Bethany; Image by See The Holy Land via Flickr
She’s a Biblical village, and a reality superstar.
Thanks to Clio for suggesting Bethany as our Baby Name of the Day.
Baby Name of the Day: Bethany
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Tag Archives: Beth
Baby Name of the Day: Betty
139/365 To thine own self B true by Myki Roventine via Flickr
She’s gone full circle, from buxom pin-up girl to grey-haired granny, and back again to the nursery.
Thanks to Claire for suggesting Betty as our Baby Name of the Day.
Parker Lewis vs. Parker Posey
Parker has a long history of occasional use as a given name. Originally an occupational surname for a gamekeeper or geographic name for someone who lived near parkland, he’s charted as a boys’ given name in the US most years since 1880. In 2009, he entered the US Top 100 at #96.
Just like Larkin was a medieval diminutive for Lawrence, Parkin was a pet form of Peter. And between Spider-man’s alter ego, Peter Parker, and 90s Fox sitcom Parker Lewis Can’t Loose, lots of parents probably view Parker in a positive light.
He’s a little bit preppy/Southern family surname: “Oh yes, my mother was one of the Providence Parkers” or “Great-great-grandfather Jebediah Parker first came to Atlanta after the War.” But he’s also in step with occupational surnames like Archer that seem so current right now.
But what about Parker for a girl?
Indie darling Parker (Yes, it’s her birth name) Posey was named after supermodel Suzy Parker. As Posey’s star has risen, so has Parker for girls. She first charted at #875 in 1999, and has made a steady ascent to #502 a decade later.
Two small screen uses of Parker keep me thinking of this:
- In a recent ABC Family movie, Revenge of the Bridesmaids, Raven-Symoné played Abby and Joanna Garcia played Parker;
- On TNT’s Leverage, Beth Riesgraf plays talented cat-burglar Parker – though her background is mysterious, and it isn’t clear if that’s her first name or last. (And if Riesgraf sounds familiar, it is because she’s mom to the oh-so-famous Pilot Inspektor, with ex-husband Jason Lee.)
I know many readers feel strongly that boys’ names should never, ever be used for girls, but in an era when the musical Harper and Piper are popular picks for daughters, it is easy to imagine some parents digging Parker’s nature vibe and thinking she’d be pretty in pink.
Readers, thoughts?
Baby Name of the Day: Amy
In honor of my 37th birthday, our Baby Name of the Day is the one I shed: Amy.
Baby Name of the Day: Tabitha
She’s a Biblical babe revived by a pint-sized television witch, and more recently, a tough-as-nails hair stylist.
Thanks to Danielle for suggesting the intriguing Tabitha as Baby Name of the Day.
Baby Name of the Day: Bethia
If Moses is a pleasing starbaby choice, why not this name worn by his stepmama?
Thanks to Samantha for suggesting Bethia as Baby Name of the Day.
Sunday Summary: 6/13/10
So the Glee baby was named Beth. And Nikki Blonsky has a new series on ABC Family called Huge, apparently set at a summer weight-loss camp. Her character’s name caught my eye: Willamina, though I believe she’ll be answering to Will.
In other, completely random news:
- If you’ve got World Cup fever, you’ve probably been glued to the television of late. But even if you’ve never heard of a vuvuzela, you might want to check out Elisabeth’s post on names inspired by the 2010 World Cup. We’ll have to see how Landon and Donovan fare, but she’s quite right – it wouldn’t be a surprise if both rise;
- Regardless of how you feel about a 54 year old woman giving birth to twins, I suspect you’ll want to know their names: Asa and Imogen. Parents Karen and Roger have eight other kids: Daniel, Scott, Amy, Jemma, Aiden, Bethany, Joseph and Willow;
- I love this trio from ForReal’s Arizona post: Trek Larson, Ramona Bean and Jersey Rose. They all sound more like fictional characters than newborn babes;
- Remember all those lists we all made of possible future children’s names ages before we were ready to have kids? Teenagers today are posting them online. Tristan Bellamy on a girl has a certain appeal, but I suspect The Girl With Too Many Converse (great blog title!) will probably change her mind before the big day comes;
- I’m not familiar with Suite101, but the article seems to be thoroughly researched, and I found their list of Etruscan Baby Names interesting. Tanaquil is really growing on me;
- Then there’s this one from Nancy: a baby girl named Elora, after a gorge in Ontario;
- From ancient Etruria to modern Sweden, here’s Sebastiane’s review of Swedish baby names, complete with a round-up of Swedish birth announcements. Axel is just grand, I like Maja, and I can see Emmalisa catching on in the US;
- Speaking of compound names, do you ‘spose Rylejean is pronounced Riley Jean? (Once again, the intriguing find comes from ForReal.)
And then there’s the biggest discovery of the week: Nancy posted the Social Security Administration’s lists of Names outside the US Top 1000 that were given to 100 or more newborns in 2009. You can check out the girls’ list here and the boys’ list here. You’ll finds lots of variant spellings – Alexandrea, Jurnee, Olyvia and Kooper, Mykel, Trever - as well as some lovely surprises – Constance, Juniper, Honor and Thatcher, Perry, Gibson. And were more than 100 little girls really called Halo? And were the 177 baby boys called Major inspired by the Novogratz family?
Since the birth rate in Hollywood was a disappointing zero this week, I’ll leave you with Nameberry’s Will Maisie be the next Daisy? It’s a fascinating list, and it suggests why it is so very hard to find a name that is just a little bit different.
Have a great week, and, as always, thanks for reading!
Yea or Nay: Beth
There’s no Baby Name of the Day today, but there is a name that’s been on my mind: Beth.
She’s a nickname for the evergreen Elizabeth, but if you’re under thirty, you’re more likely to answer to a different diminutive. I’ve met Elizabeths called Libby, Ellie, Elle and even the retro Betsy, but all of the Beths I know are Boomers.
Beth peaked in the 60s, was immortalized in a 1976 Kiss ballad and then left the rankings after 1997. But the recent Glee rendition of Beth, coupled with last year’s teen flick I Love You Beth Cooper, has me wondering if Beth will make a comeback.
And so I ask readers: Beth, yea or nay?
Sunday Summary: 1/24/10
Before I move on to the weekly sum-up, one quick piece of business: I only approve comments written in English, regardless of whether or not I understand the comment. (Make that especially when I don’t understand the comment.)
On to the names:
- I’ve finally spotted it on Yahoo!Answers – the dreadful, but inevitable marriage of Ryan/Riley and Wyatt: Ryatt. All of a sudden, Rylan sounds as classic as James;
- Then there’s this post: What about the baby name Reznor? Yikes;
- ForReal Baby Names spotted a Brewer. Sure, Brewer’s an occupational surname name a la Archer and Carter. But this one seems hard to wear – or maybe too easy to wear around the college years;
- Also via ForReal: if Erykah Badu can have name her daughter Mars Merkaba, why not Aries Antonia?
- Thanks to Sebastiane for pointing out that Liv is more than just a short form of Olivia – she’s an Old Norse name with a different derivation;
- Nancy wrote a thoughtful post on Chinese names. They’re about to limit names that can be bestowed upon a child – and get this, it will be retroactive!
- Guest blogger Jill Barnett wrote about Colonial names at Nameberry. Her lists are interesting, but there’s also a fun literary fact in her post. Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women were inspired by her and her sisters, as were their names. Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy were actually Anna, Louisa, Elizabeth, and Abigail May, called May. I find Amy/May anagram especially intriguing;
- Speaking of fictional sibsets, the trio in Jackie Chan’s new comedy, The Spy Next Door are Nora, Ian and big sister Farren. Not sure if the movie gives a reason for bestowing a Karen/Fallon mash-up on the firstborn.
In starbaby news, all via Celebrity Baby Blog:
- American Idol alum Bo Bice and wife Caroline have welcomed a third son, Ean Jacob, a little brother for Aidan Michael and Caleb James;
- Soap opera regular Greg Vaughan is a dad again. He and wife Touriya Haoud attracted attention for naming their firstborn Jathan James. His little brother is Cavan Thomas;
- How did I miss this one? Oh, right. I’m not following Bravo’s Millionaire Matchmaker this season. But I might have to start, because Destin and Rachel named their baby Sin Halo Jude. And no, Sin Halo is not some exotic import from Tagalog or Cham. It’s just the two English language words, described by mom as “the yin and the yang.” Words fail me.
Lastly, one year ago today I wrote about Isabeau. And two years ago today? Well, January 23 was the first ever post at AppMtn: Ava and Harlow.
So thanks to each and every one of you for the past two years!
Name of the Day: Lisa
Circa 1900, this one was a rarity, worn only as a nickname. Fast forward a few decades, and she topped the US popularity charts.
Thanks to Photoquilty for suggesting Lisa as Name of the Day.
