10 D Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

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I have to admit, this post was a hard one. There aren't as many D names out there compared to the previous letters. I think I have a good list for you though. Take a look.

Darton- Part Dartmouth, part Dalton. Perfect for your genius baby.

Dax- With Dax Shepard and the popularity of -X names you'd think this one would be more popular. He is ranked at 642, so scoop him up while you can.

Dewey- This name has two very positive associations (Malcolm in the Middle and the Dewey Decimal System) yet isn't even ranked. What's wrong with people?

Donato- He's often used in European countries, but I bet you've never heard of this name before. Donato would make a great import, plus he ends in -o.

Doran- Doran is technically unisex, infact, the only Doran I know is a girl. However, the general public seems to think he's a boys name. He'd be a great pick if you were trying to honor two people (Daniel and Lauren perhaps?) or just liked his trendy -an ending.

Dover- Place names are always cool, yet no one's using Dover. Go ahead and take him for yourself, so long as your other son isn't named Ben.

Duke- He's a college and a celebrity baby name. What's not to love?

Dune- This might be the coolest nature name for boys. You could also spell it Doone, but I prefer to picture sandy beaches when I hear this name.

Dunn- Less frumpy than Duncan. He would also make a great middle name choice.

Durant- There are currently basketball associations with this name, but that will hopefully die down in the next couple of years. Unless you love basketball. Then use this one right away.

Movie Names: Amelie

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Have you guys seen the movie Amelie? It's one of my favorites, the story and characters are all so whimsical and charming. One of the perks of watching a French movie is hearing all the characters names. Some of them fit right in with today's top American picks, while others are a bit more out there. Let me know what you think.

Girls:
Amandine- Incredibly French. A great pick if you're looking for a name that honors an Amanda while reflecting your culture.
Amelie- She's becoming an increasingly popular alternative to Amelia, but how can you resist her charm?
Eva- Parents love Eva for her similarity to Ava, but if you want something a little less popular, try Eve, who ranks at 490.
Georgette- It's not very hard to picture a little Georgette called Georgie, even in America.
Gina- Gina sounds a little dated on her own, but the nickname Gigi is oh so cute and trendy.
Madeleine- The French spelling is lovely, but I'd say the Maddie names are overused.
Philomene- Does Philomena remind you too much of the 2013 Oscars? Philomene is just as pretty.
Suzanne- I know I've said it before, but the nickname Susie is ready for a comeback. Suzanne is a great way to get there.

Boys:
Dominique- Dominique is one of the only truly unisex names out there, yet I've only heard it on girls. What's your take on Dom for a boy?
Joseph- An American classic.
Lucien- Lucian ranks 631 on the Top 1000 list, but the French spelling doesn't make it.
Nino- Ever since I saw this movie for the first time, I fell in love with Nino. I can't picture him on an American man (too cutesy?), but I love the idea of a baby Nino.
Raphael- Sleek and glamorous.  
Raymond- One of these days a celebrity is going to use Raymond, and then he will be all over the place. Until then, he is ranked at 264, so use him before he gets hot.

Ends in -Lia

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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.

10 D Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

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Today we're looking at D names for girls. I'll admit, this one was a little troublesome, there aren't that many great girls names beginning in D. I think I found 10 good ones though. Tell me what you think.

Dagny- Charming Irish girl with a slice of tomboy.

Dania- Pronounced DAHN-yuh, she's a pretty name that remains under the radar.

Darcy- She would make a perfect sister for Lucy and the like, yet hasn't broken the top 1000. Baffling.

Della- Swearing off Ella because of popularity? Della is quirkier and cuter.

Delphine- She used to remind me of dolphins, but since that association faded, I've come to adore Delphine.

Dorie- Yes, there's the Finding Nemo reference, but Dorie is a wonderful name (though I may be a bit bias, my best friend is named Dorie :).

Dorsey- Can't shake the fish? Dorsey mixes Dorie and Darcy to make this unique moniker.

Dot- My favorite D name for a girl. She's too adorable.

Dulcie- A very sweet British import.

Dwyn- Slightly less fussy than Gwyn.

Alternatives to Noah

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Noah is America's new favorite boys name, so some parents are likely scrambling to find an alternative. Fortunately, I have come up with some great choices, whether you like Noah's look, sound, or style.

Sight
Noaz- A mixture of Boaz and Noah for the more adventurous parent.
Noe- This one could get confusing when disciplining your child, but there are downsides to every name.
Noel- Stick with the NOHL pronunciation for a son.

Sound
Koa- A beachy Hawaiian rarity.
Noam- A lovely name, despite the gnome associations.
Nohea- Another Hawaiian sound-alike to Noah.

Style
Abel- Biblical and short, just like Noah.
Graham- Noah and Graham could easily be brothers.
Judah- An ends in -ah name that has remained relatively undiscovered.

Great Gatsby Names

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We just finished reading The Great Gatsby in my English class, and I was shocked how many names were packed into that little book. It's been around 100 years since these names were in vogue for babies, which means most of them are due to come back very soon. Whether you're a fan of the book or not, these names make for great picks for a son or daughter.

Girls:
Ardita
Carraway
Catherine
Claudia
Consuela
Daisy
Faustina
Fay
Gloria
Jacqueline
Jordan
Judy
June
Lilly
Lucille
Myrtle
Pammy
Sigourney

Boys:
Arthur
Benny
Carraway
Cecil
Chester
Clarence
Don
Duke
Edgar
Ernest
Francis
Gatsby
George
Gus
Henry
Horace
Jay
Lester
Meyer
Nick
Rex
Russell
Tom
Ulysses
Willie
Wilson

All of these names make for good inspiration, but if you want to honor the book, I would choose a more obvious name, like Gatsby, Carraway, or Daisy.

10 C Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

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Welcome back to my favorite series. Today we are on to C names for boys, the ones a little less popular than Carter or Charlie. Take a look.

Cabel- Part Caleb, part Abel. Great choice if you're looking for a name that sounds familiar, yet no one has heard of it.

Cadell- Looking for a cool way to get to Cade? Look no further.

Che- Classier and more masculine than Shay.

Chester- Chester's in the sweet spot. Too old fashioned for most people, but starting to sound appealing.

Clyde- Clyde has that art deco, 1920s feel to him. He ranks at 999, so scoop him up for yourself.

Connelly- An Irish surname that doesn't get a lot of use.

Cormac- Tailored and modern. An unexpected way to get to Mac.

Cosmo- Boys names ending in -o are popular, but Cosmo didn't get the memo. Perfect.

Croix- More exotic than Cruz or Cross, plus he ends in -x.

Crosby- If you want to name your child after a musician, Crosby is more interesting than Lennon or Hendrix.

Curran- Add a "T" at the end to update this gem for a foodie.