Some calendar baby names seem so mainstream we don’t notice them. Think of May or June. But many – maybe most – names drawn from dates and times of year feel distinctive and different. They often feel more like words than given names. That’s changing, though. In the last few decades, we’ve seen celebrities choose […]
READ MORE >>Baby Name Vega: Modern and Shining
Vega takes the stylish initial V to the stars. Thanks to Michelle for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. TO THE SKY If you know Vega, maybe you’ve been stargazing. Vega is a star in the constellation Lyra. In Arabic, it’s al-Waqi. The most frequently repeated translation is “swooping eagle.” That sounds graceful, and it […]
READ MORE >>Name Help: Sunshine/Light and Eagle/Hawk 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! Lindsay writes: We’re expecting our second daughter at the end of August and […]
READ MORE >>Rare 1895 Baby Names: Dinah, Blossom, Royce
Rare 1895 baby names make for a curious list. Were we really naming our sons Mayo and Vester? Were girls called Clifford and boys named Martha – or were both typos somewhere along the way? Did we really use Wm and Geo as boys’ names, or were they common abbreviations that made their way into […]
READ MORE >>Clara, Clarity, and Clarion: Claire Names
Claire names range from the classic Clara to elaborate Clarimond to modern possibilities like Clarity and Sinclair. In my Italian family, children were traditionally named after their grandparents. When you reached girl or boy #3, it was time to move on names from great-aunts and great-uncles. The result? Those big families with lots of cousins […]
READ MORE >>Avril: Baby Name of the Day
Avril brings to mind all things springtime and hopeful. Our Baby Name of the Day celebrates the first day of April and the season that lies ahead. APRIL This name comes straight from the pages of the calendar. In Ancient Rome, the month of Aprilis was dedicated to Venus. It’s theorized that the word comes […]
READ MORE >>Ike: Baby Name of the Day
Ike might fit right in with Max and Jack. Our Baby Name of the Day comes from this list. ISAAC Most of the time, Ike comes from Isaac. The Biblical boy name ranked in the US Top 100 in the late 1800s, and it’s back again, cracking the current Top 100 in 1995. It comes […]
READ MORE >>Halona: Baby Name of the Day
Halona sounds like lots of established girl names. But where does this one come from, exactly? Thanks to Beth for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. THE TROUBLE WITH NATIVE AMERICAN NAMES It’s most often suggested that Halona comes from Native American sources. The meaning “happy fortune” comes up frequently. And yet, that’s problematic, […]
READ MORE >>Amity: Baby Name of the Day
File Amity with the vintage virtue names that sound fresh and intriguing today. Thanks to Sharmila for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND The name comes from the Latin amicus – friendly. While some virtue names feel like a lot of pressure – think Patience, Temperance, Chastity – Amity seems […]
READ MORE >>P Girl Names: 12 Fresh New Options
The fast-rising P girl names club just keeps on growing. There’s Penelope, of course. Surnames like Parker, Peyton, and Presley. Two separate television series boosted Piper; the same is true for Phoebe. We borrowed Paloma and Paola from other languages. Poppy caught on in the UK first, but is climbing in the US, too. Phoenix […]
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