Christmas Crooner Names

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Would you ever consider giving a December-born baby a holiday singer name? I like the idea--it makes a subtle connection between the name and time of year--much less conspicuous than Holiday or Yule (though I'm a fan of both of those). Let me know your favorites, and which names you would add.

Bing- Bing Crosby has one of the most classic Christmas albums of all time--after seventy years it's still on heavy rotation. Bing is a swanky old-fashioned nickname with a lot of potential. Kate Hudson used it as a nickname for her son Bingham.

Carey- Mariah Carey is the modern Christmas song queen, but her first name feels past its peak. Carey, on the other hand, feels unexpectedly fresh--on a boy. Carrie and Cari are girls of the past, but Cary, Carey, and Kerry are ready for revival.

Crosby- If Bing isn't your thing, you might want to try Crosby. He's an lively Irish surname with some serious style. Some people might associate Crosby with the character from Parenthood, but it's more likely they'll think of Bing.

Dean- Dean Martin is credited with popularizing the hit Christmas song "Marshmallow World" over ten years after it's debut. Martin was actually born Dino. As a name, Dean is rising in popularity in the U.S. and was at #221 last year.

Ella- Ella is one of those name that are so popular, most associations are just a wash. However, many a parent (and celebrity) have cited Ella Fitzgerald as the inspiration for their daughter's name. Her Christmas album is one of my very favorites--I play it all season long.

Fitzgerald- Ella's last name is much more distinctive--how often do you meet a baby with the first name Fitzgerald? Fitz is a cute nickname, though Fritz, Gerry, and Gerald are also options.

Frank- Frank Sinatra is about as classic as it gets. It's no surprise that his Christmas songs are still heard on radio stations all over the country (and he even has a spot on my eclectic holiday playlist). His first name, Frank, has the same sophisticated vintage feel to it--yet he's been falling in popularity for as long as the data's been kept.

Garland- Garland is a rare double-Christmas-connection name. Not only is it what we drape around Christmas trees and fireplace mantels, it's also the surname of Christmas singer extraordinaire, Judy Garland. Her most famous holiday song is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

Gene- Gene Autry sang many of today's favorite Christmas songs, and even penned a couple himself. He's responsible for "Here Comes Santa Claus," and  popularized his versions of such favorites as "Frosty the Snowman," and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." That makes the clunky-cool Gene a Christmas hero name of sorts.

McCartney- Lennon and Harrison are fair game, so how about McCartney? Irish surnames are certainly popular right now, so I don't think it'd be a crazy choice, especially because of Paul. The Beatle wrote "Wonderful Christmastime" in 1979, and it's been a favorite ever since.

Nat- Nat King Cole's Christmas songs are a cherished tradition in many households. His most famous one is "The Christmas Song." All three of his names are worthy for a 2015-born child, but Nat is the simplest and most unexpected. Plus, like Garland, it has the extra Christmas connection of meaning "born on Christmas Day."

Presley- Who could forget Elvis Presley's wonderful collection of Christmas tunes? It's not the Holidays without "Blue Christmas" (or in my house--"Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me"). His first name is too strongly tied to the singer, but America has embraced Presley--especially for a girl.

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

Food Names

I had an interseting idea today. It was to compile a list of names after foods. There are actually a lot more than I thought.

Girls:
Ambrosia
Brie
Brandy
Candy
Coco
Dulce
Ginger
Eclair
(C)Hallah
Honey
Margarita
Olive
Peach
Rosemary
Sage
Sherry
Sugar

Boys:
Bacon
Basil
Chip
Dijon
Frank (furter)
Graham (Cracker)
Jack (Cheese)
Joe (Sloppy)
Napolean
Reuban
Sage
Shepard (Pie)

If I Could Name 100 Boys

Cedric Guerin via Dribbble

Alright, now it's time for the boys! I have to admit, I found the task of picking 100 of my favorite boys names a bit daunting at first--which is why you didn't see this post last year--but it turned out to be better than I thought. Now it's your turn! I'd love to know--what would you name 100 sons?

Amos
Anders
Ari
Asa
August

Bastien
Beck
Benno
Birch
Bodhi
Bowen

Bram
Chester
Clyde
Conrad
Dewey
Drake

Eames
Enzo
Felix
Ferris
Finn
Fox
Frank
Freddie
Frey

Fritz
Gardner
George
Graham
Gregor
Grover
Gus
Hal
Harry
Hart
Harvey

Henry
Herbert

Huck
Ike

Ira
Ivo
Jack
Jamie

Jay
Jens

Lars
Leland
Lester
Linus
Lloyd

Louis
Magnus
Max
Milo
Moe
Monroe
Ned
Noam
Ogden
Ollie
Omri
Orin
Oslo
Oswald
Otto
Paul
Penn
Pete
Philip
Portland
Ralph
Ramsay
Raymond
Reid
Remy

Rex
Rhodes

Richie
Ridge
Roscoe
Scott
Sid

Soren
Teague
Teddy
Theo
Timo
Toby

Todd
Van
Viggo

Walter

Warren
Weber
Wells
Wes
York
Zen



*I'm taking two weeks off for finals and Spring Break, so I'll see everyone back here in April*

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. 

Names from Christmas Movies

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There are so many classic Christmas movies out there, and many of them offer great inspiration for baby naming. I culled some of the most usable and interesting (first and last) names from beloved holiday films to share with you guys today. Let me know, would you consider naming a baby after a Christmas movie character?

A Charlie Brown Christmas
Charlie
Linus
Lucy
Sally
Schroeder
Violet

Christmas in Connecticut
Alexander
Lane
Norah
Sloan
Yardley

A Christmas Story
Ralphie
Randy

Elf
Buddy
Jovie
Walter

The Family Stone
Everett
Meredith
Sybil

Home Alone
Buzz
Harry
Marv
Kevin

Holiday Inn
Daphne
Dixon
Francois
Gus
Lila
Mamie
Parker
Reed
Ted

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Cindy Lou

It's a Wonderful Life
Bailey
Bert
Billy
Clarence
Ernie
Eustace
George
Harry
Ruth
Tilly
Violet
Zuzu

Love Actually
Annie
Daisy
Jamie
Juliet
Natalie
Peter

Miracle on 34th Street
Doris
Fred
Granville
Kris

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Art
Audrey
Bethany
Clark
Ellen
Lewis
Margo
Rocky
Ruby Sue
Rusty

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Clarice
Hermey
Rudolph

Scrooged
Brice
Claire
Eliot
Frank
Lew

White Christmas
Betty
Emma
Waverly

Nicknames for Francesca

Francesca is a lovely name, but she can be kind of a mouthful. If your Francesca needs a spunky nickname, the master list is right here.

Anne
Annie
Cesca or Chesca
Cessie
Chessie
Fanny
Fran
France
Frances
Francie
Frank
Frankie
Frannie

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!

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.

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!

Fran- Names for Girls

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Hey guys! Today is the first day of my senior year (hooray!) and to honor that, I thought we'd take a look at one of my favorite name prefixes. Frances is my number two girls name (after Nell, course), but there are so many great options beyond that. Tell me your favorite in the comments!

Expected:
Frances- Classic, but coming back into style. You can't go wrong with Frances.
Francesca- Gorgeous and romantic. A lovely choice.
Frankie- Will Drew Barrymore make this one mainstream? Time will tell, but until then, Frankie makes a spunky pick.
Frannie- Super sweet and semi-Southern. Frannie is a winner.

Unique:
Francie- I know I'm normally adverse to nicknames, but even I can't resist Francie's charm. She's also the main character in my favorite book, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
Francine- I find that many people older than me think this one is useable. I have hesitations, maybe because I grew up watching Arthur.
Francisca- Take Francesca to the next level.
Francoise- Very French, yet completely useable in the United States.

Unheard of:
France- Short and sweet, plus and ultra-cool place name.
Franca/Franka- This German name sounds harsher than the others, but is the most straightforward way to honor a Frank.
Francille- Francille is very pretty, and fits in with today's popular names.
Fransabelle- Frances or Isabelle? No need to choose, go with the extravagant Fransabelle!
Franzetta- She may seem slightly outlandish, but she gets bonus points for the nickname Etta.


P.S. Pictured above is my favorite magazine, Frankie.

Westminster Show Dog Names

The Winner, Miss P.

I'm always fascinated by the way people name their pets. There are less rules when it comes to naming a pet--the name can be silly, outrageous, or one of a celebrity. The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a great place to scout out dog names, with over 100 dogs in attendance. I wrote down the call names of *almost* every dog, which should give us a good idea of some trends in pet naming.

Animal Names 
Le Gato
Zebra

Brand Names
Bentley
Harley
Maybelline
Mercedes
Snapple
Splenda
Vogue

Celebrity Namesakes
Adele
Beckham
Bourdain
Madonna
Mae West
Matisse
Ringo

Culture-Reflecting Names
Cristo
Haas
Schweitzer
Sunito

Currently Trendy Names
Beckett
Ben x2
Charlie
Cooper
Cece
Gia
Gideon
Grace
Harper
Jacob
James
Lane
Mackenzie
Nash
Nathan
Nico
Owen
Romeo
Samantha
Savannah
Summer

Cutesy Names
Jetty
Miss P.
Odgie
Skeeter
Sunnybear

Food Names
Ginger
Jelly
Pepper x2
Salty
Salumi, "Lumi"
Whiskey

Guys' Guy Names
Cal
Cody
Danny
Desi
Dewey
Frank
Gus
Izzy (b)
Jake
Jerry x2
J.J.
J.T.
Larry
Manny
Mick
Nick
Reece
Rocky x3
Sean
Taylor
Ted
Timmy
Trey

Ladylike Names
Allegra
Carlotta
Chelsea
Claribel
Elin
Holly
Hope
Libby
Liza
Nopa
Poppy

Old Fashioned Names
Alan
Angie
Billy
Chauncey
Cyrus
Etta
Franklin
Ginny
Harry
Hector
Helen
Hobson
Ina
Liz
Louie
Magnolia
Moses
Ned
Odin x2
Pip
Percy
Rudy
Stuart
Toby x2
Vance
Vinnie
Wally
Winston
Witt

Word Names
Bingo
Bogie
Blue x2
Caveman
Comet
Crunch
Cubit
Debit
Derby
Flame
Flash
Jedi
Judge
Night
Precious
Princess
Rain
Rebel
Rerun
Rocket
Rumor
Scoop
Sparkles
Splash
Stitch
Swagger
Teller
Tipper
Turbo
Veto
Wink

Catalog Names: Olive & Cocoa, Holiday 2013

Olive & Cocoa is one of my favorite catalogs for names (just behind the Boden trifecta). The names are the perfect balance between out-there and usable. Here are some from the Holiday catalog.

Expected:
Angel
Bella
Belle
Flora
Frank
Grace
Gus
Jackson
Lola
Lucas
Lulu
Paige
Penelope
Ruby
Teddy
Theodore

Unique:
Aspen
Bianca
Celeste
Cleo
Dot
Elbert
Forest
Fox
Honey
Noel
Jubilee
Winter

Unheard of:
Azure
Berry
Birch
Chindi
Dove
Florentine
Noir
Tweed (b)

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.

Share a Coke Names: Part Two

Might as well go with Nell ;) Make one here.

Okay, back for more. To do this post, I looked at all the names they sold in stores in the UK. Turns out it's a lot more. Like, almost five times as more. It took a long time to get all this data, but I've got some interesting observations for you guys. I'm going to list all 1,146 (!) names after the jump, then we can talk about them.

My hand hurt after writing seven pages of this.

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)!