Take a look at these pairs of related names. How are the names in column A different from column B?
GIRLS
A / B
Afton / Ashton
Alina / Alida
Elle / Belle
Katlyn / Kathlyn
Nyla / Lyla
Dasia / Stasia
Stephany / Stephania
Willow / Willa
BOYS
A / B
Denzel / Denzil
Addison / Edison
Dorian / Florian
Garret / Garnet
Tanner / Turner
In terms of sound, each pair of names is close as close can be--only a single sound distinguishes between them. Yet in terms of popular usage, they're polar opposites. The names in the left column are all trendy new creations. Once rare or unheard of, they've emerged as common names over the past generation. The near-twins in the right column, meanwhile, are antique relics. They hit the top-1000 popularity charts consistently 80+ years ago but have since sunk into obscurity.
Each pair of names has its own story, why the old and new seem so close, yet culturally far apart. Kathlyn was a blend of Kathryn and Kathleen, while Katlyn is an offshoot of Kaitlyn. Denzil was a traditional Cornish name, whereas Denzel is African-American on the model of actor Denzel Washington.
As a group, though, the right-hand names could pass for a 21st-century classroom. The girls in particular seem positively voguish. ("Afton and Kathlyn, meet Lyla and Belle.") Yet even as parents rush to revive antiques like Isabelle and Ella, these names haven't been resurrected. Rather, they've been reinvented from scratch. There's a perfectly fine name sitting on the scrap heap, ready to be good as new with a little loving care. *Sniff*. Perhaps some thrifty--or rather, tradition-minded--parents could consider this an opportunity to reduce, reuse, recyle.
Comments
Hi Laura,I think you've got Afton and Ashton reversed. They both sound trendy to me so it took me a while to figure out which column was which!
lol yeah, Ashton sounds incredibly trendy to me (especially on girls).I've seen Belle used, but only as a nickname for Isabelle or Isabella, not as a name on its own.And I can definitely see Lyla coming back.
Lyla is back, but people are spelling it Lilah, Leila, Layla, Laila and Lila. I think it is following the Lily/Lillian trend.
I'd resurrect some of those old names that are actually real names, but don't see the virtue of resurrecting old made-up names instead of using new made-up names. Just because they are old doesn't make them any less silly! Kathlyn and Katlyn are both blah shadows next to Catherine and Caitlin.
Thanks for catching the Afton/Ashton switch, dear Anonymous! All fixed now. (And Camilla, I'm not really suggesting a mad rush toward more Kathlyns...just intrigued by the caprice of fashion.)
Laura,We were planning on the name Addison for our baby boy due later this month. Then I read that Britney Spears wants to use that name if her baby (also due soon) is a girl. Doh!! Do you think that the mere fact that she mentioned her girl name choice will start (or strengthen) a wave of girl Addisons even if she has a boy and goes with her chosen male name. I suppose this is another great boy name that will soon be hijacked by the girls.I guess it's on to choice #2 (I won't post it as it may start an unwanted wave of overuse).Harlan Pepper
I think names should be common enough not to be too trendy. Remember trendy might seem 'cool' now but honestly some 'trendy' are whacked. Afton sounds like furniture.. and I could care less what the stars name their kids. Apple is a fruit not a person.
I don't know about your girls' list--they all sound pretty trendy to me. And my great grandfather was an Addison!
Addison already is very popular for girls, and you have to be careful about sound-alikes too: at my son's preschool, there is both an Addison AND a Madison (both girls) in just his class, plus a Madison in EVERY class at his school.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Willa appear in the top 1000 soon. It has the cachet of Willa Cather plus Brenda on "Six Feet Under" named the baby that in the last episode.
We used the name Edison because we liked the full name and were ok with others calling him Ed. We couldn't really figure out a good nickname for Addison.
I like Ashton as a girls name but i was wondering do you think i could call my baby boy Ashton even though its more thought to be a girls name!!!!!
Dorian is not a trendy new creation. It is a created name but it's from "The Picture of Dorian Gray" which is from 1890 so it's obviously quite old.While Florian is an old name, parents might want to consider not using it, maybe go with Dorian instead. I grew up with a Florian who liked his name but got a lot of grief for it and eventually went by his surname.Shakespeare created the names Olivia and Miranda. Name creation isn't always bad, when it's done well.
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"do you think i could call my baby boy Ashton even though its more thought to be a girls name?"Why do you think that Ashton is more thought to be a girl's name? Ashton Kutcher is male, right? I would not hesitate to use it. And I would use Ashlyn for a girl.If we avoid EVERY boy's name also used for girls, only the most common and dull boy's names remain.
I'm just writing in response to the Addison comments...My name is Addison (Addie as a nickname) and I haven't heard anything about this name being popular. In my whole life I have met three Addisons, one being the one I was named after.
I am completely annoyed at the rumor about Britney Spears naming her baby Addison and I sincerely hope she doesn't so that my name can remain unique and unscathed.
I like my name because I feel it sounds feminine (despite it being in the male column on you page) and it is original. I hope it stays that way!
My son's name is Addison. Old family name and also my husbands name is Adam (name meaning son of Adam). Addison is 11 he has never been called "Addie" although it's been suggested. I have never met another kid named Addison. One older gent. I'm about as thrilled with the Britney Spears possibility and everyone else on this blog.
I am glad to hear that other moms have chosen Addison as a boy's name. My husband and I love the name but didn't know if it was a girl's name or a boy's name. These blogs have helped me out.
ashton hutch
Addison is my grandfather's and was my great-grandfather's name, and my great-great-grandmother's last name. I am soooo annoyed people are using the name because they think it's "cool." It's historically a man's name (it means Son of Adam) but I was planning to use it for a son or daughter to honor my family. Moving on to Plan B and another unique and beautiful family name, which I'm keeping to myself.
My son's name is Addison, and I am so happy to hear other people using it as a boy's name. It does, after all, mean "son of Adam". However, because it is being hijacked as a trendy girl's name, there now seems to be the assumption that all Addisons are girls. Even my pediatrician's office cannot get it right!
hey, i had a baby boy 2 years ago called CHRISTIAN LUCAS and now i've had twin girls...i'm thinking of the names ASHELY PEYTON and KAYLEE JAYNE. when i had christian i was so happy, my brother LUKE AARON ADDISON TAYLOR had dies so i was struggling for a middle name LUCAS or ADDISON. I think Addison i a lovely name and everyone should consider it, but obvisouly i chose LUCAS because it made be feel closer.
My daughter was born in Feb 07 and my husband and I named her Addison Drew ... I had never watched Grey's Anatomy either.
She was suppose to be names Payton, but when she was born, she just looked like and Addison and we LOVE it!
I saw this post and just had to put in my two cents worth. My son's name is Addison and he is named after his great grandfather - hardly a new name. (He was born in '04 before Grey's anatomy.)I am a bit put off that it is now considered a girl's name - as has been stated before it means "son of Adam" I think I would think twice about naming my daughter that. BTW I also have a daughter named Riley and the pediatrician's office is always mixing up their genders. Guess there are more Riley boys. Guess we got it backwards!
You didn't get it backwards. They probably know you have one boy and one girl,that's all. And that both are names given to girls. There are many more Riley girls born today. And it continues to increase on the girls side. It's a beautiful Irish name. I would never think of it as a boys name. Look at the spelling, R-I-L-E-Y and G-I-R-L. It looks all girl and sounds all girl!
In response to some people saying the name addison is highly popular, I'm going to have to disagree. I've met three people who have had this name...and they've all been boys. It's not a highly popular name with boys or girls.
People may not be using the name Addison because they think its "cool" or "trendy", maybe they just like the name and the way it sounds!
I'm a happy Florian, but I did have a lot of grief with it when I was little--even with the wonderful name, Peter. Grief especially when my mother would warble loudly, "Floooooori" when I was playing baseball on the sand-lot. PF
Our new grand daughter is named Addison and we love it. Lots of people comment favorably; I didnt know it was used for boys until I found this blog. Anyway, the parents are just thrilled with their new baby AND the choice of her name. Little Addy will do just fine!
We were considering Addison for a girl.. until I started checking out baby name blogs.. It is becoming extremely popular. Yahoo Baby names... there were no less then 6 woman who said they were naming thier daughter's Addison.. I think it's a beautiful name but Im definately going to look for something different for my baby!
i like the name Adison as well for a boy and want that for my son on the way because the father is Adam...but it seemed to be taking over as a girls name so then i had second thought ...my sons name is Jayden and they still think he is a girl at the doctors!! I dont like common names and i dont know of anyone that had adison...my boyfriend actually found it when we were having jayden and wanted it as a middle name but it didnt fit too well....i am so stuck with finding a name i like now because i wanted to use adison...
My son's name is Addison and I am a little upset that people are now using it as a girl's name. It's origin is of English and means "Son of Adam". We are cub fans and one of the streets leading into Rigley Field is named Addison Street. This is where we thought it would be a cool name for our son. Also, there are a lot of famous people dating back with this name that were men.
My son's name is also Addison. He was born in 2003 (well before the whole 'Grey's Anatomy' issue). My husband (Adam) and I chose the name because it means "son of Adam", plus we had the added bonus since Addison is a combination of our two names. It is very nice to hear about so many other boys with his name because every person that I have met since he was born with the name 'Addison' has been a girl. Thanks so much for easing my fears that I was a horrible mother!
Regarding the name Addison - If you like the name use it regardless if is is supposed to be for a boy or a girl... Geess ... people are so sensitive and make it seem like they are more worthy of using the name because it was in the family. Take it as a compliment that people are picking this name for their CHILD.
My 6 year-old son is Addison, and, yes, he is sometimes called Addie. If people want to name their little girls "Son of ... ", more power to them. What gives me a ruddy, shooting pain is when these parents completely ignore the etymology of a name and roll their eyes because a BOY is name AddiSON.
Same goes for Edison, Madison ... Anyson.
Well Adam...my name is "AliSON", but I am definitely my mother's daughter. I'm sure my name started out as a boy's name as well. Not that I'm complaining...I named my son Addison. Ah well...what can I do??
Well Adam...my name is "AliSON", but I am definitely my mother's daughter. I'm sure my name started out as a boy's name as well. Not that I'm complaining...I named my son Addison. Ah well...what can I do??
My name is Ashton, And I am a girl!
I'm a '86 BABY!!
I'm am soo glad too. My name was going to be Ashley, thank god that diddn't happen since the most popular baby 80's names are Jessica and Ashley.
When i was little I alway's got made fun of cause the kids said i had a boy's name.
But now as a adult i love it!! It's is such a cool girls name! And not bad for a boy eithier
My name is Ashton, And I am a girl!
I'm a '86 BABY!!
I'm am soo glad too. My name was going to be Ashley, thank god that diddn't happen since the most popular baby 80's names are Jessica and Ashley.
When i was little I alway's got made fun of cause the kids said i had a boy's name.
But now as a adult i love it!! It's is such a cool girls name! And not bad for a boy eithier
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