Monthly Archives: August 2009

Yea or Nay: Sosie

Posted on
18

In French, sosie means double – as in on dit que tout le monde a un sosie.  (They say everyone has a twin.)

But Sosie Ruth Bacon, daughter of Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, is all-but-one-of-a-kind.  Born in 1992, Sosie’s starbaby status failed to launch the name into general use – Sosie has never appeared in the US Top 1000.

I’ve found a few references to a French Saint Sosie from the 300s, a victim of the Diocletian persecutions.  She also sounds like a logical diminutive for Shoshannah, the Hebrew forerunner of Susannah.

With Sophie and Sadie so popular – and Sedgwick and Bacon so steadily in the public eye – I can’t help but wonder:  Sosie, yea or nay?

Sunday Summary: 8/9/09

Posted on
26

My neighborhood is filled with expectant parents.  A few know about my baby name obsession; others, not so much.  I know that politeness dictates that I greet all joyful news of babies-on-the-way with the following: Congratulations!  How are you feeling?

Instead, I really want to say: Do you have names picked out?

So I wonder, readers, do you also struggle with the urge to ask?

In other news:

  • There’s a new baby in my ‘hood who answers to Santiago.  (Or will.  He’s just a few weeks old.)  Ignatius names seems to be big everywhere except the English-speaking world.  Here was the big a-ha – Santiago’s mom said this: It’s a very popular name in Peru (her home country).  If we lived there, I probably wouldn’t want to use it. Here, of course, it sounds just-exotic-enough, at #171 last year;
  • Ever notice how some families give girls wildly creative appellations,while sticking to the absolute classics for their sons? Bewildertrix spotted a birth announcement for the saintly, nicely paired Joseph Rocco – with big sisters Dior Rose and Caprice.  She also spotted a Reece Warlock;
  • The Toronto Star column this week features a rather pretty name – Melita Jolie.  I’ll admit that Melita sounds a little bit like an appliance to my ear.  But Melitta is a legitimate variant of Melissa, and with just the one t, Melita is the Latin name for the island of Malta.  Better still, Melita is a family name on dad’s side – I always enjoy the use of obscure family names;
  • I’m sure you’ve already read all about it, but yes, a mom-to-be really is (was?) selling naming rights for her son on eBay, in hopes of raising enough cash to put food on the table.  Or is she?  When I checked eBay, the auction link didn’t work, despite the fact that eBay officials earlier said her item was valid – and bids were received;
  • Sebastiane brings us another interesting Latvian/Lithuanian choice – Daina, pronounced just like Dinah.  Of course, in the US you’d probably hear her rhymed with Dana.  But then, that’s the risk with any unusual name;
  • Weirdest name spotted on a message board this week?  Azhya.  Pronounced like Asia.  Let’s hope the baby is a boy – David is the top contender;
  • Finley is the new Riley.  Daniel Baldwin’s new daughter is Finley Rae.  Sibs are Alexandra, Atticus, Kahlea and Avis.  Wonder if we’ll see Finleigh or Fynlee in the US Top 1000 this year?
  • Speaking of names that just might pop – Marley Shelton plays a character called Cleo in A Perfect Getaway, a thriller that just opened this weekend.  Other characters include Cliff, Cydney and Kale;
  • Celeb chef Tom Colicchio welcomed son Luka Bodhi, a brother for Dante;
  • Tommy Hilfiger welcomed a son named Sebastian Thomas.  Sebastian is already one of those names that new parents are surprised – and disappointed – to learn ranks in the US Top 100.  Odds are he’ll keep on climbing;
  • Reality TV alumni Rob and Amber Mariano welcomed a daughter, Lucia Rose;
  • Nancy published an excerpt from Emily Post’s 1967 etiquette guide, counseling against names that are “too long or difficult to pronounce …”  One imagines the 60s were  a trying time for etiquette experts;
  • For pure fun, check out Elisabeth’s post on Anagram names.  I agree – Claudine and Dulcinea are quite the pair!

A year ago today, I wrote about Zuleika.  Cool name!  I remain impressed by the suggestions that find their way to me.

Lastly, if you haven’t read Confessions of a Secret Name Nerd by Nameberry’s Pam, then you simply must.

Have a fabulous week!

Name of the Day: Vasare

Posted on
14

With Summer in the US Girls’ Top 200 for the past few years, it might seem too obvious a choice for an August-born daughter.

Thanks to Sebastiane for suggesting a truly unusual twist on a seasonal name.  Our Name of the Day is Vasarė.

Continue reading →

Name of the Day: Donncha

Posted on
20

He’s royal, historic and terribly obscure.  But he’s more dashing than Donald.

Thanks to Bevin for suggesting another one from her family tree.  Today’s Name of the Day is Donncha.

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Name of the Day: Emmeline

Posted on
24

With Emily and Emma entrenched in the US Top 10, little wonder parents are starting to seek out alternatives.

Thanks to Alicia for suggesting one likely candidate.  Our Name of the Day is Emmeline.

Continue reading →

Sunday Summary: 8/2/09

Posted on
11

How can it possibly be August?  Of 2009!?

As I marvel at the date on the calendar, why don’t you hop in the wayback machine to 2008 when August was Name of the Day?  It’s still one of my favorites for a boy.

Here in my RL, I’ve got a few new babies to report:

  • Elizabeth Violet, nn Elle – classic, but not dull;
  • John Paul – not sure if he’s John-Paul or even Jean Paul, but parents definitely use both names together;
  • Did I mention I met a Polly?  IMHO, the world could use a few more Pollys.

Also in RL, but in ones far more glamorous – or at least visible – than mine:

And in the blogosphere:

  • Jill’s post on NameShame?  Rocks.
  • Speaking of naming regrets, the mom blogger at Kicky Boots wrote about deciding to rename their toddler.  Karenna Jolie is, I must say, a lovely choice for their daughter.  Who cares it if it took a few months post-utero to settle on it?
  • During our discussion of Cinderella, Sebastiane mentioned that she’s heard of it on Cajun women.  There is something fascinating happening in Louisiana, isn’t there?  Nancy did a post on Cajun names from the Civil War, including Justilien and Dazincourt;
  • Did you check out the Nameberry Faves post – Beatrix, Penelope and Clementine are their Top Three.  Beatrix is clearly a favorite here, too.  Wonder if we’ll see that reflected in the US rankings in a few years?
  • Xanthe Linnea wrote about Cedric.  Anyone else think that the Harry Potter/Twilight connection might make Cedric an unlikely choice in, say, a decade and a half?  Edward Cedric, anyone?
  • Bewildertrix spotted Asher on a girl; Elisabeth reports a girl called Archer.  Asher doesn’t surprise me, what with Ashley/Ashlyn/Ashtyn.  But Archer?  Knock me over with a feather;
  • I loved Bewildertrix’s post on villain names like Regan, Judas, Iago, Jezebel, Hannibal … whenever I ding Regan, I can expect a few angry comments.  But I’m with her on this one – Regan wasn’t much of a role model to begin with, and the fact that the name caught on post-Exorcist?  Scary.  Even better, her comment on Lucifer – “Sound wise it’s magnificent.  To use it?  Cruel.”
  • A pair of Canadian parents insist they are angst-free over their decision to name their daughters Shade Star Pirate and Styles Knight Mansion.  I respect the amount of thought they put into their choices.  But I can’t help think that somewhere in there, they could’ve given their daughters a less aggressively unusual name, just in case the girls grow up to have interests other than their parents’ professions, Star Wars and attractions at Disney World;
  • Let’s end on a high note – Sebastiane featured a truly classic girls’ name over at Legit Baby Names – Martha, Marta, Marthe.

In semi-name news, I’ve been coveting my neighbors’ gas-sipping, eco-chic SmartCar for months now.  I was charmed to learn that the forerunner of today’s Smart wore the lovely name Isetta.  Hey, if girls can be named Camry.  And Shade …

Thanks for reading!