A few years ago, a friend of mine was expecting. “We’re sticking with the basics,” she told me. “Mostly saints’ names.” At the time, I nodded. I knew what she meant – they weren’t going for anything outlandish, and the name they chose for their son – Matthew – was as straightforward and practical as […]
READ MORE >>Avalon & Astoria: Unusual A Names for Girls
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on January 31, 2008 and was substantially revised and re-posted on January 26, 2013. A is for Apple. As in Apple Blythe Allison, big sister to Moses Bruce Anthony and firstborn of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. If that’s too out there for you, consider these slightly less […]
READ MORE >>Ruby, Elise & Sheena: Girls Names from Alt Rock
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on January 29, 2008. It was substantially revised and republished on January 26, 2012. If your muscial inclinations take you lower on the radio dial, you won’t be surprised to learn the following: in 1977, the Ramones released Rocket to Russia, their third LP. Track Six was “Sheena […]
READ MORE >>Shopping for Names: Pottery Barn Edition
It’s been called yuppie porn. And let’s face it, if my house looked as pulled together and interesting as the average Pottery Barn Catalog room, well, I’d be having you all over for dinner to flaunt it. If PB is clearly aspirational, then the names that they choose for their products – and many of […]
READ MORE >>Never Out of Style: Classic Names for Boys
Editor’s note: This post was one of the first ever published at AppMtn, on January 26, 2008, when the blog was a mere three days old. It was substantially revised and re-posted on Monday, March 19, 2012. Are you a Brooks Brothers button-down kind of guy? Do you prefer your Thanksgiving turkey served on grandmother’s […]
READ MORE >>Baby Name Advice: The Middle Matters
Strictly speaking, there are no rules in baby naming. But there are some guidelines that I believe in strongly enough to call rules, at least here on Appellation Mountain. And here’s the first: The Middle Matters.
READ MORE >>Bookshelf: Cool Names for Babies, Revised & Updated
If you’re a namenik, you may well recall what baby name books looked like before Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz hit the scene: plodding lists in alphabetical order, with descriptions, origins, nicknames and possibly a note about a famous bearer or two. But for the most part, Abelia and Amanda were treated equally. Then […]
READ MORE >>As Seen on TV: Gossip Girls
The writer’s strike may be putting a hitch in the television schedule, but babies need naming every day of the year. And what better naming inspiration than a pair of rich-as-sin, pretty-as-starlets characters on a television drama about privileged teenagers? Serena and Blair, welcome to Appellation Mountain.
READ MORE >>Railway Names
I have a 3 y.o. son, and he is wild about trains. We’ve been careful not to feed him a steady diet of Thomas the Tank Engine – in fact, he’s only recently discovered the other Little Blue Engine That Could. But as I watch the show – over and over and over again – […]
READ MORE >>Spotlight: Fiona
Let’s suppose that you’re expecting a new baby girl in 2008, and you’ve always liked Sophia. But you’ve just learned that Sophia cracked the Top 10 last year, and shows no signs of slowing down. If you call your new little dear by this pretty and meaningful name, she may very well be one of […]
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