Appellation Mountain

Baby Name Isadora: Creative and Glam

June 6, 2023 By appellationmountain 11 Comments

The baby name Isadora blends saintly roots with an artistic edge.

Thanks to JNE for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.

GODDESS

Baby name Isadora sounds like a cousin to long-standing Top Ten pick Isabella, a form of the Hebrew Elisheva, also the source of Elizabeth.

Or maybe the ador in the middle of the name makes you think of names that mean love.

Neither are correct.

Instead, it comes from Isidoros, a name of Greek origin honoring the Egyptian goddess Isis. That second syllable is shared with Theodore – doron, meaning gift.

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Boy Names Starting with B: Benjamin, Bowie, Bronx

June 5, 2023 By appellationmountain 8 Comments

Ready for a bumper crop of baby boy names starting with B? B names rank ninth out of the 26 letters of the alphabet. That’s not exactly J or A, but it’s well ahead of choices like H, W, and Z. Then again, Benjamin is a Top Ten favorite. And names like Brooks and Beau […]

Sunday Summary: 6.4.23

June 4, 2023 By appellationmountain 1 Comment

It’s yearbook and graduation season! First, if you have a young person walking down the aisle to Pomp and Circumstance right about now, congratulations! Wishing them confidence in themselves as they choose their path. But of course, I really want to know: have you spotted any amazing names? ELSEWHERE ONLINE We have plans to see […]

Name Help: A Brother for Cora Josephine

June 2, 2023 By appellationmountain 20 Comments

Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, one reader’s name questions will be discussed. We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight! Marie writes: Our second child is due in July, and we cannot agree […]

Beach Boy Baby Names: Kai, Reef, Cove, Dune

June 1, 2023 By appellationmountain 19 Comments

Beach boy baby names fit in perfectly with our love of so many great, inventive nature name choices. They’re perfect picks for the lazy, hazy days of summer. Or if you love the ocean and the coast, they could be just right any time of year. While certain categories of nature names, like flowers and […]

Boy Names Containing Z: Ezra, Khaza, Cazimir

May 31, 2023 By appellationmountain 4 Comments

Let’s talk about boy names with Z in them. Not boy names beginning with Z. That’s a whole separate list, from traditional Zachary and Zane to novel Zen and Zayden. Instead, boys names with Z in them come as a surprise. It’s a high value Scrabble letter tucked in the middle. And it’s a powerfully popular […]

Baby Name Atlas: Mighty and Meaningful

May 30, 2023 By appellationmountain 30 Comments

The baby name Atlas spent years in obscurity. Now it stands tall. Thanks to Sinead for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. BEARER of the HEAVENS He’s got the world on his shoulders. Atlas was one of the Titans, the earlier generation of immortals replaced by Zeus and company in Greek mythology. He’s usually […]

Girl Names Starting with A: Ava, Alaia, Adair

May 29, 2023 By appellationmountain 7 Comments

Looking for girl names starting with A? It’s the single most popular first initial for our daughters in recent years. It leaves runners-up E, M, and S in the dust. In some ways, that’s nothing new. Anna, Anne, Annie, and Ann alternated their tours in the Top 100, and many appeared in the Top Ten. […]

Sunday Summary: 5.28.23

May 28, 2023 By appellationmountain Leave a Comment

Thanks to all the new subscribers at Patreon! One of the benefits? There’s a special link to request featured Name of the Day posts. And since I’m currently trying to build out the calendar for late June into July, this is a great time to join and take advantage of that benefit. Something that’s been […]

Name Help: Emma, Molly, and …

May 26, 2023 By appellationmountain 35 Comments

Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, one reader’s name questions will be discussed. We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight! Amber writes: We have two daughters, Emma Grace and Molly Rose. They’re just […]