A Makeover!

The Naming Game was looking tired, old, and shabby around the edges. Therefore I decided to give it a makeover. Let me know what you think!

Love,
The Name Dame

Summer names vs Winter names

Christmas is fast approaching, and so too is the expected summer heat wave we generally experience every year here in Australia. Thinking of relating your baby's name to the season in which it is born? For fellow Australians, here is a list of names that relate to summer:

Coraline - meaning natural sea growth, it is a variant of Coral.
Deniz - a Tukish boys' name meaning sea.
Dylan - Welsh name that means 'son of the sea'.
Kai - Hawaiian name that probably works best for boys.
Nerida - a Greek name that means mermaid.
Nerissa - Greek, meaning 'from the sea'. Also a character from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.
Oceane - French for ocean. Very popular in France!
Sky/Skye - a clear sky in summer!
Summer - an obvious choice!
Sunny

To my European and American readers, I haven't forgotten which season you are in! Because I have every intention of experiencing a white Christmas in the not too distant future, here is a list of names that relate to winter:

Aubin - masculine, French and means white.
Bianca - Italian, meaning white.
Candace/Candice - meaning white, pure, sincere.
Demeter - Greek mythological character who is said to have created winter.
Finola - Irish for white shoulders.
Hermione - from Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. Also Harry Potter's friend.
January - a winter month in the Northern Hemisphere. Made famous by actress January Jones.
June - the first month of winter here in Australia!
Leontes - from Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale.
Neva - Spanish for white snow. Very cute in my opinion!
Neve - Latin for snow. Made famous by actress Neve Campbell.
Nixie - German for 'snowy'.
Paulina - from Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale.
Perdita - from Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. It actually means lost.
Persephone - pronounced per-SEF-o-nee. Greek mythology name meaning spring. It is said mother Demeter created winter when she was grieving over the loss of Persephone.
Snow - unusual!
Soyala - meaning winter solstice.
Winter - has been put in the spotlight because it is the middle name of Nicole Richie's baby girl, Harlow.
Winterborn - a little out there, but it came from a baby name book!
Yuki - Japanese for snow.

See any you like?

Love,
The Name Dame

THE Naming Checklist

Do you often read the birth announcements and ask yourself "What were they thinking?" when you come across a really awful/ugly/plain/out there name? To help combat this, I have come up with a list of things future parents should consider when deciding on their little ones' names...

1. Is the name easy to spell? With some of the ridiculous spellings I've seen lately, I suggest choosing a name that does not require your child to spell it out to every single person! Perhaps avoid those names that can be spelt multiple ways (eg Ashley, Ashleigh or Ashlee), or choose the spelling that is the most common. Above all, avoid inventing the spelling. I can vow for this, as the other day I saw 'Cameron' spelt as 'Kamron'!

2. Will the name suit the child for his/her entire life? The name 'Richard' doesn't really suit a baby, just like 'Jayden' doesn't suit a senior citizen! If you want the name to last a lifetime, stick with classic names such as 'Thomas' or 'Emily'.

3. Does the first name suit the surname? While the first name should sound nice with the last name, it's probably best to avoid any rhyming. Chelsea Helsey or something similar is probably a little over the top! Also make sure you avoid the first name being similar to the surname, John Johns immediately springs to mind here! Also look at the initials of your first name and last name. I've heard of someone's name being W. Anchor. Probably not a good look!

4. Are you happy with the associated nicknames that may eventuate? Calling your son 'Richard' may see him being called 'Dick' for the rest of his life. Are you comfortable with that?

5. Have you made the choice for yourself or for your baby? Sure, you may like the name Adolf, but have you really thought about how this name may impact on your child's life? Others may also be offended by your choice, so please make sensible decisions!

6. Is your choice simply based on a fad? Ensure you choose a name you are likely to love in the future. There's no point calling your son 'Cruz' if you're going to wonder what you were thinking in years to come.

7. Is the name easy to pronounce? A friend of mine has to sound her name out to everyone. While she admits she likes her unusual name, she said she's quite sick of sounding her name out to everyone, while stating its origin in the questions that follow. All I ask is that you take this example on board!

8. Are there any obvious connections to a famous person? If your surname is Taylor, perhaps avoid the name Elizabeth. Similarly, I once knew of a person called Frank Lee, who was constantly asked if he knew of the famous quote from Gone With The Wind. You get the idea!

Well there it is folks. If you have any other burning questions to add to this list, why not comment on this post?

Love,
The Name Dame

Copenhagen + Climate Change

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few weeks, many world leaders are currently in Copenhagen to discuss the implications and possible solutions for climate change. Personally, I can't really see the point in these discussions. Nothing ever comes of them, and the world leaders cannot agree on anything. But the whole point of this blog is to discuss names, so I thought I'd dedicate this post to Danish names. Well the climate change conference is in Copenhagen after all...

Boys
Aksel - variant of Axel
Aleksander
Aron - Scandinavian form of Aaron
Bernt - Scandinavian form of Bernard
Christian - because of Prince Christian of course!
Christoffer
Edvin
Flemming
Georg
Harald
Ivar
Jannik
Jesper - Danish for Jasper
Kaj
Lars
Lukas
Mikael - form of Michael
Nikolaj - Danish form of Nicholas
Oskar
Palle - Danish for Paul
Svend - Danish form of Sven
Valdermar - Danish form of Waldermar. Also one of Prince Christian's middle names.

Girls
Agathe - variant of Agatha
Ane - Danish form of Anna
Anja - also a Danish form of Anna
Astrid
Birgitta
Cathrine
Dorte - Danish form of Dorothy
Dorthe - another Danish form of Dorothy
Elin - Scandinavian for Helen
Freja
Grete - Danish for Margaret
Hanna
Inga
Jonna
Kaja
Laila
Lykke - means good fortune in Danish
Magdalone
Rakel - Danish form of Rachel
Sanna - Scandinavian short version of Susanna
Siri
Tekla
Vanja
Vita

This list only scrapes the surface of Danish names! Personally, I think they are lovely and express true Scandinavian culture. Why not coincide your baby's name with the Copenhagen Climate Change conference?

Love,
The Name Dame

Welcome to December!

Happy December everyone! Wow, hasn't the year gone by so fast?! I hope everyone is very organised this year and have begun their Christmas shopping. If you haven't, you better get a move on!

I'm saying goodbye to the eleventh month with a post of the last November births announced in Australia. Some bundles of joy just in time for Christmas!

Girls
Amelia Rose - this combination is very common.
Ava Issac - is Isaac a misprint?
Claudia Estelle - contrary to my previous post, Claudia makes an appearance!
Ellie Maree
Emilie Margaret
Erika
Erin Mae
Gemma Gabrielle - announced as a "new Saints supporter". Poor girl!
Georgiana Lyn
Harmony Isabel Jane
Jade Sienna
Leah Brooke
Lily Grace
Mackenzie Maree
Madison Ilona
Madison Zofia
Maya Isabella
Meika Maree
Milla Llaine
Montanna Skye - inspired by Hannah Montanna? A little yucky!
Remi Taylah
Rose Pamela
Ruby Grace - Ruby is becoming more common.
Sadie Lee - this doesn't sound right to me...
Taliyah Lily Isabella - two nice names with Taliyah
Tiarna Essie - unusual, but Essie has a nice ring to it!
Trinity Caitlin
Violet Olive - cute!
Zara Crystal - she was announced as "Miss World 2028". How tacky.

Boys
Archie William
Benji Jack
Brock Joel - Brock has come up a few times over the year. A tribute to the V8s and Peter Brock perhaps?
Brody Owen
Bryce Angus
Cooper Mack
Christian
Christopher Peter
Hayden Arthur
Jack Lewis
Jackson Bradley
Jackson Godwin
Jake William
Jasper Adam
Jayden Robert - I'm unsure why the made-up Jayden is suddenly so popular!
Liam James
Louis Arthur
Mitchell Rhett
Myles Daniel
Rhys Lee
Tyson Jacob
Will Kais
Zachary Ryan

Twins
Ashton Leigh and Brandon Douglas
Lily and Summer - how appropriate for this time of year!

Any similarities? It's interesting to see that Maree was common this week for girls' middle names. I also don't like many of the boys' names. Jackson seems to have been appearing often over the last few months. Could this be a tribute to the late Michael Jackson? If so, I suggest the nicer name, Michael!

Enjoy!

Love,
The Name Dame

MIA: Missing In Action

Firstly, I'd like to apologise for my lack of posts of late. I have been extremely busy with work, and have been forced to take many of my assignments home. On this note, I thought I'd make my return by listing some names that have also been MIA (missing in action). Most of them can be considered common, but I have not really seem them listed too often in the latest birth announcements!

Girls
Alana
Alison
Amanda
Bethany
Carolyn
Catherine
Claudia
Courtney
Eloise
Julia
Kristy
Kylie
Lauren
Lisa
Megan
Michelle
Nicole
Phillipa
Renee
Stacey
Suzanne
Teresa
Veronica

Boys
Aaron
Adam
Brian
Darrell
David
Drew
Guy
Harry
Jamie
Jared
Jordan
Leigh
Peter
Paul
Phillip
Robert
Rowan
Stuart
Timothy
Victor

Okay, so it's probably a good thing that some of these names have fallen out of favour. Some can be considered too plain, or perhaps even quite ugly! You may, however, be inspired to call your child one of these names. They are, after all, uncommon without being too strange!

Can you think of any more names that have been missing in action?

Love,
The Name Dame

Happy Melbourne Cup!

Now before you get any ideas, I am not going to suggest you call your child 'Shocking', who was the winning horse in this year's Melbourne Cup! There are, however, other names associated with the Melbourne Cup that may inspire you, or help you to decide on the name. Unfortunately, only three horse names in this year's Cup can be transposed into human names. These are:

Leica (after horse Leica Ding)
Harris (after horse Harris Tweed) - perhaps an alternative for Harrison
Daffodil - an unusual floral-inspired name.

Perhaps your naming favourites lay with some of the horse trainers or jockeys? This year, they included:

Bart (or Bartholemew) Cummings: the famous horse trainer, who assisted Viewed, Roman Emperor and Allez Wonder in the lead-up to this year's Cup.
Corey Brown: jockey on Shocking. A winning name!
David Hayes: trainer of Changing of the Guard.
Herman Brown: trainer of Mourilyan.
Jake Stephens: trainer of Alcopop.
Mark Kavanagh: trainer of Shocking. You're on a winner with the name Mark!

And did you know that Makybe Diva, the winning horse of a record three Melbourne Cups (2003, 2004 and 2005), was actually named after five women? These co-workers, who worked for the horse's owner Tony Santic at his Port Lincoln tuna farm, worked on a name using the first two letters of their first names. These women were called:

Maureen
Kylie
Belinda
Dianne
Vanessa

So.. MA + KY + BE + DI + VA = MAKYBE DIVA. Cool? I think so! Perhaps these names may also influence your naming ideas. After all, this horse is the most successful of all time...

Giddyup!

Love,
The Name Dame

The last for October 2009

Welcome to November! The time is moving along so fast, and before we know it, Christmas will be upon us yet again! Anyway, here is a selection of the final names to appear in the announcements for October 2009 (Australian papers).

Boys
Archer William
Ben Albert
Blake Aiden
Charlton Alexander
Christian James
Corey James
Ethan James
Finn Thomas
George John
Harrison John
Harvey Matthew
Issac Aubrey
Issac Vincent Majer - Majer?
Jacob Aiden
Jaynen Wayne - yuck.
Jonathan Arthur David
Jordan Mac - Mac? As in Apple Mac?
Lachlan Bruce
Leon Romano
Luca Alexander - there's the 'a' on the end of a masculine name again.
Lucas
Nicholus Frederick James
Mitchell Jye
Oscar Raymond
Patrick Dennis
Samuel James
Sean Norman
Solomon Euan
Tom John - snappy rhyming there!
Tyler Dean
Zeke Charles Maxwell

Girls
Abbie Elizabeth
Adelaide Iris
Allegra Amalia
Amelia Grace
Amity Amanda - nice alliteration!
Asha Beverley
Astrid Edith
Ava
Ava Mary Rose
Charli Matilda - I'm no fan of Charli or Charlie for a girl.
Charlize Montana - Come to think of it, I don't like Charlize either! It seems to be popular at the moment, perhaps drawing inspiration from actress Charlize Theron.
Eleanor Helena Carmen
Emma Victoria
Emmy Louise
Freya Rose
Isabelle Claire
Isis Grace
Jolie Mae - fans of Angelina perhaps?
Kinslie Blaise - a bit icky.
Madeleine Ellen
Matilda Lucy
Olivia Jayde
Peyton May
Sophie Grace
Zoe Eva

Twins
Aiden Jack and Noah Marshall
Annelise Claire and Tahlia Mary
Chloe Isabella and Emma Catlin
Oscar Reilly and Joshua Rueben
Samuel Christian and Evie Rose

There's not much to report on this list, other than the popularity of Grace and Rose as girls' middle names (again!) and the popularity of James for boys' middle names! There is also a fair selection of unusual names, which seems to be the going trend at the moment, much to my dismay!

See any combinations you like? Any you hate? Please comment!

Love,
The Name Dame

When names are just too common

My friend S alerted me to this interesting article she found while trawling through American newspapers online. Click here to check it out!

I don't know about you, but I found it really unusual that this cute couple shared 'Kelly' as a first name. Sure, Kelly has occasionally been used as a male's name (Kelly Slater immediately springs to mind) but I was thinking it's probably more likely that they would share other unisex names, such as Jordan, Alex or Shannon. So, I think the sharing of 'Kelly' makes the story just that more interesting!

So what naming lessons can we learn from this? Well perhaps you may like to avoid unisex names altogether! You could even name your child with the appropriate gender equivalent (for example, instead of Alex call a girl Alexandria/Alexandra/Alessandra or a boy Alexander/Alessandro).

Love,
The Name Dame

Around the World: O-namae wa nan desu ka?

O-namae wa nan desu ka? (oh-NAH-mah-eh wah NAHN dess-KAH?)

Watashi no namae wa Name Dame desu! (wah-TAH-shee no nah-mah-eh wa Name Dame dess.)


Welcome to a post dedicated to Japanese names! The first sentence above outlines how to say 'What is your name?' in Japanese, while the second states 'My name is Name Dame'. Japanese names are very pretty, and most have deeper meanings such as trust, harmony and flower. However, depending on the Japanese characters used, the names below can have many other meanings than those listed. This is because the Japanese have more than one alphabet! If you take inspiration from Asia, why not have a browse through these Japanese names?

Masculine Names
Akio - 'bright' combined with 'husband' or 'manly'
Hachirou - 'eight' combined with 'son'
Hayato - 'falcon' combined with 'person'
Hiroshi - tolerant, generous or prosperous
Isamu - courage, bravery
Kaito - sea
Katsu - victory
Ken - healthy, strong
Makoto - sincerity
Minoru - truth
Noburu - expand
Osamu - discipline, study
Ren - lotus or romance and love
Ryuu - dragon
Shirou - 'four' combined with 'son'
Tarou - 'thick and big' combined with 'son'
Yasu - peaceful
Yuudai - 'hero and manly' combined with 'large and great'

One common trend in the past has been to name boys to indicate the order in which they were born. However, the popularity of this trend has died down over the last thirty years or so.

Feminine Names
Aimi - 'love and affection' combined with 'beautiful'. Perhaps a nice alternative to the Western 'Amy'.
Akane - deep red
Aya - colour or design
Ayako - colour, design OR 'kimino design' combined with 'child'
Chika - 'scatter' combined with 'flower'
Chou - butterfly
Hanako - 'flower' combined with 'child'
Hikari - light
Izumi - fountain, spring
Kaede - maple
Masami - 'become' combined with 'beautiful'
Megumi - blessing
Miki - 'beautiful' combined with 'chronicle'
Naomi - 'honest and straight' combined with 'beautiful'
Rina - jasmine
Sayuri - 'small' combined with 'lily'
Takara - treasure
Youko - sun and sunlight OR 'ocean' combined with 'child'. Can also be written as Yoko ie Yoko Ono, John Lennon's widow.
Yuri - lily

As you can see, many of the female names mean 'beautiful' or relate to natural beauties such as flowers or animals.

I also thought I'd quickly point out that Japanese people don't have middle names. So if you're thinking of choosing a Japanese name in the future, only one choice will need to be made!

Below is a picture of a Japanese cherry blossom, one of my favourite plants in the world!


Love,
The Name Dame

A lazy Saturday morning...

I don't know about you, but as a name enthusiast one of the first things I do on a Saturday morning is browse the birth announcements listed in the local newspaper. As I read through, I make a mental note of some of the names and combinations I like. I also screw my nose up while reading some of the shockers, yet I'm the first to admit I never forget them! Perhaps that is the intention of the parents - name your child something memorable, even if most won't like it!

Getting back on track, here are some of my name classifications for this week...all names have come from Australian newspapers. As you can probably gather, I favour traditional classic names over the unusual and naming fads...

Naming combinations I like:
Alexis Kathryn
Amy Frances - Frances adds an uncommon, but sweet touch.
Annabelle Mary
Asha Kate
Charlotte Lily - pretty!
Holly Isabelle
Imogen Jane - a slight tongue-twister, but pretty names!
James Edward
Lily Abigail
Lucas William - two of my favourite names come together.
Lucy Elizabeth
Millie Elizabeth
Molly Jane
Phoebe Grace - one of my absolute favourites for the week. It's just adorable!
Sophia Grace

Naming combinations I dislike:
Dexter Grant
Hudson Shane
Jackson Zen
Kayla - rather tacky IMO!
Kruz Ashton - yet another jumps onto the Kruz/Cruz bandwagon. Poor child.
Lambros Peter
Leonardo Te Hiro - I know Mr Dicaprio was hot, but this is a little weird for a baby!
Logan Leslie Neil
Mayah Eilish
Stevie-Lee - must be named after Stevie Nicks, but this sounds very masculine to me. I certainly wouldn't give it to a girl.
Tyson Darcy
Zane Riley

A good name mixed with a bad name:
Arabella Madison - Arabella gets a tick, Madison a cross.
Cadence Eliza - I've never heard of Cadence before. I'm unsure about this as a name, but it appeared twice in the announcements this week. I do like Eliza though.
Cooper John - John is nice.
Jorja Jane - nice alliteration, but why couldn't the parents just spell it as 'Georgia'? Jorga appeared twice this week. It must be a Queensland thing!
Kynan William Michael - the middle names are nice, too bad about the first name! His siblings include Maddalyn, Brianna and Jaxson. The parents must enjoy spelling out names to everyone!
Lexi Shae - I like Lexi as an alternative for Alex or Alexandra.
Marlee Anne - Anne is simple but nice. Marlee is a bit out there.
Maiya Lee - Lee is a popular middle name.
Nicholas Raymon Martin - Nicholas is classic, but I want to stick a 'd' on the end of Raymon!
Oscar Stanley - Oscar is cute. They ruined it with Stanley!
Shyla Rose - Rose makes a sweet middle name.
Thomas Corey - A tick for Thomas.
Tyla Eve - Eve is lovely, but Tyla for a girl? It makes me think of Tyler for a boy!

Disagree with my choices? Drop me a line (an email or comment to be exact)!

Love,
The Name Dame

Haunting Halloween names...

With Halloween fast approaching (October 31st for those who don't know), I thought I'd get in quickly with some rather spoooooky names. If your son or daughter is due around this time, why not give him or her a name that fits the occasion? While some are probably too kooky for names (although this hasn't stopped parents in the past), you can also be inspired by Halloween on the sly (case in point the boy wizard called Harry). Anyway here are some names that may cast a spell on your naming ideas...

Adam - the son in Bewitched.
Buffy - the vampire slayer.
Candy - because you get this when trick or treating!
Casper - the friendly ghost. Also the Dutch version of Jasper.
Clara - Samantha's aunt in Bewitched.
Cruella - the evil woman from 101 Dalmations.
Darrin - Samantha's (human) husband in Bewitched.
Draco - Latin for dragon, this is also the name of Harry's school enemy.
Edward - the main vampire in Twilight.
Elphaba - the Wicked Witch in Wicked.
Endora - Samantha's mother in Bewitched.
Esmerelda - also of the Bewitched fame.
Freddy - from A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Galinda (later changes to Glinda) - the Good Witch in Wicked.
Gomez Alonzo - the father from The Addams Family.
Harry - the boy wizard of course!
Hazel - a witch-sounding name.
Hermione - Harry's friend.
Hilda - Sabrina's aunt.
Isabella - the main character in Twilight.
Jacob - a werewolf in Twilight.
Morticia - the mother from The Addams Family.
Phoebe - a Charmed sister.
Piper - a Charmed sister.
Prue - again, a Charmed sister!
Pugsley - the son from The Addams Family. Probably best suited to your pet pug!
Ronald - Harry's friend.
Sabrina - the teenage witch. Also the name of an Audrey Hepburn character.
Salem - a spooky town in the US. Also the name of Sabrina's cat.
Samantha - the main character in Bewitched.
Serena - Samantha's cousin.
Tabitha - the daughter in Bewitched.
Wednesday - the daughter from The Addams Family.
Wendy - Casper's (human) friend.
Zelda - Sabrina's other aunt.

Don't get too scared from this list of spooky names! Happy Halloween!

Love,
The Name Dame

In full bloom

In the Southern Hemisphere, spring has well and truly begun! If you're anything like me and my lovely allergies, the hayfever has also kicked in! So to cheer myself up, I thought I was list a few floral-inspired names that are set to be in full bloom this spring.

If you're still unsure about the stereotypical spring name, why not take some inspiration from floral-name advocates, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and his wife Jooles (Julia)? They have named their daughters Daisy Boo, Poppy Honey, and Petal Blossom Rainbow. Daisy and Poppy are sweet names, but Petal is probably stretching the floral name boundaries, especially with Rainbow as a middle name! I wonder what they would call their possible future sons?

Without further ado, here are some more floral names (obviously best suited for girls)

Acacia
Alyssa - a take on the flower Alyssum
Amarantha - this was a mythical plant meaning immortal, but is now also a real plant.
Azalea
Bluebell - the most famous one is the daughter of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell.
Bryony
Camelia
Fleur
Flora
Heather
Hyacinth - The Bouquet (Bucket) Residence, lady of the house speaking!
Iris
Ivy
Jacinta
Jasmine
Jonquil
Lavender
Lilac
Lily
Marigold
Petunia
Primrose
Rose
Rosemary - technically a herb, but a name nonetheless!
Tulip
Violet
Yolanda
Zinnia - a bit out there, but it could work!

Popular at the turn of the century, floral names such as these listed are reinventing themselves as a new naming trend. So why not wake up and smell these fresh beauties?!

Love,
The Name Dame

Happy Birthday Prince Christian!

HRH Prince Christian of Denmark turned four on October 15 (wow hasn't that time gone fast). To celebrate, and also because he is half Tasmanian, I thought I would look at his name in more detail. The little Prince, who is also second in line to the Danish throne, has four given names:

Christian: This comes from the Medieval Latin name Christianus, meaning 'a Christian'. Since the 16th Century, first-born sons of the Danish monarchs have traditionally been alternately named Frederik and Christian. As we all know, Christian's father is named Frederik. So, if Christian eventually has a son, he will call him Frederik.

Valdemar: This is the Scandinavian form of Waldemar, and generally means 'rule'. It has been given to the Prince to honour Valdemar IV of Denmark. It is also a common Danish royal name, with Christian's uncle Prince Joachim (Waldemar) and cousin Prince Felix (Valdemar) also having variations of this as one of their names.

Henri: This is the French form of Henry and means 'home ruler'. It has been included in the Prince's name to honour his paternal grandfather Prince Henrik, who was originally named Henri. Henrik is also the name given to Prince Joachim's third son, his first with second wife Princess Marie (he was previously married to Princess Alexandra). Interestingly, on the announcement of this birth, a Danish newspaper reported that Henrik was an unpopular name in Denmark!

John: This comes from Christian's maternal grandfather, John Donaldson. It is also a strong royal name, with many rulers of the past having this as part of their name. It also has links to religion (the New Testament).

As you can see, HRH Prince Christian has been named cleverly. All of his names link to royalty, and two of them actually have meanings that relate to ruling. I think HRH's names are an inspiration for the rest of us to name children thoughtfully!

Love,
The Name Dame

Around the world: The UK

When I am asked to suggest some names from the United Kingdom, I am tempted to list traditional, classic names that portray stereotypical sophistication. This is why I have decided to give you a sample of UK names, straight from their newspapers.

Boys
Alexander Bruce
Alfie Matthew
Archer Benjamin John
Austin Jay
Ethan James Stephen
Fergus Arthur Albert
George Albert
Harris McGregor
Hugh Myles Edwin
Jack William
Jacolm Jack - hmmmmm.
Jake Joseph
James David Thomas
Jayden Joshua
Jayden Lee
Jayden Louis
Joseph
Jude
Kian Edgar
Koen
Layton
Leo
Leo James Douglas
Liam Callum
Lincoln
Lucas - a personal favourite.
Maximilian Joseph
Patrick Martin
Ralph Thomas
Red James
Samuel James
Theo
Xander Drew - I haven't heard or read the name Drew for ages.

Girls
Aimee - her parents are called Andy and Amanda, and her brother is called Adam. That's a lot of A's!
Alice
Alix Grace - a nice French take on 'Alex'.
Amelia
Amelia Isobel
Ayda Elizabeth Vicki May
Bethany
Bethany Heather
Constance Amy
Emme Holly
Eve Grace
Freya
Grace Rose - the two most popular middle names come together. I like it!
Harriet Evelyn - unusual but not weird. I like it!
Kayleigh Megan - horrible spelling.
Katie Thelma
Lacey Ellena - only the second time I've heard Lacey as a name.
Laura Jan - Laura seems to have fallen out of favour in Australia.
Lily
Lois Beatrix - Beatrix is very sweet, especially for the daughter of a book-lover!
Maisie Immogen - very pretty.
Mia Faith
Mia Louise
Millie Elizabeth
Millie Rose
Miri
Neve Mary
Niamh
Rachel Hannah
Rennae
Rose Constance
Ruby Paige
Sophie Maria
Sophie Rebecca

Twins
Imogen Rose and Isabella Iris - both with names beginning with 'I' and floral-inspired middle names. Cute!
Macie Rose and Mia Grace - followed trends by using the most common middle names at the moment, one for each!

One surprise in this list is the frequency of the name Jayden. I have heard it a few times, but it seemed to be very popular in the UK this week! Other than that most parents seemed to stick with traditional, and perhaps more common names like Sophie and Patrick. I was also pleased to see the use of names like Harriet and Beatrix. They're uncommon but not shocking or hideous! It was also interesting to see Grace and Rose are also popular for middle names in the UK - this makes a total of at least three countries following this trend at the moment (Australia, New Zealand, and the UK).

Feel free to comment!

Love,
The Name Dame

Australian birth announcements from last week...

Here are some of the names chosen for Australia's newborns last week. All of these were listed in Australia's leading newspapers.

Girls
Adelle Katene Patricia - unusual spelling for Adelle, and Katene is a new name for me to Google!
Amelia Penny - I haven't seen Penny or Penelope feature in any announcements for awhile!
Amelie Rio
Aren Renee
Asha Patrice - Asha hasn't featured for a long while, but I do like it!
Bronte Ann
Charley May - I'm not a huge fan of Charley/Charlie as a girl's name, but that shouldn't deter you from using it!
Charlotte Joy Ellen
Chloe Elizabeth
Danielle Elizabeth
Demi Joy
Ella Ruby Joan
Ella Santa - how would you feel if Father Christmas' other name was your middle name?
Eve Willow
Evie Louise
Frankie - yes, for a girl. I'm not a fan, are you?
Isabel Cameron
Jasmine Kimberley
Jasmine Louise
Jenna
Lily Lien
Madeline Jessica
Maggie Ann
Makayla Jayde - the parents must love their y's!
Molly Cecilia Anne - her sister's name is Phoebe. What cute names for sisters!
Natasha Valerie - Valerie has been absent for awhile. Nice to see it reappear, even if it's a middle name!
Phoebe Marie - the parents are poets?
Rhylee Paige
Ruby Brooke
Ruby May
Stacey Patricia
Tiana Layla

Boys
Adam Elias
Archie James
Ben Thomas
Charles
Coner Josef
Conner Miller Zoltan
Cooper John
David Kym
Denham John David
Emilio Cruz - after Posh and Becks, and Lleyton and Bec named their sons Cruz, it has been appearing often, but mostly as a middle name.
Ethan Ken
Ethan Zane
Fletcher Bradley
Fynn Anthony Jack
Jack Harry
Jackson Zen
Jai Michael
Jake Glenn
Jaxson Nickolas - yes both names are spelt correctly. Now the poor boy will be spelling his name out to everyone!
Jesse Albert
Jonty Leslie - hmmm I'm unsure about this one! What do you think?
Jye
Lawson Angus Lindsay - I like Angus, but I'm unsure about the others.
Max
Max Anthony
Nate Levi - fans of Gossip Girl?
Oliver Lawrence
Robert Theodore
Ryan
Saxon Kayne
Stephen William
Xavier Benjamin
Zac Charles
Zac Michael
Zachary Michael - two boys with almost the same name!

Twins
Bowen and Zachary
Savannah Angel and Talysha Rose

Triplets
William, Charlotte and Ella.

There are a couple of naming trends from this list worth mentioning. The first thing I noticed was the popularity of names beginning with 'J'. I've tried to think of current events that may explain this trend. Javelin? No, the Olympics aren't on. Being fined for j-walking? No, that would put you off the letter J for life! Do you have any suggestions for this trend? The second thing I noticed was the number of parents jumping onto the Zac/Zachary bandwagon (not that I mind, I happen to like this name). Do the looming end of year celebrations persuade parents to look at the end letters of the alphabet for naming ideas? Or does Zac Efron from the High School Musical phenomenen provide them with all the inspiration they need? It would be great to hear your thoughts on these topics!

Until next time...

Love,
The Name Dame

Around the World: New Zealand Names

I have decided that every few weeks, I'd bring you some names from other countries. A big fan of reading online newspapers around the globe, it seems only fitting that I should publish some of the names I read in the birth announcements straight onto this blog!

This time, I've decided to focus on names from New Zealand. Over the last few weeks, New Zealand has experienced unseasonal snow falls across much of the country. These unpredictable snow storms may help to explain why some have also chosen unpredictable names and naming combinations!

Without further ado, here are some of the names that have appeared in the NZ Herald classifieds over the past few days!

Boys
Aidan Arthur
Alec Finlay Stuart
Anton Jonathan
Byron Murray
Caleb Ruzareo
Cameron Richmond
Carlo Evan
Cassius - there was a note to say the middle names will be decided. I wonder how unusual those names will be!
Cristian Javier - I prefer this spelt as Christian.
Ethan James
Evan David
Jamison Joo - Joo?
Jarrin William
Joshua Ethan
Kade Jaymison
Knox Nehemiah Maxwell
Lachlan Angus Matthew
Liam Geoffrey
Louis Joe
Maddox James
Nathan Xavier
Niko Martin Ronald
Oliver Jean Here Moana - cute first name, not sure about the others. Jean and Moana sound very feminine to me!
Riley William Cooper
Robert
Samuel Karaka
Spencer
Troy Malcolm
Xavier Thomas
Xavier Tomas

Girls
Alyssa Francis
Anya Elizabeth
Ava Kate - very short and sweet!
Brooke Amy - I haven't read Amy in birth notices for awhile. I love it!
Caitlyn Rose
Cayleigh Marie
Chelsea Jayne
Clara Anne
Dvorah
Emily Michelle
Evie-Jane
Georgia Jean Elizabeth
Georgia Rose
Ines Florence
Isla Molly - I love the name Molly, it's very sweet.
Jade Zara
Kaiya Leonia
Kayla Grace
Keela Doreen - it's unusual to see an 'een' name today. It must be after her grandmother.
Kona Quincylee
Krysta-Leigh Pikorua Raniera
Lia Oraya
Maia Olive
Manaia
Neve Isla
Niamh - how very Irish!
Olivia Louise
Rylee Kate
Stella Ruby
Summer Rose - they must have been dreaming of warmer weather!
Zara Rose
Zarea Marie

Twins
Christopher Louis and Liam Anton
Hayley and Hannah

I noticed there were a few children given three names in this sample. Were their parents trying to find something to do during the snow storms, so they spent some time Googling names?Furthermore, Rose and Kate seem to be very common middle names, but they never seem to be used as first names. Why is that?

Below is a picture of the New Zealand snow storms!



Love,
The Name Dame

Unusual names appearing this week...

After searching through the Australian birth announcements this week, I decided to compile a list of the more unusual names on offer. I must say unusual names were just as popular as traditional names this week! Every second or third name I read was original or uncommon.

Here is the selection of names taken from newspapers around Australia:

Boys
Addison Craig - sounds slightly feminine until Craig enters the picture
Adyn Jack - unusual spelling
Bede
Blaize Dalmon - fans of Bon Jovi's 'Blaze of Glory'?
Denver Jon - John Denver?
Elias Italo
Griffen Oliver
Jaylan Cruz
Leo Ezra
Luca - another boy's name ending in 'a'
Murray Roy - very Australian!
Remi Hugh - I knew a girl at school called Remy
Ronin Edo
Ryder Patrick - there's an Essendon Bombers player called Patrick Ryder. Go figure.
Talan Wesley
Tate Leo

Girls
Bronte Ann
Caden Grace
Chandler Delaney
Emmerson Rose - I know a boy called Emmerson
Kailey Adele
Keeley Moira - I immediately thought of the sales representative, Moira, from Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton!
Keeley Rhea - how did Keeley appear twice in one week? The twin of Rylan (see below).
Marli Willo
Max Fox - yes, for a girl! Call her Maxine and then shorten it so at least her full name is feminine! I'm still wondering if 'baby girl' is actually a misprint...
Maya Suri - is the middle name influenced by Tom and Katie's girl?
Mikayla Chloe - this alternative spelling for Michaela has popped up often lately. Do I sense a new naming trend?
Millah May - nice alliteration
Neve Eloise
Paris Luise
Roe Addison - is this a misprint for 'Rose'?
Rylan Kya - did they like Ryan for a boy?
Temperance Jayleen
Vallen Emily - what?

Some of these names are totally 'out there'. I feel sorry for the girl called 'Max Fox' and I'm hoping it was supposed to read 'baby boy' not 'baby girl' in the birth announcements. Either that, or friends and family see the birth notice and convince the parents to call her Maxine!

If you're worried about the future implications of the name you have chosen for your child, why not save the more unusual for your child's middle name(s)?

Love,
The Name Dame

Congratulations Elizabeth!

It was fantastic to hear about Professor Elizabeth Blackburn's achievement on the news last night! For those of you who don't know, Professor Blackburn was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine. She's even more special for those patriotic Australians because she's from Tasmania!

Just quickly, Professor Blackburn migrated to America in the 1960s to continue her work in stem cell research. She, along with Americans Carol Greider and Jack Szostak won the Nobel Prize for medicine after identifying a key switch in cellular ageing.

Because this is a naming blog, it seems fitting to describe the name 'Elizabeth' in greater detail.

Elizabeth is, of course, a female name. It is derived from the Greek name 'Elizabet' which in turn comes from the Hebrew name 'Elisheva'. Elizabeth means "pledged to God", "I am God's daughter", or "oath of God". It is one of the premier and classic female names of our time, however I think it is becoming less popular as some of the more unusual names take over.

Naming your daughter Elizabeth will also give her royal connections. Our current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, is probably today's most famous Elizabeth (her middle names are Alexandra and Mary for those of you who are wondering)! Other famous ladies include Elizabeth Taylor, Elizabeth Montgomery (Samantha from Bewitched), and Elizabeth Bennet (fictional character from Pride and Prejudice).

Alternatively, Elizabeth can be spelt as Elisabeth (Danish, French, Dutch). It is also the parent unit of the names Lisa, Lilly, and Ella. Many nicknames can also be derived from Elizabeth, including Beth, Liza, Lizzie, Lisbeth, Izzy, and many more. This makes Elizabeth a very versatile name!

A fan of classic names, Elizabeth is one I will always keep in mind. Just like Professor Elizabeth Blackburn, it is certainly a winner!

Love,
The Name Dame

Long names to celebrate the long weekend!

It must be said that long weekends are my favourite type of weekend! As we've just had our final one before Christmas, I thought I would pay tribute to the long weekend by listing some long names. Each name contains eight letters or more. If your baby is born over a long weekend, why not give him or her a name to suit their birthday?

Boys
Alexander
Archibald
Bartholemew
Benjamin
Christopher
Cornelious
Florentino
Harrison
Ignatius
Jonathan
Montgomery
Nicholas
Sebastian
Theodore
Zachariah

Girls
Adelaide
Alexandra
Anastacia
Annabelle
Clementine
Dominique
Elizabeth
Gabriella
Genevieve
Henrietta
Julianne
Katharina (perhaps a more updated take on Kathleen)
Kimberly
Margaretta
Stephanie

Long live the long weekend!

Love,
The Name Dame

Name Associations

Lately I have been thinking about how other people in our lives influence our attitudes towards names. Are we particularly drawn to names belonging to people we love and admire? Do we shy away from names associated with bad memories and tales of love lost?

I think the names of people we have encountered in the past can certainly influence our opinions of people we meet in years to come. My early school days provide a classic example of this. A school bully named Sarah created many complications in my life for a couple of years. Posing as a friend, when she ran into trouble she would always blame me for her actions. Now when I meet other women called Sarah, I relive my childhood for a few seconds and hope this new Sarah is not also nasty. As much as I try to hide my hostility, ‘Sarah’ is definitely not a name that brings me any happiness (no offence intended to all you Sarahs out there!).

Michelle, on the other hand, is a name I am rather attached to. While it holds no amazing linguistic meaning, it is the name of a close friend. Needless to say, every time I meet someone else called Michelle, I remember her name instantly. All the Michelles I have met so far have been lovely girls. Is this because they are genuinely good people, or because I want to keep the name Michelle in my good books because of its association with my friend?

Similarly, the names we choose for our children are, to a certain extent, influenced by our thoughts and feelings of people who are in our past and present lives. Daniel was the name of my first love, and let’s just say, he turned out to be a complete jerk! Because of this, I would never call my son this. Further, if one of your close friends has just called their new daughter Isabella, you probably won’t call your newborn daughter this too, even if it’s just to avoid the copycat label that will no doubt follow!

Does this idea also apply in your family? Would you also avoid calling your son or daughter after your brother or sister? As much as I love my friend Michelle, I probably wouldn’t also call my daughter this simply because it would just be way too confusing! However, using Michelle as a middle name for my daughter would be a great way to honour my friend!

Love,
The Name Dame

Some more unusual names...

One activity I really enjoy is reading birth announcements. I like to keep a record of uncommon names and nice-sounding name combinations. Here is a list of the more unusual names from this week’s birth announcements:

Boys
Bodee James
Brock William (A fan of Peter Brock perhaps?)
Cadel Aidan
Chayse Benjamin
Haden George (Alternative spelling for Hayden, but you’d have to spell it for everyone)
Kael Jon
Nash Jay
Saba Alfredo (Yet another masculine name ending in 'a'!)

Girls
Avalon Jillian
Cejae Lily
Chelsea Reece (Included because the middle name is unusual)
Eliana (The only unusual name without a middle name this week!)
Giada Maria
Indra Maia (Perhaps a possible alternative for India?)
Kailey Fay
Norah Elizabeth (I prefer this spelt as Nora)
Oceah Vernyse May (I’m assuming this is a girl’s name. It didn’t actually say!)
Orah Jade
Piper Kate
Teigan Zoe (Again, you’d have to spell this one out)
Violet Anais (This makes me think of the perfume Anais Anais! Pretty!)
Zahlia May (I love names that start with the less-common letters Q, X and Z!)

Please let me know if any take your fancy, I love hearing from my readers!

Love,
The Name Dame

Hello, meet my new son Q!

While Googling names today, I came across the following article:
http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/a-baby-boy-named-q/

While this article is a little old (it was published in May 2009), I still found it extremely fascinating. For those of you who don't have time to read it, the story is about a Swedish couple who wish to name their son 'Q'. That's right, a letter of the alphabet! They assure everyone it's not after the James Bond character, rather it's just what they've called their son since birth.

Perhaps a little ridiculous for most people, you can't help but admire this couple for trying to make this a name. Then again, if my name was simply a letter, I'd probably feel a little hard-done-by. So I have compiled a list of boys' names beginning with Q that this Swedish couple could have used. They can always call their son 'Q' as a nickname. Problem solved!

Qamar
Quentin
Quince (Peter Quince is a character from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Quincey
Quincy
Quinlan
Quinn
Quinten
Quintillus
Quintus
Quique
Quirijn
Quirino
Quirinus
Quy

There are certainly some unusual names here, but in today's society I don't think there is anything more unusual than naming your child after a letter of the alphabet! Perhaps this trend will take hold in years to come...

Love,
The Name Dame

A Word On Etymology and Onomastics...

For the purposes of this posting, I thought I would discuss the words behind the names - etymology and onomastics.

Etymology refers to the study of the origins of words. The etymology of names, therefore, is the study of the literal meanings of names. This means that every name you read on this blog has most probably been derived from ordinary words. For example, the name 'Phoebe' (pronounced FEE-bee) is said to come from the Ancient Greek word 'Phoibus' which means bright and pure.

Onomastics (or onomatology) takes this idea one step further. While looking at the etymology of given names, onomasticians also look at how names are used in various cultures, and try to answer why some names are chosen more often than others. Hence, onomasticians may argue that names are not necessarily chosen just for their meanings, but are also influenced by the social climate of a particular time in history. For example, the name 'Maureen' peaked in popularity in the 1950s but has since declined. Onomasticians may seek to explain why this is the case.

Hopefully as you peruse through many of the other name blogs and websites out there, you will now know the slight difference between etymology and onomastics!

Love,
The Name Dame

Names in Movie Titles

There are many names embedded in movie titles. Some may inspire you, while others may ensure you never call your son or daughter by that particular name! If you are about to intentionally (or unintentionally) name your child after a movie, remember they may have the movie title recited to them for the rest of their lives (key point being Dennis the Menace).

Anyhow, here are a few movie titles with name suggestions:

A Fish Called WANDA
ALICE in Wonderland
ANNIE Hall
BILLY ELLIOT
BILLY MADISON (because Madison is a girl's name!
Breakfast at TIFFANY's
CHARLIE and the Chocolate Factory
CORRINA, Corrina
DENNIS the Menace
ERIN Brockovich
JERRY Maguire
LAWRENCE of Arabia
MARY Poppins/There's Something About MARY
MATILDA
Nurse BETTY
OLIVER Twist
POLLYANNA
RICHIE Rich
SABRINA (either the teenage witch or Audrey Hepburn's character)
THELMA and LOUISE
WAYNE's World

Any more suggestions? Comment on this post or email me!

Love,
The Name Dame

Brownlow Names

Last night, instead of watching the Brownlow Medal count for the beautiful (and sometimes disgusting) dresses, I decided to make a list of the unusual names among the AFL football players.It was interesting to see that most AFL clubs had one or two original names appearing on their team's list. I think this shows just how diverse names are!

Here are some of the names I listed (in no particular order):

Alwyn
Bernie (a possible modern-day alternative for Bernard)
Bradd (this version of Brad would mean your son would have to spell it out to everyone!)
Brady
Brock
Bryce
Chance
Cyril
Dane
Danyle (alternative spelling for Daniel. Again, you'd have to spell this out to everyone)
Dayne
Farren
Jade
Jobe
Jude
Kade
Kepler
Lenny
Mitch
Rhyce
Setanta (although as outlined in my previous post, I'm not a fan of boys' names ending in 'A'!)
Tarkyn

Or you may be inspired to name your son after his father, just like this year's Brownlow Medallist Gary Ablett Jnr. However, this naming method is more common in places such as America rather than Australia.

Love,
The Name Dame

When boys' names = girls' names

A fan of traditional language conventions, I believe a name ending in 'a' should always be a girl's name. Similarly, when a name ends in 'o', it should pronounce a boy's name. So in the birthing notices the other day, I was horrified to see the name 'Tevita' used for a boy. Luckily there was massive lettering to announce "It's a boy!", or I would have just assumed it was a girl...

Curious at the thought of calling a boy Tevita, I decided to Google the name. Wikipedia showed there is a famous (male) Tongan rugby player named Tevita Vaikona. Perhaps the parents of the newborn boy were paying the ultimate tribute to their favourite sports star!

Still unsatisfied, I typed Tevita into the search engine on nameberry.com. Aha! This website stated Tevita is a female name and another version of 'Taffy' (a Welsh name meaning candy).

So what can be learned from all this? Choosing a name ending in 'a', (or anything else traditionally used for girls) for a boy may not be a wise idea. Unless the poor child's gender is written next to his name, everyone is going to think he is a girl! While it may sound like a good idea to name your son after your favourite sports star, remember it's YOUR SON who has to live with his name, not you.

Maybe Tevito would have been a better option...

Love,
The Name Dame

Names from "Madeline"

Sometimes inspiration for names comes from the most unlikely places. I was at my local library yesterday when I stumbled across one of the books from Ludwig Bemelmans' series Madeline. Set in France in the late 1930s, it describes the story of a young girl called Madeline who, along with her 11 friends living in a boarding school (not an orphanage, as some people seem to think because the movie portrays it in this way). For those who remember the books, and perhaps the television series in the early 1990s, Madeline is forever brave and optimistic, even in times of adversity. Bemelmans' idea that children always look on the bright side of life was highlight by a young girl who was recuperating from an appendectomy and was still smiling. Hence, she provided the inspiration for the Madeline books.

If you love names with a French flavour as I do, why not scroll through the following names given to the 12 girls in Madeline? Please note, these are the names from the television show!

Madeline - the English version of Magdalen, it means high tower. An appropriate name for Bemelmans' little character!

Chloe - I saw this spelt as Clhoe the other day, I kid you not!
Nicole
Danielle
Yvette
Nona
Anne
Juliette
Monique
Lulu
Sylvie
Ellie - this name was changed to Simone in one episode.

Love,
The Name Dame

Top Baby Names for 2008

Here is a brief list of the most popular baby names for 2008 in each Australian State and Territory, according to their Government's birth registry. You may choose to follow these baby naming trends, or go totally against the flow and choose something unique. It will be interesting to compare these names State by State and with the most popular names of 2009.

Victoria

Male - William

Female - Mia

New South Wales

Male - Jack

Female - Mia

South Australia

Male - Jack

Female - Emily

Tasmania

Male - Jack

Female - Ella

Queensland

Male - Jack

Female - Ella

Western Australia

Male - Jack

Female - Ella

Northern Territory

Male - William

Female - Isabella

Australian Capital Territory (only 2007 information was available)

Male - Lachlan

Female - Emily

It is interesting to see that Jack, originally just a nickname for John, is not only now a stand-alone name, but is also by far the most popular male baby name in Australia. According to these trends, female names are a little more diverse in popularity. Emily usually rates in the top few baby names each year. Ella is also common, with Mia increasing in popularity. Could this be because celebrities, such as Bec and Lleyton Hewitt, are naming their little girls Mia? Let's hope not!

Love,
The Name Dame

Pet names

For something a little different, I thought I would list a few popular pet names. Scientific research suggests that our furry friends help to reduce stress, depression, and encourage us to exercise. You also often see animals, dogs in particular, visit nursing homes to comfort residents and keep them smiling. Nothing beats coming home from a long stressful day and having your loyal dog go bananas because he is so excited to see you! The following list consists of both dog and cat names for males and females. Some are human names, while others are for pets only

Dogs
Bessie

Buffy
Buster
Charlie
Geoffrey

Harley
Jessie/Jessy/Jesse
Lady
Lucky
Max (Bondi Vet, Dr Chris Brown, once stated on his show that Max was the most popular dog name in Australia.)
Misty
Patch
Ralph
Rex
Rusty
Sally

It may be best to restrict your dog's name to one or two syllables, so they will easily recognise it!

Cats
Coco/Cocoa
Ebony
Felix
Fluffy
Garfield
Ginger

Holly

Kitty
Marmalade
Midnight
Monty

Oscar
Puss In Boots
Salem
Simba
Sooty
Tiger/Tigger

The key is to name your dog or cat something that reflects his or her looks or personality.

Love,
The Name Dame

Naming your little gem

Your baby will always be your little gem, so why not give him or her a name that fits literally? Traditional gem names include Pearl and Opal, however you may be inspired to name your little one after the birthstone of the month in which he or she is born (this is not applicable for all months and really only applies to girls!). Here are a few more dazzling names that you may also like. Please note they are mostly girls' names:

Amber - Arabic in origin, its alternative is Ambra.

Cordelia - Celtic in origin, it means 'jewel of the sea'. It can also be spelt as Cordella, Cordelie (French), and Kodelia.

Crystal - a gemstone that is as transparent as ice. Alternative spellings include Christel, Chrtistelle (French spelling), Chrystal, Cristal, Kristal, Krystal, and Krystle.

Diamond - Not for the faint hearted, but many baby name websites state it is increasing in popularity, particularly in America. The pretty diamond is the birthstone for April.

Emerald - The birthstone for May, this green gem has many alternative spellings, including Emeraude (French), Emmarald, and Esmeralda (Spanish).

Gemma - An Italian name, it literally means gem! It can also be spelled with a J.

Jade - Spanish in origin, it can also be spelled as Jaide or Jayde.

Jasper - the only boys' name to make the list, it means the treasurer. Persian in origin, Jaspar and Jesper (Danish) are the only alternatives.

Opal - A precious stone, with alternatives such as Opalina and Opaline (French).

Pearl - A little sphere and a precious gem, this name is English in origin. Other spellings include Pearla, Pearle, Pearline, Perla (Italian), Perle, Perlette (French), and Perlina. Alternatively, you may like to call your daughter Margaret or Megan, which both mean 'a pearl'.

Ruby - The red birthstone of July, this name is Latin. Alternatives for Ruby include Rubie, Rubetta, Rubette, Rubia, and Rubina.

Sapphire - Greek in origin and dark-blue in colour, it is the birthstone for September. Saphira and Sapphira are common alternatives.

I hope these have inspired you to sparkle in your naming decisions!

Love,

The Name Dame

Names ending in -een

One dying trend in the Western world today is the use of names ending in the sound -een. Common among women born in the 1950s and 1960s, -een names have steadily declined in popularity over the last thirty to forty years. Unlikely to make a sudden resurgance, naming a girl with an -een name will ensure individuality with a touch of nostalgia. Most -een names are also Irish in origin. Here are a few suggestions:

Maureen - meaning 'sea of bitterness', perhaps it would be good for a screaming baby!

Kathleen - this name means pure. It could be used as a full name for Kate.

Doreen - meaning gift, it could be a good name for a first-born because it's your first gift!

Noreen - a possible variation for Nora, it means honour.

Aileen - a form of Evelyn and Avelyn.

Irene - not ending in the traditional -een, this name is Greek in Origin and means peace.

I hope this has given you some suggestions for less-conventional names!

Love,
The Name Dame