W Surnames: Part Two

Image Credit

A couple weeks back we looked at 10 W surnames that could be worn as first names. Today I have 10 more for you to consider. Take a look.

Wellington- Wellington may seem like quite a mouthful for a little dude, but the nickname Wells makes him worth the while.

Westerfield- Wes and West names are all the rage, but Westerfield is rarely used. Field and Fielder (along with Wes and West) are good short forms if he's a little long for your taste.

Weston- Weston is at an all time high on the U.S. popularity charts, sitting pretty at #136. He's cowboy-chic, a sound many parents are going for.

Wharton- For those of you who like namesake names, Wharton is a great one. Edith Wharton is definitely someone to be inspired by--she was the first woman to recieve a Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

Wheeler- Another name that's cowboy-chic, Wheeler conjures up images of western wagon wheels. He fits in with the occupational name trend, but is relatively undiscovered. He ranks at #3728.

Whittaker- Whittaker is one of the preppiest names on this list, and even more so with the nickname Whit.

Wilkinson- To many people's ears, Wilkinson does not sound like a plausible first name. However, he is a variant of William, and the nicknames Will, Wilkie, and Kinsey make it an option.

Wilson- Considering William's popularity, I'm surprised Wilson isn't more popular. He is only at #594, which is perfect for parents wanting a familar yet uncommon name.

Winton- Winton is an English surname with a sweet meaning--"friend's farm." He's rare but stylish, and you can call him Win for short.

Woodson- Woody hasn't been a popular nickname for decades, but as the Toy Story generation grows up, who's to say they won't bring it back? Woodson is a lovely choice for a full name, espeically if you like the surname feel.


*I'm taking next week off (it's my birthday, and I'm starting a new job), so I will see you all back here on the 22nd.*

Best of 2014

Image Credit

What a year it's been! 2014 has been a great year for the blog. I've posted more than ever before, and we've had a record breaking number of viewers. Thanks so much to everyone for reading--now here's a look at this year's highlights.

January: We talked about Oscar Nominee Names in January (is anyone using Philomena yet?)

February: In February I wrote about Naming a Dog, inspired by my puppy Harvey. 

March: March showed us some names influenced by Texting and Shorthand.

April: I let you read my Junior Research Paper in April--all about baby names!

May: This month we looked at C Names for Girls. I adore Cameo, Celestine, and Circe. 

June: In June we talked about Initial Names. It's such a fun concept, and a great way to use those style outlier honor names. 

July: I wrote about Preppy Names in July (Parts One and Two). This was one of my most popular posts!

August: August introduced us to Hidden Names. The most usable combo was Lainey and Aine. 

September: We reviewed some Modern Virtue Names (Parts One and Two) during the month of September. 

October: In October we discussed Sports Names. As a golfer, I'm rather partial to Birdie. 

November: Just in time for Thanksgiving, I wrote about Herbs and Spices Names. 

December: Happy Holidays! Here are some Holiday Names for your baby. 

And now, viewer favorites:

1. Nicknames for Sophia

2. 10 A Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

3. Initial Names

4. Full Names for Wells

5. Unexpected Flower Names

10 H Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

Image Credit

H names for boys. I love them. The only problem is that they're so popular. Henry, Harrison, and Hunter are great names, just too widely used for my taste. That's where this list comes in. If you love H names but hate their popularity, use one of these ten.

Haco- Two syllables, starts in H and ends in O? Haco has all the components of a popular name, yet doesn't even make the top 1000. This is the kind of name parents kill to find, so have at it.

Hadriel- Part Adrian, part Ariel, Hadriel is a completely masculine (even though the two previous names are unisex) and totally rad.

Hal- I really love Hal. He's an old school nickname that would make a great sibling to Gus, Sid, and Max.

Hale- Hale is modern and fresh with a boy-next-door quality. Bonus points for naming his sister Leah.

Hanson- A cool surname with definite first name potential. He would make a great alternative to the rising Harrison.

Harp- I think Harper has officially gone to the girls. Want a way around that? Try Harp. This unisex name feels pretty masculine, and is not yet claimed by any gender.
 
Hart- He's similar to Harp, just a little more romantic. Hart is a great short name, but many elementary school boys might not be in favor of it.

Hartigan- Don't want to commit to Hart? Use the Irish surname Hartigan instead. He's upbeat and charming, plus, Hartigan's is the name of an ice cream shop in my city. Sweet.

Harvey- Yes, I'm bias. Harvey is the name of baby puppy. He ranks in the 600s, making him the most popular name on this list, but he's still widely underused. And you know what? Now that I think about it, Harvey would make a great sibling for Hal, too.

Hewitt- Darn. Your sister just named her baby Hugo after beloved grandpa Hugh. Now how are you supposed to honor him? Hewitt. He's completely different and scarcely used. Just make sure his nickname is Witt, not Huey.

Holmes- Want a great hero name? Holmes is the answer. He's very culturally relevant right now, which is my only worry. Will he sound weird in thirty years?

Howell- I talked about Howell recently in my Full Names for Wells post. I think he's a great choice. With the nickname Wells, you really can't go wrong.

Full Names for Wells

Image Credit

Could Wells be the new Will? It seems like he might be headed that way. His stylish British sound is gaining in popularity among celebrities. Too much for a first name? Try using Wells as a nickname for one of these.

Expected:
Maxwell- A good choice, but people may be inclined to call him Max.
Rockwell- To Americans, the natural nickname seems like Rocky. Take a hint from the other side of the globe and use the more fashionable Wells instead.
Wellington- The name is a little bit clunky, but it's a way to get Wells from the front end.

Unique:
Caldwell- He would make a perfect pick if you couldn't decide between Calder and Wells.
Howell- Slightly frumpy, but H surnames are in vogue.
Llewellyn- The -Ellyn makes him sound a bit feminine, but calling him Wells eliminates that.
William- From William we get Will and Wills, doesn't Wells seem like the next logical step? I vote yes.

Unheard of:
Hartwell- A great romantic name with two great nicknames, Hart and Wells.
Lowell- He's definitely the least stylish of the group, but if you want to use Wells, but need an L honor name, why not?
Powell- The awesome Portland bookstore makes this name infinitely more cool.

Preppy Names Part Two: Boys

Again no Image Credit found. Anyone know?

On Monday we looked at Preppy Names for Girls, and today it's the boys turn. In my opinion, it is easier to name a preppy boy than a preppy girl. There are just more options for boys. Take a look to see what I mean.

Bates
Blaine
Bridger
Brooks
Burke
Carraway
Fairfax
Francis
Fulton
Gaines
Gardner
Hart
Hayes
Jameson
Keats
Macalester
Oxford
Penn
Pierce
Quince
Rafe
Reid
Rhys
Teague
Yale
York
Wells