Your votes have been tallied, and we have a pair of winners! While the Summer Baby Names Showdown takes place every summer, this year is a little different. (That’s the motto for 2020, right?!) Normally, we pick from our favorite of the names returning or debuting in the US Top 1000, a data set released […]
READ MORE >>Danish Baby Names: Aksel, Ida, Storm
Danish baby names range from the very familiar to the utterly unexpected. As of 2019, Denmark’s #1 names were Emma and William – both reliable chart-toppers in the US. But let’s look at some of the Danish baby names that American parents probably haven’t heard, or at least aren’t using. Some of these might make […]
READ MORE >>Girl Names Starting with O: Olivia, Opal, Odette
Relatively few girl names starting with O rank in the US Top 1000 – just nine total. But their number includes white hot, won’t-stop Olivia, as well a forest full of Oak- names, and a few dazzling vintage revival picks. But beyond those nine names, the letter O offers a great many options for our […]
READ MORE >>Sunday Summary: Vintage, Antique, Retro, What?
Let’s talk time. I tripped over this Apartment Therapy article defining – or attempting to define – the terms antique, vintage, and retro. It turns out that furniture comes with some fairly standard-ish definitions. (Though they’re not necessarily used as such.) Or at least some generally agreed upon terms. But names? I struggle. The article suggests […]
READ MORE >>Summer Baby Names Showdown 2020: Boys Final
We’ve made it! After weeks of voting, we’ve narrowed the list down to just two names. That brings us to the final round for the boys in the Summer Baby Names Showdown 2020. If you’re new here, let’s catch up! Every March, we host a March Madness tournament – only for baby names. We vote […]
READ MORE >>Name Help: A Sibling for Mabel
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! Jessica writes: I’m hoping you might have some suggestions. I’m pregnant with baby […]
READ MORE >>Summer Baby Names Showdown 2020: Girls Final
We’ve voted our way through ALL of the names, and it’s time for the Girls’ Final in the Summer Baby Names Showdown! If you’re new here, let’s catch up. Every March, we vote our way through the most popular name of the day posts at Appellation Mountain from the prior calendar year. After a solid […]
READ MORE >>Bear Baby Names: Arthur, Orson, Dov
Bear baby names range from the mainstream to the completely unexpected. Odds are that this list includes a name or three that you might consider – whether or not a name with ursine origins matters to you. Fuzzy Wuzzy didn’t make the cut, and neither did Yogi. (Though fans of Yogi Berra – who got […]
READ MORE >>Boy Names Starting with W: Wyatt, Walker, Wilfred
Ask for boy names starting with W, and many people will reply William. It’s a venerable classic, worn by many distinguished figures over countless centuries. Billy is everybody’s little brother, or maybe the rebellious rocker Billy Idol. In more recent generations, William is far more likely to shorten to Will. Other Wil- names abound, though […]
READ MORE >>Sunday Summary: The Judi Dench Example
For ages, I might’ve told you that cute girl names were a liability. Jessi and Nikki didn’t occupy the corner office. Who wanted to nominate Tammie or Lori for a judgeship? Did you really want Missy performing open heart surgery? Lately I’ve been thinking that I have it ALL wrong. And who brought it home […]
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