With the new US popularity data out, it’s time to talk baby name trends. At first glance, the new US Top Ten isn’t too terribly interesting. It looks a lot like last year’s list. But that hides some interesting undercurrents. Are we witnessing the end of a true #1 name? If you know school-aged kids, […]
READ MORE >>Top 100 Girl Names: Coolest, Classic, New
The Top 100 girl names mix evergreen classics, cool and original choices, and some just plain new ideas, along with reliable standards we’ve been naming our daughters for ages. And yes, a name can be cool, even edgy – and still very popular. After all, only the most appealing names make it to the top […]
READ MORE >>Top Ten Baby Names in the US: May 2022 Update
The Top Ten baby names in the US are here … and they look an awful lot like last year’s list. At least at first glance. GIRLS’ TOP TEN The girls’ list is unchanged from 2020, though a few names shifted position. Olivia – unchanged Emma – unchanged Charlotte – up one Amelia – up […]
READ MORE >>Names from Arthurian Legend: Avalon, Guinevere, Kai
Names from Arthurian legend range from mainstream favorites to the truly obscure. But even some of the lesser-known possibilities could wear well for a child born today. And why shouldn’t they? Tales of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table have captivated us for generations. And not just in the distant past, either. […]
READ MORE >>Baby Name Ophira: Shining and Rare
The baby name Ophira is both ancient and rare, a glittering name with an intriguing sound. Thanks to Liz for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day. GOLD and PEACOCKS In the Old Testament, Ophir was a port city. And not just any city, but a fabulously wealthy one. King Solomon received cargo from the […]
READ MORE >>Boy Names Starting with K: Koa, Kindred, King
Boy names starting with K tend towards the trending. There’s Kevin, of course, a name that helped define a generation, from classic Christmas movie Home Alone to Kevinism, a term for the German (and elsewhere in Europe) dislike of so-called American names. More recently, Kayden (and Kaiden and Kaden) dominated K names for boys. Plenty […]
READ MORE >>Sunday Summary: Welcome to May!
The marvelous month of May is here! For American readers, that means Mother’s Day is coming up next Sunday, May 8th. Which means that we’re less than a week away from ALL the new most popular names data, as released by the US Social Security Administration. Looking back at last year’s data release, these were […]
READ MORE >>Future Top 1000 Names: Benedict, Clover, Rae
NOTE: Now updated with the names that I got right – four for the girls (oof) and eight for the boys (yay)! What are the future Top 1000 baby names? Every year, I like to hazard a guess. (Though I skipped last year!) Here’s the thing: Names that rank in the US Top 1000 attract […]
READ MORE >>Name Help: Names like Briony
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! Karla writes: My partner and I are expecting our first child together in […]
READ MORE >>Gemstone Names for Girls: Opal, Topaz, Pearl
Gemstone names for girls have been around for generations. From vintage Pearl to modern Emerald, gemstone-inspired girl names are a rich and vibrant bunch. Gemstone names can be obvious and even flashy – think Diamond – to subtle, even under-the-radar, like Gemma. Speaking of Gemma, there’s a whole category of gemstone baby names that gather […]
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