The Baby Name Wizard

I nominate Evangeline. It reflects to major influences on America today: the upsurge of evangelism in America, and the influence of pop culture (many attribute its rise in popularity to _Lost_ star Evangeline Lilly). It also reflects two important baby-naming trends: the upsurge of religious naming; the trendy letter v; the vowel-heaviness; and the turn toward the very feminine. In addition, its meteoric rise to the 500s in 2006 after missing the top 1000 in 2005 indicates that it is likely to be very high on the charts this year. For these reasons I urge you to vote for Evangeline.

*reflects major influences...I'm tired, sorry

I think my vote would go to Lila for a girl. Mostly cause I've heard of alot of little Lila's born lately.

For a boy name, I'd pick Isaiah, I know several new ones.

I'm going with Ellie. My daughter's small gymnastics class has two Ellie's and an Ella (and an Emma and a Bella!), and someone in the last blog posted about their daughter's dance class with a similar tongue twisting roll call. I know at least 10 little "Ellie's" (all with different given names- Elizabeth, Mary Ellen, Eleanor, Eliana, etc.) plus countless on naming boards, usually in the form of requests for names that will yield Ellie as a nn.

My husband and I became an Aunt and Uncle to a new born niece named Nela. I would have used two L's, but a cute name that has is a new twist on Ella, Ellie, etc...

Well, just went to the archives to read up on the name of the year nominations for 2006, and saw the Ellie/ Ella trend thoroughly discussed- I guess it did start a few years ago, lol. I may have to think a little harder for a fresher nomination....

I'm nominating Miley, for the Hannah Montana craze -- even five-year-olds know that her "real" name is Miley (except it's not, eh?). And it's got a range of variations--Maile (an established Hawaiian name), Mylee--which seems to appeal to young baby namers. It's sound is from somewhere between Kylie and Maya (in fact, it might become a nickname for some Mayas out there).

If Miley is the Ellie of 2025 Kindergartens in the US, that kernel was planted in 2007.

Sophia, without a doubt, would have to be the name of the year where I live. I'm almost surprised when I meet a new baby girl these days and her names ISN'T Sophia! I'm also hearing Grace everywhere, but it's almost always a middle name. Could it be "Middle Name of the Year" in a separate nomination process? = )

Ava, Eva, and Angelina all seem like good nominees to me.
Of course, I said Angelina would go up last year, and it didn't... but I really think it will this year.

Some possibilities:

1. If fake names are allowed, McLovin.

2. Delilah, in part because of the Lila/Lyla/Lilah factor (cf. "Friday Night Lights," "Dexter"), but mostly because of the song "Hey There Delilah." Alongside "Umbrella" and "Beautiful Girls," it was the most inescapable song of the year.

3. Chuck. As I wrote elsewhere, "Re: 'Chuck' -- I believe someone mentioned this in an earlier comments section, but that nickname is everywhere lately, from the NBC sitcom to the female protagonist of 'Pushing Daisies' to ... 'Gossip Girl.' Also, 'I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry' and 'Good Luck Chuck.'"

4. Isaiah. Will this name-on-the-rise (#45 in 2005, #40 in 2006) be helped or hindered by the controversies surrounding Isaiah Washington and Isiah Thomas?

5. Elijah. Because of Neal Pollack's "Alternadad," and because New York Times columnist David Brooks, in an ad hominem attack on Pollack, called the name pretentious.

I second Miley. As a new mom this year I have only heard it once, but the Hannah Montana craze is ferocious. I also agree with some of the arguements for Evangeline. It is a name on Nanny McPhee as well. Surprisingly, among the other new mothers in this community that I know and my baby-bearing extended family and friends, I haven’t heard any recurring names.

I'm guessing the "Umbrella-Ella-Ella" song will influence even more parents than "Hey There Delilah", although it may be hard to quantify how much the already hot Ella gains from that chorus running through people's minds.

Alternatively, I suggest Ivy or Hazel. They're consistent with modern naming trends--old name revivals, nouns as names, trendy letters v and z, and short and sweet style. Also, their nature connection reveals something going on in the larger world--we're going green! ;)

For a guy, I think Isaiah gets my vote for now. Partly for the reasons above, partly because it's biblical, and partly because it's an old name revival.

Isla, Hadley and Oliver.

I'm going to go with Violet - it's old-fashioned, starts with a V and has celebrity usage.

Seconding the McLovin nomination. I don't want to over-analyse it, but that one catches several qualities of the "millennials" absolutely perfectly.

How is Isla pronounced? If it's Izz-la, I'm surprised it has become popular. Pronounced that way, it reminds me of several unattractive "iz" words (gizzard; grizzled; wizened).

If it is pronounced Eye-la, however, that sounds more in line with the Kiley, Miley, Riley trend.

It's Eye-la. I'm working on my name noms now.

I will second Miley. I'd never even heard of it before Hannah Montana and now it seems to be everywhere. There are lots of posts on baby name boards from people considering Miley/Mylee. My local web nursery boasts 2 Mylies, a Mylee, and 3 Mileys the oldest being just over a year old. It rhymes with the already super popular and super cutesy Riley and Kylie, so it blends right in with the sounds parents today love. The best part of the craze is that Miley Cyrus' real name is Destiny and Miley is a nickname for a nickname (Smiley).

I'd also second Isla and Evangeline. Both have the Hollywood factor (Isla Fisher and Evangeline Lilly). Isla (which is pronounced EYE-la) blends in well with the Ella and Lily crowd.

Back again to nominate Lyra. Since the age of 17 or so (i.e. 20ish years ago) my sister has wanted to name a first-born daughter Lyra, as it combines her passions for music and astronomy. When my niece was born this year, though, my sister felt that Lyra was far too trendy to touch, never mind controversial. Although it hit the radar when the Pullman books came out ten years ago, it's really only this year with the movie on the way that I've started to see the name in birth announcements and more seriously discussed on other name forums. So for a trifecta of popular culture, controversy and style, I nominate Lyra.

I second Chuck.
Total change of how the name is perceived though the (over)use in pop movie and TV culture.

I also second Miley.
The Miley Cyrus craze is bound to have produced many more of the same name (even if of alternate spellings)this year.

Sorry, distracted- as a FYI my niece got Lyra as her middle name- Frances Lyra.

i like Harley and Jayden for girls and william for a boy. . . harley and jayden can also be boy names too

Isla and Barack. Isla purely for style and for the fact that it's poised to jump the pond; Barack for the strong sound and political cache.

I totally agree with Elizabeth T, though I can't say I was brilliant enough to think of it myself. Barack may be a one-hit wonder for 07, but Isla is the latest Lila/Ella permutation (I know an Isa, too) that will probably flood kindergartens in 2012 or so.

Evangeline, Isla, Miley

Oliver, Isaiah, Duncan

I didn't realize Lyra was so popular. I fell in love with it about ten years ago--for the sound and the fact that it was a constellation. I think it works better as a mn, though--a little "out there" for a fn.

Caden-we just named our son that, and it's bound to jump....

Off-topic update:

I've posted a few times for feedback on baby girl names (sister to Aaron); thought it was only right to follow up! I had the baby earlier this week and we named her Anna Jane. We are planning to use the double name since that's sort of a family tradition. Just couldn't resist the family names this time. Anne variations are in my family (she's the 5th consecutive generation) and Jane is a family name on DH's side; plus as you might remember I really liked Jane as a solo name, though DH wasn't on board with that. Thanks for all the advice!

Have at it with the nominations. :) Great ideas, everyone!

My nominees for names of the year:

Hillary and Barack.

As in "are we ready for a President named Hillary? Are we ready for a president named Barack?"

Congrats on Anna Jane! Thanks for letting us know, I always wonder what people end up naming their little ones.

Boy-Griffin. Not sure if it's a microtrend in my region but I'd never heard the name before and now I know 4 under 6 mo old. I don't think it's from a show but I don't watch a ton of TV. I would have to agree that Chuck is the new hot TV nn.

Girl-Elliott. It's on Scrub and once again I now know a couple of baby girls with this name. Yikes! While I'm not sure I'm happy that it is crossing over, I do think it has. It fits with gender neutral names and the broader trend of cross overs.

my vote goes for Kennedy, Aubrey, Audrey,
and (Ellie) Eliana

my vote goes for Kennedy, Aubrey, Audrey,
and (Ellie) Eliana

my vote goes for Kennedy, Aubrey, Audrey,
and (Ellie) Eliana

sorry about the triple post

Oh man, I hope NOTY is not Evangeline! I am trying to keep that name under wraps. ;P My dd is so named, and was so before anyone had heard of Ms Lilly (whose fn is actually Nicole). I mean, OF COURSE it's a fantastic name, and OF COURSE it is delightful for all the right reasons and on the cusp of the right trends. But if we talk about it too much it might become popular and I've tried so hard to give my kids names that are uncommon. :) But what else can I say? I guess dh and I have good name taste. LOL

You can't be serious about "Hillary"? This favored name of my youth (I liked it with one "l" though) took quite a plunge after the early 90's, if I recall...

This is one of the hazards of blogging on boards dominated by you lefties (I say affectionately!)

May I then offer a completely unserious nomination for "Frederick", as in Fred Thompson? And Mitt should get an award for rescuing an almost hopeless moniker "Milton Willard" or was it "Willard Milton", by telescoping to the not-exciting but at least sporty and memorable "Mitt"...

There was an Evangeline in my daughter's first grade class last year. She went by Eva. I'm guessing Evangeline will be the "long name" of many Evas, the way Maximillian and Maxwell are for a lot of Maxes.

Another note on Isla -- it also has the "place-name" factor, if that's still a trend people are following.

Wendy, I second your nominations for Hilary and Barack- though I would substitute his last name, Obama. I live in a college town and noticed recently that the posters for Hillary Clinton read "Hillary '08" and "U-Michigan for Hillary" not Clinton '08. I wonder if this is both because she wants to distinguish herself from her husband or how much it is because she's a woman. The posters and groups for the other male candidates all feature their last names, including Obama.

My nomination is not a reflection of my political views, but an observation on a moment in which who can seriously be considered a viable presidential candidate (a woman, a man of color) is being redefined.

Isla is OK, but did not rise to sufficient prominence in '07 to warrant NotY status. Isla Fisher was bigger after "Wedding Crashers" in 2005.
Miley, OTOH, is a great choice because tons of people have learned of her this year that didn't know of her last year. She was on Oprah, after all.
Chuck I really like because it would be nice to see a male name, but, ironically, part of its '07 upsurge is because a female bears the name (in line with today's trends) on "Pushing Daisies." (Just a matter of time before Rosenkrantz's prediction for "a girl named Boy" comes true, I swear.)
Lyra might seem bigger in 2008, as it's coming up so late in '07. Delilah will see an uptick, but it's hard to gauge from another country if it reached NotY status with the #1 hit in the US.
Good noms, people!

I hope and trust that among people of good will, ALL barriers are down, including, but not limited to, those against decent chaps with funny names like "Mitt"! I don't think it's overly optimistic to suggest that more people respond to meritorious ideas and policies, than they do to ethnic background, sex, religious affiliation or awkward names...
Although we name fanatics can't help but notice those-- only in passing of course!

I have to throw in for Miley s one option, but I'm also hearing a lot of Rebecca again on TV - and my sister just used it for her new daughter (and it was on my list as well until then!) I'm thinking Brothers and Sisters (Emily VanCamp's character) and... there was some other recent popular Rebecca character, too.
But Chuck seems to be very popular as well, though I don't really see it going up in popularity because it's really not the style of today's names. SO I'm torn on that one.

Oliver for a boy. It seems (to me) like it has very recently turned from a not commonly-used, fairly weak-sounding name to an extremely popular boy's name.

Cadence (also including Kadence, Caydence, Kaydence and other kre8ive variations). I'm hearing this name everywhere. I'll agree that it has a lovely melodic sound, but it resembles closely the too-trendy and tired choice of Caden.
Definitely second the name Chuck. Also hearing Charlie a ton. Maybe I'll just go with Charles in general.

Another vote for Chuck! I used to think of it as a sort of middle-aged flannel-shirt kind of name -- something a Bob-Vila-type would go by. Suddenly it seems to have rocketed to Hollywood-chic. It still doesn't sound very good to me, but I'm sure many disagree... I'm just waiting for the boom of baby Chucks (which, granted, would be hard to spot in the charts, given that many Chucks might be Charles-es, Charlies, or Charlottes).

For the record, I am not saying that Hillary or Barack will be a "popular" name this year, or advocating for Hillary or Barack to win the election.

But the amount of times that their names are written or spoken is staggering this year.

You could argue that Mitt or Rudy could also be names of the year, but those names do not have the same significance for the United States. The fact that both Hillary and Barack are serious candidates is a huge. We (finally)
will consider a woman or a biracial man as president.

Remember the Supreme Court Justice test? How about a presidental name test? How will your daughter's name sound when they are president of the United States? Certainly no one predicted that "Hillary" would sound presidental up until the last couple of years!

FYI, last year I submited Shiloh, Suri, and Barcak Obama as name of the year, but argued that I thought Barack would probably be the name of 2007 or 2008.

I love the name Drama for a girl. I don't have any children yet but, my first girl is going to be named Drama or I also like the name Kira.

Laurie Anne--CoNgRaTs on Anna Jane!

Kate--Would a Charlotte really go by Chuck??

Another vote for McLovin as Fake Name of the Year! :P