Princess Charlotte of Belgium; Image via Wikipedia

She’s a regal appellation dressed in pearls and a twin set.

Thanks to Lem for suggesting Charlotte as our Baby Name of the Day.

From 1880 into the 1950s, Charlotte was in steady use, usually in the US Top 100 and never far outside.  If you were set on classic names for girls and had already used Elizabeth and Margaret, Charlotte was a logical choice for daughter #3.

She’s also a feminine form of the evergreen Charles.  There’s Caroline, too, traditionally the more popular of the options.

All of the names trace their roots to the Germanic Karl – man.  In Latin, Karl became Carolus.  Carolus gives us Carol, Carolina, and Caroline.  In French, Carolus became Charles.  Charles led to the French diminutive Charlot - the t is silent, as in Margot – which led to feminine form Charlotte.

The Normans brought Charles to England, but it would be centuries before the feminine forms surfaced.  An early Charlotte was born in Cyprus, making her one of those quirky medieval crusader state names.  Charlotte’s little sister was Cleopha.  The names are an eclectic mix of romance languages – French and Italian – with Eastern influence.

Charlotte slowly became a staple amongst the ruling families of Europe:

• Charlotte of Savoy became Queen of France in the 1400s, probably named after her grandmother, a Queen of Cyprus;
• Another French princess was Charlotte Aglaé d’Orléans;
• A German-born princess Charlotte married the heir to the Russian throne, Alexei, but she and tsarevich both died young.  Their son, Peter, would eventually become tsar.
• German princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz married King George III and brought the name to England;
• Charlotte Augusta Matilda was the eldest daughter of English King George III and Queen Charlotte.  The princess later married a German king;
• Charlotte’s brother, the future King George IV, also had a Charlotte.  She could’ve become queen, but she predeceased her father;
• Belgian-born princess Marie Charlotte Amélie Augustine Victoire Clémentine Léopoldine – pictured above – would become Empress Carlota of Mexico in the nineteenth century;
• From 1919 through 1964, Luxembourg was ruled by a Grand Duchess named Charlotte.

I’m overlooking tons of royal Charlottes.  And then there’s Charlotte Corday.  In 1793, she assassinated Jean-Paul Marat.  Both Corday and Marat were revolutionaries – Marat was more extreme; Corday sided with the moderates.  Her efforts backfired, and she and other members of her faction went to the guillotine.

Modern parents may be looking for a literary reference, as in Charlotte Brontë.  Throw in a few Jane Austen characters, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Charlotte’s Web, and she’s perfectly at home in the library.

Hush … Hush, Sweet Charlotte sounds like a lullaby, but it is actually a 1964 Southern gothic horror flick starring Bette Davis.

By the 1990s, Charlotte hovered in the high 200s and low 300s – until HBO original series, Sex and the City introduced us to Carrie Bradshaw’s BFF.  Charlotte is the most conservative of the characters, a Park Avenue denizen with a usually positive outlook.  All of a sudden, Charlotte was modern once more.  She’s been gaining ever since the show became a sensation, and at #45 last year, is at her most popular ever.

Today Charlotte appeals to parents seeking a classic that feels fresher than Margaret, and offers nicknames from boyish Charlie to retro Lottie.  The only drawback is that you may have to share this lovely classic!

Hagia Sophia interior view; Image via Wikipedia

She’s a lovely, literary classic riding high atop popularity charts throughout the English-speaking world.  But she’s also the product of one big ol’ misunderstanding.

Thanks to Sophie for suggesting Sophia as our Baby Name of the Day.

Sophia is the #2 baby name in the US.  Add in Sofia (#26), Sophie (#59) and she’s even more popular.  In fact, despite flirting with obscurity in the 1940s and 50s, Sophia is nearly as enduring as Katherine, Mary, Elizabeth, or Anne.

She’s just as portable as those evergreen appellations, but she’s a bit tougher to spot.  Sophia takes a Z to become Zofia in Slavic languages.  Zosia and Sonia are short forms that disguise Sophia in foreign lands.

But back to her origins: Sophia is literally the Greek word for wisdom, derived from sophos, wise, and appearing in philosophy – love of knowledge.  It makes for a feminine name with a strong meaning – an unbeatable combination.

That’s the source of the error, too.

Look at a list of early martyrs and you might find Saint Sophia listed in the second century.  Her story goes like this: an early Christian convert, Sophia raised three daughters: Faith, Hope, and Charity, their names inspired by St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.  During the reign of Hadrian, the girls were tortured and killed for their beliefs.  Sophia died of grief.

The heart-breaking story might be pure fiction: it is generally accepted that the phrase Hagia Sophia – holy wisdom – was misinterpreted.  The Hagia Sophia was a basilica dedicated in the year 360 in Istanbul; it served as a Christian church for more than eleven centuries, and a mosque for five more.  (Today it is a museum.)  But along the way, it was assumed that the structure was dedicated to Saint Sophia – even though the name does not appear to exist much before the twelfth century.

Sophia starts to appear amongst German nobles.  A pfalzgraf – sort of a high-ranking count – gave the name to his daughter in the 1100s.  I’m not sure if his Sophia was the very first, but the name appears regularly afterwards, among German and Austrian nobles, and traveled to Denmark and the England.  A fifteenth-century Grand Duchess of Moscow wore the name, but she’d been born a Greek princess called Zoe.  There’s a steady drip of well-born girls wearing the name right up to the present day.  The Countess of Wessex, daughter-in-law of the current Queen of England, was born Sophie Rhys-Jones, and the present Queen of Spain is Sofia, as is her granddaughter, Infanta Sofia of Spain.

Speaking of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria was originally called Sardica or Serdica.  But the city is home to another lovely, historic church known as the Hagia Sophia.  Under Ottoman rule, the place name became Sofya, and eventually Serdica and other names faded into the history books.

There are too many famous Sophias to list, but a few that come to mind include:

• Sophia Jex-Blake, one of the first women to become a doctor in the UK;
• Legendary actress Sophia Loren;
• Sofia Coppola, mom to Romy and Cosima, and director of one of my all-time favorite flicks, Marie Antoinette;
• In musical-turned-movie Mamma Mia!, the lovely young bride-to-be is Sophie.

The only reason not to use Sophia is, of course, how very popular she has rightfully become.  But unlike Madison, she’s not likely to be dated in a way that disappoints – even if she does share her name with others her age.

Saint Mark's Basilica, Venice; Image by Eustaquio Santimano via Flickr

He’s ancient, Biblical, literary, and had a great run in the 1960s.

In honor of Charlotte’s husband, our Baby Name of the Day is Mark.

Marcus was the name of noble Romans in the pre-Christian era.  There was Mark Antony, known for his military prowess, political will, and tragic ending with Cleopatra.  A few centuries later there’s philosopher-king Marcus Aurelius, ruler of the Roman Empire in the second century.  It’s said that Marcus was likely derived from Mars, the god of war – but maybe not.  Others have posited an old Etruscan personal name.  For what it is worth, even Mars has an earlier meaning, likely related to mas – male.

If it is a little tricky to say what Marcus precisely meant, there is no question why Mark has such a long history of use:

• Mark the Evangelist first appears in the New Testament, as the author of the Gospel of Mark, then traveled to Alexandria, establishing the church in Africa.  Some contend that these accomplishments are too many for a single figure and suggest that the Biblical Mark is a different person;
• Regardless, the Saint Mark who died in Alexandria is the inspiration for Saint Mark’s Basilica in Venice.  The legendary landmark houses the remains of the saint, pilfered by Venetian merchants in the ninth century.  The current church dates to the late eleventh century.  Saint Mark’s Square remains one of the most famous public spaces in the world.  Can’t visit?  Take a panoramic tour;
• The tale of Tristan and Isolde couldn’t be without King Mark of Cornwall.  He’s the one who sent his nephew, Tristan, to fetch his future queen, the Irish princess Isolde.  There was a sixth century Cornish king by the name, but the line between fact and fiction is blurry.

The king raises an interesting point – Mark may have more than one source.  While the month of March is generally associated with the god Mars, too, the old Welsh name March relates to horses.  It appears that March would’ve been closer to the king’s name in his day.  In Latin, March became Marcus and so he’s been King Mark in English for eons.

Then there’s Mark Twain, the pen name of Samuel Clemens.  A young Clemens worked as riverboat pilot, a prestigious and demanding career in the pre-Civil War era.  When the war broke out, traffic on the rivers plummeted, and Clemens became a newspaper reporter – and eventually, an American literary trailblazer.  Clemens’ days on the river stayed with him.  “Mark Twain” was a term pilots used to indicate the water was two feet deep or greater – and therefore safe to navigate.

Clemens’ pen name points to one additional origin for Mark: from the Old English mearc – boundary, or more specifically, the indicator of a boundary.  If you’re running a race, you’re on your mark; if you’re a con artist, your intended victim is your mark; if you’re good at what you do, you can leave your mark; and a marksman is one who aims at a target.

Mark – and Marc and Marco – all have a long history of use, but Mark’s best days are behind him.  He entered the US Top 10 in 1955 and remained there through 1970.  Today he’s more likely to be your dad – or even your grandpa – instead of your son.

Robert Pattinson; Image via Wikipedia

He was a Top Ten pick in the US for over a century, and the #1 name for fifteen years.  Today he’s fading, but a young Hollywood star might just bring him back.

Thanks to Heather for suggesting Robert as our Baby Name of the Day.

Even if you’ve never read the Twilight books, you’ve probably heard of Robert Pattinson.  His big break was the Harry Potter series, as ill-fated nice guy Cedric Diggory in The Goblet of Fire.  Then came the role of a certain glittery creature of the night, and well … More recently, he’s graduated to non-vampiric roles, co-starring with Reese Witherspoon in Water for Elephants and, later this year, with Uma Thurman in Bel Ami.

The young actor could help revive his character’s name – Edward – and might also do something for his own moniker.

While Robert remains classic, he’s undeniably fading these days.  Robert ranked #10 in 1880, and climbed steadily, reaching #1 in 1924.  He held the top spot into 1930s, and remained in the Top Ten through 1989.

Robert is one of many venerable classics to slip as parents expanded their definitions of acceptable names for boys.  He reached a low of #55 in 2009, and crept up just a tick to #54 in 2010.

But there’s more to it than just changing attitudes towards naming a son.  Other choices with similar histories, like William and Henry, have climbed during the last few decades.  Indeed, Henry is hot in Hollywood, and with Prince William’s recent wedding, he’s as high profile as it gets.

Like those evergreen options, Robert has Germanic roots, was scrubbed up by the Normans, and has been used it its current form for generations.  Robert comes from hrod – fame, along with the common -beraht – bright, shared with Albert and other ends-in-bert options.

There’s a prominent Robert in every field of endeavor:

• Kings of France and Scotland;
• A trio of medieval saints;
• More athletes than I can count;
• Creative forces, from the acting world’s legendary Robert DeNiro to music’s equally admired Bob Dylan and Robert Plant;
• From 18th century early Virginia governor Robert Carter to Bobby Kennedy, a host of politicians have worn the name.

But let’s pause and consider Bobby for a minute.  By the 1990s, Bob had become an everyman name, used for Bill Murray’s irritating psychotic in the 1991 comedy What About Bob?   Bob’s your uncle means “and there you have it.”  There’s a Brady called Bobby, and in the quirky Sandra Boynton song “15 Animals,” which gives the name Bob to fourteen of the fifteen pets in the lyrics.

Could it be a feeling that Bob is overexposed that sends parents looking elsewhere?

Maybe.  But in 2011, plenty of boys answer to William or James or Frederick, not Billy and Jimmy and Fred.  If you do want a nickname, Bob is not the only option.  Rob feels quite current, and I’ve met a Robert who answered to Bo.  Or go nickname-free and use Robert – it is no longer than Aiden or Ethan or plenty of powerfully popular choices.

With R.Patz lending the name a Hollywood heartthrob vibe, Robert feels far more current than he did a few years back.  As the current generation of Twihards graduates into their childbearing years, something tells me that their attitude towards Robert will be far more affectionate than parents today, who probably all know so many Bobs they’re dismissing the name.  Of course, if you’re looking for a classic appellation for a son today, Robert could also be just what you need – perfectly familiar, but undeniably less common than Alex or Will.

Laura 002 by Gareth Fudge via Flickr

She’s a classic appellation, almost as evergreen as Elizabeth or Mary.

Thanks to Lola for suggesting Laura as our Baby Name of the Day.

With centuries of use, Laura can’t be called trendy.  But she was fashionable in the 1960s and 70s, peaking at #10 in 1969.

Laura’s been in the US Top 100 from 1880 through 1934, and returned from 1945 to 2001.  She remains in the Top 50 of more than a dozen European and Latin American countries; she’s a recent member of the Top Ten in Estonia and Austria, Denmark and Spain.

Spain is where Laura gets her start.  She comes from the Late Latin laurus – laurel, the leaf of choice for victors’ crowns in Rome.  In the 800s, Laura was a devout Christian matriarch in Cordoba, Spain.  When her husband died, she took the veil.  But ninth century Cordoba was a Muslim state.  I’m not clear how Laura ran afoul of the Muslims in power, but apparently she did.  Legend has it that she was martyred in a vat of lead.

Fast forward to the early 1300s, and the poet Petrarch fell desperately in love with Laura from a distance.  His unrequited love fueled some of the most memorable writing of his generation, and would eventually form the basis of the modern Italian language.

Laura has been in use in English for centuries.  She may be borrowed from either source, or she might relate to another laurel-name, Laurence, and an early feminine form, Laurencia.

In more recent centuries, there’s Laura Secord, a Canadian heroine in the War of 1812, who warned of an impending American attack.

Laura Ingalls was born in 1867, but gained fame more than one hundred years later, when her semi-autobiographical novels served as the basis for television show Little House on the Prairie.

Other real life Lauras of the 20th century include:

But it is the fictional Lauras, those from music and television and film, who really boosted the name’s use.

First came 1944′s Oscar-winning Otto Preminger thriller, Laura, based on a 1943 novel.  Gene Tierney played the title role.  When the movie opens, we believe that Laura is dead, and yet the detective investigating her demise falls in love with her anyhow.

The movie and theme song pushed Laura back into the US Top 100, and events conspired to keep her there.

“Tell Laura I Love Her” was a 1960s hit for two different singers.  Kenny Rogers recorded a single titled “Laura” in 1979.  Five years later, Christopher Cross scored a hit with his “Laura,” a lament for a college student’s accidental death.

ABC borrowed Cross’ tune to promote General Hospital, just as supercouple Luke and Laura became the hottest thing on daytime TV.

So there was pioneer girl Laura Ingalls, soap opera staple Laura Spencer, and then Twin Peaks’ ill-fated homecoming queen.

At #235 in 2009, she’s about as common as Kendra, Sabrina, or Eleanor.  If you’re looking for a classic appellation that will be familiar and yet not too common, Laura is a surprisingly safe bet.

Crown of St. Stephen; Image via Wikipedia

Let’s say you’re searching for a solid, classic boy’s name that won’t be shared by lots of others.  William is everywhere.  James, too.  And forget Alexander.  But here’s one that might just end your search.

Thanks to Sara for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day: Stephen.

It is tough to imagine a name with more classic credentials than Stephen.  He comes from the Greek stephanos – crown.  The original Stephen was a New Testament figure, a deacon who was stoned to death, making him the first Christian martyr.

So revered was Stephen that his name was rarely used for centuries, at least not as a given name in English.  There were still Stephens early days – we know, because Stephanus became Pope Stephen I in 254.  He, too, was martyred.  But then the name starts to fade, and with the exception of others in religious life, it is tough to find a Stephen in the West.

That all changed during the eleventh century.  By then there had been nine Popes Stephen, and one very influential King of Hungary.  Stephen I was born Vajk, but took Stephen as his baptismal name, and would eventually wear it as ruler.  Together with his wife Gisela, Stephen fostered the spread of Christianity and expanded his territory.  For centuries, kings of Hungary wore the Crown of St. Stephen at their coronations.

Stephen caught on for aristocratic parents across Europe.  Croatia, Montenegro, Herzegovina, Bosnia, Serbia and Poland would all have rulers named Stephen.  One of the Counts of Blois was named Stephen in the 1000s.  He married Adela, daughter of William the Conqueror.  Adela and Stephen had a son, Stephen, who became King of England.

Just like that, Stephen became a proper English name.  He still wasn’t common, but that changed over the centuries.  Steven evolved as a simplified spelling shortly after the name caught on in England.

Between 1949 and 1951, Stephen reached #19, only to be eclipsed by the -v spelling.  Steven peaked at #10 between 1955 and 1961.

Both have fallen in recent years.  Stephen ranked #201 in 2009 – that’s the first time he’s been out of the Top 200 since the rankings began.  Streamlined Steven is holding on at #106.

With his recent popularity, there are plenty of accomplished men answering to Steve, including:

• Groundbreaking physicist Stephen Hawking;
• Author Stephen King;
• Hollywood legends Steve McQueen and Steven Spielberg;
• Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper;
• Apple’s Steve Jobs;
• Music gives us composer Stephen Sondheim, Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, Journey’s Steve Perry, Stevie Wonder and Stevie Ray Vaughn;
• Television’s Stephen Colbert – and, of course, former Blue’s Clues co-host Steve.

Taylor Swift recorded “Hey Stephen” on her 2008 Fearless album, all about a crush-worthy bearer of the name.

Farther back, there’s Virginia-born Stephen F. Austin, who settled Texas, as well as nineteenth century novelist Stephen Crane, and songwriter Stephen Foster.

I’m inevitably missing a few dozen, and that’s without considering the appealing international variations like Esteban, Etienne, and Stefan.

Overall, Stephen feels reliable, classic, enduring, and maybe just a little bit safe.  But if you use the full, two-syllable Stephen, he’ll fit in perfectly with Draven and William.  How many names can boast that versatility?

Image via Wikipedia

With a happy birthday to my darling daughter, today’s Baby Name of the Day is Caroline.

We think of the regal Caroline as a classic, and she has ranked in the US Top 1000 in every year since the first year data was collected, 1880.

But she hasn’t always been a popular pick, even in recent years.  In the 1950s, Caroline was eclipsed by variant spelling Carolyn, a name that reached the Top Ten in 1942.  From 1936 to 1950, Carol was a Top Ten option for girls.

The Germanic Karl is the starting point for all of these, and his meaning is usually given as simply man.  Sometimes you’ll see Caroline’s meaning listed as womanly; that’s a stretch.  Karl’s descendants range from Charles and Charlotte to Carlos and Carly.  A surprising number of them are big today, in the US and elsewhere.

Caroline is the French feminine form, but the woman who brought the name to English was a German princess.  Born Wilhelmina Charlotte Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach in 1683, she was quite the smart cookie.  Caroline refused several marriages to Catholic monarchs to make a match with King George II of Great Britain.  A new queen is enough to make any name catch on, but Caroline was especially influential, supporting writers, artists, and intellectuals.  (That’s her in the portrait.)

The royal couple passed her name on to a daughter, and well-born Carolines have been around ever since.  A second German-born Caroline was queen consort to King George IV of the United Kingdom in the early nineteenth century.  In more recent history, Caroline Bouvier Kennedy is from the famous presidential family; she was named after her maternal aunt and maternal great-grandmother.

Add it all up, and Caroline feels like a good girl – privileged, preppy, maybe even pearl-wearing.  Nameberry includes her on their Names Headed for Harvard list.

Plus, today’s parents grew up with Caroline:

• We’ve all sung along with Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”;
• Ma Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie was Caroline;
• The author of the Nancy Drew series was called Carolyn Keene – even though that was just a catch-all for a group of ghostwriters;
• Lea Thompson played a single cartoonist in Caroline in the City, which ran as part of the Friends block in the 1990s;
• But the Caroline in New York City who really made an impact was Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw.

Plenty of modern Carries wear the nickname as their full name, like country singer Carrie Underwood and actress Carrie Fisher.  Stephen King’s Carrie was born Carrietta.

There were also a host of notable Carolines in the nineteenth century, like First Lady Caroline Harrison, the wife of 23rd US President Benjamin Harrison and feminist writer and reformer Caroline Healey Dall.  There was also the aristocratic Lady Caroline Lamb, remembered for her scandalous affair with Lord Byron.

Parents are embracing Caroline for dozens of reasons today.  She’s the kind of classic name that will always rebound.  She’s nickname-rich, but doesn’t need one.

Possible pronunciation woes come with any of the -line names, but it seems to be the KARE oh line pronunciation that’s much in favor now.  Blame it on Neil Diamond – whoa, ho, ho.

Thanks to Melissa for suggesting Samuel as Name of the Day.  And congratulations to Photoquilty on the birth of her new son Samuel, too!

Samuel has risen and fallen in the US, but he’s never left the Top 100.  In the nineteenth century, he ranked in the Top 20.  From the late 50s into the mid 60s, he hovered north of #80.  In 2008, he was #26, falling slightly from previous years.  But it is safe to call him a classic.

In the Old Testament, the childless Hannah yearned to be a mother.  When her prayers were answered, she called him Shem’uel – God has heard.  Her son went on to be a prophet and leader of ancient Israel.  He’s revered in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, doubtless explaining much of the name’s popularity.

Like many an Old Testament moniker, he came into general use in post-Protestant Reformation England, just in time for plenty of figures in Colonial America to sport the name, including Samuel Adams.  Adams was a patriot and leader of the American Revolution – and possibly a brewer, too, though thanks to Boston Brewing Company’s Sam Adams brand, that’s the image that endures.

Even without Mr. Adams, Sam would undeniably be patriotic.  Said to be named in honor of a New York meatpacker, Samuel Wilson, our image of Uncle Sam has been in use since the War of 1812.  He’s inspired a DC Comics superhero, the Muppets’ oh-so-serious Sam the Eagle, and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics mascot, also Sam, also an eagle, but far more light-hearted.

There’s also Samuel Houston, as in Texas.  He was president of the Republic, first senator from the newly formed state and eventually governor.  He was a colorful figure, lending Sam some of his rough’n'tumble cowboy charm.

Literary Samuels include:

• Seventeenth century diarist Samuel Pepys
• The great Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge
• Eighteenth century poet, essayist and compiler of the era’s definitive dictionary, Samuel Johnson
• Samuel Clemens, the birth name of the legendary Mark Twain
• Nobel prize winning Irish writer Samuel Beckett

Lake Champlain is named after French explorer Samuel de Champlain, a pivotal figure in the development of Quebec.  He also points to one of the most appealing features of the name – if you’re looking to span two languages, Samuel is one that works well.  While Samuel’s pronunciation changes in different languages, his spelling often remains the same.  Samuel is Samuel in English and French, plus Spanish, Polish, Danish and Swedish.

A few notable bearers ensure that Sam keeps his cool:

• Actor Samuel L. Jackson
• Rat Packer Sammy Davis Jr.
• R&B singer Sam Cook, known for hits like “You Send Me” and “What a Wonderful World”
• Filmmaker Sam Peckinpah is remembered for his 1969 classic The Wild Bunch

And, of course, you’ll have a readymade bedtime story: Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss, complete with frequent repetition of your kiddo’s name.  The BBC’s Fireman Sam has been released on DVD, too.

Throw in ABC news anchor Sam Donaldson and Walmart founder Sam Walton and you have quite a set of Sams.

All together, it is easy to like Sam.  He’s quite versatile – Samuel is the scholar, Sam is the star athlete.  If you don’t care for some of the Sams, no matter.  There will almost certainly be another worthy namesake in the bunch.

Thanks to Alicia and Melissa for suggesting Charles as Name of the Day.

Worn by ten kings of France, four kings of Spain, two kings of England, one king of Portugal and Hungary each, as well as Holy Roman Emperors and a host of powerful aristocrats from the eighth century into the present day, it is hard to call Charles anything but an enduring classic.

But even classics have their eras.  Their rankings may not show a significant change, but their images certainly do.  Henry has switched from egghead to hipster.  And thanks to a certain vampire, Edward is now more romantic hero than Rotarian.

In Charles’ case, he was once a perennial Top Ten pick, ranking amongst the most common names for boys born in the US from 1880 right through 1954.  As of 2008, Charles ranked #63 – still far from uncommon.

But read the birth announcements for the fashionable and Charles is there in force.  Jodie Foster has a son called Charles.  So does  Russell Crowe.

Crowe’s kiddo answers to Charlie, and that’s the nickname of the moment.  But if Charlie isn’t for you – or if the rise in girls called Charlie has you vexed, there’s always Chuck, Chaz and – okay, it’s a stretch – Chase.  As for variants, Carlos ranked #73 in 2008, Carl charted at #490 and Carlo came in at #922.

In the US, Charlie as an independent name has always been an also-ran to Charles, coming in at a distant #307 in 2008.

Not so elsewhere in the English speaking world.  Charlie sits in England’s Top Ten, keeping company with the equally informal Alfie and Jack.

His origins are sometimes linked to Old English ceorl – meaning free man – and more often tied to the Germanic karl - once again, with a similar meaning.  While the Old English word was in use, and surfaces in place names like Carlton, it does not seem to have been a personal name.

The earliest Charles recorded may have been Charles Martel, the leader of the Franks in the early 700s, known for fending off a Muslim invasion.  He was grandfather to Charlemagne – Charles the Great – who ruled at the turn of the ninth century.  The name caught on, and centuries later, trend-setting Mary, Queen of Scots, came of age at the French court and eventually brought the name across the Channel.

Mary’s son James Charles became James I of England; his son became Charles I.  Charles’ rule ended in his execution, but his son, Charles II, eventually took the throne.

From the seventeenth century Restoration onward, there’s a lengthy list of notable Charles, including:

• Charles Darwin;
• Charles Dickens and Charles Bukowski;
• Charles de Gaulle – a statesman before he was an airport;
• Charlie Brown’s creator, Charles Schulz, as well as Charles Addams and Looney Tunes’ Chuck Jones;
• Actor Charlie Chaplin;
• Athlete Charles Barkley;
• Architect Charles Eames and Le Corbusier, born Charles-Edouard Jeanerret;
• Flyboys Charles Lindbergh and Chuck Yeager;
• Roald Dahl’s immortal Charlie and the Chocolate Factory;
• Charles Ryder from Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited;
• On TV, there’s Gossip Girls’ Chuck Bass and The Rugrats’ Chuckie Finster;
• Sinister dolly/serial killer Chucky has appeared in five Child’s Play movies.

I’m overlooking dozens of noteworthy Charles, including a half dozen saints, and that’s without considering the many men called Carl, Karl (think Marx), even Karol (as in the birth name of Pope John Paul II).

And that’s the strength of Charles.  He’s quietly current and will suit your son no matter what passions he pursues.  It’s a versatile, enduring choice.

Thanks to Kelly for suggesting Andrew as Name of the Day.

Ask most anyone if Andrew fits their definition of a normal name, and you’ll probably get a yes.  Most would also consider Andrew a classic.

Make no mistake, Andrew is evergreen.  With Biblical and royal roots, you can find an Andrew who has excelled in nearly any field of endeavor.  Andrew has always charted in the US Top 100.

But until the 1980s, Andrew had never cracked the Top Ten.  Frank, Donald and Larry, yes.  Jeffrey, Jason and Brian, too.  Joshua joined the fraternity in 1979, but Andrew didn’t arrive until 1986.

Not only was 1986 his first appearance in the Top Ten, but for a while Andrew was somewhat out of favor, dropping to a low of #70 in 1954.

There are plenty of good reasons to use Andrew, including:

• The first Saint Andrew numbered among the original twelve apostles;
• Six more Andrews, from a third century bishop to an nineteenth century Vietnamese martyr, are also considered saints;
• Three kings of Hungary, and plenty of princes have worn the name;
• Two US presidents – Jackson and Johnson – shared the moniker;
• Then there’s industrialist-turned-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie;
• Soviet dissident and human rights activist Andrei Sakharov won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975;
• Creative types have included artist Andy Warhol, Broadway’s Andrew Lloyd Weber, French writer André Malraux, conductor André Previn and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, among many others.  Rapper Dr. Dre started out as an Andre, too;
• Plenty of athletes have worn variations of the name, too, including tennis’ Andre Agassi.

The original Saint Andrew is Scotland’s patron saint – and there’s something of a brisk, highland style to the name.  There’s also a university and a world famous golf course named in his honor.  Saint Andrew’s Day – November 30 – kicks off the Scottish holiday season.

Andrew was on the upswing when Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip chose it for their second son, born in 1960.  He was named after his grandfather, Prince Philip’s father, Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark.

Andrew’s meaning is appealing.  He comes from the Greek andreios – manly.  It’s sometimes said to mean strong.  That’s not wrong, but it is a stretch.

Perhaps Andrew was slow to catch on because of his -oo sound.  Until recent decades, boys’  names almost always ended in a consonant, or possibly a -y.  Then came Joshua.  And Noah.

If that sounds far-fetched, consider that fellow apostle Matthew didn’t even appear in the US Top 100 for decades.  (He joined the US Top Ten in 1972.)

If the nickname Andy feels slightly dated – or perhaps too boyish, Drew remains an attractive option.

Parents continue to choose the name.  He’s not unusual – in fact, he just left the Top Ten in 2008, after over a decade.  But he is a solid choice, with history to spare.