Tag Archives: Frances

Sunday Summary: 7/3/11

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Three

For those of you in the US, I hope you’re having a lovely, fireworks-filled Independence Day weekend.

First up: a quick users’ guide note: when I write a post, I try to bold any given name the first time I use it.  If the name is a (blue) hyperlink, then I’ve written about the name before – and one quick click will take you to that post.  I also try to link movies and television shows to the Internet Movie Database.

On to the news:

  • Speaking of movies, Nancy mentioned the big Pixar reveal: a female heroine called Merida, star of their 2012 feature Brave.  It’s already getting some attention with expectant parents;
  • Nameberry covered Irish Baby Names following the announcement of their official statistics for 2010.  I love Orla for a girl and Lorcan for a boy – oh, and Cathal, though I find it feminine;
  • Elea explored popular Welsh Boys’ Names, including choices like Cai and Rhys that would work perfectly in the US, too;
  • Bewitching Baby Names profiled Oregon.  It’s an unconventional choice, but fresher than Dakota;
  • Waltzing More Than Matilda posted about Australia’s answer to the Duggars: Jeni and Ray Bonnell and their fifteen kids, including newborn son Damian.  No, the older fourteen kids don’t have D names;
  • From the wayback machine: the feature name in 2008 was clunky Clarence; in 2009, the antique Ada; and just a year ago, it was the lovely, but perhaps burdensome Jocasta;
  • Is it me, or does it get easier to play Elisabeth’s Sibset Game as the posts at You Can’t Call It “It” go farther and farther up the rankings?  Some of my favorites from the 700s are Kim W’s Luka Ellis, Ingrid Frances, Elin Rosemary, Soren Lewis, and Sonia Julianne and Kailee’s Rory Conrad, Lewis Eugene, Julianne Frances, Susan “Susie” Campbell, and Corinne Rosemary.  From the 600s, I’m intrigued by Ashley’s Tomas “Tam” Sullivan Cale, Callen “Cal” Memphis Clark, Dahlia “Dolly” Phoenix Anne, Noemi “Emme” Paloma Adrienne, Isis “Izzy” Raven Amelie, and Lawson “Lars” Nash Channing.

I wrote about the first generation of eclectic Hollywood baby names for Nameberry last week.  In more recent celebrity news:

Tomorrow’s post for Nameberry is the first in another two-parter, and it features one of my favorite names for a boy: Clark.

That’s all for this week.  As always, thanks for reading and have a great week!

Sunday Summary: 6/12/11

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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!

Sunday Summary: 5/1/11

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Bingo Number 1

Image by Leo Reynolds via Flickr

Welcome May!  After a week in Florida, and lots of name-spotting at Disney World, it is great to be back writing from my favorite spot on the couch.

Name news this week:

  • The late Pope John Paul was beatified in Rome today.  Beatification is the half-way mark towards sainthood.  Will it catch on as a compound name for boys?  I know two little John Pauls.  The older answers to J.P.;
  • This little story from a Louisiana newspaper is the reason I write;
  • From the wayback machine: in 2009, the featured name was Somerled.  In 2010, it was Ruth;
  • My thoughts on the letter C aside, it was fun to see Keturah spotted in Michigan by For Real;
  • Whitney spotted this weird comment on a forum: “…for twins go for matching names, such as Norah and Noah but keep the names unique please! no Cassie and Callie‘s!”  The commenter’s definitions of “matching” and “unique” are baffling, but then, unique is the most routinely abused term in baby naming parlance;
  • Laura Wattenberg reminds us that many stories aren’t about names, they’re about demographics.  Susan isn’t more successful than Madison.  She’s just much older!
  • Really can’t decide on a baby name?  Nancy tells us how parents in 1892 let their little girl help choose Frances Cleveland.

You might have heard about this little wedding on Friday.  While the pair aren’t parents – yet – their vows were heard ’round the world, and the occasion inspired plenty of posts about royal baby names.  I liked Nameberry’s list of princesses by marriage, as well as Nancy’s question about the popularity of Pippa in the US.  Pippa appears on my Monday list for Nameberry, too.

And in celebrity birth announcements:

  • Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon have welcomed twins, a boy and a girl, but no names have been announced as of this morning;
  • Another baby boy called Journey has arrived.  The Black Eyed Peas’ Taboo and wife Jaymie welcomed a son named Journey Jameson, a little brother for Jimmy Jalen and Joshua.  I get the modern spiritual vibe of Journey, but can’t help wonder if the parents sing “Don’t Stop Believin” as a lullaby.  Nancy tells us that 45 baby boys – including one of Jenna Jameson’s twin sons – received the name in 2009, but it is in the girls’ Top 500;
  • 90210 alum Ian Ziering and wife Erin welcomed a daughter, Mia Loren.  Joy pointed out that Mia and Ian share the same sounds, and the choice is pretty conventional.  Still, I like this one;
  • The amazing Toni Collette welcomed a son named Arlo Robert, a little brother for Sage Florence.  Dad is musician David Galafassi.  I think the couple did a good job of finding names that are distinctive and stand up to their long surname, too;
  • Funny man Kevin James is now the father of three.  He and wife Steffiana welcomed a son, Kannon Valentine.  Big sisters are Shea Joelle and Sienna-Marie.  Shea is indeed named after the Mets’ former stadium.  Thanks to Photoquilty for pointing out that Valentine is a family name.  I’m not sure there’s any explanation for Kannon.

Hungry for more name gossip all week?  Check out my Facebook page.

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

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!

Baby Name of the Day: Frank

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Frank Sinatra at Girl's Town Ball in Florida, ...

Frank Sinatra; Image via Wikipedia

Zappa.  Sinatra.  Gehry. Baum.  Does this pick guarantee your son will be destined for creative genius?

Thanks to Jane, aka the Foxymoron, for suggesting Frank as our Baby Name of the Day.

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Baby Name of the Day: Cedric

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Flag of Wessex re-done in SVG format 2D repres...

Flag of Wessex; Image via Wikipedia

Innogen became Imogen, and Amabel was whispered down the alley into Annabel.  Today’s choice is yet another name transformed over time.

Liz’s week wraps up with the literary, heroic Cedric as our Baby Name of the Day.

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Baby Name of the Day: Amance

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Amance église1

Church in Amance, France; Image via Wikipedia

Today’s choice is a rarity, a name all but gone – but Jennifer overheard her in a park a few weeks ago.

Our Baby Name of the Day is Amance.

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Sunday Summary: 9/12/10

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Let’s start a handful of picks from pop culture: first, True Blood’s werewolf Alcide.  He joined the cast in Season Three and will be back in Season Four.  If Sookie recently attracted attention, how about this romantic French spin on the Greek Alcaeus?

I’m also intrigued by Katniss, the heroine of the bestselling young adult trilogy The Hunger Games.  Her name is taken from the name of an edible plant, not just in her distopian fictional universe, but here on Earth, too.  Stephen King panned the name in a review, but I find Katniss pretty clever.  And what’s more, I can imagine Katniss catching on – she’s almost a blend of all those Kate names and the vintage, ends-in-ess choices, like Frances and Alice.

And let’s not forget TLC’s latest entry about families with lots of kids.  This one has lots of wives, too – yup, they’re profiling a polygamist family in Sister Wives.  The faces in their very crowded family portrait belong to:

  • Dad Kody;
  • First wife Meri and her daughter Mariah;
  • Second wife Janelle, and her kids Logan, Madison, Hunter, Garrison, Gabriel, and Savanah;
  • Third wife Christine and her kids Aspyn, Mykelti, Paedon, Gwenelyn, Ysabel, and baby-on-the-way Truely;
  • Fourth wife-to-be Robyn, who brings three kids to the bigger-than-Brady bunch: Dayton, Aurora, and Breanna.

It’s interesting to see that you can share everything, and still have very different taste in baby names.

Elsewhere online:

  • Speaking of family names, Laura Wattenberg’s article about A New World of Namesakes challenges readers to imagine the feminine form of today’s most popular boys’ names.  Will Connor’s granddaughter be called Connie?  Connorine?  The mind reels.  Apparently Joshlyn is already surfacing;
  • A comment in that post led to these addicting Sporcle games.  Maybe I’m a geek, but I nearly didn’t get the laundry done thanks to these;
  • Sebastiane’s post on Gregory includes a long list of feminine variants, including Jorina. Which gives me hope that we won’t be meeting girls called Connorine;
  • Spotted in Montana: Huxley.  ON A GIRL.  For Real reports a Huxley Isabella was born in Big Sky Country;
  • This one is for Claire.  During our discussion of Endellion, she wrote: “What if we dropped the ‘n’? Endellia is nice.”  Guess what popped up in the new names at Namipedia just the other day?  Wait for it – Endelia.  She may or may not stay there – Wattenberg has some criteria for determining which names can be listed – but other people are thinking the same way;
  • Check out the Class Rosters list at You Can’t Call It “It.” I was traveling for work when her post came out, so I couldn’t put my hands on our lists, but the biggest surprise I’ve heard so far?  Aly has a classmate called Ovid.  I’m not sure if I’m misunderstanding a foreign name or if he really is named after the poet.

In starbaby news, besides Winnie Cooper’s baby dragon, there’s:

Lastly, I was curious to see the upcoming Easy A for tons of reasons – it’s a spin on The Scarlet Letter, Malcolm McDowell plays the principal, the reviews have been great.  But best of all?  The heroine’s name is Olive!

That’s all for this week.  If you haven’t already, leave a comment on this post for a chance at choosing the five names to be featured the week of December 27!  Thanks for reading.

Baby Name of the Day: Deborah

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She’s a Baby Boomer staple with a surprisingly steady history of use.

Thanks to Kelly for suggesting Deborah as Baby Name of the Day.

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Baby Name of the Day: Adele

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Stylish actress Molly Ringwald chose this name for one of her daughters.

Thanks to Melissa for suggesting Adele as Baby Name of the Day.

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