Names Ending in -ow(e)

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-O names have been in style for a while now. As of 2015, it seems like we have a new trend. Names that end in -ow or -owe--while similar to -o names--have a different feel. There's a real unisex quality to them. Most of these names can be used on a girl or boy. More than a few of them have nature ties, which is also appealing to today's parents. I'm excited about this trend. -ow names have real potential, and I suspect quite a few of these will make it into the top 1000 this year.

Arrow- As a symbol, it's a popular hipster motif--and as a word name, well, he's still a little hipster-ish. With names like Fletcher on the rise, I wouldn't be surprised to meet a baby Arrow (in fact, I have!).

Barlow- I included Barlow in my 10 B Names You Never Thought of Using list, which means he's perfect if you want an under-the-radar, trendy name.

Bowe- Bo and Beau (especially) have been on the rise. A lot of times stylish names get quite a few unique spellings, so I'm surprised no one has thought of using Bowe yet. I think this spelling would work great on girls, but I could see it on a boy as well.

Carlow- Carlow is a college name, as well as an excellent baby name. It would be nice on either gender, and makes a nice alternative to Charlie.

Fallow- Fallow is a light brown color, one that is often used to describe the color of deer. Like it on a girl? You can nickname her Doe or Fawn. 

Harlow- Oh Harlow. People are loving her. She currently ranks at #540, but she is making a steep climb up the charts. Maybe that cute pup on Instagram has something to do with it.

Marlowe- Marlowe is rising extremely quickly. Even though she ranks at #1284, she will definitely make it to the top 1000 this year. Use her while you can, this one is about to get real popular.

Meadow- At one time she may have sounded like a 1960s flower child, but today Meadow makes for a lovely nature pick. She has a sweet quality about her, and in the age of flower names, Meadow seems perfect.

Nowe- I have a couple of problems with this name. They mostly consist of the name is pronounced like the word "no," which would be horribly confusing for a toddler. I can really only justify putting this one in the middle.

Rainbow- Rainbow is similar to Meadow, except I don't think she lost her hippie-chick vibe. Try Rain. Or Bo.

Snow- Snow is a delightful, whimsical name for a winter baby girl. There are princess ties, which can be a plus or a minus for some people.

Sparrow- Bird names are so fun, and I adore Sparrow. Nicole Richie and Joel Madden named their son Sparrow (brother to Harlow), but it works on either gender.

Willow- She's the most popular on this list, coming in at #155. Willow is still on the rise, so I'll bet she breaks the top 100 for 2014. Willow is a very ethereal nature name, and it's easy to see why people love her.

Winslow- Currently, Winslow is used for boys 97% of the time. But, since fewer than five children were given the name last year, I think it is absolutely usable for girls.

Month Names: September

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Usually September means the start of fall, but here in Chicago it stays pretty hot all month. This is the last month to cherish summer before autumn hits us in October. September is the most popular month to have a baby, so many parents are probably scrambling to find the perfect name right about now. If you fall into that camp, take a look at this list containing names that would be great for your September baby.

Birthstone:
Sapphire- A spunky name with potential. She reminds me of that song "Girl Put You Records On," which my mom used to play all the time when I was a kid.

Birth Flower:
Aster- Aster is an unusual flower name that is often overlooked. When people are looking for unique flower names, Aster is usually the first name I tell them.
Morning Glory- I don't suggest you name your child Morning Glory (Though I did have a teacher who gave her daughter the middle name Lily-of-the-Valley), but Glory is cute on her own.

Birth Colors:
Brown- Please don't name your baby Brown. If you want to make a connection to their birth month, use a shade of brown instead. I suggest Citrine, Cordovan, Fallow, Fawn, Isabelline, Rufous, Russet, Sepia, Sienna, Tawny, or Umber.

Star Sign:
Virgo- Virgo is not a great choice, but Virginia is.
Libra- Libra could definitely work as a name. She would make a cute middle for a late September born baby girl.

Related to September:
Autumn- September 1st is the meteorological first day of Autumn, which makes this a perfect name for a baby born on that day (or after).
Ember- She's the last five letters of September, but not an obvious choice.
Nona- September is the ninth month, and the adorable name Nona means nine. She'd be on my list if she didn't mean grandma in Italian.
Tess- September used to be referred to as the month of harvest, and Tess (and her counterparts) mean harvester. Perfect choice if you're looking to make an extremely subtle connection.


Of course you can always go ahead and use September as a name for either gender. It's not unheard of, and makes for a unique pick.

25 Days of Christmas: North

Today's Christmas Baby Name is truly unisex- I'm talking about North. North is a word name that means "the direction North." While I prefer it for a girl, North is more on trend with the boys. It has a tough girl/boy vibe, and goes along well with names like Arrow or Fawn.

North is very up-and-coming. It is a pretty new name, inspired by its trendy brothers Weston and Easton. There are no famous Norths yet, but we'll probably see a celebrity use this one in the next few years.

North is an unusual appellation that conjures up pictures of snow and ice, perfect for a winter or holiday baby. North makes my own list (for girls, not boys) and I would love to see somebody use it. It's a great name that is suitable for either gender.