Hipster Baby Name or Hipster City?

Image Credit

There's been some chatter amongst namers lately. It seems like the rest of the world doesn't know what a "hipster baby name" is. This was recently brought to our attention by a few key websites (ahem, Buzzfeed, SF Gate, Daily Mail), making lists of Hipster Baby Names, and 2015 Popular Name Predictions. So I'm here to set the record straight. A hipster baby name is on the cusp of cool. It seems unstylish or out-there to most parents, but then gains favor. On the other hand, a hipster city is a metropolitan area with a high concentration of liberal young adults. Sometimes the two intertwine, but a seasoned baby namer can usually tell the difference.

Take my quiz first to test your knowledge, then come back and read my responses.

Powered by Interact

Shakespearean Names

Ben Didier via Dribbble

There's a reason everyone likes Shakespearean names--they signify class, romanticism, and intelligence, (most) without sounding too pompous or proper. If you're looking for one of these names for your son or daughter, I've compiled this list of the ones I deem most usable.

Girls
Adriana
Aemilia
Alice
Aliena
Angelica
Anne
Audrey
Beatrice
Bianca
Blanche
Calphurnia
Cassandra
Celia
Cleopatra
Constance
Cordelia
Cressida
Desdemona
Diana
Dionyza
Doll
Dorcas
Eleanor
Elizabeth
Emilia
Francisca
Gertrude
Helen
Helena
Hermia
Hermione
Hero
Imogen
Iris
Isabella
Jane
Jessica
Joan
Julia
Juliet
Juno
Kate
Katharine
Katherine
Lavinia
Leonine
Luce
Lucetta
Luciana
Margaret
Maria
Marianna
Marina
Meg
Miranda
Nan
Nell
Nerissa
Octavia
Olivia
Ophelia
Patience
Paulina
Perdita
Phebe
Portia
Regan
Rosalind
Rosaline
Silvia
Tamora
Thaisa
Thisbe
Timandra
Titania
Valeria
Viola
Virgilia
Volumnia

Boys
Aaron
Abraham
Adam
Adrian
Andrew
Ajax
Alexander
Alexas
Alonso
Angelo
Angus
Anthony
Antonio
Ariel
Arthur
Balthasar
Barnardo
Benedick
Benvolio
Berkeley
Bertram
Brandon
Caesar
Caius
Camillo
Cassio
Cassius
Cato
Charles
Christopher
Cicero
Cinna
Clarence
Claudio
Claudius
Cleomines
Cleon
Clifford
Clitus
Cloten
Corin
Cornelius
Curan
Curio
Curtis
Cymbeline
Davy
Demetrius
Denny
Dick
Dion
Duncan
Edgar
Edmund
Edward
Egeon
Emmanuel
Fabian
Fenton
Ferdinand
Flavius
Ford
Francis
Francisco
Frederick
Gardiner
George
Gerald
Gregory
Grey
Griffith
Harry
Hector
Henry
Horatio
Hubert
Hugh
Humphrey
Iago
Isidore
Jachimo
Jack
Jaques
James
Jamy
John
Joseph
Jourdain
Julius
Junius
Jupiter
Lennox
Leonardo
Leonato
Leonatus
Leontes
Lewis
Lorenzo
Louis
Lovell
Lucentio
Lucilius
Lucio
Lucius
Lysander
Macmorris
Malcolm
Marcellus
Marcus
Mark
Martius
Matthew
Mercutio
Michael
Montano
Morgan
Mortimer
Morton
Nathaniel
Ned
Nicholas
Nick
Nym
Oberon
Octavius
Oliver
Orlando
Orsino
Osrick
Oswald
Othello
Owen
Paris
Pedro
Percy
Peter
Peto
Philip
Philario
Philo
Polonius
Puck
Quince
Quintus
Reynaldo
Richard
Robert
Robin
Roderigo
Romeo
Ross
Sampson
Sebastian
Silvius
Simon
Smith
Stanley
Stephano
Taurus
Thomas
Timon
Timothy
Titus
Toby
Tom
Tranio
Travers
Troy
Valentine
Valerius
Varro
Vernon
Vincentio
Walter
Will
Williams
Willoughby

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 19

2017 was a rock-star year for celebrity pregnancies and birth announcements. Mark Zuckerberg, Serena Williams, and Mindy Kaling all welcomed daughters this year. Beyoncé and Amal Clooney each had twins!

We have plenty to look forward to in 2018. Jessica Alba and Hilaria Baldwin are having sons, there are three (yes, three!) Kardashian babies on the way, and, of course, Kate Middleton is currently pregnant with the newest prince or princess.

There are even some amazing announcements that happened in this month alone. Stars like Dwayne Johnson, Seth Meyers, and Lin-Manuel Miranda are all adding to their broods. John Stamos, Kirsten Dunst, and Eva Longoria are all going to become first-time parents in 2018.

So Happy (almost) New Year! If this month is predicative of the year to come, it's going to be a good one--in the world of celebrity baby names, at least.

Alexi Ashe and Seth Meyers
Gender: boy
Siblings: Ashe Olsen
We all remember Seth Meyer's heartwarming explanation of his baby's name--his son Ashe Olsen is named after "the two most important women" in his life--his wife and mother. Obviously family names are valued by Alexi and Seth, so I wouldn't be surprised if their next son has one of the following names, inspired by their family trees:
Boy: Alistair, Beck, Laurence, Lorcan, Owen, Sasha, Thomas

*Update* Welcome, Axel Strahl!

Vanessa Nadal and Lin-Manuel Miranda
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Sebastian
Sebastian is one of those names that translates seamlessly through the English and Spanish-speaking worlds, and is considered stylish within each. It can be hard to capture both these qualities in a name, but I have a feeling that will be a priority for Vanessa and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Girl: Cecilia, Emilia, Isabella, Juliette, Lucia, Maya, Olivia, Valentina
Boy: August, Benjamin, Caleb, Dominic, Gabriel, Julian, Luca, Oscar
*Update* Hello, Francisco!

Gail Simmons and Jeremy Abrams
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Dahlia Rae
Gail Simmons and husband Jeremy Abrams named their daughter Dahlia Rae back in 2014. Her name has special significance to the couple, as dahlias are Gail's favorite flower, and Rae honors a dear relative. Baby number two's name will likely have a hidden meaning as well, and I can't wait to hear what it is.
Girl: Agatha, Aviva, Bryony, Cordelia, Elodie, Felicity, Fiona, Harlow, Winter
Boy: Callum, Edmund, Emmett, Graham, Harris, Linus, Rafe, Roscoe, Theodore
*Update* Welcome, Kole Jack!

Lauren Hashian and Dwayne Johnson
Gender: girl
Siblings: Simone Alexandra (previous relationship), Jasmine Lia
Even though his daughters have different mothers, Dwayne Johnson has managed to create a very well-coordinated sibset--Simone and Jasmine. Now that the Rock's girlfriend Lauren Hashian is expecting his third girl, I'm anxiously awaiting to see which name they add to the mix. I have high expectations for this little girl's name, and would definitely approve of any of the following:
Girl: Emerald, Gabrielle, Genevieve, India, Jade, Portia, Scarlett, Sienna, Summer
*Update* Baby girl is Tiana Gia!

Kym Johnson and Robert Herjavec
Gender: unknown twins
Siblings: Skye, Caprice, Brendan (previous relationship)
Unlike the Rock, Robert Herjavec took a more eclectic route to his sibset, with children named Skye, Caprice, and Brendan. Now he's expecting his fourth child with new wife Kym Johnson, and it's hard to say what style name is in the cards for their latest arrival. Perhaps they'll find a name that can bridge the style gap within the sibset, or maybe they'll head in a totally new direction!
Girl: Ainsley, Aria, Bree, Harper, Piper, Tamsin, Victoria, Wynne
Boy: Alexander, Cameron, Connor, Jack, Logan, Nicolai, Weston
*Update* Boy/girl twins--Hudson Robert and Haven Mae!

Caitlin McHugh and John Stamos
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
John Stamos and fiancee Caitlin McHugh are major Disney fans--so much so that they recently got engaged at Disneyland. This makes me think a Disney-inspired name might be in order for their baby on the way. Nothing too obvious--we're not talking about Mickey or Minnie here--but maybe a name with a bit more subtlety, like Bianca or Flynn.
Girl: Anastasia, Aurora, Belle, Bianca, Daisy, Ella, Jane, Marie, Penny, Ruby
Boy: Flynn, Max, Michael, Oliver, Peter, Percy, Phillip, Samson, Sebastian
*Update* It's a boy--Billy, named after John's father

Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons are set to welcome their first child in 2018. Germany is an important country to Kirsten--she has German heritage on her father's side and is a German citizen. Might her love for Germany extend to German baby names? There are so many great options, so I'd love to see her and Jesse use a German name for their little babe.
Girl: Alice, Clarissa, Frieda, Greta, Ida, Ilse, Romy, Tilly, Zelda
Boy: Axel, Conrad, Fritz, Otto, Raymond, Rudy, Walter, Wolf
*Update* A little boy--Ennis Howard!

Eva Longoria and José Baston
Gender: boy
Siblings: Natalia, Mariana, José Antonio, Sebastian (previous relationship)
Eva Longoria is pregnant with her first child--a boy!--who will be José Baston's fifth. He's already got an excellent sibset set up with his current children, so hopefully Eva and José will choose a complementary Spanish name for their newest son.
Boy: Alvaro, Bruno, Camilo, Emilio, Fernando, Hugo, Mateo, Marcos, Rafael
*Update* He's here--Santiago Enrique!

Chicago Names: L Stops

As a Chicago teenager, I find myself taking the L more and more. Lately I've noticed some of the stops have great baby name potential. Whether you live in the city or not, these are some spunky choices for your baby.

Expected:
Addison
Archer
Austin
Clark
Davis
Harrison
Jackson
Lawrence
Madison
Morgan
Paulina
Quincy
Wilson

Unique:
Adams
Ashland
Berwyn
Clinton
Damen
Foster
Francisco
Garfield
Jarvis
Kimball
Linden
Monroe
Sedgwick
Sheridan
Washington
Wellington

Unheard of:
Argyle
Belmont
Bryn Mawr
Cicero
Kedzie
Laramie
LaSalle
Loyola
Morse
Racine
Rockwell

Share a Coke Names: Part One

I made this here.

I'm sure you guys are familiar with the Share a Coke campaign. It's a great marketing scheme, not only because they get free advertising with every Instagrammed bottle, but because people go crazy for stuff with their names on it. While you can put any name on your coke if you order it online, only certain names are sold in store. Here in America, they chose 250 names to be a part of that group. I recorded them all, so I will list them below, then we will talk about hits and misses. It's all after the jump.

 

Disclaimer: This is not sponsored by the Coca Cola company. I actually don't like soda. At all.

Names with "an"

I recently got an email from a reader asking for some naming inspiration.

Fiona writes:

My first 2 children both have a theme of "an" - Marianne and Kassandra. It happened accidentally, but the more we think about future names, the more we seem attracted to this sound. It would be great to have some help and inspiration please! 
Our second child was only born this year, so we are jumping the gun a little but we do plan a 3rd child (hopefully, as obviously thanks to mother nature's blips, having a child is not in our complete control!) and our experience is that it is never too early to start thinking about names.

With many thanks,
Fiona 

Past the page break I have put together an exhaustive list of names with -an in them. I've italicised the ones I think work best with Marianne and Kassandra. Feel free to leave your thoughts or suggestions for Fiona in the comments. If you have a naming question that you would like me to post on the blog, feel free to email me at skihm (at) hotmail (dot) com. 

10 French Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

Image Credit

You guessed it, the next leg of this series is going to be by culture. Today we are going to look at French names, a perrenial favorite among American parents. If you're looking for something beyond Gabrielle or Vivienne, consider one of the following.

Anais- Anais is the lovely French version of Anne, and most people are familiar with her as the name of author Anais Nin. She's got a quirky cute feel, perfect for the daughter of creative parents.

Axelle- French names aren't known for being rebellious, but Axelle is just that. She has legitimate French roots, though most people will think you just made an addition to Axel. Nevertheless, she is an interesting pick. I'm putting Axelle on my list of future celebrity baby names.

Celestine- If you've read this blog for a while, you will know how much I love Celestine. She's been meantioned in six previous blog posts, which is a lot more than most other names can say. Celestine is absolutely gorgeous. For those of you too afraid to put her in the first name position, make her a middle for a short first name.

Delphine- Delphine means exactly what she sounds like, "dolphin." She's a name I often hear meantioned among the baby name crowd, but I've never encountered one in real life. Though most likely the average Joe on the street has never heard of her.

Francoise- Frances and Francis are on the rise. Francesca and Francisco have hit plauteus. The impeccibly French Francoise has never even broken the top 1000, making her a truely unique pick. Adorable nicknames Frannie and Francie are a bonus.

Leonor- Eleanor is just getting more and more popular, but her exotic variant Leonor is practically unheard of. She lends herself to the nicknames Leo and Leonie, which Eleanor doesn't offer.

Lilou- Lilou is a catch-all nickname for all L names in France, and even non-L names as well (I know a French Amelie called Lilou). She's a whimsical option, and a charming alternative to Lily.

Maelys- Maelys has all the right sounds. She's pronounced (may-LEES)--her long vowels and soft consonants make her a great contendor for parents who love liquidy names. There is normally an umlaut over the e, which makes her kind of tricky for American use. However, that should never be a deal breaker.

Magalie- Part Margaret, part Amelie, Magalie is the best French name you've never heard of. She'd make a great import.

Pomeline- Pomeline wins for my all time favorite guilty pleasure name. I would never use her on my own child, but man is she gorgeous. Pomme (the French word for apple) is a sweet nickname.

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 18

I've been making predictions long enough that now I'm forecasting the names of siblings for children whose names I've made predictions for. Such is the case with Chrissy Teigen and John Legend. In my very first set of predictions, almost two years ago, I suggested potential names for their baby who would eventually be dubbed Luna Simone. Now they are expecting baby number two, and I get to try my hand once again!

Likewise, I predicted (correctly, I might add) the name of Hilaria and Alec Baldwin's second son back in April of 2016. They recently announced that they will be having another baby boy in 2018, so we will see if I can get his name right as well.

Bethany Hamilton and Adam Dirks

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Tobias

Faith is very important to Bethany Hamilton and Adam Dirks, so it was no surprise when they gave their son the biblical name Tobias in 2015. Now that they are expecting their second child, it's almost a given that his or her name will also have biblical and religious significance.

Girl: Abigail, Ada, Eve, Dinah, Lillith, Naomi, Ruth, Susannah, Tabitha

Boy: Abel, Ezekiel, Ezra, Gideon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Judah, Nathaniel
*Update* It's a boy--Wesley Phillip!

Crystal Smith and Ne-Yo

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Madilyn Grace, Mason Evan (previous relationship), Shaffer Chimere Jr. 
Although Ne-Yo's youngest son is a junior with an uncommon name, his older two children have names that rank pretty high on the popularity charts. That makes me think his next child will have a name more in-line with his or her half siblings, rather than their brother. I like the idea of honoring Crystal with the name Gemma if the baby is a girl--it's a subtle honor name, but works well with the blended sibset. 

Girl: Arianna, Aubrey, Chloe, Gemma, Georgia, Kylie, Savannah, Sofia, Zoey

Boy: Asher, Camden, Carter, Jackson, Landon, Logan, Luke, Nolan, Owen
*Update* It's a boy--Roman Alexander-Raj

Hannah and Eddie Redmayne

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Iris Mary
Iris Mary is a sweet and understated name, which feels rare for celebrities these days. That was not a surprising choice coming from Hannah and Eddie Redmayne, who keep very quiet about their private lives. It's likely that their next child will be given a name with a similar feel--something vintage, slightly British, and nothing too outlandish. 

Girl: Clara, Coralie, Gloria, Lydia, Matilda, May, Phoebe, Ruby, Vivian, Willa

Boy: Callum, George, Henry, James, Miles, Oliver, Peter, Reid, Simon, Spencer
*Update* Welcome, Luke Richard!

Hilaria and Alec Baldwin

Gender: boy

Siblings: Ireland (previous relationship), Carmen Gabriela, Rafael Thomas, Leonardo Ángel Charles 

It's the third boy in a row for the Baldwins, and rumor has it they're sticking with the same theme for this baby--romantic artist names. There are plenty of stunning options to choose from, so even if they end up having three more boys, the inspiration will never run dry.

Boy: Antonio, Diego, Domenico, Eduardo, Francisco, Joaquin, Pablo, Ramon, Salvador, Sandro
*Update* Baby boy is Romeo Alejandro David!

Tia Mowry and Cory Hardrict

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Cree Taylor

Cree is a modern and unexpected name for a son. Of course, it sounds like it would fit in perfectly on almost any playground, yet it's rare to find Cree in a baby name book. It can be hard to find names in that sweet spot, but I'm certain Tia Mowry and Cory Hardrict are going to hit the nail on the head once again with baby number two.

Girl: Aura, Bay, Coco, Echo, Ever, Indie, Moon, Season, Sol, Zuly

Boy: Beck, Blue, Bram, Dax, Ford, Joss, Link, Quince, Rex, Van
*Update* A girl—Cairo Tiahna!

Jordin Sparks and Dana Isaiah

Gender: unknown

Siblings: none

Jordin Sparks and her husband Dana Isaiah are both quite religious. Unlike Bethany Hamilton, I don't think they will go the traditional biblical name route. Something contemporary feels much more appropriate for this couple. I have a feeling Jordin and Dana will choose a fresh spiritual or virtuous name for their son or daughter.

Girl: Easter, Eden, Faith, Galilee, Grace, Heaven, Keziah, Mercy

Boy: Boaz, Ezekiel, Jethro, Jude, Justice, Loyal, True, Trust, Zion
*Update* Hello, Dana Isaiah Jr.!

Miranda Kerr and Evan Spiegel

Gender: girl

Siblings: Flynn Christopher (previous relationship)

Almost seven years ago, Miranda Kerr and then-partner Orlando Bloom named their son Flynn, catapulting the name into the top 1000. Now Miranda is expecting a girl--I'm hoping she and husband Evan Spiegel will choose a similarly dashing, under-the-radar name for their daughter.

Girl: Blythe, Bryony, Darcy, Harlow, Laney, Lark, Romy, Ruby, Waverly
*Update* The rumors were wrong--it's a boy! Welcome, Hart!

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Luna Simone

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are about to become parents of two! I feel confident about my grasp on their girl name style, but if the're baby is a boy, who knows what they'll pair with Luna? I could forsee them going in a few different directions, like music-inspired (Miles), word names (Gray, Wolf), or modern (Arlo, Knox). They gave their older daughter the very well-received name Luna Simone, so either way, I have no doubt that they'll hit all the style marks again.

Girl: Celeste, Cleo, Coco, Elle, Esme, Fleur, Nova, Scarlett, Wren, Zadie

Boy: Arlo, Gray, Knox, Miles, Remington, River, Rocco, Wilder, Wolf

*Update* An on-the-nose prediction—welcome, Miles Theodore!

Chicago Names: City Streets

I'm all about subtle honor names--names that honor someone in a way that isn't obvious or flashy. Using the name of the street such honoree grew up on definitely fits into the "subtle honor" category. In fact, I have the name of the street I was born on on my short list for potential middles. Today I'm featuring Chicago street name--this is the city I live in, after all. I would love to make this a series to compare street names of cities around the country. Let me know which city you'd like to be featured next!

10 Spanish Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

Joshua Krohn via Dribbble

Time for Spanish names for boys! These sophisticated señor‎‎s are lovely on a baby of any nationality. 

Augusto- August is all the rage these days, but what about his suave Spanish cousin, Augusto? Turns out, the latter doesn't even crack the top 1000, making him a prime choice for parents seeking a creative way to get to Gus.

Baez- Baez is a unisex Spanish surname with a lot of potential. It's most well known as the last name of singer Joan Baez, who would be a worthy namesake for your baby.

Cisco- Cisco is a hipper, more causal off-shoot of Francisco. The latter ranks at #232 in America, making him a familiar, yet not overused name. But if you're looking for something less formal, and a bit more unique, Cisco is the way to go.

Cordovan- It's not always easy to find long names for boys with easy nicknames, but Cordovan is just that. His cowboy-cool nickname Cord is a winner.

Cortez- You guys, I am SO excited about Cortez. I think this name is really going places. Cortez is basically the perfect name--not too long or short, easy to say and spell, familiar enough but not even in the top 1000, and he can shorten to Cort. 2016 is Cortez's year, I'm calling it.

Fredo- Alfredo may seem a bit fusty on a baby, but Fredo? Totally different vibe. He's actually the Spanish version of Jeffrey (though he's also short for Alfredo), If you think he's too nickname-y on his own, try Fredo as a nickname for Frederick.

Isra- Upset about Israel's recent Duggar-fication? Isra could be the answer to all your problems. While he does have an "A" ending, his ties to Israel and similarities to Ezra make him read masculine.

Oro- Looking for a gold-star baby name? Oro is your man--he literally means "gold." He's also got a very sophisticated and stylish sound--reminiscent of names like Ari, Orin, and Arlo.

Sidro- Long time readers might remember my post about Full Names for Sid. How I wish I knew about Sidro when I wrote that post! Sidro strikes me as one of the coolest ways to get to Sid--no nickname necessary.

Teo- Theo's all the rage these days--he and full name Theodore are still on the up-and-up. However, his Spanish counterpart, Teo is no where to be found. He's short and sweet, and works as a nickname for countless names, from Matthew and Matteo, to Theodore and Thelonius.

Long Middle Names: Boys

Image Credit

Last week was all about the short middle name. This week we're talking long. Three syllables long. Three syllable names are not as easy to come by for boys, but I have 100 for you to take a look at. Whether you want a long middle to go with a short first name or you just want an extremely regal sounding name, I have the perfect name for you.

Abraham
Adrian
Alarik
Alberto
Alistair
Anderson
Angelo
Anthony
Augustine
Barnaby
Benedict
Benjamin
Caraway
Charleston
Christopher
Dakota
Damien
Dmitri
Dominique
Elijah
Elliot
Esteban
Florian
Francisco
Harrison
Isaiah
Isodore
Jameson
Javier
Josiah
Julian
Julius
Killian
Leander
Lorenzo
Lysander
Malachi
Marius
Matteo
Maximus
Mordecai
Nathaniel
Nicholas
Nicolai
Oberon
Orion
Oliver
Orlando
Peregrine
Phineas
Rafael
Rafferty
Reginald
Ricardo
Romeo
Salvador
Sebastian
Sheridan
Simeon
Solomon
Sylvester
Theodore
Ulysses
Vladimir
Washington
Wellington
Whittaker
Willoughby
Xavier
Zachary