The post Popular Boy Names like Noah Mix Traditional and Cool appeared first on Appellation Mountain.
]]>Looking for names like Noah?
The Biblical builder of the ark dominates the boys’ Top Ten in the US. From #9 in the year 2009, it rose to #1 from 2013 to 2016. And while it’s fallen since then, it’s only tumbled to #2. It has remained the second most popular name for boys in the US from 2017 through 2022.
That’s almost 100,000 new baby Noahs in the last five years alone. While the name’s Old Testament roots are clear, this ancient name appeals to parents regardless of religion. The idea of Noah and his family saving the animals from the Great Flood is a powerful image, widely known.
Noa is also rising in use. It’s typically a separate, feminine name but can also be masculine. (Worth noting: in Hebrew, Noah’s final H is pronounced, making the name sound more like Noach.) Noé, another variation, also ranks in the US Top 1000 for boys. These additional forms of the name might make it seem even more common than a Top Ten name already suggests.
International versions also include the Arabic Nuh and Finnish Nooa, but Noah is surprisingly unchanged across languages. It’s a chart-topping favorite from Norway to Italy, Austria to Argentina.
Of course, popularity doesn’t mean you should avoid the baby name Noah. In fact, there are plenty of great reasons to use a Top Ten – or even the #1! – name.
But maybe you already know a Noah or three. Or maybe you’re naming a brother for Noah, and want to match the same style.
Either way, names like Noah should:
There’s something romantic about Noah, too. Maybe that’s thanks to The Notebook’s Noah Calhoun, based on a 1996 novel by Nicholas Sparks.
Plenty of names come close to meeting these requirements. Biblical favorites like Aaron, Caleb, Elijah, Ethan, Ezra, Isaiah, Jacob, Joshua, Luke, and Nathan are popular, but have some potential. Other go-to names for boys, like Ryan or Alex, match Noah’s brief and complete style, but might feel a little different in terms of style.
But these possibilities share enough qualities to be easy substitutes for Noah, or names for Noah’s new brother.
Another Old Testament name, Asa means healer in Hebrew. It sounds like Ace, a modern favorite that mixes references to tennis, World War II heroes, and playing cards.
That makes Asa a traditional pick with a cool, current vibe. And while some might argue that Asa isn’t nickname-proof – hello, Ace? – it still belongs with names like Noah.
Actors like Asa Butterfield make a convincing case that the name wears well. If you love the idea of Noah, but want something far less common, Asa might hit exactly the right mark.
This Old Testament name is nearly as popular as Noah. But one factor: few names sound anything like Isaac.
The meaning might appeal to many parents: “he will laugh.” It refers to a specific story, where God tells an elderly Abraham than he and his equally aged wife Sarah will welcome a son. Abraham laughs, but later rejoices when Isaac is born. It’s an appealing image, particularly when paired with a serious name.
For pure sound, Jonah makes a great Noah substitute. Plus, both Biblical figures’ stories tie to the sea. Noah sailed for forty days and forty nights, while Jonah was swallowed by a whale.
While it’s less popular than Noah, most people instantly recognize the name Jonah. It’s easy to spell and pronounce and, at least for now, relatively uncommon.
It’s easy to mistake Koa for a trendy spin on Noah. Instead, Koa is Hawaiian, just like current favorite Kai. Like Rowan, it’s borrowed from the name of a tree. Combined, those factors make Koa an obvious choice.
Koa first entered the US Top 1000 in 2017 and has quickly risen in the rankings. It’s a great potential substitute choice for Noah – though it might sometimes be misheard as the more popular name.
Noah built the arc, and Levi built … denim?
Not quite.
Like Noah, Levi comes from the Old Testament. That Levi founded the Levites, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. While both names claim religious significance, neither feels specifically or exclusively spiritual.
Instead, they sound modern. For Noah, it’s the ‘a’ ending. For Levi, the letter ‘v’ lends style.
German-born entrepreneur Levi Strauss makes this name as American as blue jeans.
While Levi is powerfully popular, it remains less chart-topping than Noah – though not by much.
If Levi is close, but not quite, Old Testament name Eli might be worth considering.
Max sits somewhere midway between the most classic choices, like William and Joseph, and names specific to this generation, like Aiden and Grayson.
While Max can be short for a longer name, it’s not quite in the same category as Sam/Samuel and Mike/Michael. Max stands on its own. And somehow, the three-letter name feels modest and unassuming, despite its association with superlatives.
Nothing says that all names like Noah must come from the Bible. After all, Noah appeals to a broad group of parents, from many faith traditions.
And so Milo makes a logical substitute for the chart-topping name.
Like Noah, Milo feels short and complete. It comes with a long history, dating to the Middle Ages. Milo fits with modern names, a solidly 21st century choice.
Like so many o-ending boy names, Milo has climbed rapidly in use in recent years. But that just makes it a mainstream possibility, rather than a wildly different option.
Actress Liv Tyler named her eldest Milo 2004, just as the name was starting to trend.
Noah and Nash share three of their four letters. Unlike Noah – and Levi and Theo and Milo – Nash debuted relatively recently. If not for a hit 1990s television series, and fictional character Nash Bridges, this name might still be rare.
But Nash doesn’t feel invented or artificial. And as a surname, it boasts centuries of use. And it fits right in with Dash, Cash, and Ash.
It ticks all the boxes: stylish, short, nickname-proof.
If Nash is close, but not quite, other single-syllable names with bold sounds, like Jude and Beau, might be worth a look.
Classic, saintly, and regal, Nicholas spent years near the top of the US charts, including a decade in the Top Ten from 1993 through 2002.
But the average Nicholas probably answers to Nick. Only lately has Nico emerged as the Nick name to watch.
Like Nash, Nico barely registered before the 1990s. But Nico borrows the rich history of Nicholas, along with the great meaning: victory of the people.
And like Noah, Nico can potentially be seen as unisex. That’s not a drawback today, but it’s one more reason Nico makes a plausible substitute.
Noah’s strong O sound might be a big reason for the name’s appeal. Owen and Logan and Leo – and all those other ends-in-o names – demonstrate just how stylish a sound it is.
So maybe Otis could serve as a Noah substitute, too. There’s something vintage about the name, but very twenty-first century at the same time.
Jason Sudeikis and Olivia Wilde named their firstborn Otis Alexander. In 2015, Otis re-entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in ages and it’s steadily caught on since then.
Fun fact: Seth is a younger son of Adam and Eve in the Book of Genesis, which makes him the ancestor of Noah.
Despite that Biblical background, it’s more likely to bring to mind figures like American actor Seth Rogan or late night host Seth Meyers. It’s strong, straightforward, and distinctive in sound. And while everyone recognizes the name Seth, it’s surprisingly uncommon.
At first glance, Theo seems familiar, but not too common. It’s worth noting, though, that Theodore comes in at #10. And a lot of those little Theodores actually answer to Theo.
Theodore means gift of God. The name claims history galore, dating to the ancient world. Style-wise, it probably edges closer to vintage Milo than Biblical Noah.
If Theodore fits with longer, traditional choices like Oliver and Benjamin, Theo reads a little different.
Still, just Theo might make a great substitute for Noah – traditional but modern, upbeat but rooted in history.
As with Theo and Nico, associated names are more popular. Ezekiel ranks #49.
But in an age of Zane and Jax and Reed, Zeke stands alone. It’s also fresher than Zach, now that Zachary is growing up.
The Z lends this name some serious modern style. But Zeke also feels vintage, since it’s clearly related to the Biblical name. In recent years, television gave us a character called Zeek instead – the Braverman family patriarch, played by Craig T. Nelson, on Parenthood.
But Zeke remains the more traditional – and far more popular – spelling for our sons.
Originally published on February 14, 2017, this post was revised and republished on November 10, 2021 and March 18, 2024.
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]]>The post Sunday Summary: 3.17.24 appeared first on Appellation Mountain.
]]>The site is all fresh and new – at last! This is the biggest reorganization of the site to date. While the technical work is done, I still have lots of back-end clean-up on my to-do list. Think of it as moving into a new house. You’ve signed the papers and got the keys, but where, exactly, is the best place for your favorite chair? And should you paint that spare room or not?
In addition, I’ve re-launched the Tuesday newsletter, so if you’re not subscribed, please use the form below to get signed up now!
You can also connect with the Appellation Mountain Patreon, AM Baby Names. I’m working on a few new series and features there.
And now, on to the name news …
Would I have ever guessed that this is the true median American name? Not in a thousand years. Can I argue with Laura Wattenberg’s reasoning? Again, nope. Not at all.
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, an Irish import that’s very wearable in the US. I came across it when updating this list, and I’m pretty hooked.
Lots of people turn their children’s names into a tattoo. Some of these celebrity choices are surprisingly subtle. I’ve never considered tattooing my children’s names, but I have two small symbols in mind, one for each of them. I’ve had my daughter’s in mind since she was born, but it took me ages to settle on the right idea for my son. Would you tattoo your kids’ names?
… you’re still wrong. A well-meaning young employee at a child care center speaks Hindi as her first language. She insists on pronouncing the names of two of the center’s students, Bodhi and Rakhi, as they’d be said in her native language. Which is, of course, right. Except that’s NOT the way the mom – or anyone else – says the boys’ names. That makes it wrong, particularly since the mom has voiced her displeasure.
One caveat: it’s not clear if the mom is objecting to the employee’s accent, which isn’t okay. But it sounds like the employee is correcting the mom – and the boys – about the pronunciation of their names. Which is very much NOT okay. (And, if you’re paywalled out of the article, is the advice columnist’s take, too.)
This question to Swistle has me swooning. Their boys are Oswald Jude and Reuben Hugh, and they know their daughter’s middle name will be Lavender. But settling on a first has them stumped. I’m now slightly obsessed with Eliza Lavender, but I’m not sure it’s different enough with brothers Oswald and Reuben. I found myself looking at this list and thinking … Maude Lavender? Ione Lavender? Lula Lavender? So many possibilities …
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]]>The post Swan-Inspired Baby Names: Lincoln, Odette, Svana appeared first on Appellation Mountain.
]]>Swans are graceful, beautiful, and surprisingly fierce.
Names that mean swan share all of those characteristics, and more.
Bird baby names are favorites, so why not names inspired by swans?
There’s Bella Swan of the Twilight series and swashbuckling Elizabeth Swann of Pirates of the Caribbean.
Marcel Proust’s À la recherche du temps perdu, known as Remembrance of Things Past or In Search of Lost Time in Englishalso features a character named Charles Swann. Charles falls in love with Odette, another name on this list.
There are multiple reasons it’s used as a surname: it might develop from given names sharing the sound. Sometimes surnames described a person’s characteristics. Brown hair? You’re John Brown. Long, beautiful neck? You’re William Swan. Or maybe your family lived near a place associated with the birds.
People with the given nameSwan? They’re rare in the US. Though it makes a great, daring middle.
In France, however, Swan and Swann have become trending unisex favorites, inspired by the character in the Proust novel.
Legnds and myths are rich with tales of the swan maiden, a beautiful woman who also appears in the form of a swan – or vice versa, a swan who can appear in human form. Despite the enduring nature of the stories, relatively few swan maidens have wearable names.
In Irish mythology, Oengus – an older form of Angus – falls in love with Caer Ibormeith, a princess held captive. Angus is the hero who frees her. They both turn into swans and fly away together. While Caer Ibormeith’s name isn’t in use in English, Angus has potential.
Apollo brings to mind a great many things. Healing, the sun, an Olympic champion speedskater, Gwen Stefani’s youngest child.
Also swans.
Swans were sacred to the Greek god. One of the lesser-known tales about Apollo is that he rode on the back of a swan to winter in a slice of paradise known as Hyperborea.
Better yet, Apollo is a very wearable name, not so different from other o-ending choices for boys and mythological favorites, too.
Cobham is a surname name, derived from the word cob – a male swan. (A cob is also a smallish horse or a super-sized pony.)
It’s unexpected and seldom heard – in fact, it’s never been given to even five children in a single year. And yet, it brings to mind similar C names, from Carson to Colton to Corbin. (That last one means raven. Bird names are everywhere!)
Maybe Cobham feels a little awkward to say. It sounds more like “cob ’em” than Cobham. That might be a regional accent. Or maybe it’s the reason that Cobham has never caught on.
Of course, Cob or Cobb might make an interesting option, especially in the middle spot.
It could even be an unexpected Jacob nickname choice.
As in a young swan. It sounds like signet – a seal, or a type of ring that can make a wax seal. But it’s an animal-inspired name that might be surprising as a middle. Cygnet comes from the Latin cygnus, meaning swan, fromt he Greek kyknos. The Greek origin is obscure, but might come from Sanskrit.
Speaking of the Latin word for swan, a number of characters in myth are known as Cygnus. The constellation Cygnus was listed by the astronomer Ptolomey way back in the second century; all these years later, it’s still an easily recognized constellation in the night sky.
It’s associated with lots of stories, from Leda and the swan to Orpheus, who was transformed into a swan after his death.
From the Irish word for swan, eala. The name is typically spelled Éala in Ireland, to emphasize the preferred pronuncation: ay-la. While Ayla ranks in the US Top 1000, this spelling is unknown – at least for now. It’s pretty, reasonably accessible compared to Siobhan or Aoife, and conencts to all the legend myth and lore about swans in Celtic culture.
Long before the world met Disney’s Frozen princess, Richard Wagner gave the world a different kind of musical based on a fairy tale: Lohengrin.
The opera is based on the medieval legend of the Swan Knight. Elsa is in trouble when a mysterious man appears on the river, in a boat drawn by a swan. They marry, but there’s one condition: Elsa can never ask his name.
“Here Comes the Bride” is first heard in Lohengrin. Wagner wrote it for Elsa.
An Anglicized form of Fionnuala or Finnguala, Fenella comes straight out of Irish mythology.
Fenella’s wicked stepmother who turned her and her brothers into swans. Trapped in their cygnine form for 900 years, the children of Lir eventually broke the curse through the intervention of a monk.
Fenella isn’t common in the US, but it’s not unknown. Actress Finola Hughes wears yet another form of the name. Sir Walter Scott used the name for a minor character in his 1823 novel Peveril of the Peak.
Short form Nuala is now bestowed as a given name, too, but the -ella ending makes Fenella a compelling rarity that fits in with baby girl names now.
A name from India associated with swans. The goddess Saraswati is associated with the bird. Saraswati is the goddess of wisdom, and swans exemplify many of her best attributes.
A Chinese name, Hong can mean rainbow or wild swan – or possibly something else. As with many Asian names, the exact characters used to spell the name determine its meaning.
Take swans, mix in some medieval Christianity, and you’ll arrive at three of the most wearable swan-inspired boy names.
The twelfth century Saint Hugh of Lincoln is the patron saint of swans, and is often depicted in the company of a white swan. It’s said that a swan was his loyal companion and even served as a sort of guard dog while the saint slept.
Lincoln is also a presidential surname, associated with copper pennies, stovepipe hats, and the Civil War. So swans might not be the first thing that come to mind when you hear Lincoln. But the tie is unmistakable.
Leda features in yet another story of the powerful god Zeus seducing a maiden, this time while in the guise of a swan.
In our Emma-Luna moment, Leda fits right in. It’s short and complete, wearable for a child, but without sacrificing any sophistication for an adult.
Leda also qualifies as an overlooked vintage gem. Back in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Leda regularly charted on the fringes of the US Top 1000.
Spellings Leta, Lita, and Lida all work, too, though they point to other possible meanings and origins.
One of Leda’s children by Zeus was Helen, she of the face-that-launched-a-thousand-ships. That might even put Helen on the list of swan-inspired baby names.
King Ludwig II of Bavaria is sometimes known as the Swan King, the Fairy Tale King, or even the Mad King. He built Neuschwanstein – “new swan stone” Castle, inspired by medieval legends like the Swan King. The castle is located in Schwangau, complete with a swan on its coat of arms. (One more reason for Neuschwanstein Castle’s fame? It inspired Cinderella Castle at Disney World.)
Among other things, Ludwig II was Richard Wagner’s patron and supported his work. That connects, in a roundabout way, stories like Tristan and Isolde to names that mean swan.
As for Ludwig/Louis and Louisa/Louise? Ludwig comes from Germanic elements and means “famous in battle.” In Latin, it became Ludovicus; the French transformed it to Louis. That puts all of the related names – at least distantly – on the list of names that mean swan.
2010’s dark ballet-centric movie earned Natalie Portman the Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Nina. She’s the ballerina pushed to the edge while dancing the lead role in Swan Lake. More on that in a minute …
Swan Lake might be the best known ballet other than The Nutcracker, especially since Oscar-winning movie The Black Swan came out in 2010.
The basic premise of Tchaikovsky’s ballet is this: an evil sorcerer turns a beautiful princess into a swan. The cursed princess is named Odette.
Odette comes from Otto, a name that feels fresh, edgy, and unexpected, without actually being invented or new.
Here’s another Swan Lake possibility, one linked to Odette in more ways than one.
In the ballet’s third act, we meet another Otto-named girl: Odile, daughter of the evil sorcerer.
She takes Odette’s place – the black swan. The tension between good-girl Odette and the darker Odile is at the center of 2010-movie The Black Swan.
French Odile comes from Odilia, a name associated with an eighth-century saint.
The female equivalent of cob is pen. With Penelope riding hide, Pen and Penn don’t seem so outlandish. And, as it happens, one of the possible meaning for Penelope is duck.
Love elaborate R names like Rhiannon and Rosalind? Here’s one with a botanical tie and a cygnine twist, too!
In Australia, the Swan River Everlasting is a light pink flower. Scientific name? Rhodanthe manglesii.
Rhodanthe fits with all of these Greek, ends-in-e names for girls. It’s pronounced like the “ro” in Rose, the “dan” in Daniel, and the “thee” – rhymes with bee – in “Theodore.”
Like Cobham, it’s not used as a given name, so it’s a truly bold choice.
The chief advantage of Svana? It sounds much more like swan than any of the other swan-inspired baby names so far! The chief disadvantage? While Svana is a real given name in Icelandic, it doesn’t sound much like a name in English.
And yet, it could work. The ‘sv’ sound occurs in other languages, like the Russian Svetlana. And Svana isn’t a million miles away from other ends-in-a names for girls.
It comes from the Old Norse word for swan – svanr. Swedish design firm Svan is known for its highchair designs, which increases the possibility that other parents will recognize the sound.
Swanhilde appears in the history books from the early Middle Ages forward, the name of several princesses and women religious.
There’s a Svanhild in Henrik Ibsen’s play, Love’s Comedy, another in the ballet Coppelia, and a third in the opera Hulda. None of them are household names. And Swanhilde? Not exactly the easiest name to wear to kindergarten, even in our anything-goes age.
But it comes from the elements “swan battle,” making this Germanic name a logical fit for this list.
The Hindu view of swans is fascinating. The creatures are sacred, and a swan’s feather is seen as a symbol for how we should live in the world. We should be present, but not attached – just like a swan’s feather is in the water, but not wet.
The goddess Saraswati rides the raja hansa – the royal swan, a symbol of viveka. Viveka is the ability to discern the difference between the good and bad, the enduring and the fleeting.
Vivek is the masculine form.
The name is surprisingly international. Beyond India, there’s also a connection to Sweden. Viveka is a Swedish feminine name related to the Germanic Wiebe. Actress Vivica Fox uses a different spelling; Viveca is seen, too.
In our age of Olivia and Victoria and Ava, V names are seen as vibrant and appealing. Viveka – choose your spelling – could be a rare name, rich with meaning and cygnine appeal.
First published on July 24, 2015, this post was revised and updated on April 30, 2021; October 26, 2021; and March 16, 2024.
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]]>The post March Madness Baby Names 2024: Girls Opening Round appeared first on Appellation Mountain.
]]>It’s March! That means lots of people are watching basketball, thrilling in the competition.
Here? We’re competitive, too. But instead of watching hoops, we’re voting our way through the most popular names at Appellation Mountain last year, until we find just one champion for the boys, and just one victor for the girls.
Wondering which names have won this contest in years past?
Every year, the most popular names at Appellation Mountain compete to join this list of March Madness champs. The names that compete were the most-viewed in the prior calendar year. That means January 1st through December 31st of 2023.
*There’s one difference between this tournament and the ones with basketballs. (Okay, more than one, but this matters most.) Past winners cannot compete in future years. We made that rule after Cora won back-to-back victories in 2014 and 2015. Hence the * after the 2015 listing.
That brings us to this year’s names, drawn from this list:
And with that, let’s get to the competition! As in March Madness, seeds are determined by rank. But in this case, I’m never sure if it’s a big advantage …
Polls remain open until Monday, March 18th. Check back on March 19th to see if your favorites advance – and, of course, to vote in the next round!
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]]>The post March Madness Baby Names 2024: Boys Opening Round appeared first on Appellation Mountain.
]]>If it’s March, that means it must be tournament season. Basketball, mostly.
But why does it have to be all basketball? There are plenty of ways to compete, and Appellation Mountain hosts one that’s just a little different. Instead of elite athletes at powerhouse sports schools, we focus on – what else? – names.
Readers vote their way through the most popular names at Appellation Mountain in the prior calendar year, until we have two winners – one for the boys, and one for the girls.
Wondering which names have won this contest in years past?
Every year, the most popular names at Appellation Mountain compete to join this list of March Madness champs. The names that compete were the most-viewed in the prior calendar year. That means January 1st through December 31st of 2023.
*There’s one difference between this tournament and the ones with basketballs. (Okay, more than one, but this matters most.) Past winners cannot compete in future years. We made that rule after Cora won back-to-back victories in 2014 and 2015. Hence the * after the 2015 listing.
That brings us to this year’s names, drawn from this list:
Okay, time to vote! Just like the basketball version, match-ups are based on rank, so the sixteenth most-viewed name on the site faces off against the top most-viewed name. That sounds like it could be an advantage, and it surely is for sports … but I’m not sure it works out quite that way here.
Polls remain open until Monday, March 18th. Check back on March 19th to see if your favorites advance – and, of course, to vote in the next round!
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]]>The post Name Help: Sophie or Elodie? appeared first on Appellation Mountain.
]]>They’re down to two names: Sophie or Elodie. Let’s help them make the final choice!
We are expecting our first child, a daughter, in April. After going through ALL the names, my partner and I agree on two: Sophie or Elodie.
Depending on the day, we think one is our favorite. But then we change our minds. I’m hoping that some outside opinions will help us finally choose.
Here are our (mostly shared) thoughts about both names and other details that might help:
So, which first name? And any great idea for middle names? We’re open to suggestions and feel like we’re running out of time.
Congratulations on your new daughter!
The good news: you really can’t go wrong with either name.
Now for the challenging part: I think you’re pretty spot-on with your assessment of both names.
Name your daughter Sophie, and she probably will sometimes be called Sophia, or even find her name misspelled Sofia. The names are similar, and we’re all used to hearing them. Sophia has ranked in the US Top Ten since 2006; Sofia cracked the Top 20 in 2011 and is still there, too.
Elodie, on paper, is far less common. It only entered the US Top 700 in 2022, and was virtually unknown before then. But it does feel like a name on many parents’ shortlists. Millie Bobby Brown just starred in a Netflix movie as an Elodie – a princess who battles a dragon – not a bad role model, actually. And if you shorten her name to Ellie or Ella, well … then it’s a powerfully popular name again.
But here are some other things to consider:
Even a Top Ten name isn’t as common as it used to be. Gone are the days where every third girl is Mary. While I know many adult women named Sarah or Sara, I know relatively few young children with names that repeat. My son’s Top Ten name didn’t repeat in his class until middle school, and even then, not terribly often.
There are trending names, and then there are trendy ones. The difference is subtle, but important. A name like Josephine or Eliza feels traditional. But both have actually trended upward in use dramatically in recent years. Likewise, Elodie has plenty of history. It’s gaining, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great name with history to spare.
So how do you choose? Here are the critical differences I can see between the two names.
Because Sophie is a fairly popular name, I’d suggest a bolder middle. Because both the first and last names are two-syllables, something shorter or longer feels right.
Conversely, Elodie is a less common name, so something a little more familiar works. Also, I really like a one-syllable middle with three-syllable Elodie and a two-syllable surname.
I’d spend some time thinking about popularity and nicknames to help make your decision. If you both share strong opinions about one of those issues, then the choice might become obvious.
If you’re still stuck, I like this approach, too: flip a coin. Heads for Sophie, tails for Elodie. Let’s say it lands on heads: Sophie. How do you feel? At peace? Or is your immediate impulse to go for two out of three? If you sit with the results of the coin flip for a few hours – or even days – there’s a good chance you’ll either be grateful to have the decision made or recognize that it’s not the right call. Either way, you’ll have an answer.
No matter what, though, rest in the knowledge that these are both great names for your daughter.
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]]>The post Edie: Short for Edith, Eden, and More Girls Names appeared first on Appellation Mountain.
]]>The name Edie fits right in with so many vintage charmers, from Top 100 Sadie to fast-rising Goldie. The strong D sound brings to mind throwback choices like Ada and Ida, too.
Like those similar sounding names, Edie can easily stand on its own.
But maybe you’d prefer a formal name. In this case, what is Edie short for?
First, let’s talk about the famous people who have answered to the name.
Born in 1895, Edith Ewing Bouvier was a wealthy, privileged socialite. After she married, her husband purchased Grey Gardens, a mansion in East Hampton, New York, for their family. But the marriage didn’t last, and eventually Edie found herself with just the house left.
She and her daughter, also named Edith Bouvier Beale and known as “Little Edie” were living in Grey Gardens by the 1970s as the house fell into squalor.
A 1975 documentary titled Grey Gardens captured their plight. The movie has since inspired a Broadway musical and a 2009 film.
If the name Bouvier sounds familiar, that’s because the elder Edie was aunt to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
During the 1960s, Edith “Edie” Sedgwick became one of Andy Warhol’s favorite performers. Some referred to her as his muse; others dubbed Sedgwick an “It Girl.”
Singer-songwriter Edie Brickell was born just Edie. Their 1988 hit album Shooting Rubberbands At The Stars included a track titled “Little Miss S,” a reference to Edie Sedgwick.
Actress Edith Falco rose to fame as Carmela on The Sopranos. Her long and successful career includes more television, as well as film and stage.
Actress Keira Knighley and musician James Righton welcomed daughter Edie in 2015.
In 1816, Sir Walter Scott’s novel The Antiquary gave us a male Edie, Edie Ochiltree. He’s a memorable figure, based on Scott’s own childhood in Scotland.
Desperate Housewives gave us Edie Britt, a resident of Wisteria Lane throughout the series.
Not long after, the world met The Sopranos, including matriarch Carmela, played by the talented Edie Falco.
Add it up and Edie feels offbeat and graceful, traditional but unexpected.
Actor Keira Knightley named her daughter Edie in 2015. For now, it remains beyond the current US Top 1000 – but very much on-trend.
The most familiar formal name, by far, is Edith.
It comes from the Old English ead – wealth, combined with a word meaning battle. That makes Edith a cousin to names like Edward – rich guard; Edwin, rich friend; and Edgar – rich spear, as well as other Ed- names.
Saintly and regal, Edith is one of the few Anglo-Saxon names to survive the Norman conquest. The name of the the middle sister on Downton Abbey, and the middle daughter in Despciable Me, too, Edith makes a delightfully vintage pick, a sister for Hazel or Pearl. (Or, in the case of the animated movie, Margo and Agnes.)
With popular culture giving the name Edith a boost, it’s gained modestly in use over the last decade in the US. In the UK, both Edith and Edie are stylish favorites.
The spelling Eadie is occassionally sene, though it’s far more rare than Edie.
Irish myth gives us Étaín, a goddess associated with horses and the sun. Sometimes Anglicized as Aideen, it was also Latinized as Edana – the name of a sixth century saint.
A flower name made familiar by the sweet lullaby from The Sound of Music.
A current favorite, Eden was borrowed from the Book of Genesis. The name Eden implies a long-lost paradise. But it’s also a fit with modern nature names.
An ancient place name and a twelfth-century Crusader state, Edessa hasn’t been used as a given name – but it sounds like it could.
Classic Britcom Absolutely Fabulous featured best friends Patsy and Edina – Eddy for short. But Edie would work, too.
With girls answering to Ellison and Emerson, Edison doesn’t seem so outlandish. That said, it’s presently used almost exclusively for boys.
An ancient Hebrew name, Edna is also used as an Anglicized form of Eithne. An early twentieth century favorite, Edna is nearly extinct as a given name in the US now … but that could change, and Edie might help.
An Italian form of the Germanic Hedwig, Edvige is completely unknown in the US. But Edvige called Edie is deliciously unexpected.
Edwin is dashing. Edwina feels more antique. But Edwina is rich with nickname options – Winnie, Eddy, and, of course, Edie.
A Scottish take on Eleanor, Eilidh looks like it could shorten to Edie easily. Except Eilidh actually sounds more like Aylee, so maybe it’s not a fit with formal names for Edie.
A stylish El- name that easily shortens to Edie, too.
It’s the name of a Welsh saint, and a legendary figure from Arthurian stories, too. It’s sometimes Lunete/Lunette or Lynette, but Eluned has plenty of appeal, too.
This gemstone name would probably shorten to Emmy, but a strong D sound at the end makes Edie another option.
A Cornish saint’s name, Endellion made headlines in 2010 when then-British Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed a daughter named Florence Rose Endellion. The bonus middle comes from her place of birth during a family vacation – near a Cornish village named for the saint. Other forms of the name, like Endelienta, Endelient, and the modern Cornish Endelyn, might also appeal.
Another name from Arthurian legend, Enid has a lovely meaning: soul or life. It’s teetered on the edge of obscurity in the US since the 1950s.
Desire spelled backward, made famous by an enchanted mirror from the Harry Potter series.
Sophie Kinsella fans might remember Ermintrude from the Shopaholic series. It’s an old Germanic name. While it shares roots with the chart-topping Emma, it’s wildly rare today. During the Middle Ages, Ermen- names were plentiful.
In Greek myth, she’s the ill-fated wife of Orpheus, and a popular subject for operas and artists alike. Edie makes the elaborate and rare name wearable.
Another Greek name in the key of Penelope and Chloe, Evadne cold be that rare name that feels instantly familiar. The logical short form is Evie, but once again, a strong D sound makes Edie another option.
Borrowed from another saint, Everild dates to the seventh century.
The feminine form of Frederick might logically shorten to Freddie. But if boyish nicknames aren’t your speed, Edie seems like an unexpected choice.
The -edy ending isn’t quite Edie, but it’s close enough that it might work.
With ‘edith’ embedded in this name, Edie seems like an obvious nickname.
Nearly any name with the initials E.D. – ee-dee – could become Edie.
Elizabeth Diane, as a first name and middle combination. Or Elizabeth Davis, from a first and last name.
Edie is casual-cool, a logical successor to Sadie and Millie and Daisy. Call it offbeat and graceful, traditional but unexpected.
It stands on its own nicely, but Edie also serves as a nicknam for a long list of fascinating, strong and lovely names for a daughter.
First published on March 1, 2013, this post was revised and re-published on January 20, 2022.
The post Edie: Short for Edith, Eden, and More Girls Names appeared first on Appellation Mountain.
]]>The post Girls Middle Names Come in at Just One Syllable appeared first on Appellation Mountain.
]]>A few weeks ago, someone mentioned looking for one-syllable middle names for girls besides Grace, Rose, and Anne.
Plenty of them came to mind, but just how many were there? I challenged myself to make a list of 100 one-syllable middle names for girls. And by the time I stopped, I’d reached 125. Note: And I’ve added (many) more since then, so this list just keeps on growing!
I know the creativity of our community will probably make this list twice as long, but for now, I’m sharing my favorites. While I think there’s room to use long middles – in fact, it’s one of my favorite rhythms – if you’re after one-syllable middle names for girls that go beyond the expected, this list is for you.
Beth – Never quite as predictable as Ann/e or Lee/Leigh, Beth might work well for parents worried that Elizabeth is too long.
Claire – Also spelled Clare and Clair, though the six-letter spelling is presently the most popular. It means clear or bright, and Claire has appeared in the US Top 1000 every year since 1880.
Eve – Short and sharp, Eve has been associated with femme fatale characters from the Garden of Eden onward. But the image of Eve as temptress feels dated today, and instead, Eve brings to mind the anticipation of major events, or the name’s original meaning – breath or life.
Jane – Austen and Eyre make this name literary; the fact that it’s a long-used feminine form of John ensure Jane’s status as a classic. A bonus? It’s the given name of Stranger Things’ powerful character Eleven.
Kate – Katherine appears as a middle fairly often, but how about just Kate? It’s crisp and every bit as traditional among one-syllable middle names for girls.
Lee, Leigh – A go-to middle for generations.
Lyn, Lynn, Lynne – Time-stamped by 2020s standards, Lynne opened the door for a long list of names ending with this soft sound.
Ruth – Loyal Ruth appears in the Old Testament, and we’ve been using the name for our daughters ever since. A Top Ten favorite from the 1890s into the 1920s, Ruth is ready for revival as a middle – or even a first.
Beau – Wait, you ask, isn’t Belle the feminine form of the French word? Absolutely! And yet, Beau brings to mind bows, a feminine, even frilly image. It suggests that Beau has unisex potential.
Bryce – As in Bryce Dallas Howard, the actress.
Dale – More common for boys, but truly unisex, Dale originally was a place name for someone who lived near a valley.
Drew – Andrew is impeccably masculine, but Drew Barrymore – and the ancient name Drusilla – makes this name feel rich with potential for a girls’ middle.
Finn – A hero name from Irish legend, Finn means fair – and works every bit as well as Lynn or Quinn in the middle spot.
Gage – A surname name that became a popular choice for boys, Gage means oath or pledge.
James – Despite plenty of controversy, James is continuing to gain in use as a girls’ name, especially in the middle spot. Paired with a conventionally feminine first, it works.
Jett – A modern pick inspired by a love of flying, but also a traditional nickname for -et ending girls’ names in Dutch.
Jude – A Biblical – and Beatles-inspired – boy name that also brings to mind classic girl name Judith, making this a gender-neutral name.
Max – Traditionally a boy’s name, but possibly a unisex middle.
Rae/Ray/Rey – Ray feels most masculine, while Rae feels like the feminine form. And Rey? Well, it’s the Spanish word for king and the name of the newest Star Wars hero, played by Daisy Ridley. Any of the spellings is almost a conventional choice, but still a cool one.
Tex – Dixie Chick singer Emily Robison named her daughter Juliana Tex way back in 2005. The musician grew up in the Lone Star state, making Tex feel like a logical choice for a child’s middle – and a cool one, too.
Bea – Beatrice is enjoying a revival, so how ’bout just Bea as a middle? You could spell it with a double ‘ee’ and go full honeybee, but Bea remains slightly more name-like than Bee.
Elle – No, not the middle initial L. The name Elle, short for so many El- names and worn so famously by Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods.
Kit – A mini name associated with Christopher and Katherine, Kit feels spirited and lively. (Suggested by kburgan220. Thanks!)
Liv – It might be short for Olivia, but Liv also coincides with a Scandinavian word meaning life. It’s a powerful, deceptively simple middle.
Lo – Spotted on a birth announcement as a middle name, Lo rhymes with Joe and could be short for any Lo- name. It might also be borrowed from an archaic word, one that meant “look!”
Lou – Sure, Louise works in the middle spot. So do lots of other Lou/Lu names. But isn’t the simplicity of just Lou appealing? It’s a little bit borrowed from the boys, and almost-but-not-quite traditional, too.
Lu, Lue – Another take on Lou, and an appealng mix of new and old for single-syllable middle names for girls.
Viv – Short for Vivian, or any related name Viv is all energy and verve.
Zo, Zoh – Zoe is two syllables, but Zoh? Rhymes with Joe. We’ve used Jo as a filler middle over the years, but I think Zoh, with the initial Z, makes for a fresh take on the familiar sound.
Air/Aire – It might also be musical, but Aire seems mostly likely to bring to mind clear, breezy skies on a beautiful day.
Ash, Ashe – As in the tree. The world is filled with Ashleys and Ashtons, but just Ash/Ashe feels a little bit different.
Blaze – Blaise is an old school boy’s name, but fiery Blaze feels potentially unisex.
Bay – A straightforward nature name with a strong sound.
Bird – Birdie is trending, but just Bird has potential, too.
Breeze – A windy, light option.
Cloud – A daydream kind of middle.
Doe – A deer, of course, but also a rarity that works in the middle.
Elm – We’ve embraced Willow and Rowan as firsts, so how ’bout Elm as a middle?
Fawn – Another borrowing from the animal kingdom, a little old school, but still on track with one-syllable middle names for girls. A fawn is a young deer. Spelling it Faun or even Faune might make it feel slightly more twenty-first century.
Fleur – The French word for flower, plus a Harry Potter heroine.
Frost – A wintry little middle.
Jade – This gemstone named spiked in use after the oh-so-glamorous Mick and Bianca Jagger gave it to their daughter in 1971.
Lake – Completely unexpected, and yet an obvious nature name choice.
Moon – If Luna is such a popular first, why not Moon as a middle?
Neve – Either a simplified spelling of Irish Niamh, or a romance language word meaning snow.
Oak – Oakley and company are rising fast, but the spare strength of Oak makes an appealing middle.
Peach – One of many edible options on this list. More than one generation has grown up with Super Mario’s Princess Peach, making it seem slightly more name-like.
Pine – Yet another tree-inspired choice.
Quince – A small fruit that looks a little like a pear. It’s also the name of a clothing brand.
Rain, Raine, Rayne – A long-time favorite, a mix of stylish sound and weather-inspired pick.
Rue – It’s an herb, but the word also means regret; The Hunger Games gave us a young contestant by the name. Spell it Roux and it’s a culinary term, but also the French word for the color red.
Sage/Saige – Another herb, but also a word meaning wise.
Sea – It sounds like the initial C., but brings to mind all of the ocean blue.
Sky/Skye/Skai – An obvious nature name choice, often spelled with an ‘e’. Young Disney Channel star spells her name Skai.
Snow – A winter name, with a Disney princess to match.
Sol – From the Spanish word for the sun.
Spring – The least-used of the seasonal choices, but Oscar-nominated actress Spring Byington suggests that it can wear well.
Star – A shiny, center-stage kind of middle that fits right in with all of those night sky names.
Sun – If Sol makes the list, then Sun fits, too.
Storm – A little bit X-Men, a dash Kardashian, but still an intriguing choice – especially for a child who arrives in a tumultuous moment.
Fern – A nature name with more history of use than most, and the human heroine of Charlotte’s Web, too. It’s sometimes spelled with an extra E: Ferne.
June – Sweetly vintage, and just right for a summer baby. It’s sometimes spelled Joon, as in 1993’s Benny & Joon. In that case, it’s short for Juniper.
Pearl – A lady-like nature name with meaning well beyond the gemstone.
Dove – Love bird names? Lots of us do. But Dove also benefits from its use as a symbol of peace.
Lark – An appealing avian option.
Swan – A surname for popular heroines (thin Bella and Elizabeth), and the inspiration for more names that you might guess, Swan also makes an intriguing middle.
Wren – The most popular of the bird names currently soaring in use.
Blue – Beyonce’s daughter answers to Blue Ivy. But plenty of parents have used Blue as a middle for years. It brings to mind loyalty (true blue) and positivity (blue skies).
Bronze – A precious metal, and a surprising color choice, too.
Gray/Grey – There’s something soft and maybe even sad about Gray, but it strikes me as calm and sophisticated. With Grayson – in several spellings – on the rise, it’s easy to imagine Gray catching on as a middle.
Gold – There’s Goldie, of course. And lots of names that mean gold. But the straight-up word name works every bit as well.
Mauve – Maud’s been in use for over a millennium, but Mauve is nearly unknown as a name.
Plum – A color name with ties to the natural world, Plum also means something excellent – making this a triple threat of a middle.
Teal – A pretty blue-green color, Teal feels nicely name-like; in fact, it’s sometimes heard as a first. It’s also a type of duck.
Bean – Inspired by Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love’s daughter, Frances Bean.
Bloom – A traditional surname for an iron worker. Today it feels more like a botanically-inspired verb.
Bright – Clara and Lucy carry similar meanings, but why not use the word name Bright for a shining middle?
Chai – Borrowed from the Arabic and Russian word for tea, and now broadly used in English to refer to spiced tea, Chai is an unexpected alternative to rising favorite Kai, with plenty of warmth.
Day – Tuesday works. And Wednesday Addams wore it well. But Day offers an intriguing twist. Bonus? Billie Holiday was nicknamed Lady Day. Oh, and one more? The Feast of the Annunciation was once called Lady Day, and the religious observance made its way into general use.
Dream – There’s a little Kardashian by the name, but Dream might work even better in the middle.
Faith – Among the most traditional of word names.
Gem – Torn between Pearl and Jade? Embrace all the glittery things with Gem. Spell it Jem, and you have either a medieval nickname for James, or a fictional 1980s rocker.
Hope – As expected as Faith, but with a more of a modern virtue name vibe.
Jazz – A musical middle that seems more name-like thanks to thousands of girls named Jasmine. (And Jazmin and Jazlyn …)
Jewel – The singer made it familiar-ish, but it remains sparkling and rare.
Kin – It means family, from an Old English word. It might honor anyone with a surname like McKinney or Kinley, too.
Mint – It’s part-nature name, part-color name, and maybe a little bit of praise, too – after all, “mint” condition means something is flawless.
Muse – Muse carries two appealing meanings: first, the goddesses, known for inspiring the arts in the ancient world. But it also means to ponder or reflect, to be absorbed in thought. Both make this an intriguing option. (Suggested by Isadora Vega – thank you!)
Peace – A powerful virtue pick, and a word that feels right as a name, too.
Queen – Boys have Duke and Earl, but girls rule.
Quest – We love Journey, so why not this equally adventurous middle?
Reign – Regal Reign feels perfectly reasonable in age of kids called King.
Roam – It sounds like the ancient city, but Roam could travel anywhere – and probably will.
Rhyme – Literary, with an edge.
Scout – Literary and adventurous, Scout makes a richly meaningful middle.
Shine – While Shine is rare, it might wear nicely. As word names go, it sparkles – but doesn’t overwhelm.
Star – A celestial name more obvious than Stella, but still more rare – and a great choice for parents seeking one syllable names for girls.
Swift – Another of the multi-layered one-syllable middle names for girls, Swift can refer to speed, to the high-flying bird, or to the eighteenth century writer, Jonathan Swift.
Verse – As in a line borrowed from a poem.
Way – Sometimes a Way is a small street; other times, it’s a statement of capability, almost a modern virtue choice. Think where there’s a will, there’s a way …
Wish – A seldom-heard word name that might be overwhelming as a first, but as a middle, might express the way so many of us feel about starting a family. (Suggested by Maree – thank you!)
Wreath – We associate them with winter, but wreaths appear year-round, a sort of pan-botanical middle than also suggests the appealing image of a circle.
Lux – The Latin word for light, and the central figure in Jeffrey Eugenides’ The Virgin Suicides.
Pax – Paxton is popular for boys, but Pax was the Roman goddess of peace. That’s literally what pax means, too.
Nyx – From the Latin word for night, though it might also bring to mind all of those Nicholas/Nicole names from an earlier generation.
France – A place name less expected than Paris.
Lille – A French place name, Lille rhymes with seal. (Though some pronunciations make it almost sound like two syllables.) It might be confused for an alternative spelling of Lily, but it actually comes from a word meaning island.
Rome – The eternal city, and a strong sound for a middle name, too.
Vail – As in the famed Colorado ski resort, a natural entry for this list of one-syllable names for girls.
Belle – The French word for beautiful, and the heroine of Beauty and the Beast.
Brie, Bree – A breezy name made heroic by Captain Marvel herself, Brie Larson.
Brooke – Socialite Brooke Astor inspired model-actor Brooke Shields’ mother … and the latter made it a modern staple. Brook, as in a small stream, is an even more obvious nature name option.
Brynn – From a Welsh name meaning hill, also spelled with just one ‘n’ – Bryn – though the double ‘n’ is far more common.
Cai/Kai – Kai comes from the Hawaiian word for sea, but this short name claims several possible origins, and can be spelled with a C, too. It might also honor a loved one named Kyle.
Joss – A nickname-name for Joseph or Jocelyn, and a possible middle name, too.
Paige – A 1990s favorite, Paige might appeal in the middle spot.
Shea – The perfect middle name for many a long-time New York sports fan, or simply an appealing Irish choice. Also spelled Shay.
Bess – You might use Beth, of course, but Bess is even less expected.
Bette – Bette Davis pronounced it like Betty, but Bette Midler rhymes Bette with jet, putting it on this list.
Blanche – It’s Bianca in Italian, but this name becomes the far briefer Blanche in French.
Blythe – With a lovely meaning – happy – and an antique sound, Blythe could balance out a longer middle. It’s also sometimes spelled Blithe.
Dot – A nickname for Dorothy, or a sweetly vintage middle. It could share Dorothy’s meaning: gift of God.
Fae/Fay/Faye – Fae sometimes refers to a fairy, or perhaps to fate. Either way, it’s a romantic image for a mini middle.
Gwen – A retro, swingy name, Gwen works well as a first name, but equally well as an unexpected middle.
Jan – Spare and straightforward, Jan is a cousin to John – masculine in Europe, but more traditionally feminine in the US.
Jean, Jeanne – In French, Jean is the masculine form of John; and Jeanne, the feminine. Combinations like Billie Jean might feel a little bit dated, but with the right first, Jeanne makes a great middle.
Joan – As in Joan of Arc and Joan of Mad Men, a short and thoroughly capable name.
Joyce – Joyce clearly fits with one-syllable middle names for girls, but it’s not quite a virtue like Joy, despite the shared sounds. Instead, it’s a medieval masculine name that became feminine thanks to Joy.
Mae/May – Originally short for Margaret and Mary, today Mae is more likely to bring to mind the month. That’s true even though the ‘e’ spelling – as in Mae West – is far more popular.
Maude – Spelled with or without the final ‘e’, Maude is a medieval form of Matilda. William the Conqueror’s daughter answered to Maud.
Meg – A Margaret nickname that transforms the classic name into a minimalist gem, and puts it on the list of one-syllable middle names for girls.
Nan – Originally a nickname for Anne, though now it’s more likely to be associated with Nancy.
Nell – Once short for plenty of names beginning with El, Nell now feels like a sweet and complete possibility, as a first or a middle.
Peg – Minimalist Meg meets retro Peggy.
Prue – Originally short for virtue name Prudence, Prue almost feels like a stand-alone thanks to 1900s cult favorite series Charmed.
Tess – Originally short for Theresa, Tess could make an intriguing and brief middle.
Bliss – Another word for joy, worn by Ellen Page in 2009 roller derby flick Whip It.
Brave – A strong sound and a quality we all want our children to cultivate.
Charm – Either for your daughter’s charismatic personality, or possibly for luck.
Dare – It has more history of use than you might guess, perhaps thanks to the mysterious Virginia Dare of American history, or maybe author Dare Wright.
Free – More direct than Liberty, and maybe a little less name-like, too – but I think it works.
Glee – Joyful, sing-out-loud kind of name.
Glow – Rhymes with Jo, but also makes this list thanks to the youngest daughter of blogger Rubyellen at Cakies.
Joy – An old stand-by virtue name, but made freshly appealing by the Disney-Pixar character in Inside Out.
Love – We love names that mean love, so why not the word itself?
Peace – Pax and Dove feel more subtle, but Peace works, too.
Praise – A spiritual possibility with a bold sound.
Psalm – An old word that feels like a twenty-first century Christian possibility.
Soul – Richly meaningful, and deceptively brief.
True – A bright sound combined with a virtue with universal appeal.
Truth – Slightly less name-like than True, but still works.
Wise – A common surname, often meaning smart. (Though sometimes it comes from other surnames meaning white.) If Sage works, Wise fits in the middle, too.
Zeal – Enthusiastic choice with a certain religious overtone.
Zen – An ancient concept, and a modern virtue, too.
Boo – As in the term of affection, not the go-to scare word for ghosts.
Roo – Maybe it’s a little bit Kanga. And the spelling Rue might be slightly more expected. But Roo appeals on sound alone, and isn’t so different from Lou or Sue.
Sweet – It sounds like Sweetheart, though it’s a surname name, too – and that might explain why it sometimes surfaces as a middle. But it’s a term of endearment akin to Darling or Dear, and might be a charming surprise in the middle spot.
Lynn – Once it was everybody’s middle name. Now it’s more likely to end a first – Brooklynn, Madilyn, Oaklynne.
Pam – Romantic, literary Pamela topped the popularity charts for baby girls in the 1950s. That puts this name in grandma territory now. If you’re honoring a beloved Pamela, Pam as a middle might be an option.
Sue – A throwback that feels tied to another place and time, to Buddy Holly’s “Peggy Sue.” It’s so tied to an earlier era, that it might feel like a retro charmer in a few more years.
Val – Valerie is an ongoing favorite; Valentina, a current Top 100 choice. Val would be an unconventional choice that nods to any name starting with the right sound.
Ayn – The most famous figure to wear it is controversial author Ayn Rand. It’s generally considered a form of Ann, though she rhymed her name with line.
Bex – If Jax is a modern spin on John, maybe Bex could be an update for Rebecca?
Bree – Breezy and authentically Irish.
Britt – Scandi short form of Bridget, by way of Birgitta.
Cass – Occasionally used for boys, Cass might also be a feminine, from popular baby girl names like Cassandra and Cassidy.
Cher – Made famous by the actress-singer and the Clueless character, Cher is a French term of affection, literally meaning expensive or dear.
Dree – She wasn’t the first to wear it, but model-actor Dree Hemingway helped raise this Bree-soundalike name’s profile.
Eyre – As in Jane Eyre, making this a literary, light possibility.
Gal – Actress Gal Gadot puts this Hebrew name on the list. It means wave.
Gwyn/Gwynn/Gwynne – A quirkier take on Lynn, every bit as Welsh. Like Lynn, the ‘y’ spellings are traditionally masculine in Wales.
Lace – Lacy is sometimes heard as a girls’ given name, but just Lace has potential as a middle.
Lis – Might rhyme with bliss, but I’m think of fleur-de-lis, which makes this the French word for lily, one that rhymes with Lee.
Maeve – Strong and stunning, Maeve makes a great first – but also a commanding middle.
Min – Possibly borrowed from Chinese, in which case it means clever. Or maybe it’s short for Minnie – which is already a nickname. Either way, it’s the ultimate mini name.
Noor – From an Arabic name meaning light. It’s also spelled Nur.
Reem – As in designer Reem Acra. The Arabic name means white antelope.
Reine – Rhymes with Wren, more or less, Reine is the French word for queen.
Reve – The French word for dream. Reve rhymes with Bev.
Tai/Ty – Tai Babilonia was a celebrated ice skater in the 1970s and 80s. Her success pushed the name into wider use. Ty works, too, though it might seem slightly more masculine.
Tal – A unisex Hebrew name, Tal means dew.
Vai – From a Polynesian word meaning water, and also the Romani equivalent of Eve.
Vale – As in the poetic word for valley. Television’s Savannah Guthrie gave the name to her daughter.
Vere – An aristocratic surname from eighteenth century England, with a fresh and vibrant sound today.
Vrai – The French word for true.
Wray – As in the original scream queen, Fay Wray – carried to the top of the Empire State Building in the first movie version of King Kong.
Wynn/Wynne – Cousins to Gwynne, and obvious candidates for one-syllable middle names for girls.
Zelle – Yes, it’s an electronic payment system. But it’s also a great mix of Elle with the letter Z, a perfect placeholder middle that’s so much bolder than Anne or Lynn.
East – Easton ranks in the boys’ Top 100, so how ’bout just East for a middle?
North – The fame of Kim Kardashian’s first born might discourage you, but North remains a name rich with significance.
South – A romantic middle name possibility for parents from the Southern states.
West – West might be the most name-like of all, a common surname and element in fast-rising choices like Weston. It brings to mind Mae West, but also West Duchovny – born Madelaine West Duchovny.
Dee – A throwback choice, Dee sounds like a mid-century choice ready for rediscovery.
Jay – More commonly masculine, Jay works as a nickname for any girl name beginning with J, and could also stand alone.
Kay – Often short for Katherine, and familiar to a generation of Kaylas and Kaylees. Add an ‘e’ to make Kaye.
The post Girls Middle Names Come in at Just One Syllable appeared first on Appellation Mountain.
]]>The post Baby Name Azura: Rare Gem in the Hue of Blue appeared first on Appellation Mountain.
]]>The baby name Azura fits right in with color names like Navy and Scarlett, but feels subtle at the same time.
Thanks to Chloe-Marie for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
Azure refers to the color of the sky on a clear summer’s day.
That sounds poetic, but it is based on the technical definition from the modern color wheel.
Azure was once the French word for blue; today, bleu is commonly used.
The term azure persists in heraldry, where the shade is associated with sapphires and the planet Jupiter.
The color suggests restraint; tranquility and serenity, and the optimism of a cloudless blue sky.
So the baby name Azura comes from the word azure, which means the color blue, but where did the word azure come from?
The Old French azure begins with the gemstone lapis lazuli.
The original Persian name for the semi-precious stone is lazhuward, meaning deep blue. It’s been mined in what we now call Afghanistan since somewhere around 7000 or 6000 BC. The gem circulated throughout the ancient world for millenia.
By the Middle Ages, lapis lazuli appeared in Europe. Marco Polo called referred to it as lajward, the modern Persian word for the gem.
The Greek called it lazour. As sometimes happened, the French reinterpreted the L as an article. (Think “the jewel.” It becomes “le bijou” in French.)
Lajward became lazour, then l’azuli, then azur.
The whisper-down-the-alley process continued. The Spanish word for blue remains, even today, azul.
That makes Azura a nature name through and through. But when did we make the leap from a color and gemstone a given name?
It would be easy to declare Azura an elaboration of azure and thus a modern(ish) innovation.
Except for the Book of Jubilees.
Strictly speaking, it’s a non-canonical book of the Bible. It’s not a forgery by any means; the writings date to religious scholars from the early Christian era. It’s been widely read across centuries, and plenty of familiar names have referenced the Book of Jubilees, too.
But, for various reasons, it is not accepted as an official part of the Bible by most Christians.
Much of Jubilees recounts the same events as the Book of Genesis, but it adds more detail on the descendants of Adam and Eve.
Some accounts list Aclima as a twin sister of Cain; other names, including Jumella, Awan, Lusia, and Luluwa refer to their siblings.
The Book of Jubilees specifically mentions that Cainand Abelhad a younger brother named Seth, and Seth married his sister, Azura.
Does the sister’s name refer to the color blue? Possibly. We know that the gemstone would have been known in the ancient world at the time of writing.
In other words, the baby name Azura has ancient roots, indeed.
Besides lapis lazuli, there’s a second gemstone connection.
Azurite is a mineral related to copper. It’s also blue, and has been known since ancient days, except it was known by other names: kuanos in Greek; cerulean in Latin. Eventually it became azurite, from the word azure.
So how popular is the name Azura?
It’s been in sparing use since the 1970s. In 1999, eight girls received the name. By 2011, that number reached 16. And as of 2022, 76 girls were named Azura.
Azure is unisex. In 2022, it was given to 24 newborn baby boys, along with 23 girls in the US.
Looking at the list of baby girl names, similar names include:
Overall, the baby name Azura is quite rare – possibly because expectant parents have so few places to hear the name in the first place.
“blue sky”
A rare name related to the color blue, with the same sound as stylish Eliza.
Popularity
Unranked in the US Top 1000
Trend
Rising in use
Origin
From an earlier French word meaning blue, azure, which ultimately comes from the gemstone lapis lazuli
Actress Azura Skye was born Azura Storozynski. Azurite inspired her unusual first name, as her parents were amateur gemologists. She’s worked steadily in television, including appearances in Girls and Riverdale.
A handful of fictional characters have also answered to Azura, including in Marvel Comics and, in The Elder Scrolls video game, she’s a princess of dusk and dawn.
There’s also a mention of the name in The Owl House, an animated series on the Disney Channel. In the show, The Good Witch Azura is the name of a fantasy novel series the main character likes.
No question this color-inspired name mixes plenty of current trends. It brings to mind names like Aurora and Ezra. Azura might substitute for more popular favorites like Aria and Athena.
With ancient roots and a lovely sound, the baby name Azura could the perfect choice for parents looking for a meaningful name both stylish and rare.
First published on May 2, 2013, this post was substantially revised and re-posted on March 11, 2024.
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]]>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!
We’re expecting our third, a delivery surprise, this summer. Our kids are Charlie James and Daisy Kathleen. That’s our style pretty much – easy, breezy, nothing too different but not really top ten, either.
If Daisy had been a boy, our top name was Max. It’s still on our list, but we’re also thinking about Arlo, Milo, Theo, Archie, maybe something else. Middle name could be Paul for my dad (James is for my husband’s dad) or maybe Pierce, my mom’s maiden name.
Another name we really like is Lucy. But my mom just got a puppy named Luna, which is close and she calls her Lulu, which sounds like it could be a nickname for Lucy, too. Is that too weird? I sort of think yes, especially because my mom (and Luna) live nearby and we’ve decided that grandma’s puppy makes up for the dog we cannot possibly add to the general craziness around here.
We’re also debating whether we want another name that ends with the same sound as Charlie and Daisy. Maybe it’s too cute?
Other names that are out:
Middle names for a girl could be Elizabeth or maybe just Beth, or Mary/Anne/Mary Anne, for my husband’s mom.
Our last name sounds like Sea-fort, so we’re avoiding S names. (Too bad, because I really like Sage for a girl.)
Congratulations on your third!
Let’s start with the big question – and a surprisingly common one, too.
Is this name too much like the name of our dog/cat/parakeet or our Aunt Sandy’s dog/cat/sugar glider?
Can we still use this name even though our mom had a chinchilla with the same name in the 70s?
My instinct here is to rule Lucy out.
Call it the Pet Proximity Principle.
Luna/Lulu lives nearby and is similar in age to your children. It’s a recipe for confusion and/or resentment that your kiddo shares her name with the (extended) family pet.
If it was your absolute #1 name, I might reluctantly chance it. But since it sounds like it’s just a name you like a lot? I think we can find something else.
As for the -ee/no -ee ending question … I’m not sure there’s a problem with a third ends in -ee name. But if you have a few seats left to fill in your minivan, would you think that you’ve set an unbreakable pattern? Daisy, Charlie, and Archie might make it even harder to name a future child Max.
Let’s look at both options, but my sense is that seriously considering non-ee-ending names is a smart move.
From your current list, the names that stand out are Arlo and Milo. The O ending is upbeat and energetic, a good match for Charlie and Daisy. They work well with your preferred middle names of Paul or Pierce.
Theo is great, too, but Theodore ranks in the current US Top Ten and most of those boys answer to Theo. So it might be a little more popular than you’d prefer.
I think Archie is every bit as good a choice, but there’s the -ee ending question.
When it comes to girls’ names, it feels like you’ve ruled out more than you’ve got on your shortlist, right? Ellie, Millie, and Lily are out, and I’m inclined to drop Lucy, too.
The good news: Elizabeth/Beth and Mary/Anne/Mary Anne are very flexible middle names, so your options are wide open.
Overall, my favorites for a boy are Arlo from your list, and Hugo or Jesse from my suggestions.
For a daughter, I do think Polly is quite clever, with the subtle nod to grandpa Paul. But June replaces Lucy beautifully, and Margot feels like the obvious equivalent to Milo and Arlo that you both like so much.
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