Clio & Aly at Franklin's

Every once in an odd while, it occurs to me that you might enjoy a glimpse of Aly & Clio.  Yup, they’re sitting in a hand chair.  Nope, it’s not at our house.  It is our fabulous local brew pub/restaurant/general store Franklin’s.  Happily, it’s just a few blocks from our house.  It was Franklin’s that convinced us to move to this neighborhood, and it was Clio’s first restaurant outing when she was just a few weeks old.  Time flies!

But the more things change, the more they stay the same.  I still eagerly await each time Heidi Klum declares “This is Project Runway!”  Season 8 features some dazzling appellations: Peach, Mondo, Ivy, and Casanova.  Really, Casanova.  Plus a pair of Michaels and a McKell.

In other news:

• I’m fascinated by this name spotted by For Real Baby Names: Hannilé Anne. There’s also cowgirl Oakley Ann, the intriguing Sarah-Bella smoosh/Isabella variant Sabellah Ann, and an intriguing respelling in the middle spot – Luna Secilia.  Or it is an Ancient Roman name I’m missing?  And Ann really does go with everything;
• Check out this post on Gypsy at You Can’t Call It “It.” While most comments were against using Gypsy, at least as a given name in the first spot, about one-quarter of the votes were of the “go for it” variety.  Me?  I suggested reversing the middle and the first to arrive at Anna Gypsy.  I also liked Hester’s suggestion of using it as a nickname for Giuseppa;
• Which leads us to Flavorwire’s Rock’n'Roll Baby Name Dictionary.  Despite Stevie Nicks’ single “Gypsy,” it’s not a name on their list.  Henrietta, yes.  Maggie, of course.  It’s both helpful and amusing;
• The names on Nameberry’s Rock Star Baby Names list are more adventurous – and organized by band.  It’s interesting how many bandmates’ children sound like they could be siblings, not just the offspring of their parents’ co-workers.  Coldplay’s Apple and Rex spring to mind;
• Babynamelover spotted a Kashtyn.  It’s an inevitable outcome of Ashton/Cash/Dashiell, but it reminds me of the phrase “cashed in,” which is a weird association;
• I’m not sure I really expected the Ellen Page/Drew Barrymore roller girl flick Whip It to inspire parents, but here she is: Bliss Caroline, as spotted by Names 4 Real;
• Nancy finished up the math to tell us exactly how many babies received a name that sounds like -ayden in the US last year. A staggering 2.8% of all babies born, regardless of gender, received one.  In recent years, the story has been about a greater range of name options for parents.  Seems like most of us are only interested in being a little bit different;
• But the most interesting article of the week is definitely Nameberry’s Pam writing for The Daily Beast on 100 Cool Uncommon Names. She’s got some great picks, but the burning question is whether or not they’ll stay cool and uncommon.  Or are Lux, Saskia, Tamsin, Bellamy, and Fleur the next Zoe, Olivia, Madison, Emily and Lily?  Is Clancy the next Riley?  Will Day, North, and Win replace Cade, Cole, and Will?

In starbaby news:

• Mad Men’s Rich Sommer is about to be a dad again. I noticed the post at People, but what really caught my eye was his daughter’s name: Beatrice.  Remember a season or so back when his character, Harry Crane, became a new dad? His fictional daughter was also called Beatrice;
• And, of course, Diablo Cody welcomed a baby boy called Marcello.

Lastly, Reader Baby Name Stories will take a break for the month of August.  But please do submit your stories – I’ll be posting another call for them in a few days.  They’ve been the most fun to read, and I very much appreciate each and every one!