10 L Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

Image Credit

Will Liam make it to the number one spot? My prediction is yes, but we might not see it happen for another year or two. I find Liam incredibly sweet, but wouldn't ever use him myself. He's just too popular. Maybe you agree with me, maybe you don't, but it's hard to deny that there are other great L names out there. I have a great list with ten of them today. And the best part is, they aren't even in the top 1000.

Laird- A tailored and professional name that could easily work on a child as well. Laird is definitely one to put on the list.

Lander- Landon is ranked at 39. Anderson and Anders are both found in the top 1000. Lander is just as stylish as his more popular brothers, but you won't find another one in town.

Lars- I've always had a soft spot for Lars. I think he works even if you're not Scandinavian, but if you won't use him as a first name, he's great in the middle.

Lazlo- Lazlo is such a fun name. He's so happy sounding. He could also be spelled Laszlo, but I prefer this simplified spelling.

Leif- A widely overlooked name that would work so well in America. Spelled Leaf, he'd be perfect for your nature loving Fall baby.

Lester- When I was six, I named one of my baby dolls Lester. I have no idea where I heard the name, but I still like it. He's very old man cool.

Linus- Speaking of old man cool; Linus! He's mainly associated with the Peanuts character, but I don't think that's a bad thing. Besides, it gives you the perfect nursery theme.

Lloyd- He may sound like a curmudgeonly old fellow, but Lloyd is ripe for revival (almost). I really like him, but I know most people don't, so we should give him another decade or two. Just don't put him on the Gone Forever list, because I know he will come back someday.

Locke- Preppy and sophisticated. He would make a great middle name, but Locke also has first name potential.

Lodge- How cool is Lodge? He's very woodsy and rugged; perfect for all those hipster parents.

10 F Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

Image Credit

If I had to choose one letter to name all my kids with, it would be F. Frances is my number two name for girls, and I adore Frieda, Flora, Freya, and the like. However, none of those names made the list today, because I want to show you some more unusual appellations.

Faine- Short, sweet, and not too girly. That's a perfect name in my book.

Faustine- I first came across this name in my first name book. It intrigued me at the time, and I think it would be a lovely name. Unfortunately, some of my friends remarked it sounds a little like frosting. That doesn't have to be a bad thing.

Fenella- A beautiful name, and a great way to get to my number one, Nell.

Fia- Utterly gorgeous, yet super simple. You don't find names like that often. If she's too short for you, try her as a nickname for Sofia.

Flair- Is Blair too boring? Spice it up with Flair.

Flanna- (FLAH-nah)(rhymes with Lana) An exotic name with familiar sounds. Guaranteed to be the only one in her class, that is, if you don't call her Annie.

Fleur- More unexpected than Flora. Just don't use her as a sister for Flair.

Florida- Another Flora alternative, but this time a place name. Perfect choice if you want an unusual name that honors your childhood.

Franca- The German form of Frances. A more intuitive way to get the nickname Frankie.

France- Like short names? Slim down Frances to get France. Plus, she still gets the cutest nickname, Francie.

Freesia- A pretty pink flower that would make an ethereal choice for a baby daughter.

Modern Virtue Names for Girls

Image Credit

Charity? Chastity? Patience? Yeah, I don't think those qualify as modern. Many parents desire virtue names, but only know of names like the ones I listed above. Fortunately there are so many great options for girls these days. Last week we did the boys, so now it's time for the (much longer) girls list. Let me know if you would use any of these, or if I missed some.

Amity- Beautiful. She's obviously a virtue choice without being over the top.

Comfort- A little bit wordy, but I've seen people with this name, and it is definitely useable.

Divinity- If you want a name that reflects your religion without being too obvious, Divinity is a good choice.

Dream- Such a pretty word name. I'm surprised it hasn't been a celebrity baby name yet.

Faith- This one is starting to sound a little dated, but still works for the modern girl (unlike her sister Charity)

Fidelity- I really like this one. I love F names, and I think Fidelity has a gorgeous sound.

Grace- The most common virtue name. She's always pretty, but her overuse has caused Grace to lose some of the association with the virtue.

Heaven- I'm not a huge fan, but she's a better choice than Nevaeh (which didn't make the list).

Hero- You guys know I love Hero. She's perfect. Use her.

Holiday- Ooh, Holiday! She's not quite a virtue, but I think she fits with this list. No need to wait till December, I say use her whenever.

Honor- I know quite a few girls around my age named Honor. I prefer Honora, but both make great names for a daughter.

Hope- I think this one gets confusing with everyday language, but Hope is a lovely choice. She's pretty popular as a middle, so I think it's nicer to use her as a first name.

Imagine- I talked about this one last week. I think it's better on a girl, but again, stick her in the middle.

Joy- Super popular as a middle name, and a little dated for a first name. Nevertheless, she's still very useable, just don't name her sisters Hope and Faith. Please.

Karma- This is a fun one. Karma is a great name, and would be a perfect way to honor a Carmen or Carla.

Mercy- A nice name, but she will probably be serenaded a lot.

Serenity- A better choice than Tranquility. Serenity makes for a good pick if one partner likes virtue names and the other doesn't, because she shortens to the lovely Seren.

True- True is super cute, and definitely works on her own. She would also make a fun middle name.

Unity- One of the more popular U names. Uni is an adorable nickname.

Verity- Any name that ends in -ity is usually a virtue, and Verity is no exception. She's a lovely name, if you don't mind her lack of nickname options.

Virtue- Of course, why not just go with the word itself? Virtue can encompass all of these names and more, making her the ultimate virtue name.

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

Full Names for Minnie

Image Credit

Ever since I watched the wonderful new movie The Diary of a Teenage Girl, I can't stop thinking about the name Minnie. She'd make a great nickname for a baby born today (or even a full name). Take a look at these options for full forms.

Araminta- This quirky British name lends herself more to Minty than Minnie, but the latter is better for parents who want a more subdued nickname.

Clementine- Clementine is one of the few long names with a lack of nickname options. If Clem or Clemmie aren't your thing, Minnie would be a lovely nickname for your darling Clementine.

Dominique- Most of the Dominiques I know go by Domi when they need a short form, but Minnie makes for a more whimsical choice.

Domino- Speaking of whimsical names, how about Domino? She's certainly delightful on her own, but Minnie makes her more accessible.

Jasmine- Jasmine strikes me as slightly dated, but she's still in the top 100 (albeit, at #100), but as the most popular name on this list, she very well could be the most prominent way to get to Minnie (I doubt it, but they don't have statistics on this stuff, so who knows!). Minnie's a great nickname option for those of you who don't like Jazz.

Jessamine- Jessamine is Jasmine's funkier ancestor--she was the original spelling of the flower's name. Jess and Jessa sound a bit old as nicknames, but charming Minnie is perfectly fresh.

Mignon- Mignon is a sweet French name meaning "delicate and dainty." Her original nickname is Mignonette, but if you're looking for something slimmer--and perhaps a bit less dainty--Minnie is your girl.

Minerva- The nickname Minnie originally comes from Minerva--the name of the Roman goddess of wisdom. She shares her meaning of wisdom with Sophia, making Minerva/Minnie a good alternative to Sophia/Sophie.

Minna- Minna, though German by origin, is currently used all around Europe. She's especially popular in Scandinavia. I don't think she needs a nickname, but if you must, Minnie's the best option. 

Minuet- For a Minnie with a musical connection, try Minuet. She's a French ballroom dance, which gives the name a romantic, rhythmic feel.

Wilhelmina- Wilhelmina a lot to handle for a baby girl, but luckily she's chock full of nicknames. I'd vote for Minnie over Billie or Willa any day.

Names With the -ara Sound

When you think of names with the -ara sound at the end, your first thought will most likely be Sarah. She was in the top ten, from '78 to '02. Like me, you probably know many Sarahs of all ages. Here are some other less popular -ara sounding names

Ara- This Arabic name is just okay to me.
Cara- I like this name, but it reminds me too much of Jon and Kate plus 8.
Clara- I really like this name. It's very beautiful, and it means bright.
Farrah- I don't like this name at all. It sounds very stuck-up to me.
Kara- Another form of Cara. I don't like this spelling as much.
Tamara- It sounds very 70's to me, probably because she would have the nickname Tammy.
Tara- I don't mind this one. Tara is one of the better ones on this list.
Vara/Vera- I like it pronounced VEAR-uh, but not VARE-uh.

Can Baby Names Predict the Future?: My Junior Research Paper

I mentioned a while ago that I wrote my junior research paper on baby names. I loved writing about my favorite topic, and I got to read some of my favorite blogs for research. It's a long essay (nine pages), so I'm putting it after the jump. Enjoy! (disclaimer: I bashed The Secret Universe of Names a little bit, but it's actually one of my favorite baby name books. You should buy it. It's great). P.S. This is my 200th post (wow)!

10 French Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

Image Credit

Last week was our first installment of this new series, and I want to know what you guys think! How is it compared to the alphabet letters? Today's list is all about French names for boys. Americans love French names for girls, but many don't consider using one on a boy (or don't even know their favorite boy name is French). Take a look.

Bastien- Bastien is the French form of the Latin Sebastian, and is often considered an alternate spelling to the more popular Bastian. Bastien, Bastian, and Sebastian are all skyrocketing in popularity, each one at an all time high (with Sebastian at #34). Bas or Baz makes a cute nickname.

Croix- Croix means cross in French, making him a sweet and subtle way to honor both heritage and religion. He can be prononced KROY (like the drink La Croix, most Americans' first association) or KWAH (as it would be said in France).

Emeric- Emeric would make a great import to America. The Em- prefix is very popular right now, and unlike most of them, he's exclusively for boys.

Florin- The Flor- names (mostly Flora and Florence) are experiencing a slight rise in the United States, and they're all over the place in Europe. Florin is quite popular in France, and would be very charming on this side of the pond.

Gable- With Gabriel being so fashionable (#24), it shocks me that Gable isn't even in the top 5000. He's such a wonderful name! Clark Gable makes a dashing namesake, especially if you love Old Hollywood.

Jules- Jules may sound girly to American ears, but in French he's very masculine (and trendy! He's #6). I think it's time for Jules to go back to the boys--we need a swanky nickname for all our Julians and Juliuses.

Mathis- Matthew is an ever-popular classic, and Matthias is on his way to becoming mainstream. Next in line? Mathis. Pronounced like Matisse, he's a slim, stylish variant of Matthew with a lot of potential.

Olivier- Oliver is becoming a big hit in the U.S., and soon parents are going to be searching for alternatives. Olivier (oh-LIV-ee-ay) could be the answer. Oli or Ollie are nice nicknames.

Vardon- I've been hearing a lot of -arden names lately, is that the next big sound? If so, put Vardon on your list before the trend hits. He's a French surname meaning "green knoll."

Yann- Yann is the French form of John, and makes a very preppy pick for a baby boy. He can be a nickname for Yancy or Yannick if you prefer longer names.

10 S Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

Image Credit

What's your favorite S name for boys? I've been loving Soren lately. At #652, he's a smidge too popular to put on this list, and I'd say he's fairly well known. Instead, I have 10 names that don't appear in the top 1000 at all, and maybe even a few names you've never heard of. Tell me what you think.

Salinger- What better way to pay tribute to your favorite author than by giving your child their name? Salinger is one of my favorite literary heroes, and with names like Sullivan and Sebastian so popular, he seems to fit.

Sander- Alexander is a great name, but do you really want your son to be another Alex? Sander is the perfect nickname (and your son won't be Sander H. in the classroom). If you're not a big fan of Alexander, you can use Sander on his own, or as a nickname for Lysander.

Sanford- Looking for a cool way to get to Ford? Take a look at Sanford. He ranks at #5247, and has never made it above the top 400. Sanford is pretty close to Stanford though, so be prepared for some confusion.

Sasha- The boys are taking Sasha back. He's been used by many a celebrity (the most recent one being Shakira). Sasha has been falling for girls, but I expect to see an even sharper decline now that we've seen him on so many boys.

Satchel- I think Satchel is adorable. He's technically a word name--I believe it's a type of backpack in Europe (?)--but most Americans won't have that association.

Shaw- All those '80s babies named Sean are starting families. It can be fun to honor yourself with your child's name, but Shawna isn't really your style. The best way to honor Dad (or Mom, possibly) is Shaw. He's a simple, modern, and unique pick for a son.

Shepherd- Occupation names are all the rage, but Shepherd hasn't garnered much attention. He has a very sweet sound (and how cute would a sheep themed nursery be?). You can also spell it Shepard, but Shepherd is the original occupation spelling.

Simeon- Sure, Simon is cute, but depending on where you live there are three on every block. Simeon is a similar Hebrew name that is only at #1064.

Sorrel- Are you worried about Soren becoming insanely popular overnight, too? Welcome to the club. I don't love Sorrel quite as much as Soren, but he is my favorite of the list.

Stellan- I talked about Stellan in one of my first posts (apologies for the bad spelling/grammar). He's a fantastic name, especially if you love Stella, but not her popularity.

Hipster Baby Name or Hipster City: International Edition

One of my most popular posts is Hipster Baby Name or Hipster City? Now I'm bringing it back, but this time we're going outside of the states. What exactly is a hipster baby name? Hipster baby names seem too quirky, old fashioned, or extreme for yuppie parents. In fact, they're probably names you never would have thought of. The trickier part is identifying a hipster city--I had some trouble with it myself. For the purpose of this post, a hipster city has to be well-known for housing trend-setting twenty-somethings. I know that every city has a hipster neighborhood, but to be a real HC, it has to go beyond that (Tip: the bigger the city, the more likely it is to be a hipster city). Good luck on the quiz, and make sure to come back after the jump to read my justifications.

Powered by Interact

Sports Names

Image Credit

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.

10 G Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

Image Credit

Three weeks ago we talked about G names for girls, and now that I'm finally back, it's the boys turn. I love G names for boys, they are the epitome of cool. This list in particular features some names that guarantee your baby will be awesome.

Gable- An Old Hollywood name that makes a great alternative to the popular Gabriel.

Gardner- A rare -er name that would work well on either gender (but my vote is boy). Name your sons Gable and Gardner for a Classic Hollywood sibset.

Garth- Cowboy cool. Garth can work across many styles, and don't worry- he's definitely not too outlandish for the kindergarten roster.

Gentry- An interesting pick that no one has heard of. If you like unusual, this name is for you.

Gibson- The most popular of this list, yet still rarely used. I'm surprised he's not more popular, Gibson would make a great brother for many top 100 names.

Gill- I know what you're thinking: "Why would you put an ugly name like Gill on this list?" But he's not ugly. Gill is a little old-mannish, which is actually wonderful for people looking for retro names that aren't quite stylish yet. Though, in the next few years I predict he's going to make a comeback.

Greeley- He's a unisex surname with a lot of potential. If you aren't brave enough to make him a first name, go ahead and stick him in the middle.

Gregor- Gregory is dated and boring, but Gregor is cool and unique. He's a nice, modern choice, but he will probably get confused for Gregory.

Grove- What, you don't see Grover's appeal? I understand, but I urge you to take a look at Grove. He's more stylish and streamlined, plus this way you can still honor Grandpa Grover.

Guthrie- I think this one could break into the top 1000 any time now. Guthrie is a great name, with some nice namesakes, including musician Woody, or news anchor Savannah.

St. Patrick's Day Names

Image Credit

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all my Irish readers! I don't have much Irish heritage, so I don't celebrate the holiday, but I thought it'd be fun to compile a list of names, mostly based on history. Most of these would be a great way to honor your Irish descent.

Expected:
Christian- It's a Christian holiday.
Ireland- Straight to the point, but I really love the name Ireland.
Patricia- The female form of Patrick. Too old fashioned.
Patrick- Too obvious an association for a March 17 baby.

Unique:
Bell- There's a bell called St. Patrick's Bell. Spelled like this, it is a subtle nod to the holiday.
River- In Chicago we dye the river green on St. Patrick's Day. River would make a lovely choice for either gender born around March 17 (or any time).
Tara- One of St. Patrick's churches is on the Hill of Tara. She's a little dated, but the connotation is nice.
Saul- St. Patrick founded his first church in a town called Saul. He's a very uncommon name that deserves wider recognition.

Unheard of:
Bishop- Before he was a saint, he was a bishop. This name gets used from time to time. Only use it if you're religious.
Celestine- Pope Celestine sent St. Patrick to be the first bishop to Irish Christians. Celestine is a lovely elaboration of Celeste.
Padrig- He's the Welsh form of Patrick. He might be a little hard for Americans to grasp at first, but I think Padrig is still useable.
Palladius- Palladius is the supposed name of the real St. Patrick. A little over the top, Pallas would be a nice contraction.

Belle's Full Names

Belle and Bella seem to be the nicknames of the year. It's no surprise either, with Isabella ranking number two last year, and one the year before. She's more popular than ever, and so are the nicknames that come with her. Needless to say, if you love Belle or Bella, there's no reason to skip straight to Isabella. They have some much more unexpected full names.

Annabella: With all the rage of Annabelle, you'd think Annabella would not be far behind. Think again, because she ranks at a modest 328. She's a bit of a mouthful, but if you're planning on using Belle or Bella, she would make a nice choice for the birth certificate.

Annabelle: She's the quintessential American girl. Annabelle conjures up images of apple pie and pure sweetness. It's no wonder parents love her. She comes in at 111, with her alternate spellings (Annabel, Annabell, Anabelle, Anabell, and Anabel) all making the list as well.

Belia: Meaning beautiful, Belia is the Spanish version of Bella. Perfect for honoring your family's history, though she's so pretty that she might not need a nickname.

Bellamy: Quite possibly my favorite of this list. She doesn't rank in the top 1000, but she's been getting some attention lately. Bellamy just made Nameberry's list of Unusual Girls' Names Destined for Stardom. The name of a Novogratz daughter (twin to Tallulah by the way), Bellamy is appealing to many parents for obvious reasons. She's may be tomboy, but she has America's sweetest nicknames.

Bellatrix: Honestly, I don't suggest you use Bellatrix. Unless you're a celebrity or a major Harry Potter fan, she seems a little- over the top. She has very strong ties with the literary franchise, but if you're planning on calling your little one Bella or Belle, she would make for an interesting choice. Especially if she was born on Halloween (is it just me, or does she seem a bit spooky?).

Gabriella: She's more popular than you think, with a ranking of 34. Gabriella is princessy, elegant, and very regal sounding, and Bella or Belle seems like fitting nicknames.

Gabrielle: Not quite as long, or as popular as Gabriella, she ranks at 119. Simpler, but by no means simple. You don't need four syllables to sound like a princess.

Isabelle: She comes in at 114, with sister Isabel not far behind at 128. She's a beautiful choice, but far from uncommon. My favorite spelling however, is the far from trendy Isobel.

10 Vietnamese Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

Brian C. Allen via Dribbble

This is one of my favorite series on the blog. I love introducing you guys to names from cultures you never would have considered for naming inspiration. Like I said last week, I think Vietnamese names are perfect for American use. There are so many of them out there, but I picked ten of my favorites that I would love to hear on a little boy.

An- An is both a Chinese and a Vietnamese name. He's simple (though possibly too breif for some parents) but more than usable in the US. An means "peace."

Bao- Bao is a Vietnamese name meaning "protection" or "security." In China, Bao is mostly a feminine name, though sometimes used on boys as well. One possible downside: the word bao means "bun," and is heard in many a restaurant.

Binh- Like An, Binh means "peace." Binh is one of my favorites on this list--he sounds so sweet and lovely. If you don't love short first names, he'd make a great middle.

Lanh- I don't put much stock into name meanings, so I think of it as a bonus when a nice name has a meaning to match. Lanh is just that type of name. He means "happy, good, and gentle"--you can't get much better than that.

Minh- Speaking of names with good meanings, take a look at Minh! He means "bright and intelligent"--a brother name for Sophia perhaps?

Nguyen- Americans love surname names, so why not use the most common Vietnamese surname as a first? Many people will object to his pronunciation (and it varies by location), but the most common are "new-wen" or simply "wen."

Quyen- Quyen might be the most import friendly name on this list. Sure, his spelling looks daunting, but he's actually pronounced very much like Quinn. So if you're worried about Quinn going girl, I suggest you take a look at Quyen, who's stricly masculine.

Trai- Trai is a Vietnamese name meaning "oyster" (how fun!). Nameberry lists him as a variation of Trey, which was originally used for sons with a third generation name. Either way, I think he'd be charming on an American boy.

Tuan- The Vietnamese masculine name Tuan made it into the top 1000 back in 1982 and 1983. This was a time when many Vietnamese immigrants were coming to the United States, so this isn't too surprising. However, not many other Vietnamese names were on the list, so he must be a popular choice.

Van- Van is most well known as a Dutch name, but there's a Vietnamese version as well. Depending on the accent mark above the A, he either means "cloud," or "knowledge and literature." Apparently he's quite a popular middle name choice for Vietnamese boys, but I think he'd make a great first name too.

State Capital Names

A nice way to honor your roots would be to name your child after where you are from. If you live in the States, you might want to consider your state's capital. Most state capitals (or a variation) work, with the exception of Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont.

Expected:
Augusta (ME)- My first thought is golf, but maybe that's just me. Augusta is a beautiful name though.
Austin (TX)- This name definitely reminds people of Texas. It's great if that's what your going for.
Carson (NV- Carson City)- On trend
Charleston (WV)- Comes with the bonus nickname Charlie.
Cheyenne (WY)- Sounds a little dated, but she would definitely work.
Helena (MT)- The capital is pronounced (HEL-en-uh), but many prefer (he-LAY-nuh).
Jackson (MS)- Too common of a name to remind people of the city.
Juneau (AK)- Makes Juno a place name.
Harris (PA- Harrisburg)- He's less common than Harrison, and both are great names.
Lincoln (NE)- Newly gender-neutral, Lincoln is a great name.
Madison (WI)- Like Jackson, she's too common to remind people of Wisconsin.
Olympia (WA)- A beautiful name, and Pia is a cute short form.
Paul (MN- Saint Paul)- Classic.
Phoenix (AZ)- A bold, but not unusual choice for boy or girl.
Pierre (SD)- Don't use it unless you're French.
Raleigh (NC)- This works for a boy or girl (thinking Raleigh St. Clair).

Unique:
Albany (NY)- This place name is way underused.
Annapolis (MD)- Call her Annie, or put this in the middle.
Atlanta (GA)- Super cool for girl.
Boston (MA)- Strong and handsome.
Columbia (SC)- My first though is college, but this would not make a bad name.
Columbus (OH)- Reminds me too much of history class.
Denver (CO)- Just don't name his sister Aspen.
Frankfort (KY)- I prefer just Frank, but this is nice if you come from Kentucky.
Hartford (CT)- Hart is a lovely short form.
Jefferson (MO- Jefferson City)- A bold choice, but I would stay with it, and away from Jeff.
Montgomery (AL)- It's long and the only nickname is Monty. How about as a middle?
Nashville (TN)- Call him Nash.
Richmond (VA)- Great way to honor Grandpa Richard and Aunt Virginia.
Trenton (NJ)- Very hip, and you can call him Trent.

Unheard of:
Bismarck (ND)- Honors a Mark and North Dakota.
Boise (ID)- I think of potatoes, but I've never been to Idaho.
Concord (NH)- If you can get past the grape association, this could be cool.
Des Moines (IA)- It barely works. Better stick it in the middle.
Dover (DE)- I just hope his best friend isn't Ben.
Honolulu (HI)- A little wild, but the nickname Lulu tones her down.
Lansing (MI)- I like it for either gender.
Sacramento (CA)- Long and nicknameless. If you're okay with that, use it!
Salem (OR)- Too witchy. Portland is a better Oregon city name.
Springfield (IL)- This one's a stretch. Make it a middle, or call her Spring.
Tallahassee (FL)- Only if you call her Tally.
Topeka (KS)- Cute and unusual.

10 J Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

Image Credit

There are five J names in the boys top 20. Five. That's one fourth of the group. So, saying they're popular is an understatement. If you like J names, but are scared they are too trendy, I say don't worry. There are plenty of great J names out there, that have yet to be discovered.

Jaco- I have a confession- I don't like Jacob. I think he's overused and not attractive sounding. But Jaco? Super cool. I guess it's that B I have a problem with, because Jaco is an awesome name.

Jans- Jan would sound frumpy and dull on a baby girl. I think it's time we switch genders. Jans is modern and sleek, and actually, very masculine.

Jarvis- Ooh, one of my favorite Chicago baby names. You can't deny Jarvis's cool factor.

Jefferson- Presidential and prestigious, yet totally accessible.

Jethro- Starts with J, end with O, it's a perfect combo. And the rad nickname Jeth helps a little, too.

Jex- We like Dex and Rex, so why not Jex? The only qualm is that I can't think of a good full name for him. Jexon?

Jones- Surname names for boys are always a homerun. Yet Jones seems to have missed the boat. I happen to think he would sound adorable on a little boy, and would definitely age nicely.

Jory- This unisex name is definitely that (the Jori and Jorie I know are female), but overall opinion swings more towards boy.

Joss- I know, I put this one on last week's girl list. But with namesakes like Joss Whedon, it's impossible not to consider for both genders. If he's too nicknamey for you, try it as an update for Josh, with the full name being Joshua.

Judson- If you smoosh Hudson and Judd, you get Judson. But it's not a made up name, I promise. He's an English name, and would make a fresh alternative to all the -son names.