Halston fits perfectly with our love of surname names. Bonus? It’s surprisingly underused. Thanks to Clio for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. Last Name First We recognize this as a surname, but its exact origins are debated. It could come from Old Norse, where it would have been closer to Halstein, from the […]
READ MORE >>Reuben: Baby Name of the Day
An Old Testament name with a vintage vibe, Reuben might be the neglected gem you’re seeking. Thanks to Emily for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. Behold Know your Old Testament? If so, you’ll recognize Reuben as the eldest son of Jacob and Leah. The most common meaning attributed to the name is “behold, […]
READ MORE >>15 Boyish Nicknames for Traditional Girl Choices
Boyish nicknames for classic girl names appeal for lots of reasons. They split the difference between controversial Boy Names on Girls – BNOG – and strictly feminine options. If he says Ryan Marie while you’re thinking Lucinda Elise, maybe Samantha-called-Sam works for you both. Boyish nicknames can be one of the benefits of choosing nickname-rich […]
READ MORE >>Sunday Summary: Back to Names
If you have school-aged kids, you’re almost certainly somewhere in the midst of back-to-school season. In my neighborhood, it’s a mix – my son had high school orientation two weeks ago and has finished his first full week of classes; my daughter started Wednesday; but many kids are still enjoying the last bits of fading […]
READ MORE >>British Baby Names 2019: 24 for American Parents to Steal
The new data is out on British baby names. Elea at British Baby Names provides the best analysis. Start with the new Top 100 list here. But it’s got me thinking: if you’re naming an American baby in 2019? Some of the names from that other English-speaking country might be exactly what you’re after. After […]
READ MORE >>Name Help: A Brother for Adam
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! Stacy writes: When we were naming our first son, we had a lot […]
READ MORE >>Zev: Baby Name of the Day
Zev scores high on Scrabble, brings to mind a fierce, majestic creature, and shares the short, punchy style of Jax. What’s not to love? Thanks to Kells for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. Ze’ev Strictly speaking, this is a two-syllable name: Ze’ev. It appears in the Old Testament, but as the name of […]
READ MORE >>Girl Detective Names: Nancy, Enola, and More
Girl detective names range from the traditional to the downright novel. But every one of them feels capable and smart. These dozen names come from fictional girl detectives over the last century or more. Some have appeared in movies, but most of them come from books. (Of course, quite a few have leapt from the […]
READ MORE >>Sunday Summary: My Next Second Language
When it comes to languages, I’m a serial dabbler. In no particular order, I’ve listened to a teach-yourself course or taken a class in Spanish, Russian, French, Polish, Finnish, and Papiamento. Reading comes easily; speaking feels like scaling Everest. But lately there’s a new language I’m exploring, much to the amusement of my teenage son. […]
READ MORE >>Lucy: Baby Name of the Day
Lucy topped the charts one hundred years ago – and is back on top again today. Thanks to phancymama for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. Lucy and Lucia Sometimes we dismiss Lucy as a nickname. Only it isn’t so. In medieval English, formal, Latin names co-existed with vernacular versions. Cecily evolved from Cecilia; […]
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