Graham

Today's featured name comes straight from our list of The Very Best G Names for Boys and Girls. It is a handsome choice that feels somewhat under-the-radar but is certainly climbing up the charts.

Graham is a Scottish surname which was derived from the English place name Grantham. This name is likely to  mean "gravelly homestead" in Old English.  There is a bit of a debate surrounding the pronunciation of this name but this mostly differs based on accents. Americans tend to say "gram" whereas those in the UK and elsewhere might say "gray-um". Both are correct, it just depends on where you live and what you prefer. How do you say it?

Graham first appeared as a surname in Scotland in the 12th century. It was worn by Baron William de Graham of Norway. Another famous Graham was Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) who is credited with inventing the telephone.

While the name Graham has been in use since name statistics were first recorded in the US, it has really caught on with modern parents. Graham's first uphill climb on the popularity charts occurred around 1980. 2008 saw another boost in usage. Now in 2013, there were 1,876 boys named Graham for a ranking of #203. It may just break into the #100s in 2014.

Since this name has different possible pronunciations, it would also have different numbers of syllables. This would then have an affect on which middle names you might pair with it.  Gram or Gray-um? One syllable or two? What would flow best with each? Here are some ideas:

Gram:
Middle Name Ideas:
Graham Douglas
Graham Everett
Graham Riley
Graham Thomas
Graham Wesley

As a Middle Name:
Austin Graham
Jonathan Graham
Lincoln Graham
Oliver Graham
Vincent Graham

Gray-um:
Middle Name Ideas:
Graham Alexander
Graham Bennett
Graham Jasper
Graham Ross
Graham Theodore

As a Middle Name:
Eli Graham
Henry Graham
Noah Graham
Simon Graham
Robert Graham

Sibling Name Ideas for Either:
Sisters: Aria, Camilla, Elsie, Fiona, Lucy, Nora, Olivia, Vivian
Brothers: Asher, Duncan, Kenneth, Lachlan, Patrick, Reid, Trevor, Vaughn

What do you think of the name Graham? Is it on your list?

The Very Best G Names for Boys and Girls

If you're determined to find the perfect name that begins with the letter G, you've come to the right place. There's no need to browse through every G name in existence when the best of the best are listed right here for you! Below are 25 great G names for girls and 25 for boys, too!

If you were to name all of your children with a G name, which names would you choose? Are there any G names that you like more than these that you wish made the cut? Which would you remove from the list? Share all of your thoughts in the comments below!

Gabrielle                 Gaia Gemma Genesis Geneva Genevieve Georgia Georgina Gertrude Ghislaine Giada Gianna Gillian Ginger Giovanna Giselle Giulia Gloria Grace Greer Gretchen Guinevere Gwen Gwendolyn Gwyneth

Gabriel Gage Gaius Gareth Garrett Garth Gary Gavin Gentry Geoffrey George Gerald Gerard Gianni Gideon Giovanni Gordon Graham Grant Gregory Greyson Griffin Grover Gulliver Gus

If G isn't your letter, perhaps you'd enjoy one of our previous articles. Be sure to click the back arrow below to view A-F. Or you can wait until the next article comes out and features the best H names!

<-- The Very Best F Names for Boys and Girls |||  The Very Best H Names for Boys and Girls -->

Haiku Poetry Sibset Name Game

Today is National Haiku Poetry Day! It falls on April 17th every year to celebrate this fun, beloved style of poetry. You most likely wrote a few of these in your school years. I know I did and they're my favorite!  I thought it would be exceptionally fun to write some "name haikus" to celebrate!

How does a name haiku work? Well, traditionally, a haiku poem consists of three lines. The first line is 5 syllables, the second is 7 and the third is 5 again. So it is a poem with a syllable count of 5-7-5.

For the purpose of our little game here today, we will be making sibsets of 3.  Name three children. The first one will have a first and middle name combination that amounts to 5 syllables. The second's first and middle names will add up to 7 syllables, and the third child will have 5 syllables.

Does that make sense? I'll provide a format below and an example in the photo. Have fun with this! Try to use different naming styles for a themed sibset, or make the names totally different from each other! Make as many as you'd like and share them in the comment section below!!

Sibset Haiku #1:
Boy (5 syllables):
Girl (7 syllables):
Boy (5 syllables):

Sibset Haiku #2:
Girl
Boy
Girl

Sibset Haiku #3:
Girl
Girl
Girl

Sibset Haiku #4:
Boy
Boy
Boy

Sibset Haiku #5:
Boy
Boy
Girl

Sibset Haiku #6:
Girl
Girl
Boy

Enjoy! Don't forget to share your name haikus in the comments below!

Norah Bailey - (Birth Announcements!)

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 Lynn
Annabelle Lynn
Astrid Emily
Aubrey Lauren
Brynn Elizabeth
Carissa Beth
Cecilia Faith
Eleanor Carole
Eloise Frances
Elsa Nichole
Gabriella Kathryn
Gianna Rose
Isabella Marie
Jocelyn Elise
June Marlene
Kinley Jo
Kira Elizabeth
Lucy Carmella
Mabel Grace
Madeleine Joyce
Norah Bailey
Penny Christine
Savannah Jo
Sydney Denae

Boys:
Anthony Michael
Bernard Matthew
Callan James
Charlie Daniel
Chase Richard
Colton Steven
Damon Anthony
Dominic Aiden
Donavan Michael
Easton Thomas
Gavin Wyatt
Isaiah Lee
Jace Timothy
James David
Landon John
Lucas Brandon
Micah James
Milo Christopher
Murphy Everett
Myles Carter
Samuel John
Sawyer Franklin
Sebastian Noah
Vaughn Douglas
Vincent Ryan

Twins:
Alissandra Katherine-Jean & Brady Christopher-Allen
Isaac Anthony & Joshua Wesley
Chloe Lynne & Colt Justice


My chosen twins from the boy/girl lists:
G/G: Carissa Beth & Aubrey Lauren
B/B: Milo Christopher & Sebastian Noah
B/G: Vincent Ryan & Annabelle Lynn

Don't forget to share which names you'd choose for this naming challenge in the comment section below! Thanks for playing!

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

The Very Best F Names for Boys and Girls

You have been searching for the perfect baby name for months now. Your little one is due soon and remains nameless. You've been through the name books and you've browsed endless webpages and yet you cannot settle on a name.

It may feel a bit funny to finally focus on a specific letter, but I figure if you found your new favorite name on a fresh list like this, you'll finally feel free to move forward and be satisfied with your perfect name find! Forgive me. Fact is, I'm fascinated by the letter F!

Here are some fabulous names that start with F! 25 for girls and 25 for boys.  I hope you fall for a favorite! 

Share your thoughts on these F names in the comment section below! Which do you love most? 

Fabiana                        Faith Fallon Farrah Fatima Fauna Faustine Fawn Faye Felicia Felicity Fern Fernanda Finlay Finola Fiona Fiorella Flavia Fleur Flora Florence Frances Francesca Frederica Freya

Fabian Farrell Felix Ferdinand Ferguson Findlay Finley Finn Finnegan Finnian Finnick Flannery Fletcher Florian Flynn Ford Forrest Fox Francis Francisco Franklin Fraiser Frederick Fritz Frost

Find a winner? If not, don't fret. Remember that this is a 26-part series, if F isn't your letter after all, there are plenty more names to come!  Use the links below to browse all the featured letters!

<-- The Very Best E Names for Boys and Girls |||  The Very Best G Names for Boys and Girls -->

Annabelle, Juliette & Tessa: The Best Double-Letter Girl Names

Naming traditions come in a variety of forms. Perhaps everyone in your family has a name with double-letters within it and you're looking for a name that hasn't been taken yet. There are hundreds of names out there that will fit this criteria but to simplify the process, this article lists up to ten of the best names per letter.

Below are some of the most attractive names for baby girls that contain double letters. Be sure to follow the links below for a list that's even more extensive than this one.

Which of the follow names do you like the most? Do you have a favorite double letter?

A:
Aaliyah

B:
Abbey, Abbigail, Abby, Bobbie, Debbie, Gabby, Libby, Robbin, Tabby, Tabbitha

C:
Accalia, Becca, Rebecca, Ricci, Toccara

D:
Addalyn, Addie, Addison, Edda, Haddasha, Haddie, Hedda, Maddalena, Maddie, Siddalee

E:
Aimee, Cathleen, Desiree, Eileen, Greer, Jubilee, Leela, Maureen, Reese, Teegan
Click here to view a more extensive list of Double-E names for girls!

F:
Buffy, Effie, Ffion, Fflur, Raffaela, Saffron, Steffany, Tiffany

G:
Maggie, Meggan, Meggie, Peggy, Reggie

K:
Mikki, Nikki, Onekka, Rebekka, Rikki, Vikki

L:
Annabelle, Calliope, Estella, Gabrielle, Isabelle, Jillian, Lilly, Molly, Raphaella, Willow
Click here to view a more extensive list of Double-L names for girls!

M:
Cammie, Emma, Emmanuelle, Emmeline, Emmylou, Fiammetta, Gemma, Jemma, Summer, Tammy

N:
Arianna, Cheyenne, Georgianna, Hannah, Julianne, Lucienne, Rhiannon, Susannah, Vienna, Yvonne
Click here to view a more extensive list of Double-N names for girls!

O:
Brooke, Brooklyn, Moon, Noor, Oona, Rooney, Sookie, Zooey

P:
Apple, Filippa, Guiseppa, Pepper, Philippa, Pippa, Poppy, Sapphira, Tzipporah, Xanthippe

R:
Arrietty, Carrigan, Farrah, Harriet, Kirra, Lorraine, Sherry, Sierra, Sparrow, Terra
Click here to view a more extensive list of Double-R names for girls!

S:
Alessandra, Alyssa, Cassidy, Cressida, Hadassah, Jessica, Larissa, Odessa, Tessa, Vanessa
Click here to view a more extensive list of Double-S names for girls!

T:
Antoinette, Cosette, Elisabetta, Henrietta, Juliette, Loretta, Mattea, Ottilie, Scarlett, Violetta
Click here to view a more extensive list of Double-T names for girls!

V:
Evvie, Livvy, Vivviana

X: 
Alexxia

Z:
Azizza, Azzurra, Clarizza, Dezzy, Izzy, Jazzlynn, Jazzmin, Kezziah, Kizzy, Lizzie

Which of the above do you like best? Can you think of any that could be added? Don't miss the previous article regarding The Best Double-Letter Boy Names!

Bennett, Harrison & William: The Best Double-Letter Boy Names

There are many names out there that contain double-letters within them. This is a collection of the very best of these names per letter of the alphabet for boys. Some letters have limited options and others don't have any because it just doesn't work in accordance with the alphabet and the English language.

Compiled below are the most attractive names per double-letter. The catch is that each letter has been limited to ten names. There may be more options out there but for the sake of space, they aren't all included on this list.

The following names are some of the better options available. If you're in search of a double-lettered name, this list is for you!:

A:
Aaden, Aaron, Canaan, Isaac

B:
Abbott, Bobby, Cobb, Gibb, Gibby, Robb, Robby, Webb

C:
Breccan, Lucca, McCoy, Morocco, Niccolo, Rocco, Zacchaeus

D:
Addison, Eddie, Freddie, Judd, Madden, Maddox, Teddy, Thaddeus, Todd, Vadden

E:
Creed, Keegan, Keenan, Lee, Leeland, Reed, Reese, Reeve, Seeley, Tennessee

F:
Christoffer, Geoffrey, Griffin, Heathcliff, Jefferson, Jeffrey, Kristoff, Raffaello, Rafferty, Steffan

G:
Briggs, Diggory, Gregg, Iggy, Jagger, Reggie, Taggart, Viggo, Ziggy

K:
Mikkel, Mikko, Nikko

L:
Apollo, Callum, Cillian, Dashiell, Elliott, Kellan, Maxwell, Phillip, Sullivan, William
Click here to view a more extensive list of Double-L names for boys!

M:
Emmanuel, Emmett, Hammond, Jimmy, Mohammed, Sammie, Timmy, Tommy,

N:
Bennett, Connor, Finn, Flynn, Johnny, Kenneth, Lennon, Quinn, Tanner, Tennyson
Click here to view a more extensive list of Double-N names for boys!

O:
Booker, Boone, Brooks, Cooper, Elwood, Haywood, Woodrow, Woody

P:
Philippe, Pippin, Sheppard, Tripp, Zeppelin

R: 
Barrett, Derrick, Ferris, Garrett, Harrison, Jarred, Merrick, Pierre, Terrence, Warren
Click here to view a more extensive list of Double-R names for boys!

S:
Alessandro, Cassius, Douglass, Jesse, Massimo, Odysseus, Ross, Russell, Ulysses, Wesson

Click here to view a more extensive list of Double-S names for boys!

T:

Atticus, Beckett, Everett, Hutton, Jett, Matthew, Otto, Rhett, Scott, Wyatt

Click here to view a more extensive list of Double-T names for boys!

X:

Daxx, Jaxxon, Maxx

Z:

Azzo, Buzz, Chazz, Izzy, Jazz, Ozzie, Tazz, Uzziah

Which of the above do you like best? Can you think of any that could be added? Be sure to check out The Best Double-Letter Girl Names too!

Emmett

To go along with the article regarding The Very Best E Names for Boys and Girls, today's featured name is Emmett.

Emmett is rather unique because it is a male name that is derived from a female name. Masculinization doesn't happen very often in names whereas there are many feminized names such as Josephine from Joseph or Philippa from Philip.  Emmett comes from Emma.

Originally Emmett comes from an English surname that was derived from a diminutive of Emma.  Emma comes from the Germanic element ermen (or possibly ermin or irmin) which mean "whole" or "universal".

In history, Emma was the daughter of Richard, Duke of Normandy. She introduced the name to England when she married King Ethelrede and later King Canute. This was way back in the 11th century and caused the name Emma to be very popular at the time along with short forms Em and Emm.

Emmot was also a recorded variant derived from Emma. There's also a place called Emmott in Lancashire which was recorded as "Emot" in 1296 which may come from the 7th Century Old English word "eagemot" meaning "junction of streams". [source]

As a baby name, Emmett has been in regular usage since 1880 but it has never been as popular as it is today. It received its first surge of popularity between 1915 and 1925 but declined in usage again until the mid-2000s when it skyrocketed. In 2013, there were 2,336 boys named Emmett which ranked the name at #173 in the US.

With the potential nicknames of Em, Emy, Mit and Mitty, the male name Emmett is a handsome choice for a modern boy. This name is currently on the rise and will likely gain more popularity in the years to come. If you're considering this name, here are some ideas for sibling names and middle names:

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Amelia, Daphne, Elodie, Isla, Matilda, Rowena, Zoe
Brothers: Archer, Fletcher, Graham, Henry, Miles, Owen, Reuben

Middle Name Ideas:
Emmett Alexander
Emmett Carter
Emmett George
Emmett James
Emmett Lincoln
Emmett William

As a Middle Name:
Blake Emmett
Conrad Emmett
Harrison Emmett
Leo Emmett
Quentin Emmett
Walter Emmett

What do you think of Emmett? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The Very Best E Names for Boys and Girls

Everyone needs a name. Every parent must choose the perfect moniker for every baby they have. Even though it sounds easy, actually narrowing down names and choosing one is no simple task, especially when parents feel bombarded by an endless supply of names in baby name books and on websites.

Enough stressing out about it. Each of the names on the lists below were handpicked to ease your selection process. Either you find the perfect E name here, or you wait until next week to see if F is your letter.

Expect to finally end this long naming process, though, because you are oh so very close to discovering the name.  Experiment with some of the names below by pairing them with your favorite middle names. Everyone finds an excellent name eventually!

Explaining why you love a specific name isn't necessary, but feel free to share which ones caught your eye in the comment section below! Enjoy! 

Edith                      Elaine Eleanor Elizabeth Ella Ellen Elodie Eloise Elowen Ember Emilia Emily Emma Emmeline Erica Erin Esme Esmeralda Estella Esther Eugenie Eulalia Eva Evangeline Everly

Easton Edmund Edward Edwin Eleazar Eli Elias Elijah Elliott Ellison Emile Emmanuel Emmett Enzo Erasmus Eric Ernest Ethan Eugene Evan Evander Everett Ewan Ezekiel Ezra

Each of these names are great, but if the perfect one isn't on this page, perhaps you should check out our other lists by using the links below!

 <-- The Very Best D Names for Boys and Girls ||| The Very Best F Names for Boys and Girls  --> 

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!

Daphne

Inspired by this week's article featuring The Very Best D Names for Boys and Girls, we will be taking a closer look at the name Daphne, pronounced DAFF-nee. 

This lovely Greek name means "laurel" which is a flower. Laurels are often used in circular wreaths, one of which was worn on top of the head of Apollo in Greek mythology. According to the legend, a beautiful female nymph named Daphne gained the unwanted attention of Apollo and was turned into a laurel tree by her father in order to escape Apollo's advances. Apollo is associated with laurels because of his desire for Daphne.

As a baby name, Daphne has been in use in the US since 1886. While it has never been popular, it had one large spike in usage in 1962. In that year, 1,131 girls were given the name which ranked it at #266. 

Usage declined through the 1980s but suddenly climbed again in 2001. As of 2013, Daphne is on the rise with 770 births and a ranking of #397. This is the best the name has done since the 1970s. 

Beyond the mythology mentioned above, the name Daphne has been well-used in various pop-culture works and worn by many famous people. Despite this, it has managed to remain mostly under the mainstream naming radar which makes Daphne a familiar but underused name. It would be a refreshing choice in the US today. 

What do you think of Daphne? If you are considering it, here are a few sibling and middle name ideas:

Sibling Name Ideas:

Sisters: Audrey, Camilla, Heather, Lorelei, Matilda, Penelope, Violet

Brothers: Anthony, Dante, Forrest, Graham, Lincoln, Oliver, Vaughn

Middle Name Ideas:

Daphne Amelia

Daphne Claire

Daphne Eleanor

Daphne Rosalind

Daphne Seraphina

As a Middle Name:

Ella Daphne

Hazel Daphne

Lydia Daphne

Rebecca Daphne

Veronica Daphne

What would you think of sisters named Daphne and Laurel? Do you think it would be cute or is it just too much? I kind of like it! Share your thoughts in the comments below! 

The Very Best D Names for Boys and Girls

Go ahead and put that baby name book down. Close all of your browser tabs, too. You don't need them anymore!

It's true, you've been hunting for a wonderful name starting with D to honor a few relatives whose names also begin with D, but you haven't found the right one yet. Look no further! This is your list!!

I present to you 50 of the best D names for boys and girls!  These names range from common to unusual but they are all delightful.

Which do you like best? If you had to delete one name from each list, what would you replace them with? Share your thoughts in the comment section below! 

Dagny                        Daisy Dahlia Danae Danica Danielle Daphne Darcy Davina Dawn Deanna Dierdre Delaney Delilah Delphina Demetria Desdemona Desiree Diana Dianthe Dixie Dorothea Dorothy Dulce Dulcinea

Dalton Damian Daniel Dante Darius Darren Dashiell David Dax Dawson Dayton Dean Declan Demetrius Dempsey Derrick Desmond Dexter Diego Diesel Dillon Dominic Donovan Douglas Dylan

See? I told you that you'd find the perfect D name for your little one. Congratulations! 

<-- The Very Best C Names for Boys and Girls ||| The Very Best E Names for Boys and Girls  --> 

Tristan Samuel - (Birth Announcements!)

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 Augustine
Beckett Ardell
Brennan William
Bryson Charles
Collin John
Connor Daniel
Christian Scott
Declan Jasper
Dominic Vincent
Edward Clyde
Ford Michael
Jack Robert
Jacob Kenneth
Jonathan Stewart
Jordan Ashton
Kingston Zachary
Kory Thomas
Kyler Russell
Landon Grant
Liam Matthew
Lucas Jameson
Maxwell Julius
Noah Christopher
Oliver Lawrence
Quinlan Jamie
Roman Elias
Ryan Patrick
Tristan Samuel
Wesley Joseph
Wyatt Raymond


My picks for triplets using the above names as they are:
G/G/G: Julianna Violet, Evelyn Lilia, Michaela Joan
G/G/B: Arielle Jade, Lilly Alice, Collin John
G/B/B: Layla Michelle, Brennan William, Wyatt Raymond
B/B/B: Tristan Samuel, Oliver Lawrence, Wesley Joseph

What would you choose?

Conrad

Today's featured name comes from this week's list of The Very Best C Names for Boys and Girls! While there are plenty of great C names, Conrad is the one that caught my eye.

Conrad comes from the Germanic elements kuoni and rad that, when combined, mean "brave counsel".  This moniker comes across as strong and interesting. It is well-known enough to work for a modern boy but it is also rather uncommon which would make it refreshing to hear. As far as Con- names go, it falls into a sweet spot: it is bolder than Connor but not as bold as Constantine.

In history, Conrad is both saintly and regal having been used by a 10th-century saint from Germany as well as several medieval German kings and dukes. England had a bit of love for the name during the Middle Ages but it wasn't common until the 19th century after being reintroduced there by the Germans.

In the US, Conrad has been used consistently every year since at least 1880. It has never been popular though. Its highest peak occurred in 1931 when 585 babies were named Conrad. These days, there were 343 boys born in 2013 with the name for a ranking of #691.

This rad name doesn't have very many nickname options but you could call your Conrad by Con, Connie, or Rad.  If you're interested in this strong and handsome name, perhaps you'll find the following suggestions of sibling names and middle names helpful:

Sibling Name Ideas:

Sisters: Adelaide, Clara, Elsa, Louise, Matilda, Rosalind, Viola

Brothers: Casper, Frederick, George, Henry, Leopold, Robert, Vincent

Middle Name Ideas:

Conrad Alexander

Conrad Gregor

Conrad James

Conrad Miles

Conrad Oliver

Conrad Simon

As a Middle Name: 

Andrew Conrad

Geoffrey Conrad

Leo Conrad

Ryan Conrad

Stephen Conrad

William Conrad

Can you think of any other names that might pair well with Conrad either as a sibling name or a middle name? What do you think of this name? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The Very Best C Names for Boys and Girls

So you're expecting a baby soon. Congratulations! What name will you choose?

 If you're still a bit stumped in that regard, perhaps you'll enjoy this simplified list of ideas.

In this series of posts, I cut out a lot of the work for you. I'm saving you from hours of browsing through endless lists of thousands of baby names.

Here you'll find fifty of the best names that start with the letter C. That's 25 per gender and there's a little bit of something for everyone.

These mostly follow American ideals but they can also work abroad.

As a fan of C names, you'll surely find one that you love. Go on, take a look:

Cadence                        Caitlin Calista Calliope Camille Cara Caroline Cassandra Catherine Cecelia Celeste Celine Charlotte Cheyenne Christina Claire Claudia Clementine Colette Constance Cordelia Corinne Cosette Courtney Cynthia

Caesar Caius Caleb Calvin Cameron Carlton Casper Caspian Chandler Charles Chase Chester Christopher Cillian Clark Clayton Clint Collin Colton Connor Conrad Constantine Cooper Cosimo Cyrus

Isn't it nice to have the best of the best laid out before you? So, which one have you chosen?  If you're still not entirely sure, maybe C isn't the letter for you.  Remember, there are 25 other letters to explore and I'm covering all of them.

 <-- The Very Best B Names for Boys and Girls ||| The Very Best D Names for Boys and Girls  --> 

Theodore

Today's featured name comes from this week's list of Presidential Baby Names.  It is one of the greatest names that belonged to one of the greatest presidents: Theodore.

The name Theodore comes from the Greek name Θεοδωρος (Theodoros) meaning "gift of god".

In the past, this name has belonged to several saints. There was Theodore of Amasea, a soldier from 4th-century Greece; Theodore of Tarsus, the 7th century archbishop of Canterbury; and a 9th century Byzantine monk named Theodore the Studite. There have also been three Tsars of Russia known as Fyodor, the Russian form of Theodore; and of course our American President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919).

As a name, Theodore was quite common in Greece because of the aforementioned saints. Christians in particular have been drawn to Theodore because of the name's appealing meaning. However, it was very rare in Britain before the 19th century.  In recent years, it's ranked in England/Wales at #97.

Here in the US, Theodore has always ranked on the Top 1000 chart. In fact, it was in the Top 100 names every year from 1880-1944. It has since then remained in or around the Top 300, currently ranking at #170 for 2013.  Theodore was also given to girls from 1901-1988.

Other international forms of Theodore include Theodoros, Theodorus, Teodor, Todor, Tudor, Toshe, Teo, Theo, Feodor, Fedor and Fedir.  Common nicknames include Theo, Ted and Teddy.

What do you think of Theodore? Which nickname is your favorite?  Here are some ideas for sibling names and middle names:

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Alexandra, Eleanor, Elizabeth, Josephine, Lillian, Natalie, Olivia
Brothers: Alexander, Benjamin, Henry, Nathaniel, Oliver, Sebastian, William

Middle Name Ideas:
Theodore Adam
Theodore Grant
Theodore Hayes
Theodore Rowan
Theodore Zachary

As a Middle Name:
Asa Theodore
Dominic Theodore
Elliot Theodore
Henry Theodore
Silas Theodore

Know someone with this name? Share your thoughts about Theodore in the comments below!

Presidental Baby Names

Today is President's Day in the US! In honor of this, it's time to take a look at the best (and worst) presidential first and last names. At the very bottom, there's also a list of all the names of the country's first ladies.

Whether you live in the US or not, surely you can appreciate the names on this list! Without discussing politics, share your thoughts in the comments about which baby name you like (or hate) the most. Would you ever use any of these? Have you already?

The following Presidential first names are most usable for a modern baby:

Abraham
Andrew
Benjamin
Franklin
George
Harry
James
John
Martin
Richard
Theodore
Thomas
William
Zachary

These first names aren't as common as the above, but they could still work on the right child:

Barack
Calvin
Chester
Dwight
Gerald
Grover
Herbert
Lyndon
Millard
Ronald
Rutherford
Ulysses
Warren
Woodrow

The following surnames are the most usable as a first name for a modern baby:

Arthur
Carter
Clinton
Ford
Grant
Harrison
Hayes
Jackson
Jefferson
Kennedy
Lincoln
Madison
McKinley
Monroe
Pierce
Reagan
Taylor
Truman
Tyler
Wilson

Names of First Ladies:

Abigail - (Adams, Fillmore)
Angelica - (van Buren)
Anna - (Harrison)
Barbara - (Bush)
Bess - (Elizabeth Truman)
Betty - (Elizabeth Ford)
Caroline - (Harrison)
Claudia - ("Lady Bird" Johnson)
Dolley - (Madison)
Edith - (Roosevelt, Wilson)
Eleanor - (Anna Eleanor Roosevelt)
Eliza - (Johnson)
Ellen - (Wilson)
Elizabeth - (Monroe, Truman, Ford)
Florence - (Harding)
Frances - (Cleveland)
Grace - (Coolidge)
Hannah - (van Buren)
Helen - (Taft)
Hillary - (Clinton)
Ida - (McKinley)
Jacqueline - (Kennedy)
Jane - (Pierce)
Julia - (Tyler, Grant)
Kennedy - (John Kennedy)
Laura - (Bush)
Letitia - (Tyler)
Lou - (Hoover)
Louisa - (Adams)
Lucretia - (Garfield)
Lucy - (Hayes)
Marie - (Marie "Mamie" Eisenhower)
Margaret - (Taylor)
Martha - (Washington, Jefferson)
Mary - (Lincoln, Arthur)
Michelle - (Obama)
Nancy - (Reagan)
Pat - (Thelma "Pat" Nixon)
Rachel - (Jackson)
Rosalynn - (Carter)
Sarah - (Polk)

Valentina

Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day, I chose to feature the lovely name Valentina today! What else would have been more appropriate?

This feminine name comes from the Roman Valentinus or Valens meaning "strong, vigorous, healthy" in Latin. Already this name has a great meaning! What about namesakes?

The masculine Valentine was a 3rd century saint and martyr whose feast day corresponded with a fertility festival, thus forever linking Valentine's day with love. A modern day bearer of the name Valentina is that of Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova. You may know her as the first woman to ever visit outer space in 1963. There is also Valentina Cortese, an Oscar-nominated actress, and a few celebrity children with the name.

In the US, Valentina is doing very well in the popularity department. It first appeared on record in 1897 but it wasn't regularly used until about 1910. It wasn't until 1994 that it entered the Top 1000. Now in 2013, there were 2,542 girls named Valentina with a ranking of #129.

If you map out the popularity of this name based on the number of births per year, you'll see the line go straight up starting in the 1990s. Something tells me that this name will continue climbing upwards and could possibly join the US Top 100 soon.

This name has usage in Italian, Spanish, Russian, Romanian and more which means that it has ranked fairly well around the world in recent years including #4 in Chile, #11 in Austria, #40 in Spain, #202 in the Netherlands and #340 in England/Wales among others.

What do you think of this name? Would you use Valentina for a girl or do you like Valentine more? What about Valentino for a boy? What would you pair with it? Here are a few ideas regarding siblings for Valentina and some middle name options:

Sibling Name Ideas:
Sisters: Anastasia, Camilla, Emmeline, Lucia, Milana, Sabrina, Tatiana
Brothers: Augustus, Benedict, Dominic, Maximilian, Roman, Sebastian, Vincent

Middle Name Ideas:
Valentina Claire
Valentina Faye
Valentina Grace
Valentina Pearl

As a Middle Name:
Audrey Valentina
Hazel Valentina
Lily Valentina
Scarlett Valentina

Don't forget to vote for your favorite and share your thoughts in the comments below!

Which Valent- Name Would You Sooner Use?

Valentine (boy)

Valentine (girl)

Valentino

Valentina