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Name-inspired news and notes for your Sunday reading.
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The shortest day of the year is behind us, which means most of us are celebrating the winter holidays.
And if this time of year is hard, then lifting you up, too.
One of my favorite seasonal distraction? This pair of holiday-themed, vaguely outlandish lists: Christmas Names for Girls and Christmas Names for Boys.
In some alternate life, my due-on-Christmas son was a daughter, named Susannah and called Zuzu. Because It’s a Wonderful Life, of course.
Also wondering if I should add Clark to the boys’ version? Even Rusty, maybe? We went to see the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation in the theater this weekend. It always makes me wonder a) why don’t I have a Marty the Moose mug to sip eggnog and b) how was this a family movie in the 1980s?
Of course, it ends on a happy note with lots of laughter and love. Wishing you the same!
Finds from last week
Laura is here to shatter my dreams of December babies named Jovie and Drummer. She points out “First and middle names are different in essence. Our first names are our everyday identities, the way we present ourselves to the world. Middle names, tucked out of the spotlight, can play other roles. They’re ideal vehicles to pay homages, make connections, hide secret messages, and tell stories. You aren’t likely to base your son’s lifelong identity on the fact that he was born on December 23rd. But using a middle name to memorialize his birth as the ultimate Christmas present? Now we’re talking. So maybe my just-for-fun Christmas lists are really just-for-real middle name lists?
As the year winds down, I’m thinking about the Most Popular Boy Names on the site, and the Most Popular Girl Names on the site for 2024. Nameberry, likewise, has their lists out, with some interesting observations.
Looking for a different kind of list? Nancy has the Top Names in Italy for 2023. I adore Nicolo and Ludovica. And if you’re looking for more Italian names for girls? Here’s my list.
Updating & thinking about
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Sparky, retro Dinah. Because while I sort of understand why this name isn’t more popular now, I think it would be a brilliant choice.
Vintage Frankie. Much as I love Charlie, there’s plenty of space near the top of the list for more boyish nickname names. Billie, Stevie, Frankie, Scottie, and more are marching up the popularity charts.
Tough guy(ish) Deckard. While Decker sounds like it’s a guy about to throw a mean left hook, Deckard strikes me as just the right amount of muscular and restrained.
Lastly, I have a few post-Christmas slots available for phone calls if you’ll have some free time and would like to chat about your naming decision. See the updated calendar here!
That’s all for this week. As always, thank you for reading – and have a great week!
I’ve been thinking lately that Simeon and Anna could be good Christmas season names, after the man and woman at the temple when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus in.
Re: Top Names in Italy: I was surprised by Giorgia, and also that the top boys’ name outranks the second boys’ name by 1,400 babies!