A few weeks back, Emmy Jo got us thinking about girls’ names that are both pretty and ugly. To borrow a term from the French, they’re jolie-laid – beautiful because of their flaws. It’s easy to love the lyrical Olivia, the mellifluous Melisande. But there are scores of names for girls that rather harsh and […]
READ MORE >>Name of the Day: Clarinda
It just so happens that one of ApMtn’s biggest supporters bears a very strange name, indeed. It’s not Clarinda, but it’s quite close. She’s always maintained that her name is without precedent, invented by her parents. But we weren’t content with that answer, and unearthed today’s Name of the Day: Clarinda.
READ MORE >>Name of the Day: Omar
It’s been worn by religious figures, creative types and a poor boy from Missouri. Today, it’s the kind of name that works well for parents searching for a truly culture-spanning choice that is still familiar and accessible. Thanks to Hugh, for taking today’s Name of the Day in a globetrotting direction with his suggestion: Omar.
READ MORE >>Name of the Day: Odessa
Thanks to Kayt for suggesting Odessa as today’s Name of the Day. While to many it simply sounds like yet another name torn from the map and pasted on a baby, Odessa has a surprisingly long history of use. Even if your roots don’t lead to the Ukraine or one of the half-dozen or so […]
READ MORE >>Name of the Day: Quillan
Choosing an unusual moniker for a daughter is one thing. But many parents think twice before going out on a limb to name a boy. Surely there’s a sociological explanation for this, but in the meantime, thanks to Natalie for suggesting the intriguing option Quillan. It’s the rare name that has never appeared in the […]
READ MORE >>Baby Name Raphael: Traditional and Romantic
The baby name Raphael feels romantic and traditional, plus it’s nicely underused. Thanks to Natalie for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. ARCHANGEL Raphael means “God heals.” He’s an archangel, and a major figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. As religious figures go, he’s well-known. John Milton included him in Paradise Lost. The television series Supernatural gave […]
READ MORE >>Baby Name Lucia: Light and Lovely
The baby name Lucia shares much in common with Sophia and Amelia, but remains just slightly under-the-radar. Thanks to Natalie for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. CHEE, SEE, SHAH Before we dive into the history of the baby name Lucia, let’s talk pronunciation. Italians likely say loo CHEE uh. But loo SEE uh […]
READ MORE >>Name of the Day: Cady
Today’s name is either an interesting surname choice, or another morph of the super-trendy monolithic girls name MaKaylalyencelee. Cady caught our eye a zillion years ago as the maiden name of abolitionist and suffragette Elizabeth Cady Stanton. She died before women were granted the vote – and long before women were viable candidates for the […]
READ MORE >>Name of the Day: Tuesday
Tuesday’s child is full of grace, or so goes the old Mother Goose rhyme. And so perhaps, should your darling daughter join the world on a Tuesday, you’ll consider this unusual, but appealing, moniker. Tuesday has never appeared in the Top 1000 in the US. But unlike some choices, it will never be misspelled or […]
READ MORE >>Baby Name of the Day: Rhys
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on May 6, 2008 and substantially revised on November 15, 2011. He’s a short, storied name for boys that brings to mind peanut butter cups and Hollywood actresses. But he should conjure up images of Wales. Our Baby Name of the Day is Rhys.
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