Alternatives to Olivia

Image Credit- Me (Photoshop Skills)

Many parents think Olivia is a great name for a girl, but want something less common. Whether you're in love with the sight, sound, or style of Olivia, I have some options for you that are under the radar.

Sight:
Octavia- She starts with "O" and ends in -ia, just like Olivia. Plus, the nickname Tavi is cute and way less common than Livi (and there's Tavi Gevinson, I love her).
Olivette- Normally Olive would be on this list, but she's getting common, so on to the next similar name, Olivette. Yes, she seems like a little much, but the Olive- sound puts her on trend.
Ophelia- This beautiful Shakespearian name does not get enough attention.

Sound:
Liviana- She sounds like a blend of Olivia and Liliana, which many of today's parents will see as a plus.
Viva- Viva is a pretty name meaning "life."
Vivian- I hesitate to put her on this list since she's getting so common, but she's no where near Olivia, so Vivian is a good option for parents who want something in between top ten and top 200.

Style:
Adriana- She's the feminine form of Adrian, and has a similar make-up to Olivia.
Alexia- Peppier than Alexandra, but just as many syllables.
Carlotta- Carlotta is used more by Latin families, but would make a great sister name to Olivia.

10 V Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

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V names for girls are having a moment. Violet, Vivian, and Valentina are all very trendy, and will continue to climb the charts. Not all the good V names are popular--I have a great list of ones that don't even break the top 1000.

Vale- I wrote this post about Vale right after Savannah Guthrie gave the name to her daughter in August. She will probably get a boost as a celebrity baby name, but I wouldn't expect her to be in the top 1000 for next year.

Verona- This romantic name is one of the best for honoring a Veronica. Verona is the Italian city where Romeo and Juliet takes place, so it would be a lovely choice for a Shakespeare fan.

Veronique- Veronique is the French form of Veronica, and much more current. I've heard it on a few American children, and she is definitely wearable in the U.S.

Vesper- Vesper is a cool, mysterious name that means evening. She's perfect for parents looking for a baby name with an edge. However, a Vesper is a type of cocktail, which may be off putting to some parents.

Vida- Could Vida make it into the top 1000 this year? She is currently at #1308, but she's rising quickly--possibly thanks to Matthew McConaughey's daughter. Vida is a super sweet name, and she has the best meaning--"life."

Vienna- Vienna will definitely break the top 1000 in May. She's at #1004, and is experiencing a rapid rise in popularity. She's one of my favorite place names, and is wonderful for honoring Austrian heritage. Want a subtle connection? The popular surname Wiener means "from Vienna," so she'd be the perfect pick if that was your maiden name or on your family tree.

Viola- There are two pronunciations of Viola. The first (and most popular) is like Violet--vie-OH-lah. the second is like the instrument--vee-OH-lah. Take your pick. They are both beautiful (and make a great alternative to Violet).

Vionnet- Vionnet is another French name, pronounced VEE-oh-nay. She's absolutely stunning, and would make a lovely, unexpected middle.

Viveca- Viveca is my favorite alternative to Vivian, I am constantly suggesting her. She's a Scandinavian name, and like Vida, means "life." Viveca can also be spelled Vivica, like the actress Vivica A. Fox.

Vrai- Looking for an exotic virtue name? Look no further. Vrai is the French word for "truth," and she could definitely work in America. If you're not brave enough to use her as a first name, she'd be a unique pick for the middle position.

10 Italian Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

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Today we're talking about ten lovely Italian ladies. If you're in need of a glamorous name with a hint of mystery, these girls have got you covered. Take a look. 

Celestina- I'm a fan of any Celeste name, so naturally, I'm fond of Celestina. She's the Italian and Spanish form of Celeste, although in Italian, she's pronounced with a "ch" sound at the beginning. If you're looking for a long, romantic, unusual name, put Celestina on your list. 

Cosetta- Cosetta is an extreme rarity--she was given to four or fewer girls in the U.S. last year. For those of you searching for an almost unique name, Cosetta is a pleasant option. She's the Italian variation of the French name Cosette--almost instantly recognizable from the character in Les Miserables. 

Dicembre- Need an Italian name for your December-born baby? Dicembre would be perfect. She's scarcely used--both in America and in Italy. Like Cosetta, Dicembre is an almost unique choice. 

Domenica- Domenica is a lively, refreshing alternative to Dominique. She's a feminized form of Dominic, and works to honor any of the Dom- names. Nica makes a cute nickname, and is much more modern than Nicki. 

Eloisa- If Eloise is a little too "Plaza Hotel" for you, Eloisa could be the answer to your problems. She's just as sassy and retro, but doesn't carry the same mischievous little girl associations.

Graziella- Graziella is one of those names that is just so fun to say. She can be said with either three or four syllables, but in the U.S. it might be easiest to do four--grahtz-ee-EL-ah. She's a diminutive of Grazia, the Italian form of Grace. 

Isabetta- Elisabetta is a five-syllable mouthful, but fortunately her nickname Isabetta is more managable. She's very charming on her own, but Isabetta can also be used as a nickname for American favorite Elizabeth. She is perfect for families that pass down the name Elizabeth, but want a more distinctive nickname.

Leonida- There's been a lot of love for Leo names lately, especially on the boys side. Leonida is a gorgeous option for a girl. She's the Italian version of Leona, and also stems from the Greek Leonidas. 

Simona- Simona is a name used throughout Europe, particularly in Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria. She's a nice option if you want a name that can honor a Simon, but is longer, or a bit more exotic than Simone. 

Vivia- No doubt about it, "V" is the hottest letter of 2015. We love names with Vs in them--Olivia, Vivian, Ava, Evelyn, etc. Vivia an undiscovered gem that will blend right in. She seems like she could have been made-up--essentially a mash-up of Olivia and Vivian--but trust me, Vivia is one hundred percent Italian.

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 32

The most exciting celebrity baby news of the past few weeks has undoubtedly been that of the birth of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s little prince. Archie Harrison does not have any family names, but his middle name honors Dad—Harrison literally means Harry’s son.

Back on this side of the pond, we saw the announcement of two presidential grandchildren—Jenna Bush Hager is expecting a son, and Eric Trump’s wife Lara is pregnant with their second child. Like the royals, they seem to have a penchant for honor names. Mila Hager is actually Margaret Laura—both of her grandmothers’ first names—and Luke Trump shares a first name with his father. A presidential baby name doesn’t carry the same kind of influence as a royal baby name does (I’m keeping my eye on Harrison), but nevertheless, I’m curious to hear their choices.

Blake Lively, Keira Knightley, and other stars announced their pregnancies this month, and I’ve made my predictions for them below. Weigh in with your suggestions in the comments.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
Gender: unknown

Siblings: James (g), Inez

James and Inez may seem like two very mismatched names for sisters—indeed, they are very different stylistically—but they have a commonality. Both names end in a Z sound, a trend that is having a moment right now for boys with names like Charles, Miles, and Blaise rising in popularity. Should Blake and Ryan stick with this subtle theme, I’ve offered them many options. If not, there are plenty of other choices to suit their eclectic style.
Girl: Alice, Astrid, Beatriz, Blythe, Briar, Celeste, Frieda, Greer, Hollis, Mavis

Boy: Alastair, Ansel, Bas, Boaz, Charles, Eamon, Hayes, Holden, Hugh, Miles

Keira Knightley and James Righton

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Edie Knightley

Keira Knightley and James Righton’s daughter is Edie (not Edith), which feels very appropriate given her British heritage. A sister name for Edie should hit all the same sweet vintage notes and perhaps be nickname-y as well, like Nell or Millie. If Keira and James have a son, I’m hoping for a name with a bit of a quirk-factor, like Frank or Linus.

Girl: Daisy, Faye, Jane, Maeve, Millie, Nell, Olive, Pearl, Rosie, Willa

Boy: Arthur, Finn, Frank, Henry, Jack, Linus, Miles, Oliver, Theo, Walter

Jenna Bush and Henry Hager
Gender: boy

Siblings: Margaret Laura “Mila,” Poppy Louise

Jenna Bush Hager is expecting a son! After two daughters named Mila and Poppy—familiar names with great style that aren’t over-used—I’m curious to see what they’ll choose for a baby boy. Of course, there’s always the chance that Jenna and Henry will go with George—their oldest daughter Mila is named after her two grandmothers, and this is President Bush’s first grandson. Henry’s father is named John, so Jack seems like another probable option.

Boy: Anders, Beckett, Bram, George, Jack, Jonas, Jude, Nico, Rex, Wells

Lara and Eric Trump

Gender:

Siblings: Eric Luke, “Luke”

Eric Trump named his son after himself, but baby Eric goes by his middle name, Luke. If Eric and Lara’s second child is a boy, something similarly boyish and modern seems likely, although I could also seem them pivoting to a more traditional name like Adam or Michael. For a girl, a feminine, well-liked name seems to be in order.
Girl: Emma, Genevieve, Hailey, Isla, Kate, Mia, Nora, Olivia, Reese, Vivian

Boy: Adam, Carter, Evan, Jack, Jake, Logan, Max, Michael, Parker, Ryan

Aja Volkman and Dan Reynolds

Gender: boy

Siblings: Arrow Eve, Gia James, Coco Rae

If you thought Blake and Ryan had an eclectic sister-set, meet the other Reynolds family. Dan Reynolds, the lead singer of Imagine Dragons, has three daughters named Arrow, Gia, and Coco. Now he and wife Aja are expecting their first son, and there’s no telling what style his name will be. A word name like Arrow? A mini-name like Gia? A nickname like Coco? Something totally different? I’m looking forward to finding out.

Boy: Ace, Arlo, Bodhi, Ever, Felix, Kai, Onyx, River, Rowan, Zeb

Tara Ahamed and Jonathan Tucker
Gender: unknown twins

Siblings: none

Tara and Jonathan Tucker are a very private couple—only recently did they reveal they’re actually expecting twins!—so there’s no guarantee we’ll learn their babies’ names right away. Nevertheless, I’m still very excited to hear their choices. Tara has Indian and Arabic roots, so the names could potentially have some cultural crossover, like some of these:
Girl: Arya, Asha, Cala, Layla, Lila, Mela, Nora, Priya, Uma, Veda

Boy: Benjamin, Bodhi, Kiran, Leo, Lucas, Rohan, Samuel, Theodore, Viro, Xavier
*Update* Boy/girl twins—Hayes Taj and India Moss!

Amber Rose and Alexander Edwards

Gender: boy

Siblings: Sebastian Taylor Thomaz (previous relationship)

Model Amber Rose is expecting her second son, a brother for Sebastian. Sebastian is a lengthy, romantic name, so should Amber and Alexander want a name for their son that pairs well with his brother’s, I’ve got them covered. I’m hoping they pick Cassius—it’s spiked in popularity recently and makes the perfect brother name for Sebastian.

Boy: Cassius, Damian, Dominic, Gabriel, Julian, Leo, Lucius, Oscar, Romeo, Tristan

Kendra Caldwell and Joe Duggar

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Garrett David

Kendra and Joe Duggar gave their son the name Garrett last year—a solid, masculine name, albeit one that’s been down-trending since the year 2000. Now Kendra is pregnant with their second child, and my guess is that we could see another name that was more common in her birth year than in the baby’s. But you never know—I’ve included options for both here.
Girl: Abigail, Annabelle, Eliza, Grace, Julia, Laura, Madelyn, Piper, Rebecca, Sarah

Boy: Dawson, Gregory, Griffin, Joel, Matthew, Peter, Russell, Ryan, Warren, Wesley

Same Meaning Sibsets: Part One

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I'm not usually a fan of baby name gimmicks, but if done right, they can be cute. One subtle way to tie your kids names together is through meaning. Many names share the same meaning, and sometimes they would make a nice sibset together. Take a look.

Beautiful
Astrid + Ingrid
Aoife + Calla
Callie + Bonnie

Free
Charles + Frances
Caroline, Darby, + Lottie

Happy
Felix, Asher, + Blythe
Ada + Felicity
Gwyneth + Hillary

Life
Chaya + Evie
Ava, Liv, + Zoe
Vivian + Zenaida

Light
Nell + Liora
Elena, Lucy, + Nora
Helena + Lucinda
Lux + Orly
Eleanor + Lucian

Wise
Alfred + Sophia
Aldo + Ramona
Raymond + Shannon

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 10

New year, new celebrity pregnancy announcement! And boy did we start off with a bang. Zooey Deschanel, who is often credited with giving us the best baby name of 2015 (Elsie Otter!) is going to be a mom for the second time. Jill Duggar is also pregnant with her second child. With her oldest son named Israel, I can't wait to see what name she chooses next. There also are quite a few first-time moms on this month's list, including actresses Lily Rabe, Laura Prepon, and lifestyle guru Lauren Conrad. So far 2017 is shaping up to be a great year for celebrity pregnancy announcements. Let's keep that momentum going into February!

Zooey Deschanel and Jacob Pechenik
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Elsie Otter
Elsie Otter was one of the cutest celebrity baby names of 2015, so I have high hopes for Zooey Deschanel's next baby. I think it would be so sweet if he or she also had an unexpected animal name for the middle, but that's a whole other set of predictions (maybe something like Lynx or Fawn?)
Girl: Clementine, Josie, Lottie, Minnie, Pearl, Phoebe, Ruthie, Sylvie, Tess, Tilly
Boy: Amos, Gus, Frankie, Fritz, Henry, Ira, Lester, Louie, Otto, Richie, Theo
*Update* I was right about their naming formula--welcome, Charlie Wolf!

Lake Bell and Scott Campbell
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Nova
Nova is a strong word name with a connection to the stars. I have a feeling Lake Bell and Scott Campbell are not going to go with a night sky themed sibsets, but I included some subtle options that fit the bill just in case.
Girl: Alpha, Echo, Electra, Lark, Lotus, Maxima, Vesper, Winter, Wren
Boy: Alistair, Axel, Flynn, Lex, Loyal, Marvel, Oz, Rio, Sky, Zephyr
*Update* Welcome, Ozgood, "Ozzy"!

Jill Duggar and Derrick Dillard
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Israel David
Rumor has it that if the Dillard's first-born was a girl, he would have been named Selah. That makes Selah my number one guess for a daughter--but who knows? As long as it's biblical, anything goes.
Girl: Aviva, Dania, Dinah, Elyse, Eve, Galilee, Lilah, Raya, Selah, Shalom, Talia
Boy: Asa, Elijah, Ezra, Gideon, Hosea, Judah, Samson, Simeon, Solomon, Tobias
*Update* It's another boy--Samuel Scott!

Lauren Conrad and William Tell
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Celebrity lifestyle blogger Lauren Conrad hinted at some of her favorite baby names earlier this month, but something tells me that she wouldn't reveal her baby's name that soon. It did provide plenty of inspiration though--traditional modern names seem to strike her fancy.
Girl: Blair, Cecilia, Elsie, Evangeline, Juliette, Luna, Ruby, Scarlett, Sloane, Violet
Boy: Camden, Charles, Eli, Everett, Harrison, Jameson, Nathan, Owen, Reid, Walker
*Update* Hello, Liam James!

Emilie Livingston and Jeff Goldblum
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Charlie Ocean (b)
The name Charlie has a friendly, casual vibe--even more so when paired with a calming middle like Ocean. I expect the Goldblums to choose another unfussy name with great style for their newest son or daughter. If they use a subtle nature theme, that's even better.
Girl: Amelia, Hazel, Ivy, Lena, Lily, Lydia, Nora, Romy, Sadie Stella, Zoey
Boy: Archie, Ben, Calvin, Felix, Henry, Jack, Jude, Luke, Max, Milo, Rudy
*Update* Another water-themed name--River Joe!

Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Lucinda Rose (half sibling)
It's hard to imagine a name more romantic that Lucinda Rose. It has a sweet vintage spirit and sophisticated elegance that I sought to replicate in my top picks for their latest arrival.
Girl: Amelie, Antonia, Beatrice, Cornelia, Isadora, Magnolia, Sabina, Valerie
Boy: Adrian, Anton, Benjamin, Edmund, Hugh, Jasper, Marcel, Oliver, Samuel

Laura Prepon and Ben Foster
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Laura Prepon is expecting her first child with Ben Foster. I have a hunch they'll either go with a tailored, modern name, or something with personal significance. Time will tell.
Girl: Aurora, Arbor, Celia, Jersey, Liv, Maren, Nora, Penelope, Vivian
Boy: Bram, Clay, Colin, Finn, Fletcher, Ford, Gabriel, Jacob, Jett, Michael
*Update* It's a girl--Ella!

Dana Vollmer and Andy Grant
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Arlen Jackson
Olympic swimmer Dana Vollmer and her husband Andy Grant gave their son the unusual-but-not-unheard-of name Arlen. It's an English surname that feels preppy, but still quite modern. I chose names along the same lines for my predictions for their second child's name.
Girl: Darby, Harper, Marlowe, Payton, Piper, Quinn, Reagan, Riley, Teagan
Boy: Connor, Gardner, Gavin, Jude, Liam, Nolan, Rhys, Rory, Rowan, Tate
*Update* It's a boy--Ryker Alexander!

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 7

Yannick Kalaydjian via Dribbble

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 18

I've been making predictions long enough that now I'm forecasting the names of siblings for children whose names I've made predictions for. Such is the case with Chrissy Teigen and John Legend. In my very first set of predictions, almost two years ago, I suggested potential names for their baby who would eventually be dubbed Luna Simone. Now they are expecting baby number two, and I get to try my hand once again!

Likewise, I predicted (correctly, I might add) the name of Hilaria and Alec Baldwin's second son back in April of 2016. They recently announced that they will be having another baby boy in 2018, so we will see if I can get his name right as well.

Bethany Hamilton and Adam Dirks

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Tobias

Faith is very important to Bethany Hamilton and Adam Dirks, so it was no surprise when they gave their son the biblical name Tobias in 2015. Now that they are expecting their second child, it's almost a given that his or her name will also have biblical and religious significance.

Girl: Abigail, Ada, Eve, Dinah, Lillith, Naomi, Ruth, Susannah, Tabitha

Boy: Abel, Ezekiel, Ezra, Gideon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Judah, Nathaniel
*Update* It's a boy--Wesley Phillip!

Crystal Smith and Ne-Yo

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Madilyn Grace, Mason Evan (previous relationship), Shaffer Chimere Jr. 
Although Ne-Yo's youngest son is a junior with an uncommon name, his older two children have names that rank pretty high on the popularity charts. That makes me think his next child will have a name more in-line with his or her half siblings, rather than their brother. I like the idea of honoring Crystal with the name Gemma if the baby is a girl--it's a subtle honor name, but works well with the blended sibset. 

Girl: Arianna, Aubrey, Chloe, Gemma, Georgia, Kylie, Savannah, Sofia, Zoey

Boy: Asher, Camden, Carter, Jackson, Landon, Logan, Luke, Nolan, Owen
*Update* It's a boy--Roman Alexander-Raj

Hannah and Eddie Redmayne

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Iris Mary
Iris Mary is a sweet and understated name, which feels rare for celebrities these days. That was not a surprising choice coming from Hannah and Eddie Redmayne, who keep very quiet about their private lives. It's likely that their next child will be given a name with a similar feel--something vintage, slightly British, and nothing too outlandish. 

Girl: Clara, Coralie, Gloria, Lydia, Matilda, May, Phoebe, Ruby, Vivian, Willa

Boy: Callum, George, Henry, James, Miles, Oliver, Peter, Reid, Simon, Spencer
*Update* Welcome, Luke Richard!

Hilaria and Alec Baldwin

Gender: boy

Siblings: Ireland (previous relationship), Carmen Gabriela, Rafael Thomas, Leonardo Ángel Charles 

It's the third boy in a row for the Baldwins, and rumor has it they're sticking with the same theme for this baby--romantic artist names. There are plenty of stunning options to choose from, so even if they end up having three more boys, the inspiration will never run dry.

Boy: Antonio, Diego, Domenico, Eduardo, Francisco, Joaquin, Pablo, Ramon, Salvador, Sandro
*Update* Baby boy is Romeo Alejandro David!

Tia Mowry and Cory Hardrict

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Cree Taylor

Cree is a modern and unexpected name for a son. Of course, it sounds like it would fit in perfectly on almost any playground, yet it's rare to find Cree in a baby name book. It can be hard to find names in that sweet spot, but I'm certain Tia Mowry and Cory Hardrict are going to hit the nail on the head once again with baby number two.

Girl: Aura, Bay, Coco, Echo, Ever, Indie, Moon, Season, Sol, Zuly

Boy: Beck, Blue, Bram, Dax, Ford, Joss, Link, Quince, Rex, Van
*Update* A girl—Cairo Tiahna!

Jordin Sparks and Dana Isaiah

Gender: unknown

Siblings: none

Jordin Sparks and her husband Dana Isaiah are both quite religious. Unlike Bethany Hamilton, I don't think they will go the traditional biblical name route. Something contemporary feels much more appropriate for this couple. I have a feeling Jordin and Dana will choose a fresh spiritual or virtuous name for their son or daughter.

Girl: Easter, Eden, Faith, Galilee, Grace, Heaven, Keziah, Mercy

Boy: Boaz, Ezekiel, Jethro, Jude, Justice, Loyal, True, Trust, Zion
*Update* Hello, Dana Isaiah Jr.!

Miranda Kerr and Evan Spiegel

Gender: girl

Siblings: Flynn Christopher (previous relationship)

Almost seven years ago, Miranda Kerr and then-partner Orlando Bloom named their son Flynn, catapulting the name into the top 1000. Now Miranda is expecting a girl--I'm hoping she and husband Evan Spiegel will choose a similarly dashing, under-the-radar name for their daughter.

Girl: Blythe, Bryony, Darcy, Harlow, Laney, Lark, Romy, Ruby, Waverly
*Update* The rumors were wrong--it's a boy! Welcome, Hart!

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Luna Simone

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are about to become parents of two! I feel confident about my grasp on their girl name style, but if the're baby is a boy, who knows what they'll pair with Luna? I could forsee them going in a few different directions, like music-inspired (Miles), word names (Gray, Wolf), or modern (Arlo, Knox). They gave their older daughter the very well-received name Luna Simone, so either way, I have no doubt that they'll hit all the style marks again.

Girl: Celeste, Cleo, Coco, Elle, Esme, Fleur, Nova, Scarlett, Wren, Zadie

Boy: Arlo, Gray, Knox, Miles, Remington, River, Rocco, Wilder, Wolf

*Update* An on-the-nose prediction—welcome, Miles Theodore!

Unique Alternatives to the Top Ten Names: 2012 Edition

We could all name our kids Sophia and Jacob, but there are so many more unique options. Listed here are my favorite lesser-used alternatives to the top ten of each gender.

Girls:

Sophia: Fiona, Philippa (nn Pippa?), Philomina, Seraphina
Isabella: Bellamy, Esmeralda, Isabeau, Isadora
Emma: Amelie, Emmeline, Lila
Olivia: Bolivia, Livia, Olive, Vivian
Ava: Ada, Avalon, Eva, Eve, Ever
Emily: Amelie, Melody, Millie, Romilly, Tillie
Abigail: Abear, Adelaide, Adelia, Gail
Madison: Ellison, Madeleine, Magdalena
Mia: Leia, Milla, Thea
Chloe: Celeste, Clara, Clio

Boys:

Jacob: Corbin, Jacobi, Jay
Mason: Carson, Edison, Logan
William: Leander, Logan, Warren, Willis
Jayden: Gray, Hayden, Jay
Noah: Isaac, Nathan, Nolan, Owen
Michael: Mack, Matthias, Maxwell
Ethan: Egan, Eli, Logan
Alexander, Alexei, Alvin, Anders, Anderson
Aiden: Adair, Adeon, Dennis
Daniel: Damian, Danner, Dashiell, Dennis

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

Long Middle Names: Girls

Buy the font here

Long middle names can sound quite fantastical on girls, especially when paired with a long first name. But even if the first name is relatively short, the long middle name always does a nice job of balancing it out. I have 100 three syllable names that make lovely middle names for you to look at today. Of course, there are many more that did not make this list, so tell me--on this list or otherwise--what's your favorite long middle name for a girl?

Abigail
Alaska
Alouette
Alyssa
Amandine
Amelie
Anais
Annabel
Anneliese
Ariel
Augusta
Aurora
Beatrice
Bonita
Cameo
Carissa
Carmela
Cassandra
Cecilia
Celestine
Clarissa
Claudia
Clementine
Coralie
Dahlia
Dominique
Elena
Eloise
Emily
Eulalie
Francesca
Gabrielle
Geneva
Genevieve
Gloria
Helena
Hollister
Imogen
Isabeau
Joanna
Josephine
Jubilee
Juliette
Juniper
Kerensa
Keziah
Lavender
Leona
Liatris
Lilia
Linnea
Lolita
Louisa
Lucinda
Madigan
Margaret
Maria
Marigold
Marina
Marisol
Melody
Meredith
Mignonette
Mirabel
Naomi
Nigella
Ottilie
Paloma
Peridot
Pomeline
Querida
Quintessa
Reverie
Romilly
Rosalie
Rosemary
Salome
Santana
Saskia
Sienna
Sierra
Simona
Sophia
Umbria
Verity
Veronique
Vienna
Viola
Violet
Virginia
Vivian
Ximena
Zahara
Zinnia

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 31

I’ve been the Name Guru to the Stars for a while now—long enough that I’m predicting the names for siblings of the babies I once made predictions for.

Months ago, I forecasted the names of Michael Phelps, Alanis Morissette, Lauren Conrad, Miranda Kerr, and Daphne Oz’s children (none were exactly right, but many were close!). Now all five of them have announced that they are expanding their families, and I get to make predictions for them all over again.

We have some new (to me) faces this month as well. Chance the Rapper will welcome his second daughter this Fall, Christina and Ant Anstead are expecting their first child together, and Tamron Hall is pregnant with her first child.

This group of celebrities has a wide range of styles, from shared initials to fancifully feminine girl names to word names. I can’t wait to hear what they all pick! While we wait, take a look at my choices, and tell me yours in the comments.

Kirsten Bennett and Chance the Rapper

Gender: girl

Siblings: Kensli

Kensli is a modern name—an invention based off of Kinsley—that feels very appropriate on a baby girl born in this decade. It’s the name Chance the Rapper and his wife Kirsten gave their now three-year-old daughter. They’re expecting another girl this September and I think her name will be something similarly on-trend and evocative of 2019 style. Perhaps one of the following:
Girl: Adalynn, Arielle, Avia, Brielle, Hadley, Hayven, Kaya, London, Peyton, Sierra

Nicole and Michael Phelps

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Boomer Robert, Beckett Richard

Two siblings with a shared first initial is sometimes (but not always) indicative of a third. In this case, Nicole and Michael Phelps’s sons shared the same first and middle initials, which makes me think this is a pattern. If it’s a boy, I’d wager we’re going to see another baby B.R. As for a girl, I’m less certain, but I gave plenty of B options should her name match her brothers’.
Girl: Billie, Blake, Blue, Bree, Brielle, Brynn, Everly, Finley, Harlow, Rowan

Boy: Beau, Blaise, Bodhi, Bowie, Breaker, Brody, Brogan, Dashiell, Flynn, Sawyer

Alanis Morissette and Mario Treadway

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Ever Imre (b), Onyx Solace (g)

Alanis Morissette loves cool word names, so I’m excited to hear what she chooses for her third baby. Names like Poet, Story, and True have been popular among celebrities lately, but I could also see she and husband Mario Treadway going with something a bit more obscure—Secret, Tarot, or Thorn, maybe.
Girl: Dove, Echo, Essex, Hero, Moon, Poet, Sable, Secret, Story, Winter

Boy: Haze, Jet, Loyal, Mars, Noble, Quill, Tarot, Thorn, True, Zephyr

Lauren Conrad and William Tell

Gender: unknown

Siblings: William “Liam” James

Lifestyle maven and former actress Lauren Conrad named her son after his father, although Liam is not a junior. His middle name, James, comes from Lauren’s side of the family. Lauren and William’s second child will likely have a name with honorific significance as well. If it’s a girl, I’d bet Katherine will show up in either the first or middle spot—it’s Lauren’s middle name and her mother’s first name.

Girl: Alice, Cecilia, Eloise, Emma, Evelyn, Genevieve, Katherine, Nora, Violet, Vivian

Boy: Carter, Cole, Eli, Grant, Henry, Jude, Nolan, Oliver, Owen, Theo

Miranda Kerr and Evan Spiegel

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Flynn, Hart

With sons named Flynn and Hart, odds are we’re going to see a modern, tailored name for Miranda Kerr’s third child. I could see she and Evan Spiegel going for something a bit softer and more feminine for a girl, while still sticking to names two syllables or under. If their baby is a boy, my favorite options for Flynn and Hart’s brother are Bram or Soren.
Girl: Ada, Arden, Etta, Faye, Ivy, Maeve, Maude, Pearl, Willa, Wren

Boy: Bram, Crane, Fox, Grey, Jude, Kit, Levon, Miles, Rhys, Soren

Daphne Oz and John Jovanovic

Gender: girl

Siblings: Philomena Bijou, Jovan Jr., Domenica Celine

Daphne Oz and John Jovanovic love long, romantic names for girls, so I was very excited to hear they’re expecting another daughter. There are so many names that would be great with this sibset, but I narrowed my list down to ten. I’m hoping Daphne and John choose something on the fringes (how fun would a baby Sophronia or Clemencia be?) but even a more mainstream name like Augustina or Olympia would be lovely with Philomena and Domenica.
Girl: Antonina, Augustina, Clemencia, Cressida, Delphine, Fabiana, Isabeau, Olympia, Sophronia, Theodosia

Christina and Ant Anstead

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Amelie, Archer, Taylor Reese, Brayden James (previous relationships)

Television personalities Christina (formerly El Moussa) and Ant Anstead are expecting their first child together. They each have children from previous marriages—Ant’s are preteens, while Christina’s are much younger. Their names are quite different as well. Ant’s children Amelie and Archer have names that fit with their British roots. Christina’s son and daughter Brayden and Taylor have names that are decidedly American. Considering Christina’s children are younger and the rising popularity of “American” style names in England, I think Ant and Christina’s child will have names that feel more like Taylor and Brayden.

Girl: Addison, Charlie, Emerson, Kinsley, Kendall, Paisley, Peyton, Piper, Skyler, Sydney

Boy: Dawson, Drew, Easton, Jameson, Jax, Kyler, Landon, Logan, Reed, Rylan

Tamron Hall and Steven Greener

Gender: unknown

Siblings: none

Tamron Hall and Steve Greener will be welcoming their first child any day now. The couple are older and lead very private lives—two factors which lead me to believe they will give their son or daughter a more subdued name with broad appeal. We will find out soon enough! Until then, take a look at my top picks for Tamron and Steven:
Girl: Clara, Eliza, Ella, Josie, Lila, Madelyn, Maya, Olivia, Sadie, Tessa

Boy: Charlie, Elliott, Henry, Holden, Isaac, Levi, Miles, Theodore, Wesley, William
*Update* It's a boy—Moses!