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.
Remedios.
I love love love so many bold names, and am getting some great new ideas from the comments!
My absolute favorite is Atlas.
I hope this will be our first son’s name!
Ransome for a boy.
I really love the name Dare for a girl. I read a biography about Dare Wright, the woman who created the Lonely Doll childrens books, and it never once explained where her name came from. Infuriating. But I love it.
Agnes Lark is my fave.
I love Sorrel for a girl, but it is terrible with our last name and my husband doesn’t like it. Sigh…
My favorite bold name is
Ocarina Bluebell
Ocarina is a small egg-shaped wind instrument with a mouthpiece and holes for the fingers and my mother’s and I’s favourite flower.
Oh dear oh dear what a choice…. I want to say my favorites, Veronica and Dexter, are at least a little bold. Also: Jethro, Abel, Harvey & Cordelia, Gwen, Odette, Lenore.
However, I’ll go with a more definite bold name that I love: Barnaby. Just love that sound.
As I commented on your Sunday Summary, my favourite bold name for a girl is probably Swan.
For a boy, it’d have to be Navy; well if Blue can work, why not? 🙂
My favorite bold name has to be
Ocarina Bluebell
Ocarina is a small oval-shaped wind instrument that makes a beautiful whistle-like sound, while Bluebell is my mother’s and I’s favorite flower.