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.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
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.
Monday, March 16, 2009
F is for Finn
F is for Finn
I know, here’s where many of you are just going to shake your heads in mild, hopefully fond, disapproval. Fern, which comes from the beloved children’s chestnut Charlotte’s Web, has a “leafy green sensibility,” I write in “Atticus.” I see delicacy, botany, feathery fronds. A landscape architect dude I know of named his baby girl Fern, and that just gave it a green, now boost of (chlorophyll?) juice. It’s also quaint and old-fashioned, and utterly unused in the last 100 years, when it was in the Top 200.
Okay, it’s a tie: Frances is also a stupendous lit name, coming from Frances Hodgson Burnett, not to mention the winsome Francie from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Other marvelous F Lit names: Flannery, Flora (the goddess of flowers and springtime in Roman myths).
Best International Name: Francesca
Drop-dead gorgeous Francesca, Italian, of course, is swooningly beautiful. My spell check is insisting that “swooningly” is not a word, but it is the only word to describe Francesca. Runners up: Finola (Scottish), Fiona (Irish), Freya (Scandinavian, yet popular in England.)
Other F Names I Love:
Faith, Fenella, Felicity. I have a friend who named his daughter Felicity after something one of the founding fathers said. Yes, I have some deep friends. I must ask him that quote of his, so I can post it here for you all, and you can sigh deeply with happiness as I did when I heard it.
Celeb F: Finley. Good job, Lisa Marie Presley, who named one of her twin girls Finley, and the other one Harper. Of course, the aforementioned Harmon-Sehorns (see Emery), blazed this trail with their little Finley Faith. Love it.
BOYS
Best Lit Name: Finn
Best International Name: Also Finn
Best F Name, period: Finn! Finn! Finn!
Obviously, I’ve become carried away. But why not, when you have the perfect name? Finn is literary (Huck Finn), international (as Irish as a jig, and on the Dutch Top Ten!), is charming, energetic, simple, handsome. Recently, a preggers relative said she couldn’t use Finn because her in-laws thought the boy would be made fun of. I wanted to take her in-laws to the baby name woodshed, and show them the what for…! People with no imagination sorely test my sanctification. After all, Finn is rising slowly up the charts—it was 387 in 2007—so it’s not like, weird or anything. Sheesh.
Fergus and Felix are nice, too.
PS: Felicity has a big brother named…can you guess?...Is your heart pounding?...Fionn! Okay, so they added an O for a little more Irish authenticity. This is good stuff, folks.
Girls
Best Lit Name: FernI know, here’s where many of you are just going to shake your heads in mild, hopefully fond, disapproval. Fern, which comes from the beloved children’s chestnut Charlotte’s Web, has a “leafy green sensibility,” I write in “Atticus.” I see delicacy, botany, feathery fronds. A landscape architect dude I know of named his baby girl Fern, and that just gave it a green, now boost of (chlorophyll?) juice. It’s also quaint and old-fashioned, and utterly unused in the last 100 years, when it was in the Top 200.
Okay, it’s a tie: Frances is also a stupendous lit name, coming from Frances Hodgson Burnett, not to mention the winsome Francie from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Other marvelous F Lit names: Flannery, Flora (the goddess of flowers and springtime in Roman myths).
Best International Name: Francesca
Drop-dead gorgeous Francesca, Italian, of course, is swooningly beautiful. My spell check is insisting that “swooningly” is not a word, but it is the only word to describe Francesca. Runners up: Finola (Scottish), Fiona (Irish), Freya (Scandinavian, yet popular in England.)
Other F Names I Love:
Faith, Fenella, Felicity. I have a friend who named his daughter Felicity after something one of the founding fathers said. Yes, I have some deep friends. I must ask him that quote of his, so I can post it here for you all, and you can sigh deeply with happiness as I did when I heard it.
Celeb F: Finley. Good job, Lisa Marie Presley, who named one of her twin girls Finley, and the other one Harper. Of course, the aforementioned Harmon-Sehorns (see Emery), blazed this trail with their little Finley Faith. Love it.
BOYS
Best Lit Name: Finn
Best International Name: Also Finn
Best F Name, period: Finn! Finn! Finn!
Obviously, I’ve become carried away. But why not, when you have the perfect name? Finn is literary (Huck Finn), international (as Irish as a jig, and on the Dutch Top Ten!), is charming, energetic, simple, handsome. Recently, a preggers relative said she couldn’t use Finn because her in-laws thought the boy would be made fun of. I wanted to take her in-laws to the baby name woodshed, and show them the what for…! People with no imagination sorely test my sanctification. After all, Finn is rising slowly up the charts—it was 387 in 2007—so it’s not like, weird or anything. Sheesh.
Fergus and Felix are nice, too.
PS: Felicity has a big brother named…can you guess?...Is your heart pounding?...Fionn! Okay, so they added an O for a little more Irish authenticity. This is good stuff, folks.
Monday, February 16, 2009
E is for Ezra
GIRLS
Best Lit Name: Esme is one of my favorite names, a French miniature of Esmerelda. Esme is literary (from the adorable Salinger short story, “For Esme with Love and Squalor”), exotic, cute, and elegant (it’s pretty hard to be cute and elegant at the same time!). Runners Up: Eliza (Doolittle), Emerson (Ralph Waldo), Evangeline (from the Longfellow poem of the same name).
Best Bible Name: Eden: This lovely biblical place name takes us back to the garden where our story as humans started. Runner Up: Eve. Can someone please tell me why Adam is so popular, and Eve is ten times (literally) less so? According to www.babynamewizard.com/voyager, Adam was in the Top 65 last year, and Eve was in the top…600! Anyway, I don’t get it, because Eve to me is sleek and pretty. So she got Adam to eat the apple—he ate it of his own free will, didn’t he? Well, all that to say, Eve has a great meaning—“life-life giving”—and deserves more usage.
Best Celeb E: Emery: Angie Harmon and her mister, football commentator Jason Sehorn, have contributed a nifty E name to the pantheon: Emery. Their third daughter, Emery Hope, recently joined big sisters Finley Faith and Avery Grace—a trifecta of virtue for the Harmon-Sehorns!
Best International E: Ellitta, pronounced El-EE-ta, a delicate and beautiful Dutch name I came across recently in my community: Runners Up: Elara (Greek), Electra (Greek), and Emiliana (The Italian form of Emily, also Shakespearean).
Best E Name with No Category: Ella: Welcome to the world Ella Christina Mary Finlayson!
Boys
Best Lit Name: Emerson: Cool, funky, laid back Emerson has sturdy literary underpinnings due to Ralph Waldo, of course.
Best Bible Name: Ezra: Any name with a Z in it is zesty, and Ezra, with the hipster nickname Ez, is full of energy and creativity. The biblical namesake, the scribe Ezra, is worthy, and there are a bookshelf full of lit namesakes, too (think Ezra Pound, Ezra Jack Keats, Ezra Baxter from “The Yearling.” Our Ezra is eight now, and we think his quirky, handsome, old-fashioned name suits him perfectly. Runner Up: Eli
Best International Name: Enzo: Romantic, Italian Enzo packs a punch with a roll-off-the tongue sound that can’t be beat. Elias is another favorite of mine, and I’m hearing it a bit more often now among creative types. It’s the Greek form of Elijah; so handsome!
What are your favorite E names? What do you think of Ellitta, my latest “discovery”? Tell!
GIRLS
Best Lit Name: Esme is one of my favorite names, a French miniature of Esmerelda. Esme is literary (from the adorable Salinger short story, “For Esme with Love and Squalor”), exotic, cute, and elegant (it’s pretty hard to be cute and elegant at the same time!). Runners Up: Eliza (Doolittle), Emerson (Ralph Waldo), Evangeline (from the Longfellow poem of the same name).
Best Bible Name: Eden: This lovely biblical place name takes us back to the garden where our story as humans started. Runner Up: Eve. Can someone please tell me why Adam is so popular, and Eve is ten times (literally) less so? According to www.babynamewizard.com/voyager, Adam was in the Top 65 last year, and Eve was in the top…600! Anyway, I don’t get it, because Eve to me is sleek and pretty. So she got Adam to eat the apple—he ate it of his own free will, didn’t he? Well, all that to say, Eve has a great meaning—“life-life giving”—and deserves more usage.
Best Celeb E: Emery: Angie Harmon and her mister, football commentator Jason Sehorn, have contributed a nifty E name to the pantheon: Emery. Their third daughter, Emery Hope, recently joined big sisters Finley Faith and Avery Grace—a trifecta of virtue for the Harmon-Sehorns!
Best International E: Ellitta, pronounced El-EE-ta, a delicate and beautiful Dutch name I came across recently in my community: Runners Up: Elara (Greek), Electra (Greek), and Emiliana (The Italian form of Emily, also Shakespearean).
Best E Name with No Category: Ella: Welcome to the world Ella Christina Mary Finlayson!
Boys
Best Lit Name: Emerson: Cool, funky, laid back Emerson has sturdy literary underpinnings due to Ralph Waldo, of course.
Best Bible Name: Ezra: Any name with a Z in it is zesty, and Ezra, with the hipster nickname Ez, is full of energy and creativity. The biblical namesake, the scribe Ezra, is worthy, and there are a bookshelf full of lit namesakes, too (think Ezra Pound, Ezra Jack Keats, Ezra Baxter from “The Yearling.” Our Ezra is eight now, and we think his quirky, handsome, old-fashioned name suits him perfectly. Runner Up: Eli
Best International Name: Enzo: Romantic, Italian Enzo packs a punch with a roll-off-the tongue sound that can’t be beat. Elias is another favorite of mine, and I’m hearing it a bit more often now among creative types. It’s the Greek form of Elijah; so handsome!
What are your favorite E names? What do you think of Ellitta, my latest “discovery”? Tell!
Friday, January 16, 2009
African Baby Names
From the tip of Tunisia to the beaches of South Africa, African baby naming is a highly tuned, culturally rich process, one steeped in significance and mystique. Africans, who believe that the choice of the name influences the life of the child and the family, would never dream of plucking a pleasant name off a popularity chart and rolling with it. That would be an unspeakably shallow way to name your child, as if you were naming a guinea pig or a Volkswagon. Often, African parents select a name with deep meaning to them, in terms of attributes they hope their child possesses, or the family’s tribal “totem,” religious views, or the circumstances surrounding the birth.
In many African cultures, there are elaborate naming ceremonies that take place, followed by joyful celebrations with food and drink and music. In Nigeria, for example, there is a two-part soiree that precipitates naming a baby. The first part I really like (how do I snag an invite to a Nigerian naming party?). Guests get to throw out the name they would have named the child, if given the option to do so. And then, after you divulge your choice, the rest of the partygoers respond, "Ogha gue dia. Ise," meaning "May he or she live long, Amen." Honey beer and goat cheese pizza follow (often, some sort of goat-derived edible follows, anyway). Part two unfolds later in the evening, when the main naming ceremony takes place. Prayers are accompanied by eating such exotic morsels as alligator pepper (to energize the child's speech); honey, sugar, and bitter kola nuts, which symbolize life's sweet and sour experiences; native chalk and salt, to symbolize happiness; water, because it has no enemy; and palm oil, seen as a mitigator of life's problems.
During the ceremony, the eldest female member of the family repeatedly asks the mother what she calls the child. To the first six questions, the mother replies with a crazy, unthinkable name (“Gekko!” “Conehead”), which the women reject amid jocularity, traditional songs and music. When the question is asked for the seventh time, though, the father of the child whispers the actual name to his wife, who then announces it publicly.
I’m not sure about eating alligator pepper and chalk, but the rest sounds like fun. One thing is sure, Africans take baby naming very seriously. They also have some breathtaking, sumptuous names full of rhythm and strength. Beyonce (“beyond others”), Lateefah (“gentle, pleasant girl”), Mandisa (“sweet girl”) and Akon are all familiar to us through their famous bearers.
Halle Berry chose the peaceful African/Arabic Nahla (“honeybee”) for her little honey, making this obscure name a sweet new option. Angelina Jolie dubbed her Ethiopian daughter Zahara, a name that should always link her to her African roots.
There are many more gorgeous, meaningful names where those came from. Keyara rolls off the tongue and means “Beautiful river;” Kamaria is Swahili for “Like the moon.” For boys, Jayvyn (“light spirit”) walks in step with the Aiden/Jadon/Cadon pandemonium, yet just enough off the beaten path to make it interesting. Like so many African boys’ names, Jabari, meaning “brave, fearless,” connotes passion and might. Kyan, another fresh yet accessible name, 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 African names:
Girls: Iman (Faith Girl), Karimah (Generous Girl), Kesia (Earth bound Girl), Layla (Born at Night), Mariama (Gift of God), Nailah (Succeeding Girl), Taniel (Feminine of Daniel), Zarina (Golden Girl).
In many African cultures, there are elaborate naming ceremonies that take place, followed by joyful celebrations with food and drink and music. In Nigeria, for example, there is a two-part soiree that precipitates naming a baby. The first part I really like (how do I snag an invite to a Nigerian naming party?). Guests get to throw out the name they would have named the child, if given the option to do so. And then, after you divulge your choice, the rest of the partygoers respond, "Ogha gue dia. Ise," meaning "May he or she live long, Amen." Honey beer and goat cheese pizza follow (often, some sort of goat-derived edible follows, anyway). Part two unfolds later in the evening, when the main naming ceremony takes place. Prayers are accompanied by eating such exotic morsels as alligator pepper (to energize the child's speech); honey, sugar, and bitter kola nuts, which symbolize life's sweet and sour experiences; native chalk and salt, to symbolize happiness; water, because it has no enemy; and palm oil, seen as a mitigator of life's problems.
During the ceremony, the eldest female member of the family repeatedly asks the mother what she calls the child. To the first six questions, the mother replies with a crazy, unthinkable name (“Gekko!” “Conehead”), which the women reject amid jocularity, traditional songs and music. When the question is asked for the seventh time, though, the father of the child whispers the actual name to his wife, who then announces it publicly.
I’m not sure about eating alligator pepper and chalk, but the rest sounds like fun. One thing is sure, Africans take baby naming very seriously. They also have some breathtaking, sumptuous names full of rhythm and strength. Beyonce (“beyond others”), Lateefah (“gentle, pleasant girl”), Mandisa (“sweet girl”) and Akon are all familiar to us through their famous bearers.
Halle Berry chose the peaceful African/Arabic Nahla (“honeybee”) for her little honey, making this obscure name a sweet new option. Angelina Jolie dubbed her Ethiopian daughter Zahara, a name that should always link her to her African roots.
There are many more gorgeous, meaningful names where those came from. Keyara rolls off the tongue and means “Beautiful river;” Kamaria is Swahili for “Like the moon.” For boys, Jayvyn (“light spirit”) walks in step with the Aiden/Jadon/Cadon pandemonium, yet just enough off the beaten path to make it interesting. Like so many African boys’ names, Jabari, meaning “brave, fearless,” connotes passion and might. Kyan, another fresh yet accessible name, 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 African names:
Girls: Iman (Faith Girl), Karimah (Generous Girl), Kesia (Earth bound Girl), Layla (Born at Night), Mariama (Gift of God), Nailah (Succeeding Girl), Taniel (Feminine of Daniel), Zarina (Golden Girl).
Boys: Jamar (Handsome Boy), Keon (Boy), Haben (Pride), Jelani (Mighty), Kojo (Born on a Monday), Kuron (Thanks), Naeem (Benevolent), Nalo (Loveable).
As you can see, I've just touched the tip of the iceberg in terms of Africa's lovely and mighty names. Which ones do you like? I'm sure I've left out thousands. What's your favorite African name?
Sunday, January 4, 2009
D is for Dashiell
D is for Dashiell
Girls
Best Lit Name: Daisy, from “The Great Gatsby,” is as bright and cheerful a name as any, short of Sunny (Adam Sandler’s baby daughter). It’s a warm and wonderful name, popular in England and just waiting to be plucked here. Meg Ryan’s little girl from China is Daisy True. Runners Up: Delia, Doone, and Dorothy (same era as Violet, and due for a comeback).
Best Bible Name: Delilah: I know, she was a bit of a fast and loose lady, with no redeeming story, ala Rahab or Tamar. But as a name, Delilah is romantic, old/new school, and fabulous. Interesting story: When my dad ran his bookstore, he had a longtime employee named Lydia who became our dear family friend. She died around 20 years ago now—hard to believe. Anyway, good old Lydia was raised on a honey farm in Blumenort, Manitoba, with sisters all bearing Bible names. I can only remember two others, Sarah and Delilah. It struck me even then that these super conservative Mennonite farmers had named their daughter after Samson’s temptress. If it’s wholesome enough for a Mennonite bee farmer girl, it may be wholesome enough for anyone. Runners Up: Dinah (although she is my dog!).
Other D Names of Note: Delaney, Delancey, Dabny, Delphine
Boys
Lit Name: Dashiell: I know I blithered on about several names (okay, like, 100 names), in “Atticus,” but the one that may take the cake in terms of my gushing is Dashiell. It’s so singular, so fresh and bold and zippy and handsome…here I go again. Why don’t I just recount what I wrote in the book? “So let’s tally up the pros here—art deco panache, celebrity pick, fabulous animated movie tie-in—and we’re talking name perfection.” I’m referring, of course, to the 1930’s detective novels by Dashiell Hammett, Cate Blanchett’s little boy, and Dashiell “Dash” Parr from “The Incredibles.” And folks, this name hasn’t even cracked the top 1,000 yet, as of 2007. Runner up: Dexter.
Bible Name: Darius: One of my journalistic heroes, Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s chief international correspondent, named her son Darius a few years ago. She’s Iranian, so I thought her choice of this Persian king’s name was particularly apt. Darius the Mede, by the way, had the good conscience to feel terrible when jealous staff members tricked him into throwing Daniel into the lion’s den (Daniel 6). Darius means “He who upholds the good.” Runner up: Daniel!
Irish Names: Darby, Declan and Dermot all sound super fresh and vividly Irish, if that’s your aim.
Girls
Best Lit Name: Daisy, from “The Great Gatsby,” is as bright and cheerful a name as any, short of Sunny (Adam Sandler’s baby daughter). It’s a warm and wonderful name, popular in England and just waiting to be plucked here. Meg Ryan’s little girl from China is Daisy True. Runners Up: Delia, Doone, and Dorothy (same era as Violet, and due for a comeback).
Best Bible Name: Delilah: I know, she was a bit of a fast and loose lady, with no redeeming story, ala Rahab or Tamar. But as a name, Delilah is romantic, old/new school, and fabulous. Interesting story: When my dad ran his bookstore, he had a longtime employee named Lydia who became our dear family friend. She died around 20 years ago now—hard to believe. Anyway, good old Lydia was raised on a honey farm in Blumenort, Manitoba, with sisters all bearing Bible names. I can only remember two others, Sarah and Delilah. It struck me even then that these super conservative Mennonite farmers had named their daughter after Samson’s temptress. If it’s wholesome enough for a Mennonite bee farmer girl, it may be wholesome enough for anyone. Runners Up: Dinah (although she is my dog!).
Other D Names of Note: Delaney, Delancey, Dabny, Delphine
Boys
Lit Name: Dashiell: I know I blithered on about several names (okay, like, 100 names), in “Atticus,” but the one that may take the cake in terms of my gushing is Dashiell. It’s so singular, so fresh and bold and zippy and handsome…here I go again. Why don’t I just recount what I wrote in the book? “So let’s tally up the pros here—art deco panache, celebrity pick, fabulous animated movie tie-in—and we’re talking name perfection.” I’m referring, of course, to the 1930’s detective novels by Dashiell Hammett, Cate Blanchett’s little boy, and Dashiell “Dash” Parr from “The Incredibles.” And folks, this name hasn’t even cracked the top 1,000 yet, as of 2007. Runner up: Dexter.
Bible Name: Darius: One of my journalistic heroes, Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s chief international correspondent, named her son Darius a few years ago. She’s Iranian, so I thought her choice of this Persian king’s name was particularly apt. Darius the Mede, by the way, had the good conscience to feel terrible when jealous staff members tricked him into throwing Daniel into the lion’s den (Daniel 6). Darius means “He who upholds the good.” Runner up: Daniel!
Irish Names: Darby, Declan and Dermot all sound super fresh and vividly Irish, if that’s your aim.
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