Elisabeth and Julia Are Getting A Baby Sister! What Should I Name Her?

Brenda wrote to The Art of Naming on Facebook recently inquiring about name ideas for a third girl. She already has Elisabeth "Elsa", and Julia. I promised I would find 10 name ideas for her to consider.

First, a bit of background info.  Elisabeth is an alternative spelling to Elizabeth; some may even find the "s" to be even more feminine than the standard "z". Both variants are gorgeous, in my book!  Elizabeth comes from  the Greek form of the Hebrew name אֱלִישֶׁבַע ('Elisheva') meaning "my God is an oath".  I have written about Elizabeth's longevity in the past because she has proved to be the most enduring female name.

Julia is one of my favorite names. I used Juliet for my own daughter's middle name, and I have always been drawn to the Jul- names. Julia is the feminine form of the Roman family name Julius that was possibly derived from Greek ιουλος (ioulos) meaning "downy-bearded" which implies youthfulness. It can be said that the Jul- names mean "youth".  Julia is also a time-tested name, enduring from Ancient Roman times until today.

Now, as of 2018, Julia ranked at #93 in the US.  This spelling of Elisabeth ranked at #789, and Elizabeth was #13.  Both of these names are true classics, one Hebrew, one Latin.  I will attempt to find 10 more names with a similar, romantic classiness without using any of Elizabeth's many, many diminutives (like Isabella, Liliana, etc). 

So, here is what I might name a sister for Elsa and Julia:

1. Caroline or Charlotte

These two names are related and similar enough that I couldn't decide between them.  They both come from the Germanic name Karl meaning "man". Right now, Charlotte is the more popular of the two, ranking at #6 in the US in 2018. Caroline follows at #55.  Both of these names are in line with the classic vibe of Elisabeth and Julia.

2. Helena 

Helena is the English form of the Greek ‘Ελενη (Helene) probably meaning "torch" or "bright light".  With Elsa and Julia, I would probably pronounce it  heh-LAY-nə, but there's also HEH-li-nə, heh-LEE-nə.  This name choice is a bit more unexpected than some of the names on this list, but it is a romantic and beautiful choice. It's also less common, ranking at #458.

3. Vivian or Vivienne

Whichever spelling you choose, this name means "life" and is certainly a lovely choice. It has come a long way from the old-fashioned vibe it once had. Nowadays, it is quite modern. Elsa, Julia and Vivienne would be a gorgeous sister-set!  Vivian is more popular, ranking at #96, while Vivienne ranks at #268. If you ask me, there's something extra special about the longer, French spelling.

4. Katherine or Catherine

Where there's an Elizabeth, there's almost certainly a Katherine nearby. These two seem to go very hand-in-hand. At least in my head. Since you have an Elisabeth, I would suggest Catherine as the spelling choice. These two names have their etymology debated heavily, but the name-nerd world has seemed to decide on the meaning "pure" from the Greek  καθαρος (katharos). Right now, Katherine is more popular at #112, while Catherine ranks #204 in the US in 2018. Elsa, Jules and Cat would be cute and spunky nickname options for this trio.

5. Arabelle or Annabelle

These two names are similar in spelling, and might actually be related. It is said that Arabella is probably a Medieval Scottish variant of Annabel. Annabel was influenced by the name Anna, but comes from the Medieval name Amabel meaning "loveable". Annabelle is more common, ranking at #141, while Arabelle is uncommon at #1734. These are both beautiful options that would pair nicely with Elisabeth and Julia.

6. Scarlett

Reminiscent of the deep, romantic shade of red, and the popular character O'Hara, Scarlett is a bold choice. Yes, it is quite popular these days at #20, but it is a little more outside-the-box compared to classics like Elisabeth and Julia. The name itself is possibly derived from the Persian سقرلاط (saghrelat) and referred to a kind of cloth, or a person who made clothes from that cloth.  It's an interesting angle that you could take if you wanted something popular but different from your current sibset.

7. Valentina

Queue the romance. As a feminine form of the Roman name Valentinus, this name means "strong, vigorous, healthy" in Latin. Due to the association between Valentine's day and love, Valentina would be a gorgeous, romantic name option. It is also quickly gaining popularity, climbing the charts to #81 most recently. Valentina would be a bit bolder of a choice, but at the same time, it would pair nicely with Elisabeth and Julia.

8. Marianne or Margaret

When you think of classic names, Mary has to come to mind. However, it's a bit dated. With Elisabeth and Julia, I might look for a variant of Mary, such as Marianne, Marigold, Marilyn, Marie, Mae or even Miriam.  The other alternative is similar name Margaret (or Marjorie or Maisie) meaning "pearl". Plenty of options here that may go well with Elsa and Julia.

9. Seraphina

If you want something that sounds like it should be popular, but is actually still very under the radar, look no further than Seraphina. With the popularity of Sarah and Sophia, which sound similar, you'd think this name would be used more. It actually has never ranked within the Top 1000. It currently sits at #1098 but I could see it catching on soon. Seraphina is the feminine form of the Late Latin name Seraphinus, derived from the biblical word seraphim, which was Hebrew in origin and meant "fiery ones".  Elisabeth, Julia and Seraphina make a beautiful trio!

10. Camilla

Camilla comes from the Ancient Roman name Camillus which seems to have an unknown meaning. It may refer to a young religious or ceremonial attendant; someone employed in a church. Camilla has been in use for a long time in the US, but it has never been as popular as it is today. In 2018, it ranked at a high peak of #302 and I suspect it will continue to climb the charts. Elsa, Julia and Camilla sound just lovely together!


I suppose that was more than just 10 options, but you can use these ideas as inspiration!  Let me know what YOU would name a sister for Elsa and Julia.

Ferelith

Today I want to take a closer name at a very rare and fantastical-esque name. I recently had the opportunity to recommend it to someone who had never heard of it before. They instantly fell in love with it and decided it might just be THE name they have been searching for. Perhaps you will enjoy it too!

It is a rare feminine name of Scottish and English origin. It comes from the Medieval Gaelic name Forbflaith which means "overlord, ruler, or sovereign". There was an heiress in 13th-century Scotland who was named Ferelith. Aside from that, this name is very rare.

According to the US record, there has never been at least 5 babies given this name in a single year. That means that the chances of you running into someone with this name are slim to none.  If you are looking for a beautiful, rare name, this would make your child truly one-of-a-kind! With its Medieval origins, it has a Renaissance vibe, and also feels fantastical.

There are some other names that have a similar feel to them such as:  Aerith, Allifair, Caisséne and more.  If you're a fan of Ferelith, here are a variety of middle name ideas:

Ferelith Maeve
Ivy Ferelith
Ferelith Rose
Nola Ferelith
Ferelith Riley
Tieve Ferelith
Ferelith Rhiannon
Kathleen Ferelith

What would you pair with Ferelith? I do like mainstream Irish names like Maeve to go with it. Is this a name you might add to your list?

Fabulous Names from Netflix's "The Witcher" Series

We have recently started watching Netflix's The Witcher and I was instantly mesmerized by the names of the characters. I'm a sucker for the unusual. I may not use most of these for a real life child, but I do appreciate them in a fantastical fiction.  I made a list of them for your browsing pleasure:


Male:
Geralt
Jaskier
Istredd
Cahir
Dara
Eist
Lazlo
Filavandrel
Torque
Foltest
Danek
Artorius
Korin
Fletcher
Anton
Nettly
Yurga
Eyck
Chireadan
Zigrin
Adonis
Hemet
Remus
Tsoka
Filip
Yannick
Atlan
Mikal
Peregrine
Nonim
Vyr

Female:
Ciri
Yennefer
Triss
Calanthe
Fringilla
Tissaia
Sabrina
Vanielle
Danica
Renfri
Eithne
Zola
Tiffania
Pavetta
Toruviel
Anica
Marilka
Téa
Véa
Kalis
Fola
Glacella
Marites
Sancia
Isadora
Adda
Lilja
Coral
Kaveri
Aridea

There's definitely a few in there that would be suitable for a child, but the rest are truly just fun. Which do you like?

Nautical Names for Sea Lovers

Now that summer is coming to an end, let's take a look at some of the beachiest, ocean-related baby name options. Even though I come from more landlocked areas, it is hard to deny that the ocean is a powerful force. For those of you that love the sound of nautical names, here are ideas to consider:

Boy Names:

Anchor
Bay
Fisher
Kai
Marinus "of the sea"
Ocean
Tide


Girl Names:

Aqua
Coral
Cordelia "jewel of the sea"
Darya "sea, ocean"
Isla "island"
Marina "of the sea"
Marisol "sea and sun"
Nerissa "of the sea"
Oceane
Pearl
Sailor

These are just a few gems. Can you think of any others that would be suitable? Which is your favorite?  If you're looking for more watery ideas, try this list.

Musical Baby Names

If music is your passion, take inspiration from this list of musical baby names! Many of these are derived from Latin or Italian terms found throughout music, some are names of famous musicians and composers.

Girls:

Allegra
Aria
Boheme
Cadence
Cadenza
Calypso
Carol
Celeste
Ceridwen
Chantal
Collet
Casella
Chantry
Clementi
Corisande
Echo
Hadley
Harmony
Harper
Hymn
Kalliope
Lyre
Lyric
Madrigal
Melody
Minuet
Musette
Octavia
Opera
Piper
Rhapsody
Rossini
Sonatina
Scarlatti
Sempre
Senza
Serenade
Siciliana
Sinfonia
Sonata
Song
Toccata
Viola

Boys:
Adagio
Amadeus
Apollo
Artemy
Bach
Barret
Brahm
Bran
Brio
Bryant
Cadeo
Cello
Dorian
Elegy
Florian
Hymn
Kohler
Landler
Larsen
Lyric
Mandolin
Mozart
Muzio
Olivier
Ottorino
Rhapsody
Reed
Rock
Rowley
Rossini
Rhythm
Sebestian
Wolfgang

The above lists included musical terms and classical musicians. The following list is a little more modern. This includes the names of many influential artists of the past century that may be interesting choices for big fans to choose. Some of these names are firsts, some are surnames. Some of these are from individuals and some are based on band names.  Some even cross genders, for example, the great Tina Turner could be honored by a boy named Turner. How many more can you think of that could be added?

Modern options based on famous musicians:

Girls:
Aaliyah
Abba
Adele
Alanis
Alessia
Aretha
Ariana
Ashanti
Audra
Avril
Beyonce
Billie
Björk
Britney
Camila
Carrie
Celine
Chaka
Cher
Ciara
Christina
Collins
Cyndi
Diana
Eartha
Enya
Etta
Everly
Faith
Gwen
Halen
Halsey
Holly
Jewel
Joni
Joplin
Joss
Journey
Jovi
Katy
Kelly
Lennox
Macy
Madonna
Mariah
Marley
Nirvana
Pearl
Presley
Queen
Reba
Rihanna
Sade
Santana
Selena
Shakira
Shania
Sia
Sinéad
Stefani
Stevie
Taylor
Trisha
Tori
Whitney

Boys:
Allman
Angus
Autry
Axl
Beck
Bing
Blake
Billy
Bono
Bowie
Bruce
Bruno
Buddy
Cash
Chance
Chesney
Chester
Clapton
Cobain
Coltrane
Cooper
Crosby
Cyrus
Dean
Denver
Dierks
Domino
Drake
Dre
Duran
Dylan
Elton
Elvis
Floyd
Garth
Grohl
Hank
Hendrix
Iggy
Jackson
Jagger
Joel
Judas
Lennon
Levine
Lionel
Lynyrd
Madden
Marley
McCartney
Mercury
Morrison
Morrissey
Neil
Nelly
Niall
Ozzy
Perry
Prince
Quincy
Ramone
Ray
Reznor
Sabbath
Simon
Smokey
Stevie
Stone
Swift
Turner
Tyler
Urban
Usher
Van
Vedder
Wayne
Wyclef
Zayn
Zedd
Zeppelin

Name Search Report: Madeline, Charity, Juniper and More Girl Names You Seek!

Charity comes from the word charity meaning "generous love" from the Late Latin caritas, or "dear, beloved" from the Latin carus. It's known as a virtue name and was used by the Puritans. Surprisingly, Charity has been consistently -- albeit uncommonly -- used since records began in the US in 1880. It peaked from 1974-1980 or so, ranking as high as #183 in 1975. It left the Top 1000 in 2013. In 2017, there were 192 girls named Charity.

Andrea is the Italian form of Andreas, which comes from the Greek name Ανδρεας (Andreas), meaning "manly", and related to Andrew. Andrea can be both masculine and feminine. As a female name, it gained usage in the 17th century before becoming common more recently. It started climbing the charts in the 1940s for girls and continued to steadily climb, peaking in 1981 at #24 and over 11,600 births. Today it ranks at #128.

Rose may seem like a filler name now but it is truly an underrated classic with many longer variations and related names from Rosalie and Róisín to Rosabella and Rosette. It comes from Germanic elements referring to a kind of fame. Of course it is also derived from the Latin rosa in association with the flower. Always popular, Rose peaked in 1917 with 9,783 births. It declined after the 1950s, but is currently upticking again, ranking at #141 with 2,059 births in 2017.

Bridget is the Anglicized form of the Irish name Brighid meaning "exalted one". It has usage in Irish mythology as the goddess of fire, poetry and wisdom. It has also been used by several saints. Bridget has been used in the US since the 1880s on record, and has always ranked within the Top 1000. It wasn't until the 1960s that it began rising in popularity. It peaked in 1973 with 2,765 births for the year. It has slowly declined since then, receiving 432 births in 2017 for a rank of #674.

Aberdeen is a Scottish Gaelic name meaning "mouth of the Don" which is a river. It's a nature name and also a city in Scotland. This could be both masculine and feminine, but it only has US usage for females. However, births are very rare. There were two listings way back in 1919 and 1923 for a handful of births, but it wasn't heard from again until 1997. It has had regular usage since 2010, even as many as 25 births in 2017!

Aurora is a triple threat. She was the Roman goddess of the morning, meaning "dawn" in Latin; she is a Disney Princess; and is also relevant to the Northern Lights from the term "Aurora Borealis", which makes her a celestial phenomenon. This name gives you a lot of bang for your buck! No wonder it is skyrocketing in popularity! It has always managed to remain within the Top 1000 since the 1880s, but it has been climbing mostly since 2006, joining the Top 100 in 2015 and ranking at a high of #51 in 2017!

Ellie dates back in standalone usage to the 1880s, but it wasn't until the 2000s rolled in that it really started to shine! It joined the Top 1000 in 1992, and made it into the Top 100 by 2011, which is a pretty fast pace. Now it ranks as the 44th most popular name in the country in 2017. This is quite impressive for a diminutive, nickname name whose modest beginnings come longer names such as Eleanor, Elizabeth and Ellen.

Tracy comes from an English surname meaning "domain belonging to Thracius", originally from a Norman French place name. It is also sometimes used as a nickname for Theresa. It has always been unisex, starting near the same time in the US for both genders in the 1880s. However, this name skyrocketed for females in the 1960s, peaking in 1970 with 18,467 births and a high ranking of #10 in the country. At the same time there were 1,774 male births.

Madeline is the English form of Magdalene, which comes from a title referring to someone from Magdala. Madeline had a nice popularity boost in the 1910s, then peaked at its highest in 1998 at #50. While Madeline with this spelling has always been around since the 1880s, Madelyn is currently more popular. Madelyn surpassed Madeline between 2008 and 2009. Both spellings remain popular in 2017 with Madeline at #100 and Madelyn at #63.

Maria is related to Mary from the Greek Μαρια and the Hebrew מִרְיָם. Mary's meaning isn't certain, but it could be either "sea of bitterness", "rebelliousness", or "wished for child". While Mary has obviously been extremely popular, perhaps the most-used female name over time, Maria is slightly less popular. It still ranks well, peaking in 1964 with 10,140 births; and as of 2017, it still received 2,700 births for a rank of #111.

Penelope may come from the Greek πηνελοψ (penelops) which is actually a kind of duck. Another possibility is that pene means "threads" and ops means "face, eye" which could refer to a weaver. Penelope was famously the name of the wife of Odysseus from Homer's epic The Odyssey. This name wasn't consistently used until the 1910s in the US, and it had a small peak in usage in the 1940s. By the new millennium, Penelope was on her way up. It entered the Top 1000 in 2001 and the Top 100 in 2013. It was #24 in 2017.

Daisy is directly related to the flower. However, it also derives from the Old English word dægeseage meaning "day eye". Sometimes Daisy is used as a nickname for Margaret due to the French name Marguerite becoming associated with the daisy in French. Margaret means "pearl" in Greek, and daisies were considered "pearls of the field" or "marguerites". In the US, Daisy has been used as a given name since records began in the 1880s. It was well used around the 1920s before declining to its lowest point in the 1970s. It rose again after that, reaching a popularity peak in 1996 with 2,514 female births for the year and a rank of #124. It ranked at #170 in 2017.

Vivienne is the French feminine form of the Latin Vivianus, which comes from the word vivus meaning "alive". The spelling "Vivian" has always been much more common. It peaked in 1920 with over 4,100 births for the year. It declined between the 1960s and the 1990s, but it is climbing again in recent years, ranking as high as #97 in 2017. Whereas, Vivienne didn't pop up until 1895 in the US. It remained rare and ranked outside the Top 1000 until it suddenly leapt on the scene in 2009 with a ranking of #531. In 2017, it climbed up to #252.

Elodie is the French form of Alodia which may be derived from a Visigothic name with Germanic elements such as alja meaning "foreign" and aud meaning "wealth". Talk about a name plucked from obscurity! It only ever received handfuls of births over the years since the 1880s, (anywhere from 5 to a high of 19 births in 1917); it wasn't used at all from the 1960s up until 1987 when it regained usage. It hasn't cracked the Top 1000 yet, but it is certainly on its way up the charts! It scored 251 births in 2017 for a rank of #1,025.

Juniper is derived from the Latin word iuniperus or juniperus which is a combination of the word junio which means "young" and parere which means "to produce". These put together equal "youth producing" or "evergreen". Of course, a Juniper is a type of evergreen tree. Beyond this, Juniper could also be a derivation of the Welsh name Guinevere. Juniper was unused in the US until 1969, and it wasn't until 2011 that it entered the Top 1000. By 2017, it reached new heights of #314 for the year.

Veronica is taken from the name Berenice which comes from the Greek name Φερενικη (Pherenike) meaning "bringing victory". Veronica was also influenced by the Latin phrase vera icon which gives it the alternate meaning "true image". Even dating back to 1880, Veronica has always ranked within the Top 500.  It was most popular between the 1960s and the 1990s. It's on the downslope now, but still ranked at #378 in 2017.

Lillian is likely a diminutive of Elizabeth, which means "my God is an oath" in Hebrew. Lillian is also considered an elongation of Lily, which comes from the flower and the Latin lilium. Lillian has always been common but it was super popular 100 years ago. In 1920, it received a peak of 10,049 female births for the year. By the 1960s it declined again to receiving 1000 or less births a year. However, starting around the early 1990s, it regained popularity, hitting a modern high of 7,156 births in 2012 for a rank of #26. It now ranks at #27 in 2017.

Meredith comes from the Welsh name Maredudd or Meredydd which may mean "great lord" or "sea lord". It was originally a masculine name, but sometime around the 1920s it gained more usage for females, however, it remains masculine in Wales. In the US, it continued to have male usage as recently as 2011. Overall, it is most common for girls, especially peaking between the 1970s and 1990s. In 2017, there were 626 girls named Meredith for a ranking of #496.

Adelaide  has been around since the SSA began recording names in 1880. It comes from the German Adalheidis which is composed of the elements adal meaning "noble" and heid meaning "kind, sort, type." Before the name's modern spike in popularity, the year with the most number of births was 1917 with 537.  Adelaide has only had two popularity spikes, the first starting around 1912 and lasting until it declined in the mid 1920s. From the 1950's to the 1990's, Adelaide was rarely used. However, starting just before the year 2000, Adelaide gained more usage. In 2005, it landed in the top 1000 and has been climbing in popularity. It ranked at #276 in 2017.

Which of these names do you like the most? Would you use any?

Nora, Sophie and Tabitha: Middle Name Ideas for Baby Girls!

Are you expecting a baby girl soon? Congratulations! Have you found a name yet? If not, here are three lovely choices that you could consider: Nora, Sophie and Tabitha. I have paired each of these names with several middle names for ideas, just in case you're stumped. The middle names vary in popularity and style, but all flow nicely with the first names.

Nora can be a short form of either Honora or Eleanor, and related names. Honora comes from the Latin Honorious meaning "honour".  Eleanor comes from the Old French form of the Occitan name Aliénor, related to the name Aenor. Nora herself dates back to 1880 in the US on record, and has been used well. She had a boosted run from 1914 to 1930, and again from 1947 to 1964. Recently, Nora has increased in popularity in 2004, entering the Top 100 in 2013. Today, Nora ranks at #28.

• Nora Louise
• Nora Caroline
• Nora Jeanne
• Nora Brienne
• Nora May
• Nora Willow
• Nora Payton
• Nora Elise
• Nora Gabrielle
• Nora Katherine
• Nora Felicity
• Nora Quinn
• Nora Reagan
• Nora Sabine
• Nora Juliet
• Nora Jane
• Nora Susanne
• Nora Romilly
• Nora Violet
• Nora Madeline
• Nora Sophie
• Nora Hadley

Sophie is the French form of Sophia, a Greek name meaning "wisdom". While it is no secret that Sophia has been very popular lately, even ranking at #1 in the country for 2011, 2012 and 2013, Sophie has been somewhat less popular. Both names date back in the US to 1880, and have enjoyed similar usage up until Sophie surged ahead from 1913 to 1925. After that, both remained common until Sophia began her popularity run starting in the 1980s. Sophie followed suit in the 2000s, but hasn't ranked nearly as high as Sophia. In 2017, Sophia was #5 and Sophie was #106.

• Sophie Alexandra
• Sophie Louise
• Sophie Caroline
• Sophie Matilda
• Sophie Grace
• Sophie Genevieve
• Sophie Juliet
• Sophie Amara
• Sophie Clementine
• Sophie Amelia
• Sophie Iris
• Sophie Olivia
• Sophie Wren
• Sophie Pearl
• Sophie Quinn
• Sophie Addison
• Sophie Jane
• Sophie Victoria
• Sophie Reese

Tabitha is an Aramaic name meaning "gazelle". It is translated into Greek as the name Dorcas. As a name, Tabitha dates back in the US to 1880, but it was very rare until it suddenly went from 34 births in 1965 to 327 births in 1966. The boost can be explained by the television show "Bewitched" airing in 1966 with a character named Tabitha. It continued to have popularity through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s before declining a bit starting in 2000. As of 2017, it left the Top 1000, but it is prime to be used as a familiar but uncommon choice today.

• Tabitha Eve
• Tabitha Marie
• Tabitha June
• Tabitha Ivy
• Tabitha Kate
• Tabitha Brynn
• Tabitha Eloise
• Tabitha Pearl
• Tabitha Ottilie
• Tabitha Willow
• Tabitha Maeve
• Tabitha Shay
• Tabitha Avery
• Tabitha Faye
• Tabitha Madison
• Tabitha Claire
• Tabitha Charlotte
• Tabitha Noelle
• Tabitha May

Which of these combinations do you like? Can you list some more?

Nolan, Theodore or Nathaniel? Plus, Unusual Middle Name Ideas!

Sometimes parents are attracted to more unusual names but they don't wish for it to be the first name that their child goes by on a daily basis. Here are three common first names for boys that have been paired with more unusual choices in the middle name spot. This way, you can have some familiarity with your uniqueness and the child can choose which one suits them better.

Nolan is derived from an Irish surname Ó Nualláin meaning "descendant of Nuallán", which itself came from nuall meaning "noble, famous". Nolan dates back on record to the 1880s, but held steady for decades at a similar popularity. It started increasing in the 1990s, and entered the Top 100 in 2011. As of 2017, it ranked at #67.

• Nolan Maverick
• Nolan Marvel
• Nolan Colbalt
• Nolan Escher
• Nolan Ramsey
• Nolan Hawthorn
• Nolan Cordovan
• Nolan Sterling
• Nolan Quade
• Nolan Bingham
• Nolan Thackeray
• Nolan Wiley
• Nolan Lysander
• Nolan Huckleberry
• Nolan Peregrine

Theodore means "gift of god" from the Greek name Θεοδωρος (Theodoros). It has always been in use in the US for boys. In particular, it enjoyed extra popularity from 1912 through the 1960s before declining a bit. However, around the mid-2000s, it regained popularity and has really skyrocketed in the past few years. Its current highest peak ever took place in 2017 with nearly 6,000 male births and a rank of #62.

• Theodore Weaver
• Theodore Quill
• Theodore Bloom
• Theodore Reeve
• Theodore Seven
• Theodore Merlin
• Theodore Quenby
• Theodore Crosby
• Theodore Dresden
• Theodore Hayes
• Theodore Atlas
• Theodore Rigby
• Theodore Rohan
• Theodore Rafferty
• Theodore Bromley

Nathaniel is the most common spelling but it comes from Nathanael which was the spelling used in the Old Testament (if not Nethanel or Nethaneel). They come from the Hebrew name נְתַנְאֵל (Netan'el) meaning "God has given". Nathaniel dates back to 1880 in the US, whereas Nathanael wasn't used until 1915. Nathaniel had a popularity peak from the 1940s through the 1960s before it really started to climb, joining the Top 100 in 1978. It received the most births ever in 2002 and ranked at #62. In 2017, it rests comfortably at #112, (Nathanael at #647).

• Nathaniel Crimson
• Nathaniel Cloud
• Nathaniel River
• Nathaniel Danger
• Nathaniel Frost
• Nathaniel Rune
• Nathaniel Tatum
• Nathaniel Tolliver
• Nathaniel Bane
• Nathaniel Kit
• Nathaniel Finch
• Nathaniel Wilder
• Nathaniel Madden
• Nathaniel Indigo
• Nathaniel Wolf

Which would you choose? Can you think of more middle names that would be interesting choices for a modern boy?

Name Search Report: Wilder, Gael, Milo and More Boy Names You Seek!

Behind the scenes, I am able to view the search terms, or keywords, that are entered into search engines that lead viewers here to my site. Often, people are searching for specific names. Some of these names I have already covered previously on other articles, but some of them are new. I thought it was about time that I addressed the names that people are actually looking for.

This series will pull names directly from that Name Search Report and investigate closer. The current data that I am using to evaluate a name's popularity comes straight from the Social Security Administration's 2017 popular name database. And I will also include name meanings found via BehindtheName.com.

Here's our first group of boy names that you wanted more information about.

Asa  - Short, Biblical, Interesting... Asa is both bold but familiar for a boy today. It has always been in use, dating back on record to 1880, but it didn't truly catch on until a hundred years later. Since 1980, Asa has been trending upward, and it currently ranks at its highest modern peak of #490 in the US in 2017! This name possibly means "healer" in Hebrew.

Jarvis - This name is somewhat old-fashioned and proper sounding, but it has potential to be a modern, trendy choice similar to Jasper. Jarvis has been regularly used since the 1910s and entered the Top 1000 in 1950, but it has never been popular. Its highest peak was in 1988 at #347. Today, it ranks below the Top 1000 at #1438. It comes from a surname which was derived from the given name Gervais meaning "spear".

Wilder - Part surname, part word name, Wilder is very trendy right now. While it has made a handful of appearances dating back to 1914, Wilder was rare up until recently.  It has skyrocketed, joining the Top 1000 for the first time in 2015, it ranked at #573 in 2017. It should continue to rise over the next few years.

Herbert comes from Germanic elements meaning "army" and "bright". Of course, Herbert isn't the first name you'd list as a modern choice for a boy, but it has an old-fashioned charm about it. So old-fashioned, in fact, that it had its most usage in 1928 before nearly flat-lining today. As of 2017, there were only 77 boys named Herbert for a rank of #1880.

Carlile - Carlile, along with the original spelling Carlisle, come from the name of a city in England, originally called Lugavalium by the Romans. It means "stronghold of Lugus". It was only later that "ker" was added to the name meaning "fort." Interestingly, Carlile has a total of 15 total births ever on record from 1880 to now. Carlisle has more usage over the years but remains rare. Its highest peak occurred in 2012 with a high of 47 births. In 2017, there were 40 boys and 12 girls named Carlisle.

Milo is an Old Germanic form of the name Miles. It is also the Latinized form. It could come from the Slavic element milu meaning "gracious", or perhaps it is associated with the Latin miles meaning "soldier." Either way, Milo has always been in use, but it has really skyrocketed into popularity since the year 2001 when it first entered the Top 1000. It currently ranks at #224 for boys and probably continue to climb.

Nolan is derived from an Irish surname Ó Nualláin meaning "descendant of Nuallán", which itself came from nuall meaning "noble, famous". Nolan dates back on record to the 1880s, but held steady for decades at a similar popularity. It started increasing in the 1990s, and entered the Top 100 in 2011. As of 2017, it ranked at #67.

Everett is a surname that comes from the given name Everard meaning "brave boar" in German. Its Old English equivalent was Eoforheard. Everett dates back to 1880 on record and enjoyed a popularity peak from 1914 to 1935. It maintained a similar number of births for decades after that until it began climbing in the mid-2000s.  As of 2017, it ranked #104 and could burst into the Top 100 soon!

Fisher comes from a German occupational surname literally referring to "fishermen", and often used by English and Jewish people. As a boys name in history, it hasn't been consistently used. It had a stretch from 1914 to 1933 and then disappeared until 1992. It entered the Top 1000 in 2004 and has slowly inched its way up to #765 in 2017. It could definitely have appeal as a rugged, outdoorsy surname name possibility.

Oswin comes from Old English elements meaning "god" and "friend". It was also the name of a 7th-century king of Northumbria before ultimately losing usage after the 14th century. It was somewhat revived in the 19th century, but has laid dormant until it regained usage in 2000. While still extremely rare, there were 25 boys named Oswin in 2017, (and 6 girls).

Daniel comes from the Hebrew name דָּנִיֵּאל (Daniyyel) meaning "God is my judge", and was the name of a biblical character. This name has been very popular throughout history, including England in the Middle Ages, but became rare in the 15th century. Today, of course, it is a classic. It peaked the highest in 1985 with 38,541 male births in the US, which ranked it at #5 for that year. In 2017, it ranks at #15 with 11,650 births.

Finn could come from the Irish Fionn, meaning "fair" or "white"; or from the Old Norse name Finnr which refers to a "person from Finland". Either way, Finn was relatively unused as a boy's name until 1953. It entered the Top 1000 in the year 2000, and has been climbing fast ever since! As of 2017, it ranks #167. Along with longer forms of the name like Finley, Finnegan or Finnian, Finn is definitely a rising nickname too.

Elijah is from the Hebrew name אֱלִיָּהוּ ('Eliyyahu) meaning "my God is YAHWEH". While Elijah has always been used in the US, it really started gaining popularity in the 1990s before skyrocketing recently. It entered the Top 100 in 1995 and now ranks at #8 in 2017. It's poised to be a classic.

Vince, as you may know, comes from Vincent, which comes from the Roman name Vincentius, which was from Latin vincere meaning "to conquer". Along with being the name of many saints, it has been in use since the Middle Ages. It has also been consistently well-used over the years, hovering around the Top 100 rank. In 2017, it ranked at #108 for boys.

Markus is the German and Scandinavian form of Mark, a form of Marcus. Marcus is probably derived from the Roman god Mars, the god of war. Marcus dates back to the 1880s in the US, growing most popular during the 1980s. Markus has been in the Top 1000 since the 1960s, ranking at #933 in 2017.

Gael may refer to speakers of Gaelic languages. It could also be a variant of the French/Breton name Gwenaël meaning "blessed and generous". As a boy name, Gael has been rare, popping up occasionally between 1919 and 1952, but it wasn't in regular usage until 1992. It joined the Top 1000 in 2002 and is now up to #178 in 2017.

Remy may be the French form of the Latin Remigius, which comes the remigis meaning "oarsman, rower". It could also be short for Remington, which is an Old English surname and place name meaning "boundary stream" and "settlement". Remy began as a boys name as far back as 1914, but it is rapidly raising for both genders. It entered the Top 1000 for boys in 2009, followed by 2014 for girls. It ranks #449 for boys and #605 for girls in 2017.

Elias is a cognate of the name Elijah, which we already mentioned is very popular today. Elias has the same meaning and origin, and is similarly gaining popularity today in the US. It dates back to 1880 and maintained a steady amount of usage over the decades leading up to an increase beginning around the 1990s. Elias entered the Top 100 in 2015 and now ranks at #78 and climbing!

Lennox comes from a Scottish surname which came from the name of a district in Scotland called Leamhnachd in Gaelic, possibly meaning "place of elms". As a boy name, it had a handful of sightings as far back as 1918, but it didn't gain speed until the 1990s. It has quickly escaped obscurity, joining the Top 1000 in 2010 and reaching as high as #408 for boys in 2017. It also gained usage for girls in 2005, skyrocketing from beyond the Top 1000 in 2014, to ranking at #665 in 2017.

Which of these names do you like best? What middle names would you pair with them? Share your favorites in the comments below!

Spunky, Modern Girl Name Combos!

While a lot of this could be subjective, the names on this list have a bit of a modern, spunky vibe.  Some could be somewhat unisex as well. Girls today are receiving more and more names that are beyond the scope of traditional, classic choices. Surname and occupational names are huge, unisex names or even boy-names-on-girls (BNOG) are gaining popularity, and many Irish names and word names are catching on.

The following list was compiled by me in an effort to showcase some of the best modern names and offer ideas for first/middle combinations to anyone in the market for one:

Mackenzie Hollis

Riley Valentina
Darcy Magnolia
Hazel Kinsley
Kennedy Lace
Piper Connolly
Mercy Willow
Presley Morgan
Addison Hadley
Teagan Everly
Bailey Summer
Delaney Sloane
Ashton Lindsay
Reese Jessamine
Cassidy Ryanne
Paige Emerson
Tatum Siobhan
Kerrigan Fallon
Sylvie Madigan
Madison Serenity
Berkley Joss
Sable Amaya
Taylor Felicity
Whitley Harper
Auden Bristol
Finlay Marlowe
Elle Sheridan
Rosalie Brynn
Kenadie Brooke
Jaelyn Rue
Kaia Bailey
Delaney Blue
Zoey Lyla
Taryn Ellery
Aria Fable

Can you think of any other names that might fit this category? Share your combo ideas in the comments below!

Baby Names Ending with the Letters "-vy"

Continuing with our theme, today we will explore names ending with -vy. Most of these are very rare or unusual. Do you like any names ending with -vy?  Of course, I love Ivy, but some of these others are interesting too, like Livy, Navy, Savvy and Chevy! Ivy currently ranks at #108 for girls in 2017.

Avy
Bevy
Elvy
Evy
Ivy
Keavy
Levy
Livvy
Livy
Lovy
Maevy
Navy
Rivy
Savvy
Savy
Silvy
Tavy
Truvy
Vivy

Alvy
Arvy
Chevy
Covy
Davy
Garvy
Harvy
Ivy
Kevy
Levy
Navy
Rivy
Tavy
Stevy
Zavy

Are there any others you can think of? Which do you like most?

National Color Day: Best Color Names for Modern Babies

October 22nd is known as National Color Day! Everyone has colors that they enjoy more than others. Do you have a favorite color? Do you love it so much that you would consider using it as a baby name? If so, you're not alone. Below is a list of potential color names. The first list is much more popular than the second, but they're all interesting in their own way.

More Popular:

Ruby (red) is currently ranked as the 79th most popular name in the US for girls, as of 2017.
Violet (purple) is climbing the charts! As of 2017, it ranked at #48 for girls and will probably keep going.
Hazel (brown) popped into the Top 1000 in 1998, and the Top 100 in 2015! Currently at #43.
Rose (pink) is a timeless classic and has always ranked within the Top 400. Ranked #141 in 2017.
Iris (purple) has always been around, but has been slowly climbing, putting it up to #149.
Sienna (brown) wasn't used before the 1960s, and it hit the Top 1000 in 1995.  Currently at #222.
Jade (green) has been in use since the 1940s. It was most popular in 2002 with 86 births. Currently it is at #110.
Raven (black) hit the Top 1000 in 1977 for girls, and now ranks at #446 in 2017.
Amber (orange) ranked in the Top 100 from 1974-2004. It is slowly declining, currently ranking at #401.
Scarlet (red) since the 1930s, both Scarlet and Scarlett have been used. Scarlet is #396 while Scarlett ranks at #18!
Laurel (green) is a color name based on the plant. It has always ranked in the middle ground. Currently at #597.
Jasmine (yellow) was rarely used before the 1950s, and most popular in the early 1990s. It is now at #130 as of 2017.
Veronica (purple) the color is also named for a vivid purple plant. Not as popular as it once was, Veronica sits at #378.
Kelly (green) first hit the Top 1000 in 1948, and Top 100 from 1959-1999. It is now ranked at #595.
Olive (green) is not as popular as Olivia yet, but it is climbing fast! It went from #990 in 2007 or #256 in 2017.
Daisy (white) has always been well-used, but it is currently ranked at #170 in 2017.
Heather (purple) boomed in popularity during the 1960s and 1970s, and it lasted through the 90s.  Now it has fallen out of the Top 1000.
Jasper (red) for boys, this name has always been steadily used. It has gained more popularity during this decade, reaching #185 in 2017.
Hunter (green) quickly gained popularity in the 1990s and 2000s for boys. It is now at #53.
Juniper (green) has only been around since the 1970s. It entered the Top 1000 in 2011, and ranks #314 today.
Sage (green) is more popular for girls, but is quite unisex. In 2017, it ranked at #309 for girls and #472 for boys.
Gray has been used for boys since the 1910s, and for girls since the 1990s but it isn't currently ranked within the Top 1000 for either gender yet. 

Less Popular:

Blue
Indigo
Onyx (black)
Coral (pink)
Marigold (yellow)
Ginger (orange)
Tawny (brown)
Jet (black)
Basil (green)
Magenta (pink)
Lilac (purple)
Sable (black)
Peach (pink)
Fern (green)
Saffron (yellow)
Emerald (green)
Fawn (tan)
Cerise (red)
Forest (green)
Cedar (brown)
Penny (brown)
Jonquil (yellow)
Mauve (purple)
Henna (brown)
Ivory (white)
Clay (brown)
Lavender (purple)
Navy (blue)
Cyan (blue)
Sky (blue)
Cobalt (blue)
Fushia (pink)
Claret (red)
Umber (brown)
Zaffre (blue)
Sepia (tan)
Lemon (yellow)
Sangria (red)
Apple (red)
Honey (yellow)
Tiger (orange)
Cherry (red)
Taffy (pink)
Merlot (red)
Crimson (red)
Garnet (red)
Orchid (purple)
Amethyst (purple)
Slate (blue)
Ocean (blue)
Aegean (blue)
Azure (blue)
Stone (gray)
Ash (gray)
Flint (gray)

Can you think of any other color names that would also suit a child? Which of these are your favorites?

<--- Previous Article: Color Me Named: 106 Baby Names from Colors

<--- Previous Article: From Amaranth to Violet: A Look at Names of the Rainbow

Southern Boy Names for your Little Cowboy

What are your favorite "country western" or "mid-western" names for boys?  Which names might suit a little cowboy? This is obviously going to be highly subjective, but it's fun to explore possibilities in this category. What do you think of this list?:

Alden

Ames
Amos
Anders
Angus
Ashley
Aston
Atkins
Atticus
Augustus
Austin
Avery
Bailey
Barnes
Barrett
Barrick
Bayard
Beau
Bedford
Benjamin
Billy
Blaine
Blaze
Bo
Boone
Brick
Brooks
Buddy
Buford
Calvin
Cash
Chance
Clayton
Colby
Colt
Dallas
Daryl
Davis
Dawson
Deacon
Duke
Earl
Elliott
Emmett
Everett
Fenton
Finch
Galen
Garland
Garth
Goddard
Grady
Graham
Granger
Granville
Greer
Gunnar
Hampton
Hank
Harley
Harper
Harrison
Hayes
Hollis
Hoover
Houston
Huck
Hunter
Ignatius
Ingram
Jackson
Jameson
Jareth
Jeb
Jebediah
Jed
Jedidiah
Jefferson
Jenner
Jennings
Jeremiah
Jody
Johnson
Jones
Josiah
Judson
Junius
Kade
Kasey
Keaton
Kipling
Knox
Kody
Lance
Landon
Landry
Laramie
Lee
Leroy
Livingston
Lorne
Mason
Marian
Mathis
Memphis
Mercer
Monroe
Montgomery
Nash
Nathan
Nevada
Nolan
Orson
Oscar
Parker
Patterson
Percy
Peyton
Quenby
Quaid
Quinlan
Rafe
Randall
Ray
Reed
Remington
Rhett
Riley
Roscoe
Rufus
Ryan
Samson
Samuel
Sawyer
Shannon
Stadler
Sterling
Stetson
Sutherland
Taylor
Tennessee
Thaddeus
Travis
Tucker
Tyrell
Vernon
Walker
Wayne
Weldon
Wells
Wesley
Wiley
Wilson
Wyatt
Yates
Yale
Zachariah

Share your favorites in the comments, and add some new ones!

Sweet, Sassy, Southern Names for Girls

What are your favorite "country western" or "mid-western" names for girls? Sweet, sassy, and southern mixed with hospitable charm. Which names might define that? This is obviously going to be highly subjective, but it's fun to explore possibilities in this category. What do you think of this list?:

Abigail Adabelle Agnes Alice Aliza Althea Alma Amabel Amelia Amy Anna Annabelle Annie April Ashley Augusta Autumn Avril Bailey Bea Bess Bethany Betsy Blanche Blossom Blythe Bonnie Braelyn Callie Caroline Cassidy Celia Charlotte Clementine Constance Coralee Daisy Delilah Della Dixie Edie Eliza Eloise Emmylou Faith Florence Frances Frankie Georgia Glenda Glory Hadley Haley Hannah Harper Harriet Hazel Heather Heidi Henrietta Hillary Holly Ida Imogene Iris Ivy Jacqueline Jana Jeanne Jill Jocelyn Josephine Julia Justine Kassidy Katherine Kay Larissa Layla Leigh Leora Lilibeth Lucille Luella Lyla Macy Madeline Magnolia Maribel Mary Maxine May Mayella Molly Narvie Nellie Nora Odessa Odette Pauline Phoebe Portia Quinn
Rebecca Ruby Sadie Salome Sally Savannah Scarlett Shelby Sheridan Stella Suellen Susanna Tabitha Talullah Thelma Tierney Vanessa Vera Victoria Vivian Whitney Willow Zadie

Which do you like most? Can you think of more to add to the list?

How Well Did My Sibsets Match from My "Statehood Initial Challenge" Series? [Part Two of Two]

Finally, after three and a half years, the long-running Statehood Initial Challenge series has finished! In this series, I took the two-letter abbreviations of each state in the USA, and challenged you to use those two letters to name a boy and a girl. I played right along with you. After we covered 25 states, I listed all the sets of twins that I named throughout those two years of posts and found that I had repeated several of the names multiple times. I tried to avoid repeats for the 2nd half of the challenge, so let's see how I did.

I posted these states in the order in which they gained official statehood, which means Delaware was first, Pennsylvania came next, then New Jersey and so on until we finally reached the 50th state of Hawaii.  Here's the first 25, which I previously posted here:

1. DE -  Dante Evander & Dahlia Emmeline
2. PA -  Pierce Averill & Posey Augusta
3. NJ -  Nash Julian & Nova Jessamine
4. GA - Gregor August & Gesine Abigail
5. CT - Calvin Thomas & Cora Tamsin
6. MA - Maximus Alexander & Madeline Alice
7. MD - Malcolm David & Minerva Dawn
8. SC  - Stetson Cole & Sable Cressida
9. NH - Nicolai Harris & Nova Helene
10. VA - Vadden Alexis & Vienne Augusta
11. NY - Nathaniel York & Natasha Yve
12. NC - Noble Carlisle & Nova Caroline
13. RI - Rafferty Iwan & Rowan Isabelle
14. VT - Valor Thaddeus & Vella Temperance
15. KY - Killian Yannick & Kensington Yve
16. TN - Tristram Noel & Tabitha Nell
17. OH - Oscar Hadrian & Olive Hettienne
18. LA - Leopold August & Lavinia Aveline
19. IN - Isadore Noel & Isla Natalie
20. MS - Malcolm Silas & Mabel Sabrina
21. IL - Irving Lawrence & Ida Laurel
22. AL - Alexander Lincoln & Augusta Lily
23. ME - Marlon Elliott & Mavis Eleanor
24. MO - Miles Oliver & Maisie Octavia
25. AR - Asher Ramsey & Avara Raine

The first half of the challenge was spread out over 2 years and I chose them spontaneously with each post. I didn't go back to see what other names I had used previously. I simply went with what I liked at the time. As a result, there were a few repeats.

This time around, I kept track of everything and triple-checked that I had not already used a name before choosing it. There should be zero repeats in the second half.  Let's take a look at the second half of the challenge:

26. MI - Milo Indigo & Morganna Ivy
27. FL - Finnegan Louis & Fiona Liesel
28. TX - Tobias Xavier & Thora Xanthippe
29. IA - Ivander Ash & Iliana Apple
30. WI - Wim Iverson & Wren Isadora 
31. CA - Cassander Aloysius & Cordelia Avienne
32. MN - Murphy Nolan & Maia Nicolette
33. OR - Odin Richard & Ophelia Ruby
34. KS - Kellan Scott & Kaia Sylvie
35. WV - Willoughby Vance & Wren Victoria
36. NV - Ned Vincent & Nadine Verity
37. NE - Neo Edmund & Nerissa Edith
38. CO - Caius Octavian & Camilla Olivine
39. ND - Norman Daniel & Naomi Diana
40. SD - Sebastian Dominic & Seraphina Delaney
41. MT - Martin Timothy & Mildred Theodora
42. WA - Warren Arlo & Willow Amelia
43. ID -  Ian Darius & India Darling
44. WY - Ward Yvander & Winslet Yvonne
45. UT - Ulysses Theodore & Ulyana Terese
46. OK - Otis Kelvin & Opal Kathleen
47. NM - November Mason & Nyx Magnolia
48. AZ - Ambrose Zachariah & Amara Zooey
49. AK - Atlas Korbin & Audrey Kate
50. HI -  Heath Idris & Hermione Iris

Since certain letters were used more often, it became increasingly difficult to find names that I actually like. The letter N is not my favorite letter and it forced me to choose names that I wouldn't normally choose, like Norman, Ned, Nadine and Naomi. 

The letter I was also challenging to find attractive options. While I did not repeat anything, I did end up with Ivy, Irving, Iverson and Ivander which all sound similar.  I did toss in an Yvander, but since the spelling is different, I didn't count it as being the exact same name as the previously used Ivander.

In the first half of the challenge, I noted that there were several unusual names like Hettienne, Gesine, Vadden, Averill, Cressida, Vella and Avara.  In the second half, I went with bold choices like Xanthippe, Apple, Wim, Willoughby, Nerissa, Caius, Darling, Winslet, November, Nyx, and Hermione. 

But I also went for some old-fashioned names too. In the first half, we saw Irving, Gregor, Marlon, Mavis, Malcolm, Mabel, Lawrence, Ida and Laurel. In the final set of names, I opted for some Louis, Aloysius, Richard, Edmund, Edith, Mildred, Ward, Ulysses, Opal, and Ambrose.

Don't forget the more classic names! Previously I had used things like Oliver, Alexander, Thomas, Lily, Caroline, Abigail and Isabelle. The second time around, I added Scott, Victoria, Vincent, Daniel, Timothy, Theodore, and Kathleen.

Overall, this was a very fun challenge to continuously be apart of week after week. I can't believe it lasted three and a half years but here we are finally at the end of it! What do you think of my many choices? Do any of them stand out as absolute favorites? Are there any that you cannot stand? Share your thoughts in the comments and thanks for following!

Did you play along with this series? If not, we always have name games like this on our Instagram page!

Girl Names Ending with the Letters "-ra"

We've been exploring different name endings based on specific letters lately. We saw -ina names for girls, and -ian names for boys. Last week we looked at boy names ending with -us. Today we will try our best to narrow it down for the letters "-ra".  Like the other series, I limited myself to only choosing one name per letter. Here are my 26 picks from A-Z. What would you pick?

I also listed the ranks of those within the Top 1000, so as you can see, most of these names are rare picks!

Audra
Barbara  (#908)
Cora   (#83)
Deidra
Electra
Flora
Ginevra
Honora
Indira
Jara
Keira   (#331)
Lysandra
Mara   (#670)
Nora    (#28)
Ophira
Pandora
Quorra
Riviera
Sierra    (#452)
Theodora
Uhura
Vespera
Wara
Xantara
Yadira
Zamora

Would you use any of these names?

Boy Names Ending with the Letters "-us"

The majority of names that end with -us may bring to mind Ancient Latin rulers. While many of these will remain rare, there are others gaining popularity. I put the ranking of those within the Top 1000 in parenthesis.  Which do you like?

I used Maximus for my son, and would consider Augustus, Cyrus, Erasmus, Julius, Thaddeus and Xanthus! What about you?

Augustus  (#423)
Belarius
Cyrus  (#427)
Darius  (#500)
Erasmus
Fergus
Gaius
Honorius
Ignatius
Julius  (#336)
Klaus
Linus
Maximus  (#200)
Nicodemus
Octavius
Pius
Rufus
Severus
Thaddeus (#666)
Urbanus
Vitus
Wenceslaus
Xanthus
Yunus
Zacchaeus

Do you have any other favorite names that would also belong on this list? 

Baby Names Ending with the Letters "-ty"

We are nearing the end of this series. We have already explored a number of names ending with -y. Now we move on to the -ty names.  There's a number of virtue names that end with -ty on this list. Do you like any of these?

Girls:
Amity

Arrietty
Betty
Charity
Chastity
Christy
Clarity
Cristy
Divinity
Dotty
Dusty
Enity
Esty
Eternity
Felicity
Hatty
Hetty
Honesty
Jonty
Kaity
Kassity
Katy
Kirsty
Kitty
Kristy
Letty
Liberty
Marty
Maty
Minty
Misty
Modesty
Patty
Royalty
Serendipity
Serenity
Tranquility
Trinity
Unity
Vanity
Verity

Boys:
Barty
Coty
Dusty
Getty
Infinity
Jonty
Marty
Monty
Moriaty
Rafferty
Reality
Rusty
Scotty
Trinity
Ty
Vincenty
Walenty
Wincenty

Pick a name or two and give them a middle name! Share in the comments!

26 Girl Names Ending With the Letters "-ina"

We previously looked at boy names ending with the letters "-ian".  I swapped those letters around and found girl names ending with the letters "-ina". Do you have any favorites on this list? What about other names that aren't on this list but still end with "-ina"?

Angelina

Bettina
Celina
Delphina
Emmelina
Florentina
Georgina
Helaina
Irina
Josephina
Kristina
Leontina
Martina
Nicolina
Olivina
Paulina
Quelina
Regina
Seraphina
Trina
Ursina
Valentina
Wilhelmina
Xina
Yekaterina
Zarina

Sometimes I make lists like this for fun, so naturally I decided to share. Have you ever challenged yourself to choose names fitting specific criteria? I often do this to sharpen my naming skills and discover new names.  Play along with me! Share your favorites in the comments!

26 Boy Names Ending with the Letters "-ian"

Sometimes I come up with fun "exercises" in naming to strengthen my skills. I thought it would be fun to find boy names ending with -ian for each letter of the alphabet. It was going well until I got to a few more troublesome letters.  Take a look at my list and tell me which are your favorites!

Adrian

Brian
Christian
Damian
Elian
Fabian
Gian
Hadrian
Ian
Julian
Killian
Lucian
Maximilian
Nerian
Octavian
Paulian
Quillian
Rhydian
Sebastian
Tavian
Urian
Vian
Xadrian
Yulian
Zavian

I may or may not have created a few of these. Specifically Paulian, Quillian, and Urian. Those were the only letters of which I could not find names ending with -ian, However, they sound like the could work just fine along with the others.  Can you find any established names starting with P, Q and U that could take their place?