Tag Archives: Dante

Sunday Summary: 6/12/11

Posted on
15
Number 12

Image by always13 via Flickr

Is it me, or was the coverage of Jennifer Connelly’s new daughter rather restrained?  Connelly and husband Paul Bettany welcomed little Agnes Lark earlier this week.  Agnes joins big brothers Stellan and Kai.  Usually headlines like “stars choose bizarre name” or “stars revive classics” are all over my feedreader a day or two after a birth announcement, but this time?  Crickets.

Since we’ve started with celebrities, let me also mention:

I’m writing a celebrity-inspired baby name post for Nameberry tomorrow.  It’s a two-part series.  My favorites from this week’s list are Miro, Ridge, and Asa.  But it’s a game and you can play, too.

Elsewhere online:

  • The day before Agnes’ birth announcement, Nameberry posted a Say Yes to S list, about choices from Lotus to Leatrice that could join Alice and Frances among the stylish;
  • ForReal spotted a Greta.  She’s climbed modestly since returning to the US Top 1000 in 1999.  (She’d left after 1982.)  I always Greta is one of those short, sweet, complete and completely underrated names.  At #666 in 2010, she’s still far from common;
  • Okay, I kind of like Hennessy.  But please don’t name your daughter Chardonnay;
  • Millicent: too fusty, or ripe for revival?  British Baby Names makes me think the latter;
  • I never liked Sailor or Saylor, but Nancy’s post changed my mind.  All of a sudden, it is less Taylor-goes-to-sea and more quirky gem;
  • Are you reading Namestory?  Proof that even the most common names can have fascinating tales to tell;
  • Did you see this post at Swistle where the older child has the nickname River from Richard IV?  Tough to explain maybe, but pure genius;
  • Elisabeth had some great ideas for Dante Xipil’s little sister.  Ylva is fantastic, and I like Kristen’s suggestion of Kahlo, too.  Kim Kardashian, are you taking notes?  Far more stylish than, say, Kash or Kynlee.

Have too much free time?  I have a Facebook page.

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

Baby Name of the Day: Luca

Posted on
9
Boys playing music, illustration of Psalm 150 ...

Boys playing music, by Luca Della Robbia; Image via Wikipedia

Despite his -a ending, he’s a 21st century sensation for boys.

Thanks to Jenna for suggesting Luca as our Baby Name of the Day.

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Baby Name of the Day: Darius

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14
Silver shekel issued by King Darius I of Persi...

Silver shekel issued by King Darius I of Persia; Image via Wikipedia

He’s an ancient ruler and a modern rocker.

Thanks to Fran and Annelise for suggesting Darius as our Baby Name of the Day.

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Sunday Summary: 3/27/11

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27 by Cappellmeister via Flickr

First, I’m incredibly excited to see who wins March Madness!  Thanks to everyone who voted so far, and if you have not, please remember to weigh in: Boys’ Final and Girls’ Final.

I thoroughly enjoyed compiling Rock’n'Roll Baby Names for Nameberry last week.  This week’s list is equally edgy.  Here’s a hint: Buffy is on the list.

Elsewhere:

  • I haven’t seen Just Go With It, but I’m fascinated by the names.  Nicole Kidman plays a not-so-nice character called Devlin.  Brooklyn Decker plays a girl named Palmer.  The 2011 film is based on a 1969 movie, which was based on an American adaptation of a French play.  Up until now, Palmer’s character called was Toni.  I’ve no idea why they opted for such an unconventional choice in the remake;
  • Swistle posted a reader question about the name Story.  Comments suggested Astoria as a formal name.  I’m torn – Astoria is an undeniably pretty sound, but have you been to Queens?  Then again, a less-than-idyllic setting hasn’t hurt Brooklyn;
  • Which leads us to Nancy’s note about baby boys named Travolta.  More than you’d think, less than you’d fear;
  • From Nomes e mais nomes: which do you prefer Carolina or Catarina?  It’s the kind of question that makes me want to say “twins!”
  • Step into the Wayback Machine.  In 2009, the featured name was Lana.  Last year, it was Orla;
  • I always enjoy her birth announcements, but this one really surprised me: For Real spotted an unusual combination, which just happens to be my cousin’s name;
  • She also spotted Jaxlen McCade, Riggen Joseph, Brawk David, and Dash Ayden.  Oh, and a Dollie Michelle.  I adore Dolly as a nickname for Dorothy, but I think it would be tough to answer to Dolly at 25.

On to Hollywood.  There’s been much chatter over Rachel Zoe’s new son’s name, Skyler Morrison.  It’s not the stylish choice I would have expected, but what really stunned me was a comment in New York Magazine.  The writer congratulated Rachel & Rodger on their healthy baby boy and “also for naming him normally. Baby names shouldn’t be trends.”

I’ll be curious to hear Rachel’s explanation for choosing the name.  Maybe she’ll have the kind of backstory that makes me regret every snarky thought I’ve had about her choice.

In other starbaby news:

  • The conversation of the week should really be this: How did Luca and Matteo become the sibset of moment?  Top Chef’s top chef Tom Colicchio and wife Lori welcomed a son, Mateo Lev.  Mateo joins big brothers Luka Bodhi and Dante at home.  Impeccable Italian heritage picks, right?  Masculine without going overboard, classic but not plain.  Last month, E’s Kristin Dos Santos welcomed a son, Matteo Tomaz, a little brother for Luca Alexander.  And Colin Firth and his wife Livia Guiggioli are parents to Luca and Mateo, too;
  • TLC’s Design Star Vern Yip welcomed a daughter, Vera Lillian Beatrix.  He and partner Craig Koch are also parents to son Gavin Joshua Mannox;
  • Quarterback Eli Manning is a first-time dad.  He and wife Abby welcomed a daughter, Ava Frances.

If you’re looking for more talk of celebrity births and general name talk, check out my Facebook page.

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

Sunday Summary: 3/20/11

Posted on
7
shop number 20

Image by Leo Reynolds via Flickr

Here’s my absolute favorite thing to get in my email inbox: birth announcements.  There were two last week, complete with pictures!  I really, truly appreciate them and won’t pass them on unless you expressly note that I can share them here.  Thank you!

Speaking of birth announcements, I was scrolling through a random list and found a bunch of interesting ones: Bellarose, Amelka, Zella, Nico, Jamerson.  No, that’s not a typo.  (I checked twice!)  With ends-in-er names catching on and hoop star Jimmer Fredette inspiring parents, what could catch on next?  Brenner, maybe?

In other news:

  • Here’s a look ahead at next week’s Names of the Day: Marlon, Circe, Greil, Humphrey, Emrys;
  • And a look back, too – in 2009, Barnaby was featured.  In 2010, it was Hera;
  • Names currently suggested for Alyssa Milano’s son include Destry, Gaston, Kenai, Jax, Darrell, Javier, Kennedy, Vittorio, Emmitt, Maddox, and Colt.  My pick for them would be Dante – Italian, to go with Mr. Alyssa Milano’s surname, Bugliari, but still quite current.
  • Amethyst: a possible successor to Ruby?
  • Loved this post at Nameberry on Israeli Baby Names.  I was surprised at the long list of unisex names.  The author, Hannah of A Mother in Israel, was kind enough to answer my question.  Apparently there’s not any controversy over using a gender neutral name, though “many parents prefer a name associated with one gender.”  Interesting;
  • Move over Jason and Mason!  ForReal spotted a newborn Tason;
  • BabyNameWizard asks if Justin will remain forever young;
  • Via Nomes e mais nomes post on the Grand Ducal family of Luxembourg: there’s an Imre in this generation, plus one of the princes married a commoner called Tessy.  She’s now Princess Tessy;
  • Is she a baby or a weather prediction?  For Real also spotted a Rainy May.

It was a quiet week for names in the news, but we did welcome Sage Ann and Kellan Clay, twins for news anchors Kyra Phillips and John Roberts.

Funny, because I’d recently asked on my Facebook page if Sage was more suited for a girl or a boy.

In other celeb baby Wipeout co-host John Henson welcomed a son, Jackson Wright.

Tomorrow at Nameberry: Rock’n'Roll baby names inspired by the recent additions to Rock Hall.

As always, thanks for reading and have a great week!

Baby Name of the Day: Ulysses

Posted on
8
u girada

U girada by popdeganxet via Flickr

He’s literary, mythological, and figures in American history.  He’s also more popular than you might guess.

Thanks to Darja for suggesting a name dear to her heart.  Our Baby Name of the Day is Ulysses.

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Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards Men

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2
Peace dove graffiti in Madrid, Spain, with the...

Peace dove graffiti in Madrid, Spain; Image via Wikipedia

I am endlessly fascinated by baby names, probably because I am endlessly fascinated by people – by our history, our beliefs, our cultures.  We reveal an awful lot in the names we choose for our children.

Despite the initial sense that baby names are a light and fluffy subject, at least once a week I pause and realize that I’m on thin ice.  Do I mention that Claus has Nazi overtones?  Do I declare that Marisa is hopelessly passé?  (I did, and I regret it.)

But I hear the ice crackle when I talk about race, religion, and ethnicity.  How to address the fact that Dante, a classic Italian heritage name, has been adopted by African American parents, often respelled to Donte or Dontay?  And let’s not even start with the complexities of Cohen.

Message boards and comment sections turn ugly – sometimes really ugly – when terms get thrown around.  From WASPy to ghetto, it doesn’t matter if the term implies that you’re a have or a have-not; when it comes to comments, we all have thoughtless and thin-skinned moments.

It would be absolutely false to deny that our choices of names aren’t impacted by race, class, religion, and dozens of other lifestyle factors, all of which can be difficult to discuss.  In the real world, no one will dare tell you that Mal’a'Kyhi is a needlessly tortured name for your son.  (They’ll wait until you’ve left the room before declaring that your son is doomed to life as a fast food fry jockey.)  Or that your daughter Gertrude will hate you by grade six, beloved grandmother’s name or no.  (Couldn’t you spell it the right way? Why wouldn’t you choose a normal name?)

It’s not fun to hear, but I do think it is better to know than not.  If you Google your child’s name – here’s a Sunday Summary that mentions Zaphyn that I think of often -  chances are you’ll find the good, the bad, and yup, some of the ugly.

All of this is a round-about way of saying this: I don’t have a formal comments policy.  I don’t delete comments because a descriptive term will potentially be offensive.  (There’s a line, but I’ll defer to the Supreme Court’s definition of obscenity: “I know it when I see it.”)  Most of the time, I think we all do a good job of recognizing that we’re discussing real people, and that real people are often giving their honest, top-of-the-head reactions.

To sum up: comments are great.  I’m always delighted when I see a first-time comment waiting for approval in the queue.  And I notice when the regulars are not around for a while.  Please comment with a generous spirit, and please read the comments with a degree of generosity towards our fellow man.  Er, moms.

You can find this on my About page as “A Comment on Comments.”

Baby Name of the Day: Elissa

Posted on
9
Publicity photo of Elissa Landi for Argentinea...

Image via Wikipedia

At first glance, she’s just a twist on the fading Alyssa, or maybe Melissa, deprived of her M.  But dig a little deeper, and she’s got regal roots.

Thanks to Serenity for suggesting Elissa as Baby Name of the Day.

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Baby Name of the Day: Wenzel

Posted on
5
Good King Wenceslas Portrait

Image by Telstar2000 via Flickr

Good King Wenceslas lives at the holidays in the English-speaking world, but in plenty of places, variants remain viable – even popular – names for a child.

Thanks to Rea for suggesting her son’s middle name as Baby Name of the Day: Wenzel.

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Sunday Summary: 4/4/10

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Happy Easter!  I’m organizing our neighborhood egg hunt today.  Somehow I’d lost count of how many kids have moved in/been born in recent weeks, and so I ended up filling 120 eggs last night.

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:

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!