The Baby Name Wizard

Oh my goodness! I never would of thought it was that dramatic. That is amazing.....Good work Laura! I can't wait to more on this.
What do you think makes the N so dominant?

Whoa. I knew that end-in-N names were really trendy, but it's mind-boggling in number form. 600,000. That's over half of all boys born in a given year.

Interesting that the #1 name, Jacob, is barely a blip on this map.

My two boys end in L and T, so I guess I did better than I thought in avoiding the trends.

Rebekah -
Aidan/Jayden/Brayden/Hayden/Caden/Jaylen
Logan
Nathan
Ethan
Ryan
Jonathan
Benjamin
Brandon/Brennan/Brendon/etc
Austin
Landon
Cameron

Most of these have multiple misspellings, so the true popularity is masked.

Just a small correction.
ENDS all rank in a new Big Six in 1956.
(YNDSLE)

That's stunning. (Can't wait to see the girl graph, but I suspect that multiple spellings may mask some ending sounds, like: -ley, -lee, leigh etc.)

No wonder I'm constantly looking up at the playground thinking someone is calling to me, when in fact it's someone else! I thought it was just that Megan had become so common, now I realize, that's the tip of the iceberg.

Thanks Jennifer- I guess what I was wondering is what makes these sounds so appealing to the ear right now. I know the Irish trend had a lot to do with it but those numbers are incredible.
So why hasn't the name Gideon taken off? Every time I mention it I still get the wrinkled nose.

What would the same graphs look like for girls?

Rebekah,
When I hear Gideon I think of "The Gideon" who give bibles to hotels and churches in the name of someone. That kinda puts a "wierdness" on it for me. Kinda like Damien or Lucifer.

Just my opinion

I too wonder what caused the -ens to sky rocket so dramatically. It's not that they have an unpleasant sound to me, but they just don't appeal to me like they do for so many others. I especially find it amazing when Ii hear someone claim that they love Jayden or Caden because they're "unique". I think Ethan and Logan are the only names on Jennifer...again's list that I like.

It could be that Gideon has "giddy" in it. That could be weird for people. I sort-of like it though. :)

And as usual, in the drive for independence, everyone has really moved toward conformity.

Wow! The trend is really striking when shown that way. It also really sheds light on the rise and fall of the letter y.

So, to be really "unique," shoot for boys' names ending in F, G, or Z?

Leaf, Padraig, and Cruz, it is.

Or maybe Yusuf, Craig, and Amoz?

As a biochemist, I look at graphs alot, and I must suggest displaying the graphs as % of names ending in each letter rather than absolute number of names ending in each letter. Those Y-axes are bugging me (yes I am a nerd). Very interesting trend though!

When we were choosing a middle name for Solomon, it WAS very difficult to find a middle name we liked that didn't end in N. Sounded awkward I thought to end with two N-ending names for first and middle names. Now I see why it was so difficult to find non-N-ending boys names!

Interesting indeed. I agree with the last nerd to comment (sorry, Kat, I'm a nerd, too!) that a percentage graph or seeing all of the graphs on the same x/y chart would be much more telling. Other than the letter N which is clearly having a heyday right now, the other top letters are still relatively similar in popularity even if less-frequently used.

Thanks for the new blog, Laura - I look forward to reading your latest insights on name trends. I refer to your book all the time even though I don't have kids yet. :)

Hi all,

Speaking of N's... What do you think of the name: Evelyn Nadia Wallerman (Evelyn Wallerman, Evelyn N. Wallerman)? Are there too many N's?

I love your blogs and name tools, Laura!

Thanks for the interesting article Laura. I look forward to it every week!

Practically all the surname/first names I can think of end in N also, and they're still quite popular.
The only Gideon I've known was actually a girl, and she went by something else.
I wish I'd asked her about it...

Thanks, Laura- really interesting, as usual!

The-n names cover such a wide range, from the traditionally British Colin and Simon, through the more effeminate (IMHO) Florian, Corin, Dorian, Crispi(a)n, Biblical Nathan, Jonathan and Benjamin, Irish Declan, Ciaran... the list is endless!

I have a friend who named her kids Adrian, Steven and Julian back in the early 60's- guess she was ahead of the curve!

It's interesting, too, that Madison Ethan are the only names in the official top tens that and in n. I think it's probably because, as Valerie said, there are tons of different -n names.

SJ--Evelyn Nadia Wallerman isn't too n-ish. Maybe because the n in Nadia comes at the beginning, so there's mor variety...?

Obviously, that should read "Madison and Ethan". Stupid typos.

Oh, and J&H's mom--what did your Gideon go by?

Wow. And of course, we've got Julian and we're considering Robin (for a boy). I thought we were being a bit different.

Well, this is what happens when most people in the culture are no longer naming sons after older relatives or friends, but what to find something new and "unique" that nevertheless fits the ubiquitous "different but not too different" criterion. You end up with names chosen primarily on the basis of sound, and in the USA names that end in -n are considered particularly attractive.

This is not just in terms of given names. This also extends to the surnames of politicians. Research by Dr. Grant W. Smith of Eastern Washington University shows that over the last few election cycles in the USA, in elections where only nonincumbents are running, politicians who have surnames that fit a certain set of sound patterns are more likely to win. And though there are other factors to this, one of the main ones is "ending in -n". Reagan and Clinton are particuarly good surnames for successful politicians -- and a great many of the newly popular boys' names these days are just these sort of surnames turned into first names.

I love Evelyn Nadia. If you like Evelyn Wallerman, use it. It sounds "tried and true" to my ears and I like it.

a.c.- Ok, I hate to be the one that doesn't like it, but I don't particularly care for the combination. It is a nice name but it is hard to say, at least for me. I even think the first and last names don't go very well. It just doesn't flow off the tongue. I feel as if I have to enunciate it so it doesn't run together. It is not just an issue of too many Ns, it is also because the first and last name have 3 syllables each. I think it would be better if the first name only had two syllables. For example, Nadia Wallerman sounds good together.
I hope that helps! :)

Question-What is your favorite website for names?

The latest graph is astonishing. What could it be about the N that is so alluring? I listed all the young boys of my acquaintance, and by the time I got to 20, I had 14 ending in N! The outliers were Noah, Vincent, Frankie, Angus, Luke and Cole.

Thanks to Laura for compiling such fascinating data!

"I have a friend who named her kids Adrian, Steven and Julian back in the early 60's- guess she was ahead of the curve!"

Not really. In 1956 it appears N was the second most popular last letter.

In noticing that E was the top in 1906 and Y in 1956, I was having a hard time coming up with full names that end in those letters. George is all I could come up with for E, and a few more for Y - Barry, Gary, Ray, Jay.

Perhaps nicknames used as given names may be the explanation? Laura showed us a few posts ago that names like Sammie and Billie were given to boys at the turn of the century. My grandfather (b. 1920) was named Johnnie, but by the 50s I believe the Y spelling was favored for Tommy, Bobby, Jimmy etc. Very interesting!

Rebekah--I assume you meant that message to SJ. :)

Yes....I meant SJ. Silly me. =)

SJ: I agree with Rebekah about Nadia Wallerman sounding better than Evelyn Wallerman. Both my first and last names end with an "n" and I've always hated the way they sound together!

I think it's the N's combined with the syllable pattern that bother me about the name. Each "issue" on its own wouldn't be so bad.

"Evelyn Wallerman" starts getting scrambled as I say it over and over. First I'd mispronounce it to Evelyn WEllerman for some reason, then comes the nickname "Ev" and it's Ev Wellerman, which eventually morphs to "Everman" which is a weird nickname for sure . . . I almost like the other half of the name -- Lynn Wallerman -- better!

I think the A's and E's are confusing for me (including Nadia) -- what if you did a different vowel altogether, like Judy Wallerman? (or heck, even my name, Dorothy Wallerman?!) Just a thought. Sorry to pick apart your name choice, but this board is good for a thorough critique, isn't it? :)

Please don't apologize for your critiques of "Evelyn Nadia Wallerman"! They're very helpful.

I was unsure about the syllable-issue, too.

My spouse and I have a hard time agreeing on names...and ENW is the best we've got so far.

By the way, we have a toddler boy whose name ends in an "ee" sound, which seems to be more popular for girls...?

Please keep your comments about "Evelyn Wallerman" coming. I appreciate it!

I have to say, I love the names you've chosen - but Evelyn Wallerman is quite a mouthful to me. I also have a last name that excludes a lot of great names, and I agree it's frustrating!

I like Nadia Evelyn. I also took Nymbler for a spin and got a few ideas:
Lydia Evelyn
Nadia Eleanor
Mira Evelyn

doesn't surprise me about the "n" names. The boys in my daughter's preschool class this summer:

Aidan
Braydon
Evan
Brandon
Julian
Logan
Max

My daughter pointed out that all the boys names sound alike...

We had a new experience at the park today -- we met a little girl with my daughter's name -- this is the first person under 20 years old we have met with her name. Her mom said to me that the name is "kind of unusual." Fortunately I decided not to be a name nerd and tell her the statistics on the name and its various spellings. :)

I'm not surprised at all that N was wickedly popular as the final letter for boys, but was surprised that R didn't make a stronger showing...with all the popularity of occupation names right now for boys. Like Hunter, Tanner, Tyler, Parker, etc.

I have a hard time believing this graph...There is only one -n name in the top 10 (at 4), 2 in the top 15, and 4 in the top 20. How could there possibly be that many n's in the remaining names to make up more than half of the total?
The top 20 boys names are as follows:
1Jacob
2Michael
3Joshua
4Ethan
5Matthew
6Daniel
7Christopher
8Andrew
9Anthony
10William
11Joseph
12Alexander
13David
14Ryan
15Noah
16James
17Nicholas
18Tyler
19Logan
20John

Wendy-Now I am intrigued, do you mind telling what your little girl's name is? I am dying to know?

The graph is right. You just have to look a little beyond the top twenty to see why. From #20 John to #100 Devin, 40 of these 81 names end in N.

Kristi--How are your friends with the sextuplets? Their website doesn't seem to have been updated recently. (And of course, my condolences for those they lost.)

If you write on your kid's birth certificate, say, "james", as opposed to "James", would that mean that to capitalize the "j" on something else be incorrect? Totally random, just wondering.

I definitely believe the statistics. Relatives & friends boys include Donovan, Emerson, Jackson, Aaron, etc and I have to admit that I was very drawn to Julian & Adrian during my pregnancies, but the "N" ending just happens to sound awful with our last name. I had noticed this trend for the N.

OK, well, SJ I guess I have permission now to say it! The thing about Evelyn Nadia Wallerman is that not only is it 3 names with 3 syllables each, the are all "dactyls" (three syllables, accent on the first syllable). So you've got EVelyn NAdia WALLerman. CHUG-a-chug CHUG-a-chug CHUG-a-chug.

I'd suggest that the first name not be a dactyl, even if you use 3 syllables, as in BetTINa WALLerman (not that I love that name, but you see what I mean). Or, if you want to accent the first syllable of the first name, use a 2-syllable name, as in CHARlotte WALLerman. Or even 4 syllables, accent not on the first: Ann-a-STAS-ia WALLerman.

If only Nymbler could accommodate the rhythm of your last name!

SJ- In my first and (married) last name combined, I have FIVE Ns. It can be a mouthful sometimes.

My last name also ends in -man, and I dislike the sound of anything ending in -n with our name. It sounds a little too rhymey or sing-songy for my tastes. A shame- I had always LOVED the name Benjamin growing up but knew that marrying my husband would mean not being able to use it. (Not that it was actually a consideration in choosing a partner, but as a name nerd the thought did cross my mind!!)

Good luck, and congratulations on the pregnancy. Please do let us know what you decide!

SJ-

I would go with Evelyn Nadia if you love it.

My daughter's first and middle name don't really go with our last name, but oh well. Nothing really does.

I finally just chose a name I loved. Maybe someday she will change her last name anyway...I didn't want to choose a name I didn't like as much just to match our last name.

Hi. I'm giving birth to a son in a few months and am still thinking about the name. I really like Leonidas Joseph (Leon for short), but my mother and her friends disagree. I'm told that names that I like now (I'm in my late teens) I'll hate when I'm older, and that I should choose a top-20 name for my son. So I'm not sure. Can anyone help?

On the 'Gideon' debate - the only Gideon I ever met was rather unfortunately nicknamed Giddy -up...

Wendy: I too would love to know your daughter's name!

NB: I'm glad these random thoughts re. name choices go through other peoples minds too! :-)

I mean I like Evelyn Nadia but I see the issues with combining it with Wallerman, it's tough to know whether to go for the name you love or the name that sounds better with your surname (Sorry I haven't been more helpful - I need to mull it over for a while first I think...)

Allira: You certainly don't have to go with a top 20 name for your son! (although I see the thought groove behind this suggestion - your mum et friends are just worried you'll choose a fad name which you'll soon tire of) Personally I'm not into Leonidas (how do you say it?) but Joseph is lovely... Are there any other names that particularly grab you ?

Allira:

After a quick brainstorm - helped along by Nymbler, I've come up with a few suggestions that I thought were similar in style to Leonidas Joseph, though I would say if you truly love Leonidas Joseph to go with that...

Phineas
Reuben
Oliver
Nathaniel/Nathan
Raphael/Rafe
Daniel
Zackery/Zachariah
Joel
Isaac
Nicholas
Finlay/Finn
Benjamin
Samuel
Joshua
Gabriel
Barnaby
Lucas/Luca
Eliot

See what you think...

Allira--I think it's true that the names you like in your teens aren't the names you like in your twenties, or thirties... but that's not necessarily true if a name is attached to your own, real child--then you'll probably always love it. I think Leonidas is fine--it can be Leo or Leon for informal occasions, or if you later find the long version cumbersome.

Not sure if you know that a Confederate general, Leonidas K. Polk, is the historical person that will probably come to mind among US history buffs--you can decide if that's okay with you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonidas_Polk

Allira - I like Leonidas, esp the nn Leo!, although if you decide to go with a top 20 name, choose one that's more timeless than trendy... names like the whole Jayden, Brayden, Hayden, etc. thing are probably the ones you might end up regretting when they (hopefully) go out of style in the future!

And on the N-ding topic, I agree with a lot of people above: combining the charts would help a lot, but the ones already here are astounding! Actually, I was planning to go with Julian Drake for a son, but am thinking Julius Drake might be better in case I might want to name a future child something with an -n ending and then I would hate for all my sons to be like JuliaN, AdriaN, IaN, etc. which all happen to be names I love! Although I have already planned in my head for my next son to be a Rafael, or Luke Rafael!

The only Leonidas I've come across is the Belgian chocolate maker- in Belgium they pronounce it Lay-ON-ee-das.The chocolates are AMAZING so I have good associations...:)

Allira, I like your choice of names! Leo is cute and trendy, Leon a bit less expected. Leonidas sounds Greek...

While I was mulling this over I found a "trendy name generator," a joke site I thought this group might like. It's at http://nine.frenchboys.net/trendy.php

The page heading says: "WARNING: Using this generator for serious purposes, such as actually naming the helpless fruit of your loins, may cause a wide range of symptoms including uncontrollable snickering, typographical errors and matricide."

The names it generated for me were:

Bailin
Janslie
Kayriana
Shauniana
Shenden...

which cracked me up.

Hi! Your web site is helpful. Many thanks. Best regards!

SJ: Maybe Evie or Evelina? Although I do like Evelyn. It's my mom's name and I think it's a classic. I also like Nancy, Karen, and Linda--my aunties' names that I think have the same feel.

Allira: I wonder if it would help if you told us the reasons you like Leonidas. Leonidas is kind of out there but maybe you have good reasons about what it means to you or something. (I think your mother and her friends may have a point in arguing against Leonidas, but I don't think the argument they are making is a very good one.) I think Leon is a cute nn though. I think it is a fine name on it's own too.

BETH that website is HILARIOUS, but also slightly scary. I can see people using some of the names!!!!!

As for names ending in "N", Mason is another one that's really popular now. Thanks Laura for pointing this out. I'm happy to realize the names I like (Elliott & Chance) aren't following the trend! I guess that means I'm thinking outside of the mainstream.

The graphs put an interesting perspective on baby name statistics. There does seem to be a rise in popularity of Irish/Celtic names (many ending in N), which can be accredited to the rise of fantasy movie popularity. The genre seems to glean its character name influences from the Celtic cultures.

What struck me about the names ending in "n" is that there were many fewer names ending in "son" than I expected. That said, there are still a lot! Here is a list of the "son" names for boys in 2006 next to their respective rank:
36 Jackson
39 Mason
55 Jason
87 Carson
176 Bryson
218 Grayson
232 Harrison
233 Dawson
249 Hudson
276 Tyson
353 Jayson
399 Anderson
424 Jameson
447 Nelson
503 Greyson
512 Wilson
534 Jamison
539 Emerson
562 Addison
642 Jefferson
673 Lawson
752 Kason
753 Cason
862 Branson
887 Samson
895 Garrison
947 Edison

My prediction is that next year Karson, Carston, and Brayson will debut.

I realized as I was looking through the list that not only do so many of the names end in "n," there are also a lot that end in "ne" and thus have the same sound (Stone, for example). Fascinating. To my ear the "n" provides a much softer ending than a "k" or "d," for example. Do the rest of you agree? Why would this sound have taken off so much in the last 50 years to the exclusion of the others?

Allira- yes, your taste in names will change as you age, but if you love Leonidas now, you'd probably hate a top-20 name more in the future. Besides which, I still love many of the names I liked as a teen- so don't worry too much. Leonidas is a classic name (can't get anymore classic than a king of Sparta!), and its nns of Leon and Leo are normal without being annoyingly ubiquitous. If you do think it might be "too much," don't limit yourself to the top twenty, but have a look at the timeless sort of names...James/Thomas/Henry, not Ryan/Jacob/Noah. But speaking as someone who is about 30- Leonidas is great. Go for it.

Why N? is it something to do with tv/radio advertising? What else has changed language dramatically in the last years 50?

I wonder if Elly has a huge point? "What else changed language dramatically in the last 50 years?"

Allira: I am guessing that you know in you heart of hearts if you think you will tire of this name. If you suspect maybe, even a teeny tiny bit, go for another timeless classic. If it has ben there for a long time and you really like it - and the leon and leo - use it. Your taste will change but your style is who you are.

Allira - one trick I was taught many years ago was to put the name you're fond of in a sentence:Mrs/Ms yxz, can *the name* come out to play? Now say it over and over and over - and I mean over, at least 50 times a day for three days. If at the end of that you still like the name, then it's the one. From my own newer experience, imagine it being read out at their university graduation. I have to say I was really pleased my own children's names sounded good. Don't look at the top 20 names if you can help it - there lies mundanity, which you're way too young for. They'll only be children for a few years but they have to live with a boring name for maybe 60 adult years.

For regular readers of this columnn, I have breaking news from Lausanne, Switzerland. My friends the German/French couple whose children were named Anna, David and Clara (particularly pan-European I think), an third daughter... Charlotte.
No, not what I was expecting (or Nymbler either), but still a name that works well in different European languages.

When I wrote about this before and wondered what the fourth child would be named, I remember one of you had suggested Sophie, Nico, Max or Theo which were all great choices. What do you all think of this choice? Does Charlotte harmonize with the others? I actually think so.

PS Laura, I totally love Nymbler, but one of the choices for a sibling of the above was Dara... Clara and Dara??

Congratulations to your friends, Valerie! I wouldn't have predicted Charlotte, but now that I see it, I'm surprised I didn't think of it. I think they work very well together. I hope the kids get along as well as their names do! I was stunned once again today by how my children can fight over anything, even a speck of dust on the floor.

I wouldn't be surprised if Gideon did pick up soon; between the old stock Biblical name trend (Elijah, Caleb, Gabriel, etc), and the 'n' ending, I'd say it's just waiting to be rediscovered.

OK, I just looked at the girls' list to see how popular the "-son" names are. Here's the scoop: There are only four such names in the top 1000 for girls, but there are 12 spellings of them (14 if you count the ones ending in "-syn"). They are (with the rank before them):

3 Madison
--403 Maddison
--408 Madyson
--414 Madisyn

27 Addison
--370 Addyson
--612 Addisyn
--767 Adison
--877 Adyson

46 Allison
--256 Allyson
--271 Alison
--471 Alyson

305 Emerson

The variant spellings of Emerson have not yet cracked the top 1000. If you're looking to win Laura's pool next year, Emersyn, Emmerson, or Emercyn might be good bets!

As a teenager, my absolute favorite "future daughter name" was Kelin. However; when I married my husband, I knew that I could never use the name. Our last name ends in an "in" sound, and I'm not a fan of the rhyming first and last names. Of course, _my_ name rhymes now - but I at least had a choice in the matter. :)

Charlotte is perfect. IMHO. :)

Allira: My mom recent told me to yell my baby's name out the back door several time a day for a week or so and see if I still like it. All forms of it. As in firstname, firstname middle name, first middle lastname.

I think Nymbler probably recommends Dara when Clara is put in as an inspiration because it's not only for sibling names but also more general, "If you like X, you might also like Y." You know like if you like Clara, but you already have a Clark and Clark and Clara together would be silly...

Holy cow. This makes me very very happy that the boys' names I have picked out end in v, i, and h.

It would be cool to have a European version. You all act so shocked by totally popular, trendy European name choices like Charlotte and Leon.

Leon is something like the number 2 or 3 name in Germany (VERY POPULAR) and also popular in places like Switzerland and France. Charlotte is similar...it's an extremely trendy name at the moment, with the nick-name of Lotti.

These trends are somehow connected to the US trends as well. Not sure how though. I think more people are choosing "Euro sounding" names (Such as Tobias, Mattias, Marcus, etc) and it will become a trend it itself.

On Leonidas:
Allira - I say go for it, I think it's a great name.

To others wondering about the pronunciation: LEO-nigh-das.
And I actually commented about this on a post from a a few months ago, wondering if there'd be a re-emergence of this name because it's the name of the lead character in the movie 300 (which is based on a comic book which is in turn based on actual events about a group of Spartans in ancient Greece who fought off an invasion of Iranians). Big 2007 pop culture blip-on-the-radar especially with younger viewers. Great movie, btw.

My mother, slightly morbid though this is, pictured potential baby names on a wedding invitation and on a gravestone. It was important to her to think ahead to whether the name would work on an old lady, and not just a little baby.

Whoa, that's pretty intense advice. I'm now picturing my daughter's gravestone. Hopefully a very very long time in the future, but ... yep, I still like her name. She'll make a great old lady.

I am in the habit of writing the name over and over in it's different forms (full, initials, potential nicknames, etc.) to see if I like it, etc. I've dumped a few this way.

We have a chosen nickname for our son-to-be (if my baby is a boy), since he will be a Charles the III and my husband is Chuck and sometimes Charlie. We chose Tre (meaning 3) but my husband's family doesn't seem to like it.

Allira: I agree with Molly, if you love this name, go for it.
With the popularity of the movie 300, I suspect we will be seeing more boys with this name, so it is unusual without being too "out there". Also, "Leo" or "Leon" are classic shorter versions.
Finally, as I look back on the babyname lists I made as a child,(yes, I kept them) I have found that nearly all of the names I liked as a 10 year old I still enjoy today. The list I made as a 16 year old is even more enduring, as there is only one name on that list (Mirandy, ugh!) which I wouldn't use today,... and this is nearly 30 years later.

Breaking topic a bit here. I saw that Wolfgang Puck got married to a (Mid East? Eurasian?) woman named Gelila. Anyone know the pronunciation? I assumed it rhymes with Delilah, juh-LYE-luh. Or is it juh-LEE-luh? Does the initial "G" take a different sound?

I've been reading "Harry Potter" and was struck by Ollivander, as it sounds like a combo of two Eng names, Oliver and Evander, much like Alexander and Xavier were combined at least once to form Alexavier.

Allira,
I'm 30, I love Leonidas, and think nn Leon is adorable. Grandma may not love the name right now, but when she's holding him in her arms, it won't matter what his name is--she'll love him dearly! (And the advice to stick to the top 20 is probably well-intentioned, but awfully limiting!)
Good luck!

Christiana,
Do I read this correctly? Are you pregnant?

Still trying to settle - last minute-ish - on a middle name for Lincoln. HOW do you pronounce Evander? I like the look and my own initial pronunciation but not sure where to go to find "the real" pronunciation...

Eh-VAN-der?

ee-VAN-der? Maybe?

Allira: I like Leonidas. Leonidas Joseph is great. Sure your tastes may change as you grow older, but you don't know which tastes will do the changing. Choosing from the top 20 would be a mistake. It's better to go with a name you love now than choose one you never cared much about in the first place.

Allira: I do think that the list ofnames I liked at twelve are not names I would chose now, but some of that has to do with the way they would fit into our family. Having named one son already, I find that I have set myself into a particular style. I don't hate the names, just don't like them like I used to. I also agree that once your child's name is selected it will grow with your child. It sounds like you aren't stretching so far for an unusual name that it can't fit into mainstream and that is probably where the biggest problem would be.

This talk of N's has highlighted for me my biggest concern for naming my son Evan. It isn't really so high in popularity that I would be worried (Lower than our son James' name) but it sounds so much like Ethan that I'm afraid he will just get mixed up with the very many Ethan's that I see in my naming circle.

Ethan and Evan don't sound anything alike to me ... EE-than vs. Eh-VAN. Not the same initial sound and not the same syllable gets emphasized. The only things they have in common are the starting and ending letters.

melanie - i agree with kygirl, Ethan and Evan are quite distinctive to me. I mean, yes - they both have the initial "E" and the "-an" sound. But in style and tone, they're very different to me.

I would pronounce it EH-van, not Eh-VAN. What's the consensus?

MICHI - re: Gideon.........
not very common but I had a great uncle named Gideon, known by Gid. His brothers were Sardius(Sar), Persis (Percy) and Marcus (no nn as far as I know). Persis seems to be a girl's name according to Google! Their sister was Angeline. Very religious "chapel" English family.

I named my son Mark but wish now I had used Marcus with Marc for everyday!

re:Gideon....SHHH...That is the name I was hoping my son would name his next-someday child. His name is Gabriel and I thought Gideon would be a similar name and same initials. I may need to get a pet to use it...but I hope it doesn't become too popular. My son never went by a nickname(his choice) and ,I assume, his would not either. Of course, now it is bothering me that it ends in "n"!

In the US at least, Evan is EH-vun. I do think Evan and Ethan sound similar, so I understand your concern if there are tons of Ethans around. Too bad as I love both names!

I don't know... for some reason Gideon really doesn't do it for me. Something abou the sound - I think it's the way the mouth/throat forms the "gid" sound that feels odd. It also reminds me of Gilligan ('s Island) and the word "giddy". But, it's possible that once I heard it used as a given name (I never have) that could change.

Time for some eye rolling around here. UK "celebrity" couple have just announced the name of their new daughter.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6913310.stm

What are peoples thoughts on Jennifer?

(i was told at the doctors surgery that unisex names are a pain in the butt when it comes to records etc and it's a sexist trend)

To MD- I loved the name Jennifer so much that I had a baby with that name written under it in my college dorm...but that was about 40 years ago! The name has had such tremendous popularity over a long period of time,that IMO, something fresher might be better. If you like classic, feminine names that start with "J" how about: Juliet, Julianne or even Jennie? Jessica is another I might have suggested but it has been extremely popular, as well.Or do you have a baby picture in your room with Jennifer written under it?:)

MD: I have so many friends and classmates named Jennifer that I could never use the name!

Never had realized that names ending with 'n' are that popular and that many!

Tess and Robyn - what should i do then - i want a classic feminine sort of name after what they told me at the doctors as i said.

Thank you for being so nice.

Hi MD,
Check out Laura's site Nymbler (you can link to it from one of her earlier posts). It will give you all sorts of different suggestions. And in my opinion, a baby Jennifer born today is not likely to experience what the Jennifers born in the 70s and 80s did.

MD-- I think Elizabeth T. is right-- the great demographic bulge of Jennifers is now in the recent past. A new baby named Jennifer might be almost a novelty!

If you simply take it at face value (which we name nerds rarely do!) as a charming Welsh-Cornish name, then perhaps it has some viability. But personally I'd search for something less recently popular...

With any VERY popular name, I'd be determined to come up with a jaunty, unusual nickname-- i.e., "Jinx" for Jennifer, NEVER "Jen"...

I hope you can help me out. I feel so overwhelmed.

MD- I echo Elizabeth in saying go to Nymbler and input Jennifer as your inspiration name and revel in the many other options. Are there any other girl names you like? If so, add them to the inspirations. Good luck and let us know what names call to you. When is your baby due?

MD,
Name your daughter whatever you like. Jennifer is fine and refreshing for a baby. You'll be way ahead of the 80's baby name trend in 2030. Call her Enny. Call her Fifi.
Who cares what a doctor said about trendy baby names.

MD: In 2006, Jennifer was ranked #51 on the Social Security list -- more popular for girls than Avery #52, Mackenzie #53, Zoe #54, Riley #55, Sofia #56, Maya #57, Kimberly #58, Andrea #59, and Megan #60. So, it's still very much out there. If you love it, use it. And your doctor's point about unisex names seems ridiculous. I mean, if they're going to look at the baby/operate on the person, they'll probably figure out the sex pretty quickly. As far as filling out medical forms, just check "female" or "male". Simple as that.

Speaking of -n boy names, I recently heard the name "Tavin" (prounouned TAY-vin)and am just curious what you all think. Is it trendy sounding to you? Or how about "Tavio" as a short form of "Octavio". I'm going back and forth as to whether Tavin sounds trendy -- I'm thinking it maybe does. But then, as a form of Octavio maybe not . . .

MD - I do like Jennifer but, as others have said, there were SO many of them born in the 70s/80s that it seems a little tired now. That shouldn't stop you from picking a name you truly love, though. If you want to get some new ideas there are lots of books to inspire you. You might go to the library and pick up Laura's book The Baby Name Wizard. There's another one (appropriately) called "Beyond Jennifer and Jason" that you might enjoy - it's opinionated but fun to read. As others have suggested check out the Nymbler (www.nymbler.com) for more ideas. Good luck!

i don't think there's anything wrong with jennifer. it's the name of one of my sisters (born in the early 70s) and even though it was always so popular, it never seemed that way to me. not nearly as saturated as say michael and david were for boys.
and btw, the doctor is there to provide medical services, not personal naming advice.

MD - Seems odd to me to have the doctor weighing in on your choice as well, but some people are simply opinionated. I like the name Jennifer, personally, though it was never on my list. You won't likely deal with what people in the 70's and 80's dealt with with the popularity, but you're also not likely to hear "what an unusual name" or "how do you pronounce that?" It's a modern classic, IMO. You like it, use it. I also like Juliana/Julia, Jillian and Jessamine for other feminine J options. Try out Nymbler. It's a lot of fun.

MD - out of curiosity, was there a unisex name that you were considering that prompted the doctor's statement?

I almost was a "Jennifer Elaina" but ended up a "Hillary Susanne" because I have a cousin named Jennifer. Honestly I am glad that I am a Hillary. I have only known a few personally and then of course there is HRC too.

MD-If you love Jennifer go for it, but if you have a trendy name you like go for that instead. Who cares what your doc says? Personally if I was in love with the Jen sound I would go with Genevieve or the like because you could still end up with Gen or Ginny. Genipher? Just kidding :)

MD: Yeah, I'm not saying you shouldn't use the name Jennifer. I tend to like names that are from the generation above that someone could say the same thing about. I guess it's just that people might say it's a '70s/'80s name but if that doesn't bother you, then no biggie!

Tris: I think Tavin sounds trendy. Reminds me of Tevin (Campbell). I think I would've pronounced it TAH-vin if you hadn't posted the pronunciation too. Oh, how about Tobin? I knew a guy with this name and I thought it was cool. Although... I guess it might be seen as inauthentic if it's not really a name in your family.

a.c.-The Gideon I knew went by Rosie-her mn, I believe.
Allira-I vote for Leonidas, too. It's a bit much for me, but Leon and Leo are both handsome, and Leo is very in keeping with current trends.
On the N's...This is far from scientific, but I flipped through our church directory and did a count, and one thing I noticed is that they really tend to run in families. There were lots of combos. like Ethan and Logan or Dylan and Austin.
Henry's mn is Owen, and I like a lot of similar names, but I was still surprised by the graph-I can't wait to hear more from Laura about what conclusions she's drawn.
MD-It's hard for me to consider Jennifer objectively because I know so many personally. Having said that, I don't know any Little Jennifers (other than Bill Gates's daughter), so if you love it, use it! Our neighbor has a Kimberly, and I thought it was quite refreshing when I heard it. Do check back in and share!
Christiana-Any chance I can sell you on Chaz?
Best all!

Molly H - I mentioned that i was considering Tyler and Parker among others.

What's a good feminine name - i really like the suggestion of Juliet or Julianne - Kimberly might work too.

I just wish i didn't feel so overwhelmed and stressed. I don't deserve your kindness.

MD: i think it's hard for us to know what you mean by feminine. it seems like you are looking for sort of traditional, established girls' names, but also a bit on the cool side rather than grandma names (that are also definitely feminine). does this sound about right?

oh yeah, and don't be so hard on yourself! isn't this supposed to be fun? (i haven't been through it yet, but it seems like the fun part. haha...)

MD - You will find a name you love, don't worry! How far along are you?

What if you used a traditional feminine name and then spiced it up a bit with a cooler nickname? Some girls that I personally know have the following names/nicknames:

Caroline -- "Callie"
Catherine -- "Cat"
Carolyn -- "Linny"
Charlotte -- "Charlie"

(Hey - they all begin with C!)

Robyn that's right - "looking for sort of traditional, established girls' names, but also a bit on the cool side"

Nina - I'm pretty far along if that matters - and what about "Carrie" for Caroline?

MD, I'm with the rest--your doctor's opinion shouldn't override your own plans on this matter. If he's made you self-conscious about unisex names, maybe use Tyler or Parker for a daughter's middle name: so, maybe Jenna Tyler, or Genevieve Parker (both of whom could be Jenny). Other Jenny/Ginnie names: Ginevra, Geneva, Virginia, Gianna, Janet, Jeannette, Jane, Jeanne, Imogen... if you like Jenny but you're not so sure about Jennifer, there's plenty to choose from!

Penn - thank you - i hope you all can help me with it. I know i have to choose a good name - i owe it to the school aged kid and the grown woman as well as the baby - one person told me that gets forgotten a lot.

It's funny--I love names so much that I didn't even want to make a decision until right before the birth because I so enjoyed thinking about all the different possibilities. And even now I enjoy thinking about my kids' separate identities--what they could have been had we chosen a different name. Don't worry, MD, you'll find a great name and within hours will be on to stressing about something totally new! :),

It sounds to me like you've got a lot of great choices. Best of luck with the delivery.

MD - I was just curious about your due date...very exciting for you!

I think Caroline nn Carrie is a great choice. And I don't hear of many little Carries these days. Do you love it? That is what matters most!

I personally love many unisex names for girls. I think they sound fantastic on an adult woman: Parker, Avery, Emerson, Peyton, Eleri, Finley... I envision very cool, intelligent women running businesses or funky, creative types in a band or displaying their artwork somewhere. (I'm very tired right now, pardon the rambling.)

And actually, I think many of the cutesy girl names that are being used today ONLY work for young children. Sure, they're feminine, but they still sound slightly dippy for an adult woman.
I'd rather be named Hayden than Millie any day of the week.

MD- Also wanted to add that I love Penn's suggestion of Genevieve Parker. I know a little Genevieve who goes by "Vivi" so that could be an option as well.

Best of luck to you!!!

Nina well do you think a classic feminine name can work - can she be as strong and respected as Julianne or Jessica as well as if she was Parker or Hayden?

MD, I have a little Caroline. I really wanted to call her Carly because it's a bit girly and unexpected, but my mom, after whom Caroline is named, would have been quite upset. So she is Miss Goose to me, Caroline to the world. So you can have Carly if you want!

Genevieve Parker (nn Genni, Neve, or Vivi?) is gorgeous. But if you like androgynous names or Jennifer, go for it. No doctor should be telling you what to name your child, unless you want to name her Bailin, Janslie, Kayriana, Shauniana, or Shenden, in which case it's a civic duty.

Let us know what you decide!

I want your help that's why I'm asking. Thank you all for caring

That is amazing...

MD - Oh, of course a Julianne or Jessica can be just as strong and respected as Parker or Hayden! That's not what I meant at all. It's the person that makes the name. I was more disagreeing with your doctor's ridiculous comment about unisex names. I was just saying that some of the cutesy girly nicknames out there today may not give off the greatest first impression. But that's not to say that a little Mitzy can't become the next president once you get to know her.

Incidentally, my name -- Nina -- means little girl in Spanish, and I've often hated that. Who wants to be a "little girl" forever? :)

Beth -- I love Carly as a nickname for Caroline. Love it. My cousin is having a girl next month and he wants a more unisex name, and his wife wants a classic. This might be the perfect compromise! Thank you!

Nina- I like your name! Always thought it was a nn for -ina names that became a name on its own (like Jack for John and all that)

MD- I don't think a woman needs a man's name to be strong and well-respected, but do make sure whatever you choose is something that you love. I think Genevieve is beautiful. Others that might fit- Eve, Zoe, Claire, Vivian?

Because I am also a nerd :), I combined the different spellings of the same name for the top 1000. Obviously, this involves some assumptions as to how people pronounce these names, but here are the N names I came up with in the top 30:
#1 Aidan/Aiden/Ayden/etc.
#7 Ethan/Ethen
#14 Jayden
#16 Christian
#17 Jonathan
#19 Ryan
#22 Caden/Cayden/Kaden/etc.
#23 John
#25 Logan
#26 Dylan/Dillon/etc.
#28 Nathan
#29 Benjamin

Good ideas Elly - I'll think on them. I just wish i could contact you and Nina off-blog!

I know you all can help me find the right name.

Jill C.-That is brilliant. How do you do that? I have been wanting to do that for the name Lily. To combine every name that has Lily in it, such as Lillian, Lilianna, Lilliana,and so on. I really want to know what the popularity would really be.

MD - I also love Caroline, with the nn Carly, as well as Imogen and Genevieve (which sound similar to Jennifer but feel much fresher). I also really like Gemma.

Here are some other ideas that might fit into the traditional/cool category:
Nola
Nora
Sadie
Josephine (Jo)
Fiona
Stella
Alexandra (Alex)
Scarlett
Eugenie/Eugenia
Claire
Beatrice
Lila

Good luck!

hey guys, i just want to get your opinion on something. do you think it's ok for a sister to use her sister's daughter's name for her daughter too? also, it isn't a family name or anything.

b -- my first thought is no! Could you tell us the name? I'm sure someone on this board could come up with something just as great as the name in question.

b-I would say no. If my sister did that I would be very upset. Plus, it would get VERY confusing for relatives and at get togethers.

b - i too would say no. especially if it's not a family name. i knew of a family where two female cousins were both named after their grandfather - greorge. one was named goergia nd the other georgina and that was confusing enough.
if you (or whomever) really love the name, i say use it as a middle name (and with the other sister's blessing).

Elly - Thank you for the compliment re: my name. I've met two other Ninas my age (late 30s) and they were indeed nicknames: one was Antonia and the other Giovanna. (Lots of Italians in my neck of the woods.) I was jealous that they had more formal names to fall back on. It would have come in handy during the "Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria" chanting in grade school. :)

b - I would not be too happy if my sister used any of my daughters' names. Maybe for a middle name, but not for the first name! Just my 2 cents... what is the name, anyway?

Rebekah - I'm interested in the specifics of the Lily-craze as well. I'd add Lila to that mix as well. Actually, I'd add all the "L-heavy" names into a category just to see the numbers. It's probably insane.

First cousins with the same first name? ONLY if the family is completely estranged, so you'd never run into each other at holidays or whatnot. Or if it's a family tradition that, say, all the first-born girls are named Mary--and even then, I'd be thinking it's time to start a new tradition. Middle names, variations on the same name, that would be a better solution to the "we love the same name" problem.

I think first cousins could have the same name in certain circumstances. It could work if they were both named after opposite sides of the family. For instance, I have a friend who has a nephew William. She also happened to marry a man named William (who goes by his mn), but strongly considered William when she had a son. I think a direct namesake could trump the "don't steal someone else's name" rule.

On l's...I was wondering the other day why Sally hasn't come back in style yet. Maybe not old enough?

The only Sally I know is in her 20s. And her given name is Sarah. I think that Sally is one of those old-fashioned nicknames that don't seem to match the name they come from (like Jack:)

Maybe people still associate it with Sally Field? not old enough to be hip again, but too old to sound fresh

Rebekah-
You can copy & paste name data from the SSA website into a spreadsheet such as MSExcel. Then sort and sum to your heart's delight. (Be sure to include Number of Births in your SSA query.)
Perhaps you can serve as our substitute number cruncher when Laura goes on vacation :)

a.c.-
About the Minnesota sextuplets, only one is still living - Sylas Christopher. Still needing a great deal of care and prayer as the babies were born so early. What an ordeal.

MD: Since you mentioned Jennifer I started thinking about other names from my generation or ones that are sort of common but maybe less dated:
Christine/a
Julie
Joy
Diana
Michelle
Chelsea
Nadine
Cara
Laura/ie
Lisa
Kristy/en/a
Elizabeth (tons of nns)
Crystal
Dawn

b - In general, I have to agree with everyone else about the same name idea. However, I have an agreement with a brother of mine that we may both use the same name. We also have a cousin by that name and his mother is thriiled that we both want to use it.
By the same token, my brother and I have an agreement that I will not use a certain name and he will not use a certain name.
Also, I did wonder... Would these children have different nn?
Are you telling what the name is? May the guru's here help you find a comprimise?? :)

Kristi- Ok, thanks for the info but that sounds like way to much work for this mother of four. (Including a newborn) I will file it away for future use.
If anyone else has the time I would greatly appreciate it!
Thanks!

don't worry, it's not me that wants to reuse a name in the same family!! I just heard about it the other day and thought it was extremely rude and wanted to make sure I wasn't the only one who thought this too! the name is christina. the only thing i can think of is they want to use it for religious reasons? christina/christian either way I find it very unoriginal and i don't believe the sister has the other sister's blessing! thanks for the input. i don't think suggestions are necessary since i won't be talking to the mother-to-be about it.

MD. -- you asked if a traditional girl name can be as strong as a Parker or Hayden.

I am a Wendy... yeah, surfer girl sixties. I am also an attorney. My father(also an attorney) wanted me to go by Gwendolyn when I became a lawyer since it sounded more professional.

Gwendolyn isn't my name, so I stuck with Wendy. And I am taken seriously. Given today's world where more than 50% of college graduates are women, I don't see a girl's name being a challenge.

Unless of course you insist on naming the child Princess, Fifi or Precious.

And I know a lot of Jennifers in law too... it is a good name. They can be Jenny at home and Jennifer at the office.

Personally, I like the names Jenna and Genevieve if want something a little different.

b:

I agree with previous posters. With 4 nephews and a niece already, I can't imagine naming a child the same as one of them...sounds like it might get very confusing at Christmastime!

I can imagine being very upset if I were your sister. A lot of folks look for a name that is unique and your sister may feel upset that you "stole" her daughter's name, especially since it isn't a family name.

I also agree that there are always excellent naming suggestions on this site, and if you'd like some advice, let us know the name you like and we'll go to work finding a wonderful alternative! :-)

Oops! Should have refreshed!

Hi again. I just wanted to thank you all for the advice... It's really appreciated.

I'm confident enough to stick with Leonidas now... Because I've really tested the name out (muttered it under my breath for a few days) and find that most people here (Including myself) don't seen to like my Mum's pick for a name, Jayden.

Oh, and he would be named after Leonidas I of Sparta. I'm a history nerd.

Thanks again!

Go, Allira! Good for you for sticking to your guns. And Leonidas has a much cooler vibe about it right now than Jayden since there are so many of the latter running around.

Allira,

After hearing the story of why you've chosen Leonidas as the name for your baby, I say absolutely go for it! Plus, I love Leo as a nickname (and I don't especially like Jayden as a name.)

On "stealing" a name from another family memeber, I think that it does depend on the family circumstances. Including step, there are 17 kids in my family. by the end of the year there should be 15 grandkids and half of the family hasn't even begun on their families. I'd hate to judge my 14 yr old borther too strongly for not avoiding all the names already taken and as my stepbrother is not close and set on all J names, I could handle it if he picked James for a potential 3rd son, even though I used it first. I've decided to prioritze avoiding names on my husband's side of the family. It's much smaller and they would also share a last name which I think would really add to the confusion.

Thank you Robyn and Wendy.

I'll go through the list and get back to you on what i think would work.

also Robyn and Wendy you can contact me off-blog at mrowatt (at) lycos.com

MD:You have lots of great options here! I think Genevieve-or possibly Julianne or Jessica-gets my vote. And, imo, of course a woman with a feminine name can be respected and powerful! Sandra Day O'Connor, Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks....If you have a feminine name, have you ever felt disrespected because of your name? Anyway, I wouldn't worry so much about anyone who bases their respect for a person on their name. But if you want an andro name just because you like it, go for it!:) Anyway, Jennifer's cute, too, if you really like it, but I have to disagree with the suggestion of the nn Jinx above, as it means an unlucky person...but I agree about not using Jen if you're worried about popularity...maybe Niffy (I've always liked this nn)?

kristi-I'm so sorry for your friends, I really am. I hope little Sylas is in good health?

b-I seriously think you (or whoever) SHOULD ASK THE SISTER FIRST. Using that name, to me, is direspectful, and confusing for the family, unless, like, one goes by Betty and one by Elise

Allira - wtg! I really like Leonidas as a name because it has an intelligent feel about it which is something I think everyone should aspire to. Jayden is such a dreary mix of kr8tiv spelling along with high popularity in sound(hayden/kayden etc) and frankly something I'd expect on a kid that left school early and works as a cleaner or packing shelves in a supermarket(nothing wrong with those jobs but not as a life career unless you're unable to cope with something better.)

And on a random note, what do you guys think of Aloe as a nn for Aloisia (AL-o-EE'-zee-ya)?

Tansey--I apologize for my ignorance, but what is wtg?

I thought of another circumstance where cousins having the same name might be okay. I think the further apart they are, the better. Then they can be Big John and Little John or something. I think they would have to be at least five years apart though, and 10+ would be better.

Re: Aloe/Aloisia: Would Aloe be pronounced uh-LOY? Or AH-loh? Where I live, everyone pronounces aloe the plant like the first one, but I think the rest of the (English-speaking) world pronounces it like the second one. In any case, it is sort of a cute nn, although I definitely associate it with the plant and would have to be told how to pronounce it. Of course since it is a nn, it would probably be said more than written anyways. Oh, uh-LOY also sounds like Alloy. Definitely different, but not bad necessarily.

RobynT--AL-oh, like Alli but with an -oh sound at the end instead of an -ee. That's the way I say the plant name (I kind of mean that association). Would Alo be a clearer spelling?

What do you think of Julianne or Jessica Parker Lastname?
What about Christine Sidney Lastname or Genevive Morgan Lastname?

MD, all of those are great, though I would think twice about Jessica Parker (only because of its similarity to Sarah Jessica Parker, the actress). I think Genevive Morgan is my favorite!

MD--My opinions:

I really, really like the sound of Jessica Parker, but it's too similar to the name of the celebrity Sarah Jessica Parker for me.

Christine Sidney Lastname sounds somewhat clunky, but if you don't have a two-syllable last name, it might not.

And I really like Genevive Morgan.

But Julianne Parker is my favorite.

Of course, it's up to you.

Good luck!:)

For what it's worth, I have a friend named Aloysius and it's pronounced Al-oh-ISH-us. No OY sound. Which surprised me when I first met him, but now I'm used to it. BTW, his father and his two brothers are also named Aloysius....but that's another story!

Julianne Parker is firming up for me too A.C. though I'll think on Genevive Morgan.

my email is upthread. I'd really like to talk with some of you off-blog.

ac: I think most people would pronounce Aloe the way you want it. Oh yeah, but I forgot to say last time that I wasn't sure if it was a male or female name... I guess I was thinking of Aloysius because Aloisia looks pretty feminine.

MD: I would vote against Jessica Parker too--because of the actress mostly. I like Julianne Parker and Genevieve Morgan too! Love Morgan especially.

a.c. - wtg is "way to go". and allira - i too am happy to hear that you're sticking with leonidas!

md - i really like genevieve morgan.

robynt - do you mind if i ask where you are that people pronounce "aloe" differently? i've never heard of an alternate way, but my sisters and i were just talking about variations of word pronunciaton in different parts of the country. the word "tour" prompted the discussion. we grew up in new england and pronounce it like "tor" but on the west coast where they now (and i used to) live most people say it with the "u" sound more audible (too-r) so that it almost rhymes with "pure".

Allira: You've converted me! I love the reasoning behind your choice of Leonidas and I thin Leo is a cute nn too - plus, I'm really not into Jayden as I think it's a name that will date you're little boy...

MD: How about Jenna as a nn for Jennifer, I agree