The baby boom continues at AppMtn.  Congratulations to Emmy Jo on the birth of her son, Julius!

Have you been reading all of those press releases by this hospital or that about the most popular names of 2009?  They haven’t been terribly exciting, but I’m reading them anyhow.  This one caught my attention, not because of the Most Popular Names.  (Jack and Isabella, yawn.)  And not even so much because of the unusual names listed.  (Though Leviticus is a bit much and Minuet is lovely.)  No, it caught my eye because they listed Stella among the unusual names.  Clearly the compiler is not up on baby name trends.  Or doesn’t watch Oxygen.

I’ve been neglecting the Toronto Star baby name profiles lately.  Let’s check in on Kristin Rushowy’s latest:

• Somewhere between the overexposed Alexander and the up-and-coming Max falls the brief-yet-familiar Lex.  As in Luthor.  Who has been kinda-sorta redeemed on Smallville, I suppose.  The baby’s full name is Lex Noah Atticus, and I’ll admit – super villain or no, I kind of love it;
• There’s also a story about a couple with four kids: sons Hunter and Connor and twin daughters Kerrilyn Lane and Bella Nicole.  Kerrilyn honors grandma Kerrin.  The mom had this to say: “Nobody – including family – can spell it properly. It’s pronounced Carolyn.”  I can see why Kerrilyn seemed like the right choice, but wow – that’s a lifetime of introducing yourself as “Kerrilyn – K-E-R-R …;”
• Let’s leave Canada on a high note with this story of the first baby of the new year, the appropriately named Eva.

From Canada to New Zealand, remember a few days ago when we were all abuzz with the birth announcement for Diammond Sparckle Zedekeyah Lilly Ann?  Turns out baby Diammond has ten big brothers and sisters.  I couldn’t find a complete list, but this article includes a few of her sibs:  Brandi Shyla Molly Robyn, Indego Raindrop Sapphire and the relatively ordinary Cruz Richard.  Mom Brinessa says Diammond’s name was inspired by an iPhone app.  “We just added a couple of letters to the name so it would be a bit different.”  Mission accomplished.

Also in New Zealand, the Bay of Plenty Times reports on a family determined to find a name more interesting than Jack.  They came up with Jaksyn.  Suddenly, Diammond seems like the more satisfying choice.

Elsewhere online:

• Sebastiane covers international variations of the classics William and Sara/Sarah; plus the Estonian version of Winter, the appealing Talvi; 
• Names4Real spotted a boy called Cipher Bash. When he keeps secrets in high school, don’t be surprised.  She also found a birth announcement for a girl named Couture Beauty. And I thought that Jolie was a lot to put on a kid;
• Bewildertix spotted a Belladonna.  Terribly pretty, and irresistible with all the Isabellas out there.  Also the predictable and not-nearly-so-attractive Anastyn, Adelayde and Wyit.  I think that’s a respelling of Wyatt, but I can’t fathom why that seemed like the thing to do.  Someone please tell me Wyit is a traditional Maori name or maybe a surname worn by a distinguished Aussie statesman;
• Nameberry discusses names popular in 1910 that have yet to return.  Abner and Kitty, anyone?;
• Vast Public Indifference tabulated the Hot Baby Names of 1710.   Fabulous!  Whatever happened to Mehitabel, Jerusha and Bethia, Ephraim and Ebenezer?  And while you’re there, take her quiz: 18th Century Connecticutian or Muppet?  I bombed, but here’s a hint: Big Bird has cousins;
• The best argument EVER for using a formal name comes to us from Namberry guest blogger Greta Goss.  When she outgrew Peggy she simply looked for a more appealing diminutive of her name, Margaret. 

Speaking of Margaret, Mark Walherg and Rhea Durham welcomed baby #4, the classically named Grace Margaret.  In other starbaby news, via Celebrity Baby Blog:

• HGTV’s Vern Yip has welcomed a son, Gavin Joshua Mannox;
• Flight of the Conchords’ Rhys Darby has welcomed a son Theo, little brother for Finn;
• ‘NSYNC’s Joey Fatone and wife Kelly announced the birth of daughter Kloey Alexandra, a little sister for Briahna.  Kloey is a mash-up of her parents’ names – not sure if there is a story behind Briahna’s spelling;
• Yes, Dash and Cash are catching on.  But if your last name was Rich would you call your kiddo Cash Rich?  Country singer John Rich, half of duo Big & Rich, did just that;
• How many celebs have chosen Rocco for a son in recent years?  Add one more to the list. Jillian Barberie Reynolds has welcomed a son, Rocco Rio, a little brother for Ruby Raven;
• Fatboy Slim has apparently been happily married for a decade.  He and wife Zoe have a son called Woody and just welcomed a daughter, Nelly May Lois.  And ’round the house, Fatboy answers to Norman.

How could I top that?  As always, thanks for reading!