Image via Wikipedia
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.
Baby Name of the Day: Rayna
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Tag Archives: Betsy
Sunday Summary: 4/17/11
Image by Leo Reynolds via Flickr
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:
- Did you see Nancy’s post about Kexin? Nope, it isn’t a name for Jaxon’s brother. Instead, Kexin is the name of a gold medalist in gymnastics from the 2008 Olympics. It was given to a handful of girls in the US last year. Nancy notes that, in her native China, Kexin is pronounced kuh SHEEN. Wonder how they’re saying it in the US?
- Hat tip to Photoquilty for this gem from Yahoo! Answers: “My favorite name would be Madison, it’s so cute.
My least favorite would be McKenzie, I can’t stand those stupid trendy names.” - What would you name baby #3 if your first two are Homer and Dorothy, called Dolly?
- Lorelei is rising fast. Could the literary Virelai follow? I’m already seeing creative constructions like Avalei;
- Speaking of creativity: ForReal spotted Brexlie, Haili, and Zeddicus. Google tells me that last one is from a Terry Pratchett novel;
- Think we’ll be seeing babies named after characters from A Game of Thrones? A neighbor tells me the books are addicting. Nancy has a list of options to consider;
- For a very different set of names borrowed from the small screen, check out Elisabeth’s post on Upstairs, Downstairs. Persephone and Hallam, anyone?
On to celebrity news:
- Fox anchor Megyn Kelly welcomed a daughter, Yardley Evans, a little sister for Adam Brooks.
- Designer Stacey Bendet has welcomed a daughter, Scarlet Haven, a little sister for Eloise Breckenridge.
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!
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.
Sunday Summary: 10/31/10
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:
- There will be more little boys named Anakin in the future. Nancy tells us there were 117 in 2009 alone. Despite my insistence that Aly is Luke Skywalker, he keeps correcting me – no, Mommy – ANAKIN Skywalker. “But he’s the bad guy, Aly.” “No he’s not!” A younger generation might very well find Anakin as wearable as Julian.
- What name do you use to get to Minnie as a nickname? It’s a great nickname, but much too cutesy to stand on her own – moreso, I think, than Millie or Sadie. The Shopaholic series has recently given Becky a daughter by the name. Minnie Driver was born Amelia. There’s Minerva, too, but that’s a lot of name for a little girl – almost too sharp of a contrast to sweet Minnie. So what’s left? Araminta? Minnesota? Ideas welcome!
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:
- What a lovely sibset over at Swistle, and you can help them name another daughter! Their current family consists of Ottilie Fflur, called Tilly; Adalia Seren, called Addie; Cecily Roma; Nolia Betsy; and Violet Lucina;
- New at Nymbler in September:Brynley, Kiptyn, Snow, Galileo, Irelyn, and Posy. One of the contributors to Celebrity Baby Blog, before it was absorbed by People Magazine, had a son named Galileo, but I think they called him Leo. About ten years ago, I knew a couple who used Ireland for their daughter’s middle name. I like it full strength, but find the Irelyn spelling diluted;
- For Real goes to Texas and you know it is going to be good! She spotted Abel Marcel, Hayes Gentry, Nicholai Luther, Landree Natali, Priscila Bethsabe, and Vierra Nichole. That’s the second time I’ve heard Gentry for a boy this week. I don’t get it.
- For Real also hit Tennessee where she found Isavela in the middle spot, plus River Gracily, Consuella Eliesa, Annalinne Rachel, and Atom Leegan. Is Gracily a Grace-Lily smoosh or a just an inventive elaboration? It is pretty, even dainty;
- At Nameberry, Pam raves about ends-in-s names for boys. There are some really great ones. I’ve known little boys called Magnus and Silas, and they wear well. Plus, they can be more subtle than some of the ends-in-o options.
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:
- Celine Dion’s twin sons, Eddy and Nelson, got all the press, but another newsworthy set appeared this week: Top Chef alum Brian Malarkey and wife Chantelle Marie welcomed son Miles James and daughter Sailor Elizabeth. The twins join big brother Hunter – Huntingdon O’Neil - at home. I like all of the names just fine, but I don’t expect Hunter and Miles to have a sister named Sailor – Olive, maybe, or Louisa or Felicity;
- Jessica Capshaw, a starbaby in her own right, welcomed daughter Eve Augusta.
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!
Baby Name of the Day: Winslow
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.
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: 9/13/09
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:
- Okay, not really. I missed the debut of the rebooted Melrose Place the other night. (Though I was sorry to miss Bronx‘s mom in action.) This edition includes an Ella and a Violet, as well as a female Riley. On the masculine side, there’s Auggie and Jonah;
- Also on TV, I hear that Glee’s characters include Finn (a boy) and Quinn (a girl). Of course they’re dating;
- Before there was Twilight, there was The Vampire Diaries. Now a series on the CW, Elena is torn between blood-sucking centuries-young, suntan-challenged brothers Stefan and Damon;
- Technically this is big screen news – So You Think You Can Dance alum Kherington Payne has a lead role as Alice in the big screen remake of Fame. But will Kherington catch on for girls? Or the Dynasty-esque original, Carrington?
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:
- Yup, Nicole Richie and Benji Madden named their boy Sparrow. He’s sure to fly to the top of worst celeb baby name lists. Some rumblings suggest that Sparrow was inspired by a Simon & Garfunkel song, but the parents have yet to confirm the theory;
- Ioan Gruffudd and Alice Evans welcomed a daughter named Ella Betsi Janet. Ella is fine and I adore Betsy. Janet is engagingly retro. But Ella Betsi together seems like a deconstructed version of Elizabeth. What’s next? Ella Noor? Nia Cole? The mind reels;
- Country music’s Zac Brown and wife have welcomed a daughter named Georgia Sloan, little sister to Lucy and Justice – both girls, too;
- Katherine Heigl has confirmed that she is about to follow in a family tradition and adopt from Korea. (Hat tip to Photoquilty.) The baby on the way is to be named Naleigh. It’s a smoosh of family names – mom Nancy and sister Leigh. It’s a lovely thought, but all of a sudden, Sparrow seems perfectly reasonable.
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!
Alphabet: B is for Girls
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.
