Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 29

How important to you is sibset cohesion? Many celebrity sibsets in this month’s group are remarkably harmonized—Nikki Sixx’s children all have edgy names perfect for the sons and daughters of a punk rocker. Courtney and Mario Lopez gave each of their kids very Italian names, and Jessa and Ben Seewald have sons with names inspired by notable members of their faith.

Other stars have coordinating sibsets—the names go together, but they may be a bit different in style or usage. Chelsea Clinton’s Charlotte and Aidan are an example of this, as are Sara Haines’s Alec and Sandra. Each are adding a third child to their family this year, and it will be exciting to see how their names add to the sibsets. I’ve made my predictions for their choices below—let me know how yours compare!

Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Charlotte, Aidan

Chelsea Clinton and her husband Marc Mezvinsky chose popular names for their two children, but with slightly different styles. Charlotte is a modern classic—not so long ago considered an old-lady name, but recently given the royal seal of approval. Aidan, although with Irish roots, feels very American, thanks to the -ayden names defining the decade in US baby name trends. It’s not uncommon for parents to have different taste in names for each gender, but I’m curious if this sibset will bend more towards recent favorites or familiar revivals.
Girl: Eleanor, Elizabeth, Eva, Grace, Josephine, Lillian, Lucy, Nora, Olivia, Sadie

Boy: Benjamin, Eli, Henry, James, Liam, Nathan, Nicholas, Owen, Samuel, Theo

Courtney and Mario Lopez

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Gia Francesca, Dominic Luciano

Courtney and Mario Lopez have a love for accessible Italian choices—ones that have distinct Italian flair, but don’t feel out of place on their American children. Considering they picked names in this category for each of their children’s first and middle names, the odds are high that baby number three will follow this pattern as well.
Girl: Aria, Bianca, Camilla, Eliana, Emilia, Livia, Lucia, Luna, Milana, Serena

Boy: Angelo, Lorenzo, Luca, Marco, Matteo, Maximo, Romeo, Santino, Xavier

Courtney and Nikki Sixx

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Gunner Nicholas, Storm Brieann, Decker Nilsson, Frankie-Jean Mary (previous relationships)

A large age gap often leads to disparate name styles within a sibset, but I don’t think that will be the case with Nikki Sixx’s children. His children all have what we like to call Badass Baby Names. With such a clear affinity for names with a radical image, I expect baby number five will have one as well.

Girl: Avalon, Domino, Echo, Indigo, Lavender, Lux, Maven, Phoenix, Revel, Seven

Boy: Axel, Blade, Breaker, Crash, Diesel, Draven, Kicker, Onyx, Zenith, Zephyr

 Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Spurgeon Elliot and Henry Wilberforce

The Duggar family at large is known for having themed sibsets and choosing names with religious significance. Jessa and Ben in particular have picked names for their sons drawn from historical figures in Christianity. We have every reason to expect they will continue this theme for their third child—the question is, who will they be inspired by?
Girl: Annie, Darby, Elizabeth, Evangeline, Lottie, Phoebe, Pink, Sunday, Taylor

Boy: Barton, Beecher, Harris, Judson, Palmer, Pruitt, Simeon, Theodore, Wesley
*Update* Welcome, Ivy Jane!

Danielle Fishel and Jensen Karp

Gender: boy

Siblings: none

Danielle Fishel and Jensen Karp are expecting their first child this summer—a boy! The pair has pets named Brunch and Bill, but I don’t think they’ll go quite as quirky when choosing a name for their son. I could see Danielle and Jensen using a familiar and stylish name that hits all the right notes for a 2019 baby, much like the following:

Boy: Beckett, Grayson, Hudson, Ian, Julian, Logan, Maddox, Otto, Wilder

Jazmyn Simon and Dulé Hill

Gender: boy

Siblings: Kennedy (previous relationship)

When a mother’s last name works as a first name, I love to see it used as such. Simon, which has a long history as a first name, would be a great contender for the name of Jazmyn Simon and Dulé Hill’s son. If they decide not to use that opportunity, I think Jazmyn and Dulé might go with a trendier name for their little boy.

Boy: Easton, Flynn, Jameson, Jax, Landon, Milo, Nolan, Rylan, Simon, Wyatt
*Update* He's here—Levi Dulé!

Abby Huntsman and Jeffrey Livingston

Gender: boy/girl twins

Siblings: Isabel Grace

Newscaster Abby Huntsman and her husband Jeffrey gave their daughter the sweet and classic name Isabel Grace. Now they’re expecting twins—a boy and a girl—and I would bet that their new little ones will have similarly well-liked, charming names. For their daughter, something feminine but substantial seems to be in order. For their son, I could see them either going full-classic (like Arthur or William), or modern (like Sawyer and Greyson).
Girl: Amara, Cecilia, Eden, Elena, Jane, Julia, Lila, Madeline, Natalie, Rosalie

Boy: Arthur, Charlie, Elliot, Greyson, Jasper, Jude, Sawyer, Thomas, William
*Update* One out of two! Hello, Ruby Kate and William Jeffrey!

Sara Haines and Max Shifrin

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Alec Richard and Sandra Grace

If you said that Alec and Sandra sound like a sibset out of the 20^th century, I wouldn’t blame you. Both names are well past their peak, with Alec topping out in 1994, and Sandra reaching its height in 1947. Sara and Max’s daughter was named after Sara’s mother Sandy, but it still was a surprising pick, considering Sandra is considered quite dated. I’m hoping Sara and Max revive another forgotten classic with their third child’s name.

Girl: Amalia, Diana, Erica, Frances, Judith, Julianna, June, Laura, Tessa, Virginia

Boy: Amos, Anton, Edward, Gregory, Marcus, Nathaniel, Philip, Tobias, Walter

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 14

Names with personal significance are always special, and this month's batch of celebrities loves a good honor name. All of John Carter Cash's children have names from his side of the family, and Daphne Oz has a son who's a junior (which seems rarer nowadays, especially with celebrities).

There are some stars who are having their first child that I would love to see use a name with personal significance. Matthew Morrison's wife Renee is from Hawaii, where many gorgeous names have originated. Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder are huge nature lovers, so a nature name would have a lot of meaning to them. Finally, Julia Stiles has some quirky naming traditions in her family that I'm wondering if she'll follow. Whatever direction these celebrities go in, I'm sure they'll choose lovely names, but I'm always crossing my fingers for names with a good story behind them.

Ana Cristina and John Carter Cash
Gender: girl
Siblings: Joseph John, Jack Ezra, Anna Maybelle "AnnaBelle" (previous relationships)
It's very evident that that John Carter Cash loves to use honor names--and he should, with so many great names to choose from! All three of his children have a name plucked from his famous family tree in either the first or middle position (or both, as is the case with Jack Ezra). I'd wager that his upcoming baby girl will have a name with family significance as well.
Girl: Caroline, Clover, Helen, June, Maggie, Margaret, Valerie, Virginia
*Update* Welcome, Grace June!

Tasha McCauley and Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Gender: unknown
Siblings: brother (name not released)
Notoriously private Tasha McCauley and Joseph Gordon-Levitt have never shared the name of their son, and that's unlikely to change with baby number two. However, I have a pretty good idea of the type of name they would choose. Tasha and Joseph are very worldly--she speaks English, Spanish, and Arabic!--so a name with multicultural influence seems to be in order.
She speaks English, Spanish, Arabic
Girl: Alia, Gracie, Isa, Jane, Leila, Lula, Mariam, Ramona, Senna
Boy: Arlo, Daniel, Hugo, Israel, Julian, Milo, Sebastian, Samar

Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder are a nature and animal-loving couple. They are climate and animal-rights activists, and Nikki has a line of sustainable beauty products. This makes me think they will choose a name from the natural world--whether it be a plant, animal, or simply nature-inspired name--for their first child.
Girl: Harbor, Juniper, Lark, Linden, Prairie, Sage, Swan, Willow, Wren
Boy: Bear, Canyon, Forest, Fox, Moss, Oak, River, Sparrow, Stone, Wolf
*Update* It's a girl--Bodhi Soleil!

Renee Puente and Matthew Morrison
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Renee Puente and Matthew Morrison love Hawaii. Renee grew up on the islands, and the couple held their wedding there. Since Hawaii has played such a large role in their lives, I expect Matthew and Renee's child to have a name with some Hawaiian flavor.
Girl: Alohi, Ani, Emalia, Iva, Lilia, Leilani, Luana, Meilani, Poema
Boy: Hiro, Kai, Kanoa, Kauri, Kimo, Liko, Luka, Niko, Oli, Rai, Tao
*Update* They did use a Hawaiian name--in the middle! Welcome Revel James Makai!

Jaime Pressly and Hamzi Hijazi
Gender: boy/boy twins!
Siblings: Dezi James (previous relationship)
Actress Jaime Pressly is expecting twin boys--brothers to her son Dezi James. Dezi is one of those great names that is stylish and uncommon, yet familiar. Should Jaime and Hamzi choose names in a similar vein for their sons (that also have Dezi's casual vibes) I think they might some of the following.
Boy: Bodhi, Eli, Nev, Nial, Odie, Rafe, Ren, Roy, Shae, Shan, Teague
*Update* They're here--Leo and Lenon!

Daphne Oz and John Jovanovic
Gender: girl
Siblings: Philomena Bijou and Jovan Jr.
Although Daphne Oz's children have fairly extravagant names, she often calls them by the more accessible nicknames Philo and JJ. For her next daughter, I bet she is looking for a name along the same line--long and romantic, but with a fun nickname. Isabeau called Izzy or Beau, or Minerva called Minnie would be especially sweet.
Girl: Agatha, Clementine, Eugenie, Isabeau, Liora, Minerva, Winifred, Zelda
*Update* Welcome, Domenica Celine!

Roselyn Sanchez and Eric Winter
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Sebella Rose "Sebi"
Sebella Rose is the perfect name for Roselyn Sanchez and Eric Winter's daughter. Sebella has Spanish roots, which nods to Roselyn's Puerto Rican heritage, but it's not obscure, thanks to Isabella's popularity in the US. Using that formula, I picked out some more cross-cultural names that could be contenders for Sebi's little brother or sister.
Girl: Camila, Esme, Luisa, Marisol, Paloma, Seraphina, Valentina, Viviana
Boy: Augustin, Benjamin, Emilio, Leo, Mateo, Milo, Nathaniel, Santiago
*Update* A boy--Dylan Gabriel!

Julia Stiles and Preston J. Cook
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Julia Stiles has an interesting story behind her name. Both her parents and her siblings have first names that start with J, and her middle name is O'Hara--her father's surname. Stiles is her mother's surname, and I would love to see Julia use it as a first name if her baby is a boy. Stiles is an overlooked option that should appeal to parents searching for something tailored with a preppy feel.
Girl: Celia, Dorothy, Emmeline, Estelle, Lilia, Lyra, Mina, Simone, Sylvie
Boy: Callum, Flynn, Harris, O'Hara, Otis, Ray, Shepherd, Stiles, Thatcher

*Update* Hello, Strummer Newcomb!

Contraction Nicknames

What is a contraction nickname you ask? Just like contractions in English, a contraction nickname takes the first part of a name and the last part of the name to form a shorter nickname, sans middle. There are so many great options if you like contraction nicknames--take a look and let me know your favorites!

Ada: Adalia, Adamina, Adara, Adelina, Adina, Adriana
Adele: Adelaide, Adeline
Alexa: Alexandra, Alexandria, Alexandrina, Alexandrita, Alexia
Ana: Anahita, Anala, Anastasia, Andrea, Andromeda, Angela, Angelica, Angelina, Anita, Annabella, Annika, Annissa, Annora, Antonella
Aria: Arcadia, Arcelia, Arianna, Ariella, Arizona, Artemisia
Aura: Aurelia, Aurelina, Aurora
Bay: Bailey
Bea: Beata, Becca, Beeja, Begonia, Belinda, Bellona, Bertha
Bex: Beatrix
Bria: Brianna, Brietta, Brigitta, Britta
Cara: Carlotta, Carolina, Carissa, Carmela, Cassandra
Clara: Claribella, Clarinda, Clarissa
Clea: Clementina, Cleopatra
Corie: Coralie
Dana: Danica, Daniela, Danita
Elsa: Elisa, Eloisa
Emme: Emmanuelle, Emmeline
Eva: Evangelina, Evanthia, Evelina
Fae: Fable, Faustine
Fia: Felicia, Fidelia, Fiona, Fiorella
Gala: Gabriella, Galatea, Galena
Gia: Gardenia. Georgia, Giada, Gianna, Gilda, Giordana, Giovanna, Gisella
Ina: India, Indiana, Indra
Isa: Isabella, Isabetta, Isadora, Isauara, Isla
Jette: Jeanette, Juliette
Jessa: Janessa, Jessamina, Jessica
June: Julianne, Juline, Junelle, Junette, Junine
Lena: Leanna, Leona, Levina
Lia: Lavinia, Lelia, Leocadia, Lilia, Lilianna, Linnea, Liviana
Lola: Lolita, Louella
Lora: Lorena, Lorenza, Lorinda
Lula: Ludmila, Luella
Luna: Luciana
Mia: Maria, Melania, Milada, Milagra, Milena, Miranda, Mireya, Mischa
Mila: Michaela, Milada, Milagra, Milania
Mina: Marina, Martina, Milena, Minerva
Mira: Milagra, Mirabella
Nia: Nabila, Nadia, Nahlia, Natalia, Nelia, Nicasia, Nicola, Nicolina, Nigella, Nina, Nisha
Noa: Nola, Nona, Nora, Nordica, Norma, Novella
Ola: Olida, Olina, Olivia, Olympia
Pia: Pamelia, Pascasia, Patricia, Petunia, Pippa, Piritta, Portia
Pippa: Philippa
Ren: Reagan. Reign
Roma: Romana, Romola
Rory: Rosemary
Rosa: Rosalia, Rosalinda, Rosanna, Rosetta. Rosita
Sara: Sahara, Samara, Samira, Sandra, Sapphira, Sarika
Sia: Sienna, Sierra, Silvana, Simona, Sistina, Sophia, Sophronia, Stephania, Sylvia
Tara: Takara, Tamara
Thea: Theodora, Theodosia, Theresa
Thora: Theodora
Zara: Zahara

Nicknames for Dorothy

Joseph Arceneaux via Dribbble

Happy Monday everyone! As many of you know, we're coming up at our 5th anniversary of the blog, and needless to say, some posts need updating. So, I will be periodically re-vamping some old posts. First up is Nicknames for Dorothy! This is one of my most popular posts, and it's only getting more views as the name Dorothy rises in the charts. Let me know--what nickname would you use for Dorothy?

Dodie- Charmingly vintage Dodie is an English nickname for Dorothy. She's the type of nickname you can picture on a young girl or an old lady, but not much in between.

Doe- A nickname like Doe will inspire many musical outbursts, and perhaps some "Jane Doe" comments.

Dolly- Another nickname for Dorothy with musical theater connections (yep, Hello Dolly!) The English word doll actually comes from this popular 17th century onward name, not the other way around. She's been long out of favor since--is there any chance for Dolly to come back?

Dora- Oh, Dora. She'd be so trendy right now if it wasn't for that cartoon series. If you like her sound but not her associations, I suggest you take a look at our next name...

Dorie- Dora's sweet cousin. I suggest spelling her Dorie to ward off any fishiness (though you won't be able to evade all of it). Another possible spelling is Dori, but that seems straight out of the '60s.

Dortha- Clunky-cool Dortha was most popular in 1925, and fell off the charts in the 1940s. If you follow the 100 year rule, that means if you use her today you'll be 10 years ahead of the curve.

Dot- Long time readers know I have an affinity for Dot (though I did just take her off my If I Could Name 100 Girls post--sorry Dot!). She's got that retro sass and a bit of a British feel. I think she'd be perfect for a 2016 baby.

Dottie- Of course, you could also call your daughter Dorothy by Dot's similar elaboration--Dottie. Toddler girls would love to be named Dottie--it's the first name of favorite TV character Doc McStuffins.

Tea- Tea is a very Scandinavian nickname for Dorothy. She's traditionally pronounced with two syllables (TAY-uh)--an accent over the E can help clarify. You could pronounce Tea like the beverage if you want, it's certainly not unheard of.

Thea- Thea is another Scandi favorite. She has many pronunciations--THEE-uh, TEE-uh, TAY-uh, and THAY-uh. Take your pick! Thea is used as a nickname for Dorothy, but originated as a nickname for the similar Dorothea.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published on June 18, 2013, and updated on April 11, 2016.

Name the Blogger Baby: Volume One

via Stephanie Fishwick

Ever since my Celebrity Name Predictions became a hit, I've been thinking of ways to expand the series. Then it hit me: blogger names. Like celebrities, blogger name choices are hotly discussed, and can influence name trends. Just think--Rebecca Woolf of Girls Gone Child single-handedly introduced the world to using Fable and Reverie as names. The best part? Bloggers always seems to be pregnant. So let's get this thing going! What names would you add to the blogger sibsets? And let me know which bloggers you'd like to see in future installments.

Kate Arends
Blog: Wit & Delight
Due Date: July 2016
Gender: Unknown
Siblings: None
Lovely lifestyle blogger Kate Arends announced her pregnancy last week. She has self proclaimed "simple and modern" style, which I used for inspiration when coming up with these names--no frills, pre-nicknamed choices. Kate and her husband Joe have a dog called Winnie Bear, so I'm expecting something a little unexpected in the middle.
Girl: Annika, Anya, Darcy, Evie, Greta, Gwen, Ida, Lainey, Marlowe, Maude, Tessa
Boy: Arlo, Charlie, Cyrus, Finn, Gable, Jack, Ian, Max, Milo, Nate, Otis, Quinn, Rex
*Update* It's a boy! August Joseph Peters.

Jordan Ferney
Blog: Oh Happy Day
Due Date: June 2016
Gender: Girl
Siblings: Roman and Moses
Finally! I can't wait to see what Jordan Ferney names a daughter. She chose two hip but meaningful names for her sons, so the possibilities are endless for this little girl. The Ferneys are world-travelers, (and especially fond of France) so using that as my guide, I came up with these suggestions.
Girl: Anais, Emanuelle, France, Holiday, India, Lark, Marigold, Minnie, Primrose, Tallulah, Zella
*Update* I guess they love that long O sound, because baby girl is Simone!

Chelsea Foy
Blog: Lovely Indeed
Due Date: September 2016
Gender: Unknown
Siblings: Henry
Chelsea Foy has the sweetest son named Henry (but who she calls Tiny Foy), so I think an equally charming, slightly vintage name is in order for baby #2.
Girl: Alice, Clara, Ella, Eloise, Ivy, Josie, Nora, Phoebe, Piper, Ruby, Sadie, Stella
Boy: Asher, August, Charlie, Eli, Elliot, Felix, Levi, Maxwell, Nolan, Oliver, Owen

Liz Stanley
Blog: Say Yes
Due Date: April 2016
Gender: Girl
Siblings: Henry and Elizabeth Jean "Edie"
Funnily enough, Liz Stanley is Jordan Ferney's sister-in-law, and they're both having daughters within months of each other. This first cousin is coming any day now, and I can't wait to see what she's named. Liz's first daughter shares her full name, Elizabeth Jean, but is called Edie. I went with vintage names on the rise for my suggestions--nothing too old-school, because her other sister-in-law Gabby Blair (of Design Mom fame) has that on lock--six kids named Ralph, Maude, Olive, Betty, Oscar, and June!
Girl: Cecilia, Charlotte, Hazel, Ivy, Jane, Lucy, Lydia, Nellie, Rosie, Sophie, Sylvie
*Update* Welcome Dorothea May Stanley! They plan on calling her Dot and Dottie.

Bonnie Tsang
Blog: B for Bonnie
Due Date: August 2016
Gender: Girl
Siblings: Venise
Bonnie Tsang's tween daughter is named Venise--an uncommon name that I can't seem to categorize. However, after twelve years naming styles can change! So I'm very curious to here the name of Bonnie's next daughter.
Girl: Allegra, Calais, Cecile, Ciel, Louise, Opal, Roux, Sabine, Solange, Vesper, Zadie
*Update* Welcome Miss Henri Elizabeth Martin!

Celebrity Baby Name Suggestions: Volume 2

Foss Design via Etsy

Celebrity baby naming is unpredictable, but that doesn't stop us from trying! Just as we're shocked when a famous parents chooses something way out of left field for their child (a la Jamie Oliver's Petal Blossom Rainbow or Gwyneth Paltrow's Apple), it's just as surprising to hear them pick a common name (like Michael Buble's Noah or Matt Damon's Isabella). That being said, there are some tricks to celebrity baby name predictions, so let's look into the crystal ball.

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Hazel
Hazel is super sweet and subtly vintage. I think they'll pick another on-trend name with retro roots.
Boy: August, Charlie, Felix, Finn, Julian, Louis, Oscar, Russell, Spencer, Toby, Walter
Girl: Ada, Cora, Fiona, Gemma, Georgia, Helena, Ivy, Phoebe, Poppy, Ruthie, Zara
*Update* Another color-nature name for the Krasinski clan--Violet!

Erica Hanson and Ike Barinholtz
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Foster (g)
The hilarious Ike Barinholtz (Morgan Tookers on The Mindy Project) and his wife Erica went the androgynous surname route for their little girl. I expect they'll choose something similar for baby #2, regardless of gender.
Boy: Coleman, Cormac, Fielding, Gardner, Hart, Holt, Huck, Shepherd, Sumner
Girl: Abbott, Campbell, Connelly, Hadley, Halsey, Hollis, Madden, Sheridan, Sloane
*Update* Another girl--Payton June!

Holly Madison and Pasquele Rotella
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Rainbow Aurora
Holly Madison surprised us all when it turned out she had secretly (and subtly) revealed the first name of her daughter via Twitter. In this article she reveals she likes word names as well as Disney inspired ones. Keeping that in mind, here are my predictions.
Boy: Anthem, Charming, Diesel, Dragon, Echo, Flynn, Hero, Spirit, Temple, Treasure, Valentine
Girl: Ariel, Chrysanthemum, Bliss, Bluebell, Fantasia, Forever, Holiday, Jubilee, Meadow, Pixie
*Update* She does love word names--baby boy is Forest Leonardo Antonio!

Alanis Morisette and Mario Treadway
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Ever Imre (b)
Imre, Alanis Morissette and Mario Treadway's son's middle name, is not one you hear often. It's actually a Hungarian name, which ties back to Morissette's heritage. Might we see another Hungarian choice? Or perhaps something from her French-Irish side of the family? More word names? I guess we'll wait and see.
Boy: Bence, Hawk, Judge. Justice, King, Laszlo, Maverick, Noble, Rogue, True
Girl: Emerald, Fable, Harbor, Haven, Ireland, Lyric, Mika, Rebel, Sailor, Story
*Update*  It's a girl for Alanis Morisette--Onyx Solace!

Lisa Ling and Paul Song
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Jett Ling (g)
Wow, we have a lot of word name-loving celebs this month! Lisa Ling named her daughter Jett back in 2013, and I'm curious to see if she chooses another unisex word name for baby number two.
Boy: Archer, Canyon, Cove, Dashiell, Dax, Fletcher, Fox, Kit, Park, Rex, Rocco
Girl: Bird, Domino, Grey, Indie, Liv, Max, Monroe, Poet, Scout, Sea, Sutton
*Update* It's a girl--Ray Ling Song!

Alexi Ashe and Seth Meyers
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Late Night host Seth Meyers' wife Alexi are pregnant with their first. It's hard to make predictions about name choice without an older sibling's name to look to (they do have a dog named Frisbee, not that that helps), but I have a feeling this couple isn't going to choose anything wild and crazy.
Boy: Bennett, Conrad, Eli, Emmett, Ford, Graham, Henry, Jay, Judson, Lawson, Reid
Girl: Amelie, Cecilia, Eleanor, Eve, Fiona, Ivy, Lily, Madeleine, Nadia, Nina, Rosie
*Update* It's a boy, and his name is Ashe Olson--the maiden names of Alexi and Seth's mother. How sweet!

Paige Mitchell and Eddie Murphy
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Eric, Christian, Bria, Myles, Shayne, Zola, Bella, and Angel (g)
It's baby number nine for Eddie Murphy! With this many kids, it's hard to keep sibsets super cohesive. But taking inspiration from his youngest ones, I would expect the baby to be named...
Boy: Ace, Cash, Chaz, Jax, Jayce, Lynx, Phoenix, Xander, Zaire, Zack
Girl: Asha, Asia, Faith, Jade, Jasmine, Jolie, Journey, Liberty, Nala, Skyla
*Update* Hello, Izzy Oona!

Soleil Moon Frye and Jason Goldberg
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Poet Sienna Rose, Jagger Joseph Blue (g), and Lyric Sonny Roads (b)
After three babies, I think we have a pretty good handle on Soleil Moon Frye's naming style--artistic word names. She's a fan of gender-bending though, so I might as well have left off the boy and girl labels.
Boy: Crescent, Drummer, Freedom, Jazz, Journey, Ocean, Mystery, Rhapsody
Girl: Dancer, Dreamer, Fable, Galaxy, Pastel, Silhouette, Swan, Velvet, Whimsy
*Update* Soleil has welcomed a little boy named Story!

Nicky Hilton and James Rothschild
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Coming from such a high-profile family, the pressure's on Nicky Hilton Rothschild to choose a marvelous name for her son or daughter. Something tells me it's going to be a little bit dramatic and extravagant, but still wearable.
Boy: Alastair, Augustine, Bennington, Charleston, Maximilian, Reginald, Whittaker
Girl: Angeline, Aurelia, Calixta, Clarissa, Emmeline, Simone, Valentina, Veronique
*Update* Welcome Lily Grace Victoria!

Liv Tyler and David Gardner
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Milo and Sailor Gene
When both of Liv Tyler's sons were born, their names were on the cusp of cool. I suspect she will make a similar choice when it comes to her third child.
Boy: Asa, Cyrus, Dashiell, Finn, Jude, Nico, Otto, Phoenix, Reid, Royce
Girl: Carys, Delilah, Elodie, Ivy, Luna, Marnie, Matilda, Pearl, Tallulah
*Update* I was close with Luna and Tallulah--baby girl is Lula Rose!

Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Charlotte

A new Clinton baby will be arriving in the midst of a busy summer for it's presidental candidate grandma, Hillary. First daughter Chelsea and her husband Marc chose the name Charlotte for their first child--ranked at #10 the year she was born. Charlotte is a soft, vintage-inspired name that feels very current right now. My guess is her sibling will have a similar name. 

Boy: Andrew, Graham, James, Jasper, Julian, Harrison, Levi, Paul, Spencer, Thomas, William

Girl: Alice, Annabel, Audrey, Eleanor, Elizabeth, Evelyn, Genevieve, Lucy, Madeleine, Nora
*Update* Welcome Aidan Clinton Mezvinsky!

20 Unexpected Gemstone Names

Livi Po via Dribbble

Gemstone names are always fun, but once a name becomes as popular as Ruby, Jade, or Diamond, it begins to lose its gemstoniness, and sound more and more like an average name. Luckily, none of the following have reached that level of popularity (and dare I say, probably never will). These gemstone names are truly unexpected.

Agate- A beautiful veiny quartz. She's a great way to get to Aggie if you're not a fan of Agatha or Agnes.

Alexandrite- One of the birthstones for June. Perfect for a boy or a girl.

Amethyst- Famous for its purply hue. Lovely choice for a February-born daughter.

Aquamarine- A blueish-green gem, much like its name suggests. She makes a fun, surprising middle name,

Beryl- Beryl is a subset of minerals that includes emerald and aquamarine. As a name she sounds a bit outdated, but is moving into the "charming" territory.

Carnelian- A red-brown semi-precious gemstone. She makes an unusual way to get to the nickname Carnie.

Celestine- A blue mineral, also called celestite. Long time readers will know that Celestine is one of my favorite guilty-pleasure names for a girl.

Cinnabar- Cinnabar is a lovely red mineral often used in jewelry. The name can be used for a son or daughter, with the possibility of the nickname Cinna.

Citrine- A yellow gemstone that symbolizes success and prosperity. Every once in a while I hear of a girl named Citrine, and I'm always enchanted.

Garnet- January's gemstone. Garnet is one of the tamer gemstone names on this list--it fits right in with the baby names of today.

Heliotrope- A variety of Jasper, also called bloodstone. Even though its name suggests a purple coloring, its actually green and red. Heliotrope would make a lovely middle name for a daughter, plus, it's also a flower name.

Jacinth- Jacinth is a red-orange gem, and the Middle-English word for Hyacinth. She's the perfect addition to my collection of Jacin- names.

Moonstone- A gorgeous irridescent gemstone. Anyone else think this would make a positively dreamy name for a daughter? (no pun intended)

Morganite- A pink beryl, found in many a wedding ring. It puts a fun spin on the name Morgan.

Onyx- A shiny stone known for its jet black color. He's one of the few gemstone names that works especially well on a son.

Peridot- Peridot is a lovely green gem. It's no secret I love it as a name for a daughter, especially with the nickname Dot.

Quartz- Quite a popular mineral, but an uncommon Q name for either gender.

Sapphire- A royal blue gem rich in color. Not unheard of as a name, but certainly a surprising choice.

Topaz- A well-known mineral that comes in many colors. She makes a good name possibility for parents looking for something with that zesty "Z."

Turquoise- Turquoise is a beautiful stone that comes from Turkey.She's a color and gemstone name, which makes her twice as nice.

Romantic Word Names for Valentine's Day

Levi Fignar via Dribbble

Word names are always a good choice (especially when it comes to middle names), and I love the subtle whimsy of using one to play homage to the holiday that your baby was born around. The following romantic word names are perfect for a baby born any day this week.

Beau- Beau is an established name that no longer seems very wordy, which makes him the perfect inconspicuous Valentine's Day choice.

Bisou- Bisou is the French word for "kiss," but would sound charming and name-like to many American ears.

Chérie- Another French choice, "ma chérie" is a phrase meaning "my darling." How cute would that be on a little girl?

Cherish- A modern virtue name that reminds us of love and affection.

Crimson- This shade of red pops up all over the place in February.

Darling- Can Darling shed her pet-name status? For now, at least, she makes a great middle.

February- An unexpected month name that's fresher than April or June.

Fidelity- I think Fidelity will one day give Felicity a run for her money. Until then, she's an under-the-rader choice that connotates love and attachment.

Harp- One of the most romantic instruments, and a lovely alternative to Harper.

Heart- The symbol of Valentine's Day. For a less obvious spelling, go with Hart.

Holiday- More bold and obvious than most of the other names on this list, but there's nothing wrong with that.

Love- At it's essence, Valentine's Day is a holiday about love. How sweet would Love be on a February 14th born baby?

Poem- Poem is one of my favorite word names for any time of the year, but she works especially well around Valentine's Day.

Promise- Another up-and-coming virtue name with romantic undertones.

Rose- No other flower is as synonymous with Valentine's Day.

Sonnet- The most amorous type of poem, used regularly by Shakespeare.

Unity- Love unites two people, making Unity a sweet and subtle choice for a Valentine's Day babe.

Valentine- Of course, you could always get straight to the point with Valentine.

Exciting!

Allen Grubesic via Artsy

So I TOTALLY missed this back in June, but I (along with the wonderful and talented Meagan of Tulip by Any Name) was featured in a Care.com article about unisex names. You can read the article here, if you'd like. Happy Friday!


*I'm taking Monday off for the holiday (and to do some much-needed blog catch-up), so I'll see you all back hear on Wednesday for Spanish Names for Boys.

Best of 2015

via Justin McKinley on Dribbble

January: January brought one of my most popular posts ever--Hipster Baby Name or Hipster City? It even features a (very difficult!) quiz to test your knowledge.

February: In February we looked at Names from Children's Literature. There are so many great choices, ranging from the classic--Frances, Harriet, George--to the uncommon--Pippi, Clifford, Coraline.

March: This month featured our first installment of Same Meaning Sibsets. I love putting these posts together--they are some of my favorites to write.

April: I wrote about Day and Night Names in April--the lists are especially good for searching for middle names.

May: May introduced us to Rainbow Sibsets (parts one and two). For those of you attracted to color names, one of these combinations could make the perfect--yet subtle--sibset.

June: June was a busy month! Sadly, it brought the last post of our alphabet series, but then we started up a new one. Our cultural names series is still going strong, and I have no intention of ending it anytime soon.

July: In July we talked about Nautical Names--ideal for a preppy summer baby.

August: August was our month of middle names! Take a look at the Best Middle Names for Girls and Boys for some inspiration.

September: September showed us how to create our own Double Barrel Names. What's your favorite combo?

October: This month we talked about Stylish Names outside the top 1000 for boys. Check the September archives for the girls list!

November: The highlight of our November was talking about the Best Unisex Names for Girls and Boys. Granted, these can be used for a child of any sex, but they were organized by the gender they were used the most on.

December: Last month was all about holiday related names. One of my favorite lists to put together was the Christmas Crooner Names.


And now, reader favorites!

1. Stylish Choices Outside the Top 1000: Girls
2. Share a Coke Names: Summer 2015
3. 10 English Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls
4. The Best Middle Names for Girls
5. 10 V Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

Apple Names

Image Credit

Happy (almost) Halloween guys! I wanted to do a post about apples before Fall ended, and I figured this would be the ideal time, right in the middle of apple season. All the following names come from apple varieties--perfect for an Autumn baby!

Abbey
Adam
Albany
Albert
Alexander
Alford
Allen
Ambrosia
Anna
Annie
April
Ariane
Arthur
Bailey
Baldwin
Barry
Beacon
Bella
Ben
Bess
Beverly
Billy
Bonnie
Bridget
Brock
Cameo
Carlos
Caroll
Charles
Christmas
Clark
Clay
Cole
Connell
Crispin
Cybele
D'arcy
Davey
David
Dawn
Dayton
Derby
Earl
Early
Eddie
Edmund
Edward
Elise
Elizabeth
Ellison
Elton
Emneth
Erwin
Evelina
Everard
Fearn
Filippa
Florina
Foster
Franklin
Fuji
Gala
Garland
Gavin
George
Gibson
Gilbert
Ginger
Grove
Harrison
Harvey
Henry
Hokuto
Holiday
Holland
Holly
Hudson
Ida
Ingrid
Jackson
James
Jazz
Jersey
Johnny
Jonathan
Jordan
Jubilee
July
June
Jupiter
Kalei
Karen
Katy
Katya
Kent
Kerry
King
Kingston
Kinsei
Lane
Liberty
Lilibet
Luscious
Mac
Maclean
Maigold
Malinda
Marie
Marisa
Melba
Meridian
Miller
Milo
Milton
Mollie
Moore
Morgan
Morley
Newton
Niagara
Noble
Oliver
Opal
Orin
Palmer
Park
Paula
Pax
Pearl
Perry
Pine
Pippin
Pixie
Pomme
Porter
Prairie
Princess
Priscilla
Quebec
Quince
Rajka
Rome
Rose
Rosemary
Rosette
Ross
Rosy
Royal
Russet
Rusty
Sam
Santana
Scarlet
Scarlett
September
Sharon
Shay
Sierra
Smith
Snow
Sonya
Spencer
Stirling
Summer
Sundance
Sutton
Taylor
Tom
Topaz
Turner
Upton
Victoria
Virginia
Walter
Wayne
William
Winston
Winter
Wolf
Yates
York
Zari


I'm taking next week off to do some blog maitenance--regular posting will resume November 9th.