National Color Day: Best Color Names for Modern Babies

October 22nd is known as National Color Day! Everyone has colors that they enjoy more than others. Do you have a favorite color? Do you love it so much that you would consider using it as a baby name? If so, you're not alone. Below is a list of potential color names. The first list is much more popular than the second, but they're all interesting in their own way.

More Popular:

Ruby (red) is currently ranked as the 79th most popular name in the US for girls, as of 2017.
Violet (purple) is climbing the charts! As of 2017, it ranked at #48 for girls and will probably keep going.
Hazel (brown) popped into the Top 1000 in 1998, and the Top 100 in 2015! Currently at #43.
Rose (pink) is a timeless classic and has always ranked within the Top 400. Ranked #141 in 2017.
Iris (purple) has always been around, but has been slowly climbing, putting it up to #149.
Sienna (brown) wasn't used before the 1960s, and it hit the Top 1000 in 1995.  Currently at #222.
Jade (green) has been in use since the 1940s. It was most popular in 2002 with 86 births. Currently it is at #110.
Raven (black) hit the Top 1000 in 1977 for girls, and now ranks at #446 in 2017.
Amber (orange) ranked in the Top 100 from 1974-2004. It is slowly declining, currently ranking at #401.
Scarlet (red) since the 1930s, both Scarlet and Scarlett have been used. Scarlet is #396 while Scarlett ranks at #18!
Laurel (green) is a color name based on the plant. It has always ranked in the middle ground. Currently at #597.
Jasmine (yellow) was rarely used before the 1950s, and most popular in the early 1990s. It is now at #130 as of 2017.
Veronica (purple) the color is also named for a vivid purple plant. Not as popular as it once was, Veronica sits at #378.
Kelly (green) first hit the Top 1000 in 1948, and Top 100 from 1959-1999. It is now ranked at #595.
Olive (green) is not as popular as Olivia yet, but it is climbing fast! It went from #990 in 2007 or #256 in 2017.
Daisy (white) has always been well-used, but it is currently ranked at #170 in 2017.
Heather (purple) boomed in popularity during the 1960s and 1970s, and it lasted through the 90s.  Now it has fallen out of the Top 1000.
Jasper (red) for boys, this name has always been steadily used. It has gained more popularity during this decade, reaching #185 in 2017.
Hunter (green) quickly gained popularity in the 1990s and 2000s for boys. It is now at #53.
Juniper (green) has only been around since the 1970s. It entered the Top 1000 in 2011, and ranks #314 today.
Sage (green) is more popular for girls, but is quite unisex. In 2017, it ranked at #309 for girls and #472 for boys.
Gray has been used for boys since the 1910s, and for girls since the 1990s but it isn't currently ranked within the Top 1000 for either gender yet. 

Less Popular:

Blue
Indigo
Onyx (black)
Coral (pink)
Marigold (yellow)
Ginger (orange)
Tawny (brown)
Jet (black)
Basil (green)
Magenta (pink)
Lilac (purple)
Sable (black)
Peach (pink)
Fern (green)
Saffron (yellow)
Emerald (green)
Fawn (tan)
Cerise (red)
Forest (green)
Cedar (brown)
Penny (brown)
Jonquil (yellow)
Mauve (purple)
Henna (brown)
Ivory (white)
Clay (brown)
Lavender (purple)
Navy (blue)
Cyan (blue)
Sky (blue)
Cobalt (blue)
Fushia (pink)
Claret (red)
Umber (brown)
Zaffre (blue)
Sepia (tan)
Lemon (yellow)
Sangria (red)
Apple (red)
Honey (yellow)
Tiger (orange)
Cherry (red)
Taffy (pink)
Merlot (red)
Crimson (red)
Garnet (red)
Orchid (purple)
Amethyst (purple)
Slate (blue)
Ocean (blue)
Aegean (blue)
Azure (blue)
Stone (gray)
Ash (gray)
Flint (gray)

Can you think of any other color names that would also suit a child? Which of these are your favorites?

<--- Previous Article: Color Me Named: 106 Baby Names from Colors

<--- Previous Article: From Amaranth to Violet: A Look at Names of the Rainbow

Xanthe

The name Xanthe is brought to you today in honor of a previous article featuring The Very Best X Names for Boys and Girls.

This name is Greek and is derived from ξανθος (xanthos) meaning "golden, yellow" or "fair hair".

While this is a very beautiful name, there can be some annoying pronunciation issues that go along with it. Fortunately, the overwhelming consensus that I've found among typical English speakers is that they pronounce it ZAN-thee. ZAN-tha is another possibility. Some claim that it is pronounced more like ZAN-they or KSAN-thee. If you'd like to read a discussion about it, click here.

For the purposes of this article, I will be assuming the pronunciation ZAN-thee.

Xanthe is a name used twice on the planet Mars. Once for the Xanthe Montes which is a mountain range, and once for a region referred to as Xanthe Terra. Additionally, there is an asteroid called 411 Xanthe. There were also a few minor mythological characters with this name.

Xanthe has only been in use in the US since 1964 however, it is far from common. It has never ranked anywhere close to the US Top 1000.

There have been many years that did not have at least 5 births on record for this name. There's also never been more than 12 females given the name Xanthe in a single year; this happened only once in 2001. As of 2014, there were only 5 girls given this name. It is very uncommon. Even rarer is the name Xanthia which has hardly had any use.

If you are looking for a big, bold, rare name for a girl, Xanthe is a great choice. The trendy X makes this name interesting while the rest of the name offers a unique sound. This name is sure to turn heads. If you're considering it, here are ideas for sibling and middle names:

Sibling Name Ideas: 

Sisters:   Aurelia, Ariadne, Cassia, Clio, Eulalia, Freya, Iris, Octavia, Sybil

Brothers: Augustus, Damian, Everett, Ignatius, Lucian, Tavish, Theron, Vance

Middle Name Ideas:

Xanthe Adeline
Xanthe Elena

Xanthe June
Xanthe Lenore
Xanthe Pearl

Xanthe Viola

As a Middle Name:
Caroline Xanthe
Helena Xanthe
Lydia Xanthe
Olivia Xanthe
Philippa Xanthe
Sophia Xanthe

I played it a bit safe with these pairings since Xanthe is the bolder option. What would you pick as a middle name for Xanthe?

Ruby

Based on this week's list of The Very Best R Names for Boys and Girls, I've chosen the vintage, gem name Ruby.

Ruby is derived from the Latin word ruber which means "red". As you might know, it is the name of a precious stone with a red hue that serves as the birthstone of the month of July. Along with other gem names, Ruby was first used as a name in the Victorian Era.

As a baby name, Ruby gained usage in the 19th century. It has been in use since name records were first kept in the US in 1880. Ruby was particularly well-used in the early 1900s, peaking from 1918-1924 with over eight thousand births each year.

Vintage names like Ruby that were popular around 1920, declined in usage and then began climbing the charts again in recent years are fashionable now. There are many that follow this same pattern that's sometimes called the 100 Year Rule which basically states that once-popular names tend to come back in style after about 100 years have passed.

Currently, Ruby is on its way back up the charts. In 2014 there were 3,383 girls given the name for a rank of #90. It will no doubt keep inching upward and could very well get over eight thousand births in a year once again within the next 5-10 years. If this happens, Ruby will be an excellent example of a vintage name that follows the 100 Year Rule.

Ruby is beautiful, spunky, and interesting. While it worked so well for the older generation, it does work once again for modern girls.

If you'd like to contribute to Ruby's cause for gaining popularity, here are some ideas for middle names and sibling names:

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Amelia, Eleanor, Hazel, Lila, June, Olive, Stella
Brothers: Benjamin, Dean, Hugh, Jack, Nolan, Samuel, Travis

Middle Name Ideas:
Ruby Abigail
Ruby Madeline
Ruby Ophelia
Ruby Susannah
Ruby Victoria

As a Middle Name:
Caroline Ruby
Elizabeth Ruby
Helena Ruby
Martina Ruby
Tessa Ruby

What do you think of the name Ruby? What middle name would you pair with it?

From Amaranth to Violet: A Look at Names of the Rainbow

Colors are everywhere: some vibrant, some pastel. Things would be dreary if we suddenly removed color from our lives. Some might even go the extra step to ensure that their surroundings are always colorful and lively by painting the walls in their home or dressing in only the hottest pinks or brightest yellows. Plenty of parents already opt for nature names so why not extend your love for colors to baby naming, too?

I've previously posted a list of color names on The Art of Naming, but they were not broken down according to the major base colors. I decided to take a look at the rainbow and categorize some of the more interesting name possibilities under the closest related parent color. The following list was the result:

Red:

Amaranth
Carmine
Cerise
Crimson
Magenta
Red
Rose
Ruby
Scarlet

The last three on the red list are probably the most popular with Rose leading the pack, however Scarlett is more popular than Scarlet. Would you use one of the more unusual reds like Amaranth or Carmine?

Orange:

Amber
Coral
Peach
Rusty
Sienna
Tawny

While Rusty and Tawny are rarely used, Amber was huge in the '80s and Sienna peaked in 2007. Peach doesn't have any recorded usage.

Yellow:

Goldie
Jasmine
Jonquil
Lemon
Maize
Marigold
Mikado
Saffron

Many of these are rather unusual. The most popular by far is Jasmine which ranks at #100 in 2014!

Green:

Emerald
Fern
Forest
Hunter
Jade
Kelly
Laurel
Myrtle
Olive
Pine

Green names are fun, especially the more playful ones like Kelly which only came about because of the Irish surname's association with Ireland and the color green. And then there's Hunter green which was the color of choice for hunters back in the 19th century. The others are very nature related.

Blue:

Aqua

Azure

Blue

Cobalt

Cyan

Navy

Sapphire

Sky

Zaffre

Most of these blues are pretty obscure as names. Sky (g) is most popular at #740 in 2014.  If you’re looking for something related to a shade of blue that is a little more “namey” and a little less unusual, try Alice, Carolina, Celeste, Maya and Tiffany.  

Indigo & Violet:

Amethyst
Indigo
Iris
Lavender
Mauve
Orchid
Plum
Thistle
Violet
Wisteria

Violet is a true vintage name and has come back in style after being popular in 1920. (Check out the 100 year rule!) Iris is also ranking well these days! The others would make beautiful and quirky middle names!
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What's your favorite color? Do your favorite baby names correspond to your favorite color? Would you choose one of the names above and if so, which do you like best? Can you think of any I missed? Share your colorful thoughts in the comments below!  [Source]

Colorful Springtime Names for Baby Boys

Spring is a time for newness and growth. Everything is blooming and turning green! Nature is full of life! If you're also bringing forth a new life into the world, what better way to celebrate than to give him a handsome, timely name to fit the occasion?

Here are some great baby names that would suit a spring-born boy. Some of these are nature names that also refer to an actual spring or stream of water as well. Which do you like best?:

Atherton - "From the town by a spring"

Attwell - "Lives by the spring"
Aviv - "Spring" (Hebrew)
Berilo - Variant of Beryl - a green stone
Bloom
Bradwell - "From the broad spring"
Bud
Caldwell - "From the cold spring"
Denver - "Green Valley"
Green
Haruki - "Spring child"
Irving - "Green water"
Jarek - "Spring" (Slavic)
Kelby - "Place by the fountain or spring"
Leaf
March
Maxwell - "Mack's stream"
Navin - "New" (Hindi)
Neo - "New" (Latin)
Newland - "New Land" (English)
Pascal - "Easter" (French)
Rain
River
Robin
Vardan - "Rose" (Armenian)
Vasant - "Spring" (Sanskrit)
Verdi - "Green" (Italian)
Weldon - "Hill near a spring"

Here are some colorful names including names of shades of green:

Ash
Auburn
Forest
Garnet
Hunter
Indigo
Jasper
Jet
Kelly
Red
Sage
Slate
Sterling

Which of the above names do you like most? Would you ever use a seasonal name? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Autumn Names for Baby Girls

With crisp air, colorful leaves, bonfires and pumpkins in your mind, look no further than this list for some unique fall-inspired baby name ideas! Even though the first day of Autumn is still a couple weeks away on September 23rd, I thought we'd start pondering it as cooler weather approaches.

If you're due with an Autumn baby in the next couple months and find yourself in need of the perfect name, perhaps you'll "fall" for one of these ideas!

Amber                                               Anise Annona Apple Aster Aurelia Autumn Baize Berry Carmine Celeste Ceres Charde Cinnamon Crysanthemum Coral Crimson Crisanta Emerald Eve Fira Gaia Ginger Goldie Hazel Ivy Jade Jora Juniper Keziah Laurel Lavender Libra Lily

Maize Maple Marigold Mauve Moon November Octavia Olive Opal Orla Paisley Persephone Rain Raven Rhea Roux Rowan Ruby Saffron Sage Sapphire Scarlet September Sienna Sorrel Sparrow Tabitha Tawny Topaz Velvet Willow Windy Xanthe Zarina

Which of these names do you like best? What would you pair with it? Leave your thoughts in the comment section!

Autumn Names for Baby Boys

The first day of Autumn doesn't officially begin until September 23rd in the Northern Hemisphere this year, but I thought we'd start pondering it as cooler weather approaches. Perhaps you're due with an Autumn baby in the next couple months and find yourself in need of the perfect name.

With crisp air, colorful leaves, bonfires and pumpkins in your mind, look no further than this list for some unique fall-inspired baby name ideas!

Adam                                         Ash Asher Auburn Azure Bacchus Barley Blaze Birch Branch Bronze Browning Bruno Cedar Chard Chestnut Copper Cormac Crispin Demeter Dionysus Farmer Finley Finn Flint Forrest Frost Garner Garnet Gerald Gold Harkin

Harvest Hawke Hay Hue Hunter Jasper Jet Kale Leaf Linden Mica Mountain Oak Octavius October Oliver Radley Red Reed Rory Roux Rowan Russet Rusty Rye Sawyer Scorpio Septimus Sorrel Storm Wheatley Woody

Which of these do you like the best? Do you have any to add? Let me know in the comment section below!

Cordovan

After compiling a list of color names that could potentially be used as baby names, the color Cordovan caught my eye. After searching in various baby name databases, I've found that this has never been used as a name in the U.S. I was struck by Cordovan because of its similarities to names like Sullivan and Donovan and Cor- names like Cordell, Corbeau, Cormac or Corbett. Cordovan sounds like it should be a trendy, modern name.

Cordovan is a Spanish name meaning "native of Cordova" which refers to a city in Spain called Cordoba. It was there that seventh century Visigoths began production of "shell cordovan leather." In this case, cordovan describes the color of the leather. It was first used as the name of a color in 1925 in English.  As a color, Cordovan is a rich burgundy color, or a dark shade of wine. If you'd like to see what color it is, the Hex number is #893F45.

As for popularity, it has never been used on a child in the US since it began keeping record in 1880. I managed to find Cordovan used as a surname in many death indexes and marriage records after a simple search. I also found one woman named Cordovan Denise R. from North Carolina. I wasn't able to track down any birth records in other countries.

Since Cordovan has a strong association with leather, it has a masculine image behind it. Cute nicknames could include Cory, Cord, Cordy, Cordo or Van. What would you pair with this fantastic color name? What do you think of it?

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Brielle, Capri, Claret, Esme, Finlay, Hazel, Olive, Raven, Saffron, Scarlett, Wisteria
Brothers: Adler, Beckett, Cashel, Fletcher, Griffin, Jasper, MacAllister, Roan, Sterling, Zaffre

Middle Name Ideas:
Cordovan Blake
Cordovan James
Cordovan Lee
Cordovan Tate

As a Middle Name:
Andrew Cordovan
David Cordovan
James Cordovan
Parker Cordovan

Color Me Named: 106 Baby Names from Colors

Source

You've heard of color names like gray and scarlet, sure, but have you heard of options like these? Which color name is your favorite for a potential baby name? Let me know if I missed any!

Also, feel free to combine your favorite from the list below and post it as a first and middle name combination in the comments!  I'd love to know what sort of names you'd pair with these colors! :)

Amaranth Amber Amethyst Aqua Ash Auburn Aureolin Azure Beige Blue Brick Brown Burgundy Cadet Capri Carmine Celeste Cerise Cerulean Chamois Cherry Citrine Citron Claret Cobalt Cocoa Copper Coral Cordovan Crimson Cyan Dove Ebony Ecru Emerald Fawn Fuchsia Ginger Granite Gray Green Greige Hazel Henna Hyacinth Indigo Iris Isabelline Ivory Jade Jasmine Jasper Jet

Lavender Lilac Magenta Magnolia Mahogany Maize Marigold Mauve Moss Olive Orchid Peach Pearl Peridot Plum Poppy Rackley Rajah Raven Red Regalia Roan Rose Ruby Rufous Russet Saffron Sage Sapphire Scarlet Sepia Sienna Silver Slate Steel Sterling Tangerine Tawny Teal Thistle Topaz Tulip Turquoise Tuscan Tuscany Umber Vermilion Veronica Violet Viridian Wisteria Xanthene Zaffre Zinc

I like Kate Amaranth, Tawny Josephine, James Cobalt, and Sterling Alexander.  What about you?

Source