December 8th, 2008

Just in time for Christmas… Elf names for babies.

Just when you think that no other name could be created for a child someone writes an article like this one. I think it is great to have a unique name and if that that is what you are looking for well you have come to the right place my friend!

Unfortunately I can’t give you the whole Sha-bang now but here is a snippet of the interesting names I have found on this website.

“*Alatáriel—the name given to Galadriel by her husband, meaning “maiden crowned with a radiant garland”.

Amarië—One of the Vanyar, Amarië was loved by Finrod but refused to follow him to Middle-Earth.

Anairë—The wife of Fingolfin, mentioned in The History of Middle-Earth.

Aredhel—’Noble Elf’, a minor character in The Silmarillion. Her name in Quenya was Irissë.”

Want more?

Please visit the original site by Sarah Tennant

November 14th, 2008

A recommendation for finding baby names.

Kat writes:

I named my first child before she was conceived. We also had names lined up for another girl and two boys - I was so protective of these names I told pregnant friends they couldn’t use them! So when it came to picking a name for Boo II we thought we would just dust off the original selection. Problem is, there are a lot of babies with these names and we don’t love them like we once did. So it was back to the drawing board and time to look for new inspiration.

I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of The Baby Name Wizard by Laura Wattenburg. This book is not like the 2,001 books with 50,001 names (which only look at names alone) it takes into account all sorts of factors to create groups and suggest names for siblings. Naming, like most other things, has fashions which come and go. Laura has created a unique reference which manages to stimulate your thinking about names rather than leaving you swimming in a sea of words. The actual name snapshots section only contains 1,500 names but once you start reading you soon realise this is plenty. Each snapshot has: Popularity (USA rankings), Style, Nicknames, Variants, Sisters, Brothers and a description. The description often includes a short definition, brief history and feel of the name.

As well as the name snapshots there are the style groups and advice on choosing a name. The style groups and sibling suggestions are what makes this book truly wizardly. You look at a name you like, and there are suggestions for similar names in brothers & sisters as well as a whole group of similarly inspired names. I have tried this out on both our name lists and those of friends and generally there is at least one suggestion that is already on their list and more which appeal. Very occasionally the US origins of the book mean it doesn’t quite match our UK thinking but this is so rare I would say it doesn’t matter.

The advice section at the beginning is brilliant. It includes trends and family matters as well as some golden rules for name choosing. For example: Rule #1: Personal taste isn’t so personal. Yesterday a friend of ours announced their new baby’s name. Unfortunately for us, that is the name we have chosen for our baby. She didn’t ’steal’ it but came up with it completely independently of us. Laura sites just such cases and then shows how cultural and geographical influences shape the thinking of communities. So, while I am a little annoyed they got there first I won’t be demanding she change the child’s name. I won’t.

For my money, this is the definitive book to name choosing. Rather than looking through lists and lists of names, you will find yourself flicking back and forward as new names are thrown into the pot. Add to the book a couple of good sites like Nameberry and Laura’s own site, Baby Name Wizard (with amazing features: Namipedia, Name Voyager and Advanced Name Finder) and you will be well on the way to finding great names that suit your family.

November 5th, 2008

We can add Obama to the list of presidential baby names

It’s fitting that on the day of this historic election, we turn our attention to Presidential baby names.

The Presidential Names are fashionable partly by accident, and partly by design.  Many of the parents naming their babies Madison and Taylor, Tyler and Reagan are choosing those names not because they love the Presidents associated with them but because they’re attracted to the surname feel, or the unisex quality, or the stylishness of the names.

But some parents are also choosing names associated with presidents because we’re all hungry for heroes these days.  How can a child fail to be inspired by a name like Lincoln or Kennedy?

The most fashionable Presidential names are those a little off the beaten track: McKinley is an excellent choice, as are Pierce, Truman, Jefferson, Ford, Hayes.

Some Presidential names may still not be quite ready for prime time: Dwight or Eisenhower, for example, Ulysses or Washington.  And it seems unlikely that anyone is ever going to name her baby Coolidge or Nixon.

We might look to Presidential first names, middle names and First Lady names for fresh inspiration.  Quincy is a good choice, as is Mamie.  Franklin, Theodore, Calvin, and Woodrow may all be ready for a revival.  Even outgoing President Bush’s middle name Walker may prove baby-worthy, but Bush itself?  Doubtful.

Original Source

October 31st, 2008

Take it easy…its only the rest of your baby’s life.

Choosing a name for your baby is an exciting part of the whole pregnancy experience. For some parents, this is a very easy task. But for others it takes more time and a great deal of thought. Some even agonize over the choice for months before choosing a name. And some never come to an agreement and choose at the very last minute when they see the baby’s face.

Your child will carry their name, for the rest of their life. It is important to remember this, when making a choice. Trendy or celebrity names may seem like a great idea, now. But look ahead to the time when your child turns 40…how will that name look on a resume or business card?

Another reason you may want to avoid trendy names is to avoid overkill, of sorts. Kennedy and Madison might sound like a perfect choice, today. The question is how many other parents share your opinion? Five years down the road, four or five Kennedy’s in the same kindergarten class, might prove to be a bit confusing.

If you have no clue, when it comes to choosing a name for your baby, don’t despair! You can easily begin the process by purchasing one or two baby name books. There is a wide variety to choose from and they will all provide you with thousands of choices.

If you prefer, there are many websites dedicated to assisting you when it comes to choosing the perfect name. Think of them as the no cost alternative to buying the books.

Once you’ve done a bit of research, the fun really begins. Choose several name combinations and write them down, on paper. How do they look and sound? You want to avoid names, which sound singsong or are tongue twisters.

If your last name is a common word or even a name which is often used as a first name, you probably want to avoid names such as Richard Richards and Rocky Stone.

If you have an unusual last name that is sometimes subject to ridicule, consider a longer first name. This will draw attention away from the last name.

If you have your heart set on naming your baby after a cherished relative there is certainly nothing wrong with that. However, if it is more of an old-fashioned name like Bertha or Claude you might want to consider using it for your child’s middle name.

Chances are your family members will be eager to help you choose a name. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this and they may even come up with just the right one. It is important to remember that in the end the choice is yours. Never choose a name you aren’t fond of, just to please someone else.

A good rule of thumb is to never choose a baby name that you wouldn’t be happy with yourself. Don’t rush your decision. You have nine months to come up with the perfect name, for your bundle of joy.

Original source here.

October 22nd, 2008

Biggest names of 2008

Top Baby Girl Names of 2008Emily
Isabella
Emma
Ava
Madison
Sophia
Olivia
Abigail
Hannah
Elizabeth

Top Baby Boy Names of 2008

Jacob
Michael
Joshua
Matthew
Ethan
Daniel
Christopher
Anthony
William
Andrew

October 16th, 2008

The hippest babies have these names.

The fact that they said Austin inspired some of the names on this list made me want to post it up.

Warning: some names may be too hip!

Hipster Names

September 24th, 2008

Sweedish Girl Names

Emerson
Emilee
Emilia
Emilie
Emily
Emma
Emmalee
Erica
Ericka
Erika
Erin
Esmeralda
Esperanza
Essence
Estefani
Estefania
Estefany
Esther
Estrella
Eva
Eve
Evelin
Evelyn
Fabiola
Faith
Fatima
Felicia
Felicity
Fernanda
Fiona
Frances
Francesca
Frida
Gabriela
Gabriella
Gabrielle
Galilea
Genesis
Genevieve
Georgia
Gia
Giana
Gianna
Gillian
Gina
Giovanna
Giselle
Gisselle
Gloria
Grace
Gracie
Graciela
Greta
Gretchen
Guadalupe
Gwendolyn
Hadley
Hailee
Hailey
Hailie
Haleigh
Haley
Halie
Halle
Hallie
Hana
Hanna
Hannah
Harley
Harmony
Haven
Hayden
Haylee
Hayley

September 17th, 2008

Some Helpful Advice for Choosing a Baby Name

When it comes to choosing the right baby boy name for the new addition to your family as you will soon discover there are thousands to choose from. But of all the baby boy names around finding the right one for your child can be much more difficult than you first thought.

These tips will help you in choosing the right name for your lovely new son. Remember even small changes to a name can make a huge difference as how others perceive that person as they grow older.

1. Get together a list of all those names that you do like as well as a few of those that you don’t. If you want to ask family members and friends for names that they think are suitable. Then slowly go through this list and choose those names you like the sound of or feel may reflect your son’s personality.

2. It is important to remember that the name you choose for your son is one that will stay with him for the rest of his life. Therefore you need to select one which as he grows up will grow and sound just as good when he becomes an adult.

3. If you can look closely at the meaning of what a particular name you are interested in means. The quickest and easiest way of finding out exactly what a certain name means is by doing a search on the internet. There are hundreds of sites which offer you details regarding the meanings of names. Although not important, sometimes knowing what exactly a name means is the ideal way of selecting a name for your child. Keep reading →

September 15th, 2008

iPhone Baby Name App

Everyone has the hardest time picking out baby names. Heck I have the hardest time finding many of the baby name ideas to share with you but now iPhone has made it much easier on all of us.

Check out the new Baby Name App from iPhone! 15,000 baby names from 150 origins. You can even share a list with your friends and family because we all know the fam wants to be in on picking out a name too.

For more information click here.

September 11th, 2008

Most Popular Baby Names for 2008

After the hustle and bustle of the new year has passed, and we are settling into 2008, we thought it was a good time to research the hottest names and trends for the rest of the year.

As always, the most popular names are the traditional names. Names from the Bible and the New Testament rank number one in every major naming chart. Jacob, MichaelAbigail, Joshua, Hannah and Daniel appear in all these lists. In spite of this, “new” Biblical and traditional names have climbed the charts: Ethan, which ranked number one in several charts, Benjamin, Caleb, Zachary and the hot new name – Elijah.

Even though these names are the most popular, they only represent twenty five percent of the names. The other seventy five are divided between modern names, retro names and just plain weird names.

In the girl name charts we noticed an interesting trend. A lot of names start with vowels. Emily, Ashley, Alexis, Emma, Angel and  Olivia replaced names such as Sarah, Grace, Rebecca and Martha. Keep reading →