The baby name Ogden is smart, unconventional, and more wearable than you might think. Thanks to S. for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. OAK VALLEY The meaning of Ogden is straightforward, but it’s not obvious. The Old English ac meant oak. In Old Norse, it’s eik. That makes it a distant cousin to names like […]
READ MORE >>Baby Name Camila: Fierce Classic
The baby name Camila is a fast-rising choice for our daughters, an English-Spanish crossover that feels equally substantial and pretty. Thanks to Maret for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. PERFORMER of CEREMONIAL DUTIES Most sites suggest that the baby name Camila means something like helper at a religious service. That’s because the Latin […]
READ MORE >>Boy Names Starting with P: Parker, Peter, Penn
Powerful and playful, baby boy names starting with P range from the most classic of choices to modern favorites – plus everything in between. It’s an especially good letter for surname names. Sure, there’s Top 100 Parker, and a few other chart-topping favorites. But plenty of boy names starting with P are surnames ready for […]
READ MORE >>Sunday Summary: Elizabeth and Lilibet
By now, you’ve surely heard that England’s longest-reigning monarch, the venerable Queen Elizabeth II, has passed. I’m surprised at how intensely I’m feeling the loss. I’m not an Anglophile, but I guess I’m a bit of a royal watcher. As the news broke, I was flooded with texts from friends who I’d never have expected […]
READ MORE >>Baby Name Susannah: Vintage Charmer
The baby name Susannah combines vintage charm with modern verve. Thanks to Jules for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. OLD TESTAMENT GIRL’S NAME The baby name Susannah goes all the way back to the Old Testament. In Hebrew, shoshan is lily. In Persian, the flower was called sausan. Both may relate to an […]
READ MORE >>Name Help: Crazy Long List for a Son
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! Marie writes: We have a daughter, Felicity Nicole. We chose her name in […]
READ MORE >>California Baby Names: Lorenzo, Melody, Amaya
California baby names blend all sorts of influences – the counterculture of San Francisco, the coastal vibe of beachfront towns, Hollywood glam, and more. The most popular baby names in California show heavy influence from Spanish culture and language. Even if you’re not a native speaker, the Latino community is a big part of the […]
READ MORE >>Baby Name Rosemary: Quiet Revival
The baby name Rosemary combines classic sounds with a meaning from the nature. Thanks to Elizabeth for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. ROSE + MARY Anne-Marie. Rosanna. Mary Jane. We’ve been combining classics to create new girl names for generations. Sometimes they’re smooshed together into one new name: Annabeth. But sometimes we use […]
READ MORE >>Baby Name Rhodes: Stylish and Strong
The baby name Rhodes combines the ancient world, place names, and our love of s-ending surname-style choices. Thanks to Kate for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. COLOSSAL Back in the fourth century BC, the island of Rhodes had just warded off a massive invasion. In celebration, they commissioned a statue of the son […]
READ MORE >>Girl Names Starting with H: Harper, Helen, Heraclea
Girl names starting with H range from literary surname Harper to rarities like Haidee and Heraclea. It doesn’t seem like there should be such diversity from a single letter, but it’s true. In fact, girl names starting with H rank eleventh out of the 26 letters of the alphabet. H also offers a surprising number […]
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