The Art of Naming

Birth announcements are a great way to discover what names other parents are using. You can use this knowledge for your own baby naming efforts and let yourself be inspired! Whether you view these as names that you'd never use or names that you'd love to use, lists like these can be helpful in the naming process. If you were expecting a baby today and had to choose a name from this list, which would it be? Tell me your one favorite girl name and one favorite boy name from the following list. Share your picks in the comment section below! My choices are at the bottom of the page! Girls:  Ada June Adalyn Ruth Amira Renee Annelise Elizabeth Ansley Michelle Ashlyn Olivia Ava Chelsea Aviana Rose Cassidy Olivia Ciara Elizabeth Emma Grace Evelyn Fae Jessica Ann Juliana Deborah Kaitlyn Sophia Kelly Lee Khloe Marianne Lauren Elizabeth Lauryn Elaine Lolah Marie Luz Isabella Morgan Serenity Norah Eve Olivia Faith Paige Marie Paislee Margaret Rose Riley

What do you think about when you look at a list of birth announcements? Of course you'd remember that these all belong to an actual child somewhere in this country, but if you were take a step back and look at these names at face value, do you picture anything in your mind? Do you automatically start to rate the names? Would you borrow one of the pairings and add it to your own name list? Sure, why not? These are meant as inspiration for those in the process of finding a name, and to enlighten the rest of us as to what sort of names are actually being used. Most of all, since these are anonymous, you're meant to enjoy the names and have a bit of fun. So what would you say if I asked you to pick and choose your favorite first/middle combinations as they are and create a sibset with them? Using the following names, share with us in the comment section what you would name twins: girl/girl, boy/boy and boy/girl. I'll share my picks below!  Girls: Adara Helaina Alanna

Birth announcements are always fun to read. This time, I wanted to find a group of names that did not have a single duplicate. Remember, these names come from real babies!! Which do you like best? For fun, pretend you have triplets to name and you can only use one of the following first/middle combinations as they are. You can choose any gender combination or do all of them. What will you pick? Check out my choices at the bottom of the page. Be sure to share your sibsets in the comments below! Girls: Adalynn Skye Alivia Alessandra Allison Kate Angelina Luz Aria Rose Arielle Jade Avery Marie Avia Isabel Brielle Immani Eleanor Elizabeth Evelyn Lilia Gabriella Sophia Gianna Lynn Hannah Joy Julianna Violet Layla Michelle Lilly Alice Lucy Ruth Mary Charlotte Melody Raine Michaela Joan Miranda James Natalie Ann Olivia Louise Paris Alexandria Penelope Jane Samantha Abigail Taylor Grace Valentina Pearl Viviana Leigh Boys: Alexander Donovan Anthony August

Here are some real names from some real babies found on recent hospital birth announcements in the US. Which of these do you like best? Girls: Adalynn Rose Alexis Ann Amelia Grace Anna Beverly Bella Victoria Cadence Faith Clara Luna Eliza Rain Emma Mae Hazel Mae Helena Mae Hope Ann Kathryn Ethel Lillien Emma Margaret Lucille Michaela Hailey Olivia Grace Quinley Marie Samantha Joy Scarlett Myrtle Serenity Marie Skylar Jasmine Teagan Marie Tessa Elizabeth Valerie Brook Boys: Abel Vaughn Aiden Robert Benjamin Alexander Christopher Charles Colin James Colt Thomas Edward Gabriel Elias Daniel Elliot Wesley Emerson Davis Ezekiel Luther Hunter James Isaiah Sylvester Jack Rowdy Lincoln Thomas Luca Daniel Matthew James Maurice Anthony Patrick John Preston Michael Samuel Lawrence Sylas Logan Thomas Dominick Weston Michael Wyatt James

This month's birth announcement list is full of some pretty wonderful choices! If you had to name triplets using just the names below, (keeping the first/middle combinations as they are), which would you choose? Share your answers in the comments below! Adalyn Mae Amelia Belle Anaya Amore Anna Marie Autumn Giselle Brooke Lynn Cora Evangeline Ella Christine Emily Hannah Evelyn Marie Francesca Nicole Gianna Lucia Kalista Faye Lenaia Marie Lila Rae Lillianna Grace Lily Faye Matilda Jayne Natalia Maria Paityn Belle Rayne Alonna Riley May Sabrina Lynn Sadie Ann Sophia Jean Willow Brooke Aidan Timothy Blake Gregory Brayden Thomas Christopher Michael Daniel Richard Ethan Michael Everett Walter Jameson Thomas Jayce Matthew Joseph Morris Joshua Melford Jonathan Paul Leonidas Gilbert Lincoln David Mason Patrick Miles Joseph Nathaniel James Owen Frederick Samuel Benjamin Sawyer William Sky Landen Tyler Daniel William Owen Wyatt John Xande

This compilation of birth announcements came from a couple hospitals in Indiana, USA. This batch seems to be rather conservative and traditional. There aren't any wacky or odd names that stand out. If you could only name your child one of these names, which would you choose? Girls:  Abigail Rae Adlee Dawn Alisa Ray Allison Renae Alyssa Gale Anna Jean Annabelle Rose Aria Marie Athena Lee Autumn Lynn Avery Kay Bailey Alexis Breanna Lee Cassandra Marie Cora Mae Daisy Faith Delaney Carol-Sue Emory Louise Evelynn Jane Gabriella Pearl Gracie LouAnn Hadley Caroline Harper Rayne Kiara Rose Layla Lyda-Jean Leyla Brianne Irene Madison Faith Maisie Claiborne Mila Jean Molly Suzanne Rebekah Joy Hadessah Reece Addison Saria Jane Savannah Nadine Skylar Rose Mae Sophia Fern Sydney Amara Zoey Kiana-Marie Boys: Benjamin Scott Bryan Manuel Bryce Andrew Caleb Duane Christopher Scott Cooper Andrew Cruz Michael David Samuel Elijah Lewis Elijah Mich

This month's set of birth announcements started out somewhat unusual as I began building the list, and as I continued, the names got a bit more traditional.  However, they are all mixed together because of being placed alphabetically.  Once again, the middle name choices seem to be very common or old-fashioned for most of the babies below. There are a few interesting exceptions like Yaamach and Kapri. I wonder why so many parents choose "safe" middle name options. I feel like the middle name, since it is mostly tucked away, provides the perfect opportunity to use guilty pleasure names or the highly unusual.  Instead, there are more unusual first names being used such as Alithia, Zyanya, and Kipper. What thoughts spring to your mind as you browse through the following list?: Girls: Adele Grace Alithia Brooke Aliza Bethany Allison Marie Amy Rose Lei Annabelle Rose Ara Fae Ariauna Danielle Linn Athena Jene Leann Irene Aubrey Faith Aurora Kapri Belle Madely

Birth announcements can be even more telling of what names are actually being used than even the most official lists of statistics and data. The US Top 1000 chart may show the most popular names, one spelling of that name at at time, but it does not make any mention of middle names. I like to see name combinations: firsts and middles put together. Like I mentioned in last month's birth announcement list, the middle names that many people seem to use are rather common or "filler". I'd like to do another quick tally of the repeated middle names on today's list: Girls:  Ann: 2 Elizabeth: 3 Louise: 2 Lynn: 2 Marie: 3 Rose: 8 Did you see all those Roses? It seems to be a very popular choice! And then there's the adorable and old-fashioned middles like Sue, Joan, and Mae. Which of the following names do you like best? Girls: Aerabella Lee Adley Ann Anastasia Rose Aniyah Rose Aria Rose Aubrey Virginia Brynn Renee Carly Rae Catherin Marceline

In this set of birth announcements from a hospital in Pennsylvania, I found myself more fascinated by all the middle names than anything. Count with me. Ann/Anne: 5 Marie: 4 Jane/Jayne: 2 Noel/Noelle: 2 Rayne: 2 Rose: 4 Alan/Allan: 3 Andrew: 3 James: 3 Johnathan/Jonathan: 2 Joseph/Joesph: 3 Michael: 4 I started to think about middle names and how often a more common or "filler" name is chosen. I wish there was an official SSA-style list for just middle names so we could calculate the most popular ones. However, it would make a difference if these were family names or used for sentimental reasons as opposed to just filling a space. Beyond just finding repeating middle names, so many of these are classic or traditional names. I do like seeing the more unique options like Patience and Raven, Axel and Dash. However, I used Alexander for my own son's middle name and Sophia for my daughter so I understand the thought process. What are your kids' middle n

These real baby names were taken from birth announcements listed on the website of a small California hospital from earlier this year! I found this compilation to be quite diverse; from the more proper names like Abigail Virginia and Ronald Richard to the more fun and creative names like Tymberlyn and Bodee.  What do you think of this list? Which is your favorite? Girls:  Abigail Virginia Addyson Marie Allison Cena Angelic Grace Milagros Aspen Lynn Arielle Alicia Aubrey Skylar Braelynn Rene' Brynn Rose Chloe Lane Copelynn Eleanor Eden Beverly Ella Marie Emelia Ava Emmalynne MacKensie Evangeline Marie Harper Joan Heidi Rose Isabella Adelina Jewell Janet Kathlynn Katelynn Michelle Ann Kelcie Louise Makayla Lynn Maryann Josephine Paylin Rae Saige Kimberlee Sophie Ann Elyse Tymberlyn Ellie Jean Boys: Aeden Ivan Anthony Rolla Arturo Joseph Austin Paul David Bodee Wilson Braydon Charles Caeden Izaak Chance Williams-Ray Chester Landon Lee David

These baby names were pulled from birth announcements at a hospital in Oregon since the start of the year, (January-April 2014). I picked out the ones that I liked or thought were interesting. Which of these do you like best? Girls:  Amiyah Rose Ariana Renee Aspen Jolee Aubrielle Kinzie Audrianna Taylor Ava Penelope Avery Gabriella Beatrice Aveah-Dawn Callie Elizabeth Cecelia Opal Charlotte Marie Delilah Jane Elayna Jade Ellanie Rose Evia Shay Francesca Vail Hallee Christine Roseann Hannah Rogue Harmony Clair Ily Mae-Joan Ivy Sophia Ann Isabella Faith Jasmine Faye Jessica Lynn Jinevieve Nicole Julia Carmen Annalise Julianna Lynn Khloe Elise Lisa Khloe Sophia Alexandria Kylea Nicole Layla Josephine Leila Mae Lilly Marie Lola Anne Marie Maddilyn Dawn McKinley Nichole Melony Angel Nola James Peyton June Remington Lane Ruby Jean Savannah Rose Lynn Stella Jo Sylvie Kate Temprence Gail Francis Trinity Joy Boys: Aleczander Lawrence Andre

These names are taken from real babies who were featured in recent hospital announcements. These are all first and middle names; no last names were included.  Which of these do you like? Are there any that you dislike? If you had to pick one to use, which would it be? Girls: Alivia Noel Americus Marie Amira Denise Annabelle Grace Anniesse Marie Avianna Carmen Belize Madeline Caroline Daye Chloe Lynn Claire Danielle Colbi Alisa Elizabeth Renee Ella Mae Emily Cathrynne Jacelyn Beth Kysen Alayah Liliana Sophia Lillian Abigail Lily Marie Michelle Mackenzie Brooke Madison Elaine Natalie Rose O'Laina Sophia Olivia Faye Payton Mae Penelope Hazel Reagan Leigh Samantha Mae Sana'a Geneva Louise Vada Monroe Boys: Aaron Anthony Aiden Russell Andrew Charles Bradley Alexander Braxton Cole Brylen Josiah Caleb James Cody Allen Daelyn Jacovi Damien Alexander Easton Alexander Elijah Cole Elliott Sebastian Ethan Paul Garrett Lewis Henry Theron

I recently got the idea to browse through hospital birth announcements to see what kind of interesting names are actually being used on real babies. It was harder to find this information than I thought. I found a list of a few hospitals in California that I pulled this information from. Apparently newspapers don't publish names anymore (or if they do, I couldn't find anything online.) But anyway, the following photo contains all of the names that I hand-picked from the long lists. The lists included births from April-June 2013. These names all made the cut for either being interesting (whether that's good or bad) or being something I found attractive and different from the norm. Yes, they are all mixed together so you can form your own opinions! :) Which names do you like the most? Which are just terrible? Let me know! More names of real babies can be found using the links below: Birth Announcements: Penelope Hazel   Sullivan Rhys  Copelynn Eleanor