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Mikaela, Ilia, Alysa, Elana, Breezy, Tage. Jutta, Marco, Marie-Philip, (Johannes) Klaebo, Gus, Dorothea, Tobias.
Sure, the athleticism and sheer grit is amazing. But I’ve been watching the Olympics – have always watched the Olympics – for the names.
True story: as a child, I borrowed a library book that listed every Olympic medal winner ever and reported it lost because I couldn’t possibly bear to give it back.
There’s absolutely nothing to suggest that Olympic athletes’ names are influential. A few do trend, especially if the name belongs to an athlete who remains in the spotlight. But most often it’s just an every-other-year glimpse at names from Slovakia and Brazil, Haiti and Lebanon.
Have you fallen in love with any names from the Milan games?
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Big Brother alums Nicole Franzel and Victor Arroyo welcomed twins, Goldie Jen and River David. Maybe I noticed this birth announcement because I have gold medals on my mind, but I think those names are perfectly matched. They join older brother Arrow. (He’s actually Victor Arroyo IV.) The twins’ middle names honor Nicole’s parents.
Keeping with my international obsession, how gorgeous are the most popular names in Uzbekistan? Nancy has the list, topped by Soliha for girls, with Yasmina in the third spot. Also fascinating? Seven of the Top Ten names for boys are either Muhammad, or a double name including Muhammad. (About 95% of the population is Muslim.)
Has your name – or your child’s name – ever been spectacularly, astonishingly mangled? Can you possibly top this one? I don’t want to spoil it, but let’s say this: who would ever name their baby Clam?
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Ryker isn’t my style, and yet it’s a fascinating story and a very 21st century name. I almost feel like parents might re-discover it around 2116 and call it cool and vintage – using whatever words one uses to describe cool and vintage in the distant future.
Coco, on the other hand? This was almost my daughter Clio’s name. (My husband exercised his veto right.) I thrill every time I see a Coco succeeding, like the singer Coco Jones.
Bay should be more popular … shouldn’t it? A nature name in the key of Ocean, a color name like Scarlett, a mini name close to Kai or Mae. And yet, it remains quite rare. That might make it the perfect undiscovered choice for your family.
That’s all for now. As always, thank you for reading and have a great week!
There’s an Oceane on the French team. Love all the name spotting in the Olympics.