Why I Divide Name Lists by Boys and Girls

It's the sometimes-spoken question of the hour: Why all the naming division? After all, dividing names by sex can cause controversy, hurt feelings, and seem like it supports gender stereotyping. 

Those are things I'd rather not do. Yet, I persist. When I'm talking about a big group of names, I usually create two lists, one of boys' names, and one of girls' names. WHY, you ask? (Or, sometimes, it's more like, "WHyyyyyyyyyYYYYYYYyyyy??!")

Fletcher

Fletcher ~ Arrow Maker ~ Origin

Modern parents in search of perfect names are clamoring for the sought-after “it” names from the mid-to-late 1800s. What we think of as quintessential Victorian names like Owen, Ella, Grace, and Isaac have been devoured by today’s parents looking for appealing vintage sounds. But if you're looking for a boys' name off the beaten path, Fletcher is a Victorian name still flying under the modern-day radar. It's a tasteful antique that just might make an appearance on your list of favorites soon. 

 

Brooklyn

Brooklyn ~ the city, broken land ~ American

The most popular girls' name starting with a B, Brooklyn is a top choice that speaks to an affinity for the sounds in Brooke and Lynn, even more than a love of the city. It's a fashionable mashup name that's also got loads of big city style.

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

Bellamy

Bellamy ~ Fair Friend ~ French

An intriguing choice from a French surname, Bellamy is a breath of fresh air that still affords the ultra-popular nickname Bella. It's feminine, darling, and contemporary, but it isn't without a history or a meaning.

Logan

Logan ~ Little Hollow ~ Scottish Gaelic

This strong, lovable name is sitting at an all-time peak right now, proving its charm and Gaelic roots combine with its trendy ending to create a powerhouse of a name with the perfect mix of appeal.

Autumn Updates

This is pretty much how my desk looks right now, minus the manicure and plus a mug of spiced pumpkin hot chocolate. It's been a busy season for me and this blog, and I thought it would be helpful to sum up what you've been loving so far this fall.

Harriet and Hattie

Harriet ~ Ruler of the Home ~ French, English

This name should be an enduring classic, a timeless star that shined steadily throughout the last century or two. Instead, America only embraced Harriet for a short time. There are finally some hints that we're warming up to this name, and I think a Victorian-style revival of the traditional names Harriet and Hattie is long overdue.

Thaddeus

Thaddeus ~ Given by God, Heart ~ Greek, Aramaic

A distinguished biblical name that's ready for rediscovery, Thaddeus is starting to win over our hearts and the top spots on our list of favorites. Still, it's a slow climb for this buttoned-down, creative, and traditional name.

Creative Honor Names: Ten Ways to Honor a Loved One

When my husband’s brother passed away unexpectedly three weeks ago, my choice in baby names was not exactly at the forefront of my mind. Yet with each day that went by, thinking of ways to honor him came quite naturally. I’m six months pregnant, and my husband and I had already chosen a first name that we loved for our little girl. But things had changed in an instant, and it became clear that we wanted to honor her late uncle with our daughter’s name.

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.

Zoey, Zoe, and Zoie

Zoe ~ Life ~ Greek

History & Meaning
Zoe comes from the Greek word for life, or ζωή. It's amazing how this ancient name strikes us as so modern and fresh today, making it a spot-on choice for those who love a spirited, contemporary classic with deep roots.

Walden

Walden ~ Welsh Valley ~ Old English

The more I think about this name, the more it draws me in. It's appealing on every level, including its literary vibe, trendy sound, surname style, and nature name qualities.

Celebrity Babies of 2015: Summer Season

Fall is almost upon us, and that means it's time to wrap up celebrity baby names for the past three months. Included are the baby's birthday, parents' names and the baby's first and middle name (if available). Announcements are still trickling in, and as they do I will update this post. A few words of commentary—in the form of celebrity name awards—are below the list!

Hannah

Hannah ~ God has favored me with a child ~ Hebrew

Between its lovely, soft sound and its melt-our-hearts meaning, Hannah has become an American staple. I also love that this name happens to be a palindrome; perfect from beginning to end...and back again.

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.