Appellation Mountain

Name of the Day: Coriander

July 29, 2008 By appellationmountain 10 Comments

Parents searching for a truly unusual name sometimes resort to creative respellings or stringing together random syllables. The result is usually a bit of a mess – a name that seems familiar, but still manages to confuse. Still, if you don’t love the throwback vibe we usually feature here, is there another option? We suggest […]

Starbaby News: Welcome Callum MacLachlan

July 29, 2008 By appellationmountain Leave a Comment

We’re always charmed when a recent Name of the Day shows up on a starbaby. Actor Kyle MacLachlan and Project Runaway executive producer Desiree Gruber recently welcomed a son, Callum Lyon MacLachlan. Callum was Name of the Day back on July 13. No word on the thinking behind the middle name, but Callum seems like […]

Name of the Day: Dixon

July 27, 2008 By appellationmountain 7 Comments

Earlier this month, we picked up on a tale of parents naming their son after two radio show hosts in exchange for a $100 gas card. We must say, the mind reels. And yet, reader response was uniformly neutral, mostly because the name in question is rather appealing. It’s also today’s Name of the Day: […]

Name of the Day: Verity

July 26, 2008 By appellationmountain 8 Comments

It feels a bit indulgent, but today we’re trotting out one of our very most favorite monikers for Name of the Day: the virtuous Verity.

Name of the Day: Loveday

July 24, 2008 By appellationmountain 13 Comments

It sounds like a hippie-chic mash-up concocted by a pair of flower children on a commune, the logical choice for Moonglow and Whiteriver’s new sibling. But in fact, it’s a valid surname and given name with a history that stretches nearly a thousand years. Thanks to Katharine for suggesting today’s Name of the Day: the […]

Starbaby News: Ethan Hawke Names Daughter Clementine

July 24, 2008 By appellationmountain Leave a Comment

We must say, we weren’t on pins and needles waiting for the arrival of Ethan Hawke and Ryan Shawhughes’ child. If anything, we grimaced a bit whenever we heard the phrase, “former nanny to Ethan’s children Maya and Levon.” But all that aside, what a fabulous first name they’ve chosen: Clementine. Clementine Jane Hawke arrived […]

Name of the Day: Assumpta

July 22, 2008 By appellationmountain 22 Comments

Today’s Name of the Day is not only an endangered species herself, she’s part of a cluster of names once much in favor in Roman Catholic countries and now seldom heard. They’re the Marians – names taken from titles given to the Virgin Mary, or in some cases, from her major life events or places […]

Name of the Day: Paulina

July 18, 2008 By appellationmountain 7 Comments

For well over a century, Paul was a staple for baby boys born in the US. In fact, he’s quite common the world over. But the most common feminization, Paula, sounds rather dated in 2008. And so we turn our attention to the Italianate version: Paulina. Thanks to Another for suggesting today’s Name of the […]

Name of the Day: Ira

July 17, 2008 By appellationmountain 12 Comments

Depending on your age and interests, the letters I-R-A might signify a retirement account, the Irish Republican Army or a Colombian punk band. But it’s also a boy’s name, and one that’s seldom heard in the US circa 2008. Thanks to Katharine for suggesting today’s Name of the Day: Ira.

Name of the Day: Etienne

July 15, 2008 By appellationmountain 30 Comments

The ApMtn team took a field trip to Montreal a few weeks back, and expected to return with lists of franglais-flavored baby names. As it turned out, most names were simply French. Or English. But we did find ourselves appreciating the assistance of our oh-so charmant concierge. And so we’ve decided to use his appellation […]

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