More Baby Names Inspired by the Animal Kingdom (Part Two)

Welcome to Part Two of our series that is focused on Baby Names Inspired by the Animal Kingdom! If you had a chance to view part one, you would remember that we mostly explored names related to bears, eagles, foxes, lions and wolves. Now we will look at names whose meanings relate to birds, insects, sheep, deer, and a handful of others.

Take a look at the list below and if you spot any favorites, share your thoughts in the comments!

Birds:

Bertram "bright raven" from Germanic elements
Bran "raven" in Irish/Welsh
Branwen "beautiful raven" from Welsh
Corbin "raven" from French
Cormac "raven, son" from Irish Gaelic
Fechín "little raven" in Irish
Guntram "war raven" from Germanic elements
Korbin "raven" from Latin corvus
Raban "raven" from German
Rambert "bright raven" from Germanic elements
Ronne "raven" in Frisian

Lonán "little blackbird" from Irish Gaeic
Merle "blackbird"

Bibigul "nightingale" in Kazakh
Tinuviel "nightingale" in Sindarin

Callum "dove"
Jemima "dove" in Hebrew
Jonah "dove" in Hebrew
Paloma "dove, pigeon" in Spanish
Toiba "dove" in Yiddish
Usoa / Uxue "dove" in Basque

Lærke "lark" in Danish
Toygar "lark" in Turkish
Turgay "skylark" in Turkish

Celandine "swallow (bird)" in Greek
Circe "bird" from Greek
Faigel "bird" in Yiddish
Fulton "bird hill" in Old English
Seffora / Séphora "bird" from Hebrew
Shakuntala "bird" in Sanskrit
Tzipporah "bird" in Hebrew
Zipporah "bird" from Hebrew

Erdoğan "brave falcon" from Turkish
Falk "falcon" in German
Hayato "falcon person" from Japanese

Other birds:

Gallus / Gallo "rooster" in Latin
Gwalchmei "hawk, month of May" from Welsh
Halcyon "kingfisher (bird)" from Greek
Lagle "goose" in Estonian
Mayur "peacock" in Sanskrit
Shahin "peregrine falcon" in Persian
Shay / Shea / Séaghdha "hawk-like" in Irish
Sparrow from the name of the bird
Suzume "sparrow" in Japanese
Svana / Svanhildur / Swanhilde "swan battle" from Germanic elements
Tsubame "swallow (bird)" in Japanese
Tzufit "hummingbird" in Hebrew
Vasco "crow" in Basque
Yaen "ostrich" in Hebrew

Insects:

Arachne "spider" in Greek
Chou "butterfly" in Japanese
Deborah "bee" in Hebrew
Erlea "a bee" in Basque
Flutura "butterfly" in Albanian
Hotaru "firefly" in Japanese
Kelebek "butterfuly" in Turkish
Madhukar "bee" in Sanskrit
Melissa "bee" in Greek
Parvana / Parvaneh "butterfly" in Persian
Vanessa which became a genus of butterfly
Vespasian / Vespasianus "wasp" from Roman

Other Animals:

Agnes "lamb" from Latin
Inez "lamb" from Latin
Janja "lamb" in Serbo-Croatian
Oanez "lamb" from Latin
Ovid "a sheep" from Latin
Rachel "ewe" from Hebrew
Úna "lamb" from Irish

Ayala "doe, gazelle," in Hebrew
Ayelet "gazelle" in Hebrew
Ceren "young gazelle" in Turkish
Dorcas "gazelle" in Greek
Rasha "young gazelle" in Arabic
Tabitha "gazelle" in Aramaic
Tzvi "gazelle" in Hebrew

Buck "buck, male deer" from Old English
Burçin "doe" in Turkish
Damhán "fawn" from Gaelic
Darby "deer town" from Old Norse
Elain "fawn" in Welsh
Enikő "cow" or "deer" in Hungarian
Fawn "fawn" in English
Hersh "deer" in Yiddish
Hjörtur "deer" in Icelandic
Jelena "deer, stag" from Slavic words
Maral "deer" in Armenian
Oisín "little deer" from Irish
Ophrah "fawn" in Hebrew
Oscar "deer friend" from Gaelic

Miscellaneous:

Beverly "beaver stream" in Old English
Bradán "salmon" in Irish Gaelic
Brock "badger" from Old English
Buğra "baby camel" in Turkish
Cailean "young dog" in Gaelic
Caleb "dog"
Conan "little wolf" in Irish
Damaris "calf, heifer" from Greek
Drake "dragon" from Latin
Eachann "brown horse"
Éowyn "horse joy" from Literature: The Lord of the Rings
Epona "horse"
Everard "brave boar" from Germanic elements
Fintan "white bull" in Irish
Fishel "little fish" in Yiddish
Giles "young goat" from Greek
Harisha "lord of monkeys"
Hippolytos "freer of horses" from Greek
Huldah "weasel, mole" in Hebrew
Jael "ibex, mountain goat" in Hebrew
Jorunn "horse love" from Old Norse
Kapila "monkey" in Sanskrit
Katida "kittenish" in Esperanto
Kestrel from the name of the bird of prey
Khulan "wild donkey" in Mongolian
Linnet comes from the name of a bird
Lóegaire "calf herder" in Irish
Maha "oryx" in Arabic (a type of antelope)
Mina "fish" in Sanskrit
Nagendra "lord of snakes" in Sanskrit
Philip "friend of horses" from Greek
Quetzacoatl "feathered snake" in Nahuatl
Renard "fox" from French
Rim "white antelope" in Arabic
Rónán "little seal" in Irish
Rosalind "horse, soft/tender" from Germanic elements
Rosamund "horse protection"
Sable "black" - the name of a small black-furred mammal
Sequoyah "hog" in Cherokee
Tiger from the name of the large cat from Greek, from Iranian
Todd "fox" from Middle English
Ukaleq "hare" in Greenlandic
Usagi "rabbit" in Japanese
Wilbur "wild boar" in Middle English
Xanthippos "yellow horse" from Greek elements
Zarathurstra "golden camel" in Old Iranian

Which of the names on this list do you like the most? Would you ever consider an animal-related name?

Baby Names Inspired by the Animal Kingdom (Part One)

Previously, I have made lists of bird names and nature names, but it just occurred to me that I did not have a list specifically for "animal" names.

Now, there are two different directions we can go when considering this category. The first direction explores broad animal names like wolf, fox, bear and more.  The second direction looks deeper into meanings and various translations or associations.

Here's the first:

Bear
Birdie
Cat
Fox
Kitty
Lion
Tiger
Wolf

Here are some of the most-used bird names:

Falcon

Finch

Hawk

Jay

Lark

Lory

Peregrine (falcon)

Phoenix
Raven

Robin

Sparrow

Starling

Wren

Then there are names that aren't as obviously associated with animals. Some of them have meanings or elements within them that refer to a specific animal, and when you break down their etymology, it makes sense. I categorized them below:

Bear:

Adalbern "noble bear" from Germanic elements.
Alfbern "elf bear" from Germanic elements.
Arkadios "bear" from the Greek αρκτος (arktos).
Armel "bear prince" from Old Welsh name Arthfael
Arthur  "bear man" or "bear king" from Celtic elements.
Ásbjörn "god bear" from Old Norse. A cognate of Osborn.
Ber "bear" in Yiddish.
Berard  "bear" in Ancient Germanic, a variant of Bernard.
Berengar  "bear" and "spear" from Germanic elements
Bernard  "bear" and "brave, hardy" from Germanic elements
Björn "bear" in Old Norse
Dov "bear" in Hebrew
Garsea "bear" in Basque.
Gerben  "spear" and "bear" from Germanic elements
Hallbjörn "rock" and "bear" from Old Norse elements
Humbert  "warrior, bear cub" and "bright" from Germanic elements
Humphrey "warrior, bear cub" and "peace" from Germanic elements.
Math / Mathghamhain "bear" in Irish Gaelic.
Nanuq "polar bear" in Inuktitut.
Nita "bear" in Choctaw
Orson  "bear cub" from Norman French, and from the Latin ursus.
Osborn  "god" and "bear" from Old English elements
Otso "bear" in Finnish.
Swithin "strong bear cub" from the Old English name Swiþhun
Torbjörn  "Thor's bear" from the Old Norse name Þórbjörn
Urs "bear" from the German form of the Latin Ursus
Ursula "little bear" from the Latin word Ursa meaning "she-bear". 

Eagle: 

Aetius "eagle" from Greek aetos
Andor "eagle" from Old Norse name Arnþórr
Ane / Anne "eagle" from Frisian name with Germanic "arn"
Antinanco "eagle of the sun" in Mapuche
Aquila "eagle" in Latin
Aras "eagle" in Lithuanian
Arend "eagle" in Dutch, a variant of Arnold
Ari "eagle" from an Old Norse byname
Arke "eagle" from Germanic elements
Arlie "eagle wood" in Old English
Arne "eagle" in Old Norse
Arnfinn "eagle, person from Finland" in Norwegian
Arnfried "eagle, peace" from Germanic elements
Arnold "eagle power" from Germanic elements
Arnulf "eagle, wolf" from Germanic elements
Arvid "eagle, tree" from Old Norse Arnviðr
Cuauhtémoc "falling eagle" in Nahuatl
Ezio "eagle" Italian form of Aetius
Haythem "young eagle" in  Arabic
Vega "swooping eagle" in Arabic

Fox:

Fox "fox" from the English word
Renard / Reynard "fox" in French
Todd "fox" from Middle English

Lion:

Areli "lion of God" in Hebrew
Ari "lion" in Hebrew
Arieh "lion" in Hebrew
Ariel "lion of God" in Hebrew
Asad "lion" in Arabic
Aslan "lion" in Turkish
Haidar "lion" in Arabic
Izem "lion" in Tamazight
Kfir "lion cub" in Hebrew
Lavi "lion" in Hebrew
Leander "lion man" in Greek
Lencho "lion" in Oromo
Leo "lion" in Latin
Leola "lion" in Latin
Leolin "lion" from Welsh Llywelyn
Leon "lion" from Greek, from Latin
Leona "lion" from Greek, from Latin
Leonard "brave lion" from Germanic elements
Léone "lion" French from Latin
Leonidas "lion" from Greek, from Latin
Léontine "lion" French from Latin
Leontios "lion" from Greek
Lev "lion" in Russian
Lionel  "lion" French from Latin
Llew "lion" in Welsh
Llewelyn "lion" in Welsh
Othniel "lion of God" in Hebrew
Pantaleon "all lion" in Greek
Sher "lion" in Persian
Simba "lion" in Swahili
Singh "lion" in Sanskrit
Tau "lion" in Tswana and Sotho
Usama "lion" in Arabic
Yeruslan "lion" in Turkic

Wolf:

Adolf "noble wolf" from Adalwolf in German

Agilulf "blade, wolf" from Germanic elements

Arnulf "eagle, wolf" from Germanic elements

Athaulf "father, wolf" from Germanic elements

Badulf "fight, wolf" from Germanic elements

Baugulf "bend or ring, wolf" from Germanic elements

Beowulf "bee, wolf" in Old English

Bleddyn "wolf" in Welsh

Boris "wolf"  in Turkic

Conan "little wolf" in Gaelic

Conor "wolf lover: in Gaelic

Conrí "wolf king" in Irish Gaelic

Cuán "little wolf" in Irish

Eadwulf "wealth, wolf" in Old English

Eardwulf "land, wolf" in Old English

Faolán "little wolf" in Gaelic

Gerulf "spear, wolf" from Germanic elements

Guadalupe "river of the wolf" in Arabic

Gurgen "wolf" in Middle Persian

Ivaylo "wolf" in Bulgarian

Loup "wolf" in French from Latin Lupus

Ludolf "famous, wolf" from Germanic Hludwolf

Lyall "wolf" from Old Norse Liulfr 

Lycurgus "wolf" and "word, deed" from Greek Lykourgos

Lycus "wolf" from Greek Lykos

Randolf "rim of a shield, wolf" from Germanic elements

Rudolf "fame, wolf" from Germanic Hrodulf

Sandalio "true wolf" from Gothic name Sandulf

Ulf "wolf" from Old Norse name Úlfr 

Ulric "wolf power" from Old English name Wulfric

Vakhtang "wolf-bodied" in Old Persian

Valko "wolf" in Bulgarian

Varg "wolf" in Old Norse

Velvel "wolf" in Yiddish

Vuk "wolf" in Serbian

Wolf - short from of Wolfgang, Wolfram and others containing the Germanic wulf

Wolfgang "wolf, path" from Germanic Elements

Wolfram "wolf, rave" from Germanic elements

Wulfnod "wolf, boldness" from Old English elements

Wulfsige "wolf, victory" from Old English elements

Ylva "she-wolf" from Old Norse úlfr 

Zeev "wolf" in Hebrew

Can you think of any other animal related names that I missed?  Which of these do you like enough to consider using?

Stay tuned for the next article that will feature even more animal names, including a wide variety of bird names, lambs, deer and more.

Aria, Gale & Zephyr: These Windy, Airy Names Will Blow You Away!

At this point, The Art of Naming has covered Water Names, Rocky Names and Fire Names. Let's take a look at some names that are inspired by wind and air.

Airy names can be quite refreshing like a gentle breeze, or much more powerful and interesting like the strong winds of a tornado or hurricane. Most of the names on this list are uncommonly used for modern children today, except for Aria which is climbing the charts for girls.

Take a moment to browse through these names. Which are your favorites? Can you think of any others that could be added?

Anil

The name Anil is a masculine Sanskrit name meaning "air, wind". It has ranked in the US since 1959 but never received more than 45 births in a single year which happened in 1989. As of 2014, there were only 5 boys named Anil. Perhaps this decline in usage indicates that it is not currently fashionable within its culture. What do you think of it?

Aria

In Italian, this name literally means "air". Most will also know, though, that it refers to a song or a melody, both of which are sometimes listed as the name's meaning. An aria is an elaborate vocal solo in an opera.

As a name, it has been in use since 1900 in the US but it was not at all common until recently. It joined the Top 1000 chart in the year 2000 and then made it into the Top 100 by 2012. Most recently, Aria has ranked as the 31st most popular name with nearly 6k births in 2014.

Aura

Aura is an English word most typically defined as "the distinctive atmosphere or quality that seems to surround and be generated by a person, thing, or place," according to Google. But as a name, it is said to be derived from Greek via Latin with the meaning of "breeze", according to Behind the Name.

This is a rare name and has not ranked within the Top 1000 in this modern age of naming, but it has been used on record since way back in 1881 in the US. It technically ranked a few times in those early years but it hit #641 with only 16 births in 1888 which is very unlike today's popularity stats. Today, 85 births in the year 2014 gives Aura the popularity ranking of #2201.

Awen

This is a beautiful Welsh, Cornish and Breton word that means "(poetic) inspiration". You may be wondering where the "air" theme comes into play. Awen is a very flowy name. Awen is said to be a flowing spirit, and that spirit is the essence of life. The airy part, though, comes from the word itself. Its Indo-European root "-uel" means "to blow" and has the same root as the Welsh word awel which means "breeze".

This breezy, whimsical name is truly unique in the US since this name has never been given to at least 5 girls in a single year. It is, however, sometimes ascribed to poets and musicians.

Gale

A gale is defined as "a very strong wind". As a name, Gale can either be derived from the Middle English gaile which means "jovial" which is considered a masculine name. It could be a variant short form of Abigail, which would be feminine. The same applies to the spelling Gayle, but this name could be used for either gender.

Gale peaked in popularity for females in 1957 at #245 with a total of 1,208 births for the year. After that, the name declined and is not in constant use today. It nearly died out altogether in the 1990s and 2000s, but there were a few births such as 6 in 2011 and 6 in 2013.

For males, it peaked in 1947 with 377 births and a rank of #352. Currently, it's also fading away but there were 9 births in 2014. It goes without saying that this name isn't currently fashionable for either gender. Do you think it could come back in style?

Keanu

We have all heard this Hawaiian name on its most famous bearer, actor Keanu Reeves. Since this is an unusual name, he will probably continue to be the biggest associaton with the name for some time. This name can actually be given to either males or females. It means "the cool breeze" from the Hawaiian ke, a definite article, and anu meaning "coolness".

Mr. Reeves may be the reason this name gained usage in the US. It wasn't given to children at all until 1990 for boys and 1991 for girls, right around the time the actor began becoming more well-known in Hollywood.  Usage ceased for girls in 2006, but it is still being used for a good amount of boys each year.

In 1990, there were 8 male births, by 1992, there were 105, and the name joined the Top 1000 chart by 1994 with a rank of #755. Today, in 2014, there were 141 boys named Keanu for a rank of #1259.

Nasim

Nasim is a unisex Arabic name that means "breeze". It does have some spelling variations such as Naseem and Nassim in Arabic, Naseem in Urdu, and Nesim in Turkish. Pakistanis use this name.

Here in the US, both Nasim and Naseem were originally given more often to girls from the mid-1970s to the early 2000s, but usage has nearly stopped. For boys, Nasim and Naseem gained usage in the 1990s and managed to keep it consistently since then. There were 5 boys named Nasim (and 5 girls too) in 2014. There were 22 boys named Naseem (but zero girls) in the same year.  Which of these two spellings do you like more?

Shu

Shu might not be a name that is on the radar for American parents, but it is interesting to note. Shu is the name of an Egyptian god. He is known as a personification of air, or the "God of the wind and air." He is also associated with sun and light.  Shu means "emptiness" and "he who rises up" in Egyptian. 

Interestingly, the name Shu does have a sprinkling of usage over the years for both genders.   On record, there's been a total of 12 females named Shu (births in 1978, 1983 and 2007). For boys, there has never been more than 8 births in a single year, starting on record in 1992 for a total of 52 recorded male births. There could be even more people named Shu out there but we will never know about them since the SSA doesn't record fewer than 5 births. If there were only 3, they wouldn't be on the list.  What do you think of Shu?

Sky / Skye

If you're looking for a ton of wide open air, where else would you look but up? The Earth's sky looks blue during the day because air scatters blue sunlight more than it scatters red.  While Skye and Sky aren't directly associated with wind, the sky is massive and full of air. 

Originally in the US, Sky was given to males and Skye was given to females starting in the mid-1950s. Since 1970, both names now have moderate usage for both genders. As of 2014, Sky is ranked at #740 for girls and #1402 for boys.  Skye is the most popular spelling overall with a ranking of #368 for girls. For boys, Skye is down at #2258. These stats suggest that while it is a unisex name, it is more commonly given to females. Which spelling do you prefer and for which gender?

Storm / Stormy

A storm is defined as "a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow." We're all familiar with storms. We've surely all been caught in one before. Wind storms can vary depending on the wind speeds, but the faster they are, the more destructive. They could escalate into dust storms, blizzards, tornadoes or hurricanes.

The names Storm and Stormy have been used for both genders since the mid-1940s. The one with the most use is Stormy for a girl. As of 2014, Stormy was given to 104 girls and only 6 boys.  Storm was given to 58 girls and 61 boys. Stormie is also given to girls; there were 69 born in 2014.  Which spelling do you prefer? Which gender?

Windy

Windy has been used as a name in the US since 1948 for females. It even ranked in the Top 1000 from 1967 to 1980. Alternate spelling Wendy was much more popular during the same time period, ranking as high as #28 in 1970.

However, Windy is more of a nature name inspired by actual wind which is defined as "bulk movement of air".  Wendy is typically a shortened form of the Welsh name Gwendolen and other similar names.  So Windy and Wendy aren't actually related.  Which do you like more?

Zephyr

Zephyros was the Greek god of the west wind, so the name Zephyr also means "the west wind". This name is typically masculine since it is the name of a male god, but in the US, it was originally given to females way back starting in 1905 to 1937. Nobody received this name on record after that until it popped up for boys in 1975, and again for girls in 1981.  These days, there were 99 boys and 21 girls named Zephyr in 2014.

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According to Wiki, "the practice of using names to identify tropical cyclones goes back many years, with systems named after places or things they hit before the formal start of naming. The system currently used provides positive identification of severe weather systems in a brief form, that is readily understood and recognized by the public."  The first person to begin naming storms was a meteorologist named Clement Wragge. He named systems between 1887 and 1907, but after that, the practice fell into disuse until World War II.

Today, tropical cyclones are named by one of eleven meteorological services. It is said that using names for storms helps eliminate confusion, especially if there are multiple storms in an area at at time. Significant storms will have their names retired and replaced by another. The lists start alphabetically and continue down the list depending on how many storms there are in a year. Here just two of the lists for 2016:


List of Eastern Pacific tropical cyclone names for 2016:

Agatha Blas Celia Darby Estelle Frank Georgette     Howard

Ivette Javier Kay Lester Madeline Newton Orlene Paine

Roslyn Seymour Tina Virgil Winifred Xavier Yolanda Zeke

List of Atlantic tropical cyclone names 2016:

Alex Bonnie Colin Danielle Earl Fiona Gaston

Hermione Ian Julia Karl Lisa Matthew Nicole

Otto Paula Richard Shary Tobias Virginie Walter

There are many more lists like these that you can browse through if you'd like! What do you think of all the above names? Are there any more air or wind related names that could be added?

Aidan, Ignatius & Seraphina: Hot Names Inspired By Fire!

Today we will be exploring one of the most powerful things in nature: fire. Whether it is controlled in a fireplace or a bonfire, or raging out of control in destructive ways, it is hard to deny that fire is exciting.

However, staring into the mesmerizing, continuous flicker of flames from a safe distance on a cool night might be one of the best ways to experience this phenomenon, especially if you have some marshmallows.

Name-wise, though, there is a handful of excellent names that relate to fire. Let's explore them:

Aidan/Aiden

You may be wondering which names are the fieriest.  Perhaps the most popular name with a fiery meaning is Aidan. The name Aidan comes from a sizable family tree of related names. The original Ancient Irish name was Áed meaning "fire". From that name came names like Áedán, Aodh, Aodhán and today's variations of Aidan such as Aiden, Aydan, Ayden and so on.

The name Aodh, pronounced EE or AY, was very popular in early Ireland. It was used by many different figures in Irish mythology as well as several kings. Interestingly, Aodh was traditionally anglicized as the name Hugh rather than any of the Aidans.

Aidan's distant cousin is the name Keegan by way of the diminutive name Aodhagán turning into the surname Mac Aodhagáin. There's also the Scottish Iagan and Edan. More or less, all of these names mean "fire" or descendant of the fiery one, at least.

Like I said, Aidan is very popular. I'm sure many of you are tired of this name and its soundalikes such as Braden, Cayden, Hayden, etc. That's probably because of how incredibly fast this name rose from out of nowhere. It wasn't even used in the US until 1957. It didn't rank in the Top 1000 until 1990 at #889. Suddenly, by the year 2003 there were over 10k boys given the name for a rank of #39.

However, it was actually the spelling Aiden with an E that was vastly more popular. It rose slower than Aidan but has hung on longer. It had half the popularity of Aidan in 2003, but climbed the charts while Aidan declined. Aiden's peak came in 2009 with exactly 16,000 births and a rank of #12. But it went on to rank higher at #9 in 2010 and 2011 with slightly fewer births per year.

Currently, Aidan ranks at #187 in 2014 while Aiden holds steady at #14. They are both finally overstaying their welcome a bit and creeping back down the charts. Which spelling do you prefer?

Ash 

This name can refer to the residue of a fire, but it is more typically associated with the Ash Tree or it is simply a short form of names like Ashley, Asher or Ashton. However, it has to be noted that these longer forms don't have meanings having to do with fire.

Ash was first regularly given to boys as a name in the US in 1996. Most parents probably prefer longer forms of the name since Ash has never been popular on its own. There were a record-high 66 male births in 2014.  Would you ever use Ash on its own? Do you like any of the longer forms?

Blaze

Blaze is an English word meaning "a very large or fiercely burning fire". As a name, though, it is a modern variation of Blaise. Even though these two names are technically related and share a pronunciation, Blaise has nothing to do with fire since it is a Roman name meaning "lisping". 

Blaze popped up in the US as a boy name in 1953. While it has never been popular, it entered the Top 1000 in 2000 and currently resides at #775 fourteen years later. Blaze could be a more edgy alternative to Blake. 

Ember

Ember is an English word meaning "a small piece of burning or glowing coal or wood in a dying fire." As a name, Americans have used it since 1946 but it never has much steam until recently. It entered the Top 1000 in 2009 and shot all the way up to #435 in 2014. Even though embers are a dying fire, the name Ember is glowing brightly.

It is very similar in sound to the name Amber which was huge in the 1980s-1990s, ranking as high as #13 in 1986. Since Amber's popularity is starting to fall, perhaps Ember is rising to take her place. If that seems like a stretch, though, Ember is also very close in sound to other popular Em- names such as #1 names Emma and Emily. Ember could be similar enough to those yet unique enough to be catching parents' attention today.

Flint

A flint is a hard stone with which one could start a fire if the stone is struck hard enough. As a name, Flint comes from the Old High German word flins and usually refers to a dark stone made of the mineral quartz. Since it is a hard stone, it has been used in the past as a nickname for a tough guy.

Flint might immediately bring to mind the cartoon character Fred Flintstone. But also, with the recent news out of Flint, Michigan concerning the toxic water scandal, Flint might not currently be a name you want at the top of your shortlist. 

Ignatius 

The name Ignatius comes from the Roman family name Egnatius. Originally, Egnatius had an unknown meaning from the ancient Etruscan origin. As time went on, the spelling was altered so it would be similar to the Latin word ignis which means "fire". Because of this, the Etruscan Egnatius became the Latin Ignatius and inherited itself a meaning. 

Now that Ignatius means fire, it is certainly a red-hot choice for bold namers. It is used well internationally under various translations, but here in the US, it remains rare. Ignatius was only given to 40 boys in 2014.

Phoenix

Of course the Phoenix is perhaps the most beautiful image aside from fire itself. The immortal bird from Egyptian and Greek mythology is known for being consumed by fire and then rising from its own ashes every 500 years. The Greek word phoinix actually means "dark red". 

In other English-speaking countries, Phoenix is mostly used for boys, but here in America, this name is hot for both genders as both a mythological name and a place name for the capital of Arizona. It was given to girls first but caught on more quickly for boys. For boys, it entered the Top 1000 in 1995; girls followed in 2003. Here's 2014's stats: 59% boy / 41% girl. Boys: 901 births (#355).

Girls: 629 births (#494). Which gender do you prefer?

Seraphina

The lovely, underused Seraphina comes from the biblical word seraphim that means "fiery ones" and refers to an order of angels.


It is rather surprising that this name has never caught on. Even more surprising is that it was never used in the US before 1981. Even today, Seraphina is nowhere near the Top 1000.  In 2014, there were only 175 girls given this name. Do you think it'll blaze up the charts someday or remain forever uncommon?

Tyson

Tyson is an English surname that is said to mean "firebrand" based on the Old French word tison. In the past it has also been used as a nickname for a quarrelsome person.

This name has been around in the US since 1912, It never ranked all that well until it joined the Top 1000 in 1966. It ranked well through the 1980s but declined again in the 90s. Tyson peaked in popularity in 2009 with nearly 1,500 births for the year and a rank of #237. These days it's down to #282.  What do you think, is the name Tyson hot or not?

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Names that mean "fire" in other cultures:

Agni (m) "fire" Sanskrit
Azar (m&f) "fire" Persian
Brandr (m) "sword or fire" Scandinavian
Cinaed (m) "born of fire" Gaelic
Conleth (m) "chaste fire" Irish
Fajra (f) "fiery" Esperanto
Fiammetta (f) "fire" Italian
Fintan (m) "white fire" Irish
Hurik (f) "small fire" Armenian
Keahi (m&f) "the fire" Hawaiian
Nina (f) "fire" Quechua
Ognyan (m) "fiery" Bulgarian
Plamen (m) "flame, fire" Slavic
Shula (f) "flame" Arabic
Şule (f) "flame" Turkish
Ugne (f) "fire" Lithuanian

So what do you think of these fiery names? Can you think of any that I missed?

Caspian, Kai & River: Names Inspired by Water

Water is everywhere. We use it for countless reasons every day. Heck, we're made of water. It is essential to life as we know it. What better way to honor our precious life-sustaining water than to choose a name inspired by it?

Plenty of parents are already fans of nature names, why not filter those down to just the water-related ones? You'll find that you have many great options to choose from.

Before we dive into the deep end, let's explore a bit of mythology. The God of the Sea is known as Poseidon in Greek mythology. One of his love interests was the Sea Goddess Amphitrite. Together they had a son named Triton who was the Messenger of the Sea.  The Roman equivalent of Poseidon is Neptune, the God of Freshwater and the Sea.

Here are some of the best names inspired by water:

Bodies of water that could be used as names:

Bay Bayou Brook Cascade Cove Delta Fjord Frost Harbor Icy Laguna Lake Marsh Ocean Rain River Snow

Names of falls, lakes, rivers and oceans that work as names:

Caspian Como Danube Erie Hudson Jordan Kivu Loire Lucerne Nile Oman Rhine Tahoe Tallulah Thames

Names meaning "water" or "sea", etc:

Afon Alton Clinton Darya Douglas Indra Irving Kai Kelvin Kendall Kenton Lincoln Lynn Marinus Maris Marisol Maristela Marlowe Maya Meri Merlin Merton Mira Misty Moana Morgan Mortimer Muir Muirgel Muirgen Naia Neith Nerida Nerissa Océane Pegasus Pelagius Rio Rosemary Sevan Tallulah Vale Wilton

"river" "town at the source of the river" "settlement on the River Glyme". "sea, ocean" "dark river" "possessing drops of rain" "green water" "sea" "narrow water" "valley on the river Kent" "town on the River Kenn" "lake colony" "lake" "of the sea". "of the sea" "sea and sun" "star of the sea" "remnants of a lake" "water" "the sea" "sea fortress" "town on a lake" "sea, ocean" "misty" "ocean, wide expanse of water, deep sea" "sea circle" "still water" "sea" "bright sea" "born of the sea" "wave, sea foam" "water" "water lily" "nymph, sea sprite" "ocean" "from a water spring" "the sea" "river" "dew of the sea" "lake" "leaping waters" "wide river valley" "town on the River Wylye"

Other relevant names:

Aqua Beach Cloud Coral Marina Reef Shore Tide Wade

What do you think of this list? Can you think of more that could be added? Which is your favorite?

Viola

One of The Very Best V Names around is Viola, of course! Taken from our previous article, this name is still a rarity but could potentially gain popularity in the coming years.

The name Viola means "violet" in Latin. If Violet is too popular for you (it ranked #67 in 2014), try Viola. It is very similar in sound but it is ranking well below the Top 1000 chart.

As you may know, the viola is a bowed string instrument. Wikipedia says that "it is slightly larger than a violin in size and has a lower and deeper sound than a violin. Since the 18th century it has been the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello."  This would be a great name choice for musical parents, specifically ones who may actually play this instrument.

The Viola is also a genus of flowering plants within the violet family of Violaceae. The name Viola would please not only musical parents, but those with an appreciation for nature. Additionally, literature lovers would recognize that Viola is the name of the heroine in Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night" (1602).

On top of all that, Viola can also be considered a vintage name since it was well-used a century ago and has the potential to come back into fashion again in the next few years if it can catch a ride on Violet's coattails.

What's not to love? She's a musical, literary, vintage nature name that happens to still be flying under the radar popularity-wise! Hollywood has an Emmy Award winning actress by the name of Viola Davis who has been helping to increase exposure to the name in the entertainment world recently.

Do you think Viola may start climbing the charts for modern babies soon? Viola has been in use in the US since 1880 when records began. It isn't very popular now but it once peaked even higher than the name Violet did. In 1918, there were 4,331 girls named Viola for a ranking of #59 (while Violet ranked at #83 in the same year.)

Since the 1920s, though, Viola has declined in popularity straight down the charts and out of the Top 1000 by 1973. While Viola remains uncommon, it is starting to inch its way back up. There were 192 girls given this name in 2014 for a rank of #1250.

Here are some sibling and middle name ideas for Viola:

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Cecily, Coraline, Grace, Imogen, Lenore, Lucille, Rosalie
Brothers: Ambrose, Barnaby, Curtis, Henry, Leonard, Marcus, Thomas

Middle Name Ideas:
Viola Camille
Viola Genevieve
Viola Hettienne
Viola Maren
Viola Rose

As a Middle Name:
Alice Viola
Belle Viola
Julianne Viola
Louise Viola
Tess Viola

What do you think of the name Viola? Or do you prefer Violet? What about Violetta?

Flora

The beautiful, feminine name Flora is brought to you today in light of our previous post that featured The Very Best F Names for Boys and Girls.

As a name, Flora has been in use since the Renaissance era in France. Diminutives of the name include Flo, Floretta, Florrie and Floella. In Dutch, Flora is known as Floor or Floortje. The French call her Flore and Florette, Hungarians say Flóra while the Welsh use Fflur.

Flora could be used as a nickname for Florence but the two aren't actually related since they come from different roots. Another similar name is Fleur which is French for Flower; there's also Fleurette, a diminutive of Fleur.

Flora

It's no surprise that this lovely name comes from the Latin word flos meaning "flower".  Flora was the goddess of flowers and the season of spring according to Roman mythology. She was the wife of Favonius, who was the west wind and bringer of light spring and early summer breezes. This couple's Greek equivalent is Chloris and Zephyrus or Zephyr.

The goddess Flora had her own festival called Floralia that would take place from April 28th to May 3rd in celebration of the renewal of life during springtime. Flora achieved more prominence during the Renaissance era than she ever did in ancient Rome.

Flora has ranked recently at #404 in England/Wales, #178 in France and #29 in Hungary. In the US, Flora has been in constant use since 1880. She enjoyed a popularity peak from roughly 1913-1931 before usage declined. This name fell off the Top 1000 chart in 1972 and remains there today. It ranked down at #1513 in the year 2013 when 144 baby girls were given the name. The good news, though, is that this name fits the 100 Year Rule.

According to that rule, old-fashioned names become fresh again and experience a revival of usage roughly 90-110 years after their initial peak of popularity. In this case, Flora did its best in 1920 with 1,566 births. In the next 5 years leading up to 2020, Flora may just receive a small boost in usage. However, it could take another ten years or so to see a definite rise since this is just an approximate and theorized timeline. There is always a chance that it may not occur at all. Either way, Flora has the potential to rejoin the Top 1000 names chart.

What do you think of the name Flora?

If you're interested in this lovely, under-the-radar, vintage name, perhaps these sibling and middle name ideas would also be helpful:

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Ada, Caroline, Hazel, Leona, Olive, Sylvie, Viola
Brothers: August, Calvin, Ferdinand, Hugh, Julius, Milo, Rupert

Middle Name Ideas:
Flora Cecily
Flora Mae
Flora Lucille
Flora Vivienne

As a Middle Name:
Elizabeth Flora
June Flora
Penelope Flora
Serenity Flora

Know anyone with this name? Share your thoughts on the name Flora in the comments below!

Source | Source
Photo: Primavera- Flora, the goddess of flowers and the season of spring.
Artist: Sandro Botticelli. Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence - circa 1482

Blooming Springtime Names for Baby Girls

Today is the first day of spring and what is spring without flowers and sunshine? If you're expecting a baby girl this season, perhaps you are searching for the perfect name to fit the occasion.  Look no further than this list!

There are plenty of applicable nature names that would be beautiful on a spring-born baby girl. Here are some of the lovelier options:

Amaryllis
Azalea
Aya - "bird"
Beryl - A sea-green stone
Birdie
Blossom
Bluebell
Brooke
Calla
Chloe - "Green shoot"
Daffodil
Dahlia
Daisy
Dawn
Deborah - "bee"
Emerald
Fleur
Flora
Hyacinth
Iris
Ivy
Jade - A green stone
Lilac
Lily
Magnolia
Orchid
Peony
Peridot - A green stone
Petunia
Phyllida - "Green bough"
Poppy
Primrose
Rain
Robin
Rose
Spring
Sunny
Sunshine
Tulip
Violet

Here are other ideas relating to spring, newness, and Easter that would apply and make for less-obvious but still lovely springtime names:

Anastasia - "Resurrection" (Greek)
April / Avril - A spring month
Aurora - "Dawn" (Latin)
Aviva - "Spring" (Hebrew)
Florence - "Blooming, Flourishing" (Latin)
Gen - "Spring" (Japanese)
Laverna - "Born in the Spring" (Latin)
May / Mae - A spring month
Midori - "Green" (Japanese)
Nouvel - "New" (French)
Nova - "New" (Latin)
Primavera - "Spring" (Italian)
Verde - "Green" (Spanish)
Verna - "Springtime" (Latin)
Zelenka - "Green" (Czech)

Which of the above names do you like most? Would you use any? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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!

Savannah

To complement Tuesday's post regarding the best V names for girls, and last week's post about the best V names for boys, I chose to feature the feminine name Savannah which contains the letter V.

Savannah isn't just a city in the state of Georgia, USA. It comes from an English word that indicates a large, grassy plain. Originally, Savannah comes from a Taino (Native American) word zabana. Variants of the name include Zavanna and Savanna. It's a place name and a nature name.

Savannah gained usage as a baby name in the 19th century. It has also been on record in the US every year since 1880 but its usage was very minimal until it suddenly boomed in the 1980s. This increase in births-per-year is most likely a result of the 1982 movie "Savannah Smiles".

There were only 43 births in 1981, 118 in 1982 and in 1983, there were 434 Savannahs born. That means the name went from ranking in the 1100s to being #466 in just one year. The year 2000 had a record-high amount of Savannahs born. There was 7,097 of them for a ranking of #37!

Since then, the name has declined a bit in popularity. As of 2013, it still ranks at #37 but that only accounts for 5,192 births.

This name is very cute yet classy. It has a elegant vibe to it but it is also a nature name that gives you the image of a grassy plain. It is both sweet and strong and great for a baby, a teen and a woman.

Right now, Savannah feels as though it is a bit underrated. It isn't high on the popularity radar in the active online baby naming community even though it ranks #37 in the country. It ranks down at #207 on Nameberry, which is based on pageviews on their site. It is being used well but at the same time, it isn't being overly talked about which makes it ideal. Even though Savannah is technically popular, it would still be refreshing to hear on a baby today.

What do you think of this name and its cute nicknames like Savy, Sanna, Van, and Vanna? What middle names would you pair with it? What would you name her siblings? Here are a few ideas:

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Brooke, Gabrielle, Heather, Lucy, Madison, Mckenzie, Sydney
Brothers: Arlo, Dallas, Jacob, Levi, Oliver, Seth, Travis

Middle Name Ideas:
Savannah Alexis
Savannah Isobel
Savannah Jade
Savannah Lorraine
Savannah Paige

As a Middle Name:
Bailey Savannah
Chloe Savannah
Harper Savannah
Morgan Savannah
Riley Savannah

Madelief

The male Dutch name that I featured this week, Diederick, is relatively rare. The female name that I'm about to share is actually ranking pretty well in the Netherlands!

Madelief is the name. It is pronounced mad-uh-LEEF and it's actually rather adorable! I think this could catch on in lieu of the more popular "Maddie" names like Madeline and Madison if more people knew about it. It would fit in well with other unusual Mad- names like Madigan and Madeleva as well as male choices like Maddox and Madden. It also goes hand in hand with botanical names that are gaining popularity today.

The best part is that this adorable name comes from the Dutch word madeliefje which means "daisy". So it's actually an obscure nature name! I say that it is obscure because, well, it is. It may rank at #126 in the Netherlands, but here in the USA, Madelief is non-existent. There have never been at least 5 girls given this name in a single year. Anyone who has this name is definitely one of a kind.

In the 1970s, children's book author Guus Kuijer wrote a beloved series of books featuring a character named Madelief. It was made into a tv series in the 1990s too! However, most of it has never been translated into English. Beyond that, Madelief seems to be a relatively new name even in the Netherlands.

If you're looking for a name that's on trend but completely unique at the same time, this is it! I'd love to see this name get some usage in the US today!

What do you think of this rare name? What middle names would you pair with it? Share your thoughts below! Here are some ideas that I came up with:

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Anneke, Esmee, Fenna, Helena, Mila, Sabine, Xandra, Zoe
Brothers: Bram, Constantine, Florian,  Lucas, Oscar, Pieter, Sebastian, Tobias

Middle Name Ideas:
Madelief Anne
Madelief Joelle
Madelief Kate
Madelief Norah
Madelief Tessa

As a Middle Name:
Chloe Madelief
Eva Madelief
Faye Madelief
Noa Madelief
Sophie Madelief

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!

Pearl

The last post in our Summer Names segment is this lovely girl name. Pearl is considered a rather old-fashioned name but it is coming back into style today!

I chose this name because it is the birthstone for June, a summer month. Historically, pearls were a favorite gem during the Roman Empire. Tudor England was even nicknamed "the pearl age" during the 1500s. They were probably so popular because they are said to give wisdom and bring wealth, protection and luck. They symbolize purity, generosity, integrity and loyalty as well. That's quite a lot for a baby girl to live up to if she's named Pearl!

Pearls are also unique in that they're the only gems that come from living sea creatures. This means that they have a natural beauty that is not made or altered by man or machine. However, cultured pearls dominate the market in place of natural pearls and have since the 1920s.

As a baby name, the English word pearl refers to the concretions formed in mollusk shells, like I mentioned, but it ultimately comes from the Late Latin word perla. It has been used as a name since the 19th century because of its lasting popularity as a gemstone. Today, many celebrities have already used Pearl for their daughters' firsts and middle names.

At first thought, Pearl may seem like the name of someone's great-grandmother and you wouldn't be incorrect in that association. Pearl was very popular from 1880 to around 1940. Pearl peaked in popularity in 1918 with 4,521 births and a ranking of #56.

Slowly, Pearl lost her fashionability. She dropped out of the Top 1000 in 1977-1978, from 1987-2006, and 2008. However, she's climbing back up the charts now and is ranking higher than she has in years! In 2013, 416 baby girls were named Pearl for a ranking of #677. She has a long way to go to hit the kind of numbers she saw in 1918 but it could happen again, especially since she fits the 100 year rule.

What do you think of the sweet, vintage Pearl? Do you think she'll make a bit of a comeback in the next 5-10 years? Also, what names would you pair with it? Here are some ideas I came up with:

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Alice, Clementine, Daisy, Hazel, Iris, June, Lucy, Opal, Ruby, Sadie, Violet
Brothers: Conrad, Emmett, Graham, Henry, Jude, Oliver, Roman, William

Middle Name Ideas:
Pearl Adelaide
Pearl Eleanora
Pearl Josephine
Pearl Serenity

As a Middle Name:
Beatrice Pearl
Clara Pearl
Juliana Pearl
Rosalind Pearl

Summer Names for Girls

Summer is officially in full swing! That means it's the time of shorts and sunscreen, swimming pools and barbecues, sunshine and tan lines.  If you also happen to be baring a baby belly instead of a bikini, you may be in need of a wonderful summertime name!  I've composed a list of timely names that will suit any baby girl born in the summer heat! I'll be using one of these myself next month! Which of these names could you see yourself using for your little sunshine?

Alexandrite

America
Augusta
Berry
Breezy
Brooklyn
Coral
Daisy
Julia
Juliet
July
June
Junia
Lake
Leonie
Leonora
Liberty
Lillia
Lily
Marina
Marisol
Meadow
Morwenna
Nerida
Nixie
Oceana
Oceane
Peach
Pearl
Pelagia
Peridot
Plum
Rae
River
Ruby
Sailor
Sandy
Shelly
Sky
Suma
Summer
Sunny
Sunshine
Thalassa
Waverly

If you can think of more lovely summer names to add, let me know in the comment section below! Don't forget to also check out the list of Summer Names for Boys!   There's also a list for Autumn Girl Names and Autumn Boy Names too!  Winter and Spring coming soon!

River

When you think of warm weather and outdoor activities, perhaps a body of water comes to mind. Whether you enjoy the pool or the ocean, water is a huge part of summertime. Since we're discussing summer names this week and next, I thought I'd feature the name River for my boy name choice even though I'm aware of how unisex it is.

Of course, River comes from the English word that refers to a flowing body of water. Many people enjoy rafting down a river during the summer or camping near one. Ultimately, the word river is derived from the Latin ripa meaning "riverbank". As a name, River was considered masculine first but the girls staked their claim on it fairly quickly. It is still more popular for boys though.

As a nature name, River offers a great tranquil vibe, but also one of adventure. Pluralizing it as Rivers is also an option but it doesn't receive as many births per year as the singular River. There have been a few celebrities who have used this name for their children in recent years. There's also pop-culture ties to the late River Phoenix; and Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo.  For the females, there was a character on Doctor Who named River Song; and singer Kelly Clarkson recently gave her daughter the name River Rose.

River first appeared on the baby name record in 1971. It wasn't used regularly each year until 1986 for boys. It increased in usage around 1994 and has slowly been climbing upward since then. There were 815 males named River in 2013 for a ranking of #372.

The girls jumped on the bandwagon in 1988 but didn't have as much of an increase in births per year as the boys. They began catching up around 2006. As of 2013, there were 480 females named River, ranking the name at #588 on the girl side of the US Top 1000 chart.

What sort of name would you pair with River? Would you stick to the nature path? Would you find another 5 letter name? Perhaps another name with a V in it? Maybe something else entirely! Here's a few ideas that I came up with to help you out:

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Aurora, Brooke, Hazel, Ivy, Lotus, Olivia, Summer, Willow
Brothers: Archer, Forest, Hunter, Jasper, Miles, Sawyer, Talon, Tyler

Boy Middle Name Ideas:
River Campbell
River James
River Sinclair
River William

As a Middle Name:
Florian River
Paxton River
Sebastian River
Vincent River

Girl Middle Name Ideas:
River Clementine
River Emilia
River Katherine
River Sophia

As a Middle Name:
Audrey River
Hannah River
Penelope River
Stella River

Do you like River more for a boy or a girl? What names would you choose to pair it with? Share your thoughts in the comment section or on Facebook!

Summer Names for Boys

Summertime officially began at the end of June! Next, we'll get to watch the fireworks light up the summer sky! After that, it's time to start pondering more about that baby name you're looking for. Your summer baby will be arriving soon! If you're having trouble narrowing down the right name for your little guy, perhaps one of these timely choices will best suit him! Take some of that warmth and sunshine and happiness associated with summer and apply it directly to naming and you'll have yourself the perfect moniker! Check out this list for ideas:

August

Augustine
Augustus
Azul
Bay
Beach
Birch
Bodhi
Brody
Cain
Calder
Dax
Dune
Dylan
Field
Finn
Julian
Julio
Julius
July
Junius
Junot
Kai
Lake
Leaf
Leo
Marlin
Marino
Murphy
Ocean
Pacifico
Ray
Rip
River
Sandy
Shade
Sheldon
Somerset
Storm
Sumner
Sunny
Tanner
Theros
Thunder
Tide
Tripp

Which of these names could you see yourself using for your baby boy? Don't forget to take a look at the list of Summer Names for Girls too! Also, Autumn Names for Boys and Autumn Names for Girls.

Ivy

The lovely name Ivy comes from the English word for the climbing plant with the same name. It ultimately comes from the Old English word ifig. This plant is known for its clinging vines and its small yellow flowers. Ivy actually symbolizes faithfulness and fidelity and was traditionally presented in the form of a wreath to newlyweds in ancient Greece.

However, there is of course the association with the "poison ivy" plant that can causes rashes and skin irritations upon contact. Based on the nature of this plant comes the fictional character who uses these toxins for criminal activity. The DC Comics supervillainess, who is aptly named Poison Ivy, has been an enemy of Batman since her creation in 1966. She is essentially an eco-terrorist who is obsessed with botany and uses it to her advantage.  Modern little girls named Ivy will either think she is super cool or they will resent the association, so think carefully on this topic before committing to the name Ivy.

There are also plenty of other Ivys in pop-culture, though. The most recent one that is probably still on everyone's' minds is that of Beyoncé and Jay Z's daughter Blue Ivy. I read somewhere that they chose Ivy because of the Roman numerals IV which has significance for them as a couple. It is up to you whether you like this celebrity association or would rather avoid the name Ivy because of it.

As a baby name and despite the "poison ivy" associations, modern parents are falling in love with this quirky, botanical name. This name contains the coveted letter V which is a huge trend for girl names these days. It is short and sweet with only three letters, but it does have two syllables so it doesn't feel quite as short. Overall, Ivy is a lovely and strong choice. It fits in with the other -v names as well as the other fast-rising botanical and nature names.

Ivy is more popular now than it ever has been in the US. It has been in regular usage since records were first kept in 1880. Along with many other vintage favorites, Ivy enjoyed a small popularity boost from 1912-1927 or so with the most amount of births being 188 in 1916. It wasn't until the late 1940s and early 1950s that this name gained a more permanent upward tick in popularity.

With only a few ups and downs, Ivy has been on an upward trajectory. In 2005, the name passed the 1000-births-per-year mark and is currently sitting happily with 1,677 births for the year 2012. That puts the name at a record-high ranking of #187. This is rather impressive because the name jumped a whopping 80 ranks between 2011 and 2012! Not very many names will have such a dramatic change from one year to the next. I think this name will only continue to rise in the coming years.

This name ranks well in other countries, too! #168 in England/Wales, #153 in the Netherlands, #65 in Canada (BC) and #21 in Australia (NSW).

What do you think of the name Ivy? Do you agree that it will continue to gain popularity or will people start to write it off because Beyoncé used it?

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Anna, Chloe, Emma, Hazel, Johanna, Leah, Nadia, Violet
Brothers: Alec, Clayton, Emmett, Liam, Miles, Reid, Thomas, Wesley

Middle Name Ideas:
Ivy Caroline
Ivy June
Ivy Lucille
Ivy Margaret
Ivy Sabrina

As a Middle Name:
Charlotte Ivy
Francesca Ivy
Rebecca Ivy
Susannah Ivy
Valentina Ivy

These are just ideas! What would you pair with Ivy?

Juniper

The name Juniper is most notably a type of evergreen shrub in the cypress family whose berries are used to flavor gin. This name joins the ranks of other tree names such as Acacia, Hazel and Willow. However, it triples as a nature name, a place name and a saint name. Saint Juniper, or Brother Juniper, was called "the renowned jester of the Lord" and was one of the followers of St. Francis of Assisi. He died in 1258.

This name is ultimately derived from the Latin word iuniperus or juniperus which is a combination of the word junio which means "young" and parere which means "to produce". These put together equal "youth producing" or evergreen. Beyond this, Juniper could also be a derivation of the Welsh name Guinevere. Click here for even more information about this possible connection.

This name has become more than just a guilty pleasure as evidenced by the way it has skyrocketed up the charts in the past five years.  Juniper first gained usage in the US in 1969 thanks to a hit song called "Jennifer Juniper" by Donovan. After that, it was occasionally used until 1985 when it took a hiatus until 1992. Between 2007 and 2008, this name got a boost in popularity. The name joined the Top 1000 for the first time in 2011 at #953.  In 2012, there were 296 girls given the name Juniper which ranked it at an impressive #883.  There were also 5 boys given the name in 2012 but this name is overwhelmingly female.

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The name Juniper has a very earthy, hippy vibe behind it that can bring a smile to your face. With the adorable nicknames June, Junie or Juno, this name is a unique and spunky choice for a modern girl.

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Alice, Hadley, Hazel, Romilly, Violet, Willow
Brothers: Arthur, August, Everett, Jasper, Julius, Oliver

Middle Name Ideas:
Juniper Evelyn
Juniper Isabelle
Juniper Olivia
Juniper Victoria

As a Middle Name:
Audrey Juniper
Leila Juniper
Molly Juniper
Reese Juniper

What would you pair with Juniper? What do you think of this fast-rising name?

Primrose

Purple Primroses

I got this week's featured name from the list of Colonial names that I posted on Tuesday! It was apparently used back then but it sure is rare now!

There are many "Rose" names out there. Beyond just Rose, there are Rosa, Rosalie, Rosamund, Roseanne, Roselyn, Rosemary, Rosetta, Rosemarie, etc. I have never been a huge fan of any of these. And then I found Primrose. 

It switches the "rose" to the end of the name and is an entirely different flower altogether than a rose, which I like! I'm one of those odd girls that do not like roses just because everyone else does. The primrose is very lovely, though, and comes in many colors!  (Don't let the name fool you! The Primrose flower comes from the family Primulaceae and is not closely related to the rose family Rosaceae.)

This name was originally used as a Scottish surname but it ultimately derives from the Latin "prima rosa" which means "first rose". And as its name indicates, it has the word "prim" in it which lends to the saying "prim and proper." Many people view this name as somewhat uppity but I think it is uniquely cool.

Primrose has been used in several British novels and TV series so it does have a British air about it that may not work as well in America. But despite the general vibe that it gives, it is definitely a bold and attractive choice! It is a great alternative to other popular flower names like Lily and Daisy and Rose itself!

The most recent Primrose that may be familiar today is the character Primrose "Prim" Everdeen in the Hunger Games trilogy, who is of course the younger sister of Katniss.  I think that it was that exact character that influenced the 16 births of girls named Primrose in 2012.

Before 2012, there were no girls being given this name for 30 years! There were 5 born in 1982, 6 in 1973, 5 in 1960, 7 in 1940 and a total of 66 Primroses born between 1914 and 1932. Basically, this name is a rare gem! If you are looking for something pretty and unique, this is it! It has the beautiful image of flowers to back it up and she can still be called Rose or Rosie as a nickname. Win win!

I would pair this name with something somewhat classic or traditional since it is a very unique choice. Something short and sweet!  What do you think of this name? What would you pair with it?

[Sidenote: I had to choose Primrose after I chose Peregrine last week. They are my two favorite P-names and they just sort of "go together" in my mind. I would love to meet boy/girl twins named Peregrine and Primrose! Both super unique and rare and nature related! Pip and Prim or Perry and Rosie.  Just my thoughts!]  :)

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Amity, Cordelia, Everly, Honora, Junia, Lavinia, Magnolia, Octavia, Pearl, Verity
Brothers: Amadeus, Declan, Emmett, Faustus, Hawthorne, Merritt, Peregrine, Theodore, Ulysses, Vincent

Middle Name Ideas:
Primrose Eve
Primrose Hope
Primrose Kate
Primrose Lucille
Primrose Susanna

As a Middle Name:
Anna Primrose
Claire Primrose
Hester Primrose
Lydia Primrose
Tabitha Primrose