Dexter

Dexter is one of the many occupational surnames to have a popularity boost lately. This name means "one who dyes" in Old English. It is also related to the Latin word dexter which refers to right-handedness, or one who is skilled with their right hand.

Nameberry gives a very good rundown of famous Dexters here. They say: "Over the years, it's been attached to a number of diverse real and fictional personalities--C. K. Dexter Haven, the witty Cary Grant character in The Philadelphia Story, Dexter Green, the protagonist of the Scott Fitzgerald story Winter Dreams, great jazz tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon and--oops--the current TV Dexter, who just happens to be a genial but sociopathic serial killer."  As far as that last one goes, the TV show has now ended and most viewers were disappointed with the last couple seasons and hated the ending which means that it is quickly fading from their memories. It will be a strong association for a while but it shouldn't deter parents from using the name since he was rather likable despite his "profession".

As a baby name, Dexter has had its ups and downs in popularity. It has been in regular usage since records began in 1880. It started gaining steam in 1940 and slowly climbed upward. Its first peak was in 1968 when 761 boys were born. It promptly declined in usage again after that, falling to a mere 220 births in 1982. Then just as suddenly as it fell, it shot right back up to 688 births in 1989. And then, you guessed it, Dexter's usage declined again.

Around the turn of the century, this name was once again seeing the 200 births range. Something happened right around 2006-2007, though, that caused Dexter to have another spike in popularity.  It climbed nearly vertically and reached a record-high of 834 births in 2012. This put it at a ranking of #362.  Coincidentally or not, Dexter the TV show began in 2006.  Take from that what you will.

I chose to feature this name this week because of its bold letter X. Partly because of the cartoon, Dexter's Laboratory, this name has had a bit of a "nerdy" vibe to it. However, I feel like it is really coming into its own now. Nameberry describes it as "the jazzy, ultra-cool Dexter, like most names with Xs, has a lot of energy and sex appeal." So maybe the "nerdy" angle was just in my head. Either way, Dexter is definitely cool today. When shorted to Dex, he fits right in with other boys with the popular X-ending like Alex, Max, Jax, Felix, Knox, Maddox, etc.

What do you think of the name Dexter? Does the serial killer association ruin it for you? To me, it appears as though the show helped to boost the name. If it helps any, Dexter Morgan from the show Dexter only killed other murderers and those that he felt "deserved it" because of their own ugly crimes. He stuck to his code.  If that is still too much for you, perhaps you'd like names like Baxter or Braxton instead.  Let me know what your thoughts are!

If this is the name for you, here are some ideas for siblings and middle names:

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Alexa, Beatrix, Chloe, Emma, Evie, Matilda, Ruby, Scarlett, Violet, Zoey
Brothers: Asher, August, Cooper, Emmett, Felix, Henry, Jasper, Maxwell, Stellan

Middle Name Ideas:
Dexter Ambrose
Dexter Elijah
Dexter George
Dexter Reid
Dexter William
(Avoid using Dexter Morgan)

As a Middle Name:
Charles Dexter
Gideon Dexter
Milo Dexter
Noah Dexter
Samuel Dexter

Xcellent Names for Boys

There is no denying that the letter X is a hot one. As part of a trend that I myself fell prey to with my Maximus Alexander, many parents are finding themselves in love with the X. There is something bold and strong about it but there's also a limited amount of names that contain this letter so it has become somewhat of a sought after gem.

If these kinds of names are up your alley, perhaps you'll enjoy this post!  Here are the very best boy names that contain the coveted letter X. Which is your favorite?

Abrax                       Abraxas Ajax Alex Alexander Alexandre Alexandreus Alexandro Alexandros Alexandru Alexavier Alexei Alexi Alexian Alexios Alexis Alexius Alexzander Alixander Anaxander Anaxandrias Anaxandros Anxo Axel Axton Bax Baxley Baxter Beauxregard Bix Bixby Blixa Braxton Brexton Bronx Buxton Calexto Calix Calixto Calixte Cilix Croix Dax Daxon Daxton Daxter Daxx Delacroix Devereaux Dex Dexter Dixon Drexel Eryx Essex Evreux Exequiel Exton Fairfax                 Felix Felixiano Fenix

Fox                       Foxworth Halifax Helix Hendrix Hixon Huxley Ixidor Jalex Jax Jaxen Jaxon Jaxsen Jaxson Jaxton Jennex Jinx Kalix Kalixto Kendrix Knox Lennox Lex Lexington Lexon Lexus Linux Lynx   Maddox Maddux Mannix Marx Mattox Max Maxavier Maxden Maxen Maxence Maxfield Maxim Maxime Maximilian Maximiliano Maximilien Maximillian Maximino Maximo Maximus Maxon Maxson Maxton Maxwell Nixon Onyx Oxford Oxley Pax Paxtin Paxton Phoenix Plaxico Plaxido

Poindexter Pollux Praxedes Quix Quixley Quixote Raxton Rex Rexford Rixley Roux Roxas Roxbury Roxby Salix Saxon Saxony Saxton Seanix Sextus Sixten Sixto Sixtus Tex Texas Thaxter Theroux Troix Xabat Xabi Xabier Xachary Xadrian Xaime Xalvador Xander Xane Xanthos Xanthus Xarles Xaver Xavi Xavian Xavier Xavion Xayden Xayver Xenon Xenophilius Xenos Xerxes Xiaobo Ximen Ximenez Ximon Xyan Xyler Xylon Xymenes Xzander Xzavier Zaxon

Have you used a name that contains the letter X? Do you have a favorite on your list?  If X isn't your thing, do you have a favorite letter or sound within a name that you're a sucker for? Share your thoughts below!  And don't forget to check out the most Xcellent Names for Girls too!

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?

Cool 3-Letter Names for Girls

Finding the perfect name is no easy task. While it may come relatively quickly for some parents, it can take months for others to narrow down their options. Sometimes it is a matter of feelings. A mom knows if the name is right or not based on holding that new baby in her arms for the first time. Other parents go more on facts and how the name looks and sounds than how it feels. Either method is fine!

Sometimes parents wind up limiting their choices on purpose to make the process a bit easier. For example, they'll set guidelines they wish to follow. Perhaps these parents have a long last name that demands a short first name for balance. They end up looking for one-syllable names or 3 or 4 letter names and fall in love with a list like this one. Thus, little Ada Montgomery is named!

Some of the names on this list could also be a short-form or nickname of a longer name. For instance, perhaps you fell in love with the name Ana. Ana can stand alone but perhaps you wish for a longer formal name for her so you can simply nickname her Ana. You may be inspired to consider a name like Anastasia or Analiese instead. Whatever your reasons are for browsing a list like this, be assured that these are some of the very best 3-letter names available to you! Which are your favorites?

Abi             Ada Adi Aja Ali Ama Ami Amy Ana Ane Ani Ann Aoi Ara Åsa Åse Aud Ava Ave Avy Aya Ayn Bao Bay Bea Bev Bia Bly Cai Cat Cho Day Dea Deb Dee Dia Dot Dru Dua Eda Eir Ela Eli Ema Emi Emy Ena

Eos             Era Eva Eve Evy Ewa Fae Fay Fia Flo Gia Gya Haf Hue Icy Ida Iga Ila Ily Ima Ina Ine Ino Ira Iro Isa Iva Ivy Jan Jia Joe Joi Joy Kai Kat Kay Kea Kia Kim Kit Kya Lai Lea Lee Leo Lia Lif

Lil             Lin Liv Liz Lou Lua Lue Lux Luz Lyn Mae Mai Mar Max May Mea Meg Mei Mia Mie Min Miu Moa Mya Nan Nao Nea Nia Noa Noe Nur Nya Nyx Oda Ola Oma Ona Ora Osa Ova Pam Pat Paz Peg Pia Pip Pru

Rae Ray Rei Ría Rie Rin Rio Rue Rut Rya Ryn Sam Sea Sia Sif Siv Sky Sol Sue Sun Tai Tal Tea Tia Toi Toy Tru Tui Ula Uma Ume Una Unn Val Via Viv Xia Xoe Yma Yue Yui Zee Zel Zia Zoa Zoe Zoi

If it is a short name that you seek, allow me to direct you to this Four-Letter Girl Name list as well as this One-Syllable Girl Name list! Don't forget to check out the Cool 3-Letter Names for Boys list too!

 If you could use a second opinion about your options or if you need help finding a name you love, feel free to ask The Art of Naming Community a question! We'd love to help you!

Asa

I just could not decide which 3-letter boys' name to highlight this week so I picked a few that I liked and took the question public! I put up a poll and 53 of you voted for the next featured name! The winner was Asa with 13 votes. So let's learn a little more about the boys' name Asa, pronounced AY-suh.

According to BehindTheName, Asa is a Hebrew name meaning "doctor". However, Nameberry says the meaning of Asa is "born in the morning". BabyNames agrees with both meanings, listing Asa's meaning as "physician" and including a note that in Japanese, Asa means "Born at Dawn". This led me to look a bit further. According to Wikipedia, there are several different meanings for this name in different cultures around the world so take your pick!:

• Hebrew: Healer and/or physician
• Yoruba Nigerian: Hawk or little hawk
• Igbo Nigerian: Beautiful
• Japanese: Morning
• Indonesian: Hope
• Portuguese: Wing

Biblically, it was worn by the third King of Judah who reigned for forty years in the Old Testament. The name gained popularity with the Puritans in the 17th century since they were big on Biblical names. A more modern association was that of patriarch Asa Buchanan on the soap opera One Life to Live. This was the first place I ever heard the name Asa. He was a big character on daytime TV from 1979-2008.  There is also a young British actor quickly rising to fame who goes by the name Asa Butterfield.

The name Asa is very old and has been in [recorded] use in the US since the 1880s. Parents might consider this name as a formal way to get the nickname Ace, or even as an alternative to the fast-rising Asher. It fits in well with other soft boys names that end in the A-sound like Noah. Despite ranking at #562 on the US Top 1000 in 2012, this name has never been popular.

Asa had the tiniest of popularity spikes around 1915 which lasted through the 20s. It wasn't until the late 70s and early 80s that this name slowly climbed upward on the chart again. With ups and downs over the past 40 years, Asa is now ranking the highest it has ever ranked. However, the number of births per year is still shy of 500. Asa is perfect for those who are looking for something known and familiar but still flying under the radar. It will surely continue to slowly rise in popularity but I don't see it becoming "the next big thing" anytime soon. That's good news!

There is also a handful of girls who receive this name every year but it is all boy to me!

What do you think of the name Asa? Would you use it or do other biblical names catch your eye instead? If it is in consideration, perhaps you'd benefit from the following name ideas:

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Abigail, Calista, Evelyn, Hannah, Mira, Rebecca
Brothers: Cyrus, Ezekiel, Jonah, Levi, Malachi, Silas

Middle Name Ideas:
Asa Lemuel
Asa Miles
Asa Nathaniel
Asa Porter
Asa Theodore

As a Middle Name: 
Benjamin Asa
Caleb Asa
David Asa
Henry Asa
Reuben Asa

Similar Alternatives:
Abel, Adam, Amos, Asher, Eli, Ezra, Ian

These are just suggestions that I came up with. What would you pair with Asa?

Cool 3-Letter Names for Boys

There are many parents who search high and low to find the perfect name. Sometimes it is a matter of "I'll know it when I see it" and other times they have very specific guidelines they wish to follow. For example, perhaps these parents have a long last name to bestow upon a child and want to find a short first name to balance things out. They end up looking for 3 or 4 letter names and fall in love with a list like this one. Thus, little Ian Christensen is named!

Many of these may also be a short-form or nickname of a longer name. For instance, Gus could be short for the much longer Augustus; and while Max can certainly stand alone, it may inspire you to choose Maximilian as a formal name and simply call him Max. Whatever your reasons are for browsing a list like this, be assured that these are some of the very best 3-letter names available to you! Which are your favorites?

Abe           Ace Ade Åke Ala Alf Ali Apu Ara Ari Art Asa Ash Avi Ayo Bas Baz Ben Bix Bob Boq Bud Cab Cai Cal Cam Che Cid Coy Dag Dan Dax Dee Del Dev Dex Doc Don Dov Dow Ean Ebb Edd Edo Eli Ely Fox Foy

Gil Gio Gus Guy Hal Han Huw Ian Ike Ime Ion Ira Irl Isa Ivo Jad Jai           Jan Jax Jay Jed Jem Jet Jim Job Joe Jon Jye Kai Kal Kay Ken Kim Kip Kit Koa Kye Kyo Law Lee Len Leo Les Lev Lew Lex Lir Lon

Lot Lou Loy Luc Lyn Mac Max Mel Mic Mio Moe Nam Nat Ned Neo Noe Nym Oda Odo Ole Olu Ora Ori Ove Pål Pat Pau Pax Per Pio Pip Poe             Rab Rae Raj Ram Ray Raz Rei Ren Rex Rey Rio Rob Rod Ron Roy Rui

Rye Ryo Ryu Sal Sam Sem Sid Sim Sky Sly Sol Tab Tad Tag Taj Tal Tam Tao Taz Ted Teo Tex Tim Tod Tom Tor Tre Tye Tyr Udo Ugo Uri Uzi Val Van Vin Von Wes Wim Wyn Yul Zac Zak Zeb Zed Zen Zev Ziv

If you're looking for a short name, be sure to also view this list of 4-Letter Boy Names and One-Syllable Boy Names for further inspiration!  For a girl, try the Cool, 3-Letter Names for Girls list too!

Top 10 Girls Names Per Letter in 2012

I thought it would be nice to see what the top 10 names are for every letter. Perhaps you know that you want a name that starts with the letter C for all of your children but you don't want to choose the three most popular C-names. Now you can see exactly how popular each name is per letter as well as overall in ranking according to the US Top 1000 chart (ranking in parenthesis).

Soon we will be able to see the top names for 2013! The following names were for 2012. Let me know if you'd be interested in a similar post (or series of Facebook posts) like this for the next year!  For now, enjoy these:

Top 10 A-Names for Girls in 2012:
1. Ava (#5)
2. Abigail (#7)
3. Avery (#13)
4. Addison (#14)
5. Aubrey (#15)
6. Amelia (#23)
7. Anna (#35)
8. Aaliyah (#36)
9. Allison (#38)
10. Alexis (#40)

Top 10 B-Names for Girls in 2012:
1. Brooklyn (#29)
2. Brianna (#51)
3. Bella (#54)
4. Bailey (#79)
5. Brooke (#102)
6. Brielle (#111)
7. Brooklynn (#137)
8. Brynn (#189)
9. Briana (#297)
10. Bianca (#312)

Top 10 C-Names for Girls in 2012:
1. Chloe (#11)
2. Charlotte (#19)
3. Claire (#45)
4. Camila (#48)
5. Caroline (#80)
6. Clara (#136)
7. Cora (#155)
8. Catherine (#167)
9. Cecilia (#216)
10. Callie (#221)

Top 10 Boy Names Per Letter in 2012

For those of you that follow The Art of Naming on Facebook, you've probably seen me post lists like this before. I thought it would be nice to see what the top 10 names are for every letter. Perhaps you know that you want a name that starts with the letter A but you don't want to choose one that is overly popular. Now you can see exactly how popular each name is per letter as well as overall in ranking according the the US Top 1000 chart (ranking in parenthesis).

I started posting these on Facebook around June or July of 2013 and finally got through the entire alphabet for the year 2012. Now it is nearly time to discover the top names of 2013!   If you like this sort of information and wish for it to be compiled again for the next year, let me know in the comments! Enjoy!

Top 10 A-Names for Boys in 2012:
1. Alexander (#9)
2. Aiden (#10)
3. Anthony (#15)
4. Andrew (#18)
5. Aaron (#51)
6. Angel (#57)
7. Austin (#58)
8. Adrian (#60)
9. Ayden (#69)
10. Adam (#82)

Top 10 B-Names for Boys in 2012:
1. Benjamin (#16)
2. Brayden (#39)
3. Brandon (#56)
4. Blake (#71)
5. Bentley (#75)
6. Brody (#91)
7. Bryson (94)
8. Bryce (#117)
9. Bryan (#121)
10. Braxton (#125)

Top 10 C-Names for Boys in 2012:
1. Christopher (#23)
2. Caleb (#32)
3. Christian (#33)
4. Carter (#36)
5. Cameron (#54)
6. Connor (#59)
7. Charles (#62)
8. Colton (#65)
9. Chase (#77)
10. Cooper (#83)

The Many Character Names of Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn is a film and fashion icon. Born in 1929 as Audrey Kathleen Ruston, this beloved actress had a great career during Hollywood's Golden Age and she continues to inspire people today through the legacy she left behind.

She acted from 1951 until 1989 before sadly passing away in 1993 from cancer. Toward the end of her life, she was well known for her work with UNICEF as a Goodwill Ambassador.  She was a truly beautiful person! In fact, she is considered by many to be the most naturally beautiful woman of all time. Even her name is lovely!

What about all of the names that she has portrayed in film? Let's take a look at the name character names of Audrey Hepburn.

Frieda
Chiquita
Celia
Eve
Melissa
Nora
Ann
Linda
Sabrina
Natasha
Marie
Jo
Ariane
Rima
Gabrielle
Rachel
Holly
Karen
Regina
Gabrielle
Eliza
Nicole
Joanna
Susy
Marian
Elizabeth
Angela
Caroline

Which of these names is your favorite? I really like Sabrina.  I also really love the name Audrey and it is mostly because of her.

Are there any other celebrities that you'd like me to make a post like this about? Let me know in the comments!

Vivian

Vivian is a vintage name that is currently popular for girls again. Since the middle ages, Vivian has also been used for males. Especially in modern times (or at least since 1880 in the US), this name is predominantly female despite the name still being given to boys here and there.

The name Vivian comes from the Latin name Vivianus which was taken from the Latin word vivus which means "alive". However, as a feminine name, Vivian is also said to be an Anglicized form of the name Bébinn  which means "fair lady" in Irish Gaelic. This form has been used by several women in Irish mythology including the goddess of childbirth.

The spelling Vivien was first used by Alfred Lord Tennyson in his epic Idylls of the King in 1859. It is said that he either based it on Vivienne, (which is the French form of Viviana which comes from Vivian), or it could have been a misreading of Ninian. However, the theory that Ninian leads to Vivian is uncertain. Click here to view the different family trees and possible origins of these names.

Somewhere around 1911 the name Vivian skyrocketed in popularity for girls. Vivian hit her popularity peak in 1920 with 4,128 births. It wasn't until the 1960s that this name began to lose its momentum, falling back to the same low levels previously seen pre-1911. Then suddenly, parents of the late 1990s and early 2000s began to see this name with fresh eyes!

By the latest records, 2012, Vivian was halfway back to her former levels of glory with 2,240 births for the year and an impressive ranking of #141. I suspect that this name will only climb higher as per the 100-year rule and hit a new peak somewhere before or around 2020.

The name Vivien is not currently ranked in the Top 1000. For a girl, it only had 189 births in 2012. This is the spelling used by Old Hollywood actress Vivien Leigh of Gone with the Wind fame. However, the French Vivienne is gaining popularity every year. She had 978 births in 2012 for a ranking of #322. Lovely Viviana ranked #478 in 2012 with 637 births while counterpart Vivianna had 156 births and did not rank in the top 1000. Which form of Vivian do you like the best?

Sibling Name Ideas: 
Sisters: Audrey, Eleanor, June, Liliana, Olivia, Serena, Valentina
Brothers: Benjamin, Edmund,  Lucas, Noah, Samuel, Trenton, William

Middle Name Ideas:
Vivian Celeste
Vivian Genevieve
Vivian Joy
Vivian Seraphina

As a Middle Name:
Abigail Vivian
Charlotte Vivian
Esme Vivian
Mabel Vivian

What would you pair with Vivian?

Girl Names of Old Hollywood

Old Hollywood was such a glamorous time! The female celebrities from "the golden era" are still admired for their beauty, grace, elegance, and poise. Even after all these years have gone by, somehow these celebrities still remain relevant and interesting in everything from their fashion sense to the classic films they starred in to their lovely names that continue to inspire parents to this very day!

There were so many beautiful celebrities with amazing names that I just listed the first one I came across with that first name, even though I know there are many more that may have also had that name. I hope I did not forget anyone but if I did, please let me know in the comments below!

Which of these Old Hollywood names are your favorites? Would you ever use one of them for a daughter? Have you already? Do share! These are listed by first (and last) name.

AGNES (Moorehead)                         ANNE (Baxter) ANITA (Page) AUDREY (Hepburn) AVA (Gardner) BARBARA (Stanwyck) BETTE (Davis) BRIGITTE (Bardot) CAROLE (Lombard) CLARA (Bow) CLAUDETTE (Colbert) CYD (Charisse) DEBORAH (Kerr) DONNA (Reed) DOROTHY (Dandridge) ELIZABETH (Taylor) ELSA (Lanchester) ETHEL (Barrymore) EVA MARIE (Saint) FAY (Wray) FRANCES (Farmer) GENE (Tierney) GERALDINE (Fitzgerald) GINA (Lollobrigida) GINGER (Rogers) GLORIA (Swanson) GRACE (Kelly) GREER (Garson) GRETA (Garbo) HATTIE (McDaniel) HEDY (Lamarr) HELEN (Hayes) INGRID (Bergman) IRENE (Dunne) JANE (Russell) JANET (Gaynor) JEAN (Harlow) JEANNE (Crain) JENNIFER (Jones)

JOAN (Collins) JUDY (Garland) JUNE (Allyson) KATHARINE (Hepburn) LANA (Turner) LAUREN (Bacall) LILLIAN (Gish) LINDA (Darnell) LORETTA (Young) LOUISE (Brooks) LUCILLE (Ball) MABEL (Normand) MAE (West) MARILYN (Monroe) MARION (Davies) MARLENE (Dietrich) MARY (Pickford) MAUREEN (O'Hara) MERCEDES (McCambridge) MERLE (Oberon) MIRIAM (Hopkins) MYRNA (Loy) NATALIE (Wood) NORMA (Shearer) OLIVE (Thomas) OLIVIA (de Havilland) PATRICIA (Neal) RITA (Hayworth) ROSALIND (Russell) SHIRLEY (Temple) SOPHIA (Loren) SUSAN (Hayward) TALLULAH (Bankhead) TERESA (Wright) THEDA (Bara) VERA (Miles) VERONICA (Lake) VIVIEN (Leigh)

Don't forget to take a look at the list of Boy Names of Old Hollywood as well!

The Many Character Names of Cary Grant

The late Hollywood film actor Cary Grant was actually born as Archibald Alexander Leach in 1904. He was best known for his dashing good looks and his transatlantic accent. As one of classic Hollywood's leading men, he had many roles over his 34 year acting career.

It is worth noting that since his career spanned from 1932 to 1966, many of these names are rather traditional to the era but they are fun to browse nonetheless!

First and last names will be listed but occasionally they could make for nice first and middle name combos! Which of the following character names is your favorite?

STEPHEN Mathewson                           CHARLIE Baxter NICK Townsend ROMER Sheffield JEFFREY Baxter HENRY Cocker ACE Corbin JACK Clayton MALCOLM Trevor PORTER Madison III MAURICE Lamar JULIAN De Lussac GERALD Fitzgerald KEN Gordon MICHAEL Andrews ANDRE Charville ERNEST Bliss CHARLIE Mason JIMMY Hudson GEORGE Kerby JERRY Warriner JOHNNY Case GEOFF Carter

ALEC Walker WALTER Burns MATT Howard DEXTER Haven ROGER Adams LEOPOLD Dilg PATRICK O'Toole JERRY Flynn MORTIMER Brewster COLE Porter MADISON Brown HENRI Rochard EUGENE Norland Ferguson BARNABY Fulton CLEMSON Reade NICKIE Ferrante ANDY Crewson PHILIP Adams TOM Winters ROGER O. Thornhill VICTOR Rhyall, Earl PETER Joshua WILLIAM Rutland

[Note] This is not a complete list. Since it was so long, I took the liberty to omit character names that did not have a last name, and a few that just weren't very interesting (i.e. I just didn't like them.) View Cary Grant's official IMDB page if you'd like to see his entire filmography. This is about the baby names!

My favorites are Malcolm, Dexter, Leopold, Mortimer and Barnaby. What do you think of this list? Shall I do more for other celebrities? If so, who?

Clark

The masculine name Clark originally comes from the Old English word clerec which actually referred to a priest. Later it became an English surname that means "cleric" or "scribe". It could also refer to a clerk and is associated with the occupational name for a clergyman cleric in a religious setting. Because of these meanings, the name gives the impression of a good and intelligent man.

Famous Clarks include Superman's iconic alias Clark Kent who has been personified by numerous actors and voice talents since its comic book days. There's also Old Hollywood actor Clark Gable best known for his role as Rhett Butler in 1939's Gone with the Wind opposite Viven Leigh. Another association is the American explorer William Clark who helped lead the Lewis and Clark Expedition across America in the early 1800s. Between these three strong, handsome and adventurous namesakes, modern parents are starting to see the appeal of this short but powerful name.

The name Clark has been in regular use since 1880 in the US.  It got its first popularity boost around 1912 and gradually climbed higher and higher until hitting its peak in 1961. In that year, 877 boys were named Clark for a ranking of #268.

Source

After that, the name saw a decline in usage. It has held steady in the lower half of the Top 1000 since then and is rising once again. In 2012, the name was used 467 times for a ranking of #554.

From the scholarly and religious meaning to the image of a seemingly ordinary reporter suddenly becoming "the man of steel" and flying through the sky, Clark is a winning name choice! Parents today seem to be flocking to the shorter names. The most commonly searched and viewed page on The Art of Naming is by far the One Syllable Boy's Names list. While this is just one little blog, it does suggest that short names are in whether they're being used in the first name spot or in the middle. What do you think of this "short name trend" theory? What do you think of the name Clark?

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Audrey, Ella, June, Leah,  Ruth, Sybil, Tessa
Brothers: Archer, Grant, Henry, Max, Noah, Owen, Thomas

Middle Name Ideas:
Clark Alexander
Clark Benjamin
Clark Nathaniel
Clark Sebastian

As a Middle Name: 
Andrew Clark
Jackson Clark
Mason Clark
Samuel Clark

Clark is one of those names that works as a middle name for many names.  I would just avoid a first name that already has a strong C/K sound. Also make sure it is at least 2 syllables.  What would you pair with Clark?

Boy Names of Old Hollywood

Old Hollywood is sometimes referred to as the golden age. It ranged from about 1927 to the early 1960s. In regards to cinema in particular, Hollywood had its own very specific style that produced some of the greatest films ever! True classics! There was such a glamorous vibe in those days that is still admired even today. The celebrities of that time are well known for their elegance, style, poise and even their amazing names!

If you are a fan of this time in our history, I'm sure you will love this list of celebrity baby names for boys! The girl's list will be posted next week!

First (Last) ANTHONY (Quinn)                           BASIL (Rathbone) BUSTER (Keaton) CARY (Grant) CHARLIE (Chaplin) CHARLTON (Heston) CLARK (Gable) CLAUDE (Rains) DAVID (Niven) ELVIS (Presley) ERROL (Flynn) FRANK (Sinatra) FRED (Astaire) FREDRIC (March) GARY (Cooper) GENE (Kelly) GLENN (Ford) GREGORY (Peck) HAROLD (Lloyd) HENRY (Fonda) HUMPHREY (Bogart) JACK (Lemmon) JAMES (Cagney) JIMMY (Stewart) JOHN (Wayne) KIRK (Douglas) LAURENCE (Olivier) LIONEL (Barrymore) LON (Chaney) MARLON (Brando) MICKEY (Rooney) MONTGOMERY (Clift) ORSON (Welles) OLIVER (Hardy) PETER (O'Toole) PAUL (Newman) RICHARD (Burton) ROBERT (Mitchum) ROCK (Hudson) RONALD (Colman) ROSCOE (Arbuckle) RUDOLPH (Valentino) SEAN (Connery) SPENCER (Tracy) STEVE (McQueen) TYRONE (Power) VINCENT (Price) WILLIAM (Holden) YUL (Brynner)

First names from Last Names: Autry Brando Cagney Crosby Connery Cooper Dean Douglas Flynn Ford Grant Harris Holden Howard Hudson Keaton Kelly Lewis Marx Olivier Powell Quinn Rooney Stewart Valentino Wayne

Please let me know if I missed any of your favorites!

Aurora

The feminine name Aurora is the Latin word for "dawn" so naturally Aurora was the Roman goddess of the morning. She has two siblings, a brother (Sol, the sun) and a sister (Luna, the moon). It is said that she would renew herself in the morning and fly across the sky to announce the rising of the sun.  In Astronomy, the northern lights are also known as the Aurora Borealis. It is a natural light display in the sky mostly seen in high latitudes.  They named this celestial phenomenon after the goddess.

Beyond astronomy and mythology, though, Aurora has one of the longest Wikipedia pages that I've ever seen for a name. Aurora has so many associations across a variety of subjects like colleges, all sorts of entertainment from films to novels to song titles, fictional characters like the Disney princess from Sleeping Beauty, geographical locations all around the world, sports and forms of transportation. If you're considering this name for a daughter, I would recommend browsing through this list of namesakes.

As a baby name, Aurora is definitely gaining popularity. Parents find the appeal of a goddess and a princess to be the most attractive and of course the beautiful northern lights come into play as well. This name has an elegance about it unlike any other name. Radiance and sunlight and morning dew come to mind which can all feel romantic, mystical and poetic. However, if your little princess turns out to be more of a tom-boy, the spunky nickname Rory definitely has that covered which makes this name feel rather versatile for modern parents.

Aurora has been in use since the Renaissance. It has been around within the US since records began in 1880. It received a brief popularity bump from about 1920 to the mid-1930s which resulted in a high-rank of #349 in 1929. Since then, the name remained in the lower half of the Top 1000. By the year 2000, Aurora climbed past the #500s for the first time in 50 years! In 2006, the number of births per year hit the 1,000 mark for the first time. And 2012 saw 1,890 births for a record-high ranking of #166. I predict this name to continue climbing and eventually be a staple of the Top 100.

Revision:  My prediction was accurate. Aurora continued to climb and, as of 2016, ranks at #66! That is 3,963 births for the year. I think she still has a bit more room to grow, too! What do you think?

There's also the French version Aurore but it is nearly nonexistent in the US with less than 20 births since the 1940s. It did have a bit of usage from 1884-1938 though. I think this would be adorable as a middle name to a long, elegant first name.

What do you think of the name Aurora? Would you use it? If you have, what middle names and sibling names do you think best fit with it? Here are some ideas:

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Athena, Cecilia, Iris, Minerva, Scarlett, Valentina
Brothers: Atticus, Conrad, Julian, Leander, Miles, Tristan

Middle Name Ideas:
Aurora Charis
Aurora Ivy
Aurora Katherine
Aurora Sable

As a Middle Name:
Daphne Aurora
Lily Aurora
Madeline Aurora
Xanthe Aurora

Throw some more ideas at me!

Original Post: 2/21/14
Revision: 5/14/17

Disney Names for Girls

Source

Most of us grew up watching these beloved Disney characters in movies and reading books about them. For some kids, Disney is a huge part of their childhood and the theme parks can certainly bring awe and magic into their young lives.

Perhaps you visited one of these parks as a small girl and can remember the day that you got to hug Alice in Wonderland or Princess Jasmine. Maybe you've even been in love with the names Alice and Jasmine since that very day!

From popular choices like Abigail, Charlotte and Jennifer to the more unique names like Attina, Fauna and Nala, which of the names on this lovely list of female Disney characters is your favorite? Would you ever use one of these for a child? Have you already done so? Do share your thoughts in the comments below! Are there any that I've missed?

Abigail (The Aristocats) Adelaide (The Aristocats) Adella (The Little Mermaid) Alana (The Little Mermaid) Alice (Alice in Wonderland) Amelia (The Aristocats) Anastasia (Cinderella) Andrina (The Little Mermaid) Anita (101 Dalmatians) Anna (Frozen) Aquata (The Little Mermaid) Ariel (The Little Mermaid) Arista (The Little Mermaid) Attina (The Little Mermaid) Audrey (Home on the Range) Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) Babette (Beauty and the Beast) Belle (Beauty and the Beast) Bianca (The Rescuers) Calliope (Hercules) Charlotte (The Princess and the Frog) Cinderella (Cinderella) Cleo (Pinocchio) Clio (Hercules) Daisy (Daisy Duck) Drizella (Cinderella) Ellie Mae (The Rescuers) Elinor (Brave) Elsa (Frozen) Esmeralda (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) Eudora (The Princess and the Frog) Faline (Bambi) Fauna (Sleeping Beauty) Flora (Sleeping Beauty) Georgette (Oliver & Company)

Giselle (Enchanted) Helga (Atlantis: The Lost Empire) Hera (Hercules) Jane (Tarzan) Jasmine (Aladdin) Jennifer (Oliver & Company) Kala (Tarzan) Lilo (Lilo & Stitch) Marian (Robin Hood) Marie (The Aristocats) Mary (Peter Pan) Megara (Hercules) Merida (Brave) Merryweather (Sleeping Beauty) Minnie (Minnie Mouse) Myrtle (Lilo & Stitch) Nala (The Lion King) Odie (The Princess and the Frog) Olivia (The Great Mouse Detective) Peg (Lady and the Tramp) Penny (101 Dalmatians) Perdita (101 Dalmatians) Pocahontas (Pocahontas) Rapunzel (Tangled) Rita (Oliver & Company) Sarabi (The Lion King) Sarafina (The Lion King) Thalia (Hercules) Tiana (The Princess and the Frog) Tiger Lily (Peter Pan) Ursula (The Little Mermaid) Wendy (Peter Pan) Wilhelmina (Atlantis: The Lost Empire) Willow (Pocahontas) Winifred (The Jungle Book)

Don't forget to take a look at last week's list of Disney Names for Boys too!

Sebastian

The name Sebastian comes from the Latin name Sebastianus meaning "from Sebaste" which is the name of a town in Asia Minor. In turn, Sebaste is derived from the Greek σεβαστος or sebastos which means "venerable" which is the Greek translation of the Latin title for Roman emperors, Augustus. It is further said that the Greek sebastos comes from σέβας (sebas) which also means "awe, reverence, dread".

Sebastian is an ancient name. In particular, it belonged to a Roman soldier from the 3rd-century who was martyred by arrows when he was outed as a Christian.  He later became one of the most popular saints causing the name Sebastian to be used throughout medieval Europe, particularly in France and Spain.  In the 16th-century, the King of Portugal bore this name. He was killed in a crusade against Morocco.

On a more creative note, there were characters named Sebastian in two of Shakespeare's plays, (Twelfth Night, and The Tempest) as well as the 1945 novel Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. And of course, more recently, there is Sebastian the crab in Disney's The Little Mermaid.  There are plenty of other people, characters and places relating to the name Sebastian!

This sophisticated name is starting to see more and more usage these days! Since the 1990s, this name has shot straight up the charts.  It isn't often that a name will have such a dramatic climb! Sebastian has been in use in the US since 1881 but it was used sporadically. It wasn't until 1901 that it gained regular usage. The number of births per year climbed into the 100's by 1915 but declined again to the 50 range by the mid-1930s.

The number of births per year was back into the 100s in 1961, climbing steadily with each passing year. The number of babies named Sebastian suddenly jumped to the thousands in 1991.  By 2000, there were over 5,000 baby boys named Sebastian putting the name in the top 100 for the first time.  And it would only increase from there! Most recently in 2012, there were 6,685 births for a ranking of #64 on the Top 1000 chart.  I would bet that it has climbed even higher in 2013.

Common nicknames include Seb, Sebbie, Bas, Bash, Bastian or Baz and possibly Ian. According to Behind The Name, pronunciations vary around the world: ze-BAHS-tee-ahn (German), sə-BAS-chən (English), se-BAHS-tyahn (Polish). They also list many variations and diminutives of the name around the world and the popularity of the name in different countries if you're interested.  It ranks as high as #5 in Chile and #9 in Austria!  What do you think of this name?

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Anastasia, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Philippa, Sabrina, Valentina
Brothers: Alexander, Benedict, Dominic, Leonardo, Maximilian, Thaddeus

Middle Name Ideas:
Sebastian Alexander
Sebastian Lucas
Sebastian Miles
Sebastian Theodore

As a Middle Name: 
Anthony Sebastian
Edmund Sebastian
Remy Sebastian
William Sebastian

Let me know what you think of this name! Also, what middle name ideas would you suggest? Do you know any little Sebastians? If so, what are their siblings' names?

Disney Names For Boys

Source

Everyone loves Disney. From the characters to the movies to the theme parks, Disney is a big deal. But what about baby names? My son's name happens to be heard on a fairly new character in the Disney realm: the horse from the movie Tangled.  My husband's name is on here too!

Some of these are very common names like David, John and Peter. Others are very tied specifically to a certain character like Aladdin or Gaston or even Mickey.  Do you have any of the following names on your list or already in your family? Can you think of any characters that I missed?  Do let me know which of these you like the most!

Abu (Aladdin) Akela (The Jungle Book) Aladdin (Aladdin) Amos (The Fox and the Hound) Apollo (Hercules) Archimedes (Tarzan) Arthur (The Sword in the Stone) Ben (Pocahontas) Berlioz (The Aristocats) Bernard (The Rescuers) Chip (Chip 'n' Dale) Christopher (Winnie the Pooh) Claude (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) Clayton (Tarzan) Cody (The Rescuers Down Under) Copper (The Fox and the Hound) Dale (Chip 'n' Dale) David (Lilo & Stitch) Demetrius (Hercules) Donald (Donald Duck) Edgar (The Aristocats) Eli  (The Princess and the Frog) Eric (The Little Mermaid) Evinrude (The Rescuers) Fagin (Oliver & Company) Fenton (Atlantis: The Lost Empire) Figaro (Figaro the Cat from Pinocchio) Flynn (Tangled) Francis (Oliver & Company) Francois (The Rescuers Down Under) Frank (The Rescuers Down Under) Gaetan (Atlantis: The Lost Empire) Gaston (Beauty and the Beast) George (Peter Pan) Geppetto (Pinocchio) Gideon (Pinocchio) Gus (Cinderella) Hans  (Frozen) Harvey (The Princess and the Frog) Henry (The Princess and the Frog) Hercules (Hercules) Hermes (Hercules) Horace (101 Dalmatians) Hubert (Sleeping Beauty) Hugo (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) Iago (Aladdin) Ian (The Princess and the Frog) Jaques (Cinderella) Jafar (Aladdin) Jake (The Rescuers Down Under) James (Peter Pan) Jasper (101 Dalmatians) Jim (Treasure Planet) Jock (Lady and the Tramp) John (Pocahontas)

Joshua (Atlantis: The Lost Empire) Kristoff (Frozen) Lafayette (The Aristocats) Lawrence (The Princess and the Frog) Louie (Oliver & Company) Louis (The Princess and the Frog) Luke (The Rescuers) Lyle (Atlantis: The Lost Empire) Marlon (The Princess and the Frog) Maurice (Beauty and the Beast) Max (The Little Mermaid) Maximus (Tangled) Michael (Peter Pan) Mickey (Mickey Mouse) Milo (Atlantis: The Lost Empire) Mufasa (The Lion King) Naveen (The Princess and the Frog) Olaf  (Frozen) Oliver (Oliver & Company) Orville (The Rescuers) Otto (Robin Hood) Pascal (Tangled) Percival (Rescuers Down Under) Percy (Pocahontas) Peter (Peter Pan) Phillip (Sleeping Beauty) Philippe (Beauty and the Beast) Preston (Atlantis: The Lost Empire) Pumbaa (The Lion King) Rafiki (The Lion King) Rajah (Aladdin) Razoul (Aladdin) Randy (The Princess and the Frog) Richard (Robin Hood) Robin (Robin Hood) Roger (101 Dalmatians) Roscoe (Oliver & Company) Rufus (The Rescuers) Sebastian (The Little Mermaid) Simba (The Lion King) Stefan (Sleeping Beauty) Sven (Frozen) Tantor (Tarzan) Tarzan (Tarzan) Thomas (The Aristocats) Timon (The Lion King) Timothy (Dumbo) Tito (Oliver & Company) Toby (Robin Hood) Tod (The Fox and the Hound) Toulouse (The Aristocats) Victor (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) Wilbur (The Rescuers Down Under) Winston (Oliver & Company) Zeus (Hercules)

Stay tuned for next week's list of Disney Girl's names! 

Althea

Althea is a feminine, Greek Mythological name. It comes from the Greek name Αλθαια (Althaia) and might also be related to the Greek αλθος (althos) which means "healing". Most baby naming sites say that this name means "with healing power" or that it refers to the Althaea genus of perennial herbs including the marshmallow plant which is noted for its healing powers.

In Greek legends, Althea was the mother of Meleager. Behind the Name says "soon after her son was born she was told that he would die as soon as a piece of wood that was burning on her fire was fully consumed. She immediately extinguished the piece of wood and sealed it in a chest, but in a fit of rage many years later she took it out and set it alight, thereby killing her son." Clearly this name has some tragedy behind it but it is still interesting and lovely in sound.

In the 17th century, a poet named Richard Lovelace used the name Althea as a poetic pseudonym for his beloved in the poem "To Althea, from Prison". In modern times, this name is most commonly associated with the great tennis player, Althea Gibson, who was the first African-American to win at Wimbleton.

As far as nicknames go, modern parents would probably opt for Thea. I also like the idea of Allie for a small child.

This name has been in regular usage since 1880 in the US. It has had two dramatic popularity boosts in the past. One around 1920 and the other in the late 1950s even though this name has never seen more than 400 births in a single year. Althea has had steady usage since the 1970s in the 40-80 births per year range. It has not seen the Top 1000 since 1972. In 2013, there were 99 baby girls named Althea for a ranking of #1964.

Revision:  As of 2016, Althea rose to #1674 for a total of 127 births for the year. The name is due for another popularity boost.

What do you think of this ancient name? Do you feel as though it could be relevant again today?

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Bronwyn, Calliope, Daphne, Hyacinth, Juno, Olympia
Brothers: Atlas, Evander, Jasper, Oscar, Sebastian, Tarquin

Middle Name Ideas:
Althea Camille
Althea Iris
Althea Penelope
Althea Rose
Althea Willow

As a Middle Name:
Chloe Althea
Daisy Althea
Genevieve Althea
Madeleine Althea
Olive Althea

Share your thoughts on this name in the comments below.

First published: 2/7/14
Revised: 12/25/14
Revised: 5/13/17

Mythological Names for Girls

The thing about mythological names is that they are flush full of history. Whether past namesakes were a part of a tragedy or a utopian rulership, these names are bound to offer an abundance of strength. This list mostly contains Greek and Roman deities and legends, but there are mythological figures from various other origins as well.

These names may have a beauty and a unique freshness to them in today's society but be sure to research these names before committing to one. Make sure that you like the namesake!  Let me know which of these names you like the most! Would you ever consider using it?

Acantha Althea Andromeda           Antheia Aphrodite Ariadne Artemis Astra Atalanta Athena Aurora Brigid Brunhild Calliope Calypso Camilla Cassandra Cerelia Ceres Chandra Clio Cybele Cynthia Daphne Delia Demeter Diana Echo Enid Eos Etain

Fauna Flora Fortuna Freya Gaia Grainne Halcyon Hebe Hera Hermione           Hero Hestia Ianthe Indira Irene Iris Isis Isolde Jana Jaya Juno Kora Lakshmi Leda Lilith Lorelei Lucina Luna Lyssa Maeve Maia

Melea Minerva Morgan Neith Nephele Nessa Niamh Nike Niobe Nyx Padma Pallas Pandora Pax Penelope Persephone Phaedra Phoebe Phyllis Priya Rhea Selene Signy Tanith Tara Thalassa Uma Venus Vesta Xanthe Ziva

Don't miss the list of Mythological Boy Names too!

Don't forget to check out this fabulous, longer list of mythological names courtesy of Behind the Name. Here are my Top 5 favorites from the above list. I'll list them with potential sibling and middle name ideas just in case you also love these names too!

1. Athena

Sisters: Ariadne, Aurora, Evadne, Helena, Lydia, Penelope
Brothers: Ambrose, Apollo, Damian, Lysander, Orion, Philip

Middle Name Ideas:
Athena Catherine
Athena Hyacinth
Athena Persephone
Athena Sybil

As a Middle Name:
Cleo Athena
Daphne Athena
Iris Athena
Phoebe Athena

2. Diana

Sisters: Celeste, Flora, Jane, Margaret, Sophia, Victoria
Brothers: Andrew, Elliot, Henry, Michael, Thomas, William

Middle Name Ideas:
Diana Christine
Diana Hermione
Diana Katherine
Diana Simone

As a Middle Name:
Chloe Diana
Ivy Diana
Lucy Diana
Selene Diana

3. Iris

Sisters:  Audrey, Cassia, Hazel, June, Ophelia, Violet
Brothers: Atlas, Everett, Jason, Nicholas, Oliver, Wyatt

Middle Name Ideas:
Iris Cassandra
Iris Evangeline
Iris Matilda
Iris Victoria

As a Middle Name:
Althea Iris
Calista Iris
Eugenia Iris
Phillipa Iris

4. Minerva

Sisters: Andromeda, Cordelia, Isolde, Luna, Octavia, Rowena
Brothers: Auberon, Evander, Inigo, Leander, Matthias, Sebastian

Middle Name Ideas:
Minerva Amaryllis
Minerva Calliope
Minerva Eloise
Minerva Sybil

As a Middle Name:
Catherine Minerva
Eleni Minerva
Helen Minerva
Thisbe Minerva

5. Xanthe

Sisters: Agatha, Charis, Eleni, Lotus, Phoebe, Thalia
Brothers: Achilles, Damon, Erasmus, Hector, Linus, Plato

Middle Name Ideas:
Xanthe Acacia
Xanthe Corinna
Xanthe Eulalia
Xanthe Odessa

As a Middle Name:
Alyssa Xanthe
Calla Xanthe
Elena Xanthe
Isadora Xanthe