Baby Name of the Day: Perseus

Perseus by Cellini

Image by mharrsch via Flickr

If you came of age in the 1980s, today’s choice might make you think of Harry Hamlin in sandals.  And, possibly, a mechanical owl.

As suggested by Sadie, our Baby Name of the Day is Perseus.

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Baby Name of the Day: Darius

Silver shekel issued by King Darius I of Persi...

Silver shekel issued by King Darius I of Persia; Image via Wikipedia

He’s an ancient ruler and a modern rocker.

Thanks to Fran and Annelise for suggesting Darius as our Baby Name of the Day.

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Baby Name of the Day: Calpurnia

Calpurnia Pisonis was a daughter of Lucius Cal...

Calpurnia Pisonis; Image via Wikipedia

She’s an asteroid, a shrub, a minor literary figure, and an Ancient Roman matron.

Thanks to Paul for suggesting Calpurnia as our Baby Name of the Day.

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Sunday Summary: 2/20/11

No 20 - flowery

No 20 - flowery by Kirsty Hall via Flickr

Let’s start with an announcement: every Saturday in March will be March Madness at Appellation Mountain.  Nope, I’m not writing basketball-related posts.  Instead, you’re voting on your favorites from last year’s most popular posts.

It should be fun!

Elsewhere online:

  • I love Lemon’s guest post at Nameberry on word names: Echo, Tansy, Temple.  Ages ago I stumbled across Cascata – the Italian word for waterfall, as in cascade – and I always think of that one when word names are discussed;
  • Speaking of word names, here’s one in the same key from Nancy: Invicta, inspired by a steamroller;
  • ForReal spotted a boy named Ridge. I completely understand why parents would gravitate towards such a rugged, outdoorsy pick, but it seems a little hard to wear for a real kid.  It seems more appropriate for a soap opera character;
  • Is it me, or is Finn making a stealth attack?  This story from the Chicago Tribune about a 61 year old woman who served as surrogate for her daughter mentioned that the baby name’s is FinneanFinley, Finnegan, Finbar, Fintan … it seems like every day there’s another way to get to that oh-so-popular nickname;
  • There was a lively conversation about unisex names at Nameberry earlier this week, and so I thought this was timely: from the Quinnipiac Chronicle, a girl named Kyle who loves her name.  However, she would’ve liked to buy pink pencils with her name on them.  No word on how sisters Shawn, Casey, and Riley feel about their names;
  • MTV suggests names for Honor Warren’s little sister or brother.  Somehow I don’t think Jessica and Cash will be using Louboutin or Money, but hey, Sterling has some possibilities;
  • The 30 Rock baby is Elizabeth called Liddy.  Here’s the quote from Alec Baldwin‘s character Jack: “We’re calling her Liddy, as in Liddy Dole, G. Gordon Liddy, and my martial arts instructor, Li-Dee.”
  • From BabynameloverBraden loses his “r” and becomes Baden.  I wonder if they were thinking of the German resort town?
  • I do truly love the name Evander.

Just a few celebrity birth announcements.  I also post these on Facebook:

  • No Doubt’s Tom Dumont and wife Mieke welcomed a third son, Koa Thomas.  Koa joins Ace Joseph and Rio Atticus at home.  I spotted Koah more than a year ago.  Let’s see if it catches on;
  • Rod Stewart and wife Penny welcomed a son called Aiden.  All those years of naming babies, and I’m not sure Rod has mastered the art.  His older kids are Kimberly, Sean, Ruby, Renee, Liam, and Alastair.

Tomorrow at Nameberry: a list of designer names drawn from Fashion Week 2011, and no, Chanel is not on the list.

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

Baby Name of the Day: Ulysses

u girada

U girada by popdeganxet via Flickr

He’s literary, mythological, and figures in American history.  He’s also more popular than you might guess.

Thanks to Darja for suggesting a name dear to her heart.  Our Baby Name of the Day is Ulysses.

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The Perils of Unusual Names: Ten Things to Consider When Choosing Hester or Habakkuk

 

Go 10

Image via Wikipedia

 

It’s no secret that I love unusual names.  I’ve written before In Defense of Atlas and Apple: Ten Reasons Unusual Names Aren’t a Problem, and I haven’t changed my mind.

But I do have my hesitations, and a recent exchange with the mom of a very unusually named child got me thinking: what are the downsides to having a genuinely uncommon name?

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Sunday Summary: 3/14/10

First, please join me in wishing a fond au revoir to Bewildertrix!  With baby #3 on the way, she has decided to put Onomastitrix on hiatus.  (See?  That’s me feeling hopeful that she’ll be back someday.  Because no one does a round-up of BAs like Bewildertrix.)  She promises she’ll be around and will definitely come back and share her good news when baby makes five.

In local news, remember back when I mentioned my friend was in labor?  And hadn’t told me the gender or the name?  I spoke blogged too soon.  A few hours later, she was back at home, still pregnant.  More than a week (!) later, her darling daughter Caroline arrived.  The baby is beautiful, mom, dad and big brother Zachary are all doing well and Clio has someone to boss around right on her block – someday.  And the name!  What a great name.  (The middle is a distinctive family choice shared with her brother, so I won’t share.)

Elsewhere online:

In starbaby news, via E! Online and Celebrity Baby Blog:

  • Her name is Billie Beatrice – yup, the daughter of Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart has a name and it combines the boyish-nickname trend with the antique revival trend for an unexpected, but sweet choice;
  • Joseph Fiennes and wife have welcomed a daughter. Everyone is doing well, but as for a name?  They’re not telling;
  • This popped up at Perez Hilton, but I understand the original poll was on BabyCenter – apparently BC readers voted Sarah Michelle Gellar’s choice for her daughter’s name – Charlotte Grace – the very best of the best, followed by Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck’s Seraphina.

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

Sunday Summary: 1/17/10

The baby boom continues at AppMtn.  Congratulations to Emmy Jo on the birth of her son, Julius!

Have you been reading all of those press releases by this hospital or that about the most popular names of 2009?  They haven’t been terribly exciting, but I’m reading them anyhow.  This one caught my attention, not because of the Most Popular Names.  (Jack and Isabella, yawn.)  And not even so much because of the unusual names listed.  (Though Leviticus is a bit much and Minuet is lovely.)  No, it caught my eye because they listed Stella among the unusual names.  Clearly the compiler is not up on baby name trends.  Or doesn’t watch Oxygen.

I’ve been neglecting the Toronto Star baby name profiles lately.  Let’s check in on Kristin Rushowy’s latest:

From Canada to New Zealand, remember a few days ago when we were all abuzz with the birth announcement for Diammond Sparckle Zedekeyah Lilly Ann?  Turns out baby Diammond has ten big brothers and sisters.  I couldn’t find a complete list, but this article includes a few of her sibsBrandi Shyla Molly Robyn, Indego Raindrop Sapphire and the relatively ordinary Cruz Richard.  Mom Brinessa says Diammond’s name was inspired by an iPhone app.  “We just added a couple of letters to the name so it would be a bit different.”  Mission accomplished.

Also in New Zealand, the Bay of Plenty Times reports on a family determined to find a name more interesting than Jack.  They came up with Jaksyn.  Suddenly, Diammond seems like the more satisfying choice.

Elsewhere online:

Speaking of Margaret, Mark Walherg and Rhea Durham welcomed baby #4, the classically named Grace Margaret.  In other starbaby news, via Celebrity Baby Blog:

How could I top that?  As always, thanks for reading!

Sunday Summary: 12/13/09

Christmas may still be almost two weeks away.  But this Sunday, I’m all abuzz about year-end name news:

Speaking of unusual names:

In starbaby news:

Is it me, or is it more fun when celebs don’t release their baby names while their offspring are still in utero?  Don’t get me wrong, I’ll take a baby name announcement whenever it comes.  (Is Pilot’s little sister really named Casper?  Inquiring minds want to know.)  But I kind of enjoy the whole “So and So Had a Girl and Named Her Guess What?” part of the process.

Perhaps I’ve been conditioned by reality television’s big reveals.

Thanks for reading – have a great week!

Name of the Day: Theophilus

Think Dorothea and Theodosia are a bit much for girls?  Here’s an even more serious, bespectacled choice for son.

Thanks to Hanalise for suggesting Theophilus as Name of the Day.

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