Famous Fictional Bookworms - Sara, Matilda, Belle

Hello, readers!

One thing I've noticed from my time in the name community is how many name nerds discovered their passion through reading. It makes sense - if you're exposed to dozens of different character names, you're likely to find their names interesting and/or meaningful. I'm definitely a part of this group, and one of my favorite character types was that of the Female Bookworm.

Bookish and nerdy but headstrong and opinionated, these ladies were inspirations in my youth - and now inspire some fantastic name ideas! Why not name a child/pet/character after someone with smarts and personality?

Matilda
Full disclosure - I've never read Matilda, by Roald Dahl. A brief clip of the film version frightened me at a young age, and I never got the courage to try the book. Still, Matilda (Wormwood) Honey is frequently cited as one of the most influential bookworms, and for good reason - her devotion to books despite constant derision is moving. Her sweet name also has the courageous meaning of "battle-mighty," making it a lovely choice that balances strength and style.

Velma
Who doesn't love a character whose catchphrase is "My glasses, my glasses!"? Velma from Scooby-Doo frequently got the gang out of trouble with her intelligence and cunning. Being that this sassy name last peaked in 1912, Velma could gain popularity along the same lines as Alma and Zelda.

Belle
Though her name literally means "beautiful," Belle is definitely the most bookish out of all the Disney princesses. Then again, were any of the others given access to a gigantic castle library, they'd probably follow suit! Belle returned to the top 1000 this year - its vintage sound and bright spirit matches its kindness.

Hermione
The heroine of the Harry Potter series, Hermione has practically become an identity for fans of the books. Her early preoccupation with exams turns into a passion for knowledge over time, and she's an excellent example for young nerds. Unfortunately, her name is so unique that it's hard to bestow upon a child - perhaps in a decade or two, Hermione will soar.

Connie
Friendly yet formidable, Connie is Steven's well-read best friend in Cartoon Network's Steven Universe. Though the audience discovers that Connie's strict parents are the reason for her fixation on school, she certainly enjoys learning for learning's sake. Connie is a diminutive of Constance, and neither appealing name currently ranks in the top 1000.

Anastasia
I devoured the Anastasia Krupnik books in elementary school - precocious and blunt, Anastasia appealed to me on a personal level. She frequently mentions books, from Gone With the Wind to The Interpretation of Dreams, and uses her intelligence to help solve the problems in her dramatic twelve-year-old life. Once frilly, Anastasia has become a popular, elegant name in today's world.

Josephine (Jo)
The oldest American bookworm on this list, Jo March was based on the author of Little Women, Louisa May Alcott. Of the book's four sisters, Jo is the best read and the most bold, and (spoiler alert) ends up writing a few books of her own. While Josephine and Josie rank in the top 300, nickname Jo is perfect for tenacious and boisterous girls.

Gretchen
For fans of the Disney cartoon Recess, Gretchen was the smartest (and arguably most mature) of the crew. In fact, one episode shows Gretchen besting her teachers in a battle of knowledge. While the name Gretchen has never been very popular, it did have a brief peak in the early 1970's. It's originally a short form of Margaret, and it has an amicable and adorable sound.

Sara
Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess introduced many readers to Sara Crewe, a formerly rich little girl left penniless and forced to find her own way in the world (with the help of a few friends). Sara's cleverness and warmth towards others ultimately helps her more than money - an excellent lesson for young readers. The simpler version of the Biblical classic, Sara is especially great as a cross-cultural pick.

Liesel
The titular heroine of The Book Thief, Liesel Meminger is a bright young girl enamored with books in the midst of WWII Germany. Many have heard this charming name via The Sound of Music, but Liesel is actually a diminutive of the perennially popular Elizabeth. Liesel is unusual but accessible, the kind of name that will fit all kinds of personalities.

Suzy
In Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom, Suzy Bishop runs away from home with just a suitcase full of books - we've all been there, haven't we? Though Susan is taking a well-deserved break, cute Suzy fits in with current retro names like Sadie or Sylvie. Might this nickname become a possibility in our modern age of diverse names?

Jane
The original fictional female bookworm (correct me in the comments), Jane Eyre turns to books when her family and boarding school prove subpar. This ends up empowering her, allowing her to leave a sheltered life behind and get working #girlboss A classic feminine choice, Jane has begun creeping up the popularity charts again, proving that it's anything but plain.

Phoebe
Shy but intelligent, Phoebe from Hey Arnold! is also memorable as one of the few early Asian-American characters on Nickelodeon. She's the smartest kid in class, but also shows an emotional side in a few episodes. This Greek name is a friendly and beautiful choice, made popular by the character in Friends, too.

I'm sure I missed a few - tell me your favorites in the comments!

I Miss Carrie Fisher - Her Best Character Names

Hello, readers!

Sadly, this week we lost a great actress, writer, and activist - Carrie Frances Fisher. From her early iconic role as Princess Leia in Star Wars to her recent advocacy for mental health education, she's been a fantastic cultural figure and inspiration to women and girls everywhere. As a name nerd, I figure the best way that I can honor her is to make her the focus of a name article!

Carrie

Alright, so it's not a character name. Carrie was born to actors Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds in 1956, at which time the name ranked #208. Carrie left the top 1000 in 2007, but could make a comeback, especially in the next year. 

Lorna

Her first movie role was Lorna, the daughter of two main characters in Shampoo. The name is a literary invention from the nineteenth century, and it ranked in the US throughout the twentieth century. Despite its similarities to Lauren and Laura, it never garnered similar popularity. 

Leia Organa

While audiences were introduced to this Star Wars name back in the 1970's, Leia's popularity only rocketed in the past decade. With names like Lily and Layla so enticing, Leia was bound to follow! The name is still rising and will probably get a boost in 2017, but it will take awhile to find out for sure.

Annie Clark

Carrie played Annie in Under the Rainbow, a 1981 comedy with Chevy Chase. While Annie ranked in the top 10 in the 1880's, it was surpassed by more formal names - and delegated to nickname status. Today, Annie is an adorable, retro choice - not unlike Carrie!

Paula 

Starring alongside Tom Hanks in the comedy-thriller The Man with One Red Shoe, her character name of Paula is a mid-century standard. While Paula may not be ready to return to birth certificates, similar-sounding Paulina, Paulette, and Paloma are cute options for baby girls today. 

April
Still in the top 500, April is a bright and friendly name perfect for springtime babies. The name comes from the Latin for "second," and counts sisters May and June as sweet, timely alternatives. Carrie Fisher played April in the Woody Allen classic, Hannah and Her Sisters.

Carol Peterson
Another comedy-thriller with Tom Hanks, The 'Burbs gives us Carrie Fisher as Carol Peterson. Carol is another mid-century name not yet ripe for revival - try Caroline, Charlotte, or Cora for a more contemporary take.

Marie
The quintessential French female name and a popular middle name for Americans, Marie is currently at one of its lowest points. Carrie played Marie in When Harry Met Sally (one of my favorite films), transforming from an insecure mistress into a strong and supportive wife and friend.

Angela 
Carrie voiced Angela in Family Guy over a ten-year span, proving her acting abilities extended into animated comedy. Angela is currently on it's way out after a long career in the spotlight, but longer variations Angelina and Angelica are still in use.

Rosemary Howard
Emmy-nominated for her guest role in 30 Rock, Carrie Fisher played comedy writer Rosemary Howard, Liz Lemon's hero. On the rise again, this botanical choice is at once vintage and vivacious, perfect for a modern girl. Rosemary also signifies remembrance - an excellent choice to remember an excellent woman.

What are your favorite Carrie Fisher roles? Any of these names on your list of favorites? Tell me in the comments!

Names of Disney Villains

Hello, readers!

Halloween is coming up, and that means costumes! If you're thinking about being one of these scary Disney villains for the holiday, check out their names! And tell me your costume plans in the comments :)

Gaston
Our first villain has arguably the best name-oriented song in Disney history: he uses antlers in all of his decorating! He eats five dozen eggs a morning! Ev'ryone's favorite guy! From the French for "foreigner", Gaston has been recorded in US name logs since 1881. While the film didn't show Gaston in such a positive light, the name stats weren't changed much by the release of Beauty and the Beast in 1991. Twenty-seven boys were named Gaston last year - my, what a guy!

Ursula
This all-powerful sea witch was in part inspired by the singer and drag queen, Divine. And the name Ursula is truly religious - one of the first recorded wearers was Saint Ursula, a fourth-century patron saint of female students and archers, among other things. While Ursula also has a cute meaning - "little bear" - the name had been declining for a few years already when Disney used it. While many still associate Ursula with the villainess, it could make a comeback with it's many positive traits!

Edgar
The conniving butler who competed with the Aristocats for Madame's wealth, his character also created a sleeping potion named after himself: "crème de la crème à la Edgar." The name Edgar is fairly popular - #317 in the top 1000 - but it's at its lowest rank in history. Will the name continue to decline, or will literary fans bring it back up the list? Creative Edgar's Degas, Burroughs, and Poe would have something to say about it.

Maleficent
This nefarious name was recorded in the US for the first time last year - five baby girls were named after the villainess in Sleeping Beauty. Of course, this could have something to do with the recent Angelina Jolie film - the actress has also said that the character was her favorite as a child. I know of one person whose parents considered Maleficent for her name, looking for a namesake that was a strong, intelligent woman. While the name seems to have quite a lot against it, we may see it rise in future generations of women.

Clayton
A scheming hunter in Tarzan, Clayton's first name is never revealed - he's only called by his last name in the film. Though its origins are more traditional, Clayton fits into the modern trends - two syllables, ends in "ton" - and isn't completely attached to any one individual. The film had little to no effect on the name's statistics, either. Perhaps Clayton is the most usable name on the list!

Medusa
When a main character is introduced as Madame Medusa, you know she's going to be up to no good. In The Rescuers, she's a greedy, diamond-obsessed pawn shop owner; the Greek goddess Medusa was known for having snakes for hair and turning mortals to stone with a look. Though the name has never been recorded in US name logs, it's certainly not impossible - as namers look for more and more unique options, names like Medusa are bound to appear! 

Hades
As the smooth-talking god of the Underworld, Hades' role in Hercules is hardly admirable. Still, the name was used for more than five boys a year in both 2014 and 2015. With a sound like Hayden and a cool s-ending - Silas, Nicholas, Jonas - it's no wonder that the name was picked. But I can't help but think a quick look at the history of Hades might turn off potential fans...

Claude
The creepy, obsessive control-freak-in-the-guise-of-a-religious-zealot had a rather common first name - Claude ranked on the top 1000 for over a century. It's the quintessential French male name, often with Jean in hyphenate. Though the film didn't have much of an effect on name stats - 108 boys in 1996 and 89 boys in 1997 - the character was often referred to by his last name, Frollo. The name Claude means "crippled," and is Roman in origin.

Jafar
The scheming Royal Vizier of Agrabah certainly has a bad reputation, but his name is actually a lovely Arabic choice. Jafar means "stream", and one famous Jafar was a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. It's been used since 1975 in the United States, and actually started rising in popularity when the film Aladdin debuted - up from 7 boys to 13 to 33 in a two-year span. Perhaps the character isn't a great namesake, but the spreading the awareness of this classic name has pushed some fans to pick Jafar.

Cruella
Well, if Gaston doesn't win for the best name song, Cruella De Vil certainly takes the cake! All of the 101 Dalmatians (and some human and animal friends) had to band together to get this baddie defeated. Though Cruella is a bit too cruel and devilish to catch on, it must be said that trendy Ella features in her first name. And check out this past post on Devilish Names (also featured on Nameberry) for more sizzling suggestions!

Which names did I leave out? Tell me in the comments!

Devilish Names

Greetings, readers!

This past weekend I went to see Robert Eggers' The Witch, an excellent (albeit scary and really unusual) film about a Puritan family dealing with the supernatural. The references to the Devil got me thinking - are there any devilish names in use out there? I found some below!

I'm using data from 2014, since the 2015 records haven't been released yet! The names have been ordered by popularity, greatest to least (the numbers in parentheses show how many babies were given the name).

Lilith (447)
The popularity of cheerful Lily has given this name a boost, but the original Lilith was Adam's first wife in Jewish folklore. She refused to be subservient to him and left him, turning into a demon (I'm personally on her side in this debate). The connotation is preserved mostly in the Jewish tradition, but it's interesting to see such an innocent-looking name with such a diabolic origin story.

Loki (119)
The popularity of the Avengers character has surely boosted this name for both boys and girls. Loki is a trickster god in the Nordic tradition, but his name is attached to certain interpretations of the devil. Aurally and visually, it's a stand-out choice, and it will probably get even bigger as the Marvel movie universe grows!

Leviathan (24)
I can see why this name is especially appealing today - it looks like a mash-up of Levi and Jonathan. The name literally means "twisted", and often references sea monsters (some translate Leviathan as "whale"). In the Old Testament, or Tanakh, Satan appears in the form of a whale, hence the connection. I do like the name, though it's a lot to live up to!

Azazel (12)
Literally meaning "scapegoat", the name is associated with sacrificial rites in Judaism, and some traditions refer to Azazel as a fallen angel. I'm sure a lot of parents choose the name for the cool double-z sound - like Aziz or Aziza - and many are unaware of the demonic link. Still, the name hasn't been used enough for me to predict how it will fair in the future.

Lucifer (11)
The first name I thought of on this list, Lucifer has been recorded almost annually since 2002. The auditory similarity to Lucy or Lucian probably has more to do with its popularity than any devilish reasons. I tend to associate this name with the cat from Cinderella, but the name does have a positive meaning: "light-bearer".

Demon (8)
I'm surprised at the longevity of this name - Demon has been recorded as far back as 1969. It's similar to Damon or Damian - the name of the cursed child in The Omen - but Demon more directly references evil than any of the other names on this list. If anyone has a theory of how this name stayed on the books so long, tell me in the comments!

Yama (6)
The name of the god of the dead in both Hindu and some East Asian mythologies, Yama also translates to "mountain" in Japanese. I'd advise against any Western parents using it - see cultural appropriation - but it's a lovely, friendly name.

Diablo
I'm including Diablo on the list, since it was recorded in 1975 - 5 babies were born that year named Diablo. Recently screenwriter Diablo Cody has jumped on the scene - she picked her name - and it's up for debate whether the name is okay to use.

I have to say, I'm relieved the following names never showed up in data: Satan, Devil, or Beelzebub.

POC Academy Award Winners and Nominees

Hello, readers!

I'll be the first to admit, I used to follow Oscar season semi-religiously - I tried to see every movie nominated, pre-printed and pre-predicted the official ballot, and spent all of Oscar night glued to my TV. But in recent years, as I've become more aware of racism and sexism in the film industry, I've put less importance on following the popular films and their related awards.

With the controversy this year around the all-white list of nominees - check out this article on Forbes for more context - I've decided to make this post about the POC actors and actresses who've won or been nominated.

Please let me know in the comments if I've missed any names! I'm using Wikipedia and Google to research. And an * indicates a winner. 

Best Actress First Names 

Dorothy

Diana

Cicely

Diahann

Whoopi

Angela

Halle *

Gabourey

Viola

Quvenzhané

Merle

Fernanda

Salma

Catalina

Best Actor First Names

Sidney *

James

Paul

Dexter

Morgan

Denzel *

Laurence

Will

Jamie *

Don
Terrence
Forest *
Chiwetel
Yul *
Ben *
Edward
José *
Anthony
Demián
Dan
Graham

Best Supporting Actress First Names

Hattie *
Ethel
Juanita
Carol
Beah
Alfre
Margaret
Oprah
Whoopi *
Marianne
Dana (Queen Latifah)
Sophie
Jennifer *
Ruby
Viola
Taraji
Mo'Nique *
Octavia *
Lupita *
Miyoshi *
Meg
Jennifer
Shohreh
Rinko
Hailee
Susan
Rita *
Mercedes *
Rosie
Katy
Norma
Adriana
Bérénice

Best Supporting Actor First Names

Rupert
Howard
Louis *
Adolph
Morgan *
Denzel *
Jaye
Samuel
Cuba *
Michael
Djimon
Jamie
Eddie 
Barkhad
Sessue
Mako
Pat
Haing *
Ben
Ken
Thomas
José
Anthony *
Andy
Benicio *

Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens Names

Greetings, readers! May the Force be with you!

I'm jumping on the Star Wars bandwagon since I saw the film yesterday and it was EXCELLENT. Yes, there are a lot of Star Wars name posts out there, but it's my turn to contribute to the zeitgeist.

If you haven't seen the film yet and don't want to know anything, do not continue reading. But I won't be spoiling any major plot points.

Rey

My favorite character of the film, Rey is a strong, independent, intuitive woman who every human should aspire to be (too much?) I think the name (and spelling) of Rey is great for any little one. It's more substantial than frilly Raelynn, and less fusty than Raymond. Last year, Rey ranked at #884 on the boys' list, but if past Star Wars name trends are any indication, the Force will soon be strong with Rey for girls. 

Finn

Leave it to Star Wars to take a classic Irish name and make it edgy and interplanetary. Like Luke, Finn can be short for other names, but stands well on its own. The character of Finn in The Force Awakens is courageous, kind, and funny - not a bad namesake! Finn is currently ranked at #234 for boys, but I think we'll see it move into the top 100 very soon. 

Poe

To be honest, I couldn't understand the name of this character until the end credits - Poe is quite a short name, aurally and visually. But it fits in perfectly with Rey and Finn - robust, one-syllable names that have the capacity to be nicknames. In the film, Poe is a smooth fighter pilot and friend to the main characters. And I think Poe works as a friendly name for any gender. 

Maz

Having never heard the name Maz before, I checked the data - turns out there were 5 baby boy Maz's born in 2013. Star Wars' Maz is an old, wise woman - kind of like a female Yoda, but less confusing - and is voiced by the fabulous Lupita Nyong'o. Maz is another short and sweet name, with a cool z-ending and transcultural potential. 

Kylo

Switch out the last letter of one of the most popular K-names and you have a unique extraterrestrial name. It rhymes with darling Milo and won't raise many eyebrows - but naming your child after a Star Wars villain might (it's no wonder there are so few Darth's on playgrounds). But the next few films will tell us more about Kylo, so the jury is out!

Of course, Luke and Leia have stood the test of 40 years of naming, and Han isn't unheard of either. Who knows what awesome names the next few films will bring us!

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!

Saturday Jams - Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

"Sally's Song", sung by Catherine O'Hara, composed by Danny Elfman, 1993

"Johanna", sung by Jamie Campbell Bower, composed by Stephen Sondheim, 2007

"Frederick's Soliloquy", sung by Roger Bart, composed by Mel Brooks, 2007

"Then Came Jonny", sung by Richard Roland, composed by Dana P. Rowe & John Dempsey, 1993

"Whatever Lola Wants", sung by Gwen Verdon, composed by Richard Adler & Jerry Ross, 1955

Film Names: Scary Movies

I was raised by Halloween parents.

Those of you who also had Halloween parents will know what I mean. For those of you who didn't - imagine your childhood, but with a lot more costumes, fake blood, and scary movies.

Halloween was our family's big holiday, and we went all-out with decorations, costumes, pumpkin-carving, and more. My sister and I, as a result, are now huge fans of scary movies - to the chagrin of friends and more distant relatives.

Today's post will be about cool names found in Halloween classics - or at least, my favorite classics.

Frankenstein, directed by James Whale, 1931
An indisputable classic, and a personal favorite, the original Frankenstein has influenced countless films over the years. Characters include classic names like Henry, Elizabeth, and Victor, all excellent and established choices. Actor names include the rarer Mae, Boris, Dwight, and Lionel - while Mae and Lionel have reentered the list, are Dwight and Boris too dated?

Dracula, directed by Tod Browning, 1931
I couldn't include Boris Karloff without Bela Lugosi! An early vampire film that of course led to later iterations, Dracula is timeless - and still creepy. Bela for a boy is unusual today, and might be confused with feminine Bella - the boy's version means "white", the girls' comes from Elizabeth, "pledged to God". Mina, a main character's name, is recently starting to rise back up the girls' list.

The Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin, 1973
With eerie effects - including green slime - little actress Linda Blair shot into the spotlight in this religious ride through demonic possession. I find it interesting that the two main female characters are Chris and Regan, with gender-neutral names. Actor names include Ellen, Lee, Max, Jack, and Jason - nothing too unfamiliar.

Halloween, directed by John Carpenter, 1978
The beginning of Jamie Lee Curtis' career, Halloween spawned a series of sequels and remakes, with scary killer Michael Myers lurking through them all. A lot of the character names are nicknames - Laurie, Annie, Tommy, Richie - probably because of their young ages. Among the actresses, two have stereotypically male names: Jamie Lee and Kyle.

Poltergeist, directed by Tobe Hooper, 1982
This movie triggers all sorts of relatable fears - clowns, shadows, ghosts, and more. The actors and actresses who played the central family have an interesting mix of names - Scottish Craig, combo JoBeth, French Dominique, classic Oliver, and flower-power Heather. I hadn't seen the director's name before, either; it's pronounced like Toby.

The Nightmare Before Christmas, directed by Henry Selick, 1993
One of my favorite movies of all time, this animated film can be watched at Halloween, Christmas - or any other time of year. Main characters Jack and Sally are my favorite fictional couple, hands down, with timeless names to match. In related name trivia, creator Tim Burton and ex-partner Helena Bonham Carter have a daughter Nell, which continues the matrilineal tradition on Helena's side - Hélène, Elena, Helena, Nell.

Scream, directed by Wes Craven, 1996
The best first 15 minutes of any scary movie, in my opinion. This 90's mashup of real terror and meta-comedy keeps you on the edge of your seat. Again, the female characters have gender-neutral names (why is this?) - Casey, Sidney, Gale, and Tatum. Star Neve Campbell's name means "snow", and it's climbing in the UK along with Gaelic spelling Niamh.

The Blair Witch Project, directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, 1999
The movie that started the "found footage" trend, it's a bit less scary than before the copycats followed - but only a bit. The actors share the names of their characters - Heather, Josh and Mike - which prompted the rumor to be spread that the actors had actually died.

What are your favorite scary movies?

Happy Halloween! Stay costumed and safe this weekend :)

Halloween Costume Names, Part Two

Let's continue with Day 2 of costume names!

Check out Part 1 here.

Tell me in the comments what costumes you're planning. My boyfriend and I will be going as Cosmo and Wanda from the Fairly Oddparents this year!

Devil

"Devil" - Teivel, Diablo, Velna, Deuce

"Terrible" - Ugra, Uther, Bhima

"Sharp" - Shamir, Berach, Jasna, Min, Asika, Acucio

"Red" - Ruby, Rowan, Garnet, Edom, Flannery, Rufus, Shani

Famous devils and demons - Damien, Lucifer, Mephistopheles



Witch

"Magic" - Taika, Jinx

"Purple" - Lavender, Violet, Ianthe, Porfirio, Amethyst

Witch names - Grimhild, Armida, Sabrina, Kiki, Wanda, Hermione, Ginevra, Glinda, Tarba, Cassandra, Circe, Morgan, Jenny, Hecate, Moll, Alice, Agnes, Entjen, Märet, Minnie, Elphaba, Jadis, Bellatrix, Melisandre, Medea, Ursula, Wendy




Superhero

"Hero/Heroine" - Bertille, Conlan, Finley, Sweeney, Valda, Vero

"Super" - Aristotle, Naren, Adi, Prasert

"Savior" - Messiah, Salvador, Björg

"Strong" - André, Brian, Ethan, Evander, Melisande, Valencia

Famous heroes/heroines - Natasha, Selina, Clark, Bruce, Peter, Tony 



Cowboy

Horse-related names - Phillip, Destry, Baylor, Xanthippe, Ahearne, Eachna, Eowyn, Marshall, Rider, Chevy

"Free" - Amadi, Charles, Fanya, Franklin, Kermit, Liberato

"Country" - Fielder, Paine, Gladys

Famous cowboys and cowgirls - Annie, Jane, John, Bill, Jack, Frank




Frankenstein

"Reborn" - Renata, René, Anastasia, Tassia

"Alive" - Vito, Viva, Aisha, Idir, Tural, Živa

"Large" - Grant, Brady, Titania

Names from characters/actors in the original Frankenstein - Henry, Elizabeth, Victor, Colin, Mae, Boris, Edward, Frederick, Dwight, Fritz, Lionel



I'll see you tomorrow to continue the celebration!

Halloween Costume Names, Part One

Happy Halloween week, friends!

And happy birthday to my wonderful mom, Nancy Kay. I love you and I hope you enjoy your holiday birthday!

Today's post is more fun than particularly insightful. I've taken some of the top Halloween costumes worn every year (pop culture costumes aside) and found names that match each of them. While I normally stick with Latin/Greek/Hebrew based names, I'm including names from other cultures to round things out.

Here's the list I'm using, but you can find other lists and continue the game!

Top ten Halloween costumes of all time, by Christina Caldwell

Ghost

"Ghost" - Drogo, Lilith, Aparicia

"Spirit" - Dusana, Dušan, Enid, Anima, Kokoro, Esprit, Janan, Kamali

"Soul" - Alma, Linh, Psyche, Duska

"White" - Alba, Bain, Bianca, Fiona, Ivory

Famous ghosts - Casper, Jacob, Mary, Clytemnestra, Myrtle



Zombie

"Death" - Morana, Mot, Thanatos, Chiwa, Lefu, Anubis

"Eternal" - Khalid, Amari, Niran, Eilam, Nitya, Samad

"Return" - Ayda, Shevi, Yashuv

"Green" - Emerald, Oran, Peridot, Verdi, Zelenka

Famous zombies - Ash, Ed, Michael, Kat



Vampire

"Blood" - Muhjah, Djimon, Eztli

"Bat" - Adan, Stellaluna (couldn't resist)

"Fang" - Niv

"Pale" - Chloris, Gauri, Paley, Blasco

Famous vampires - Vlad, Edward, Claudia, Lestat, Angel



Cat

"Cat" - Faline, Felinus, Bastet, Leander, Numair, Fahd

"Omen" - Lakshmi, Ugur, Dalili, Sisay, Lakshman

"Domestic" - Damiana, Damario, Damon, Laka

"Black" - Caliban, Ebony, Ciaran, Melanie, Nigel, Kali, Sable

Famous black cats - Salem, Jiji, Felix, Berlioz, Figaro, Lucifer



Pumpkin

"Vegetable" - Fennel, Masamba, Kazuna, Moena, Topwe

"Round" - Cade, Knox, Dudda, Viên, Ballard, Maru

"Smile" - Basma, Hande, Ibtisam, Erendira, Susmita

"Orange" - Cam, Sienna, Alani, Amber, Nerola, Azahar

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown names - Charlie, Linus, Lucy, Schroeder, Sally, Violet, Frieda, Patty


Check out more costume names tomorrow - Halloween Costume Names, Part Two

Literary Names: Stardust

Welcome to Day One of Halloween week!

To celebrate my favorite holiday, each post this week will have a Halloween connection. For today's Literary Names installment, I'll be focusing on Neil Gaiman's fantasy novel (complete with witches), Stardust!

The book is an adventure story through a magical land, complete with action, romance and humor. The film version - made in 2007 - is also a great family film.

Rather than reimagine the names of the characters, I'll be focusing on the already-excellent names in the book (and a few from the movie).

Let's begin!

Yvaine
The origin of this name may very well be from the novel Stardust! While Yvain was used in Chrétien de Troyes' medieval texts as a form of Eugene ("well-born"), Yvaine is listed in a few places as meaning "evening star", from Neil Gaiman's book. It's a lovely combination of Yvonne and Elaine, and not too far from boys' favorite Evan. The character in the story is a strong and stunning - not a bad namesake for any child.

Tristan
The name Tristan of course calls to mind the doomed romance of Tristan and Isolde, but our protagonist in the fantasy novel has a different fate. The name came into use in the US in the 1970's, and is currently ranked at #101 - not uncommon by any means. However, the nice sound and similarity to favorite Christian will probably continue the popularity trend. The meaning is "sorrowful", but Tristan, to me, connotes a hero.

Dunstan
Meaning "dark stone", Dunstan sounds like a cool combination of retro Duncan and trendy Austin - classic but modern, in a way. The character in the book is a supportive and loving father, wishing his love Una would come back to him. If you like Dustin, but think it's a little passé, try Dunstan!

Una
A personal name crush, Una fits in with the rest of the old-fashioned three-letter names returning to the charts - Ava, Ivy, Ida. Depending on its origin, it can mean "one" or "lamb" - either is cute. In Stardust, Una is the name of Tristan's mother, held captive by an evil witch. It also has an unusual first initial, if you're looking for some uniqueness - and sister spelling Oona isn't bad either.

Primus, Secundus, Tertius, Quartus, Quintus, Sextus, Septimus
These are the names of the princes, alive and dead, who are vying for the crown in Stardust. I'm grouping them together since each is a "number name". Names like these are more personal - some have favorite or lucky numbers, so using one of these names would be a great honorific. But I'd suggest staying away from Sextus. Check out this Nameberry article for more number names!

The Witches - Lamia, Mormo and Empusa
The book version of Stardust doesn't give names to these characters, but the film does - and only Lamia has etymology information online. She was a monstrous figure in Greek mythology. I wouldn't suggest any of these for children, but if you're looking for character name inspiration, these are really fun to play around with.

I didn't include every name from the book - any favorites that I missed? Or are fantasy names not strong enough to stand up to a real-life attendance sheet? Tell me what you think in the comments!

Film Names: The Musical

I can't help it, theater runs in my veins - my dad is an amateur actor, my aunt is a singer, and my cousin is a soon-to-be Broadway star. So I'm happily familiar with musicals from the 1930s onward!

Today, I'll be focusing on the names of actors in the film versions, instead of the names of characters (though that would be a fun post). Let me know who I missed in the comments!

Let's check out some unusual names from the 1930's-1960's musicals!

Female Names

Cyd Charisse - Singin' in the Rain (1952), Brigadoon (1954)

I've actually met someone who named her daughter Charisse after the actress!

Shirley Jones - Oklahoma (1955), The Music Man (1962), Carousel (1956)

Hermione Gingold - The Music Man (1962), Gigi (1958)

Mitzi Gaynor - South Pacific (1958)

A cute nickname, and underused today. 

Juanita Hall - South Pacific (1958), Flower Drum Song (1961)

France Nuyen - South Pacific (1958)

Fay Bainter - State Fair (1945)

Claramae Turner - Carousel (1956)

With the popularity of Clara and Mae in 2014, this combination sounds modern. 

Marjorie Main - Meet Me In St Louis (1944)

Billie Burke - The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Isobel Elsom - My Fair Lady (1964)

Charmian Carr - The Sound of Music (1965)

Portia Nelson - The Sound of Music (1965)

Glynis Johns - Mary Poppins (1964)

Male Names

Russ Tamblyn - West Side Story (1961), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

Tucker Smith - West Side Story (1961)

Yul Brynner - The King and I (1956)
First name Yul comes from the Mongolian for "on the horizon" - Youl or Yuli.  

Rossano Brazzi - South Pacific (1958)

Jacques D'Amboise - Carousel (1956), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

Chill Wills - Meet Me in St Louis (1944)

Rex Harrison - My Fair Lady (1964)
Rex could fit in well with Max, Dax and Pax. 

Wilfrid Hyde-White - My Fair Lady (1964)

Gert Fröbe - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

Vassili Lambrinos - The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964)

Film Names #2: Film Noir

This is part two of my semester-long series profiling names in film. Check out last week's post: Film Names #1 - Early Cinema. As for this week....

Film Noir!

Since there are dozens of films to choose from, I'll only be focusing on names that aren't heard as often today. But who's to say Fred and Barbara can't make a comeback?

Femme Fatales

Marlene Dietrich - Blonde Venus (1932), Desire (1936)

Joan Crawford - Mildred Pierce (1945), Sudden Fear (1952)

Gene Tierney - Laura (1944), Leave Her to Heaven (1945)

Ingrid Bergman - The Big Sleep (1946), Casablanca (1942)

Ida Lupino - High Sierra (1941), Road House (1948)

More common names: Lauren Bacall, Rita Hayworth, Barbara Stanwyck, Ava Gardner, Olivia de Havilland, Veronica Lake


Private Dicks

Humphrey Bogart - The Big Sleep (1946), The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Sterling Hayden - The Asphalt Jungle (1950), The Killing (1956)

Elisha Cook - Phantom Lady (1944), The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Orson Welles - The Stranger (1946), The Third Man (1949)

Dana Andrews - Laura (1944), Fallen Angel (1945)

More common names: James Cagney, Edward G. Robinson, Robert Mitchum, Raymond Burr, Fred MacMurray

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