For those of you in the US, hope you’re having a happy Labor Day weekend! There won’t be a Name of the Day post tomorrow, but there is something else headed your way.
Fall brings with it the return of network television, which means lots of new character names to consider. Hellcats – heavily advertised in the Mall at Annapolis – will feature a Marti, plus fellow cheerleaders Dan, Lewis, Savannah, and Alice. Marti reminds me of Marni, Kristin Bell’s charater in upcoming chick flick You Again. I wonder if Marti/Marni will catch on, along with Sadie and company?
Speaking of the Mall, in about three weeks the good people at Pottery Barn are going to deliver a piece of furniture to me. His name is Emmett. A post I wrote way back in early ’08 was all about the names Pottery Barn gives to their product line. Who names their rugs and desks and bookshelves? It must be an interesting job, and should there ever be a need, I think we could crowd source names for consoles and side tables right here!
Which brings us to the news of the week:
- The mystery of how hurricanes get their names is solved, thanks to Time Magazine;
- Stroller Derby’s Paula Bernstein asked if this most recent storm would persuade parents to consider names other than Earl for their babies-on-the-way. Wrong question, Paula! Earl has been out of the US Top 1000 since 2006, and despite the popularity of King- names, few seem ready to revive the other aristocratic titles;
- Could sixth century French names catch on? Sebastiane mentioned all-but-forgotten picks like Loup, Marileif, and Basina in a recent post about a historical novel. Berthefred and Galswinthe, however, are probably lost to time;
- Fiona’s guest post at Nameberry on Naming Your Children in Elvish offers up some surprisingly usable choices: Estel, Merilin, Miro. As Fiona suggests, the names work best when they’re more subtle than Frodo;
- Did you see the Baby Name Wizard post on the backronym? I’m fascinated by the way we morph meanings to fit our favorite names. She discusses Lyla and Mabel, along with true acronymn name Ily – for I Love You;
- The trend towards two middle names in the US continues, and For Real Baby Names has a list of recent birth announcements. Wouldn’t you know it? One of the triple-named newborns is Ily Kierstyn Renee;
- Elisabeth at You Can’t Call It “It” brings us The Top of the Telegraph, where parents fearlessly bestow double middles – and sometimes more! From Wilfred Rocky Otto to Marie-Sixtine Alice Verity and Bronte Caroline Casati to Loveday Celestine Primrose Kennedy, they’re really a fabulous collection of the unexpected.
- Speaking of the unexpected, Emily spotted a sibset: Banner, Nation, and Anthem. Individually they’re all unusual, together, well … let’s just say that if they have a few more kids, they might find themselves considering Star Spangled or Julyfourth. Then again, there’s still Liberty.
In starbaby news:
And remember, if you want to submit a Reader Baby Name Story? Now is a great time!
That’s all for now – thanks for reading, and I’ll see you soon!
