Once upon a time, family names were ever so common. Every Bill had a Billy. Mothers’ maiden names became firsts or middles. And in some circles, the idea of not naming your firstborn son after grandpa would have been just short of blasphemy. Those days are over, and for the most part, that’s a good thing. No […]
READ MORE >>Sunday Summary: A Family Name Story
Names matter. A good reminder came via this Instagram post. Thanks to Meg for sharing it! I’m a little late to the party, true. Lettie’s post talks about her given name – handed down from her grandmother – in the context of Black History Month. “I think about what it meant to decide on your […]
READ MORE >>Sunday Summary: Robinette?
I’ve written quite a bit about the name Kamala. But what’s up with Robinette? It’s a question that I’ve been asked half a dozen times since the inauguration on Wednesday. Fellow name fans might be able to guess at the name’s origins, but let’s unpack it – just for fun. Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. was […]
READ MORE >>Name Help: A Meaningful Name for Sophie’s Sister
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! Allie writes: We are expecting our second daughter early in 2021, and I […]
READ MORE >>Name Help: Fourth Baby, Third Girl
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! Elissa writes: We’re due with our fourth child, and third daughter, in January, […]
READ MORE >>Name Help: A Middle Name for Madelynn
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! Angela writes: The process of naming my second daughter has become quite an […]
READ MORE >>Name Help: Initial Challenge
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! Jess writes: Before my first was born, I knew I wanted to name […]
READ MORE >>Name Help: Honoring Grandma Lou
UPDATE: Kayla writes that daughter Louisa Kate arrived last month. Everyone is doing fine. Thanks for the help! Kayla writes: We’re expecting a daughter in March, and we know we want to name her after my grandma Lou. My grandmother’s name isn’t Louise or Lucille or anything like that. She was Phyllis. We don’t know […]
READ MORE >>Name Help: Honoring Neil
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! Alex writes: I’ve been a longtime lurker and now need name help from […]
READ MORE >>Naming Boys After Women: Six Ways That Work
Naming boys after women should be standard practice. After all, we’ve been naming our sons after their dads and grandfathers for generations. We name girls after the significant men in their lives, too. What else explains so many feminine forms of traditional masculine names? And, to a lesser extent, we meet women named after their […]
READ MORE >>