Sports Names

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You don't necessarily need to honor someone by using their name. You can name your child after something they loved. Dad loves golf and you like vintage names? Hello Birdie.

Basketball:
Nellie- An adorable name, but you all know I prefer Nell.

Cricket:
Cricket- Busy Phillips used this for her daughter recently. Cricket is cute, but not many people would first think of the sport.

Football:
Marty- "Marty Ball" is a football philosophy, and could make a fun retro pick for a son.

Golf:
Ambrose- In golf I call this a scramble, but Ambrose sounds more like a name :)
Austin- Not quite as fashionable as he once was, but he doesn't sound dated yet.
Birdie- Super cute and sweet. Another Busy Phillips choice.
Chip- Usually reserved as a nickname for Junior.
Goldie- Old fashioned pick with lots of flair. For a first name, Gold would be cool.

Soccer:
Derby- A cousin of Darby and Darcy, but way more unique. I like her!
Kit- Short, sweet, and to the point. Use her as a nickname for any of the Kat- names.

Tennis:
Love- But in Tennis it means zero.

Volleyball:
Pepper- Most people don't give her enough credit to be a first name, though I think she'd work rather nicely in the middle.
Spike- An intense boys name that would be cool on a volleyball player's son.

All:
Ace- I know more dogs than kids named Ace, but with Jessica Simpson's baby, that could change.
Field- Suave and preppy. Plus, he can apply to multiple sports.
League- League can apply to any sport. He's cool and sounds right on trend.
Season- My first thought does not go to sports, but Season can be applied to almost any sport.

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!

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 8

Brent Blossom via Dribbble

This month of celebrity pregnancy announcements was quite eclectic. We have some celebrities who go all out with their baby name choices--yes Geri Halliwell, I'm talking about you. Others lead more private lives, and choose less outrageous names to match. Neither way is better than the other--great names come out of each (Christopher Carlton Cumberbatch is an A+ name). Although I have to admit, it's pretty fun to predict the name of Bluebell Madonna's future sibling.

Christina and David Arquette
Gender: boy
Siblings: Coco (previous marriage), Charlie West
It's another boy for David Arquette and his wife Christina. They chose the friendly, likeable name Charlie West for thier first son, so I expect something along the same lines for his brother.
Boy: Alex, August, Eli, Henry, Jack, Liam, Milo, Oliver, Owen, Parker, Theo
*Update* Very close--Augustus Alexis!

Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Bluebell Madonna (previous marriage)
Bluebell Madonna frequents the lists of Craziest Celebrity Baby Names. Will Geri Halliwell choose another wild name for baby number two? I hope so!
Girl: Blossom, Coco, Juniper, Moxie, Poppy, Romy, Tigerlily, Trixie, Velvet
Boy: Caspian, Huckleberry, Loyal, Peregrine, Phoenix, River, Valentine, Zeppelin
*Update--Bluebell's brother is Montague George Hector!

Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Jack (previous marriage), Liam, Stella, Hattie, Finn
The McDermotts are often considered to have the best sibset in Hollywood. Stylistically the names work really well together, and they're all perfectly on trend. Whatever they choose for baby number five, I know it's going to be great.
Girl: Dolly, Elsie, Evie, Georgia, Ivy, Lucy, Minnie, Nellie, Ruthie, Tilly, Violet
Boy: Charlie, Dashiell, Everett, Felix, Gus, Jude, Milo, Otto, Rudy, Toby, Wyatt
*Update* It's a boy! Beau Dean McDermott

Rochelle and A.J. McLean
Gender: girl
Siblings: Ava Jaymes
Ava Jaymes is a sweet and sassy name that's full of spunk. I expect the McLeans to use a similar formula to name their second daughter as they did with Ava--a well-liked first name with a spunky middle.
Girl: Chloe, Grace, Hazel, Leah, Lila, Kira, Maddie, Mia, Olivia, Ruby, Sofia
*Update* Welcome Lyric Dean!

Lea Seydoux and Andre Meyer
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Lea Seydoux is having her first child, and I can't wait to hear what she names him or her. Lea is a French actress, so I have a feeling she'll choose a name that shares her European roots.
Girl: Amelie, Beatrice, Camille, Elinor, Emmeline, Madeleine, Silvie, Veronique
Boy: Adrien, Auguste, Charles, Henri, Julien, Luc, Quincy, Remy, Romain
*Update* A baby boy--George!

Sophie Hunter and Benedict Cumberbatch
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Christopher Carlton
Christopher Carlton is the appropriately British, classic name Sophie Hunter and Benedict Cumberbatch chose for their first child. I suspect his sibling will get an equally sophisticated and stylish name--maybe one of the ones below.
Girl: Abigail, Amelia, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Emma, Olivia, Philippa, Samantha, Victoria
Boy: Andrew, Jonathan, Matthew, Nicholas, Samuel, Sebastian, Timothy, William, Zachary
*Update* Another boy--Hal Auden!

Amber Tamblyn and David Cross
Gender: girl
Siblings: none
It's a girl for Amber Tamblyn and David Cross! They could go in any direction with her name, but I'm guessing we'll see something sweet, cute, and upbeat from this comedy couple.
Girl: Elsie, Frankie, Georgia, Gracie, Lola, Lulu, Phoebe, Poppy, Ruby, Stella, Susanna
*Update* Hello, Marlowe Alice!

Ciara and Russell Wilson
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Future Zahir (previous relationship)
Ciara's oldest son Future is named after his father. I wonder if this means a possible son will be called Russell, like his dad. For a daughter, I doubt Ciara is on the list, but maybe a fun musical or word name to match the boldness of Future.
Girl: Aurora, Bliss, Cadence, Eden, Emerald, Love, Sable, Sienna, Story, Xara
Boy: Ace, Austin, Carlton, Cassius, Chance, Justice, Maverick, Reign, Russell
*Update* I was right--baby girl is Sienna Princess!

Celebrity Baby Name Suggestions: Volume 4

The cycle of celebrity pregnancies never slows down. 2016 has been an especially fruitful year so far, with superstars like John Legend, Chelsea Clinton, Adam Levine, Blake Lively, and Ryan Gosling all growing their families. And we can't forget the celebrities who might not be as well-known for their talent, but are certainly famous for their baby names--Jamie Oliver, Holly Madison, and Soleil Moon Frye. Now we have even more to add to the list! Kerry Washington is pregant with her second, as is Olivia Wilde. And don't get me started on the latest Kardashian pregnancy--I cannot wait to hear what that child is named. I've placed my bets in the meantime.

Cassandra Jenner Marino and Michael Marino
Gender: boy
Siblings: Francesca and Isabella
I think the Marinos will go in one of two directions for naming their first son. Either they'll use the same style as the girls--long Italian names--or choose something equally grand, but less Italian. I have a feeling it might be the former, but we'll have to wait and see!
Boy: Alexander, Benjamin, Jackson, Julian, Leonardo, Luca, Marco, Maximus, Nathaniel
*Update* Not Luca, but Luke!

Alicia Etheredge and Bobby Brown
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Cassius and Bodhi Jameson Rein (g)
Cassius and Bodhi are both very "of the moment" names. Such contemporary choices would never have been considered even ten years ago. I definitely see them picking an equally on trend name for this next boy or girl.
Girl: Bijou, Cleo, Coco, Eden, Gaia, Jade, Juno, Luna, Moxie, Sawyer
Boy: Bear, Cato, Clay, Creed, Jude, Lucian, Rex, Rogue, Roman, Theon
*Update* Alicia and Bobby have welcomed a daughter--Hendrix Estelle Sheba!

Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudekis
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Otis Alexander
Otis is one of those clunky old man names that is now beginning to feel stylish again. I hope baby Sudekis gets another name on the cusp of cool--celebrities can be just what a name needs to be considered fashionable after a long hiatus from the top 1000.
Girl: Fern, Hattie, Ida, Louella, Maisie, Maxine, Minnie, Pearl, Ruth, Sadie, Tabitha, Tess
Boy: Alder, Bruno, Casper, Felix, Frank, Grover, Hugo, Leland, Ralph, Rex, Roscoe, Roy, Toby
*Update* Hello Daisy Josephine!

Danielle and Kevin Jonas
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Alena Rose
For their first baby, Kevin and Danielle Jonas chose the uncommon yet familar Alena, and paired it with the classic middle name, Rose. It's a classy combo that can be appreciated by people with all sorts of tastes--an essence I suspect they will emulate with their second child.
Girl: Allegra, Camila, Chiara, Eliana, Emilia, Esme, Lelia, Livia, Lydia, Natalia, Stella
Boy: Anton, Benjamin, Dominic, Gabriel, Julian, Luca, Michael, Noah, Tristan, Weston
*Update* Another little Jonas lady--Valentina Angelina!

Kerry Washington and Nnamdi Asomugha
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Isabelle Amarachi
Kerry Washington and Nnamdi Asomugha picked a stunning name for their daughter. I especially love the nod to Asomugha's African heritage with the middle name. Isabelle Amarachi is romantic and classy. Keeping that in mind, these are some possibilities for baby number two.
Girl: Amelie, Beatrice, Camille, Clementine, Emmeline, Juliet, Lilia, Lucille, Salome, Sylvie
Boy: Adrian, Charles, Isaac, Jasper, Jonathan, Julian, Matthias, Olivier, Romain, Sebastian
*Update* Welcome, Caleb Kelechi!

Blac Chyna and Rob Kardashian
Gender: unknown
Siblings: King Cairo
Here comes another Kardashian baby! The famous family is known for over-the-top names, and the past few (Reign Aston and Saint West) have a particularly regal vibe. And considering Blac Chyna's son King Cairo, I think it's pretty likely this child will have a majestic, noble name. I'm not ruling out the possibility of a Robert Kardashian III though, after Rob and his late father.
Girl: Armani, Coco, Fantasia, Future, Harmoni, Ivory, Kleo, Queen, Roxy, Treasure
Boy: Ace, Knight, Legend, Major, Maverick, Messiah, Moses, Noble, Robert, Royal
*Update* It's a girl! Dream Renee Kardashian

Tana and Gordon Ramsay
Gender: girl
Siblings: Megan, Holly, Jack, Matilda
Typically, I look to older siblings' names to help make these predictions. However, when the current youngest child is going to be fourteen years older than the baby, it's hard to say whether or not the parents will chose a cohesive name. Such is the case with the Ramsays. As a whole, the sibset reads vaguely British (the couple is from the UK, after all). I don't think they'll chose anything wild and crazy, but perhaps something a little more modern.
Girl: Annie, Cecilia, Eleanor, Evie, Grace, Ivy, Josephine, Kate, Lena, Lucy, Piper, Victoria

Laura Gallacher and Russell Brand
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Russell Brand's girlfriend is pregnant with their first child. She's Scottish, and he's British, so I doubt they'll chose anything too "American." If I had to guess, I would say this baby's name is going to be tasteful and European, but a bit unexpected.
Girl: Ailsa, Bryony, Dorothy, Eulalie, Henrietta, Imogen, Lileas, Maisie, Poppy, Zara
Boy: Alistair, Angus, Archie, Benedict, Callum, Duncan, Finlay, Rhys, Ronan, Teague
*Update* Russell and Laura's daughter is Mabel!

Alternitaves to the Most Popular Names

Alternitaves to the most popular names:

Girls:
Isabella- Isobel, Belinda, Isa, Isis, Belle
Sophia- Stella, Fiona, Thea
Emma- Ember, Emerald, Emmy
Olivia- Olive, Liviana, Livi, Livia
Ava- Evelyn, Eva, Eve, Avalyn
Emily, Amelie, Amelia, Amy
Abigail- Allison, Adelaide, Adeline, Addie, Adele
Madison- Madeleine, Addison, Addie
Chloe- Nicole, Zoe, Clover, Claire, Cleo
Mia- Amelia, Leah, Thea, Maia, Maura, Moira

Boys:

Jacob- Jacobson, Cody, Cole
Ethan- Arthur, Heath, Xander
Michael- Mitchel, Micah, Miles
Jayden- Jace, Jay, Jackson, Javan, Jared, Jad
William- Liam, Lee, Leland, Willis, Wiley, Warren
Alexander- Lex, Alexis, Lester, Eric
Noah- Nolan, Neil, Nowe, Norton
Daniel- Dane, Donald, Samuel, Darius
Aiden- Ace, Asher, Ardon, Amos, Ames
Anthony- Andrew, Andy, Terry, Thor

Celebrity Baby Name Suggestions: Volume 3

Danny Dek via Dribbble

This month has had some high profile pregnancy announcements. The Baldwins, Olivers, and Levines? How did we get so lucky? There's no doubt that these babies will have impeccable names, but what they are exactly, we can't yet say. We might have to wait a few more months to hear these babies' names, but in the meantime, we can always speculate. These are my picks for the big celebrity baby names--from the classic and respected to the unconventional and bizarre (I'm looking at you, Jamie Oliver).

Behati Prinsloo and Adam Levine
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Predicting names is always hard when there are no siblings to refer to. That's why these names are all over the place stylistically. I could see Behati and Adam going in a couple different directions. Maybe honor names (Behati's mother's name is Magda, Adam's middle name is Noah), or possibly a musical reference to dad's career. Whatever the case, baby Levine will have a striking and stylish name.
Girl: Celie, Elodie, Harbor, Kiva, Lennox, Lotus, Maggie, Marlowe, Vivienne, Zola
Boy: Boaz, Bowie, Dashiell, Freddie, Huxley, Loyal, Morrison, Neo, Noah, Wilder
*Update* Baby girl is Dusty Rose!

Hilaria and Alec Baldwin
Gender: boy
Siblings: Ireland (previous marriage), Carmen Gabriela and Raphael Thomas
After two babies together, we know the Baldwin's naming style--Spanish romance. All of their kids have such great names (dare I say perfect?), so I can't wait to hear what they name this little boy.
Boy: Antonio, Emanuel, Dominic, Joaquin, Leonardo, Lorenzo, Simeon, Vincenzo
*Update* A correct prediction--Leonardo Ángel Charles Baldwin

Jools and Jamie Oliver
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Poppy Honey Rosie, Daisy Boo Pamela, Petal Blossom Rainbow, and Buddy Bear Maurice
Another baby Oliver? Praise the naming gods! At this point we know it's going to be something floral for a girl, something informal for a boy. Either gender, we know baby Oliver is going to have three names, with one (or all!) of them quirky.
Girl: Bluebell, Butterfly, Clementine, Clover, Flora, Iris, Lilac, Peony, Posey, Primrose, Tulip
Boy: Charlie, Billy, Bobby, Freddy, Huey, Perry, Ricky, Rudy, Sammy, Sonny, Teddy, Woody
*Update* It's a boy! Welcome River Rocket Blue.

Anna Chlumsky and Shaun So
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Penelope Joan
Veep's Anna Chlumsky and her husband chose such a sweet name for their first-born. Penelope Joan has a vintage-yet-modern feel, something I think they'll try to emulate with baby number two.
Girl: Alice, Camilla, Daphne, Delia, Greta, Isobel, Josephine, Lorelei, Matilda, Millicent, Zelda
Boy: Andrew, Arthur, Edward, Henry, Paul, Quentin, Ray, Simon, Theodore, Thomas, Walter
*Update* Clara Elizabeth--perfect!

Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Noah Shannon (b) and Bodhi Ransom
Megan Fox's two sons have names that are almost opposites on the style scale, however, they have one thing in common--the long o sound. Will they continue the pattern with baby number three?
Girl: Bree, Harley, Kyla, Leila, Liv, Lola, Naomi, Rain, Rose, Sage, Shea, Zoe
Boy: Ace, Axel, Blaise, Jonah, Levi, Major, Max, Owen, Rafe, Rowan, Zeb, Zeke
*Update* Megan and Brian have welcomed a son, Journey River.

Ellie Kemper and Michael Koman
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
The ever-cheerful Ellie Kemper is pregnant with her first child! The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt actress is known for her sunny disposition, so no doubt Baby Koman will have a happy and upbeat name.
Girl: Anya, Birdie, Celia, Daisy, Gracie, Hallie, Hattie, Ivy, Josie, Juniper, Libby, Olive, Penny
Boy: Elliot, Felix, Finley, Frankie, Henry, Jasper, Julian, Liam, Oliver, Rory, Theo, Wyatt
*Update* Welcome, James Miller!

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
Gender: unknown
Siblings: James (g)
What do you name a sibling for a daughter named James? This is a relatively new phenomenon, and a question I expect we'll be hearing much more in the coming years. For now, here are my ideas.
Girl: Abbott, Elliot, Emmett, Greer, Hollis, Lincoln, Mavis, Maxwell, Percy, Quincy, Sutton
Boy: Calvin, Charles, Harrison, Jonathan, Noble, Quinlan, Roscoe, Theodore, Thomas, Weston
*Update* A little girl--Ines!

Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Esmeralda Amada
Like the Baldwins, Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling love extravagent Spanish names, undeniably due to Eva's Cuban heritage. It seems pretty likely that they'll stick with this theme for their next son or daughter, which in that case means Baby Gosling will have a lovely (and probably long) name.
Girl: Celestina, Estela, Floriana, Graciela, Luisa, Mariela, Mireya, Paloma, Raphaela, Rosalina
Boy: Augusto, Cortez. Emilio, Francesco, Luciano, Marcelo, Pasqual, Silviano, Valentino
*Update* It's a girl, and her name is Amada Lee! They must love the name Amada to use it twice.


I'm taking next week off for midterms, but I will see you all back here right after the arrival of the 2015's top 1000!

Song Names: Simon & Garfunkel

Image Credit

Simon & Garfunkel are a pretty cool band. I had not heard of them until I watched The Graduate for the first time (two-ish years ago), and my love for them was reaffirmed when I saw The Royal Tenenbaums. It turns out so many of their songs have names in them. There are quite a bit more boys  names and double barrels in the titles than usual, which is perfect if you want a son with an unforgettable name.

Girls:
Anji- Spell it Angie, then forget about it because why would you name your baby Angie?
April- A dated month pick, but the song is really pretty.
Cecilia- Perfect song, perfect name.
Emily- Overused and on the verge of sounding dated.
Kathy- If you need a nickname for Katherine, I would pick Kit or Kate.
Peggy- I could see this one working on a baby, but then again, I know a Peggy (who's my age).
Rose- Sweet. Lovely. Just don't put her in the middle.
Susie- I feel like I always talk about how Susie is a great choice due for a comeback. So I won't say it again.

Boys:
Benedictus- Is your son going to become the Pope? Then skip this one and go for Benedict.
Johnny Ace- Totally awesome, but a hard name to pull off.
Julio- If Julian is back, why can't Julio be too?
Richard Cory- This sounds like the name of a middle aged accountant. Richard by itself could work.
Frank Lloyd- Naming children after specific people is not a good idea.

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 32

The most exciting celebrity baby news of the past few weeks has undoubtedly been that of the birth of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s little prince. Archie Harrison does not have any family names, but his middle name honors Dad—Harrison literally means Harry’s son.

Back on this side of the pond, we saw the announcement of two presidential grandchildren—Jenna Bush Hager is expecting a son, and Eric Trump’s wife Lara is pregnant with their second child. Like the royals, they seem to have a penchant for honor names. Mila Hager is actually Margaret Laura—both of her grandmothers’ first names—and Luke Trump shares a first name with his father. A presidential baby name doesn’t carry the same kind of influence as a royal baby name does (I’m keeping my eye on Harrison), but nevertheless, I’m curious to hear their choices.

Blake Lively, Keira Knightley, and other stars announced their pregnancies this month, and I’ve made my predictions for them below. Weigh in with your suggestions in the comments.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
Gender: unknown

Siblings: James (g), Inez

James and Inez may seem like two very mismatched names for sisters—indeed, they are very different stylistically—but they have a commonality. Both names end in a Z sound, a trend that is having a moment right now for boys with names like Charles, Miles, and Blaise rising in popularity. Should Blake and Ryan stick with this subtle theme, I’ve offered them many options. If not, there are plenty of other choices to suit their eclectic style.
Girl: Alice, Astrid, Beatriz, Blythe, Briar, Celeste, Frieda, Greer, Hollis, Mavis

Boy: Alastair, Ansel, Bas, Boaz, Charles, Eamon, Hayes, Holden, Hugh, Miles

Keira Knightley and James Righton

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Edie Knightley

Keira Knightley and James Righton’s daughter is Edie (not Edith), which feels very appropriate given her British heritage. A sister name for Edie should hit all the same sweet vintage notes and perhaps be nickname-y as well, like Nell or Millie. If Keira and James have a son, I’m hoping for a name with a bit of a quirk-factor, like Frank or Linus.

Girl: Daisy, Faye, Jane, Maeve, Millie, Nell, Olive, Pearl, Rosie, Willa

Boy: Arthur, Finn, Frank, Henry, Jack, Linus, Miles, Oliver, Theo, Walter

Jenna Bush and Henry Hager
Gender: boy

Siblings: Margaret Laura “Mila,” Poppy Louise

Jenna Bush Hager is expecting a son! After two daughters named Mila and Poppy—familiar names with great style that aren’t over-used—I’m curious to see what they’ll choose for a baby boy. Of course, there’s always the chance that Jenna and Henry will go with George—their oldest daughter Mila is named after her two grandmothers, and this is President Bush’s first grandson. Henry’s father is named John, so Jack seems like another probable option.

Boy: Anders, Beckett, Bram, George, Jack, Jonas, Jude, Nico, Rex, Wells

Lara and Eric Trump

Gender:

Siblings: Eric Luke, “Luke”

Eric Trump named his son after himself, but baby Eric goes by his middle name, Luke. If Eric and Lara’s second child is a boy, something similarly boyish and modern seems likely, although I could also seem them pivoting to a more traditional name like Adam or Michael. For a girl, a feminine, well-liked name seems to be in order.
Girl: Emma, Genevieve, Hailey, Isla, Kate, Mia, Nora, Olivia, Reese, Vivian

Boy: Adam, Carter, Evan, Jack, Jake, Logan, Max, Michael, Parker, Ryan

Aja Volkman and Dan Reynolds

Gender: boy

Siblings: Arrow Eve, Gia James, Coco Rae

If you thought Blake and Ryan had an eclectic sister-set, meet the other Reynolds family. Dan Reynolds, the lead singer of Imagine Dragons, has three daughters named Arrow, Gia, and Coco. Now he and wife Aja are expecting their first son, and there’s no telling what style his name will be. A word name like Arrow? A mini-name like Gia? A nickname like Coco? Something totally different? I’m looking forward to finding out.

Boy: Ace, Arlo, Bodhi, Ever, Felix, Kai, Onyx, River, Rowan, Zeb

Tara Ahamed and Jonathan Tucker
Gender: unknown twins

Siblings: none

Tara and Jonathan Tucker are a very private couple—only recently did they reveal they’re actually expecting twins!—so there’s no guarantee we’ll learn their babies’ names right away. Nevertheless, I’m still very excited to hear their choices. Tara has Indian and Arabic roots, so the names could potentially have some cultural crossover, like some of these:
Girl: Arya, Asha, Cala, Layla, Lila, Mela, Nora, Priya, Uma, Veda

Boy: Benjamin, Bodhi, Kiran, Leo, Lucas, Rohan, Samuel, Theodore, Viro, Xavier
*Update* Boy/girl twins—Hayes Taj and India Moss!

Amber Rose and Alexander Edwards

Gender: boy

Siblings: Sebastian Taylor Thomaz (previous relationship)

Model Amber Rose is expecting her second son, a brother for Sebastian. Sebastian is a lengthy, romantic name, so should Amber and Alexander want a name for their son that pairs well with his brother’s, I’ve got them covered. I’m hoping they pick Cassius—it’s spiked in popularity recently and makes the perfect brother name for Sebastian.

Boy: Cassius, Damian, Dominic, Gabriel, Julian, Leo, Lucius, Oscar, Romeo, Tristan

Kendra Caldwell and Joe Duggar

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Garrett David

Kendra and Joe Duggar gave their son the name Garrett last year—a solid, masculine name, albeit one that’s been down-trending since the year 2000. Now Kendra is pregnant with their second child, and my guess is that we could see another name that was more common in her birth year than in the baby’s. But you never know—I’ve included options for both here.
Girl: Abigail, Annabelle, Eliza, Grace, Julia, Laura, Madelyn, Piper, Rebecca, Sarah

Boy: Dawson, Gregory, Griffin, Joel, Matthew, Peter, Russell, Ryan, Warren, Wesley

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 13

Celebrities are the taste-makers of the baby name world. Sid and McCoy--two names that were on nobody's radar screen--now have serious style cred thanks to the Biggs and Porter families. I would not be surprised to see McCoy break into the top 1000 for 2016 (which comes out this Friday--hooray!). 

Some stars, like Whitney Port, are bound to be influential in their baby name choice. And no matter what they choose, everyone's going to be talking about what Heidi Montag Pratt and Serena Williams name their babies. So let's get into it! I've made my predictions below--how do they compare to yours?

Whitney Port and Tim Rosenman

Gender: unknown

Siblings: none

Whitney Port has a self-described "New York meets LA" style. The major thing these cities have in common when it comes to baby names? They both are ahead of the curve. That leads me to believe that Whitney and her husband Tim will choose a name that is on the cusp of cool--something stylish, but relatively low on the popularity charts.

Girl: Briar, Cassia, Colette, Dahlia, Emmeline, Esme, Posey, Margot, Wren

Boy: Amos, Cyrus, Desmond. Ford, Hugh, Leland, Rhys, Sutton, Thatcher
*Update* It's a boy! Sonny Sanford

Jenny Mollen and Jason Biggs

Gender: boy

Siblings: Sid

Jenny Mollen and Jason Biggs put Sid back on the map for boys. The formerly fusty, old man name now seems incredibly dapper. Can they flip the switch on another name with baby number two? I've included some recent revivals along with yet to be rediscovered gems--whatever name they pick, I'm sure we'll be pleased.

Boy: Dexter, Ed, Frank, Gus, Hal, Ike, Len, Lester, Lou, Moe, Roscoe, Victor
*Update* He's Lazlo--love it!

Aijia and Andy Grammer

Gender: girl

Siblings: none

Family is Aijia and Andy Grammer's number one value. They have expressed multiple times that they want to honor Andy's late mother Kathy somehow in their daughter's name. My best guess is that they'll use a variation of Katherine, but maybe they will do something subtler, like choose a name that shares a meaning with Kathy.

Girl: Agnes, Catalina, Kate, Katelyn, Kathryn, Kay, Kitty, Virginia, Wynn
*Update* They did honor Mom--baby girl is Louisiana K!

Elena Samodanova and Gleb Savchenko

Gender: girl

Siblings: Olivia

Russian dancers Elena Samodanova and Gleb Savchenko gave their American-born daughter a top-notch name--Olivia. Olivia does not have Russian roots, but it is long and romantic like many Russian and Eastern European names. For their next daughter, I expect something one in the same--a multi-syllable moniker that wears well whether she's in Russia or the United States.

Girl: Alexandra, Anastasia, Arabella, Isabella, Natalia, Sofia, Valentina
*Update* Hello, Zlata!

Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt

Gender: unknown

Siblings: none

Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt are best known for their reality TV days, but recently they've been more involved in the crystal healing trade. Perhaps their new passion will inspire them to choose a gemstone name or something similarly spiritual for their first born son or daughter.

Girl: Amethyst, Azalea, Emerald, Honor, Sapphire, Serenity, Topaz, Winter

Boy: Ever, Garnet, Hero, Justice, Noble, Onyx, Pax, Sage, True, Valentine
*Update* A little boy--Gunner Stone!

Hannah Simone and Jesse Giddings

Gender: unknown

Siblings: none

This is going to be the first real baby for Hannah Simone and Jesse Giddings, but they already have three fur-babies--cats named Alfie, Jake, and Frank. Now, that's not a perfectly coordinated cat sibset, but all three of those names do share a common thread--they're very friendly. Does that mean the couple will choose a similarly upbeat and cheerful name for their son or daughter? I'd put my money on it.

Girl: Birdie, Georiga, Grace, Josie, Langley, Lola, Lucy, Natalie, Nora, Olive

Boy: Caleb, Charlie, Elliott, George, Henry, Leo, Oscar, Owen, Sammy, Theo

Kelsey Mayfield and Scott Porter

Gender: unknown

Siblings: McCoy Lee

Actors Kelsey Mayfield and Scott Porter gave their son the ultimate Country Western baby name--McCoy Lee. McCoy is on trend but not at all popular, and down-to-earth to boot. I'm itching to hear the name of Kelsey and Scott's next child, since they hit it out of the park the first time.

Girl: Brynn, Darcy, Keeley, Maisie, Paige, Quinn, Ryan, Shea, Skye, Wynne

Boy: Brody, Cord, Graham, Guy, Jethro, Len, Murphy, Roarke, West, Wylie
*Update* Welcome, Clover Ash!

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian

Gender: unknown

Siblings: none

Tennis champion Serena Williams is pregnant with her first child, and the internet is abound with suggestions for the baby's name. Most of them center around athletics and tributes (Ace! Venus! Serenus?), but I have a feeling Serena will go in a different direction. Her dog is Christopher, called Chip, and her beloved stuffed animal is Max. I would not be surprised if she chose a milder, well-liked name for her child. Serena's fiancé Alexis Ohanian is Armenian, so it's quite possible the name will have some influence from his heritage.

Girl: Audrey, Clara, Elisa, Juliet, Layla, Lusine, Lydia, Sophia, Zabelle

Boy: Andrew, Benjamin, Connor, Jake, Lev, Lucas, Samuel, Simon, William
*Update* A girl! Alexis Ohanian Jr., called by her middle name, Olympia