Film Names #1 - Early Cinema

I grew up watching tons and tons of old black-and-white movies with my dad. The memories have stayed, and so has the film addiction! I consider myself a huge movie and television buff, but I lack a formal education in film. So I'm taking an Intro to Film class for fun at my local community college!

I'll be collecting names throughout the semester and posting them, along with their related movies. Maybe you'll find a new favorite flick or a new favorite name! Keep checking in :)

Male

Nicéphore Niépce - credited inventor of photography
Nicéphore means "carrying victory".

Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre - inventor of the daguerrotype

Eadweard Muybridge - pioneer in the study of recorded motion
He was born Edward, but believed Eadweard to be the Anglo-Saxon spelling. 

Amasa Leland Stanford - American industrialist
Though he went by Leland, his given name Amasa means "burden" in Hebrew. 

Auguste Marie Louis Nicolas Lumière - one of the first filmmakers in history

Georges Méliès - A Trip to the Moon (1902), The Impossible Voyage (1904)

Edwin Porter - The Great Train Robbery (1903), The Prisoner of Zenda (1913)
Zenda is a Persian name meaning "sacred". 

Oscar Devereaux Micheaux - first major African-American filmmaker, Body and Soul (1925)
Devereaux means "riverbank". 

Sergei Eisentstein - Battleship Potemkin (1925)

More common names: Thomas Edison, Samuel Morse, William Dickson, George Eastman, Louis Lumière, Robert Wiene

Female

Charlotte "Lotte" Reiniger - The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926)
Lotte pioneered animation over a decade prior to Walt Disney. 

More common names: Alice Guy-Blanche

All You Need Are Beatles Names, Part One

As a Beatles fan, I am only too aware of the four-name recitation "John, Paul, George, Ringo". While they aren't all immediately recognized by their first names (Ringo excluded), these four men are instantly known when put together.

With over 200 original songs and over 300 recorded songs, they managed to slip in a few names over the band's career. For this post series, I'll be focusing on only their original compositions and only songs with names in the title. Perhaps a name homage to the greatest band ever can be found in their lyrics?

For more cool Beatles name lists, check out Appellation Mountain and Nameberry.

Eleanor Rigby
Eleanor has always been a favorite name, and this is one of my favorite Beatles tunes! While the namesake in the song comes to an untimely end, there are a few real-life Eleanor's that were much stronger - Eleanor Roosevelt and Eleanor of Aquitaine, for example. It also allows for two cute (albeit popular nicknames) - Ellie and Nora. The only drawback is that the meaning isn't great - it translates to "the other Aenor", which isn't exactly inspirational.

Lovely Rita
A diminutive of Margarita, which means "pearl", Rita is an excellent cross-cultural choice - it's found in dozens of languages. Rita sank from its height of #42 in 1930 all the way to #919 in 2002 before dropping off the list. But with other 1930s names getting popular - Frances, Evelyn, Ruby - perhaps it's time for a comeback?

Sexy Sadie
Sadie has jumped over the past few years into the top 50. It's got a great sound and a great meaning - "princess" - that any little girl would love. The only drawback is probably its popularity; I for one can see this name continuing to rise up the charts. But don't let the song fool you - Sadie isn't just "sexy", it's also sweet and spunky.

Julia
Another name that's been rising up the charts, Julia's enduring popularity might mean that it's time for a break. But since it has a feminine sound and pretty meaning - "youthful" - why not try other related names? Juliet is more romantic; Juliette is more romantic and French; Julianne is elegant; Juliana/Giuliana is flowery and exotic; July is unique. And then there are the male versions - Julius, Julian, Jules and Julio, to name a few.

Dear Prudence
I'm rather conflicted on Prudence - I love the song and the strong meaning, but the sound is a little crotchety. It doesn't lend itself to nickname either - Pru sounds too much like "prune" to me! I would focus more on other, more modern, virtue names - Amity, Honor, Prosper, Felicity, Serenity.

What are your favorite Beatles-related names? Be on the lookout for two more posts in the near future!

Beatles Names - Part 2

Beatles Names - Part 3

Saturday Jams #3: ANNIE Song Will Do

Some songs about Annie for your Labor Day weekend!

"Annie", Mat Kearney, 2009

"Annie, I Owe You a Dance", Tim McGraw, 2013

"Annie's Song", John Denver, 1974

"Annie Use Your Telescope", Jack's Mannequin, 2008

"Annie", Vanessa Carlton, 2004

"Dreamboat Annie", Heart, 1976

"Sweet Annie", Zac Brown Band, 2012

Literary Names #3: The Importance of Being Earnest

Oscar Wilde, one of my favorite authors, was well known in his day for biting one-liners and quick takedowns of the pretentious London nobility. There is no play that illustrates his wit better than The Importance of Being Earnest. And with a pun on names central to the plot, how could I miss the chance to make it my newest installment of Literary Names?

Let's begin!

Jack "Ernest" Worthing..... Erno Terach
Since Jack has no problems with its popularity, I decided that deriving from Ernest would be more of a challenge. Erno is the Finnish version of the name, with the trendy trait of ending-in-O. Erno is also the first name of Erno Rubik, of the Rubik's Cube, and I thought a play with so many twists and turns would find it a nice homage. Terach means "silly old fool", which describes Jack's character perfectly. I also like the sound of a closed-end middle name with an open first.

Algernon Moncrieff..... Zephaniah Winslow
This is very much a stretch, but it was hard to find names related to Algernon - "mustachioed man" - and Moncrieff - "hill covered by trees". I decided that since both names related to something hidden (a face and a hill), I'd choose a name that meant hidden - Zephaniah, "God has hidden". Winslow means "friend's hill", which relates to both the original last name and the friendship between the two main characters.

Gwendolen Fairfax..... Gwynna Finley
With alternative spelling Gwendolyn rising up the charts (currently at #420), finding a unique version of this name wasn't too hard - I like the very Welsh version, Gwynna. Fairfax means "blond", as does Finley. The double "in" sound of the name is a bit silly, but so is Gwendolen's character - ditzy, romantic and funny.

Cecily Cardew..... Cecilia Darcy
While Cecily is very cute, I though going back to the long feminine version might be more fun for the naive young woman in Wilde's play. Both names mean "blind", another reference to the obliviousness of the character. Cardew and Darcy both mean "dark fortress", and the peppy Darcy livens up the classic Cecilia. I think this name could actually be found on a birth certificate!

Lady Bracknell..... Fernanda Grady
Lady Bracknell is a rather rich, pompous character, so I wanted a name that would fit both her age and relate to the original name. Bracknell means "where the ferns grow", so I decided on Fernanda. The name also means "bold voyager", and "bold" is spot-on. Grady means "noble", and I like the "gray" sound in it to match her old age.

Miss Prism..... Iris Rin
Immediately upon hearing the word prism, I think of rainbows. While Rainbow isn't an unheard-of name, I wanted something a little more mature and conservative, but still feminine. Iris fits the bill - it means "rainbow" and is currently at #245. I wanted a middle name that defined more about her character, and I found Rin, a Japanese name that means "dignified, severe or cold".

Rev. Canon Chasuble..... Prescott Churchill
For a many whose name refers to the religious clothes he wears, I thought going full-religious might be fun. Prescott means "priest's cottage", and Churchill means - you guessed it - "hill of the church". I think the two names together are also a little stuffy, like the reverend himself.

Tell me what you think in the comments! And be on the lookout for more Wilde posts in the coming weeks.

Throwback Thursday #2: Counting Z's

Z names have gotten a bit stuck in the mud these days - how many alternate spellings of Zachary and Zoey will rise through the charts? Zane and Zayden have provided a much-needed break, but are there Z names in history that are ready for a comeback?

I'll only be focusing on girls' names, since there weren't too many boys' names listed (the above graph that shows Zayn in the 1880's is actually in error!)

Zainab - "beautiful"
This attractive Arabic name has popularity in Islamic culture due to its connection to relatives of the prophet Mohammed. An unusual b-ending rounds out this feminine name - other than Jacob, nothing is jumping to mind that's similar. I'd recommend this highly, especially those looking for something religious, unique, or meaning-oriented.

Zahra - "flower"
An excellent alternative to Sarah, this lovely name might have a few drawbacks - spelling will always be an issue, and the connection to celeb-baby Zahara Jolie-Pitt might raise some eyebrows. But in the right place, it could work wonders.

Zella - "lacking nothing, one who knows the way"
This name comes from the central African language Bobangi, and could be a great way to honor connections to the area. Zella isn't too far off from popular Bella or Ella, either, and won't be out of place on a playground.

Zelda - "gray fighting maid"
Zippy and bold, Zelda is a great choice for a confident, daring little girl. The connection to both the eponymous video game and writer Zelda Fitzgerald of the Jazz Age will let the name age gracefully with its carrier.

Zelma - "God helmet"
Doesn't have quite the pizazz of Zelda or Zella, but could be a great way to honor an Anselm. The auditory connection to Selma might also be a plus.

Zora - "dawn"
Fantastic sound, fantastic meaning, fantastic namesake - Zora Neale Hurston, the author of Their Eyes Were Watching God. This Z-name deserves an emphatic comeback.

Zula - derived from Zulu, a South African tribe
In the lower 300's as of 1880, this name dropped off the charts entirely in 1936. Strong and memorable, it's definitely worth looking over.

What are your favorite Z-names?

Name News - 9/2/15

Now that this "hobby" of name interest has become more of an active activity, my friends, family and coworkers have been tagging me in all sorts of name-related news articles. Some of these are just fun to read, while others spark debate - what does it mean when the popularity of Mohammed (and it's alternate spellings) aren't advertised in name news?

I'd love to hear your views on these articles in the comments, please reach out!

Game of Thrones Baby Names Are All the Rage - Megan Friedman, Esquire
Pop culture baby names are on the rise in the UK - is Khaleesi a one-hit wonder, or the beginning of a popular, acceptable name trend?

Mohammed, not Oliver, is UK's Most Popular Baby Name for Boys - Archbishop Cranmer
A very opinionated article - let's quit name-shaming, shall we? - on the rise of Islamic names in Western countries, as we enter into a multicultural world.

Jenna Bush Hager welcomes second daughter - named after George HW - Eun Kyung Kim, Today
(Autoplay video warning) Now that Poppy has crossed the Atlantic in a very public way, will we be seeing trends similar to those in the UK?

Benedict Cumberbatch And Wife Sophie Hunter Reportedly Name Baby Son Christopher Carlton - Minyvonne Burke, International Business Times
Another celebrity baby name in the news, but this time more traditional. Could tradition be the next trend?

Teenager lives up to a science-inspired name - Carrie Seidman, Herald-Tribune
We've heard of life imitating art, but rarely life imitating... names?

This man’s name means 'God,' and he’s being asked to change it - Herb Scribner, Deseret News
What are your thoughts on "name laws" in various nations? Gender, politics and religion often enter into the rules a country lays down, but when is it protecting the child and when is it censorship?

That's it for today!

Medieval French Names

As a recovering French Lit student, I've come across quite a few French names that send me rushing to the Internet - "Guillaume is related to William? Of course!" Some names seem to defy modern or Anglicized translations, though, and many of those I've found in medieval French texts.

Chrétien de Troyes, Marie de France, Jean Bodel and Christine de Pisan are just some of the authors I've drawn from to make this list. Some names are not uncommon, while others seem totally unique. And quite a few can be found in the Tales of King Arthur!

Female

Iseult
Igraine
Elaine
Blanchefleur
Laudine
Lunete
Claris
Fresne
Codre
Guinevere
Christine
Jehanne
Yvette
Marions
Yvonne
Nicolette

Male

Jehans
Perceval
Guios
Yvain
Flore
Tristan
Roland
Guigemar
Equitan
Lanval
Rogaus
Eliduc
Brendan
Aucassin
Gautier
Gille

What are some of your favorite French names, old and new?

Online sources: Old French Literature, Medieval French Literature, History of French Literature