Tag: American Names

Modern names · Name Lists

Nature Names for a Christmas Baby

Elizabeth1 Comment

The Holidays aren’t just celebrations – they’re feelings. Christmas is one day, but we associate an entire season with mistletoe, carols, and eggnog. Though the flowers are gone and the leaves have died away, we cling to whatever ecological beauty remains. Still, when you reach a time of year that’s meant to be joyous and happy, nostalgia and fondness for our surroundings abound. It’s only natural that these feelings and associations transfer to baby names for children born at this time of year.

Here’s a list of nature names associated with Christmas and the Holiday Season:

  • Holly – a 70s and 80s mom name that’s starting to come back, this name is about as Christmasy as it gets! For more information about Holly, check out my post from earlier this month. US Rank: #465.
  • Ivy – Usually mentioned in conjunction with Holly thanks to the song, Ivy is a great pairing option with Holly if you’re having twins. A vintage plant name, it’s all the rage right now. Rank: #49.
  • Douglas – Ranks at #739. We might think of Douglas as a vintage boys’ name, but it’s also a type of fir tree! Bring on the evergreens! Speaking of…
  • Evergreen – Evergreen is an extremely rare and unique baby name usually only given to girls, but I think it makes a great gender-neutral name option precisely because of its rarity! Only 6 girls were named Evergreen in 2021.
  • Frost – Frost is trendy among the namenerds of Instagram, but this surname has only ever been used as a baby name a handful of times.
  • Spruce – I’m surprised Spruce doesn’t have a baby name history because it rhymes with Bruce and fits firmly within the nature names trend. Get moving, parents!
  • Poinsettia – A beautiful red and green flowering plant that blooms in glorious Christmas foliage.
  • Pine – Actor, tree, and possible baby name? You decide on that last one.
  • Snow – Everyone loves snow until they have to drive in it. Still, it’s one of the prettiest things on the planet, and the parents of 56 baby girls agreed on paper in 2021! Or maybe they just love Game of Thrones (who knows?).
  • Lumi – Lumi is the Finnish word (and name) for snow! 57 girls were named Lumi in 2021. Read more here.
  • Ice – If Snow is feminine, Ice is unisex. 9 boys and 6 girls were named Ice in the U.S. in 2021, 8 girls were named Icy, 44 girls were named Icelynn, and 5 girls were named Icylinn. The latter two might be variations of Iceland, which was given to 6 girls.
  • Apricity – An intriguingly rare word name that means “the warmth of the sun in winter,” Apricity is a holiday darling of Instagram’s baby naming community.
  • Solstice – Okay, we’re just past the solstice, but there’s something lovely about the idea that the days only grow longer from here. 16 baby girls were named Solstice in 2021.
  • Robin – Robin is unusually old-school for a gender-neutral name, but that’s part of what makes Robin so great! It can be an honorific for Robert, Robin Williams, or reference the beautiful bird. It currently ranks #896 for boys and #916 for girls.
  • Amaryllis – If you love Greek Mythology, flowers, and Christmas baby names, Amaryllis is for you! 67 girls were named Amaryllis in the U.S. in 2021.

Do you have a favorite nature name for Christmas? Let me know, and have a Merry Christmas! 

Classic, Old, and Traditional Names · Religious Names

Ebenezer: No Longer a Scrooge?

Elizabeth2 Comments

Everyone’s talking about holiday-themed and Christmas-themed baby names right now. Whether or not they’ll admit it, Ebenezer falls into this category! Just a few years ago, children named Ebenezer were practically unheard of. Until the 1990s, Ebenezer appeared only sporadically in Social Security Administration baby name data. That hasn’t been the case in the new millennium.

Ebenezer "Stone of Help."

At least 40 babies have been named Ebenezer every year since 2012. 2017 saw 55 boys receive the name, which is the highest usage Ebenezer has ever reached in the birth data extending back to 1880 (though said data isn’t necessarily accurate or complete until the 1930s). Its traditional nickname Eben frequently ranks higher, though in 2021 there was only a difference of one baby with 47 boys getting Eben and 46 getting Ebenezer. Historically, Eben‘s usage has been a lot more steady but peaked at 100 boys just a decade ago. Going forward, it looks like Ebenezer may be more stalwart than its more accessible short form. And hey, Ebenezer is no longer just for boys – over thirty girls have been named Ebenezer since 2008!

But what is Ebenezer‘s deal? None of us can forget the cultural icon that is Ebenezer Scrooge. A lonely old man who’s cruel to everyone, especially at Christmas? Whose main catchphrase is “bah, humbug?” This Dickensian character creation permanently tainted a fine Biblical name for many, but we should remember that Scrooge came around at the end. His experience with the three ghosts permanently changed him for the better, and so he’s not so much a villain as someone who needed a wake-up call. Moreover, nobody is born that bitter, but it takes a lot to overcome bitterness like that. A Christmas Carol is a story of redemption and healing. We all love that at the Holidays, don’t we? I’d argue that makes Ebenezer an awesome Christmas baby name.

A_Christmas_Carol_-_Scrooge_and_Bob_Cratchit
Scrooge after the ghosts

If you’re cynical about the Holiday Season and are prone to complaining about it, Scrooge may still be the namesake you want. Naturally, the Victorian Grinch is everyone’s main association with Ebenezer. I personally have another association via the 1948 movie Portrait of Jennie, which is coincidentally another ghost story (though much more romantic). One of the main characters is an artist named Eben Adams. 

As to why the name Ebenezer has gotten a lot more popular than before, I have few ideas. It offers serious old-school Puritan and Bible vibes, which imports weight considering the widespread popularity of names like Noah, Elijah, Asher, and Ezra. Also…is it at all possible that Ebenezer is losing some of its association with Scrooge, in the way that Benedict isn’t always associated with Arnold now? It has an appealing meaning, too: “stone of help.”

Ebenezer has great nickname potential! Besides the obvious Eben, you could call an Ebenezer by Ben, Ezra, Benno, Benny, Bennett, and Benz. Because of its meaning, you could even go for Rocky! Middle names should ideally be one or two syllables, as in Ebenezer John or Ebenezer Samson.

What do you think of the name Ebenezer?

My sources were the Social Security Administration, A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, Behind the Name, and Nancy’s Baby Names.

Originally published July 21, 2016.

American Names · International · Modern names

Name Profile: Lumi

Elizabeth3 Comments
Lumi pronounced "lou + me" Means "snow" in Finnish.

Does a name ever get stuck in your mind? Like, you hear it for the first time and then you can’t stop thinking about it? That’s been me for the past week and a half since I joined Instagram (P.S., my handle is @wellinformednamer). I’m seeing the name Lumi everywhere and it’s imprinted! Pronounced like “Lou + me”, Lumi is a Finnish name meaning “snow.” As my neighborhood sees its first snow of the year, this name feels apropos of the weather. 

Although I’ve been seeing Lumi all over Instagram, the sightings are almost always discussion from other name enthusiasts or Finnish posts about the weather. Only 57 American baby girls were named Lumi in 2021, which means it’s still pretty rare here. It’s a lot more popular than it was 5 or 10 years ago though; from its U.S. data debut in 2008 until 2017, fewer than 20 babies a year were named Lumi. It spiked in 2018 and 2019, peaking at 68 girls with the name in the latter year. I’m not 100% sure what caused the jump, considering Americans aren’t usually too familiar with Finnish names. Lumi is popular in Finland, though, where it’s now a Top 50 baby name for girls.

So why name a baby Lumi? Lumi hits a sweet spot for baby names in 2022 and 2023 because it’s short, unique, international, and nature-adjacent. If you’re having a baby during snow, winter, or the December Holidays, it makes for a great seasonal option. There aren’t many nickname choices, it’s easy-to-spell, and vowel-heavy (even the consonants it does use are popular ones). If you do want a longer name, you can make it short for Lumina (another name on the rise). Chances are, a baby Lumi isn’t going to meet another Lumi in the classroom. And according to this post from Nancy’s Baby Names about Finnish names, it changed gender associations over time in its original country, which means it probably started off as a men’s name before it became popular for women (just like so many unisex and gender-neutral names in the U.S). So while Americans almost exclusively name daughters Lumi, I think it could work for any gender.

Lumi is fun to consider for middle name combinations. Some of the best middle name options for Lumi either have only one syllable (like Rose, James, or John) or at least three (Evergreen, Anastasia, Jonathan). Nature combos are great too (Ocean, Azalea, Storm). I’d avoid combos like Lumi Marie that are challenging to say quickly, and while I think Lumi Louise works (you can shorten to Lulu!), “Lumi Louis” rhymes a little too much if the ‘s’ in Louis is silent. Unless it sounds amazing to you, try to stay away from middle names that would repeat the “ee” sound at the end of Lumi; likewise, names starting with “Mi” don’t work great in the middle name spot (Lumi Minerva) but shine when reversed (Minerva Lumi). Lumi and Luna probably shouldn’t be in the same name either. For good measure, here are some great potential middle names for Lumi:

  • Lumi Anastasia
  • Lumi Evergreen
  • Lumi Fritz
  • Lumi Sophronia
  • Lumi Jasper
  • Lumi James
  • Lumi Cecilia
  • Lumi Rosalie
  • Lumi Emmanuel / Lumi Emmanuelle – This combination is great specifically for Christmas babies.
  • Lumi Evangeline
  • Lumi Elizabeth
  • Lumi Azalea
  • Lumi Kit
  • Lumi Christopher
  • Lumi Ocean
  • Lumi Storm
  • Lumi Kehlani
  • Lumi Frost

What do you think of Lumi? Would you use it? What other middle names would you try with it? Let me know!

Sources: Social Security Administration data and (linked twice above) Nancy’s Baby Names.

"Nick" Names a long list of names related to Nicholas and a few that aren't for Nikolaustag and Christmas. “Nick” Names
American Names · Classic, Old, and Traditional Names · Religious Names

“Nick” Names

ElizabethLeave a comment

Most Americans associate Santa and gift-giving with a single Christmas date, December 25th. Very few know about a certain tradition on December 5th of leaving out shoes for St. Nicholas to fill with gifts on December 6th (I only know about it because I studied German in high school…that was a fun lesson!). Whether jolly old St. Nick brings your gifts on Christmas Day, St. Nicholas Day / Nikolaustag, or somewhere in-between, here’s a list of baby names related to Nicholas and other Nicks for inspiration this Holiday Season! All of these were used in 2021 and are listed by popularity, according to the Social Security Administration. I’ve also grouped spellings by pronunciation with the most popular version at the top.

The Major Nick Families

Nicholas – 6508 baby boys in total were named Nicholas or some spelling variation in 2021. It’s one of the most timeless names in the lexicon and has been out of the U.S. Top 200 only once!

  • Nicholas – 3824 boys were given this spelling. U.S. Rank: #92.
  • Nicolas – 1996 boys. Rank: #188
  • Nickolas – 168 boys
  • Nikolas – 472 boys
  • Niklas – 20 boys
  • Nikoloz – 10 boys
  • Nicklas – 8 boys
  • Nikkolas – 5 boys
  • Nykolas – 5 boys

Nico – 2876 boys and 62 girls for an overall total of 2938 babies named Nico or a variant.

  • Nico – 1351 boys, 35 girls. Rank: #259 for boys
  • Niko – 1158 boys, 19 girls. Rank: #291 for boys
  • Nikko – 213 boys
  • Neko – 55 boys, 8 girls
  • Nicco – 48 boys
  • Nyko – 24 boys
  • Nieko – 17 boys
  • Nicho – 5 boys
  • Nykko – 5 boys

Nicole – 1094 girls total.

  • Nicole – 949 girls. Rank: #340
  • Nichole – 62 girls
  • Nicolle – 40 girls
  • Nicol – 19 girls
  • Nikole – 14 girls
  • Nickole – 5 girls
  • Nikol – 5 girls

Nikolai – 824 boys total.

  • Nikolai – 617 boys. Rank: #480
  • Nicolai – 50 boys
  • Nikoli – 20 boys
  • Nikolay – 16 boys
  • Nicholai – 15 boys
  • Nickolai – 12 boys
  • Nicolae – 10 boys
  • Nicoli – 9 boys
  • Nikolaj – 9 boys
  • Nikkolai – 7 boys
  • Nicholi – 5 boys

Nixon – 405 boys and 23 girls for an overall total of 428 children. Nixon means “Nick’s son.”

  • Nixon – 377 boys, 17 girls. Rank: #695 for boys.
  • Nixxon – 12 boys
  • Nickson – 8 boys. Taking the spelling more literally?
  • Nyxon – 8 boys
  • Nixyn – 6 girls

Niklaus – 385 boys total. Rank: #839.

  • Niklaus – 280 boys
  • Nikolaos – 55 boys
  • Nikolaus – 33 boys
  • Nicklaus – 17 boys

Nicolette – 152 girls total.

  • Nicolette – 141 girls
  • Nicholette – 6 girls
  • Nikolette – 5 girls

Nikola – 180 boys and 21 girls, totaling 201 babies.

  • Nikola – 145 boys, 12 girls
  • Nicola – 35 boys, 9 girl

Nick – 131 boys; this is the only spelling I could find.

Nikki – 88 girls, 20 boys for a combined total of 108 babies

  • Nikki – 66 girls
  • Nicky – 20 boys, 6 girls
  • Niki – 16 girls

Niccolo – 96 boys total.

  • Niccolo – 51 boys
  • Nicolo – 40 boys
  • Nikolo – 5 boys

Nika – 66 girls

Nicolina – 38 girls total

  • Nicolina – 23 girls
  • Nikolina – 15 girls

Nicoletta – 35 girls total

  • Nicoletta – 22 girls
  • Nikoletta – 8 girls
  • Nikoleta – 5 girls

Nikos – 20 boys. Behind the Name says this is a Greek nickname for Nikolaos.

Other relatives of Nicholas without the “Nic”:

Colin – Total of 2098 boys and 36 girls (Combined 2134). One of Colin‘s origins is as a medieval nickname for Nicholas.

  • Colin – 1282 boys, 5 girls. Rank: #269.
  • Collin – 726 boys, 10 girls. Rank: #421
  • Kollin – 38 boys
  • Kolin – 25 boys
  • Collen – 9 boys
  • Collyn – 8 boys, 7 girls
  • Colyn – 5 boys
  • Kollyn – 14 girls, 5 boys

Collins – Total of 1348 girls and 47 boys (combined 1395). If you like last names as baby names and want to honor a Nicholas, this relative of Colin is a good alternative to Nixon. 

  • Collins – 998 girls, 47 boys. Rank: #326.
  • Kollyns – 163 girls
  • Kollins – 104 girls
  • Collyns – 78 girls
  • Kolynns – 5 girls

Colette – 767 girls total. Colette is a nickname for Nicolette.

  • Colette – 684 girls. Rank: #454
  • Collette – 69 girls
  • Kolette – 14 girls

Kai – Total of 4684 boys and 392 girls (combined total: 5052 babies named Kai in 2021). Kai can sometimes be a German or Scandinavian nickname for Nicholas’s counterparts in those languages.

  • Kai – 4599 boys, 368 girls. Ranks #71 for boys and #770 for girls.
  • Cai – 85 boys, 24 girls

Klaus – 76 boys. The old-school German version of Nick.

I also found a bunch of mostly unrelated names that share that “Nick” sound. A lot of them can use Nick or Nikki as a, well, nickname!

Miscellaneous:

  • Nikita – 75 boys, 51 girls (126 total)
  • Nyx – 61 girls, 8 boys (69 total)
  • Nikhil – 67 boys
  • Nicodemus – 39 boys
  • Nixie – 18 girls. Is this the next Nikki?
  • Nike – 10 boys, 7 girls (total). Besides being a shoe brand, Nike was the Greek goddess of victory and provides the root for the first half of Nicholas.
  • Nicha – 9 girls
  • Nichelle – 9 girls
  • Nikayla – 9 girls
  • Nicanor – 8 boys
  • Nicandro – 8 boys
  • Nikai – 8 boys
  • Nikan – 8 boys
  • Nikodem – 8 boys
  • Nekoda – 8 boys
  • Nikash – 7 boys
  • Nix – 7 boys
  • Nicasio – 6 boys
  • Nicodemo – 6 boys
  • Nikiya – 6 girls
  • Nyxie – 6 girls
  • Nektarios – 5 boys
  • Nykeem – 5 boys

Do you have any favorites from this list? Let me know!

American Names · Analysis · Modern names

The Name Holly

Elizabeth3 Comments
Holly US Rank 465 Graphic.

For one reason or another, I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about the name Holly lately! Now that we’re into the month of December, that seems especially fitting.

Holly is the perfect name for a baby born around the Holidays because it evokes a sense of place and feeling for a joyful, magical time. It can take a religious association like the Holly & Ivy carol, but because it’s a plant it can also be as secular as the eggnog and jingles we fill our lives with in December. A baby Holly could be born to a family of any religious or cultural background who simply enjoys the time of year or celebrates a holiday in early winter and wants to commemorate the baby’s birth.

I’ve noticed that Holly is starting to rise in popularity again after a 40-year decline. It peaked in the 70s and 80s, but it doesn’t feel as dated as some of the other names that were trendy then. I suspect that’s because it’s never been in the top 10 or even the top 25, which makes it harder to associate with one specific era even if it belonged to one! At its most popular, Holly ranked only #48 in 1979 and 1983. Currently, it ranks #465 with 668 baby girls, slowly creeping from its most recent low point in 2016 at #526 (589 girls). Why has Holly stabilized and grown? My guess is that there’s a couple of things going on.

One of the biggest things the name Holly has going for it in the 2020s is that it’s a nature name. Nature names are massively trendy; I’m sure you know at least one baby girl named Violet, Hazel, or Willow. River is popular for any gender. Though Holly doesn’t have the vintage-American style laurels that Magnolia and Olive boast, it is the name of a tree (however seasonally specific). Today’s parents love tree names! You can’t find a corner of the internet where even tree-adjacent names like Asher and Oaklynn aren’t being discussed. For nature-loving parents having a December baby, Holly is the name to choose.

The other thing I think may be associated with Holly‘s growing popularity is the rising trendiness of similar-sounding names. Holland debuted in the top 1000 for girls in 2014, and now ranks its highest at #638 (462 girls; 87 boys also received the name). When one name becomes popular, similar names grow in turn; though Hollyn is still rare, it was given to 135 girls in 2021 – more than double the number named Hollyn in 2016 (56). Hollynn is an ultra-rare spelling at 11 uses, but 5 years earlier only 6 girls were given that spelling. You can also find babies named Hollynd, Hollin, and Hollan. Another increasingly trendy name to consider here is gender-neutral Hollis, which was given to 163 girls and 199 boys in 2021. Similar sounds boost names together by creating familiarity.

What do you think of Holly? Would you use it? Do you have any other ideas why it’s getting more popular? Let me know!

American Names

The ABC’s of #1 Names, 1880-2015

Elizabeth3 Comments

Have you ever wondered what the most popular name was for each letter of the alphabet?

Two years ago I began a mini-project to find that out for every year since 1880, the first year for which the Social Security Administration publishes birth data.  At some point I walked away from it and forgot about it, only to recall it last week.  So, two years later, I finally can visualize exactly how long Felicia was the number one ‘F’ name or how many times the letter ‘I’ changed hands between Isaac and Ira since the late 19th-century.

Below you’ll see every #1 name per letter for the past 136 years, according to the available SSA birth data.  The birth data is incomplete and not always accurate in the years before around 1937, but I’ve included those early years as well.  They still provide a general sense of the truly popular names, and you’ll spot some gems among the rarer letters.  Come on, who doesn’t get excited to see Zeno or Queenie at #1?

A:

  • Anna (1880-1929), Alice (1930-1941, 1944), Ann (1942, 1943, 1945-1959), Angela (1960-1968), Amy (1969-1978), Amanda (1979-1983), Ashley (1984-1998, 2000, 2001), Alexis (1999, 2002), Abigail (2003-2005), Ava (2006-Present)
  • Arthur (1880-1904, 1906, 1912, 1917, 1918, 1920-1947), Albert (1905, 1907-1911, 1913-1916, 1919), Anthony (1948-1978, 2007), Andrew (1979-1994, 1997-2006), Austin (1995, 1996), Alexander (2008-Present)

B:

  • Bertha (1880-1888, 1890-1893, 1895-1897, 1899, 1901, 1904, 1907-1912), Bessie (1889, 1894, 1898, 1900, 1902, 1903, 1905, 1906), Beatrice (1913-1916), Betty (1917-1934), Barbara (1935-1960), Brenda (1961-1974), Brandy (1975-1982), Brandi (1983), Brittany (1984-1996), Brianna (1997-2010), Brooklyn (2011-Present)
  • Benjamin (1880-1909, 2005-Present), Bernard (1910-1925), Billy (1926-1945), Bruce (1946-1956), Brian (1957-1983), Brandon (1984-2004)

C:

  • Clara (1880-1905), Catherine (1906-1931), Carol (1932-1952), Cynthia (1953-1966), Christine (1967-1972), Christina (1973-1980, 1985-1988), Crystal (1981-1984), Courtney (1989, 1990, 1993-1999), Chelsea (1991, 1992), Chloe (2000-2012), Charlotte (2013-Present)
  • Charles (1880-1964), Christopher (1965-2013), Carter (2014-Present)

D:

  • Daisy (1880, 1882, 1883), Dora (1881, 1884-1893), Dorothy (1894-1942), Donna (1943-1949, 1959-1967), Deborah (1950-1955), Debra (1956-1958), Dawn (1968-1975), Danielle (1976-1997), Destiny (1998-2012), Delilah (2013-Present)
  • David (1880-1897, 1899-1911, 1939-1984, 1986-1989), Dewey (1898), Donald (1912-1938), Daniel (1985, 1990-Present)

E:

  • Emma (1880-1886, 2008-Present), Elizabeth (1887-1895, 1897-1991), Ethel (1896), Emily (1992-2007)
  • Edward (1880-1964), Eric (1965-1997), Ethan (1998-Present)

F:

  • Florence (1880-1909), Frances (1910-1965), Felicia (1966-1994), Faith (1995-Present)
  • Frank (1880-1990), Francisco (1991-2005, 2007, 2012-2014), Fernando (2006, 2008-2011), Finn (2015/Present)

G:

  • Grace (1880-1900, 1999-Present), Gladys (1901-1924), Gloria (1925-1953, 1960-1962), Gail (1954-1959), Gina (1963-1987), Gabrielle (1988-1998)
  • George (1880-1944), Gary (1945-1961), Gregory (1962-1993), Gabriel (1994-Present)

H:

  • Hattie (1880-1884), Helen (1885-1963), Holly (1964), Heidi (1965, 1966), Heather (1967-1991), Hannah (1992-2009, 2011, 2012), Hailey (2010), Harper (2013-Present)
  • Henry (1880-1887, 1890, 1894-1914, 1952-1956, 1959-1991, 2012, 2014-Present), Harry (1888, 1889, 1891-1893), Harold (1915-1951, 1957, 1958), Hunter (1992-2011, 2013)

I:

  • Ida (1880-1900), Irene (1901-1984, 1987-1989), India (1985, 1986), Isabel (1990, 1992, 1993), Iesha (1991), Isabella (1994-Present)
  • Isaac (1880, 1882, 1886, 1893, 1896, 1899, 1904, 1909, 2003, 2007-Present), Ira (1881, 1883-1885, 1887-1892, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1898, 1900-1903, 1905, 1907, 1930, 1932, 1933, 1937-1957, 1960), Irving (1906, 1908, 1910-1929), Ivan (1931, 1934-1936, 1958, 1959, 1961-1966), Ian (1967-1996), Isaiah (1997-2002, 2004-2006)

J:

  • Jennie (1880-1884, 1886-1889, 1891), Julia (1885, 1890, 1892-1898, 1900, 2008-Present), Josephine (1899, 1901-1920), Jean (1921-1929), Joan (1930-1938), Judith (1939-1949), Janet (1950-1957), Julie (1958-1965), Jennifer (1966-1984), Jessica (1985-2005), Jasmine (2006, 2007)
  • John (1880-1928, 1961-1965, 1968), James (1929-1960, 1966, 1967, 1969-1972), Jason (1973-1982), Joshua (1983-1994), Jacob (1995-Present)

K:

  • Katherine (1880-1929), Kathleen (1930-1937, 1947-1950), Karen (1938-1946, 1951-1965), Kimberly (1966-1977, 1979-1987), Kelly (1978), Kayla (1988-2008), Kaylee (2009-2014), Kennedy (2015/Present)
  • Kenneth (1880, 1889-1958), Karl (1881-1888), Kevin (1959-1989, 2000-Present), Kyle (1990-1999)

L:

  • Laura (1880-1887, 1982-1985), Lillian (1888-1923, 2013, 2014), Lois (1924-1937), Linda (1938-1960), Lisa (1961-1981), Lauren (1986-2006), Lily (2007-2012, 2015/Present)
  • Louis (1880-1931), Lawrence (1932-1934), Larry (1935-1983), Luis (1984-1994), Logan (1995-2010), Liam (2011-Present)

M:

  • Mary (1880-1966), Michelle (1967-1974), Melissa (1975-1984), Megan (1985-1996), Madison (1997-2011), Mia (2012-Present)
  • Michael (1880, 1885-1922, 1935-2010), Martin (1881-1884), Melvin (1923-1926), Marvin (1927-1934), Mason (2011-Present)

N: 

  • Nellie (1880-1919), Norma (1920-1929), Nancy (1930-1969), Nicole (1970-2000), Natalie (2001-Present)
  • Nathan (1880, 1882, 1971-1977), Norman (1881, 1883-1966), Nicholas (1967-1970, 1978-2005), Noah (2006-Present)

O:

  • Olive (1880-1903), Opal (1904-1939), Olivia (1940-1955, 1958, 1965, 1974-Present), Olga (1956, 1957, 1959-1964, 1966-1973)
  • Oscar (1880-1978, 1981-2001)), Omar (1979, 1980), Owen (2002-2013), Oliver (2014-Present)

P:

  • Pearl (1880-1910), Pauline (1910-1923), Patricia (1924-1989), Paige (1990-2007), Peyton (2008-2013), Penelope (2014-Present)
  • Peter (1880-1885), Paul (1886-1982), Patrick (1983-2006), Parker (2007-Present)

Q:

  • Queen (1880-1883, 1885-1969), Queenie (1884), Quanda (1970), Quintina (1971-1974), Qiana (1975-1979), Quiana (1980-1987, 1989), Quinn (1988, 1992-Present), Quanisha (1990, 1991)
  • Quincy (1880-1883, 1885-1892, 1894-1903, 1905, 1907, 1909-1912, 1915, 1917, 1974-1981), Quince (1884), N/A (1893), Quentin (1904, 1908, 1913, 1914, 1916, 1918-1959, 1963-1973, 1982-1989, 1995-1998), Quinton (1906, 1990, 1990-1994), Quintin (1960-1962), Quinn (1999-Present)

R:

  • Rose (1880-1890), Ruth (1891-1948), Rebecca (1949-1956, 1967-1983), Robin (1957-1965), Rhonda (1966), Rachel (1984-2006), Riley (2007-Present)
  • Robert (1880-1989), Ryan (1990-Present)

S: 

  • Sarah (1880-1920, 1977-1989, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999-2002), Shirley (1921-1940), Sandra (1941-1947), Susan (1948-1970), Stephanie (1971-1976), Samantha (1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2003-2005), Sophia (2006-Present)
  • Samuel (1880-1914, 1994-Present), Stanley (1915-1939), Stephen (1940-1949), Steven (1950-1961, 1964-1967, 1976-1993), Scott (1962, 1963, 1968-1975)

T:

  • Theresa (1880-1897, 1941-1950), Thelma (1898-1940), Teresa (1951-1962), Tammy (1963-1973), Tracy (1974, 1975), Tiffany (1976-1991), Taylor (1992-Present)
  • Thomas (1880-1966, 1968-1975, 1982-1989, 2013-Present), Timothy (1967, 1976-1981), Tyler (1990-2012)

U:

  • Una (1880-1904, 1906-1908, 1910-1922, 1924-1926, 1928, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1938, 1940), Ursula (1905, 1909, 1923, 1927, 1929, 1930, 1933, 1935-1937, 1939, 1941-1945, 1960-1988), Unknown* (1946-1959, 1989-1991, 1995), Unique (1992-1994, 1996-Present)
  • Ulysses (1880-1948, 1962-1988), Unknown (1949-1961, 1989, 1991), Uriel (1990, 1992-Present)

V:

  • Viola (1880-1906), Virginia (1907-1953), Vicki (1954-1958), Valerie (1959-1968), Victoria (1969-1971, 1989-Present), Veronica (1972-1978), Vanessa (1979-1988)
  • Victor (1880-1906, 1908-1910, 1918, 1942-1945, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1974-1987, 1992-2009), Virgil (1907), Vincent (1911-1917, 1940, 1941, 1946-1953, 1955, 1958-1973, 1988-1991, 2010-Present), Vernon (1919-1939)

W:

  • Willie** (1880-1920, 1922, 1923), Wilma (1921, 1924, 1925), Wanda (1926-1959), Wendy (1960-1983, 2001-2007), Whitney (1984-2000), Willow (2008-Present)
  • William (1880-Present)

X:

  • N/A*** (1880-1893, 1896, 1898-1911, 1922, 1924, 1936-1938, 1940, 1942-1944, 1951, 1953, 1957), Xenia (1894, 1895, 1897, 1912-1921, 1923, 1925-1935, 1939, 1941, 1945-1950, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1959, 1968), Xochitl (1955, 1967, 1971-1977, 1979), Xiomara (1958, 1960-1964, 1969, 1970, 1978, 1980-1995, 1999, 2000), Xan (1965, 1966), Xena (1996-1998), Ximena (2001-Present)
  • N/A (1880-1885, 1887-1889, 1891-1893, 1895, 1898-1906, 1908-1911), Xavier (1886, 1890, 1894, 1896, 1897, 1907, 1912-Present)

Y:

  • Yetta (1880, 1884-1891, 1896), N/A (1881), Yvonne (1892-1895, 1897-1966), Yolanda (1967-1986), Yesenia (1987-2003), Yasmin (2004-2009), Yaretzi (2010-Present)
  • Young (1880-1887, 1889-1892, 1895-1899, 1901-1904, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1912, 1935, 1936, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1954, 1955), York (1888, 1905), Yee (1893, 1894), Yancy (1900, 1958-1975), Ysidro (1906, 1933, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1943-1946, 1953, 1956), Yale (1908, 1939, 1942, 1951, 1952), Ygnacio (1910, 1934), Yoshio (1913-1930, 1932), Yukio (1931), Yvonne (1938), Yolanda (1949), Yul (1957), Yusef (1976), Yisroel (1977, 1984, 1997), Yusuf (1978, 2015/Present), Yoel (1979-1983), Yosef (1985, 1988-1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001), Yaakov (1986, 1987), Yehuda (1995), Yousef (2000), Yahir (2002-2014)

Z:

  • Zella (1880-1898, 1890), Zelma (1899, 1901-1951, 1954), Zoe (1952, 1957, 1958, 1970, 1973-2010), Zelda (1953, 1955, 1956, 1959-1962, 1968), Zina (1963-1967), Zandra (1969, 1971, 1972), Zoey (2011-Present)
  • Zack (1880-1901, 1903, 1905-1915, 1918-1921), Zeno (1902), Zeb (1904), Zigmund (1916, 1917), Zane (1922-1946, 1948), Zachary (1947, 1949-Present)

*I doubt anyone was actually named Unknown – it’s more likely a designation for people whose original names are somehow unknown. 

**Willie is shaded blue because it was stricly masculine in 2015.  A hundred years ago, it was very much unisex.

***N/A indicates that there were no names starting with that letter for a year. 

Do any of these names stand out to you?  Let me know and stay posted for my analysis and predictions!

American Names

Below the top 1000, Part 25 (Girls)

Elizabeth2 Comments

Hi everyone!  This week’s batch of rare names is rather large, and since this is only a selection of some names from the 20-22 range of the extended data…there are plenty more.  You’ll find many more girls’ names towards the bottom of the barrel than you will boys’ names.  Parents tend to be more creative when naming their daughters than their sons.  While the below names are currently far too rare for the American top 1000, the Social Security Administration notes that 78.81% of males born in 2015 were accorded names in the top 1000; only 67.90% of females born last year were also given top 1000 names. 

Anyways, enjoy!  And if any of you are participating in NaNoWriMo need character names, I hope this can be a resource to you. 🙂

  • 22: Adaliz, Aixa, Alabama, Albany, Arora, Ashleen, Avalene, Benita, Cleopatra, Cyan, Dalexa, Daviana, Dreya, Dru, Filomena, Inga, Ixchel, January, Jaylianna, Jeanelle, Jennavieve, Kadiatou, Kathlyn, Koralyn, Mable, Mamie, Montgomery, Munachimso, Nalaya, Nayelis, Noriah, Parnika, Persia, Phyllis, Riva, Rosabelle, Ruchy, Safari, Savvy, Tamsin, Tennyson, Thora, Winnifred, Yulia, Zaidee, Zoila, Zuly, Zunaira
  • 21: Aaralynn, Aissata, Amada, Analis, Aolani, Arcadia, Arella, Avital, Bergen, British, Ciel, Darling, Delfina, Devany, Elka, Ellanore, Erina, Fae, Frimet, Gurnoor, Harleyquinn, Idalia, Isolde, Joya, Kallista, Laramie, Lazaria, Liat, Lilou, Melaina, Neda, Niharika, Saffron, Solveig, Vanity, Viridiana, Willamina, Zuleika
  • 20: Aasiya, Adair, Adithi, Aella, Aerith, Allure, Aluna, Anberlin, Anoushka, Aveya, Beaux, Blue, Breslin, Camry, Chidera, Cosima, Deyanira, Dionne, Domenica, Evangelia, Evolette, Fatimata, Fawn, Ginny, Gracia, Isidora, Island, Isyss, Jalayla, Jood, Jovana, Kindle, Latoya, Lorenza, Loxley, Mccartney, Menucha, Rosey, Ruqayyah, Saylah, Sneha, Swayzee, Tynleigh, Vasilisa, Zamzam, Zoella, Zuzu

Thoughts on these names?  I’m curious about the origin of Zamzam, myself. 

If you’d like to see more rare names, here are the last five posts in this series:

American Names

Below the Top 1000, Part 24 (Boys)

Elizabeth1 Comment

Hi everyone, happy Halloween!  11 AM and struggling not to doze off, even with espresso.  Stayed up late last night to watch Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)…I have to say, it’s like watching Scooby Doo in black and white!  There was a lot of running from Dracula, mostly within an eerie castle upon the sea.

Anyway, it’s been a week since my last “below the top 1000” post!  This selection includes names given to 20, 21, or 22 boys in the U.S. in 2015.  If you’re tuning in for the first time, welcome!  I write these posts weekly; next week will include girls’ names in the same range.  The data comes from the Social Security Administration, which publishes America’s most popular baby names every year, plus rare names down to 5 uses.

  • 22: Adonijah, Avenir, Bao, Carmen, Chukwuemeka, Edmundo, Erasmo, Franklyn, Gehrig, Gustav, Han, Ioannis, Jezreel, Juandiego, Kadarius, Kashtyn, Koi, Krithik, Marino, Maxximus, Nero, Quintus, Rune, Rupert, Trinidad, Vir, Walton, Wellington, Wrigley, Yeshaya, Zalman
  • 21: Argenis, Aristotle, Artemio, Ashraf, Brave, Celso, Cheskel, Copper, Creedence, Crixus, Delbert, Dillinger, Garland, Haakon, Heinrich, Jaaziel, Jeanpierre, Legion, Menashe, Noach, Pharoah, Philippe, Poseidon, Prentice, Prosper, Quill, Reno, Stavros, Strider, Taft, Tyberius, Wilhelm, Winslow
  • 20: Abdimalik, Abenezer, Aceson, Alarik, Auguste, Dacari, Enrico, Ericson, Falcon, Ferdinand, Feynman, Giles, Hamish, Hart, Helios, Jeanluc, Justis, Kanoa, Kona, Kosta, Lord, Misha, Naman, Nashton, Norris, Oluwadarasimi, Rohaan, Rumi, Thelonious, Tilden, Xadrian, Zadkiel, Zeeshan

What do you think of these names?  Let me know in the comments!  Have a safe and fun holiday. 🙂

Previous 5 posts in this series:

American Names

Uncommonly Tiny Names

Elizabeth2 Comments

Do you love the brevity of Max and Ada, but think they’re too popular?  Here’s a list of rare, tiny names comprising only two or three letters!    

Aj – 71 boys, 7 girls in the U.S. in 2015.  (Numbers come from Social Security Administration)

Aja – 84 girls.

Ale – 5 girls.  In case you really like your beer…

Aoi – 8 girls.  This is a Japanese name. 

Axe – 8 boys.  Hopefully the kind Gimli offers to Frodo and not the body spray.  Either way, it’s a weapon!

Bay – 58 girls, 11 boys.  Include this with other spice names like Cayenne and Paprika; Old Bay is delicious.

Bea – 25 girls.

Blu – 14 boys, 9 girls.  When Blue isn’t blunt or artsy enough. 

Bly – 5 girls.  Nellie Bly was a famous investigative journalist.

Bob – 14 boys.  Nowadays this is more of a meme than a name because of how generic it is.  That, and Bob the Builder.

Bow – 17 boys. 

Cub – 7 boys. 

Cy – 60 boys.  A nickname for Cyrus that personally sounds more like the Greek letter “psi.” 

Dat – 9 boys.  Dat name tho. 

Dev – 105 boys.  It seems that “Game Dev” gives us the latest professional name, joining Taylor and Sailor.   

Dov – 107 boys.  Hebrew name meaning “bear.”

Dua – 33 girls.

Emi – 166 girls.  Standalone Japanese name, but could also be a nickname for Emily.

Ewa – 9 girls.

Fox – 193 boys, 6 girls.  Makes me think of Joe Fox and his bookstore from You’ve Got Mail. 

Gal – 6 girls.  If Guy has a twin sister, I think we’ve found her.  Though, I bet you could make Gal short for Galadriel! 

Gem – 8 girls.  A literal gem name, or maybe a nickname for Gemma. 

Gus – 163 boys. 

Guy – 153 boys.

Fia – 25 girls.

Han – 22 boys, 19 girls.  Considering how blatantly Star Wars this name is, it’s really surprising that so many girls have the name.

Ida – 159 girls.  Once in the top 10, Ida hasn’t even been in the top 1000 since the 1980s.  Here’s hoping for a revival! 

Ibn – 16 boys.  Arabic word meaning “son,” precedes a man’s father’s name.  Equivalent of Latin “filius,”  Hebrew “ben,” or Welsh “ap.”  I wonder whether any parents of Ibn’s actually intended it as a first name.

Ike – 93 boys.  “I like Ike” is a famous presidential campaign slogan. 

Io – 6 boys, 5 girls.  According to mythology, Io was transformed into a cow because Zeus took her as a lover.  Naturally, the quintessential problem in all Greek myth is Zeus’ romantic escapades.

Ion – 11 boys.  Ion is a good choice if you like particles or Plato. 

Ira – 196 boys, 97 girls.  Biblical name!

Ivo – 15 boys.  I play enough Crusader Kings II to be reminded of an obscure 11th-century Norman named Ivo de Taillebois.  Needless to say, Ivo is an old name.  Depending on the origin, it’s related to either Yves or Ivan.

Jad – 168 boys. 

Jo – 27 girls.  Jo March is a character in Alcott’s Little Women.

Job – 87 boys.  Something we all need.  As a name, this probably references the Bible character, and is pronounced more like the name Joe with a ‘b’ at the end. 

Jr – 29 boys.  Jr, Jr.  Uh oh…unexpected Jar Jar Binks! 

Kal – 55 boys.  Not like Cal or Calvin…more like actor Kal Penn.

Kc – 27 boys, 15 girls.  Usually this stands for something.  I don’t know what KC is these days, but when I was in high school and college the ‘c’ almost always stood for Casey, regardless of gender.

Kia – 15.  Car names! 

Kim – 71 girls, 11 boys. 

Kip – 46 boys. 

Koi – 22 boys, 18 girls.  I never thought of fish as a namesake, unless you count Marlin and Nemo.

Lex – 67 boys.  Although Lex is traditionally short for Alexander, most people probably think of Lex Luthor.

Lux – 99 girls, 32 boys.  Latin word for “light.”

Md – 27 boys.  I initially thought about doctors when I saw this, but now I wonder if this is shorthand for Mohammad.  Traditionally, common men’s names had truncated written versions; i.e., William was sometimes Wm, Jonathan was Jno, etc. 

Neo – 80 boys. 

Nil – 10 girls, 5 boys.  A tad nihilistic, don’t you think?

Nox – 15 boys.  Latin word meaning “night” – therefore equivalent of Nyx.  Nox is also a spell in Harry Potter, which is used to end a Lumos charm…that is, to put out the light. 

Nyx – 16 girls.  Nyx is the Ancient Greek personification (goddess) of Night.  Perfect for Halloween? 

Om – 86 boys. 

Oz – 24 boys. 

Paw – 17 girls.  Genuinely interesting…wonder where this comes from?

Pax – 63 boys, 6 girls.  Latin for “peace.” 

Pia – 73 girls.

Poe – 9 boys.  Not too long ago I would have assumed Edgar Allan Poe was the namesake, but now Poe Dameron is a possibility! 

Ra – 9 boys.  Egyptian sun god. 

Rae – 94 girls. 

Ram – 30 boys.  As in the animal or RAM space? 

Ren – 71 boys, 12 girls. 

Rye – 39 boys, 8 girls.  Could be a nickname for Ryan that’s influenced by Kai, but it undeniably reminds me of delicious rye bread.  Hmm…scratch off “Reuben Rye” and “Rye Reuben” from the list of usable name combos. 

Sir – 54 boys.  “Yes, sir.” 

Su – 15 girls.

Tam – 10 boys, 9 girls.

Tom – 67 boys.  “It was…Tom Bombadil!”

Uri – 29 boys. 

Vir – 22 boys.  Vir is the Latin word for “man.”

Von – 45 boys.  I’m just imagining a trip to a German-speaking country and having to explain that Von isn’t the first part of a surname. 

Vy – 27 girls.  Short for Viola or Violet?

Win – 5 boys.  Could be used as a nickname for Winston or Winslow.

Xoe – 26 girls.

Zia – 128 girls.  Italian word for “aunt,” but as a name might be a variation of Sia or Xia.

Zo – 14 girls.  Basically, Zoe without the invisible umlaut.     

What do you think of these names?  Let me know in the comments!

American Names · Uncategorized

Below the Top 1000, Part 23 (Girls)

ElizabethLeave a comment

Hi everyone!  I realize I haven’t written one of these posts in a couple of weeks.  Luckily  there are so many names here that I think they cover the gap!

Here are some of the names given to American baby girls in 2015, according to extended data from the Social Security Administration.  The following first names are quite rare, and were only used between 23 and 26 times. 

  • 26: Adilee, Alexiana, Alvina, Amiliana, Atziri, Aubreyanna, Augustine, Baylei, Callahan, Celestina, Christabel, Dianne, Ellasyn, Era, Faustina, Florencia, Freedom, Genesys, Gertrude, Gypsy, Hartlee, Ione, Irlanda, Jenicka, July, Kaori, Kassia, Katara, Kerry, Loreal, Lucienne, Madigan, Mathilde, Medina, Nevada, Nizhoni, Odalis, Quetzaly, Ravenna, Rona, Rue, Sunday, Svetlana, Zuzanna
  • 25: Amerika, Anjolaoluwa, Apollonia, Arbor, Barrett, Bea, Cady, Charm, Chiamaka, Daija, Darcie, Elizaveta, Fanta, Fay, Fia, Galilee, Jerrica, Jerzey, Kahlani, Keniyah, Lisandra, Maelani, Milagro, Nixie, Nona, Oliviana, Quinlan, Seraphine, Sigrid, Siri, Twyla, Xia, Yuritzi, Zephyr
  • 24: Aamina, Adabelle, Adama, Alyric, Angelic, Bethlehem, Breeze, Brixton, Catalia, Cylie, Dulcemaria, Eevee, Evaline, Jezebel, Joanie, Kaavya, Lee, Mairead, Maison, Malania, Margeaux, Mattea, Maybree, Nakiya, Richelle, Sagan, Teal, Verona, Wanda, Winslow, Zaryiah
  • 23: Afia, Aiko, Ameliana, Amorette, Ashby, Avaline, Ayumi, Basma, Blessin, Bruchy, Ceanna, Eleena, Evaluna, Finnleigh, Infinity, Jadzia, Kashmir, Kynedi, Legaci, Lielle, Maimouna, Maryalice, Max, Merari, Mulan, Oceana, Rhythm, Shaindel, Sophiah, Trudy, Xandria, Zaire, Zen, Zowie

What do you think of these names?  I think my personal favorites are Celestina, Florencia, and Gertrude! 

The previous five posts in this series: