Tag: pop culture

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!).

Baby Name Predictions for the U S Top 1000 (Boys). Baby Name Predictions for the 2022 U.S. Top 1000 (Boys)
American Names · Analysis · Opinions

Baby Name Predictions for the 2022 U.S. Top 1000 (Boys)

ElizabethLeave a comment

Any day now (it could even be tomorrow!), we’ll find out what the most popular baby names in the U.S. are! Except for a COVID delay in 2020, the Social Security Administration releases a new list every May – just in time for Mothers’ Day! The new Top 10 (and especially the #1 spot) is what most people are anxious to hear since that can impact whether they pick a popular baby name. Many parents are concerned if a name even reaches the Top 100. As a name-writer, I’m more excited for the Top 1000.

Why am I so interested in the Top 1000? The Top 1000 is the best, most objective way we have to delineate the popularity or rarity of American baby names. If a name is in the Top 1000, that means at least a few hundred children received it in a given year (for 2021, the last year we have data for, a name needed at least 254 uses for girls and 217 uses for boys to be included). Generally, if a baby name is out of the Top 1000, we call it rare. Here, we’re not talking about names that are popular or unusual across age groups or globally – simply what’s popular or rare for babies born here and now in the United States.

I published my girls’ name predictions yesterday. Here are the boys’ names I think will leave or enter the U.S. Top 1000 in the 2022 dataset! If you’re viewing on mobile, be sure to scroll left to view the entire chart.

Names Likely to Exit the Top 1000:

Name2021 Rank2021 Babies2020 Rank2020 Babies2019 Rank2019 Babies
Abdullah984221810285734327
Aldo983222783297761311
Axl845278757316679377
Blaine986220881255874251
Brecken922244792291791292
Brennan871264762314719339
Cory985221912244902242
Crosby932240802288778299
Eliel852275750322663398
Ermias814295647413541521
Gary904252804288775302
Genesis973226827277914240
Harley923244782298808283
Jaxtyn9352405864701154168
Jakobe9462378372721381129
Karsyn9542347003621063191
Kody979224955229836269
Korbin859271709353689369
Kristopher936240830276772305
Landry989220947231929234
Nova853274759316866255
Rodney965230865261855259
Data extracted from the Social Security Administration

Notes:

  • Nova is wildly popular and trendy as a girls’ name, and now that it’s in the top 50 with no signs of stopping the ascent, some parents may shy away from Nova as a boys’ name.
  • Re: Karsyn and Jaxtyn, I personally wonder if there’s a little bit of fatigue towards unique spellings of Jackson, Carson, and similar names. They are still popular and widespread, of course.
  • In this case, Jakobe seems more like a variation of Kobe than Jacob, or a form of Jacob inspired by Kobe. Jakobe became popular again in 2020 after Kobe Bryant’s death.
  • Ermias (a form of Jeremiah) was Nipsey Hussle’s legal name. It debuted in 2019 at a rank of #540 and has been falling ever since.
  • Kody didn’t actually drop too much (just 5 babies between 2020 and ’21, with a rank change of -24), but with a rank of #979 and all the recent Sister Wives divorce stuff I think this name could be knocked out of the Top 1000.
  • Sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s going on at the bottom of the top 1000 because some of the names that look like they could fall out are surprisingly trendy or trendworthy. Parents choose from a much greater variety of baby names than they did in past generations, which makes rare names more popular as a whole. Name popularity also becomes erratic at the bottom of the charts. Karsyn dropped heavily between 2020 and 2021 as a boys’ name, but who knows if it will suddenly rebound? Mordechai is like Karsyn in that it’s dropping fast but ultimately depends on outside factors for popularity. That’s partly why I’m not marking Zev for a likely exit despite ranking #996 and dropping from 2020 to 2021; on the whole, the name is still rising.

Names Likely to Enter:

Name2021 Rank2021 Babies2020 Rank2020 Babies2019 Rank2019 Babies
Aspen105620011461691190160
Azaiah1172166174887191077
Beaux101821313071371272146
Benny100621611491681186161
Boaz101921311251741067190
Campbell104320411711641297142
Cashton104420410391941165166
Crue101521411711641361131
Danilo104520411761631121155
Eren1185164229159168894
Harris10012179952131025202
Jrue11231801435120171492
Kacey10022171186162202772
Kaisen102121310481911055193
Lev105320111071771003208
Lux109618912941401545109
Massimo111718113761271500114
Mattias111018312891411470117
Monroe109818814791151506113
Montgomery103220910871821085184
Nikko102221311801631296143
Ollie108519311521681269147
Ozias104620416031011356132
Ren111418213191361616102
Rhodes104220514061231568107
Sevyn101221511141761507113
Shai10701971441120165398
Syncere104720410311971145170
Wren110418712401501576106
Zen119116311981601389128
Extended data extracted from the Social Security Administration

I also have a list of maybes for names I’m not sure about. These may be more likely to enter in 2023 or 2024.

Other Names that Might Enter:

Name2021 Rank2021 Babies2020 Rank2020 Babies2019 Rank2019 Babies
Adiel109718912691431121174
Beck105919910321961208158
Benito11391751616991589104
Booker1203159166795171092
Canyon117916514711161493114
Casper111918012221531202159
Draco11991601599101164099
Imran103620710092061150169
Ivaan116616813031381523111
Izan119216212491471549108
Joan110718511331721172165
Kilian117516612241531353132
Kyren109718812031571187161
Kyzer102521211471691064191
Lazarus115817112821421314139
Merrick10042171013205985216
Niam116316913001391397127
Ramiro103420810611881056193
Teddy117716613331341446121
Teo115117313661291335136
Veer110318711391711211158
Zamir102321310272001031200
Zephyr110018812851421228155
Extended data extracted from the Social Security Administration.

Notes:

  • Rhodes – Celebrity baby name via Emma Roberts, who had her son in 2020.
  • Zen was the name of Nick Cannon’s infant son who sadly passed away from cancer. Nick Cannon has many children, most of whom were born from 2020 on. Watch for these first names too: Powerful (g), Zion (b), Zillion (b), Legendary (b), Onyx (g), Rise (b), Beautiful (g), and Halo (g).
  • We’re long past Harry Potter, so I don’t know what’s driving Draco up all of a sudden. TikTok, maybe? Did an influencer name their baby Draco?
  • Sevyn is a variation of Seven, which have both gotten more popular in part thanks to the character in The Hate U Give.
  • Re: Kilian, I wonder if Kylian Mbappe and the World Cup will give related names a boost.

Do you have any names you’re eyeing for the 2022 Top 1000? Not all of these can come or go, but I’m betting a good number will (plus a few surprises). We’ll see the results soon enough!

Name Profile: Florian
Classic, Old, and Traditional Names · International

Name Profile: Florian

ElizabethLeave a comment

Here’s a name that should be on your radar: Florian.

Florian comes from Florianus, the name of a short-lived Roman emperor who reigned in 276 C.E. More famously, his contemporary St. Florian is the patron saint of Upper Austria, Poland, and firefighters.   

Florian fits into so many categories that are trendy for U.S. baby names in 2023:

  • International: Probably in part thanks to St. Florian, it’s a popular choice for baby boys in Austria, Poland, and Germany. If you love imports like Luca, Florian should be next on your list.
  • Nature / Floral: Florian ultimately derives from Florus, a Roman men’s name which comes from the same root as Flora (a goddess representing flowers and the Spring). Florian is one of only a handful of boys’ names that’s strongly associated with flowers! It works well if you want to honor a Flora or Florence, so I think we can add it to another category: men’s names that honor women. And if you like positive associations, besides the floral aspects names like Florence and Florian often take on an additional, related meaning: “flourishing.”
  • Vintage: Besides originating in the Roman era, Florian was briefly popular in the early 20th century United States. According to data from the Social Security Administration, its highest-ever rank was #525 in 1917. Florian’s been out of the top 1000 since 1941, though you can still usually find a few born each year.  
  • “-N” ending: Think Nolan, Owen, Jackson, and other boys’ names ending with the letter N that are sweeping today’s playgrounds.
  • Soft boy names: Gentle, rounded, vowel-heavy boys’ names like Liam and Rowan are all the rage right now. Nameberry actually included Florian in their post on the trend.
  • Unique: Less than 50 babies per year in the U.S. are being named Florian! At last count in 2021, just 29 boys were named Florian across the country.

Florian also appears across pop culture throughout the past 50 years!

  • Pokemon: Florian is the main male character of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (Juliana is his female counterpart). The games released in 2022, so maybe we should expect an uptick in the next data release!
  • Dido: The singer Dido’s real first name is Florian, giving us an unusual example of a woman Florian.
  • Kraftwerk: Music fans may also recall Florian Schneider, a core and original member of German electronic band Kraftwerk. If you think you’ve never heard Kraftwerk’s music, you’re likely wrong; the Coldplay song “Talk” samples Kraftwerk’s “Computer Love.”
  • Harry Potter: Florean Fortescue (yes, different spelling) was the owner of a popular ice cream parlor in Diagon Alley. Although he was a minor character, the books were the first place I ever encountered the name.
  • Attack on Titan: The manga contains a character named Florian. While I suspect anime has much wider-reaching effects than manga on U.S. baby naming, this is a popular series and I won’t be surprised if someone finds inspiration here.  

Ryan, Ian, and Ori are probably the most accessible nicknames, though Florri is cool because it sounds like a Viking or a dwarf in a Tolkien novel! Florian is also an isogram, which means it has no repeating letters.

What do you think about the name Florian? Would you use it? Do you prefer it as a men’s name or think it’s more gender-neutral? Let me know!

Baby Names Starting with ‘Win,’ From Winter to Wingfield
Name Lists

Baby Names Starting with ‘Win,’ From Winter to Wingfield

ElizabethLeave a comment

Where I live, heavy winters are expected. Somehow, though, this season was strangely mild. Where’s all the snow I was promised when I moved to New England a year ago? Last week we vacationed north into ski country and (finally) there was almost too much snow. Spring may be just around the corner, but for a brief period it felt like winter again! And naturally, I was thinking about baby names. Specifically, names starting with “Win,” as in “Winter,” came to mind!

The letter ‘W’ is an interesting one because there aren’t that many girls’ names that start with it. It’s more traditional for boys’ names, but even so it’s no ‘A’ or ‘S’ with gajillions of possible name combinations. Even fewer are names that start with ‘Win,’ but with winter on my brain, those are the names I’m thinking about.

Here’s a selection of baby names starting with ‘Win’ for your name inspiration!

  • Winter – ‘Tis the season, and the name that inspired this list. Winter was briefly popular in the late 70s before reviving about a decade ago. An ultramodern nature option with a gender-neutral sound, I’m surprised this name still veers mostly feminine in usage. Current U.S. rank: #324. Interestingly, the spelling variant Wynter is almost as popular with a national ranking of #344!
  • Winston is a classic boys’ name with strong connections to Winston Churchill. Winston was traditionally a surname, but it’s spent so much time as a first name that I have a hard time putting it in the same category as, say, Miller. Except for a few years in the 19th century when it didn’t rank, Winston is perennially a popular choice for baby boys in the U.S. Current rank: #411.
  • Winnie is a trendy, up-and-coming vintage girls’ name that’s traditionally short for Winifred. I’ve also seen it used as a nickname for Winslet and Gwendolyn, so whether you prefer it as a standalone name or short for something else, you have options! Winnie is adorable either way. Current rank: #690.
  • Winifred is an old English name that derives from an earlier Welsh name (Gwenfrewi) via Latin in honor of an early British saint. Popular until the mid-20th century, it is so close to reaching popularity again! 234 girls were named Winifred in 2021, just 21 fewer babies than the minimum for the top 1000. Maybe she’ll make the 2022 list? Winnifred is a common spelling variation.
  • Winona was mildly popular for girls until the mid 20th century. Though it’s still a rare baby name, it’s risen sharply from just a few dozen a year in the early 2010s to over 170 baby girls in 2021. My guess for the increase? Actress Winona Ryder and her role on Stranger Things, which makes sense since the first big jump was in 2016 (the year the show started). Winona is a Native American name of Dakota or Sioux origin referring to a “first-born daughter.”
  • Winry is a character on the anime Full Metal Alchemist and the inspiration for the baby name, which is rare but trending upwards. 116 girls received the name in 2021.
  • Winslow Homer was a famous American painter, though these days his first name is more popular for baby girls. 63 girls and 27 boys were named Winslow in 2021. I think it makes a great, unique alternative to both Winston and Willow.
  • Windsor comes to us from the British Royal Family, making this one of the preppier surname baby names available to today’s parents. 33 girls and 11 boys were named Windsor in 2021.
  • Winsley – As far as I can tell, Winsley doesn’t have a lot of history as a first name (it’s modern!) but there is a rare surname and a village in England called Winsley. Still, I think it has lots of potential! 33 girls were named Winsley in 2021.
  • Winslet is the surname of famed actress Kate Winslet, who inspires a handful of parents each year to name their daughters after her. 18 girls were named Winslet in 2021…I’m surprised there weren’t more! Winslet has a sweet, feminine sound like Juliet.
  • Winsome – Here’s an unusual word name with a positive meaning: “charming.” Winsome Sears is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s current Lieutenant Governor. 8 baby girls were named Winsome in 2021, the same year she was elected. Since Winsome rarely ever appears in the birth data, I wonder if any (or all) were named after her?
  • Windy is a mid-century nature name that barely sees use anymore. In some cases Windy may be a variation of Wendy, but its popularity in the 60s and 70s was heavily influenced by an eponymous song by The Association. Just 6 girls were named Windy in 2021.
  • Winfield is a surname baby name you don’t really hear anymore. It was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries thanks to Winfield Scott Hancock, a famed Civil War general who ran for President in the 1880 election (Nancy has written on the election’s impact on names). Hancock was named after an earlier Winfield Scott, a general and hero of the War of 1812 who served all the way through to the Civil War. I suspect Winfield may have been a relatively popular baby name throughout the century.
  • Winfred is a great alternative to Wilfred, which is already rare in the U.S. If you’re looking to honor a Winnie or Winifred, try Winfred! Winfred is primarily associated as a men’s name, but I think the proximity to Winifred makes unisex usage possible as a kind of spelling variant (the traditional feminine form of Winfred, though, is Winfreda). Winfred derives from Old English roots meaning “friend” and “peace.”
  • Winnoc is the name of an obscure Breton or Welsh saint, though it’s also close to a word for window (“winnock”). Similarly, I came across another cool saintly name from the same region – Winwaloe.
  • Wingfield – This is a surname that could make a great option for expecting parents and authors who are fans of nature names (double whammy with “wing” and “field!”) and want something elegant or distinguished. Hello, maximalism!

Do you have a favorite name starting with the letters “Win?” Are there any you would add to this list? I like all of these for different reasons, but I think I have a special soft spot for Winifred and Winslow.

In the meantime, let’s toast to the end of winter and beginning of spring. I hear where I’m moving next (yes, I’m moving again!), the flowers are already blooming. It’s funny what a difference a few hundred miles makes, right?

Analysis · Classic, Old, and Traditional Names · Religious Names

Name Profile: Benedict

Elizabeth3 Comments

I used to think Benedict was one of those names that was too stained by history for modern usage as a baby name. Growing up in a household with a parent enamored by Early America, and with my own interests in colonial history, Benedict Arnold’s treason always felt like the reason why nobody named their sons Benedict anymore. Why I didn’t consider Benedict‘s decades in the U.S. top 1000 or the more enduring popularity of Arnold never occurred to me. Maybe it’s because my generation grew up watching Arnold Schwarzenegger movies and Hey Arnold, so our positive associations overrode the general’s surname. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always liked Benedict as a baby name! The fact is, until I was older I simply didn’t know of any living person who bore the name.

Nowadays, Benedict is a semi-popular top 1000 baby name in the United States! A few things have happened in the last 20 years to revive Benedict from the tomes of history and become a suitable modern baby name:

  • The first time I think I heard the name outside of 18th-century history was the 2005 election of Pope Benedict XVI. When he became Pope, the name Benedict received a substantial boost. With his recent death on December 31st, 2022, expect to see another bump to the name in the 2023 data (though, it will be interesting to see if his nearly unprecedented abdication dampens some of the effects here since the papal transition already happened).
  • Sherlock arrived on TV in 2010, quickly obsessing Americans. With that, Benedict Cumberbatch became a ubiquitous household name and at that point, I think the name began making its way out of purely religious circles. If anyone’s had a heavy hand in fading negative historical associations for Americans, he has. It helps too that Cumberbatch starred in a major Marvel role as Dr. Strange.
  • Cumberbatch isn’t even the only Benedict in Dr. Strange! Benedict Wong played another major role as Wong. What are the chances of two major acting credits in the same movie going to men both named Benedict? Either way, both actors have appeared across numerous Marvel productions.
  • One word: Bridgerton. The romance series first arrived over 20 years ago in novel form, but the Netflix series has been a massive phenomenon since its introduction late in 2020. Benedict is the name of the second child and son, and there’s a good chance that the characterization helped push the name back into the Top 1000 for 2021.

Besides all the current religious and pop culture associations, Benedict fits a few popular name aesthetics. It’s long, elegant, and Latin, landing squarely into the maximalist style of distinguished baby names. Benedict is old-fashioned, giving it a boost for parents who love vintage names. Bridgerton grants Benedict Regency vibes. Anglophile parents also may love its British-sounding appeal. It’s not super popular but with a rank of #991, it’s firmly familiar to American parents. If you want to honor a Benjamin but prefer something more unusual, Benedict has you covered. And if you go by meanings, its definition (“blessed”) makes it an honorific option for the Hebrew name Baruch too. Overall, I think Benedict finds itself in a perfect storm for creating a popular baby name.

What do you think of Benedict?

Classic, Old, and Traditional Names

Name Profile: Gertrude

Elizabeth2 Comments

Is it time for Gertrude to become a popular baby name again?

Gertrude is about as old-fashioned as it gets. Germanic, heavy on the consonants, and not-at-all frilly, it doesn’t sound like a name that could be popular for baby girls in 2022 or 2023. It’s quite rare, and many people probably treat it like the dodo – extinct! But I wonder if Gertrude‘s time is coming.

For one thing, it’s already more popular than it was 25 years ago. In 1998, only 5 baby girls were named Gertrude, which is the lowest count by far since the U.S. birth data starts in 1880. Just think – 100 years ago, several thousand girls were named Gertrude every year! While it hasn’t fully revived yet, you can now expect about 25-35 girls to receive the name each year and in 2021, the last year for which we have data, the count landed at 29 baby girls. There is no longer a major risk of Gertrude‘s name extinction. If anything, her long absence from the spotlight is a bonus because of the hundred-year-cycle, an idea that suggests names circle back around after a century. We’ve seen names like Evelyn return that way.

Another thing to consider is that Gertrude has fantastic nickname potential. There’s always classic Trudy or Trudie, which benefits from simultaneous cuteness and maturity. As it happens, today’s child is just about as likely to have Trudy as a legal name as they are to be called Gertrude (30 girls were named Trudy in 2021). Oddly enough, Gertie is starting to pop up again after a long absence (5 girls were named Gertie in 2021), so if you love old lady names you’re in luck! Geri might be too dated for a modern baby, but Gigi, Rudy, and Rue are adorable. Another nickname that makes Gertrude more accessible is True, a gender-neutral option which is wildly trendy thanks to Kardashian influence. You can also find that spelled without the ‘e’ (Tru), and sometimes with one extra (Truee) or even a second ‘u’ (Truu).

Bonus points for Gertrude include namesakes from Shakespeare (Hamlet’s mother), saints, Gertrude Stein, and Ma Rainey. Gertrude also gets to join the ever-growing compendium of Christmas baby names thanks to an adorable little girl in Violent Night, a 2022 Christmas movie that combines Die Hard, Home Alone, and other famous holiday movies to create a jolly dark comedy action flick. That character, named after her grandmother, goes by Trudy; funnily enough, her teenage cousin Bert’s full name is Bertrude (also after their grandmother, the family matriarch). Gertie itself boasts a modern, contemporary reference in the popular children’s book Gossie and Gertie about a pair of ducklings who are friends. If names like Gertrude, Trudy, True, and Gertie all have recent reference points in pop culture, it’s only a matter of time before they all start rising.

What kind of middle names suit Gertrude? Gertrude‘s Germanic root words mean “spear” and “strength,” which is just plain awesome! Methinks Gertrude pairs well with other strong and powerful vintage names like Hedwig (“war”), Queen, and Millicent (“work + strength”), but I also think it could be a great idea to balance it out with softer options like Evelyn, Estelle, and Winnie. Nature-related names also work well in the middle spot, such as Rose, Holly, and Sage. You can imagine a Gertrude Sage, can’t you? And when in doubt, Katherine, Marie, and Elizabeth pair well with everything!

Final thoughts: unlike most people, I’ve actually met a younger Gertrude and have wonderful associations with the name as a result. Associations are often the key.

What do you think of Gertrude? Do you have a favorite middle or nickname? Does it work as a baby girls’ name? Let me know what you think!

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 · 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.

"Names from Wednesday." Names from Wednesday
American Names · Analysis

Names from Wednesday

Elizabeth1 Comment

Have you watched Wednesday yet?

My fiance and I grew up with the 90s Addams Family movies and still quote them regularly, so we knew we had to watch this new take on the universe. We finally finished it Wednesday night (ha!) and can’t wait for another season to drop. Not only was it the kind of dark comedy we love, but the mood and environment felt like a New England Hogwarts with more werewolves and vampires in the student body. I wasn’t 100% sure what “dark academia” was before, but I think I know now.

Speaking of dark academia, I think the show’s character names more than qualify for the aesthetic. Nerdy names in a Vermont boarding school named after Edgar Allan Poe (Nevermore) with tragedies galore…yup, they count! If you’ve seen the show or don’t mind mild spoilers, here are the names of the major teenage characters! I fully admit to taking notes while watching.

  • Wednesday – As we’ve known forever, our title character is the ultimate goth girl with a cold personality and dry, dark sense of humor. Parents started naming their daughters Wednesday in the 60s when the first iteration of the Addams Family hit TV, but it’s only been in the last 10-15 years that the name has started rising out from ultra-rare status. 112 girls were named Wednesday in 2021, up from 76 the year before (this latest rise is probably due to the animated movie). If it doesn’t hit the 2022 top 1000, expect to see Wednesday there in 2023. As a side note, the show does explain how Wednesday got her name (from a nursery rhyme stanza: “Wednesday’s Child is Full of Woe”).
  • Enid – Enid is Wednesday‘s roommate. A bubbly werewolf with a zoo of stuffed animals and a social media following, she is the last person you’d expect Wednesday to befriend. All in all, Enid is a great person, and I love that the creators chose an “old-lady” name for such a vibrant, modern-day character. Don’t be surprised if the name Enid gets a popularity bump from this. 34 girls were named Enid in the U.S. in 2021, which isn’t its most recent but is part of a general rise from 10 years ago. It peaked between 1919 and 1921, which means it’s ripe to return per the 100-year-naming cycle! Enid is an old Welsh-derived Arthurian name too, which puts her in good company with names like Arthur, Guinevere, and Percival (all rising in popularity).
  • Bianca – Bianca begins the show as a competitive rival and nemesis to Wednesday (seriously, her fencing skills are par none!), but overtime you realize she’s dealing with her own personal issues like everyone else and the mutual animosity fades into something like friendship. SPOILER: Bianca actually chose her own name. Her mother calls her Brandy Jane, but Bianca seems to hate it. Bianca, a Shakespearean character name which means “white” in Italian, currently ranks #447 in the U.S.
  • Xavier – Xavier knew Wednesday before Nevermore and holds a candle to her. His name is already popular in the U.S. with a rank of #100, but seeing as it peaked in 2009, I’m not sure how much of a bump he’ll give it. I’m honestly a little surprised they went with a Top 100 name for a major student character.
  • Eugene – Eugene is one of the few names that has never left the U.S. Top 1000, though that will probably change soon if the show doesn’t give it a boost. It’s a sweet, geeky name that’s about what you’d expect the nerdy prep school student to be named in popular media…that said, this beekeeping character is awesome and I’d love to see some babies named after him. Current U.S. Rank: #848.
  • Ajax – Ajax is a gorgon like Medusa, which means he has to keep the top of his head covered at all times (even from himself). Most modern parents probably think of the cleaning agent when they hear this name, but Ajax is a character name from the Iliad. That means like Atlas, Persephone, and Artemis, it sees its origins in Greek Mythology. 23 boys were named Ajax in 2021, which makes it unusual but proves it’s usable…that said, I hope babies named Ajax are named after the warriors, not the brand.
  • Tyler – Tyler is a “normie,” which means he’s not a student at the school. He has a great name, but I think it more-or-less reflects the difference between the non-magical townies versus the “outcasts” who attend the school. Tyler currently ranks #157 in the U.S.

More minor character names from their age cohort include:

  • Rowan – Rowan was an important character for a couple of episodes. Though this is a popular name now, its association with the Rowan tree makes it a nature name and thus a great pick for a student of a magical boarding school. Current rank: #106 for boys and #241 for girls. 
  • Lucas – Like Tyler, a “normie” character with a standard name. Wildly popular internationally, Lucas ranks #8 in the U.S.
  • Yoko – Friends with Enid, Yoko‘s name probably reminds most people of Yoko Ono. Only 5 girls were named Yoko in 2021.
  • Davina – She appears to be a member of a secret society with Bianca and Ajax, but I only remember hearing her name once. Davina is a feminine form of David that currently ranks #576 in the U.S.
  • Kent – Like Davina, this was the name of a society member I only heard once. According to SSA data, 130 baby boys were named Kent in 2021.

I feel like I can’t complete a write-up on an Addams Family show without mentioning the following names:

  • Morticia – Wednesday‘s mother’s name has been used very rarely since the 1960s, but expect to see a little bump up from the 10 baby girls who got the name in 2021. 
  • Gomez – Wednesday‘s dad’s name only appeared in SSA data once in 1950.
  • Pugsley – Unless he gets his own show, I doubt Pugsley will ever inspire any baby names. Maybe a dog’s.

All in all, this show made for great baby name inspiration material! My fiance even said he wouldn’t mind naming a daughter Wednesday. As for me, I can’t wait to see what other names they might introduce in another season…hurry up Netflix!

Do you have any favorites from this list, or any you’d like to add? Let me know!

Sources: Besides my own notes, I consulted the Social Security Administration, Behind the Name, and Nancy’s Baby Names for data and information.

American Names · Analysis

The Top 1000 Baby Names of 2017: Entries and Exits

ElizabethLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2018-05-15 at 10.32.24 AM
New names in the U.S. top 1000

My favorite part of reading a new list of the top 1000 American baby names is finding out which names are in and out!  For reference, here are all the names that entered or exited the top 1000 in 2017, according to data from the Social Security Administration.  If they entered, they’re officially popular now; if they left, they’ve become rare.

Entries

Girls: Alisa, Alora, Aminah, Amora, Dream, Egypt, Emberly, Emerald, Ensley, Everlee, Florence, India, Jenny, Jurnee, Kimora, Legacy, Luella, Lyanna, Magdalena, Malani, Marlowe, Meilani*, Melania, Miley, Mylah, Oaklee, Oaklyn, Oaklynn, Octavia, Opal, Paisleigh, Raylee, Renee, Saanvi, Samira, Selene, Sonia, Spencer, Sunny, Tara, Treasure, Xiomara, Yara

Boys: Aaden, Alaric, Ayan, Bishop, Bjorn, Briar, Caspian, Colson, Decker, Dilan, Frankie, Gatlin, Gianluca, Jaxx, Jaxxon, Jovanni, Juelz, Kace, Kairo, Kaiser, Khari, Koa, Kylen, Kyng, Ledger, Mike, Nova, Randall, Rashad, Reign, Shepard, Shmuel, Simeon, Wells, Yadiel, Zahir, Zayd

Exits

Girls: Aislinn, Alianna, Ally, Alyvia, Amya, Anabella, Ann, Anniston, Antonia, Arden, Aryana, Aubri, Ayana, Azaria, Briley, Bryleigh, Chandler, Cherish, Ciara, Elin, Emilie, Farrah, Heather, Jasmin, Jaylynn, Julianne, Kaylynn, Kensington*, Lilia, Lilyanna, Madyson, Marisol, Mariyah, Maylee, Milania, Montserrat, Moriah, Nathaly, Sharon, Shayla, Tabitha, Wendy, Yasmin

Boys: Ahmir, Amare, Benicio, Bode, Braiden, Brantlee, Brent, Creed, Gauge, Gilbert, Giovani, Hakeem, Harris, Immanuel, Jair, Jamar, Jamarion, Jericho, Jonathon, Justus, Kamdyn, Karim, Kolby, Konner, Krish, Kylo, Kymani, Marquis, Menachem, Mikael, Neymar, Ralph, Riaan, Rolando, Steve, Turner, Urijah 

Notes:

  • There are 43 new girls names and 37 new boys names in the American top 1000.
  • Octavia is the highest ranking girls’ entry at #593 (with 502 girls).  This name’s newfound popularity is attributed to actress Octavia Spencer, who might also be partly responsible for the debut of Spencer (#975 with 266) as a girls’ name.
  • Colson is the highest ranking boys’ entry at #736 (with 321 boys).  I initially wondered if Colson was a variation on the Marvel character Agent Coulson’s name.  While Marvel may have a little influence on Colson, this particular spelling is associated with author Colson Whitehead.  His 2016 novel The Underground Railroad won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
  • R.I.P. Ann, Gilbert, and Steve.  They were in the top 1000 every year from 1880 to 2016, and now they’re gone.  Last year, 251 girls were named Ann (6 below the minimum 257 needed to join the top 1000 on the girls side), 194 boys were named Gilbert (7 below the minimum 201 for the boys’ side), and 186 boys were named Steve (15 below).
  • The #1000th most popular girls’ name was Alora.  Bryleigh and Winnie were just as common for baby girls last year, but were prevented from entry by preference in alphabetical order.
  • The #1000th most popular boys’ name was Jaxx.  Kamdyn, Marquis, and Turner were just as common, but missed the cut.
  • Melania (#930 with 283 girls) replaced Milania (205 girls) as the standard spelling of that name, due familiarity with the First Lady.
  • Lyanna (#858 with 317 girls) and Yara (#987 with 262 girls) are character names from Game of Thrones.
  • *With the annual blessing of a new top 1000 also comes an annoying update to earlier years’ data sets that shifts a few names around (usually not by much, but enough for name researchers to notice).  Meilani was in the original 2016 top 1000, but in 2017 the updated top 1000 for 2016 shows Kensington instead.  They’ve swapped places again; for 2017, Meilani is considered a reentry and Kensington an exit.  Kensington wasn’t initially in the 2016 top 1000, but it is now.  This is confusing, I know.  I wish the Social Security Administration would provide a definite answer for why they do this…my guesses are that it’s to correct a) some parents’ failure to apply for Social Security within a certain time-frame, b) data-entry errors, and/or c) legal name changes.  Do my fellow name-writers have any other ideas?

Do you have any thoughts or questions about the new names in the top 1000, or the names that have left?  Favorites, least-favorites?  Are you happy or disappointed about some of the names?  Let me know!