Thanks to UrbanAngel for suggesting Sven as Baby Name of the Day.

Sven isn’t actually a Swedish version of John, but does tend to get used as an everyman name for anyone of Scandinavian descent.  He actually comes from the Old Norse for boy, or possibly squire, originally spelled Sveinn.  The same root led to the English word swain, as in suitor – shades of recent Baby Name of the Day Beau!

You’d expect to find Sven in Sweden or Norway, and indeed, you would.  But Sven is even more popular for newborns in the Netherlands, where he’s a Top Twenty pick.  He’s also in Slovenia’s Top 100, and heard elsewhere in Northern Europe, like Germany, too.

As in the Russian Svetlana, sv makes for a curious combo in English.  It isn’t difficult to pronounce, but it is clearly an import – and a rare bird.  But while Svetlana is stark, evoking vodka and supermodels, there’s something vaguely comic about Sven.

That’s probably thanks to the Sven and Ole jokes, like this one:

Sven and Ole got a job putting in telephone poles.  After the first day, they were talking to the foreman. The foreman asked how many poles they had put in.

“Two,” said Ole.

“Only TWO?” said the foreman.  “All the other crews put in eight to ten.”

“Yah!” said Ole, “but did you see how much dey left sticking out?”

Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion has also served to popularize Sven as a comic figure.

But plug the dated Ken or oh-so-common Ben into Nameberry’s Coolator for Boys and out comes Sven.  And Scandinavian boys like Leif and starbaby Axel are well-received.  In fact, Axel seems poised to reach the Top 100 this decade.  So why not Sven?

Which is why this post is later than usual.  It’s also why I didn’t catch the fact that I’d set Hannelore to post on the wrong day.  Sorry ’bout that – she’ll be back as Baby Name of the Day tomorrow, 4/5.

In other, better organized corners of the blogosphere:

• Elisabeth at You Can’t Call It “It” and Pam and Linda at Namberry offer up lists of names for children born on Easter.  Some true rarities appear on the two lists: Ostara, Lissa, Nicodemus.  But me?  If I actually gave birth to a daughter on the holiday itself, I think I might just name my little Cadbury bunny Easter;
• Speaking of Nameberry’s Pam, did you catch her fabulous list of Top 50 Hot Names of the Future on The Daily Beast?  There he is, on the boys’ list – my beloved Huxley.  Plus Dante, Nico, Beau and Asa.  It’s official – I’m not nearly as original as I thought I was;
• More proof!  Over at 7×7.com, an article on The Frisco Kid pegs Huxley as a liberal Mission District name, along with Calder and Coyote, while Cow Hollow – my youngest sister’s former stomping grounds – is home to kids called Boden, Webb and Grace;
• CafeMom’s The Stir has Archie profiled as a Baby Name of the Day;
• Over at Legit Baby Names, there’s the pretty Dainora, plus Nissan isn’t just an import.  He’s a Hebrew given name, too;
• Laney Russell‘s mom wouldn’t be here if not for the two paramedics who saved her life – and inspired her name;
• Names4Real spotted a newborn Coco Imogen in Australia. Is Imogene Coca unknown down under, or is little Coco in for a lifetime of wishing her parents had gone with Isobel or Evangeline;
• Of course, Coco Imogen is nuthin’ compared to Tequila Marie, also via For Real. Pretty sound, yes.  And girls are called Brandy.  I once met an Amtrak bartender called Champagne.  (True story.)  While I don’t think unusual names are necessarily burdensome, I do think Tequila is … well, not the best choice;
• ParentCentral Canada profiles a baby called Cedric Xavier – a name that seems weird to parents, to the post-Harry Potter generation will probably seem effortlessly cool;
• Laura Wattenberg’s post on The New Belle Epoque was interesting – and she’s quite right.  I can imagine Elizabella catching on in a big way.  But Sarabella?  Maybe if she grows up to be a brain surgeon.

In all things related to the glamorous set:

• Okay, I kind of love Bret Michaels.  It’s like eating a row of marshmallow Peeps – you know there’s nothing redeeming there, but you just can’t stop.  I had no idea he had daughters, but a recent interview with Celebrity Baby Blog talked about his life as dad to daughters Raine and Jorja Bleu;
• Andrea Roth of FX’s Rescue Me welcomed a daughter, Ava Reese.

In other news, a few days ago a blogger called Crystal wrote “It looks like the ‘hot’ baby names right now aren’t as Twilight-centric as they were last year (thank GOD, there is nothing creepier than naming your baby Esme, people).”  She’s not yet a mom herself, and that’s what interests me.

I don’t think there’s much connection between the rise of Esme and the Twilight novels.  And the rise of Esme is so far a quiet event – I know two, but both were inspired more by JD Salinger than Stephenie Meyer.  And both predate most of the Twilight hysteria.  So does Michael J. Fox and Tracey Pollan’s youngest daughter, Esme Annabelle, born in 2001.

As of 2008, Esme remains outside of the US Top 1000.  The average person might connect the vamp matriarch and your little girl, even if you were blissfully unaware of the story until after you’d signed the birth certificate.  Edward, on the other hand, could make a big jump thanks to the vampire of the moment.  But he’s such a classic that it probably won’t register for anyone outside of a few baby naming sites.

And that, dear readers, is why I’m so glad you’re here.  Have a fabulous week!

Today’s Baby Name of the Day is Beau.

If you remember your high school French, you’ll recall that beau is the word for handsome.  Beau garçon means pretty boy; I’m not sure if the phrase carries the same vaguely dismissive tone in French.

In English, we’ve used the term beau to mean boyfriend since the 1700s, but today it’s quaint, even euphemistic.

It doesn’t make for a very likely given name.  And indeed, most of the early Beaus were christened something else entirely:

• Beau Brummell, arbiter of men’s fashion and England’s original dandy, could’ve have his own reality series – if only television had existed in the eighteenth century.  He was born George;
• In the same era, Richard Nash was a big deal in Bath, and he, too, answered to Beau;
• The fictional Michael Geste was a creation of PC Wren in his 1924 adventure novel Beau Geste.  Michael was called Beau.  Nickname and surname combined for a clever play on words.  The novel has been adopted for the big screen more than once;
• James Walker was New York City’s mayor during the Jazz Age, a figure ultimately brought down by scandal but remembered as Jimmy Walker – or Beau James, the title of a 1957 biopic;
• Sidney Walker headlined prizefights at Madison Square Garden in the 1940s as boxer Beau Jack;
• Vice President Joe Biden passed on the family first name to son Joseph Biden III, but he’s known as Beau;
• Actor Beau Bridges was born Lloyd Bridges III, and received his nickname from a fictional figure.

The fictional Beau that inspired the Bridges was Margaret Mitchell’s creation: Beauregard Wilkes, son of Ashley and Melanie Wilkes in Gone With the Wind.  It was a perfectly appropriate choice – Mitchell had assigned Ashley to real life Confederate General Pierre Beauregard’s command.  The Louisiana-born Beauregard inspired plenty of namesakes, and it lends the name a decidedly Southern air.

None of this suggests that Beau would be a likely choice for a son born in recent decades, but a number of uses  turned the tide in his favor.

First came Maverick, the television western that about the poker-playing clan: Bret, Bart, Beau, and Brent.  Roger Moore played English cousin Beau Maverick.  The show debuted in 1957; Moore’s character was a later addition to the cast, joining in 1960.  The character is probably the reason the français Beau sounds right at home on the range.

Beau first appears in the US Top 1000 in 1967 and was climbing slowly when another Beauregard appeared on the small screen.

Days of Our Lives’ Bo Brady has transitioned from motorcycle-riding bad boy to upstanding police commissioner.  His full name is Beauregard Aurelius, but he’s always answered to just the two-letter Bo.

Then along came another Bo, this time an athlete: Vincent Edward Jackson, better known as Bo Jackson.  One of the few players to excel in two professional sports, Jackson played in both the NFL and major league baseball, before injuries ended his career.  He also made waves with his Nike campaign.  Jackson promoted his signature shoe with another famous Bo, Roll and Roll Hall of Famer and guitarist Bo Diddley – born Ellas.

Beau rose into the 1980s, but he never made it much higher than the 200s.  As of last year, Beau ranked #397 while Bo came it at a mere #840.  Even though he’s on the decline, Beau could still wear well.  With Wyatt and Luke in the US Top 100, Beau could serve as an appealing alternative.

Totally unrelated sidenote:  Today’s Name of the Day was scheduled to be Frederick, with credit to Kelly.  But guess what?  I’d written about Frederick some fifteen months back. It was a great suggestion then, and remains one of my personal favorites today.  My apologies for the confusion and oh-boy-golly do I need to figure out a better tracking system!

Speaking of Orla and surprises, here’s a new one: I wrote about Orla a few days ago.  The post felt familiar, but that happens sometimes.  This has never happened: I’d actually written an entire Orla post in September 2008. It’s pretty much the same … except not.

In other news:

• We all know about Miley Cyrus’ impact on baby naming, with her nickname-turned-legal-name-turned-name-for-babies-everywhere.  But Hannah was already a hit when she took to the small screen.  Now she’ll be in theaters as Veronica, called Ronnie in The Last Song.  Ronald is in fashion limbo for boys, but maybe we’ll be meeting a whole bunch of little girls named Ronnie, sisters to all those girls named Charlie.
• Right on schedule, Nameberry has a post on boyish nickname names for girls.
• For Real has spotted a Boe Amelia.  Is that two syllables, like Zoe and David Bowie?  Or a feminine version of Beau/Bo?  I find it strangely appealing as a single-syllable name, but I just can’t guess.
• Galaxie Nirvana, on the other hand … let’s just say it seems perfectly reasonable to see it listed by For Real.  Ditto Harlaquinn Isabelle.
• Down in North Carolina, there’s a baby boy saddled with the name Laettner Keanu Locklear. Laettner because dad’s a Duke alum and hoops fan; Keanu because mom got to choose the middle.  It’s a daffy combination, but not the daffiest.
• Just in time for Easter, babynamelover reports a Pascale Lily Louise.
• Are there more girls out there named Temperance than I would’ve guessed?  And is it all abut Bones?  I just stumbled across another blog – Brooke is mom to Temperance, with another daughter on the way.  Can’t wait to hear what they name her!
• I love it when parents set out to choose an unusual name and manage to actually pull it off, instead of just re-spelling Emily. This week’s Parent Central Canada profile of new baby Idris Eaton, nicknamed Eider, is exactly that – a blend of family names and personal experiences that makes for an intriguing appellation.
• Nancy picked up a great story about a Ghanaian man who immigrated to Italy, had a baby boy and named him Silvio, after the Italian prime minister.
• Far more original than Brooklyn, Nameberry has a list of New York street names, including Crosby, Delancey, Waverly, Hester and Minetta.
• The average Lithuanian baby name might not import to the US very well, but I’m intrigued by this one from Legit Babe Names: Dautara.
• Down in Tuscaloosa, a group of locals put together a book commemorating the now-closed Sarah A. Jarman Memorial Hospital’s maternity ward, including a list of babies born there.  This set of triplets from 1936 caught my eye: Lelia Juanita, Loretta May, and Louise Ellen.

In starbaby news, all via Celebrity Baby Blog:

• Did you know that all three of Jamie and Jools Oliver’s flower power daughters have three names apiece?  The girls are Poppy Honey Rosie, Daisy Boo Pamela, and Petal Blossom Rainbow. With a fourth on the way, I wonder how they’ll round out their bouquet.
• The Early Show’s Erica Hill welcomed a son, Sawyer Steven, a brother for Weston Robert.
• Oliver Hudson’s son is called Bodhi Hawn, a little brother for Wilder Brooks.  Grandma Goldie Hawn (that still sounds weird) had announced his birth, but it took a few days for the name to be released.

Think it is weird to name your kid Kimora?  Nancy tells us that back in the 1930s and 40s, at least a few dozen parents named their kids in honor of Kay Kyser, bandleader and radio host. Kyser responded by sending out a commemorative gift.  Hmmm … if I named my daughter Orla, would I be able to snag one of those bags?

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

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!

Boys’ names will be longer and shorter, but two-syllable tyranny is coming to an end.  Yes, plenty of parents are still going to call their sons (and daughters) Aiden, Braeden, Caidhen, Haydon and Jayden.  And yes, some parents will attempt to mash together two syllables to create “unique” names for their sons – think Jaylon and Cayson.  

But  a growing number of parents are favoring softer names for their sons, including Biblical choices and ancient names.  Sebastian, Julian, Jeremiah and Oliver are already mainstream.  Others are keeping it short and strong.  Starbabies Knox Jolie-Pitt and Bronx Wentz are part of the trend.  Choices like Cole, Gage, Cash, Beau and Cade gaining, as well as nicknames like Jack, Jake and Max remaining popular.  A few other choices are brief, but not quite so tough guy – Finn, Quinn and Kai all continue to do well.

French names for girls will be on the rise.  Celeb trendsetters Brangelina are responsible for some of the trend.  But this one was already brewing before Vivienne Marcheline’s birth.  A few that could pop?  Noemi/Noemie, Elodie and Esmé.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that the names in favor will be popular in Paris, or even authentically French.  In fact, the biggest influence may be the rise of creative, franglais-style names.  Expect to see Scarlette along with Violette and Juliette.

Homespun, even humble names will continue to be popular.  There’s nothing flashy about Emma or Hannah.  In 2009, Olive will sound fresher than Olivia, Frances more appealing than Francesca.  Choices like Nora and Clara could have a good year for girls; for boys, Gus seems unstoppable.  (Though with August, Angus and plenty of other names leading to Gus as a nickname, it will be tough to see in the statistics.)  Biblical boys’ names will continue to gain, following Elijah, Isaac and Isaiah up the charts.  And yes, we think we’ll meet more girls called Honor, as well as plenty of little Graces, Hopes and Charitys.

There could also be an uptick in the number of boys receiving names that once seemed perpetually out of fashion.  Choices like Walter, Raymond and Calvin have all received positive feedback.  It suggests that either they’re turning the corner from clunky to cool … or maybe that in 2009, clunky will be cool. 

Creative spellings will continue.  Some parents will continue to favor extreme spellings like Caidhon and Peightynn.  But variant spellings have taken their place in the mainstream.  Which is correct:  Isobel, Isabel or Isabelle?  In some cases, the most popular version isn’t the most authentic.  Kaitlyn ranks #44; Katelyn comes in at #75 and Caitlin’s parents find themselves defending their “unusual” spelling.  

Perhaps this is just wishful thinking, but it seems like fewer parents are tossing in random letters to come up with Brieyannah and more are seeking out lesser used appellations, like Bryony.  (Which, of course, can also be spelled Briony …)

Emily really won’t be the most popular name for girls.  Based on our recalculation of the SSA rankings back in May, we reported that Emily was slipping in favor of Isabella and Sophia.  Parents.com recently put Isabella at the top of their 2008 list, with Ava in second place and Emily demoted to third.  They base their rankings on website traffic.

That said, Em names for girls will remain very popular.  Emily might slip, but Em- names are still hot.  There’s Emma, of course.  And with starbabies Emme (JLo’s daughter) and Emery (Angie Harmon’s daughter) we imagine more parents will opt for an Emily variant in 2009.  Among the contenders:  Emerson (likely to be respelled Emersyn), the anique Emilia, the Welsh masculine Emlyn, the medieval Emmeline and Emmaline, Embeth (as in the actress Embeth Davidtz) and, of course, Emme and Emery.

And the final prediction?

Baby names will continue to obsess some of us.  Pushing a $900 stroller might be out; kitting your kiddo in consignment store finds might be in.  But choosing a thoughtful, meaningful and inventive name for a child is always au courant.

Thanks for being part of the ApMtn family in 2008, and keep reading in 2009!

• Actor Rob Corddry, best known as a correspondent on the Daily Show, and his wife welcomed Marlo Stevenson Corddry.  She’s the second daughter for the couple; big sister Sloane Sullivan Corddry is two.  We only know of one other Marlo – actress Marlo Thomas, born Margaret – but we think it’s an interesting, appealing name with a modern, but still feminine, vibe.
• British model Louise Redknapp and her husband announced the name of their second son – Beau Henry.  We’re not sure how Beau reads in the UK, but we find him an interesting choice, and like the pairing with the classic Henry in the middle spot.  Big brother is Charley William.
• American Idol alum and country singer Josh Gracin and his wife welcomed a fourth child – daughter Isabella Sophia.  She’ll join Briana, Landon and Gabriella at home.  It’s hard to argue with the classic Isabella, but what really dazzles us is that we continue to hear so many parents choosing this name.

It’s a real baby boom these days!

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.  ;)

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.

And let’s not forget Isabelle (#85), Isabel (#87), Izabella (#290), Isabela (#470) and Isabell (#724). And with Bella (#181) and Ella (#21) hot choices themselves, using a nickname won’t help your daughter stand out from the hordes of same-named girls.

The only alternative is to find one.

It’s tempting to dust off the Scottish variant, Isobel. The spelling looks spare and fresh, and the name is quite rare – it hasn’t been in the Top 1000 in the US since 1921, and while it was occasionally used in the early years of the twentieth century, it was never common. But alas, Isobel sounds exactly like Isabel and Isabelle, making it too close to for comfort.

Here are a few alternatives that might suit:

• Isadora – The most famous Isadora is undoubtedly the dancer, Isadora Duncan. She lends the name a certain artistic flair. But this exotic name has surprisingly humble roots, too – Saint Isidore the Laborer is the patron saint of farmers. Modern children would most likely link your Isadora with Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer, or possibly with Dory, the memory-impaired fish voiced by Ellen DeGeneres in Finding Nemo. The nicknames, and their familiarity among the pint-sized, make this unusual choice quite accessible. (Isadora has not appeared in the Top 1000 names since 1900.)
• Isabeau – Like Isabel, Isabeau is derived from Elizabeth. But this version is nicely obscure and has an appealing French vibe, too. Perhaps the masculine -beau ending puts some parents off. Beau is French for handsome; it has also been used to mean boyfriend. But if little girls are named Ryan and Dylan these days, that seems a rather flimsy reason to dismiss such a stunningly attractive name as this. Rest assured that your Beau will share the playground with at least one little girl called Alex. (Isabeau has never appeared in the Top 1000.)
• Isolde – A princess in Arthurian legend, Isolde has stood by neglected while her true love’s name has become quite the popular choice for boys. (Tristan was #86 in 2006.) Richard Wagner turned their tale into an opera; in 2006, Ridley Scott brought it to the big screen. And yet, the name languishes in obscurity. It is, perhaps, a lot of name for a small child, but it is also a name with history and roots, and certainly no more of a mouthful that Isabella.  (Isolde has never appeared in the Top 1000.)
• Anastasia – Just as Isabella was bestowed to future monarchs, Anastasia was the name famously given to the youngest daughter of the last Tsar of Russia. If you’re drawn to Isabella for the name’s foreign royalty flair, then this equally exotic choice might suit. But note that this lovely name cannot be considered obscure, simply underused. (Anastasia was #288 in 2006.)
• Mirabel – If you love the “bel” in Isabella, perhaps this alternative will appeal. The name means lovely; wondrous. Bestowed upon both boys and girls in the Middle Ages, this choice seems thoroughly feminine; perhaps even dainty. It’s also an alternative to the heavy-handed Miracle, which stands at #482 in the Top 1000. And if you’ve been to Quebec, you may recognize this as a place name; in fact, you may well have flown into Montreal-Mirabel International. Some may recall that Mirabella was a short-lived women’s magazine in the 1990s. But none of these associations quite stick, and the name has a fresh, interesting sound. (Mirabel has never been in the Top 1000 in the US.)
• Aurora – If it’s the fairytale princess flavor of Isabella that draws you in, then consider Sleeping Beauty’s given name, Aurora. (Some parents report choosing Isabella because of the heroine of Beauty and the Beast, Belle. Indeed, the film’s 1991 release coincides with the jump in Isabella’s use.) Aurora was officially settled on the somnolent one by Disney in 1959; in previous tellings, she was sometimes anonymous or known by another name. Aurora is also, of course, the Roman goddess of the dawn, who also lends her name to the Aurora Borealis – the Northern Lights. It’s a little bit romantic and a whole lot astronomical. It also boasts the user-friendly nickname Rory. The name has been used infrequently for generations, but today stands at #312 – about as popular as it has ever been.

There’s no telling, of course, if 15 years from now we’ll be seeking out alternatives to the Top 10 trendy Isolde. But for the moment, these all offer reasonable alternatives to the charming but overused Isabella.