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!

Usually the lists are forgettable at best, but these fascinated me.  What do you think of:

• Yorick
• Probus
• Lael
• Fabian
• Sorian
• Jeriel
• Vilas
• Dorcas (yup, on the boys’ list)

And for the girls:

• Mimosa
• Edna
• Jonquil
• Aubretia
• Zabeth
• Danessa
• Ofira

I don’t expect to see any of them in the US Top 100 – or even 1000, really – soon, but it was such an extraordinarily eclectic list, I had to share.

In real life, there’s a new kid in my ‘hood called Zephyr.  Which kicks off a whole week of eclectic, I think:

• ForReal spotted a baby girl named Fig Ava;
• Also, in Oklahoma, ForReal found a boy called Tayden, and a girl called Maebry.  I love the sound of Maebry, but the spelling feels forced.  I’m not sure what would improve it – Maybrie?  Maebrie?  Hmmm … maybe Maebry is best;
• BabyNameWizard posted a long, long list of backwards baby names. Is the world ready for twins named Kavon and Novak?  How ’bout Aric and Cira?
• Pamela Redmond Satran’s article on Baby Boy Names and gender at The Daily Beast sparked a firestorm of comments.  Even the relatively neutral were highly opinionated: “Children are best named after a beloved relative or friend, or even after a historical figure, biblical character or other admired person. We would do well to lose the baby naming books.”  Really?  Somehow I think this commenter has never named a child.  Which reminds me, my son Aly was at a class with a same-aged girl called Allie on Saturday, and the world did not end;
• Nameberry’s list of Water Names included Bay, a name that seems to surface more and more often.  Here’s one that is not on their list, possibly because it has never been used as a given name: Cascata.  It’s the Italian equivalent of cascade or waterfall.  Cascade feels a little too brand name (it’s dishwashing detergent in the US) to use for a child, but I’ve always thought Cascata had potential;
• I finally watched an episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.  The names aren’t stunningly unusual, though there’s a healthy dose of gender-bending in their choices.  Two of the Housewives are called Kyle and Taylor, Taylor’s daughter is called Kennedy, and Camille has a daughter named Mason.  But Kyle’s four daughters have attractive names: Alexia, Sophia, Portia, and Farrah.  Oh, and I think Lisa has a daughter called Pandora, but I’m not sure if I caught that right;
• Nancy wrote about babies named Celebrity. No, not babies named Lennon or Lady Gaga, but babies named Celebrity.  It has happened.
  

Celebrities were also good enough to catch the theme:

• Vera Farmiga named her daughter Gytta Lubov, a little sister for Fynn.  I’ve yet to hear the name pronounced by the proud parents, so for now, it is all speculation if she was inspired by the Sanskrit name that rhymes with Rita, or the Old Norse Gyda, which sounds more like GUH theh.  We’ll have to wait until
• Ne-Yo welcomed a daughter named Madilyn Grace. Yes, it is quite the ordinary name.  But when Dad answers to Ne-Yo and mom is Monyetta, there’s a chance the name will be equally outlandish.  Their fairly pedestrian pick is the surprise!

That’s all for this week.  If you’re craving a Sunday Summary-esque fix midweek, find AppMtn on Facebook, too.  Oh, and stand by – Nameberry is releasing their 2010 stats tonight 2011 predictions (oops – thanks for the correction, British American) at midnight!

As always, thank you for reading and have a great week!

Statue of Bayard; Image via Wikipedia

It’s a colorful surname with an equestrian vibe.

Thanks to Taylor for suggesting her daughter’s name as our Baby Name of the Day: Bayard.

With choices like Madison, Tyler, and Riley in vogue, it is easy to imagine parents flipping to B in the phone book and landing on Bayard.

In the beginning, badius was the Latin word for a shade of chestnut brown.  In Old French, it became bai.  If Scarlet and Violet and Gray can be given names, why not Bayard?

It’s a hue oft worn by horses.  Think of the lyrics to “Camptown Races” – somebody bet on the bay.  In fact, Bayard was worn by one of the famous horses in all of Medieval Europe.

The story goes like this: Charlemagne made a gift of a magnificent horse to the knight Renaud.  The story first appears in the twelfth century epic Les Quatre Fils de Aymon, penned by Renaud de Montauban.

Renaud’s horse was called Bayard, and he was gifted with incredible talents.  He could carry Renaud and his three brothers, possessed incredible strength, and could understand human speech.  The story generally goes something like this: Renaud quarrels with Charlemagne’s nephew, and kills him in a fight.  The four brothers must flee court, and they do so with the help of their trusty steed.  Eventually, Renaud and Charlemagne are reconciled, and Renaud is forced to return Bayard to the ruler.  Charlemagne plans to drown the horse, but instead Bayard escapes and lives in the woods.

In Belgium, there’s a rock formation named after Bayard.  Legend has it that the horse split the rocks with his hooves.  A statue of the horse and brothers (pictured above) stands in Dendermonde, Belgium.

At this point, Bayard seems like a generic, but still flattering, name for a horse – sort of like calling your dog Rex.  But I’m missing something, because Bayard came to have a different meaning.

In the two centuries between Renaud de Montauban’s romance and Geoffrey Chaucer’s tales, Bayard came to mean reckless, even foolish.  Chaucer gave the name to several horses, including Troilus’ ride in his telling of Troilus and Cressida.  His horses tended to be blind and stumbling.

As a surname, Bayard may relate to horses, to hair color, or something else entirely.  Some suggest it is an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word for a cart – baiart.

Like many surnames, he has occassionally been seen in the first spot, dipping into the US Top 1000 twice in the 1880s.  Notable Bayards include:

• Nineteenth century writer Bayard Taylor;
• Civil rights activist Bayard Rustin;
• The Bayard family of Delaware includes six generations of US Senators between 1789 and 1929;
• Hippolyte Bayard pioneered photography in the nineteenth century;
• American Civil War Union Army General George Dashiell Bayard.

You can visit the Château Bayard in the Alps, where a museum tells of the fifteenth century Pierre Terrail LeVieux, seigneur de Bayard, a famous knight.

Nickname Bay takes Bayard in a very different direction, lending the name a nature babe vibe that points to River and Ocean, Laurel and Heath.  Bay also keeps Bayard from feeling too formal for a child.

It’s a striking, distinctive name with one of the quirkier backstories I’ve found.  If you’re hoping for a modern feel with a medieval plot line, Bayard might be the choice for you.

Thanks to Joy for suggesting Baylor as Baby Name of the Day.

As Joy pointed out, Baylor is almost a smoosh of two popular surname choices: Bailey and Taylor.  If he didn’t exist, you can imagine him being created, along the lines of Rylan or Kyler.

But Baylor does exist.  Robert Emmett Bledsoe Baylor – usually referred to as R.E.B. Baylor – was one of three founders of Waco, Texas’ Baylor University back in 1845.  It’s far from his only achievement.  Baylor had a long career in politics in Kentucky and Alabama before moving to the Lone Star State – which was actually not yet a state on his arrival.  R.E.B. helped draft the Texas state constitution, too.

Baylor was a busy guy, and he didn’t establish the institution of higher learning that bears his name solo.  He and William Tryon initially suggested the idea at a gathering of Baptist church leaders.  Reverend Matthew Hopkins got involved shortly afterwards, taking the lead raising money for the new school.  Over the course of the nineteenth century, many changes took place – for a time, Baylor Female College operated independently.  There was a merger with Waco University.  But mostly, Baylor grew and grew and became well-established as a liberal arts college and member of the Big 12.

There are several possible sources for R.E.B.’s surname:

• Spelled Bailor, it could be an English surname related to bail, as in the money posted to temporarily spring someone from the pokey.  Bail has Latin and French roots, but ultimately relates to a word that meant something along the lines of to bear a burden;
• Bailer and Beiler are German occupational surnames for those who work with barrels;
• Böhler was bestowed upon those who came from Saxony, where more than one village was called Böhle or Böhlen.  I lost the thread there; bohl could mean bald or could be a term signifying kinship, or I could be missing it entirely;
• Some link Baylor to horses.  Bay is used to describe a chestnut brown color, via the Latin badius, originally of horses.

Logical short form Bay also adds a hint of nature name style to Baylor.  Couldn’t all those boys named River lead to a Bay?

And yet, Baylor is subject to being viewed as a nouveau coinage.  If you have Baylor on your family tree or your college diploma, he’s a meaningful choice.  Otherwise, you’d have to consider whether introducing your son as “Taylor with a B, like the university” will bother you.

If you’re up for the spelling, Baylor feels like a stronger option than some invented surnames.  He’s yet to crack the US Top 1000 and even in 2009, Bayron was slightly more popular.  But along with Baylan and Bayne, parents may discover Baylor yet.

Which reminds me, a new ABC series called Happy Town will premier in late April.  The character list includes a Henley.  I’m not sure about the plot or the character, but I find myself wondering: could -enley be the new -iley?  

In 2008, Project Runway contestant Kenley Collins made it to the finals.  It’s too soon to say if she’ll become a household name in fashion, but her given name debuted at #998 in the US Top 1000 in ’08.  And we just talked about Tenley, she of Olympic figure skating/The Bachelor fame.  The sound is close to gender-spanning Finley, but unlike Riley/Kylee/Mylie/Bryleigh/Skylea, I’m not sure there are as many -enley options.  (Though my husband proposed in Schenley Park …)

If you just can’t get enough reality TV, here’s one more:  Elisabeth at You Can’t Call It “It” tipped me off to my sure-to-be new addiction, 9 By Design, set to debut on Bravo in April.  The family of impossibly stylish NYC house flippers extraordinaire has seven kids, including two sets of twins.  The New Yok Post described the show as Jon & Kate Plus 8 meets Sex and the City.  Sign me up!  Oh, and the names?  Bob and Cortney Novogrtaz are parents to:

• Wolfgang, 12;
• Twins Bellamy and Tallulah, 11; 
• Breaker, 9;
• Twins Five and Holleder, 4;
• Major, 1.

I remember them from an early issue of Cookie Magazine, back pre-baby Major when they were living in a house with a basketball court on the roof.  How many days ’til April 5?

In other news, some of you might recall that I was in the midst of a blizzard last weekend.  A family a few blocks away welcomed a baby at home on the worst day of the record-setting storm. She’s Regina, a little sister for Gregory and Gloria.  The new baby’s name full is Regina Caeli, and that’s not just some nouveau riff on Kaylee.  Regina Caeli – pronounced CHAY lee – translates to Queen of Heaven, and it is a prayer to Mary.  

Since I’ve been talking about reality stars and local celebs, let’s start with the famous folk first:

• Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart are expecting a daughter, but already discussing names for #2.  Read the full interview with Access Hollywood here;
• Speaking of names, Celebrity Baby Blog reports that during her interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Heidi Klum says that her new daughter just “looked like a Lou.”  Klum also said that they went in with four or five names – wouldn’t you love to see their short list;
• Post-Super Bowl, I learned that Drew Brees’ son is called Baylen.  I like Bay just fine, but Baylen feels a little Frankenstein;
• And, of course, Boris Becker is a dad again, welcoming son Amadeus.

Elsewhere online:

• Sebastiane covers the surprisingly international Linda;
• She also covers the February 14-appropriate Amy and, of course, Valentine;
• I wrote about Valentine here;
• Nameberry has an inventive list of less obvious Names that Link to Love, like Branwen, Milena and Caradoc;
• Bewildertrix spotted a Gretel. Hey, if Aurora can be hot for girls, why not the equally fairytale-tastic Gretel?  She also noted a Tayliesin Jaymes Brionee - yes, a girl.  Welsh wizards and British poets aside, I hear Taliesin and think Frank Lloyd Wright;
• For Real Baby Names brought us a Katie Scarlett - wonder if the parents ever read Gone With the Wind?  Plus the latest borrowing from the map, Berlin Louise.  How long it will be ’til we meet a Berlynne?  And a Lake Sawyer, which surely must exist on a map somewhere;
• The latest debate on the name boards: Is the name Win too much pressure?  The resounding reply is pretty much yes;
• Nancy has a list of Names for Shoe Lovers;
• Here’s something that I can’t figure out, no matter how often I hear it: “We like Violet, but it is getting too popular.  How about Amelia?”   That’s (my highly edited excerpt) from a post at Swistle, but the same sentiment is echoed on any forum or real life conversation.  Our perceptions of popularity are highly flawed.

Of all the weird social media phenomena to emerge in recent years, I’ll admit I’m most fascinated by fictional characters with blogs.  Who writes them?  Isn’t it hard to avoid revealing upcoming plot twists, or over-developing the character who blogs?  Anyhow, The Office’s Pam and Jim have a baby blog, with a recent post on baby names.  Someone thinks Michael and Scott would be great names.

I’m off to stop the kids from eating all of the candy out of their chocolate hearts before lunchtime.  Wishing you a sweet day, and thanks for reading!

While many of these are gender neutral, this list was compiled with girls in mind.  For decades, parents have stuffed an unimaginative Anne or Lynne between the first and last names.  More recently, Grace and Rose have become the most common answers to the riddle of the middle.

Many fabulous pairings do not require a single-syllable middle name.  We love unexpected combinations like Mary Veronica or Alice Zenobia.  But if you find that keeping it simple is more your style, read on.

Ranging from the unexpected to the somewhat predictable, why not consider:

• Beach, Bay, Cay:  For parents happiest down by the sea, or hoping to raise a surfer girl.
• Belle, Elle:  They’re overexposed as first names, true, but if you love them, tucking them in the middle is a nice way to preserve a favorite.
• Blythe: It means joyful – and works much better than the dated Joy or Joyce.
• Blair, Blake, Beau, Drew, Finn, Flynn: They’re all a bit boyish – Beau literally so! – but could compliment a frilly first name.  Think Genevieve Blair or Cordelia Finn.
• Bess, Bette, Bex, Liv, Nell, Tess:  These nicknames would seem flimsy as a given name, but they can offer a fresh and unexpected twist in the middle.
• Blue, Gray, Teal: A splash of color in the middle can perk up an otherwise common given name.  Emma Blue stands out miles from Emma Rose.
• Chance, Chase: Nouns and verbs are fair game these days, and these two single syllable choices work well in the middle.
• Dree:  While we find Bree horribly unappealing, Dree has some zip.  Mariel Hemingway used it for her daughter, and Wookiepedia, the Star Wars Wiki, lists Dree as the name of a minor (male) character.  It’s modern and interesting.
• Dove, Pax, Paz:  Three names that mean peace – Pax was the Roman goddess; Paz is the Spanish translation of the word; and a Dove, of course, is its well known symbol.
• Fife, Fyfe:  A Scottish place name that works well for boys and girls, Patrick Dempsey chose the “y” version as a middle name for his daughter, Talula.
• Greer, Grier:  Oscar-winning actress Greer Garson lends this name Hollywood glamour.  Brooke Shields chose Grier for her second daughter.
• Gwynne, Wynne:  Both names are Welsh in origin and mean fair.  Unlike Greer or Fyfe, these are soft enough to work with a less conventionally feminine first name.  Think Hadley Wynne, for example.
• Hue:  This unexpected choice could be thought of in three different ways.  It could be a feminine version of Hugh; the quintessential color name; or, a Vietnamese name pronounced Hway that means lily.
• Jaye, Sian:  While Jane is a bit plain, the boyish Jaye is a perkier choice. Sian – pronounced Shan – is the Welsh version of Jane.  It’s more interesting than the expected, and far more sophisticated than Shea, Shay or Shane.
• Joss:  It brings to mind Bess or Tess, but has a more modern vibe than either of those gently old-fashioned options. 
• Jewel, Jin, Jules: These three middle name possibilities suggest precious gems and metals.  Jewel is the most literal of the bunch.  Jules merely hints at the idea, and with its masculine, French-friend appeal has other attributes to recommend it.  While Jin might conjure up images of bottles, rummy or blue ruin, this spelling is actually a Chinese name, meaning gold.
• Kai: Kay gave way to Kate, and now perhaps it’s time for both choices to step aside in favor of Kai, traditionally a Japanese boy’s name meaning ocean – and pronounced to rhyme with tie.
• Lark, Wren: Depending on your perspective, an avian name is either charming or flu-inducing.  These two bird names, along with Dove (see above) might make good choices for parents interested in a nature-inspired choice for their daughter.
• Luz, Noor:  Claire’s appeal as both a first and middle name is long established.  In addition to its simple sound, Claire’s meaning – clear, bright – is an attractive one.  The more exotic Noor is an Arabic name meaning light, and Luz is a Spanish version with the same meaning.  They both make for good alternatives to Claire – though even so, that’s one choice that is not yet as overused as Grace or Rose.
• Mair, Maire:  A variant of Mary, Mair or Maire might be a twist on the overtaxed Marie, or it might be a great way to honor Great Aunt Mary Jo.  Both spellings are fair game, but we advise you to stay away from Mare, as it is a bit too horsey to wear well on a child.
• Maeve, Neve, Niamh – Maeve and Niamh are great Celtic choices for parents embracing their heritage.  The first sounds like May with a “ve” at the end; the second like “Neev.”  Neve is either the simplified spelling of the last name, or an Italian word meaning snow.  The actress Neve Campbell popularized the pronunciation “Nehv.”  It’s her mother’s maiden name.
• Penn, Quinn, Reese, Tate, Tyne, Sloane: If surname choices are at the forefront of popular first names, there’s no reason they shouldn’t appear in the middle, too.  This list is certainly not exhaustive – in fact, some of the best choices are probably home grown on your own family tree. Actress Amanda Peet named her daughter Frances Pen; but in her case, Pen honors her mother, Penny.  One word of warning with surnames in the middle – if your child’s name looks like it could be a law firm, rethink.  Madigan Sloane Hunter sounds more like it should have offices on Wall Street, not a desk at PS 102.  And, of course, many surnames are also place names – the Tyne River in England, fashionable Sloane Square at the Tate Modern museum, both in London. 
• Scout: One of the few literary names on this list, Scout was, of course, the nickname for Jean Louise Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird.
• Sage, Sky, Skye, Star, Rain: The well of nature names is deep, but these are among the most commonly heard.  We can’t help feel that these are tricky to use.  Giselle Rain is appealing; Amber Rain sounds like more like a sign of rampant pollution.  Still, they’re worth considering.
• Taj:  A Sanskrit name used for boys, Taj means crown.  Taja is the feminine version, but we can’t help think the simpler Taj would wear well as a girl’s middle name, especially when paired with a very simple given name – Elisabeth Taj, for example.
• Tai:  When spelled Ty, this is squarely a choice for boys.  But Tai evokes the Vietnamese girl’s name meaning talent – and the very talented figure skater Tai Babilonia, herself the mother of a son called Scout.
• True, Vrai:  True is a more extreme version of popular virtue choices like Hope and Faith; Vrai – rhymes with way – is the word translated into French, making for an exotic choice.
• Zan:  It sounds like a twist on Jan, but in fact Zan is a Chinese girl’s name meaning support; favor; praise.  Zan was also the (male) Wonder Twin.  His sister was Jayna.  But we’re willing to overlook that – as long as you stick this name in the middle.

Middle names might be seldom heard, but with all these fabulous options?  We’re betting you’ll want your kiddo to get in trouble so you can call out their full name.  ;)

The world has changed dramatically since the 60s, and naming has gotten a whole lot more liberal. Little wonder, then, that nature names have gone mainstream. Choose any subdivision, peer inside a random minivan headed for soccer practice, and there’s a decent chance that one of the pint-sized occupants will answer to Sage, Willow or River.

If you’re a shade more eco-aware or outdoorsy than most, or if you’re just hoping for a simple name that won’t be shared by three other kids in your child’s class, nature names can be attractive options.

As with many trends, there are more choices for girls than boys in this category. Virtually every flower name is reserved for girls, from the classic and enduring Rose to the super-popular Lily. Here are a few that might suit your newest bloom:

• Acacia
• Amaryllis
• Briony/Bryony
• Calanthe
• Calla
• Cassia
• Clover
  
• Dahlia
• Daisy
• Hazel
• Ivy
  
• Juniper
  
• Laurel
• Lilac
• Linden
• Violet
• Willow
  

Gems, minerals and semi-precious stones make for great baby names, too:

• Emerald
• Jade
• Jasper
  
• Onyx
• Pearl
  
• Ruby
• Silver

But the boldest nature names are those that are drawn from beyond the garden, and many of these work for boys as well as girls:

• Alder
• Bay
• Birch
• Briar
• Canyon
  
• Clementine
• Echo
• Everest
• Forest
• Heath
  
• Lake
• March
• Meadow
  
• North
  
• Ocean
• Saffron
• Winter
• Wren

And there’s even a special category – nature names from foreign tongues, like:

• Cascata – From the Italian word for waterfall, or cascade, Cascata is about as rare as it gets. It’s never been in the Top 1000 in the US, and yet, it can shortened to the user-friendly Cassie.
• Ciel – From the French word for sky and also heaven, Ciel is pronounced See-elle. It’s a pretty choice that fits with the popular -el ending names like Annabel and Isabel, but is fresh and new. The Spanish Cielo takes it even farther.
• Jacinda – Derived from hyacinth, this sounds more like a literary heroine than a flower power name, but indeed it is.
• Luna – Perhaps not the most subtle in this category, Luna is from the Latin for moon.
  

But it must be said that not every nature name is as stunning as a sunset from atop a cliff. My two nominees for Nature Names Most Likely to Give Me Poison Sumac? Star and Sky. Perhaps it is because of an alarming tendency to elaborate. I can stomach Skye and even Starr, but I’ve also seen Starla, Starlet, Skyye, Skie and, of course, Skylar.

This list is not exhaustive – please leave a comment if you have thoughts on missing names. And, of course, we’ll be on the lookout here at ApMtn, too.

But we’re not just spelling it out here on ApMtn. Or maybe we are.

We’re talking about a few underused, less considered names for baby boys that all happen to begin with the letter B.

Here goes …

• Bay – Nature names often seem to be reserved for girls – Daisy, Willow, Ruby. But there are a select few that work nicely for boys, and the simple, direct Bay is among them. It’s a body of water, a leaf and a color of horse. It’s also a surname, so that makes Bay fair game. (Bay has never appeared in the Top 1000.)
• Beckett – The nickname Beck appeals to many parents, and the super-stardom of David Beckham might lead some to consider the formal name Beckham. But we at ApMtn suggest that Beckett is a far more appealing choice. It has literary overtones, thanks to the Tony-award winning play about the life of Saint Thomas Becket. But it is the two-T version – Beckett – that broke in the Top 1000 at #758 in 2006.
• Beau – We’ve noted that Beau is an appealing option for girls, and it remains equally charming for boys. If you’re looking for a name for your little cowpoke, this is a good pick – and a strong alternative to the worn-out Cody. (Beau was #438 in 2006.)
• Becan – Celtic names are cool, whether you’re Irish or just like to toast with Guinness. But many are woefully overexposed – Aiden, Connor and Ryan spring to mind. Saint Becan was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland (though at my last count there are about 15 of them) and his name remains obscure. It has never been in the Top 1000 in the US. With the short form Beck and the two-syllable sound of Becan, this offers an interesting choice to parents looking for a lesser-known Irish charmer.
• Bodhi, Bode – The first time I spotted Bodhi, I’ll admit I thought it was an outlandish choice. Then I Googled it. Turns out that Bodhi is Sanskrit for enlightened – the Buddha achieved enlightenment while sitting under the Bodhi tree. The name might’ve caught parents’ attention back in 1991, when Patrick Swayze played a bad guy surfer called Bodhi in Point Break. The spelling Bode, worn by the famous American alpine skier Bode Miller, offers an alternative spelling that might seem more masculine. (Bodhi has never been in the Top 1000, but Bode entered at #848 in 2006.)
• Bram – Traditionally a nickname for Abraham – which made our A is for Boys post – Bram could stand on its own. The most famous Bram is doubtless the author of Dracula, Bram Stoker. (Bram has never been in the Top 1000.)
• Barney – This old-fashioned name would be a daring choice for parents, indeed. Not only is there the purple dinosaur, there’s sidekick Barney Rubble on The Flinstones, Homer’s drinking buddy Barney on The Simpsons and the hapless Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show. And yet, if Henry is hot, Barney might just make a comeback. Today the most famous Barney on TV may be the character played by Neil Patrick Harris on How I Met Your Mother – the womanizing Barney Stinson – a far-cry from the saccharine children’s show. (Barney has not been in the the Top 1000 since 1976.)
• Bryson – It must be said that I don’t care for the name Bryce, and find Brycen absolutely dreadful. But the surname alternative Bryson has real appeal. Travel writer Bill Bryson lends the name some cachet. In fact, this name is almost too popular to rate a nod from ApMtn – it came in at #176 in 2006.