Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 27

As 2018 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on the year in celebrity baby names. It was an exciting time—three (yes, three!) Kardashians babies were born this year, Chicago, Stormi, and True. Chrissy Teigen and John Legend named their son Miles Theodore, Cardi B and Offset gave their daughter the name Kulture Kiari. Other notable celebrity baby names from 2018 include Colette Koala (Macklemore), Marvel Jane (Pete Wentz) and Rani Rose (Kate Hudson).

Looking ahead, 2019 should be a great year as well. Stars like Jessica Simpson, Carrie Underwood, and Snooki are all expecting new babies in the new year. Amy Schumer, Molly Yeh, and Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are going to become parents for the first time in 2019. So what names will they choose for their babies? I’ve made my predictions for some of them below.

Angela and Alfonso Ribeiro

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Sienna (previous relationship), Alfonso Lincoln, Anders Reyn

Angela and Alfonso Ribeiro’s two sons each have A names—Alfonso and Anders. Now that they’re expecting their third, are they going to make this a pattern? Alfonso’s teenage daughter is named Sienna, so it could be fun to find another S name, especially if the baby is a girl. But even if they don’t choose to do an initial theme, there are plenty of great options for the Ribeiro sibset.
Girl: Adeline, Allegra, Arya, Carolina, Emilia, Isabella, Juliet, Maya, Scarlett, Willow

Boy: Alaric, Axel, Benson, Dexter, Julius, Linus, Lucien, Quincy, Vincent, Winston
*Update* Another A—Ava Sue!

Michelle Mulitz and Ben Feldman

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Charlie Milton

In 2017, Ben Feldman and wife Michelle Mulitz gave their son the name Charlie Milton. Milton is an honor name from Michelle’s side of the family, but Charlie was chosen for its cute-factor. The pair of names makes quite the vintage combination. Should Ben and Michelle try and emulate that style for their next child’s name, they should consider the following.

Girl: Clara, Edie, Eliza, Eloise, Flora, Hazel, Ivy, Jane, Lucy, Ruby, Ruth, Violet

Boy: Eli, Emmett, Finn, George, Gus, Henry, Jack, Levi, Liam, Max, Milo, Theo

Molly Yeh and Nick Hagen

Gender: unknown

Siblings: none

Food blogger and TV personality Molly Yeh is pregnant with her first child. She and her husband Nick are interested in using names or variations of names from their family trees. Molly has Chinese and Jewish roots, while Nick’s ancestors come from northern Europe. This gives them quite a large pool to choose from, and I wouldn’t be surprised if their later sibset ended up with an eclectic feel.

Girl: Anouk, Aviva, Dalia, Ilsa, Joanie, Lia, Liora, Marnie, May, Mina, Roux

Boy: Asa, Asher, Bo, Ira, Isaac, Jack, Jacob, Jonah, Kai, Noam, Pim, Samson
*Update* A little girl—Bernadette Rosemary, called Bernie!

Janet Montgomery and Joe Fox

Gender: unknown

Siblings: none

British actress Janet Montgomery and boyfriend Joe Fox share a dog named Guthrie. Guthrie is a Scottish name in origin, but feels decidedly country-western, thanks in part to singer Woody Guthrie. Cowboy and -girl names are actually some of the fastest rising in England and Wales, so I’d wager that the couple will chose something with some country vibes for their son or daughter.

Girl: Hallie, Harlow, Indie, Josie, Mabel, Paisley, Rosalie, Sadie, Savannah, Skylar

Boy: Brody, Carter, Grayson, Hunter, Jax, Jude, Levi, Lincoln, Maddox, Wyatt
*Update* It's a girl—Sunday Juno!

Jess Weixler and Hamish Brocklebank

Gender: unknown

Siblings: none

Jess Weixler hails from the South—Kentucky, to be exact—while her husband Hamish Brocklebank is from the UK. While it might seem like these two regions would have disparate naming styles, there are some names that overlap. I took names that are rising on the UK charts and also have style cred in the American South to come up with a list of possibilities for Jess and Hamish.

Girl: Callie, Daisy, Ellie, Esme, Georgia, Maisie, Molly, Paisley, Scarlett, Willow

Boy: Benjamin, Gabriel, Grayson, Jackson, Jude, Miles, Rowan, Teddy, Toby
*Update* Welcome, Beatrice Danger!

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and Jionni LaValle

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Lorenzo Dominic and Giovanna Marie

Snooki Polizzi and Jionni LaValle are going to welcome their third child in 2019. Based on the names of their oldest two children, odds are that he or she will have a lengthy Italian name, which ties back to their ancestral heritage. I’d love to see them use an up-and-coming Italian name like Antonella or Luciano—their celebrity influence could propel these names into the mainstream.

Girl: Antonella, Bianca, Carina, Daniella, Giorgia, Giuliana, Lucia, Sienna, Viviana

Boy: Antonio, Emilio, Leonardo, Luciano, Marcello, Matteo, Maximo, Nicolo, Santino
*Update* Hello, Angelo James!

Carly Matros and Zachery Bryan

Gender: boy

Siblings: Gemma, Taylor (g), Jordana Nicole

Zachery Bryan was a child star of the ‘90s, and it seems like his naming style might be influenced by that decade. Taylor was a top ten pick for girls from 1993-2000 (peaking at Number 6 from ’94-’96). Jordana has never broken through the top 1000, but the very similar Jordan peaked for girls in 1997 at Number 40. Gemma is somewhat of an outlier in the sibset, as it has currently plateaued around Number 250. Now that Carly and Zachery are expecting a boy, are we going to see this same ‘90s style come through in his name?

Boy: Aiden, Brady, Carson, Clayton, Cody, Dylan, Griffin, Kyle, Lucas, Porter, Ryan
*Update* He's here—Pierce Alexander!

Kayla Rae Reid and Ryan Lochte

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Caiden Zane

Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte and his wife Kayla picked the name Caiden Zane for their son in 2016. It’s a name that’s emblematic of the decade, given the popularity of the -aiden names and affection for high-value Scrabble letters like Z. I expect their next child to have a name that is similarly on-trend and representative of the 2010s.

Girl: Addison, Aubree, Blakely, Brielle, Emerson, Everly, Kinsley, Rylee, Zoey

Boy: Axel, Bentley, Bryson, Colton, Jace, Jaxon, Kingston, Logan, Luke, Maverick
*Update* A girl—Liv Rae!

10 Q Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

Image Credit

When are Q names going to become a trend? We've had X's and O's, I think Q's turn is coming up. Let's stay ahead of the curve, and look at some rad Q names for boys.

Quaid- Sure, he's a celebrity surname, but we Americans have proven we aren't opposed to that. In fact, how about a celebrity surname sibset? I like the sound of Quaid and Keaton together. Not a movie buff? Spell it Quade.

Quain- Quain is a similar, but softer version of Quaid. Plus, he shares sounds with other trendy names like Zane, Kayne, and Reign.

Quennell- This French surname means "little oak tree," and sounds incredibly smart. Maybe it's that -nell ending he shares with some top colleges (Cornell, Bucknell, Grinnell, etc.). A baby named Quennell is destined for genius.

Quill- How amazing would it be if an author named their son Quill? Answer: Totally awesome. He's even great in the middle (and you don't have to be an author to use him).

Quillan- Is Quill too nickname-y for your taste? Try Quillan. Now he has a stylish ending, and a rad nickname.

Quiller- Or you could go with Quiller! He's similar in concept to Quillan, but he might be a better fit for your family.

Quimby- Any Ramona fans out there? Her surname would be great on a little boy (or girl), and you can read the books together.

Quince- Quince is one of the better Shakespearean names out there. He's short, peppy, and much more accessible than Horatio or Othello.

Quinlan- If you're in need of a Quinn name beyond Quentin, Quinlan's your man. They're so similar, it's silly that no one is using him.

Quito- We love place names, but I haven't heard of anyone named Quito. The capital of Ecuador would be a great name to honor your heritage.

10 T Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

Image Credit

You guys ready for T names for boys? Let's get right to it.

Tabor- Tabor is a common Hungarian name that would work well on an American baby. He would also make a nice middle name.

Talbot- He may sound a little posh for your liking, but the nickname Tal balances him out.

Taurus- If your baby is born under the sign of Taurus, it might be fun to consider his astrological sign as a name. With names like Justus and Magnus, Taurus fits right in.

Teague- I love Teague. He's simple and concise, but holds his own. Use Teague if you want a short, nicknameless name.

Teal- Color names aren't too common for boys, but Teal is one to consider. Similar option: Zeal.

Thane- Thane is one of those names that you'd think would be popular, but hasn't caught on yet. We love Shane and Zane, so Thane seems like the next logical step.

Theron- Theron peaked in 1910, so he's overdue for a revival. If he gets used by a celebrity, that would send him back into the top 1000.

Thijs- The pronunciation is less confusing than it looks--(TICE). He's a great Dutch boy name, and with a bit more use, he could be an easier pick for an American baby.

Tobin- Toby is an adorable nickname, but Tobias isn't everyones cup of tea. Tobin is a bit more contemporary, but still has some history.

Tor- Thor is pretty intense for a baby--or any man, for that matter. Tor is a softer pick, with the same Scandinavian roots.

Land of Nod Holiday Catalogue Names

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

Girls:

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

Boys:

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

Cool Names for Boys

Cool Names for Boys: Cillian/Killian, Xavier, Zane, Paxton, Tristan, Magnus, Lyndon, Nolan, Gideon, Ross, Royce, Leland, Ryder, Kane, Reggie, Porter, Dexter, Derek

10 Arabic Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

I made this one.

I don't put too much stock into the meanings of names, but this list has some great ones! If name meanings are something you care about, consider one of the following for your son.

Basim- Starting off with a good one, Basim means "smiling." He's not a popular name at all, but with easy spelling and pronounciation, I think he'd do well in the U.S.

Eyad- Eyad is a modern Arabic name (I couldn't find a meaning). I recently discovered him when watching the Israeli film A Borrowed Identity. The movie was amazing, which obviously colored my view of the main character's name. Watch the film and get back to me :)

Hakeem- Hakeem (and his variant, Hakim) has a debatable meaning. Some say it's "judicious," others, "wise." I prefer the latter, but it's really a win-win.

Nadim- Possibly the name with the best meaning of the list, Nadim is roughly defined as "drinking companion." Count him under Names for People 21 and Older.

Osman- Not many Arabic names come with wonderful nicknames, but I couldn't resist calling a little Osman Ozzie. I mean, how cute is that?

Rafi- Does Rafi still reek of children's songs? I met a young Rafi recently, and he seems perfectly wearable to me. He's a cross-cultural name with many different meanings, but the Arabic form means "noble."

Samar- Samar is a unisex name that means "evening conversation." Sorry Nadim, but that one might be my favorite. If that swanky meaning doesn't convince you, I don't know what will. Maybe the fact that you can call him Sam?

Sulaiman- Sulaiman is the Arabic form of Solomon, which, as many people know, means "peace." He's different yet familiar, with some exotic flair. Perfect.

Zaki- We really are winning with all these meanings today! Zaki means "pure." You could use him as a nickname for any of the Zach- names, but I really like him on his own.

Zinedine- Zinedine has roots in Arabic and French, and means "beauty of faith" or "jewel of religion." Again, the meaning is outstanding. He's pronounced ZAYN-ah-din or ZI-nah-din--though the former allows you to use the nickname Zane.

Nickname Proof Names: Boys

Krystin via Sappy Apple

While many of us look for names that are nickname gold-mines, just as many parents want a name with absolutely no nicknames at all. If you're one of the latter, I've compiled a list of over 100 names for boys--none with any established nicknames. It's all after the jump. Check back on Friday for the girls list!

Names with "an"

I recently got an email from a reader asking for some naming inspiration.

Fiona writes:

My first 2 children both have a theme of "an" - Marianne and Kassandra. It happened accidentally, but the more we think about future names, the more we seem attracted to this sound. It would be great to have some help and inspiration please! 
Our second child was only born this year, so we are jumping the gun a little but we do plan a 3rd child (hopefully, as obviously thanks to mother nature's blips, having a child is not in our complete control!) and our experience is that it is never too early to start thinking about names.

With many thanks,
Fiona 

Past the page break I have put together an exhaustive list of names with -an in them. I've italicised the ones I think work best with Marianne and Kassandra. Feel free to leave your thoughts or suggestions for Fiona in the comments. If you have a naming question that you would like me to post on the blog, feel free to email me at skihm (at) hotmail (dot) com. 

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 11

We're only two months into 2017, and already we have been blessed with the two best pregnancy announcements of the year (dare I say decade?). Yes, both Beyoncé and Amal Clooney are pregnant. Better yet—they're each having twins. The Carters and Clooneys are American royalty, and these will be regal pregnancies. So start placing your bets! What are the odds of a Queen Carter or Warren Clooney (500/1? 2500/1?)? I'm not quite sure, but I am confident that whatever the names of these noble children, they will be fit for a prince or a princess. 

Beyoncé and Jay Z

Gender: unknown twins

Siblings: Blue Ivy

Blue Ivy is a name with such subtle significance for Beyoncé and Jay Z that no one predicted it back in 2012. The Carters are likely to surprise us again with the names of their twins, but I made my best guesses as to what they might be. Maybe another name that nods to the number four, or an honor name?
Girl: Celeste, Chatura, Delta, Lumi, Lux, Moon, Nova, Queen, September, Soleil

Boy: Chance, Deréon, Dynasty, Hero, Luck, Nash, Origin, Quade, Royal, Truth
*Update* Welcome to Rumi and Sir Carter! 

Amal Alamuddin and George Clooney

Gender: girl/boy twins

Siblings: none

The rumors were true! Amal and George Clooney are going to be parents to twins—a boy and a girl. The latest rumors say that the Clooneys love classic names, especially ones that honor family members. Luckily George has many well-named relatives to draw inspiration from.

Girl: Eleanor, Elizabeth, Emma, Frances, Helen, Jane, Louise, Margaret, Marie, Nina, Rose

Boy:  Andrew, Charles, Edward, Henry, James, Joseph, Nicholas, Peter, Philip, Warren
*Update* The twins are here! Ella and Alexander Clooney

GloZell Green and Kevin Simon

Gender: unknown

Siblings: O'Zell Gloriana De Green

YouTube personality GloZell Green gave her daughter the honor name to end all honor names. She took bits and pieces of her family members' names and came up with O'Zell Gloriana De Green. Lest you think GloZell used all possible honor names at once, I have some fresh ideas for her.
Girl: Gigi, Glorielle, Glory, Glow, Ria, Zella, Zia, Zoria

Boy: Deon, Evan, Kevin, Orlando, Oz, Shaw, Shawn, Zevi

Chelsea Peretti and Jordan Peele

Gender: unknown

Siblings: none

Chelsea Peretti and Jordan Peele have stressed that they want their child to have a happy name. Whether that means a name that means happy or one with an upbeat, friendly feel, I've got it covered. 

Girl: Abby, Blythe, Emilia, Fiona, Georgia, Julia, Livia, Lucy, Sadie, Trixie

Boy: Arlo, Asher, Dexter, Felix, Gus, Henry, Milo, Nico, Oscar, Otto, Roscoe
*Update* It's a boy--Beaumont Gino!

Elizabeth Smart and Matthew Gilmour

Gender: boy

Siblings: Chloé

Elizabeth Smart and Matthew Gilmour gave their daughter the name Chloé, with an intentional accent over the E. This French-ification makes me think they'll choose a similarly European name for their son. 

Boy: Bastien, Dominic, Jackson, James, Leo, Luca, Max, Michael, Pierce, Simon
*Update* Yes, it's James!

Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Jason Statham

Gender: boy

Siblings: none

British couple Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Jason Statham are expecting their first child later this year—a baby boy! The pair currently reside in Hollywood, but I suspect their little one's name will have some English flair as a nod to Mom and Dad's home country. 

Boy: Charles, Frankie, Harvey, Hunter, Jake, Oliver, Rex, Toby, Winston, Yates
*Update* Hello, Jack Oscar!

Hannah Davis and Derek Jeter

Gender: girl

Siblings: none

It's been said that Derek Jeter already has a name picked out for his unborn daughter, but he's keeping it a secret for now. Whatever he has in mind, I have a feeling it's sweet and feminine.
Girl: Amelia, Aubrey, Charlie, Charlotte, Dorothy, Grace, Laila, Natalia
*Update* Feminine, indeed! Welcome, Bella Raine!

Kayla Rae Reid and Ryan Lochte

Gender: boy

Siblings: none

Ryan Lochte and his girlfriend Kayla will be welcoming a baby boy into their family! This fit, athletic couple is bound to give their son a strong and "streamlined" name.

Boy: Beckett, Cruz, Elijah, Hudson, Jaxon, Jude, Maddox, Reid, Tucker
*Update* Baby boy is Caiden Zane!