Billiard No. 13 by nemosocke via Flickr
First, an edit. A few weeks ago, I said something along these lines: “If the kid is good looking a clunky name doesn’t matter.” What I should have said was “if the person is confident …” Beauty is a lottery over which we have no control. (Though Seal and Heidi Klum’s kids are probably set.) But confidence is something we can influence and develop.
Elsewhere online:
- This NameCandy article on favorite MomBlogger baby names is great! She included a few of my favorites, like Girls Gone Child’s Rebecca Woolf’s Archer Sage and Fable Luella;
- I was tickled to see Krickit at For Real Baby Names. My friend C. often says that if she had a late-in-life child, she’d name the baby Cricket. Based on the names of her (nearly grown) kids, I’m sure she’s joking. But Cricket has become a favorite of mine anyhow. This spelling takes a cutesy name and makes it look more like the opening cry of a Beastie Boys song – Kick it! I can’t say it is an improvement;
- Spotted in Iowa BAs – they’re not my style, but I think Gage and Cooper make for a good sibset;
- Could you really name a child Kabuki? Despite the appealing sound, comic book character, I think it probably crosses a line. Kateri, on the other hand, I can understand;
- Speaking of crossing lines, Nancy tells us about marathoner Susan Olsen. She crossed a finish line – then delivered the appropriately-named John Miles;
- I spotted Carmindy again. Is she catching on? Can it be stopped?
- Will Louella, Calix, and Imre have to share their names? They’re among those on the rise at Nameberry;
- I first stumbled across Libba Bray when I wrote about Philippa, and finally had a minute to devour A Great and Terrible Beauty. It’s packed with great girl names: Pippa, Felicity, Gemma. In another book, she named a punk rock angel with spray painted wings Dulcie.
After last week’s trip to the Big Easy to source Mardi Gras names, I’m fishing for something different at Nameberry tomorrow.
It was a quiet week for celeb births. The big news? Martha Stewart is a grandmother. Daughter Alexis welcomed a daughter of her own, named Jude. The best comment on the Appellation Mountain Facebook page goes to C., who pointed out that Alexis “isn’t exactly a frilly traditional girl’s name, either.”
If you have yet to vote in the March Madness Quarter Finals, Girls and Boys, there’s still time. Polls will stay open until Friday morning.
That’s all for this week. As always, thanks for reading!
youcantcallitit says
March 15, 2011 at 6:47 AMCongratulations British American on the birth of George Frederick! What a regal name indeed.
sadiesadie says
March 14, 2011 at 10:52 AMI was so disappointed when I heard the name of Martha Stewarts granddaughter. Really, Jude?
I usually am not bothered by what names people use, but this one really bothers me. There is nothing remotely soft about Jude and that little girl is stuck with a historically strong masculine name.
Judith nn Jude or Judy would have been more appropriate imo.
sadiesadie says
March 14, 2011 at 10:55 AMOh and in England Cricket is sometimes used as a nn for Catherine like Kit is used for Christopher.
British American says
March 14, 2011 at 10:37 AMI have news…
Our 3rd child was born very quickly, early Sunday morning. Our gender surprise baby is a BOY and his name is George Frederick. 😀 He joins big sister Rose Abigail and big brother Henry Robert.
I liked the on-call pediatrician’s comment about George’s name. She seemed to like it and said “No-one’s called George anymore. All the Georges are at least 50 now.” 😛 I did tell her that it’s much more popular in England, as a baby name. Although it was my American husband that picked the first name.
Frederick is a name that I like – we thought about Alfred, after my great grandfather, but George A. reminded me too much of Georgia. So we have Fred from Alfred and Rick from an Uncle Rick. Then after the fact, we found out that my husband’s grandfather’s middle name was Fred (not Frederick) so that works too. (Especially as Henry has the middle name Robert, after his other great grandfather on that side of the family.)
sadiesadie says
March 14, 2011 at 10:57 AMCongrats. George Frederick is very handsome.
appellationmountain says
March 14, 2011 at 10:57 AMCONGRATULATIONS! I’m so happy for you.
And what a great name!
JNE says
March 14, 2011 at 2:35 PMYay! Congratulations!!!!
I love love love the name! (of course, we share a lot of favorites, so not real surprises there, and both of those were on our list and George is Oliver’s middle, so you know I love it!)
Welcome George Frederick!
Julie says
March 14, 2011 at 8:48 PMCongratulations and what a regal name! George and Frederick are both at the top of my list… lovely.
Names4Real says
March 15, 2011 at 7:41 AMCongratulations British American! George Frederick is a very handsome and goes fantastic with Rose & Henry.
Emmy Jo says
March 13, 2011 at 11:54 PMWhen I was a little girl, I went to church with a lovely elderly British widown named Cricket. I would never use the name on a child, but it is awfully sweet.
And — oh my goodness — who runs a marathon at 9 months pregnant? That’s crazy!
Sarah says
March 13, 2011 at 6:44 PMI went to high school with a Cricket. Really. It never occurred to me to question it, either.
Lucy says
March 13, 2011 at 3:57 PMThe cricket mention is apt, since the Cricket World Cup is currently ongoing.
SkyeRhyly says
March 13, 2011 at 1:05 PMI’ve also spotted some funny names on facebook through friends of friends I dont really know.
A guy named Diamond, another one named Mycool (Michael), another named Zaq (Zach), and another one named Kailyp (Caleb).
Patricia says
March 13, 2011 at 12:41 PMI was curious about the name Libba (Bray) and did a quick search. The author’s original name is Martha E. (Elizabeth?). She’s the daughter of a Presbyterian minister and grew up in Texas. I’ve never come across Libba before and kind of like it as a nn for Elizabeth. I like those names from her book too — Gemma, Pippa, Felicity; all seem apt for an English boarding school, but I wonder if they would have been so in 1895 when the novel is set.
Names4Real says
March 13, 2011 at 12:41 PMWhen I was younger, I swore I was going to name my first daughter Cricket (Thanks to mom watching the soap Y & R) so I have a soft spot for the name. It took me a moment to figure out Kricket was Cricket. 🙂 Others I have found this week that take a little deducing are Chel-C (Chelsea), Al-Lexx (Alex), Klowee (Chloe), & Lynkann (Lincoln – a girl!) Some parents go a little crazy trying to creatively spell their child’s name, which always makes reading birth announcements interesting to say the least.
For nameberry tomorrow, you could do Irish names to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day (check out Irishtimes.com Family notices for inspiration) or a blog about Spring names like March, Spring, Iris (meaning rainbow). I’m sure you’ll come up with something great.
Kayt says
March 13, 2011 at 12:25 PMI had a dog named Cricket, so it’s stuck in my head as a Dog Name. It’s a cute nickname, and the respelling over there makes me think of that craft machine doo-hickey, the Cri-cut.
Also, did you see that GGC is expecting twins? Aaah, I can hardly wait to hear names for them!
Joy says
March 13, 2011 at 12:21 PMI love Cricket as a nickname, a la Gidget or Bunny. Also, Susan Olsen also is the name of the child actress who played Cindy on The Brady Bunch.