Throwback Thursday: Christmas EVE

Hello, readers!

I'll be taking a break from my series on American Given Names this week to focus on names related to Christmas Eve - or rather, names related to Eve, in the past and present!

I haven't played around with the Name Voyager in while, so this will be fun! I'll be looking at names that begin with Eve, for all genders. 

Eve

The first female name mentioned in the Bible, Eve has had a wild ride up and down the top 1000 - it even disappeared for half of the 1980's and 90's. It means "life", referring to the original Eve's creation. It's short and strong, with hundreds of namesakes throughout history - though unlike almost every other name I've seen, there are no recorded male Eve's in US name history. 

Eva

The more popular variation Eva is currently ranked at #82, though throughout the late 1800's and early 1900's it was firmly in the top 50. It's Latin styling makes it incredibly popular cross-culturally, so if you're looking for a name that can travel the globe, Eva is ideal. Like Eve, there are hundreds of historical namesakes, including Eva Peron and Little Eva from Uncle Tom's Cabin. 

Evelyn (Evelin, Evelynn)

Currently at #16, Evelyn is the most popular Eve name on the list. Evelyn has stayed mostly in the top 200 during its recorded history, and even ranked briefly on the boys' list in the early 1900's. While the name means "desired", it's not hard to think of it as a mash-up name between Eve and Lynn. Its nickname Evie is currently ranked at #14 in the UK. 

Evelina

Nameberry reports that this name was popular in the Middle Ages, but I'm not seeing it mentioned in DMNES? In any case, this is a lovely Eve name that looks like a variation of Evelyn, but is actually related to the French Aveline, also meaning "desired". I like the nickname possibilities offered by Evelina - Lina especially - and its feminine melody. 

Everett (Evert, Everette)
Slowly climbing back up the list from its lowest point in 1995, Everett is riding the T-ending trend and Evelyn's coattails. Everett means "brave as a boar", and also offers some nice nicknames: Evie and Rett (like Rhett or Jett). Switch out the first T for an S and you have a powerful nature name, or add a -te to the ending and feminize it a bit.

Everly (Everleigh)
An aural alternative to the ever-popular Emily, Everly (and sister spelling Everleigh) are firmly on the US top 1000. The meaning is a little funky - "wild boar in a wodland clearing", from what I can find - but the sound and Ever-beginning is adorable. It's also a nice alternative to Avery, Evelyn and dozens of other names in the top 100.

Any Eve names not on my list? Tell me your favorites in the comments!

Throwback Thursday #3: 100 Years of Names

How have first names changed over 100 years? The above charts only show us around 80 names out of the thousands that have been used for children in the US since the Social Security Administration began recording births in 1879. The two charts can't show us direct trends, popular names in between, or the context surrounding the shift. But I think, looking closely, we can make our own inferences, find parallels, and think about how names might change in the future. 

Let's start with the names found on both lists. For boys, William, James and Joseph feature on both; for girls, Elizabeth and Evelyn. Three of the five names are Hebrew in origin, the other two are Germanic. We can easily infer that Hebrew names are popular in the US because of the prevalence of Christianity - over 70% of Americans identify as Christian. William, Elizabeth, James and Joseph each have never dipped below the top 30, and have not trended one way or another. Evelyn, on the other hand, has plunged all the way down to #289, and is only recently trending upwards again. So, while the five names listed appear on both lists, only four are consistent - Evelyn is an outlier. 

On the boys' side, types of names have changed less - 5/20 names in 1914 were Biblical derivations, and 13/20 names in 2014 were Biblical derivations. Does this mean that Christianity is rising? That promoting the appearance of Christianity is increasing? Or, that as names become more secular and less attached to their original meanings, parents care less about origin and care more about sound? All but one of the names on the 1914 boys' list were Germanic or Hebrew - George is Greek. The 2014 list, on the other hand, includes more modern English names and even invented names - Jayden. Originality is definitely becoming more desirable. 

Now to the girls! Both sets of names show a higher variety of origins - Old English, Germanic, Hebrew, Latin, Roman and Greek names are represented in both lists. The girls' names include variants of one another as well: Mia, Mary and Marie; Elizabeth, Lillian and Isabella; Helen and Ella; Sofia and Sophia. The most popular first letters for both lists include E, M and A. So while, the origins may be more diverse, the ultimate names haven't changed too much. 

This post is much more academic than previous ones, so I'll stop while I'm ahead. What trends do you see? Based on this knowledge, can you predict what names we'll see rising up the charts? I think Maya and Lucy might be on their way. 

And Your Bird Can Sing - Bird Names, Part One

Hello, readers!

As more and more nouns are turned into names these days, it's only natural that we would seek out the animal kingdom for inspiration - Fox, Bear, and Fawn among the favorites. My personal favorite, however, are bird names!

This theme offers a wide realm of possibilities, and name fans everywhere can agree: check out Abby Sandel's excellent bird list - Fetching Names: Bird by Bird - and Kristen Gregg's Nameberry blog post - Bird Names: Avian options beyond Robin and Raven.

As for my own spin, I'm going to focus on the symbolic connotations of each bird name - what do we think of when we hear Hawk, Lark, or Robin? This will be the first in a series, since there are far too many bird names for just one post!

Disclaimer: a lot of sports teams use various birds as mascots, and that will definitely influence the reaction to little Oriole or Falcon's name. I won't be addressing this, partially because there are plenty of people who won't make the connection and mostly because I don't know enough about these teams to form an opinion...

Let's begin!

Birdie - "bird" (of course)
Another nickname name coming back into style, Birdie is cute but not very deep. It dropped off the top 1000 in 1948, but celebrities like Busy Philipps and Maura West haven't been deterred.

Falcon - from Latin falx, "curved blade"
Falcons are among the fastest animals on earth, and are known as formidable birds of prey. This is a very forceful name, which could work for a just-as-determined kid. 

Finch - from Old English finc, an imitation of its sound
Now that Atticus has been tabled, Finch could be a strong alternative. A common bird, this brings to mind friendliness and a down-to-earth attitude. I'd say it's a solid contender. 

Hawk - from Old English hafoc, "to seize"
Similar to Falcon, Hawk is powerful and concise. Keep in mind that "watch like a hawk," "hawk" as a verb, and "deficit hawk" all have rather stern meanings. 

Lark - from Old English lawerce, unknown meaning
A very light and happy name, Lark is great for any child born laughing. Historical symbology connects the lark to daybreak or new beginnings, more great connotations. 

Oriole - from Latin aureolus, "golden"
An excellent meaning, but a conflicted name. On the one hand, orioles are bright and beautiful, and a cute nickname could be Oreo. But a kid will have to expect a lot of double takes when introducing themselves. There are plenty of other names that mean "gold" that could work, check them out here.

Phoenix - from Latin
An ancient word, but a relatively new name - Phoenix hit the top 1000 in 1995 and has been steadily rising. Very cool and edgy, a mythical bird reborn from the ashes is a great name that speaks to growth and determination. 

Robin - from Robert, "bright fame"
A bird named for a human, this unisex avian name has been on the charts for decades. Robins have come to be associated with Christmas in recent years, but many will appreciate the pretty and natural feel of the name. 

Sparrow - from Old English spearwa, "small brown bird"
Sparrows are among the most recognized birds in the world, so I think this name could be great for a multi-culti kid. Like Finch, it's friendly, but much more beautiful. 

Wren - from Old English wrenna, meaning unknown
Very small birds, with bold songs and behavior, Wren is perfect for any bright personality. Interestingly, the wren's name in other languages speaks to royalty, due to its golden crest. On a personal note, reading the comic Baby Blues growing up was the first time I was introduced to the name, and I loved it right away. 

What do you think? Any other favorite bird names? Tell me in the comments!

Also, thanks to Online Etymology Dictionary, Wikipedia, and Name Voyager for the background info!

Throwback Thursday #1 - The I's have it

Hello followers! (or just my boyfriend and supportive friends)

This Throwback Thursday is brought to you by the letter I. Originally a very popular first letter, I-names declined significantly in the 1920's and 30's. Towards the 1980's and 90's, however, the I-names skyrocketed again. Check out this graph (thanks Baby Name Voyager!)

Right now, Isabella, Isaac, Isaiah and Isla (and variants) are topping the charts. But are there names from the past that might fit in nicely as well? Let's look at some of these vintage I-names (from the top 200 in 1890) and find out!

Girls

Ida - "industrious one"

Currently a favorite in Scandinavia, Ida could be a great alternative to the popular Ava and rising Isla. It dropped off the top 1000 entirely in 1984 - is it time for a comeback?

Inez - "pure, virginal"

Off the list for quite some time, this Latin variant of Agnes has resurfaced in recent pop culture - check out Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris or the recent musical Hairspray. The ending Z adds a zip, but this name might be too mature for a child to pull off. 

Irene - "peace"

With a beautiful meaning, this divine name has a very serene feel. There's also an historical Irene for every type: the actress Irene Dunne, the scientist Irene Joliot-Curie, the fictional Irene Adler (the only woman to outsmart Sherlock Holmes). 

Iva - "willow tree"

This name works well on its own, as a bright alternative to Ivy, or as a nickname for Ivonne or Ivanna. It would also work well with a long last name without being too short or plain. 

Ina - feminine name suffix

No meaning of its own, and somehow very lackluster next to Ida or Iva. Nickname possibility perhaps? Angelina, Katerina, and Marina are all examples of pretty names with popular nicknames - Ina could help a little girl stand out. 

Irma - "universal, complete"

Although it's got a great meaning, Irma still hasn't yet dropped its grandmotherly image. What popular name has the same meaning? Number one darling Emma, of course!

Boys

Ira - "watchful one"

With short Hebrew boy's names ending in A making a comeback - Noah, Ezra, Asa - Ira might fit in perfectly on the playground. NPR's Ira Glass and music's Ira Gershwin are popular namesakes. 

Irvin - "handsome"

Somehow incomplete, despite popularity over its brother name, Irving. I'd stick with Ivan. 

Irving - "green water"

There are quite a few historical Irving's, whether the name came first or last. More complete than Irvin, but it would take a lot of confidence to pull it off. 

What do you think? Are there I-names I didn't mention that you love? Did I totally mischaracterize a name? Tell me in the comments!

Name Reference Sites

Here are some of my favorite sites to use when looking up names, meanings, and statistics!

Nameberry - My favorite baby name website, it has a fantastic, beautiful interface with interesting articles posted daily. Name information includes origin, famous people with the name, nicknames, related names, and comments for each. It's always my first stop when I hear a new name!

Behind the Name - This site is excellent or looking up origins, especially for obscure names not found on your average baby name site. They have excellent statistics by country, and really in-depth backstories for names. They also have a related site just about last names!

Social Security - Baby Names - The SSA collects the top 1000 names in the USA every year, which feeds statistics on most baby name websites. You can search by year, name, decade, etc. Not super user-friendly, but if there are statistics, this is the place to find them.

Baby Name Wizard - Name Voyager - This incredible interactive online graph lets you compare name popularity and statistics, search by beginning letters, and more! Want to see which decade had the most J-names? Or see whether the "El" beginning of names is on the decline? Check it out here!

Appellation Mountain - This site is run by Abby Sandel, a contributor to Nameberry and a professional name consultant. She puts up excellent lists, names of the day, and more!

What are your favorite name sites? Tell me in the comments!