Paxton

Paxton ~ Peaceful Town ~ Latin, English

It's the trendy sound, the "x" factor, the nickname Pax, and the meaning that has lots of us loving this name. Basically, Paxton has everything going for it right now. If there was any doubt, America is proving its infatuation as time goes by.

History
Paxton has fairly deep roots as an English surname. We've heard of it from celebrities like Bill Paxton or Tom Paxton, if not from people we know in our everyday lives. When I encounter this name it translates itself almost immediately: Pax is Latin for "peace" and the -ton suffix is "town".

There is another definition in play for Paxton, citing Pax to come from the word Poecc, which has unknown meaning. But one way or another, pax's Latin roots make this name synonymous with peace.

This surname fits into the category of English names chosen to indicate that a person is from a particular area—if you've read the popular Ancestry.com article about types of English surnames, it fits into their place name category.

It's a fantastic thing, to be from a peaceful town. (And in case you got here from my Christmas Spirit names sublist, it's that serene meaning that drew me to add Paxton.) Paxton is a sweet name that's turning heads and getting more attention every year.

Popularity
For 2014, Paxton is ranked at 260. Here's how its name graph from the Baby Name Wizard looks:

Paxton may have a history as a surname, but as a given name it's modern, and it's taking off like a rocket. That being said, Paxton is still not what I would call popular. Ranked in the 200s, I'd say it's fresh though not unusual, well-liked, and far from stale.

Paxton was one of the fastest rising names of 2008.

Nicknames

• Pax

Famous Namesakes & Celebrity Babies

• Paxton Whitehead, actor

Piper

Piper ~ Flute Player ~ English

There's something about this name that makes me smile. It's bright, cheerful, musical, and adorable. Its meaning is obvious, but not exactly immediate (seeing as how it's not a common word in modern English), making it that much more wearable for a little girl. Piper makes a contemporary fashion statement, but it's not overly bold.

History
While Piper wasn't used until recent times as a first name, the word piper has been in existence for quite some time to describe a flute or bagpipe player.

The fairytale The Pied Piper may tell a dark and eerie story, but it's hardly the first thing we think of when we hear this name. Still, it's one of the most prominent examples of the use of this word. Through the tellings and retellings of this legend, as told by the Brothers Grimm and many others, a name for the piper is never given. It's part of the mystery surrounding his existence that he appears suddenly, does not identify himself, and is simply known as the "piper".

Like many other terms that describe an occupation, Piper is an English surname. It comes from the Old English word pipere, which refers to a pipe player.

Popularity
Fifteen years ago, the name Piper wasn't even a blip on the radar in America. Using this name would have been quite unusual until the year 2000 or so, when the TV show Charmed brought this name to our attention. (Charmed also helped launch Phoebe to more popularity.) Piper recently broke through the top 100 names for girls and now sits at #97.

Here's a graphic of how Piper's popularity plays out across the country, courtesy of Baby Name Mapper. Even though it's safe to say Piper is loved in every state, it's a favorite in the midwest and the northwest, with the most Piper fans residing in Montana.

If you're worried about Piper being "too popular," it might just depend on where you live. Just because a name is in the top 100s doesn't mean your daughter will have to share her name with a classmate. I'm a big believer that sometimes the name chooses you, so if you're looking for a little encouragement to get past the potential popularity of Piper, you got it! It's a fantastic, on-trend choice.

Variations
Piper doesn't come with any formal variations. It's simple and perfect just how it is. But even for a name that already strikes us as youthful and sweet, nicknames may come into play. I've heard of parents using Pipe, Pippa, Pip, Pipes, or Pepper. And some parents, perhaps looking to make the name stand out (no need!), spell the name Pyper, though that is rare.

Famous Namesakes & Celebrity Babies

• Piper Perabo, actress
• Piper Laurie, actress
• Piper Maru Anderson-Klotz, daughter of actress Gillian Anderson
• Piper Palin, daughter of Sarah Palin
• Piper Adelaide Gooding, daughter of Cuba Gooding Jr.

Penelope

updated Sept 2015

Penelope ~ Weaver; loom worker ~ Greek origins

Penelope and the Suitors, John WIlliam Waterhouse

The name Penelope makes me sigh in a "it's so dreamy" sort of way. I've got a little name crush on this one because it has so many great qualities. It's fun to pronounce, it originates from Greek (I gravitate toward Greek names) and it has adorable variations.

I think Penelope strikes a balance between classically beautiful and contemporary. It has a sort of spunky sound while also carrying an epic historical element that makes it feel more classic than it technically is. The name hasn't been used in America with any consistency, showing a peak in the 1930s, disappearing for awhile, and now returning to fashion.

History & Meaning
It's the name of Odysseus' wife in Homer's The Odyssey, estimated to be written in 8th century B.C. She is known for her faithfulness to her husband through two decades of his absence, as well as her cunning wit and strength of character.

The name Penelope has a somewhat complicated origin, and the meaning is debated. Check out this section of a Wikipedia article if you want the whole scoop.

Name Rank & Popularity
Welcome to the top 50, Penelope! Penelope is ranked at 42 in the US for the year 2014. Since I originally published this post, its continued a sharp upward trend. I'm pretty happy with its success, as it wasn't even in the top 1,000 names ten years ago and is continuing to go up the charts.

Variations

• Lopa
• Nell or Nellie
• Pela
• Pen
• Penna
• Penny, Pennie, Peni, or Penney
• Popi
• Poppy ~a more creative pet form popping up in recent years~

Prominent Penelopes (I heart alliteration)

• Penelope Cruz, actress
• Penelope Ann Miller, actress
• Penelope Houston, singer/songwriter

Celebs who named their daughter Penelope

• Jessalyn Gilsig, actress known for her role in Glee
• Taylor Hansen, musician/singer

Patrick

Updated September 2013

Patrick ~ Nobleman ~ Latin, Celtic origins

History
It's only fitting that I write about the quintessential Irish boy's name in honor of St. Patrick's day. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and is known for his charitable work there as a bishop. What's interesting about him is that he was born in England, but he was captured and taken to Ireland as a slave when he was a teenager. Even after his escape, Ireland became his passion and was where he did most of his ministry. He is credited for bringing Christianity to the country during the 5th century.

Personal Thoughts
When people found out that my son was due on St. Patrick's Day, I got a lot of questions about whether we'd name him Patrick. I actually love the name Patrick, and it would be extra appropriate since my mom bears the feminine form (Patricia). There's just one problem: I'm not fond of the nickname Pat. I'd answer my friends' questions with this explanation, and they would respond with understanding at my "Pat" hangup. Could my son have been a Patrick? Absolutely. It just wasn't right for him in the end. And he wasn't a St. Patrick's Day baby, after all.

One of the few Patricks I've known was a successful attorney who went by his full name. This proves that it's definitely possible to avoid nicknames if you have the same Pat issues; however, I think it would take some training with family, friends, and teachers—especially for a little boy.

Part of my problem might have to do with the androgynous "Pat" character from SNL. That was one pop-culture reference that definitely didn't help any Pats out there.

Popularity
The full name Patrick is pretty popular, though it's experiencing a bit of a decline in use. In 2012, it ranked at 142.

Variations

• Padraig
• Paddy
• Pat
• Patrice
• Patsy
• Patton

Famous Patricks
Famous Americans by this name include Patrick Dempsey, Patrick Stewart, Neil Patrick Harris, the late Patrick Swayze, and Revolutionary War hero Patrick Henry.

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