Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 7

Yannick Kalaydjian via Dribbble

Happy Friday everyone! I'm still on hiatus (it's been a busy quarter!), but here is a post I wrote for Nameberry in the meantime.

Some big celebrity broods are about to get bigger--Kelsey Grammer is going to be a dad to seven kids, and Mel Gibson's girlfriend is expecting his ninth! Predicting names for such huge families is a daunting task. People's naming styles tend to change over time, especially when they've been naming children for over a generation. That being said, sometimes name preference doesn't change! There are some large celebrity sibsets that go together really well--the Gibson family is a great example.

Besides the Gibsons and Grammers, there are plenty more exciting celebrity baby name predictions this month. Natalie Portman, Marion Cotillard, and Pharrell Williams are all going to be parents of two. I've made my predictions for them (and more!) below.

Vanessa and Nick Lachey
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Camden John, Brooklyn Elisabeth
Baby number three is on the way for the Lacheys! Both Camden and Brooklyn are well-liked names with androgynous sounds, so let's see if their brother or sister will have a name that follows the pattern.
Girl: Addison, Aubrey, Berkeley, Gracen, Harper, Kennedy, Noa, Quincy
Boy: Asher, Beckett, Declan, Easton, Everett, Hayden, Levi, Sawyer, Wyatt
*Update* Hello, Phoenix Robert!

Rosalind Ross and Mel Gibson
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Hannah, Christian, Milo, Lucia, Louis, Thomas, Edward, William (all from previous relationships)
For such a large celebrity family, Mel Gibson's children have surprisingly cohesive names. He definitely has a style--European royalty. I expect nothing less for his ninth baby.
Girl: Amelia, Caroline, Clara, Eleanor, Elizabeth, Emma, Katherine, Lydia, Mary, Rose
Boy: Andrew, Benjamin, Charles, Frederick, George, James, Oliver, Richard, Samuel
*Update* European indeed--Scandinavian to be exact. Welcome Lars Gerard!

Kayte and Kelsey Grammer
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Spencer, Greer, Mason Olivia, Jude Gordon (all from previous marriages), Faith Evangeline Elisa, Kelsey Gabriel Elias
Unlike the Gibson clan, Kelsey Grammer's sibset encompasses a wide range of styles. However, baby #7 has the same mom as Faith and Kelsey, so I think he or she will have a sensible and stylish first name with two fashionable middles.
Girl: Annabelle, Audrey, Elizabeth, Genevieve, Grace, Lily, Mia, Scarlett
Boy: Benjamin, Christian, Isaac, Levi, Nathaniel, Noah, Owen, Zachary
*Update* Welcome, Auden James Ellis!

Elizabeth Chambers and Armie Hammer
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Harper (g)
There are so many celebrity sibsets containing Harper: Harper and Gideon; Harper, Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz; Harper, Hayley, and Hannah; Harper and Weston--I could go on! There are many different directions in which the Hammers could go for their Harper's younger sibling, but I have a feeling it will be another tailored, on-trend choice.
Girl: Avery, Charlotte, Ellery, Emerson, Hazel, Lucy, Marlowe, Ruby, Vivian
Boy: Beckett, Ellis, Finn, Graham, Grayson, Jack, Liam, Rowan, Sawyer
*Update* It's a boy--Ford Douglas Armand!

Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Aleph
After choosing the wonderfully rare Hebrew name Aleph for her son, I cannot wait to hear what Natalie Portman picks for baby #2. There are so many fantastic, under-the-radar Hebrew names out there, it was hard to keep my predictions short!
Girl: Adalia, Adira, Bethel, Chava, Feya, Haviva, Leeza, Leora, Mehira, Niva, Raya, Zadie
Boy: Bram, Dovev, Eben, Eitan, Eliaz, Gavi, Israel, Lev, Lior, Nahir, Noam, Samson, Tal, Yael
*Update* Hello Amalia!

Allison Pill and Joshua Leonard
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Allison Pill and her husband Joshua live low-key lives outside of the spotlight. That leads me to believe that when it comes to baby names, they aren't going to choose something eccentric or outlandish. However, I do think their son or daughter will have a name with style--maybe one of the following:
Girl: Cecilia, Cora, Eleanor, Eva, Genevieve, Isabel, Lucy, Madeleine, Margaret, Phoebe
Boy: Andrew, August, Charlie, Elliott, Gabriel, Gavin, Henry, Julian, Max, Miles, Theo
*Update* It's a girl--Wilder Grace!

Marion Cotillard and Guillaume Canet
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Marcel
Ooh-la-la, let's talk French names! French couple Marion Cotillard and Guillaume Canet chose handsome Marcel for their son five years ago. Now that they're expecting a second child, I'm sure the fashionable duo will choose another stylish French appellation.
Girl: Anais, Colette, Elodie, Eulalie, Isabeau, Lilou, Maelys, Ophelie, Ottilie, Silvie, Simone
Boy: Claude, Clemence, Gable, Harvey, Henri, Lionel, Lucien, Maurice, Pascal, Remy
*Update* A girl--Louise!

Helen Lasichanh and Pharrell Williams
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Rocket Ayer
What do you name a sibling for Rocket? That's what Pharrell Williams and Helen Lasichanh have to figure out. I like the idea of another whimsical word name--especially one with a subtle theme (Zephyr or Zeppelin!).
Girl: Boheme, Domino, Eden, Jette, Moon, Poet, Rhapsody, Solstice, Story, Temple
Boy: Arrow, Axel, Indigo, Noble, Onyx, Rollo, True, Wilder, Zephyr, Zeppelin, Ziggy

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!

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

Catalog Names: Boden Autumn 2013

Boden, as well as their counterparts Johnnie B. and Mini Boden are notorious for having the best named models. Boden's latest catalog has some great named merchandise too. Here are some lovely, impeccably British names culled from the catalog.

Girls:
Aimee
Alexa
Alice
Amelie
Anouk
Audrey
Autumn
Ava
Camille
Cara
Cecily
Chelsea
Colette
Crista
Daisy
Edie
Elise
Emma
Evie
Hannah
Hayley
Inguna
Isabel
Isobel
Laura
Libby
Lois
Lydia
Marilyn
Mia
Michaela
Ruby
Skye
Sophie
Tati
Vanessa
Zoe

Boys:
Eden
Harry
Mac
Peter

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.

Food Names: Fruits and Veggies

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Food offers a lot of inspiration when it comes to baby names. There are a lot of fun choices, like Plum and Fig, but there are also more standard ones, like Olive. So however adventurous you are with your baby names, you can be influenced by fruits and veggies.

Expected:
Cherry- Sounds like an old-fashioned nickname.
Clementine- One of my faves. So spunky.
Ginger- Super cute, and makes a great nickname for Virginia.
Kale- Better spelled Cael.
Nori- Kimye's nickname for baby North, and also seaweed.
Olive- A favorite among hipster parents and celebrities.
Peach- Southern and old.
Plum- I adore Plum. More people should be using her.

Unique:
Canna- Interesting alternative to Hannah.
Carola- Reminds me a little too much of Crayola, but workable.
Chaya- Very pretty and feminine.
Huckleberry- The name of one of Bear Grylls's sons. Nickname Huck is adorable.
Nance- Better left as a nickname for Nancy.
Pearl- Inspired by Pearl Onions, Pearl is a vintage name ready to comeback.
Pepper- Quirky-cool, reminiscent of Annie's fellow orphan.

Unheard of:
Apple- Too Gwyneth Paltrow? Maybe.
Beet- She's better spelled Biet, a la NYC blogger Belle's daughter.
Ceriman- Interesting choice for either gender.
Citron- Just enough sour spunk to make this French choice totally rad.
Currant- It shares likeness with Curran, but is a little wordy.
Fig- A daring pick, probably best reserved for the middle.
Quince- A Shakespearian name starting with the overlooked letter Q.
Sorrel- A leafy green, Sorrel makes a nice, unique choice for a son.

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. 

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 21

Patterns in sibsets can be very cute and add cohesion when done right. But sometimes it can get you into trouble. Take Ayesha and Steph Curry. They have two daughters named Riley and Ryan, and now Ayesha is pregnant with their third child. Ryker or Ryder seems like the obvious choice for a boy, but if they have another daughter, this could be the end of the Ry- pattern.

Kimberly and James Van Der Beek are also in a predicament if they have another baby girl. Each of their children has a 3+ syllable name, and their daughters names all start with different vowels—O, A, and E, which leaves I and U. My top choice for them is Isla, which follows the different vowel pattern, but not the syllable count one. 

All this to say—patterns can be great, but if they're too restrictive, be prepared to give up some of the requirements as more children are added to the mix. I'm excited to see how these celebrities handle the challenge, and I've weighed in with my advice below. 

Laina Rose Thyfault and Chris Klein

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Frederick Easton "Easton"

Laina Rose Thyfault and Chris Klein's son Frederick is named for Chris's dad, Fred. The kiddo actually goes by his middle name, Easton, which gives us a better sense of his mom and dad's naming style. However, I'd love to see them follow a similar pattern of using the honor names first. Chris's mother's name offers some great possibilities—her maiden name, Bergen, would be darling on a son, and while slightly dated, her first name, Therese, lends itself to the sweet (and not at all dated) nickname Tess.

Girl: Addison, Delaney, Hadley, Harper, Piper, Quinn, Sydney, Tess, Therese

Boy: Beckett, Bergen, Carter, Clayton, Greyson, Landon, Lincoln, Tucker

*Update* It's a girl--welcome Isla Rose!

Ayesha and Steph Curry

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Riley, Ryan Carson (g)

Golden State Warriors player Steph Curry and his wife Ayesha are expecting their third child, but after daughters named Riley and Ryan, which name comes next? There are only so many Ry- names left (and many of them rhyme with Ryan), so my best guess is that they might give up the Ry- sound pattern for the broader R initial one.

Girl: Raelyn, Raven. Reagan, Reese, Rhiannon, Ria, Ridley, Ripley, Rissa

Boy: Rayden, Raymond, Rico, Rigby, River, Roman, Rowan, Ryder, Ryker
*Update* They didn't go with another Ry- name--it's a boy named Canon W. Jack!

Luisana Lopilato and Michael Bublé

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Noah, Elias

Noah and Elias are both gentle names for boys that have a religious bent. They also work well in Luisana Lopilato's native Spanish, an important factor to consider when naming cross-cultural babies. Luisana and Michael obviously aren't afraid to use names higher up on the popularity charts, so I imagine they will use another well-liked moniker for Elias and Noah's baby brother or sister.
Girl: Amelia, Annabella, Eden, Grace, Hannah, Isabel, Lily, Mia, Olivia, Sofia

Boy: Asher, Benjamin, Caleb, Ezra, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Levi, Micah, Samuel
*Update* A little girl--Vida!

Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent

Gender: boy

Siblings: Poppy

Interior design superstars Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent are adding a baby boy to their brood! They named their daughter Poppy back in 2015—a stylish choice that's underused in America, but quite popular across the pond. In all likelihood, they'll choose a similarly friendly and fashionable name for her younger brother.

Boy: Graham, Felix, Jack, Jasper, Leland, Lyle, Milo, Oliver, Otis, Theo, Toby
*Update* Welcome, Oskar Michael!

Michelle Branch and Patrick Carney

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Owen Isabelle (previous relationship)

Singer Michelle Branch gave her daughter the gender-bending name Owen over a decade ago. Now, twelve years later, she is expecting her second child. Have her tastes shifted over the years, or would she go for another masculine name for a daughter? Whatever she picks, I'm sure it will be modern and stylish.
Girl: Elliot, Finley, James, Jude, Kit, Mason, Noa, Parker, Rory, Sawyer

Boy: Beckett, Camden, Dashiell, Griffith, Jack, Magnus, Sullivan, Wyatt
*Update* Hello, Rhys James!

Rachel McAdams and Jamie Linden

Gender: unknown

Siblings: none

Rachel McAdams may be best known for her acting, but she's also an active environmentalist. That makes me wonder if she'll choose a nature name for her baby, although with a surname like Linden, it could become too much of a good thing. Perhaps a name with subtle nature ties, like Cyrus or Daphne, might be better for Rachel and Jamie's son or daughter. 

Girl: Clover, Daphne, Flora, Laurel, Magnolia, Mavis, Rose, Violet, Willow

Boy: Canyon, Cyrus, Danner, Dune, Field, Forest, Fox, Grove, Lachlan, River

Kimberly and James Van Der Beek

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel Leah, Emilia

After four children, the Van Der Beeks have clearly defined preferences when it comes to baby names. Long, soft names are a must for either gender, and for their daughters, they like names that start with different vowels. Some of these requirements are easier met than others, so I'm eager to see which ones Kimberly and James value the most when they name baby number five. 

Girl: Adeline, Audrey, Elena, Elodie, Camilla, Grace, Iris, Isla, Ivy, Lilia, Lucia

Boy: Adrian, Benjamin, Elijah, Elliott, Jameson, Noah, Samuel, Silas, Wesley
*Update* Another girl, but not another vowel name--baby girl is Gwendolyn!

Sophie Flack and Josh Charles

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Rocco

The friendly, charming name Rocco was chosen by Sophie Flack and Josh Charles for their son back in 2014. Although the name is Italian in origin, neither Sophie nor Josh have Italian heritage. That makes me think they chose Rocco more its style cred than its backstory, so I don't think we should expect another Italian name from Sophie and Josh. Although who knows? Rocco and Luca makes a pretty darn cute combination. 

Girl: Adele, Alma, Cleo, Della, Evie, Frieda, Gemma, Luella, Stella

Boy: Arlo, Benji, Cosmo, Duke, Hugo, Julius, Luca, Maxim, Nico, Otto

Ten Years Ago

Today, I was very interested to see what names were popular ten years ago, and how they were similar and different from our top ten today. Turns out, there were a few surprises. Here are the top ten boys and girls names from 2001.

Girls:

Emily
Madison
Hannah
Ashley
Alexis
Sarah
Samantha
Abigail
Elizabeth
Olivia

Boys:

Jacob
Michael
Matthew
Joshua
Christopher
Nicholas
Andrew
Joseph
Daniel
William

I was most surprised that our top two baby names for girls (Isabella and Sophia) did not make the top two. Isabella was 28 and Sophia was 37. Also, Ashley is number 27 today. That seems strange to me, because I consider it very 1990's and have never met an Ashley. For the boys, Nicholas has dropped to number 37. Very surprising was Aiden, who was at 86 in 2001, but a few years later, up to number 1. Jayden was 139. That concludes our Ten Years Ago post for this year.

Catalog Names: Boden

Girls:
Amber
Anastacia
Arlenis
Azraa
Camila
Chloe
Clarise
Coco
Courtney
Danika
Darian
Elsa
Emily
Hannah
Fiona
Gabriella
Jensen
Jessica
Jourdan
Julia
Katie
Keira
Kim
Layla
Madalena
Marloes
Meghan
Michella
Minnie
Mollie
Nadja
Nina
Nell
Olivia
Sofia
Trinity
Yasmin

Boys:
Emile
Farhaan
Griffin
Indrees
Isaiah
Jaden
Joel
Jonathan
Kian
Lorenz
Lucien
Marc
Marco
Miles
Rafferty
Rokken
Sebastian
Toviyah
Walker
Zakai

Nicknames for Susannah

Susannah (and Susanna) is a wonderful choice of a name. She's not popular, and has a plethora of nicknames. Having trouble choosing the right one? Take a look at this list.

Anna
Anne
Annie
Hannah
Sanna (Sannah)
Sosie
Sue
Suki (Sookie, Sukie)
Susanne
Susie (Suzy, Suzie)
Zanna
Zuki
Zuzu

DIY Double Barrel Names

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If you're not a name nerd, you've probably only heard of the term "double barrel" being used in terms of surnames. You know, when parents combine their surnames into one hyphenated last name for their baby? It exists for first names too. The Social Security Administration doesn't take the hyphen into account, so unfortunately double barrel names are not recorded in the United States. To see how popular these names are, we have to go to the European data. Double barrel names are a hit in places like the U.K. (as seen in this article from The Telegraph)--Amelia-Rose, Lily-Rose, and Elllie-Mae are some of the most fashionable.

Now's the chance to build your own double barrel name! I've provided some options for the first and second names, but feel free to go off script. Tell me your favorite ones in the comments.

First Name Amy Anna Ava Betty Carol Charlotte Cora Daisy Ella Ellie Eliza Emily Emma Emme Georgia Hannah Katie Laura Leah Lily Lucy Mary Nora Rosa Sarah

Second Name      Alice      Anne      Bella      Belle      Beth      Catherine      Claire      Ella      Eve      Faith      Faye      Frances      Grace      Jane      Jean      June      Kate      Kay      Lane      Lee      Lou      Louise      Lynn      Margaret      Marie      May      Quinn      Rose      Rue      Ruth      Shay      Sue

*I'll be back after Labor Day with Arabic Names for Boys--have a good holiday!*

Palindrome Names

Ada
Aja
Aleela
Ana
Anina
Anna
Anona
Ara
Asa
Ava
Aviva
Aza
Ede
Elle
Emme
Eve
Hannah
Otto
Oro

Do any of you have a palindrome name?

Same Meaning Sibsets: Part Two

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Part two! Today we have six more name meanings to create sibsets out of. View part one here.

Good
Agatha + Glenda
Gita, Mona, + Tova

Grace
Anya, Grace, + Hannah
Amara, Hanita, + Sena
Carissa + Milena

Love
Amy + Darrell
Esme, Kerensa, + Priya
Amanda, Connor, + David

Peace
Axel, Fritz, + Pax
Freddie + Winnie
Frederick, Geoffrey, + Humphrey
Frieda + Salome

Song
Melody + Odele
Ronia + Zamir
Shira, Rayna, + Roni

Sweet
Anika + Laia
Dulcie + Eulalie
Myra + Shirin

10 Scandinavian Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

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Scandinavian names are some of my favorites. I love their minimalism--it's very reflective of the culture. Scandinavian names can make great imports. It's easy to picture American children with many of the following names. Let me know which ones you like.

Annalie- She may look like an alternate spelling of smoosh name Annalee, but Annalie is actually the Finnish form of Hannah. She's definitely a fresh substitute.

Freja- Freja is a beautiful Danish name--one of my favorites. In Norse mythology, Freyja is the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. Another, more American friendly spelling is Freya.

Hedda- Hedda was originally a short form for Hedvig, the Scandinavian form of the German Hedwig. She's obviously much cuter, so use her on her own. No need to name your daughter Hedvig.

Linnea- Linnea is a gorgeous name with a scientific background. She comes from the surname of Carl Linnaeus--a botanist, physician, and zoologist who created the modern method of scientifically naming organisms. For a biology themed sibset, try Linnea and Darwin.

Malin- This contraction of Magdalene is simple, not overly feminine, and easy to pronounce and spell. Mallin is another possible spelling, though Malin is the traditional Scandinavian.

Marit- I met my first Marit the other day, and she made me fall in love with her name. She's a variation of Margaret, and has ties to Norweigan royalty.

Pirjo- I understand that Pirjo (pronounced PEER-yo) might not be the easiest name to wear as an American girl, but she's too cute (and wonderfully Scandinavian), so I couldn't pass her up. She's a diminutive of the Finnish Piritta, a variation of Birgitta. It's kind of a stretch, but Pirjo would make an adorable nickname for a Bridget.

Signe- Signe--also spelled Signy--is also a name from Norse mythology. Signy (with an accent over the Y) is the twin of Sigmund and the wife of Siggeir. In Sweden and Norway, Signe is pronounced SEENG-nee, however in Denmark is it said more like SEE-nee.

Sunniva- The cheerful Sunniva--that's SOON-ee-vah--means "sun's gift." Sunny, Eva, or Evie make lovely nicknames, though I like her in her whole form.

Tove- Tove is quintessentially Scandinavian. She's best known as the name of author and illustrator Tove Jansson, the creator of the Moomin series (pictured above). Tove is pronounced like Tova, which is an alternate, easier spelling for the English-speaking.

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 11

We're only two months into 2017, and already we have been blessed with the two best pregnancy announcements of the year (dare I say decade?). Yes, both Beyoncé and Amal Clooney are pregnant. Better yet—they're each having twins. The Carters and Clooneys are American royalty, and these will be regal pregnancies. So start placing your bets! What are the odds of a Queen Carter or Warren Clooney (500/1? 2500/1?)? I'm not quite sure, but I am confident that whatever the names of these noble children, they will be fit for a prince or a princess. 

Beyoncé and Jay Z

Gender: unknown twins

Siblings: Blue Ivy

Blue Ivy is a name with such subtle significance for Beyoncé and Jay Z that no one predicted it back in 2012. The Carters are likely to surprise us again with the names of their twins, but I made my best guesses as to what they might be. Maybe another name that nods to the number four, or an honor name?
Girl: Celeste, Chatura, Delta, Lumi, Lux, Moon, Nova, Queen, September, Soleil

Boy: Chance, Deréon, Dynasty, Hero, Luck, Nash, Origin, Quade, Royal, Truth
*Update* Welcome to Rumi and Sir Carter! 

Amal Alamuddin and George Clooney

Gender: girl/boy twins

Siblings: none

The rumors were true! Amal and George Clooney are going to be parents to twins—a boy and a girl. The latest rumors say that the Clooneys love classic names, especially ones that honor family members. Luckily George has many well-named relatives to draw inspiration from.

Girl: Eleanor, Elizabeth, Emma, Frances, Helen, Jane, Louise, Margaret, Marie, Nina, Rose

Boy:  Andrew, Charles, Edward, Henry, James, Joseph, Nicholas, Peter, Philip, Warren
*Update* The twins are here! Ella and Alexander Clooney

GloZell Green and Kevin Simon

Gender: unknown

Siblings: O'Zell Gloriana De Green

YouTube personality GloZell Green gave her daughter the honor name to end all honor names. She took bits and pieces of her family members' names and came up with O'Zell Gloriana De Green. Lest you think GloZell used all possible honor names at once, I have some fresh ideas for her.
Girl: Gigi, Glorielle, Glory, Glow, Ria, Zella, Zia, Zoria

Boy: Deon, Evan, Kevin, Orlando, Oz, Shaw, Shawn, Zevi

Chelsea Peretti and Jordan Peele

Gender: unknown

Siblings: none

Chelsea Peretti and Jordan Peele have stressed that they want their child to have a happy name. Whether that means a name that means happy or one with an upbeat, friendly feel, I've got it covered. 

Girl: Abby, Blythe, Emilia, Fiona, Georgia, Julia, Livia, Lucy, Sadie, Trixie

Boy: Arlo, Asher, Dexter, Felix, Gus, Henry, Milo, Nico, Oscar, Otto, Roscoe
*Update* It's a boy--Beaumont Gino!

Elizabeth Smart and Matthew Gilmour

Gender: boy

Siblings: Chloé

Elizabeth Smart and Matthew Gilmour gave their daughter the name Chloé, with an intentional accent over the E. This French-ification makes me think they'll choose a similarly European name for their son. 

Boy: Bastien, Dominic, Jackson, James, Leo, Luca, Max, Michael, Pierce, Simon
*Update* Yes, it's James!

Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Jason Statham

Gender: boy

Siblings: none

British couple Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Jason Statham are expecting their first child later this year—a baby boy! The pair currently reside in Hollywood, but I suspect their little one's name will have some English flair as a nod to Mom and Dad's home country. 

Boy: Charles, Frankie, Harvey, Hunter, Jake, Oliver, Rex, Toby, Winston, Yates
*Update* Hello, Jack Oscar!

Hannah Davis and Derek Jeter

Gender: girl

Siblings: none

It's been said that Derek Jeter already has a name picked out for his unborn daughter, but he's keeping it a secret for now. Whatever he has in mind, I have a feeling it's sweet and feminine.
Girl: Amelia, Aubrey, Charlie, Charlotte, Dorothy, Grace, Laila, Natalia
*Update* Feminine, indeed! Welcome, Bella Raine!

Kayla Rae Reid and Ryan Lochte

Gender: boy

Siblings: none

Ryan Lochte and his girlfriend Kayla will be welcoming a baby boy into their family! This fit, athletic couple is bound to give their son a strong and "streamlined" name.

Boy: Beckett, Cruz, Elijah, Hudson, Jaxon, Jude, Maddox, Reid, Tucker
*Update* Baby boy is Caiden Zane!

Catalog Names: Mini Boden Summer 2014

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The Summer edition of Mini Boden has finally come out, and that only can mean one thing: new names. Hooray! I was really surprised with this season's crop; many of the children's names are ones I consider "mom names." I'm sure they sound normal to people in Britain, but tell me what you think.

Girls:
Alaka
Alessia
Amy
Aurora
Azraa
Christy Leigh
Clarise
Delia
Emily
Georgia
Hannah
Iminathi
Kate
Lily
Maria
Martina
Megan
Nicole
Rebecca

Boys:
Asha
Caleb
Ethan (x2)
Francis
Kayle
Kian (x2)
Lindo
Oscar
Toviyah
Uya

Names that end in -anna

Like Name that end in -ana, there are a lot of common names that end in -anna sound. However, these ones are a little less trendy, with the exception of Savannah.

Expected:
Anna
Brianna
Joanna
Hannah
Savannah
Susanna(h)
Julianna

Unique:
Danna
Deanna
Johanna
Leanna

Unheard of:
Indiana
Louisiana
Vanna
Zanna

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.