Sun and Moon Names

Hello, readers!

The dichotomy between the sun and the moon has been on my mind lately - two of the most ancient extremes, appearing in every culture's history, and still a source of interest today. Why do we say someone who's happy has a "sunny" disposition? Why do we say an idle person is "mooning" about? Why are these two celestial orbs so polarized? Unfortunately, I won't be answering any of these questions, but I will be talking about names relating to the sun and the moon!

We can all agree that these symbols have different connotations. The sun brings to mind warmth, power, and positivity; the moon brings to mind serenity, coolness, and mystery. There are plenty of names, in and out of use, that tend to relate to the sun and moon directly. Let's check them out!

Sunny Names

Áine

Pronounced "Ahn-ya", this Irish name belongs to the Celtic goddess of midsummer. It literally translates to "brightness" or "radiance", and has the sound to suit it! While spelling and saying the name in the US might prove difficult, it really is a lovely heritage choice. 

Apollo

Another sun god, Apollo was one of the major figures in ancient Greek mythology. Today, the name is attached to all sorts of things - the Apollo program at NASA, athlete Apolo Ohno, the fictional Apollo Creed, and technology/boats/songs to boot. It's at #751 now, and will probably rise sky-high over the next few years. 

Elio

Want an edgy alternative to Elias, Eli, or Elijah? Elio is the Spanish translation of Helios, another Greek sun god. Its form fits in with modern trends - the El-beginning and O-ending - but its history and melodic sound stand out. Elio has gotten popular in France, and it's only a matter of time before it crosses the pond. 

Soleil

The French word for "sun", Soleil is straightforward but sophisticated. Actress Soleil Moon Frye (what a name for this post!) brought it to US attention in the 1970's, but its now no longer quite as attached to a single wearer. Over 100 girls were named Soleil last year, and the numbers are increasing! Nicknames Sol or Leila offer a little bit of personalization. 

Summer

This name peaked in 1977 at #119, but Summer still hangs on in the top 200. It's light, fresh, and upbeat - a nature name not mired in dirt or caterpillars. Summer is also nickname-proof, if that's your style, and has quite a few namesakes in fiction and reality. 

Sunniva

A personal favorite - it was my confirmation name - Sunniva is the patron saint of western Norway. Her name means "sun gift". Sunniva offers the short forms Sunny or Niva, and doesn't sound like too many names currently in use, despite its rhythm. Only ten little Sunniva's were born last year!

Surya

The Hindu sun god, Surya, represents courage, friendliness, and power - not a bad namesake for a little one! Fifty-one male Surya's and ten female Surya's were born in the US last year, and the name is accessible enough for all genders. Note - you may have to explain that Suri was not your inspiration.

Lunar Names

Ayla
There are actually two origins for Ayla - in Hebrew, it means "oak tree", and in Turkish, it means "moonlight". It's fairly popular at #265, probably because it consists of two trendy syllables together. But usage aside, it's beautiful and feminine and classic, a name that will mature with the wearer.

Luna
It's everywhere lately - Luna has taken nations across the globe by storm. It works cross-culturally, for one thing, and it's also easy to spell, pronounce, and explain. Luna may also be desired for its Harry Potter connection, as well as its prevalence in other types of children's media - Stellaluna, Bear in the Big Blue House.

Menodora
Meaning "gift of the moon", this unusual Greek name gains gravity through its use as a saint's name. It also provides a darker counterpart to Theodora or Isadora (my kindgom for a -dora sibset!) It might be difficult to explain, but it's well worth the effort! Nicknames can also help make this mouthful a bit more accessible.

Neoma
While this name might be mixed up with Naomi a bit, it really does have its own style. Neoma means "new moon", and offers the cool Neo- opening (and short form option). It's short, sweet, and unique - a veritable name trifecta for any little one born in the right part of the moon cycle.

Selene/Selena
Only one letter apart, but these names have very different personalities. Selene is subdued, grown-up, and très française. Selena is bright, energetic, and muy española. Either choice is a name to be over the moon about!

Tell me any I missed in the comments!

Throwback Thursday: Happy Discovery Day, Pluto!

Greetings, readers and space aficionados!

Today is the 86th anniversary of the discovery of the ninth planet, Pluto! While Pluto may have been demoted to a dwarf planet in 2006, it was not demoted in our hearts. For this post, I'll be looking at the names associated with the planet and its discovery.

Pluto made the news last summer, when the New Horizons spacecraft flew by the planet for the first time. Most pictures of Pluto are from this voyage!

Pluto

I have to admit, I'm incredibly surprised that Pluto has never been recorded as a name in US history (I look forward to being proven wrong in the comments!) It means "wealthy", and was the Roman name for the god of the underworld, versus the Greek Hades. Sure, it's now connected to the eponymous Disney dog (see the Norm connection below), but with the recent rise of O-names and trends toward individuality, I think Pluto could work in the right context. 

Charon

The largest of Pluto's five moons, the two celestial bodies are often connected because of their gravitational lock. Charon's name was inspired by discoverer James Christy's wife, Charlene, as well as the connection to the mythological underling of Hades. Officially pronounced "KAR-on", Christy's initial mispronunciation have led many at NASA to switch to "SHAR-on". It's an unusual, rather quirky choice, but a lot of people will pronounce it like Sharon. 

Clyde

Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh, an American astronomer at the Lowell Observatory. He later discovered and named hundreds of asteroids after his family members. The most visible feature on Pluto's face is named the Tombaugh Regio in his honor. The name Clyde has been rising up the charts rapidly since 2013, probably due to the current retro trends. The name originated in Scotland, and is now associated with the notorious duo Bonnie and Clyde.

Lowell

The name of the observatory from where Pluto was discovered, Lowell also refers to Percival Lowell, an astronomer who tried for years to find evidence of a ninth planet. While unfortunately he didn't live to see the discovery, his wife Constance fought to uphold his legacy, and it was due to their tenacity that the planet saw the light of day (for lack of a better phrase). Putting aside that both Percival and Constance are excellent vintage choices, Lowell has been off the top 1000 for awhile, and could have a lovely comeback as an aristocratic family name. 

Venetia

At the ripe old age of 11, Venetia Burney was the first to suggest the name Pluto when scientists were deliberating. She mentioned it to her grandfather, Falconer Madan (reviewed below), and he sent the suggestion through colleagues to the Lowell Observatory. It received every vote in the name election, not only for its mythological connotation but also because its first two letters corresponded to Percival Lowell's initials. Venetia herself later became a mathematician and professor in economics. The name Venetia references the Italian city of Venice, and is a lovely unusual choice. 

Falconer

Most famous for his position as Librarian of the Bodleian Library at Oxford University, Falconer Madan was also instrumental in the naming of Pluto (see above). His connections to astronomer academics facilitated his granddaughter's suggestion getting to the Lowell Observatory. An occupational name, Falconer hasn't been recorded in US name logs - but it would be a strong, nature-themed option!

Sol

The leader of the New Horizons project, which was the first mission to fly by Pluto, Sol Alan Stern is an engineer and planetary scientist. He is also on the forefront of advocating for Pluto's promotion back to its original status as a planet (yay!) While he goes by Alan, I think Sol is a fabulous name. It's historically a diminutive of Solomon, but the connection to the sun makes it a great choice for any space fan! It also fits in with the recent trend towards short male names, like Jack, Ben, or Kai.

Norm

A major animator at Walt Disney Studios in the 1930's and 1940's, Norm Ferguson was one of the artists who brought the cartoon canine Pluto to life. While reports vary on how the dog was named, most believe it was the planet's fame as Pluto that inspired the Disney staff. Ferguson brought puppy Pluto to fame as well through the animated short Playful Pluto, now a Disney classic. Short for Norman, Norm is now associated with other names in the first half of the twentieth century, and notably the character in Cheers. 

This has been one of my favorite posts to research and write! Tell me what you think in the comments.