First, thanks to Pam and Linda at Nameberry for running my guest post on Movie Award Names: Looking beyond Oscar.  Lilia, Magali, Denholm, Tahar … I could’ve gone on for pages.

Speaking of winners, whilst channel surfing earlier this week, I caught an episode of Toddlers and Tiaras featuring BFFs turned rivals, Jacee and Mayce.  I like Macy, but find Jaycee a touch too civic to wear.  But here’s the thing – neither of those spellings immediately suggests the correct sound.  I think I’d say JAH see and mace, like the weapon, except that I can guess what they’re meant to be.  Maycee, sure.  Jaycie, okay.  But Jacee and Mayce, IMHO, fail some essential test about phonetic transparency.

Not that that’s anything new.

And of course, I watched the two-part special episode of The Office just to hear the baby’s name.  Pam and Jim Halpert are now parents to Cecilia Marie.  Cecilia ranked #270 in 2008, and seemed to have plateau’d.  I suspect she’ll rise in 2010, because even though Nancy’s advice to Turn Off Your TV When Choosing Bad Names is sound, pop culture is powerful.

Elsewhere online:

• Momlogic posted their list of 8 illegal baby names.  Most of them are international violations of various codes – I suppose you could name your baby Metallica in the US.  Heck, someone probably already has;
• Speaking of illegal names and heavy metal, a bitsy Québécois baby gets to keep her umlaut.  New mom Kriystal – not a typo – decided that she wanted to make #19 name Zoé more unique with a gratuitous diacritical mark.  So she called her newborn babe Zöé and ran afoul of those crazy Canadian authorities who think that diacritical marks should indicate how to pronounce a name, not simply be strung on like so many Mardi Gras beads.  Kriystal won, and can look forward to years of explaining to the insurance company and school registrar precisely how to spell Zöé;
• Also in Canada, parents settled on the name Porsha, but insist it isn’t for the Shakespeare or the car.  The spelling Portia was dismissed because “it looked like a witch name.”  Here’s hoping Porsha grows up to be a lit major and discovers that Portia is actually the quick-witted woman who saves Antonio’s life when everyone else falls short – and a worthy namesake if ever one was;
• Nancy asks how similar should twin names be? I voted, then visited the Social Security Administration’s Top 100 list of twin names. Most strike me as on the edge of being too close:  Jacob and Joshua, the #1 combo, are fine.  But #5 pair Taylor and Tyler, #25 pair Christian and Christopher and #75 duo Heaven and Nevaeh all seem much too much.  I prefer sets like #33 Benjamin and Samuel or #35 Abigail and Emma - the names have similar styles, but it is clear that each child is an individual, not one half of novelty salt’n'pepper shakers;
• For Real Baby Names spots a lot of interesting names, but here’s one that baffles me: Gossip Anthony.  There must be a story there.  The girl name Loyalty Justice – also spotted this week – seems tame by comparison;
• If you prefer meaningful names with a more subtle style, Sebastiane brings us the lovely Honorine.  Also the Russian Lara;
• Road trippers might appreciate this one – For Real spotted a boy saddled with the name Soul-Ryder Prescott, to be called Ryder, which isn’t so unusual.  But his brother’s name?  Truck;
• All of a sudden, I love Aidan.  At least for this couple. Dad Daniel and mom Ailene settled on Aidan because it combines the first syllables of their names.  Clever;
• Nymbler stats are out for February 2010! No surprises in the Top Ten favorite names: Charlotte, Ava, Amelia, Grace, Ella, Audrey, Oliver, Jack, Benjamin and Henry.  But the four brand new names quite eye-popping:
  • Siri – An intriguing twist on Sigrid and Signe, but where did she come from?  I’m missing something!
  • Baylor – Are there really that many Bears alumni out there?  Or is this a riff on Taylor?
  • Emersyn – Okay, this one isn’t a shocker.  She fits with Addisyn et. al.;
  • Wednesday – As in Addams?

Here’s the starbaby news, via Celebrity Baby Blog:

• Country Music’s Little Big Town Band members Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook are new parents to a son, Elijah Daniel;
• Jenna Elfman welcomed a second son, Easton Quinn Monroe, a little brother for Story Elias;
• Joey Lawrence welcomed new daughter Liberty Grace, a sister for Charleston;
• Keyshia Cole welcomed a son named Daniel Hiram, Jr.;
• Christina Milian and The Dream welcomed their daughter, Violet Madison;
• Jamie Oliver and wife Jools are expecting baby #4. With three daughters called Poppy Honey, Daisy Boo and Petal Blossom Rainbow, well … let’s just say I am eagerly expecting their new arrival!

Drumroll please!  It’s time to enter the 5th Annual Baby Name Wizard 2009 Baby Name Pool! Guess three fastest rising and three fastest falling names and win bragging rights.  Serious bragging rights.  Entries are due April 15.

That’s all for this week – thanks for reading!