Top Baby Names in Brazil

Olá, leitores!

For the next installment in my Global Names series, we'll be headed to lovely Brazil!

Name trends in Portugal show compound names are declining, but I'll focus on one popular set in my girls' name list. The US doesn't include compound names in trends, but I think that data could be very helpful!

Again, I'll include English equivalents to the right. 

Male names

Davi - David

Take away the last letter of an English classic, and what appears but a name with its own personality! Pronounced "Dah-vee", it could be an excellent cousin of Levi or Ravi, with a beautiful meaning to match - "beloved". There are also quite a few Brazilian soccer stars with the name! It's currently at #2 in Brazil, and ranks at #58 in Portugal. 

Bernardo - Bernard

Bernardo dropped off the US top 1000 in 2007, so it's not too dated or unheard of. But it does update the fussy Bernard - the "o" adds a more cross-cultural element. One famous Bernardo is the brother of Maria in West Side Story, and cute nickname Bernie is adorably retro (and culturally relevant). It means "strong as a bear". 

Matheus - Matthew

English variation Matthew has been in the top 20 since 1971 - let's see if we can't find some more unique alternatives! Matheus means "gift of God" and is pronounced "Mah-TAY-oos". It's never ranked on the US top 1000, but there were 50 Matheus' born in the US last year. Other great variants include Matthias, Mateo, and Mathieu. 

Heitor - Hector

Currently at #10 in Brazil, Heitor is a nice Latin alternative to Hunter or Hayden. It means "to hold", and has a few historical precedents - Hector, in legend, was a Trojan warrior who fought the Greeks. One drawback - it's pronounced "Ay-TOR", but it might elicit a "hater" sound. 

Enzo - various

It's a nickname-name, the short form of others like Vincenzo and Lorenzo. On it's own, I like the tone - a bit like Ezra. It also has a stylish "o" ending, and is easy for Americans to pronounce. It's the most popular name on the boys' list: #369 in the US, #11 in Brazil, and #3 in France. 

Female names

Manuela 

One of the feminine forms of Emmanuel, Manuela left the US top 1000 in 1953. But its pretty sound and religious meaning - "God is with us" - could bring it right back up the list. There's been more than a few Manuela's on TV and in the movies, and the international aspect is a major plus. Short form Nelia is also a cool option. 

Maria Eduarda - Mary Edward

A compound name still high on the list in Brazil - currently at #10 - I'm drawn to it based on current trends in the US. While the SSA doesn't count second names in compound names as part of the first, the whole sound fits in with the long name trend - Lilianna, Evangelina, Isabella. And Eduarda is a very unique choice in the US that adds an element of maturity to the whole name. 

Beatriz - Beatrice

As Beatrice begins to climb the list in the US - #601 in 2014 - why not try some international variations? It means "blessed" and has the cute Bea nickname - the "z" at the end adds some extra pizazz. Other nice choices include Beate or Beatrisa. 

Heloísa - Eloise

With Eloise at #300 and Helena at #502, Heloísa would fit in perfectly. It offers dozens of nickname options - Lou, Louise, Lois, Lisa, Isa - and is feminine and classic without being old-fashioned. Heloise might not have the same effect, depending on your age, but it's also a nice option. 

Isadora 

I've reviewed Isadora before, and I can't get enough of this name - especially next to overdone Isabella. Meaning "gift of Isis", Isadora has a lovely melodic sound and a few cute nicknames. It's easy to pronounce, and is recognizable without being too popular - need I go on?

What are your favorites?

Source: List of most popular given names

Saturday Jams: Sweet CAROLINE

Songs for the Caroline (and Carolina) in your life :)

"Sweet Caroline", Neil Diamond, 1969

"Carolina in My Mind", James Taylor, 1968

"Oh, Caroline", Cheap Trick, 1977

"Caroline", Fleetwood Mac, 1987

"Caroline, No", Beach Boys, 1966

"Cocaine Carolina", Johnny Cash and David Allan Coe, 1975

Black Friday Baby Names

Hello, readers!

Hope you're not completely stuffed from yesterday's feast! (At least you Americans ;)) Here's another short post because of the holiday week.

In honor of one of the largest shopping days of the year, here are some brand-name names - when capitalism attacks! The numbers indicate how many babies were named each name last year.

Cartier - 110

Tiffany - 724

Armani - 992

Harley - 1347

Mercedes - 268

Lexus - 73

Jameson - 2623

Dior - 185

Chanel - 448

Chevy - 279

Tesla - 121

Audi - 20

Espn - 16

Nike - 6

Cisco - 13

Apple - 19

Zara - 754

Ford - 244

So Jameson wins, probably due to the James connection, with Harley right behind (sounds like Haley and Marley). Armani comes in third, higher than I expected!

Let me know in the comments if you've heard any others!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today's post isn't too extensive, since it's a holiday, but I'll include some links to other great Thanksgiving name articles and a longer name list at the end.

Thanksgiving Baby Names: The first cool names - Linda Rosencrantz, Nameberry

40 Baby Names Inspired by Thanksgiving - Nadia Carriere, DisneyBaby

Thanksgiving-Inspired Baby Names - Melanie Monroe Rosen, Parents.com

And here are the first names of passengers on the Mayflower!

John 

Isaac

Mary

Bartholomew

Remember

Eleanor

Francis

William

Dorothy

Love

Wrestling

Richard

Peter 

Robert 

Katherine

James 

Humility 

Edward

Sarah

Samuel

Thomas

Moses 

Stephen

Elizabeth

Constance

Giles

Damaris

Oceanus 

Edmund

Christopher

Desire 

Ellen

Jasper

Alice

Priscilla

Joseph

Degory 

Solomon 

Thomas

Henry 

George 

Myles 

Rose 

Elias

Agnes 

Joan

Susanna 

Resolved

Peregrine 

Roger 

Gilbert 

My favorites: Remember, Love, Damaris, Oceanus, and Peregrine.

The X-Names

Hi, readers!

While playing around with my new name database, I've discovered names I've never heard of - but names that at least 5 parents absolutely loved. So, to focus on less-used names, here are the unique X-names I've come across!

Criteria - must start with X, must be between 5 and 10 babies born in 2014 with the name in the US!

Female names

Xanthe

Xochil

Xuan

Xianna

Xiara

Xandrea

Xcaret

Xareni

Xya

Xavianna

Xiadani

Xariah

Xitllali

Xiclali

Xara

Xiamara

Xolani

Xaniya

Xinyi

Xola

Xariyah

Xaniyah

Xylie

Xinyan

Xaylee

Xzariah

Xinyue

Xi

Xinran

Xareny

Xaylie

Xea

Xeniyah

Xinrui

Xyliana

Ximena

Male names

Xaver

Xylon

Xavious

Xxavier

Xaivier

Xavyer

Xzavien

Xzavyer

Xiang

Xayvier

Xzayvion

Xandar

Xylan

Xyon

Xaeden

Xiomar

Xain

Xayne

Xavy

Xyaire

Xaine

Xzayden

Xaniel

Xadyn

Xzaiden

Xaylen

My favorites from the girls' list include: Xanthe ("golden"), Xara, and Ximena ("listener"). My favorites on the boys' side include: Xiomar, Xavy, and Xylon ("forest"). 

Which are your favorites?

Name of Thrones: United Kingdom

Hello, everyone!

To continue my Name of Thrones series - check out Belgium and the Netherlands - we'll be focusing on one of the most recognized royal families in the world, the British House of Windsor. 

They're certainly a family of name trendsetters, and George and Charlotte are just the tip of the iceberg!

George Alexander Louis - Prince of Cambridge

After almost 100 years in the top 50, George was slipping down the list in the US until the birth of the prince turned that trend around - now it's climbing again! It's currently at #134 in the US and #7 in the UK. It means "farmer", and - oddly for the UK - doesn't have many ready nicknames. But if you're looking for something classic and timeless, George does the trick!

Charlotte Elizabeth Diana - Princess of Cambridge

I was over the top excited when I heard the name announcement - such a beautiful, feminine, royal name. And they used Diana!! Charlotte was already climbing in the US when the princess was born, but I think the added popularity could push it further up the top ten. 

Beatrice Elizabeth Mary - Princess of York

The first of an excellent sibset pair, Beatrice was chosen as a family name - the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria was also a Beatrice. It had a small spike the year she was born, 1988, but has really come back into fashion starting in 2006, with the retro-name trend. Beatrice means "she who brings happiness", and has a lot of nickname options! 

Eugenie Victoria Helena - Princess of York

The second of the sibset pair, Eugenie was another Windsor family name that hasn't achieved quite the popularity. Eugenie isn't on either the UK or the US list, so it could make a nice unique name. In France, however, Eugénie is at #286!

Savannah Anne Kathleen

Following an 80's movie, Savannah Smiles, the name started rising through the 90's as an alternative to Samantha - and ultimately become the name of the first great-grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II. Savannah has now been in the Top 50 since 1996, with no plans of moving. On a weird personal note, I became aware of this name through Jimmy Buffett's daughter - one of the first names that surprised me!

Isla Elizabeth

Isla was on the US lists briefly in the early 1900's, but it's popularity in the UK in recent years has made the name all the more popular today! Pronounced "EYE-lah", it means "island" - a great counterpoint to sister Savannah's name, meaning "grassland". 

Zara Anne Elizabeth

My favorite alternative to beautiful classic Sarah, Zara's only drawback is its connection to the clothing chain. It means "princess", appropriately. Zara Phillips Tindall is also an accomplished equestrian, competing in the 2012 Olympics. She named her own daughter Mia (pronounced MY-ah) Grace. 

Elizabeth is the middle name that wins the day - honoring her majesty, Grandmother Windsor.  

Classical Composers, Part Three

Greeting, dear readers (and listeners)!

Alas, our elite November series has come to an end. Check out parts one and two of the Classical Composers series below! And let me know in the comments if there are other artists I missed, classical or otherwise, who would merit another post...

Classical Composers, Part One

Classical Composers, Part Two

Andiamo!

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Still one of the most popular classical musicians, Tchaikovsky was also notable for his ability to combine different musical styles into his own cohesive style. He had great international appeal in Western countries, and is considered a great influence on Russia's entry into the West in the nineteenth century. Pyotr, however, doesn't have quite the cross-cultural appeal - stick with the classic Peter. Ilyich comes from Ilya, a fantastic Russian variant of Elijah.

Giacomo Puccini (Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini)
Puccini probably wins for the most middle names of any classical composer. In a more worldly sense, he's regarded as a giant in Italian operatic history. Tosca, Madame Butterfly (below), and La bohème (later inspiring the musical Rent) are still among the most popular operas performed today. Out of all his names, Giacomo and Domenico are my favorite - Giacomo is the Italian variation of James or Jacob, and Domenico is a variation of Dominic. Both are great alternatives to their popular versions, and fit in with the current Italian trend.

Hector Berlioz
Berlioz was a huge contributor to the modern orchestra, and a central figure in musical Romanticism. He's become more popular in recent years - since 2003, the bicentenary of his birth, many books, recordings and films have been released about Berlioz. The name Hector comes from Greek, meaning "holding fast", and is currently at #291 on the US charts. It's even more prominent in Spanish-speaking countries, giving it a lot of cross-cultural appeal. The name Berlioz was also featured in Disney's The Aristocats!

Georges Bizet (Alexandre César Léopold Bizet)
A French operatic composer, his compositions are also widely recognized today - Carmen has become one of the most popular operas to date. Bizet died young, but even the works during his short career have made him a favorite. Léopold might be a great alternative to the Leo family of names, while still keeping the cute nickname. And Bizet is short enough to make a nice unusual middle name. But of course, Carmen would be a fantastic homage!

Felix Mendelssohn (Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy) - Midsummer
Originally a musical prodigy, this German composer become very popular in the UK - today, he's especially known for the "Wedding March" played at most weddings. He's considered to be very faithful to the classical style and almost conservative in his compositions, which is either great or awful depending on your music tastes! I've expounded on the merits of the name Felix in the past, and I really do think Mendelssohn would make a fantastic middle name.

Johannes Brahms - Lullaby
Grouped with Bach and Beethoven as the "Three B's", Brahms composed "traditional and innovative" compositions during the nineteenth century. He inspired many later composers, and toed the line between classical perfection and personal imagination. Johannes is an elegant alternative to John, and gets to keep the cute nickname Joe or Joey. Brahms wouldn't be too out of place either, especially next to Graham, Bram or Hans.

That's it for today!

Saturday Jams: You Can't HARRY Love

With Henry and Harry rising up the charts, here's some legend-Harry jams! :)

"I'm Just Wild About Harry", Judy Garland, 1939

"Harry's Song", Ringo Starr, 2008

"Harry", Catherine Howe, 2009

"Harry's Place", Bruce Springsteen, 2014

"Harry was a Champion", Chas and Dave, 1985

"Hurry Up Harry", Sham 69, 1978

Film Names: The French New Wave

Bonjour, mes amis!

I write and queue posts about a week in advance, so it was only a couple days ago when I heard the news about Paris (as well as Beirut, Lebanon, etc). It's hard to know how to react at a time like this. A favorite name blogger of mine, Abby Sandel, has a poignant message in her recent Sunday Summary.

Pursue your passions, pursue acceptance and understanding, but most of all, pursue love.

Today's Film Names series post will focus on names found in the films of the Nouvelle Vague, or the New Wave in 1950's and 60's French cinema.

The names are differentiated by role, but there's been definite crossover, so don't consider this list to be perfect!

Directors

Claude Chabrol - Le Beau Serge (1958), Les Biches (1968), La Femme infidèle (1969)

Jean-Luc Godard - Breathless (1960), Vivre Sa Vie (1962), Pierrot le Fou (1965)
Breathless is excellent, if you want to get a great general sense of the New Wave. 

Jacques Rivette - Le divertissement (1952), Paris Belongs to Us (1961)

Éric Rohmer - My Night at Maud's (1969), Claire's Knee (1970)

François Truffaut - Les quatre cents coups (1959), Shoot the Pianist (1960), Jules et Jim (1962)

Alain Resnais - Night and Fog (1955), Hiroshima mon amour (1959), Last Year at Marienbad (1961)
Hiroshima mon amour is a personal favorite film, and many of Resnais' films are taught in Film Studies classes at UC Berkeley. 

Agnès Varda - Cleo de 5 à 7 (1962), Le Bonheur (1965)
Agnès is a beautiful retro name, and Cleo too! Inès is another European variation. 

Writers

Marguerite Duras - Hiroshima mon amour (1959), Seven Days... Seven Nights (1960)
One of my favorite writers of all time, and part of the reason I love the name Marguerite. Other works by Duras include "The Lover" and "Emily L". 

Paul Gégauff - Plein soleil (1960), Salle no 8 (1967), More (1969)

Marilù Parolini - L'amour fou (1969), Strategio del Ragno (1970)
A rare first name! Marilu is absolutely adorable - and sounds a bit like Desilu?

Actors

Anouk Aimée - La dolce vita (1960), Lola (1961), 8 1/2 (1963)
Another name crush! Anouk (or Anouck) is just fantastic!

Brigitte Bardot - Et Dieu crea la femme (1956), Le mépris (1963), Viva Maria! (1965)

Jean-Paul Belmondo - Breathless (1960),  Seven Days... Seven Nights (1960), Pierrot le Fou (1965)

Catherine Deneuve - L'homme à femmes (1960), Belle de Jour (1967), Le Dernier métro (1980)

Jean Seberg - Bonjour tristesse (1958), Breathless (1960), La récréation (1961)

Jean-Pierre Léaud - Les quatre cents coups (1959), Masculin Féminin (1966), Baisers volés (1968)

À bientôt!

Throwback Thursday: The Gettysburg Address

Hello, readers!

Today is the 152nd anniversary of the Gettysburg Address! So, the name theme for today is Civil War personalities. Some of these names have risen, fallen, or stood the test of time - and a few names from the 1860's might sound practically modern!

Fun fact: the city itself was named for early settler Samuel Gettys. Would Gettysburg make a cool patriotic name, or is it totally unusable? Tell me in the comments!

Politicians and Generals

Abraham Lincoln

One of the most popular presidents in American history, what is there to say about Abraham Lincoln that hasn't already been said, written, or filmed? He was named after his paternal grandfather, and a few reports mention he didn't like the nickname Abe - though I think it's cute. Abraham means "father of multitudes", and is becoming popular in the US - over 2,000 Abraham's were born last year. Lincoln is even more popular, with more than double the number of Abe's!

Jefferson Finis Davis

President of the Confederacy, he is generally considered a poor leader in the history of the American South. The names Jefferson and Davis aren't too shabby, though - especially as alternatives to the super popular names of past decades, Jeffrey and David. In other historical trivia, he was married to the daughter of President Zachary Taylor, Sarah Taylor. And his second wife's name was Varina, possibly from a name meaning "integrity". 

Ulysses S Grant (Hiram Ulysses Grant)

A great trivia tidbit for Grant is that he went by Ulysses because he was embarrassed by the initials HUG, though I couldn't find a source for that story. He declared that the S in the middle stood for Simpson, his mother's maiden name, but it was never legally his name. History remembers him as an effective general, but a rather ineffective president, so he and Davis have that in common. There were 171 Ulysses' born last year, but Grant's popularity at #155 has made it the favorite of the names.

Robert Edward Lee
Remembered as a strong general and hero of the Confederacy, I feel as though I've come across thousands of Robert Lee's over the years. Lee is currently at #701, and fits in with many popular single-syllable names - Sam, Max, Ray, etc. More historical trivia - his seven children were named George Washington Custis, Mary Custis, William Henry Fitzhugh, Anne Carter, Eleanor Agnes, Robert Edward, and Mildred Childe.

Influential Women

Harriet Tubman (Araminta Ross)
An incredibly influential abolitionist, former slave, and guide through the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman was born Araminta Ross. She took her mother's name, Harriet, in the 1840's as her own. Araminta's meaning is unknown; it seems to be an old English invention. Tubman was called Minty in childhood, an excellent nickname. Other great names abound in her family: her grandmother was Modesty, and her daughter was Gertie.

Sojourner Truth (Isabella Baumfree)
Sojourner Truth was another former slave and abolitionist, as well as a women's rights activist. She changed her name in 1843 during her religious conversion - Sojourner is French and means "to stay awhile". She was an incredible speaker and personality, and her first name would be great for any strong little girl. It's also very unique - less than 200 Sojourner's have made the US list since the name debuted in 1970.

Clara Barton (Clarissa Harlowe Barton)
A nurse during the Civil War and the eventual founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton would go on to help set up military hospitals in Europe later on. She was known as the "Angel of the Battlefield". Clarissa (and Clara) means "bright" or "clear", and either are great alternatives to the popular Claire. Harlowe is a relatively recent addition to US name trends: it was used for men a few times in the early 20th century, but has been rising for girls since 2006.

Harriet Elisabeth Beecher Stowe
The author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, the popular book that helped generate a new wave of abolitionist power, Stowe remained a prolific writer throughout her life. The second Harriet on this list, the name means "estate ruler". To parallel Lee's summary, her seven hildren were named: Eliza Taylor, Harriet Beecher, Henry Ellis, Frederick William, Georgiana May, Samuel Charles, and Charles Edward.

That's it for today's history lesson!

Berkeley Street Names

Go Bears!

As a UC Berkeley grad and City of Berkeley resident, I find myself fitting Cal landmarks into names - though I'll admit Dwinelle might be hard to use. But the streets around campus are great for ideas!

Here's a list of some of my favorite Berkeley-themed names!

Berkeley
Bancroft
Channing
Blake
Parker
Derby
Carlton
Russell
Ashby
Adeline
Dana
Ellsworth
Morgan
Addison
Kittredge
Virginia
Euclid
Etna 
Stuart
Cedar
Milvia 
Acton
Hawthorne
Morrison
Shasta 
Rose
Sterling
Greyson
Deakin
Hazel
Josephine
Grant
Sather
Stanley
Cory
Haviland
Anthony
Durham
Moses
Simon

Sidenote: there were 85 female and 14 male Berkeley's born last year!

Top Baby Names in Germany

Guten Morgen, Lesern!

Here's the fourth installment of my global names series! These are some of the most popular names in Germany (as of 2014). All of them are outside of the top 250 in the US - and some aren't even on the US list at all!

I'll include the English or other known equivalents next to the names for clarification.

Female names

Lena/Lina
This name - with two spellings in the top 20 - is originally a diminutive of a bunch of other names: Carolina, Helena, Evangelina. Celebrity Lena Dunham of Girls might have brought this to the US, but it's still only at #279. Both names could make great alternatives to popular Lily or Leah, and the cross-cultural factor is a definite plus!

Leonie
With Leo getting popular for boys, why not let the girls have a turn with this lion of a name? The cute -ie ending makes the name friendly, but it's still very unique - only 28 Leonie's were born in the US last year. Check out similar names Lottie, Peony, or Fiona if you like the sound!

Luisa/Louisa
A favorite song of mine growing up was "I Love Louisa", sung by Fred Astaire in The Band Wagon. And as Louisa makes its first appearance on the US top 1000 since 1969, there seem to be a few parents out there who love Louisa too! It means "renowned warrior", has the cute nickname Lou, and could honor a familial Louis or Louise.

Johanna
Another name that has a great musical number equivalent - "Johanna", from Sweeney Todd - this name feels like a timeless classic. Meaning "God is gracious", the lovely -anna ending fits in with modern trends but keeps its vintage appeal. There are tons of great namesake Johanna's too!

Nele/Neele - Cornelia
Pronounced "NEE-lee" or "NEE-leh", this cute diminutive doesn't have too many sound-alike equivalents - Nellie, maybe? It works on its own, but Cornelia might be too elegant of a retro name to pass up. It could also work as a great honorific for a Neil or Cornelius.

Male names

Jonas - Jonah
Number 5 in Germany, but number 500 in the US - perhaps popular Jonah has drawn the attention away from Jonas? In any case, Jonas also means "dove", has a great ends-in-s sound, and was the name of the main character in one of my favorite children's books, The Giver. A great find!

Felix
For so many years, the association with the eponymous cat kept Felix from reaching stardom. And now as it moves up the list, let's focus on its positive attributes! The cool x-ending, dozens of namesakes, and lovely meaning - "lucky, fortunate" - will probably help it move higher. Spanish variation Feliziano is also a great option.

Moritz - Maurice
More accessible than Fritz but cooler than Morris, Moritz is a fantastic option that will stand out in a crowd. It means "dark-skinned", and there are a lot of Saint Moritz's in history. Retro nickname Morrie or preppy nickname Ritz would be cute as well!

Emil 
Take away the Y from one of the most popular girls' names and you get an uber-cool boy's name. Like Emily, it means "rival" and has a lot of international appeal. Other variations include Emile and Emilio - let the boys have a turn!

Philipp - Philip or Phillip
This name allows you to mix and match the L's and P's however you like! Philipp means "lover of horses", and would be way cute for a ranch baby. Nickname Phil is a little dated, so try Pip or Flip. And of course, Philippa and Pippa are getting popular on the other list!

Which are your faves? Any great German names I left out? Tell me in the comments!

Name News: 11/16/15

The most popular girls' names in Tudor England - Medievalists.net
The few years of recorded name statistics before Mary was number one?! Of course, Elizabeth tops the charts, and is still popular today.

Popular Names That Basically Didn’t Exist Before 2000 - Natalie Morin, MooseRoots
This isn't a new article, but I just found it. Name statistics for the win! My favorites are Arabella, Maddox, and Vivienne.

These 20 names get the most right-swipes - Molly Mulshine, Tech Insider
Could your first name influence your popularity on dating apps? Yes, according to this data! Weirdly enough, my name "matches" with Jeff, though I don't personally know too many...

Which names could be popular in 2016? - Lucy BC, Baby Centre UK
This website has released its predictions for UK baby names of next year - on the girls' side, I like Effie, Wren and Astrid; on the boys' side, I like Otto.

Sofia Rises: Baby Name Takes Over the World - Stephanie Pappas, Live Science
It's currently number one in nine countries and number two or three in twenty others - why is Sophia sweeping the globe?

Saturday Jams: AMY Way You Want It

Songs about Amy for your weekend!

"Amie", Pure Prairie League, 1975

"Amy", Green Day, 2012

"Amy", Elton John, 1972

"Song for Amy", Jack Ingram, 2004

"Amy, Amy, Amy", Amy Winehouse, 2003

"Amie", Damien Rice, 2002

Classical Composers, Part Two

Check out Part One here!

I had the fortune yesterday of watching Disney's Fantasia (1940) on the big screen here in the Bay Area, which reminded me to continue this series. Who doesn't love Stravinsky's Rite of Spring explored with dinosaurs?!

Again, each name will include musical accompaniment.

Lass uns gehen!

Claude-Achille Debussy
Associated with Impressionist music, Debussy is known for his innovative compositions, including Clair de Lune - not a bad spelling of Claire if you're looking for a subtle homage! (Or how about Clair Luna?) He was also very influential on later jazz musicians, for those of you interested in music history. Claude is a little dated, the sound isn't great (like the English "clod"), and it means "lame". But Achille is a cool middle name option - it's like Achilles, pronounced Ash-EEL - and Debussy isn't far from Delaney or Destiny.

Johann Sebastian Bach
Now considered one of the greatest composers of all time, Bach was a Baroque musician in the late 17th and early 18th century. He was incredibly prolific - you've probably heard many of his compositions without realizing it. While Johann is a nice alternative to John, the star in his name is Sebastian - currently at #34. Bach is a bit short and lifeless to be a real contender. And in related names, Bach's father's middle name was Ambrosius - a really unusual find!

Franz Joseph Haydn
Wikipedia defines him as "instrumental in the development of chamber music" - a joke I don't think they've realized. Haydn was also friends with Mozart and a teacher of Beethoven - I would have loved to attend one of their social events! I think Haydn is great alternative spelling of Hayden, for any gender, to honor this great composer. And there were less than 200 Franz's born in the last decade - a relatively original choice!

Giuseppe Verdi (Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi)
A composer known for his operas, Verdi was a formidable personality. Today, productions of his work still spark controversy, so if you're looking for a passionate namesake, look no further! Giuseppe is the Italian variation of Joseph, "Jehovah increases", and fits in with current Italian trends in naming. Middle name Fortunino was also the name of an Italian WWI artist, and I haven't been able to find any information on it - very unusual! Verdi, meaning "green", has been used few times over the years - 16 in all of SSA baby name history, and would be an inspired choice.

Gustav Mahler
While his career focused more on conducting than composing, Mahler is still known in his own right for works like his Symphony No. 5. Interestingly, a ban on his music in Nazi Germany (Mahler was Jewish) increased his popularity in the Western world. His wife, Alma Mahler, had an incredibly interesting life, if you like rich biographies. Gustav, meaning "staff of the Goths", is and old-fashioned name with the cute nickname Gus. And Mahler, with its er-ending and easy pronunciation wouldn't be too out of place either!

Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky
Renowned for causing near-riots at his opening of Rite of Spring, this 20th century composer has a legacy continuing to this day. Stravinsky wrote for orchestras and ballets, and is one of the composers honored in Disney's Fantasia. Unfortunately, I don't think any of his three names really fit with today's modern namers: Igor's a bit scary, Fyodorovich inaccessible, and Stravinsky too long. Maybe as middle names, if you're truly trying to honor this artist.

Tune in soon for part three of this series!

Throwback Thursday: Generational Names

Recently, I've stunned friends and colleagues with my ability to guess middle names within one or two guesses - what they don't know is that I survive on statistics! So, to impress your friends and family, memorize these names and dates and start guessing!

I'm also very excited for this post, because it took learning to some early stage programming in order to create a program to calculate name popularity for a date range - while the SSA provides numbers by decade, I wanted a more specific calculation. Shoutout to my coworker Henry for taking the time to painstakingly teach me basic database programming!

The Greatest Generation, 1901-1924    

Mary

Helen

Dorothy

Margaret

Ruth

Mildred

Anna

Elizabeth

Frances

Virginia

John

William

James

Robert

Charles

George

Joseph

Edward

Frank

Thomas

The Silent Generation, 1925-1945

Mary

Barbara

Betty

Patricia

Dorothy

Shirley

Margaret

Helen

Carol

Nancy

Robert

James

John

William

Richard

Charles

Donald

Thomas

George

Joseph

The Baby Boomers, 1946-1964

Mary

Linda

Patricia

Susan

Barbara

Karen

Deborah

Nancy

Donna

Sandra

James

Robert

John

Michael

David

William

Richard

Thomas

Mark

Charles

The Baby Busters, 1965-1980

Jennifer

Lisa

Michelle

Kimberly

Melissa

Amy

Angela

Mary

Heather

Elizabeth

Michael

David

James

John

Robert

Christopher

Jason

William

Brian

Joseph

The MTV Generation, 1975-1985

Jennifer

Jessica

Amanda

Melissa

Sarah

Amy

Heather

Nicole

Stephanie

Michelle

Michael

Christopher

Jason

David

Matthew

James

John

Robert

Joshua

Daniel

The Millennials, 1985-1995

Jessica

Ashley

Amanda

Sarah

Brittany

Jennifer

Samantha

Stephanie

Elizabeth

Emily

Michael

Christopher

Matthew

Joshua

Daniel

David

Andrew

James

Joseph

John

Generation Z, 1996-2010

Emily

Madison

Hannah

Emma

Samantha

Ashley

Olivia

Alexis

Sarah

Abigail

Jacob
Michael
Matthew
Joshua
Christopher
Andrew
Daniel
Joseph
Nicholas
William

Veteran's Day Names

Today, November 11th, is Veteran's Day, where we in the US honor those who have served in the military. I want to extend special gratitude to my own family members who fought overseas.

Today's post will be a simple list of those most popular when WWI ended on November 11, 1918.

Male Names

John
William
James
Robert
Charles 
George
Joseph
Edward
Frank
Thomas
Walter
Richard
Harold
Paul
Raymond
Henry
Arthur
Donald
Albert
Harry

Female Names

Mary
Helen
Dorothy
Margaret
Ruth
Mildred
Virginia
Frances
Elizabeth
Anna
Evelyn
Marie
Alice
Florence
Lillian
Irene
Rose
Louise
Doris
Catherine

Artist Names: Italian Renaissance

Hello, readers!

For my next series, I'll be focusing on the names of famous artists and their relevance as first names today! Obviously, these lists aren't complete - there are too many artists to name! So let me know in the comments who I missed, and what you think about their name.

To Florence!

The Renaissance era in Italy produced some of the most well-known artists and works in the Western world today. Despite the fact that this took place about 500 years ago, creative namers today might want to take inspiration from names then. 

Disclaimer - only male names today. But be on the lookout for female artists in the future!

Leonardo da Vinci

If you've ever heard of the Mona Lisa, you've heard of da Vinci. He was more than an artist - he invented dozens of gadgets, performed experiments, and met with many famous figures of the era - a true Renaissance man. Today, Leo is at #97, Leonardo is at #114, Leon is at #321, and Leonard is at #662 - hardly unique. But if you want to inspire your child to greatness, this name stands the test of time. And if you're really looking for something unusual, why not try the last name? There were 8 little Davinci's born last year, about 74 in the last decade. 

Raphael Sanzio

The wunderkind of the Italian Renaissance, Raphael (known by his first name) was the artist of School of Athens (the painting above) and dozens of paintings at the Vatican. He's known as one of the great masters - check out his artwork online if you get a chance! Today, the name Raphael, meaning "God has healed", is at #596, and Rafael is at #293. Both are lovely, artistic options for any little painting prodigy. 

Michelangelo Buonarroti

While I initially found this name a bit too long, it turns out 74 (there's that number again) little Michelangelo's were born last year. So while it's not in the top 1000, it's not exactly unheard-of. As for the namesake - known for his volatile temper and incredible works of art, including the Sistine Chapel ceiling, Michelangelo was considered the greatest living artist during his lifetime. The name is a reference to the archangel Michael, a warrior angel. 

Giotto di Bondone

One of the first artists of the Renaissance, Giotto is credited with being one of the first artists to draw "from life", complete with perspective and lighting. His name means "pledge of peace", and Giotto is the Italian variation of former-star Jeffrey. If you're looking for a name to honor a familial Jeff, but not something found on a playground already, try Giotto. It also fits in well with rising Giovanni or Giacomo, but hasn't appeared in any US name data at all. 

Sandro Botticelli

My favorite painting of the Renaissance is Botticelli's Primavera, and readers might also know The Birth of Venus. He's incredibly graceful and soft with his paintings - who wouldn't want to look like his Venus? Sandro is short for Alessandro, currently at #623, and I think the long name is better on a birth certificate. But the short form is an absolutely adorable nickname. 

Titian (Tiziano Vecelli)

There's a shade of red hair dye named after him, which might be due to his extensive portraits of red-headed women. Titian's paintings are sumptuous and detailed, proving his interest in color. On the name side, though, no data has been collected for any little Titian's. The name isn't too far off from Tyson or Tina, so it might make a nice option. The Italian version Tiziano was used for 26 babies last year, and it means "title of honor". 

Literary Names: The Baby-Sitters Club

In the fall, I'm always reminded of my elementary school days and book fairs. One of my favorite series was Ann M. Martin's The Baby-Sitters Club!

For those of you unfamiliar with the series, it focuses on the shenanigans of four (then more) best friends who run a babysitting service in their town. As a kid, it inspired me to pursue babysitting as soon as I got old enough. It was also a great example of a bunch of very different girls forming friendships and coming of age. 

I'll be focusing on the five main characters, though a few more enter and exit throughout the series. 

Let's begin!

Kristin "Kristy" Amanda Thomas..... Zoe Ellen

Kristy always struck me as an all-American girl, outgoing and determined. When the books were published, Kristin was in the 30's on the US top 1000, so I picked another name found in the same place today - Zoe. Because of Zoe's zippy beginning and vowel-ending, I chose a more substantial name for the middle, as well as to match her bright personality: Ellen, meaning "shining light". 

Claudia Lynn Kishi..... Iris Kahlo

For the most creative member of the group, I chose an artistic name - Iris means "rainbow" and its uniqueness speaks to Claudia's personality, while Kahlo directly references a strong female artist of the 20th century, Frida Kahlo. I'd also be interested to know if any readers skilled in Japanese names have suggestions that reference Claudia's identity as a Japanese-American girl?

Mary Anne Spier..... Serena Sibley

I wanted a name that was quiet and calm like Mary Anne, and Serena fits the bill - three-syllables, with similar consonants, and a meaning to match. Sibley comes from Sybil, or "seer" - Mary Anne is the secretary who records everything, and her last name means "to watch". She is also inspired by author Ann M. Martin's own personality - I love the idea of the author as omniscient narrator. 

Anastasia "Stacey" Elizabeth McGill..... Sophia Chanel

This was the first name I thought of for the series. Stacey is fashionable and trendy, with the girls mentioning multiple times that she's "from New York" and therefore more sophisticated. I thought Sophia referenced that well, and Chanel is more of a nod to her interests. 

Dawn Read Schafer..... Eos Catalina

Probably the most unusual name in the group, I picked Eos to honor Dawn's original name - it means "dawn", and she's singled out in a few books as the newcomer or outsider. Catalina refers to her California heritage - for those unaware, Catalina Island is about 26 miles from Los Angeles. The short, consonant-ending first name goes well with the long, vowel-ending middle name, too.

Tell me your thoughts in the comments!

Saturday Jams: LOUIE, LOUIE

Today's songs are for the Louie or Louis in your life!

"Louie, Louie", The Kingsmen, 1963

"Brother Louie", Stories, 1973

"Captain Lou", NRBQ, 1970's

"Louisiana Lou and Three Card Monty John", The Allman Brothers Band, 1975

"Hey, Louis Prima", the Brian Setzer Orchestra, 1996