Celebrity Baby Name Suggestions: Volume 5

Chloe Ferres via Desktop Mag

This month's set of celebrity naming styles is very eclectic. There's Katherine Heigl and her husband Josh, who loves honor names; Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, who famously made Wyatt a unisex name; and Mira Pak and Terrence Howard, who create their own names. We'll have to wait and see if they follow the same technique or take a wildly different approach. For now, these are my predictions for the names of eight upcoming celebrity babies.

Savannah Guthrie and Michael Feldman
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Vale Guthrie (g)
Savannah Guthrie's baby's name was big news the first time around--and not just because she's an NBC anchor. She gave her daughter Vale an interesting and unique name that was very stylish. For baby number two, I bet she'll choose something as equally short and snazzy.
Girl: Bay, Brynn, Cleo, Greer, Lane, Navy, Rae, Romy, Sage, Scout, Seren, Wren
Boy: Beck, Bram, Cord, Drew, Gray, Hart, Joss, Jude, Lake, Lev, Reid, Ryne, Tate
*Update* A little boy! Charles Max, called Charley.

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Wyatt Isabelle
Where do you go after Wyatt? These gender-bending celebrities are throwing me for a loop. The choices below could probably work for either gender Kutcher baby--Wyatt is just as likely to have a brother or a sister named Sawyer, Walker, or Logan.
Girl: Bo, Darby, Evan, James, Logan, Max, Micah, Noa, Reid, Rory, Sawyer, Shane
Boy: Colton, Dempsey, Grady, Levi, Maddox, Owen, Ryder, Tucker, Walker, Weston
*Update* Hello, Dimitri Portwood!

Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley
Gender: boy
Siblings: Nancy Leigh "Naleigh" Moon and Adalaide Marie Hope
Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley love family names. All of daughters' names are of significance, so I'm certain that their little boy will have a meaningful name as well. Naleigh and Adalaide's names heavily honor Katherine's side, so I wouldn't be surprised if Josh's family had the most influence on this baby's name.
Boy: Bishop, Charlie, Cooper, George, Henry, Jasper, John, Paul, Sebastian, Theodore
*Update* Joshua Bishop--another honor-filled name!

Dylan Dreyer and Brian Fichera
Gender: boy
Siblings: none
It's a boy for this NBC News couple--Dylan Dreyer is the meteorologist on the Today Show, and her husband Brian Fichera is a cameraman. I wonder if their professions will play a role in his name--a weather-inspired name, perhaps?
Boy: Aidan, Andrew, Caleb, Charlie, Lucas, Owen, Sam, Skylar, Storm, William, Zachary
*Update* Welcome, Calvin Bradley!

Teresa Palmer and Mark Webber
Gender: boy
Siblings: Isaac Love (Webber's previous marriage), Bodhi Rain
Australian actress Teresa Palmer is going to have a houseful of boys! The couple seems to like pairing mainstream names with bold middles. That being said, I think this little boy might have a tranquil, zen name like his brother Bodhi.
Boy: Asher, August, Finn, Holden, Jude, Julian, Kai, Landon, Nolan, Soren
*Update* Baby boy is Forest!

Mira Pak and Terrence Howard
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Heaven, Hunter, Aubrey (all three from a different marriage), Qirin
Qirin, pronounced like Kieran, is a name that Mira Pak and Terrence Howard created. They were inspired by the Qilin--a Chinese mythical creature. If they go that route again, I've got my bases covered. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the went a completely new, yet just as creative route.
Girl: Ariana, Autumn, Bixie, Chimera, Eden, Melody, Nadia, Scarlett
Boy: Axel, Blaze, Dominic, Gannon, Hayden, Kingston, Talon, Yeren
*Update* It's a boy--welcome Hero!

Vanessa and Kobe Bryant
Gender: girl
Siblings: Natalia, Gianna
It's a third girl for the Bryants! I'm excited to hear how they round out their already fantastic sibset. My guess is they'll go for another feminine, classy choice.
Girl: Allegra, Angelina, Camilla, Cecilia, Eliana, Emilia, Francesca, Lucia, Marina, Victoria
*Update* Bianka Bella--perfect for this sibset!

Nautical Names

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I profiled Beachy Names last week, and while this is a similar post (a few names overlap), Nautical Names are much different. Beachy Names have a laid back, summery feel, where as Nautical Names are much preppier, and less nature-y. Which do you prefer? Let me know.

Anchor- The symbol of preppiness everywhere, Anchor makes a wonderful name for your strong, sea-loving son or daughter.

Beacon- As in lighthouse. I've talked about Beacon many times before (here, here, here, and here) with the hopes of convincing people to use it. No luck yet, but I'm still hopeful.

Catalina- A Catalina is a type of yacht, and arguably, one of the most usable names on this list. No one would blink an eye at a baby named Catalina, or, at least I wouldn't.

Crew- All boats need a crew, so why not have it be your son? He's short, punchy, and with similarities to names like Cruz, makes a spectacular nautical name.

Harbor- Harbor is a name I'm always telling people to use. It can be used on a boy or girl, and it's the best alternative to Harper.

Marina- Some people park their boats in the Harbor, others, the Marina. Sibset potential? Marina is very graceful and feminine--qualities not often found in preppy or nautical names.

Nautica- Sometimes names with subtle connections are in order, and other times they are not. Nautica falls into the latter camp, as she is merely one letter away from being "nautical."

Navy- Navy and white are the two most nautical colors, but unfortunately White doesn't work as a name. But Navy is a lovely name, so long as you convince people it's after the color, not the branch of military.

Sailor- Even though Christie Brinkley named Sailor back in 1998, the name has only recently experienced mega-gains. Sailor is a unisex name, but is currently used for girls 90% of the time.

Sea- Sea is one of my very favorites. She's ethereal and whimsical and oh-so-lovely.

Skipper- A skipper is a captain of a boat, as well as Barbie's little sister. That makes me see it as more of a girls name, but I suppose it would also work well on boys. Skip, Skippy, and Kip are some possible nicknames.

Month Names: January

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Happy New Year everybody! I'm so glad it's finally 2015. It's going to be a good year, I can feel it. If you're having a baby this month, consider sneaking a January-related name in the choice pool. I have a lot of great options for you.

Birthstone: 
Garnet- Garnet is a great gemstone name, and one of the few that works better on boys.

Birth Flower:
Camellia- Camellia is a beautiful name on her own, but you can also call her Cammie.
Carnation- I'm not sure how usable Carnation is as a name. You could call her Carnie?
Plum Blossom- In China, January's flower is the Plum Blossom. You might not want to use them as a set, but Plum or Blossom make fun names on their own.
Snowdrop- Snowdrop doesn't really work as a name, but there are names that are related to snow, like Neve.

Birth Colors: 
Black- Black itself isn't a name, but Ebony, Jet, Noir, and Onyx are.
Dark Blue- We went over dark blue names in November. I stand by my picks of Cobalt, Indigo, and Navy.

Star Sign:
Aquarius- Aquarius means water bearer, so a water name like Bay, Lake, or Oceane would be perfect.
Capricorn- Last month I suggested Caprice as an option. Does it work?

Related to January:
Jan Names- Most of the Jan- names are not in style, but Jane, January, and Janson are in vogue.
Winter- Winter is in full swing, why not name your daughter after her birth season?

10 N Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

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As many of you guys know, N is the first initial of my all time favorite girl name--Nell. Nell is gorgeous, sweet, and lovely, and will not be making an appearance on this list. Instead I've picked some more creative, daring, and unexpected names for you to consider.

Navy- This color name has become more fashionable lately, and it's easy to see why. She shares a -av sound with popular names Ava and Avery, and she's not too long.

Nelia- Nelia is originally a nickname for Cornelia, but she stands nicely all on her own. Possible nicknames include Nell or Lia.

Nemy- A cute, upbeat name that strikes me as more feminine than Remy. She might work better as a nickname though.

Nessa- Nessa could be used as a nickname for Vanessa, Janessa, or even Anastasia, but I'm attracted to her simplicity.

Nettie- She's a spunky, old fashioned nickname with lots of charm. She doesn't need a full name, but if you must, she works for any name ending in -ette.

Nigella- Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson is the most famous bearer of this name, which comes from a spice. I'm not sure many American parents would be brave enough to use Nigella, but you could always call her Ella.

Nika- Have you noticed how many N names are diminutives? Nika is no exception. She comes from Veronika, and sounds much more modern.

Ninon- Ninon is a French nickname for Anne or Nina, and she should probably stay that way. I can't imagine her as a full name, but how adorable would a Nina-called-Ninon be?

Nona- Before you ask, yes, I know that Nona is a popular term for grandma. That may be a deal breaker for you, but she actually means "nine." I think she's pretty darling, especially if you were having your ninth (!) child.

Nuala- Nuala is a pretty Irish name that fits right in with today's most popular. She's got long vowel sounds and the coveted L, making her a perfect pick. I know two Nualas (well, one is a dog), and I can say that the name wears very well.

Month Names: November

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November already? I can't believe the year is almost over. November is a great month to have a baby, right before all the holiday craziness. That being said, things tend to get a little more stressful around this time. Still need a name for your baby? No worries. There are some great November-related names out there, if you would like to pay homage to your baby's birth month with their name. Take a look.

Birthstone:
Citrine- I love the name Citrine. She's bright and peppy--perfect for a sweet baby girl.
Topaz- Definitely not my favorite of the gemstone names, but she could make for a good middle.

Birth Flower:
Chrysanthemum- I would think twice before saddling my daughter with this name, but then again, the book is pretty cute.

Birth Colors:
Dark Blue- Not just any blue--dark blue. My picks for possible names are Cobalt, Indigo, and Navy.
Red- There are so many options with this color, but Carmine, Crimson, Rose, Russet, and Scarlet stand out the most.

Star Sign:
Scorpio- I talked about Scorpio last month. My feelings haven't changed.
Sagittarius- Sagittarius is too much for a little boy, but Archer is not. Archer would be a nice, very subtle way for your son to have a connection to his birthday.

Related to November:
Autumn- It's still Fall (for one more month), which means Autumn is still on the table.
Election Day- If your baby is born on or around November Fourth, why not consider giving him or her a presidential name?
November- Why not? You can call her Nova, Ember, or Neve for short.

Preppy Names Part One: Girls

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Preppiness is something I come in contact with a lot. At my high school, it's considered very stylish to be "preppy." It's not my style, but considering that so many young people identify as preppy, I thought I'd come up with a list of baby names to match their look. Check back on Friday for part two.

Abbott
Beacon
Berkeley
Blair
Blake
Brooke
Bryce
Campbell
Hollister
Kimball
Landry
Monroe
Navy
Paige
Prescott
Sheridan
Sloane
Tate
Tuesday
Walker
Wallis
Waverly
Yeardley

Fashion Trends as Names

Recently I was thinking about some of the latest fashion trends, and some of them could work well as (possibly guilty pleasure) names.

Girls:

Bow(e)- Spell it Beau and it's a boy's name, but Bowe (especially with that e) would be lovely on a little girl.
Coral- The color coral was big this summer. The name Coral is about ready for a comeback, it is vintage and oh so sweet.
Dot- As in the Polka Dot. She is cute as a nickname for Dorothy, or even on her own.
Floral- Rhymes with the antique Laurel, but a bit more spunky.
Peplum- A style of shirt, Peplum comes with the fabulous nicknames of either Peppy (a la Peppy Miller) or the lovely Plum.


Boys:

Jack- As in England's Union Jack, a popular pattern this year. Jack is short and sweet, but a little too popular.
Plaid- Plaid would make a daring middle name for a little boy.
Neon- Close to Neo, but a bit more bright!
Oxford- This shoe style would make a smart and quirky name for a boy.
Tribal- Tribal patterns were all the rage this year. With the nickname Tribe, it fits in with the short, masculine names.

Either:

Chevron- Chevron stripes are very trendy, and it could make a great unisex name.
Navy- The dark blue hue of Fall 2012 would make an appealing choice for a girl or boy.