My name and your name, but not the new baby's name.
Okay, so you know that we are having a girl, but you probably didn't know that we are having a hard time finding a girls name. What's in a name? I don't really care the meaning of names, what I do want to know is what people really think when they hear a name. I got this book called The Baby Name Wizard (Thanks Monica) it is totally awesome. You can also go to this website to see how popular a name is over the years. This is just a small glimpse of what the book tells me. Along with the name it also lists sister names, brother names, popularity, nicknames, alternate spellings and style. Just take a look at what is says about the name Jennifer.
Jennifer- Hi, Jen! Looking up your name? Yep Jennifer is the most common name for today's expectant mothers. It's actually and old Cornish form of Guinevere, and if you think of it that way, you can imagine how intriguing it sounded to the '50s parents who first started using the name in the U.S. Today, though, it sounds purely American. This is the top name for Latinas, thanks to entertainer Jennifer Lopez.
I want a very girly name, that isn't too popular already. Something pretty, and not too out there. Something where she will be the only one with that name in her class, but not so weird that people will feel sorry for her because of her name.
The sister names for Ezra are: Ivy, Astrid, Aviva, Phoebe, Sarai
The sister names for River are: Sienna, Willow, Dalia, Lyric, Meadow
I don't really love any of those names. I do have a couple of names that I like right now, one of them Joe is still trying to decide if he likes it and the other he totally likes. What names are they? You will just have to wait and see. You already know it's a girl, we want to keep somethings a surprise.
Here is what the book says about my name and the names of my friends (you guys). Take a look, is your name there? Some names were not listed; Alma, Codie, Launa, sorry guys. If it's not let me know and I will add it to the list. Don't feel bad if your name is not cool, my name has a very harsh description. I'm sure your kid or kids names are much cooler than your own name. At least that is the case with me.
Please do not feel like you have to read all the names listed, unless you are really bored.
Aileen\Eileen- Most of us identify Eileen as an Irish name, but for many years its popularity crossed all ethnic boundaries. America is full of grown-up Eileens with last names like Cohen and Rodriguez. Now the name is no longer broadly fashionable, its Gaelic roots are reappearing. It still sounds great with a traditional Irish surname.
Alan- A fine reliable fellow, that Alan. Sure, he hit his peak in the middle of the last century, but he's kept his youthful good looks. The name has been used in the British Isles since the time of William the Conquerer and should keep going strong. Alternate spellings like Allen, once equally popular in the U.S., are now showing more age.
Angela- For years Angela was the way to name your daughter with a touch of heaven. Today, the options have exploded. Half a dozen different "Angel" names are popular, and Heaven itself is now a popular name. But Angela is still a hit and it remains the most modest enduring choice.
Amber(Sorry, I know Ambrosia is much cooler, but not listed)- Amber was occasionally heard a century ago when jewel names were in vogue. It really took off decades later thanks to the romantic novel
Forever Amber, a mid-century sensation. As a result, the name's image is satin-and-lace sensual.
Amy- Amy is bright, simple, and cheerily unpretentious. It was a monster hit in the 70's but doesn't sound dated. Think of the name's recent decline as merely a "stock market correction" back to its natural place as a modest, beloved classic. The French Aimee is equally traditional but showier.
Benjamin- Benjamin is a name of perfect balance. It's popular, but not quite trendy. It's biblical, but not conspicuously antique. It's manly but not heavy or blunt. The full Benjamin is handsome, Benji is cute, and Ben's and all-around good guy. You're all set.
Bruce- The world is full of macho guys named Bruce. Think Bruce Lee, Bruce Willis, Bruce Smith, Bruce Springsteen. Their combined muscle and swagger help to offset the name's softness.
Christy-Kristi- Add up all the spellings, and there were more girls named Christy in the'70s than Sarah or Mary. And that doesn't even count the Kristens, Christines, and Kristas who go by this nickname. Why did parents love Christy so? The name has a sparkle to it, like sunshine on fresh Christmas snow. Unfortunately, that impression is now buried in an avalanche of datedness and the name is close to disappearing.
Courtney- Forty years ago, Courtney was a fancy-pants boy's name derived from a Norman baronial name. (Neville and Aubrey are similar examples.) More recently, it emerged as part of a new group of girls' names that became the sound of the '80s and '90s. Like its companions Brittany and Ashley, Courtney is still widely used but no longer the cusp of fashion.
David- The classic boys' names always have snappy good-guy nicknames: Mike, Matt, Jim, Jake.... and Dave. But you can get too much of a good-guy thing. The generation raised in the '70s and '80s was surrounded by Daves and is starting to shy away from the name. Of course, that could mean an opportunity for your little Dave to be the only one in his class.
Donna- If you take the time to give Donna some thought, you'll see the charms that kept it near the top of the charts for forty years. It has a trim all-American sound with hints of both Italy (it's Italian for "lady") and Scotland ( a feminine form of Donald). To most parents, though, it's just too familiar to be interesting.
Emily- You've just got to like Emily. It's bright and friendly, traditional and unpretentious. So sure enough, everybody does like it, making this simple classic the number-one name in the English-speaking world. It tips the charts in England and Australia as well as the U.S. The literary Emilys from Bronte to Dickinson to Post, lend the name added substance.
Fern- Leafy and lacy, a fern is a graceful botanical image for a girl's name. The name also holds a timeless place in children's literature as the main human character in
Charlotte's Web. In the early 1900s, Fern was especially popular as a middle name, which would be a perfect way to revive it.
Jill- Jill could be the 1960s' first revival candidate. The name's directness gives it a kind of grown-up girl power: fun and fearless. Plus the phrase Jack and Jill, dating back 600 years, shows that the image of Jill as a spirited lass is genuinely timeless.
Joan- Joan is somewhat plain, but not quite plain enough. Parents who really want to make a back-to-basics style statement choose Jane. Joan, the beloved favorite of the '30s and'40s, is simply perceived as too ordinary to be interesting. It's not the first time that's happened to this boom-or-bust name. There was such a glut of Joans in the Middle Ages that the name acquired a "common" reputation and virtually disappeared for centuries.
Jodi- This boyish'60s star still charms us with its good humor. As a nickname, it's pitch-perfect. As a full name, though, it's more limited. Picture actress Jodi Foster as Johanna instead....doesn't it suit her dignity better? Other formal options include Judith, Jordan and Josephine.
Joseph- The quintessential man's name - a Joe even means and ordinary guy. While others falter, Joseph carries on generation after generation with its dignified, old-world masculinity firmly intact. As rock-solid a choice as ever.
Kathrine- If you want a name to stay fashionable until your daughter is a grandma, you can't find a better bet than Katherine. This is a name of saints, queens, and empresses, with countless versions and derivatives. Several different spellings are traditional, but Katherine is timeless.
Katie- Many parents skip right past Katherine and choose this cute, unpretentious nickname. It's a sure way to avoid your daughter being called Kathy or Kat against your wishes, but it forces her to sound girlish - even at times when she might prefer womanly. For a middle path, consider the given name Kate. That's the stylish nom du jour for Hollywood Stars.
Kelsey- Kelsey was a mild-mannered boy's name (think actor Kelsey Grammer) that suddenly exploded as a girl's name. With its energetic, faintly androgynous style, it pals around comfortably with Courtney and Shelby. One of the hottest names of the '90s, Kelsey already shows signs of cooling off.
Laura- One of the steadiest choices atound the world. Laura's smooth sound has made it a favorite in song and story for centuries - from Petarch to General Hospital - and it's a hit in almost every european language. This author has spent many happy years with the name , for which she thanks her parents. (Apparently the author of this book is Laura)
Lyndsey- In the wake of the '70s
Bionic Woman icon Lindsay Wagner, this surname became a standard overnight. While Lindsay's popularity has plummeted, the mane is still fashionable in sound and style. Kinsey, Laney, and Ainsley are among the hot new names walking in Lindsay's footsteps.
Madeline- (you know who you are) Madeline is a classic that still sounds charmingly old-fashioned, even though it's more popular today than ever before. Ludwig Bemelman's beloved children's books have helped fuel the vogue for the name. Note that little Maddy risks confusion with the many Madisons in the playground.
Martha- Parents who find themselves drawn to George should give Martha a second look. It has that same no-frills appeal that frees you from the shackles of passing fashion. The most prominent Martha of recent times, tastemaker Martha Stewart, suffered a very public demise that could have sunk lesser names. But this stalwart classic will pull through just fine.
Mary- The most popular girl's name of the twentieth century. And the nineteenth, and the eighteenth...but the Grand Old Name is remarkably uncommon in century twenty-one. Modern parents have shied away from Mary precisely because of its past popularity. Ironically, that now gives you the opportunity to choose the name as a distinctive fashion statement. It is warm, pretty and the ultimate "back-to-basics" classic.
Matthew- Matthew comes through for parents as a new classic that feels like an old classic. It mingles just as comfortably with John and William as Justin and Brandon. Try bouncing it off your parents, grandparents, nieces and nephews: Nobody has a complaint about the name Matt.
Meaghan- Megan started off in Wales as a pet form of Margaret but has found huge popularity as a U.S. given name. The alternate spelling Meaghan, which gives the name an Irish look, is in fact a modern American creation. Also consider Bethan, a similar Welsh take on Elizabeth.
Melanie- A rare medieval French saint's name. What, that's not your image of Melanie? Then thank
Gone With the Wind, which brought the name to America's notice - it's been a standard ever since. Thoroughly likable and unaffected.
Monica- Blessedly, the details of the Monica Lewinsky affair are already fading from memory. Nonetheless, the months of tawdry headlines were a big blow to this classic name, and Monicas everywhere took a while to recover. The Monica of
Friends helped counter the blow, though, and new little Monicas should do just fine.
Nancy- Nancy's a nickname (for Ann) that still sounds right for the little girl in the
Nancy comic strip. In real life though, many Nancys are now sporting gray hair. By their sheer numbers, they've forced their name to grow up with them.
Pamela- Think of the Breck Girl, the advertising icon with the flowing locks. For forty years, she was the timeless, glamorous American beauty. Then on day she disappeared and became a retro sweetheart looked back on with fondness. The name Pamela has followed her along that same path.
Rachel/Rachael- Rachel is a biblical classic that reemerged as a hit after decades of hibernation. It doesn't sound like a quaint heirloom, though - it's thoroughly contemporary. The name hit its modern peak with the
Friends character Rachel and her eponymous hairstyle. This is one of the most flexible and risk-free names you can choose.
Raygon- I couldn't find it so these will have to do.Regan- A Shakespearean name that has found a new audience because of its Celtic flavor. It's a worthy alternative to Megan, but parents considering this name should take a quick look at its origins in the play King Lear. An ungrateful daughter who double-crosses her dad....hmm, maybe Megan isn't so bad after all? Reagan is a popular variation that shifts the emphasis from literature to politics.
Reagan- From Jefferson and Madison to Carter and Reagan, presidential surnames are hotter than ever. In most cases parents are focusing more on style than politics (though Watergate has ruled out the otherwise pitch-perfect name Nixon). For girls, Reagan is gaining on front-runner Madison.
Rebecca- Tender and graceful, Rebecca has long been a literary favorite. Recently biblical "rediscoveries" like Abigail and Hannah have been more popular, but Rebecca remains an unquestioned classic.
Rita- There's an eternal appeal to punchy, pint-sized girl's names. Kira and Mia fill the bill today, just as Rita did back in the '20s. Like many of these miniature hits, Rita has nickname roots - it's short for Margarita. Rita now has a vintage style, but there's still plenty of life to it.
Sarah- Sarah has been steadily popular for decades now - really, for millennia. but the name is such a simple, pure classic that it will never wear out its welcome. For a change of pace, the nick-names Sally and Sadie are both worth a look.
Stacey- Stacy and Tracy were the original sparkly surnames for girls. Their sunny demeanor still shines, but parents are now looking for fresher choices with the same spirit. Macy and Riley are two top contenders.
Whitney- This tony surname has risen and fallen with the career arc of singer Whitney Houston. It started out as a swank-sounding boys' name back when the Whitneys, Morgans and Vanderbitlts were gilded-age kingpins. Like most names of this style, it gets friendlier and more approachable with age.
William-Dominant a century ago, William has remained a robust, adaptable classic. It's distinguished but not a bit stuffy. The nickname Bill was among the essential twentieth-century names, while the smoother Will looks like a twenty-first century winner. Among such trend setting groups as Ivy Leaguers and uptown New Yorkers, the name is soaring.
Another website that Joe and I like to go to is the
Social Security popular baby names page. We like to type in a name we are thinking of and see how it has risen and fallen in popularity. The website does not take into account different spellings for the same name, so you have to keep that in mind. They just published the most popular baby names for 2007.
So this is what has been on my mind lately. What are we going to call this little girl?
Joe used to put this hat on and we would laugh. What a funny hat! It's ridiculous, I mean look at the fur. It looks like the kind of hat an Eskimo would wear.
She is a big hit at our house. The boys ADORE her. It is so sweet. They talk to her and River is so into showing her how to do things. Yesterday while she was in her bouncy seat he taught her; how to snap, put socks on, put shoes on, hop on one foot and how to whistle. He is a really good big brother.
Adorable, if I do say so myself!
She is a big hit at our house. The boys ADORE her. It is so sweet. They talk to her and River is so into showing her how to do things. Yesterday while she was in her bouncy seat he taught her; how to snap, put socks on, put shoes on, hop on one foot and how to whistle. He is a really good big brother.
Adorable, if I do say so myself!
