She’s a medieval standard, long out of use. But she might be a great choice for a 21st century girl.
Thanks to Jillian for suggesting Annis as Baby Name of the Day.
She’s a medieval standard, long out of use. But she might be a great choice for a 21st century girl.
Thanks to Jillian for suggesting Annis as Baby Name of the Day.
Happy Father’s Day! If you haven’t already, check out Nameberry’s list of famous – and intriguingly named – dads throughout the ages. Ludovico, anyone?
Elsewhere online:
In celeb news:
Let’s end with the controversy of the week: As reported in the Christian Science Monitor, baby names have long-lasting effects, for better or worse. I haven’t read the study. And while it sounds like there’s some definite academic rigor involved, what I question is this: perceptions of names change, sometimes dramatically. Trace would’ve been a girly name to give a boy in the 1970s. Now he’s right at home with Cade. Ashley and Madison used to be sophisticated, unusual, tomboy-ish choices for daughters. Now they’re terribly common. Names once found in the Top 50, even the Top Ten, fall out of favor. So I’m wondering if the researchers addressed the ever-changing nature of names. It’s like trying to write a thesis on hem lengths – if you haven’t allowed for the cyclical, sometimes unpredictable nature of fashion, you’ve missed part of the story.
I’m curious to read the study … if anyone stumbles across it online, please share the link!
That’s all for this week. As always, thank you for your thoughtful comments, suggestions and, of course, for reading!
My kids are Oliver George (4.5 months) and Imogen Lily (2.5 years). We knew we wanted kids before we married and decided after a year of marriage to try to have kids. It was the late 90s, we were living in England and didn’t think we’d ever leave. At the time we were absolutely certain it would be George for a boy (I was towing the line for Owen, too, but Nigel was having none of that). For girls we agreed on Lily, Hannah, Isobel, and there was a mention of Imogen. I liked Grace, he wasn’t convinced; he liked Molly, I wasn’t convinced. Isobel and Lily were the front-runners.
She’s one of Carrie’s BFFs on Sex and the City and a 90s favorite, but her Shakespearean roots give her staying power.
Thanks to Rachel for suggesting Miranda as Baby Name of the Day.
British parents are mad about him. Will American moms and dads follow suit?
Thanks to Charlotte for suggesting her father’s appellation as our Baby Name of the Day: Harry.
With all the talk of Jacob and Isabella, it is easy to miss the real baby naming stories from the Twilight franchise.
Here’s one: thanks to Melissa for suggesting the rebounding Rosalie as Baby Name of the Day.
Tiffani Thiessen is a new mom, to new daughter Harper Renn.
I don’t comment on every starbaby birth, but this one intrigues me – especially the middle name. Is it a family choice, a spin on the avian Wren or a respelling of the French word for queen?
He rose to the heights of popularity while his twin’s name faded into obscurity.
Thanks to Urban Angel for suggesting Brandon as Baby Name of the Day.
If Moses is a pleasing starbaby choice, why not this name worn by his stepmama?
Thanks to Samantha for suggesting Bethia as Baby Name of the Day.
So the Glee baby was named Beth. And Nikki Blonsky has a new series on ABC Family called Huge, apparently set at a summer weight-loss camp. Her character’s name caught my eye: Willamina, though I believe she’ll be answering to Will.
In other, completely random news:
And then there’s the biggest discovery of the week: Nancy posted the Social Security Administration’s lists of Names outside the US Top 1000 that were given to 100 or more newborns in 2009. You can check out the girls’ list here and the boys’ list here. You’ll finds lots of variant spellings – Alexandrea, Jurnee, Olyvia and Kooper, Mykel, Trever - as well as some lovely surprises – Constance, Juniper, Honor and Thatcher, Perry, Gibson. And were more than 100 little girls really called Halo? And were the 177 baby boys called Major inspired by the Novogratz family?
Since the birth rate in Hollywood was a disappointing zero this week, I’ll leave you with Nameberry’s Will Maisie be the next Daisy? It’s a fascinating list, and it suggests why it is so very hard to find a name that is just a little bit different.
Have a great week, and, as always, thanks for reading!