Geography Names: State Names

We did State Capital Names, but what about the states themselves? These are a perfect way to honor your heritage.

Expected:
Carolina- A nice, fresher take on Caroline.
Dakota- Literally the most unisex name out there- split 50/50.
Georgia- My favorite of this list, she's so sweet and lovely.
Indiana- It works for either gender, if you consider Indiana Jones. Indy/Indie is a cute nickname.
Rhode(s)- You probably have to tack an "S" on the end to make it work, but Rhodes sounds simple and clean.
Virginia- Due for a comeback, and ripe with nicknames.

Unique:
Alaska- Made usable by John Green's popular book- Looking for Alaska
California-Also wearable on both genders, call them Cal or Cali/Callie.
Florida- Better than you think, and comes with the nickname Flora.
Louisiana- A mouthful, but an interesting option for Lulu.
Maine- Crisp and clean. Makes a wonderful middle name for a son.
Tennessee- New celebrity baby name, but still outlandish.
York- Preppy and cool.

Unheard of:
Alabama- Only if you're from Alabama, please.
Arizona- Does the nickname Ari make this one usable?
Colorado- Conjures up images of ski slopes, but I prefer Aspen.
Hampshire- Very cool choice. Only downfall (or plus side)- no nicknames.
Montana- Unexpected, but not too out-there.
Nevada- Better than Vegas, but still a little tacky.
Washington- He might be too much for a little boy to handle. Stick him in the middle.

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. 

Contraction Nicknames

What is a contraction nickname you ask? Just like contractions in English, a contraction nickname takes the first part of a name and the last part of the name to form a shorter nickname, sans middle. There are so many great options if you like contraction nicknames--take a look and let me know your favorites!

Ada: Adalia, Adamina, Adara, Adelina, Adina, Adriana
Adele: Adelaide, Adeline
Alexa: Alexandra, Alexandria, Alexandrina, Alexandrita, Alexia
Ana: Anahita, Anala, Anastasia, Andrea, Andromeda, Angela, Angelica, Angelina, Anita, Annabella, Annika, Annissa, Annora, Antonella
Aria: Arcadia, Arcelia, Arianna, Ariella, Arizona, Artemisia
Aura: Aurelia, Aurelina, Aurora
Bay: Bailey
Bea: Beata, Becca, Beeja, Begonia, Belinda, Bellona, Bertha
Bex: Beatrix
Bria: Brianna, Brietta, Brigitta, Britta
Cara: Carlotta, Carolina, Carissa, Carmela, Cassandra
Clara: Claribella, Clarinda, Clarissa
Clea: Clementina, Cleopatra
Corie: Coralie
Dana: Danica, Daniela, Danita
Elsa: Elisa, Eloisa
Emme: Emmanuelle, Emmeline
Eva: Evangelina, Evanthia, Evelina
Fae: Fable, Faustine
Fia: Felicia, Fidelia, Fiona, Fiorella
Gala: Gabriella, Galatea, Galena
Gia: Gardenia. Georgia, Giada, Gianna, Gilda, Giordana, Giovanna, Gisella
Ina: India, Indiana, Indra
Isa: Isabella, Isabetta, Isadora, Isauara, Isla
Jette: Jeanette, Juliette
Jessa: Janessa, Jessamina, Jessica
June: Julianne, Juline, Junelle, Junette, Junine
Lena: Leanna, Leona, Levina
Lia: Lavinia, Lelia, Leocadia, Lilia, Lilianna, Linnea, Liviana
Lola: Lolita, Louella
Lora: Lorena, Lorenza, Lorinda
Lula: Ludmila, Luella
Luna: Luciana
Mia: Maria, Melania, Milada, Milagra, Milena, Miranda, Mireya, Mischa
Mila: Michaela, Milada, Milagra, Milania
Mina: Marina, Martina, Milena, Minerva
Mira: Milagra, Mirabella
Nia: Nabila, Nadia, Nahlia, Natalia, Nelia, Nicasia, Nicola, Nicolina, Nigella, Nina, Nisha
Noa: Nola, Nona, Nora, Nordica, Norma, Novella
Ola: Olida, Olina, Olivia, Olympia
Pia: Pamelia, Pascasia, Patricia, Petunia, Pippa, Piritta, Portia
Pippa: Philippa
Ren: Reagan. Reign
Roma: Romana, Romola
Rory: Rosemary
Rosa: Rosalia, Rosalinda, Rosanna, Rosetta. Rosita
Sara: Sahara, Samara, Samira, Sandra, Sapphira, Sarika
Sia: Sienna, Sierra, Silvana, Simona, Sistina, Sophia, Sophronia, Stephania, Sylvia
Tara: Takara, Tamara
Thea: Theodora, Theodosia, Theresa
Thora: Theodora
Zara: Zahara

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.

Best Unisex Names for Girls

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Don't let the title fool you--this post is not about the definitive "best" unisex names for girls. Rather, I've listed unisex names that are used more often for girls than they are for boys. All of them work for either gender, in fact, many of these names have extremely similar usage among both genders. Check back on Friday for the boys list!

Addison
Ariel
Ashby
Ashley
Aspen
Avery
Bailey
Blue
Campbell
Dakota
Dana
Day
December
Eden
Ellison
Emerson
Emery
Fallon
Finley
Harbor
Harley
Harper
Indiana
Izzy
Jess
Jules
Justice
Kendall
Kennedy
Kimber
Larkin
London
Mackenzie
Marlowe
Meridian
Merritt
Monroe
Morgan
Palmer
Paris
Peyton
Presley
Quinn
Rain
Reagan
Reese
Riley
Romy
Sage
Sailor
Sasha
Scout
Sheridan
Sky
Skylar
Sloane
Sparrow
Sutton
Taylor
Teagan
Tierney
Valentine
Yuki

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.

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

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 25

I'm not in the business of predicting middle names, but I find them as equally fascinating as the first names I am in charge of prognosticating. Some parents choose middle names to honor loved ones, some use it as a place to go bold, and others are most concerned with the how the middle name adds to the flow of the full name.

Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher fall into the first category, giving their son the name Isaiah Michael—his middle being Dad's full first name. Robin Thicke's children have the daring middle names of Fuego and Love, and Nev Schulman's daughter has James in the middle (which I argue is a product of her 2016 birthday). Eddie Murphy's children have middle names including Mitchell, Ivy, and Oona, and Taylor Hanson's kids middles range from the expected to the out-there, with names like Anne, Ezra, and Moriah.

So even though I've only given my predictions for the first names, I'm very excited to see what this group of celebrities decides to go with for their children's middle names as well. Check out my musings, and leave a comment about potential middle name options!

Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher
Gender: girl
Siblings: Isaiah Michael
It's going to be a girl for Carrie Underwood and hockey player husband Mike Fisher. Three years ago they welcomed a son named Isaiah, a name that's understated (by celebrity standards) but speaks to their religious convictions. For their daughter I expect they'll go a similar route—a name that is on-trend, but with spiritual significance.
Girl: Abigail, Eden, Everly, Felicity, Grace, Haven, Layla, Madeline, Olivia
*Update* It's a boy—Jacob Bryan!

Troian Bellisario and Patrick J. Adams
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Actress Troian Bellisario is known for having an unconventional name. Troian (pronounced TROY-en) is actually a family surname. Might they use a different family surname for their baby? (Marsh and Pratt are attractive options). It's a possibility, but I could also see them using something more established, perhaps like one of the following:
Girl: Anais, Astrid, Celeste, Colette, Dahlia, Esme, Fiona, Linnea, Sylvie, Wren
Boy: Alastair, Bastian, Bodhi, Clark, Cyrus, Harlan, Otto, Marsh, Pratt, Ronan

Laura Perlongo and Nev Schulman
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Cleo James
Cleo James Schulman was born in 2016, and her name definitely reflects that. After Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds named their daughter James in December of 2015, we saw a bunch of celebrities put it in the middle spot for their baby girls the following year. The trend has died down now (it's still happening, but not with the same frequency). In trying to come up with a 2018 equivalent, I couldn't think of any names that have made that same kind of impact. So I'm very curious to see what this baby's middle name will be, especially if it's a girl. Although for his or her first name, I feel like I have a better grasp on the possibilities.
Girl: Agnes, Della, Effie, Esme, Ivy, Nessa, Phoebe, Pippa, Romy, Tess, Zelda
Boy: Abe, Alistair, Bram, Felix, Hank, Harvey, Jasper, Joah, Noam, Otto, Rex
*Update* Welcome, Beau Bobby Bruce!

Lily Aldridge and Caleb Followill
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Dixie Pearl
Caleb Followill is a Southern boy, born and raised in Tennessee. It's no surprise then that he and wife Lily Aldridge gave their daughter the country-cute name Dixie in 2012. I'm expecting they might follow suit for baby number two's name—something similarly short, sweet, and oozing with Southern charm.
Girl: Birdie, Charlie, Delta, Emmie, Faye, Polly, Ruby, Sadie, Scarlett, Stella
Boy: August, Beau, Duke, Gage, Hudson, Jack, Jay, Kit, Lane, Sailor, Warren
*Update* Hello, Winston Roy!

April Love Geary and Robin Thicke
Gender: girl
Siblings: Julian Fuego (previous relationship), Mia Love
Robin Thicke's older two children's names follow one of my favorite patterns—a well-used (dare I say ordinary?) first name, paired with an unconventional middle. I don't know what April and Robin will use for baby girl's middle name—maybe something like True, Poet, or Winter—but here are my picks for her first name:
Girl: Allegra, Celia, Clara, Elena, Lea, Livia, Lola, Luna, Stella, Vera, Zoey
*Update* I got it—Lola Alain!

Paige O'Brien and Josh Peck
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Josh Peck and his wife Paige O'Brien are young, fun, and a little bit goofy. So how will this translate into their baby's name? Well, I think we'll see something modern and lighthearted from this couple. Nothing too classic, long, or fussy. I could see Josh and Paige going with any of my picks, but who knows? Maybe they'll surprise us.
Girl: Ella, Hazel, Isla, Josie, Lila, Maya, Mina, Nora, Poppy, Tessa, Vivienne
Boy: Callum, Dylan, Elliot, Grady, Griffin, Leo, Liam, Miles, Nolan, Owen
*Update* Close one—Milo Max!

Paige Butcher and Eddie Murphy
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Eric, Bria, Christian, Miles Mitchell, Shaye Audra, Bella Zahra, Zola Ivy, Angel Iris (previous relationships), Izzy Oona
It's baby number ten (yep, ten) for Eddie Murphy. For having so many siblings ranging in ages from 2 to 29, this baby is entering into a surprisingly cohesive sibset. That being said, his or her name will probably be most similar to Izzy's, considering they will be the closest in age and share the same mother.
Girl: Ariel, Aviva, Cece, Dove, Enya, Jem, Lacey, Lux, Mia, Raya, True, Vivi, Willow
Boy: Axel, Cato, Dashiell, Fletcher, Flynn, Jack, Jude, Logan, Max, Nash, Sonny, Theo
*Update* Yep, baby boy is Max Charles!

Natalie and Taylor Hanson
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Jordan Ezra, Penelope "Penny" Anne, River Samuel, Viggo Moriah, Wilhelmina "Willa" Jane
Musician Taylor Hanson and wife Natalie have five (soon to be six) kids, and their names seem to be getting more adventurous as they go along. Their sons all have two-syllable first names and Biblical middles, while their daughters have long first names--but go by shorter nicknames--with conventional middles. Will they keep up this pattern for their next son or daughter?
Girl: Beatrice, Dorothea, Emmeline, Evangeline, Harriet, Henrietta, Josephine, Matilda
Boy: Declan, Gideon, Harmon, Magnus, Miles, Orin, Phineas, Rafferty, Tobin, Wolf
*Update* It's a boy—Claude Indiana Emmanuel!