It’s a common dilemma:  you love the formal name, but dislike the obvious nickname.  Or you adore the nickname, but wonder if the full version is too much.

This was our position when Katharine suggested Gilbert as today’s Name of the Day.  Gil is fabulous, but was Gilbert really ready for a comeback?

Continue reading ‘Name of the Day: Gilbert’

For well over a century, Paul was a staple for baby boys born in the US.  In fact, he’s quite common the world over.  But the most common feminization, Paula, sounds rather dated in 2008.  

And so we turn our attention to the Italianate version: Paulina.  Thanks to Another for suggesting today’s Name of the Day.

Continue reading ‘Name of the Day: Paulina’

Unless you’ve been under a rock, you’ve heard that the Jolie-Pitt twins have arrived, and have been named Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline.

Our recent Name of the Day post on Etienne suggests that there’s little hope of a revival for most French-flavored boys’ names, at least in the first spot.  But how about the girls?

Read on for a discussion of past French names in favor in the US, and some très chic, très français ideas for a nom de fille today.

Continue reading ‘Ooh La La: French Names for Girls’

Depending on your age and interests, the letters I-R-A might signify a retirement account, the Irish Republican Army or a Colombian punk band.  But it’s also a boy’s name, and one that’s seldom heard in the US circa 2008.

Thanks to Katharine for suggesting today’s Name of the Day: Ira.

Continue reading ‘Name of the Day: Ira’

Dear Prudence.

When the Beatles crooned Michelle, ma belle, they sent the given name to the top of the charts.  But despite their equally appealing 1968 tune - said to be one of John Lennon’s favorites - Prudence has lingered in obscurity since the 1940s.  Could this mother of all virtues be reconsidered as a fitting name for a modern daughter?

Thanks to Katharine and Catherine for suggesting Today’s Name of the Day.

Continue reading ‘Name of the Day: Prudence’

The ApMtn team took a field trip to Montreal a few weeks back, and expected to return with lists of franglais-flavored baby names.  As it turned out, most names were simply French.  Or English.  But we did find ourselves appreciating the assistance of our oh-so charmant concierge.  And so we’ve decided to use his appellation here.

With the Jolie-Pitts opting for French flavored choices for their two newest, it seems only appropriate that today’s Name of the Day is Etienne.

Continue reading ‘Name of the Day: Etienne’

Today’s kids are growing up on Harry Potter, just as certainly as earlier generations came of age with Nancy Drew, Laura Ingalls and Anne of Green Gables.  A modern parent might expect that the heros of the series - Harry, Ron and Hermione - would inspire many a baby name.  But so far, not so much.

Instead, a minor character’s name seems to be the most likely JK Rowling moniker to catch fire amongst us Muggles.  Thanks to Unknown for suggesting today’s Name of the Day: Luna.

Continue reading ‘Name of the Day: Luna’

What would you do for a $100 gas card?  A pair of parents in Florida agreed to name their baby-to-be Dixon Willoughby, after the radio morning show hosts that posed the question.  The baby isn’t due until late December, and the parents have to offer up a copy of the birth certificate before they get the plastic.

It strikes us as sheer madness.  Except that we like Dixon far better than Draven or Jayden.  And we have a sneaking suspicion that Dixon might be popping up on more birth certificates - even without a free tank of gas or three.  He’ll be our Name of the Day on July 27.

It’s hard to imagine the Late Latin name Columba taking off as a boy’s name circa 2008.  But with a bit of modification, that just might happen in the US - and has already happened in the UK.

Thanks to Unknown for suggesting today’s Name of the Day: Callum.

Continue reading ‘Name of the Day: Callum’

The most anticipated celeb birth of the summer happened last night in France.  Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt welcomed a son and a daughter - Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline.  Word is that mom and babies are doing well.

We must say, the Jolie-Pitts are officially post-style in terms of baby naming.  Their children’s names range all over the map and the historical record, and the only common thread is that every choice is almost completely unexpected.  Their daughters now wear names that are exotic and hyper-feminine (Zahara Marley), androgynous and Biblical (Shiloh Novel) and French-fried classic (Vivienne Marcheline).  

As for the boys?  They do share something interesting - the first names of sons Maddox Chivan, Pax Thien and Knox Leon all end in x.

Popularity-wise, Knox has not appeared in the Top 1000 in the US in the 20th century, though it appeared briefly in 1881 and 1888.  His sister’s moniker is actually fairly common.  Vivienne regularly appeared in the Top 1000 throughout the 1910s and 1920s.  Her more familiar English counterpart, Vivian, has been in the Top 1000 every year the US has collected data, and spent 1911 to 1934 in the Top 100.  Today she ranks #210.

No word yet on the parents’ inspiration for the names, save that Marcheline is in honor of Angelina’s late mother, Marcheline Bertrand.

Congratulations to the new family!