Celestial Names: Moons

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Today's installment of Celestial Names is all about Moons. I love how each planet has a theme for the names of its moons. Uranus's Shakespeare themed moon-set is lovely!

Jupiter
Adrastea
Aitne
Amalthea
Ananke
Callirrhoe
Callisto
Carme
Elara
Euanthe
Europa
Europie
Himalia
Io
Iocaste
Isonoe
Kale
Kalyke
Leda
Lysithea
Thebe

Neptune
Despina
Galatea
Larissa
Naiad
Nereid
Thalassa

Saturn
Atlas
Calypso
Dione
Helene
Janus
Pan
Pandora
Pheobe
Rhea
Skadi
Titan
Ymir

Uranus
Ariel
Belinda
Bianca
Cordelia
Cressida
Desdemona
Juliet
Miranda
Oberon
Ophelia
Portia
Puck
Rosalind
Titania
Umbriel

10 German Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

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As you will be able to tell from today's post, I love German names. Some of my very favorites are on this list, as well as some real wild choices. Let me know your favorites in the comments.

Anke- If you're looking for a slimmer, more exotic version of Annika, Anke is your girl. She's pronounced much the same--AHN-ka--though is actually the German form of Agnes.

Ida- Sweet sweet Ida is due for a comeback. Americans love short vowel names ending in -a--Eva, Ava, Ella, etc.--so Ida seems like the next step. Ida is delightfully vintage--let's hope she can shake off the dust.

Isa- Isa is Ida's more stylish cousin. She sounds very modern, thanks to full forms Isabel and Isabella being so trendy. She doesn't have quite the same pronounciation as those two--it's EE-sah. Isa is a cross cultural choice, with roots in German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, and Arabic (where it's a male name).

Lotte- A helpful hint with the German pronounciations: names ending in -e are said as if it is an -a. Therefore, the gorgeous Lotte is pronounced like Lotta (which is the Swedish form). She's originally a nickname for names like Charlotte, Liselotte, and Carol, but I think Lotte is wonderful on her own.

Mareike- Mareike is pronounced mah-RYE-kah--sort of a cross between Mariah and Micah. Infact, Meike (said like Micah) is one of her nicknames. Mareike has a beautiful sound, but are her spelling and pronounciation too hard for English speakers to handle?

Minna- Minna is one of my all time faves. I'm always suggesting her to people--I'm astonished she isn't more popular! She came about as a nickname for Wilhelmina, though nowadays she's better off on her own.

Romy- How lovely is Romy? By origin she's a nickname for Rosemary, though many a baby namer will suggest Romilly for a more contemporary full form. As I always say, I think Romy would be just as dashing in her own right.

Tilda- I know I've told you guys how much I love so many of the names on this list, but Tilda really is my favorite. She's currently one of my tops--she's just so darn cute! The -da sound isn't all that trendy right now, but with Matilda as a possible full name, and Tilda Swinton glamorizing her name, Tilda wouldn't be an outrageous choice for a daughter.

Zelma- Speaking of sounds that aren't very stylish right now, how about the -elma names? Abby's a big champion of Thelma (which I'm still on the fence about), and Nelma, Selma, and Velma just aren't doing it for me. Zelma, however, is a name I can get behind. The zippy Z beginning adds a faux modern touch to a very old-fashioned name.

Ziska- Ziska comes from Franziska--a German form of Frances. While Franziska might be a little much for an American girl to wear, Ziska has just the right amount of quirkiness.

Full Names for Cassie

I made this.

Cascade- Everyone loves a good word name, and Cascade seems like a perfect one. She conjures up images of brisk, serene waterfalls--what more could you ask for?

Cassandra- The classic full name for Cassie. She's been on a downward trend ever since the '80s, but she doesn't strike me as terribly dated. I wouldn't bat an eye at a baby Cassandra in 2015.

Cassandria- But if you want to get more dramatic, Cassandria is the way to go. Just like Alexandra/Alexandria, Cassandra/Cassandria shows us that one tiny "I" can make a big difference in terms of image.

Cassatindra- I first came across Cassatindra while doing research for this post, and I was immediately intrigued. However, a simple Google search yielded almost no results. All I could gather was that she is a variation of Cassandra (obvoiusly), but a name like her must have some history. Cassatindra would make a show-stopping name for a daughter.

Cassia- Brought into the spotlight by the young adult novel Matched, Cassia is a beautiful way to get to Cassie. Cassia actually a nature name--the spice is often used as a substitute for cinnamon.

Cassidy- Cassidy peaked in 1999 at #99, and has been on the decline ever since. However, she's had a slight uptick in recent years--maybe it's because she's a great full name for Cassie.

Cassiopeia- This celestial name may seem like a mouthful, but fortunately enough people are familiar with her that you shouldn't get too many mispronounciations. And if she does prove to be too much, you can always call her Cassie.

Jocasta- Jocasta is one of the prettiest (and certainly most underused) Jo- names. Her long "A" sound doesn't quite lend itself to Cassie, but you can defitintely make it work.

Lancaster- Lancaster is a British surname and place name not often used on girls. With (or even without) the nickname Cassie, Lancaster would be wonderful on a baby girl.

Nicasia- A lovely name for honoring a Nicole is Nicasia. She has a gorgeous, slightly exotic feel, but the nickname Cassie makes her all-American.

Pascasia- Pascasia is the feminine version of Pascal. These names are usually used in the early Spring (they mean Easter and Passover), but a name as beautiful as Pascasia should be used all year round.

Celestial Names: Stars

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After a month of middle names, it's time to get back to the sky! Today we're looking at star names. Each star in a constellation has its own name, and I've picked the very best ones to share with you.

Girls

Alya

Ascella

Atria

Azha

Bellatrix

Chara

Deneb

Diphda

Electra

Gatria

Gemma

Giedi

Gienah

Heka

Heze

Kastra

Maia

Meissa

Mira

Nashira

Rana

Shaula

Syrma

Tabit

Talitha

Tania

Tarazet

Thabit

Zosma

Boys

Atlas

Castor

Hamal

Kajam

Nash

Pollux

Either

Garnet

Kuma

Miram

10 Arabic Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

I made this one.

I don't put too much stock into the meanings of names, but this list has some great ones! If name meanings are something you care about, consider one of the following for your son.

Basim- Starting off with a good one, Basim means "smiling." He's not a popular name at all, but with easy spelling and pronounciation, I think he'd do well in the U.S.

Eyad- Eyad is a modern Arabic name (I couldn't find a meaning). I recently discovered him when watching the Israeli film A Borrowed Identity. The movie was amazing, which obviously colored my view of the main character's name. Watch the film and get back to me :)

Hakeem- Hakeem (and his variant, Hakim) has a debatable meaning. Some say it's "judicious," others, "wise." I prefer the latter, but it's really a win-win.

Nadim- Possibly the name with the best meaning of the list, Nadim is roughly defined as "drinking companion." Count him under Names for People 21 and Older.

Osman- Not many Arabic names come with wonderful nicknames, but I couldn't resist calling a little Osman Ozzie. I mean, how cute is that?

Rafi- Does Rafi still reek of children's songs? I met a young Rafi recently, and he seems perfectly wearable to me. He's a cross-cultural name with many different meanings, but the Arabic form means "noble."

Samar- Samar is a unisex name that means "evening conversation." Sorry Nadim, but that one might be my favorite. If that swanky meaning doesn't convince you, I don't know what will. Maybe the fact that you can call him Sam?

Sulaiman- Sulaiman is the Arabic form of Solomon, which, as many people know, means "peace." He's different yet familiar, with some exotic flair. Perfect.

Zaki- We really are winning with all these meanings today! Zaki means "pure." You could use him as a nickname for any of the Zach- names, but I really like him on his own.

Zinedine- Zinedine has roots in Arabic and French, and means "beauty of faith" or "jewel of religion." Again, the meaning is outstanding. He's pronounced ZAYN-ah-din or ZI-nah-din--though the former allows you to use the nickname Zane.

DIY Double Barrel Names

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If you're not a name nerd, you've probably only heard of the term "double barrel" being used in terms of surnames. You know, when parents combine their surnames into one hyphenated last name for their baby? It exists for first names too. The Social Security Administration doesn't take the hyphen into account, so unfortunately double barrel names are not recorded in the United States. To see how popular these names are, we have to go to the European data. Double barrel names are a hit in places like the U.K. (as seen in this article from The Telegraph)--Amelia-Rose, Lily-Rose, and Elllie-Mae are some of the most fashionable.

Now's the chance to build your own double barrel name! I've provided some options for the first and second names, but feel free to go off script. Tell me your favorite ones in the comments.

First Name Amy Anna Ava Betty Carol Charlotte Cora Daisy Ella Ellie Eliza Emily Emma Emme Georgia Hannah Katie Laura Leah Lily Lucy Mary Nora Rosa Sarah

Second Name      Alice      Anne      Bella      Belle      Beth      Catherine      Claire      Ella      Eve      Faith      Faye      Frances      Grace      Jane      Jean      June      Kate      Kay      Lane      Lee      Lou      Louise      Lynn      Margaret      Marie      May      Quinn      Rose      Rue      Ruth      Shay      Sue

*I'll be back after Labor Day with Arabic Names for Boys--have a good holiday!*

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.