Everly, Everleigh, and Everlee

Everly ~ From the Boar Meadow ~ English

History & Meaning
This name may be completely contemporary, but it's also a traditional English surname that has gone undiscovered until recently.

Evangeline

updated Sept 2015

Evangeline ~ Messenger of Good News ~ English, Greek

Statue of Evangeline,

Grand Pré National Historic Site, Nova Scotia

Evangeline is ranked at #276 for 2014, which is the highest ever in recorded US history. While it was used with some frequency in the 1800s, we are seeing Evangeline make a comeback. I used to be surprised at the growing popularity of this name. Now I feel a little silly for ever wondering why it's being used today. Like many of you, I imagine, I have a name crush on Evangeline.

History & Meaning
Evangeline is derived from the Greek for "good" and "news". While it sounds like the type of name that has been around for ages, it was most likely invented by the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1847, who wrote a romantic-but-tragic epic poem entitled Evangeline. The poem tells the story of a young Canadian woman who spends years searching for her finacé after being separated from him during the Great Upheaval. In the end, Evangeline is only reunited with her love after she has found refuge in America and is working as a Sister of Mercy. He has been sickened by an epidemic and dies in her arms. The story of Evangeline was popular among both Americans and the Acadians of Nova Scotia.

Of course, the name is closely linked to a much older word, evangelism, which has its roots in the Greek writings of the New Testament of the Bible. While evangelism doesn't always carry the best connotations, we can tell from the meaning of the word that it was meant to be nothing but positive. In fact, it's close to a virtue name for its meaning and positive connotations.

A Hidden Angel
I imagine some parents may choose the name based on its meaning, and the good news their daughter brought when when they found out they were expecting. But I also wonder how many people love this name for the following reason alone: Evangeline literally contains an angel inside. Yes, we get the word angel from the same greek roots, particularly the "messenger" portion. It's a heavenly name with a beautiful meaning.

All About Eva
After all this yammering on, I haven't even mentioned the name Eva yet! Eva is definitely a name that stands on its own. It's much more popular that way, hitting the charts at #91. However, for those looking for a name that feels more "full" or more unique, Evangeline is fitting the bill quite nicely. Eva is a natural way to shorten the name, but I also want to clarify that the full name Eva has its own roots and meaning.

In fact, all of the variations of Evangeline are hitting a sweet spot with English-speaking countries these days. And by "English-speaking countries" I also mean me.

Variations

• Eva
• Evangel
• Evangelia
• Evangelica
• Evangelique
• Evangelista
• Eve
• Evie
• Vangie

Pronunciation
Ee-VAN-jel-een

Places
Evangeline, Louisiana
Evangeline, New Brunswick, Canada

People
Evangeline Lilly, actress known for her role on Lost

Eve, a New Year's Baby

Eve ~ Life ~ Hebrew

The first baby of the New Year in Colorado has been announced! As I did last year, I knew I would feature whatever the baby's name was for my first post in 2009. And what a good decision, as I just love the baby's name. Little Eve Maria Moser started giving her mother contractions during a New Year's Eve mass service. She was born just a few seconds into 2009.

I find the name Eve particularly appropriate for a New Year's baby, not only because of the New Year's Eve connection, but also because Eve is the biblical name of the first woman created by God. The meaning, life, is beautiful and makes me think of the fresh start we all like to claim during this time of year. Eve also hints at evening, of course, the time when we are usually slowing down from a busy day and enjoying the company of our family. I imagine baby Eve's parents were inspired by the New Year's Eve holiday, but any way you look at it, I think it's a beautiful choice.

History
As far as the history of the name, the origin of the human race is usually part of the picture, as I mentioned above. In several major religions Eve is considered the first woman of creation and, unfortunately, the first person to sin. But that hasn't tainted this name from being used, and it's become more a bit more fashionable in the past decade.

Popularity
Eve isn't doing as well as its variations these days, particularly in contrast with the #5 girls' name, Ava. Even though Eve is definitely due for more use, it will always have a classic feel, as the "original" female name should!

• Eve is ranked at #460 in popularity for 2014

Variations

• Ava
• Eva
• Evelyn
• Evie

Celebrities and Celebrity Babies

• Eve (actress, singer/rapper)
• Eve Arden (actress)
• Eve Plumb (actress)
• Eve Augusta, daughter of Jessica Capshaw (actress)
• Eve, daughter of Clive Owen (actor)
• Eve Julia, daughter of Jeffrey Tambor (actor)

Elizabeth

Elizabeth ~ God is my oath ~ Hebrew

History
Quite possibly the most classic female name of all time, Elizabeth has an impressive history with thousands of years of renown. It was the name of at least 14 different European queens, including the current Queen of England. It was the name of John the Baptist's mother in the Bible. It has represented princesses, empresses, and saints.

Popularity

Elizabeth has been a cherished choice among Americans as well as Europeans. The record speaks for itself: Elizabeth has never dropped below #26 in baby name rankings in our country's history. It has thrived not just because it has been passed down through generations of American families like an heirloom, but because of its appealing sound, abundant variations, and rich history.

If you are wondering how this name will be received by others, let me assure you that nearly everybody in America likes it. I make no exaggeration. You like it. I like it. Your mother likes it. My friend Sean likes it, a guy who mused about naming his future daughter Elizabeth before he even met the woman he'd marry. Who can blame him? It's gorgeous.

Variations

If you find the full name too popular or traditional, Elizabeth has an insurmountable number of variations. My favorite is Lizzy, perhaps influenced by the character from Pride and Prejudice. Here are just a few.

• Bess
• Beta
• Beth
• Betina
• Betsy
• Bette
• Betty
• Eliza
• Elsie
• Elissa
• Elsa
• Isabel
• Libby
• Liliana
• Lisa
• Liza
• Lisbeth
• Lisveta
• Liz
• Lizzie/Lizzy
• Sabella
• Vetta
• Ysabel
• Zizi

Celebrities Named Elizabeth

• Elizabeth Taylor
• Elizabeth Hurley
• Elisabeth Hasselbeck
• Elizabeth Mitchell
• Elizabeth Perkins
• Elizabeth Shue

Celebrity Babies Named Elizabeth

Lots of celebrity babies have Elizabeth as a middle name, as it's one of the most common middle names in America. For example...

• Ava Elizabeth, Reese Witherspoon's daughter
• Princess Charlotte of Cambridge

Ella

Ella ~ Completely, German ~ Young Girl, Spanish*

John Everett Millais
Ducklings

A few months ago, I started the project of tracing my genealogical roots. I was eager to discover the missing branches of my family tree and to learn the places and stories behind my ancestors. I was also deeply curious about the names I would find (of course!).

One name that delighted and surprised me was that of my great-grandma, or Granny as we called her. My middle name, Amy, was chosen in honor of her, and I've always loved it. But what I didn't know is that her middle name was Ella.

Popularity
By today's standards, Ella is on fire. And by "on fire" I mean that It went from nowhere-to-be-seen to number 21 in just sixteen years! It's clear that the lilting, feminine sound is quickly capturing the hearts of American parents.

To set the record straight, Ella was even more popular in the 1880s than it is today. It's just one of several girls' names from the pioneer era that is enjoying a revival. Aside from the favorable old-fashioned feel, other factors that have helped this name along include the popularity of names like Bella and Stella, and the use of Ella by celebrities. Jeff Gordon, Ben Stiller, John Travolta, Annette Bening, and Alex Rodriguez all have daughters named Ella.

Ella is ranked at 17 for 2014. It seems to have found a home in the top 20, where it's been for the past seven years.

Smitten Level: High
I have always liked the sound of this baby name, but used to feel a little turned off by what I thought was a trend. It just seemed a little too popular for my taste. Now that I know I have a personal connection to it, my attitude could better be described as "smitten". Having the perfect excuse to love this name has allowed me to freely gush. Ella's going on my list of favorites for sure.

*Ella also came into use as a derivative of names like Eleanor and Ellen.

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Related:
Vintage Baby Names ~ Pioneer Baby Names ~ Fashion Designer Baby Names

Elsie

Updated May 2009

Elsie ~ Noble ~ German ^a

William Holman Hunt,
The School-Girl's Hymn

I needed some inspiration for my next name to feature, and I found it in Hobby Lobby. There was a style of scrapbook paper called Elsie, all done up in pinks and greens with old-fashioned prints, and it was quite adorable. Seeing it there in scripted font, the name looked so charming and sweet.

There's only one problem. Elsie is a name some of us associate with cows. That's Borden's fault, the dairy company who is responsible for creating one of the most recognizable icons in advertising. Elsie the Cow became so popular when it debuted in the 1930s that she even got her own movie. Since then, "Elsie" and "cow" went hand-in-hand. I do wonder why the name Elsie was chosen—was it just a cute name? Or was it already a common name for cows? Either way, Elsie has been tarnished by such a distinct bovine relationship.

But I can get past it. Elsie is a lovely name and is ripe for a revival.

• Famous Elsies include: Elsie MacGill, the first female aircraft designer; and Elsie Carlise, a singer from the 20s.
• Elsie began showing up in the top 1,000 American names in 2005, after a 30-year absence. It's number 740.
• Alternatives to Elsie could include Eliza, Ellie, Elsa, or Kelsie.

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^a It's difficult to pinpoint the correct origin and meaning for Elsie. Derived from Elizabeth, it would be Hebrew in origin, meaning "God is my oath" or "I pledge to God". Elsie is also a familiar form of Elsa, meaning "Noble" in German. Elsa is a Spanish name as well, with the same meaning and nickname. When it comes down to it, many consider Elsie to be German, but it is not limited to German origins.

Eli

Eli ~ The Lord is My God ~ Hebrew origins

If you watch TV, I mean even a little, you are probably aware of this sweet name lately. You might associate it with a little game called the Superbowl, and the two fourth-quarter touchdowns thrown by QB Eli Manning to give the Giants the win. Or you might watch Eli Stone, a show about a man whose medical condition causes him to have prophetic visions. (I don't think they named the character "Eli" by accident!)

Popularity
Eli is a popular name, with rankings in the 130s. I really like the idea of using the name Eli as a full name, but it is often used as a nickname for Elijah. Elijah is a popular name right now and it sits at number 29. Elisha, which is actually Eli Manning’s full name, isn’t used as often and is only ranked at 629. I am biased towards Elisha because it’s the name of my friend’s son, and it's got a unique sound.

Biblical History
People are more aware of the name Elijah because he was a more prominent figure than Elisha. Elijah appears in several religious works: the Bible, Talmud, Mishnah, and the Qur’an. He was a prophet from Israel who raised the dead, and ascended into heaven after his ministry was complete. His disciple and adopted son was the lesser-known Elisha. Sound confusing? I think it is!

Celebrity Babies & More
Celebrities that chose Elijah for their son include

• Rodney Atkins
• Bono
• Cher

The song Watching You by Atkins was written about his son Elijah, and it’s one of the most adorable songs I’ve heard.

Elliot and Elliott

updated Sept 2015

Elliot ~ The Lord is My God ~ Hebrew, Old French

History & Meaning
Elliot comes from Elias, which is the Old French form of Elijah. It's a roundabout biblical name that ultimately means "Yahweh is God".

Spellings
Traditionally, this name is spelled Elliot, but the trend in names ending with two ts has really taken off, and while the spelling Elliott is much more rare it still breaks the top 1,000. Eliot is an alternative spelling as well.

Popularity for Boys and Girls
Some male names, after a period of time, begin to cross over into the realm of female names. This has by no means happened with Elliot, which is currently number 217 (2014) in America for boys, but parents are beginning to eye this name for their daughters, and it's ranked at 756 for girls. The nickname (and full name) Ellie is white-hot right now, and Elliot is a fitting twist. The female character Elliot from Scrubs has also given this name the kind of exposure that can create a new trend.

But parents considering Elliot for their little boy need not fear—this name is not considered a unisex name, let alone a female name. The "elle/ellie" prefix alone does not indicate female, and in fact, it's a great male version of the sound. What's more, Elliot fits into a category of using surnames for a first name, adding to its appeal and versatility.

I've known two people in my life who were named Elliot. One was a boy I went to elementary school with; the other is the daughter of a friend who wanted a trendy boy's name that would be fitting for a girl.

Celebrity Status
Celebrities that bare this name include

• Missy Elliott
• Elliot Yamin (from American Idol)
• Elliot Gould