Appellation MountainWhere every name has a story2026-05-15T19:18:36Zhttps://appellationmountain.net/feed/atom/WordPressAbby Sandelhttps://appellationmountain.net/about/<![CDATA[Distinctive Boy Names Like Matilda, Leila, and Elowen]]>https://appellationmountain.net/?p=790542026-05-15T17:36:52Z2026-05-15T17:36:49ZName Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, we discuss reader’s name questions, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays.…
Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, we discuss reader’s name questions, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays. We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight! To have your question considered, email appmtn (at) gmail. Looking for your own private #namehelp post? Order one here.
A BROTHER FOR MATILDA, LEILA & ELOWEN
Elisa writes:
Baby Elowen will no longer be the baby of the family soon. We’re expecting number four this fall, our first boy! Our older daughters are Matilda and Leila.
Husband and I have always had a hard time picking boy names (when we didn’t know the gender of our first three babies) and genuinely would love your help. The last time you had suggested Oliver and we both agreed as it was a top pick.
Now we think Oliver is maybe a little too popular?
We also love Milo, but can’t use it as a very close friend has a Milo.
I like Liam, Rory, and Sonny, but husband isn’t too keen.
Ollie is another option.
His middle name will be Michael, after dad. Our surname starts with McG.
Thank you so much!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
FINDING DISTINCTIVE BOY NAMES LIKE MATILDA, LEILA & ELOWEN
Abby replies:
Congratulations on baby four!
When we’re good at naming children of one specific gender, it can be a bit challenging to switch gears. That’s because our preferences for a son’s name can be different than our favorite girls’ names. So even if we’re using to compromising when naming a daughter? That knowledge and experience counts for less when we’re Team Blue.
I think you prefer names that are current but with a hint of tradition; casual but with substance. Your hesitation around Oliver makes me think that avoiding the most popular names makes sense.
And yet, your top contender is probably still Ollie, right? It’s a little less common than Oliver, but it’s almost the same name. At least, I imagine every Ollie will be asked if it’s short for Oliver, and plenty of Olivers prefer to go by Ollie at some point in their lives.
I still think Oliver is the name to beat.
Looking at your list, it seems like you’re gravitating toward liquid names – flowing choices with more vowels than consonants. Leila, Ollie, Milo.
Let’s see if we can find names that hit those marks – some choices that are liquid and flowing, a few that are casual, maybe some that manage to be both.
FRESH IDEAS FOR BABY FOUR
ARCHER/ARCHIE
If Oliver and Ollie are both favorites, I wonder if you’d like Archer and/or Archie? It’s rising in use, but far less common. Archie and Sonny are sharing the same playground back in the day, vintage names with a certain sweetness.
ARLO
An obvious substitute for Milo, with a bit of Rory’s roar.
ELIAS
A name trending globally, related to Old Testament Elijah but smoother, I think. The only drawback I see? Elias is awfully close to Elowen’s name and an anagram of Elisa. (Or maybe that’s a bonus?)
JONAH
I’m not sure this is quite the right vibe, but I like Jonah’s bright sound. Matilda, Leila, Elowen, and Jonah are all distinct and different, but somehow work together, too.
LEONEL, LIONEL
Leo is quite popular, but longer forms Leonel and Lionel are relatively uncommon. They have that gentlemanly polish, just like Oliver, but also have the same smooth, L sounds of your girls’ names.
NICO
Another possible substitute for Milo, either as a stand-alone name, or as a short form of Nicolas/Nicholas or Niccolo. Or nearly any Nick name.
ORION
I think you mentioned previously that you and your husband have some Irish roots, so I’m a little worried Orion might read like O’Ryan. But if that’s not a concern, I think it’s a great substitute for Oliver.
ROWAN
A lightly Irish surname/nature name/color name that might substitute for Rory.
Overall, I’m probably most drawn to Rowan, but I feel like a name with more of an L sound might appeal to you and your husband even more. If Oliver is really off the list, then I’m drawn to Jonah Michael.
Readers, over to you! Can you suggest some boys names like Matilda, Leila, and Elowen for their new son?
]]>6Abby Sandelhttps://appellationmountain.net/about/<![CDATA[Fastest Rising Boy Names 2026: Regal Arthur, Strong Callahan]]>https://appellationmountain.net/?p=791362026-05-15T19:18:36Z2026-05-14T14:32:17ZLet’s check out the fastest rising boy names 2026! This list will look a little different than many others. That’s…
Let’s check out the fastest rising boy names 2026!
This list will look a little different than many others. That’s because it’s based on count – the actual increase in numbers of newborns given the name, from calendar year 2024 to calendar year 2025.
What’s the difference?
Rank tells us about the present moment. Count helps us understand trends.
Theodore has been a Top Ten name since 2021. But it rose significantly based on actual births going into 2022. That helped predict the name’s leap to #7 in 2023 and all the way to #4 in calendar year 2024 and 2025. Atlas seemed kind of niche a dozen years ago. But repeated appearances on the fastest rising boy names list argued that Atlas was headed for the top of the popularity charts. Indeed, this year Atlas cracked the US Top 100.
Speaking of charts, this list is based only on names ranked in the US Top 1000 for at least the past two years.
Names do stall out and reverse course, so it’s not a perfect system. But it’s a different lens on the data, and that can be illuminating.
As Theodore and Atlas suggest, sustained momentum often translates to peak popularity.
So let’s take a look at all the fastest rising boy names 2026 – including many that have made this list for multiple years.
25. BENSON (+485 births; unranked on last year’s list)
A debut for this year’s fastest rising boy names, Benson owes its success to two things: our love of Ben names and the rise of singer Benson Boone. Not only did he score a breakthrough hit early in 2024 with “Beautiful Things,” he opened for Taylor Swift on her record-shattering Eras Tour in London.
24. SILAS (+512 births; unranked on last year’s list)
New Testament name Silas might appeal to parents looking for quietly Christian names. But the meaning is quite current, too. It comes from the Latin Silvanus, meaning “of the woods.” And we love a boy’s name ending with S.
Proof that old school names eventually make their way back around. Arthur has returned to the US Top 100 for the first time since 1969. It’s regal, traditional, and hits that familiar-but-not-common sweet spot. It’s not the flashiest name on this list, but it’s quietly gained in recent years. DC Comics fans might think of Arthur Curry, played by Jason Momoa in the most recent series of films.
22. WAYLON (+516 births; unranked on last year’s list)
Country music legend Waylon Jennings launched his career way back in the 1950s. One of the pioneers of the outlaw genre, Jennings’ long and successful career included acting as well as music. While Waylon did rise in use during the 1960s, it gained momentum recently. Credit to Yellowstone and our love of neo-Western culture. If Wyatt and Maverick belong in the US Top 100, then Waylon fits, too.
21. ARCHER (+525 births; unranked on last year’s list)
A sharp, polished surname name, Archer reinvents stuffy Archibald for the 21st century. It’s a path to sweet nickname Archie or a substitute for long-established favorites like Hunter.
20. THIAGO (+531 births; #5 on last year’s list; #1 on 2023’s list; #8 on 2022’s list)
Ultimately from Santiago – Saint James in Spanish – Thiago is a fast-rising favorite across the Spanish-speaking world. If we’re hearing it in Mexico and Chile and Spain, then we’re likely to hear it in the US, too.
19. ROWAN (+545 births; #21 on last year’s list; #11 on 2023’s list)
Since entering the US Top 1000 in 1999, Rowan’s rise has been steady – and accelerating. An Irish surname name with ties to the color red, Rowan is an update for Owen or Ryan, with a decidedly modern, but rooted, appeal.
18. BAKER (+549 births; unranked on last year’s list)
The NFL’s Baker Mayfield put his occupational surname on our lists back when he won the Heisman Trophy as a college player back in 2017. Athlete names succeed because we hear them for a sustained period of time: all season, year after year, if their careers continue. Mayfield was selected for the 2024 Pro Bowl, which might explain the name’s extra boost in the data.
17. EMILIANO (+565 births; unranked on last year’s list; #25 on 2023’s list)
Romance language names routinely outperform their once-dominant Anglo counterparts. Emiliano’s rise is another example of an Italian/Spanish/Portuguese choice that has become more and more popular, even while possible English-language equivalents like Emil have failed to trend.
16. HUDSON (+568 births; unranked on last year’s list)
Jackson has its moment. So did Mason. Now the white hot ends-with-son name for this year? Hudson. There’s something substantial about this name, possibly because it’s such a prominent place name, in New York as well as Canada. Speaking of Canada, Canadian actor Hudson Williams had a break-out year in 2025 – though that might have been too late to explain the name’s rise for this list.
15. AZIEL (+590 births; unranked on last year’s list)
Names ending with -iel are common in the Bible, and they’ve been big in the US for years, too – just think of Gabriel. But lately a new class of names with this appealing ending is on the rise, and Aziel is one of the standard bearers.
14. CALLAHAN (+658 births; unranked on last year’s list)
Roman shares sound with #19 Rowan. But while Rowan is a unisex favorite, Roman is used almost exclusively for boys. Change a letter and the name’s whole vibe shifts from modern nature name to ancient solider and empire. Rome and Romeo also rank in the current US Top 1000, but only Roman is on the upswing.
12. ADRIEL (+668 births; unranked on last year’s list; #6 on 2023’s list)
Another obscure Old Testament choice, Adriel blends the stylish -iel ending with the substance of long-established favorite Adrian. Adriel is also trending in Spanish-speaking countries, as well as England and France.
11. COLTER (+705 births; #12 on last year’s list; #22 on 2023’s list)
Like Waylon, Colter screams West. Explorer John Colter took part in the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the early 1800s, and then just kept going. He would become the first person of European descent to enter what is today Yellowstone National Park. Speaking of Yellowstone, Canadian singer-songwriter Colter Wall’s music appeared on the hit television series.
A Scottish heritage choice, Callum has long been popular elsewhere in the English-speaking world. Americans are late to the party, but we’re making up for it. Callum is poised just outside the current US Top 100, and I’d put money on this name cracking that list in another year or two.
9. LUCA (+768 births; unranked on last year’s list; #6 on 2022’s list; #1 on 2021’s list; #13 on 2020’s list)
This Italian form of Luca entered the US Top 1000 in the year 2000. It climbed steadily, surging into the Top 50 in 2021, as we all watched Pixar’s Luca at home as the pandemic dragged on. It’s slowed slightly since then, but parents still choose Luca over Luke. And while Lucas is a bit more popular, this much gain in use suggests that Luca might end up the top name from this cluster in another year or three.
8. WESTON (+810 births; unranked on last year’s list)
Once a straightforward place name for that town to the west, Weston became a surname and then a given name, too. It’s been in quiet use for years, but now the same forces taking Waylon and Colter to the top of the popularity charts are lifting Weston, too. But while those names seem clearly tied to all things cowboy-adjacent, there’s a subtle polish to Weston that suggests it might also speak to families considering names like Wesley or even Preston, too.
7. ELIAN (+949 births; unranked on last year’s list; #17 on 2023’s list)
The first of two Elijah cousins to make the list of fastest rising boy names 2026, Elian also owes something to the popularity of Julian, Adrian, and other ends-with-IAN names.
6. ATLAS (+980 births; unranked on last year’s list; #21 on 2022’s list; #21 on 2021’s list)
For years, Atlas felt like a kind-of out-there name. Mythological, yes. Bold and adventurous, absolutely. But not quite a mainstream choice. That started to change when Atlas entered the US Top 1000 in 2013. It’s climbed steadily since then, as these numbers demonstrate. As of May 2026’s updated list, Atlas is a Top 100 favorite.
5. ELIAS (+1153 births; #10 on last year’s list; #22 on 2022’s list)
Popular European equivalent of Elijah, Elias is a smooth alternative that feels just a little different. The -s ending is a stylish choice, and we’re wild for El- names, too. Nearly every Eli- name for a boy is rising in use now, whether they’re part of this name family or not.
4. BENNETT (+1159 births; #9 on last year’s list; #21 on 2023’s list)
All those gentle Ben names meet the stylish -T ending, a mix of Benjamin and Everett that feels traditional-ish and new at the same time.
3. THEODORE (+1286 births; #4 on last year’s list; #2 on 2022’s list; #4 on 2021’s list; #2 on 2020’s list)
Theodore seems unstoppable. While it’s a perpetual Top 1000 choices dating back to the list’s earliest days, Theodore is now a Top Ten mainstay. It entered the elite group in 2021 and now stands at #4. Nearly every Theodore is a Theo, which also ranks in the Top 100 as an independent name, but Teddy is another option.
2. COOPER (+1757 births; unranked on last year’s list; #5 on 2022’s list)
Friendly surname name Cooper entered the US Top 100 in 2007, and is now more popular than ever before. It’s a mix of sporting references, Old Hollywood, and general high-energy appeal.
1. EITHAN (+2037 births; #7 on last year’s list; #24 on 2022’s list)
A preferred spelling with Spanish-speaking parents, Eithan is a phonetic take on long-time favorite Ethan. (In Spanish, Ethan almost rhymes with Nathan.) In fact, it’s a Top Ten choice for Baby Center’s Spanish-language site as of this writing. It’s easy to imagine Eithan gaining in use even as long-time favorite Ethan fades.
Do any of the fastest rising boy names 2026 surprise you?Any favorites on this list?
]]>2Abby Sandelhttps://appellationmountain.net/about/<![CDATA[Fastest Rising Girl Names 2026: Soaring Ailany, Beloved Eliana]]>https://appellationmountain.net/?p=791052026-05-12T15:26:25Z2026-05-12T15:26:22ZEvery year, we dive into the May update of popular baby name data in the United States. But we almost…
Every year, we dive into the May update of popular baby name data in the United States. But we almost always focus on change in popularity rank.
Rank signals relative change. Analeia rose more than 400 spots, from #920 to #514.
But here’s the funny thing: if we look instead at increases in count – the number of newborns receiving a name – Analeia didn’t actually gain in use all that much.
Analeia is still a fast riser and a name to watch. But names already in the Top 100, like Lainey, or even Top Ten, like Charlotte, increased by count even more dramatically. They just don’t have quite as far to climb, since they’re already popular.
Sometimes making this list of fastest rising girl names 2026 signals a name’s entry into the mainstream. Appearing on this list for several years in a row almost always means that a name is on its way to the top of the popularity charts.
That said, one year’s gain isn’t nearly as meaningful. Sometimes it’s a pop culture-fueled blip. Or possibly just a fluke – a name overperforms slightly and makes the fastest rising girl names 2026, but then hits a plateau.
Another quirk of rank versus count? A name can gain modestly in overall number of births, and still fall in rank, especially near the top of the charts. That was true for names like Alice and Ruby last year. The opposite also happens. Sometimes a name might actually fall in use and still gain a spot or two on the charts. Sarah fell in terms of absolute number of births, but gained slightly in the popularity rankings.
Rank tells us something about this year. Count signals the future.
And so with all of that in mind, what were the fastest rising girl names 2026?
25. BLAIR (+394 births; unranked on last year’s list)
Polished Blair has been a favorite for our daughters since the 1980s. Television boosted it twice, first on The Facts of Life and then Gossip Girl. Now it’s less tied to pop culture figures and more a modern staple, a successor to Quinn with a nod to classic Claire.
24. SOPHIE (+410 births; unranked on last year’s list)
Sophia and Sofia have been Top Ten staples for years; Sophie has followed them into the Top 100 and continues to climb. One factor? It’s now a Bridgerton name, thanks to season four’s Cinderella-style romance between Benedict and Sophie.
23. LEILANI (+438 births; unranked on last year’s list; #16 in 2022; #6 in 2021)
Imported from Hawaii? That sounds odd, but it’s one of the most powerful trends of the 2020s, with girls’ names ending in -lani surging in popularity. Leilani has more history than some; it means “heavenly flowers” and was popularized to a wider American audience way back in 1937. Crooner Bing Crosby recorded “Sweet Leilani” for a movie called Waikiki Wedding. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song that year.
22. SADIE (+439 births; unranked on last year’s list)
This vintage charmer was boosted by reality television’s Duck Dynasty earlier in the 21st century. Today it’s a solid go-to choice for a daughter. Originally a nickname for Sarah, it shares the meaning – princess – and outranks the original.
21. ARLETH (+441 births; unranked on last year’s list)
Arleth, Arlet, and Arlette are all on the rise. Popular with Spanish-speaking parents and throughout Latin America, they’re all forms of a very old school Germanic name. Mexican actress Arleth Terán is one famous figure.
20. MILLIE (+442 births; unranked on last year’s list; #12 in 2023; #5 in 2022)
Molly meets Ellie in sweetly antique nickname Millie. Mildred and Millicent are stuck in style limbo, but this short form is popular across the English-speaking world.
19. SOPHIA (+473 births; unranked on last year’s list)
An elegant name with classic appeal, Sophia has long been in the Top Ten. Rising from #6 to #5 doesn’t seem like much of a gain, but this name has enjoyed a burst of new popularity with parents.
18. PENELOPE (+484 births; unranked on last year’s list)
The faithful wife from The Odyssey, Penelope’s leap probably has a little bit to do with the third season of Netflix hit Bridgerton. It debuted in May of 2024, perfect timing for parents starting think of a daughter’s name for calendar year 2025.
17. AYLANI (+504 births; unranked on last year’s list)
The. biggest story of this list? It’s Aylani, which appears in three separate spellings. Combined, it’s a tsunami of popularity. Unlike the legitimately Hawaiian Leilani, this -lani name owes more to Spanish favorites like Aylin, Aylen, and Ayelen, with more than one possible meaning and origin attached.
16. ELEANOR (+522 births; unranked on last year’s list; #3 in 2021)
A solid classic of a name, Eleanor has also become a rising style star.
15. CLARA (+541 births; #23 on last year’s list)
Like Eleanor, a long-time favorite that’s rising again.
14. SIENNA (+546 births; unranked on last year’s list)
As colorful as Scarlett, as borrowed-from-the-map as Savannah, Sienna is a lovely, flowing name that picks up on modern naming trends but feels nicely distinctive, too.
13. VIOLET (+574 births; #10 on last year’s list)
Colorful, floral Violet has appeared on this list more than once, a name equally vintage and sharp.
12. LILY (+580 births; unranked on last year’s list; #17 in 2022; #18 in 2021)
Another nature name with serious ecovintage energy, Lily has become a fixture for modern girls’ names, a Top 50 name since 2005.
11. LAINEY (+591 births; #2 on last year’s list; #1 in 2023; #8 in 2022; #15 in 2021)
A sister for Wyatt or Stetson, Lainey owes its burst of popularity to Yellowstoneactress and country music’s Lainey Wilson. More than that, Lainey updates classics like Helen and Elaine, while also nodding to popular surname choices like Riley and vintage nicknames like Sadie. Lainey checks all of the boxes, and continues to hit the different-not-unusual sweet spot for parents.
10. IRIS (+605 births; unranked on last year’s list; #19 in 2022; #14 in 2021)
This year’s fastest-rising flower name is elegant, restrained Iris. It’s popular because we love our botanicals, but it also appeals because Iris is the goddess associated with rainbows in Greek myth.
9. ISLA (+645 births; unranked on last year’s list; #1 in 2021)
Smooth and stylish Isla has been a rising favorite for some time. It’s Scottish, borrowed from the name of an island. It also looks like the Spanish word for island, though isla is pronounced differently.
8. SCOTTIE (+711 births; #4 on last year’s list)
Following a sky-high debut during calendar year 2022, Scottie leapt again – and again. It’s part of the Stevie-Charlie-Andie trend, but Scottie also benefits from our love of TT names. Just look at Lottie, Lettie, Violette, Charlotte, and Colette are just a few rising names with that double letter.
7. LUCY (+780 births; #22 on last year’s list; #6 in 2023)
If you’re looking for something more serious than casual Sadie but not as buttoned-up as Mary, Lucy hits the sweet spot. The association with light is another bonus.
6. ELOISE (+821 births; #12 on last year’s list)
Antique darling Eloise has been a frequent fastest-rising name. The combination of El- and a bright O sound seems incredibly appealing to parents now. Another bonus? It comes with its very own storybook.
5. CHARLOTTE (+848 births; unranked on last year’s list)
Now the second-most popular name in the US, Charlotte is the classic favorite even more familiar than Elizabeth or Katherine.
4. AILANI (+861 births; #15 on last year’s list)
Like Aylani, this name borrows from modern favorites including Kaylani and Leilani; Aaliyah and Alaia. It’s the second spelling of a sound that feels very fresh and current today.
3. VALENTINA (+916 births; unranked on last year’s list; #10 in 2022)
A traditional name with broad appeal, Valentina follows former favorites like Alexandra to the top of the list.
2. ELIANA (+1744 births; #3 on last year’s list; #5 in 2023; #21 in 2022; #20 in 2021; #20 in 2020)
Unstoppable Eliana entered the US Top Ten this year. We love an elaborate, romantic choice. El- names are at peak popularity. And Eliana feels like a well-established choice for a daughter, even though it would have been virtually unheard of even fifty years ago. Bonus? It’s sometimes connected to a Greek word meaning sun.
1. AILANY (+4530 births; #1 on last year’s list)
The undisputed champ of fastest rising girl names 2026 and last year, too? It’s Ailany. It’s a fast favorite among Spanish-speaking Americans. (Check Baby Center’s Spanish language site. It’s a powerful mix of popular sounds that’s set to define a generation of girls’ names.
Speaking of trends, there’s not one defining story for the fastest rising girl names 2026. This mixes names that we wouldn’t have been talking about even ten years ago with time-tested classics. And that’s the story of naming a child right now – we can choose from the brand new Ailany or the old school Eleanor, or maybe find something in-between, like Lainey or Blair.
And so the fastest-rising favorites are a good representation of all the names we’re considering right about now. You’re just slightly more likely to hear these on a playground near you.
Are any of these names a future #1 favorite in the US?
Do you have a favorite from the fastest rising girl names 2026?
]]>2Abby Sandelhttps://appellationmountain.net/about/<![CDATA[Names in the News 5.10.26]]>https://appellationmountain.net/?p=790912026-05-10T17:23:41Z2026-05-10T17:23:38ZLooking for even more deep dives on all the names and name talk you love? Join us on the AM…
Looking for even more deep dives on all the names and name talk you love? Join us on the AM Baby Names Patreon. Join for free to keep up with featured names. Upgrade and unlock even more great content, like this list of Antique Girl Names that aren’t back … yet.
Time for names in the news 5.10.26!
Happy Mother’s Day to all celebrating.
And if today is hard, please know that I’m lifting you up, too.
If you’re reading this, I can almost guarantee you know that the brand-new baby name data was released on Friday by the US Social Security Administration.
Because I’m still reviewing all of the data, I’ve been avoiding other coverage of the breaking news.
So far, I’ve done a deep dive into all the new names:
49 boys’ names returned to or debuted on the updated list.
In addition, 43 girl names are on the new list that weren’t there last year.
Rather than my unusual run-down, I want to emphasize two of my thoughts from my big-picture trends list.
ENGLISH IS CHANGING … AGAIN
It’s easy to believe that English was fixed and unchanging. We used to have normal names until (insert the generation you prefer to scapegoat here) came along and ruined it.
The language we speak – and therefor the names we choose – have been forever transformed by time and time again. Consider the rapid changes in the Anglo-Norman era. Or try to read a 19th century novel. Even a newspaper from the 1950s sounds markedly different.
Over the last 70-plus years, the biggest factor in American English has been the rise of Spanish in the US. It explains our love of liquid, flowing names – Liam, Noah, Mia, Sofia, even new-to-the-Top-Ten Eliana.
But that’s already baked in.
The new, interesting trend? Asian names. Japanese and Korean, fueled by our love of anime and K-Pop.
Hawaiian names are the wedge. Kai and Koa and Leilani bridge that flowing, liquid sound with something very different.
It’s too soon to say how this will impact the names American parents choose for our children. After all, we’re appropriately wary of cultural appropriation now and that limits the names that many families will consider.
THE TOP TEN MATTERS LESS THAN EVER BEFORE
On the boys’ side, seven of the Top Ten names are actually declining in use. On the girls’ side? Six out of ten.
This isn’t new, either. The Top Ten has always hinged on which new names rise enough to unseat the current favorites. It’s just that as fewer names reach the top of the charts, the Top Ten remain in place longer – because there’s nothing coming up in significant enough numbers to unseat the current favorites.
But in 1950, the top names – James and Linda were given to more than 4.5% of the children born that year. #10 name Gary was chosen for 1.85% of boys; #10 Kathleen went to 1.46% of girls.
By 1975, just over 4% of boys were named Michael, with a little over 3.7% of girls answering to Jennifer. At the bottom of the Top Ten, 1.58% were William, and just under 1% were named Nicole.
Now look at 2025: only 1.13% of boys received the top name, Liam, with about .77% named Olivia. Those numbers well below the #10 names circa 1975.
What does matter?
Trending sounds – All those El- names for girls, for example
Similar names with slightly different spellings – Elliott and Elliot
Different endings of the same name – Luke, Luca, and Lucas or Sophia, Sofia, and Sophie
A very popular nickname and an even-more popular formal name, or vice versa: Theodore and Theo, Lily and Lillian
These are all incredibly tough to spot, but will likely impact how you think about your child’s name popularity more than an actual numeric ranking.
Okay, I’m back to updating all the lists. Stay tuned for more fun updates to come!
That’s all for today. As always, thank you for reading – and have a great week!
]]>0Abby Sandelhttps://appellationmountain.net/about/<![CDATA[New Boy Names: Agastya to Yadiel and 47 More]]>https://appellationmountain.net/?p=790822026-05-10T10:53:05Z2026-05-10T10:53:03ZTime for the new boy names 2026! Every May, on the Friday before Mother’s Day, the Social Security Administration releases…
Every May, on the Friday before Mother’s Day, the Social Security Administration releases a list of the 1,000 most popular boy names and 1,000 most popular girl names in the United States for the prior calendar year.
As you might expect, that list is constantly changing. Some names fall off, tumbling into obscurity. Other names rise into the rankings for the very first time ever, or return following a long absence. Some names hover on the very edge of the Top 1,000 for ages – in one year, then out the next.
The fun part? It’s those returns and debuts.
This year 49 boys’ names appear in the US Top 1000 that did not rank the prior calendar year.
Here’s how that compares to previous years:
Last year, 45 boys’ names made this list of returns and debuts.
In calendar year 2023, 38 boys’ names ranked in the US Top 1000 that were not on the list the year before.
That means the new boy names 2026? On the high side.
Let’s take a look at those names!
AGASTYA (#929)
The name of a Hindu saint, and also a star name.
AKARI (#542)
A favorite in Japan right now, Akari’s meaning depends on the kanji chosen to write the name. Some possibilities include bright or red. Except Akari is almost always feminine in Japanese, so there must be some specific reason this name has entered the boys’ Top 1000. It resembles Dakari and Dakarai, which has roots in the Shona languages of southern Africa.
ASLAN (#860)
Author CS Lewis took the name of his fictional lion inthe Narnia series from the Turkish title arslan, which translates to lion. It’s since become a mainstream given name, quite popular in modern Turkey and surrounding countries.
AURELIUS (#991)
Ancient, golden Aurelius joins Aurelio and Aurelia in the rankings.
AZLAN (#978)
A cousin to Aslan, also new to the US rankings this year.
BLAINE (#992)
Scottish surname name Blaine has appeared in the US Top 1000 most years since the data was first released for 1880. It’s returned after a three-year absence.
BARRON (#790)
The title of baron exists in many European systems; it probably comes from an Old English word meaning nobleman. Barron – two Ns – brings to mind a long-running business publication and a handful of other public figures, like the late businessman Barron Hilton. The reason for the name’s recent rise? Almost certainly the son of a political figure.
BEAUX (#970)
Adding an X to Beaux doesn’t change the pronunciation. Not in English, anyway. In French, Beau is singular while Beaux is plural. Like Margeaux, it’s more visual impact than anything.
BECK (#913)
There’s more than one origin for Beck – an Middle English name for a stream; or possibly the word beak, given to someone with a prominent nose. But Beck makes this list of new boy names 2026 thanks to the popularity of Beckett and Jack. Beck is the best of both, and a little bit different, too.
BOAZ (#891)
Old Testament name Boaz offers an intriguing sound and a great meaning: swift. The name debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2023, disappeared for a year, and is now back – and maybe ready to follow favorites like Ezra into wider use.
BREWER (#804)
Influencers Hunter and Devin Cordle welcomed a son named Brewer in 2024, and the name has risen steadily since. In their name announcement, they explained that Brewer was a name from their family tree. The couple also has a daughter named Ivy. While the name was already rising when they chose it, this seems to have helped tip Brewer into the Top 1000.
CAIUS (#927)
A name from Ancient Rome with an upbeat meaning: rejoice. Caius also combines the appealing sound of Kai with so many -s ending favorites for boys.
COAST (#875)
A beachy nature name with a strong, distinctive sound. TikTok’s CalynBreann named her son Coast Jackson a few years ago; viral reaction to the name seems to have boosted it.
DENIM (#880)
Singer Toni Braxton has two sons, Denim and Diesel. They’re both in their early 20s now, and have been in the spotlight occasionally, alongside their Grammy-winning mom and other famous family members. But it’s a younger generation embracing this name. Influencer Nara Smith mentioned it on a shortlist of names she’d considered.
DOMINIK (#986)
Dominic is just outside of the US Top 100. The -k spelling is preferred in several European languages. Just like Luca/Luka and Caleb/Kaleb, it’s not surprising that a K spelling of this name is popular, too.
EITAN (#921)
The Hebrew spelling of Ethan popular in Israel today.
ELIEZER (#893)
A name that appears in the Old and New Testaments. Eliezer has teetered on the edge of the US Top 1000 since the 1980s.
EZIAH (#610)
Possibly a form of the Italian Ezio, meaning eagle. It’s often connection to Isaiah, meaning God is salvation. It does look a little bit like an Ezra-Isaiah combination. It’s rising strongly in use.
FOSTER (#901)
Surname name with a subtle virtue vibe: to foster is to encourage. Foster has quietly risen in use over the last fifteen years.
FRANKIE (#922)
In our age of Charlie, not Charles; Jack, not John; and Theo, not Theodore, Frankie fits right in.
HARLEM (#971)
This New York City neighborhood name has ranked in the US Top 1000 most years since 2018. It just dipped out briefly before returning on the new list.
HAZIEL (#795)
Probably from a minor Old Testament figure, Hazael. His name means “God sees.”
HOLLIS (#894)
An on-trend surname name for a son, mixing nature and that appealing -s ending. Hollis previously charted in 2023 – and from 1880 through 1974 – and is back again.
ISA (#933)
Mini name Isa has many origins, but on the boys’ list? It’s an Arabic name, the equivalent of Jesus. It feels like an obvious choice in our Noah/Ezra moment.
JASAI (#439)
An -AI ending name that fits in perfectly with Josiah and Jasiah; Zakai, Jakai, and Asaiah, too.
JETHRO (#953)
Old Testament name meaning abundance, Jethro has a long history as a fictional character name – first on The Beverly Hillbillies; more recently as NCIS’ Leroy Jethro Gibbs. One reason the name might be ranking in the US Top 1000 now? Besides the appeal of the O ending, prequel series NCIS: Origins introduced Austin Stowell as a younger bearer of the name.
JOAN (#987)
A form of John long heard as feminine in English, but used as masculine throughout much of the world.
JOSIAS (#950)
Top 100 Josiah is sometimes translated as Josias. Just like Elijah and Elias both rank near the top of the popularity charts, there’s plenty of room for both of these Jos- names.
KAEL (#903)
Boys’ names ending with -ael are having a moment, and that includes this name.
KALEO (#898)
It looks like Kai meets Leo, but Kaleo is a Hawaiian name meaning “the voice.”
KASAI (#639)
A Japanese name meaning “the flame,” Kasai also benefits from that appealing sound and -AI ending.
Re-spelling of Hawaiian Koa heavily influenced by chart-topping Old Testament name Noah.
KREED (#936)
Kreed-with-a-K follows meaningful word name Creed into greater use.
LANDRY (#996)
A French surname name originally from a medieval French saint’s name, Landry returned to the boys’ and girls’ Top 1000 lists this year. Shades of Remy, maybe.
MACKLIN (#998)
A potential formal name for Mack boosted by young Canadian ice hockey player Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks.
MARCELLO (#900)
Popular comic and Saturday Night Live cast member Marcello Hernandez helps put this romance language name on parents’ radar. Also noteworthy: Marcella appears on the new girl names list this year.
MONTGOMERY (#962)
Polished and gentlemanly surname name finally in the rankings after years of quiet gains in use.
NAEL (#905)
Used as a short form of names like Nathanael in French, and now, in the US, too.
Surname name originally for one who made a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands, Palmer has long been popular for girls. Palmer referred to the palm fronds they’d bring back from their travels.
NEITHAN (#723)
A Spanish phonetic spelling of Nathan.
NEYTHAN (#926)
Another spelling for Neithan.
SCOTTIE (#909)
Scottie for girls raced up the popularity charts since 2022. Now it’s ranking for boys again, possibly thanks to golfer Scottie Sheffler.
STONE (#916)
Strong and enduring nature name returning to the US Top 1000 after a brief absence.
SYAIRE (#939)
Possibly inspired by place name Zaire, or the Arabic Shair, meaning poet.
TOBY (#979)
Old school nickname for Tobias, meaning God is good. It peaked in the 1970s, but might be beginning a quiet comeback now.
VEER (#942)
Almost certainly in use because it’s a Hindi name, also sometimes spelled Vir. But it’s also a word meaning “to shift; to change direction” often associated with sailing. Veer works on multiple levels.
YADIEL (#839)
Probably a reduced and streamlined version of Yehudiel, a Hebrew name associated with an archangel in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Boys’ names ending with -iel are having a moment, including some relatively creative takes on more established favorites. Yadiel fits right in.
]]>3Abby Sandelhttps://appellationmountain.net/about/<![CDATA[New Girl Names: Ailanny to Yuna and 41 More]]>https://appellationmountain.net/?p=790722026-05-09T12:08:56Z2026-05-09T12:08:54ZLet’s hear it for the new girl names 2026! What, precisely, does that mean? Every year, the US Social Security…
The list changes year-to-year, of course. The list released on May 9, 2025 is based on birth data for the prior calendar year, so it reflects births recorded between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.
Some names are debuting for the first time, while others have returned after an absence. Occasionally, a name will teeter on the edge of the rankings, in one year and out the next, before moving in one direction or the other.
This year’s list includes 43 new or returning names. That number is pretty typical. Here’s how it stacks up:
Last year’s list came in with 44 names that had not appeared in the prior year.
The 2024 list also included 44 new or returning names.
The sound of our moment in girls’ names is -lani, and especially Ailany. The single-N spelling catapulted to #14 this year, after debuting just two years prior. Now Ailanny has joined the Top 1000, too, along with other similar picks like Ailani and Kaylani. It likely comes from a South American take on a name like Aylen, Aylin, or Ayelen, with several possible meanings and a popular sound.
ALARA (#652)
Several theories compete for Alara’s meaning and origin: it could be Turkish, borrowed from the name of a medieval fortress and nearby river. It might be a feminine form of Alaric, another old school choice. Other theories compete, but perhaps the simplest explanation applies: Alara is an obvious cousin to fast-rising Elara – which also appears on this list.
ANAYAH (#913)
Likely either an Arabic name meaning care or a Hebrew name meaning God has answered, Anayah is similar to rising choices Anaya and Anaiah, too.
ARDEN (#975)
Tailored Arden traces its roots to England’s storied Forest of Arden. It’s teetered on the edge of the US Top 1000 for our daughters and sons in recent years, but as of 2025, ranks only for girls.
ASHLYNN (#980)
A Nature-Plus name in the key of Wrenley, Ashlynn with two Ns joins Ashlyn with a single N in the US Top 1000.
BENNETT (#912)
Bennett is a Top 100 favorite for our sons, a surname take on the oh-so traditional Benjamin. What explains Bennett’s rise for girls? Bennet – with a single T – has long been associated with Jane Austen’s beloved Pride and Prejudice, most recently reinvented as The Other Bennet Sister. But that was in early 2026. The rise of Bennett as a girls’ name is probably down to retired NFL star Jason Kelce and his podcaster wife Kylie who welcomed daughter Bennett in 2023. Her older sisters are Wyatt and Elliotte; the youngest Kelce daughter is Finnley.
BEXLEY (#963)
It’s an English place name turned surname, but also feels like a refresh for former favorite Rebecca and the traditional, but somewhat dated, Becky.
BRYLEE (#992)
Probably most often an invention based on names like Brianna and Rylee, but also a re-spelling of an English surname, cousin to Brawley and Bradley.
COLBIE (#881)
Colbie – this spelling, for a girl – has been rising in use ever since singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat’s 2007/2008 debut. It’s only recently tipped into the Top 1000 after years of gains.
CORDELIA (#981)
Vintage Cordelia has hovered on the edge of the US Top 1000 for years, but this was the year it finally tipped back onto the list.
CORINNE (#999)
Like Cordelia, another Cora name. In this case, Corinne ranked in the US Top 1000 every year from 1880 through 2020, and hasn’t really changed in use this year, either – it’s just a few more births puts Corinne back in the Top 1000. Though given the name’s similarity to rising French favorites like Colette and Celeste, perhaps Corinne will continue to gain in use.
DARLA (#941)
Along with Darlene, Darla comes from our term of endearment darling, from the same roots as dear. In the 1930s, child actress Darla Hood played Darla, the main female member of the Little Rascals in the Our Gang shorts. That grounds this name in a particular moment, though Darla actually peaked in the early 1960s. There’s something about Darla that’s so far out it’s in, and the numbers suggest this really is a revival, not a blip.
ELARA (#942)
The name of a minor figure in Greek myth, for whom one of Jupiter’s moons is named. Or possibly a take on popular Elora, fellow debut Alara, or traditional choice Lara.
ELIORA (#914)
Eliana’s rise into the US Top Ten might’ve paved the way for Eliora. It’s also a gorgeous Hebrew name with an appealing meaning: my God is my light.
EVELINA (#778)
Another Ev- name, in the key of Evelyn. It’s used in many European languages.
JASLYN (#996)
A Jasmine-lyn mashup, this name has charted in the US Top 1000 previously. It was the name of a character in a 2022 episode of American Horror Story, possibly pushing the name back into the Top 1000.
KHADIJA (#982)
An Arabic name, Khadija was the first wife of Muhammed, and his very first convert to Islam. Given the name’s significance, it’s almost shocking that it hasn’t appeared in the Top 1000 previously.
KINSLEE (#956)
An alternate spelling of Top 100 Kinsley.
KIYOMI (#765)
A Japanese given name from elements meaning pure and beautiful, Kiyomi has a long history of use. Anime series Death Note gives us the character Kiyomi Takada, but that was earlier in the 2000s. Voice actress Kiyomi Asai is another high-profile bearer of the name.
KLARITY (#791)
Clarity with a K is a modern virtue name with a tiny twist. Detroit rapper Kash Doll welcomed a daughter named Klarity in 2024. She and boyfriend Tracy T are also the parents of son Kashton. The toddler gets credit for her name’s success; she’s a frequent presence on her mom’s social media stories.
KOLLYNS (#905)
Collins has been established as a girl’s name ever since The Blind Side became a hit movie in 2009. This respelling surfaces that same year, but has gained traction since.
KYOMI (#548)
A slightly-streamlined version of Kiyomi, and this year’s highest debut.
LAKEN (#990)
The name of a soap opera character from the 1980s, Laken briefly ranked in the US Top 1000 during the 1990s. It disappeared for years, but is back now, riding a wave of Nature Plus names, like Lakelynn.
LANDRY (#935)
Could Landry be the new Remy? This surname-style choice is also French. It comes from Landric or Landeric – Landericus in Latin. There are at least three saints by the name, all from the early Middle Ages, including Saint Landry of Paris.
LAYAN (#831)
Layan means delicate in Arabic. Netflix’s AlRawabi School for Girls includes a teenage Layan, played by Noor Taher. The Jordanian original series’ second season debuted in 2024.
LEYLANI (#971)
Another Hawaiian-ish name, probably a respelling of Leilani, meaning heavenly flowers or possibly royal child. While this spelling is new, Leilani has been in quiet use for years. Bing Crosby even recorded “Sweet Leilani” in 1937 for the movie Waikiki Wedding.
LIORA (#900)
The very similar Eliora also appears on this list. Liora means “my light” in Hebrew.
MADISSON (#319)
Madison made a splash in the 1980s, a sort of punchline name for a Tom Hanks/Darryl Hannah rom-com. The Madeline-Allison combination marched up the popularity charts to define a generation of women. This particular spelling arrives all these years later possibly because of MTV reality series Siesta Key cast member Madisson Hausburg.
MARIEL (#893)
This pretty elaboration of Marie has ranked in the Top 1000 before, but it’s never really caught on. In our Ariella/Ariel moment, could Mariel finally rise?
MAIZIE (#901)
One more spelling of Maisie/Maisy, a Margaret nickname with spirit.
MARCELLA (#948)
Marcello is rising for boys, too, romance language names that sound just right in 2026.
MERRITT (#703)
Strictly speaking, this surname comes from an English word meaning “boundary gate.” But parents are likely choosing it as a modern virtue name, inspired by the word merit, meaning excellence or worth.
NAYLANI (#897)
Another Laylani-inspired choice.
ODETTE (#883)
A feminine form of Otto by way of France, Odette is famous as the character name from Swan Lake. A dozen years ago, Odette topped every list of hipster baby names – but never really caught on. Today it’s rising as part of a mini-trend for French names for girls, especially those ending with -ette, like Colette and Juliette.
ROMI (#818)
A favorite in Israel, Romi means “my exaltation.” American parents might see it as a logical Romy/Remi evolution. Romy is a short form of names like Rosemary, made famous by midcentury European screen icon Romy Schneider.
ROSELYN (#979)
A traditional Rose name, with a hint of modern Lakelynn and Oaklyn’s style.
RYNLEE (#755)
Rylee meets Brynlee and Wrenlee.
SARIAH (#951)
A name from the Book of Mormon, likely a twist on older Hebrew names like Sarai and Seraiah, but also similar to the Persian Soraya and Maria-cousin Mariah.
SIMONE (#998)
Tailored, feminine, and French. Bridgerton actress Simone Ashley might get some credit for boosting her name, but the wildly accomplished athlete Simone Biles is probably the biggest factor.
SUNDAY (#947)
Reality television alum Madisson Hausburg’s name makes this list; so does her daughter’s name, Sunday. It’s been in the spotlight ever since Nicole Kidman gave the name to her daughter in 2008. And now that Sunday Kidman Urban is a teenager, she’s in the spotlight more, too, recently attending the Met Gala with her famous mom.
TARA (#847)
An Irish name, but also one with roots in Sanskrit. It means “star” in the latter, putting Tara in the company of Stella and Luna.
WINIFRED (#923)
A few of the new girls names 2026 are really old girl names – just like the Germanic Winifred. First famous thanks to an early medieval saint, Winifred peaked in the 1910s, hovered near extinction by the late 20th century, and has slowly been revived. Nickname Winnie reached the US Top 500 this year, so no surprise that Winifred isn’t far behind.
YUNA (#952)
The name of a character in video game Final Fantasy X, Yuna rose in use after the game’s release in the early 2000s. But that doesn’t explain the name’s new peak popularity today. That could be down to other figures, like K-Pop’s Yuna, or Shane Hollander’s manager/mom in the Game Changers books that inspired television series Heated Rivalry.
]]>2Abby Sandelhttps://appellationmountain.net/about/<![CDATA[The Most Popular Names in the US: May 2026 Update]]>https://appellationmountain.net/?p=790642026-05-08T18:47:49Z2026-05-08T18:47:46ZLet’s talk about the most popular baby names in the United States now. The Social Security Administration (SSA) updated their…
At first glance, this year looks so much like the last few years, with very minimal movement in the US Top Ten. But beneath the surface? Dramatic change is underway.
In other words?
A stable, even stagnant Top Ten obscures a fascinating and diverse list of names parents are choosing now.
A few things to know about the official reporting:
The SSA treats each individual spelling of a name separately. Sophia and Sofia both rank in the US Top Ten. Combined, that means the sound is even more popular.
Similarly, a name and its most common nickname(s) can rank separately. If your child’s legal name is Theodore, that’s a completely separate name from Theo … even if you only bust out the full three-syllables when you really mean it.
They count boys’ names and girls’ names separately. So Rowan ranked #59 for boys and #249 for girls. Even if you would never consider a name unisex, it’s worth checking both the girls’ and boys’ lists to see how your future child’s name might be perceived.
BIG PICTURE BABY NAME TRENDS
These trends have applied for years. Love ’em or hate ’em, this is the landscape in which the children of 2026 will wear and understand their names.
Smaller families change the way we think about naming. In era when nearly everyone anticipating having half-a-dozen children, you might be more open to choosing an honor name for your firstborn. Or maybe you’d lean on traditional customs, like naming your child for the saint’s feast day on which they were born. But when our family is likely to be small, we put more thought into each individual choice. This, in turn, influences larger families, too! Now every name is a custom design, layered with meaning and compromise.
We’re looking for names that express our values, personalities, and experiences. All of that extra effort isn’t a bad thing. We’re fortunate to have the opportunity to express ourselves. If we create a whole Pinterest mood board to repaint our living room, why wouldn’t we put even more effort into a name choice?
Parenting can be an anxious business. The flip side, of course: it’s so, so good that we can choose names that reflect our values and interests. It’s challenging to feel pressure to come up with something that feels original, but not too weird; that our child won’t have to share, but also won’t have to spell or explain.
And a few more, that reflect language and cultural change:
Cultural changes have opened the door to truly unisex names. Of course, lots of things are changing. (Always and forever.) As our ideas about gender and identity shift, a younger generation is far less concerned about separating names into neat lists for boys only and girls only. You might personally perceive Tate as feminine (because McRae) or find Noa and Micah for girls needlessly confusing. But they’re options available to us, and parents can easily feel the opposite about any name.
We live in a casual moment. This is cyclical. We’ve had Jack-not-John moments before. And in some ways, the trend is at odds with flowing, romantic names encouraged by Spanish language influence. But mostly it means that your Sadie can easily same classroom with an Eliana, and Theo might be Theodore – or not.
Our world is ever-more diverse and interconnected, and we want our children’s names to reflect this reality. And we have the freedom to choose names that reflect our children’s roots without fear of penalty.
INTRIGUING HINTS IN THE DATA
For years, I’ve predicted the return of crunch and grind. At some point, the only way to make a statement is to name your baby Ethel. So far that’s not happening in a big way, but the numbers consistently show choices like Agnes advancing. Winifred even returned to the rankings this year! But it’s still a tiny, too-daring step for most families – so far.
Some of us are naming Bridgerton characters. More of us are casting the next Star Wars sequel. For every Cordelia or Benedict, there are half-a-dozen kids with names like Sol, Jasai, Akari, and Kyomi.
Has online name culture finally broken through? One of the curious things about naming sites: our audience can skew young. And old! A big part of the AM community is years away from naming a child, or more likely to be welcoming grandchildren. But, but, but … all those kids who grew up scrolling Instagram for name ideas could grow up and welcome children eventually. Could Odette’s debut in the US Top 1000 reflect the name’s wild popularity on naming sites a decade ago?
And two more even bigger-picture big-picture trends:
We’ve always been creative with our daughter’s names. Now we’re open to fresh, new choices for our sons, too. Nico, Ayan, Kasai. This is not your father’s names list.
It’s not about names. It’s about sounds. To a great degree, this has always been true. But in our mix-and-match moment, it’s more powerful than ever. Names ending with -AI and -LANI are making their mark now. What else could follow?
]]>0Abby Sandelhttps://appellationmountain.net/about/<![CDATA[Finding Unusual Boy Names to go with Linden Grace]]>https://appellationmountain.net/?p=789042026-05-05T20:06:13Z2026-05-05T20:06:09ZName Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, we discuss reader’s name questions, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays.…
Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, we discuss reader’s name questions, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays. We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight! To have your question considered, email appmtn (at) gmail. Looking for your own private #namehelp post? Order one here.
NAMING A BROTHER FOR LINDEN
Breanna writes:
We named our daughter Linden Grace because we wanted something different that wasn’t very girly but also wasn’t like naming her Charlie. Even though we sometimes get weird spellings, like Lynden, we really love her name and wouldn’t change it. At home, we call her Lindie and Linds/Linz, but everyone else uses her full name.
Our second child will be here in June. It’s a boy! It feels like naming boys is harder in general, but we’re really struggling to come up with anything we like as much as Linden’s name.
Our last name sounds like Ferrell with an H.
We have considered:
Thatcher – don’t like the Margaret Thatcher reference, and not sure it sounds great with our last name anyway, but it’s close if that makes sense
Wells – love the energy and image of this name, but not sure it’s the one
Lowen – but it’s from a Colleen Hoover novel and it’s a girl’s name and I feel like people would know and it’s sort of sing-song with Linden
Bowen, Boden – maybe? seems kind of trendy in a Harper/Hayden way that we wanted to avoid
Bennett – my favorite so far, but we hear Ben a lot and I think we’d end up feeling like his name wasn’t as special as his sister
Okay, that’s what we’ve got. I would love some new ideas!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
FINDING ANOTHER MODERN, POLISHED NAME
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new son!
Naming a first child is challenging because every option is, at least theoretically, open.
The second time around? It’s difficult for exactly the opposite reason. Your firstborn’s (gorgeous) name serves as a limiting factor. You want to match it, but not too closely. And with a gender-neutral name like Linden, it can feel a little harder to find the right balance for a brother.
A few other considerations:
Linden was given to just 70 girls and 113 boys last year. That’s pretty definitively unisex and quite distinctive. But a name doesn’t have to be that unusual to feel like it belongs to your child exclusively. For example, Flynn was given to 351 boys and 17 girls last year, but I doubt you’d meet another Flynn – even it’s more than three times as common as Linden.
It sounds like you love two-syllable names. Which can work with your surname, absolutely. But Thatcher Ferrell-with-an-H is a little heavy on the H sound. Lowen is great with Ferrell-with-an-H, but awfully close to Linden’s name. I think Wells works, but that L sound is similar to the L sound in Ferrell-with-an-H. So … I do think you’re on the right track, but some of these are a bit challenging.
Boden, Bowen, Bennett all do feel more popular than they are, because of so many boys with Bo- and Ben- names. Let’s see if we can turn the dial in the opposite direction. That said, I agree with you – Bennett and Linden are great together. I think it’s the name to beat.
But let’s see if we can add some new possibilities first.
FINDING UNCOMMON NAMES FOR A BROTHER FOR LINDEN
CALDER
A surname associated with ice hockey and a famous 20th century artist known for his large-scale mobile sculptures, Calder carries lots of positive associations. It also could shorten to Cal – or not.
DATHAN
It sounds like Nathan with a D, but it’s actually from a Hebrew word meaning fountain. The name belongs to an Old Testament villain, but it’s obscure – and sounds great with Linden.
FLYNN
Mentioned earlier as a more mainstream choice that still checks all the right boxes.
KEATON
Accessible, friendly surname that everyone recognizes but few of us are choosing.
MACKAY
Lots of Mac- names went to the girls’ side during the 1990s, but Mackay was never particularly common as a given name. That opens the door for using it for a son now.
RAFFERTY
A slightly longer name sounds great with your last name. Rafferty shortens to Rafe or Raf, another bonus.
TRUETT
While Truett is climbing in use in recent years, it’s still an uncommon boys’ name ending with -ett. Short form Tru/True is also far less often heard than Ben.
WALTON
Walton adds surname polish to old school Walter, and sounds very much like a brother for Linden.
Overall, I think Rafferty is a great brother name for Linden. Lindie and Rafe at home, but Linden and Rafferty in the world. It’s great with your surname and both unexpected and familiar at the same time.
That is, of course, if Bennett is really out. I do agree – I hear lots of Ben names, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Bennett isn’t the perfect name for your son. Maybe something like Bennett Wells would appeal?
Readers, over to you. What would you name a brother for Linden Grace?
]]>17Abby Sandelhttps://appellationmountain.net/about/<![CDATA[Names in the News 5.3.26]]>https://appellationmountain.net/?p=789552026-05-03T09:30:02Z2026-05-03T09:30:00ZLooking for even more deep dives on all the names and name talk you love? Join us on the AM…
Looking for even more deep dives on all the names and name talk you love? Join us on the AM Baby Names Patreon. Join for free to keep up with featured names. Upgrade and unlock even more great content, like this list of Antique Girl Names that aren’t back … yet.
Time for names in the news 5.3.26 edition.
But first: is there a fourth F?
Last week on Facebook, we were discussing sociologist Hannah Emery’s assertion that there are only three types of middle names: Filler, Family, or Fun.
But I think we’ve identified a fourth F: Faith. Saints’ names or words that express belief, like Psalm or Praise. Some might present as a different category, but if your worldview is the driver for choosing it, then Lotus isn’t exactly Fun and Bernadette could be for the saint, not an ancestor.
And, of course, readers rightly pointed out that there’s a LOT of overlap. A name can be Family/Fun, like my daughter’s middle Wren, chosen in honor of her aunt’s childhood nickname, Bird. Or it can sound like Filler, but be a super-meaningful honor name, like James.
There’s value in that nuance. So yes, three (or even four) categories is an oversimplification, but a useful one.
ELSEWHERE ONLINE
NASA invites you to find your name in Landsat. There aren’t really words to tell you how cool this is, just try it! Here’s proof:
Messiah is more popular than Patrick, Maverick outranks Thomas, Icelynn and Honey are fast-rising names for girls and more unhinged – but completely accurate – facts from last year’s name popularity data, courtesy of Caroline.
UPDATING & THINKING ABOUT
Maceo is a rare variant of Matthew, a Mateo cousin that feels ready for the spotlight.
Serena has never been all that popular, but maybe it should be!
Benjaminremains the most popular of the Ben names, a surprisingly versatile choice and the sweetest name for a youngest child.
That’s all for this week. As always, thank you for reading and have a great week!
]]>0Abby Sandelhttps://appellationmountain.net/about/<![CDATA[Seeking New Western Names Like Lainey and Garrett]]>https://appellationmountain.net/?p=789242026-05-01T17:33:07Z2026-05-01T17:33:03ZName Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, we discuss reader’s name questions, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays.…
Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, we discuss reader’s name questions, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays. We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight! To have your question considered, email appmtn (at) gmail. Looking for your own private #namehelp post? Order one here.
FINDING A WESTERN NAME FOR BABY THREE
Jenna writes:
We named our son Garrett Maverick for my husband’s grandpa Gary. Our other favorite name was Wyatt, but we felt like there were already a couple of Wyatts that we knew. Because Garrett was for Gary, we picked Maverick because we liked it.
Lainey’s name is the opposite. We got it from Lainey Wilson (from when she was on Yellowstone, like everybody else, lol) and her middle name, Margaret, is from my grandma Peggy.
We’re having a delivery surprise in June and so far we have a list, but no favorites.
Our last name is pronounced like Sears, so we can’t use Brooks, Hayes, or Briggs, all names we like.
I would call our style sort of Western and outdoorsy but not really extreme. We live in Colorado and we know kids with names like Canyon and Axton and that’s not us.
Our boy list so far is:
Bode – love this name, husband isn’t sure, spelling seems like a problem
Colton/Colson – was on our list for Garrett, I think we’re mostly over it,
Jackson – really like this name, but feel like we hear it a lot, but it would be an honor name because his mom is Jackie/Jacqueline so like it for that reason
Miller – husband loves it, I don’t like the beer association
Wilder – I think we both like it, sort of seemed like too much at first, but maybe not?
Our girl list is:
Annabelle – really love this name, but my husband isn’t crazy about it. We do have several Anne/Annas in our family, so maybe for a middle?
Halle/Hallie – newer name on my list, but I think I really like it, not sure about spelling, is it too much like Lainey’s name?
Jeanne – from my other grandma, I was supposed to be named after her, but they changed it to Jenna at the last minute, maybe a middle name
Rayna – I’ve always liked this name, not sure it feels right for us, maybe too much like Lainey’s name
River – my husband likes this for a girl only, I think it’s more of a boy name
Robin/Robyn – another name I’ve always liked
Sadie – but this was our runner-up name for Lainey so it already feels second best, and also I really don’t like it with our last name, but still my husband’s favorite
Vienna – I love this name, husband is a no
We do probably want more kids after this, maybe, so if we ended up with a few more names we liked, that would be amazing!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
WELCOMING A SIBLING FOR GARRET AND LAINEY
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your third!
A few things jump out at me:
You and your husband seem to have a good balance of subtle family names/honor names with choices you both like. That’s always a compromise, but it sounds like you’re on the same page, which is a great place to start!
Avoiding sibling names that sound too similar is a good idea. In fairness, my kids’ names sound nothing alike and I’ve still looked directly at my daughter … and called her by the dog’s name. I can only imagine parents of James and Janie set themselves up for even more of this.
Lastly, but most important: a popular name you love and choose for a sentimental meaning will always top a slightly less common name you choose just because. Jackson is very well-used, yes. But it’s also a family name in the key of Garrett, and that makes it special for you. My sense is that parents rarely regret a choice like this, because their reasons for choosing the name outweigh other considerations.
I do think there are some real contenders on your lists, but let’s talk about fresh ideas first.
A BROTHER FOR LAINEY AND GARRETT
BEAU
Could paring Bode back to Beau make it a little more your style? I think of it as very Western.
CALLAN
Possibly an update to Colton and Colson. Cal is a great short form.
CREW
A modern favorite that feels polished, but with an edge.
FLYNN
A surname name like Maverick or Lane, with a slightly different sound.
HEATH
The name heath rose to prominence on a television Western called The Big Valley in the 1960s.
OWEN
The long O of Bode and Colton is shared by the slightly more traditional Owen.
ROMAN
Like Owen, Roman shares plenty of sounds with the names on your list. And while it’s a nod to the Eternal City, I think it’s also a strong, independent choice in the key of your older kids’ names.
WESTON
Effortlessly Western – after all, it’s right in the name – but also nicely mainstream, just like Lainey and Garrett.
A SISTER FOR LAINEY AND GARRETT
AVALON
The V of Vienna, longer like Annabelle, with a distinctive sound.
CASSIDY
If there’s such a thing as classic new Western, then Cassidy is it.
JUNIPER
A nature name with energy to spare and sweet nickname Junie.
MILLIE
Inspired by Miller, Halle, and Sadie, a sweet, sparky, retro choice without even a hint of hops.
QUINN
I think Quinn is nicely versatile as a girl’s name, at home with Lainey and Wyatt.
RORY
Or even Aurora called Rory? Like Lainey, Hallie, and Sadie, it ends with the ‘ee’ sound, but it’s a unisex pick in the key of Robin and River.
SCOTTIE
Another Sadie substitute.
WILLA
Willa Jeanne could be a perfect double name.
Overall, my top pick for a son is Jackson from your list and Weston from mine. Jackson Wilder or Weston River, maybe? Though Weston doesn’t have an obvious family name component, so that’s maybe not perfect.
For a daughter, I wonder if Scottie Annabelle checks every box? Though Willa Jeanne might be my top pick.
Readers, over to you! What would you name a sibling for Garrett Maverick and Lainey Margaret?
