K is for Keyara and Kieran
I know. I know. Where have I been? Why is it taking me so long to get to K? I don’t know. I’ve been busy with the Amish, how’s that for an answer? Actually, it’s quite true, but that’s another blog. At any rate, here I sit on a sunny Sunday afternoon, thinking I better get with K or else. And I’m in a baby naming kind of mood!
Best Bible Name: Keziah: When I wrote A is for Adam, the name Keziah had somehow escaped my attention. Then I started seeing it pop up in the “MB Herald,” the august magazine of the Mennonite Brethren Church, in the Births section. Leave it to the Mennonites to unearth a great Bible name. Keziah was one of Job’s daughters, his middle daughter, after Jemima (see “J”), born to him after his great sufferings. Wikipedia says: “The name has been taken to symbolize female equality, since all of Job's three daughters received an inheritance from their father, an unusual circumstance in a time period when women and men were not treated equally.” I’ve also heard of it being used in families after a time of suffering. Runner Up: Keturah. Keturah who? Unless you’ve recently read the Book of Genesis, you may be a little sketchy on who Keturah is. She’s actually Abraham’s second wife, whom he married after Sarah died. I think it’s really cool, and a million times more original than Sarah!
Best Lit Names: Katerina: I always marveled at the fact that my Opa had a sister named Katerina, although by the time I learned of her, no one knew what had happened to her. Likely, she died in Stalin’s Russia, like so many members of my dad’s family. Katerina, I wax in “Atticus,” is “as luxe and gilded as a Faberge egg.” I love this name, and it’s fantastic short form, Katya. Oh, Katerina is from The Brothers Karamazov, by Dostoevsky. Runner Up: Kit. Okay, I have many friends who have Kates and Katies, and of course it’s a sensational name (notice there’s no overabundance of Olga or Hilda). But what about Kit as a short form of Katherine (and you know me. I always endorse using a long form like Katherine or Kathleen, so the child has options someday…). Kit is similar to Kate, sleek, spunky, and alternatively glamorous and sporty. Kit Tyler is the heroine at the heart of “The Witch of BlackBird Pond, Elizabeth George Spears’ 1959 Newberry winning classic.
Best International Names: Keyara: Africa especially brings us some sumptuous, exotic beauties, and flat gorgeous Keyara rolls off the tongue and means “Beautiful river;” Kamaria is Swahili for “Like the moon. Also: Karimah (Generous Girl), and Kesia (Earth bound Girl).
Best Name I’ve Always Liked With No Category: Kerensa. A friend of mine has a grown niece with this lovely, unusual name, and I love it. Pronounced Ker-REN-za, this one will be one-of-a-kind in your sphere.
BOYS
Best Bible Name: Kenan: According to Genesis 5:9-14, Kenan/Cainan was a son of Enos and an unnamed woman, and a grandson of Seth. He was one of those ultra-hearty fellows in the Bible who lived through almost a millennium (he was 910 when he died). I think Kenan is very of the moment, yet also fresh and new. There’s also an Irish saint named Keenan, and indeed it sounds frisky and Irish, doesn’t it?
Best Lit Name: Keats: This poetic namesake name means “kite,” which seems to fit Keats’ sunshiny vibe. My son has a classmate named Banks, and I think Keats works even better as a first name.
Best International Name: Kieran: Laura Wattenberg says “This snappy Irish saint’s name hits all of today’s fashion highlights.” She’s right. Kieran sounds vibrantly Irish and completely accessible, and is much less common than Aidan, Connor et al. Irish Runner Up: Keegan.
As usual, Africa is teeming with vivid, unheard choices. Kyan means “Little king boy.” You may not be a member of the royal family, but your baby boy is always your tiny prince anyway. More from Africa: Keon (Boy), Kojo (Born on a Monday), Kuron (Thanks).
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
G is for Green Mama
Bruised Apples and Local Character
Our local farmer's market is a hub of activity every week. Lettuce, jelly, strawberries, nuns who bake bread. The old Greek guy selling olives is definitely my favorite. He takes plump, oval, gorgeous olives and crams them with soft bleu cheese. I don't even like bleu cheese but his olives have made me a devotee.
The family that hauls heirloom apples up from the southern part of my state is another treasure. By late summer they truck in over two dozen varieties of apples. Brown Snout, Adina, Prairie Spy, Akane, Pink Pearl, Chisel Jersey. Did you know apples had these names?
My apple exposure comes from the pile at my local grocer. Granny Smith and Golden Delicious. Maybe on a daring day I dabble in a Jonathan Gold.
Grocery store apples are perfectly smooth, no bruises and quite hard. I arrive home and they don't taste as stellar as they looked. Mealy and lackluster. These apples come from fabulously far away places like Washington State or New Zealand. I find this odd given the multiple apple orchards near my home. None of the apples in our stores actually come from these orchards (a common occurrence in food life).
Commercial apples are often plucked from the trees long before they are ripe, stealing their sweetness and color. A green apple at your grocer might actually, if left on the tree, become a yellow apple! And sweeter than the one in your cart.
On a recent trip to the farmer’s market my two youngest children were running from bin to bin picking their apples by yanking whatever looked tasty from the heirloom varieties.
Then they scurried over the the stroller where a canvas bag received their selections. At first they gently set the apples into the bag. It was perfectly idyllic. I was the uber eco-mom with the gentle kids and the awesome apples. But the moment quickly changed as competition and adrenaline suddenly took over.
They began racing back and forth, grabbing armloads of apples and throwing them into my bag. Beautiful apples bouncing around and bruising one another. I managed to stop the chaos for a moment so my 2.5 year old said "okay mommy, then let's go buy our apples."
Before I could harness his ambition he darted over to the stroller, grabbed the handle on our bag and yanked it with such force that the bag tipped and apples flew then bounced across the market lot. "Oops. Mommy?"
As we tucked them back into the bag I noticed, beyond our bruises, that each apple had such character. Traits you don't see in stores. Odd colors, lumps, freckles and spots. Each had a story to tell. An heirloom apple's worth of history, seeds from France, family secrets from Germany, local color from Illinois. These apples were ripe with more than flavor.
We relaxed enough to pay the farmer (who smiled and kindly said "happens all the time") and I felt embarrassed of course. But, I also felt joy and history swelling through my little suburban veins. A small moment of triumph over the commercial food industry, victory for my kitchen.
I had a bag of odd shaped character and it felt a little bit like my life. Freckled, bruised and filled with stories. Like the lives of my children as well.
So I beg you to get in touch with your local growers this summer. Not as an act of hatred against grocery chains but a way learning and of growing. To put your hands on freckled apples is to realize that you are connected to the same bizarre, bruised world as our farmers and our food.
A way of living into the reality that we are all connected to our land, God’s land. Our food and ultimately to one another. May you find an odd shaped apple this summer that fills your heart and your stomach with a glimpse of God’s love and grace for this world and for your very soul.
Tracey Bianchi is the author of “Green Mama: The Guilt Free Guide to Helping You and Your Kids Save the Planet.” She is the mother of three and an author, speaker, and women’s ministry director. You can find more of her musings on life, faith and sustainability at http://traceybianchi.com. You can find her new book at here: http://tinyurl.com/3xzvpnx
Our local farmer's market is a hub of activity every week. Lettuce, jelly, strawberries, nuns who bake bread. The old Greek guy selling olives is definitely my favorite. He takes plump, oval, gorgeous olives and crams them with soft bleu cheese. I don't even like bleu cheese but his olives have made me a devotee.
The family that hauls heirloom apples up from the southern part of my state is another treasure. By late summer they truck in over two dozen varieties of apples. Brown Snout, Adina, Prairie Spy, Akane, Pink Pearl, Chisel Jersey. Did you know apples had these names?
My apple exposure comes from the pile at my local grocer. Granny Smith and Golden Delicious. Maybe on a daring day I dabble in a Jonathan Gold.
Grocery store apples are perfectly smooth, no bruises and quite hard. I arrive home and they don't taste as stellar as they looked. Mealy and lackluster. These apples come from fabulously far away places like Washington State or New Zealand. I find this odd given the multiple apple orchards near my home. None of the apples in our stores actually come from these orchards (a common occurrence in food life).
Commercial apples are often plucked from the trees long before they are ripe, stealing their sweetness and color. A green apple at your grocer might actually, if left on the tree, become a yellow apple! And sweeter than the one in your cart.
On a recent trip to the farmer’s market my two youngest children were running from bin to bin picking their apples by yanking whatever looked tasty from the heirloom varieties.
Then they scurried over the the stroller where a canvas bag received their selections. At first they gently set the apples into the bag. It was perfectly idyllic. I was the uber eco-mom with the gentle kids and the awesome apples. But the moment quickly changed as competition and adrenaline suddenly took over.
They began racing back and forth, grabbing armloads of apples and throwing them into my bag. Beautiful apples bouncing around and bruising one another. I managed to stop the chaos for a moment so my 2.5 year old said "okay mommy, then let's go buy our apples."
Before I could harness his ambition he darted over to the stroller, grabbed the handle on our bag and yanked it with such force that the bag tipped and apples flew then bounced across the market lot. "Oops. Mommy?"
As we tucked them back into the bag I noticed, beyond our bruises, that each apple had such character. Traits you don't see in stores. Odd colors, lumps, freckles and spots. Each had a story to tell. An heirloom apple's worth of history, seeds from France, family secrets from Germany, local color from Illinois. These apples were ripe with more than flavor.
We relaxed enough to pay the farmer (who smiled and kindly said "happens all the time") and I felt embarrassed of course. But, I also felt joy and history swelling through my little suburban veins. A small moment of triumph over the commercial food industry, victory for my kitchen.
I had a bag of odd shaped character and it felt a little bit like my life. Freckled, bruised and filled with stories. Like the lives of my children as well.
So I beg you to get in touch with your local growers this summer. Not as an act of hatred against grocery chains but a way learning and of growing. To put your hands on freckled apples is to realize that you are connected to the same bizarre, bruised world as our farmers and our food.
A way of living into the reality that we are all connected to our land, God’s land. Our food and ultimately to one another. May you find an odd shaped apple this summer that fills your heart and your stomach with a glimpse of God’s love and grace for this world and for your very soul.
Tracey Bianchi is the author of “Green Mama: The Guilt Free Guide to Helping You and Your Kids Save the Planet.” She is the mother of three and an author, speaker, and women’s ministry director. You can find more of her musings on life, faith and sustainability at http://traceybianchi.com. You can find her new book at here: http://tinyurl.com/3xzvpnx
Sunday, May 23, 2010
J is for Josie and Jonah
J is for Josie and Jonah
There are sooo many luscious J names—it’s hard to boil them down to just a few. However, I shall try.
Best Bible Names: Julia, Junia, Jerusha, and Jemima. Julia is probably my favorite girl’s classic—“a perennially stylish slam dunk” I gush in Atticus. Julia is one of Saint Paul’s many pals, mentioned in the Book of Romans.
Junia: Where were you when I was writing “A is for Adam”? Apparently, I was not reading the right translation, now was I? Not like the brilliant Laura Wattenberg, of “Baby Name Wizard” fame, whose squib about Junia got my attention fast:
“In Roman 16: 7, Junia was described as “of note among the apostles.” If you don’t find her in your Bible, it’s because scribes in the Middle Ages thought such a description of a woman must be wrong. They scratched Junia out and came up with the masculine Junias in its place. Translators today are reversing that decision.” Thank goodness for that!
Jerusha was a queen of Judah, the wife of King Uzziah and the the mother of the boy king Jotham. It just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? I love saying it, and this one’s a good option for those seeking a Bible name that’s not overused (Junia too!).
Jemima was one of Job’s daughters and is sorely overlooked in these parts, all due to imitation maple syrup. This drives me crazy, because it’s a pretty, quaint, and literary name that deserves a shot. In England they pronounce it “Je-MEE-ma,” which is lovely, too.
Best Lit Names: Jerusha (Daddy Long Legs) and Jemima (Vanity Fair, Chitty Bang Bang) work as lit names, but my favorite is still—despite the great movie, which kind of brings to mind a pregnant teenager—Juno. Very hip and energetic, Juno was the Roman queen of the Gods and appeared in Shakespeare and Virgil.
Best International Names: Sweet, peppy Julitta comes from our friends the Dutch, while romantic Jacinta blooms (it’s Spanish for hyacinth). Say these J names out loud. See, aren’t they gorgeous?
Best J name: Josephine. You could pay tribute to one of the most cherished heroines in fiction, Jo March of “Little Women,” plus this darling gem boasts two great short forms: Josie (too cute!) and Feeny (an antique nickname). Love it!
BOYS
Best Bible Names: Jonah, of course. At 148 on the Baby name popularity chart, Jonah is a “bargain.” It’s strong and masculine while cute on a little boy, plus it is a symbol of redemption and rebirth. In the 12 years since we picked it for our boy, we’ve grown more and more pleased with our choice. Runners up: Jude, Jotham, Jed (Jedidiah), Jadon (Nehemiah 3:7).
Best Lit Name: Jasper. “Cut from the same old-time-yet-newfangled cloth as Ezra, Leo, Emmett and Phineaus, Jasper is onward and upward,” I cooed in “Atticus.” And since Brad Paisley and his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, named their baby Jasper, the name has shot up 200 places to the 300’s as of 2009.
Best International Name: Justus. What a power-packed name! The Romans gave it to us, and the Germans are using it well. With this spelling, the in-your-face idea is softened enough to make it a little more accessible. Very strong and bold and stylish, too. Runner up: Joaquin (Spanish), Johan (German). (Johan, you say? Yes! Pronounced “YO-hawn,” “Jo (YO)” is a pretty slick little nickname. Heidi Klum and Seal thought so, and how fabulous are they?
There are sooo many luscious J names—it’s hard to boil them down to just a few. However, I shall try.
Best Bible Names: Julia, Junia, Jerusha, and Jemima. Julia is probably my favorite girl’s classic—“a perennially stylish slam dunk” I gush in Atticus. Julia is one of Saint Paul’s many pals, mentioned in the Book of Romans.
Junia: Where were you when I was writing “A is for Adam”? Apparently, I was not reading the right translation, now was I? Not like the brilliant Laura Wattenberg, of “Baby Name Wizard” fame, whose squib about Junia got my attention fast:
“In Roman 16: 7, Junia was described as “of note among the apostles.” If you don’t find her in your Bible, it’s because scribes in the Middle Ages thought such a description of a woman must be wrong. They scratched Junia out and came up with the masculine Junias in its place. Translators today are reversing that decision.” Thank goodness for that!
Jerusha was a queen of Judah, the wife of King Uzziah and the the mother of the boy king Jotham. It just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? I love saying it, and this one’s a good option for those seeking a Bible name that’s not overused (Junia too!).
Jemima was one of Job’s daughters and is sorely overlooked in these parts, all due to imitation maple syrup. This drives me crazy, because it’s a pretty, quaint, and literary name that deserves a shot. In England they pronounce it “Je-MEE-ma,” which is lovely, too.
Best Lit Names: Jerusha (Daddy Long Legs) and Jemima (Vanity Fair, Chitty Bang Bang) work as lit names, but my favorite is still—despite the great movie, which kind of brings to mind a pregnant teenager—Juno. Very hip and energetic, Juno was the Roman queen of the Gods and appeared in Shakespeare and Virgil.
Best International Names: Sweet, peppy Julitta comes from our friends the Dutch, while romantic Jacinta blooms (it’s Spanish for hyacinth). Say these J names out loud. See, aren’t they gorgeous?
Best J name: Josephine. You could pay tribute to one of the most cherished heroines in fiction, Jo March of “Little Women,” plus this darling gem boasts two great short forms: Josie (too cute!) and Feeny (an antique nickname). Love it!
BOYS
Best Bible Names: Jonah, of course. At 148 on the Baby name popularity chart, Jonah is a “bargain.” It’s strong and masculine while cute on a little boy, plus it is a symbol of redemption and rebirth. In the 12 years since we picked it for our boy, we’ve grown more and more pleased with our choice. Runners up: Jude, Jotham, Jed (Jedidiah), Jadon (Nehemiah 3:7).
Best Lit Name: Jasper. “Cut from the same old-time-yet-newfangled cloth as Ezra, Leo, Emmett and Phineaus, Jasper is onward and upward,” I cooed in “Atticus.” And since Brad Paisley and his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, named their baby Jasper, the name has shot up 200 places to the 300’s as of 2009.
Best International Name: Justus. What a power-packed name! The Romans gave it to us, and the Germans are using it well. With this spelling, the in-your-face idea is softened enough to make it a little more accessible. Very strong and bold and stylish, too. Runner up: Joaquin (Spanish), Johan (German). (Johan, you say? Yes! Pronounced “YO-hawn,” “Jo (YO)” is a pretty slick little nickname. Heidi Klum and Seal thought so, and how fabulous are they?
Sunday, January 24, 2010
I is for Ivy and Ian
GIRLS
Best Lit Name: Iris. As I said in "Atticus," "This flower name in the bouquet zigs while the others zag. It's not for everyone, but that makes it a cool iconoclast. Iris sounds like the kind of girl who grows up to play bass in the hippest side-stage band." Iris appears as one of three otherworldly messengers in "The Tempest." She's represented by a rainbow. Runners up: India ("Gone with the Wind"), Imogene ("Cymbeline").
Best International Name: Isla. That's "Aisle-a," folks, not Iss-la. The flame-haired actress of "Shopaholic" fame, Isla Fisher, brought this uncommonly lovely Scotch import to our attention. An absolutely novel and gorgeous choice for anyone on the hunt for a Scottish name (Molly and Caitlin are no longer overtly Scottish, at any rate). Runners up: Ingrid (Scandinavia and Germany), and Ilsa (same).
Best Name, period: Ivy. Botanical names are so tasteful and elegant, with a splash of artistic flair. Ivy's also cute, strong, and antique, which means Ivy's got it all.
BOYS
Best Lit Name: Ibsen. I know, you're like, 'Whaaat?' Work with me a minute. Ibsen is theatrical, Scandinavian, and utterly original. Of course, it belonged to Henrik Ibsen, the father of modern drama. "Fantastically creative and evocative," I say in "Atticus." Runner Up: Ian Fleming wrote the James Bond novels, and oddly enough, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang."
Best Bible Name: Isaiah. Breaking my own popularity rules, I would have to say Isaiah is, though quite common, a beautiful, strong, handsome and poetic name. Runner Up: Isaac (the nickname Ike is pretty slick, though few seem to use it.)
Best International Name: Ingo: I've always liked this German name, attached to actor Ingo Rademacher (he who named his own child Peanut). With an O on the end, it has zip, perhaps a more exotic Milo.
Best name, period: Ian. I used to know this guy from camp, Ian MacBeath (pronounced MacBeth), and I almost developed a crush on him for his name alone, not that he wasn't a nice fella. Scottish Ian is "light and swift," says Laura Wattenberg of The Baby Name Wizard. I concur. It goes with almost any surname, and somehow is so appealing despite the fact that it's no longer original.
Best Lit Name: Iris. As I said in "Atticus," "This flower name in the bouquet zigs while the others zag. It's not for everyone, but that makes it a cool iconoclast. Iris sounds like the kind of girl who grows up to play bass in the hippest side-stage band." Iris appears as one of three otherworldly messengers in "The Tempest." She's represented by a rainbow. Runners up: India ("Gone with the Wind"), Imogene ("Cymbeline").
Best International Name: Isla. That's "Aisle-a," folks, not Iss-la. The flame-haired actress of "Shopaholic" fame, Isla Fisher, brought this uncommonly lovely Scotch import to our attention. An absolutely novel and gorgeous choice for anyone on the hunt for a Scottish name (Molly and Caitlin are no longer overtly Scottish, at any rate). Runners up: Ingrid (Scandinavia and Germany), and Ilsa (same).
Best Name, period: Ivy. Botanical names are so tasteful and elegant, with a splash of artistic flair. Ivy's also cute, strong, and antique, which means Ivy's got it all.
BOYS
Best Lit Name: Ibsen. I know, you're like, 'Whaaat?' Work with me a minute. Ibsen is theatrical, Scandinavian, and utterly original. Of course, it belonged to Henrik Ibsen, the father of modern drama. "Fantastically creative and evocative," I say in "Atticus." Runner Up: Ian Fleming wrote the James Bond novels, and oddly enough, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang."
Best Bible Name: Isaiah. Breaking my own popularity rules, I would have to say Isaiah is, though quite common, a beautiful, strong, handsome and poetic name. Runner Up: Isaac (the nickname Ike is pretty slick, though few seem to use it.)
Best International Name: Ingo: I've always liked this German name, attached to actor Ingo Rademacher (he who named his own child Peanut). With an O on the end, it has zip, perhaps a more exotic Milo.
Best name, period: Ian. I used to know this guy from camp, Ian MacBeath (pronounced MacBeth), and I almost developed a crush on him for his name alone, not that he wasn't a nice fella. Scottish Ian is "light and swift," says Laura Wattenberg of The Baby Name Wizard. I concur. It goes with almost any surname, and somehow is so appealing despite the fact that it's no longer original.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
H is for Harlow and Honor
H is for Harlow and Honor
GIRLS
Best Lit Name: Harper. “If only the rarest treasures will do for your little girl, put Harper on your short list along with Southern tomboys Eliot and Flannery,” I raved in “A is for Atticus.” One journo-couple I know of named their baby Harper Maria, and that pairing, of the elegant-yet-quirky, ultra-literary-yet-tomboyish Harper with a strong, lushly feminine name (and recognizably so), just beat all. Harper Lee, of course, wrote one of the most popular and influential books of our time—“To Kill a Mockingbird.” Runners up: Harriet (the Spy, Beecher Stowe), and Hazel.
Best Celeb Name(s): Harlow and Honor. Maybe it’s because of my current Harper fixation, but I was really very impressed with Nicole Ritchie and Joel Madden’s phenomenal choice of Harlow Winter Kate for their adorable daughter (although, two names would have sufficed. Harlow Winter or Harlow Kate would have been perfection. Yes, all my children have three names!) Commenting on his choice: "I really like Jean Harlow the actress, and [Nicole] likes Shalom Harlow the model," explains Joel to People.com. "Harlow's cool because it feels like a classic name. Winter [is] so serene and quiet and that's how [our daughter] is." Tied with Harlow is Honor, the first name of the darling cherub of Jessica Alba and her husband, Cash Allen. First of all, the meaning of Honor is unrivaled: respect, principle, distinction, tribute…all pop up in my thesaurus as meanings. And let’s face it, Grace is overused to the point of saturation. It’s time for a new virtue name that isn’t over-the-top (Chastity comes to mind). It’s simple, pretty, and people should know how to spell it. Of course, in Canada and other places where QE2 means something, “Honour” would be the way to go. Honor’s also an Irish Lit name: from Iris Murdoch’s “A Severed Head” and a play by J.M. Synge.
Miscellaneous H Hotties: Helen, Hollis, Hope, and Haven
BOYS
Best Lit Names: Stellar H names abound in the pages of great books. There’s “cool, adventuresome, earnest, and snappy” Harry of Harry Potter fame, ranked #11 in Victorian days and is experiencing a resurgence due to the wiz-bang Mr. Potter; there’s “Treasure Island’s” Hawkins, speaking of adventure; Bronte’s Heath(cliff); Salinger’s Holden, and “homey, quirky-cool” Homer of ancient days. Two standouts: Henry and Huckleberry. I know, not exactly twin names! Henry is a pure classic, a strong yet sweet name with a dash of the quirky. Henry James, Longfellow, Thoreau…the lit list is illustrious. Huckleberry is completely different, a renegade wearing a flannel shirt and floating down a river on a homemade raft. The Paisleys, Brad and Kimberly Williams, gave this to their firstborn, and they “matched” it perfectly with their second son’s name, Jasper.
Miscellaneous H Hotties: Hamish, Harrison, and Haskell.
GIRLS
Best Lit Name: Harper. “If only the rarest treasures will do for your little girl, put Harper on your short list along with Southern tomboys Eliot and Flannery,” I raved in “A is for Atticus.” One journo-couple I know of named their baby Harper Maria, and that pairing, of the elegant-yet-quirky, ultra-literary-yet-tomboyish Harper with a strong, lushly feminine name (and recognizably so), just beat all. Harper Lee, of course, wrote one of the most popular and influential books of our time—“To Kill a Mockingbird.” Runners up: Harriet (the Spy, Beecher Stowe), and Hazel.
Best Celeb Name(s): Harlow and Honor. Maybe it’s because of my current Harper fixation, but I was really very impressed with Nicole Ritchie and Joel Madden’s phenomenal choice of Harlow Winter Kate for their adorable daughter (although, two names would have sufficed. Harlow Winter or Harlow Kate would have been perfection. Yes, all my children have three names!) Commenting on his choice: "I really like Jean Harlow the actress, and [Nicole] likes Shalom Harlow the model," explains Joel to People.com. "Harlow's cool because it feels like a classic name. Winter [is] so serene and quiet and that's how [our daughter] is." Tied with Harlow is Honor, the first name of the darling cherub of Jessica Alba and her husband, Cash Allen. First of all, the meaning of Honor is unrivaled: respect, principle, distinction, tribute…all pop up in my thesaurus as meanings. And let’s face it, Grace is overused to the point of saturation. It’s time for a new virtue name that isn’t over-the-top (Chastity comes to mind). It’s simple, pretty, and people should know how to spell it. Of course, in Canada and other places where QE2 means something, “Honour” would be the way to go. Honor’s also an Irish Lit name: from Iris Murdoch’s “A Severed Head” and a play by J.M. Synge.
Miscellaneous H Hotties: Helen, Hollis, Hope, and Haven
BOYS
Best Lit Names: Stellar H names abound in the pages of great books. There’s “cool, adventuresome, earnest, and snappy” Harry of Harry Potter fame, ranked #11 in Victorian days and is experiencing a resurgence due to the wiz-bang Mr. Potter; there’s “Treasure Island’s” Hawkins, speaking of adventure; Bronte’s Heath(cliff); Salinger’s Holden, and “homey, quirky-cool” Homer of ancient days. Two standouts: Henry and Huckleberry. I know, not exactly twin names! Henry is a pure classic, a strong yet sweet name with a dash of the quirky. Henry James, Longfellow, Thoreau…the lit list is illustrious. Huckleberry is completely different, a renegade wearing a flannel shirt and floating down a river on a homemade raft. The Paisleys, Brad and Kimberly Williams, gave this to their firstborn, and they “matched” it perfectly with their second son’s name, Jasper.
Miscellaneous H Hotties: Hamish, Harrison, and Haskell.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
G is for Georgiana
Best G Names: Girls
Lit Names: Georgiana. Decadent, I know. But Georgiana is one of the plushest, most richly textured names around, and the irresistible nickname Georgie is hard to beat. Georgiana was the much-loved little sister of Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. Runners up: Garnet (“Thimble Summer”) peaked 100 years ago when gemstone names—Pearl, Opal, and Ruby—were at their shiniest.
International Names: Ginevra: An “Atticus’ discovery, Ginevra is the Italian spin on Guinevere, King Arthur’s queen-consort. In my mind, it’s got all the lavish beauty of Gabrielle, #38/Gabriella #67, in a far more creative and original presentation.
Celeb Name: Just because she is my hero and all-time favorite actress, here’s a shout out to Emma Thompson (I refer to her as Queen Emma) and the name she gave her daughter, Gaia. As I burbled in “Atticus”: “This true iconoclast is well suited for a child who gobbles palak paneer as her hot dog munching playgroup stares in fascination.”
Ugly G Names: Grizelda, and Gunhilda. Thank you notes to, whom else? The Germans, my people. Double dog dare you to name some twins with these doozies. Everyone can call them Griz and Gun!
Best G Names: Boys
All Categories: George. People, did any of you know that George was 147 in 2007? That’s so cool. Just like Henry and Max, George is one of those old Grandpa names that is starting to sound hip again (Henry and Max have sounded hip for quite awhile now.) I just read that Julia Roberts wanted to name her baby George (she named him Henry). But that she was worried everyone would think she named him after her buddy, Mr. Clooney. Also, Geo is an old fashioned nickname that sounds futuristic to me. Gus: Gus is the new Max, a homespun, so fuddy duddy it’s funky little name. But you know me. My advice is always to give the baby a full name and use the fab nickname til the cows come home. Some names from which Gus can be extracted: August, Gustav, Angus, Gustavo.
Lit Name: Gulliver: Well, why not I ask you? It sounds like Oliver, has a bouncy Irish surname sound everyone is so nuts about, and heck, you simply can’t beat the rollicking literary evocations of Gulliver and his adventuresome travels.
Bible name: Gideon: Fearless, brawny, fresh and bold, Gideon gives parents a pass from generic biblical baby naming. Runner up: Gabe
Other G names I like: Griffin, Gordon (a hockey tribute name?), Grayson.
DUTCH BABY NAMES
When you think of Holland, what springs to mind? Windmills, wooden shoes, Delftware pottery? Me too, and also flowers; The Netherlands is a country of philosophers and painters, and a nation abloom with farms of lilies, Gerbera daisies, irises, and of course, tulips. It’s no surprise then, that the Dutch carry their love for flowers to baby names; the 2008 Dutch Top 20 features three flower names: Jasmijn (14), Fleur (15), and Iris (17). Can Tulip be far behind? Actually, that’s not so far fetched. Recently, actress Rebecca Romijn, the daughter of Dutch immigrants, gave birth to twins Dolly Rebecca Rose and Charlie Tamara Tulip.
Leave it to a Dutch person to till new soil in baby naming land. (I might add that Romijn didn’t just tiptoe through the well tread fields of Lilies and Violets, but she plucked an altogether new flower name for our consideration.)
Creativity, color, and chic abound in The Netherlands. Even their centuries-old baby welcoming traditions boast color and flair. In the 17th century, the “Muisjes” (Little Mice) tradition was born. When a baby was born, the new mother would receive sweets and food from the neighbors and family members who took care of her. As a thank-you to them, she and her husband would give the maternity visitors cookies iced with a buttery icing and sugar sprinkles, pink for a girl and white for a boy (today the boy sprinkles are blue). The sugary aniseed sprinkles are called Muisjes, as mice connote fertility.
Along with Romijn’s Tulip, other stars have gone Dutch with their children’s appellations. Matt Lauer and his Dutch wife, Annette Roque, named their third child Thijs (“Tice”), a variation of Matthew and a Top Ten baby name in The Netherlands. Marcia Gay Harden appointed her third child Julitta, a pretty, unusual Dutch spin on Julia. And Neve Campbell got her mother’s Dutch maiden name as a first name, and indeed the sleek sound makes it a winner.
One really nifty attribute of Dutch baby names is how you can makeover a common North American name—Christian, Luke, William—into a fresh ethnic tribute—Christiaan, Luuk, Willem—without a lot of fuss. Sure, the spellings are different, but not drastically so.
And for parents-to-be who want to go a bit more exotic, many Dutch names sound stylish and new to our ears but remain in that sweet spot of cool-and-novel without being out there. Some of my favorites in this category are Kees, Jander (a form of Alexander), and Hanson for boys, and Eliane, Sabine, and Schuyler for girls. Els (a form of Elizabeth), and Nel (a form of Helen) could hit two birds—ethnic and family tributes—with one stone, and also make wonderful short but sweet middle names.
Even some quintessential Dutch names are reasonably accessible, such as Sanne (“San-ah”), Saskia, and Tryne for girls, and Bastiaan, Klaas, and Bram.
More Dutch Baby Names:
Boys: Espen, Pim, Ruben, Milan, Marnix, Levin, Maxiaan, Ximon
Girls: Anneke, Amelie, Anouk, Mietta, Jonna (Jane), Sybella, Eveline, Madelief.
Leave it to a Dutch person to till new soil in baby naming land. (I might add that Romijn didn’t just tiptoe through the well tread fields of Lilies and Violets, but she plucked an altogether new flower name for our consideration.)
Creativity, color, and chic abound in The Netherlands. Even their centuries-old baby welcoming traditions boast color and flair. In the 17th century, the “Muisjes” (Little Mice) tradition was born. When a baby was born, the new mother would receive sweets and food from the neighbors and family members who took care of her. As a thank-you to them, she and her husband would give the maternity visitors cookies iced with a buttery icing and sugar sprinkles, pink for a girl and white for a boy (today the boy sprinkles are blue). The sugary aniseed sprinkles are called Muisjes, as mice connote fertility.
Along with Romijn’s Tulip, other stars have gone Dutch with their children’s appellations. Matt Lauer and his Dutch wife, Annette Roque, named their third child Thijs (“Tice”), a variation of Matthew and a Top Ten baby name in The Netherlands. Marcia Gay Harden appointed her third child Julitta, a pretty, unusual Dutch spin on Julia. And Neve Campbell got her mother’s Dutch maiden name as a first name, and indeed the sleek sound makes it a winner.
One really nifty attribute of Dutch baby names is how you can makeover a common North American name—Christian, Luke, William—into a fresh ethnic tribute—Christiaan, Luuk, Willem—without a lot of fuss. Sure, the spellings are different, but not drastically so.
And for parents-to-be who want to go a bit more exotic, many Dutch names sound stylish and new to our ears but remain in that sweet spot of cool-and-novel without being out there. Some of my favorites in this category are Kees, Jander (a form of Alexander), and Hanson for boys, and Eliane, Sabine, and Schuyler for girls. Els (a form of Elizabeth), and Nel (a form of Helen) could hit two birds—ethnic and family tributes—with one stone, and also make wonderful short but sweet middle names.
Even some quintessential Dutch names are reasonably accessible, such as Sanne (“San-ah”), Saskia, and Tryne for girls, and Bastiaan, Klaas, and Bram.
More Dutch Baby Names:
Boys: Espen, Pim, Ruben, Milan, Marnix, Levin, Maxiaan, Ximon
Girls: Anneke, Amelie, Anouk, Mietta, Jonna (Jane), Sybella, Eveline, Madelief.
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