Thursday, December 31, 2015

Throwback Thursday Series - American Given Names, H, I + J

Hello, readers,

We'll continue today with my series on George R Stewart's American Given Names. Let me know which ones you like in the comments!


Also, I'm collecting the best books on names! Tell me in the comments or message me through my blog what your favorite name books are - this could be baby name anthologies, histories about certain names, or books with names as a major plot point, like The Importance of Being Earnest. I'm eager to hear what you like!

Habakkuk - "embracing"

Haggai - "festive"

Hale - "someone who lives in a hollow"

Hezekiah - "God gives strength"

Hopestill - word name

Hopefor - word name

Increase - word name

Ione - "violet flower"

Issachar - "hireling"

Jaazaniah - "May God hear"

Jabez - "borne in pain"

Jael - "mountain goat"

Jair/Jairus - "he shines"

Jehiel - "God lives"

Jehu - "God is he"

Jephthah - "he opens"

Jeroboam - "let the people increase"

Jotham - "God is perfect"

Juba - "born on a Monday"

Juniata - name of a Pennsylvania river, "standing stone"

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

International Names

Hello, readers!

A couple of weeks ago I focused on US State Names that had a lot of use in the United States. Today, I'll be expanding my view to look at the names of countries that have made it into the US Top 1000.


Jordan - #55 for boys, #247 for girls
While the popularity of this name has less to do with the country and more to do with basketball star Michael Jordan, it is the most popular country name. Jordan means "flowing down" and has long been associated with its eponymous river. It works for both religious and secular families, and certainly won't be out of use anytime soon.

Israel - #240 for boys
Not a bad name to pick during this time of year! While the name has been in use for centuries, the creation of Israel in 1948 led to an upswing in using this name. Israel means "he who struggles with God" in Hebrew, and is used cross-culturally today. Nickname Izzy is pretty cute too.

Georgia - #243 for girls
The last of the country names in the top 500, Georgia has been a classic English feminine name for generations. After declining steadily for years, it returned in the 1990's and could very well make it into the top 20, in my opinion. Georgia means "farmer" and is also associated with the US state, more so than the Eurasian country.

Kenya - #702 for girls
This name was absolutely inspired by the country, and came into use after the independent Republic of Kenya was established. I think the sound of the name has kept it afloat - it's not too far from Kayla or Kendra - more so than any affiliation with the nation. Kenya comes from the Kikuyu Kirinyaga, meaning "white mountain".

Chad - #703 for boys
It's more of a coincidence that this name connects to the African nation, as the official etymology of Chad defines it as old English for "battle warrior". But it's popularity in the 1970's, 80's and 90's has cemented it into US name consciousness. The country's name comes from the Kanuri tsade, meaning "lake".

Ireland - #983 for girls
A celebrity baby name that made it into the top 1000, Ireland is great for the millions of Americans who claim Irish ancestry (I'm one of them). While I'm skeptical of this name for its lack of nicknames, that might appeal to some of you namers out there! Ireland comes from the Proto-Celtic Éire, meaning "the fertile place".

Other international names that don't quite fit these parameters include Asia, at #806 for girls; America, at #846 for girls; and Holland, at #891 for girls.

Did I miss any nations? Are there countries you think should be on this list? Tell me in the comments!

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens Names

Greetings, readers! May the Force be with you!

I'm jumping on the Star Wars bandwagon since I saw the film yesterday and it was EXCELLENT. Yes, there are a lot of Star Wars name posts out there, but it's my turn to contribute to the zeitgeist.

If you haven't seen the film yet and don't want to know anything, do not continue reading. But I won't be spoiling any major plot points.


Rey
My favorite character of the film, Rey is a strong, independent, intuitive woman who every human should aspire to be (too much?) I think the name (and spelling) of Rey is great for any little one. It's more substantial than frilly Raelynn, and less fusty than Raymond. Last year, Rey ranked at #884 on the boys' list, but if past Star Wars name trends are any indication, the Force will soon be strong with Rey for girls. 

Finn
Leave it to Star Wars to take a classic Irish name and make it edgy and interplanetary. Like Luke, Finn can be short for other names, but stands well on its own. The character of Finn in The Force Awakens is courageous, kind, and funny - not a bad namesake! Finn is currently ranked at #234 for boys, but I think we'll see it move into the top 100 very soon. 

Poe
To be honest, I couldn't understand the name of this character until the end credits - Poe is quite a short name, aurally and visually. But it fits in perfectly with Rey and Finn - robust, one-syllable names that have the capacity to be nicknames. In the film, Poe is a smooth fighter pilot and friend to the main characters. And I think Poe works as a friendly name for any gender. 

Maz
Having never heard the name Maz before, I checked the data - turns out there were 5 baby boy Maz's born in 2013. Star Wars' Maz is an old, wise woman - kind of like a female Yoda, but less confusing - and is voiced by the fabulous Lupita Nyong'o. Maz is another short and sweet name, with a cool z-ending and transcultural potential. 

Kylo
Switch out the last letter of one of the most popular K-names and you have a unique extraterrestrial name. It rhymes with darling Milo and won't raise many eyebrows - but naming your child after a Star Wars villain might (it's no wonder there are so few Darth's on playgrounds). But the next few films will tell us more about Kylo, so the jury is out!

Of course, Luke and Leia have stood the test of 40 years of naming, and Han isn't unheard of either. Who knows what awesome names the next few films will bring us!

Monday, December 28, 2015

Name News - 12/28/15

Who Wins in the Name Game? - Cody C. Delistraty, The Atlantic
As I say all the time, your first name has the potential to change your life - from who you meet to where you're hired to how you're viewed internationally.

Kanye and Kim Kardashian West Name Son Saint - Andrea Park, People
After months of speculation, the name has been announced - Saint West. Whether you love or loathe it, Saint and North make a great sibset - they're both single-syllable word names. And there were 32 Saint's born last year in the US!

High noon for Gary: why is the once-popular name on the verge of extinction? - The Guardian
While I think it's a bit dramatic to say the name is on the verge of extinction - there are names kept viable with much more dismal statistics - it is interesting to see how quickly a name falls out of use once it's been deemed passé.

What Your Name Says About You - Meghan Walsh, OZY
First names are becoming more and more unique in spelling, pronunciation, and origin - what does that say about the society we live in? Are names more or less important now?

Facebook Introduces Major Changes to Their "Real Names" Policy to Support the LGBT Community - Noelle Devoe, Seventeen
For individuals who choose to go by another name for personal reasons, this is a win! Let all names be celebrated!

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Saturday Jams: St. STEPHEN'S Day

Happy Feast of St. Stephen, followers! Today's music will focus on the special Stephen, Steven, Steve in your life :) And this is the first time all the songs have been post-2000!


"Stephen", Ke$ha, 2010


"Stevie", Kasabian, 2014


"Steven", Senses Fail, 2003


"Stevie on the Radio", Pixie Lott, 2011


"Steve McQueen", Sheryl Crow, 2002

Friday, December 25, 2015

Christmas Song Names

Merry Christmas, readers!

Today's post is a list of names that are found in popular Christmas songs.


On a more personal note, thank you all for reading my blog. Views and comments make my day! I hope you have a lovely winter season with family and friends. 

Mary
Joseph
Gloria
Jesus
Wenceslas
Stephen
Christian
Holly 
Ivy
Emmanuel
Israel
Jesse
David
Barney
Ben
Janice
Jen
Rudolph
Nicholas
Tiffany
Bobby
Suzy
Nellie

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Throwback Thursday: Christmas EVE

Hello, readers!

I'll be taking a break from my series on American Given Names this week to focus on names related to Christmas Eve - or rather, names related to Eve, in the past and present!


I haven't played around with the Name Voyager in while, so this will be fun! I'll be looking at names that begin with Eve, for all genders. 

Eve
The first female name mentioned in the Bible, Eve has had a wild ride up and down the top 1000 - it even disappeared for half of the 1980's and 90's. It means "life", referring to the original Eve's creation. It's short and strong, with hundreds of namesakes throughout history - though unlike almost every other name I've seen, there are no recorded male Eve's in US name history. 

Eva
The more popular variation Eva is currently ranked at #82, though throughout the late 1800's and early 1900's it was firmly in the top 50. It's Latin styling makes it incredibly popular cross-culturally, so if you're looking for a name that can travel the globe, Eva is ideal. Like Eve, there are hundreds of historical namesakes, including Eva Peron and Little Eva from Uncle Tom's Cabin

Evelyn (Evelin, Evelynn)
Currently at #16, Evelyn is the most popular Eve name on the list. Evelyn has stayed mostly in the top 200 during its recorded history, and even ranked briefly on the boys' list in the early 1900's. While the name means "desired", it's not hard to think of it as a mash-up name between Eve and Lynn. Its nickname Evie is currently ranked at #14 in the UK. 

Evelina
Nameberry reports that this name was popular in the Middle Ages, but I'm not seeing it mentioned in DMNES? In any case, this is a lovely Eve name that looks like a variation of Evelyn, but is actually related to the French Aveline, also meaning "desired". I like the nickname possibilities offered by Evelina - Lina especially - and its feminine melody. 

Everett (Evert, Everette)
Slowly climbing back up the list from its lowest point in 1995, Everett is riding the T-ending trend and Evelyn's coattails. Everett means "brave as a boar", and also offers some nice nicknames: Evie and Rett (like Rhett or Jett). Switch out the first T for an S and you have a powerful nature name, or add a -te to the ending and feminize it a bit.

Everly (Everleigh)
An aural alternative to the ever-popular Emily, Everly (and sister spelling Everleigh) are firmly on the US top 1000. The meaning is a little funky - "wild boar in a wodland clearing", from what I can find - but the sound and Ever-beginning is adorable. It's also a nice alternative to Avery, Evelyn and dozens of other names in the top 100.

Any Eve names not on my list? Tell me your favorites in the comments!

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Literary Names: A Christmas Carol

Good morrow, readers!

In my next Literary Names installment, I'll be reimagining the names of characters in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol!


First published in 1843, this novella instantly won the hearts of its readers, and has since been made into multiple plays, films, and other adaptations (my personal favorite being The Muppet Christmas Carol). So remember to give in these weeks of receiving, and you'll continue its legacy!

Ebenezer Scrooge..... Brennan Toivo
The unhappy and miserly protagonist of A Christmas Carol is hard to find names for; there are few well-known monikers meaning "sad" or "greedy", after all. Brennan means "descendant of the sad one", and I like that idea of sadness being in the past - at least for Scrooge. Toivo is more exciting, with its open-o ending, and it means "hope", mirroring the ending of the story. 

Jacob Marley..... Hanish Amaury
Hanish means "one who forewarns of storms", and I felt that was pertinent for the first ghost to visit Scrooge. Since Jacob Marley is said to have been just as bad as his business partner, I chose a work-related name - Amaury, meaning "work power". The rhythm of Jacob Marley and Hanish Amaury is also similar, which adds another character parallel. 

Mr. Fezziwig..... Felix Farquhar
I wanted to find a name just as silly as Fezziwig, and I found that with this alliterative set! Felix means "happy" or "lucky", and Farquhar (pronounced far-kar) means "friendly one". For a Scrabble aficionado like myself, it was also nice to see that I kept an X and a Q in the name when I dropped two Zs! This is probably the most positive name I've come up with. 

Bob Cratchit..... Tovi Placido
The kindly and hardworking Bob Cratchit was always my favorite character in the story - he always seemed like a loving husband and father. His name matches up to his positive personality - Tovi comes from the Hebrew for "good", and Placido from the Latin for "quiet" or "calm". While the name origins differ greatly, the sound of the name is melodic and euphonic

Tiny Tim Cratchit..... Pavel Selig
Obviously, I had to start "small" (insert rimshot here). Pavel, like the English form Paul, means "little", emphasizing Tiny Tim's stature. Selig is a name I chose meaning "happy", since Tim always has a positive outlook on life. Like the alliterative T's in Tiny Tim, the letter L is woven through Pavel Selig

Tell me what names you would pick for the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future in the comments!

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Holiday Names

I hope you're having a lovely week, readers!

Today's post is going to be similar to a past party post - Halloween Costume Names! I'll be choosing holiday themes and finding names that match.



Fire (girls) : Aithne, Azar, Enya, Fiammetta, Keahi, Tanwen

Fire (boys) : Agni, Brand, Egan, Kenneth, Pyrrhus, Tyson

Candle : Candela, Chandler, Nera

Light (girls) : Alyona, Lucia, Noor, Toula, Lux

Light (boys) : Lucian, Nuri, Valo, Zia, Lito

Holy, sacred (girls) : Arianna, Olga, Kerani, Verbena, Zenda

Holy, sacred (boys) : Nevin, Panos, Santo, Eren, Hieronymous

Peace (girls) : Concordia, Frida, Arcadia, Salome, Zuelia

Peace (boys) : Zalman, Pax, Jeffrey, Axel, Frederick

Green (girls) : Beryl, Chloe, Olive, Peridot, Viridienne

Green (boys) : Irving, Oran, Cyan, Berilo, Vermont

Red (girls) : Arusha, Omaira, Ruby, Garnet, Sienna

Red (boys) : Rojo, Rumo, Edom, Flanagan, Shani

Blue (girls) : Lapis, Livia, Neela, Mora, Cyane

Blue (boys) : Neel, Thanh, Sunil, Shyama, Khazhak

Christmas (girls) : Natalie, Noelle, Natasha

Christmas (boys) : Natalio, Noel

Names associated with Hanukkah : Nera, Neriah, Uri

Names associated with Kwanzaa : Nia, Imani, Maulana




Monday, December 21, 2015

Names for Snow Babies

Hello, readers!

Today I'll be looking at names related to these cold months, since today is the first day of winter!


Winter
Seasonal names Summer and Autumn have been popular since the 1970's, and even Spring jumped into the mix for awhile. Why not Winter? It offers the cute nickname Winnie, and fits in with the two-syllable ends-in-R names, like Harper or Parker. It's unisex, with 553 girls and 35 boys named Winter last year. It also works great as a middle name!

Snow
Short, sweet, and to the point - Snow is a fantastic nature/word name. While there are quite a few celebrity namesakes with Snow as a last name, using it as a first or middle is a pretty, unique choice. It can also be a subtle honorific to recent popular Disney princesses Anna and Elsa, from Frozen, or the original Disney princess, Snow White

January
This name was brought back into contemporary culture through Mad Men actress January Jones, but I first heard January as a name in Shirley Temple's Captain January. I think it's a definite unisex possibility - girls have already used April and May, and it's not too far off from the boys' Jeremy or Janson. The name comes from Janus, the Roman god of gateways and beginnings - not a bad namesake. 

Cherith
I discovered this name through its meaning, "winter stream", and immediately fell in love. It is Hebrew in origin and was mentioned in the Bible in Elijah's story - not a bad sibset combo at that! The name sounds like Charity or Cherish, and just has a sweet, feminine quality to it. The unusual -th ending ties it to popular Elizabeth or less-used Meredith

Neve
Its Latin origins mean "snow", but if used as the Anglicized Irish variation, it means "bright". Either way, this short, strong name is absolutely elegant. Pronounced "nehv", it's close to the more masculine Levi or Evan, but has a personality all its own. Other variations include Neva, Nevara, or Nevada, all with similar meanings. 

Frediano
Distantly related to the Latin word for "cold", this is a cool name that sounds almost modern, like a mix of classic Frederick and trendy Italian names. It allows for the cute nickname Fredi, but fits in nicely with Leonardo or Giovanni. Frediano is also the name of a seventh-century saint. 

What winter names do you think should have made the list? Tell me in the comments!



Saturday, December 19, 2015

Saturday Jams: Jolly Old Saint NICHOLAS

Since Santa's arrival is just days away, here are some songs for St. Nick :)


"Little Saint Nick", the Beach Boys, 1964


"Jolly Old Saint Nicholas", Ray Conniff, 1962


"All I Want for Christmas is You", Mariah Carey, 1994


"Up on the Housetop", Jackson Five, 1970

Friday, December 18, 2015

IKEA Names, Part Two

Hallå!

If you missed Part One, check it out here: IKEA Names


Here's the link to the original dictionary: The IKEA Dictionary

Jakob
Janne
Jeff
Jerrik
Jesper
Joakim
Johan
Jonas
Jorun
Jules
Julius
Kajsa
Kajsastina
Karsten
Ketty
Klemens
Lena
Lenda
Lill
Ludde
Ludvig
Maggan
Majken
Majvor
Malou
Malte
Manne
Marius
Markus
Martin
Matilda
Matteus
Merete
Mikael
Märit
Nils
Nisse
Norvald
Oddvar
Ofelia
Olle
Omar
Patricia
Patrik
Petronella
Povel
Ragna
Rickard
Ritva
Roger
Rudolf
Rutger
Sanela
Sanni
Saralisa
Sarita
Sebastian
Signe
Sigrid
Sofia
Solvar
Solveig
Stefan
Sten
Sune
Tanja
Tekla
Terje
Tobias
Torbjörn
Truls
Unni
Wilma

Phew! That's it! Until they introduce new stuff in the next season...

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Throwback Thursday Series - American Given Names, E, F + G

Hello, readers!

The American Given Names series continues! Since my own first initial is represented today, I'll share a quote from the book about Emily:

          "... the use of Emily primarily sprang from literary sources (Boccaccio, Chaucer)... It is also highly euphonic, and thus is suitable for poetry..."

Not a bad description! I'm using "euphonic" as a self-descriptor from now on ;)


Eleazar - "God is help"

Eliab - "God is father"

Eliakim - "God establishes"

Elihu - "Jehovah is God"

Eliphalet - "God helps to escape"

Elkanah - "God possesses"

Elma - diminutive of various names

Elnathan - "God-given"

Ermentrude - "whole strength"

Ethelbert - "noble-bright"

Evadne - "pleasing one"

Experience - virtue name

Fear - virtue name, from "fear of God"

Gad - "fortune"

Gamaliel - "recompense is God"

Gerda - "stronghold"

Gershom - "stranger"


A few of these sound like modern mash-up names - Elnathan? Eliab? Evadne? But their history gives them more credibility and strength.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Artist Names: Post-Impressionists

Salut, mes lecteurs!

Allow me once again to indulge myself in the names of (primarily European) artists! If you're interested in more of the series, check out Impressionist Names and Italian Renaissance Names.

Today we'll be looking at the Post-Impressionists!


This style emerged as a reaction to Impressionism - while the Impressionists pioneered "natural" light and painting from life, the Post-Impressionists chose to pursue "art for art's sake" and experiment with color, painting styles, abstraction, and distortion. Disclaimer - a lot of my personal favorite artists are in this category, so be ready for some overexcited adulation.

Paul Cézanne
Considered the link between the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, Paul Cézanne was incredibly influential to later artists and was arguably the father of Cubism. His paintings play with form and perspective, distorting their subjects in the name of visibility. As for his name - Paul is a common, established English choice already. Cézanne, on the other hand, is a hardly-used possibility; the two-syllable sound and -an ending make it accessible, but it's less pretentious than Picasso or Matisse. The last time it was recorded by the SSA was in 2000 - 7 girls were named Cézanne that year.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Monfa)
One of my absolute favorite artists, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made a name for himself by painting the beautiful underworld of Paris' Montmartre neighborhood. Prostitutes, dancers, famous Parisians and other artists provided the content for his work, and his posters for the Moulin Rouge are still popular today. While the equivalent Henry is well-known and in wide use, I think Toulouse has the ability to enter the name scene - it's also an underused place name.

Vincent van Gogh (Vincent Willem van Gogh)
Possibly the most famous artist on this list, Vincent van Gogh's tragic life and numerous works of art have made their way through the zeitgeist tenfold. Who hasn't seen a print of Starry Night, or Sunflowers, or his self-portraits? (With and without his ear). The name Vincent has stayed strong at the bottom of the top 100 for over 100 years - it means "conquering". Trivia - his siblings were Theo, Cornelis, Anna, Elisabeth, and Willemina.

Henri Rousseau (Henri Julien Félix Rousseau)
While he is well-known for his intricate and colorful jungle paintings, Henri Rousseau never actually visited a jungle. His legacy as an influence on avant-garde artists is still felt today - his art inspired the animation style of the children's film, Madagascar. I think his middle names hold the most promise for use today - Julian (English spelling) is at #47 and Felix is at #267 in the US. The names mean "youthful" and "fortunate", respectively.

Paul Gauguin (Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin)
Another Post-impressionist artist whose work with color is popular today, Paul Gauguin is also known for his Tahitian paintings. He is one of the fathers of Symbolism and Primitivism in art, which is controversial, but still influential. For the life of me, I can't recommend Eugene or Gauguin as names, so let me include the names of his family members: wife, Mette-Sophie, and children Émile, Aline, Clovis, Jean René, and Paul Rollon.

Georges-Pierre Seurat
The artist of the painting at the top of the post, Georges Seurat was a pioneer in pointillism - painting small dots of color next to one another to achieve a larger effect. While he only lived to 31, the paintings created during his life were influential for later artists interested in color, mathematical painting, and chromoluminarism. His last name, Seurat, isn't too far off from top 1000 favorites Montserrat and Monserrat - a definite possibility.

Which names are your favorites? Is there another artistic era you'd like me to focus on? Tell me in the comments!

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Names from the Novels of Charles Dickens

Greetings, readers!

Today's post is a long list of some of the names found in Charles Dickens' novels. It's by no means complete, but it is very interesting!


Because of the double use of names, I'll only be listing the names in the novels in which they first appear - there are so many Joe's!

Also, if you're in the San Francisco Bay Area, check out the Great Dickens Christmas Fair, ending this weekend!

The Pickwick Papers - 1836

Samuel
Nathaniel
Augustus
Tracy
Tony 
Alfred
Joe
Job
Rachael
Mary
Martha
Emily
Arabella
Benjamin
Robert

Oliver Twist - 1837-1839

Oliver
Nancy
Rose
Lindsay
Bill
Agnes
Harry
Charley
Sally
Noah
Charlotte
Toby
Bet
Barney
Tom

Nicholas Nickleby - 1838-1839

Nicholas
Ralph
Catherine
Newman
Mulberry
Frederick
Arthur
Peg
Wackford
Fanny
John
Matilda
Phoebe
Hannah
Henrietta
Henry
Julia
Charles
Ned
Frank
Madeline
Walter
Tim
Vincent
Ninetta

The Old Curiosity Shop - 1840-1841

Nell
Christopher
Daniel
Richard
Betsy
Sampson
Isaac
Thomas
Barbara

Barnaby Rudge - 1840-1841

Barnaby
Gabriel
Dolly
Edward
Geoffrey
Reuben
Emma
Hugh
George
Simon
Solomon
Phil

Martin Chuzzlewit - 1843-1844

Martin
Seth
Charity
Mercy
Anthony
Jonas
Ruth
Mark
Sarah
Jefferson

Dombey and Son - 1846-1848

Paul
Florence
Edith
James
Louisa
Lucretia
Harriet
Joseph
Susan
Polly
Robin
Alice
Jack
Cornelia

David Copperfield - 1849-1850

David
Clara
Betsey
Jane
Ham
Wilkins
Uriah
Tommy
Anne
Rosa
Dora
Sophy

Bleak House - 1852-1853

Esther
Honoria
Ada
Harold
Lawrence
Leicester
William
Caddy
Jo
Allan
Jenny
Hortense
Watt
Volumnia
Judy
Matthew
Woolwich
Quebec
Malta
Arethusa
Kitty
Laura

Hard Times - 1854

Josiah
Louisa
Cecilia
Stephen

Little Dorrit - 1855-1857

Rigaud
Amy
Flora
Jeremiah
Affery
Edmund

A Tale of Two Cities - 1859

Sydney
Lucie
Alexandre
Ernest
Therese
Jacques
Jarvis
Roger
Jerry
Théophile

Great Expectations - 1860-1861

Philip
Estella
Herbert
Raymond
Georgiana
Molly

Our Mutual Friend - 1864-1865

Bella
Nicodemus
Lizzie
Mortimer
Eugene
Bradley
Silas
Sophronia
Reginald
Lavinia
Melvin
Johnny
Jesse
Pleasant
Abbey

The Mystery of Edwin Drood - 1870-unfinished

Edwin
Neville
Helena
Septimus
Hiram
Luke

Monday, December 14, 2015

State Names

Good morning, readers!

Today, I'll be looking at which United States' names have made it into the 2014 Top 1000 baby names. With city names like Brooklyn, Madison, and Charlotte getting popular, let's expand to larger locations!


It looks like most state names go to the girls - only Dakota made the boys' list. Why is it that girls seem to be named after locations more often? Tell me your theories in the comments below!

Cali
At #201, this nickname-name and spelling variation of Callie or Kali has been rising steadily up the list since it debuted in 1997. Though it doesn't necessarily connect to the state of California (after which nine babies were named last year), it does coincide with the rise of "Cali" lifestyle gear in Southern California. It's a nice way to honor a favorite place, while still maintaining a distance.

Georgia 
This classic feminine name has been on the list since 1880, and after plummeting in popularity throughout the mid-20th century, it seems to be rising back up the list. Georgia is currently at #243 and rising - there are dozens of namesakes, real and fictional, who've kept the name visible in pop culture. It's also trending internationally - could it be the next Sophia?

Carolina 
This pretty southern favorite calls to mind plenty of songs and bands with the name Carolina - my personal favorite is James Taylor's "Carolina in My Mind". (Check out last month's Saturday Jams post on Caroline/a, too!) It offers plenty of nicknames - Carrie, Lina, Caro - and can honor a slew of popular names like Charles, Carol, or Carl.

Dakota
Originally a popular boy's name - Dakota got all the way up to #56 in 1995 - it began slipping when it became more popular for girls (leave it to the patriarchy to be that insecure). It's now at #360 for boys and #285 for girls. The name is American, through and through - it comes from a Sioux word for "friend" - with a pleasant melodic sound.

Virginia
This was my grandmother's name - she went by Ginger or GG - and one of the most popular names of the 1920's. After a century of decreasing, it seems to be stabilizing at #581. But with the retro name trends resurfacing, Virginia might move up the list significantly. If you don't love the first two syllables, check out Dorothy, Margaret, or Alice for the 1920's flair.

While these names are the only ones who made the top 1000, there are quite a few others represented in birth announcements - Arizona, 100 girls; Indiana, 60 girls; Montana, 124 girls and 49 boys; Jersey, 137 girls and 10 boys; and Rhodes, 48 boys and 7 girls.

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Saturday Jams: Come On, EILEEN!

Songs for the Eileen or Aileen in your life :)


"Come On Eileen", Dexy's Midnight Runners, 1982


"Eileen", Bing Crosby, 1952


"Don't Walk Away Eileen", Sam Roberts Band, 2003


"Eileen", Keith Richards, 1992


"She's Got Medals", David Bowie, 1967

Friday, December 11, 2015

IKEA Names

Good morning, readers!

My coworker sent me this master sheet of what IKEA product names really mean - for those of us who don't understand Swedish. I was surprised to see so many first names on the list, so I'm sharing my findings with you!


Here's the link, for any curious IKEA fans: The IKEA Dictionary

Agne
Aina
Alex
Alve
Alvine
Amalia
Andrea
Andy
Anita
Anja
Annamoa
Anssi
Antonius
Arvinn
Beata
Benjamin
Benno
Berit
Bernhard
Berta
Bertil
Bibbi
Billy
Bosse
Börje
Cecilia
Cyril
Dave
Ditte
Dragan
Edgar
Edit
Elias
Elisabet
Elly
Erik
Erling
Evabritt
Evert
Fabian
Felicia
Fialena
Franklin
Fredrik
Fredrika
Gilbert
Gilda
Glenn
Goliat
Gorm
Gregor
Gunilla
Gunvor
Gustav
Hannes
Harry
Hedda
Helmer
Herman
Hjördis
Hugo
Hulda
Indira
Inez
Ingemar
Inger
Ingolf
Iris
Irja
Irma
Ivar

After starting this list, I realized how many names there really are! So I'll continue with the list next Friday, too.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Throwback Thursday Series - American Given Names, B, C + D

Hello, readers!

This is a continuation of study into George R. Stewart's American Given Names book - check out last week's post on the letter A for more: American Given Names, A


Barachiah - "blessed of God"

Barzillai - "strong"

Bathshua - "daughter of prosperity"

Benoni - "son of my sorrow"

Bethia - "daughter of God"

Bezaleel - "God is my protection"

Bezer - meaning unknown

Cadmus - "easterner"

Cato - "wise"

Cephas - "rock"

Cof/Cuff - "born on Friday"

Corinna - "maiden"

Datus - "given"

Deliverance - virtue name

Drusilla - "fruitful"

Dugald/Dougal - "dark stranger"

Dulcie - "sweet"

Tune in next week for more names!

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Literary Names: Sideways Stories from Wayside School

Hello, readers!

For today's Literary Names entry, I won't be reimagining names - rather, I'll be listing the names from one of my favorite book series', Sideways Stories from Wayside School!


This series, by Louis Sachar, the author of Holes, is a silly telling of an impossible school and the crazy teachers and kids within. The book was originally published in 1978, and by the time I read it in the late 1990's, it still retained the comedic draw for kids. 

Todd
Maurecia
From what I can tell, Maurecia was made up by the author - are there any others out there?
Dana
Myron
This name means "fragrant" or "perfume". 
John
Joe
Stephen
Jenny
Bebe
Originally a diminutive of Beatrice, Bebe is now associated with actress Neuwirth or the clothing brand. 
Rondi
Another name I hadn't seen before; it seems to be a feminine version of the male name Rondel, which is French for "circle". 
Leslie
Paul
Eric
Sharie
Deedee
Deedee was on the top 1000 for the 1960's, but hasn't been that popular since 1971. 
Allison
DJ
While this is probably short for something, DJ has been a full name on birth certificates since the 1960s - 12 "Dj"s were born last year.  
Dameon
Joy
Jason
Kathy
Terrence
Mac
Like DJ, this name is more used as a nickname, but 163 Mac's were born last year. 
Ron
Calvin
Sammy
Sue
Benjamin
Louis

What's your favorite name on this list?

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

The Names of Music Legends

Hello, readers!

While looking up the history of today, I came across two important events in music history that happened on December 8th - Jim Morrison's birthday and the death of John Lennon. It got me thinking, now that Lennon is in the top 1000, which other musicians have we honored the same way?


Today's post remembers some musicians who died ahead of their time, and those we've paid our respects to by naming the next generation after them.

Jim Morrison (1943-1971)
Known for being the lead singer of the Doors, Jim Morrison was also an accomplished poet. His reputation as an iconic frontman didn't translate over to the naming world - there are few records of Morrison being used as a name until it grew a bit over the past decade. The name means "son of a dark-skinned man", loosely, and could make a nice alternative to Harrison or Morgan.

John Lennon (1940-1980)
As a die-hard Beatles fan, I could wax for days on the vices and virtues of John Lennon - but check out my past Beatles name posts instead. Lennon has been a part of the top 1000 since 2008, and is currently at #691 for boys. When John Lennon was killed in 1980, his last name tripled in popularity (from 15 babies to 48), then dropped back to 22 the next year.

Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970)
Arguably the greatest guitarist of all time, Jimi Hendrix influenced generations of musicians and stars after him. Jimi is a unisex name that never broke into the top 1000, but it's a fantastic nickname for a baby James (Jimi also doubled in the year after he died). Hendrix, on the other hand, has been rising up the list since 2007, and is currently at #546 for boys.

Amy Winehouse (1983-2011)
The most recent musician on this list, Amy Winehouse's powerful vocals still grace the radio often. The name Amy has been slowly decreasing since it's peak in the 1970's and 1980's (when Winehouse was born), and the name Winehouse has never made the list. But her popular song "Valerie" pushed that name up the top 1000 about 40 places in 2006 (from #167 to #127), so Winehouse has had more than a fair impact on the world of naming.

Kurt Cobain (1967-1994)
The lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist of 90's grunge band Nirvana is now a household name (especially for us West Coasters), but Kurt Cobain is still rather underrepresented in the world of baby names. Kurt has been decreasing since its peak in the early 1960's, and Cobain entered the list as a first name in 2004 - 8 baby boys were named Cobain last year.

Tupac Shakur (1971-1996)
He was one of the most influential rappers of all time, and still makes the news today - anyone remember that Coachella hologram? The name Tupac first made it into the name records during his lifetime, in 1993, but the numbers have been more steady since his death, with 5 born last year. His other stage name, Makaveli, first made records the year after his death, with 8 born last year.

Notorious BIG (1972-1997)
Biggie Smalls was another influential rapper of the early 1990's, also in the East Coast hip hop scene. He had a few aliases, so let's look at them one by one: Notorious has been on and off SSA records since 1995; Biggie, Big and Smalls have never been recorded; and Christopher and Wallace have had popularity all their own, without the necessary help of a celebrity.

Selena Quintanilla (1971-1995)
Known mostly by her singular first name, Selena is a monument to name honorifics. She was an inspiring Mexican-American entertainer of the late 1980's and early 1990's before her tragic death. The name Selena more than quadrupled in popularity the year she died, skyrocketing to its peak at #91 on the top 1000. It's still very popular, and has a beautiful sound and meaning to match.

Are there other musicians you think should be honored? Tell me in the comments!

Monday, December 7, 2015

Pearl Harbor Day

"... a date which will live in infamy..."

Today we remember fallen soldiers and veterans, especially those of World War II. May the futures of every nation be more and more peaceful.


Since my name posts focus more on the positive side, I'll be looking at "pearl"-related names today! All these names mean "pearl", and most come from the same original source (Margaret). 

Pearl
After more than twenty years off the top 1000, Pearl jumped back on in 2010 and has been steadily rising - it's currently at #628. It's adorable, retro, and classic all at once, which would explain it's even higher popularity in the UK. The single-syllable sound also makes for a great middle name. Check out my past post on gemstone names for other sparkly options!

Margaret
An English classic that's never left the top 200, Margaret is a beautiful, elegant option - and would probably honor at least one family member. It has infinite nickname possibilities - Maggie, Molly, Peggy, and more - that could add an element of uniqueness. Below, I've listed a few variations and diminutives if you're looking for something edgier. 

Marguerite
My favorite on the list, Marguerite is feminine and uber-French. It hasn't made the top 1000 in over 40 years, so it will definitely be on the unique side. There are plenty of namesakes as well - writer Marguerite Duras, poet Maya Angelou, and many international actresses. 

Gretchen
Popular from the 1960's to the 1980's, Gretchen has since left the top 1000 entirely. But the cute "-chen" ending and less-used first initial could make it a solid contender for sound. There are also a number of fictional Gretchen's, on TV and in the movies, if you'd like to slyly honor a character.

Maisie
This name jumped on the list this year, despite almost no historical popularity - but UK namers have already put it into their top 50! Game of Thrones actress Maisie Williams helped increase its visibility, and the similar sound to favorite Daisy cinches the draw. Beware though - this jump in popularity will increase exponentially for awhile!

Megan
One of the most popular names of the 1980's and 1990's, Megan is now on its way down. It's originally a Welsh diminutive of Margaret, so if you'd like to honor a Megan (I'm sure you know at least one) check out some of the other Margaret diminutives. 

Margo
Also spelled Margot (slightly more popular), this nickname-name has a spunky, tomboyish feel. The o-ending adds pizzazz, and helps the pronunciation a bit. Margo was also featured in the animated movie Despicable Me, which adds some kid cred. 

Sania
The only name on this list with Hindi origins, Sania is a beautiful alternative to Sonya or Tanya. While it's never made the top 1000, Sania has been recorded every year since 1987 by the SSA - 46 babies were named Sania last year.

Let me know your favorite pearl names in the comments!

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Saturday Jams: MIKE a Rolling Stone

Hello, listeners!

Today's Saturday Jam is dedicated to one of the most popular names of the 20th century, Michael. Have fun listening!


"Michael", Franz Ferdinand, 2004



"Michael Row the Boat Ashore", The Highwaymen, 1960



"Michael from Mountains", Joni Mitchell, 1968



"Michael and Heather at the Baggage Claim", Fountains of Wayne, 2007



"Michael's Bones", Morrissey, 1988

Friday, December 4, 2015

Name News: 12/4/15

The Truth About Charlie - Mallory Ortberg, Dear Prudence
New Prudie starts off the column with a name question, hooray! How would you handle rude (and nosy) people who shame your favorite name?

Jolie fratrie : Victoria, Tancrède, Raoul et Honor - Mélissa, Jolis Prénoms
A favorite blog of mine, Jolis Prénoms focuses on great Francophone sibsets! I've found a lot of names I'd never heard of, including Tancrède, Aglaé, and Maëlys.

How many US people are named Isis? - Parker Higgins, ParkerHiggins.net
My favorite subject - name statistics! Parker estimates that there are over 10,000 people named Isis in the US today. Do you know any?

Nutella refuses to print personalised jar for girl named Isis - Nicholas Reilly, Metro
Another Isis article! I agree with her mother, the terrorist group should be referred to as Daesh - leave the English acronym aside.

Charlotte, Oliver are top baby names for 2015 - Sentinel & Enterprise
I'm skeptical, since this isn't backed up by hard data yet (wait until next spring when the SSA releases the actual list). But it's interesting to see how much UK trends are influencing US choices!

5 of the Hottest Baby-Naming Trends of 2015 - Arika Okrent, mental_floss
This article was linked from BabyCenter's Hottest baby name trends of 2015, but provides a good summary of some names on the upswing. I'm a fan of Lux and Helena!

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan welcome new daughter - Heather Kelly, CNN Money
Welcome to the world, Maxima Chan Zuckerberg! Nickname Max for a little girl is too cute, but Maxima is already the name of a car and a software system. Edgy or corporate? You tell me!

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Throwback Thursday Series - American Given Names, A

Hello, readers!

For the next few Thursdays, I'll be focusing on a book I picked up recently - American Given Names, by George R. Stewart. Stewart was a professor in English at my alma mater, UC Berkeley, and published this book on names and name history shortly before his death. Since I'm always interested in onomastics, the study of names, I picked up a copy at the Berkeley library!


While it's unclear whether Stewart studied name statistics, he included some of the most common names in the United States (complete with opinions). These blog posts will focus on names I haven't heard of (or heard much of). So, in honor or fellow Cal Bear George, let's begin!

Abiel - "God is the father"

Abijah - "Jehovah is the father"

Admire - virtue name

Adonijah - "God is my Lord"

Agur - "gatherer"

Alethea - "truth"

Alfarata - modern invented name

Almon - "German"

Amariah - "God has spoken"

Amasa - "burden bearer"

Ammi - "my people"

Amzi - "my strength"

Antipas - "like his father"

Aquila - "acorn" or "eagle"

Archelaus - "chief of the people"

Artemas - unknown origin, possibly "gift of Artemis"

Asahel - "God acts"

Asaph - "collector"

Asarelah - "joined is God"

Asenath - unknown origin, possibly "devoted to the goddess Neith"

Ashbel - "man of Baal"

Azariah - "God is his helper"

Azel - "noble"

None of these are in the US top 1000! The ones most likely to make the list in my opinion are Abijah, Amariah, and Ashbel. My favorites are Amzi and Azariah