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
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
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
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
Sunday, October 25, 2009
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
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
Saturday, October 24, 2009
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
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
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
Friday, October 16, 2009
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
The Name Dame
Thursday, October 15, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
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
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
Friday, October 9, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
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
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
The Name Dame
Monday, October 5, 2009
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
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
Thursday, October 1, 2009
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
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
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