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! Taylor writes: Our first child is due in March, and we had a […]
READ MORE >>Mahala: Baby Name of the Day
Mahala sounds modern, but it comes straight of the Old Testament. Thanks to Tim for suggesting a name from his family tree as our Baby Name of the Day. MALAH AND MAHALATH The Old Testament gives us Mahlah and Mahalath. Close, but not quite the same thing. They’re fairly minor characters, and not necessarily all […]
READ MORE >>Lorelei: Baby Name of the Day
Lorelei is a fanciful German choice boosted by a popular dramedy. Thanks to Dirty Hippy for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. BY THE RHINE German folklore gives us Rhine maidens, a mix of mermaid, shape-shifter, and siren. They lured sailors to their deaths on the treacherous rocks of the Rhine River. One especially […]
READ MORE >>Winter Girl Names: Ivy, Lumi, and Snow
Winter girl names range from the obvious – think weather – to the subtle – like names that mean white. Some boast centuries of use and broad familiarity; others are novel and seldom heard. And a few fall somewhere between, the new nature names right at-home in the twenty-first century, wintry equivalents of River and […]
READ MORE >>Maud: Baby Name of the Day
Straightforward and strong Maud peaked in the late nineteenth century. Could that make it overdue for a comeback? Thanks to Lola for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. MATILDA’S MEDIEVAL COUSIN Matilda comes from the Germanic Mathildis – maht, or might, and hild, or battle. That’s a fierce and powerful name. In the tenth […]
READ MORE >>Sunday Summary: In Praise of Rey
I’m going to keep this spoiler-free, promise. Still, I feel like we might have been The Very Last People on Earth to see Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. Let me just say this: we really ought to be seeing some girls named Rey. We’re not. Rey ranks #751 for boys in […]
READ MORE >>Ginger: Baby Name of the Day
Ginger feels like a quirky, retro choice. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing these days. Thanks to Del for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. MEET VIRGINIA Let’s start with Virginia, which means heading back far into the ancient world. It’s the feminine form of a Roman family name, something like Virginius. While […]
READ MORE >>Name Help: Finding Timeless Names
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 a Jessica married to a Josh. Our sisters and brothers […]
READ MORE >>Esther: Baby Name of the Day
Esther brings to mind a legendary queen and a Hollywood legend. Is this early twentieth century favorite ready for revival? Thanks to Fran for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. STAR … OR NOT The most common meaning associated with Esther is star, from the Persian setareh. That’s my go-to meaning, but others have […]
READ MORE >>Maverick: Baby Name of the Day
Maverick has gone from cowboy cool to flyboy to Top 100 favorite. Inspired by the 2020 Top Gun sequel, it’s our Baby Name of the Day. DANGER ZONE If you’re old enough to be naming babies, I guarantee you’ve heard of Top Gun. The 1986 mega-blockbuster starred Tom Cruise as a naval aviator named Pete […]
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