tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35176432634219665272024-03-12T16:49:34.511-07:00Nameaholics AnonymousUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-83514605088911398832014-05-09T19:23:00.002-07:002014-05-09T19:28:42.172-07:00Top Name? Don't Despair! The 2013 SSA baby name data has been released! This is very exciting news in the naming community. I of course ran to share the news on Facebook and other places. A few of my friends responded with either a sad tone of "oh, the name I like is more popular than I thought" or "is it really bad to choose a popular name?"<br />
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The point of this blog post is to say - don't despair if you love a popular name. For starters, popularity is only one fact about a name, a fact people should be aware of but doesn't necessarily dictate name choice, it is entirely up to the parents. But more significantly, baby names are much more diverse than they used to be. A name being ranked #1 doesn't have the same punch it used to have, because even though its the MOST popular, its less popular than #1 from decades past - significantly so. <br />
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I know other bloggers have looked at this, but it can be said again and again, and demonstrated in many ways, so here are some numbers.<br />
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In 2013, the number one girls name is Sophia. There were 21,075 babies born named Sophia in 2013, or 1.1% of all girls.<br />
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Lets compare that to the year 1980. In 1980, Jennifer was the #1 name, representing 58,385 births (3.2%). So, despite both being #1 names, Jennifer was effectively 3x more common than Sophia is.<br />
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If there were 21,075 Sophia's born in 1980, the name would have been ranked 6th overall. By percentage, it would have been ranked 8th. It would be about as popular as Amy. Yes, a common 1980 name, but not an issue where you have a bunch in the same classroom usually. <br />
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The #20 name in 2013 was Evelyn, with 7616 births and .39%. That percentage in 1980 would make it be ranked 42nd (it would be about as popular as the name Brandy or Christine. Do you know a 34 yr old Christine or Brandy? Maybe, but I doubt you think of either name being overly popular.<br />
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This new distribution, with people choosing a wider variety of names, means it is also harder to have a truly "rare' name. The 500th name in 2013 is Emersyn, with .0312%. The 500th name in 1980 was Alaina and represented .0229% of the girls born. Alaina at 500 was less common than Emersyn at 500. If Emersyn had this frequency in 1980, it would have been ranked 402, about as popular as Penny.<br />
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<b>The take away from all these numbers? </b><br />
- Unless you rank popularity as very important in your personal naming criteria, don't worry too much if a name you love is popular. It doesn't mean your kid will be "Evelyn K." or "Evelyn J." in her classroom. Names are less common. <br />
- Don't try too hard to be unique, its nearly impossible in the current naming atmosphere, and growing more difficulty every year as more parents try. The more parents want to be unique, the less unique options there are.<br />
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<b>The Disclaimers</b><br />
- All the above calculations? Doesn't account for name spellings and variations! If you <i>are</i> particularly concerned with how popular a name you use, you can't just count Sophia. You probably want to count Sofia, Sofie, and Sophie as well.<br />
<b>- </b>And, as usual, don't forget shared nicknames. Evelyn might not be all that common (even at #20), but you might run into a lot of girls named "Evie" as this nickname can be derived from many other names as well.<br />
- There is extreme local variance in name popularity. You might choose the #20 name only to find out its #1 in your state or community. State level data is available for download from the SSA baby name site (link on the right). Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-29997140363413972842014-03-15T12:15:00.000-07:002014-03-15T12:15:13.131-07:00What Makes a Name Trendy? I have been frequenting a baby name message board recently, and people frequently are surprised when a name they like is called "trendy" by other users. When I have time, I like to bother answering them. Today I had a lot of time, and thought, hey I did so much research on this, surely it is worthy of a blog post.<br />
<b>Question: </b><span id="replies">I don't understand what makes a name trendy? I have
not heard the name Kenzie anywhere around me and I've lived in 3 states
and worked in a pre-k class for 2 years before my daughter was born. Is
it super common now or something or is it just common around where you
all live?</span><br />
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<span id="replies"><b>Answer: </b> </span><span id="replies">Many factors go into determining if a name is "trendy", and in this case, the label is very apt. </span><br />
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<span id="replies"><i>(Rapidly) Increasing Popularity:</i> If a name was not popular, and then rises very quickly, that is a sign that its trending. Kenzie has risen from 871 to 270 in the last 20 years. That isn't insanely quick, but its a good pace. </span><span id="replies"></span><span id="replies"> </span><br />
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<span id="replies"><i>General Style: </i>Even if a specific name isn't popular, it may have the feel of many popular names. Kenzie is not top 100, but it has the same feel to it (cute, "ee" sound ending, casual sound) as the top 100 names Hailey, Kaylee, Riley, Kylie, Bailey, as well as other "trending" names like Paisley (104), Rylee (109), Sadie (120).. .etc. The list could go on. On top of this stylistic match, there is the fact Kenzie has both a "z" and "k", both "sought after" letters that are drawing parents in. </span><br />
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<span id="replies"><i>Name Family</i>: A single name that rises quickly but stays out of the top 100 isn't really trending... but if it is part of a name family, all of which are gaining in popularity, it is definitely trendy. This is the strongest argument for Kenzie's trendiness. It is actually a nickname for the longer name Mackenzie, so we have to consider the popularity of this name as well. Mackenzie is ranked 71st, then add in Makenzie (150), and McKenzie (152). These four names combined make up .4756% of all girls born in 2012, that is as popular as Ella, the #12 name for the year. Also, all of these names are on the rise, along with the very similar McKenna (226), Makenna (229), Kendall (116), Kendra (387) and Kenley (449). </span><br />
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<span id="replies">All in all, yes, Kenzie is definitely trendy. That is a piece of information expectant parents should have, but its not necessarily a bad thing. There are all sorts of reasons for why trendy names are good, but that would require its own post. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-46286813785985428852014-02-09T13:12:00.000-08:002014-02-09T13:12:26.770-08:00Harry Potter Alphabet: J is for JanusWhen I was younger, J was one of my favorite naming letters. It is the reason I love the name Benjamin. Now, a bit older, and I actually find J to be a challenge for naming, and it appears that I am not alone - JK Rowling only used six "J" names in her books, and some of these are a stretch - one is a surname, and one is a middle name. <br />
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<b>Justin </b>- Justin is an old Latin name, related to the name Justus, and the word Justice. It means "just, upright, and righteous". Most popular in the late 80s/early 90s, the name is still in the top 100, but on the decline. (Justin Finch-Fletchley)<br />
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<b>Jack </b>- American is no stranger to Jack. This exact variant has been in the top 100 since 1996, and other versions (Jackson, Jax, Jaxon, etc) also all have had recent popularity. Jack is originally a nickname for John, but broke off on its own a long time ago. (Jack Sloper)<br />
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<b>Jane </b>(Deloris Jane Umbridge) - Jane is very popular as a middle name currently. (So popular I have feared when making my own name decisions that it is this generation's version of Lynn. You would be astounded by how many women my age have the middle name Lynn). Despite its middle name popularity, it is ranked rather low (mid 300s) as a first name. The saying tied to the name is "Plain Jane", and I have seen several women worry that they "like the name, but is it too boring?". I don't think its boring at all. I think its classy, and sometimes, simple is exactly what we need. <br />
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<b>Jordan</b> (Lee Jordan) - So, Jordan is actually used as a surname in Harry Potter, but fans now that this character rarely goes by his first name Lee. The voice of Professor McGonnagal shouting Jordan still echoes in my ears. Jordan is one of my favorite gender-neutral names. (OK... it actually might be one of the only gender-neutral names I like!). It has been in the top 1000 for awhile, but really took off as a boy's name in the 80s (right around the time Michael Jordan entered the scene... coincidence? I think not...). <br />
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<b>James </b>(James Potter) - Regal, Biblical, and overall, classic. James reached its all time low of popularity in 2010... when it hit 19th. That's right, since 1880, James has never fallen out of the top 100. Talk about a perennial. <br />
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<b>Janus</b> (Janus Thickey) - This boys name Janus is an old Latin name, also the Roman god of doors. It means "gateway". Similar sound female names, like Janet, Janice, and Janelle are a bit out of fashion. Does that mean Janus is outdated, or due for a comeback? (Janus Thickey)<br />
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<i>So what do you think? Is there a James or Jane in your future? What about the more unique Janus? Did Rowling do "J" justice? </i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-65171099842338126322014-02-05T04:00:00.000-08:002014-02-05T04:00:00.109-08:00How to Get Your Nickname: CarlieIn 2012, 2287 girls in the US were named some version of Carlie. The most popular spelling is Carly, followed by Carlee, Carlie, Carley, and Carleigh in that order. A similar name, Carla, is also ranked in the top 1000. Love the sound of Carlie but want to give your kid a more formal option? Try on the names below for size...<br />
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<b>Charlotte </b>- Growing in popularity, and most recently coming at 19th, many mom's are choosing this with the nicknames of Charlie or Lottie in mind, but Carlie is just as fitting! <br />
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<b>Charletta</b> - If Charlotte is getting too popular for your taste, you could try this variation. <br />
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<b>Caroline - </b>Carlie is a more updated nickname for this old classic then Carol. Just as with Charlotte and Charlette, Carolina is also an option (or Carolin).<br />
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<b>Carabella - </b>Belle names are all the vogue, (in fact this <a href="http://www.babynamewizard.com/archives/2014/1/bell-epoque" target="_blank">blog</a> at Baby Name Wizard lists 146 Belle names that made it into the public SSA records in 2012), so why not Carabelle? It could have a great meaning too - beloved beauty. <br />
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<b>Carlicia </b>- This is probably one of the most direct routes to Carlie, along with the slight variations of Carlisa and Caralisa.<br />
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<b>Charlene </b>- I am not sure this name is quite ready for a comeback. It was most popular in 1949, when it reached the rank of 100th, but has declined since then and fell entirely out of the top 1000 in the 2000. But if you want to use it as an honor name, Carlie could be a great nickname. <br />
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<b>Carmella </b>- A more feminine frilly version of Carmen. <br />
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<b>Caraliesa - </b>This is especially good for people who love the sound of Carlie but want something more formal! A similar option is Caralie.<br />
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<b>Scarlett/Scarletta </b>- It is always hard to identify the names that have the nickname in the middle, but this one is obvious. Currently ranked 61st, it is a trendy choice, but the nickname Carlie could offer another twist. <br />
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So what do you think? Any of these worth considering? Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-47504823353264091562014-02-03T04:00:00.000-08:002014-02-03T04:00:00.484-08:00Northern Minnesota Real Names (January 2014)Dom Kenneth<br />
Luca Christopher<br />
Orlando John<br />
Robert Allert-Nordman<br />
Dominic Robert<br />
Fisher Kelvin<br />
Jacob Benjamin<br />Morrison Lawrence<br />
Jaden Elias<br />
Jaxon Timothy<br />
Bennett Robert <br />
Caleb Joseph<br />
Lucas Stephen<br />
Damasio Tony<br />
Cohen Robert<br />
Roman Cameron<br />
Rhett James<br />
Parker Joseph<br />
Ward William<br />
Eirik Harold William<br />
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Olivia Genevieve<br />
Gianna<br />
IraRose Reign<br />
Riley Marie<br />
Maizie Mae<br />
Isla Denise <br />
McKinlee Anne Marie<br />
Willow Barbara-Kit<br />
Chelsea Fay<br />
Isla Kathleen<br />
Karly Kathleen<br />
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<i>Any comments? Two Isla's in one month. I knew this name was on the rise, maybe is climbing faster then we would have suspected!! Also, a lot of double middle names - and hyphenated middle names, something I hadn't really considered. </i> <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-75392432814648872172014-01-31T11:04:00.002-08:002014-01-31T11:04:26.531-08:00The Nickname MythI have blogged before about using nicknames as given names. Its an ongoing controvery in the naming world. Many people would say its a current trend. Often, when it is discussed, it is treated as a new phenomenon - something to be compared to the classic tradition of giving full names on the birth certificate. This characterization, however, doesn't hold up to some basic research. Even if using nicknames as given names IS a trend, which I also question, it is certainly a recurring trend, not a brand new dilemma. <br />
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I discovered this rarely-known piece of information when I was looking for new baby name inspiration (Yes, despite my blog-silence, my name obsession has continued). Tired of looking at the 2012 SSA records and thinking "none of these names are CLASSIC enough for me", I pulled up the oldest records the SSA has available for babynames - 1880. What I found surprised me. <br />
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The following names were all in the top 100 in 1880: Minnie, Annie, Nellie, Carrie, Jennie, Hattie, Mattie, Lula, Fannie, Mamie, Effie, Sallie, Nettie, Lizzie, Susie, Etta, Kate, Addie, Lulu, Lottie, Nannie, Lottie, Katie, Leo, Dan, Ray, Alex, Charlie, Jack, Ben, Ed, Jim, Tom, Sam, Will, Joe, Fred, and Frank. And those are just the OBVIOUS nicknames I didn't include things like Harry, Mollie, Elsie, or Lillie, which could be viewed as stand alone names depending on the definition. Thats 38 names out of 200 that were very common given names, but would be considered nicknames today. (On an entirely seperate note, holy -ie endings batman!!! Seriously, I am not sure they believed in the letter "y" at all!!) <br />
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So, in 1880, 14% of top 100 given names were obvious nicknames. Let's compare that to today. The following names are currently in the top 100 (as of 2012... I can't wait for the 2013 data!!) - Kayla, Ellie, Alex, Eli, and Liam. A measly 5 name, or 2.5% are nicknames, and thats counting Liam as a nickname, which at this point could be considered a stand alone name as much as Mollie and Harry are. <br />
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Is 2% really a trend? I don't think so. I can't go through every year to gather statistics on that, I don't have time. But, it wouldn't suprise me to find out that having ONLY 5 of the Top 100 names be nicknames is actually quite low. <br />
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Conclusion?? There is not a "epidemic" of using nicknames as given names, and even if this was a current popular trend, it wouldn't be a new trend, but rather just cycling back to the past as we always do. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-48486384552947197712013-10-21T16:19:00.000-07:002013-10-21T16:19:50.159-07:00Northern Minnesota Real Names (Oct 13 and 20th)<b>Boys</b> <br />
Louis H<br />
Thomas John <br />
Tallon Raining<br />
Benjamin Theodore<br />
Bryton Phoenix<br />
Bryson James<br />
Ernest Leroy <br />
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<b>Girls</b><br />
Sophia Joyce<br />
Piper June<br />
Rowan Marie<br />
Berit Emily<br />
Freya Vivianna<br />
Aria Lynn Marie<br />
Charlotte Nancy<br />
Mila Kaelynn Sam<br />
Lanie Beth<br />
Janaya Jo <br />
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<b>Twins!</b><br />
Emily Rae and Elise Marie<br />
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<i>Funny that two names that <a href="http://nameberry.com/blog/28-surprising-baby-names-on-the-rise" target="_blank">Nameberry</a></i> <i>recently listed as on the rise appeared this week (Freya and Louis). What do you think of a little girl named Berit? </i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-24756632324137788322013-10-16T08:00:00.000-07:002013-10-16T08:00:01.644-07:00Name Inspiration: The Little Mermaid SistersAccording to Disney, King Triton, ruler of the see in <i>The Little Mermaid</i>, is quite the naming buff (or maybe its his never-seen wife?). He has seven daughters, all with complex "A" names, ending of course in the main character Ariel. Her is some "under the sea" inspired names for you! <br />
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<b>Attina</b> - A name with unknown origins, used infrequently. Possibly a take on Athena (Greek goddess of wisdom, strategy, and heroes. Possibly a female version of the ancient Macedonian name Attinas. Also a place name - there is an Atina, Italy, an Atina, Greece, and an Atina, Turkey (as well as an Atina, Ohio, because the U.S. loves to borrow place names). Or, just play on the common name ending/nickname Tina. <br />
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<b>Aquata - </b>With Aqua right in it, its hard to miss this beinga play on the word for water (especially as it is assigned to a mermaid in this case). It is actually a Latin word meaning "having a watery constitution". <br />
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<b>Adrina - </b>This is a variant of the Latin name Adrienne, meaning "from Hadria".<br />
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<b>Adella </b>- A variant of the Old German "Adela" or "Adelaide", which all mean "Noble and Kind". <br />
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<b>Arista - </b>A Greek name meaning "the best", related to the word Aristocrat, comes in variant forms Aristella and Aristelle.<br />
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<b>Alana </b>- A derivation of the masculine Alan or possible old German Elaine. Depending on how you come to it, it could have many different meanings and is a rather modern version of the name.<br />
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<b>Ariel - </b>And here is the big one, the one that is officially a "Disney Princess". I was quite young when Little Mermaid came out and the movie was my very first reference for that name. I was astounded when I was bit old to meet a "real life" Ariel. I am pretty sure I can (and maybe should) write an entire post about using Disney Princesses names. Anyways, Ariel is Hebrew name meaning Lion of God, and originated as a boys name.<br />
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<i>Would you use any of these names? I find Adella and Ariel quite appealing. Is there any great "a" names that fit with this group that you are surprised Disney didn't use? My own name, Amanda, fits into the song quite well but isn't exotic enough for a Mermaid! </i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-50374016818858416862013-10-14T08:00:00.000-07:002013-10-14T08:00:00.496-07:00Northern Minnesota Baby Names: Sept 29th and Oct 2nd<b>Girls</b><br />
Maili Marie<br />
Rayna Lynn<br />
McKenzie Mae<br />
Jaclyn Sara<br />
Nora Jean<br />
Addison Claire<br />
Addison Grace<br />
Adeline Elizabeth<br />
Kathlin RaeAnn<br />
Dorthea Senja<br />
Elouise Janene<br />
Adilynn Florence<br />
Kayden Elizabeth<br />
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<b>Boys</b><br />
Mason Matthew<br />
Tayton Daniel<br />
Brayden Edward<br />
Hunter Allen<br />
Casheon Lane<br />
Izack Matthew<br />
Kendrick Allen<br />
Braxton John<br />
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<i>More rare names, many which of intrigue me - Maili, Senja, Tayton, and Casheon. Also many potential Addy/Addies were born with Addison, Addison, Adeline, and Adilynn. Also, some unique spellings with Janene, Izack, Elouise, Kathlin, Dorthea, and Jaclyn. Not made up certainly, but not the most popular versions either. </i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-34971233436362254002013-10-11T20:51:00.001-07:002013-10-13T09:52:12.362-07:00By the Numbers - Top 100 Girls Names 2012It recently came to my attention that Stella is a top 100 name. Actually, it has been in the top 100 for three years already after a meteoric rise that started in 1998. I guess I was not the only one that found it to be a quirky, fun alternative to the extremely popular Ella. What this discovery made me realize is that I really don't know the top 100 names. I tend to look up rankings when I want to know something specific and haven't just looked at them in depth much. So, I am going to try to do a bit more of that.<br />
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<b>It Starts With... </b><br />
If all letters were created equal, each letter would have about 4 names in the top 100, but that is clearly not the case. The letter "A" is by far the most popular for girls in 2012, and probably as a general rule, the most common start of girls names. The other letters that are overrepresented are S, M, L, K,E, and C. I was surprised to find out there isn't a single "D" name in the top 100, so if you are looking for a unique initial, try Darcy, Dori, or Deanna on for size. <br />
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<b>It Ends With...</b><br />
Just another interesting break down about how popular various endings are. <b> </b><br />
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<b>It Sounds Like...</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajMwd0ZEjbQtXzjr8erwdz7PslPM6cxJEy9Jf33ZAkriOWddVewkXuVozOArxBZU4w1t8hdmPLVu6jKDx9hT4v9Onov3lwtdZbRBwBUzaxv8NI4VdzX5H9CVHJGj66uE0IVaRNS26Fl8/s1600/Top+100+Girls+Names+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajMwd0ZEjbQtXzjr8erwdz7PslPM6cxJEy9Jf33ZAkriOWddVewkXuVozOArxBZU4w1t8hdmPLVu6jKDx9hT4v9Onov3lwtdZbRBwBUzaxv8NI4VdzX5H9CVHJGj66uE0IVaRNS26Fl8/s1600/Top+100+Girls+Names+3.jpg" /></a></div>
Depending how you look at it, there are either 5 or 6 names that are phonetically identical in the top 100. The last, Madelyn and Madeline, really depends on the parent's intentions, as they <i>can</i> be pronounced differently but not everyone does (to the chagrin of many naming nerds I am sure). As these names are effectively in the top 100 two times, they are even more popular than their ranking alone suggests. Also, if we could all agree on how to spell these names, five (or six) more names could be in the top 100. In that case, Maria, Brooke, Payton (wait! its another phonetic twin), Paisley, and Paige could squeeze in! Even Ruby may have squeezed in.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gQNdGutJzylXXTFB6AjlrEnD4a6gl_DPy-USzOIH9omQS6b-TC1tzae7rkrr2fKVZ_ap1L4o1APxVUjB1hfq7IG3gObG_-ZWC7C7ioUOFhp1MvDXsCViIRCMJ9dt-D4UKEll3nQuSmk/s1600/Top+100+Girls+Names+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gQNdGutJzylXXTFB6AjlrEnD4a6gl_DPy-USzOIH9omQS6b-TC1tzae7rkrr2fKVZ_ap1L4o1APxVUjB1hfq7IG3gObG_-ZWC7C7ioUOFhp1MvDXsCViIRCMJ9dt-D4UKEll3nQuSmk/s1600/Top+100+Girls+Names+4.jpg" /></a></div>
Along with the identical spellings, there are also some names that are obviously related, even though they are distinct from another. They may share a sound or a nickname. This is obviously quite subjective. For awhile I had Aubrey and Audrey both on here, only one letter difference, but I decided to try to limit it more than that (similarly I removed the name family of Arianna, Ariana, and Aria). Once again, a name that appears on this list (or could if I broadened it) is more "popular" than even the top 100 ranking suggests. No one is certain how many "Maddie/Maddy"s there are in classrooms, or"Belle"s, or "Lexi"s, these nicknames may be much more common than their lengthened versions. As with all things with name popularity, its a matter of opinion whether having a Kaylee and Kayla in the bedroom is better than having two Kaylee's. It is something interesting to think about though!<br />
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<b>WHAT? That is top 100?</b><br />
What inspired this post was the discovery that Stella is in the top 100, but there are plenty of others in the top 100 that surprised me. These are the names women who are not name nerds may choose feeling like its unique and they have never heard it used on a child, just to realize once the child is born that the name is shockingly popular amongst newborns. <b> </b>Of course labeling these names is again somewhat subjective, but a name is likely to feel like it should be on this list if its a recent arrival to the top 100, especially after a fast rise. Even if a name has been in the top 100 for a decade, it might have this "rare" feeling if it has longer history is of rarity. For example, Riley has been in the top 100 since 2002, over a decade, but has only been in the top 1000 since 1990. It had a fast rise. When the people who are currently choosing baby names (20-40 year olds) were forming their naming vocabularies, Riley was hardly on the name radar, it would have been very rare to know one. I did not go through and analyze every name this way, but I did go into names I had this "surprise" feeling about and pulled some numbers. After looking at some of the numbers, I found out some of the names that surprised me (such as Maya and Lydia) are probably just personal blind spots, but the below list is names that could be surprising based on their fast rise.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowZdTGtyFCccyr4Cq5zyljxMDpuZtscH32yADhGcc8wMf8-CBixgiQwzNvBxtSN7PaMWHHJSR6J2CRTejYHNmWS9luAI8l8uL-yJliBqyP8WQczDA_4bn64iuWqNYooC9-u0M3QML10g/s1600/Top+100+Girls+Names+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowZdTGtyFCccyr4Cq5zyljxMDpuZtscH32yADhGcc8wMf8-CBixgiQwzNvBxtSN7PaMWHHJSR6J2CRTejYHNmWS9luAI8l8uL-yJliBqyP8WQczDA_4bn64iuWqNYooC9-u0M3QML10g/s1600/Top+100+Girls+Names+5.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*Stella reappeared in the top 1000 14 years ago after a hiatus</span> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<b>In Summary</b><br />
OK. Was this post nerdy enough for you? FIVE charts. It took a lot of time and effort. I do hope to complete it for the boys top 100 as well. I hope people find some use in it, I certainly learned a lot. I also wanted to say, I know a lot of times when I blog about names being popular it comes off as "negative". That tone is a result of my personal preferences. When push comes to shove, popularity is just one fact about a name that could contribute to someones choice to use it. Its good, in my opinion, to have all the facts when your choosing a name, and popularity is part of the puzzle, for better or worse! <br />
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<i>What do you think? Were there any "surprise" names for you? Any names I found to be surprising that you thought obviously were popular? Would any of this information change your choice for a name? </i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-61070192590022786992013-10-07T18:29:00.001-07:002013-10-07T18:31:23.558-07:00Lois ClubsDid you know there is a national club in the United States for people named Lois?<br />
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Its called <a href="http://www.loisclubs.com/" target="_blank">Lois Club</a> (straight to the point I guess). I learned this recently because they appeared in the local news. Yes, its not a very big city if you were curious. They made the news for inducting a new member that was 3 months old. 28 Loises got together to meet the newborn, who one RN said she had been looking for in her hospital's newborn ward form 35 years. The name Lois last peaked in 1930 at 17th. It steadily fell in popularity since then, falling out of the top 1000 in 1983, making the 35 year claim quite plausible. The SSA only lists names in state data if at least five were born in that state in a given year, and this has not happened in Minnesota since 1974, when six Loises were born.<br />
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Is Lois on the rise? The baby Lois in the story was named after her Grandma. Lois is a true vintage, and it has the popular culture tie in of Superman (Man of Steel was recently released here, though not to much acclaim). It also shares some sounds and traits with some more popular names such as Lucy, Lola, and Eloise. However, its not on the move just yet. Nationally there were 92 babies named Lois in 2012. Ten years ago in 2002 it was 83. That's not much movement! I guess we will just have to wait and see if the Lois Club is doomed to die out, or if its about to be reborn.<br />
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<i>In related predictions... I am going to be watching out for Louise to enter the top 1000 names for the first time in the next few years. I am just hearing so much buzz about it, and again it shares sounds and traits with many other rising names. There were 5 born nationally in 2002, and 152 in 2012... a bit more movement, though it still has a a ways to go! Last year name #1000 was Katalina with 251 births. </i><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-87538863106534072272013-10-03T13:28:00.001-07:002013-10-03T13:28:10.397-07:00Northern Minnesota Real Names (Sept 15th and Sept 22)<b>Boys</b><br />
Easton James<br />
Mason Matthew<br />
Avery Allen Daniel<br />
Riker Richard<br />
Cole Christopher <br />
Gavin Michael<br />
Henry Joseph<br />
Alex Jon<br />
Noah Russell<br />
Axel Charles<br />
Jesse Jon<br />
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<b>Girls </b><br />
Quinn Eileen<br />
Abigail Zoe<br />
Ella Christine<br />
Elsie May <br />
Aurora Naomi<br />
Liari Quinn<br />
Clara Rose<br />
Anastasia Paige<br />
Bella Marie<br />
Salina Rose <br />
Piper Dagny<br />
Ellie Mae Miranda<br />
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<i>With Ella, Elsie, and Ellie, you can see the "EL" trend is alive and well, but people are putting their own twist on it. I do wonder if Ellie Mae Miranda will go by the double-barrel first name Ellie Mae, which is lovely. </i><i>Dagny is an interesting middle name choice - quirky, fun and gender neutral, it is an old Norse name meaning "New Day"</i><i>I also noticed a lot of alliteration in the boys names - Avery Allen, Cole Christopher, etc. The two names from this week that are the most rare are Riker and Liari, drastically different feels but neither has ever been in the top 1000. </i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-75939030928122899282013-09-28T17:36:00.003-07:002013-09-28T17:36:39.107-07:00Harry Potter Alphabet - I is for IgnatiusEarlier this week my sister and I were discussing how "I" names can be hard to come by. There are some very popular ones (Isabella and variants), and some traditional ones (Isaac and variants), but once you get beyond those you tend to find either rare names (Iona, Isis, Iliad) or foreign names (Inigo, Igor, Ilsa). It's no surprise then that I is our smallest letter yet in the Harry Potter alphabet. In fact, I only could find three names, and one of them I had to go out looking for (It was not on the master list I was using because the person is mentioned, not an active part of the book). So here they are! <br />
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Ignatius and Ignotus - I have discussed the first of these related name before as a possible source for "ace" (a different version, Ignace, is a more likely candidate). There are many versions of this name, besides the two above, there is Ignace, Ignacius, Ignacio, Ignatz, Ignaz, Inacio, and several more. It has a questionable meaning of "ardent" in Latin. I like this school of names, rarely used, and the great nickname Iggy. (Percy Ignatius Weasley) (Ignotus Peverell)<br />
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Igor (Igor Karkaroff) - Igor is a Russian character, and its very popularly known as a Russian name. Most infamously, Frankenstein's hunchbacked assistant in popular media. Also famous composer Igor Stravinsky (with vary particular sound). Igor means Soldier. A similar name is Scandinavian "Ingvar".<br />
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<i>What do you think? Would you consider either of these? What "I" names should JK Rowling have used that she neglected?</i><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-89978514364939293892013-09-14T17:42:00.000-07:002013-09-14T17:42:00.097-07:00Northern Minnesota Real Names (Sept 8th)I thought it might be nice to give you some names that are actually being used in the area I live, Northern Minnesota (Northern Midwest USA). <br />
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<b>Boys</b><br />
Abel Denis<br />
Bentley Grey<br />
Chase Converse<br />
Tristan Daniel<br />
Jordan Thomas <br />
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<b>Girls</b><br />
Averie Ann-Marie<br />
Lydia Rae<br />
TWINS - Joy Agnes and Sherin Faith<br />
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<b>I love to see Agnes used, even in the middle position. It has become a recent sweetheart of mine. Anything stick out to you? </b><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-57340245835264134312013-09-11T07:34:00.000-07:002013-09-11T07:34:02.725-07:00Deft or Daft: Everest"E" names are popular right now, especially for girls, but in general. Ethan, Elijah, Eli, Evan, and Easton (along with Ian) are all in the top 100 boys names with names like Elliot, Emmett, and Elias also trending. Everett, currently ranked at 214th, reached its peak back in 1915 at 89th, spending over ten years in the top 100 names. It is one of those "grandparent" names that is feeling fresh again and is currently on the rise. Everett is a great name, but what if you want something a little more unique with a little more zing? What not give Everest a try. Literally one letter different, but with an entirely different feel. Everest is a place name, referring of course to Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. Mount Everest has become synonymous both with the power and wonder of nature, and with the endurance and vision of mankind. Because of its simalarity to commonly known masculine names like Everett and Ernest it is a natural fit and does not feel "out there" as some other mountain names might (like Denali or Ranier might.. although these also sound like great names to me). Everest might just his that sweet spot - unique but familiar, easy to pronounce, good meaning.<br />
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<strong>So what do you think, is Everest deft or daft?</strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-52524843961983970462013-09-07T18:35:00.001-07:002013-09-07T18:35:22.231-07:00Name Rainbow: Green<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81J7IKTHMd0TG0Tq2YkSekrvZmlhE-zayNLWvGeFPuD8rviq1XyPX1h9QxR5lHb8j58dMA4BIX07cvdU7JZvVw-zE0rNcfyrWcEOOnDTL7iKU3xrK_O8cdM20RC95NyHlKIO23F5VYz0/s1600/green1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81J7IKTHMd0TG0Tq2YkSekrvZmlhE-zayNLWvGeFPuD8rviq1XyPX1h9QxR5lHb8j58dMA4BIX07cvdU7JZvVw-zE0rNcfyrWcEOOnDTL7iKU3xrK_O8cdM20RC95NyHlKIO23F5VYz0/s400/green1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Names with Green Meanings </b></span><br />
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<u><b>Boys</b></u><br />
Berilo - A Pale Green gemstone, the name is Spanish and Greek. Related to the feminine Beryl. The stone is thought to be good luck.<br />
Denver - While this will stick out as a Place name to most, the word itself is actually old English for green valley.<br />
Irvin - A Gaelic name meaning "green waters". Can also be spelled Earving. <br />
Greeley - An old English name meaning green meadow.<br />
Hewney - An Irish name meaning simply green.<br />
Vardon - An old french name meaning Green Knoll. The emphasis is on the second syllable. <br />
Verdell - Another French name, again emphasis on the second syllable, meaning green.<br />
Verlyn - Uncertain origin, but with root Ver, may be interpreted as Green<br />
Vermont - Another place name, with actual meaning Green Mountain.<br />
Vireo - A name that references a small green bird.<br />
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<u><b>Girls</b></u><br />
Beryl - A Pale Green gemstone, the name is Spanish and Greek. Related to the masculine Berilo. The stone is thought to be good luck. <br />
Cheryl - The origins of Cheryl are unclear, but one theory is its a variant of Beryl.<br />
Chloe - This is a Greek name meaning "green shoot" and meant to symbolize fertility. <br />
Chloris - Another greek name, this one meaning a greenish yellow shade, related to the goddess of vegetation<br />
Esmerelda - A Spanish variant of the name/gemstone Emerald, with much more feminine <br />
Fern - a word name referring to a luscious green plant<br />
Jade - a deep green stone used similarly to gold (decoratively and to display wealth) by Asian cultures<br />
Midori - A Japanese name meaning green, this name is also associated with many products and places. <br />
Olive - a shade of green, or a word name referring to a food that is often green, this name is RAPIDLY rising in popularity (it has going for it that its a word name, which are trending, it is a nice stand in for Olivia, which is top ten, and it has some celebrity/hollywood usage recently) - it has climbed from unranked to 368th in six years. If it keeps up that rate, it will be top 100 in 2-3 years. <br />
Teal - A shade of bluish green, and a bird of the same color. <br />
Turkessa - An opaque blue-green stone mined in Turkestan and Persia<br />
Verde - The word for green in Spanish, also could be spelled Verda<br />
Verna - Of Latin origin, this name means spring green, related to the masculine Vernon<br />
Viridiana - Another Latin name meaning green, I love the flow and phonetic sound of this name. Other variants include Virdis, Viridia, and Viridian<br />
Yara - A Brazilian pagan goddess with green hair<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Shades of Green</span></b><br />
Brunswick - a series of green pigments made using copper<br />
Celadon - a pale greyish shade of Green often used in Asian pottery<br />
Emerald - light and bright, also a gemstone<br />
Harlequin - more strongly associated with a diamond pattern, but also a bright yellowish green<br />
Hunter - word/job as name? Or a beautiful dark shade of green. <br />
Kelly - the name Kelly doesn't mean green, but it is the same word as the traditional Irish "true" green. <br />
Malachite - a green mineral, similar in sound to Malcom, Micah, or the biblical Melchior<br />
Neon - I know it can be applied to any color, but could it also be a quirky name?<br />
Paris - besides a city, and epic character from Troy, Paris is a blue-green shade.<br />
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<b>What do you think? Any keeps? The discovery of Viridian was one of the things that inspired me to create a baby name rainbow! I also love the name Verdi for a boy, which while it technically is after a composer, conjures up images of green due to its similarity to the Spanish Verde. </b> <br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-72832927593602349582013-08-25T13:08:00.000-07:002013-08-25T13:08:08.893-07:00How to Get Your Nickname: GusI was recently inspired by <a href="http://www.swistle.com/babynames/2013/08/23/baby-boy-pierce-see-brother-to-scarlett-jane/" target="_blank">this post</a> at <a href="http://www.swistle.com/babynames/" target="_blank">Swistle Baby Names</a> to do a post on the nickname "<b>Gus</b>". in the post, the letter writer states that she is considering the name August, but only because they like the nickname Gus. As I pointed out in the comments, there are many other ways to come to Gus! This is one of those nicknames that was used to be a "funny" name when I was a child. My dad would throw it out there when he was pretending to forget one of our names, or we would use it to name a frog we caught. Now it is the exact kind of nickname that seems just right - a bit of vintage charm with cute familiarity, like Hank and Fred (fifteen years ago, Jack would have fit this category). On to the name!<br />
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<b>August/Augustus/Augustine</b> - All of these are derived from Latin meaning "great, magnificent". The different versions carry different feels though. August can come off as a "quirky" word name due to its use as a month. Augustus feels regal and Roman, while Augustine has a religious tone. These also offer the adorable nickname "Augie". <br />
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<b>Aengus/Angus - </b>Technically speaking, these two names are pronounced similarly, though I am sure you will find plenty of people will pronounce the the same or switch the pronunciations. Aengus (with a long "a", rhymes with bay) is the original Gaelic name, which means "one choice". Angus is the more anglicized version, and is pronounced Ann-gus. <br /><br />
<b>Argus - </b>I have discussed this name before in the <a href="http://nameaholic.blogspot.com/2012/11/harry-potter-alphabet-is-for-alastor.html" target="_blank">Harry Potter "A" post. </a>It is a Greek name meaning vigilant guardian. <br />
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<b>Fergus/Ferguson - </b>This is another Scottish/Irish name, meanig "supreme man, highest choice". This may be one of my favorite options! It reminds me of other names that I like but not quite enough to use, like Vernon and Fern. <br />
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<b>Gustavus - </b>Pronounced Gus-Tay-vus, this is a "last name as first name" related to as Scandinavian name meaning "royal staff". It is also the name of a University. <br />
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<b>Lugus - </b>Pronounced Lou-gus, this is a Welsh name meaning "shine". It is very similar to the more common Lucas, but with a little twist to make it unique. <br />
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<b>Magus - </b>This Latin name related to the word "magic", meaning sorcerer. It sounds similar to the more feminine Maggie. I would be a bit worried about the phonetic nearness to Maggots however. <br />
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In addition to the above names which make the nickname Gus a no brainer, there are also names that would get to it a little less directly, for example, <b>Auguste</b> (aw-goost), <b>Gustav</b> (Goo-stawf) are the more European pronunciations of some of the names above. Other options would be <b>Magnus</b> (Latin for "great", as in magnificent), <b>Agathius</b> (Greek meaning good, honorable), <b>Eligius </b>(french/Latin for "chosen"), <b>Eugenius </b>(Greek for "well born"), <b>Giorgius </b>(a variant of George), or <b>Sergius </b>(a variant of Sergio)/<br />
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Of course, if none of these strike a chord, just use <b>Gus</b>! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-22379650985358582372013-07-17T17:24:00.001-07:002013-07-17T17:24:21.650-07:00Literary Inspiration: The Great Gatsby<i>The Great Gatsby</i>, with the recent new film, is "in Fashion. How about the names from it though? The book actually has a plethora of names, as the narrator (Nick Carraway) decides at one point to list ALL of the people who are at one of Gatsby's parties. I don't think I can possible expound on every name, but I would like to list as many of them here as possible, and comment on some that interest me.<br />
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<u><b>The Main Players</b></u><br />
<b>Nick Carraway</b><br />
<b>Jordan Baker </b>- I have always liked the name Jordan, which is odd since typically I am not attracted to unisex names. Seeing this in the novel, which is set in the 1920s, made me curious about how long exactly it has been unisex. Looking up the data, it would appear that choosing to name a female Jordan was quite risque when the book was written (1925). Jordan did not appear in the top 1000 names for girls until the 1970s, and it wasn't until the 80s that the name became very popular for boys or girls. I don't think its coincidence that the name's rise for both genders coincides with Michael Jordan's rise to fame. <br />
<b>Jay Gatsby - </b>An adventurous parent or literature lover could go for the name Gatsby. The sound itself is quite pleasing, the question is if that is a character you would want to honor! <br />
<b>Daisy Buchanan - </b>A cute flower name that has stayed in the middle of the charts for sometime. With Lily so popular right now (currently 16th), and other flower names also trending (like Violet, Ivy and Iris), I am surprised Daisy is actually slowly declining (very slowly). <br />
<b>Tom Buchanan</b><br />
<b>Myrtle Wilson</b><br />
<b>George Wilson </b><br />
<b>Meyer Wolfsheim - </b>Meyer would fit nicely in with the "last name as first name" trend that continues, yet it hasn't been in the top 1000 since 1928. I think its probably that Oscar Mayer brand that has done this (pronounced the same way). <br />
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<u><b>Other Names </b></u><br />
<b>Chester Becker</b><br />
<b>Webster Civet - </b>Webster, to me, is a great name. It immediately invokes the dictionary of the same name, and implies intelligence. It is a last-name first as well. It has never been to popular and hasn't been in the top 1000 since 942. Maybe its time to bring it back? <br />
<b>Willie Voltaires</b><br />
<b>Hubert Auerbach</b><br />
<b>Edgar Beaver</b> - If Edward has been ruined for you by Twilight, but you love the name nickname Ed or Eddie, this might be a good place to look! I feel a nickname post for Eddie coming on... <br />
<b>Clarence Endive</b><br />
<b>Ripley Snell </b>- I actually just met a newborn Ripley. It has never been in the top 1000 boys names. It is a last name first and is associated with "Ripley's Believe it or Not" here in the U.S. It has just the right level of quirkiness for some families. The Ripley I know is little brother to Rex. What a great sibset!<br />
<b>Ulysses Swett</b><br />
<b>Maurice Flink</b><br />
<b>Cecil Roebuck/Cecil Schoen</b><br />
<b>Newton Orchid</b><br />
<b>Clyde Cohen</b><br />
<b>Don S Schwartz</b><br />
<b>Arthur McCarty</b><br />
<b>G. Earl Muldoon</b><br />
<b>Ed Legros</b><br />
<b>James B. Ferret</b><br />
<b>Ernest Lilly</b><br />
<b>Gus Waize</b><br />
<b>Horace O'donavan</b><br />
<b>Lester Meyer - </b>The name Lester used to rank pretty high on my personal list, because I saw it not as a "last name first", but rather as a place name for a river and park in my hometown. Now that I live in my hometown, the local connection doesn't seem as important. It is important, I think, to note that the names Lester and Chester both are much more popular in specific segments of the population - Amish communities. <br />
<b>George Duckweed</b><br />
<b>Francis Bull</b><br />
<b>Russel Betty</b><br />
<b>Henry L. Palmetto</b><br />
<b>Benny McClenahan</b><br />
<b>Jaqueline, Consuela, Gloria, Judy or June (the girls who were interchangeable) - </b>I find it amusing that these are the names seen as interchangeable to the narrator. They don't seem all that similar! I did look into their popularity, and that is not where the similarity is coming from! Jaqueline and Consuela were virtually unheard back in that time period, while June and Gloria were quite popular. I wonder how Fitzgerald chose these names, or if he put much thought into them at all?<br />
<b>Faustina O'brien - </b>While this name makes me immedietly think of the German philosopher and author Faust, it actually is a Latin name meaning fortune. <br />
<b>Ardita Fitz-Peters - </b>The name Ardita is of Albanian origins and means "golden days". Ardy as a cute nickname?<br />
<b>Claudia Hip </b><br />
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So, what do you think? Any names in here interest you? <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-17443511267222734272013-07-06T10:44:00.002-07:002013-07-06T10:44:37.748-07:00Harry Potter Baby Names - H is for Hestia<b>Hannah -</b> This is a Hebrew name meaning "God has favored me", a variant of Anna. (Hannah Abbot). It has experienced much recent popularity, ranking as high as #2 from 2000-2002, and is currently (We have 2012 data people!) 22nd. <br />
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<b>Hermione</b> - The "interesting" name of the series, due to its use on such a main character and its former status of completely unknown. It is pronounced her-my-oh-nee. It is of Greek origin and means "messenger", related to the other name on this list Hermes. (Hermione Granger)<br />
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<b>Helga</b> - An old German name meaning "holy" or "sacred". This has never been in the top 1000. With other old names rising (think Ilsa and Adelaide for example), maybe it is due (Helga Hufflepuff).<br />
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<b>Hestia</b> - The Greek goddess of the hearth, this name has a lovely meaning and a nice sound. (Hestia Jones)<br />
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<b>Hedwig - </b>Another Old German name meaning "strife". Perhaps less than ideal if meaning is important to you. <br />
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<b>Hassan</b> - Pronounced hah-sahn, this is of Arabic origin and means handsome. It lingers in the second half of the top thousand due to its ethnic use. (Hassan Mostafa)<br />
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<b>Hippocrates </b>- Most people have heard of the Hippocratic oath, but I doubt many people have considered this as a given name. The meaning is technically "horse", but the main association would clearly be medicine, ethics and healing (Hippocrates Smethwick)<br />
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<b>Hermes - </b>The Greek messenger God, famous for his awesome sandals.<br />
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<b>Hagrid</b> - Okay, so this is a character's last name, but the books give it life as a first name since the character goes exclusively by this. The name references a giant in Greek mythology. (Rubeus Hargrid)<br />
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<b>Harold </b>- I have to admit, this name reminds me of a horror story from when I was little, but that shouldn't stop others from liking it. It is a Scandinavian name meaning army-ruler. (Harold Dingle)<br />
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<b>Harry - </b>The flagship name of the series<b>. </b>Despite the strong association with the book, it hasn't been "ruined" because there are lots of famous Harry's, most notably Prince Harry. Harry is old German for "home ruler". The bigger issue with Harry in America is pronunciation. To most American dialects, it is pronounced just like hairy. We often fail to get the strong "A" sound in names like this.<br />
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<b>Hengist - </b> An Anglo-Saxon name used in the Arthurian legends as a minor character. It likely is related to an old word for Stallion (Hengist of Woodcroft)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-62368141393327674542013-06-27T20:08:00.001-07:002013-06-27T20:08:18.135-07:00Deft or Daft? - CorianderSo this is the first post of a series that will pop up now and then were I throw out some "out there" ideas for names that I either see somewhere, or pop into my head.<br />
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First up is <b>Coriander</b>!<br />
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Depending on your background, Coriander might strike you first as just a strange word, or if you know your cooking, a spice. It is the seed of the Cilantro plant and is used in a lot of wonderful dishes. With other spices and herb names making an appearance in the naming world (think Sage, Cayenne, and Ginger), why not this beauty?<br />
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I see it as a boys name. It shares a rhythm/style with Alexander, and if broken down can actually be seen as a compound name of Corey and Ander. Corey is an Old Norse surname currently ranked 351. Anders is a Scandinavian version of Andrew, meaning Lion, and is ranked 900th.<br />
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I don't think Coriander would stick out as odd due to these familiar components, but it would be a unique name. What do you think? Deft or Daft? <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-1751901499621667272013-06-22T19:38:00.001-07:002013-06-22T19:38:20.181-07:00How to Get Your Nickname: Ace<br />
Ace is a great nickname for a boy! Of course a lot of boys get called this without it having any root int heir name, just like nicknames like Bud or Guy. Ace has very positive connotations. It is the "#1" of the card deck. In WWI, the best fighter pilots earned the label "Ace". Wouldn't it be cool if this could be a nickname based on a given name? Well, it can! There actually are a variety of options that can get you to Ace with varying levels of directness. I have tried to order them from the most obvious connection to Ace to the more tenuous stretches. <br />
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Aeson - This is of from Greek Mythology, and is the father of Jason (the origins of that popular name), which the name rhymes with. This is by far the most obvious way to get Ace because it uses the typical "first syllable" is the nickname formula. <br />
Casey - Of Irish and Gaelic origin, likely means "alert and watchful". <br />
Dacey - Of Irish and Gaelic origin, meaning "from the south" <br />
Jason - A Greek name meaning "healer"<br />
Acelin - Pronounced a-ce-lin, this is French in origin and means noble. For the American ear this may come too close to including the word "ass", though said correctly it avoids it.<br />
Asaph - Similar to Acelin in the potential pronunciation problem as Acelin (it is ah-SAHF), it is Hebrew for "god has gathered"<br />
Aslan - This Turkish name was made famous by <i>Chronicles of Narnia,</i> and means lion.<br />
Ignace/Ignatius - This is most likely of Latin origin meaning ardent burning. <br />
Eustace - Greek origin, pronounced Yu-stiss, meaning "good grapes"<br />
Horace - pronounced Hor-ess, an old Latin family clan name, related to Horatio<br />
Seamus - An Irish name, pronounced Shay-mus, is a form of James<br />
Phineas - pronounced Fin-ee-us, likely from a Hebrew name meaning "oracle". <br />
Mathias - pronounced ma-tee-us. A German variant of Matthew meaning gift of god.<br />
Silas - pronounced Sigh-las, a Latin Name meaning "forest" <br />
Wallace - an Old french name meaning Welshman, also a Scottish surname. (Think Braveheart!!)<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-46935288484897400702013-04-28T17:50:00.004-07:002013-04-28T17:50:58.366-07:00Literary Inspiration: The HelpLife has been busy and I have been slipping in my blogging! It happens. I just finished this post about the names from a best selling book and hit movie, <i>The Help</i>, about some black maids and their white employers in Civil-Rights era south. I have lots of ideas for posts, its just a matter of sitting down and hammering them out! I also thought I would mention I am having problems with the Social Security Baby Name site tonight... so no rankings. Hopefully that clears up soon. It would be nice to know how popular Stuart, Leroy, and Clyde are, and if any of these have started trending since the movie. <br />
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<b>Girls </b><br />
Eugenia - Previously mentioned on this blog as a<a href="http://nameaholic.blogspot.com/2012/12/how-to-get-your-nickname-ginny.html" target="_blank"> possible way to get to the nickname Ginny</a>, Eugenia is the feminine version of Eugene. It means noble and is of Greek Origin<br />
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Aibileen - A variation of the more common Abilene (strongly linked to the book), Abilene is a place name (both from the holy land and Texas) and also could mean "grass" in Hebrew. The variation in spelling could be interpreted to have a different pronunciation - Aib as in Abraham rather than Ab as in Abigail.<br />
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Gretchen - This is a German variant of Margaret, meaning pearl. <br />
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Kindra - An Old Norse name meaning "greatest Champion"<br />
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Mae - Short and sweet, Mae and is a variant spelling of May, a month name. <br />
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Constantine - Here is a baby name with history. Constantine the Great was a Roman emporer. The twist here is that it is a woman. I think it jumps the gender barrier easily, as there are other female names structured like this - Angeline, Christine, etc . The name meaning is obvious - Constance, loyalty. Connie for short? <br />
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Yule May - A southern-style double-barrel name with a Christmas flare.<br />
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Lulabelle - A new (to me) addition to the "belle" names, and Lulu (either as a nickname or just as part of the name) is on trend with other names making a comeback like Ethel/Ettie, Harriet/Hattie. Just today Swistle wrote about a little girl who will be called Polly! <br />
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Sugar- Its unclear if this is a nickname or a given name in the book. As a given name it would be quite cutesy and feminine.<br />
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Minny - Again, this may be a nickname, but I don't think so. Minnie is traditionally short for Melinda or Minerva.<br />
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Hilly - Possible short for Hillary? I think its cute as a stand alone name, or it fits in with other nicknames like Hattie and Millie.<br />
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<b>Boys </b><br />
Leroy - I still cant' hear this name without humming<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMWnMbQeWlg" target="_blank"> Bad Leroy Brown</a>. But it also has a certain appeal to it.<br />
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Carlton - And this name makes me think of the character on Fresh Prince of Bellaire (a very cheesy but lovingly remembered sitcom from the 90s where Will Smith got his start). Carlton fits the "Last name as first name" sound, and the character reference feels distinguished.<br />
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Raleigh - To the American ear this is a place name pronounced as Rall rhymes with ball Lee. It has more history though, as an old English name meaning deer's meadow. Also, Sir Walter Raleigh was an explorer. <br />
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Treelore - As far as I can tell, this is word as a name, a word (or words tree lore) referring to the ancient mythical, celtic, and wiccan beliefs about trees.<br />
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Clyde - Like Leroy, another old fashioned "southern" sounding name, which could offer some current charm. It is of Scottish origin and is a place name (Clyde river, for example).<br />
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Stuart - This is an Old English occupational name (Stewart, a type of servant). Offers the nickname Stew or Stewie, which may be contaminated by Family Guy right now, but still cute. <br />
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<b>So what do you think? </b>Would you consider any of these names? Is there a little Abilene in your future? Or perhaps a Stuart? Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-87361255846810759002013-04-06T19:35:00.000-07:002013-04-06T16:36:56.747-07:00Name Rainbow: Yellow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yellow is the most cheerful color. It offers some interesting name choices <br />
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<b>Shades of Yellow </b><br />
Aureolin - This reminds of of Aurelia or Aurora combined with Lynn. The color meaning is a bonus!<br />
Citrine - For some reason, I have been loving the "soft" c names lately, and this fits right in. Why not twin girls - Cerise and Citrine. Too out there? <br />
Ecru - A quirkier shade that would make a quirkier name.<br />
Gold (Goldie) - One of the few actual "real" name options, makes me think of Goldie Hawn.<br />
Goldenrod - A longer more floral way to get to Goldie?<br />
Jonquil - This one sounds very masculine and could fit in quite well in some areas.<br />
Mikado - Actually a Japanese word meaning emperor, yellow being the royal color. <br />
Naples - This would be seen more as a place name than a color name<br />
Sunglow - This definitely comes off more as "word as a name", but gives you a warm feeling. <br />
Maize - Beware Ohio State fans (this is one of the official colors of their rival Michigan). I have seen interesting discussions about the use of Mace as a boys name due to its violent nature, Maize seems like a nice alternative Maizie could also be cute for a girl. <br />
Gamboge - This is the color yellow used to dye Buddhist robes. <br />
Lemon - A nice "word as name" shade. <br />
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<b>Things that are Yellow</b> (that could make good names)<br />
Daffodil, Sunny/Sunshine, Marigold, Oxalis, Dandelion, Celandine, (Black Eyed) Susan, Turmeric, Curry, Oriole<br />
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<b>Would you use any of these yellow names? I especially like Citrine, Celandine, and Jonquil.</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-67685746003614600212013-04-04T17:58:00.001-07:002013-04-04T18:02:34.466-07:00Surprising Flower Names for Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has officially been spring now for a couple of weeks. Sorry for not posting about it immediately, but living in Northern Minnesota means Spring is still a few weeks off for us. <br />
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To honor spring, I thought I would find surprising flower names. We all are familiar with names like Rose, Lily, and Violet. And, while they are less common or old fashioned, we also know Petunia, Pansy, and Iris can be used. In the past year Swistle has been asked about <a href="http://swistlebabynames.blogspot.com/2013/03/baby-girl-giddings-sister-to-magnolia.html" target="_blank">a sister for Magnolia </a>and whether <a href="http://swistlebabynames.blogspot.com/2012/08/will-name-marigold-become-huge-hit.html" target="_blank">Marigold will become trendy</a>. These last two are more what I am looking for. Beautiful naming options, but not common. Marigold has never been in the top 1000 baby names in America, but has the popular name "Mary" in it and sounds natural as a name. Magnolia fell out of the top 1000 in the 1940s, and seems like a mixture of Maggie and Agnes with the popular 'ia" ending.<br />
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I think unexpected flower names fall into two categories - flowers everyone knows and just do not think to use as names, and rare or uncommon flowers (or not native to the U.S.) that would make pretty names but would not be necessarily associated with being a flower name unless the person asked or is scientifically inclined. <br />
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Azalea & Zinnia - I actually met a sibset with these two names! A bit matchy together, but either is beautiful on its own, especially for"z" lovers<br />
Calla - Like the more popular Callie/Kali, but with a twist!<br />
Lilac - If Lily is so popular, why doesnt <br />
Begonia -Another "ia" ending!<br />
Gladiolus - OK. I admit it... Gladys made me think why not Gladiolus. Nickname Glady?<br />
Tansy - This one has a bit more spunk!<br />
Lotus - Or the exotic...<br />
Briony - I did not even know that this was a flower until I got onto the baby name blog scene. It seems so much like a girls name! <br />
Chrysanthemum - nick name Chrys? <br />
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Crossandra - A twist on Alexandra that is also the beautiful orange flower below. <br />
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Rafflesia - This reads as a feminine version of Raphael, but is actually one of the rarest flowers in the world! <br />
Cosmos - This could work even for a boy, but there are some other non-flower connotations<br />
Koki'o - Definitely an exotic twist, but I like how it comes off the tongue. <br />
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<br />Are there any flower names, popular or rare, that you would consider using? Do you like any of the options here, or are they to "out there"? Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3517643263421966527.post-90565934700967747252013-03-21T18:04:00.000-07:002013-03-21T18:04:00.831-07:00Harry Potter Alphabet: G is for Gilderoy<b>Gabrielle</b> - Gabrielle is not exactly uncommon, but its not over used either. It is, of course, a French female version of Gabriel, which is Hebrew in origin and means "hero of god" (Gabrielle Delacour)<br />
<b>Ginny/Ginevra </b>- I already discussed this name somewhat in my <a href="http://nameaholic.blogspot.com/2012/12/how-to-get-your-nickname-ginny.html" target="_blank">How To Get your Nickname: Ginny</a>. It is an Italian version of Jennifer, meaning fair or smooth. It is actually really growing on me... funny how names do that! (Ginny Weasley)<br />
<b>Gladys - </b>An old name that has largely fallen out of use, perhaps due for revival? Gladys makes me think of the flower Gladiolus, but it is actually a name of many origins - perhaps a feminine version of Claude, meaning "lame", perhaps French meaning "sword" (Gladys Gudgeon)<br />
<b>Griselda</b> - Reminiscent of a fairy tale somehow, this is an old German name meaning "dark battle". Shortens to the more popular "Zelda" (Madam Griselda)<br />
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<b>Gilderoy</b> - Another name that seems reminiscent of stories, Gilderoy is a variant of Gilroy, which is Gaelic and means "son of a red head" (Gilderoy Lockhart)<br />
<b>Godric</b> - This Old English name means what it sounds like - god or ruler. It feels like an old knights name to me. Quite romantic. I can see myself using it! (Godric Gryffindor)<br />
<b>Gideon</b> - This name meaning powerful warrior is biblican in origin, and rising in popularity. It has gone from non-ranked to 412 in the last 15 years. (Gideon Prewitt)<br />
<b>Gilbert </b>- Has this name yet overcome the movie <i>What's Eating Gilbert Grape</i>? Not statistically, it has been dropping in popularity since 1930, but has yet to fall out of the top 1000. I like the nickname options of Gil or Gilly (couldn't Gil also be for Gilderoy though... hmm perhaps this deserves its own post). Gilbert is old French in origin and means bright promise (Gilbert Wimple)<br />
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More common names that I chose not to discuss: <br />
Gregory (Gregory Goyle)<br />
Geoffrey (Geoffrey Hooper)<br />
George (George Weasley)<br />
Graham (Graham Pritchard)<br />
GordonUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0