Happy Sunday!
A random thought: our daughter – our younger child – has a bonus middle. It’s Wren, inspired by sister’s childhood nickname, Bird. Had we had another daughter, I was toying with using more avian appellations – Lark and Swan topped my list.
I’ve often mused about a bonus middle for our firstborn. He’s Alexander Arthur, two family names honoring his paternal grandfather, maternal great-grandfather, and dad – all in a mere six syllables. Though he wears it proudly, I’ve always wished the name had a little more spark. If I’d been thinking about it, I might’ve snuck in the bonus middle Frost. He’s a winter baby, born the night after the first real dusting of snow fell for the season.
Except now? That would make him Alexander A.F.
Ahem.
A.F. wasn’t a thing back in 2004. And maybe it won’t be a thing in 2024 or so. But for the moment? Well, my teenager thought it was terribly funny when we realized how his maybe-name could’ve played out.
Initials, they really can sabotage a great name!
Elsewhere online:
- How amazing is this? This couple decided to walk across the country. They’d made it all the way to Idaho when she gave birth to son Onyx Wolfric. It’s the wildest, loveliest story I’ve heard in a while. Thanks to @Sage_Master for the find.
- That reminds me of this post I wrote about names for children of runners. Related: I really want someone to name a daughter Atalanta. It’s crazy how rare this name is!
- I’m not sure how this got on my radar, but the founders of Alpha Delta Pi sorority have some amazing, elegant, and oh so very vintage names. (Which makes sense, since their story dates to the middle of the nineteenth century.) How great are Eugenia, Ella, Octavia, Elizabeth, Sophronia, and Mary?
- She says Thor; he says George. Where’s the middle ground for this family? Swistle, as always, has excellent advice for finding a compromise.
- This list of sweet, sassy Southern names ranges from Top 100 favorites to the completely unexpected.
- One of the sweet, sassy Southern names also makes this list of rare, classy girl names – and I agree that it fits both!
- Not only did the boys of Hanson create a super-catchy mega-hit single before they were out of high school, but they grew up to be great baby namers. See the pregnancy announcement – and learn the names of their five older kids – here.
- The top names in Spain. I think we’ll be hearing more of Hugo, Alba, and maybe even Alvaro in the next few years in the US, too.
- And what was big in Britain way back in 1840! The Top 20 or so are predictable, but the farther you scroll, the more surprises – and delights – you’ll find.
- All about the next royal bride’s unusual given name. Could we see an uptick in the number of girls named Eugenie? A mere eight were born in 2017.
- This: “Thinking more carefully and a bit more gently about how we judge people might be good …” Why is it okay to be so very harsh and dismissive about what other people name their children? Found via the marvelous Scoop.it page Name News, curated by the one-and-only Clare.
- While we’re in Australia with Clare, how much do I want to go read every. single. name on this banner?
- “… none of us are exactly rational when we’re talking about something as significant as a person’s actual name.” So true! Also, I really like Duana’s solution to this naming dilemma.
That’s all for this week! As always, thank you for reading – and have a great week!
