Today’s name falls somewhere between trendy nouveau coinages and undiscovered gems.
Thanks to Racheli for suggesting Rayna as our Baby Name of the Day.
Today’s name falls somewhere between trendy nouveau coinages and undiscovered gems.
Thanks to Racheli for suggesting Rayna as our Baby Name of the Day.
Did you hear that Sweet Valley High books have been rebooted? Actually, the Wakefield twins, Elizabeth and Jessica, have been fast-forwarded to the age of 27, circa 2011. (No, the math doesn’t work.) I read them obsessively once upon a time, and I’m curious to know how many of the original characters return. There were some great names among the cast: Enid, Bruce, Lila, Betsy, George, Winston.
On to the naming news:
On to celebrity news:
Here’s something of interest: after much buzz about the arrival of Peyton and Ashley Manning’s twins, several of the stories disappeared. Apparently, Mrs. Manning has requested the blackout. I can understand new parents’ anxiety, but I almost feel like there’s MORE buzz when the official announcement is never made – like Isla Fisher’s second baby or Pilot’s little sister. If the name had been released, I might’ve long since forgotten it. But when there’s no news, I tend to return to the thought again and again.
Last week’s Nameberry post was all about Country Music. I’m still in love with Coy. We’re going back to Hollywood for this week’s post.
That’s all for now. As always, thank you for reading – and have a great week!
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.
Happy Halloween! More proof that I truly have a one-track mind: let’s start with two name-related thoughts, prompted by my kids’ costumes:
Here’s a question for readers with daughters. Did American Girl start sending you catalogs, as if they knew you were having a girl before the ultrasound results were in? My first catalog arrived before Clio could roll over, must less request outrageously expensive doll babies. Still, I do enjoy the names in the catalogs: Kaya, Felicity, Josefina, Addy, Rebecca, Kit, Molly, and Julie are the main Girls of the moment. 2010 Girl of the Year was called Lanie. A number of the Girls have friends – Julie’s BFF is Ivy, and there’s also Emily, Ruthie, and Elizabeth. So much better than Bratz.
And while we’re on pop culture, anyone else notice that the upcoming Nutcracker flick the little girl’s name has reverted to Mary? The original ETA Hoffman story called her Marie, but she’s been Clara in nearly every adaptation since.
Elsewhere online:
There were a number of celebrity births this week, but first, Jeremy Sisto’s 16 month old daughter is named Charlie Ballerina. How did I miss that?
Back to the newborns:
Over on the Facebook page, I think Stanley has officially been declared wearable.
Keep an ear out for interesting names worn by your Trick or Treaters, and have a great week!
Today’s choice has never made the US Top 1000, but he has an undeniable place in American history.
Thanks to Ashley for suggesting Winslow as Baby Name of the Day.
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?
Ah, September. The leaves change color, apples of every possible variety can be found in stacks at the Farmers’ Market and me?
I’m glued to the television:
Also on the big screen, there’s Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds. Stand by for boys called Aldo, after Brad Pitt’s hyper-masculine hero. (The character was named after a real-life tough guy actor from the 50s and 60s, Aldo Ray.) There’s also the heart-breaking Jewish-French Shosanna, a name memorably yelled by the creepy Nazi Sicherheitsdienst officer Hans Landa, and her alias Emmanuelle.
Onto starbaby news:
Should you find yourself in a pediatrician’s office this month, pick up the current issue of Parents Magazine – there’s an extensive article on baby naming. For true name aficionados, it is not exactly news. (Though the report of one couple’s use of a name consultant was interesting and it was among the better coverage I’ve seen in a mainstream publication.) But the big takeaway? Laura Wattenberg contributed her Top Ten picks for the most popular names of 2019:
GIRLS: Lila, Peyton, Lucy, Violet, Aubrey, Amelia, Piper, Ruby, Juliet and Harper.
BOYS: Miles, Rowan, Lincoln, Eli, Jude, Cooper, Wyatt, Ryder, Lucas and Henry.
I’ll have to do some thinking about her lists – some strike me as spot on, others … maybe not so much. But seriously, if Laura Wattenberg is touting them as the likely hot names of 2019? That alone might be enough to make it so.
Thanks for reading!
Our Alphabet Extravaganza started with A is for Girls. Today we move right on down the line to letter B.
B is a tricky letter. Many of the best known B names for girls are nicknames – think Becky and Betsy – or nouveau names like Britney. But there are a few gems to be found.