Car Inspired Names

Image Credit

Car names are having a bit of a moment. It is evident in many a celebrity baby name. Reign Aston Disick, Lincoln Bell Shepard, and Ford Wilson are just a few examples. Not all of these babies were named after cars (though it seems like Reign and Lincoln might be), but nevertheless, parents are inspired by them. Take a look.

Alfa- The Alfa Romeo (that's ro-MAY-oh) is a beautiful and expensive car. She's pure luxury--and a ravishing girl name.

Aston- As a name, he's a modern version of Austin. If he follows the trend of Kourtney Kardashian's other kids' names, we should be hearing a lot more of Aston in the coming years. As far as cars go, Aston Martins are fit for a king.

Bentley- My first association with Bentley used to be the car--but then Teen Mom happened. After the show premiered, the name went from being essentially unused to the top 100.

Dodge- Dodge may be the most obscure name on this list, but he definitely works. Now, I'm not suggesting you name your child after your minivan or Dodge Charger--instead, think of him as a word name. Dodge fits in with all the hyper-masculine names. Use him as a brother for Gunnar, Ryder, or Colt.

Ford- Short, powerful, and slightly preppy. It's easy to see the appeal of Ford. Henry Ford and the Model T are excellent historical namesakes.

Kia- She's not the first car name that comes to mind, but Kia is lovely underused name. I talked about her here a few months ago. The only major turnoff is the Kia gerbils (are they gerbils? Hamsters?), but that advertisement hasn't been played in a while.

Lexus- Lexus is a variant of Alexis--the spelling probably inspired by the car company. She peaked in 1996 at #449, around the same time as Alexis (although she made it up to #3). The spelling is a little too commercial for me, but she has a great sound.

Lincoln- Like many of the names on this list, Lincoln has a lot of different associations, and the first one is not necessarily a car. Lincoln is rising for both genders, and recently made the top 100 for boys. Car-wise, Lincolns are the cars used to make limousines. Not too shabby.

Lotus- Lotus is a gorgeous name and an incredibly fancy car. Along with being a car name, she's one of my favorite unexpected flower names.

Mercedes- Mercedes-Benz is a popular brand of German cars, and Mercedes is a popular '90s baby name. She is starting to sound a little dated, but the nickname Sadie freshens her up.

Porsche- Porsches may be extravagant cars, but the name Porsche is a pretty gaudy. I much prefer Portia--the beautiful Shakespearean name.

Royce- Royce has never been too popular--he peaked in 1935 at 284. He's been rising lately, but is still no where near his peak. If you like Rolls Royces, this could be a perfect pick for you.

Tesla- These new electric cars are named after the famous inventor Nikola Tesla, and are some of the hottest cars on the market. I've talked about Tesla as a nickname for Tess, and I still love the idea.


I'm taking off Monday for Presidents Day, so I'll see you all on Wednesday for S names for boys.

10 Armenian Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

Tasha Mozgodum via Dribbble

I hate to break it to you, but Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe aren't Armenian names. However, that's about the breadth of most Americans' knowledge on the subject. Let's change that, shall we? I've got 10 great Armenian names for girls today--all of them would be equally stunning on an Armenian-American (or any!) baby.

Aghavni- Callum, Paloma, Jemima--add Aghavni to the list of names meaning "dove." This gorgeous Armenian name fits her peaceful harbinger definition. Aghavni definitely embodies a tranquil spirit.

Anahid- Anahid comes from the Persian mythological name Anahita--the goddess of fertility, healing, wisdom, and water. Anahid is typically used in Western Armenia, while Anahit is more common in Eastern Armenia. Both are quite common in their preferred regions.

Anoush- Anoush is a very charming name (and in fact means "sweet"). With the similar-sounding Anouk gaining favor among taste-makers and trendsetters, Anoush (or her alternate spelling Anush) seems like a top-notch alternative. For all you music-enthusiasts, Anoush is the name of a 1912 opera by Armen Tigranian.

Arda- Arda is a Hebrew-Armenian unisex name, although, if you're going to use it on an American baby, it might be best on a daughter. It's also used in Turkey, but as a strictly male name. One famous historical Arda is Arda of Armenia, Queen of Jerusalem.

Lusine- Lusine is a stunning name that would be just perfect on a 2016 baby. She's a very creative way to get to the every-girl nickname Lucy--much more unexpected compared to Lucille and Lucia. Lusine means "moon," and can also be spelled Lucine.

Maral- The lovely Armenian name Maral means deer, as in the Caspian Red Deer that is native to Armenia. That makes Capsian or Casper a fun brother name, or, if you're into anagrams, how about Lamar?

Shoushan- As you may be able to tell, Shoushan shares roots with such names as Shoshana and Susan. Like her sisters, she means "lily," making Shoushan the perfect name for a springtime daughter.

Siran- Siran is a diminutive of Siranush--both great names, but the slimmer Siran strikes me as more American-friendly. This Armenian-beauty's meaning is one of my favorite words--"lovely!" Obviously, that makes me a big fan of Siran.

Taline- Taline comes from Talin--the name of an Armenian town which houses a famous monastery of the same name. Her meaning is technically unknown, although many consider it simply to be "Talin, the Armenian town."

Zabel- In these days of Isabella and Isabel, why not pick something a little different? Zabel is a fantastic option. She's the Armenian form of Isabel, but stands well on her own (however, if you prefer her as a nickname, how about Elizabeth or Jezebel as the full form?). Her zippy Z beginning is lively and fun, and for a fashionable variation, she can be spelled Zabelle.

Royalty Inspired Names

Image Credit

Kourtney Kardashian's new baby is named Reign Aston--a nod to their high-class status and dad Scott's "title" Lord Disick. Royal names have been on the rise the past few years, but this birth announcement could send them to the upper half of the top 1000. I don't think Reign will have quite the effect Mason or Penelope did on American baby naming, but nevertheless, look forward to a year full of royal names.

Girls
Corona- She does mean "crown" in Spanish, but I think that fact would be lost on most people. Pick a  name not associated with an alcoholic beverage, or put her in the middle.
Grace- It is not uncommon to hear Royals be referred to as "Her Grace." Add Princess Grace Kelly, and you've got yourself a very regal name.
Honor- Honor feels very similar to Grace. Not the first name you think of when talking about royal names, but she makes for a nice, subtle option.
Princess- On the other hand, there's nothing subtle about Princess. Names like Princess teeter on the edge of tacky. I'd stick with Sarah (who means princess) instead.
Queenie- I don't hate the name Queenie. I see how she could feel no better than Princess, but Queenie has an old school, retro charm about her.
Tiara- File this one with Princess. I much prefer Tierra (meaning land or earth in Spanish), which is less material, more earthy.

Boys
Baron- With his regality and similarity to names like Aaron, I'm a little surprised Baron isn't being used. He'd fit right in on the playground.
Duke- Was Duke the name that started this all? He's been rising in popularity the past few years, and now it's Reign's turn.
Earl- Earl gives me more of a country song picture than a royal one. Is he ready for revival with the others? I have a feeling he might sit this one out.
King- Names beginning with King surged in popularity a few years ago. On his own, he makes a great middle, and even works as a first name.
Noble- Like Grace and Honor, Noble is a royal-virtue name. I expect to see a few celebrities use this name in the coming year.
Royal- My first thought is Royal Tenenbaum, but I'm a huge Wes Anderson fan, so maybe it's just me.

Either
Reign- With its similarity to the unisex nature name Rain, Reign remains undecided in terms of gender. Will Reign Aston change that?

Celebrity Baby Name Predicitons: Volume 17

Are cousins likely to have names of similar styles? My first instinct is no (everyone has their own individual taste!), but when you look to famous families, some cousin-sets are remarkably well-coordinated.

Think of the Duggars, who despite choosing names from all over the popularity charts, all give their children names with religious significance. Now Joy-Anna Duggar is pregnant for the first time, and odds are she'll continue this family tradition.

Additionally, the Kardashians come to mind when thinking of cousins with similar names. It's hard to tell where the line is drawn for sibsets when given a list of names like North, Reign, Penelope, Dream, Saint, and Mason (for the record, it's North and Saint; Mason, Penelope, and Reign; and Dream). Khloe Kardashian and Kylie Jenner both announced their pregnancies this month, and I'd be willing to bet that their naming style will be more alike their sisters' and brother's than not.

So what do you think? Are these celebrity siblings going to break the mold or follow suit when it comes to baby names?

Alexandra Breckenridge and Casey Neil Hooper
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Jack
Jack is a genuine, likable, every-man type of name. You really can't go wrong with a name like Jack, which explains its enduring popularity across the Western world. Jack can fit with many naming styles, but I have a feeling Alexandra Breckenridge and Casey Neil Hooper will go for another friendly, nickname-like name for their second child.
Girl: Clara, Charlotte, Emmy, Evie, Grace, Hattie, Kate, Libby, Lucy, Millie
Boy: Ben, Charlie, Eli, Finn, Henry, Ian, Luke, Milo, Oliver, Sam, Toby, Will
*Update* It's a girl--Billie!

Behati Prinsloo and Adam Levine
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Dusty Rose
Although the name Dusty peaked in 1976, the combination of Dusty Rose--given to Behati Prinsloo and Adam Levine's daughter--feels very current. It helps that both are word names, which have become popular with celebrities and non-celebrities alike over the past few years. I'm curious to see what Behati and Adam will pair with Dusty--my guess is another sweet and sassy word name.
Girl: Coco, Fawn, Ivy, Lacey, Luna, Pepper, Sable, Sunday, Willow, Winter
Boy: Beau, Cash, Channing, Chase, Miles, Phoenix, Ridge, Stone, Tanner
*Update* Another little lady--Gio Grace!

Michelle and Donald Glover
Gender: boy
Siblings: Legend
A name like Legend can be a lot to live up to. However, at #311 and rising, more and more parents are deciding that it isn't too much of a burden for their sons to carry. Michelle and Donald Glover's Legend is going to have a little brother, who will probably have a similarly "high-stakes" name.
Boy: Ever, Danger, Flash, Jazz, Lucky, Maverick, Rocket, Sage, Wild, Zen

Hilarie Burton and Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Augustus "Gus"
Augustus is a long and extravagant name, but Hilarie Burton and Jeffrey Dean Morgan's son is called Gus, which is quite the opposite. I'd love to see them use another lengthy name paired with a short and sweet nickname for baby number two--especially one with Latin roots.
Girl: Clementine, Cordelia, Isadora, Lucinda, Margaret, Matilda, Octavia
Boy: Calvin, Felix, Maxfield, Phineas, Roscoe, Samson, Sebastian, Theodore
*Update* It's a girl—George Virginia!

Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
The Duggars are known for giving their children uncommon, often themed names, but the latest arrivals have remarkably normal, restrained names (Mason, Henry, and Samuel). There's no telling if Joy-Anna and Austin will go in an uncommon direction or not, but more than likely they will choose a strong biblical name for their son or daughter.
Girl: Abigail, Ada, Delilah, Eden, Elizabeth, Galilee, Mara, Rebekah, Susannah
Boy: Adam, Boaz, Cyrus, Elijah, Gideon, Isaac, Levi, Moses, Reuben, Solomon

*Update* I was right—baby boy is Gideon Martyn!

Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott
Gender: girl
Siblings: none
Kylie Jenner is a bold, high fashion woman--she's not afraid to take risks when it comes to her personal style. So why should we think that she would do anything different when it comes to her daughter's name? We should expect a striking and stylish, yet relatively uncommon name from Kylie Jenner, something like one of the names listed below.
Girl: Bliss, Dove, Essence, Gem, Nova, Reverie, Rumor, Season, Story, Velvet
*Update* Baby girl is Stormi!

Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Prince Oliver (previous relationship)
The Kardashians seem to love names that connote power and status. Kourtney Kardashian was one of the original adopters of the "aspirational" baby name trend when she named her son Reign in 2014. Her sister Kim followed suit one year later with her son Saint. With cousins called Reign and Saint, and a half-brother named Prince, I expect Khloe and Tristan's baby name to follow this apparent Kardashian pattern.
Girl: Contessa, Empress, Jubilee, Majesty, Royalty, Verity, Wisdom
Boy: Brave, Kingdom, Major, Noble, Onyx, Pharaoh, Sergeant, Royal
*Update* It's a girl--True!

Lauren Parsekian and Aaron Paul
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Lauren Parsekian and Aaron Paul are world travelers. Their Instagram accounts are filled with images of treks across Europe and rendezvous around the United States. Because of this, I think a place name might be in order for their little babe--perhaps the name of a city with special significance to the couple.
Girl: Aspen, Britain, Geneva, Holland, India, Moon, Sicily, Venice, Vienna
Boy: Cyprus, Denver, Dover, Memphis, Milan, Orion, Oslo, Rio, Rome, York
*Update* Welcome, Story Annabelle!