Name News: 6/10/16

Hillary, Donald and Bernie Don’t Catch On as Baby Names - Jeremy B. Merrill, The New York Times
Yet!!!

The most popular names for each letter in 2015 - NewsFix
Is it irony that the most popular name for girls beginning with the letter U is Unique?

10 Baby Names For June Babies - Julie Sprankles, Bustle
My sister Clare is a June baby, as well as my cousin Zachary. From this list, I like the classic Harvey.

The Reddest and Bluest Baby Names - Pamela Redmond Satran, Nameberry
Super interesting way of looking at name stats! (Glad to be in a blue state myself)

Do First Ladies Influence the Popularity of Baby Names? - GoLocalProv
Ooh, interesting idea for a post - First Lady names! Tune in next week!

Throwback Thursday: Les Paul

Rock on, readers!

Today would have been the 101st birthday of inventor and musician Les Paul, one of the creators of the solid-body electric guitar. For Throwback Thursday, I'm including below some of the famous names who used Gibson guitars!

Duane Allman

Billie Joe Armstrong

Chuck Berry

Eric Clapton

Sheryl Crow

Bob Dylan

Don and Phil Everly

Peter Frampton

Jerry Garcia

Dave Grohl

Woody and Arlo Guthrie

Emmylou Harris

George Harrison

Jimi Hendrix

Joan Jett
Brian Jones
BB King
Mark Knopfler
Lenny Kravitz
John Lennon
Bob Marley
Paul McCartney
Ted Nugent
Roy Orbison
Jimmy Page
Elvis Presley
Keith Richards
Carlos Santana
Saul "Slash" Hudson
Rosetta Tharpe
Pete Townshend
Eddie Van Halen
Neil Young
Frank Zappa

Any musicians I missed? 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!

California Namin'

What's up, readers?

I've made no secret in past posts about my state of choice - the Golden State, California. I'm a fifth-generation Californian on both sides of my family, and pleased as punch to be from the West Coast (Best Coast). In honor of today's Presidential Primary election, I'll be looking at some great choices that honor the place I know and love!

Place Names

With over 38 million people and 480+ cities, California has a lot of place names to choose from. Names from larger cities often show a distinct Spanish influence, named after saints and churches built by early Catholic settlers. These include Francisco, Diego, Barbara, Angel/Angela, Jose, Rosa, Ana, and Clara, to name a few. Cities with non-Latin names that offer moniker potential are Berkeley, Irvine, Carson, and Hawthorne. Looking for something more eco-friendly? National park names range from Sequoia to Joshua to Sierra, and bodies of water include Feather, Shasta, Trinity, and Isabella. Explore the terrain on Google Maps (or on a paper map), and see what other classic or unusual names you can find!

Historical Names

While many of the place names indicate complex histories, there are some names as Californian as, well, In N Out. Father Junipero Serra explored much of the coast and established tens of missions - both Junipero (a masculine equivalent to floral Juniper) and Serra (as a variant of Sarah) are rare in name records. Sutter's Mill in northern California was the first location at which gold was discovered, prompting the Gold Rush - not a bad occupational choice, Sutter. Only a few decades later, Hollywood's influence swept the nation, introducing us to stars like Shirley Temple, Gregory Peck, and Clint Eastwood (all native Californians). This state's role in American history cannot be overestimated, and offers dozens of inspiring namesakes!

Symbolic Names

Of course, there are some very state-oriented options here: Eureka, after the state motto; Goldie, after the state nickname; even California - eleven girls were named after the state last year. But looking at more subtle honorifics might please fans of classic namers. Names that mean "bear" include Bernard, Arthur, and Ursula; names that mean "sun" include Soleil, Elio, and Mehri; names from state symbols include Poppy, Joaquin, and Bodie. Unofficial motifs indicating California abound as well in name records - Summer, West, and Oceane, for instance. To get ideas for more symbolic names for this state and others, brainstorm the first images you think of for your region of choice!

I've got many options here that remind me of my favorite home - tell me your picks for California (or any of the other 49 states) in the comments!

Basque Names

Good morning, readers!

While scrolling through the 2015 names list (because what else would one do in their spare time?) a lovely name caught my eye - Arantxa. Also spelled Aranza or Arantzazu, it's a Basque name meaning "thornbush". I've never seen this name before, and a cursory glance around name sites showed it indeed to be a rarity.

As a matter of fact, Basque names are few and far between. Here are some choice picks (other than Arantxa) for your consideration!

Most X's are pronounced as "sh" in Basque. English (or well-known) equivalents are included in italics!

Girls' Names

Alazne

Pronounced "al-az-neh", it means "miracle". While the pronunciation might be a bit difficult for English speaking audiences, the name feels like an updated version of Alana. It's also a roundabout way to get to the nickname Ally! Other feminine names meaning "miracle" include Harika or Nasia. 

Elixane - Elizabeth

Pronounced "El-i-sha-neh", it looks a lot like "elixir", and may be mistaken as such. Still, it could be a pretty way to honor a familial Elizabeth or Elaine. It also sounds like the female equivalent of Elisha. Elixane means "pledged to God", and has one celebrity endorsement - a French tennis player, Elixane Lechemia. 

Joska - Josepha

Mariska Hartigay introduced us to the adorable "sk" sound, and Saskia has been trending overseas. This cute variation of Josepha offers the same unexpected sound, as well as the nickname Jo or JoJo. And it's never been recorded in US data, for all you fans of the uncommon!

Leire

The form may fool you, but Leire actually sounds like Lay-ree and fits in with popular "ay-ee" names: Kaylee, Daisy, Abree. It's the name of a mountain in Navarre, where a monastery has sat since the eighth century. Leire and its alternate spelling Leyre were given to 14 girls each in the US last year. 

Xuxa - Shoshana

Want to accentuate the x-factor but keep a soft sound? Xuxa is for you! Pronounced Shoo-shah, Xuxa means "lily" and was only used for about 30 children total in the 1990's. An eponymous Brazilian entertainer brought the name to US attention, but I haven't been able to find out whether the name ranks highly in Brazil. 

Boys' Names

Argider

With both Archer and Arthur in the top 300, Argider may not be as absurd as one might think. It means "beautiful light" in Basque, and it could use Darry or Argie as nicknames. It would definitely raise some eyebrows, but its meaning and heritage are fantastic. 

Eneko - Inigo

A sweet name with a sweet meaning: "my little one". It fits in with the current ends-in-O trend - think Nico, Diego, Emilio - and has an easy spelling-pronunciation connection. Not super relevant, but I like that the Japanese word for cat, "neko", is included too. 

Ilari

Both Ilario and Ilaria are recorded names, but Ilari is elusive - the Basque name means "cheerful", and definitely has an upbeat vibe. It may be confused with Hilary, so I'd recommend waiting until after the election to use it (#feelthebern). 

Unai

While Unai ranks in the top 50 in certain parts of Spain, it's all but unheard of in the US. It's an attractive, vowel-heavy name meaning "cowherd", and fits in with other new classics like Noah and Kai. Feminine Una has been slowly increasing on the charts, so why not Unai?

Zorion
Like Ilari, Zorion means "happiness". It may sound like a modern invented name, but it has a history overseas and has been used occasionally in the US since 2001. I personally think Zor and Zori are cool nicknames, too! If you like Orion, try adding a Z!

Tell me what you think in the comments? Any cool Basque names I missed?

Saturday Jams: On a CLARE Day

My sister Clare celebrates her birthday next week! Here's a Saturday Jams devoted to my favorite (and only) little sister <3

*Of course, since the spelling is less common, I'm taking liberties with songs!

"Clair", Gilbert O'Sullivan, 1972

"Claire's Kitchen", Soho, 1992

"O Claire", Cheap Trick, 1978

"Planet Claire", the B-52's, 1979

"Clarabella", the Beatles, 1963

Names from LA Neighborhoods

Hello, readers!

I had the fortune of spending Memorial Day weekend in Southern California - Malibu, Fullerton, and San Diego, for the most part. Some of the neighborhoods in the Los Angeles Metro Area have excellent names, so here are my top picks!

All of these names have been recorded at least once in US history!

Angeles

Malibu

Beverly

Monica

Ana

Irvine

Azusa

Huntington

Carson

Brea

Downey

Marina

Cypress

Rowland

Griffith

Compton

Any I missed? Tell me in the comments!