Tag Archives: Finley

Sunday Summary: 2/20/11

Posted on
28
No 20 - flowery

No 20 - flowery by Kirsty Hall via Flickr

Let’s start with an announcement: every Saturday in March will be March Madness at Appellation Mountain.  Nope, I’m not writing basketball-related posts.  Instead, you’re voting on your favorites from last year’s most popular posts.

It should be fun!

Elsewhere online:

  • I love Lemon’s guest post at Nameberry on word names: Echo, Tansy, Temple.  Ages ago I stumbled across Cascata – the Italian word for waterfall, as in cascade – and I always think of that one when word names are discussed;
  • Speaking of word names, here’s one in the same key from Nancy: Invicta, inspired by a steamroller;
  • ForReal spotted a boy named Ridge. I completely understand why parents would gravitate towards such a rugged, outdoorsy pick, but it seems a little hard to wear for a real kid.  It seems more appropriate for a soap opera character;
  • Is it me, or is Finn making a stealth attack?  This story from the Chicago Tribune about a 61 year old woman who served as surrogate for her daughter mentioned that the baby name’s is Finnean.  Finley, Finnegan, Finbar, Fintan … it seems like every day there’s another way to get to that oh-so-popular nickname;
  • There was a lively conversation about unisex names at Nameberry earlier this week, and so I thought this was timely: from the Quinnipiac Chronicle, a girl named Kyle who loves her name.  However, she would’ve liked to buy pink pencils with her name on them.  No word on how sisters Shawn, Casey, and Riley feel about their names;
  • MTV suggests names for Honor Warren’s little sister or brother.  Somehow I don’t think Jessica and Cash will be using Louboutin or Money, but hey, Sterling has some possibilities;
  • The 30 Rock baby is Elizabeth called Liddy.  Here’s the quote from Alec Baldwin‘s character Jack: “We’re calling her Liddy, as in Liddy Dole, G. Gordon Liddy, and my martial arts instructor, Li-Dee.”
  • From Babynamelover – Braden loses his “r” and becomes Baden.  I wonder if they were thinking of the German resort town?
  • I do truly love the name Evander.

Just a few celebrity birth announcements.  I also post these on Facebook:

  • No Doubt’s Tom Dumont and wife Mieke welcomed a third son, Koa Thomas.  Koa joins Ace Joseph and Rio Atticus at home.  I spotted Koah more than a year ago.  Let’s see if it catches on;
  • Rod Stewart and wife Penny welcomed a son called Aiden.  All those years of naming babies, and I’m not sure Rod has mastered the art.  His older kids are Kimberly, Sean, Ruby, Renee, Liam, and Alastair.

Tomorrow at Nameberry: a list of designer names drawn from Fashion Week 2011, and no, Chanel is not on the list.

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

Baby Name of the Day: Quinlan

Posted on
18

If you love Riley and Finn, but want something less expected, here’s a contender.

Thanks to Stephanie for suggesting the kelly green Quinlan as Baby Name of the Day.

Continue reading →

Sunday Summary: 2/14/10

Posted on
10

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Which reminds me, a new ABC series called Happy Town will premier in late April.  The character list includes a Henley.  I’m not sure about the plot or the character, but I find myself wondering: could -enley be the new -iley?  

In 2008, Project Runway contestant Kenley Collins made it to the finals.  It’s too soon to say if she’ll become a household name in fashion, but her given name debuted at #998 in the US Top 1000 in ’08.  And we just talked about Tenley, she of Olympic figure skating/The Bachelor fame.  The sound is close to gender-spanning Finley, but unlike Riley/Kylee/Mylie/Bryleigh/Skylea, I’m not sure there are as many -enley options.  (Though my husband proposed in Schenley Park …)

If you just can’t get enough reality TV, here’s one more:  Elisabeth at You Can’t Call It “It” tipped me off to my sure-to-be new addiction, 9 By Design, set to debut on Bravo in April.  The family of impossibly stylish NYC house flippers extraordinaire has seven kids, including two sets of twins.  The New Yok Post described the show as Jon & Kate Plus 8 meets Sex and the City.  Sign me up!  Oh, and the names?  Bob and Cortney Novogrtaz are parents to:

  • Wolfgang, 12;
  • Twins Bellamy and Tallulah, 11; 
  • Breaker, 9;
  • Twins Five and Holleder, 4;
  • Major, 1.

I remember them from an early issue of Cookie Magazine, back pre-baby Major when they were living in a house with a basketball court on the roof.  How many days ’til April 5?

In other news, some of you might recall that I was in the midst of a blizzard last weekend.  A family a few blocks away welcomed a baby at home on the worst day of the record-setting storm. She’s Regina, a little sister for Gregory and Gloria.  The new baby’s name full is Regina Caeli, and that’s not just some nouveau riff on Kaylee.  Regina Caeli – pronounced CHAY lee – translates to Queen of Heaven, and it is a prayer to Mary.  

Since I’ve been talking about reality stars and local celebs, let’s start with the famous folk first:

Elsewhere online:

Of all the weird social media phenomena to emerge in recent years, I’ll admit I’m most fascinated by fictional characters with blogs.  Who writes them?  Isn’t it hard to avoid revealing upcoming plot twists, or over-developing the character who blogs?  Anyhow, The Office’s Pam and Jim have a baby blog, with a recent post on baby names.  Someone thinks Michael and Scott would be great names.

I’m off to stop the kids from eating all of the candy out of their chocolate hearts before lunchtime.  Wishing you a sweet day, and thanks for reading!

2009: Most Popular Boys’ Names at AppMtn

Posted on
8

It’s that time of year.

The official Social Security Administration list won’t be out until May, but unofficial lists have been circulating since mid-December.

Here at AppMtn, I can’t possibly claim that the most popular posts will be reflected in the Top Ten – or even Top 100 – baby names in use.  Many of the names I write about are obscure.  Some are downright weird.  (Habakkuk, anyone?)  Others probably chart simply because AppMtn is one of the few sites to cover the name in any detail.

And yet, if you look at the lists carefully, there are ripples.  A few of these are definitely coming to a playground near you.

Continue reading →

Name of the Day: Fintan

Posted on
10

If you’ve never heard this one before, he might strike you as an invented two-syllable twist on Finn.  Not so.

Thanks to Bevan for suggesting the storied Fintan as Name of the Day.

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Name of the Day: Kelly

Posted on
26

Conventional wisdom holds that once a masculine moniker is widely used for girls, it cannot be bestowed on a son.

Thanks to Laney McDonald for suggesting one choice that could prove that rule wrong.  Our Name of the Day is Kelly. Continue reading →

Sunday Summary: 8/16/09

Posted on
11

It’s August 16, and that means Mad Men’s third season debuts tonight.  Check out the Mad Men Names list over at Nameberry.  Midge might not make a comeback any time soon, but Joan, Peter and Betty all sound fresh to my ear.  Bewildertrix has spotted Betty in a few birth announcements recently.

Speaking of television – I never miss 18 Kids and Counting, even though Arthur rolls his eyes/leaves the room/threatens to cancel cable.  While it isn’t the life I’d choose, I envy them one thing – they got to name 18 children! In recent episodes, the 20 Duggars (parents Jim Bob and Michelle, plus Josh, Jana, John-David, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy Anna, Jeremiah, Jedediah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johanna, Jennifer and Jordyn) have been visiting the Bates family. 

The Bates have a mere 16 children, with one on the way.  I had to go to Google their names, and here they are: Gil and Kelly are parents to Zachary, Michaela, Erin, Lawson, Nathan, Alyssa, Tori, Trace, Carlin, Josie, Katie, Jackson, Warden, Isaiah, Addallee and Ellie. The Addallee spelling is wacky, and Warden?  But other than that, nicely normal names. 

Then again, they started with a Z.  That’s a much tougher letter for naming a big batch o’ babies than J.  (And even the Duggars resorted to Jinger.) Speaking of unconventional names:

I mentioned the Duggars earlier.  Another first-initial-sharing reality television family is also expecting their first grandchild.  Kourtney Kardashian is about to make Kris a grandma, and Kim, Khloe, Kendall and Kylie aunts.  (There’s also uncle-to-be Robert, a junior named after Kris’ first husband.)  Kourtney has stated that the baby will not have a K-name.  

Or any sense of privacy.

Since I’m on a television spree, may I mention my pet peeve?  When writers get the names wrong.  This usually happens when a writer names a 30-something Addison.  Sure, it could happen.  But she’s probably Melissa – her daughter is Addison.  Anyhow, Drop Dead Diva, a cute little comedy with a twist, named their 20-something aspiring model Debbie.  Why not Ashley or Nicole – or if they were going for alliteration overkill, Danielle?

More names coming to the small screen this Fall – hat tip to Parents Magazine’s September 2009 preview:

  • In ABC’s Cougar Town, Courteney Cox plays Jules, mom to 17 y.o. Travis;
  • Jenna Elfman is the pregnant Billie on CBS’ Accidentally on Purpose - no baby names yet.  Her little sister Abby is played by an actress called Lennon – not sure if that’s her birth name;
  • Juliana Margulies plays Alicia, The Good Wife on CBS, and the good mom to Zach and Grace.  They get the names exactly right – husband is Peter.  Better still?  One of her young (male) colleagues is called Cary;
  • Patricia Heaton plays Frankie on ABC’s The Middle.  It sounds like her three kids have unusual appellations – Brick, Axel and Sue;
  • One more – Julie Bowen plays Claire on ABC’s Modern Family.  Which is, believe it or not, a fictional show about filming a reality show.  Kids include Manny, Haley, Luke, Lily and a girl called Alex.

Not terribly exciting, except for Axel, Brick and Sue.  I like Axel, fret about Brick and would be happy to see a revival of Susannah or Susan.

What with all that weirdness and blandness, here’s a link to a list that will lift your spirits – Elisabeth of You Can’t Call It “It” reports on genteel names for the alumnae of two Southern girls’ schools.

A year ago today, I wrote about Aloysius.  Little surprise, he remains underused!

That’s all for now – thanks for reading and have a fabulous week.

Sunday Summary: 8/9/09

Posted on
26

My neighborhood is filled with expectant parents.  A few know about my baby name obsession; others, not so much.  I know that politeness dictates that I greet all joyful news of babies-on-the-way with the following: Congratulations!  How are you feeling?

Instead, I really want to say: Do you have names picked out?

So I wonder, readers, do you also struggle with the urge to ask?

In other news:

  • There’s a new baby in my ‘hood who answers to Santiago.  (Or will.  He’s just a few weeks old.)  Ignatius names seems to be big everywhere except the English-speaking world.  Here was the big a-ha – Santiago’s mom said this: It’s a very popular name in Peru (her home country).  If we lived there, I probably wouldn’t want to use it. Here, of course, it sounds just-exotic-enough, at #171 last year;
  • Ever notice how some families give girls wildly creative appellations,while sticking to the absolute classics for their sons? Bewildertrix spotted a birth announcement for the saintly, nicely paired Joseph Rocco – with big sisters Dior Rose and Caprice.  She also spotted a Reece Warlock;
  • The Toronto Star column this week features a rather pretty name – Melita Jolie.  I’ll admit that Melita sounds a little bit like an appliance to my ear.  But Melitta is a legitimate variant of Melissa, and with just the one t, Melita is the Latin name for the island of Malta.  Better still, Melita is a family name on dad’s side – I always enjoy the use of obscure family names;
  • I’m sure you’ve already read all about it, but yes, a mom-to-be really is (was?) selling naming rights for her son on eBay, in hopes of raising enough cash to put food on the table.  Or is she?  When I checked eBay, the auction link didn’t work, despite the fact that eBay officials earlier said her item was valid – and bids were received;
  • Sebastiane brings us another interesting Latvian/Lithuanian choice – Daina, pronounced just like Dinah.  Of course, in the US you’d probably hear her rhymed with Dana.  But then, that’s the risk with any unusual name;
  • Weirdest name spotted on a message board this week?  Azhya.  Pronounced like Asia.  Let’s hope the baby is a boy – David is the top contender;
  • Finley is the new Riley.  Daniel Baldwin’s new daughter is Finley Rae.  Sibs are Alexandra, Atticus, Kahlea and Avis.  Wonder if we’ll see Finleigh or Fynlee in the US Top 1000 this year?
  • Speaking of names that just might pop – Marley Shelton plays a character called Cleo in A Perfect Getaway, a thriller that just opened this weekend.  Other characters include Cliff, Cydney and Kale;
  • Celeb chef Tom Colicchio welcomed son Luka Bodhi, a brother for Dante;
  • Tommy Hilfiger welcomed a son named Sebastian Thomas.  Sebastian is already one of those names that new parents are surprised – and disappointed – to learn ranks in the US Top 100.  Odds are he’ll keep on climbing;
  • Reality TV alumni Rob and Amber Mariano welcomed a daughter, Lucia Rose;
  • Nancy published an excerpt from Emily Post’s 1967 etiquette guide, counseling against names that are “too long or difficult to pronounce …”  One imagines the 60s were  a trying time for etiquette experts;
  • For pure fun, check out Elisabeth’s post on Anagram names.  I agree – Claudine and Dulcinea are quite the pair!

A year ago today, I wrote about Zuleika.  Cool name!  I remain impressed by the suggestions that find their way to me.

Lastly, if you haven’t read Confessions of a Secret Name Nerd by Nameberry’s Pam, then you simply must.

Have a fabulous week!

Name of the Day: Flannery

Posted on
23

Freakonomics co-authors Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner deemed this choice a likely Top Name of 2015 – but so far, the name remains decidedly underused.

Thanks to Wrenn for suggesting Flannery as Name of the Day.

Continue reading →