First Names of the First Ladies #3

Hello, readers!

On to Part 3! Today's list includes current First Lady Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, whose middle name comes from her grandmother. I haven't been able to find out what inspired her first name, other than its popularity - it was #23 the year she was born. That's like Zoey today!

If you haven't read parts one and two of this week's series, check them out here:

First Names of the First Ladies #1

First Names of the First Ladies #2

Let's begin!

Louisa (Adams)

After a 35-year absence, Louisa jumped back on the top 1000 in 2014. Why the comeback? Louisa has that lovely combination of vintage style, literary credibility, and strength in sound - even the meaning is "renowned warrior". Louisa also lends itself to nicknames Lulu or Louie, since Steel Magnolia's "Ouiser" is a little out of the question. 

Lucretia (Garfield) 

The most famous namesake is probably Lucrezia Borgia, whose reputation as a femme fatale has been called into question recently. Still, the name has an air of Machiavellian intrigue to it; it helps that the name most likely comes from Latin for "wealth". There are a few Lucrezia's born each year, but Lucretia hasn't returned on the heels of Renaissance recreations. 

Lucy (Hayes)

The slightly-less-popular antiquated alternative to Lily, Lucy has been revived in recent years because of its adorable aura. Dozens of Lucy's, factual and fictional, pepper historical records. There are songs and television shows and comics about Lucy - beware of name fatigue! However, Lucy is a definite classic, and won't be out-of-date for a very long time. 

Mamie (Eisenhower)

Originally a short form of Mary, Mamie joins sisters Sadie and Maisie in the category of "Cute, Friendly, and Retro". Only 22 little girls were named Mamie last year, so it's far from trendy, but it maintains familiarity and accessibility. Mamie could be an excellent unexpected honorific, too! Fun fact: Mamie Eisenhower had the middle name Geneva. 

Margaret (Taylor, Wilson)

Like Elizabeth and Mary, Margaret is a top-tier timeless English name. The name means "pearl" or "daisy", and has dozens of international variants - Margarita, Margot, Marguerite. Margaret is also notorious for its nickname options: Peggy, Maggie, Mae, Rita, Greta, and Daisy. If you're looking for a beautiful but flexible feminine name, Margaret is fabulous. 

Martha (Washington, Jefferson)

While it ranked in the top 100 until 1965, Martha has been on the decline for awhile. Does that mean it's dated or ready for revival? Positives - the pretty vintage sound, the many namesakes, and its relative lack of use. Negatives - for some, Martha Stewart owns the name, and it's not far from less popular retro names like Bertha or Maureen. 

Mary (Lincoln, McElroy, McKee)

The number one girls' name for hundreds of years, Mary was the unparalleled choice for English speakers (especially those who were/are Christian). These days, however, Mary is almost unique among little girls - even though it's at #124 in the top 1000, many go by their middle names. Still, it's well-established and well-worn by hundreds of inspiring women. 

Michelle (Obama)

A go-to seventies name, along with Jennifer and Melissa, Michelle is the feminine variation of boys' classic Michael. It's French sound and delightful affability made for a popular pick, but alternate variation Michaela (and its many spellings) have won out in recent years. For a rarer choice, check out other Michael-related options: Mischa, Mika, or Mickey. 

Nancy (Reagan)

"No angel could replace / Nancy with the laughing face" sang Frank Sinatra in 1944. Indeed, Nancy was irreplaceable for the 1930's through the 1960's. But Nancy is now the lowest it's been on name charts, with little sign of resurgence in the US. In the UK, however, Nancy is at #90, with Brits loving the cute, old-fashioned nickname for Ann. 

Priscilla (Tyler)

What I would argue to be the most frilly name in the Bible, Priscilla has been in use for centuries. It means "ancient", fittingly, and there are tons of namesakes who've donned it with pride: Priscilla Presley, Priscilla Tolkein (yes, that Tolkein), and Priscilla Chan, to name a few. The nickname Cilla is preferable to "Miss Priss", in my opinion, but to each their own!

Rose (Cleveland)

Floral and feminine, classic and cultured, elegant and enduring - Rose has championed the flower names for years. While Lily and Violet win out these days, Rose is perfect for any age in any era. International variations and pet names abound, but the original is lovely. "A rose by any other name" might not smell as sweet as this choice!

Sarah (Jackson, Polk)
According to the Old Testament, God changed Sarai's name to Sarah, and a womanly standard was born. Sarah, meaning "princess", has never dipped below #120 on the top 1000. It's pretty and polished, but might be too commonplace for some name aficionados. Variations include Zara, Sallie, Tzeitel (of Fiddler on the Roof fame), and Sarita.

Thelma (Nixon)
The origins of this name are murky, but it became popular in the late nineteenth century after it was used for the heroine of a British novel. Thelma today is associated with the decades of the 1910's through the 1930's - retro but still a little too close. While many know the name as Geena Davis' character in Thelma and Louise, it may be too early to tell if this name could have a comeback.

Phew! Tell me what you think of this series in the comments :)

First Names of the First Ladies #2

Hello, readers!

Today's post is Part 2 of yesterday's post - First Names of the First Ladies #1. Check out the first post if you haven't yet, and tune in for the third and final post tomorrow!

The above photo includes First Ladies (from left to right) Nancy Reagan, Lady Bird Johnson, Hillary Clinton, Rosalynn Carter, Betty Ford, and Barbara Bush, taken in May of 1994. 

Let's begin!

Florence (Harding)

This lovely name is on the rise again, and I predict it will break into the top 1000 next year (bets, anyone?) Florence means "blooming" or "prosperous", and it quite fits in with the retro trends - Daisy, Beatrice, and Dorothy, for example. While it is rather flowery and feminine, it still holds an air of elegance and strength - perfect for any little girl. 

Frances (Cleveland)

Once old-fashioned, Frances has managed to rise quickly thanks to more than a few celebrity babies. More stylish than Francesca but not as dowdy as Fran, Frances walks the middle ground with grace and poise. The nickname Frankie is also uber-cute and tomboyish. There are millions of historical namesakes, so just pick your favorite!

Grace (Coolidge)

A beautiful virtue name without impossibly high standards - Chastity, Prudence, Modesty - the name Grace has always been an American favorite. It's simple enough for complicated middle or last names, but doesn't lack anything in having only one syllable. Grace is short and sweet, and will probably be used for my future kid(s) - my middle name is Grace. 

Harriet (Lane)

Classic and abundantly literary, Harriet hasn't made the top 1000 in awhile; it's been surpassed by its nickname, Hattie. But Harriet is a force to be reckoned with - namesakes Stowe and Tubman give it a courageous history, the meaning of "estate ruler" grounds it in power, and its sound is ladylike but determined. Pretty soon, we'll all spy Harriet on our lists. 

Helen (Taft)

While I reviewed English variation Ellen yesterday, Helen is closer to the original Greek. The daughter of Leda and Zeus, Helen of Troy is known as the most beautiful woman of her time. Today, Helen is on the decline, but it's by no means dated or fusty. Names Helena, Nellie, Leni and Olena are among the many versions of this established choice. 

Hillary (Clinton)

She really needs no introduction - if you haven't heard, she's running for president - and she may be the most famous Hillary in history! The name began to decline when it was associated with her as the First Lady in the 1990's, but its meaning of "cheerful" and upbeat sound are still nice to consider. I do warn against choosing this name, at least until there are a few more namesakes attached to it. 

Ida (McKinley)

With names like Ava and Ada sweeping through birth announcements, Ida would fit right in! It means "hardworking" and has a kind of vintage tenacity about it. Ida is simple and easy to pronounce, and it is currently rather popular in Scandinavian countries. Namesake Ida Lupino was an early director in Hollywood at a time when women were even less accepted as bosses - girl power!

Jacqueline (Kennedy)

It jumped almost 70 places in the first two years of the Kennedy administration - needless to say, Jackie Kennedy had a major impact. Jacqueline only recently left the top 200, and might still be too popular for some namers to choose. However, Jacqueline is a distant female form of James, and could be used as a familial honorific. 

Jane (Pierce)

With over 1100 little Jane's born last year, its no surprise that this once plain name has totally reworked its image. Jane, like Jean and Joan, is a feminine variation of John, but somehow surpasses the other three names in grace and fortitude. Jane Austen is one literary example, but Jane abounds in all aspects of popular culture. 

Julia (Tyler, Grant)

It's only recently traded popularity with sister Julie, but Julia has a long history of loveliness. Ancient Rome was full of powerful Julia's, Julia's are plentiful in athletics and theater, and even the Beatles wrote an ode to one (John Lennon's mother, Julia Lennon). It means "youthful", and will age well with the wearer. 

Laura (Bush)

A solid, upstanding, womanly name, Laura only recently began to fall out of favor - don't worry, it's still in the top 400. Another name found in all contexts, Laura comes from the Latin for "bay laurel". It's been in use since at least the ninth century, though I'd imagine many young female Americans were introduced to the name via Laura Ingalls Wilder. 

Letitia (Tyler)

I was very surprised to find Letitia on this list - it's so much more ornate than many of the subdued classics here! It means "happiness", and offers cute nicknames Lettie and Tish. The original, even more decorated form is Laetitia, and Lettice was used occasionally in England (though the whole vegetable connection is a bit too close for comfort). 

Lou (Hoover)

What luck! I completed a whole post on Lou last week - check it out here!

Tune in tomorrow for the final post on this topic!

First Names of the First Ladies #1

Greetings, readers!

Today's post is the beginning of a three-parter, inspired by an article I read last week - Do First Ladies Influence the Popularity of Baby Names? The answer is, incidentally, a little bit: names tend downward in the years after an American First Lady enters the public sphere, but they were going to trend downward anyway because of generational differences. In any event, their first names are no less interesting!

Because of the overlap in names, I'll be listing the first names in alphabetical, not chronological, order. Some presidents had multiple First Lady counterparts, too! If you're interested in their respective husbands, check out my past post on presidential last names: Throwback Thursday: Presidential Names #1. 

Let's begin!

Abigail (Adams, Fillmore)

This lovely classic needs no introduction - it's in the top ten in the US and the top 100 everywhere else! (English-speaking countries, of course). It's got nice nicknames, an abundance of namesakes, and an elegant sound. It's only drawback is its popularity! Still, this name could make it all the way to #1, next to Charlotte or Amelia - only time will tell. 

Angelica (Van Buren)

While it hasn't reached the popularity of sister names Angela and Angelina, I think Angelica might be rising sooner than later. The fantastic character of Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton is one reason, with the other being that Rugrats has been off the air for quite a few years now... (can you tell I'm a Millennial?) Angelica is currently at #425, and has ranked in the US since 1959. 

Anna (Harrison)

A personal favorite (my mom's name is Nancy, so I tend towards the Ann names), Anna is the leading member of its family - save for the Hebrew original, Hannah. It means "grace", and it more than embodies its meaning with a melodic sound, simple structure, and historical usage. There are dozens of less popular variations with excellent qualities, too!

Barbara (Bush)

Another classic, but the prevailing opinion among name experts is that it's still too soon for the name to come back into fashion (I happen to agree). It still has a housecoat on, in my view. If you're looking for a way to honor a familial Barbara, try these on: Varvara or Varya, the Russian variants; Babette, a French diminutive; Elodie or Xenia, which include Barbara's origin meaning, "foreign". 

Caroline (Harrison)

We've got songs about its sweetness and a bunch of presidential street cred. Caroline currently ranks higher than both Carolina and Carolyn, and manages to stay timeless unlike decade-oriented Carol or Carly. It's a fabulous name that can be personalized with a million pet names: Carrie, Cara, Carla, Callie, Lina, you name it!

Claudia (Johnson)

While the First Lady was better known as "Lady Bird", her actual prénom was the strong and feminine Claudia. As a fan of meanings, I was disappointed to find out the name means "crippled", but it might work for an uncommon type! Other finds - Gladys is a version of this name, and variants Claudina or Claudette might help the name express more individuality. 

Dolley (Madison)

With Molly and Holly so widely used, it is unfortunate that similar Dolley has been tainted by the musical (and references to toys). It's a short form of Dorothy or Dolores, both of which look better on paper, admittedly, but it's so spunky and retro that I find myself liking it more and more. The extra E in the middle relates it directly to Mrs. Madison, too!

Edith (Roosevelt, Wilson)

Riding the wave of the vintage trend, Edith has been jumping up the top 1000 list since 2009. It's sturdy but stately, retro but refined, unmistakable but unpopular (all right, I'll stop). Edith could honor an Ed (-ward, -win, or -gar) in your family, or stand on its own as a substantial pick. Diminutives Eddie or Edie are also cute on a little girl. 

Eleanor (Roosevelt, Carter)

Along with a few names listed below (and some not on this list), Eleanor is one of the names in the top 100 with the trendy Ellie nickname. If you want to choose this beautiful, independent-woman name, I recommend trying a different short form, like Nora or Leni. Eleanor has been my favorite for awhile, and I still haven't given up on it yet!

Elizabeth (Monroe, Truman, Ford) and Eliza (Johnson)

While I briefly considered giving Eliza its own entry, it really is too closely linked to its originator. Elizabeth, the era-less epitome of feminine names, is currently at #13. It manages to age with its wearer while not leaning too old or young, and offers a ton of nicknames and variations to help it achieve a sense of uniqueness. Eliza, one of those short forms, is upbeat and passionate, a lovely choice. This name will never go out of style. 

Ellen (Wilson)

It's been on the decline for awhile, but it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility. Ellen is the English form of Helen, and ranks a bit higher overseas. There are quite a few namesakes in the past and present to draw inspiration from - Ellen Degeneres, Ellen Page, Ellen Pompeo - as well as fictional idols, too!

Emily (Donelson)

As a lifelong bearer of the name, I highly recommend it. Yes, it was the top girls' name for about 20 years, and yes, you probably know about ten Emily's other than me. But it's so feminine, pretty, and friendly! (Not-so-subtle nudging to name your kid after me, friends who are reading this!)

Sidenote: I am realizing just now that my preferred name aesthetic for girls appears to be First Lady first names. More on this story as it develops. 

Tune in tomorrow for Part 2!