Tag: Holidays

Unique Baby Names for Spooky Season. Unique Baby Names for Spooky Season
Name Lists

Unique Baby Names for Spooky Season

ElizabethLeave a comment

The older I get, the more I appreciate Halloween. Although I don’t yet have any children of my own and can’t go trick-or-treating anymore (to be honest, I’m not huge on sweet foods or candy anyway!), I love the whole “Spooky Season” vibe. Why limit enjoyment of horror movies and pumpkin spiced anything to just *one* day? Whether it’s September, October, or November, I’m going to enjoy my hot apple cider, fall foliage, and scary stories. Though who says you have to even watch horror movies to partake? Dark Academia scratches the itch too. There are many ways to enjoy some Fall fun.

I’ve been racking my brains for unique and unusual baby name options for fans of Spooky Season. None of these names are currently in the U.S. Top 1000 baby names, though a couple of them might take off soon. Some are more usable than others…there are definitely a few I think should remain character or pet names…but I’ll let expecting parents be the judge of that!

Vampires:

Alucard is Dracula backwards and the main character of Hellsing, an anime. Alucard is also a character in the Castlevania game series. 19 boys were named Alucard in 2022.

Barnabas: Barnabas Collins is the 18th-century-born vampire and patriarch of the Collins family in the Dark Shadows universe. 13 boys were named Barnabas in 2022.

Bram: In honor of Dracula’s author, Abraham “Bram” Stoker. Just 30 boys were named Bram in 2022!

Carmilla: Although Carmilla looks like a variation of even misspelling of Camilla, it’s really the name of a famous vampire horror novel by Joseph Sheridan le Fanu. Carmilla predates Dracula (and influences that book) by some 25 years. 8 girls were named Carmilla in 2022.

Stoker: Bram Stoker’s surname is unheard of as a baby name, and no known children received it in 2022. This could be a fun, super-unique way of celebrating Spooky Season. A stoker is someone who stokes (feeds) a fire, which is a lovely association for babies born in colder months.

The Addams Family (and friends):

Tell me you heard the jingle in your head. Every few decades, we get a new rendition of our favorite “spooky” and “kooky” yet oddly wholesome family and obscure names. And if you’re as excited for the second season of Wednesday as I am, check out my list of names from the show!

Enid: An Arthurian name that probably means “soul” in the original Welsh, Enid is Wednesday’s roommate in the eponymous recent Netflix series. 28 American girls were named Enid in 2022.

Gomez: A variation on the medieval Portuguese name Gomes, no known babies were named Gomez last year. I’m sure some children have it for their last name, though!

Morticia: Even though Morticia sounds like “mortician,” the parents of 13 baby girls picked this fandom name last year.

Wednesday: “Wednesday’s child is full of woe…” I don’t think this name will be rare for much longer, but for now Wednesday still reigns well beneath the Top 1000. 97 girls were named Wednesday in 2022.

Books, Poetry, Movies, & TV:

Desdemona: Besides its sad Shakespearean connotations and maximalist flair, elegant Desdemona literally contains the word “demon” – perfect for Halloween! No known girls were named Desdemona last year, but it has a certain aesthetic that appeals to some parents.

Draco: With all the dragons featuring in pop culture, it’s a wonder Draco (“dragon” in Ancient Greek) isn’t more popular. Most of us probably associate Draco with the Harry Potter character, Draco Malfoy. 132 boys were named Draco in the U.S. in 2022.

Elvira: This is a vintage Spanish name best known to Americans via Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. It’s been out of the Top 1000 since the early 1980s, so if you love this name don’t worry about running into another Elvira on the playground! Only 67 girls received the name last year.

Hannibal: The name of an ancient Carthaginian general, an American Vice President, a famous comedian/celebrity…and a cannibal. Silence of the Lambs shows its age, but Hannibal Lecter is an enduring villain and most people’s primary association for the name. No known babies were named Hannibal in 2022.

Hermione: Harry Potter is often cited as an early example of Dark Academia, so bookish Hermione Granger’s unusual first name fits the vibe for Spooky Season. Other famous characters named Hermione include a queen in Shakespeare and the daughter of Helen in Greek Mythology. 115 girls were named Hermione in 2022, which is the most popular the name has ever been in the USA (that’s still quite rare though).

Ichabod: Ichabod Crane is the main character in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, the story that gave us the Headless Horseman. Irving didn’t invent the name; it’s a rare Biblical option with the unusual meaning of “without glory.” You won’t find any modern babies with this name, but I think “Icky” could be a cute nickname!

Lenore: Eleanor is one of the most popular baby names right now, but variant has yet to be revived substantially as just 76 girls received the name in 2022. Lenore is the subject of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven.

Malvolio: The name of a Shakespeare character, this means “ill will.” You might also like Marvolo, a similar name from Harry Potter. Neither is known as a recent baby name.

Poe: If Edgar is still too popular for you and you’re a fan of the writer, consider gender-neutral Poe! 6 baby boys were named Poe in 2022, but it works well for anyone.

Prynne: Hester Prynne is the main subject of The Scarlet Letter, the classic Nathaniel Hawthorne tale of adultery and intolerance in Puritan New England. Hester is unique itself – no known babies were named this old-fashioned variation of Esther in 2022 – but Prynne is equally unusual, fresher, and more modern.

Thackery: Remember Hocus Pocus? I imagine I thought his name was Zachary Binx for the longest time, but no, it’s Thackery Binx! Neither Thackery nor Binx boasts any known usage as a baby name, so if you’re worried about whether anyone else has a name you’d like for your own child…name away!

Winifred: This one might not be that unique for much longer since it’s experiencing a revival, but for now you can still enjoy the rarity of your favorite Sanderson sister’s name. 227 girls were named Winifred in 2022, which seems like a lot but really isn’t considering that the least popular name in the U.S. Top 1000 (Kahlani) was given to 260 girls. Far more girls are simply named Winnie, which was given to 502 girls!

Puritan Virtues:

Wait, Puritan virtue names? Aren’t those better for Thanksgiving? Well…yes, but there’s a reason why Salem, MA traditionally receives so much tourism around Halloween. Some virtues give off Dark Academia or horror vibes, too. On that last note, please resist any temptation to name any children Fear, Anger, or Humiliation (even if they *are* historical Puritan names) and reserve them for characters in your historical fiction or gothic horror stories.

Amity: Though this name means “friendship” and is a unique alternative to Amy, most people will probably think about the Amityville Horror. 61 girls were named Amity in 2022.

Lament: “Grieve.” Fits into a category of names with negative or sad meanings without being wholly unusable like Fear or Humiliation, which suggest a certain rabid violence. I do think Lament is probably best left as a character name, though.

Silence: Benjamin Franklin famously wrote letters under the pseudonym “Silence Dogood,” though I wonder if more people will think about Silence of the Lambs.

Solace: Solace means “comfort,” usually in the context of grief or distress. This one actually does enjoy a little usage among modern babies and is gender-neutral: 18 boys and 10 girls were named Solace in the U.S. last year.

Miscellaneous:

Belladonna: An elaborate, elegant name appealing to the maximalist aesthetic that’s best known for being a poisonous plant. 17 girls were named Belladonna last year.

Hemlock: Also a poisonous plant, this is not a known baby name but keep an eye out for the spelling Hemlocke in the next couple of years; hemlocke springs (yes, lowercase) is a trending new singer. There’s also the horror series Hemlock Grove, which aired from 2013-2015.

Mourning: Although this sounds like a Puritan name, it appeared throughout 18th century British America. I actually have one in my family tree.

Proserpina: The Roman form of Persephone is much less common than its Greek counterpart and sounds a lot like the word “serpent.” I’m not saying you should name your child after the basilisk, but snakes are definitely spooky!

Posthumous: Traditionally, this name was only used for children born after the death of their fathers, i.e., posthumously. This is best reserved for fictional characters.

Pumpkin: Jack is a Top 100 baby name, so why not skip straight to the pumpkin? It’d sure be cute.

Sorrow – I’ve seen a few babies named Sparrow. Sorrow has a similar sound, but goth parents may appreciate it more!

Can you think of any other unusual baby names that are appropriate for Spooky Season? Do you have any favorites? What do you think of the ones on my list? Let me know!

(P.S. I created the featured image visible from the homepage via AI, which is my first time ever using that technology for creative purposes. I typed in something like “fall leaves pumpkins gothic dark academia” and this dreary autumnal illustration is what it came up with. Just the vibe I was looking for…impressive!).

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! 

American Names · Religious Names

Hanukkah Baby Name Inspiration

ElizabethLeave a comment

Happy Hanukkah! Although it’s technically a minor holiday within Judaism, Hanukkah is a major one for many American Jewish families. Much to the chagrin of some, that’s because it’s close to another early winter giving holiday which has led to some level of commercialization. For others, it’s a fun time for presents, competitive dreidel games, and great food. Even my partner, who grew up in a secular household, counted Hanukkah among his few observances until very recently (though he considered it akin to Labor Day). As a couple, with one’s growing observance and the other’s (my) conversion process, there’s something truly exciting about our first Hanukkah together. I’m not sure whether the gifts or the menorahs are accumulating faster, and we’re getting ready to host a shindig with close friends and family. Life is good.

Speaking of my conversion process, I get so excited to see Jewish representation (have you seen the Mitzvah Moose?). One thing I haven’t really seen is a list of baby names inspired by Hanukkah. There are plenty revolving around the December 25th holiday (and there’s nothing wrong with that!). While I do see some Jewish names on Holiday name lists, I can’t remember the last time I saw a baby name list that was just for Hanukkah. Well, here it goes!

Colors:

Silver and Blue are commonly associated with Hanukkah (especially wrapping paper), and they also happen to be baby names! Both are unisex, and Blue so much so that it’s even gender-neutral. You can also consider other color shade names like Grey and Steel, or Azure and Navy as subtler nods.

Presents:

Gift and Cadeau (French for “gift”) are some of the most talked-about present names this year on social media, though Gift sounds religiously Christian and may raise eyebrows at shul…plus Gift is the German word for “poison.” Safer bets include names that mean “gift” wholly or partly, like Doron, Dorothy, Matthew, Mateo, Theodore, and Theodora.

History:

Some of the names associated with Hanukkah’s history are Mattathias (think Matthias), Judah, Simon / Simeon, and Eleazar. Maccabee was actually given to 10 baby boys in 2021, though I’m not sure how many (if any) are Jewish since the Hanukkah story is also found in Catholic bibles as part of the Deuterocanonical texts or Apocrypha.

Light:

It is the Festival of Light after all! You can take Lior, Liora, Orli, Zahara, and Zohar straight from Hebrew to get a name incorporating “light” into its meaning, or you can choose from any number of names meaning light like Lux, Luz, and Lucy. Some parents do even name their children “Light.”

Fire:

Candle-lighting is a must. There’s a Ladino (Sephardic) song called “Ocho Kandelikas” that would make great inspiration for a baby girl’s name, should you like the sound of Kandelika (“little candle”). Some other name possibilities for “fire” include Fuego, Fiammetta, Ignatius, and Aidan.

Eight:

Eight nights of Hanukkah means that a name meaning “eight” could work nicely. Octavia is currently popular, and for a boy you could choose Octavius or Octavian. Music-lovers can crosslist their baby names by choosing Octave, a French form. Alternatively, you could name a baby based off of which night of the holiday they were born on, allowing options like Una, Dua, Tertius, Arba, Quintin, Quinta, Septima, and Seven.

Night:

Nobody talks about the eight days of Hanukkah for a reason! To reference night, choose from direct translations like Lila / Laila, Nyx, and Nox. Alternatively, reference astronomy phenomena via names like Luna (moon), Estelle (star), Lyra (constellation), and Galaxy.

Miscellaneous:

A few other names come to mind! Hannah and Chana make subtle nods to the word Hannukah, and Lottie evokes latkes. Sofia / Sophia might be named after sufganiyot (jelly donuts). A baby named Olive, Olivia, or Oliver might reference the miracle of the oil. And at the end of the night, Miracle is also a popular baby name!

—

What do you think? Are there any names you would add to this list of Hanukkah baby names? Let me know, and Happy Hanukkah / Hanukkah Sameach!

American Names · Modern names

Zuzu

Elizabeth1 Comment
Zuzu.

Are you looking for a Christmas or Holiday-themed baby name that works during the rest of the year? How about Zuzu? Just nineteen baby girls were given this adorable name in 2021, according to Social Security Administration extended data. Zuzu is all kinds of fantastic – like Lulu with zest! It’s best associated with Susan owing to pop culture references, but may have derived from one of Susan‘s Central European relatives like Zsuzsanna or Zuzanna. Ultimately, all of those descend from Shoshannah, a Biblical Hebrew name meaning “Lily.” Zuzu also looks a lot like a Yiddish name (Zusa) meaning “sweet.” Considering its distinctive sound, rarity, positive meanings, and proximity to trending ‘Z’ names like Zora, Zola, and Zara, I’m surprised more parents haven’t jumped on Zuzu yet.

Most of us have seen the Christmas movie It’s a Wonderful Life, which turns seventy-six this year. For those who haven’t watched it yet, the premise is that an angel shows despondent George Bailey scenes from his life if he had never existed. I haven’t seen the movie in ages, but George had a daughter named Zuzu, which was probably short for Susan! Zuzu famously quotes: “Look Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.” From what I could find, her nickname was supposedly a reference to Zu Zu Ginger Snaps, which were popular in the early 20th century. For more information on the cookies, they have their own blog – worth a read! P.S. – Watch the movie. It’s wholesome and a classic, and someone’s probably streaming it this time of year. 

I’ve also noticed that Zuzu is a character name in at least two children’s television shows from the last twenty years. In the British show Peppa Pig, Zuzu is a zebra with a twin sister named Zaza and an older sister named Zoe. The other show with a Zuzu is the Australian Zuzu and the Supernuffs. Their influence on the name is probably negligible, though since Zuzu first appeared as a baby name in the U.S. before either program hit the waves. Peppa Pig has only been around since 2004, and Supernuffs was released in 2013. The first time Zuzu (and not Susan or another formal name) appeared as a American baby name with at least 5 uses (the minimum for inclusion by the SSA) was 1999. If anything, the classic movie probably has the most influence besides internet name enthusiasts.

Since it’s already a nickname, you don’t need to worry about shortening it further! As far as potential middle names go, Zuzu stands out enough on its own that it might not need an equally rare or exotic second…though you’re certainly welcome to use one! If you use a standard middle name and call your child something like Zuzu Marie, Zuzu Rose, or Zuzu Lynn, she’s already going to be the only Zuzu in her class and might be the only one she ever meets. On the other hand, I could see something spunky like Zuzu Pixiebelle or Zuzu Tigerlily working if you want to go all-out. Monosyllabic names like Kate and Fay work great too! Anyway, here are a few great potential middle name combos for Zuzu: 

  • Zuzu Mae
  • Zuzu Noel
  • Zuzu Circe
  • Zuzu Frost
  • Zuzu Lux
  • Zuzu Frances

What do you think of Zuzu? Would you use it as a nickname or treat it as a standalone? Let me know! 

Originally Published November 13, 2016.

"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!