British Nicknames Ready for Import

Cheryl M Photography via 100 Layer Cakelet

It's no secret that I fall into the "name them what you call them" camp. If you're never going to use your child's full name, then just skip it! The Brits are true followers of this philosophy--much of their top 500 consists of nickname names. I compiled the ones I think Americans should also embrace as full names right here. After all, if you only plan on calling her Pixie, you're better off discarding Patricia.

Girls
Beau
Betty
Billie
Bonnie
Cleo
Connie
Dolly
Edie
Effie
Elsie
Emmie
Evie
Georgie
Gracie
Hallie
Hattie
Holly
Indie
Josie
Kitty
Maisie
Marnie
Millie
Minnie
Lacie
Lexi
Libby
Lottie
Penny
Pippa
Pixie
Polly
Poppy
Rosie
Sylvie
Tilly

Boys
Albie
Alfie
Ali
Archie
Beau
Bertie
Billy
Bobby
Buddy
Danny
Eddie
Frankie
Freddie
Georgie
Harry
Hugh
Jamie
Jan
Jay
Joe
Joey
Johnny
Junior
Kit
Lee
Lenny
Louie
Monty
Nico
Ollie
Rafe
Reggie
Remy
Rex
Rio
Ronnie
Rory
Rudy
Shay
Sonny
Ted
Teddy
Toby
Tommy
Vinnie
Woody
Zac

DIY Double Barrel Names

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If you're not a name nerd, you've probably only heard of the term "double barrel" being used in terms of surnames. You know, when parents combine their surnames into one hyphenated last name for their baby? It exists for first names too. The Social Security Administration doesn't take the hyphen into account, so unfortunately double barrel names are not recorded in the United States. To see how popular these names are, we have to go to the European data. Double barrel names are a hit in places like the U.K. (as seen in this article from The Telegraph)--Amelia-Rose, Lily-Rose, and Elllie-Mae are some of the most fashionable.

Now's the chance to build your own double barrel name! I've provided some options for the first and second names, but feel free to go off script. Tell me your favorite ones in the comments.

First Name Amy Anna Ava Betty Carol Charlotte Cora Daisy Ella Ellie Eliza Emily Emma Emme Georgia Hannah Katie Laura Leah Lily Lucy Mary Nora Rosa Sarah

Second Name      Alice      Anne      Bella      Belle      Beth      Catherine      Claire      Ella      Eve      Faith      Faye      Frances      Grace      Jane      Jean      June      Kate      Kay      Lane      Lee      Lou      Louise      Lynn      Margaret      Marie      May      Quinn      Rose      Rue      Ruth      Shay      Sue

*I'll be back after Labor Day with Arabic Names for Boys--have a good holiday!*

Literary Names: Atonement

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I have just finished reading Atonement by Ian McEwan for my summer homework, and it is chock full of interesting names. The book takes place in WWII era, and the names were spot on. Some were rather surprising, including the main character's name, Briony. Take a look at the names and tell me what you think.

Girls:
Arabella
Betty
Briony
Cecilia
Doll
Emily
Hermione
Lola
Polly
Victoria
Venus

Boys:
Albert
Cecil
Clem
Danny
Jack
Jackson
Leon
Marshall
Paul
Perriot
Quintus
Robbie

Nicknames for Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a classic name. She has many nicknames and variations, some more popular than others. Here I have listed all the nicknames I could think of.

Battie
Bee
Bess
Bessie
Bet
Beth
Betsy
Betty
Birdie
Bitsy
Bitty
Ella
Elle
Ellie
Eliza
Elsa
Elsie
Izzy
Lia
Libby
Liddy
Lilibet
Lilo
Lisa
Lissy
Liz
Liza
Lizzie
Tib
Tibby
Zaza

Classic Cartoon Character Names

What are your favorite classic cartoons? Would you name your kids after your favorite characters? Here are some classic cartoon character names that may or may not work well for actual children

Girls:

Alexandra
Betty
Daphne
Jane
Josie
Judy
Lucy
Minnie
Olive
Patty
Pebbles
Rosie
Smurfette
Velma
Wilma

Boys:

Bam-Bam
Boo-Boo
Barney
Bugs
Charlie
Donald
Elmer
Felix
Fred
Garfield
George
Jerry
Linus
Mickey
Scooby
Snoopy
Sylvester
Tom
Yogi

Our Generations Grandkids

What do you think our grandkids will be named? I am thinking the old lady and old man names that everybody thinks are ugly. Here are a few I think might make it:

Girls:

Betty
Susan
Linda
Pamela
Elizabeth
Mary
Dorothy

Boys:

Paul
John
Leonard
Arnold
Sidney
Bert
Harold

Fashionable Old Lady Names

Fashionable Old Lady Names: Edith, Elsa, Esther, Betty, Eve, Beatrice, Etta, Pearl, Theodora, Ruth, Iris, Mabel, Martha, Myrtle, Helen, Georgina, Mildred, Imogene, Peggy, Polly, Agnes, Addie, Gertrude, Leona, Murielle, Irene, Angela, Andrea, Donna