The Baby Name Wizard

Is there an RSS feed? I'd love to read it through my Google Reader.

You can subscribe to the feed directly here:
http://feeds.namecandy.com/namelady

Wow, a daily column! That's a lot more work for you Laura. I have noticed that the Nameberry blog posts nearly everyday, though it often posts themed lists, which are much easier to write than trend analysis.

I'm looking forward to reading your column each day!

Congrats to Ask the Name Lady-Laura!!

Tirzah-Speaking of analysis, here is my final comparison of Jan/Feb local name announcements.

In Jan Xavier was top for boys. Feb brought Sean=3, Elijah=3, combined sp of Nicholas/Nicolas=3, and combined sp Matthew/Mathew=3.

Girls in Jan was tied between Brianna, Brooke, Emma, Sierra and combined sp of Addison/Addisyn all equaling 2. Feb brought Alayna, Ava, Jennifer, Kassidy, Lillian, and combined sp of Jaelyn/Jaelynn all at 2 each.

Feb Top first letter boys=J
Feb Top first letter girls=A
I think these were the same as in Jan but I've inadvertently deleted that file.

Total for both months the top names are:
Boys-Mason, Noah, Xavier@4 each
Girls-Brooke, Ava, and combined sp of Addison/Addyson/Addisyn
Brianna/Bryanna
Caleigh/Callie
Isabel/Isabella/Izabella
Kassidy/Cassidy
Leah/Leanna/Leauna
Liliana/Lillian
Marlee/Marlie/Marley
Sophie/Sophia
ALL COMBOS TOTAL 3
Finally in the last few days of Feb we finally had a Nevaeh!
P.S. Whomever was asking about Nathan(3 total and 1 Nathaniel)makes it pretty popular here.

zoerhenne:

Thanks for posting those. It's so interesting to see. From what region are those names and where are you finding them? (sorry if you've mentioned that before)

It's interesting and surprising to see Xavier listed up there. I had been thinking of it a little, because apparently it's in the family, too...but what nickname would one use??? I like it pronounced Zavier, but X-zavier sounds like just too much. How would you pronounce it?

I do think Xavier is properly pronounced "Zavier", at least in English, so you're in luck with your preferred pronunciation... Another, Continental pronunciation would be something approaching "Hah-vee-ay", would it not?

Nicknames could be cute-- "Zave", "Zavey", "Zav", perhaps even "Avi", although maybe that's a stretch...

Oh, and the English pronun. has the long "a", ZAVE-ee-er, doesn't it.

Eo and Mirnada-Yes, you are both correct in your pronunciations. We had this discussion when I posted the Jan findings. Someone had posted that once someone had corrected her pronunciation by saying -"You don't say X-zylo-phone do you?" I responded by saying that I believe its a regional/personal thing and both pronunciations are correct. I equate it to a Caroline (either lynn or line) situation. The "Hah-vee-ay" pronunciation I believe is used more in Spanish populations. We do have an ethnically diverse population here though. So some of them may be in that group.

The area I am in is Central PA. I am getting these names off the hospital website which provides me pics, first names, birth stats, and mom's first name. It does NOT however provide certainty on gender though when the baby is photographed in a neutral color and given a gender-neutral name. Unfortunately, there are no sibling names or middle names either.

Hav-ee-yair would be Spanish and zav-ee-ay would be French.

Ah, thank you Valerie-- I was dizzily "cross-pollinating" French and Spanish, clearly!
Let's attribute it to insomnia, ha...

There is something so interesting about "X" names-- I wonder if there are any intrepid baby namers who would consider "Xerxes"?

2 Questions:
Do you think Coraline will take off? (because of the movie)
What could Zizi be a nickname for? I saw a little girl named that today, thought it was catchy, and wondered what it could be short for. Suggestions?

Elaine-I'm not sure what the "natural" or "intuitve" full name would be. (I'm thinking of things like Sam/Sammy for Samuel). But I'm sure Zizi (pron like Zee-zee I would guess) could be for almost anything with a Z in it. The names that come to mind for me are:
Elizabeth>Liz>Zizi
Ziporrah>Zippy>Zizi
Because the sound after the Z is in many cases a "schwa" sound, it can easily be replaced by the EE sound and sound like a great nn.

don't forget that "hahv ee air" is spelt Javier en espanol.

Elaine -- I think Coraline could take off. As Laura says, new baby name trends are built incrementally on the old, and at least locally, Caroline is quite popular. I know many who are 7 and under.

As an NE who saw the movie and then read the book, I was captivated by what a prominent place names--or the lack of them, or the eventual forgetting and thereby losing of them--played in the book. I also read that the author originally chose Coraline because he mistyped Caroline. He only later found out it was a name in its own right.

Congratulations, Laura- I shall enjoy reading your posts, however often they appear! ;)

Thanks, JB! I wanted to subscribe to The Name Lady but not to every ParentDish post out there. :)

Just a note on Coraline only NE's would enjoy (or notice). The book includes a paragraph long "story" Coraline writes. The heroine's name is Apple.
I wonder if a certain celebrity is a Neil Gaimon fan?

Oh, and I think Coraline has potential to take off. Nora has been steadily climbing (and has appeared on the top 100 list of some indicator states). With the new trends build on old rule of thumb, it could very well make a move to the mainstream.

Congrats Laura, new column looks great!

zoerhenne- so interesting, thanks!

I heard from my dr today about a family she knows who have 5 children starting with a,b,c,d,e in order (apparently the mom used to joke about it after the first two, and then actually followed through). The names are all kre8tively spelled, but I don't know how for some of them, the names are:
Abby (sp?)
Ben (sp?)
C?
Da!ved (David)
Es@bel (Isabel)
Unfortunately the office was running 45 minutes late so I really couldn't ask her to slow down and tell me the rest of them. SOOO nms!

Elaine- I definitely think Coraline will be used some, I think it's really beautiful and Cora is a great nn. She does in the movie have to correct people from calling her Caroline which would be a little warning to use irl.

On the topics of X-names and biblical themes, I recently saw a local posting for a baby boy named Exodus.

I also wonder at the cross-over between those populations interested in the X-games and X-names . . .

or maybe it was ZZ, like Zoe Zachary or something.

New baby alert: Born today, El3ctra Bonny, sister to Samson. That's quite a combo of names isn't it! Parents living in England, hip, 30ish, Greek mother + English/Belgian father.

I do think Coraline could take off. I've been hearing more Adelines and more Coras.

I've been thinking of Asher, Walker (family name), and Thayer, but have had a hard time thinking of mn ideas that flow well. Those used-to-be surnames just sound like they belong second, I guess. Last name has three syllables...any great middle name ideas?

Mirnada - I love Asher, Walker and Thayer. I personally know a Walker James and another young Walker, but don't know his mn. I think a one syllable name like James would be be great - maybe also because James could be a ln? Another option is to use one of those names in the middle and then just call him by his mn. THat is the case with my daughter. I really thought that Molly Campbell sounded so much better than Campbell Molly - even though I was planning to call her Campbell the whole time. It's fairly common practice here in NC.

Also I know a baby Kora born in JAnuary.

I read the name El3ctra Bonny as Electric Bunny!

Mirnada-I like the names Asher, WAlker, and Thayer. I'm not fond of ALL surnames as first names, but those don't seem as bad as some. I guess I also like it if they have a nn to fall on so I'm thinking Asher is best out of those three.
The first thing I thought of was Nathaniel for a mn but then read you had a 3 syl LN. Not sure if Asher Nathaniel "Dudoodoo" works. It might be a mouthful. C+C+B is probably right in that you need a 1 syl simple name. However, James Walker sounds much better than the reverse as far as flow. Thayer James is okay. Asher James is nice. How about Asher William? Okay here are some other thoughts:
Nicholas Asher LN
James Walker LN
Asher William LN
Stephen Walker LN
Adam Walker LN
Jeremy Thayer LN
Daniel Asher LN

Mirnada-
I've liked Thayer for a while. I have a very old picture book I inherited with a little boy named Thayer as the hero.
In fact, I think if you search the blog someone had some theories about it for me.
Walker is a name in our family also. I think it might be a bit conventional for your tastes, though. I'm not a fan of Asher personally, but I could get behind Archer.

Also, I was just catching up on the last thread. I do know a little girl named Bryce (she's in Henry's preschool), and it's probably one of maybe two or three gender neutral names I think I really prefer on girls.
Cormac, though, is definitely male.
Maybe this is one for "Ask the Name Lady," but it seems to me that there are some situations that just call for outright disapproval.
My sister considered calling my precious nephew some of the worst names I've ever heard, and I know I should have kept my mouth shut, but I'm really sort of glad I didn't because I think I did help convince her not to use them.
Before you think I'm a terrible person, the runners up were....Kyde (rhymes with tide, I think she made it up) and Tanyon (like canyon with a T).
No offense to any who love these, but I'm super happy she decided against them.

Laura-Congrats on the new gig!
I do know some new little Margos, though!

PS

Zoerhenne-

Thanks, as always, for the analysis.
I have this theory that the Z sound is going to be the next big thing.
I think moms wanting something different figure no one else will think of the End of the alphabet.
I'm looking for the report on a Zophia any day now!

Xavier is interesting. I think some of us of a certain age might be inclined to pronounce the X at the front because of Cabbage Patch founder Xavier Roberts-or am I remembering that wrong?
I do like the Z pronounciation. I've also really started to like Xander since knowing a charming one in Jack's kindergarten.

You know, I meant Archer and not Asher...shows how new it is to me...or that I shouldn't use it.

I keep driving by that sort of scary Coraline billboard and thinking I see my daughter Caroline's name up there, so I do think little Coralines will have to do a lot of corrrecting (but so do Carolines, who are always being spelled Carolyn). I think it's pretty, but it has a way different feel -- it's pronounced "Co-ra-LEEN," yes? So in my mind it's more like Darleen or Charlene or Christine than it is like Caroline or Adeline or Evangeline. More Southern than Northern, more hipster-faux-downmarket than stuffy New England. I like it, myself. I wonder what name I would have chosen had I not been entailed by familial obligations...

Kyde and Tanyon... Tide and Canyon... J & H's mom, I applaud you for fighting the good fight for common sense.

Some thoughts:

I am surprised at the number of baby Marleys on Zoerhenne's list, given the recent book/movie featuring Marley the dog. (Actually, I haven't read it/seen it, so I'm only assuming that the titular Marley is, in fact, the dog.)

It seems a shame to me that anybody would want to embellish the really very beautiful Cora by adding on the "line" at the end. Or am I wrong - is the "line" more than a simple embellishment? Does the name Coraline have a history on its own apart from Cora? I'm thinking I read somewhere that Cora itself was invented by James Fenimore Cooper, so presumably Coraline is an even newer name.

Coral, which I'm assuming is something like a gemstone name, has been one of my favorites lately. Nobody seems to be using it, though.

Mirnada:I agree with C and C's Mom that a one-syllable middle name is the way to go. I also love J+H's mom's suggestion that you go with Archer over Asher. It has a lot more panache, in my opinion. Asher is nice too, although it does bring to mind the word "ash" which has both positive and negative connotations for me. It's a tree, but also, and especially so soon after Ash Wednesday, it reminds me of "ashes to ashes..."

Finally, my husband has always said that Javier is the Mexican spelling, while Xavier is the Spanish spelling. I'm not sure if that's right, but I think both are used by Spanish-speakers.

Sorry Mirnada, you were posting about Archer at the same time I was.

Tirzah- re: Electric Bunny! LOL. I have a nasty feeling that may not be the last time!

The name Coraline feels more like Coral than Cora to me. A couple of name sites say it's a variant of Coral, but Namipedia gives it as a related name for Cora.

Beth the original -- In the movie (presumably the wish of the author as well), the pronunciation is -line rather than -leen.

Mirnada -- I think Archer James sounds great.

Oh, that's interesting, Beth the original, I didn't realize it was pronounced "-leen", not "lyne". Of course, none of the movie reviewers I read gave a pronunciation tip-- not many film critics are NE's, unfortunately!

That "-leen" sound is not one of my favorites. I do feel partial to the long "i" of "-lyne", as in Adeline and Clementine. (However, note to Brits on board-- you do say "Clementeen", don't you? As in Winston Churchill's wife?)

Liz & Louka, I agree Coraline also seems more related to "Coral". Gives it that funky, slightly 'louche', retro feel that is rather fun.

I probably like Coral and Cora in equal measure, for different reasons...

Mirnada, I also like a one-syllable middle with your name situation. And, if you are going with a surname-type first name, something traditional and fairly firmly male for a middle name is a good choice in my view.

The reason I say that is that there is a history of surname-names crossing over to become androgynous. I could see that with "Thayer", (which has already been used as a girl's name) not so much with "Walker" or "Archer".

I always think of my uncle, given his mother's surname as a first-- "Trennum John Lastname". Had he been born today, I expect a good fraction of people would assume "Trennum" was a girl's name (influenced perhaps by Tatum O'Neal?), but the "John" in there makes clear his sex!)

Just as an aside, I'm a little sorry that another one on your list, "Gareth", is out of the running! It's a Welsh name I've always liked. I wonder if prospective parents are wary of it because they think it could be shortened to the completely unrelated name "Gary"...

Ah, just saw Amy3's post-- strike my first paragraph!

Jane-Unfortunately, I had the same thought on the many Marley's I saw. I would hate to know that I was named after a dog!

Beth-Darleen, Charlene, and Christine all for me have the EE sound but so does Evangeline. The others that you posted have an I for me. I don't know why this one is different to my ears but it is. I have heard the movie Coraline is with an I sound.
I think Cora and Coral are totally different styles. Cora seems an old-but-new name and Coral seems hipster/nature. I might tend to do Coral or Coraline over Cora. Coraline reminds me of Caroline a lot! But Cora could maybe turn into Carol which isnt my style.

J&H's mom-I too know a Xander(5). His family all have different names. I'll have to listen again as I've forgotten them though. Girl is 4ish and then baby is 1ish. I too am also looking out for Zophia. Other Z names for your interest from the last few months were:
Zachery, Zakiah, Zion (B)
Zariah, Zavie, Zeriah, Zorimar (G)
Also there was 1 Asher(b), 0 Archer, and
1 Unique(g)!

Asher is not related to ash. It comes from a Hebrew word which means blessed (as in holy) and alternately happy.

It's more Hebrewish pronounciation is the softer Ahshare and not Ash-er. But many of the Ashers I've known pronounce it Ash-er.

Two babies born in my neighbourhood this week. Boy named Kayden and a girl name Araiylia (not sure how to pronounce this one.. will ask the mom this week.

oh btw a while ago I asked people to come up with a name that would sound good with or similar to Zephyn. Parents love the name Zephyn for a boy but couldn't come up with a girls name. They decided upon the name River for a girl.

I tend to assume that Marleys are named for Bob Marley. There is also the girl Marley (sp) featured on a TLC special. If I remember correctly, I think she was from somewhere in Africa--or maybe Caribbean--and had some kind of tumor or something on her face, came to the US for surgery. Idk that her story is that important as far as the name, maybe just a case of familiarity.

Melissa C-I would pronounce Araiylia like Ah-RAY-LIA. I believe the traditional sp would be Aurelia.

Zephyn and River are an interesting sib set.

I wondered what you all thought of Fulton as a first name(boy). It is my maiden name, and my husband really likes it for a first name.

I'm more inclined to use it for a middle name, but am curious to other's thoughts. It is not very common last name around here.

X names - my daughter's friend is Xavi - short for Xaviera. A really pretty name I think.

I think Fulton works best as mn, but then I'm not a big fan of surnames as first names. It sounds a bit like full up. And F-u at the beginning of a name might cause problems.

Having said that about surnames I love the name Marley. Wasted on a dog! I have also seen Mali for a boy.

If a little Fulton lived in Australia, the first thing most people thought of would be Margaret Fulton, Australia's best-known cookery book writer. Not a bad association, but maybe not one a little boy would appreciate.

My only association with Fulton is with various names in New York (two streets, a subway station, a fish market and a mall). It seems less "name-y" than other surnames mentioned here. It doesn't really have any nice nicknames either.

On the upside, wikipedia just taught me that all these Fultons were named for the inventor of the steamboat and submarine, which is kind of cool. Don't know if it's at all relevant to you or not.

Celebrity-Babies.com news:

"Supermodel Niki Taylor, who celebrates her 34th birthday tomorrow, received a very special early present this morning — her baby girl! Ciel Taylor Lamar arrived at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 4th, in Nashville, TN. She weighed in at 7 lbs., 8 oz."

Ciel is French for "sky," pronounced "see-ELLE."

Interesting! (Plus, I never knew that Niki Taylor and I have the same birthday.)

Melissa C- On Araiylah, I know it's wrong, but all I think of is areola.

KNP- Fulton makes me think of Fulton Reed, loveable bad boy hockey player in Mighty Ducks. I realize its ridiculous that I remember that, but I hope you'll take it as evidence that Fulton is not unheard of as a first name. It doesnt lend itself well to nicknaming, but if that's not a factor I see no problem with it.

I'm thinking of Fulton from the Mighty Ducks movie, which seemed normal enough watching, although he was meant to be a tough guy. That being said, I would prefer it as a middle name.

Also, I like the idea of maiden-name-as-middle-name, but wouldn't it be weird calling your child by your own surname as a first name, no matter what it is?

Must have posted at the same time.. now I don't feel silly for remembering that!