, along with the success of 10 Billboard chart-toppers and a Grammy, Rihanna has brought a relatively new name to our culture. And while most will associate the name with the singer, I think there is potential for it to make its own statement. Besides, it's my personal feeling that once you get to know a child, the associations you may have previously had with her name tend to diminish.

I like Rihanna because the sound is beautiful, the meaning is cute, and it has a "fresh" quality. It rose in popularity ranking by 113 slots last year, and my bet is that the trend will continue for 2008 as well. Update: Rihanna rose in popularity by 104 places for the year 2008!

Ranked at 311 for 2008
Alternate spelling: Rhianna
Similar sounding names: Rhiannon, Brianna, Liana<
Similar Arabic names: Amina, Quiana

The Mother of all Days

2008-05-11T08:26:00.001-06:00

It's finally here. Mother's Day is first and foremost a day to celebrate the amazing women who raise children and sacrifice so much for the love of their kids. Each year on Mother's Day, the Social Security Administration releases name statistics from the year before. For people who love names and watch trends, this is a big day too.

The Top Ten
Click here for the Social Security Administration's list of top 10 names for 2007!

We waited to know whether Emily would be knocked out of the number one spot, which it has held since 1996, but Emily still reigns supreme for 2007. Some of us waited to see new names in the top ten, but there was only one: Elizabeth was number 10 for girls. It wasn't a surprise at all, since Elizabeth has been in the top 11 names since 1979, wavering in and out of the top ten but never falling below 11. Samantha, which disappeared from the top ten, didn't go far at all and only fell to number 12. Still, it was a low point for Samantha, since it hasn't been so far down on the rankings since 1986!

Boys names stayed practically the same as 2006, with the top ten names just trading places in the list. Jacob is still number one, as it has been for 8 years. Matthew is a slight surprise, since it actually fell four spots in popularity from number 5 in 2006, to number 9. The last time Matthew fell in popularity was 1959, when it fell only three spots.

Typically the top ten names are not a shock to anyone. After all, they are America's favorite names and the most common choices for the year. The list this year is just what we expected, and it is filled with lovely names, some of which I have already chosen to feature in my blogs.

Names I've Blogged About

Since I started blogging about names last December, I've mentioned a few times whether I expected a particular name to rise or fall in popularity. Here's how I did with those:

Myla did rise, as I'd hoped and predicted, a total of 47 spots, from 912 to 865 for 2007.
Roman rose just two spots, but it's in line with the name's growing popularity.
Giselle rose 34 places, which I credit entirely to the new Disney princess.
Avery, which I expected to "climb considerably for 2007," rose just 4 places.
Charlotte is a name that I'd thought was "poised for a comeback," and it rose 21 places for 2007.
Callie rose 47 places for 2007. That's a pretty big rise in popularity.
Yasmine or Yasmin is a name I thought still had room to become more popular, but the name fell 34 spots. Though it was impossible to tell at the time, I guess it had hit its peak—in 2006.
Lucas rose six places, which is not as much as I thought it would, but it is still climbing in popularity nonetheless.
Lyric, which I mentioned in my last post, rose in popularity by 94 spots.

Standout Names in the Top 1,000
It would take a lot of time to compare a list of 1,000 names with years' past to do this perfectly. I would love to do that, but it's just not feasible for me. So here is my imperfect list of a few names I noticed made great strides or newly appeared in the top 1,000:

The newly created name Miley is already number 278, thanks to the Disney pop star. An alternate spelling, Mylie, came in at 861. It's also interesting to note that the male name Milo made a leap of 127 spots to number 548.
Kingston, the name of Gwen Stefani's son, made a gargantuan leap of 587 places to number 355, proving the power of celebrities to start new name trends.
Shiloh, the name of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's daughter, newly appeared in the rankings at number 804.
The male name Grady shot up 133 places. That's a huge rise, especially for a name not directly associated with a superstar.
The name Adelaide, one of my new favorites last year, shot up 188 spots. This name is definitely on the rise.
The girl's name Willow rose in popularity by 94 spots. It's a nature name, the name of several characters on TV and movies, and of course, the name of Will Smith's daughter.
The name Kanye, brought to our attention by the rap star, fell 403 spots! That could be due to the controversy that surrounds Kanye West and the public outbursts that he made in 2006.

Musical Baby Names

2008-04-30T21:02:00.004-06:00

I have always loved names that remind me of music. I've had a strong connection with music all my life, from when I was a little girl singing in church, to studying it at college.

For those of us who feel like music is part of who we are, it only seems natural to extend that gift to our children. For some, it may even mean using a name that reflects that.

So here are some names that fit into a category of musical terms and words, followed by their definitions. There are many names out there with meanings related to music, and there are other ways to use this concept, like using the name of a musician you like. But I thought I'd limit the list to music terms to make things less complicated. It makes for some beautiful and unusual choices. Enjoy!

Cadence ~ rhythmic flow; a section of music

Melody ~ tune

Aria ~ expressive melody, often an opera piece

Echo ~ reflection of sound

Harmony ~ combined notes

Jazz ~ rhythmic, syncopated music

Coda ~ the ending section of a song

Song ~ music, singing

Lark ~ the songbird

Psalm ~ song

Tempo ~ rhythm

Lyric ~ words that are sung; also applies to poetry

Symphony ~ music composed for an orchestra

Lucas

2008-04-22T23:05:00.000-06:00

Lucas ~ from Lucania ~ Latin origins

I make no exaggerations when I say Lucas is skyrocketing. If you don't already know a child with this name, my bet is you will. (Or perhaps you are already considering it for your son.) In 2006, this name was number 59 and showing no signs of having hit a plateau.

So what's the big deal about Lucas? Maybe it's the sophisticated sound with the added bonus of a cute nickname. Maybe it's Chad Michael Murray's character on One Tree Hill. Or maybe it's a great name for the son of a Star Wars junkie, in the vein of Luke Skywalker or Mr. Lucas himself.

Personally, I like Lucas because of its lilting sound and Biblical history (if the nickname Luke is used). It strikes me as a name for a quiet artistic type, perhaps because of a kid I knew in my elementary school. He was awkward and shy but very intelligent and sweet as well. I have never met a Luke or Lucas that I didn't like.

There are plenty of Lukes out there whose personalities don't fit with my image of a reserved guy. Take Luke Parslow, the BMX dirt biker with spiked hair and a love for the extreme. Or how about Luke Wilson, the writer and actor with a comedic talent who lands roles on a regular basis with the rest of the frat pack.

Other celebrities with this name include Lucas Grabeel from High School Musical, country singer Luke Bryan, and actor Luke Perry.

Abigail

2008-04-15T21:13:00.001-06:00

Abigail ~ Father's Joy ~ Hebrew

Even though it wasn't as popular in the late 1700s as it is today, this name carries a sort of historical feel to it. I credit Abigail Adams for that. Not only was she the wife of the 2nd president of the United States, she was also the mother of the 6th president, John Quincy. This chunk of American history gives the name a great foundation and a subtle colonial-period quality.

And speaking of history, Abigail is a Hebrew name and was the name of King David's third wife in the Bible. She is described as intelligent and beautiful.

Modern Abigails
Other Abigails who have made their mark on the name include child actress Abigail Breslin, advice columnist Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby), and even Abby Cadabby, a fictional character introduced to Sesame Street in 2006.

Variations & Popularity
Abigail is a lovely and cheerful name that comes with a great girl-next-door nickname: Abby. It's long list of variations include:

Abbey
Abbi
Abbie
Abby - the most common variation
Abbye
Abbygail
Abbigael
Avigail

Abigail is extremely well-liked and is the number 6 name in the country.

Chayton

2008-04-13T07:28:00.000-06:00

Chayton ~ Falcon ~ Sioux tribe

Chayton is a Native American name that stands out as one with a lot of great qualities. It's a unique name—so unique you won't even find it in the top 1,000.

A name similar in sound is Clayton, which sits at 226. Though the names are distinctively different, I think the rankings give us a clue about how Chayton will hit people. It's a name that fits well with English phonetics but is still different, and I think most Americans will like the sound.

And then there's the meaning. Ask almost any guy and they will tell you falcons are cool. The bird-of-prey is the fastest moving creature on earth and has twice a human's power of vision.

This name has one more thing going for it: the nickname Chay, which sounds both adorable for a little boy and appropriate for a grown man. It's a nice alternative to the more popular names Clay or Chet.

Yasmine

2008-04-10T20:11:00.000-06:00

Yasmine ~ Flower ~ Arabic

You might be able to guess that Yasmine (also spelled Yasmin) is a cousin to a very popular name: Jasmine. It is the Persian word for the jasmine flower and also a lovely alternative for parents who want something more unique than the name of the Disney princess. Sitting at number 324, it's a well-liked choice that hasn't yet hit its peak.

Yasmine is the kind of name that sparkles with personality. It sounds like a name that could belong to a free-spirited poet, a glamorous movie star, or a school cheerleader. But it doesn't sound like the name of a wallflower. It's fresh and trendy, sweet and glamorous at the same time.

Interestingly enough, the birth control pill Yasmin may have done nothing but contribute to this name's growing popularity. Instead of parents feeling turned-off by a name that also happened to be the name of a medication that prevents pregnancy, the drug must have spurred inspiration when it was approved by the FDA in 2001. (What's with drug companies stealing perfectly nice names from us?)

Celebrities to bear this name include Baywatch star Yasmine Bleeth, Yasmin Levy, and journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown. Rita Hayworth named her daughter Yasmin, as did Chrissie Hynde (lead singer of The Pretenders).

James

2008-04-05T07:43:00.001-06:00

James ~ Supplanter ~ Hebrew

When I think of James, I think of an old classmate of mine. He was blond, popular, into wrestling, and rebellious in a cool kind of way. It's odd, but now that I think of it, he was a little like James Dean. There must be something about this name that gives it that motorcycle vibe.

I personally think James is one of the best names to come from the Bible. It translates easily into our culture, it's simple, easy to pronounce, and it has a ton of famous figures associated with it, like James Madison or James Stewart or James Franco. There will always be a celebrity or politician or cool guy with this name.

At its lowest point in American history, this name was #18 on the charts. It will always be a classic. The only thing that sticks out about this name is its definition. Since "supplant" isn't exactly conversational language, the meaning is a little confusing at first. "He who supplants" translates into something like a person who successfully takes someone else's place or usurps. It's an odd definition, but not a bad one by any means.

James was ranked at #15 for 2007
Celebrities who named their son James include:

Bill Paxton
Colin Farrell
Geoffrey Rush
Antonia Kidman

Variations:

Jacques, Jaime, Jamey, Jim, Jimi, Jimmey, Jimmy

Trinity

2008-03-23T15:03:00.001-06:00

Trinity ~ Holy Three ~ English, Latin origins

The term "trinity" has existed since 325 A.D., when it was used to describe Christian doctrine concerning the Father, Son and Spirit. It took the creativity of a handful of parents in the 1970s, more than a thousand years later, for the word to become a name at all. Use of the name disappeared in the 80s, only to make a quiet, barely-there comeback in the 90s.

And then The Matrix hit theaters. Trinity was a big-screen warrior who fought for the freedom of mankind in patent black leather. She was known for her programming and battle skills, but we loved her for her emotional bravery. It was her kiss that revived Neo from death, leading to the eventual rescue of humanity. And almost as soon as audiences left the theater, little girls across America were born bearing the character's name.

Trinity is a beautiful word in its sound and its spiritual meaning, and it manages to carry both urban and ancient sensibilities at the same time. While it still has an obvious connection to The Matrix, the name has detached a bit from the movie due to the sheer amount of kids that are named Trinity. Instead of creating a fad, I think The Matrix sparked a lasting trend when it comes to the name. Though I am sure it will wax and wane, the spiritual and historical roots of the word have convinced me that parents will be using Trinity for generations to come.

Trinity is ranked at #72 for 2007
Celebrity babies

Trinity is the child of Trace Adkins
Coco Trinity is the name chosen by Diane Farr and Seung Chung, Coco's twin is named Sawyer Lucia

Patrick

2008-03-14T08:15:00.000-06:00

Patrick ~ Nobleman ~ Celtic origins

It's only fitting that I write about the quintessential Irish boy's name in honor of St. Patrick's day. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and is known for his charitable work there as a bishop. What's interesting about him is that he was born in England, but he was captured and taken to Ireland as a slave when he was a teenager. Even after his escape, Ireland became his passion and was where he did most of his ministry. He is credited for bringing Christianity to the country during the 5th century.

I love the name Patrick, but am not as fond as the nickname "Pat". One of the few Patricks I've known was a successful attorney who went by his full name. To think of anyone calling such a confident man "Pat" just doesn't feel right to me. Part of my problem might have to do with the androgynous "Pat" character from SNL. That was one pop-culture reference that definitely didn't help any Pats out there.

Still, the full name Patrick is pretty popular, and ranks at #110. Famous Americans by this name include Patrick Swayze (who we are all hoping recovers well from his cancer treatments), Patrick Dempsey, Patrick Stewart, and Revolutionary War hero Patrick Henry.

Names from Gilmore Girls

2008-03-12T19:32:00.005-06:00

Gilmore Girls was one of my favorite shows. The characters were hip and unique, the plot lines were engaging, and dialogue was dizzyingly fast-paced. But one other characteristic, however unimportant, is that the characters' names included cool, classic, and trendy qualities. Here's a list of main characters as well as a few lesser-known ones, for your inspiration.

Lorelai
Aluring ~ German

Rory
Red King ~ Irish

Emily
Industrious ~ English

Lane
from the Lane ~ English

Sookie
Lily ~ English

Paris
from Paris ~ English, Greek

Madeline
of Madgala ~ French

Sherry
Darling ~ American

Rachel
Lamb ~ Hebrew

Gigi
nickname for Georgine, Virginia ~ French

Mia
Sea Of Bitterness ~ Scandanavian

Luke
from Lucania ~ Latin

Richard
Strong Ruler ~ German

Dean
Valley ~ English

Jackson
Son of Jack ~ English

Logan
Little Hollow ~ Irish

Jess
Gift ~ Hebrew

Michel
Who is Like God? ~ French

Christopher
Christ-bearer, One Who Carries Christ in His Heart ~ Greek

Max
from Mack's spring ~ Scottish

Tristan
Tumult ~ Welsh

Kirk
Church ~ Scandanavian

Callie

2008-03-06T19:17:00.002-07:00

Callie ~ Beautiful, Lovely ~ Greek origins

I have never known a Callie, so my personal experience with the name is limited to a porcelain doll I had when I was a kid. Callie had shiny ringlets of chestnut hair, and she was dressed in period clothes from pioneer times (that is, if she was from a wealthy porcelain-doll family).

Childhood memories aside, Callie is a great name. It has some old-fashioned charm, being that it was at the height of its popularity in the late 1800s, but also fits in with today's trends. The most recent information ranks the name at 303. Callie happens to be the name of a Grey's Anatomy character, so I'm sure that's created more awareness of the name.

Callie has a couple of different possible origins. Some claim it comes from Calliope, and some say it's derived from Callista. It's hard to judge since Callie is a fitting nick-name for both. Here are some details on the history of those names.

In Greek mythology, Calliope was Zeus' daughter and the muse of epic poetry. She is credited for inspiring Homer to write the Iliad and the Odyssey. Calliope is also the name of a hummingbird species.

Callista is a moon of Jupiter, something I vaguely remembered from an astronomy class I took. Its Greek origins stem from a myth where Zeus falls in love with a huntress named Callisto. The name has since been altered with an -a suffix to mark its femininity. Of course, we all can think of a famous Calista: Ms. Flockhart, known for playing Ally McBeal.