"Oy" Vey - Dated Fad, or Vintage Find?

Hello, readers!

Looking through old name data and saying names out loud, you begin to hear the changes in trends. Try saying the top ten names from each decade in order, and see what you find! This post is about one sound that's all-but-vanished from birth certificates: "oy".

The sound "oy" or "oi" is a diphthong, which means it consists of two adjacent vowels in a single syllable. While the sound shows up quite a lot in English, it's been decreasing on name records. Check out this graph showing the decline (thanks, Expert NameVoyager!)

Let's look at some historical "oy" names, then move onto today's favorites!

Past "oy" Names

Floyd
In 1905, this name peaked at #44 - but it's been off the top 1000 since 1999. Today, it's attached to numerous American boxers, from Patterson to Mayweather, but has a bit of trouble standing on its own. In my opinion, it's too early for a return, but Floyd may one day rise again!

Lloyd
Slightly less dated, but still relatively unpopular, Lloyd's peak happened in 1918 when it reached #51. Also like Floyd, Lloyd dropped off the charts entirely in 2003. Still, its sound is fairly subdued and its namesakes are more wide-ranging. Lloyd would be a classic Welsh choice.

Elroy
Though the futuristic cartoon The Jetsons premiered in 1962, character Elroy was already rather out-of-date. The name had peaked in 1922, and didn't last beyond the 1960's. Elroy has a zany, eccentric vibe, but it may not return for awhile. Slightly different Leroy is still in style, though!

Moira
This Irish variation of Mary never got as far as Molly or Maureen, but it was attached to a character in Peter Pan - Wendy Moira Angela Darling. It's been used more frequently in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and could fit in well with names like Nora and Cora today.

LaToya
This name dominated charts in the 1970's and 1980's, but was out of fashion by 1995. Singer and actress La Toya Jackson is almost single-handedly responsible for this trend. LaToya is actually a diminutive of Victoria, meaning "the winner."

Present "oy" Names

Joy
While this name was more popular in the mid-century decades, it's begun to rise up the charts again. Along with its happy, upbeat sound, it was also featured as the name of a main character in Pixar's Inside Out. Like other virtue names, Joy is likely to (positively) increase! Similar-sounding Joyce may follow it up as well.

Royal
At #465 for boys and #755 for girls, Royal is a unisex moniker that joins the hierarchical name group - King, Princess, and Royalty among them. While it's sophisticated enough to age well, it still hasn't quite permeated pop culture yet - but give Royal time!

Troy
With dozens of real and fictional namesakes, Troy is one of the few names on this list that's lasted through every year of name records in the United States. It's now at the same popularity level it had in 1957, just before getting a boost from Troy Donahue.

Royce
Luxurious but accessible, familiar but unique, Royce manages to balance between multiple name categories. It means "son of the king" and fits in with Jace and Reese, but goes beyond them with noble flair. Shorter form Roy is close behind - both names are classics, but float just under major popularity lines.

Zoya
This Slavic/Arabic/Persian form of Zoe could be the next hit - it can be pronounced similarly in multiple languages, it's short but refined, and it sounds feminine without feeling overly done. Only 173 baby girls were given the name last year, so it will be awhile before Zoya reaches the charts.

Other names with the sound include: Doyle, Boyd, McCoy, Loyal, Noya, and Oyindamola.

Where Have All the Consonants Gone?

Hello, readers!

Alaya, Arianna, Isabella, Elisa - names with these sounds are dominating the girls' top 1000. Vowel-heavy, melodic choices seem to be the fashion, with 77% of names in the top 100 starting or ending with a vowel. What about the other twenty-three names?

Charlotte	Lillian	Madelyn	Peyton	Vivian
Harper	Brooklyn	Caroline	Taylor	Quinn
Madison	Skylar	Hazel	Katherine	Reagan
Grace	Claire	Genesis	Madeline
Scarlett	Violet	Piper	Faith

Despite the vowel trends, these names have their own kind of sounds. Let's look at this list of names and see where smaller trends may lie, as well as more unique options that fit their individuality. 

Ending in N - Madison, Lillian, Brooklyn, Madelyn, Caroline, Peyton, Katherine, Madeline, Vivian, Quinn, Reagan

The suffix of the decade may be -lyn! It's a familiar sound with feminine overtones, and can honor familial Linda's, Lynn's, and Lindsey's. Though the Katelyn trend is subsiding, plenty of other names have risen to take its place. Less common examples include: Gwendolyn, Roselyn, and Coralyn. Names like Vivian and Lillian lend themselves easily to nicknames, like Vivi and Lily. Other names with this suffix include Charmian, Marian, and Gillian. 

Ending in R - Harper, Skylar, Claire, Piper, Taylor

A unisex style that allows for mix-and-match prefixes, ending in -or and -er is not just a contemporary idea: names like Esther, Jennifer, and Amber have been on record for decades. Looking for something less prevalent? Try Sailor, Lavender, or Tamar. 

Ending in T - Charlotte, Scarlett, Violet

While these names seem more old-fashioned, all three reached their highest level of popularity this last year. The -ett suffix seems more sophisticated and polished; feminine without being frilly. Other lovely names ending in T include Merritt, Garnet, and Yvette. 

Virtue names - Grace, Genesis, Faith

Though more virtue names overlap with vowel-heavy names - Nevaeh, Serenity, Trinity - there is a certain elegance that these polished options offer. Other virtue names in this trend include Hope, Justice, and Constance. 

Unisex names - Harper, Skylar, Peyton, Taylor, Quinn, Reagan

All of these name rank within the top 100 for girls, and the top 1000 for boys. Many are also occupational choices, which tend to be less gender-normative and allow for more imagination. Another common trait? Many happen to be popular last names, which let parents honor figures in their life more directly (at least, more so than the infinity of John's). Other options include Thatcher, Lincoln, and Copper. 

Color names - Scarlett, Violet, Hazel, (and Skylar, indirectly)

If Rainbow is too much, don't worry - there's plenty of names in its wide range of hues. The trick is to choose a color name that's also a retro choice: while Aquamarine is a bit over the top, Lilac and Navy feel more vintage. Gemstone names like Ruby and Pearl also fit into this trend. Other uncommon options include Saffron, Indigo, Amethyst, and Opal. 

French origins - Charlotte, Claire, Madelyn, Madeline

Even though these names are used often in English-speaking countries, they still maintain a bit of that je ne sais quoi. It can be hard to force the transition - choosing Mireille or Anais may result in some interesting pronunciations in the states. But there are other names with French origins who would stand out gracefully: Juliette, Simone, and Mauve among them. 

What other trends-within-a-trend do you see? Tell me in the comments!

Sounds Like a Winner: Lou

Hello, readers!

In an effort to expand my name knowledge, I'm starting a series of posts based on certain sounds in popular (and soon-to-be popular) names! This is all based on the General American accent, and is not intended to exclude varying pronunciations of names.

The key to the above map of accents can be found here. Today's post will focus on the lovely sound, Lou! Many names including this element come from Louis and its ancestors. 

Girls' Names

Lucy, Lucia, Lucille 

All of these names are in the top 300, and for good reason. They're feminine, vintage, and have the inspiring meaning of "light". Nicknames Lu and Lulu are optional, but Lucy was originally a diminutive of the latter two names anyway. Namesakes Lucille Ball and Lucy van Pelt are other positive traits attached to these names. 

Louise, Louisa 

The French variant (former) hasn't been seen in the top 1000 since 1991, but the English variant (latter) jumped back on the list after a 40-year hiatus in 2014. Both offer distinctly retro vibes, and statistically probably honor at least one relative in your family. On a personal note, there's an upbeat song in the musical The Bandwagon called "I Love Louisa" - give it a listen!

Emmylou, Bettylou, Marylou

Compound names often go unrecorded in the United States, but putting them together in one word keeps the friendly, old-fashioned traditions alive. Musician Emmylou Harris is the most notable namesake, with Marylou of Kerouac's On the Road providing a literary connection. Interestingly, Marylou and Marilou are also popular in France. 

Lilou, Milou

Speaking of French (and generally European) names, Lilou currently ranks at #12 in France. It's a diminutive of Lily or Liliane, and gained a huge boost in popularity via the Bruce Willis/Milla Jovovich scifi film, The Fifth Element (another personal favorite). Milou is a short form of Marie Louise, and was not used for any American children last year. 

Luna, Luz, Guadalupe
Onward to Spain and Latin America! Luna has been popular worldwide throughout the 2000's, and the inclusion of Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter books has given the name extra positivity. Luz, another form of Lucia, is a bit more mature than its sister names, and has been relatively popular in Spanish-speaking communities. Guadalupe is another Spanish-language classic, honoring the Virgin Mary.

Boys' Names

Louis, Lewis, Luis
This name has an incredibly long history across multiple continents, so if you're looking for something with gravitas, the buck stops here. Louis means "renowned warrior", another plus, and has hundreds of excellent namesakes to choose from - athletes, rulers, actors, scholars. Lewis is the English variant, and Luis the Spanish.

Luke, Luca, Lucas
The above three names - and their many spelling variations - rank throughout the US top 1000. Chances are you know a couple of Luke's other than Skywalker! There's a Gospel named Luke, dozens of fictional and actual famous people named Luke, and more than a few dogs named Luke (Lucy is also the second most popular female dog name).

Lucian, Lucien, Lucius
More elegant and old-fashioned than its shorter counterparts, Lucian jumped back on popularity lists in 2005 after 50 years off the list. It's still hovering at the bottom, which is helpful if you're looking for something recognizable but not popular. Lucien is the French version, and Lucius, while often attached to movie villains, is not totally unusable.

Luther
While its origin meaning is "army people", the name is now used by many to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. It's another name with a plethora of namesakes, including the eponymous current BBC drama starring Idris Elba. Luther is classic and demure, but definitely strong. Sidenote: creative spelling Luthor references a Superman baddie, so I suggest sticking to the original.

Blue
It should really be in a unisex column, because Blue is ranking fairly evenly for boys and girls. It's the "starbaby middle name du jour" (thanks Nameberry) and might rise through the ranks like other color names - Violet, Scarlet, Rose. But many parents are still stuck on the "blue = boy" idea, which has been thoroughly debunked, for the record.

There are plenty of names I didn't include above - Plumeria, Tallulah, Louanne, Lupita, Toulouse, Ludwig - and I look forward to finding more in the comments!