We love boy names ending in o. Once rare – at least for native English speakers – they’ve gone mainstream. From king of the jungle Leo to romance language staple Diego to modern possibilities like Cairo, plenty of o-enders dot the US Top 1000, in a style to suit every namer. Of course, rarities exist […]
READ MORE >>Eleanor Nicknames: Ellie, Nola, Lane
Let’s look at Eleanor nicknames. Not just any nicknames, either – unexpected choices, the kind that might surprise. Eleanor needs no shortening, of course. It’s three syllables, and rolls off the tongue. It makes for a smart name, one rich with history and style. But after ranking in the US Top 50 since 2016, the […]
READ MORE >>Elon Musk and Grimes Welcome a Son Named … WHAT?
Just when you thought 2020 couldn’t get any crazier, Elon Musk and Grimes had a baby. And they named their new son … wait for it … X Æ A-12 HOLD UP, REALLY? Well … probably not. I should say that Elon Musk announced his new son’s name on Twitter as X Æ A-12. X […]
READ MORE >>New Top 100 Baby Names Predictions
I can’t resist speculating about the new most popular baby names. Data is expected from the US Social Security Administration on Friday, May 8th. The new Top Ten gets all the attention, but it’s worth paying attention to the new Top 100 names, too. Why? First, it’s a common cut-off mark. Publications often print the […]
READ MORE >>Sunday Summary: Anna Mae and Claire Annette
A few months ago, my daughter pointed out that Claire Annette sounded a lot like “clarinet.” It’s the kind of name you can imagine parents choosing without ever noticing the sound. But it’s also the kind of sound you can imagine inspiring a name. Years ago, I met a woman named Amy Erica. Sure enough, […]
READ MORE >>Golden Baby Names: Goldie, Aurelia, Zahava
Golden baby names shimmer. They might feel bold, maybe even a bit flashy. But all of that glitz comes with plenty of meaning, too. After all, Robert Frost’s “Nothing Gold Can Stay” is a poem about the inevitability of change; it’s quoted in classic young adult novel The Outsiders, when Johnny tells Ponyboy to “stay […]
READ MORE >>Name Help: We Agree on Everything … Except a Name
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! Kerry writes: Here’s what my partner and I agree on for our first […]
READ MORE >>Rising Girl Names: Future Top 1000 Trendwatch
Every year, I do my best to predict rising girl names. These are the names most likely to tip into the US Top 1000 when the new data is released. Some years, I feel like a visionary. Other times, my crystal ball is on the fritz. Then again, sometimes it just takes names an extra […]
READ MORE >>Rising Boy Names: Future Top 1000 Trendwatch
For the past several years, I’ve predicted rising boy names. They’re the names most likely to tip into the US Top 1000 when the new data is released. Or I try to predict. Some years, I feel like I’ve got a crystal ball. Other years? Not so much. After a round or two of prognosticating, […]
READ MORE >>Spring Song Title Showdown: Iris Wins!
Our Spring Song Title Showdown has come to a conclusion, and we have a winner. And get this: just three votes put the winning name over the top. Those three little votes earned Iris the crown. WHAT’S ALL THIS ABOUT? A few weeks ago, we started working our way through sixteen girl names, all drawn […]
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