10 Arabic Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

via For the Love of Names on Pinterest. Follow her!

Depending on where you live in the United States, Arabic names are seldom heard. You're much more likely to hear them in Europe, Africa, and of course, the Middle East. I'm lucky to live in a place where almost all cultures are represented, so I'm no stranger to Arabic names. However, this list contains some names that even I had never heard of, and I'm excited to share it with you.

Anisa- Anisa is a simpler variation of Aanisah, and means "good natured." Even though the two are unrelated, her similarity to the spice anise makes me think she'd be a good name for the daughter of a chef.

Aziza- Looking for a zesty alternative to Aviva? Aziza is your best option. She's spunky and fresh--I kind of love her.

Farida- So many Arabic names have simply beautiful meanings, and Farida is no exception. She means "unique and precious pearl," how lovely is that? She'd be wonderful for a June baby, who's birthstone is the pearl.

Hadiya- I've told you before about my love for Hadiya. Nothing has changed! I would love to see her used more often in the U.S.--Hadiya is extremely import friendly.

Nazia- Nazia is one of those names I had never heard of before (she doesn't even have an entry on Nameberry!), but I'm so glad I finally did, because she's remarkably beautiful. Nazia means "woman who we are proud of," and her likeness to Nadia makes her a perfect unsual yet familar pick for an American baby.

Noor- You've most likely heard of Noor. But unless you live in the Netherlands (where she is so popular) you probably never really thought of using her. Her sweet simplicity makes her attractive to parents from all cultures. Noor can fit into many a sibset.

Omaira- Omaira means "red," so put her on the list for any ginger-haired, Autumn-born babies that you'll have. There's not much information on her, but it seems as if she derived from Omar, and therefore makes a lovely honor name for him.

Peridot- Oh, Peridot. I have talked about her so much (one, two, three, four, five, six). She's definitely one of my guilty pleasure names. And the nickname Dot! I die.

Zaina- Zaina (and similarly, Zayna) are variations of Zaynab--"beautiful" in Arabic, and also a tree name. -ain names might be the next big thing in the U.S., so Zaina would be right on trend.

Zuelia- I'm a big fan of a Julia substituion (see here: Tulia), so you can imagine how excited I was to find Zuelia. I love her soothing zue sound, though I understand the similarity to "zoo" might bother some people.

Jul- Names

Image Credit

As it is the first full week in July, it seemed only fitting to do a post on names with the Jul- prefix. They're wonderful for a baby born any time of the year, but it can also make a special connection between their name and birth month.

Girls
Jules--cute, but I prefer it on boys.
Julha--July in Portuguese.
Julia--classic and classy.
Julianna--an elegant, tasteful choice.
Julianne--she's growing on me, thanks to Julianne Moore.
Julianita--quite a mouthful.
Julie--heading into grandma name territory.
Julieta--we love Juliette, so why not Julieta? She's lovely.
Juliet(te)--Peoples' Choice Award for favorite Jul- name.
Julina--not one you hear often, but very pretty.
Juline--the -line suffix is pretty dated, but Juline was never popular, so you could get away with it.
Julinka--the Hungarian version of Julia has a quirky feel that I adore.
Julissa--this way you can use Lissy as a nickname.
July--I love July! She's my favorite underused month name.

Boys
Jules--so handsome and European.
Julian--on the rise and poised to break the top 40.
Juliano--Julian with some added Latin flair.
Julio--Doesn't he just make you think of that fabulous Simon & Garfunkel song?
Julius--not quite as popular as the similar Julian, but nevertheless, he's on the up and up.

10 T Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

Image Credit

Is it already time for T names for girls? Yikes, we only have a few more letters left to do. I am really excited about this list today. There are some really good choices, so pay attention.

Tacy- I'll always have a soft spot for Tacy, after reading the Betsy, Tacy, and Tib books when I was younger. She can be used as a nickname for Anastasia, and is perfect for honoring a Stacy.

Tamar- I love Tamar. She's a strong, powerful name that Americans should embrace. She has never been in the U.S. top 1000, but she is much more popular in Georgia and Israel.

Tamsin- Tamsin is a diminutive of the Thomasina, both of which are scarcely heard in the United States. She would work nicely as an honor name for a Tamara or Tammy.

Tarot- Are you a fortune teller? Maybe an astrology enthusiast? Consider Tarot for a daughter. She has a lovely sound, and would be a great middle name.

Thais- Thais is a gorgeous Greek name that has never been in the top 1000. She ranks at #4873, so it's practically guaranteed that she'll be the only Thais on the block.

Thisbe- Thisbe is a more well-known Greek name--because of her role in Greek mythology. Her story may be a tragic one, but her name is still a perfectly fine choice.

True- True is a Modern Virtue Name that works well on a girl or a boy. Cakies blogger Rubyellen used True for her daughter (with sisters named Brave, Soul, and Glow).

Tuesday- Days of the week names aren't particularly popular, but I think Tuesday is one of the best. She's a quirky day name without Addams family associations.

Tulia- Tulia wins for my favorite of the list. I recently met the most wonderful woman named Tulia, and she made me fall in love with her name. Tulia is perfect if you're looking for a more interesting alternative to Julia.

Twila- Twila peaked in the 1930s, which means she's almost ready for a comeback. Even though we may be a decade early, I think Twila would work really well for the 2015 baby of a night owl.

Warby Parker Names

Image Credit

Do you guys like Warby Parker glasses? I don't wear glasses, but I might invest in a pair of their sunglasses (that are super awesome as well). All the Warby Parker glasses have names, which are just as cool as the glasses themselves. I've left out a few obscurities (mainly Duckworth), but the rest of these names are perfect for any hip baby.

Girls
Annette
Clara
Julia
Madison
Mallory
Minnie
Piper

Boys
Aldous
Ames
Arthur
Aslin
Ballard
Banks
Baxter
Beckett
Begley
Bensen
Burke
Chamberlain
Chandler
Cliff
Clyde
Crane
Crossfield
Dale
Dean
Dixon
Downing
Durand
Duval
Eli
Everett
Felton
Fillmore
Finch
Fitz
Garrett
Griffin
Halford
Hall
Hardy
Haskell
Holt
Hutton
Huxley
Ingram
Kidd
Langston
Linwood
Lyle
Marcel
Marple
Marshall
Miles
Mitchell
Nash
Nedwin
Neville
Oliver
Ormsby
Owen
Percey
Pierce
Preston
Quentin
Raglan
Ramsay
Robinson
Ryder
Seymour
Sims
Sinclair
Stewart
Teddy
Thatcher
Theo
Thompson
Upton
Wally
Watts
Webb
Wilkie
Wiloughby
Winston
Zagg

Unisex
Ainsworth
Batten
Coley
Ellison
Goodney
Kimbal
Lowry
McKee
Paley
Quimby
Raleigh
Reece
Reilly
Ripley
Rowan
Sibley
Sloan
Walker

Unhateable Names

Image Credit

Some parents don't care about how popular their child's name is, or whether or not it will seem dated in twenty years. In fact, many parents' goal is to find a normal name for their baby, one that no one will ridicule or cringe at. If you fall into that camp, I have a great list for you today. I have compiled a list of 14 names that people just can't hate.

Boys:
Andrew- A sturdy classic. Andrew is a solid choice.
Ben- Sweet and charming. Everyone loves a Ben.
Charlie- Charlie is a handsome and playful name. Whether on his own, or as a nickname for Charles, you can't go wrong with Charlie.
Henry- I'm normally adverse to names as popular as Henry, but I just can't help loving him. How can you not?
Jack- A simple name that packs a punch. I can picture the name Jack on almost any man.
James- One of the more popular of this list, he ranks at 13. Many parents see James's appeal.
Michael- Always popular and never dated. No one will give you weird looks for naming your son Michael.

Girls:
Caroline- Elegant and royal. Caroline will always be a lovely choice.
Emma- Classy, simple, and yes, currently a bit trendy. But I have a feeling she's going to remain much more of a classic than Sophia or Ava.
Claire- I know so many Claires, of all ages. She's not going out of style for a long time.
Grace- I'll admit, I'm not the biggest fan of Grace, but I don't hate her. She is virtuous without being over the top, and has some incredible namesakes (I mean, Grace Kelly, right?).
Julia- She's been flying under the radar, but that doesn't mean she's not being used--she comes in at 75. A beautiful name, forever and always.
Kate- The trendy nicknames for Katherine will come and go (I'm pretty into Kit), but Kate will always remain the classic. Whether she's the nickname or the full form, everyone will like Kate.
Lucy- A sweet choice that I've been hearing all over the place on little girls. I predict she will go down in history as a modern classic.

10 J Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

Image Credit

Finally, no more I names. J is an easy letter to work with, there are so many names that begin with it. If you're looking for something a little more offbeat, I suggest you try this list. We've got an interesting group today.

Jacinta- Pronounced with an H sound as opposed to a J, Jacinta is the Spanish word for hyacinth.

Jalila- A cute and unique way to get to the nickname Lila.

Janna- You could pronounce her (YAH-nuh) or (JAN-uh), but if you choose the former be prepared for some confusion. If you happen to like that pronunciation, Iana gets the point across more clearly.

Jean- I get it, she seems dated. But if everyone's going gaga over Jane, it's not unreasonable to think Jean would be the next step. It feels refreshing on a baby girl.

Jemsa- She sounds very British to my ear. Half Gemma, half Elsa, how can you go wrong?

Jetta- Jette is pretty stylish as a nickname, but if you don't like Juliette, what are you to do? Jetta sounds a bit more tough but can still be called Jette, so it's perfect.

Jocasta- She's one of the few Jo- names that sounds super fresh. Perfect for honoring Aunt Joanna or Grandma Joan.

Joss- Yes, Joss can be a girl name, too. You could use her as a nickname for Jocelyn, but I'm also fond of her by herself.

Jules- Much spunkier than Julia or Juliet.

July- July has been snubbed as a month name. She's fun, quirky, and perfect for any time of the year.

Top Italian Names

Image Credit

At the end of this week I will be jet-setting to Italy for two weeks! I am beyond excited, and to set the mood, I thought we would look at the top five names for each gender in Italy. The most recent data I could find was from 2012, but that shouldn't be too far off from this year's. Enjoy!

Girls:
1. Sofia- Same top name as the U.S., just with the Latin spelling as opposed to the Greek.
2. Giulia- The Italian Julia. I think this spelling is more pretty, though I wouldn't use it in the U.S.
3. Giorgia- What a gorgeous name. The English equivalent, Georgia is on the rise in America.
4. Martina- Martina is so lovely, yet she is not even ranked in our top 1000. What's up with that?
5. Emma- She's not very Italian, but it's easy to see why she is so popular in so many countries.

Boys:
1. Francesco- A romantic name that would work well on an American child. Also not in the top 1000.
2. Alessandro- You can't get more Italian than Alessandro.
3. Andrea- Considering this used to be a popular girl name in the U.S., I can't see this one working.
4. Lorenzo- A really cool way to honor a Lawrence. His popularity at 237 remains steady.
5. Matteo- A popular American celebrity baby name, often paired with Luca. Image Credit

July Names

Image Credit

Tomorrow is the first day of July, a month that can be rather hot and unbearable here in Chicago. However, it is a month that offers a lot of inspiration in the baby name department. Whether you want your baby's name to subtly or obviously honor his or her birth month, this list can give you plenty of ideas.

Birthstone:
Ruby- A cute name on the rise, perfect for any time of year.

Birth Flower:
Larkspur- If Larkspur seems like too much for you, Lark or Larkin would be just fine.
Water Lily- This one offers so many options. From the water part you can get names like Sea, Lake, River, and Bay. From Lily you can use Lilia, Lillian, Lilith, or even Shoshanna. If you want, go all the way with this one and call her Oceane Liliana.

Birth Colors:
Green- So many shades of green make great baby names. The most useable ones are Olive, Fern, Forest, Hunter, India, Paris, Pine, and Sea (another great reason to use Sea).
Russet- What a cool name for a boy. He's perfect to honor a Russell, plus you can call him Russ.

Star Sign:
Leo- Late July babies will be Leos, which offers great options such as Leo, Leonardo, and Leopold for boys, and Leona, Leonie, or even Cleo for girls.

Related to July:
4th of July- Having a July 4th baby? Some parents like to go with the obvious connection and choose America or Liberty. Want something a little more understated? Try Justus.
Jul Names- Of course you can always go for the names that sound like July, including Julia, Juliette, Julian, and Julius.
Seven- July is the seventh month, and Seven is one of the few numbers that really seems to work as a baby name.
Summer- Summer is in full swing in July, so she makes perfect sense as a name.

Ends in -Lia

Image Credit

The -lia ending has always been a popular one for girls. Recently though, there has been a rise in many of the -lia names. If the idea of a long, gorgeous name strikes your fancy for a daughter, take a look at this list of names ending in -lia.

Expected:
Amelia
Cecilia
Julia
Lilia
Malia
Natalia
Talia

Unique:
Amalia
Celia
Cornelia
Dahlia
Delia
Magnolia
Ophelia
Rosalia

Unheard of:
Arcellia
Aurelia
Camelia
Cordelia
Eulalia
Lelia
Odelia


**Next week I will be taking a break, as it is my birthday on Monday, and I will be leaving town later that week for a wedding. Be back on the 23rd, with names from one of my favorite movies.

Song Names: The Beatles

Image Credit

So many musicians have songs titled with (mostly female) names. The Beatles are no exception. Their songs offer great inspiration for baby names. And how fun would it be to have a special "name song?"

Girls:
Anna- Classic and elegant.
Bonnie- I have always thought Bonnie would be super sweet on a baby.
Clarabella- Pick one.
Eleanor- The song is sad, but there are other great songs with Eleanor in the title.
Heather- Too dated for a baby.
Julia- She will always be in style.
Lizzy- A cute nickname for Elizabeth
Lucille- Beautiful on her own or called Lucy.
Lucy- Always sweet.
Maggie Mae- I'm not usually a fan of alliterating names, but I really like Maggie Mae.
Martha- Super wearable. I am a Martha advocate. More people should use her.
Mary Jane- Not sure about the combo, but either on their own are nice.
Penny- Lovely, and now Penelope is back in style, so there's a perfect full name for her.
Prudence- Not quite ready for revival.
Rita- Ooh, I could see this one being cute on a young girl.
Sadie- I love Sadie, but prefer Zadie.
Sally- Why not?

Boys:
Johnny- I think it would work on a baby.
Jude- Great name, great song.
Lane- Preppy.
Robert- I like it. You can call him Bertie.
Rocky- Cute if he's short for Rockwell.
Teddy- A great nickname that works for so many names.

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Duggar Baby No. 20

Image Credit

Have you heard the news? Mega-family and reality TV stars the Duggars are expecting baby number twenty. Here are some of my predictions for the name of their latest arrival, sticking with the "J" theme.

Girls:
Safe: Jacelyn, Jacey, Jade, Jane, Janelle, Jemma, Jersey, Jessa, Julia, Juliette, June
Daring: Jacqueline, January, Jasmine, Jemima, Jenevieve, Jessamine, Jetta, Jocelyn, Jolie, Juno
Out-there: Jacinta, Jenesis, Joella, Juniper

Boys:
Safe: Jaden, Jareth/Jarett, Jasper, Jonah, Jonas, Jude, Julian, Julius
Daring: Jagger, Jarvis, Jensen, Jet, Justice
Out-there: Jabez, Jerusalem, Jethro, Journey

My top picks: Juliette for a girl and Jonah for a boy.

Catalog Names: Mini Boden, Winter 2013

When your my age, you aren't looking at the Mini Boden catalog for the clothes (though those are super cute, and I do enjoy looking at them). You look at the Mini Boden catalog for the names. Hands down the best catalog for name perusal is Mini Boden, and you can see why.

Girls:
Amaury
Amelie
Cai
Daisy
Eleanor
Emily
Felicity
Hattie
Ivy
Jessika
Julia
London
Lotte
Martha
Olivia
Sophie
Tiana
Willow
Yasmin
Ynez

Boys:
Alexander
Arthur
Caleb
Cameron
Charlie
Cody
Laik
Oliver
Rafferty
Sol
Tye

Catalog Names: Boden

Girls:
Amber
Anastacia
Arlenis
Azraa
Camila
Chloe
Clarise
Coco
Courtney
Danika
Darian
Elsa
Emily
Hannah
Fiona
Gabriella
Jensen
Jessica
Jourdan
Julia
Katie
Keira
Kim
Layla
Madalena
Marloes
Meghan
Michella
Minnie
Mollie
Nadja
Nina
Nell
Olivia
Sofia
Trinity
Yasmin

Boys:
Emile
Farhaan
Griffin
Indrees
Isaiah
Jaden
Joel
Jonathan
Kian
Lorenz
Lucien
Marc
Marco
Miles
Rafferty
Rokken
Sebastian
Toviyah
Walker
Zakai

Catalog Names: PB Teen

Girls:
Addison
Amanda
Anna
Ariel
Brooke
Brynn
Chelsea
Chloe
Claire
Coraline
Elsie
Emma
Emily
Hallie
Jamie
Julia
Julie
Kaitlyn
Katie
Kelley
Kennedy
Lacey
Lauren
Lola
Marbella
Martina
Mary
Molly
Peyton
Raleigh
Sarah
Sophie
Taylor
Zoe


Boys:
Austin
Brooks
Chris
Emerson
Hunter
Jacob
Jake
Joe
Maddox
Max
Tyler

Prediction: Duggars Next Baby

As some of you might know, I happen to watch the TV show 19 Kids and Counting on a regular basis. In case you are unaware of their strange naming style, all their kids names start with J. They even named one of their daughters Jinger. Now, I hate J names for either gender, but I started to think about what the Duggars would name their next hypothetical child. I have a few guesses that I wanted to share with you guys.

Boys:

Jacob- I am really surprised that they haven't used this one yet. This is my top guess for their next boy.
Jasper
Jeffery
Jeremy
Jerusalem- Out there, but biblical, which they like.
Joel
Jonas/Jonah
Jorge- If they pronounced it JORE-ge.
Jude/Judah
Justice

Girls:

Jade/Jada
Jane
Janelle
Jasmine
Jemma
Jenesis- Genesis, with a J. Biblical, and they have no problem switching G's for J's.
Jenevieve
Jianna
Joselyn
Journey
Julia- My top guess for the girls. It's a classic.
Juliette