Tag Archives: Arlo

Sunday Summary: 7/31/11

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House detail II

House detail II by tillwe via Flickr

Happy fifth Sunday in July!  Pardon the later-than-usual summary – I was outside in the sweltering summer heat, watching a base ball game played by 1861 rules.  (Nope, that’s not a typo, either – in 1861, base ball was two words.)  I resisted the urge to mentally re-name all of the players with nineteenth-century appropriate appellations, though the league manager was a 20-something guy called Howard.

Back to the present day.  Nameberry generated oodles of chatter this week with their Hottest Names of 2011.  Among the reactions, here’s the one that I found most intriguing:  Melissa of Dear Baby shared her reaction at Babble.  The list, you see, included Arlo – the name of Melissa’s newborn son.  Her family also includes a daughter called Everly, a name that has generated quite a bit of buzz.

I’ve been thinking about the exact problem that she names.  Many a message board comment reads something like this: “When we picked Ava in 2005, no one was using it!”  That’s not so, of course – Ava was already in the Top Ten in 2005.  Ava’s mom found a name she loved – a great name, really – but expected everyone else to steer clear once she’d claimed it.  Irrational, at best.

Melissa’s problem is a little different.  She strikes me as quite stylish, so no wonder her kids’ names are very much in vogue.  But they’re not actually chart-toppers; in fact neither is currently in the US Top 1000.  But now that they’re anointed as wildly fashionable monikers will they climb quickly?  Will all those parents looking for an alternative to Avery embrace Everly?  When your best friend announces that she’s naming her baby Leo, will you cast about for another ends-in-o option and settle on Arlo?  Would we have arrived at those names on our own, or is their amped-up profiles that make us consider them?  In the absence of the charts and articles and analysis, would we choose, say, Bellamy and Hugo, instead?

Elsewhere online:

  • More on Lucifer, this time from the wayback machine, courtesy of British Baby Names;
  • Bewitching Names featured Parvati, a lovely Harry Potter choice;
  • For Real spotted a baby Brisco.  Law & Order fans, maybe?  Rest in peace, Jerry Orbach;
  • BBC deejay Jo Whiley’s kids’ names take center stage at Mer de Noms – and really, they’re great – India remains one of my long-time favorites.  I love the idea of twin daughters called India and Verity;
  • Are you following Nook of Names’ surname series?  I love so many of these – Ashby and Bessemer and Brooker and Ayre …
  • Nancy asks if a racing star is driving the rise of Jenson in the UK;
  • Hawaii just fascinates me.  If I visited, I would head immediately from the airport to a regular ol’ playground and listen to parents calling their kids’ names.  A boy Raven, a girl called Zollie Mae.

In celebrity news:

  • Selma Blair welcomed a son called Arthur Saint, and name nerds everywhere swooned.  Still no backstory on Saint, though;
  • Did you know Kevin Federline is expecting baby #5, his first with new girlfriend Victoria Prince?  They revealed the name: daughter Jordan will join half-siblings Kori, Kaleb, Jayden, and Preston.  Not my favorite names, but I will say this – they sound like a family, not a random collection of children.  There’s something to be said for that.

There should be a few more high-profile arrivals this summer, and I can’t wait to hear what Jessica Alba, Tina Fey, and January Jones choose for their little ones.

In other news, this has been, far and away, my most successful month in terms of traffic.  I appreciate each and every visit!

Sunday Summary: 5/22/11

Posted on
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number 22

Image by jontintinjordan via Flickr

After the one-two punch of Mariah Carey’s twins and the release of the US Top 1000, May is finally settling down.

  • What do Peighton, Promise, and Katia have in common?  They all appear on Nancy’s list of girls’ names slightly outside the US Top 1000.  The boys’ list is equally intriguing: Princeton, Kalel, or Nixon, anyone?
  • How to spell Eliana’s nickname: Eli, Elli or Ellie?  To me, Ellie is the only one that makes sense, but apparently the parents disagree;
  • More Ohdeedoh Baby Names up at You Can’t Call It “It,” including Dex, Rex, and brothers named Arlo and Wylder;
  • Evidence as a baby name – my initial reaction to Isadora’s post was no, but it is growing on me;
  • My reaction to this list of names at For Real Baby Names?  I love Esther Perpetua, I’m confused by Maybree, and I find Zocie intriguing;
  • Speaking of intriguing, how ’bout Clotilde?  I’m always inclined to spell it Clothilde, but I’ll admit that omitting the “h” simples things up;
  • Find Bessiebell, Janebell, and more unexpected -bel smooshes up at British Baby Names this weekend;
  • And lastly, Kathryn shared all four of her kids’ names stories at her site.  It is a lovely, thoughtful post.

There was just the one starbaby birth announcement this week: Marion Cotillard welcomed a son, Marcel.  How impeccably French.

Last week’s Nameberry post was a Hollywood-inspired review of Norse mythology names.  My new favorite?  Definitely Embla.  This week’s post is inspired by none other than Oprah Winfrey.  You can read it here tomorrow.

That’s all for this week!  As always, thanks for reading and have a great week.

Sunday Summary: 5/1/11

Posted on
20
Bingo Number 1

Image by Leo Reynolds via Flickr

Welcome May!  After a week in Florida, and lots of name-spotting at Disney World, it is great to be back writing from my favorite spot on the couch.

Name news this week:

  • The late Pope John Paul was beatified in Rome today.  Beatification is the half-way mark towards sainthood.  Will it catch on as a compound name for boys?  I know two little John Pauls.  The older answers to J.P.;
  • This little story from a Louisiana newspaper is the reason I write;
  • From the wayback machine: in 2009, the featured name was Somerled.  In 2010, it was Ruth;
  • My thoughts on the letter C aside, it was fun to see Keturah spotted in Michigan by For Real;
  • Whitney spotted this weird comment on a forum: “…for twins go for matching names, such as Norah and Noah but keep the names unique please! no Cassie and Callie‘s!”  The commenter’s definitions of “matching” and “unique” are baffling, but then, unique is the most routinely abused term in baby naming parlance;
  • Laura Wattenberg reminds us that many stories aren’t about names, they’re about demographics.  Susan isn’t more successful than Madison.  She’s just much older!
  • Really can’t decide on a baby name?  Nancy tells us how parents in 1892 let their little girl help choose Frances Cleveland.

You might have heard about this little wedding on Friday.  While the pair aren’t parents – yet – their vows were heard ’round the world, and the occasion inspired plenty of posts about royal baby names.  I liked Nameberry’s list of princesses by marriage, as well as Nancy’s question about the popularity of Pippa in the US.  Pippa appears on my Monday list for Nameberry, too.

And in celebrity birth announcements:

  • Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon have welcomed twins, a boy and a girl, but no names have been announced as of this morning;
  • Another baby boy called Journey has arrived.  The Black Eyed Peas’ Taboo and wife Jaymie welcomed a son named Journey Jameson, a little brother for Jimmy Jalen and Joshua.  I get the modern spiritual vibe of Journey, but can’t help wonder if the parents sing “Don’t Stop Believin” as a lullaby.  Nancy tells us that 45 baby boys – including one of Jenna Jameson’s twin sons – received the name in 2009, but it is in the girls’ Top 500;
  • 90210 alum Ian Ziering and wife Erin welcomed a daughter, Mia Loren.  Joy pointed out that Mia and Ian share the same sounds, and the choice is pretty conventional.  Still, I like this one;
  • The amazing Toni Collette welcomed a son named Arlo Robert, a little brother for Sage Florence.  Dad is musician David Galafassi.  I think the couple did a good job of finding names that are distinctive and stand up to their long surname, too;
  • Funny man Kevin James is now the father of three.  He and wife Steffiana welcomed a son, Kannon Valentine.  Big sisters are Shea Joelle and Sienna-Marie.  Shea is indeed named after the Mets’ former stadium.  Thanks to Photoquilty for pointing out that Valentine is a family name.  I’m not sure there’s any explanation for Kannon.

Hungry for more name gossip all week?  Check out my Facebook page.

That’s all for this week.  As always, thanks for reading!

Sunday Summary: 4/24/11

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Number 24 – Clerkenwell

Image by World of Good via Flickr

Happy Easter!  If you’re celebrating, here’s wishing you all the chocolate bunnies you can decapitate without inviting tooth decay.

  • Let’s start with the inevitable: Nameberry’s Twelve Best Bunny Names.  Hazel and Niccolo are my favorites;
  • Last week was also Earth Day, and Elisabeth at You Can’t Call It “It” posted some intriguing options.  I’m all about Bay and Delphine;
  • From the Wayback Machine: in 2009, the featured name was Gail.  Last year, it was Temple;
  • For Real is on a roll.  I love this post with Trenna, Wren, Bren, and Nelle.  And Ethan Arlo is a cool combo;
  • Then there’s For Real’s twins post.  A bunch of these were super cringe-worthy: Lexa and Alexa, Noah and Noel, Charlee and Chelsee, Jonah and Josie.  I’m not a twin, and I’ve never named twins, but I can’t help think that names that matchy spell trouble.  Oh – and Luke and Leia.  What to say …
  • Speaking of head-scratchers, Nancy pointed out that The Greg Kihn Band’s single “Jeopardy” inspired parents – at least six pairs of parents – in 1983.  The song has been lodged in my brain ever since;
  • Speaking of games, did you vote in the Baby Name Wizard’s annual contest?  Entries closed mid-April, but T was good enough to share her guesses;
  • This is great advice for choosing a middle name!

Last week’s post for Nameberry was movie marquee names.  Thanks to Nicole for suggesting this week’s idea.  It’s a little bit cineplex, but in a very different way.  It’s one of the lists where I feel like the options for boys and girls are equally appealing.  Check it out on Monday.

There were some great lines about baby names on Thursday’s night double-episode of 30 Rock, but at the risk of revealing more spoilers (sorry, Photoquilty!), I’ll stick with mentioning the celeb birth of the week.  Jane Krakowski welcomed son Bennett Robert.

That’s all for this week.  It’s re-run week here at AppMtn, so while there won’t be new posts, there will still be a daily post telling you which name has been brushed up, 2011-style.  May marks my third year of writing name of the day posts, and it is amazing how many of the golden oldies could use some improvement.

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

Sunday Summary: 1/30/11

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The Number 30

The Number 30 by Herman Turnip via Flickr

It strikes me that I’m now into my fourth year of writing at AppMtn.  My first post was Ava and Harlow, back on January 23, 2008.  I’d learned the mechanics of blogging for work a few years earlier; I now manage yet another blog in Real Life, and it looks like it is about to be joined by another.  Nothing I’ve written professionally has given me anywhere near the joy I’ve gotten out of writing here, and I credit that to you.  (Yup, even you lurkers.  I can’t hear you, but I can see you – and it’s nice to know that you’re here, too.)

On to the news:

Stop by Nameberry tomorrow where I’ll be talking about names I found while culling through the list of Oscar nominees.  (C in DC, thanks for the inspiration!)

Speaking of The Glamorous Life, please welcome the following sure-to-be-paparazzi-stalked tots to the universe:

  • Mike Tyson welcomed a son called Morocco Elijah.  He and wife Lakiha also have a daughter, Milan.  Tyson’s six older children are D’Amato, Mikey, Miguel, Rayna, Amir, and his daughter Exodus, who passed away in 2009;
  • No Doubt’s Tony Kanal is a new dad. He and girlfriend Erin Lokitz welcomed daughter Coco Reese Lakshmi.  The rest of the musical crew’s moppets are Kingston, Zuma, Ace, Rio, and Mason.

Which reminds me, Clio is obsessed with Gwen Stefani and Akon’s single “The Sweet Escape.”  How do you say no to a toddler who asks for “more Woo-hoo song, peeeeez?”

Speaking of requests, I’ll be doing another rerun week in April.  Should you stumble across a post that you think needs some freshening up, feel free to suggest it via email to appmtn (at) gmail (dot) com.

That’s all for this week.  As always, thank you for reading!

Sunday Summary: 8/29/10

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My week at the beach was spent listening for names (well, there was ice cream and sand and a giant waterslide called the Hippo) but I didn’t hear much.  There was a Veronica nicknamed Vera, but mostly it was the pleasant Top 100 assortment of Ethan, Dylan, Emma, Riley, Noah, Chloe, Caleb, Jackson, Zachary, Ellie, and the like.  I also heard a girl called Cooper and another girl named Gracen or Graycen or maybe Gracyn.  Thanks for checking out Rerun Week while I was slathering on sunscreen!

In the meantime, a new neighbor has arrived and her kids names?  Be still my heart: Nella and Arlo.  I haven’t actually met them (she joined a listserv for local moms) but I might hug her.

Also in the real world, the incredibly talented Brooke at Dinkypopsnomore is now mom to two!  The incredibly photogenic, more-stylish-at-3-than-I-am-at-37 Temperance is big sister to Verity Blythe.  See the post about her name here.

Elsewhere online:

In starbaby news:

  • Let’s hear it for the double palindrome power of Ava Katherine Otto, a new daughter for country singer James Otto and wife Amy;
  • Actor Matt Walton – he plays Eli on One Life To Live – has an Ava, too, plus a brand new son called Greyson James.  Greyson is the new Jayden. Add up all the boys called Greyson and Grayson, plus the girls wearing a variant of sound-alike Gracen, and you have the formula for a gender-neutral, hard-to-gauge usage name that every parent thinks is uncommon.  Too bad, because I do love Gray;
  • Army Wives’ Catherine Bell has a new son called Ronan, a little sister for Gemma.  That’s a nice sibset, a pair of names that are underused, but not outlandish;
  • And the big news is the birth of Florence Rose Endellion, a daughter for UK Prime Minister David Cameron, his wife Samantha, and three older siblings: the late Ivan, plus Nancy, and Arthur Elwen.  For a humorous and insightful look on place names popping up on birth certificates, there’s this News & Star column. Capri and Dublin, yes.  St. Bees Flimby Pie?  Probably not;
  • Lastly, the best use of Twitter for baby naming since Erykah Badu live-tweeted the birth of her third child and claimed she was calling her Twittymilk surely goes to Neil Patrick Harris’ twins teaser. That’s an instant sibset I can’t wait to learn.

As always, thanks for reading!

In Defense of Atlas and Apple: Ten Reasons Unusual Names Aren’t a Problem

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Last February, I posted  In Defense of Emma and Ethan: Ten Good Reasons to Use a Common Name. While reviewing what I’d written in 2009, I realized that I’d never laid out the case for uncommon names.

Need I state the obvious?  I rather like names that you don’t hear everyday.  And so here are ten solid reasons unusual names aren’t a problem.

Continue reading →

Sunday Summary: 2/21/10

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If you watched Thursday’s Project Runway, you spotted the mini models for the “Little Bit of Fashion” challenge.  (Designers created a little girl look, and then a companion piece for their model.)  Amongst the pint-sized fashionistas were Ava and Chloe, but there was also a Sylvie.

And you know you’re name-obsessed when you’re watching a haunting, twisting tale like Shutter Island and as it builds to the climactic scene you’re listening intently – for the ghostly children’s names.  Ahem.  (And I’m not giving anything away by telling you they are Rachel, Henry and Simon.)

In other name-spotting news:

No Hollywood babies this week, but sports and country music give us a few new arrivals:

While we’re on a musical note, how much free time do you have?  Nancy at Nancy’s Baby Names has a YouTube channel.  Incredibly addictive, even on my sluggish internet connection and aging MacBook.

That’s all for this week.  As always, thank you for reading!

Name of the Day: Arla

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Arlo is a folk singer.  Darla?  A little rascal, of course.  But what about this rarity?

Thanks to Laura for suggesting Arla as Name of the Day.

Continue reading →