The Art of Naming

For anyone considering baby names for a future daughter, finding the right choice isn't always the easiest task. There are many factors at play, including how the name sounds and flows with your surname, potential nicknames, the name's popularity, ease of spelling and pronunciation, and the name's meaning. All of these aspects are things that should be considered when choosing a name for a child. However, some people just need somewhere to start before delving deeper. If you're in need of a launch pad, consider this list a great beginning. Last week we took a look at names starting with A-M, all of which would be great for a modern girl. Now, browse these names from N-Z for even more inspiration! Naomi Natalie Natasha Nell Niamh Nicole Noelle Noa Nola Nora Norah Nova Octavia Odelia Odessa Odette Olive Olivia Olivine Olympia Oona Ophelia Ottilie Ottoline Paige Paisley Pearl Penelope Peony Phaedra Philippa Phoebe Piper Poppy Prisc

Are you expecting a daughter? Surely you have pondered names, by now. Finding the right choice isn't as easy as one would hope. There are many factors at play, including how the name sounds and flows with your surname, potential nicknames, the name's popularity, ease of spelling and pronunciation, and the name's meaning. All of these aspects are things that should be considered when choosing a name for a child. However, some people just need somewhere to start before delving deeper. If you're in need of a launch pad, consider this list a great beginning. Below is a list of girl names from A-M that would be beautiful on a modern girl. If you can't find something you like here, wait for the next article that covers N-Z. Adele Adeline Agatha Ainsley Alexandra Alice Amelia Antonia Aria Athena Audrey Augusta Aurora Aveline Azalea Bailey Beatrice Bellamy Belle Bethany Bianca Blair Blythe Briar Brielle Bronwyn Brynn Bryony Caia Calista C

Jones, Smith, Miller, Davis, Johnson, Williams, Brown, Moore, Taylor, Anderson... At least in America, these are some of the most common surnames.  There's no right or wrong in naming, but you definitely have a variety of options. In fact, you could choose anywhere from an incredibly popular name, to something nobody's ever heard of.  That's up to you! But here are some ideas for each of the surnames I listed above.  I am basing this on the presumption that we are naming a baby in 2020 and want to follow modern styles and popularity. Popular Names: Your surname is super popular, might as well go the whole nine yards and choose a super popular first name, too. There's nothing wrong with that. It happens often. There's something about the anonymity of being one of many if you value your privacy.  Here's some ideas for the ten surnames I listed. Mason Jones Liam Smith Noah Miller Oliver Davis Ethan Johnson Aiden Williams Sebastian Brown Lucas Moore

Brenda wrote to The Art of Naming on Facebook recently inquiring about name ideas for a third girl. She already has Elisabeth "Elsa", and Julia. I promised I would find 10 name ideas for her to consider. First, a bit of background info.  Elisabeth is an alternative spelling to Elizabeth; some may even find the "s" to be even more feminine than the standard "z". Both variants are gorgeous, in my book!  Elizabeth comes from  the Greek form of the Hebrew name אֱלִישֶׁבַע (' Elisheva ') meaning "my God is an oath".  I have written about Elizabeth's longevity in the past because she has proved to be the most enduring female name. Julia is one of my favorite names. I used Juliet for my own daughter's middle name, and I have always been drawn to the Jul- names. Julia is the feminine form of the Roman family name Julius that was possibly derived from Greek ιουλος ( ioulos ) meaning "downy-bearded" which implies youthf

Today I want to take a closer name at a very rare and fantastical-esque name. I recently had the opportunity to recommend it to someone who had never heard of it before. They instantly fell in love with it and decided it might just be THE name they have been searching for. Perhaps you will enjoy it too! It is a rare feminine name of Scottish and English origin. It comes from the Medieval Gaelic name Forbflaith which means "overlord, ruler, or sovereign". There was an heiress in 13th-century Scotland who was named Ferelith. Aside from that, this name is very rare. According to the US record, there has never been at least 5 babies given this name in a single year. That means that the chances of you running into someone with this name are slim to none.  If you are looking for a beautiful, rare name, this would make your child truly one-of-a-kind! With its Medieval origins, it has a Renaissance vibe, and also feels fantastical. There are some other names that have a sim

If music is your passion, take inspiration from this list of musical baby names! Many of these are derived from Latin or Italian terms found throughout music, some are names of famous musicians and composers. Girls: Allegra Aria Boheme Cadence Cadenza Calypso Carol Celeste Ceridwen Chantal Collet Casella Chantry Clementi Corisande Echo Hadley Harmony Harper Hymn Kalliope Lyre Lyric Madrigal Melody Minuet Musette Octavia Opera Piper Rhapsody Rossini Sonatina Scarlatti Sempre Senza Serenade Siciliana Sinfonia Sonata Song Toccata Viola Boys: Adagio Amadeus Apollo Artemy Bach Barret Brahm Bran Brio Bryant Cadeo Cello Dorian Elegy Florian Hymn Kohler Landler Larsen Lyric Mandolin Mozart Muzio Olivier Ottorino Rhapsody Reed Rock Rowley Rossini Rhythm Sebestian Wolfgang The above lists included musical terms and classical musicians. The following list is a little more modern. This includes the nam

Charity  comes from the word charity meaning "generous love" from the Late Latin caritas , or "dear, beloved" from the Latin carus . It's known as a virtue name and was used by the Puritans. Surprisingly, Charity has been consistently -- albeit uncommonly -- used since records began in the US in 1880. It peaked from 1974-1980 or so, ranking as high as #183 in 1975. It left the Top 1000 in 2013. In 2017, there were 192 girls named Charity. Andrea  is the Italian form of Andreas, which comes from the Greek name Ανδρεας ( Andreas ), meaning "manly", and related to Andrew. Andrea can be both masculine and feminine. As a female name, it gained usage in the 17th century before becoming common more recently. It started climbing the charts in the 1940s for girls and continued to steadily climb, peaking in 1981 at #24 and over 11,600 births. Today it ranks at #128. Rose  may seem like a filler name now but it is truly an underrated classic with many lon

Are you expecting a baby girl soon? Congratulations! Have you found a name yet? If not, here are three lovely choices that you could consider: Nora, Sophie and Tabitha. I have paired each of these names with several middle names for ideas, just in case you're stumped. The middle names vary in popularity and style, but all flow nicely with the first names. Nora can be a short form of either Honora or Eleanor , and related names. Honora comes from the Latin Honorious meaning "honour".  Eleanor comes from the Old French form of the Occitan name Aliénor , related to the name Aenor . Nora herself dates back to 1880 in the US on record, and has been used well. She had a boosted run from 1914 to 1930, and again from 1947 to 1964. Recently, Nora has increased in popularity in 2004, entering the Top 100 in 2013. Today, Nora ranks at #28. Nora Louise Nora Caroline Nora Jeanne Nora Brienne Nora May Nora Willow Nora Payton Nora Elise Nora Gabrielle Nora Katherine N

While a lot of this could be subjective, the names on this list have a bit of a modern, spunky vibe.  Some could be somewhat unisex as well. Girls today are receiving more and more names that are beyond the scope of traditional, classic choices. Surname and occupational names are huge, unisex names or even boy-names-on-girls (BNOG) are gaining popularity, and many Irish names and word names are catching on. The following list was compiled by me in an effort to showcase some of the best modern names and offer ideas for first/middle combinations to anyone in the market for one: Mackenzie Hollis Riley Valentina Darcy Magnolia Hazel Kinsley Kennedy Lace Piper Connolly Mercy Willow Presley Morgan Addison Hadley Teagan Everly Bailey Summer Delaney Sloane Ashton Lindsay Reese Jessamine Cassidy Ryanne Paige Emerson Tatum Siobhan Kerrigan Fallon Sylvie Madigan Madison Serenity Berkley Joss Sable Amaya Taylor Felicity Whitley Harper Auden Bristol Finlay Marlowe El

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 (

What are your favorite "country western" or "mid-western" names for girls? Sweet, sassy, and southern mixed with hospitable charm. Which names might define that? This is obviously going to be highly subjective, but it's fun to explore possibilities in this category. What do you think of this list?: Abigail Adabelle Agnes Alice Aliza Althea Alma Amabel Amelia Amy Anna Annabelle Annie April Ashley Augusta Autumn Avril Bailey Bea Bess Bethany Betsy Blanche Blossom Blythe Bonnie Braelyn Callie Caroline Cassidy Celia Charlotte Clementine Constance Coralee Daisy Delilah Della Dixie Edie Eliza Eloise Emmylou Faith Florence Frances Frankie Georgia Glenda Glory Hadley Haley Hannah Harper Harriet Hazel Heather Heidi Henrietta Hillary Holly Ida Imogene Iris Ivy Jacqueline Jana Jeanne Jill Jocelyn Josephine Julia Justine Kassidy Katherine Kay Larissa Layla Leigh Leora Lilibeth Lucille Luella Lyla Macy Madeline Magnolia Maribel Mary Maxine May Mayella Molly Narvie Nel

We've been exploring different name endings based on specific letters lately. We saw -ina names for girls, and -ian names for boys. Last week we looked at boy names ending with -us. Today we will try our best to narrow it down for the letters "-ra".  Like the other series, I limited myself to only choosing one name per letter. Here are my 26 picks from A-Z. What would you pick? I also listed the ranks of those within the Top 1000, so as you can see, most of these names are rare picks! Audra Barbara  (#908) Cora   (#83) Deidra Electra Flora Ginevra Honora Indira Jara Keira   (#331) Lysandra Mara   (#670) Nora    (#28) Ophira Pandora Quorra Riviera Sierra    (#452) Theodora Uhura Vespera Wara Xantara Yadira Zamora Would you use any of these names?

We previously looked at boy names ending with the letters "-ian" .  I swapped those letters around and found girl names ending with the letters "-ina". Do you have any favorites on this list? What about other names that aren't on this list but still end with "-ina"? Angelina Bettina Celina Delphina Emmelina Florentina Georgina Helaina Irina Josephina Kristina Leontina Martina Nicolina Olivina Paulina Quelina Regina Seraphina Trina Ursina Valentina Wilhelmina Xina Yekaterina Zarina Sometimes I make lists like this for fun, so naturally I decided to share. Have you ever challenged yourself to choose names fitting specific criteria? I often do this to sharpen my naming skills and discover new names.  Play along with me! Share your favorites in the comments!

From our previous article listing names ending with the letters "-sy" , we find a diamond in the rough. The most popular name on the list is Daisy.   This pretty name is directly related to the flower. However, it also derives from the Old English word  dægeseage meaning "day eye".  Daisies  belong to one of the largest families of plants in the world. Often they have a yellow center and come in a variety of colors, with white being perhaps the most common. . By böhringer friedrich - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5 Sometimes Daisy is used as a nickname for Margaret. It happened in a round-about way due to the French name Marguerite becoming associated with the daisy in French. Margaret means "pearl" in Greek, and daisies were considered "pearls of the field" or "marguerites".  So Marguerite, and the Spanish Margarita, gained association with Daisy and Daisy became a nickname for Margaret. In pop-culture, there is the animated Daisy

Are you looking for something slightly different than the norm? Just a little unusual with a touch of classic? Familiar but not weird? Here are some great name ideas for you! Some are more daring than others, and there is a variety of styles here. Feel free to mix and match or suggest even more great names in the comments! Cassia Emmeline Briar Genevieve Felicity Lane Ella Tempest Sonnet Jane Amaya Journey Lillia Myrtle Rowena Evening Anna Whisper Electra Maeve Avalon Belle Raven Serenity Victoria Echo Magnolia Eve Hazel Valentina Molly Cadence Augusta Reverie Nora Liberty Harmony Moon Liv Bellatrix Jessamine Skye Lucy Genesis Sable Quintessa Astoria Raine Juno Caroline Leona Sparrow Alethea Coral Lulu Florence Eveline Caithe Blythe Magdalena Nova Rosabel Elodie Wynne Poppy Gwenora Gemma Destiny Laureline Fable Thea Hermione Mavis Octavia Fleur Penelope Verity Lark Amabel June Wren Melisande Ivy Lorelei Brynn Eloise Iris Bellamy Alice V

Here are some interesting girl names that originate from Norman French or Old French origins. These have a variety of popularity and usage levels in the US. Amarante - Taken from the Amaranth flower, this is the French form of the name. It comes from the Greek amarantos  meaning "unfading".  This is a very rare name. It has been used a total of 23 times on record for boys, and none for girls, but the most recent year it was used was 1933. This means it is ripe for the picking! It deserved to be renewed as a fresh floral name for girls. Avril - This is the French form of April which possibly comes from the Latin aperire  meaning "to open" referring to the opening of flowers in the springtime month. Avril first gained recorded usage in the US in 1919. It has never been common but began gaining more births per year around 2003, presumably in line with the popularity of singer Avril Lavigne who hit the scene in 2002. Blanche - From a Medieval French nickname me

This name is a fast-rising modern Greek name for girls. It was featured in this week's list of gorgeous Greek names and we will learn more about it here. The usage of the name Penelope dates back to Homers Odyssey. In the story, she was the wife of Odysseus who had to stand strong against suitors while he was in Troy. As far as the origin and meaning go, it was possibly derived from the Greek  πηνελοψ ( penelops ) which refers to a kind of duck. However, it is also possible that Penelope is taken from  πηνη ( pene ) which means "threads" and  ωψ (ops) which means "face" or "eye". With those combined, Penelope is sometimes listed as meaning "weaver". As a name in America, Penelope has been in use since records began in 1880 but it wasn't steadily used until 1909. It ranked well from 1935-1975, but left the Top 1000 until 2001. It was majorly trending upward from then on, hitting the Top 100 in 2013. As of 2015, it ranks as the 34

Last week we took a look at boy names that are either diminutives of ancient Greek names, or have had their spellings more Latinized or modernized over the years.  Now it's time to look at the feminine name choices. Many of these have been in use for a long time whether or not the wearers realize their Greek origins. Greek names tend to be very versatile. They easily cross bridges into several cultures and languages, allowing nearly anyone to use them in one form or another. Here are some of the best Greek names I could find that would work beautifully on modern girls. Which of these do you like best? Althea Anastasia Ariadne Calista Calliope Cassandra Catherine Chloe Cleo Daphne Delphina Diana Dorothy Elaina Ellen Esmeralda Eugenia Eulalia Evadne Helen Helena Hermione Iris Isadora Kyra Lydia Lysandra Melanie Melissa Oceana Odessa Olympia Ophelia Penelope Persephone Phaedra Philippa Phoebe Selene Sophia Sybil Thalia Thea Theodora Th

Congratulations on the little girl you're expecting in the near to distant future!  I couldn't be happier for you!  Not pregnant? No problem. If you're looking for an unusual name for a book character, pet, or simulated video game character, I'm happy that you've also stumbled across this page. Below are ten interesting names that have either had their heyday in your grandparents era, or have never quite taken off.  Either way, these names deserve consideration if you're into the uncommon. Go on, browse a bit, then be sure to check out the other six parts of this series  for even more ideas! Damaris (161 births - #1,428) Damaris was a woman in the New Testament who was converted to Christianity by Saint Paul. It is a Greek name from the word δαμαλις ( damalis ) which possibly means "calf, heifer, girl". The meaning is a little unusual but the biblical association makes up for it. Damaris has been used for girls in the US since 1916. It also ga