23 by cobalt123 via Flickr

Have you ever been someplace where you were supposed to be thinking about something entirely different, but your mind wandered and you found yourself pondering names instead?

Please tell me I’m not the only one.

I was at a memorial service for a lovely man on Saturday, a man whose life was jam-packed with adventure and achievement.  And yet, there was a minute where the afternoon sun caught the stained glass windows, gorgeous pieces dating from the late 1800s and early 1900s, with their benefactors’ names included in their designs.

I redirected my attention to the service, but not before I’d spotted Sidell, Ellis, Alice, and Laura, beloved wife of Alfred.

Back to places where it is okay to look:

• Have you seen the Nameberry message board thread about names that relate to fire?  Suggestions included Phoenix, Blaise, Fiammetta, Ember, and Kindle.  Wait, there are some problems with Kindle;
• From fire to Icie, at Bewitching Names.  Isadora guesses that Icie and company could be related to Isis.  It’s a good guess – Verdi’s Aida was a big deal, so parents embracing Egyptian-ish appellations tracks.  Isadora was also kind enough to mention this post on Icel, from sixth century Mercian ruler.  Isa stands at #12 in the Netherlands.  I also came across Iselin, currently in the Top 100 in Norway, exported with the assistance of a model;
• Speaking of Scandinavia, via Nancy, Sweden has released their Most Popular Names for 2010.  Oscar and Maja top the lists, but I’m intrigued by one of the fast-rising names: Novalie.  Nova has some history, in the US and elsewhere.  Novalee was Natalie Portman’s character in 2000′s Where the Heart Is.  I can’t find an explanation for Novalie’s rise in Sweden – any ideas?
• Swistle tried to help a reader find a formal name for Winnie. The mom suggested Winifred, while the dad was all about Winsome.  I see the appeal of Winsome, but it seems like a tough one to wear in those surly teenage years.  Other suggestions ranged from Gwendolyn to Winslow, Wynne, and Bronwyn;
• For Real spotted a Lexx Steven.  He can hang with Maxx and Jaxx.
• The Globe and Mail reported on the OpenFile app that mapped baby name popularity in Toronto and elsewhere in Canada by postal code. There were some interesting findings, like the popularity of a gender-neutral borrowing from the Dalai Lama, Tenzin, in the Tibetan community of Parkdale.  After clicking around the map, I’m not sure it is all that helpful.  If Emma is #1 here, but only#3 a few blocks over, and just #2 across town, well …  Emma is still a very, very popular name.

Over at the Nameberry blog, I’m presenting my best evidence yet that Americans really are embracing a greater diversity of given names.  (Yes, I’ll be wearing a visor that reads “Master of the Obvious,” too.)

As for new starbabies in the universe this week, here’s a round-up on what I posted on the AppMtn Facebook page this week:

• News that Owen Wilson’s new son’s name is Robert Fordbrought general approval, but we’re still wondering what they will call him – Rob?  Bobby?  Ford?  I’m rooting for the last one;
• Entertainment Tonight’s Samantha Harris welcomed a daughter, Hillary Madison, a little sister for Josselyn Sydney.  I called it refreshingly off-trend.  Others thought it was too close to what you’d call a Cabbage Patch Kid;
• Dutch model Doutzen Kroes and DJ boyfriend Sunnery James welcomed a son named Phyllon.  It is a trio of unexpected appellations, but when you have to tweet the pronunciation with the birth announcement – Fillen, according to James – there could be problems.  Sarah counted five possible pronunciations!
• Emily Procter’s West Wing character launched Ainsley back in 2000/2001.  Her CSI: Miami character wears the trendy respelled name Calleigh.But her firstborn child wears a vaguely English appellation – the quirky Pippa.

That’s all for this week!  As always, thank you for reading, commenting, and sending all of your fabulous suggestions my way.