Sunday Summary: Name Games, Multiple Middles, and Vitus

Maybe you do this, too. You hear a name. It’s not the kind of name that you’d hear on a person, at least not a real live person you’d be likely to meet today. Certainly not a child. At first, it’s unwearable. A jaw-dropping surprise. Nope, nope, nope.

But then you talk yourself into it. After all, it sounds an awful lot like x, y, and z popular names. And that reference that you’re thinking of? It’s pretty darn obscure. Plus, parents are always looking for the new. Why not this name?

Emily had me in onomastic contortions over Vitus the other day. It’s on her list of 14 Boys’ Names from Ancient Rome. I think it works. How ’bout you?

Elsewhere online:

• Oh, this story of what happens when a dad names the daughter! Perfection.
• And this story of a couple who went wild with the middle names – including one that’s not quite a name. I don’t think I would dare – well, wait. If it were up to me, then yes. More middle names than Uma’s Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence Thurman-Busson would be on the table. But my husband raises an eyebrow after two.
• Speaking of middles: Kara paired ancient girls names with vintage middles, and the result is stunning. I’m swooning over Sybil Josephine. There’s a boys’ version, too!
• Ever wonder how nuns get their names? Kate dives in to the question here.
• Um, Nancy has turned her five-name Fridays into YouTube videos! This week’s is below. (If you’re reading via email, click here to go directly to YouTube.)

• Okay, I’m not going to name a daughter Libuše, but Bree has convinced me that it’s just downright gorgeous. If you’re looking for a list of more accessible names meaning love, try here.
• Have any thoughts on Mindy Kaling’s baby name? No? Check out Romper’s list here. More wearable than you might expect …
• While we’re on celebrity baby names, the internet cannot get enough of Rumi! That’s even more true now that we know Jay-Z mentions the poet on his latest, 4:44.
• Sophie Money-Coutts defends a daffy name. Or two. (Found via the marvelous Scoop.it Name News site run by Clare.) Even if you don’t know Sophie’s name, you almost certainly have read her words on baby names before – here’s the list of poshest baby names she put together for Tatler last year.)
• From the wayback machine:
  • One year ago, I posted this list of seven-letter traditional girl names.
  • In 2015, I shared eight things I’ve learned about baby names as a parent.
  • Wallis was featured three years ago.
  • And, of course, in 2013, it was all about George Alexander Louis.

Before we go, a reminder: if you haven’t voted in the New Names Showdowns Final Round, now’s your chance! The girls’ contest is here, and you can vote for the boys’ winner here.

That’s all for this week! As always, thank you for reading – and have a great week!