Names from Children's Literature

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Children love anything with their name on it. Thank goodness we live in the digital age, because now you can personalize everything imaginable. Even books. A whole new industry has been created--its sole purpose is to make your child the main character of his or her books. This is great (and very cute), but it's also fun to share a name with a classic character. I've compiled a list of main-character names from award-winning children's books--see if you can sense a theme.

Girls
Alice- Alice in Wonderland 
Anne- Anne of Green Gables
Charlotte- Charlotte's Web
Coraline- Coraline
Eloise- Eloise 
Frances- Bread and Jam for Frances
Harriet- Harriet the Spy
Madeline- Madeline
Margaret- Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
Matilda- Matilda
Meg- A Wrinkle in Time
Olivia- Olivia
Pippi- Pippi Longstocking
Ramona- Ramona the Pest

Boys
Alexander- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Charlie- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Clifford- Clifford the Big Red Dog
David- No, David!
George- Curious George
Harry- Harry Potter
Hugo- The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Max- Where the Wild Things Are
Milo- The Phantom Tollbooth
Stanley- Holes

Don't all these names sound like they belong in one big sibset? I was a little surprised to see so many classic, British names. I've read all these books (with the exception of Coraline and A Wrinkle in Time), and all of the title characters are worthy namesakes. If these names are your style, definitely consider one for your child. Trust me, it's a lot of fun.

Nicknames for Henrietta

Yes, Henrietta is a clunky old lady name. But what if you really want to honor Great Aunt Henrietta? (in that case my suggestion is Harriet). Hate Harriet? Then go ahead with Henrietta, and use one of her superb, vintage-sweet nicknames.

Expected:
Etta
Hennie
Henrie

Unique:
Ettie
Hattie
Henna
Nettie

Unheard of:
Hatsy
Hetty
Rika

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 26

Do you find it easier to name girls or boys? Traditionally the name pool for girls has been larger (although the options for boys are ever increasing). For some, the plethora of choices for girls makes it easier to find a name they love, while for others the number of options can be overwhelming.

For Jessica Simpson, the girls name pool wasn't big enough. She borrowed from the boys when naming her daughter Maxwell in 2012. Now that she has another daughter on the way, will we see a similar situation?

This month, many other celebrities announced they are expecting girls. Kehlani, Teresa Palmer, and Egypt Sherrod are all going to be having daughters next year. And the biggest celebrity pregnancy news of the month—Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are having a baby (although no news yet on whether it'll be a prince or a princess).

We've got a lot of star-babies to look forward to in the coming year, and many of them are sure to have interesting names. I've made my prognostications, but I'd love to know—what do you think these celebrities are going to name their babies?

Alejandra Silva and Richard Gere
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Homer James Jigme, Albert (previous relationships)
It can be hard to find a name that merges the styles of blended families, but with sons named Homer and Albert, it shouldn't be too difficult for Alejandra Silva and Richard Gere. Another old-fashioned, clunky-cool name seems to be in order whether it's a girl or a boy. Either way, I'm hoping he or she will have a Tibetan middle name like Richard's son Homer. Richard Gere is a human rights advocate with a strong focus on Tibet, so it's nice to see his love of the culture spill over into his choice of baby names.
Girl: Adelaide, Augusta, Cleo, Etta, Frances, Harriet, Josephine, Martha, Matilda
Boy: Archie, Bernard, Chester, Conrad, Forrest, Otto, Walter, Watson, Winston
*Update* Welcome, Alexander!

Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson
Gender: girl
Siblings: Maxwell Drew (g), Ace Knute
Back in 2012, Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson defied expectations by naming their daughter Maxwell. Now that they're expecting another girl, everyone is wondering if Jessica and Eric will surprise us again. What do you name a sister to Maxwell? I'm thinking they might go with another gender-bending choice, but perhaps she'll choose something traditionally unisex.
Girl: Everett, Finn, Jameson, Lennox, Phoenix, Quinn, Remington, Sawyer
*Update* Hello, Birdie Mae!

Sophie Hunter and Benedict Cumberbatch
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Christopher "Kit" Carlton, Hal Auden
With sons named Kit and Hal, Sophie Hunter and Benedict Cumberbatch are obviously big fans of succinct nicknames with a hint of British flair. There are plenty of quirky-cute British nicknames that haven't yet made the leap over the pond. I'd love to see them use another one-syllable name, especially if it's a boy, and perhaps get a bit more playful if it's a girl.
Girl: Dolly, Dot, Ginny, Lucy, Lula, Maude, Millie, Penny, Pippa, Rose, Tess
Boy: Billy, Bram, Finn, Jack, Jay, Jem, Len, Lou, Mac, Ned, Robbie, Seb, Theo

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
One of the biggest celebrity babies of 2019 is undoubtedly going to be that of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. The world's favorite couple is expecting their son or daughter in the Spring, and already the bettors are taking their guesses as to what his or her name will be. It's likely they'll choose a classic name with some history of use in the monarchy, but that's not a guarantee. Harry and Meghan have a bit more leeway than Will and Kate, since their child will be further down the line of succession. If it's a boy, I'm holding out for Spencer. It's a strong and handsome name that would beautifully honor Diana.
Girl: Alexandra, Alice, Dorothea, Elizabeth, Isabelle, Louisa, Sophia, Victoria
Boy: Albert, Arthur, Charles, Edward, Frederick, James, Jasper, Philip, Spencer
*Update* Archie Harrison!

Kehlani Parrish and Javie Young-White
Gender: girl
Siblings: none
Mononymic singer Kehlani is expecting her first child with Javie Young-White. The couple is spiritual and artistic, so I'd be very curious to see their short list for baby girl's name. Odds of a word name are high—I'm getting a lot of night sky and astrological vibes from Kehlani and Javie, so I wouldn't be surprised if they uses any of the following:
Girl: Celestial, Dream, Frida, Indigo, Lavender, Lotus, Mystery, Nova, Soleil
*Update* Baby girl is Adeya Nomi!

Teresa Palmer and Mark Webber
Gender: girl
Siblings: Isaac (previous relationship), Bodhi Rain, Forrest Sage
Teresa Palmer and Mark Webber are going to be having a girl! They have two sons together, and each has a name ripe with natural significance. It's almost a given that baby girl will have a combination of nature names—the question is, which ones?
Girl: Aspen, Clover, Haven, Iris, Juniper, Lark, Laurel, Prairie, Willow, Wren
*Update* Welcome, Poet Lake!

Amy Schumer and Chris Fischer
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
What kind of baby name will Amy Schumer and Chris Fischer choose? Considering one of them is not a celebrity, I'd imagine this name is going to be more "normal" than one might hope. A possible clue—Amy's dog is named Tatiana (after actress Tatiana Maslany), but goes by Tati. Keeping that in mind, I choose some more names for the couple with strong consonant sounds and nickname options.
Girl: Edith, Genevieve, Josephine, Juliet, Marlowe, Miranda, Olivia, Romilly
Boy: August, Beckett, Benjamin, Dashiell, Harrison, Jacob, Maxwell, Nathaniel
*Update* It's a boy—Gene Attell!

Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson
Gender: girl
Siblings: Simone (previous relationship), Kendall
It'll be a houseful of girls for Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson, as they are set to welcome daughter number three into their family in 2019. She'll be closest in age to their six-year-old Kendall, so it's likely her name will fall closer to the modern and unisex part of the spectrum, rather than be French and feminine like Simone.
Girl: Addison, Ashlyn, Aubrey, Brooklyn, Emerson, Jordan, Olivia, Waverly
*Update* Welcome, Harper Skye!

Celebrity Baby Name Suggestions: Volume I

via The Modern Mark

Here's a fun and light-hearted post for your Friday. I give some high-profile celebrities suggestions for their future babys' name. Let me know if you like it (and if there are any celebs you want me to include in the next round).

Anne Hathaway and Adam Shulman
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Anne Hathaway's sweet personality and understated-yet-glamorous style make me think she'll choose something equally charming for her future babe.
Boy: Arthur, Bastien, Benedict, Conrad, Garrison, Ira, Philip, Phineas, Samson, Teddy
Girl: Agnes, Camille, Celeste, Eliza, Harriet, Linnea, Millie, Ophelia, Rosemary, Tess
*Update* Welcome Jonathan Rosebanks! Definitely a classic and classy choice.

Kimberley and James Van Der Beek
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Olivia, Annabel, and Joshua
They picked three well-liked names for their current children, why not choose one more?
Boy: Elijah, Gabriel, Ian, Jackson, Maxwell, Nathaniel, Owen, Samuel, Thomas
Girl: Charlotte, Elizabeth, Ella, Grace, Julia, Leah, Nora, Piper, Sophia, Victoria
*Update* Baby girl is here--her name is Emilia

Amelia Warner and Jamie Dornan
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Dulcie
Dulcie is quirky, cute, and oh-so-British. Sticking with that theme, here are my picks.
Boy: Archie, Freddie, Harry, Harvey, Kit, Leon, Louis, Ollie, Remy, Rex, Toby
Girl: Cleo, Esme, Evie, Freya, Georgie, Hattie, Marnie, Phoebe, Scarlett, Sylvie
*Update* It's a girl--Elva!

Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Rose Byrne is incredibly chic and stylish. She's going to be one of those celebrities whose baby's name becomes a national sensation. Her boyfriend is Italian and Cuban, so a cross-cultural choice seems to be in order.
Boy: Carlo, Caspian, Cecilio, Enzo, Ezio, Laszlo, Leo, Marcello, Octavio, Rafe, Silvio
Girl: Allegra, Antonella, Eloisa, Estella, Fia, Flora, Florence, Lucinda, Simona. Zelda
*Update* It's a boy! His name is Rocco, so I was right on with the cross-cultural name.

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
No doubt such a trendy, high profile power-couple will pick a name to match.
Boy: Anchor, Arrow, Beck, Dex, Ever, Jethro, Neon, Onyx, Quest, Teague
Girl: Avalon, Aziza, Bellamy, Geneva, Lux, Roxie, Salome, Valencia, Zadie
*Update* Welcome Luna Simone Legend!

Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock
Gender: boy
Siblings: River Rose
River Rose's little brother is going to have an equally on-trend but under-the-radar name (and possibly another double nature name).
Boy: Arrow, Birch, Dune, Echo, Edge, Everest, Indigo, Oak, Pine, Ridge, Summit, Timber
*Update* Not a nature name, but another R name--welcome Remington Alexander!

Luisana Lopilato and Michael Buble
Gender: boy
Siblings: Noah
When celebrities have the guts to choose a top ten name (nevermind the #1 name), they couldn't care less about popularity. Noah's little bro will most likely have an established, top 100 name.
Boy: Ben, Elijah, Gavin, Hudson, Isaac, Isaiah, Joshua, Levi, Nathan, William
*Update* Baby boy is Elias! I was close.

Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Willa Lou and River (b)
Keri Russell is ahead of the curve when it comes to giving her babies names. Her older two kids were named well before their names were on anyones' minds.
Boy: Benno, Bram, Dez, Fintan, Grove, Joss, Ned, Oswald, Roscoe, Thoren, Wells
Girl: Anouk, Clover, Darcy, Frankie, Isa, Lotus, Luella, Pia, Primrose, Poet, Soleil
*Update* Hello, Sam!

Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Oliver Finlay
Oliver Finlay has that "it" factor. It's a name that sounds so impeccably cool--you kind of want to use it on your own baby.
Boy: Dashiell, Ezra, Henry, Julian, Miles, Nolan, Sebastian, Wesley
Girl: Alice, Cora, Gemma, Hazel, Ivy, Lola, Sadie, Stella, Violet

*Update* It's a boy—Hugo Wilson!

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Arabella and Joseph
Arabella and Joseph. Ultra-feminine vs. ultra-classic. These are traditional parents in every sense of the word, so I bet they'll follow the same protocol with baby #3.
Boy: Andrew, Benjamin, Charles, Jonathan, Michael, Nicholas, Samuel, William
Girl: Alexandria, Anastasia, Francesca, Julianna, Luciana, Valentina, Viviana
*Update* It's a boy! Name is Theodore James

Heather Morris and Taylor Hubbell
Gender: boy
Siblings: Eli
Short, sweet, and very casual. If we use that model, Eli will have a brother named:
Boy: Ben, Charlie, Cole, Evan, Finn, Gabe, Jack, Jake, Jace, Luke, Reid, Sam
*Update* Baby boy is Owen Bartlett

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 16

When it comes to naming siblings, families have different approaches. Some choose an obvious theme, like Coleen and Wayne Rooney, whose children are named Kai, Klay, and Kit. Others, like Lisa and Jack Osborne, don't feel the need to have coordinating sibling names--one of their daughters has the sweet, vintage name Pearl, and the other has the androgynous, spunky name Andy.

It will be interesting to see how this group of celebrities adds to their sibsets. Will Boomer Phelps have a sibling with an equally out-there name? Will Kim and Kanye use another word name for North and Saint's brother or sister? I've made my predictions below, but I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

April Love Geary and Robin Thicke
Gender: girl
Siblings: Julian Fuego (previous relationship)
Robin Thicke's son has a name with distinct Latin flair--Julian Fuego. Although he and his sister will have different mothers, I'd love for them to have somewhat coordinated names. A great way to do that would be to give her a name that has a history of use in Spanish speaking countries, as well as the United States.
Girl: Angelina, Camila, Elena, Isabella, Liliana, Naomi, Olivia, Stella
*Update* Welcome, Mia Love!

Ginger Zee and Ben Aaron Colonomus
Gender: boy
Siblings: Adrian Benjamin
Adrian Benjamin is a handsome, classic name that is easy to like. He has the added bonus of cute initials--ABC. Considering Adrian's first two initials are the reverse of his dad's, it might be sweet for Ginger and Ben Aaron to give their second son the initials RG--which is the reverse of Ginger's first and middle initials. Although, that tradition would be hard to keep up with if they decide to have more than two children.
Boy: Caleb, Dominic, Felix, Gabriel, Gregor, Lucas, Peter, Rhys, Russell, Silas
*Update* Baby boy is Miles Macklin!

Coleen and Wayne Rooney
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Kai, Klay, Kit
For Coleen and Wayne Rooney's fourth baby, I'd be shocked if he or she doesn't have another K name. I'd wager that the name will be one syllable as well, although there are some great double syllable options for a daughter.
Girl: Kacy, Kali, Kami, Kass, Kate, Kay, Kaylie, Keira, Kess, Kia, Kiki, Klare
Boy: Kade, Kane, Kase, Kash, Keane, Keyes, King, Kole, Kord, Krew, Kyle
*Update* It's a boy, but not another K name! Welcome, Cass Mac!

Hillary Scott and Chris Tyrrell
Gender: unknown twins!
Siblings: Eisele Kaye
Hillary Scott and Chris Tyrrell's daughter has a very special name--Eisele is her paternal grandmother's maiden name, and Kaye is her maternal grandmother's maiden name. Honoring family is clearly important to the Tyrrells, and they certainly have space to honor a lot of people with their upcoming arrival of twins! I've scoured their family trees for potential honorees, but also included some names that work stylistically with Eisele.
Girl: Dove, Eden, Emerald, Flora, Issa, Jean, Laurel, Lindy, Raya, Sage, Willow
Boy: Davis, Ever, Forrest, Hart, Judah, Lane, Lang, Nash, Scott, Tennessee, True
*Update* Identical twin girls--Betsy Mack and Emory JoAnn!

Lisa and Jack Osborne
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Pearl Clementine, Andy Rose
Pearl and Andy may seem like a bit of a mis-match for sister names, but one element that ties them together is their botanical middle names. I hope the Osbornes continue that theme with their third baby, even if it's a boy. There are plenty of great nature names for boys--ranging from Forest to Linden--that I could picture them using as a middle name.
Girl: Bee, Estelle, Frances, Georgia, Harriet, Ivy, Lark, Maude, Olive, Violet
Boy: August, Edmund, Heath, Henry, Pierce, Quentin, Rex, Sebastian, Simon
*Update* Welcome, Minnie Theodora!

Nicole Johnson and Michael Phelps
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Boomer Robert
How do you match a name as bold as Boomer? I think another action-packed word name might be in store for a boy--something like Colt or Gunner. For a girl, high-value Scrabble letters and punchy sounds are key--think Lux and Ripley. Whether they're having a son or a daughter, the Phelps family has quite the task ahead of them, picking a name to match Boomer's swagger.
Girl: Bodhi, Coco, Dixie, Jette, Jude, Lux, Pax, Rebel, Ripley, Rogue, Sawyer
Boy: Axel, Bear, Beau, Bricker, Colt, Danger, Gunner, Racer, Storm, Wilder
*Update* Another boy--Beckett Richard!

Elspeth Keller and Reid Scott
Gender: boy
Siblings: Conrad
We're in the midst of a Conrad comeback. Since 2011, it has risen over 200 spots in the top 1000, but at #591, Conrad is hardly trendy. I'm guessing Elspeth Keller and Reid Scott will choose another clunky-cool name poised to swing back into style--perhaps another one with German origins.
Boy: Anton, Casper, Edwin, Frederick, Harold, Lawson, Oswald, Otto, Warren
*Update* Hello, Damon Leif!

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
Gender: unknown
Siblings: North, Saint
Had you asked me back in May what Kim and Kanye would name a second son, I would have told you Sir. But fast forward a few months to July, and that is the name Beyonce and Jay Z gave their son, Sir Carter. Alas, there are still great choices for Kimye's newest arrival, including ones that connote their celebrity royalty status and fit in with North and Saint.
Girl: Forever, Halo, Idol, Journey, Key, Poet, Rebel, Regal, Rogue, Soul, True, Victory, Wisdom
Boy: Champ, Chief, Epic, Future, Hero, Knight, Legend, Riot, Royal, Supreme, Wild, Win, Winner
*Update* Baby girl is Chicago!

Catalog Names: Mini Boden Autumn 2013

This month's Mini Boden catalog has some of the same wonderful names as last time, but I spotted some new gems (and even twins!)

Girls:
Aimee
Bella
Chloe
Claudia
Daisy
Edie
Eleanor
Ella
Eve
Felicity
Florrie
Georgia
Grace
Harriet
Isabella
Izzy
Julia
Lotte
Lottie
Macy
Madalena
Marni
Margot
Martha
Megan
Minnie (twin to Nell)
Mollie
Molly
Nell (twin to Minnie)
Ottilie
Pippa
Rebecca
Rosa
Rose
Sally
Sammy
Sophie
Starr
Stella
Thea
Thyra
Tori Star
Willow
Zoe

Boys:
Barnaby
Bills
Billy
Cameron
Camron
Freddie
George
Iggy
Jackson
Marcus
Oliver
Rafferty
Solomon
Teddy
Theo
Toby

Land of Nod Holiday Catalogue Names

Everybody knows that the best part of looking through children's catalogues is the names. Companies like The Land of Nod make it very easy to name spot with all their mongrammed items. This holiday issue had some especially good ones.

Girls:

Alva
Annika
Brie
Brittany
Charlotte
Dana
Dominique
Einar
Florence
Ginger
Gloria
Gracie
Gwinaveer
Harper
Harriet
Hazel
Isabell
Isabella
Jayne
Jeanne
Jessa
Lena
Lindsay
Marnie
Mia
Milly
Ruthie
Seraphina
Taylor

Boys:

Adam
Anderson
Archer
Benjamin
Charlie
Christopher
Danny
Dylan
Gill
Henry
Jacob
Jake
Jasper
Jonathon
Julius
Logan
Luke
Mason
Max
Maxwell
Micah
Nicholas
Nolan
Pierre
Quinn
Rex
Rudy
Sam
Simon
Sylvain
Wallace
William
Zane
Zeek

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 30

Creating a coordinated sibset can be hard enough, but when the siblings in question are half-siblings, it’s even harder. A new partner means a new set of opinions and ideas to account for, so frequently sibset cohesion is a preference that gets discarded in favor of an eclectic sibset (nothing wrong with that!).

Half of our celebrities this month will be naming half-siblings, so I’m curious to see where they fall along the sibset coordination continuum. It seems likely that Jamie Bell, Randy Houser, and Doug Reinhardt will all use names that pair well with their older sons’. Myleene Klass, on the other hand, has already embraced the eclectic sibset model with daughters named Ava and Hero. I’m looking forward to hearing what she chooses for their half-sister or brother.

Take a look at my predictions and let me know your suggestions in the comments. Also, let me know—have you named half-siblings? How did you feel about sibset cohesion?

Krysten Ritter and Adam Granduciel

Gender: unknown

Siblings: none

Krysten Ritter recently debuted her baby bump at the Oscar’s—her first child with War on Drugs frontman Adam Granduciel. People in hip bands often use hip baby names, and Krysten and Adam should be no exception to the rule. Any one of these hipster-chic baby names would be adorable on their son or daughter.

Girl: Clementine, Delilah, Eloise, Harriet, Juniper, Louisa, Lux, Mabel, Nova, Pearl

Boy: Alaric, Ansel, Calder, Hugo, Linus, Magnus, Milo, Rafferty, Thoren, Winston

Zinzi Evans and Ryan Coogler

Gender: unknown

Siblings: none

Director Ryan Coogler’s films have met much acclaim over the past few years—Fruitvale Station, Creed, and most recently, Black Panther. African American identity is a major theme throughout his works—I could definitely see him and wife Zinzi choosing a name inspired by a black historic or cultural icon for their son or daughter.

Girl: Clarissa, Ella, Eulalie, Ida, Natalie, Pearl, Ruby, Sadie, Simone, Zora

Boy: Alexander, August, Carver, Henry, Langston, Levi, Marshall, Miles, Quincy, Walker

Kate Mara and Jamie Bell

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Jack Matfin (previous relationship)

Actors Jamie Bell and Kate Mara are expecting their first child together later this year. Jamie’s five-year-old son is named Jack—the sort of every-boy name that can work in many a sibset. I chose names that paired well with Jack for Kate and Jamie—most of them with a slight British accent (since Jamie hails from the UK).
Girl: Cecilia, Clare, Esme, Frances, Maeve, Mia, Ruby, Sadie, Tessa, Zelda

Boy: Alistair, Camden, Graham, Grant, Henry, Jude, Louis, Owen, Rex, Wells

Myleene Klass and Simon Motson

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Ava Bailey and Hero Harper (previous relationship)

Singer Myleene Klass has taken to calling her baby bump “Snoop,” although I’d be surprised if that’s a hint about his or her name. Her older two daughter are Ava and Hero—two very different names stylistically. She could go in either direction for baby number three’s name—maybe even a completely new one (might his or her name actually be Snoop?)—but these are some names that could bridge the gap between Ava and Hero.

Girl: Bea, Della, Honor, Juno, Lula, Lux, Scout, Romy, Roxy, Zadie

Boy: Bram, Cosmo, Emrys, Felix, Jude, Phoenix, Rhys, Roscoe, Kit

Maryse Ouellet and Mike "The Miz" Mizanin

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Monroe Sky

Maryse and Mike Mizanin seem to have branded themselves the “M” family. With everyone having an M as both their first and last initial, the odds are in favor of baby number two having a name that follows suit. That narrows the pool significantly, but there are still so many M options to choose from! Maryse is from Montreal, so I would love to see she and Mike choose something with French influence—maybe Mardi or Maelle.

Girl: Macyn, Madigan, Maelle, Mardi, Mariana, Marley, Marlowe, Marvel, Meilani, Mila

Boy: Madden, Maddox, Major, Matthias, Maverick, Maxx, Memphis, Mercer, Milan, Myles

Tatiana Starzynski and Randy Houser

Gender: unknown

Siblings: West (previous relationship)

With a dog named Hawk and a son named West, it’s clear country singer Randy Houser likes rugged word names for boys. I could especially see him and Tatiana going for something like Crew or Nash. If it’s a girl, I think we will see something similarly rough-and-tumble, modern, and not too feminine—I like the idea of Brynn or Marlowe.

Girl: Brynn, Emlyn, Frankie, Henley, Laurel, Leighton, Lou, Marlowe, True

Boy: Cord, Crew, Ever, Ford, Gray, Hayes, Jett, Lincoln, Maverick, Nash
*Update* Welcome, Huckleberry Randolph!

Hayley Stommel and Tyler Hubbard

Gender: boy

Siblings: Olivia Rose

Another country starbaby! Although this country star has different style. Hayley and Tyler Hubbard chose the name Olivia Rose for their daughter—a classic combo, and one that’s pretty easy to like. Now they’re expecting a son, but I have a feeling they’ll follow the same system. It’s likely they’ll go with another inoffensive choice, probably another name in the top 100.

Boy: Blake, Brady, Ethan, Jackson, Landon, Logan, Lucas, Mason, Nolan, Zachary

Mia Irons and Doug Reinhardt

Gender: boy/boy twins

Siblings: Koby (previous relationship)

It’s going to be identical twin boys for Mia Irons and Doug Reinhardt! Naming twins poses an extra challenge—the names should be matched as a pair, but also fit in within the larger sibset. Doug has a son named Koby, so I’m expecting something similarly short and punchy for his next two sons. He and Mia can mix and match any of the following options:

Boy: Ace, Beck, Bo, Chase, Dash, Drake, Hayden, Jake, Jax, Logan, Roman, Van

Stylish Choices Outside the Top 1000: 2014 Girls

Image Credit

We all know the parents with that one requirement when it comes to names: Nothing inside the top 1000. Who knows, maybe it's you! I'll admit, I can be a bit of a name snob myself--I do prefer my favorites to be practically unique. All the names after the jump are outside the top 1000, in order of most used to least used (Esperanza with 257 uses in 2014, Romilly with 5). What's your favorite? Let me know.

Stylish Choices Outside the Top 1000: 2015 Girls

Syd Nagoshi via Instagram

It can be really frustrating to see your top choices break into the top 1000--no one wants people to discover their favorite name! If you are looking for a name that's guaranteed to be uncommon, outside the top 1000 is the best place to look. None of these names were used over 263 times--that being said, it's impossible to tell how many of these are being used as nicknames for more popular names. The names are ordered from most uses to least: 263 to 5. Make sure to come back on Friday for the boys list, and check out the 2014 list to see what's changed.

If I Could Name 100 Girls...

They would be named... (in no particular order)

1. Nell
2. North
3. Clementine
4. Elsa
5. Frances
6. Nancy
7. Vivian
8. Bay
9. Hazel
10. Orla
11. Carys
12. Joanna
13. Amelie
14. Eloise
15. Effie
16. Harriet
17. Lilith
18. Nona
19. Olive
20. Paloma
21. Quincy
22. Reagan
23. Sloane
24. Solange
25. Sidney
26. Tillie
27. Tait
28. Walker
29. Andromeda
30. Bo
31. Flora
32. Fiona
33. Lucy
34. Louise
35. Blythe
36. Blake
37. Blair
38. Clara
39. Imogen
40. Hayes
41. Pimm
42. Romilly
43. Ingrid
44. Meryl
45. Gianna
46. Lane
47. Betty
48. April
49. Grey
50. Edith
51. Reid
52. Felicity
53. Adele
54. Adelaide
55. Georgia
56. Pippa
57. Poppy
58. Violet
59. Eliza
60. Lola
61. Simone
62. Audrey
63. Cornelia
64. Phoebe
65. Chevron
66. Rue
67. Holland
68. Vienna
69. Cicily
70. Sephora
71. Gemma
72. Birdie
73. Sadie
74. Reverie
75. Peony
76. Coral
77. Summer
78. Ruth
79. Mabel
80. Fawn
81. Beatrice
82. Alice
83. Marina
84. Flair
85. June
86. March
87. Helena
88. Miriam
89. Pearl
90. Clover
91. Clio
92. Evie
93. Stella
94. Anja
95. Irene
96. Leonie
97. Kit
98. Zoey
99. Anabel
100. Paige

Best of 2015

via Justin McKinley on Dribbble

January: January brought one of my most popular posts ever--Hipster Baby Name or Hipster City? It even features a (very difficult!) quiz to test your knowledge.

February: In February we looked at Names from Children's Literature. There are so many great choices, ranging from the classic--Frances, Harriet, George--to the uncommon--Pippi, Clifford, Coraline.

March: This month featured our first installment of Same Meaning Sibsets. I love putting these posts together--they are some of my favorites to write.

April: I wrote about Day and Night Names in April--the lists are especially good for searching for middle names.

May: May introduced us to Rainbow Sibsets (parts one and two). For those of you attracted to color names, one of these combinations could make the perfect--yet subtle--sibset.

June: June was a busy month! Sadly, it brought the last post of our alphabet series, but then we started up a new one. Our cultural names series is still going strong, and I have no intention of ending it anytime soon.

July: In July we talked about Nautical Names--ideal for a preppy summer baby.

August: August was our month of middle names! Take a look at the Best Middle Names for Girls and Boys for some inspiration.

September: September showed us how to create our own Double Barrel Names. What's your favorite combo?

October: This month we talked about Stylish Names outside the top 1000 for boys. Check the September archives for the girls list!

November: The highlight of our November was talking about the Best Unisex Names for Girls and Boys. Granted, these can be used for a child of any sex, but they were organized by the gender they were used the most on.

December: Last month was all about holiday related names. One of my favorite lists to put together was the Christmas Crooner Names.


And now, reader favorites!

1. Stylish Choices Outside the Top 1000: Girls
2. Share a Coke Names: Summer 2015
3. 10 English Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls
4. The Best Middle Names for Girls
5. 10 V Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

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!

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 28

The new year brought with it a barrage of celebrity pregnancy announcements. We’re starting off 2019 strong with stars like Gordon Ramsay and Kobe Bryant adding little ones to their (already large) families. Other notables like Andy Cohen and Katy Tur are each going to welcome their first child this year. And of course, what is going to be one of the most hotly anticipated birth announcements of 2019, the Kardashian West baby. Yes, North, Saint, and Chicago are getting another sibling, and he or she is going to have an unconventional name to match. So start placing your bets now (and maybe take out your dictionary), because we’ve got an eventful year ahead of us.

Joana Pak and Steven Yeun

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Jude Malcolm

Actor Steven Yeun and photographer Joana Pak are expecting another little one! Their oldest is Jude Malcolm—a handsome name that feels timely but not trendy. My guess is we’ll see something along the same lines for baby number two, potentially one of the following:
Girl: Audrey, Chloe, Isla, Lily, Luna, Mae, Mila, Nora, Ruby, Sadie, Stella, Wren

Boy: Asher, Beckett, Elliot, Flynn, Graham, Holden, Jonas, Leo, Miles, Owen, Rhys

Margo Price and Jeremy Ivey

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Judah, Ezra

Nashville-based country singer Margo Price is pregnant with her third child. She gave her twins, born in 2010, the stylish biblical names Judah and Ezra. The odds are high that Margo and Jeremy will use another name from the Bible for their next baby, especially if it’s a boy. These are my top picks:

Girl: Anna, Evangeline, Lydia, Mabel, Mae, Matilda, Ruth, Selah, Tabitha

Boy: Amos, Asher, Elijah, Gideon, Isaac, Levi, Micah, Noah, Samuel, Silas
*Update* It's a girl—Ramona Lynn!

Katy Tur and Tony Dokoupil

Gender: boy

Siblings: none

When it comes to celebrity baby names, journalists and reporters tend to be less outrageous than other stars. Katy Tur is pregnant with her first child, and I am not expecting anything along the lines of Kulture or Chicago. She and husband Tony Dokoupil are much more likely to use a familiar and fashionable classic for their son’s name. However, Katy’s middle name is Bear, which would be a fun honorific.

Boy: Alexander, Benjamin, Bear, Emmett, James, Jasper, Luca, Nathaniel, Theodore
*Update* Yes, baby boy is Theodore, called Teddy!

Andy Cohen

Gender: boy

Siblings: none

Bravo producer and Real Housewives wrangler Andy Cohen is set to welcome a son in the next few weeks! Rumor has it that the name is already picked out, although Andy hasn’t shared any hints as to what it might be. Andy has a bright, loud, and fun personality and doesn’t take himself too seriously—qualities that may be present in his son’s name. I highly doubt we are going to see something too vintage, lengthy, or fussy.

Boy: Asa, Axel, Cosmo, Cyrus, Fox, Gus, Knox, Levi, Louis, Otto, Rex, Romer
*Update* Welcome, Benjamin Allen!

Chloe Melas and Brian Mazza

Gender: boy

Siblings: Leo

It’s another boy for reporter Chloe Melas and husband Brian Mazza. The pair are already parents to their son Leo, who was born in 2017. Do you remember what I said about journalists and baby names before? I don’t anticipate Chloe and Brian will choose a name from out of left field for this baby either. One of these names would be apt:

Boy: Arlo, August, Ben, Everett, Finn, Henry, Julian, Quinn, Micah, Sam, Wyatt

Tana and Gordon Ramsay

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Megan, Jack, Holly, Matilda

Tana and Gordon Ramsay are having their fifth child, with a full 17-year age gap between their newest babe and current youngest, Matilda. Baby name taste can change dramatically over a period this long, but my guess would be that this little boy or girl will have a name that fits with his or her older siblings. I expect Baby Ramsay will have a name that is familiar, well-liked, and vaguely British.
Girl: Annie, Grace, Flora, Harriet, Ivy, Josephine, Kate, Lucy, Poppy, Ruby, Sophie

Boy: Charlie, Eli, Felix, Harrison, James, Liam, Luke, Milo, Oliver, Rory, Theo, Toby
*Update* It's a boy—Oscar James!

Vanessa and Kobe Bryant

Gender: girl

Siblings: Natalia, Gianna, Bianka

It’s baby girl number four for the Bryants! Vanessa and Kobe love their long and romantic Italian girl names, so I’d be shocked if they went in a different direction. My top choice for Natalia, Gianna, and Bianka’s sister is Chiara—a vastly underused Italian name that is related to Claire. That being said, any of these other choices would be lovely as well.

Girl: Allegra, Arianna, Chiara, Giuliana, Francesca, Luciana, Mariella, Sienna, Simona, Viviana

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

Gender: unknown

Siblings: North, Saint, Chicago

2019 is going to be a good one, because we have another Kardashian baby! And not just any Kardashian baby, a Kim Kardashian-Kanye West baby, who we know is going to have a name that will blow our minds. After three kids, Kim and Kanye’s naming style is clear—obscure word names. My favorites for them are listed here, but in all likelihood Kim and Kanye are going to choose a name that no one could have ever predicted.

Girl: Ciel, Dove, Forever, Glory, Halo, Karma, Lux, Majesty, Moon, Poetry, Revel, Soul, Wisdom

Boy: Brave, Champ, Chief, Epic, Ever, Four, Hero, Knight, Loyalty, Noble, Quest, Stellar, Winner
*Update* Psalm West!