Today’s choice has never made the US Top 1000, but he has an undeniable place in American history.
Thanks to Ashley for suggesting Winslow as Baby Name of the Day.
Baby Name of the Day: Winslow
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Tag Archives: Theo
Baby Name of the Day: Amedeo
He’s an artistic, even flamboyant choice with a fashionable -eo ending.
Thanks to Meredith for suggesting Amedeo as Baby Name of the Day.
In Reserve: Possible Names for a Second Son
Even before the pregnancy test came back positive, I had a strong sense that our second child was a girl.
Intuition didn’t stop me from discussing boys’ names with Arthur. So much that he finally insisted that we wait until the ultrasound, at which point it was moot. Claire Caroline Wren – Clio – was on her way.
Our firstborn is Alexander Arthur, after my father-in-law Alexander, my grandfather Arthur and, of course, Arthur. There just wasn’t a clear choice for a second boys’ name. Plus, I always feel like we flubbed his nickname – though he wears Aly fine. Our list for a second daughter is well thought out, but a boy?
We would have figured something out. I think.
Sunday Summary: 2/21/10
If you watched Thursday’s Project Runway, you spotted the mini models for the “Little Bit of Fashion” challenge. (Designers created a little girl look, and then a companion piece for their model.) Amongst the pint-sized fashionistas were Ava and Chloe, but there was also a Sylvie.
And you know you’re name-obsessed when you’re watching a haunting, twisting tale like Shutter Island and as it builds to the climactic scene you’re listening intently – for the ghostly children’s names. Ahem. (And I’m not giving anything away by telling you they are Rachel, Henry and Simon.)
In other name-spotting news:
- Over at For Real Baby Names, there’s a Cloverlyn Lemon. I like Clover, but I find Cloverlyn a bit too close to Brooklyn, Madalyn, Kailyn to be stylish;
- For Real also posted on the rise of Violet as a middle name. We know a little Elizabeth Violet, a name that I find classic without being at all dull. And she pairs well with many names, except for possibly one on For Real’s list – Truly Violet. I’m sure I’ve seen that combo on a color swatch somewhere;
- At first glance, the name looks Japanese, but he’s Finnish – check out Keijo over at Legit Baby Names;
- I missed this last fall – how? Daddy Types just referenced the designer Tina Roth Eisenberg’s attempt to crowd source a four-letter name for her son over at her blog, Swiss Miss. Tilo Red Eisenberg made his arrival on Valentine’s Day. Apparently Tilo wasn’t actually on the list, but the similar Till was, along with lots of ends-in-o choices like Arlo, Aldo and Theo;
- Speaking of unusual ways to choose a baby’s name, Renee Moilanen explained the process for arriving at her newborn son’s name, devised courtesy of her engineer husband. It involves an algorithm – really! – and resulted in the name Grant. She admits it isn’t a name they love, but it satisfies their criteria – not trendy, not strange, not likely to land in the Top Ten but also not likely to cause confusion. Bravo for knowing you what you want and getting it instead of being yet another parent to go for different and end up with Leo or Max;
- Alberta, Canada released their most popular baby names, and also the more unusual choices. Nancy has a nice summary. Some of the stand-outs for girls include Beauty (and I thought Joy was pressure!), the re-spelled Kwynn, Dessarhey and Qhloe, word names like Eloquence, Society and Fury. For boys, meet Alias, Wrath, Bison, Yak, Xayden, Seige and Voltaire;
- Bewildertrix takes an e-trip to the US and discovers a birth announcement for a baby called Castle. Could Castle possibly have been inspired by the ABC TV show ’bout the mystery-writer-turned-crimefighter? And if so, were Richard and Nathan really not better options:
- Kristin Rushowy’s column at Parent Central Canada recently profiled an Isla Catherine Mairi – lovely combo! – but the most amusing part is at the end, where the parents consider names that could continue the island theme with future children. How would Taransay wear on a daughter;
- BabyNameLover spotted an Olive Winsome and a boy called Cardigan. Yes, Cardigan is a place name. But it’s a sweater – or is that only in the US? I can’t see it catching on here;
- I started to write this post, but Jill Barnett’s guest post at Namberry beat me to it! She has an amazing list of names culled from Olympic athletes. Violeta, Jesper - it’s hard to go wrong with any of these choices!
No Hollywood babies this week, but sports and country music give us a few new arrivals:
- St. Louis Cardinal Albert Pujols will have a few weeks to spend with new son Ezra before reporting for spring training camp. Ezra is baby #4, joining sibs Isabella, Albert Jr. and Sophia at home;
- NASCAR driver Elliot Sadler welcomed a son, Wyatt Herman Fritz;
- Country singer Justin Moore is a first-time dad, to daughter Ella Kole. Ella Cole would be cool. Not sure why they opted for the K spelling, though mom is Kate.
While we’re on a musical note, how much free time do you have? Nancy at Nancy’s Baby Names has a YouTube channel. Incredibly addictive, even on my sluggish internet connection and aging MacBook.
That’s all for this week. As always, thank you for reading!
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!
How Close is Too Close? Ten Factors to Consider
When we decided to call our daughter Clio, we forever closed the door on another favorite name – Theodore, nickname Theo.
Or did we?
For every family that decides Maya and Milo are too similar, another embraces the sound-alike names. Or insists that Alicia and Alina are totally different names. Perhaps it never even occurs to them that Joanna and Jackson are both related to John. Or maybe the first time you think of the famous actress is when you introduce your daughter Grace, little sister to Kelly and others ask if you’re a fan.
Siblings’ names will be said together countless times. The names we like often have much in common. So how can you tell if your choices make for a compatible sibset, or if they’re much too close? Here are ten factors to consider.
Name of the Day: Theophilus
Think Dorothea and Theodosia are a bit much for girls? Here’s an even more serious, bespectacled choice for son.
Thanks to Hanalise for suggesting Theophilus as Name of the Day.
Name of the Day: Theodosia
Dorothy is a spunky Kansas farm girl, complete with ruby slippers and a little dog, too. Flip the elements of her name, and she’s a Byzantine monarch – and a saint.
Thanks to Rachel for suggesting Theodosia as Name of the Day.
