Bold Baby Names by Sarah Douglas

One of my favorite destinations in the name-o-sphere, hands down, is For Real Baby Names.  It’s an elegant concept.  Sarah simply gathers up armfuls of the loveliest, daffiest, no-way-they-named-their-baby-that, how-cool-they-named-their-baby-that names in the English-speaking world.  She hits post and we devour every single Ellis Creed, Landry Ulrich, Boone Elijah, and Ruth Delaney.

Addictive.

Now she’s gathered them up in an eBook, and I can confidently say that it is very different from any baby name guide I’ve ever read.  It’s something like the Cool Baby Names that Pam and Linda of Nameberry offered up a few years ago.  And yet this is different.  Sarah passes no judgement, but all of the names she lists are, well, bold.  Some of them are throwbacks – like Godfrey and Lois.  Others are daring, but not unknown, like Leta and Neo.

But the real joy in Bold Baby Names is the sheer number of never-before-heard names she’s included.   Hannablue and Trella, Timber and Wake – if any of them ring a bell, it is likely because you’ve read them previously on her site.  And no matter what this week’s Social Security data reveals, Sarah’s book will be chock full of names beyond 1,001.

Sarah is generously giving away a copy of her eBook to one Appellation Mountain reader.  To enter, simply leave a comment with your favorite bold name.  Need inspiration?  Visit Sarah’s site for fresh ideas.

Entries close Friday evening, May 18.  The winner will be chosen at random Saturday, May 19.

 

About Abby Sandel

Whether you're naming a baby, or just all about names, you've come to the right place! Appellation Mountain is a haven for lovers of obscure gems and enduring classics alike.

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54 Comments

  1. I love my daughter’s name and I believed it was bold before and still now 20 months later! Saoirse… now d aughter number 2 needs to be named… I have less than a month the pressure is on! I love Scout and Story and so many literary names but my husband believes we need to keep with our Gaelic theme we have going (Lochlann too!)

  2. I suspect I only go for the bold names: usually between “virtue” names and hardcore Irish Gaelic ones.

    Bower and Caisel (“Cash-el”, Irish meaning castle) on the boys’ side

    Legacy and Dubheasa (“Dov-essa”, meaning dark waterfall) for the girls.