Baby Name of the Day: Lysander

Alexander is a chart-topping choice, so popular many parents are seeking an alternative.

Here’s one option.  Thanks to Kelly for suggesting Lysander as our Baby Name of the Day.

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Baby Name of the Day: Andrea

Thanks to a certain Hollywood superstar, Drew is worn by more little girls circa 2010 than ever before.  But what about the original feminine form of modern classic Andrew?

Thanks to JNE for suggesting Andrea as Baby Name of the Day.

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Name of the Day: Josue

Joshua has been in the US Top 10 since 1979, longer than all but the most evergreen of given names.  He’s nearly impossible to respell – but he can be translated.

Thanks to Photoquilty for suggesting Josue as Name of the Day.

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Sunday Summary: 8/16/09

It’s August 16, and that means Mad Men’s third season debuts tonight.  Check out the Mad Men Names list over at Nameberry.  Midge might not make a comeback any time soon, but Joan, Peter and Betty all sound fresh to my ear.  Bewildertrix has spotted Betty in a few birth announcements recently.

Speaking of television – I never miss 18 Kids and Counting, even though Arthur rolls his eyes/leaves the room/threatens to cancel cable.  While it isn’t the life I’d choose, I envy them one thing – they got to name 18 children! In recent episodes, the 20 Duggars (parents Jim Bob and Michelle, plus Josh, Jana, John-David, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy Anna, Jeremiah, Jedediah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johanna, Jennifer and Jordyn) have been visiting the Bates family. 

The Bates have a mere 16 children, with one on the way.  I had to go to Google their names, and here they are: Gil and Kelly are parents to Zachary, Michaela, Erin, Lawson, Nathan, Alyssa, Tori, Trace, Carlin, Josie, Katie, Jackson, Warden, Isaiah, Addallee and Ellie. The Addallee spelling is wacky, and Warden?  But other than that, nicely normal names. 

Then again, they started with a Z.  That’s a much tougher letter for naming a big batch o’ babies than J.  (And even the Duggars resorted to Jinger.) Speaking of unconventional names:

I mentioned the Duggars earlier.  Another first-initial-sharing reality television family is also expecting their first grandchild.  Kourtney Kardashian is about to make Kris a grandma, and Kim, Khloe, Kendall and Kylie aunts.  (There’s also uncle-to-be Robert, a junior named after Kris’ first husband.)  Kourtney has stated that the baby will not have a K-name.  

Or any sense of privacy.

Since I’m on a television spree, may I mention my pet peeve?  When writers get the names wrong.  This usually happens when a writer names a 30-something Addison.  Sure, it could happen.  But she’s probably Melissa – her daughter is Addison.  Anyhow, Drop Dead Diva, a cute little comedy with a twist, named their 20-something aspiring model Debbie.  Why not Ashley or Nicole – or if they were going for alliteration overkill, Danielle?

More names coming to the small screen this Fall – hat tip to Parents Magazine’s September 2009 preview:

  • In ABC’s Cougar Town, Courteney Cox plays Jules, mom to 17 y.o. Travis;
  • Jenna Elfman is the pregnant Billie on CBS’ Accidentally on Purpose - no baby names yet.  Her little sister Abby is played by an actress called Lennon – not sure if that’s her birth name;
  • Juliana Margulies plays Alicia, The Good Wife on CBS, and the good mom to Zach and Grace.  They get the names exactly right – husband is Peter.  Better still?  One of her young (male) colleagues is called Cary;
  • Patricia Heaton plays Frankie on ABC’s The Middle.  It sounds like her three kids have unusual appellations – Brick, Axel and Sue;
  • One more – Julie Bowen plays Claire on ABC’s Modern Family.  Which is, believe it or not, a fictional show about filming a reality show.  Kids include Manny, Haley, Luke, Lily and a girl called Alex.

Not terribly exciting, except for Axel, Brick and Sue.  I like Axel, fret about Brick and would be happy to see a revival of Susannah or Susan.

What with all that weirdness and blandness, here’s a link to a list that will lift your spirits – Elisabeth of You Can’t Call It “It” reports on genteel names for the alumnae of two Southern girls’ schools.

A year ago today, I wrote about Aloysius.  Little surprise, he remains underused!

That’s all for now – thanks for reading and have a fabulous week.

Starbaby Round-Up: Adele, Roman, Holden and More

I just can’t wait ’til Sunday!  A few starbaby names popped up in the past few days:

  • Molly Ringwald has welcomed twins Adele Georgiana and Roman Stylianos. They join big sis Mathilda Ereni at home.  I’ve loved Molly since Pretty in Pink, and I like her naming style.  And yet, may I just say – bring on the Addies!  Between Addison, Adeline and Adele, I can hear a wave of little girls answering to this nickname.  Guess I’d better cross Adelaide off my list …
  • Mira Sorvino has welcomed her third, son Holden Paul Terry, a little brother for Johnny Christopher King and Mattea Angel.  I think Mira rocks, but her style seems unpredictable – if I didn’t know Johnny, Mattea and Holden were sibs, I’d assume they were three unrelated kids;
  • I missed this one – Twilight star Cam Gigandet welcomed a daughter named Everleigh Ray back in April.  What a difference a spelling makes – I think Everly is an appealing surname pick for a daughter, a sort of mix of the last-names-first-name trend, the nouveau virtue/noun name choices (think Journey, Destiny, Ever) and the love of the letter “v” in names like Ava, Ivy and Eve.  But the “leigh” spelling?  I think that reduces the name’s style.  And in the middle spot?  Ray is the new Rose.

Did I miss anyone?

Sunday Summary: 3/1/09

Just when it looked like spring was here, what with the crocuses and actually walking the kids to school without a jacket one morning, what’s in the forecast?  EIGHT INCHES OF SNOW.  

If you, too, are enduring winter’s last gasp, park your toddler in front of the television and entertain yourself with these links:

  • How’s your French?  Mine is middling, but good enough to play this game: Connaissez-vous les prénoms des enfants de stars?  Here’s a hint – the French for “was conceived” is apparently l’auraient conçu.  Don’t say I never taught you anything.  :)  And thanks to Pam at Nameberry for the link!
  • Speaking of Nameberry, their post on Q names has me a little bit in love with Quilla
  • Over at Baby Name Wizard, Laura Wattenberg suggests that the ends-in-gan names could be the Next Big Thing.  I’ve been a big fan of Madigan – as in the tragic tightrope walker Elvira Madigan – for years, but in the Madison/Madeleine/Maddasynne era, I cannot imagine using the name.
  • British golfer Justin Rose and his wife Kate welcomed their son Leo last week.  I don’t follow any golf that doesn’t involve miniature windmills, but I thought it was a nice excuse to link to Xanthe Linnea’s post on Leo and Company.
  • Grey’s Anatomy actress Chyler Leigh announced that she will name her daughter-to-be Aniston Kay.  Her first two are son Noah and daughter Taelyn.  Aniston does not currently rank in the US Top 1000 (nor do Chyler and Taelyn).  Wonder if she’ll chart in 2009?
  • I spent Fat Tuesday thinking that I need to get a goldfish tank, stat.  Because ever since Elisabeth’s post on Mardi Gras names, I need to name something Ghislaine.
  • Lastly, the final Spice Girl to embrace her maternal side chose a rather tame name for her daughter:  Scarlet.  Melanie Chisolm - a.k.a Sporty – brings the baby count to 8.  There’s also Victoria Beckham’s boys Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz; Melanie Brown’s daughters Phoenix Chi and Angel Iris; Emma’s Bunton’s son Beau; and Geri Haliwell’s daughter Bluebell Madonna.

Stay warm!