The nickname Cal could be the next Max. Or maybe Gus. Like those two mini names, Cal feels brisk and boyish. Cal is at home in the modern world, but feels like it might’ve stepped off the set of a black-and-white Western, too. It might be complete, just as it is. But another syllable or […]
READ MORE >>Sunday Summary: Iggy, Ziggy, Edith
The future is unknowable, isn’t it? The other day, my twelve year old laughed at the name Gary. In her experience, it’s the name of Sponge Bob Square Pants’ pet snail. It is not a human name. Except of course, it is! There are a great many accomplished, kind, and decent men with the name […]
READ MORE >>Name Help: A Sister for Noah
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! Amber writes: We have a five year old son named Noah Andrew, and […]
READ MORE >>Nickname Winnie: Winter, Winifred, Gwendolyn
The nickname Winnie recently returned to the US Top 1000 for the first time in decades. It fits right in with short, sparky names for our daughters. Think Sadie and Hattie. Light night host Jimmy Fallon helped boost the name when he and wife Nancy Juvonen welcomed daughter Winnie in 2013. She and younger sister, […]
READ MORE >>Name Help: A Sister for Ollie, Evie, and Theo
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! (Another) Abby writes: We are expecting our fourth child and are running into […]
READ MORE >>Choosing Your Child’s Last Name
Let’s talk about choosing your child’s last name. For many years, for most American families, this wasn’t a conversation. Women married men. They took their husband’s family surnames. Their children shared that name, too. I’d say “end of discussion” except … it wasn’t even discussed. It was simply the way of the world. Now, though, […]
READ MORE >>Most Popular Word Names: Maverick, River, Rose
What are the most popular word names right now? It sounds like an easy question, but it’s not always obvious. Once upon a time, mason was a job. But now chances are that Mason is a child (or teenager, or even a grown-up) these days. To make this list of most popular word names, it […]
READ MORE >>Baby Name Kamala: Meaningful and Strong
Could the baby name Kamala become one of the hottest picks for the coming year? The historic candidacy of Senator Kamala Harris for the vice presidency inspired today’s post. LIKE COMMA-LA Harris herself tells us to pronounce it like comma-la, “like the punctuation mark.” Maybe it’s not immediately obvious to English speakers, but it is […]
READ MORE >>Theodora Nicknames: Theda, Teddie, Tess
Looking for Theodora nicknames? Even though it recently entered the US Top 1000, Theodora combines lots of appealing qualities. It’s as classic as Katherine, as nickname-rich as Margaret, and yet still nicely underused. Some of these choices feel easy and obvious. Others might be more of a stretch. But if you’d like to combine long […]
READ MORE >>Boy Names Starting with E: Eli, Ezekiel, Evren
Boy names starting with E make for an intriguing set. There are the classic Eds – Edward, of course, but also Edwin, Edmund, and Edgar. None of them make the ten most popular E boy names. But plenty of E names are topping the charts. Parents are looking to the Old Testament for inspiration, and […]
READ MORE >>- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- …
- 390
- Next Page »