Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 12

It's been a trend in recent years for celebrities to delay the release of their baby's name--usually for a few weeks, even months. However, actors Peter Dinklage and Josh Hartnett have never revealed the names of their children, and their daughters are five and two years old, respectively! Now they both have a second child on the way--will we find out the names of those babies, or continue to be left in the dark?

We also have some stars this month expecting Irish twins--two siblings born less than a year apart. Supermodel Bar Refaeli is pregnant for the second time, only months after giving birth to her daughter Liv. Lauren Gregory and Thomas Rhett were in the process of adopting a baby from Africa when they found out they were pregnant with a little girl. Now they have two babies on the way that should arrive around the same time. How will these celebrities go about naming their Irish twins? I have my predictions, but we'll have to wait and see.

Erica Schmidt and Peter Dinklage
Gender: unknown
Siblings: sister (name not released)
Peter Dinklage has managed to keep his daughter's name a secret for over five years, but rumors abound that her name is Zelig. According to Peter, this is not true, although it seems like a fitting name for the couple. Both of their surnames are of Germanic origin, and Zelig is a Yiddish derivation of the German name Selig. Keeping that in mind, I chose some similarly strong and quirky names for their next child.
Girl: Agnes, Editha, Elza, Francie. Frieda, Hettie, Hilda, Ilsa, Meret, Tresa
Boy: Alric, Anton, Bruno, Jannick, Kaiser, Rainier, Raymond, Roderick, Rollo

Tamsin Egerton and Josh Hartnett
Gender: unknown
Siblings: sister (name not released)
Like the Dinklages, Tamsin Egerton and Josh Hartnett have never released the name of their daughter. However, given Tamsin's British heritage, I'd wager that their little girl (and her upcoming sibling) has a name with some serious English style.
Girl: Edie, Elena, Eloise, Felicity, Iris, Libby, Lydia, Millie, Orla, Poppy
Boy: Arlo, Dashiell, Elias, Finlay, Harry, Jasper, Luca, Rory, Tobias, Theo

Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg
Gender: girl
Siblings: Maxima "Max"
Facebook mogul Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan chose the clunky-cool name Maxima for their daughter in 2015, but call her by the tomboyish nickname Max. Now they're expecting their second daughter--will we see another long Latin name with a sassy nickname?
Girl: Aurelia, Avalon, Cecily, Livia, Lucia, Minerva, Noa, Romilly, Rosette
*Update* Hello, August!

Xosha Roquemore and Lakeith Stanfield
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Xosha Roquemore was named after the Xhosa people--a tribe originally from South Africa. Her father got the idea after researching South African tribes for a play he directing, and Xosha herself went on to study abroad in Ghana during her college years. It's clear that African culture is important to Xosha and her family, which makes me think her baby will have a name with some African influence.
Girl: Amara, Kaia, Kessie, Lissa, Marjani, Nia, Nyala, Sekai, Shona, Zella
Boy: Ayo, Kayin, Kofi, Kwame, Lekan, Massai, Obi, Odion, Taye, Zaire

Casey Wilson and David Caspe
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Max Red
Comedian Casey Wilson and her producer husband David Caspe may have played it safe (by celebrity standards) with the first name Max for their son, but kicked it up a notch with the very bold Red for his middle name. I have a feeling they'll follow a similar pattern for their next son or daughter, so I chose some well-liked, somewhat trendy names for the baby's first name.
Girl: Clare, Daisy, Evie, Frankie, Ivy, Kate, Kit, Phoebe, Piper, Sadie, Tess
Boy: Charlie, Finn, Gray, Henry, Jack, Jude, Liam, Luke, Nate, Owen, Rhys
*Update* Welcome, Henry Bear!

Elvira Lind and Oscar Isaac
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Oscar Isaac is Guatemalan-American, while his girlfriend Elvira Lind is Danish. It may come as a surprise considering Denmark and Guatemala are halfway across the world from each other, but there are actually quite a few names that are used in both countries. I've listed some of them here, along with names I think have the potential to cross over.
Girl: Alba, Amada, Camila, Elena, Isla, Liv, Luna, Maya, Nessa, Signe, Sofia
Boy: Arlo, Bastien, Casper, Hugo, Jonathan, Marco, Otto, Soren, Teo, Viggo
*Update* Baby boy is Eugene, after Oscar's mother, Eugenia!

Bar Refaeli and Adi Ezra
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Liv
Just seven months after the birth of her daughter Liv, Bar Refaeli has announced that she's pregnant again! Bar and her husband Adi are Israeli, and even though Liv is a Scandinavian name, it works well with many Hebrew names. I'm guessing we'll see another short name (maybe also containing the "it" letter V) for Liv's Irish twin.
Girl: Alma, Alva, Avia, Evie, Maya, Mika, Naomi, Niva, Tali, Zadie
Boy: Ash, Bram, Eli, Micah, Nevo, Omri, Oren, Rom. Shai, Tal, Uri
*Update* Another girl--Elle!

Lauren Gregory and Thomas Rhett Akins
Gender: girl and unknown
Siblings: none
Country singer Thomas Rhett and his wife Lauren are expecting a baby girl, and meanwhile are adopting a baby (of unknown gender) from Africa. The couple has said they want to use family names, and are open to feminizations of male names for their daughter. Thomas is a junior himself, so if the adopted baby is a boy, could there be a Thomas Rhett Akins III?
Girl: Grace, Gracen, Greta, Kasey, Leah, Macy, Paige, Retta, Tamsin
Boy: Everett, Grayson, Gregor, Gregory, Lawrence, Lee, Rhett, Thomas
*Update* The Akins' adopted baby girl is Willa Gray!
*Second Update* Baby girl number two is Ada James!

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!

Catalog Names: Shutterfly, Holiday 2013

Holiday cards are one of my favorite things about the holidays. I usually shop for them online, but you can imagine my excitement when I found Shutterfly and TinyPrints catalogs sitting on the kitchen table. Not only do I get to browse wonderful holiday cards, but names as well! Here is an interesting assortment for you to browse.

Girls:
Abby
Abigail
Adrienne
Alison
Alma
Amanda
Anna
Aria
Ariel
Audrey
Ava
Avery
Bella
Brenda
Carlie
Casey
Cate
Cathleen
Cathy
Charlotte
Chloe
Christina
Claire
Clara
Cynthia
Diane
Eliza
Elizabeth
Ellie
Emily
Emma
Emmy
Eva
Gemma
Hillary
Holly
Isabella
Jane
Janel
Jen
Jennifer
Jenny
Josie
Julia
June
Katie
Kaylie
Kelly
Kira
Kylie
Lee Ella
Linda
Lisa
Liz
Lucy
Lyla
Maddison
Madison
Marcella
Maria
Marissa
Maryellen
Maya
Megan
Melissa
Mia
Michelle
Mollie
Natalie
Nora
Olivia
Phoebe
Rachel
Rebecca
Renee
Rose
Ruby
Sandra
Sarah
Sheila
Sophia
Tessa
Viv
Zoe

Boys:
Alex
Andrew
Andy
Anthony
Ben
Bill
Blaine
Brandt
Brayden
Charles
Chris
Connor
Dan
Daniel
Davis
Douglas
Drew
Dustin
Dylan
Eli
Enrique
Ethan
Garrett
Hamilton
Ian
Jack
Jackson
Jake
James
Jason
Jeff
Jerry
Joe
John
Jonathan
Joseph
Justin
Keith
Kevin
Kyle
Lance
Landon
Liam
Mark
Max
Michael
Mike
Nate
Noah
Oliver
Owen
Parker
Patrick
Paul
Peter
Robert
Ryan
Seth
Steve
Timmy
Timothy
Tyler

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

10 Names Jools and Jamie Oliver Should Consider for Baby #5

Mark Caneso via Dribbble

If there ever was a celebrity baby name Hall of Fame, Jools and Jamie Oliver would be in it. They have four children named Poppy Honey Rosie, Daisy Boo Pamela, Petal Blossom Rainbow, and Buddy Bear Maurice. And with their oldest child aged 14, it's safe to say they were using obscure nature names and two middles before it was cool.

Obviously, everyone is very interested to hear what the Olivers will name their fifth (and sadly, last) child. I'm here to give out my top five picks for each gender. Anyone taking bets?

Clover- Clover would be perfect for a fourth daughter, since a fourth leaf makes the sprout extra lucky. Clover is a name that's waiting to take off. If Jamie and Jools choose it for baby number five, I suspect American and English parents alike will follow suit.

Daffodil- Daffodil has a spunky British feel that definitely fits in with the others. Even though many parents avoid Daffodil because of the nickname Daffy, I could see the Olivers embracing it. Another name for a daffodil, Jonquil, could also be a contender, but that feels slightly formal compared to the other childrens' names.

Lilac- Lovely Lilac screams "Oliver baby name" to me. Like Poppy, Daisy, and Petal, it's sweet, youthful, and floral. Lilac is an elusive "on trend, but not trendy" name. The popularity of Lila and Lily give it major style points, but it's not even in the top 1000. That makes Lilac a spotless choice.

Posey- Each of the Oliver daughters have a P name somewhere in the lineup, so Posey seems like the natural choice for one of baby number five's names. With the floral tie, I'd say she's a strong contender for the first name.

Tulip- Tulip is my favorite choice for the Olivers. It's spunky and unexpected, yet cohesive with the sibling names. Tulip would be a fantastic name to complete the Oliver sibset--go out with a bang!


Basil- Can you get any more British than Basil? It originally came from Greece, but has unshakable English associations. Along with the herb connection and the fact that he would share a first initial with his brother, Basil seems ideal for the fifth Oliver baby.

Huckleberry- Admittedly, Huckleberry seems a bit out of place compared to the other Oliver childrens' names. It's a whopping four syllables long, while the rest of them are only two. However, stylistically, Huckleberry is a perfect match. Plus, the nickname Huck feels just right for this sibset.

Robin- It seems like Robin might be coming back into fashion with the boys, so now would be a perfect time for Olivers to use it--before it becomes mainstream. The nickname Robbie is adorable, and practically the perfect brother name for Buddy.

Sage- Although Sage is used more often for girls (at least in the US), it strikes me as the perfect name for an Oliver boy. Jamie and Jools prefer feminine and casual names for their daughters, and hippie-ish Sage feels more masculine compared to Poppy, Daisy, and Petal. With a link to Jamie's profession, and Jools' love of nature names, Sage could be one to watch.

Wolf- After using Bear in the middle for their son Buddy, I wouldn't be surprised to see Wolf on the birth announcement. It may sound a little harsher than Poppy, Daisy, Petal, and Buddy, but calling him Wolfie is instantly softening. And you have to admit, Wolfie sounds pretty cute in that sibset.

*Update* Jamie and Jools have welcomed a son--River Rocket Blue!

Shakespearean Names

Ben Didier via Dribbble

There's a reason everyone likes Shakespearean names--they signify class, romanticism, and intelligence, (most) without sounding too pompous or proper. If you're looking for one of these names for your son or daughter, I've compiled this list of the ones I deem most usable.

Girls
Adriana
Aemilia
Alice
Aliena
Angelica
Anne
Audrey
Beatrice
Bianca
Blanche
Calphurnia
Cassandra
Celia
Cleopatra
Constance
Cordelia
Cressida
Desdemona
Diana
Dionyza
Doll
Dorcas
Eleanor
Elizabeth
Emilia
Francisca
Gertrude
Helen
Helena
Hermia
Hermione
Hero
Imogen
Iris
Isabella
Jane
Jessica
Joan
Julia
Juliet
Juno
Kate
Katharine
Katherine
Lavinia
Leonine
Luce
Lucetta
Luciana
Margaret
Maria
Marianna
Marina
Meg
Miranda
Nan
Nell
Nerissa
Octavia
Olivia
Ophelia
Patience
Paulina
Perdita
Phebe
Portia
Regan
Rosalind
Rosaline
Silvia
Tamora
Thaisa
Thisbe
Timandra
Titania
Valeria
Viola
Virgilia
Volumnia

Boys
Aaron
Abraham
Adam
Adrian
Andrew
Ajax
Alexander
Alexas
Alonso
Angelo
Angus
Anthony
Antonio
Ariel
Arthur
Balthasar
Barnardo
Benedick
Benvolio
Berkeley
Bertram
Brandon
Caesar
Caius
Camillo
Cassio
Cassius
Cato
Charles
Christopher
Cicero
Cinna
Clarence
Claudio
Claudius
Cleomines
Cleon
Clifford
Clitus
Cloten
Corin
Cornelius
Curan
Curio
Curtis
Cymbeline
Davy
Demetrius
Denny
Dick
Dion
Duncan
Edgar
Edmund
Edward
Egeon
Emmanuel
Fabian
Fenton
Ferdinand
Flavius
Ford
Francis
Francisco
Frederick
Gardiner
George
Gerald
Gregory
Grey
Griffith
Harry
Hector
Henry
Horatio
Hubert
Hugh
Humphrey
Iago
Isidore
Jachimo
Jack
Jaques
James
Jamy
John
Joseph
Jourdain
Julius
Junius
Jupiter
Lennox
Leonardo
Leonato
Leonatus
Leontes
Lewis
Lorenzo
Louis
Lovell
Lucentio
Lucilius
Lucio
Lucius
Lysander
Macmorris
Malcolm
Marcellus
Marcus
Mark
Martius
Matthew
Mercutio
Michael
Montano
Morgan
Mortimer
Morton
Nathaniel
Ned
Nicholas
Nick
Nym
Oberon
Octavius
Oliver
Orlando
Orsino
Osrick
Oswald
Othello
Owen
Paris
Pedro
Percy
Peter
Peto
Philip
Philario
Philo
Polonius
Puck
Quince
Quintus
Reynaldo
Richard
Robert
Robin
Roderigo
Romeo
Ross
Sampson
Sebastian
Silvius
Simon
Smith
Stanley
Stephano
Taurus
Thomas
Timon
Timothy
Titus
Toby
Tom
Tranio
Travers
Troy
Valentine
Valerius
Varro
Vernon
Vincentio
Walter
Will
Williams
Willoughby

10 W Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

Image Credit

If I had to choose one letter to name boys with, it would be W. Warren and Walter are my current tops, but this list has opened up my eyes to some potential new favorites (I'm loving Walden).

Wagner- Wagner is a fairly popular surname, but he's rarely used as a first name. He's familiar, easy to pronounce and spell, two syllables, and ends in -er, so you can't lose with Wagner.

Walden- Any Henry David Thoreau fans out there? There's no better tribute to the esteemed author than naming your child after his most famous piece of work. Plus, Walden is right on trend, and super uncommon.

Wander- I was trying to think of interesting W word names for boys, and then it hit me--Wander. He'd be perfect for the child of travel-loving parents, either as a first or a middle.

Ward- Ward is what I would call cowboy-cool. He fits in with other country-western favorites like Colt, Jet, and Chase. If you want something a little longer, you could go with Warden (though the prison association is a little too much for me, personally).

Warner- Warner is a German surname that has a good history of use as a first name here in the U.S. He peaked in 1935 (at #445), but was around the 500 mark until the 1940s. If Warren isn't a usable option for you, consider Warner. He's an anagram of Warren, and sounds slightly more contemporary.

Weber- Weber is one of the best surname choices for a son. He's an occupational name meaning "weaver," and has the added bonus of the adorable nickname Webb.

Wheeler- Sensing a theme here? Wheeler is one I hear mentioned in the baby name community regularly, and I can see why. He's a unique and masculine surname name, but has a softness in him that none of the others have.

Willem- Willem is super rad--his only downside is that he will be confused for William. Willem is the Dutch form of William, but he's a lovely choice whether you are from the Netherlands or not.

Willoughby- The most intriguing full name for Will is Willoughby. Hands down. You can't really get a name more exceptional than this. He's understandably a little much for most people, but if you can handle Willoughby, by all means, go for it.

Winslow- Winslow is just darling--he's super sweet. He makes a great honor name for all those Winstons born around WWII.

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 19

2017 was a rock-star year for celebrity pregnancies and birth announcements. Mark Zuckerberg, Serena Williams, and Mindy Kaling all welcomed daughters this year. Beyoncé and Amal Clooney each had twins!

We have plenty to look forward to in 2018. Jessica Alba and Hilaria Baldwin are having sons, there are three (yes, three!) Kardashian babies on the way, and, of course, Kate Middleton is currently pregnant with the newest prince or princess.

There are even some amazing announcements that happened in this month alone. Stars like Dwayne Johnson, Seth Meyers, and Lin-Manuel Miranda are all adding to their broods. John Stamos, Kirsten Dunst, and Eva Longoria are all going to become first-time parents in 2018.

So Happy (almost) New Year! If this month is predicative of the year to come, it's going to be a good one--in the world of celebrity baby names, at least.

Alexi Ashe and Seth Meyers
Gender: boy
Siblings: Ashe Olsen
We all remember Seth Meyer's heartwarming explanation of his baby's name--his son Ashe Olsen is named after "the two most important women" in his life--his wife and mother. Obviously family names are valued by Alexi and Seth, so I wouldn't be surprised if their next son has one of the following names, inspired by their family trees:
Boy: Alistair, Beck, Laurence, Lorcan, Owen, Sasha, Thomas

*Update* Welcome, Axel Strahl!

Vanessa Nadal and Lin-Manuel Miranda
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Sebastian
Sebastian is one of those names that translates seamlessly through the English and Spanish-speaking worlds, and is considered stylish within each. It can be hard to capture both these qualities in a name, but I have a feeling that will be a priority for Vanessa and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Girl: Cecilia, Emilia, Isabella, Juliette, Lucia, Maya, Olivia, Valentina
Boy: August, Benjamin, Caleb, Dominic, Gabriel, Julian, Luca, Oscar
*Update* Hello, Francisco!

Gail Simmons and Jeremy Abrams
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Dahlia Rae
Gail Simmons and husband Jeremy Abrams named their daughter Dahlia Rae back in 2014. Her name has special significance to the couple, as dahlias are Gail's favorite flower, and Rae honors a dear relative. Baby number two's name will likely have a hidden meaning as well, and I can't wait to hear what it is.
Girl: Agatha, Aviva, Bryony, Cordelia, Elodie, Felicity, Fiona, Harlow, Winter
Boy: Callum, Edmund, Emmett, Graham, Harris, Linus, Rafe, Roscoe, Theodore
*Update* Welcome, Kole Jack!

Lauren Hashian and Dwayne Johnson
Gender: girl
Siblings: Simone Alexandra (previous relationship), Jasmine Lia
Even though his daughters have different mothers, Dwayne Johnson has managed to create a very well-coordinated sibset--Simone and Jasmine. Now that the Rock's girlfriend Lauren Hashian is expecting his third girl, I'm anxiously awaiting to see which name they add to the mix. I have high expectations for this little girl's name, and would definitely approve of any of the following:
Girl: Emerald, Gabrielle, Genevieve, India, Jade, Portia, Scarlett, Sienna, Summer
*Update* Baby girl is Tiana Gia!

Kym Johnson and Robert Herjavec
Gender: unknown twins
Siblings: Skye, Caprice, Brendan (previous relationship)
Unlike the Rock, Robert Herjavec took a more eclectic route to his sibset, with children named Skye, Caprice, and Brendan. Now he's expecting his fourth child with new wife Kym Johnson, and it's hard to say what style name is in the cards for their latest arrival. Perhaps they'll find a name that can bridge the style gap within the sibset, or maybe they'll head in a totally new direction!
Girl: Ainsley, Aria, Bree, Harper, Piper, Tamsin, Victoria, Wynne
Boy: Alexander, Cameron, Connor, Jack, Logan, Nicolai, Weston
*Update* Boy/girl twins--Hudson Robert and Haven Mae!

Caitlin McHugh and John Stamos
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
John Stamos and fiancee Caitlin McHugh are major Disney fans--so much so that they recently got engaged at Disneyland. This makes me think a Disney-inspired name might be in order for their baby on the way. Nothing too obvious--we're not talking about Mickey or Minnie here--but maybe a name with a bit more subtlety, like Bianca or Flynn.
Girl: Anastasia, Aurora, Belle, Bianca, Daisy, Ella, Jane, Marie, Penny, Ruby
Boy: Flynn, Max, Michael, Oliver, Peter, Percy, Phillip, Samson, Sebastian
*Update* It's a boy--Billy, named after John's father

Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons are set to welcome their first child in 2018. Germany is an important country to Kirsten--she has German heritage on her father's side and is a German citizen. Might her love for Germany extend to German baby names? There are so many great options, so I'd love to see her and Jesse use a German name for their little babe.
Girl: Alice, Clarissa, Frieda, Greta, Ida, Ilse, Romy, Tilly, Zelda
Boy: Axel, Conrad, Fritz, Otto, Raymond, Rudy, Walter, Wolf
*Update* A little boy--Ennis Howard!

Eva Longoria and José Baston
Gender: boy
Siblings: Natalia, Mariana, José Antonio, Sebastian (previous relationship)
Eva Longoria is pregnant with her first child--a boy!--who will be José Baston's fifth. He's already got an excellent sibset set up with his current children, so hopefully Eva and José will choose a complementary Spanish name for their newest son.
Boy: Alvaro, Bruno, Camilo, Emilio, Fernando, Hugo, Mateo, Marcos, Rafael
*Update* He's here--Santiago Enrique!

Celebrity Baby Name Suggestions: Volume 5

Chloe Ferres via Desktop Mag

This month's set of celebrity naming styles is very eclectic. There's Katherine Heigl and her husband Josh, who loves honor names; Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, who famously made Wyatt a unisex name; and Mira Pak and Terrence Howard, who create their own names. We'll have to wait and see if they follow the same technique or take a wildly different approach. For now, these are my predictions for the names of eight upcoming celebrity babies.

Savannah Guthrie and Michael Feldman
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Vale Guthrie (g)
Savannah Guthrie's baby's name was big news the first time around--and not just because she's an NBC anchor. She gave her daughter Vale an interesting and unique name that was very stylish. For baby number two, I bet she'll choose something as equally short and snazzy.
Girl: Bay, Brynn, Cleo, Greer, Lane, Navy, Rae, Romy, Sage, Scout, Seren, Wren
Boy: Beck, Bram, Cord, Drew, Gray, Hart, Joss, Jude, Lake, Lev, Reid, Ryne, Tate
*Update* A little boy! Charles Max, called Charley.

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Wyatt Isabelle
Where do you go after Wyatt? These gender-bending celebrities are throwing me for a loop. The choices below could probably work for either gender Kutcher baby--Wyatt is just as likely to have a brother or a sister named Sawyer, Walker, or Logan.
Girl: Bo, Darby, Evan, James, Logan, Max, Micah, Noa, Reid, Rory, Sawyer, Shane
Boy: Colton, Dempsey, Grady, Levi, Maddox, Owen, Ryder, Tucker, Walker, Weston
*Update* Hello, Dimitri Portwood!

Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley
Gender: boy
Siblings: Nancy Leigh "Naleigh" Moon and Adalaide Marie Hope
Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley love family names. All of daughters' names are of significance, so I'm certain that their little boy will have a meaningful name as well. Naleigh and Adalaide's names heavily honor Katherine's side, so I wouldn't be surprised if Josh's family had the most influence on this baby's name.
Boy: Bishop, Charlie, Cooper, George, Henry, Jasper, John, Paul, Sebastian, Theodore
*Update* Joshua Bishop--another honor-filled name!

Dylan Dreyer and Brian Fichera
Gender: boy
Siblings: none
It's a boy for this NBC News couple--Dylan Dreyer is the meteorologist on the Today Show, and her husband Brian Fichera is a cameraman. I wonder if their professions will play a role in his name--a weather-inspired name, perhaps?
Boy: Aidan, Andrew, Caleb, Charlie, Lucas, Owen, Sam, Skylar, Storm, William, Zachary
*Update* Welcome, Calvin Bradley!

Teresa Palmer and Mark Webber
Gender: boy
Siblings: Isaac Love (Webber's previous marriage), Bodhi Rain
Australian actress Teresa Palmer is going to have a houseful of boys! The couple seems to like pairing mainstream names with bold middles. That being said, I think this little boy might have a tranquil, zen name like his brother Bodhi.
Boy: Asher, August, Finn, Holden, Jude, Julian, Kai, Landon, Nolan, Soren
*Update* Baby boy is Forest!

Mira Pak and Terrence Howard
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Heaven, Hunter, Aubrey (all three from a different marriage), Qirin
Qirin, pronounced like Kieran, is a name that Mira Pak and Terrence Howard created. They were inspired by the Qilin--a Chinese mythical creature. If they go that route again, I've got my bases covered. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the went a completely new, yet just as creative route.
Girl: Ariana, Autumn, Bixie, Chimera, Eden, Melody, Nadia, Scarlett
Boy: Axel, Blaze, Dominic, Gannon, Hayden, Kingston, Talon, Yeren
*Update* It's a boy--welcome Hero!

Vanessa and Kobe Bryant
Gender: girl
Siblings: Natalia, Gianna
It's a third girl for the Bryants! I'm excited to hear how they round out their already fantastic sibset. My guess is they'll go for another feminine, classy choice.
Girl: Allegra, Angelina, Camilla, Cecilia, Eliana, Emilia, Francesca, Lucia, Marina, Victoria
*Update* Bianka Bella--perfect for this sibset!

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.

Middle Name Statistics

Image Credit

Middle names are something we all like to talk about, but unfortunately, the Social Security Administration doesn't record middle names of babies, only first names. So you can imagine how thrilled I was when I saw that my high school graduation program included most peoples' middle names--this offered me a set of data. Now, my high school only graduated 736 people, and some don't have middle names, or didn't want it to be listed in the program. However, my area is extremely diverse--racially, socio-economically, and religiously--so the small set of data I do have is still worth anaylzing. So, here's the data for the most common middle names among the Class of 2015 ('96 and '97 babies).

Girls
1. Marie (15)
2. Elizabeth (14) and Elisabeth (1)
3. Ann (4) and Anne (5)
4. Nicole (7) and Nykole (1)
5. Rose (8)
6. Grace (5)
7. Lee (2) and Leigh (3)
8. Jean (3) and Jeanne (1)
9. Louise (4)
10. Lynn (3) and Lynee (1)

Notable Trends

• Alex- Names: Alexandra, Alexandria, Alexis (2)
• An- Names: Analiese, Angelin, Anna, Ann (4), Anne (5), Annie
• -Ay Names: Kay, May, Monet, Rae, (2), Shae
• El- Names: Elaine, Elena, Elisabeth, Elizabeth (14), Ella, Eloise, Elvira
• Esme Names: Esme (2), Esmeralda
• Iman- Names: Iman (2), Imani
• La- Names: Lanae (2), Lan'Yel, Larae, Lashae, Lashay, Latasha, Latefah, Latoya
• Heritage Choices: Abu, Fatima, Fionnuala, Guadalupe, Inez, Keiko, Ondina, Roisin
• Only two: Claire, Catherine/Katherine, Mary

Gems

• Bartholomew
• Bean
• Beata
• Chiffon
• Elvira
• Hopes
• Houston
• Love
• Magaly
• Saffia
• Salome

Boys
1. James (10)
2. Edward (7)
3. William (7)
4. Charles (6)
5. Thomas (6)
6. Joseph (5)
7. Michael (4) and Micael (1)
8. Anthony (4)
9. David (4)
10. John (4)
11. Patrick (4)

Notable Trends

• Al Names: Alan, Alexander (3), Allen
• Ed- Names: Edmond, Eduardo, Edward (7), Edwin
• Mark Names: Marcus, Markus (2)
• Zach: Zachary (2), Zachery
• Brit Picks: Basil, Edmond, George, Phillip (2), Sinclair, Tucker (2)
• Heritage Choices: Angel, Azriel, Enahoro, Hong, Mitja, Sohail
• Only two: Lee, Matthew, Peter, Robert

Gems

• Aksel
• Basil
• Jewel
• Kirby
• Moss
• Sinclair
• Soliman
• Winter
• Wolfgang

*I'm taking next week off for the holiday. Sorry for the infrequent posting--this has been a busy summer for me!*

10 Vietnamese Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

Brian C. Allen via Dribbble

This is one of my favorite series on the blog. I love introducing you guys to names from cultures you never would have considered for naming inspiration. Like I said last week, I think Vietnamese names are perfect for American use. There are so many of them out there, but I picked ten of my favorites that I would love to hear on a little boy.

An- An is both a Chinese and a Vietnamese name. He's simple (though possibly too breif for some parents) but more than usable in the US. An means "peace."

Bao- Bao is a Vietnamese name meaning "protection" or "security." In China, Bao is mostly a feminine name, though sometimes used on boys as well. One possible downside: the word bao means "bun," and is heard in many a restaurant.

Binh- Like An, Binh means "peace." Binh is one of my favorites on this list--he sounds so sweet and lovely. If you don't love short first names, he'd make a great middle.

Lanh- I don't put much stock into name meanings, so I think of it as a bonus when a nice name has a meaning to match. Lanh is just that type of name. He means "happy, good, and gentle"--you can't get much better than that.

Minh- Speaking of names with good meanings, take a look at Minh! He means "bright and intelligent"--a brother name for Sophia perhaps?

Nguyen- Americans love surname names, so why not use the most common Vietnamese surname as a first? Many people will object to his pronunciation (and it varies by location), but the most common are "new-wen" or simply "wen."

Quyen- Quyen might be the most import friendly name on this list. Sure, his spelling looks daunting, but he's actually pronounced very much like Quinn. So if you're worried about Quinn going girl, I suggest you take a look at Quyen, who's stricly masculine.

Trai- Trai is a Vietnamese name meaning "oyster" (how fun!). Nameberry lists him as a variation of Trey, which was originally used for sons with a third generation name. Either way, I think he'd be charming on an American boy.

Tuan- The Vietnamese masculine name Tuan made it into the top 1000 back in 1982 and 1983. This was a time when many Vietnamese immigrants were coming to the United States, so this isn't too surprising. However, not many other Vietnamese names were on the list, so he must be a popular choice.

Van- Van is most well known as a Dutch name, but there's a Vietnamese version as well. Depending on the accent mark above the A, he either means "cloud," or "knowledge and literature." Apparently he's quite a popular middle name choice for Vietnamese boys, but I think he'd make a great first name too.

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.

Paper Source Catalog Names

Girls:
Abby
Alanna
Alexa
Alexandria
Alison Louise
Allison
Alyssa Payton
Andrea Morrie
Andrea Peyton
Angie
Anne
Annie
Audrey
Beth
Bridget
Brittany
Caroline
Celeste Crane
Claire
Claudia
Christine
Colleen
Cristina Marie
Daniela
Danielle
Eleanor
Elise Michele
Ella
Ellen Louise
Emily
Emma
Erica
Ericka
Erin
Fiona
Genevieve Anne
Heather Suzanne
Heidi Jane
Jane
Janet
Janice
Jayne
Jen
Jessamine Lee
Joanna
Joselyn
Julia
Julianne
Kara Anne
Katherine
Katie Ann
Kayley
Keegan
Kristen
Kristina
Lauren Antonia
Leslie Harper
Lila
Lillian
Lilliana
Lilly
Linda
Lindsay
Liza Ann
Marie Abigail
Marielle Anne
Mary Ellison
Maura
Melissa
Meredith Harper
Michelle
Monica Lui
Morgan Rose
Nadia
Natalie
Nancy
Naomi Elizabeth
Nina
Olive
Olivia
Prema
Rachel
Rebecca
Regina
Robin
Rupal Malani
Samantha
Sara
Sarah Rachel
Sasha Marielle
Sonia Hayes
Stephanie Marie
Stephanie Veronica
Susan
Susie
Terisa Ellen
Tiffany
Theresa
Tracy
Vanessa

Boys:
Aiden Gregory
Alex Fulton
Alexander Blake
Amar
Andrew Everett
Anthony Joseph
Ben Foster
Benjamin Francis
Brij
Bryan Patrick
Cody
Collin
Clinton Hughes
Christopher
Daniel Shane
Daryl
Dave
David Matthew
Dennis
Dillon
Dylan Caleb
Edwad Nathan
Elliot
Emmett
Evan Aaron
Evan Peter
Frederick
Henry
Howard
Jack
Jackson Emmit
Jacob
James Russell
Jason
Jim
Jonathon Maxwell
Joshua
Leo
Louis
Luke
Lukkas Nathan
Marcus
Mark
Martin
Matthew
Michael Dillan
Mike
Nate
Nathan Scott
Peter
Peyton
Phillip
Raymond
Ron
Ruben
Ryan
Samuel
Scott
Shaun Aidan
Thomas Paul
Tim
Travis
Trevor
Vincent Alexander
Will Britton
William
Zachary Micha

Catalog Names: TinyPrints, Holiday 2013

The hipper counterpart of Shutterfly, TinyPrints definitely has the cooler names (Clementine and Isla vs. Mia and Claire. I rest my case). Enjoy (another) long list of Catalog Names.

Girls:
Abigale
Adie
Alex
Alexandra
Allison
Annabella
Ash
Ashley
Barbara
Beth
Bethany
Candace
Carrie
Cecily
Clementine
Diane
Ebony
Elizabeth
Ellen
Emery
Emily
Esther
Evelyn
Gabrielle
Gwenyth
Isla
Jamie
Jane
Jessie
Juno
Kathleen
Kayla
Kia
Mae
Margaret
Marie
Natalia
Natalie
Natasha
Pamela
Sage
Sarah
Sophie
Stephanie
Terry
Trish
Valerie

Boys:
Alex
Alexander
Ash
Ashton
Ben
Benjamin
Brian
Carter
Chris
Christopher
Colin
Collin
Daniel
Edward
Eliott
Gene
Grayden
Henry
Jacob
Jamie
Jason
Jensen George
Joe
Jonathan
Mark
Martin
Matthew
Michael
Nathan
Noah
Oliver
Patrick
Quinn
Rob
Sammy
Thomas
Xavier

10 O Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

Image Credit

Ooh, O names! There are so many more than you think. They are waiting to be discovered, so let's get right to it.

Oceane- Oceane is not simply Ocean with an extra e (she should have an accent mark over the first one). This gorgeous French name is pronounced O-shay-ahn.

Odele- Odele is extremely rare, but sounds on-trend (thanks to names like Adele), making her a viable option.

Odessa- Want an interesting, unusual, alternative to Tessa? Odessa's your girl. Dessie or Essie makes for a cute nickname.

Ola- She's short, sweet, and Scandinavian. If three letters isn't substantial enough for you, try Solange, Maiola, or Gladiola as full names.

Oona- I was a little surprised to hear that this Irish beauty has never ranked in the United States top 1000. How can we not love Oona? I think she'd make a great sister name to many of our more popular names, including (but not limited to) Lily, Evie, and Nolan.

Opal- This gemstone name is scarcely heard, but with Pearl on the rise, I wouldn't be surprised if Opal was next.

Ophira- She's Sophia's quirkier cousin. Not to mention the name of one of my favorite NPR hosts, Ophira Eisenberg.

Orla- I really love these Irish O names. And Orla is so lovely! If I were Irish, I'd use Orla in a heartbeat.

Orlie- As a nickname for Orla, or on her own, you can't deny Orlie's cute factor. Fair warning: Spelled Orly, she's texting shorthand for "Oh, really?"

Ottilie- Ottilie is such a romantic name (don't you agree?). Her stunning qualities are only improved by the equally charming nickname Tillie.

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!

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.