Laughing All the Way: Cheerful Baby Names

It's time for the last in my series on names inspired by the lyrics of Jingle Bells, and it's the perfect happy ending, one brought to us by the phrase "laughing all the way." Here are a few charming names with a joyful spirit that are sure to have you smiling all year long.

O'er the Fields We Go: Baby Names Inspired by Wide Open Spaces

The third part in my series based on the opening lyrics of Jingle Bells offers an impressive variety of names. They are beautiful choices inspired by the countryside, and while some feel like a laid-back nature name, others have a distinguished prim and proper flair. That's because lots of these names come from Old English, where the hills and valleys of the country became surnames that are proving to be an on-trend choice in given names today.

In a One-Horse Open Sleigh: Baby Names Inspired by Horses

The second part in my series based on the opening lyrics of Jingle Bells takes us to the countryside once again. These equine-inspired names herald from English, western, and exotic places, creating a group that is beautiful and full of variety. There is a surprising amount of names that pay homage to horses, and they are perfectly expressive for anyone who loves horses and wants to share that passion with their child.

Dashing Through the Snow: Snowy Baby Names

In case you're wondering, I do find it odd that this isn't the first time I've written about the song Jingle Bells. I promise, I'm not obsessed. It's just that Jingle Bells is so universal and apparently inspiring as a prime example of winter fun. Also, I have a toddler.

Pilgrim Baby Names

The roster of Mayflower passengers is quite inspiring if you love old-fashioned, classic, or virtue names. Embarking in 1620, parents from Delfshaven, Holland and London, England sailed the Atlantic at great risk in order to establish their faith in the New World. The names they chose for their children often reflected their beliefs, whether biblical or creative, and they are are a fascinating and inspiring group.

The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth by Jennie A. Brownscombe

Boy Meets Girl: Feminine Forms of Male Names in the Bible

One of my most popular posts is on biblical baby names of all kinds. It's a list full of classics, trendy options, and unusual names alike divided by gender. In that post, I discussed the fact that there are many more male names mentioned in the Bible than female names, and the list shows it. But there was one thing I left out: The gorgeous, endearing feminine forms of male names in the Bible.

My Top 20 Favorite Baby Names for Fall

I originally wrote this article for Baby Name Wizard and have tweaked it a bit for this blog. Enjoy!

This morning the temperature was in the 40s, and I did a little happy dance and ran to pull out my favorite pumpkin everything. I'm not only thinking autumn decor, clothes, foods, and smells, I'm thinking fall baby names. There's something especially inspiring about this time of year and names that celebrate the season are just as rich and lovely as those beautiful changing leaves.

Simply Adorable Baby Names for Boys

I wrote about adorable names for girls last week, and now it's time to uncover a few boys names fit for swaddling, cooing, and cuddling.

Simply Adorable Baby Names for Girls

Say it with me: Awww! You've found a simple little list of crazy cute names for girls. I wanted to keep this one as darling as the baby above (though that may be impossible) and easy peasy, since my real job (which I love, of course!) takes up quite a bit of my time.

Top 10 Favorite Horror-Movie Inspired Baby Names

An actual conversation between a friend's husband and a guy he didn't know very well, while watching a particularly disobedient kid at the playground:

Random Guy: "That kid should be named Damien, you know, after the evil kid in The Omen!"
Friend's Husband: "Um, that's my son's name."
Random Guy: "Oh. Sorry."

Troublemaker Names

Lookout, world! The trend of using nicknames as given names means we have some troublemakers on our hands. But don't worry, these names are given in affection and won't actually turn your little boy into a troublemaker. He'll do that all on his own.

The Most Classic Boys' Names of All Time

Wouldn't it be nice if you could find the perfect boy's name that fits like a glove and always sounds great? Maybe you're not into some of the latest name trends. Or maybe you like a variety of naming styles, including classic names. I completely understand! That's why I looked high and low for boys' names that have a long history of use in America that is fairly steady, without any volatile changes in popularity. Some are more popular than others right now, but they are all still showing plenty of life. They will always feel familiar, reliable, friendly, and traditional.

The Most Classic Girls' Names of All Time

There’s nothing like watching a classic movie, cruising in a classic car, or bearing a classic name that never goes out of style. I'm lucky enough to have a name from this list, and I have to say it's nice to know my name will never sound dated. I looked high and low for similar names that have a long history of use in the US that is fairly steady, without any volatile changes in popularity. Some are more popular than others right now, but they are all still showing plenty of life. These lovely girls' names are familiar, reliable, friendly, and traditional.

Names for Pirates and Mermaids

Whoever said pirates and mermaids go together? Pirates are real-life marauders. Mermaids? Fictional fish-women who often wear only seashells. But they do have a few things in common: the sea and the stories we tell about it. If you are looking for some keen gentlemanly-pirate names, or some swimmingly sea-worthy mermaid names, I've got you covered on both fronts.

Fiery Names

The dog days of summer are upon us, as August is the hottest month of the year in the US. So I give you a list that goes right along with your sunglasses, flip flops, and sunblock.

Girls' Names Beginning with W

My quest to find the perfect girls' name beginning with W goes back to my days as a child in my mom's daycare. She only had a few other kids, but one of them was a beautiful baby named Whitney. Adoring the child and the name just went hand-in-hand for me. It was the early 80s and I loved everything to do with my era. Sequins, legwarmers, Lisa Frank, Michael Jackson, crimped hair in a side ponytail...if it was 80s, I loved it. The name Whitney was, of course, inspired by the iconic 80s star Whitney Houston, but the name had more staying power than some of its counterparts.

Baby Names for Valentine's Day

Feeling romantic? These sweet baby names are perfect expressions of love for a Valentine's Day baby.

Names for Ballerinas

I originally wrote this article for Name Candy. It's been edited and updated for this blog. Enjoy!

If you're like me, you can't get enough of all things ballet. Specifically, my TV is flooded with real life and imagined ballerinas, from shows that are making the life of a prima ballerina ready for grown-up viewers. The shows Breaking Pointe (a reality show), Bunheads (a drama/comedy), and Australia’s drama Dance Academy, are the perfect answer to my fascination with the ballet.

Most Popular Unisex Names

There are countless names that could be considered unisex, but which names do we currently use the most for both boys and girls? To determine the most popular, I researched the top names that are shared between both genders, and calculated the average between the male and female name rank. I used the latest statistics for 2011. Enjoy!

Retro Names from the 1950s

The fifties were a time for enjoying the finer things in life. After World War II, America celebrated as men returned home to their families. They got new jobs, lived in new suburban homes, and bought new things. Men enjoyed fabulous cars while women learned to use new time-saving gadgets, and kids were lavished with toys. The entire country was growing in population as well as in industry. Communism was the new enemy, and we fought it with well-defined gender roles and conservative values.