16 by Marcin Wichary via Flickr

Let’s begin where we usually end, with celeb news.  Owen Wilson’s welcomed a son named Ford Linton.  Wilson’s girlfriend Jade Duell delivered the babe at home – though something tells me that “at home” might look the tiniest bit different in an $8 million ocean-front home in Maui.

My take on Ford? Not too daffy, not too dull, and sure to catch on faster than a Mustang GT 500.

If Pope Benedict XVI were asked, he’d probably feel that Ford was somewhat lacking.  For more on the flap – mostly manufactured by the media – check out my debut Monday morning post at Nameberry tomorrow.

Elsewhere online:

• Nancy posted the list of Baby Names Banned in Portugal.  It’s an eclectic collection, and I’m guessing that the government compiles it by adding on every fresh rejection hopeful parents have inked on the paperwork.  Otherwise, why would some bureaucrat in Lisbon sit around adding Brunei and Farley to the list?
• I was obsessively following Sherry & John‘s DIY home remodeling efforts at Young House Love when what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a post titled What Could Have Been.  Apparently, Sherry’s parents considered naming her Gina, and John’s parents?  His dad wanted to name him Lars.  The comments about other near-misses are hysterical.  Magic, Rocky Road, Hannibal, but this quote …
• … takes the cake: “My parents named me Michelle but when my dad went to pay the hospital bill he asked them to change my name to Nanette. He didn’t tell my mom for days that he changed my name upon check-out.”  Wow – wonder how that conversation went;
• For every couple who opts for the safer John over the less common Lars, there are some who go for the unusual choice.  For Real spotted Peaches Matilda, Zoe Gabriella Scarlet Fire, and Mingus Patrick in Ireland and girls called Lynlee and Lynnex in Alabama.  And yes, Lynlee and Lynnex are both girls;
• Fritinancy reports that the American Name Society gave their Fictional Names of the Year award to Quinn and Finn, from Glee.  And when I clicked through to the press release, I was delighted to see that the incoming president is named Kemp;
• Speaking of Quinn, have you read Life After Yes?  The protagonist is Prudence Quinn O’Malley, and the bits about her name alone make it worth reading for name junkies;
• And back to Finn – Nameberry mentioned Flynn in their 12 Best Disney Names list.  One of the comments mentioned that Disney has been using Flynn constantly in recent years.  What do you think?  He’s a single-syllable surname with an honest y, just a little different from fast-rising Finn – I can’t help but think he’s the next big thing;
• I’m in love with this name Sebastiane posted at Legitimate Baby Names: Vesela.  Apparently, it means cheerful, which seems like a perky meaning for such a sleek, sophisticated choice;
• Nancy’s post on Caelum poses an interesting question: what do you do when there’s no definitive pronunciation?  The reader who asked about Caelum already has a son named Rigel, and noted that they’ve had more trouble with Rigel’s pronounciation than they expected.  I live a few miles from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center – some of my neighbors are rocket scientists – so maybe I’m more up on my astronomical appellations than most.  But Rigel strikes me as a great choice for a name that’s truly different, but not burdensome.

That thought, of course, leads us back to stars.  Victoria and David Beckham rank right up there on the list of stars known for choosing surprising names for their kids.  And lucky us – they’re expecting baby #4 in 2011!  The Broward-Palm Beach New Times thought up ten possible names for the happy family.  I’m guessing they won’t choose Bushwick or Tarantula, but Titus and Carambola might just make the list.

Here’s something I always mean to do and always forget – here’s a look back at Baby Names of the Day from 2009 and 2010:

• On January 16, 2009, the Baby Name of the Day was the Norse goddess Freya;
• And on January 15, 2010, the Baby Name of the Day was the French compound name Jean-Marc.

That’s all for this week!  As always, thanks for reading, and please check out Nameberry tomorrow.