Rare Flower Names

Hello, readers!

With names like Lily, Violet, Rose, Daisy, Dahlia, and Hazel rising up the charts, it might be nice to find names to add to the garden!

Numbers in parentheses refer to the number of babies born with the name in 2014!

Amaryllis (49)
Similar sounding names like Amelia, Emily, and even classic Amy have been popular, so why not Amaryllis? It offers a few dozen nicknames and it's floral without being allergenic.

Tulip (9)
Quirky and fun, Tulip would make for an excellent middle name choice if you can't quite get behind it as a first name. Symbolically, tulips have been associated with love and fame.

Fern (63)
The name of the kind and caring little girl in Charlotte's Web, Fern sounds down-to-earth without being dated. Fern abounds in other popular media as well, like Fern Gully and Arthur.

Daffodil (0)
I'm surprised this name hasn't been used - there is a veritable dearth of D names in my opinion, and I think the nickname Daffy is way too cute. Daffodils are also associated with new beginnings.

Lavender (46)
Usage in the Harry Potter books has kept this name alive, but just barely. I personally think the connection to the fragrant flower and pretty color is enough to make Lavender a winning choice.

Freesia (0)
There were seven baby Freesia's in 2000, but the name didn't make it into records at any other time. It's much more unusual, but the "free" sound reminds me of Frieda or Freya.

Chrysanthemum (0)
Any fan of Kevin Henkes' children's books knows the little mouse Chrysanthemum, who came to love her long name. It's a mouthful, but very sweet!

Aster (23)
I first heard this name on HBO's Dexter, but the name has been in use since the early twentieth century. It seems very grown-up, and sounds a bit like up-and-coming Astrid.

Hyacinth (7)
While Cynthia has been popular for decades, original flower name Hyacinth has never ranked in the top 1000. Variations Jacinta and Jacinda are also in use, but Hyacinth is much more elegant.

Lilac (10)
The recent trend of the double-L sound - Lily, Layla, Lola - has helped Lilac gain footing, but the uncommon -c ending has kept it rare. And wouldn't Lilac and Violet be an adorable set?

Lotus (94)
The most-used name on my list, Lotus is gaining popularity with the resurgence of New Wave names: Serenity, Genesis, etc. It was recorded for both boys and girls in 2014!

Calla (139)/Canna (0)
Calla was in the top 1000 in the nineteenth century, and Canna has been recorded a few times, but I'm not convinced. Somehow neither name seems finished to me.

Amaranth (0)
My favorite on this list, I've come across the name a few times. The name Amaranth comes from the Greek meaning "eternal, everlasting", in reference to a flower that never fades.

Fleur (0)
Another Harry Potter name, Fleur hasn't quite made a comeback the way Flora and Florence have. But it's a lovely, French option that's nickname-proof!

Tell me your favorites in the comments!

Weather Names

Good morning, readers!

The trend towards natural or nature-inspired names has created a bunch of cool popular monikers in recent years, from animal names like Fox and Bear to flower names like Lily and Violet. Today, I'll be looking at names inspired by the weather!

It's just a list, so tell me in the comments what your opinions are! I'll also include the number of babies named after these weather conditions in 2014. 

Rain - 136

Rainey - 49

Rainy - 31

Rainbow - 9

Sky - 495

Cloud - 27

Storm - 119

Stormy - 110

Snow - 83

Sun - 7

Sunny - 246

Sunshine - 44

Windy - 9

Spring - 17

Autumn - 4040 

Winter - 588

Summer - 1775

Season - 6

Breeze - 29

Breezy - 11

Tempest - 26

Any I missed? Tell me in the comments!

Tropical Cyclone Names 2016

Ahoy, readers!

Today I'll be looking at some of the tropical cyclone names for this upcoming year. To give context for why this information is important for naming - in 2005, Katrina was on the top 1000 at #246. By 2013, it was off the list entirely. So if you're thinking of choosing one of these names this year, maybe have a backup handy.

I've also included notes for some of the lesser-known names!

Atlantic Names

Alex

Bonnie

Colin

Danielle

Earl

Fiona

Gaston - Meaning "the foreigner", this name actually ranked in the US top 1000 until the 1930's. 

Hermine - Many origin possibilities, but too dated to be used as an alternative for Hermione.

Ian

Julia

Karl

Lisa

Matthew

Nicole

Otto

Paula

Richard

Shary - Variations of Shari fell out by the 1990's.

Tobias

Virginie - Super-cute French form of Virginia - if it's not used for a storm, go for it!

Walter

Eastern North Pacific Names

Agatha

Blas - The Spanish variation of Blaise, but doesn't look quite finished to an English speaker.

Celia

Darby - This name means "from the deer town". 

Estelle

Frank

Georgette

Howard

Ivette

Javier

Kay

Lester

Madeline

Newton

Orlene - First time I've seen another vowel take the place of the A in Arlene. 

Paine - No records of this as a first name, and I'm not surprised. 

Roslyn

Seymour

Tina

Virgil

Winifred

Xavier

Yolanda

Zeke

Do you think any of these names could weather bad press? Tell me in the comments!

Eco-Friendly Names

Hello, fellow citizens of Earth!

On this day in 1975, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began operations, with the mission to "protect human health and the environment". So, in honor of this excellent goal, I present to you some green name options!

I'll mostly be looking at meanings, but there are some great names directly from nature talked about in other name posts: Gemstone Names, Bird Names, and Literary Names: The Secret Garden. 

Let's begin!

Meaning: Green

Female: Beryl, Chloe, Viridis, Zelenka, Midori

Male: Oran, Verdi, Irving, Vardon

Meaning: Ocean, sea

Female: Maris, Cordelia, Marina, Morgan, Thalassa, Derya, Naia, Océane

Male: Dylan, Murphy, Zale, Kai, Arnav


Meaning: Forest, woods

Female: Sylvia, Roscoe, Vilja, Glade

Male: Sylvan, Sylvester, Bradshaw, Forrest, Calhoun, Selwyn, Woodrow


Meaning: Grassland, meadow

Female: Savannah, Abilene, Ainsley, Waverly, Lea, Leighton, Prideaux

Male: Benton, Bentley, Leigh, Henley, Rylan, Raleigh, Stanley


Meaning: Air, wind

Female: Alizeh, Sefarina, Anemone, Zephyrine, Era, Aria, Ilma, Eteri

Male: Guthrie, Zephyr, Rabi, Wyndham, Bayu, Samir


Meaning: Desert, sand

Female: Sahara, Randa, Ramlah, Havilah


Meaning: Tree

Female: Daphne, Hadassah, Kezia, Laurel, Juniper, Olive, Tamar

Male: Arlo, Cedar, Ewan, Oakley, Darragh


Tell me your favorite nature names in the comments!

And Your Bird Can Sing - Bird Names, Part One

Hello, readers!

As more and more nouns are turned into names these days, it's only natural that we would seek out the animal kingdom for inspiration - Fox, Bear, and Fawn among the favorites. My personal favorite, however, are bird names!

This theme offers a wide realm of possibilities, and name fans everywhere can agree: check out Abby Sandel's excellent bird list - Fetching Names: Bird by Bird - and Kristen Gregg's Nameberry blog post - Bird Names: Avian options beyond Robin and Raven.

As for my own spin, I'm going to focus on the symbolic connotations of each bird name - what do we think of when we hear Hawk, Lark, or Robin? This will be the first in a series, since there are far too many bird names for just one post!

Disclaimer: a lot of sports teams use various birds as mascots, and that will definitely influence the reaction to little Oriole or Falcon's name. I won't be addressing this, partially because there are plenty of people who won't make the connection and mostly because I don't know enough about these teams to form an opinion...

Let's begin!

Birdie - "bird" (of course)
Another nickname name coming back into style, Birdie is cute but not very deep. It dropped off the top 1000 in 1948, but celebrities like Busy Philipps and Maura West haven't been deterred.

Falcon - from Latin falx, "curved blade"
Falcons are among the fastest animals on earth, and are known as formidable birds of prey. This is a very forceful name, which could work for a just-as-determined kid. 

Finch - from Old English finc, an imitation of its sound
Now that Atticus has been tabled, Finch could be a strong alternative. A common bird, this brings to mind friendliness and a down-to-earth attitude. I'd say it's a solid contender. 

Hawk - from Old English hafoc, "to seize"
Similar to Falcon, Hawk is powerful and concise. Keep in mind that "watch like a hawk," "hawk" as a verb, and "deficit hawk" all have rather stern meanings. 

Lark - from Old English lawerce, unknown meaning
A very light and happy name, Lark is great for any child born laughing. Historical symbology connects the lark to daybreak or new beginnings, more great connotations. 

Oriole - from Latin aureolus, "golden"
An excellent meaning, but a conflicted name. On the one hand, orioles are bright and beautiful, and a cute nickname could be Oreo. But a kid will have to expect a lot of double takes when introducing themselves. There are plenty of other names that mean "gold" that could work, check them out here.

Phoenix - from Latin
An ancient word, but a relatively new name - Phoenix hit the top 1000 in 1995 and has been steadily rising. Very cool and edgy, a mythical bird reborn from the ashes is a great name that speaks to growth and determination. 

Robin - from Robert, "bright fame"
A bird named for a human, this unisex avian name has been on the charts for decades. Robins have come to be associated with Christmas in recent years, but many will appreciate the pretty and natural feel of the name. 

Sparrow - from Old English spearwa, "small brown bird"
Sparrows are among the most recognized birds in the world, so I think this name could be great for a multi-culti kid. Like Finch, it's friendly, but much more beautiful. 

Wren - from Old English wrenna, meaning unknown
Very small birds, with bold songs and behavior, Wren is perfect for any bright personality. Interestingly, the wren's name in other languages speaks to royalty, due to its golden crest. On a personal note, reading the comic Baby Blues growing up was the first time I was introduced to the name, and I loved it right away. 

What do you think? Any other favorite bird names? Tell me in the comments!

Also, thanks to Online Etymology Dictionary, Wikipedia, and Name Voyager for the background info!