Every year I take back the reigns during my birthday week and choose a few of the names to profile here at AppMtn. As it happens, my first pick was also suggested by Nicole.
Today’s name of the day is Coco.
Every year I take back the reigns during my birthday week and choose a few of the names to profile here at AppMtn. As it happens, my first pick was also suggested by Nicole.
Today’s name of the day is Coco.
Boys answer to Jamie and Robbie. Why not this diminutive form of an enduring classic?
Thanks to Emily for suggesting Lawrie as our Baby Name of the Day.
Between writing about Scarlett the other day and finally reading The Help, I’ve had Southern names on the brain. Kathryn Stockett’s characters answer to names like Raleigh, Constantine, Eugenia and Mae Mobley – the “Southern double name” idea referenced by Nicole Kidman when explaining that her youngest daughter is called Faith Margaret, not just Faith. There’s also a minor – but critical – character called Lulabelle, an intriguing smoosh of a name that brings to mind Breakfast at Tiffany’s Holly Golightly’s birth name, Lulamae.
This past week also saw a lively conversation about gender-bending names in the blogosphere this week:
Beyond the debate, it was a really interesting week. I thoroughly enjoyed:
In celebrity baby news, we learned that yes, Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied named their newborn baby boy Aleph. Cue the Have Celebrities Gone Too Far With Crazy Baby Names articles.
We’ve also heard that both Kate Hudson and Victoria Beckham have welcomed their children – a second son for Kate, and Victoria’s first daughter after three boys! No names announcements – yet. Something tells me next week is going to be exciting, too …
He’s an upbeat surname option with a certain amount of edge.
Thanks to Lemon and Emily for suggesting Rafferty as our Baby Name of the Day.
He’s an upbeat Irish surname made famous by a fictional, hard-edged cop.
Thanks to Amanda for suggesting Callahan as our Baby Name of the Day.
Remember the Yea or Nay posts? It’s been a while since a name was put up for a vote.
Riley is your kid’s classmate. Bradley is Riley’s dad.
Smoosh ‘em together, and you get Radley, a surname worn by To Kill a Mockingbird’s recluse, Arthur “Boo” Radley.
Could Radley catch on as the next big thing in last names? Tell us – Yea or Nay?
Today’s choice has two distinct origins with similar meanings.
Thanks to mom-to-be Michelle for suggesting Orly as our Baby Name of the Day.
First, a question for a friend: let’s say you were expecting a daughter. Not only is she going to be your last child, you’re the youngest sibling, so this baby is probably the last in her generation. You’d love to pass on your maiden name. Trouble is, your maiden name sounds exactly like a popular name, but with a totally different spelling.
For argument’s sake, let’s say the name is Reily. It looks like a creative respelling of a popular name, but it isn’t – it’s the most meaningful name you can imagine. You could respell it to Riley. But you’d rather not.
What would you do? Use Reily, knowing there’s no name more meaningful? Accept the less meaningful Riley in an attempt to save your daughter spelling hassles? Or are there so many girls called Rylee that you have to spell everything anyhow?
Opinions appreciated!
Elsewhere online:
I am absolutely bursting with excitement over my post at Nameberry for Monday. The names range from Amoret to Sedley, Lucien to Arthemise.
Hollywood gave us just two announcements this week, but oh, what names!
Which reminds me – do you know the most popular season name? This article at Babble reads “We all know at least one Summer, right? And Autumn isn’t unheard of. But Winter? That’s a first.” Actually, Autumn is in the US Top 100, while Summer has never ranked that high. And can Winter really be called a first when Nicole Richie’s Harlow Winter Kate is so visible? Nancy tells us that 259 girls received the name in 2009, meaning that Winter ranked just a few spots beyond the Top 1000.
As for Spring, there’s always Oscar-nominated actress Spring Byington.
Speaking of spring, remember that voting for March Madness preliminaries for both Boys and Girls is open until Friday morning.
Thanks all for this week. As always, thanks for reading!
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:
Just a few celebrity birth announcements. I also post these on Facebook:
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!
I took the kids to get their hair cut at our local Cartoon Cuts, which isn’t local at all – it requires a drive on the Beltway to Rockville Pike. While the kids were being coiffed, I flipped through a rack of personalized hair barrettes. The selection included the predictable Emma and Elizabeth, but also some out-there picks like Ayriel, Divany, and Darlene. Ariel has been in the Top 100 as recently as 1992, so okay. But Ayriel? Are there faithful salon customers with those names who buy a set every six weeks?
It was a good week for unusual name spotting. Over on the Facebook page, I mentioned seeing a boy called Sovereignty in the local media, and Sarah spotted a bride-to-be on Say Yes to the Dress called Duvae. Get this: the parents chose it so she “would be a comfort in their lives.” Hokay.
Beyond Sovereignty and Duvae, there’s been another round of chatter about unusual names – are they over in Hollywood, are they anything new, and so on. I’ll round up a few of the articles at Nameberry tomorrow.
In the meantime:
Amongst the fashionable and famous:
One more thing: from time to time, I have a question about the site’s direction, and it would be really helpful to get readers’ opinions before I make a decision and put anything live here. So I’m forming a tiny little AppMtn Advisory Board. (Dare I call you the Mounties?) If you’re willing to get a VERY occasional email from me, please let me know by sending me a message at appmtn (at) gmail (dot) com. I truly value your feedback, and it would be fun to get it before I try new things every once in a while. It doesn’t matter if you’re a diehard lurker, occasional visitor, or regular commenter – just drop me a line, and you’re in the club!
That’s all for this week. As always, thanks for reading, and have a great week!