SUNDAY SUMMARY

Over on Patreon, we’re working through Stealth Trends for 2024. They’re trends that won’t be apparent from the data, but they’re absolutely real – and will impact how we name our children – and how our children wear their names – next year and into the future. I’m excited to share more over the next […]

Maybe I’m the last to know, but I was fascinated to learn how IKEA names its products. I mean … it doesn’t really apply to naming children, because, well, none of us will ever have so many children (or grandchildren!) that we need a structured approach. (Rugs are named after cities in Denmark and Sweden; […]

Have you seen this TikTok? (You don’t need to watch it to follow along.) In brief, a woman hears another mom calling her son’s name on the playground. His name? Oedipus. Which is … whoa! If you missed that day in school, here’s a quick summary. In Greek legend, Oedipus is born a prince of […]

Here’s a super common, pretty easy piece of content to write: These names used to be everywhere, now you never hear them anymore. And that’s sometimes true. Back in 1883, Bertha, Ida, and Frank were Top Ten names. They’re pretty unusual – maybe even nearly extinct – by 2023 standards. Still, this Fatherly article struck […]

How many names is too many names? By now you’ve probably heard about the Spanish aristocrat who piled on the names for his newborn daughter, until the government said “no, no, no, this is madness” and told the well-heeled parents they’ve have to narrow it down. If you’re curious, the name they chose was as […]

Here’s a thought experiment: What would a Southern fairy be named? The original seems to be taken down, but more than a year ago @onlyannamaria tweeted: Why did we just collectively decide that fantasy worlds need to be populated solely by British, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, New Zealand, and Australian accents? I want ethereal fairies who […]

I am forever in awe of others’ creativity. In all fields of endeavor, actually. But I pay closest attention, naturally, to names. Two that caught my eye this week: Odette, called Dottie for short. LOVE this. Because Odette is cool and edgy and fun, but maybe not the cuddliest name. And Odie is not a […]

We need to talk about Lewis. If you’ve been to Target this Halloween season … or been a human being anywhere near the internet … there’s a good chance you’ve seen this festive, eight-foot talking jack o’ lantern in a shroud. Except if you see it on display in a store, he’ll tell you “I […]

Here’s something I notice, time and time again. Parents have a list. It includes a few very popular names, a few very different names, and a bunch in the middle. While the most popular don’t always win, the most different? Almost never do. When it comes down to making our final choice, we tend to […]

Someone recently asked me a question, and I thought I’d answer it here. I read that you legally changed your name. How did you get your parents to come around? It’s a great question! But the short answer is that … I didn’t. Not really. The basics: I legally changed my name in my late […]