Keira

updated Sept 2015

Keira ~ Black Haired ~ Irish

A Baby Name with Irish Roots
Ok, I know St. Patrick's Day is over. I don't usually do two names of the same origin in two weeks, but I couldn't help myself.

Keira is fascinating to me because it's an established Irish name that rose so quickly in the US as to make it still seem unique and contemporary to our ears. (Much like last week's name, Declan.) It's a no-frills name but also feminine and pretty. The meaning, which comes from the Irish Ciar meaning black, gives it even more of a sophisticated feel.

Popularity & US Fascination
Keira is currently the most popular spelling in America, thanks to the glamorous Keira Knightly. We know her particularly for playing Elizabeth in the box-office hit Pirates of the Caribbean. When the credits rolled, expectant parents were definitely paying attention. The year it came out, the name Keira gained 321 places in the top 1,000 girls' names in America. That's pretty impressive.

When I first wrote this post, Keira was a thriving and popular name, ranked in the 130s. Today, Keira has fallen about 100 spots as it strives to find its place among other trendy names. But keep in mind other spellings and variants really add up, making its current rank of 228 (for 2014) deceivingly low.

How to Pronounce Keira
The popular spelling Keira is undeniably pronounced KEER-ah. Some of the variant spellings offer different pronunciations, as Kiera can either be pronounced KEER-ah or kee-AR-ah.

Variants & Rank for 2014

1. Keira, 128
2. Kira, 350
3. Kiara, 353
4. Kiera, 592
5. Ciara, 673

Declan

updated Sept 2015

Happy St. Patrick's Day! This week's baby name is in honor of Ireland.

Declan ~ unknown, a saint's name ~ Irish

Popularity
A modern-sounding baby name for Americans, Declan (DECK-lan) didn't show up on our charts until 1999. Considering its newfound use in this country, Declan took off incredibly quickly. It's distinctively Irish while also being easy to pronounce and on-trend in its sound.

History
So where does it come from, you ask? Saint Declan is a cherished and popular Irish saint, perhaps second only to...yes...Saint Patrick. Saint Declan founded a monastery and converted many people to Christianity in Ardmore, Ireland, around the 5th century. His feast day is July 24th. You can read all about his lore and significance to the Irish people on this page.

Most sources indicate that the meaning of the name is unknown. A few out there cite it as "full of goodness," and that makes me smile. I think Declan is a cute name with a nice sound, and it's perfect if you want an Irish name that isn't common.

Pop Culture/Stats

• Declan is #122 for US stats in 2014
• Celebrity babies with this name:
• Pro wrestler Shane McMahon's son
• Singer Cindy Lauper went with an alternate spelling for her son, Declyn
• Comedian/Actor Danny McBride's son
• There are characters named Declan in the TV shows Revenge, Kyle XY, Criminal Minds, and Law and Order: Criminal Intent.

Violet

updated Sept 2015

Violet ~ the Flower ~ Latin

There are a lot of pretty flower names for girls, but my favorite happens to be Violet. I love the color it brings to mind and the unique sounds in the name. It's gorgeous and girly and delicate; while the nickname Vi is spunky and glamorous. I love everything about it.

History
Violet was used in Scotland and other European countries as early as the 16th century. Viola, a variation of the name, was a character in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, written in 1601. In the US, Violet was part of the floral name craze of the early 20th century. It was ranked in the top 100s at #74 in 1919, a number that's been challenged again today.

Popularity and Trends
Violet fits in with a few trends—it's got vintage charm, it's a nature name, it's a color name, and it begins with an interesting letter. When Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner chose this name for their first baby, it was already on the rise. But I have a feeling little Violet Affleck is one of the biggest reasons the name rose more than 100 spots after her birth and is still rising today.

A girl named Violet is likely to feel a personal connection to the flower and the color. I can just imagine she would like a bedroom decorated with violet flower pictures and her bedspread in violet hues. How cute would that be?

• Violet is ranked at #67 for 2014.

Variations

• Vi or Vy
• Violetta
• Violette

Fictional Characters

• Violet Bick, from the movie It's a Wonderful Life
• Violet, a character in the Peanuts comic strip
• Violet Baudelaire, a character from A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
• Violet Beauregarde, a character in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
• Violet Parr, a character in the Pixar movie The Incredibles
• Dr. Violet Turner, a character in the TV show Private Practice
• Violet, a character in the 1980's cartoon Rainbow Brite

Nature Baby Names

They are simple, evocative, and downright beautiful. Today we love names inspired by planet Earth as much as the flappers of the roaring twenties and peace-loving hippies. They have matured beyond any one stereotype and hit a sweet spot for a wild variety of tastes. Consider the classic Rose, the trendy Aspen, the vintage Ruby, the free-spirited Meadow, or the glittering Star, and you'll agree that there's a nature name for everyone under the sun.