If Moses is a pleasing starbaby choice, why not this name worn by his stepmama?
Thanks to Samantha for suggesting Bethia as Baby Name of the Day.
Baby Name of the Day: Bethia
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Tag Archives: Margaret
Sunday Summary: 5/23/10
Thanks to everyone who has submitted their Baby Name Stories. Keep ‘em coming! They’ll be found here on Saturdays starting in June. And I also appreciate all of you who de-lurked to suggest a Baby Name of the Day. I’ll be scheduling the lurker posts tomorrow, so check back and you’ll know when your name is going to be profiled.
Summer movie season is just beginning. Aly and I have plans to see Toy Story 3, but what I’m really wondering when I walk past the multiplex these days?
Will Russell Crowe’s Robin Hood revive interest in the name? He did wonders for Maximus. And, of course, there’s Jake Gyllenhaal’s upcoming turn as Dastan in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. If parents can embrace Daxton and Zayden, will Dastan be far behind? Oh, and Ellen Page plays Ariadne in the new Leonardo DiCaprio thriller Inception. Adrianna is fine, but Ariadne is stunning.
But the theme for this week seems to be more about those Really? name moments. Gracing the front page of my local paper Thursday morning was a pair of cute little girls at a community festival. Their names? Cashay and Lashay. Not twins, but sisters just a year apart.
Along the same lines, there’s:
- Nameberry’s Most Hated Baby Names was another of their ask-the-readers columns. Nevaeh and the -aidens featured prominently, but also perfectly conventional picks like Emily and Hannah;
- Creative spellings featured large on the Nameberry list, which reminds me of this news story about an Australian family. All four kids have a -y in their names: Tayla, Mitchyl, Harrisyn and Samuyl. The only one that strikes me as really beyond is Samuyl. I’m just not sure that -uyl can substitute for -uel;
- For Real spotted a Happi Star Evelyn Rose. All of a sudden Cashay seems like Margaret;
- The Stir gives us a little girl called Syren. After an evil mermaid/human on supernatural soap Passions. And her dad is a firefighter;
- But hey, unusual names are nothing new, as Nancy proves in her story about the first baby born in flight, back in October 1929. And get this: the parents chartered the flight just so mom could give birth! Nancy does some digging and determines the baby’s name very appropriate name was Airlene;
- Baby Name Pool winners were posted at Baby Name Wizard. Jill was the high scorer. She picked Bentley, Bristol and Bradyn to rise; Joseph, Jessica and Diego to fall. Laura Wattenberg’s comment on the winning ballot was priceless: ”Of all of the cultural memes shaping name trends, ‘pregnant teenagers’ hardly springs to mind. Yet the sudden rise of Bentley was spurred by a baby featured on the MTV reality shows 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom. Bristol Palin, meanwhile, emerged as a naming force not in the year that her mother ran for vice president, but in the year that she became a single teenage mom.”
- Proof that you can put anything in the middle spot, especially if the first name is a classic: For Real’s post on the Best of Grace: From the classic-with-a-classic Grace Catherine to a more current pick, like Grace Harlow or Grace Presley.
Let’s turn to Tinsel Town, where the biggest starbaby news was the arrival of Aviana Olea, there’s also:
- Dancin’ with the stars/98 degrees Drew Lachey welcomed a son, Hudson Nicholas, a little brother for Isabella Claire;
- And Sundance’s middle name is Thomas according to this story from USA Today.
That’s all for this week. As always, thanks for reading!
Baby Name of the Day: Dawson
The evergreen David has never left the US Top 50. How would this surname spin on the classic wear today?
Thanks to Urban Angel for suggesting Dawson as Baby Name of the Day.
In Defense of Atlas and Apple: Ten Reasons Unusual Names Aren’t a Problem
Last February, I posted In Defense of Emma and Ethan: Ten Good Reasons to Use a Common Name. While reviewing what I’d written in 2009, I realized that I’d never laid out the case for uncommon names.
Need I state the obvious? I rather like names that you don’t hear everyday. And so here are ten solid reasons unusual names aren’t a problem.
Sunday Summary: 3/21/10
If you’ve read anything here, you’ve probably guessed that I’m a voracious reader. Always have been. My obsession of the moment is Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The tale is gripping. And the reluctant heroine? She wears the nicely pared down Lisbeth, a German diminutive form of Elizabeth that stands on her own, too.
In the anything-but-spare category, check out these over-the-top appellations, some lovely, some less so:
- Babynamelover spotted a Quinelle Lily-Kate and a Kypreece Page;
- Those daring Canadians at ParentCentral.ca chronicle how they landed on the not too very unusual Nyla Margaret;
- Here’s one I kind of love – the botanical Chyrsanthe, profiled by Sebastiane at Legitimate Baby Names;
- Hat tip to DaddyTypes for the heads up on this one: Jason Kottke’s list of names they didn’t use for their child, a daughter called Minna, who would’ve been Milo if she had been a boy;
- Could it be that the trusty just add -an/-en formula for creating baby naming is waning in favor of just add -er? As in Catcher Grant and Pledger Dean, both appearing at Names4Real this week. Catcher was also the name of Ewan MacGregor’s character in 2003′s Down With Love;
- I’m not saying that creative name spelling is criminal. But, while watching Lifetime’s Who is Clark Rockefeller?, I couldn’t help but notice that the swindling not-Clark named his daughter Reigh.
I neglected to mention All Things Irish on March 17, but Sebastiane posted on Patrick and Patricia, and Nameberry offered a nice write-up of Patrick, too.
File this one under good advice about bad advice: Nancy explains why you needn’t worry about choosing a baby name that lends itself to a distinctive user name. All those parents who created email addresses like brittanysmith@aol.com can explain why, too. On the other hand, Nancy gives excellent advice regarding the use of gratuitous Xs in spelling your child’s name. Dear me, has she really spotted a Roxxi?
In starbaby news:
- Actor Joseph Fiennes is apparently flipping through baby name books, trying to agree on a baby name for his newborn daughter with wife Maria Dolores Dieguez. He’s asked for suggestions, but I don’t think he’s really crowdsourcing. But he could check out the list at kottke.org;
- Gisele Bündchen apparently wanted to name her son River, but dad Tom Brady put his foot down. The baby ended up Benjamin Rein instead;
- I don’t watch Dr. Phil, but apparently he’ll be able to dole out advice on grandparent issues from a personal perspective – his granddaughter Avery Elizabeth was born last week.
Lastly, Pamela Redmond Satran, one-half of the Nameberry team, penned The Elite’s Top 50 Baby Names last week over at The Daily Beast. It’s a great article, and I love how she’s utilized Nameberry data to explain the phenomenon that makes us all tear out our hair – our perfect, unusual, never-heard-before baby name is suddenly everywhere. Most interesting to me: Huxley didn’t make her Elite 50 list, but does surface on the other frequently searched at Nameberry list. There goes my undiscovered gem.
That’s all for this week. As always, thanks for reading!
Name of the Day: Magnolia
She’s a pretty botanical choice with an appealing nickname.
Thanks to Lyndsay for suggesting Magnolia as Name of the Day.
Sunday Summary: 2/7/10
I usually don’t pre-post my Sunday Summaries. (I do schedule my Name of the Day posts, sometimes weeks in advance.) But a record-setting snow is descending on Metro DC, and as you read this, I may be huddled ’round a Maglite with a 5 y.o. who really wants to watch Team Umizoomi now and doesn’t care about downed power lines.
Let’s hope not.
But just in case it really is the Snowpocalypse, here’s the news through, er, Friday night Saturday morning.
- Charlotte remains top dog at Nymbler in January, followed by Ava, Ella, Amelia, Audrey, Jack, Benjamin, Finn, Grace and Addison. Jack and Addison are both making their debuts in the Nymbler Top Ten;
- The always-more interesting new names include Tenley (Influenced by The Bachelor or nostalgia for Winter Olympics past?), Finnigan, Huck, Ryden, Jovie and Bently. On MTV reality show Teen Mom, one of the couples named their son Bentley. Either way, I guess it is slightly more subtle than Lexus;
- Bewildertrix spotted a Nixon. Yes, in Australia, so maybe it doesn’t have the same politically charged meaning on the other side of the world. And he’s a little brother for Reid, Cruz and Rourke, so it seems like the parents were going for an “underused surname” vibe rather than a “disgraced US president” thing;
- Nancy’s Bad Tattoos and Baby Names should be required reading for all expectant parents considering bestowing a cross-cultural name on their child;
- Speaking of names from other cultures, have you seen Nameberry’s post on French baby names? It’s a guest post from Stephanie Rapoport, the founder of Meilleurs Prenoms. I love Hugo and find Lilou intriguing. A few others on her hot list surprised me – the Italian Enzo, the Irish Kylian (it’s Cillian en français) and Louane, which reads 1950s to me, but might be quite charming on a jeune fille;
- Speaking of Enzo, Elisabeth at You Can’t Call It “It” spotted one in her most recent Ohdeedohkey post. Plus a Bijou, which yes, is a French word. But search it on Meilleurs Prenoms and it will tell you: Le prénom bijou n’existe pas;
- With the debut of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland just weeks away, the Baby Name Wizard wrote Names on the Verge: Alice, asking whether the name really is headed for the top of the charts;
- Sebastiane covers Agatha at Legitimate Baby Names. That’s one that is really growing on me, and with all the little girls called Abby and Addie, wouldn’t Aggie fit right in? Elisabeth Shue has kids called Miles, Stella and Agnes, so something tells me we might hear more of both Ag- names. Sebastiane also covered Disa, which is far more wearable than the related Dis;
- I need to stay away from Yahoo!Answers, but I followed a thread about the name Madden and stumbled on this quote about the best spelling for Kayden: “I have always liked that name Caden, but i prefer it spelled Caden with a “C” and with out extra y’s because i think it looks less trashy and made up.” I don’t get it. Wait, I do – I understand that Caden looks restrained compared to Kaydyn. But it still is a name of recent coinage – attractive, maybe, but undeniably trendy. Spell it as you like, but it still isn’t William;
- Speaking of names of recent coinage, 4Real spotted a Wolverine Collin Christopher and a Featherlee Blossom. Words fail me.
It’s been a light starbaby week, but Busy Phillips explained daughter Birdie’s name at Celebrity Baby Blog. Apparently the actress – born Elizabeth Jean – was intent on choosing a nickname-proof name, because she disliked explaining her name. Ten bucks says that Birdie calls her kid Margaret. And so the cycle continues …
The only other celeb birth this week was Brothers & Sisters’ Sarah Jane Morris welcomed a son, Emmett Andrew.
Thanks for reading! And if you’re also snowed in, I’m sending warm thoughts your way!
Name of the Day: Clover
It’s a traditional symbol of luck, but would it bring good fortune to your daughter?
Thanks to Corinne for suggesting Clover as Name of the Day.
Sunday Summary: 1/17/10
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!
In Reserve: Possible Names for a Second Daughter
I doubt we’ll ever have a third child. There are dozens of practical reasons.
And one reason that’s trivial for him, dead serious for me: we could never agree on a name.
We do have a few candidates, scraps from the cutting room floor. I’ve mentioned them in comments from time to time, but I thought a round-up was in order.
Our girls’ list is first; I’ll post the boys’ list later.
