For those of you in the US, Happy Independence Day!  There will be no Baby Name of the Day on Monday, but national-holiday/great-excuse-for-a-cookout or no, I couldn’t let a Sunday go past without the news.

I’m going to flip the starbaby info to the top.  If you recognize Diego Luna, he of Milk and Y tu mamá también, you might know that his firstborn with actress Camila Sodi is a son called Jerónimo.  I don’t know how that reads in Luna’s native Mexico, but if he were better known in the US, I can’t help imagine the name appearing on lists of wacky celeb baby names, sandwiched between Dweezil and Apple.

Anyhow, their new daughter is Fiona, named after his late mother, costume designer Fiona Alexander.  And nope, Fiona isn’t a traditional Mexican choice; mom was English.  But I’m intrigued – will we see lots of little Latina Fionas? Shrek’s ogre princess helped propel Fiona to #312 in 2009.  It wouldn’t take much to push her into the Top 100.

Moving on:

• Celebrities aren’t the only ones to bestow outlandish appellations on their young.  Russell Ash has compiled a book listing names like Hysteria, Wanton, Frisby and Fizzy;
• You may have come across this story elsewhere:  The population of Northumberland is plus one with the recent arrival of Meggie Maisie Lady Gaga.  Is the weirdest thing: a) the baby’s name, full stop: b) the fact that Meggie’s four year old sis Maddy chose the name; or, d) that a four year old is fan of Lady Gaga.  My vote is d.  Daffy names abound, but since when do kids barely out of pull-ups listen to electropop?;
• Apparently Meggie’s middle doesn’t make her unique.  This article claims that an Irish family put Lady Gaga in the first spot, while other families chose Usher, Brad Pitt and Beyonce.  Most Irish newborns, happily, are still being called Jack and Sophie;
• Would Lady Gaga make the cut in Sweden?  Check out Mental Floss’ listing of countries with name restriction laws. Names that have been rejected across the globe include Monkey and Veranda.  Names that have passed muster include Legolas, Nemo and Benson and Hedges, for a set of twins.  Smokin’;
• Here’s one from For Real Baby Names that would wear nicely: Mariposa.  She spotted a Portia Laverne, a Zoeeve Catherine and Rece Nathaniel in Florida.  Zoeeve is one of the more intriguing smooshes I’ve seen recently.  It’s hard on the eyes, but the sound is pretty.  I don’t get Rece.  Rhys, yes.  Reese and Reece, fine.  But Rece looks like something is missing;
• I loved Laura Wattenberg’s Stealth Names post.  Check out the boys’ list here and girls’ list here.  She also makes a nice point about certain choices, like Blaze/Blaise. While Peyton and Payton probably appeal to the same parents and the debate is about the spelling.  In other cases, they’re really separate names;
• Speaking of creative spellings, it would be forgivable if someone thought you’d twisted a word to arrive at the appellation Erlea for your new daughter.  But if you read Sebastiane’s blog, you’ll know it’s a Basque name pronounced er LEH ah, and means bee.  Far more interesting than Deborah.  Just don’t name her brother Layte;
• Could Maylee be the next Kaylie/Hayley?  For Real spotted one in Washington.

Here are two questions to mull over while you watch the fireworks:

• Nameberry asks if you would name your baby boy Bob and sparked a raging debate about whether a nickname is enough;
• Nancy asks about the challenges of Using Family Names.  Specifically, if you have two family names in mind and give them both to your firstborn, will the cupboard be bare when your second child arrives?

Lastly, this has GOT to the be the Most Fun Mash-up.  You’ve been following Elisabeth’s Ohdeedoh baby name lists, right?  Because where else can you find kids called Beckett, Enzo and Ruthie Sue?  Ohdeedoh noticed!

That’s all for now.  Have a great week, and as always, thank you for being here!