The Baby Name Wizard

Jessica, yes, Congratulations!!! I hope you and your family are doing well! I'm sure we'd all love to see that picture if you manage to get it working, but in any event, I'm guessing he's as handsome as his name! :)

I met our new neighbors this weekend, and their 3(ish) year old son is named Oben (sp.? Oban?). This is a new one to me--I went home and googled it, and only found that Oban is a type of Scotch. Does anyone else know about it? I'll have to ask the mom next time I get a chance.

At the park yesterday I overheard a grandma with her granddaughter, Avery. This is my first Avery irl.

Re: Rosemary, I'm reading a book on word and phrase origins (one Miriam mentioned months back) and the author notes that rosemary was orginally rosmarine in English. While nms I think that could be quite pretty as a girl's name.

I don't get Evelot as "the love" backwards. That's quite a stretch. Shouldn't it at least be Evolet, if the only intent was to leave out the "h"?

Amy3- I know an Avery, as well. Avery Qu!nn.. And hyz- I know of a young Odin..name of Norse origin.. Close, but no relation to Oban.. Also on the Ginerva front- that is the name of the main character in a Joyce Carol Oates novel- Black Girl/White Girl. Her nickname is Genna....And to all- the womb name of my unborn grandchild is now Kumquat..they are both chefs, so I guess it is thematically correct! There is naming work yet to be done! I cannot wait until July 7th and the publication of the new book.

Oban is also a town in Scotland.

Met a new family - siblings are named Dustin (boy) Autumn (girl) and little boy Kyler.

Valerie--thanks--that does seem like a likely source. Neither of the parents seemed obviously Scottish, but I can imagine some sort of backstory where the child was named after the town.

Steph P., a bit late on this (tempermental internet connection), but want to cast a preliminary vote for Pippa/Philippa and Hans.

Ginevra is also the full name of Ginny Weasley in Harry Potter, and there is a character in Charlotte Brontë's novel Villette named Ginevra Fanshawe (a very shallow, selfish character)

hyz - I also know of an Odin, and thought of that name when you mentioned Oban.

Anne with an E - I also remember reading that book and was fascinated by it as a child. I often think of it, must be the NE in me. I could never remember the name of the book though, so thanks for that! I always thought it was an interesting way to pick names, and loved the quirky names of some of the kids.

Anne with an E- I like the sound of that author!

It reminded me that growing up in the UK, we were familiar with a children's TV series called "The Wombles" about some furry creatures who liked to pick up litter (!). All of the Wombles received their names by opening an atlas at random. I remember Great Uncle Bulgaria, Madame Cholet, Orinoco, and Tobermory (actually I like that, with Toby for a nn).
There's a full list of characters @
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wombles#Characters

Anne with an E-That is neat! I will have to try that and post with my new imaginary sibset!

Speaking of "many children" the Duggars grandchild was announced as being a girl. She isn't due until October but they are considering an M name. Any NE ideas?

Evolet doesn't seem any more/less strange than Nevaeh to me. I don't care for either one though.

And Celeb baby name alert:
Carnie Wilson and her husband Rob Bonfiglio welcomed their second child to the world.
Luciana Bella was born on June 12, PEOPLE reports and Carnie is "happy as a lark."
"They're happy, healthy and smiling," Wilson's manager says of mom and baby.
Wilson and Bonfiglio also have a 4-year-old daughter named Lola Sofia.

Donna G. (post 275)
You have a Clara? I do too.

Re: Juniper

Leonardo da Vinci, Ginevra de' Benci, c. 1474/1478, oil on panel, National Gallery of Art, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

Leonardo da Vinci painted this portrait of Ginevra de' Benci, a young Florentine noblewoman who, at the age of sixteen, married Luigi Niccolini in 1474. The work may have been an engagement or wedding portrait, or it may have been commissioned by Bernardo Bembo, the Venetian Ambassador to Florence and Ginevra's close friend and admirer. On the reverse side of the painting, a wreath of laurel and palm encircles a sprig of juniper and a scroll bears the Latin inscription, "Beauty Adorns Virtue."

So interesting, Mekiki!

If I'm not mistaken, "Ginevra" surfaced at least once as a "Jazz Age" name. I think Ginevra King was the name of a lost love of F. Scott Fitzgerald's before he met Zelda Sayre.

When I first heard it I thought-- how perfect for Scott, as "Zelda" was as well!

Luciana does go nicely with Bonfiglio...

Came across the name "Anat" when I noticed a jewelry designer of that name. Guessed that she was Israeli. I like it. Reminds me of "Ayelet", which I'm thinking has a Hebrew origin also?

This is my first post, and I want to start by saying "Wow!" I have just recently discovered this site/blog and am completely and totally in awe of all of you. I have always considered myself a name lover -a bit name obsessed, but you take it to a whole new level with your posts. Wow, again!

And thank you, because I find myself here, 7 months pregnant, on modified bed rest, without a name for my third child, so you are all giving me a lot to think about and occupy my time. I can't possibly comment on all of the posts I've been reading over the past few days. Your names and opinions are just swimming around in my mind.

It seems that others, like Steph P., are in my same boat, having trouble naming their third because of the names they've already chosen. My first, a daughter, is Lane Elizabeth, and my second, a son, is Michael John (I am wondering if I am the only one who's ever posted with a child named the standard "Michael" -heehee). Although I don't really think of it as unusual, my daughter's first name is pretty unique for a girl - yet my son's first and middle name are anything but. Hence my problem. Since this one is a boy, it seems like maybe his name should be more of a standard like his brother's, rather than less common like his sister's. Or since we have one that's kind of unusual already, does anything go? Any thoughts about this?

I'm curious about what all of you experts have to say about this!

Just googled Ginevra King, the society beauty who entranced Fitzgerald, and it turns out she was named after Leonardo's painting that you reference, Mekiki! As was her mother and grandmother...

What fun to have a story like that to relate about one's name.

Lane, Michael, and ? Andrea, I think you could go with anything you love, but if you're looking for some kind of compatibility, I like either a fine traditional boy's name (most of those work beautifully with Michael), OR perhaps a classic surname.

I say that because "Lane" has an attractively surname-ey aspect, which in itself can be considered "traditional".

Examples: So you could do something like this--

"Lane, Michael, Peter" (or Edward or Christopher or whatever first name that appeals).) I think I lean toward this option a bit more than the surname one... OR,

"Lane, Michael, Fletcher" (or Garrett or Reeve or Slater or whatever surname that you like or has meaning for you...)

I love the traditional middle names you chose for your first two.

Since I know there are other Dooce readers on this board - Heather had her baby and just announced the name: Marlo Iris. Sister to Leta Elise. Not at all what I would have expected, but the more I think about it the more it fits. Very cute baby too.

Andrea-I agree with Eo, you could do either. There is a great site called Nymbler to give you some ideas. I believe the link is at the top of the page. However, half the fun is vicariously naming the little ones some of us are done having so I will post some ideas in the am as I'm sure others will as well.

Also, since we were having a pronunciation discussion a few pages back and the name Andrea came up-I have to ask how you pronounce yours? There were 4 different ways we thought of:
On-dree-ah/An-dree-ah/On-dray-ah/An-dray-ah

Andrea R: Do you know about Nymbler? It's awesome. Some of the ones I liked when putting in Lane and Michael (although it doesn't have an option for Lane as a girl's name unfortunately): Vaughn - Nathaniel - Cullen - Sage - Ross - Andrew - Bryce - Reid - Nathan - Sterling - Tristan - Spencer - Grant - Joel - Quentin

Am I alone in that I wouldn't want to name my daughter 'the love' spelled backwards anyway? or heaven? I mean isn't it a given that you love your kid? I prefer names with intriguing meanings rather than bland ones however positive they might be. I like that Hemming for instance was a name meant to refer to a person who could shapeshift. Do other people have favorite name *meanings*?

Andrea - I think you can go with anything that sounds good as long as it's not somehow non-masculine, as older bro's name is Michael (esp. if he's called Mike).

My post on the Leonardo painting should have been in quotes; I copied it from The National Gallery website. (Take a look at the painting if you get a chance.)

Andrea R.: My son is named Michael too. I think it's a really great name.

I do! I love name meanings! I insist on giving my children a name with a meaning to me. My husband's name is Trenton. When we were planning the name for our first child, he was really curious about the meanings and didn't know his. We looked it up - as near as we can tell, it means "town by a stream or river." He was a little non-plussed, it seemed so random. On the other hand, my mother told me since I was a child the reasons that she gave me my names and I knew they were bestowed with love.

We have an Alexander Gregory ("watchful defender of mankind") and a Nathaniel David ("beloved gift from God") and it looks like we'll be naming our twins Thomas Elmer ("twin of noble birth" - Elmer is for a grandfather) and Edward James ("prosperous guardian...who supplants." Not totally smooth, but James is for my father.)

Name meanings are important but to me not the end all be all. My dd is born at Christmas/born again which kind of doesn't make sense to be "born" so many times but I like her name. My ds is ruler/gift of god so I like that one too. He was almost The Lord remembers/defending men which would not have suited him as well.

Andrea:Here are my suggestions for another boys name. I typed in Lanie and Michael to get the results on Nymbler.
Benjamin Joseph
Stephen Tyler
David Andrew
Warren Elliott
Jeremy Adam
Curtis Blake
Connor Phillip
Wesley Graham
Spencer Charles
Preston Lucas
Duncan Patrick
Quentin Richard
Let me know if any of these are your style.

Andrea: Welcome!
I like the above suggestions of Quentin and Spencer, both sound- and style-wise. Philip, David and Richard are interesting too, because they're well-known like Michael, but not over-used these days.
Hmm... I'll see if I can think of more.

@MelissaM-I love Thomas and Edward as a twinset! Actually, Edward James would be a perfect name for us because those are my grandfathers' names, but our last name ends in -ward, and it sounds ridiculously repetitive with Edward. Oh well, I like your names, and the meanings are nice too!

oh, and @zoerhenne, I really like the Spencer Charles and Wesley Graham combos...might have to add those to my list!

You guys are great! Thanks so much for all of your suggestions. I'll tell you what I'm thinking/what we like - although I am in fear of boring you all silly.

Robyn T. - Nathan is actually my all time favorite boy's name, but my husband doesn't like it - he has some negative associations with it, so I've had to give it up. Quentin made me think of the name "Quinn" - I did know a girl who was called that, but I think it still sounds masculine, anyone else?

Zoerhenne- Of those names, I lean towards Jeremy and Benjamin. However, we have a long last name and tend to prefer one or two syllables for a first name. Plus, we are thinking of using my maiden name as a middle name - not a lot of flow - but this is our last child and the family name may not be carried on in any other way. My maiden name is also three syllables.

Mekiki- I'm glad that there is someone else with a Michael! It is a very strong name. Ours is currently Mikey (maybe forever to me!).

Some other names we agree on-
Brent or maybe Brett
John - our son's middle name - is that strange?
Marek (Mair-ik)

Not many!

Marek probably seems a bit off from the others, but we've liked it since we had our first. It's Polish in origin (as is my husband's family/last name) and a version of Mark (my father's name), so it has some special meaning. I don't know about the double M though with Michael.

Oh, Valerie - those names are all currently in use in our families! But I do like the idea of a name that is known, but not totally over-used.

Eo- Thanks for the encouragement to go either way - it won't make the decision-making any easier, though!

Andrea: I love the name Michael-- it is my husband's name though, and he does not want a namesake.
Also, I think Lane, Michael and Marek would make an AWESOME sib set-- totally balanced in style and sound to me (the Mike- and Mair- sounds are pretty different, so the double M doesn't bother me). I'd just make sure the two boys aren't both MJX for initials! :)

On name meaning-- the meaning of a name doesn't matter to me on naming my child, but when I was a child, I always looked up how different books "translated" my name into meaning (because they frequently didn't match!). I think this was just the NE coming out in early form though...

My niece (sophomore in college) has Avery for a middle name, fn Jenna.

Andrea, I also think Lane, Michael, and Marek are great together.

Re: name meaning, it was something we considered in naming our daughter, but sound was probably more important to us. Her mn is a family name so meaning wasn't considered.

LOL im glad I could help both you Andrea and also you Anne with an E!
Brett is one of my secret favs Andrea. there was a guy I knew while in HS. He was a freind of my cuz and I had a big crush on him.

I wouldn't do John or Marek if it were me because of the similarities. I remember Seth being on the list I pulled up on Nymbler but not many others. I'll have to Re-look. what letter does your last name start with Andrea? You don't need to tell us the whole name but the last name for sound flow reasons would be helpful.

Andrea R: I agree with the positive feedback on Marek. Love Brett and Brent also. Wonder if you would also like Trent. Or Wesley? Or Ethan? About using your first son's middle name, I know a family where the dad is Patrick James, the first son is James John, and the second son is John Patrick. I suppose that is a little different than your situation since in this example, everyone shares their names... I guess I'd try to avoid John since you've got so many other great names.

I do also know a little girl named Quinn. I tried to avoid androgynous names in my suggestions to you because with the androgynous name Lane too, there could be confusion. However, I think this is more a problem to some folks than others. As for whether Quinn sounds masculine, I feel like it's in the middle right now. Like it's on the verge of going girl, but could still be taken back by the boys?

@zoerhenne, well I texted "Spencer? Wesley?" to my dh, and he texted back "no and no". So I guess your suggestions were not helpful after all! :)

Andrea,
Another vote for Marek. I know a little boy with the name (same spelling) and it wears really well IMO. I think it's a nice counterpoint to Michael. I also like Quentin.

I like Marek too, and its family connection for you. I guess the Poles might pronounce it more MAH-rek? But that probably won't be an issue unless you have lots of Polish-speaking relatives!

Anne with an E- yes, I can see why you wouldn't want to use Edward with a last name ending in -ward... like Edward Woodward... I guess he survived okay though!

Wow, count me as one of the many fans of "Marek". Agree that it is a very interesting combo with Lane and Michael, as knp pointed out. Also love that it has such meaning for your family, Andrea R.

Just an aside: I've noticed that, over and over, names that viscerally appeal to me turn out to be Polish. Often Hungarian (Magyar?) too. And I have similar reactions to the sounds of names from these other cultures:

Maori
Basque
Cornish
Japanese
Israeli
Manx
Ethiopian (wish Easternbetty was still here so she could explain which African language family the Ethiopians use...)
Welsh

Name meanings are important to me too, but not necessarily ALWAYS. There were compelling enough historical/family reasons to name our son "Benjamin", even though it means "son of the south", or "son of the right hand". (He very early turned out to be firmly left-handed like me, his adoptive mother!)

I paid attention to his middle name meanings--

Hugh-- means "mind, soul, thought". Love!

And his other middle names mean "divine bear" and "pear tree"! They were family surnames.

Even though it doesn't fit me necessarily, I always liked that my name means "bright one", "shining one" or "light". And hubby's name meaning is rather ambitious too-- "ruler of all"!

I like Marek, and the family connection makes it extra good, but I guess I'm in the minority in being concerned about its similarity to Mike. I would tend to pronounce it MAHR-ek, which, if said quickly, does sound much like Mark, so then you kind of have Mike and Mark. Even if you say it more like Merrick, the M--K sound still might be a little too similar for me. I like Brent off your list, and also the Trent suggestion. Any interest in Jarek? And if you guys agree on Brent, what about Blaise? Paul? Timothy? Charles? Thomas? Peter?

Oh well anne with an E-I guess its back to the drawing board.

andrea-I just noticed your posting name was amended. Thanks. I'm guessing that your last name then begins with R so I think that makes Ross, Russell, Rhys and some others out. Is that correct?

Andrea-How about Scott; Holden; Xander; Xavier; Jacob; C/Kaleb; Colby; Hudson; Finn; Griffin; or Gareth??

I know a 10 year old Quinn who is definitely all "boy".

KimB - I, too, adore Theodore and think Theo and Teddy are super cute nicknames. Luckily for me, this is one of the few names that my husband and I agree on! Our first son will be Benjamin, named after my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, but if we have a second son, he will be either Theodore or Sebastian. Now we just gotta agree on a girl's name! There are so many gorgeous names that I adore, but hubby just can't be convinced. Sigh.

Steph P - I am intrigued by this mention of Philippa possibly being pronounced in different ways. In New Zealand, Philippa is quite a common name - I know several, varying in age from 20s to 60s. But I have only heard it pronounced one way - FILL-ip-ah. When I lived in England, I found that it was quite a common name there too, but again I only ever heard the one pronunciation. I really can not imagine it being said any other way - please do enlighten me!

Kim B - I really do hope you stick with Benjamin/Ben, but I am biased - I have loved the name my whole life, and not just because it is my father's name. It is the only name I never waver on.
But if you don't go with it, I really have to vote for Augustus. My friend met this really cool guy at a party and he introduced himself as Gus. When she asked what Gus is short for (she is another name aficionado), he said Augustus - and we have both been in love with the name ever since. So cool but not trendy; strong and masculine but modern-sounding because of the soft vowels; classic but not at all conservative. He could be Augustus when he wants to sound distinguishged (like on his CV/resumé) but Gus with his friends. (I too don't like the name Gus very much, but it is a cool nickname, uncommon yet familiar at the same time. But you can call him Augustus and leave Gus to his friends.) I only wish my husband would agree to us using it! (After Benjamin, of course!)

Steph P - I am intrigued by this mention of Philippa possibly being pronounced in different ways. In New Zealand, Philippa is quite a common name - I know several, varying in age from 20s to 60s. But I have only heard it pronounced one way - FILL-ip-ah. When I lived in England, I found that it was quite a common name there too, but again I only ever heard the one pronunciation. I really can not imagine it being said any other way - please do enlighten me!

Kim B - I really do hope you stick with Benjamin/Ben, but I am biased - I have loved the name my whole life, and not just because it is my father's name. It is the only name I never waver on.
But if you don't go with it, I really have to vote for Augustus. My friend met this really cool guy at a party and he introduced himself as Gus. When she asked what Gus is short for (she is another name aficionado), he said Augustus - and we have both been in love with the name ever since. So cool but not trendy; strong and masculine but modern-sounding because of the soft vowels; classic but not at all conservative. He could be Augustus when he wants to sound distinguishged (like on his CV/resumé) but Gus with his friends. (I too don't like the name Gus very much, but it is a cool nickname, uncommon yet familiar at the same time. But you can call him Augustus and leave Gus to his friends.) I only wish my husband would agree to us using it! (After Benjamin, of course!)

Leafy- Philippa is not at all common in the US. When I was considering it for my daughter last year, I found that most people thought it was pronounced kind of like Fill-LEE-pa.

Leafy, re: Philippa--we've had discussions here before about this, and I don't think it's actually that there are multiple "correct" pronunciations of the name, but that because it's not common here, many (most?) Americans assume that it is pronounced Phi-LIPP-ah. It's a natural assumption, because most of (2syl Male names + A) names seem to follow that stress pattern--Alberta, Augusta, Carlotta, Cecilia, Daniela, Francesca, Johanna, Josepha, Martina, Michaela, Paulina, Roberta, etc., etc. This was my assumption about name too, for a long time, having only read it and never heard it.

Andrea--Quinn definitely sounds more feminine to me at this point, I'm sorry to say. I think I would tend to assume anyone over the age of 30 or so named Quinn would most likely be male, 15-30ish is a grey zone for me, and under 15 I would probably assume Quinn was female. I can't stand this sort of thing. It's happening to one of my favorite boy names, too--Rowan. I think we may still use Rowan for a boy regardless, but I find the trend very irritating.

I thought of a couple other suggestions I wanted to run by you--do you have any interest in Colin, Alexander, or Barrett? I think all would sound great with Lane and Michael, and I thought Barrett would have a good shot if you like Brent and Brett.

Steph P.--interesting! I didn't see your post before I submitted mine--I wouldn't have thought of Phi-LEE-pa, but I guess that kind of makes sense, too.