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:

• Naming a baby?  There’s an app for that;
• The Toronto Star brings us yet a(nother) girl named Finley.  She’s little sister to Vaughan, Niav, Simon and Henry.  I’m assuming Niav is a respelling of Niamh.  It’s not unreasonable, but if you’re going to simple up Niamh, why not go all the way to Neve?  Anyhow, the newest half-Portuguese, half-Jamaican baby with an Irish name is Finely Claire Maria – a nice combination, overall;
• Nancy reports that a baby boy was named Aussie Trooper, inspired by the Australian parents’ love of their country and dad’s affection for Iron Maiden;
• Then there’s Peaches Geldof, once oft-quoted as firmly against wacked out appellations like her own: Peaches Honeyblossom Michelle Charlotte Angel Vanessa Geldof.  More recently, she’s embraced her crazy name and suggested that future children might be Sparkle Starr or Magenta Sunset.  Then again, she’s 20 – and I’m assuming this is a hypothetical conversation.

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.