Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 7

Yannick Kalaydjian via Dribbble

Happy Friday everyone! I'm still on hiatus (it's been a busy quarter!), but here is a post I wrote for Nameberry in the meantime.

Some big celebrity broods are about to get bigger--Kelsey Grammer is going to be a dad to seven kids, and Mel Gibson's girlfriend is expecting his ninth! Predicting names for such huge families is a daunting task. People's naming styles tend to change over time, especially when they've been naming children for over a generation. That being said, sometimes name preference doesn't change! There are some large celebrity sibsets that go together really well--the Gibson family is a great example.

Besides the Gibsons and Grammers, there are plenty more exciting celebrity baby name predictions this month. Natalie Portman, Marion Cotillard, and Pharrell Williams are all going to be parents of two. I've made my predictions for them (and more!) below.

Vanessa and Nick Lachey
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Camden John, Brooklyn Elisabeth
Baby number three is on the way for the Lacheys! Both Camden and Brooklyn are well-liked names with androgynous sounds, so let's see if their brother or sister will have a name that follows the pattern.
Girl: Addison, Aubrey, Berkeley, Gracen, Harper, Kennedy, Noa, Quincy
Boy: Asher, Beckett, Declan, Easton, Everett, Hayden, Levi, Sawyer, Wyatt
*Update* Hello, Phoenix Robert!

Rosalind Ross and Mel Gibson
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Hannah, Christian, Milo, Lucia, Louis, Thomas, Edward, William (all from previous relationships)
For such a large celebrity family, Mel Gibson's children have surprisingly cohesive names. He definitely has a style--European royalty. I expect nothing less for his ninth baby.
Girl: Amelia, Caroline, Clara, Eleanor, Elizabeth, Emma, Katherine, Lydia, Mary, Rose
Boy: Andrew, Benjamin, Charles, Frederick, George, James, Oliver, Richard, Samuel
*Update* European indeed--Scandinavian to be exact. Welcome Lars Gerard!

Kayte and Kelsey Grammer
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Spencer, Greer, Mason Olivia, Jude Gordon (all from previous marriages), Faith Evangeline Elisa, Kelsey Gabriel Elias
Unlike the Gibson clan, Kelsey Grammer's sibset encompasses a wide range of styles. However, baby #7 has the same mom as Faith and Kelsey, so I think he or she will have a sensible and stylish first name with two fashionable middles.
Girl: Annabelle, Audrey, Elizabeth, Genevieve, Grace, Lily, Mia, Scarlett
Boy: Benjamin, Christian, Isaac, Levi, Nathaniel, Noah, Owen, Zachary
*Update* Welcome, Auden James Ellis!

Elizabeth Chambers and Armie Hammer
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Harper (g)
There are so many celebrity sibsets containing Harper: Harper and Gideon; Harper, Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz; Harper, Hayley, and Hannah; Harper and Weston--I could go on! There are many different directions in which the Hammers could go for their Harper's younger sibling, but I have a feeling it will be another tailored, on-trend choice.
Girl: Avery, Charlotte, Ellery, Emerson, Hazel, Lucy, Marlowe, Ruby, Vivian
Boy: Beckett, Ellis, Finn, Graham, Grayson, Jack, Liam, Rowan, Sawyer
*Update* It's a boy--Ford Douglas Armand!

Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Aleph
After choosing the wonderfully rare Hebrew name Aleph for her son, I cannot wait to hear what Natalie Portman picks for baby #2. There are so many fantastic, under-the-radar Hebrew names out there, it was hard to keep my predictions short!
Girl: Adalia, Adira, Bethel, Chava, Feya, Haviva, Leeza, Leora, Mehira, Niva, Raya, Zadie
Boy: Bram, Dovev, Eben, Eitan, Eliaz, Gavi, Israel, Lev, Lior, Nahir, Noam, Samson, Tal, Yael
*Update* Hello Amalia!

Allison Pill and Joshua Leonard
Gender: unknown
Siblings: none
Allison Pill and her husband Joshua live low-key lives outside of the spotlight. That leads me to believe that when it comes to baby names, they aren't going to choose something eccentric or outlandish. However, I do think their son or daughter will have a name with style--maybe one of the following:
Girl: Cecilia, Cora, Eleanor, Eva, Genevieve, Isabel, Lucy, Madeleine, Margaret, Phoebe
Boy: Andrew, August, Charlie, Elliott, Gabriel, Gavin, Henry, Julian, Max, Miles, Theo
*Update* It's a girl--Wilder Grace!

Marion Cotillard and Guillaume Canet
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Marcel
Ooh-la-la, let's talk French names! French couple Marion Cotillard and Guillaume Canet chose handsome Marcel for their son five years ago. Now that they're expecting a second child, I'm sure the fashionable duo will choose another stylish French appellation.
Girl: Anais, Colette, Elodie, Eulalie, Isabeau, Lilou, Maelys, Ophelie, Ottilie, Silvie, Simone
Boy: Claude, Clemence, Gable, Harvey, Henri, Lionel, Lucien, Maurice, Pascal, Remy
*Update* A girl--Louise!

Helen Lasichanh and Pharrell Williams
Gender: unknown
Siblings: Rocket Ayer
What do you name a sibling for Rocket? That's what Pharrell Williams and Helen Lasichanh have to figure out. I like the idea of another whimsical word name--especially one with a subtle theme (Zephyr or Zeppelin!).
Girl: Boheme, Domino, Eden, Jette, Moon, Poet, Rhapsody, Solstice, Story, Temple
Boy: Arrow, Axel, Indigo, Noble, Onyx, Rollo, True, Wilder, Zephyr, Zeppelin, Ziggy

10 Vietnamese Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

Kerstin Sterl via Dribbble

Names from Asian cultures are some of the trickiest to import into the English-speaking world. Many of them use sounds we can't pronounce, or have slightly "off" translations. However, Vietnamese uses an alphabet rather than characters, so many of their native names are ripe for American use. The following ten names would work very well on a mixed-culture baby, for first or middle names.

Cam- Though it may sound nickname-y to American ears, the name Cam is very much complete by Vietnamese standards. The Vietnamese version means "orange," like the fruit. She is the perfect Vietnamese-American name, since she's familiar in both countries.

Chau- Chau is a sweet and delicate Vietnamese name meaning "pearl." She shares this meaning with the Marg- names, so Chau could be a subtle way to honor both Vietnamese heritage, and Grandma Margaret.

Chi- Lovely Chi means "branch" in Vietnamese. The Igbo tribe in Western Africa also uses the name Chi, but there it means "spiritual being."

Hoa- Looking for an exotic alternative to Noa? Hoa is your girl. She means "flower," and unlike Noa, is strictly feminine.

Hue- While she might be considered a word name by American standards, in Vietnam, Hue is a well-known given name. She means "intelligence" or "lily."

Linh- Linh looks like she'd be pronounced like Lynn, but she is actually said more like LEEN or LEENG, depending on the region. Either way, she's an easy import. Like so many Vietnamese names, Linh has a lovely meaning--"soul."

Mai- Mai is one of my favorites on this list. She has roots in Japan and Vietnam, but the pronunciation varies slightly. The Japanese version is two syllables, MAH-ee, but the Vietnamese version sounds more like "my." Mai is one of the few Vietnamese names to ever break the top 1000--in the late eighties and early nineties she got as high as #793. Mai means "apricot blossom."

Phuong- Phuong is one of the most consistently popular names in Vietnam. If you live in an area with a lot of Vietnamese Americans, you've probably heard this one quite a bit (I know I have). Phuong actually have two meanings, depending on the accent marks. The more common spelling means "phoenix," while the other means "direction." Though they have slightly different pronunciations depending on the accent marks, in English, they'd both be said as "FOON"

Tien- Tien is a fantastic Vietnamese name. She's one that would translate well in America. She means "spirit" or "fairy," which is almost too adorable to pass up.

Yen- Speaking of wonderful meanings, Yen means "peaceful." I'm not usually a fan of Y names, but I really like Yen.

10 Hawaiian Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

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Mele Kalikimaka friends! Our last Wednesday post of 2015 is all about Hawaiian names for girls. Enjoy!

Ailani- Sweet, lyrical Ailani makes a lovely name for a baby girl--Hawaiian or not. She means "cheif," which is a strong and empowering sentiment.

Ekika- Ekika is the chirpy Hawaiian form of Edith. She's a fun and unusual way to get to Kiki, but still fits in with the three-syllable-ends-in-"A" name trend. Ekika is a downright cheerful choice--I'd love to see her used on a baby.

Huali- Huali may sound like she means "hula," but her real denotation is "pure, bright, polished, and gleaming." Either way, she's bound to conjure up images of the beautiful dance for some people. Huali is the name of an electric van company in China, but if you live anywhere else, she's more than usable.

Inoa- All you name nerds, are you looking for a name that sums up your obsession? Inoa could be your girl--she means "name" or "name chant." Noa is currently becoming more popular among girls--Inoa is a great way to use that name while distinguishing her from all the male Noahs.

Iolani- Unlike many other Io- names, Iolani's first syllable is pronounced like an "E," ee-oh-LAHN-ee. Her meaning is somewhat debated. Nameberry (my go-to for reputable information) says she means "hawk of royalty," while other sites claim "bird of heaven" or "to fly like a hawk" as her meaning. No matter what the case, Iolani definitely counts as a bird name, and a mighty one at that.

Kalea- Kalea is Hawaii's answer to Claire, though unlike her "light" sister, is said to mean "joy" or "happiness." She's a simply gorgeous name--one of my favorites back in the day. Kalea would wear well back on the mainland. I can see many parents embracing her--much like they have with Leilani.

Kilikina- I love a name that's fun to say, and Kilikina is just that! She's the Hawaiian variation of Christina, but feels like a more contemporary choice. Kiki or Kina would make cute nicknames.

Moanna- Moanna is a beautiful, beachy name meaning "ocean." She's quite similar to the Maori name Moana--meaning "sea"--which is also used in Hawaii. Moana is also the name of a princess in an upcoming animated movie.

Noelani- It wouldn't be a Hawaiian name post without three names that end in -lani. Noelani, though she means "heavenly mist" is an especially appropriate name for a baby born around this time of year. The easy-to-spot "Noel" makes her a Christmas name of sorts.

Silivia- Silivia seems like a made-up mash-up of Silvia and Olivia, but she's authentically Hawaiian. She is the Hawaiian form of Sylvia, and is said to mean "woman of the woods." Silivia is a unique and appealing name--I wonder if she'll ever catch on in the U.S.

10 I Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

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Everyone loves Imogen. She doesn't even rank in the top 1000, but she's Nameberry's most popular girl name. I love Imogen too, but she's gotten so much attention lately, that I don't know if would want to use her. Thankfully, I have a list of I names that are no where near as trendy. So take a look and tell me what you think.

Ida- Ooh, I adore Ida! I love her retro feel (and wouldn't she make a good sister for Nell?). More people should use this quirky favorite.
 
Inbar- What a gorgeous Israeli name. I think she would work really well in the states. She's perfect if you want to honor your heritage with a less common name.

Indra- Okay, so India is not too popular, but Indra makes a good alternative. I personally prefer her over India. I think Indra has more spunk.

Io- Ask any baby name fanatic to name a two letter name, and the answer you get will be Io. Granted, she's one of the only two letter names out there, but she's well talked about in the community. I love Io on her own, but if she's too short for you, try one of these next two.

Iola- She's heavy on the vowel sounds, but that L in the middle makes her sound extra feminine and fluid.

Ione- Ione is such a cool name, yet almost no one knows about her. You could also use Iona, which would be a fun way to honor a Fiona.

Inoa- Noa has been getting some attention as of late for being a cool option for girls. Inoa lets you use that nickname, while having a more feminine appellation to fall back on.

Isabeau- Another favorite in the baby name community. I hear about Isabeau all the time. She is a lovely choice, and the nickname Beau is extra adorable.

Isaura- This name reminds me of a medieval princess. She sounds regal and grand, and I can picture her on a girl of all ages.

Italia- Maybe it's because I just got back from Italy, but man! Italia seems like a wonderful name for a girl. Florence, Roman, and Milania are all well used, so why not Italia?

10 G Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

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G is one of those letters that offers so many unique names. G is often seen as a more masculine letter, which means there are tons of overlooked options for girls. Take a look, and tell me your opinion.

Gaeta- A pretty name that is slim, yet ultra-feminine.

Galilee- Fun, spunky, and upbeat. Many parents would choose this name for her uniqueness, but if you want a more conventional nickname, she lends herself to Lily.

Galina-Spelled Galena she's an Illinois place name (ski destination), but Galina is definitely the prettier spelling.

Garnet- This January gemstone makes the perfect name for a boy or girl born any month of the year.

Genoa- A sweet, interesting way to get to everyone's latest name crush: Noa.

Georgiana- She's a big name for a little girl, but with her length comes plenty of nickname opportunities. My favorites are Georgie, Georgia, and Gia.

Gioia- (JOY-uh) A more modern and understated way to represent the virtue Joy.

Glenna- Girly, without the frills. A nice way to honor a Glenn.

Greer- One of my favorite G names. More people need to use Greer.

Guinevere- She strikes me as the best alternative to Genevieve. Worried about nicknames? I once knew a girl called Guinnie.