Island Names - North America

Hello, readers!

Today, part three of Island Names! This time, we'll be looking at the continent I call home, North America. I've been to a few of its islands, but I still have many to explore. Share any island experiences of your own in the comments - or even better, name-related island experiences.

Also - because there are so many, I'll be covering Caribbean island names in a separate post!

Catalina, by Justin "jmarty" on Flickr.com

Let's begin!

Catalina - United States of America

This island has a special significance for me - it's where my parents lived for the first few years of their marriage, shortly before I graced their lives with my birth ;) After already having a few distinct names, Catalina was named in honor of Saint Catherine by Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno, a name that stuck. Today, Catalina is growing in popularity as an alternative to Caitlin or Catherine, with the bonus nickname Lina. Another option - the only city of the island is Avalon, a gorgeous choice. 

Madeline - United States of America

Named for Madeleine Cadotte, the daughter of a Native American chief and the wife of a French fur trader, Madeline Island can be found in Lake Superior. The English spelling of the name - as opposed to French Madeleine or modern Madelyn - tops out at #90 on the US top 1000, a beloved pick! It's feminine, literary, and historical, with dozens of fabulous namesakes. 

Elizabeth - United States of America

Off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the Elizabeth Islands were named for QEI in the early seventeenth century. Elizabeth needs no introduction - it's a classic girls' name that has maintained usage without ever feeling trendy or dated. Its multitude of nicknames - old Bess, mature Liz, and young Ellie, for example - offer more opportunities for individualizing it. Elizabeth won't surprise anyone, but it will absolutely stand the test of time and place. 

Alexander - United States of America

Another classic, but this time on the boys' side, Alexander currently ranks at #8. Nicknames Alex and Xander are in the top 300 as well, with a bevy of variations on the girls' list too. The Alexander archipelago is in southern Alaska, named for Tsar Alexander II of Russia. This name will also work for any age or background, with real timelessness. 

Teresa - United States of America

While looking up its name origins, I found out that Teresa Island has the highest elevation of any freshwater island - but I couldn't find out who the original Teresa was. Tessa is the most popular name in this family as of 2015, but Teresa ranks on the list at #665. It peaked in 1962 and has been on a gradual decline, but it's a beautiful, mature option that will stand on its own. 

Shannon - Greenland (Denmark)

Named for a ship that explored the island in 1823, Shannon Island is the home of all kinds of Arctic wildlife. The name Shannon has gotten the cold shoulder in recent years - despite relative popularity in the 1970's and 1980's, it's now totally gone from the top 1000. But with Welsh and Irish names popping up the charts, it may make a comeback!

Victoria - Canada

A third island named for a monarch, Victoria Island also has the distinction of being the eighth largest island in the world (and actually contains another island within its borders). While I shy away from using the word "classic" too much, Victoria really has very few peers - except those listed earlier. It might be time to generate new nicknames, though - Nameberry recommends Plum, and I think Via or Ria are viable options. 

Devon - Canada

The largest uninhabited island worldwide, Devon Island was named for the region of Devon in England. The name Devon reached its height in the mid-1990's, riding the coattails of similar-sounding Dylan, Logan, and Kevin. However, Devon is more than a trend - it's now an established, friendly name for boys and girls alike. 

Guadalupe - Mexico

Found off the coast of Baja California, Guadalupe Island hosts a few fishing camps and military outposts today. It's a religious name with a lot of history, originally translating to "river of the wolf" in Spanish but now mostly referring to the Virgin Mary, "Our Lady of Guadalupe". Nicknames Lupe and Lupita add a bit of feminine frill to this serene choice. 

Carmen - Mexico

A city with an exciting history - it was named in celebration of the eviction of pirates from its borders! (After the Virgin Mary of Carmen, of course). It loosely translates to "garden", and has maintained consistent usage since name recordings began. It's a great name to cross English and Spanish-speaking cultures, and will continue as a lovely choice for awhile

Tell me your favorites in the comments!

Island Names - South America

Hello, readers!

For the second part of my Island Names series, we'll be heading to South America! While there are literally hundreds of islands off the coast of this continent, I've chosen ten names to focus on today. If you'd like to see more names, please comment!

Isla de la Luna, by Christopher Walker from Krakow, Poland - Tree on the shore of Lake Titicaca, CC BY 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3187334

¡Empecemos!

Isla
Alright, so this isn't the name of an island; it's "island" in Spanish. Isla is notable for its meteoric rise to the top 200, beginning its journey at #623 in 2008, and ranking at #141 today. Isla's popularity may have something to do with its similarity to Isabella, as well as its prevalence in the UK and Australia. Overall, Isla is a sweet, feminine name with a pretty sound and romantic meaning.

Luna - Bolivia
Arguably the most prominent name to come out of Harry Potter, Luna has long been a classic in Spanish-speaking countries (like Bolivia). The island itself is named for a story in Incan mythology - the god Viracocha commanded the rising of the moon from Isla de la Luna. It's ethereal but accessible, girlish but strong - Luna is bound to soar over the next few years.

Vitória - Brazil
Named in honor of a "victorious" battle of the Portuguese over the Goytacaz Amerindians, this island is now the capital of a state of Brazil. Vitoria has been recorded in the US intermittently since the 1970's, and has probably stayed unpopular because of its closeness to Victoria (correcting the name constantly will get old). However, if you live in a Portuguese-speaking community, confusion is bound to be less prevalent, and more people will appreciate the delicateness of this name.

Magdalena - Chile
A religious name with thousands of years of history, Magdalena has yet to again reach its peak rank of #311 in 1882. It's rarely been heard outside of the Spanish-speaking community, but as more and more Spanish speakers immigrate to the US, more and more Spanish names will follow! Magdalena is an excellent alternative to Margaret or Madelyn, with the cute nickname Maggie.

Rosario - Colombia
Another classic Spanish name, but this one is even more special because it ends in O - only more modern girls' names like Willow and Harlow seem to have this trait (correct me in the comments!) It translates to "rosary", and could work as an honorific for a familial Rose. Actress Rosario Dawson has also brought this name into the spotlight, but Rosario still has its own individuality.

Alicia - Colombia
Alicia peaked at #40 in 1984, and it's been on the decline since. Alice is the current favorite in this family of names! However, switching the pronunciation from English "Ah-lee-sha" to Spanish "Ah-lee-see-ah" adds a bit more elegance and poise. Alicia's meaning is "noble".

Palma - Colombia
A lovely island name, Palma calls to mind swaying palm trees and Easter Sunday - summer and spring all in one. It ranked in the US until 1942, but has been very uncommon since. With Alma and Paloma in play, perhaps pleasant Palma will rise again! It also offers the vintage nickname Polly.

Margarita - Colombia
Though it's feminine and melodic, most English speakers are likely to associate Margarita with the eponymous drink. It means "pearl" or "daisy", and other variations - Margaret, Marguerite, Margot - are more likely to pass the playground test. Still, if you must choose Margarita, try a pet name with style: Rita, Margie, or Meg are unique options today.

Blanca - Peru
For years Southern Blanche reigned supreme, then graceful Bianca took the lead. Could Blanca have a better chance with recent trends favoring Latin names? Blanca has long been a popular choice in Spain - where it currently ranks at #43 - and there have been more than a few fictional Blanca's on television, in movies, and in literature. Time will tell whether Blanca has a shot!

Kwana - Suriname
The only island in Suriname, Kwana's name is derived from a local fish species, which I have been unsuccessful in researching. Kwana has been used as a name sporadically in the United States, probably due to the popularity of ends-in-ANA names and masculine names like Kwame and Kwan. It's absolutely quirky, but friendly and gorgeous.

Tell me your favorites in the comments!

Top Baby Names in Chile

Hola, lectores!

Let's take a trip to the Southern Hemisphere (if you're not there already) for this week's chapter in Global Names! The top names of 2015 for Chile were released last month, and there's quite a few gorgeous options we rarely hear in the US!

I'll be looking at the top 25 names for boys and girls in Chile, choosing five each of my personal favorites that I think could work in the US. I'll also include their English equivalents (if relevant). Vamonos!

Female Names

Florencia - Florence

Currently at #4 in Chile, Florencia is a beautiful, feminine name that isn't ranking on any English-language lists. I think it's a pretty aural mix between retro, adorable Florence and trendy, melodic names like Victoria or Sophia. Florencia means "flourishing", and of course has a lovely floral connotation. It also lends itself to some great nickname options: Flo, Lori, or Sia, for example!

Maite 

A short-form combination of Maria and Teresa, Maite (pronounced "my-TAY" or "MY-teh") is a fabulous, unexpected choice for English speakers. It seems familiar enough with Maddie or Maya, but unique in feeling. I like that Maite is not too frilly or mature, and that it works as an honorific for it's long-form inspirations. According to some sites, it also means "beloved" in Basque. 

Antonella - Antonia

This Italian version of Antonia ranks high in Chile but hardly anywhere else. I think Antonella is a great alternative to Annabella, Isabella, or really any other trendy name that ends in -ella. It could also be a nod to a beloved Anthony! The name has unknown origins, but its mystery doesn't stop it from being an excellent cross-cultural choice. 

Agustina - Augustine

Along with Agatha and Agnes, Agustina is another beautiful long option to get to the cute nickname Aggie. There were 15 little Agustina's born in the US in 2014, so choosing this name would be an uncommon pick! The name comes from Augustus, meaning "esteemed", so there's another plus. Agustina is currently at #9 in Chile. 

Trinidad - Trinity

This name didn't show up on my International Names post, but it definitely should have! Christian favorite and Matrix pick Trinity is currently at #110, so finding alternatives is ideal. The island of Trinidad is just off the coast from Venezuela, giving the name a lovely, geographic connotation. It's also auditorily close to a personal name crush of mine - Soledad. 

Male Names

Agustín - August
Number 1 in Chile, and number 879 in the US, Agustín is a handsome alternative to English-language favorite August. It's also one letter off from fashionable Austin (they both come from the same origin, too). Like the feminine version reviewed above, Agustín has fantastic nickname potential and an elegant meaning.

Alonso - Alphonse
While zippy Alonzo is firmly in the US top 1000, softer Spanish Alonso is a bit further down at #708. But its cool o-ending and extensive series of historical namesakes make it a great find. Meaning "noble and ready", both the Spanish and English variations of the name are exciting picks for any strong little one!

Gaspar - Casper
One of the three Wise Men in the New Testament, Gaspar (and English Casper) is far more wearable than Melchior or Balthasar. Fun fact: it means "treasurer", so it could be a cute pick for any parents with money-related jobs. The initial syllable might turn away some, but it's pronounced "Gahs-PAR". Another popular variant is Jasper!

Renato
Having only heard the feminine version Renata, I was excited to see the masculine equivalent - Renato! It means "reborn", very strong and intriguing - it's definitely a perfect choice for an Easter baby! In addition to Chile, Renato is well-used in Italy and Brazil, so it would be a lovely cross-cultural option.

Ignacio - Ignatius 
Having only recently left the US Top 1000, I think Ignacio could jump right back on the list. St. Ignacio of Loyola is the patron saint of soldiers, and the name could honor any military family members. Ignacio also has a bunch of adorable nicknames: Iggy, Nacho, and Nasi among those I'm familiar with.

Which are your favorites? Tell me in the comments!