Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 26

Do you find it easier to name girls or boys? Traditionally the name pool for girls has been larger (although the options for boys are ever increasing). For some, the plethora of choices for girls makes it easier to find a name they love, while for others the number of options can be overwhelming.

For Jessica Simpson, the girls name pool wasn't big enough. She borrowed from the boys when naming her daughter Maxwell in 2012. Now that she has another daughter on the way, will we see a similar situation?

This month, many other celebrities announced they are expecting girls. Kehlani, Teresa Palmer, and Egypt Sherrod are all going to be having daughters next year. And the biggest celebrity pregnancy news of the month—Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are having a baby (although no news yet on whether it'll be a prince or a princess).

We've got a lot of star-babies to look forward to in the coming year, and many of them are sure to have interesting names. I've made my prognostications, but I'd love to know—what do you think these celebrities are going to name their babies?

Alejandra Silva and Richard Gere
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Homer James Jigme, Albert (previous relationships)
It can be hard to find a name that merges the styles of blended families, but with sons named Homer and Albert, it shouldn't be too difficult for Alejandra Silva and Richard Gere. Another old-fashioned, clunky-cool name seems to be in order whether it's a girl or a boy. Either way, I'm hoping he or she will have a Tibetan middle name like Richard's son Homer. Richard Gere is a human rights advocate with a strong focus on Tibet, so it's nice to see his love of the culture spill over into his choice of baby names.
Girl: Adelaide, Augusta, Cleo, Etta, Frances, Harriet, Josephine, Martha, Matilda
Boy: Archie, Bernard, Chester, Conrad, Forrest, Otto, Walter, Watson, Winston
*Update* Welcome, Alexander!

Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson
Gender: girl
Siblings: Maxwell Drew (g), Ace Knute
Back in 2012, Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson defied expectations by naming their daughter Maxwell. Now that they're expecting another girl, everyone is wondering if Jessica and Eric will surprise us again. What do you name a sister to Maxwell? I'm thinking they might go with another gender-bending choice, but perhaps she'll choose something traditionally unisex.
Girl: Everett, Finn, Jameson, Lennox, Phoenix, Quinn, Remington, Sawyer
*Update* Hello, Birdie Mae!

Sophie Hunter and Benedict Cumberbatch
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Christopher "Kit" Carlton, Hal Auden
With sons named Kit and Hal, Sophie Hunter and Benedict Cumberbatch are obviously big fans of succinct nicknames with a hint of British flair. There are plenty of quirky-cute British nicknames that haven't yet made the leap over the pond. I'd love to see them use another one-syllable name, especially if it's a boy, and perhaps get a bit more playful if it's a girl.
Girl: Dolly, Dot, Ginny, Lucy, Lula, Maude, Millie, Penny, Pippa, Rose, Tess
Boy: Billy, Bram, Finn, Jack, Jay, Jem, Len, Lou, Mac, Ned, Robbie, Seb, Theo

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
One of the biggest celebrity babies of 2019 is undoubtedly going to be that of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. The world's favorite couple is expecting their son or daughter in the Spring, and already the bettors are taking their guesses as to what his or her name will be. It's likely they'll choose a classic name with some history of use in the monarchy, but that's not a guarantee. Harry and Meghan have a bit more leeway than Will and Kate, since their child will be further down the line of succession. If it's a boy, I'm holding out for Spencer. It's a strong and handsome name that would beautifully honor Diana.
Girl: Alexandra, Alice, Dorothea, Elizabeth, Isabelle, Louisa, Sophia, Victoria
Boy: Albert, Arthur, Charles, Edward, Frederick, James, Jasper, Philip, Spencer
*Update* Archie Harrison!

Kehlani Parrish and Javie Young-White
Gender: girl
Siblings: none
Mononymic singer Kehlani is expecting her first child with Javie Young-White. The couple is spiritual and artistic, so I'd be very curious to see their short list for baby girl's name. Odds of a word name are high—I'm getting a lot of night sky and astrological vibes from Kehlani and Javie, so I wouldn't be surprised if they uses any of the following:
Girl: Celestial, Dream, Frida, Indigo, Lavender, Lotus, Mystery, Nova, Soleil
*Update* Baby girl is Adeya Nomi!

Teresa Palmer and Mark Webber
Gender: girl
Siblings: Isaac (previous relationship), Bodhi Rain, Forrest Sage
Teresa Palmer and Mark Webber are going to be having a girl! They have two sons together, and each has a name ripe with natural significance. It's almost a given that baby girl will have a combination of nature names—the question is, which ones?
Girl: Aspen, Clover, Haven, Iris, Juniper, Lark, Laurel, Prairie, Willow, Wren
*Update* Welcome, Poet Lake!

Amy Schumer and Chris Fischer
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
What kind of baby name will Amy Schumer and Chris Fischer choose? Considering one of them is not a celebrity, I'd imagine this name is going to be more "normal" than one might hope. A possible clue—Amy's dog is named Tatiana (after actress Tatiana Maslany), but goes by Tati. Keeping that in mind, I choose some more names for the couple with strong consonant sounds and nickname options.
Girl: Edith, Genevieve, Josephine, Juliet, Marlowe, Miranda, Olivia, Romilly
Boy: August, Beckett, Benjamin, Dashiell, Harrison, Jacob, Maxwell, Nathaniel
*Update* It's a boy—Gene Attell!

Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson
Gender: girl
Siblings: Simone (previous relationship), Kendall
It'll be a houseful of girls for Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson, as they are set to welcome daughter number three into their family in 2019. She'll be closest in age to their six-year-old Kendall, so it's likely her name will fall closer to the modern and unisex part of the spectrum, rather than be French and feminine like Simone.
Girl: Addison, Ashlyn, Aubrey, Brooklyn, Emerson, Jordan, Olivia, Waverly
*Update* Welcome, Harper Skye!

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 16

When it comes to naming siblings, families have different approaches. Some choose an obvious theme, like Coleen and Wayne Rooney, whose children are named Kai, Klay, and Kit. Others, like Lisa and Jack Osborne, don't feel the need to have coordinating sibling names--one of their daughters has the sweet, vintage name Pearl, and the other has the androgynous, spunky name Andy.

It will be interesting to see how this group of celebrities adds to their sibsets. Will Boomer Phelps have a sibling with an equally out-there name? Will Kim and Kanye use another word name for North and Saint's brother or sister? I've made my predictions below, but I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

April Love Geary and Robin Thicke
Gender: girl
Siblings: Julian Fuego (previous relationship)
Robin Thicke's son has a name with distinct Latin flair--Julian Fuego. Although he and his sister will have different mothers, I'd love for them to have somewhat coordinated names. A great way to do that would be to give her a name that has a history of use in Spanish speaking countries, as well as the United States.
Girl: Angelina, Camila, Elena, Isabella, Liliana, Naomi, Olivia, Stella
*Update* Welcome, Mia Love!

Ginger Zee and Ben Aaron Colonomus
Gender: boy
Siblings: Adrian Benjamin
Adrian Benjamin is a handsome, classic name that is easy to like. He has the added bonus of cute initials--ABC. Considering Adrian's first two initials are the reverse of his dad's, it might be sweet for Ginger and Ben Aaron to give their second son the initials RG--which is the reverse of Ginger's first and middle initials. Although, that tradition would be hard to keep up with if they decide to have more than two children.
Boy: Caleb, Dominic, Felix, Gabriel, Gregor, Lucas, Peter, Rhys, Russell, Silas
*Update* Baby boy is Miles Macklin!

Coleen and Wayne Rooney
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Kai, Klay, Kit
For Coleen and Wayne Rooney's fourth baby, I'd be shocked if he or she doesn't have another K name. I'd wager that the name will be one syllable as well, although there are some great double syllable options for a daughter.
Girl: Kacy, Kali, Kami, Kass, Kate, Kay, Kaylie, Keira, Kess, Kia, Kiki, Klare
Boy: Kade, Kane, Kase, Kash, Keane, Keyes, King, Kole, Kord, Krew, Kyle
*Update* It's a boy, but not another K name! Welcome, Cass Mac!

Hillary Scott and Chris Tyrrell
Gender: unknown twins!
Siblings: Eisele Kaye
Hillary Scott and Chris Tyrrell's daughter has a very special name--Eisele is her paternal grandmother's maiden name, and Kaye is her maternal grandmother's maiden name. Honoring family is clearly important to the Tyrrells, and they certainly have space to honor a lot of people with their upcoming arrival of twins! I've scoured their family trees for potential honorees, but also included some names that work stylistically with Eisele.
Girl: Dove, Eden, Emerald, Flora, Issa, Jean, Laurel, Lindy, Raya, Sage, Willow
Boy: Davis, Ever, Forrest, Hart, Judah, Lane, Lang, Nash, Scott, Tennessee, True
*Update* Identical twin girls--Betsy Mack and Emory JoAnn!

Lisa and Jack Osborne
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Pearl Clementine, Andy Rose
Pearl and Andy may seem like a bit of a mis-match for sister names, but one element that ties them together is their botanical middle names. I hope the Osbornes continue that theme with their third baby, even if it's a boy. There are plenty of great nature names for boys--ranging from Forest to Linden--that I could picture them using as a middle name.
Girl: Bee, Estelle, Frances, Georgia, Harriet, Ivy, Lark, Maude, Olive, Violet
Boy: August, Edmund, Heath, Henry, Pierce, Quentin, Rex, Sebastian, Simon
*Update* Welcome, Minnie Theodora!

Nicole Johnson and Michael Phelps
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Boomer Robert
How do you match a name as bold as Boomer? I think another action-packed word name might be in store for a boy--something like Colt or Gunner. For a girl, high-value Scrabble letters and punchy sounds are key--think Lux and Ripley. Whether they're having a son or a daughter, the Phelps family has quite the task ahead of them, picking a name to match Boomer's swagger.
Girl: Bodhi, Coco, Dixie, Jette, Jude, Lux, Pax, Rebel, Ripley, Rogue, Sawyer
Boy: Axel, Bear, Beau, Bricker, Colt, Danger, Gunner, Racer, Storm, Wilder
*Update* Another boy--Beckett Richard!

Elspeth Keller and Reid Scott
Gender: boy
Siblings: Conrad
We're in the midst of a Conrad comeback. Since 2011, it has risen over 200 spots in the top 1000, but at #591, Conrad is hardly trendy. I'm guessing Elspeth Keller and Reid Scott will choose another clunky-cool name poised to swing back into style--perhaps another one with German origins.
Boy: Anton, Casper, Edwin, Frederick, Harold, Lawson, Oswald, Otto, Warren
*Update* Hello, Damon Leif!

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
Gender: unknown
Siblings: North, Saint
Had you asked me back in May what Kim and Kanye would name a second son, I would have told you Sir. But fast forward a few months to July, and that is the name Beyonce and Jay Z gave their son, Sir Carter. Alas, there are still great choices for Kimye's newest arrival, including ones that connote their celebrity royalty status and fit in with North and Saint.
Girl: Forever, Halo, Idol, Journey, Key, Poet, Rebel, Regal, Rogue, Soul, True, Victory, Wisdom
Boy: Champ, Chief, Epic, Future, Hero, Knight, Legend, Riot, Royal, Supreme, Wild, Win, Winner
*Update* Baby girl is Chicago!

Nickname Proof Names: Boys

Krystin via Sappy Apple

While many of us look for names that are nickname gold-mines, just as many parents want a name with absolutely no nicknames at all. If you're one of the latter, I've compiled a list of over 100 names for boys--none with any established nicknames. It's all after the jump. Check back on Friday for the girls list!

Share a Coke Names: Summer 2015

Image Credit

Some of my most-viewed posts profile last summer's Share a Coke campaign (part one, part two). This year, Coca Cola is bringing it back, and they've added tons more names. Here I've listed all the names that didn't appear on the U.S. or U.K. lists last year. It's all after the jump.

Green Baby Names

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Happy March! This month makes everyone think of the color green- Saint Patrick's Day is coming up, and Spring is almost here. To celebrate this green-tinged month, I have compiled a list of names that are also shades of green. Perfect for a March baby!

Expected:
Emerald- She was Pantone's color of the year last year, and is picking up popularity.
Hunter- The -er ending is very trendy right now, and people's first thought will not be the color.
Jade- A beautiful color, but an even more beautiful name.
Kelly- Both the name and the color were once trendy. Now, not so much.
Lincoln- I talk about Lincoln a lot on here. It's a great name for either gender, but most people won't know it's a shade of green.
Olive- Olive is the first name that comes to mind when I think "green names." She's a lovely name that was once considered unique, but is now turning mainstream.

Unique:
Fern- She's the little girl in Charlotte's Web as well as the poetry loving dog on Arthur. With so many great associations, what's not to love about Fern?
Forest- The baby name is more often spelled Forrest, but the shade of green is spelled like the noun. Either one is useable, but I suggest the double R.
India- She's obviously way more of a place name than a color name, but India is an amazing choice nonetheless.
Myrtle- Most of today's parents wouldn't consider her an attractive choice, but hey, you could call her Tilly.
Paris- Paris is in the same boat as India. Go with India.

Unheard of:
Citrine- I've talked about Citron before, but Citrine sounds more like a name. I'm liking it.
Cyan- Technically Cyan is a blue-green shade, but whatever. Kyan and Kayan are already boys names, so why not Cyan?
Pine- I adore Pine for a baby boy. It's the perfect mix of nature and masculine.
Sea- I love Sea on her own, but many parents want longer full names. I like Season best.
Teal- Short and sweet. That's how I like my baby names.       

Chicago Neighborhood Names

Chicago has hundreds of neighborhoods. I pulled the ones with the most name potential.

Albany- There's an Albany Park here in Chicago, but most people think of New York first.
Anderson- Andersonville is one of the best neighborhoods in Chicago, and Anderson is stylish right now. Bonus points for the nickname Anders.
Arcadia- For Arcadia Terrace. A little clunky, but wearable.
Archer- A cool name for boys right now, this one can represent Archer Heights.
Austin- More Texas than Chicago neighborhood.
Avalon- An awesome alternative to Ava, there's a neighborhood called Avalon Park in Chicago.
Beverly- A little dated, but her sounds are on track to be stylish.
Brighton- A unisex name more common for girls.
Chester- For West Chesterfield. He's very vintage and possibly ready for revival.
Douglas- Another old man name, there's a Douglas and Douglas Park in Chicago.
Edison- A cool surname name perfect for lovers of science or Edison Park.
Forest- Forest (or more likely, Forrest) is another revival. This is the spelling used for the neighborhood Forest Glen.
Glen- A vintage unisex name that's short and sweet.
Ford- Whether it's after Henry Ford or Ford City, he's a neat name endorsed by celebrities.
Gage- The perfect tough boy name.
Gale- Galewood is a neighborhood in Chicago, and thanks to The Hunger Games, Gale is now unisex (especially this spelling).
Garfield- Garfield still makes us think of cats, but his nickname Gar would be cool to honor Garfield Park or Ridge.
Grace- For Graceland. A common, slightly boring girls name.
Irving- Another vintage pick, he comes with the nickname Irv.
Jackson- Super popular pick for boys.
Jefferson- A unique way to honor a Jeffrey, or Jefferson Park.
Jeffrey- He's dated, but not a bad pick.
Kelvyn- Very andro-girly, this one's for Kelvyn Park.
Kennedy- She's a popular unisex pick for girls.
Ken- For Kenwood. Very Sixties, surfer boy vibe.
Lake- There are four neighborhoods with Lakeview in the name. Lake makes a cool first or middle for either gender.
LeClaire- A cool update on Claire; after LeClaire Courts.
Lincoln- Lincoln Park and Lincoln Square are both very popular 'hoods here. Lincoln is a popular, now unisex name (thanks to Kristen Bell) that is rising up the charts.
Logan- A widely used unisex name, though more often for boys.
Mary- A classic name for girls that can be used for either Marycrest or Marynook.
Mayfair- A unique update on the sugary sweet May.
McKinley- Another andro-girly name, this one's for McKinley Park.
Morgan- A top 100 girls name, but used for both genders.
North- Not specifically representing any neighborhood, but North is still one of my favorites (especially for a girl).
Oak- This would make a cool middle for either gender.
Peterson- A contemporary way to honor Peter.
Prairie- For the Prairie District. One part modern. Two parts hippie.
Raven- Ravenswood is a fun neighborhood here in Chicago. Love it too? Raven an underused option.
River- Becoming more and more popular for both genders.
Roger- Rogers Park is Chicago's most north-east tip. Roger is a nice, vintage name that can honor this lakeside neighborhood.
Roscoe- An interesting name that's practically unheard of.
Rose- Overused as a middle, underused as a first. Rose can be for Rosehill, Roseland, or Rosemoor.
Scott- For Scottsdale. An up and coming dad name.
Sheridan- An undiscovered unisex name.
Washington- Not sure if I'd stick my kid with this one, but he'd make a cool middle.
Wrigley- Whether it's after Wrigley Field or Wrigleyville, you hear many a dog called Wrigley in Chicago.

Of course, why not just Chicago? It has the nickname Chi, and the ever-popular "O" ending. Maybe for a middle? ;)