A Names: The Boys

A Names: The Boys
name (popularity) - origin; meaning
Alexander (4) - Greek; defending warrior
Anthony (10) - Latin; priceless one
Aiden (12) - Irish; little and fiery (this is the most popular of 3 spellings of Aiden in the top 100)
Andrew (15) - Greek; strong and manly
Angel (37) - word name
Aaron (54) - Hebrew; exalted and enlightened
Adrian (58) - Latin; from the Adriatic
Austin (63) - a variation on Augustine; the exalted one
Adam (74) - Hebrew; son of the red earth
Alex (83) - diminutive of Alexander; defending warrior

Asher (165) - Hebrew; fortunate, blessed, happy one
Avery (223) - English; ruler of the Elves
Axel (264) - German; father of peace
Anderson (288) - Scandinavian; son of Anders
Arthur (376) - Celtic; noble one, bear man
Alec (405) - diminutive of Alexander; defending warrior
Abram (493) - Hebrew; father of multitudes
Atticus (609) - Greek; from Athens
Augustus (797) - Latin; exalted one
Alfred (828) - English; wise counselor
My favorites: Alexander (our middle name choice if we have a boy), Asher, Arthur, Abram, Atticus

A Names - The Girls

A Names - The Girls
name (popularity) - origin; meaning

The Popular
Ava (5) - Latin; like a bird
Abigail (8) - Hebrew; my father is joyful
Addison (12) - English; son of Adam
Alexis (13) - English; man’s defender
Alyssa (19) - English; noble
Ashley (20) - English; dweller near the ash tree meadow
Anna (29) - Hebrew; grace
Allison (30) - Scottish; noble
Avery (32) - English; ruler of the elves
Aubrey (41) - English; elf ruler
Alexa (42) - Greek; man’s defender
Audrey (49) - English; noble strength

The Obscure
Adriana (125) - Latin; from the Adriatic
Annabelle (156) - French; loving
Ariel (206) - Hebrew; lion of God
Aurora (217) - Latin; dawn
Alice (258) - German; noble
Adeline (351) - French; noble
Athena (430) - goddess in Greek mythology
Arabella (447) - Latin; beautiful altar
Aria (513) - Italian; a melody
Ada (573) - German; noble
Aimee (819) - French; beloved
Alana (991) - Irish; cheerful

My favorites: Ava, Allison, Audrey, Aurora, Alice, Adeline, Arabella, Aria

New Technique

I'm going to try something a little different.  Every so often, or however often I feel like, I am going to post names by their beginning letter.  I may do multiple posts on a letter later on depending on how many great names there are out there!  For instance, there are LOTS of L names to look at.  Anyway, I'll start in the next day or two and see how this goes!

Patrick and Ellany

Patrick


-meaning: noble
-origin: English
-potential nicknames: Pat, Rick
 
I honestly can't explain to you what it is about this name that I like so much.  I just do!  It is very reminiscent of Ireland, most obviously because of Saint Patrick's Day.  It's a classic name that has a lot of charm, and as a bonus, it isn't very popular.  It is #127 in the United States, and #19 in Ireland, have to love that :).
 
Ellany


-meaning: black (Melanie without the M)
-origin: Greek
-potential nickname: Ella, Elle
 
I love pretty much any name with Ella in it and this is no exception.  I also like the name Melaine, but Ellany is a little less expected.  It is not in the top 1000 in the US and there probably is only a small number of children who have this name.  Like less than 100 for the past few years.  The closest name I've found to Ellany on a baby name website is Elani.  Not quite the same, but close.  Ellany would certainly be one of a kind!

Names from the State

Regional Name Trends

Ever think "I love the name Lillian!  And it isn't too popular.  At least it isn't a top 10 name."  Well, you would only be partially correct.  Some names that don't even reach the top 25 are top 10 names in certain states.  Lillian IS a favorite of mine, so it stuck out when I saw this list.  Lillian is the number 10 name in Indiana.  This leads me to wonder how many names are popular in some states but aren't quite so popular nationally. 

Girls
Aurora is #17 in Alaska but #288 nationally.
Genesis is #13 in District of Columbia but #95 nationally.
Khloe is #13 in Hawaii but #196 nationally.
Malia is #16 in Hawaii but #345 nationally.
Aspen is #16 in Wyoming but #700 nationally.

Boys
Ezekiel is #11 in Hawaii but #241 nationally.
Micah is #15 in Hawaii but #123 nationally.
Issac is #17 in Colorado but #377 nationally.
Ryker is #22 in Utah but #420 nationally.
Tanner is #13 in Wyoming but #163 nationally.

Some of these are real shockers for multiple reasons.  I didn't realize Genesis was even that popular nationally!  I've personally never met a Genesis.  These names had the most drastic difference between their popularity in a certain state and their popularity nationally.  There are others that show up in a states top 20 but aren't quite as popular nationally, however, these names were more interesting to me.  Are there any names that you had no clue were popular nationally, much less in any state?

Am I a Broadcaster or a Keeper?

I am a BIG TIME broadcaster. With Bella, we figured out what we wanted to name her shortly after we found out she was a girl. I didn't discuss names too much with anyone before hand mostly because I only had a couple of girls name and that was it.

This time, I have had a lot more choices on my list and I've decided to talk to only a select few people about the names I like. We've had to reassess a name or two so far, but now no one has anything negative to say about what we've now chosen. That's not to say we can't change our minds, because you can ALWAYS change your mind. Remember that!

Because I'm a broadcaster, and we are close to the whole finding out the sex thing, I wanna put up the names that we considered but didn't ultimately choose. You'll have to wait til probably the day before the sonogram to find out the final selections.

Boys
Asher
Finn
Liam
Nathaniel

Girls
Adriana
Alice
Elena
Eliana

Keep it or Hide it?

Do you broadcast or do you hoard your names?  I just read an article about this subject.  I have been thinking about it more often because the number of people I know who are pregnant is increasing.  I'm always curious to see if the parents are going to find out the sex, what names they like, and whether or not they are going to talk to others about the names they do or don't like.  In the article, the author talks about two types of parents in relation to announcing names: broadcasters and keepers.  Let's talk about what it means to be one of those types.

Alrighty, Broadcasters (all points may not apply to you in the fullest extent):
-The minute you figure out your short list of names you announce it to everyone who will listen.
-When you find out the sex of your baby, you tell all of your friends and family the name you've chosen for your little sweetie.
-You use Facebook to update your distant friend and family base to announce the name.

• Benefits: Your choice is out there and is less likely to be used by friends and family.  You can also talk through your choices with close family and friends to be sure that this is the name you are going to stick with.
• Drawbacks: You lose some of the mystery of the birth of your child.  If everyone knows the name, that's one less thing to look forward to.  You may also lock yourself into a choice and feel like you can't change your mind.  Some also contend that sharing the name can really hurt if anything should go wrong.

And now, the Keepers:
-You only discuss your choices with your significant other.
-You wait until after the birth of your child to share the name you have chosen.
-You may not ever share the baby's name on an online forum.

• Benefits: No one has a good chance to tell you their negative thoughts of the name you have chosen.  If the baby is here, they'd be a real jerk to tell you they hate your name choice.
• Drawbacks:  Someone may choose the name you like before you get to use it.  Also, there may be someone close to you who has a very bad memory of someone else with the name you've chosen to give your child.  You also lose the benefit of bouncing ideas off of an impartial party to get a little bit of outside input on the names you like.

Now, you don't have to be one or the other.  The beauty of these types is that they can be combined!  What's the best way to do so?  Well, do as the article said!  Select a small few to discuss name choices,  someone who has a grip on the names that are out there and someone who knows your family well so that you don't use a taboo name.  Of course, you can take any level of mixture of these types when you are selecting names for your child.  So, are you a broadcaster or a keeper?

Is it Matthew or Matthias?

The Global Hit Name You Haven't Noticed

The above article poses a great point.  There are so many names that have multiple versions used around the world.  Matthew alone ranks in the top 100 of at least 37 countries, according to the article.  In Belgium, 5 versions of Matthew rank in the top 100! 

Some other names that have various international versions are Christina and Christopher, Anne, George, Elizabeth, Helen (LOVE Helena!), Joseph, Peter, Stephen, and Mary.  You can find these lists on nameberry.com.  There are even a few more names mixed in there. 

I unknowingly call my daughter a form of Elizabeth (Bella).  It does make sense to me though.  I love Elizabeth and many of it's variations, Bella being one of them!  Are there any names you love that are international versions of a more common name? 

Fast to Rise and Fast to Fall

Baby Name Wizard Names of the decade (2000s)

OK, this list is wonderful and sad all at the same time.  In the link above, there's a list of the names that rose the fastest from 2000-2009 and the names that fell the fastest from 2000-2009.  Now you may think that I find those that rose to be great and those that fell to be sad.  That would not be entirely true.  Let's take a look at the lists and what I think is great and what is...not so great.

Names that rose:
GIRLS
1. Kaydence-I like this name, but with its traditional musical spelling.  To me, its Cadence, not Kaydence.
2. Miley-This name isn't terrible, but I'm not really on the Miley band wagon.  Its a made up name that came from a cute word (smiley), but its still made up.
3. Nevaeh-Ouy....I'm sorry, but I'm really not a fan of Nevaeh.  I just don't understand this trend whatsoever.  I'd take a little one named Heaven over Nevaeh any day.
4. Rihanna-Cute name.  Sexy music star.  Nothing bad here!
5. Khloe-I do love the name Chloe, but again its all about the spelling.  I don't think Khloe, I think Chloe.

BOYS
1. Aaden-Another name that can be spelled 20 different way when it shouldn't be, but to each their own.
2. Maddox-This is a cute name.  It has the X-factor, quite literally, which is really popular even now. 
3. Gael-I have no strong feelings on this name one way or the other.  I have no idea where this one came from, though.
4. Aiden-Didn't we just see this name?  Yes.  Yes we did.  But this is the spelling I know and love!
5. Kingston-Not a name I would use, but hey, you named your kid King!  That's pretty cool!

Names that fell:
GIRLS
1. Hannah (my fave of all of these lists)
2. Jessica
3. Megan-
4. Amanda
5. Lauren

BOYS
1. Nicholas
2. Zachary
3. Kyle
4. Jared
5. Brandon
I have one general comment for all of the girls and boys names that have fallen the fastest. That comment is that there are too many parents who find the names dated to the 80s and 90s. Its sad because these are all great names, but they're girls names, and girls names trend harder and faster than boys names probably ever will.
 
Now, what will we see in another 10 years?  If I had to guess, I think that some of the names we'll see on the rising list are:
GIRLS
-Mirabella-I think at least one of the not popular yet Bella names is gonna get this moniker after the next decade.  Mirabella is the least popular now.
-Freya-I'm rooting for it, at least.
BOYS
-Finnigan-Finn is popular, and I bet this will break into the top 1000 very soon.
 
GIRLS
-Emily
-Nevaeh (I hope)
BOYS
-Aiden (or at least one of its variants: Brayden, Jayden, Kayden, etc.)
 
Its a bit more difficult to guess for the boys because, again, the names don't trend as quickly as the girls names.  But that's my short prediction.  Take a guess for yourself.  Are there any names you see becoming extraordinarily popular in the next decade?  Or falling of the popularity bandwagon?

Feel the Heat!

Summer Time Names

I read this article and thought about how many of these names we actually hear anymore.  You have some obvious choices:
Summer- This name isn't one that I hear very often, but I've known a couple of twenty-something Summers.  I was surprised to find that Summer is still in the top 200 names, but it is on the decline.

June- Super popular from the 1910s to the 1930s, June has just popped back on the top 1000 radar.  Its also rising somewhat quickly.  It rose 205 spots from 2008 to 2009.  We could be seeing this a lot more often in the future (not just as a middle name).  Also, don't forget, we get this from Juno ;).

August- In particular, I like this choice.  Its got a super cool sound to it, definitely for a boy!  The name was most popular at the turn of the 19th century and shortly into the 20th century.  However, August is slowly making a comeback. 


Then for summer names, there are, perhaps, some less obvious choices:
Heather- Its a summer flower folks!  I love this name.  Heather peaked in the 70s, big time.  It was a top 10 name!  But now, Heather is on the decline.  It makes me sad, because Heather is such a pretty name.

Sky- Sure!  You bet this is a summer name.  I know we always have a sky, but we think about it most in the spring and summer, when the sky is most clear and beautiful.  Now, to me, this can be a boy or girls name, but it has only shown up on the girls top 1000 in the recent past.  Skyler, on the other hand, is far more popular for both girls and boys. 

Julie or Julia- The Jul- names are variations of Julius, which is where we got July from.  Julia has never really gone below the top 150 mark.  Its a definite classic.  Julie personally reminds me of the 1970s and guess when it peaked!  It rose to popularity in the 60s and 70s and has been on the decline ever since.  If you really wanted, you could use July, too.  Its a name that ends in a "y" without having the "ee" sound at the end, which isn't very common.

Summer is full of loads of naming inspiration and I only mentioned a very small few of your choices.  There are tons of summer flowers that we use for naming inspiration, many are mentioned in the link above.  Anyway, take a look and see if you can think of any other names that remind you of summer!

Can you say goodbye to a name?

Check out the link below! 
The Name not Taken

The post takes a very good look at what it means for parents to give up a name.  I already am starting to feel this pain.  Steve doesn't get attached to names like I do.  If I find a name that really strikes a cord with me, its really hard to let it go.  In fact, I have a back burner list of names that I would use for novel characters (should I ever get around to doing so).  These are names that I adore so much and wish I could have used, but won't get a chance to for one reason or another.  Now, I'm going to share some of the names that I know I won't get a chance to use no matter how many kids I have in the future.

For the girls (basically, all of these are names that Steve won't let me use):

Lyra- This is one of the coolest names I've ever heard.  I first heard it when I read The Golden Compass.  The name has such a vintage feel to it and I've mentioned before how much I love vintage names.  Its also almost unheard of here in the US.  That makes it extra appealing to me.  I don't quite understand how its so unpopular here unless everyone thinks like Steve, who says people told him the name was too close to the word "liar".  Anyway, its a super cute name that has great potential!
Hermione- This name has a similar fate as Lyra due to similar reasons.  Steve can't imagine using this name because of the character from Harry Potter.  There is also the fact that it is a little too out there for his tastes.  I love this name for the exact same reasons as Lyra: its got a vintage feel and its uncommon.  I hope that more people start using this name, even if its for a child's middle name!  Its an underused gem that is just too cool to pass up, in my opinion.
Freya- Its a goodess' name!  How cool is that?  Its also really popular in Britain, so I wouldn't be surprised if we see it pop up in the top 1000 names in the US sometime in the future.  This name doesn't necessarily sound vintage to me, but it has the uncommon factor going for it, big time!  The reason I can't use this name is because it is the name of a video game boss and that is what we would always be reminded of when we looked at our daughter.  Its so sad because this is another really pretty name that is just begging to be used!

For the boys (if we don't have a boy now, we'll keep the choice we've made if we do have a boy later):

Max- Oh, I love this name.  Its so cool and it has the vintage vibe I love.  However, that vintage vibe is slowly being replaced by a trendy vibe.  That is why both Steve and I have decided to retire this name.  When even Steve says a name is getting too trendy for him, then its serious.  I'll always love Max and I will miss this choice greatly. 
Finn- Another name that Steve just won't go for.  He was willing to use it as a middle name, but the combination we had we've decided to pass on.  I think Finn is one of the most handsome choices for a boy out there!  And other people are agreeing with me.  The proof is in the pudding and Finn is rising steadily in popularity.  Soon enough, its probably going to be a top 100 name and I hope more parents continue to chose this name for their little boys!
Emerson- Unfortunately, we're slowly loosing this name to the girls!  Its a really neat choice for book lovers because Ralph Waldo Emerson was an amazing writer and what a great way to celebrate that.  Emerson is a fairly popular name, there are people using it for boys, as well as girls.  However, I don't think that this name has the qualities that Steve likes for a boys name.  It was another possible middle name choice, but it never made it onto our final list of choices.
Graham- Oh, I've gotten so much grief for loving this name.  I think the favored complaint is Graham cracker.  I think Gray is a really handsome nickname to go with this name, but, again, Steve just can't bring himself to get on board with this name.  I don't see this name becoming too popular, which appeals to me, but if its going down in popularity, that kinda gives Steve more evidence that this may not be the name for us. 

I know I've put the weight on Steve for giving up these names, but I value his opinion greatly and its his kid too.  For me, we both have to like the name, preferably love the name!  These are the gems that I love so much that we have decided to pass on.  Feel free to see if you can get your significant others on board to use one of them.  Someone should :)!