Feature Friday: Lou

Hey guys! So guess what time it is?!?! It’s Feature Friday time! This week is a fellow name blogger. Her name is Lou. Lou also makes youtube videos. Lou’s blog is http://loudenoms.co.uk/ and her youtube is http://www.youtube.com/user/luangi?feature=mhee. Lou was one of the first people to comment on my blog. That’s really how I got to know her and her blog. I think you should all go check out her blog. so let’s get started.

Me: How did you get into baby names?

Lou: Oh, I guess it gradually evolved from playful banter with my sister. I daresay I would've likely lost interest in names long ago if I hadn't started blogging, since I have such a short attention span.

Me: haha How old were you when you first started liking baby names?

Lou: Hmm...probably around 14 or 15. I totally suck when it comes to remembering details like that, although I was cornered recently and told that I'm amazing at remembering people's names :)

Me: I'm the same way. I can barely remember the little details but I always remember people's names. What are your current favorite baby names?

Lou: I don't really have an 'official' list of favourite names, but I guess right here, right now my top names would be things like Ashley, Archie, Cosmo, Darcey and Harry for the boys; Rosie/Rosa, Maisie, Mary, Lola and Poppy for the girls.

Me: I like your names. If you remember, what were your first favorite baby names?

Lou: My first favourites were Madeleine, Rose, Prosper and Darcey; I still like all four - which sort of surprises me a little.

Me: I really like the names. Why did you decide to start making videos, blogging, and join formspring?

Lou: Oh, the blogging came first and I started it mostly because all the other blogs I was reading at the time were of American origins; whilst that's super awesome in many ways, most of their sage advice (i.e. leave Ashley to the girls, nb: Ashley is wayyy more popular for boys here in England) just didn't apply to me. I basically saw a gap in the market and decided to fill it - of course since then I've been joined by a few other non-Americans and we totally rock the diversity thing. Youtube came about because I wanted to do a post on differing pronunciations of names, but it quickly became apparent that it was something best tackled in a video format. As for formspring, I heard rumours of baby name community awesomeness and decided to investigate.

Me: I can see where blogger from different countries can have that problem. What has been the most fun about making videos, blogging, and formspring?

Lou: Oh, the responses and interactions make the effort worthwhile, for sure. It totally encourages me to keep at it - I bet some of my closest friends would never believe I could maintain a blog for two years, since I'm well known for my less-than-brilliant attention span.

Me: They probably would be. haha. What has been your favorite video, blog, and/or formspring question (rename, collages, etc.)  you have done?

Lou: Blogwise, I really enjoyed writing my 'Defending the Nickname Trend' post, because it stuck up for something my country is well-known in the naming community for doing (putting nicknames on birth certificates) and that gives me a little patriotic glow inside. Videowise, I enjoyed talking about names I struggle to pronounce myself, because sometimes I wonder if people reading my blog are mislead into thinking I am the fountain of all knowledge on names (although I highly doubt it!) - and that video totally proved the opposite. Part of the reason I enjoy blogging so much is that I'm also learning about names as I write. Formspringwise, the rename questions are fun - but I totally suck at winning them!

Me: That post was fun. I like the renames too but I hardly win! Are you working on any blog poss, videos, and/or formspring questions/spam?

Lou: I recently moved cities, and that messed up my video-filming schedule quite a lot so I am trying my hardest to get back on track with the posting of my 'Favourite Names beginning with [insert letter here]' series. As for blogging, I tend to write what's on my mind - so I've no idea what I'll post next!

Me: It's a surprise for us and it is a surprise for you! What do you love about baby names?

Lou: I love what a varied scope of names are out there. Like, the Top 100 is such a tiny sample of names available and that's amazing in my eyes. A friend recently flicked through a name book I have and wondered aloud whether Serpentine was actually a 'real' name - mere days after I wrote a post on that name specifically!

Me: It is amazing how many names are out there. You think you have heard every name and then BAM a new name! What types of baby names to do like (ex. Trendy, vintage, etc.)?

Lou: As with music, I like names from most 'genres'. These days, I seem to strongly identify with popular names here in England (i.e. Maisie, Archie) with a few slightly more quirky picks thrown in for good measure.

Me: I'm the same way. When did you tell your friends and family about your love to baby names?

Lou: I never really sat them down, and had 'the talk' with them! ;) I guess I've always enjoyed name banter with most of the people I interact with, so much so that it's not really something so out of the ordinary that I have to 'come out' as a name lover since we all love to argue and joke about names.

Me: That's great that you can do that. How did/do your family and friends react to your love for baby names?

Lou: I guess they weren't really bothered, I mean, it's a fun topic to talk about because we all have such different opinions to contribute.

Me: It is fun! On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your love/addiction/obsession for baby names?

Lou: I guess I would come in about 7, maybe? I'm not really obsessed with names, I just enjoy the conversations they cause.

Me: I think a lot of people are aroud that number. What is the reason behind your formspring, blog, and youtube name?

Lou: The blog came first, and is directly influenced by the album Mer de Noms, by A Perfect Circle. I was listening to that kind of music a lot at the time, and it seemed a good fit seeing as it was the first album I had the patience to listen to the whole way through; likewise my blog is the first time I've had the patience to keep something so time-consuming going. I alter the name to Lou de Noms outside of my blog to avoid confusion with the album.

Me: I love how you came up with the name! Do you have a favorite baby namer (YouTube, blog, formspringers, etc.)?

Lou: I think I get along a bit too well with Anna of Waltzing More than Matilda. She lives on the other side of the world in Australia, but we always seem to have similar opinions about names, which is crazy when you think about it.

Me: It is. Do you have a #1 fan on your blog/videos/formspirng or someone who you talk to a lot because of them?

Lou: Meh, Anna is my top commenter on my blog so I guess she gets that plaudit, and apparently I'm her top commenter too, so it's a reciprocal thing we've got going on :)

Me: haha What inspired you to make a blog, formspring, and videos besides baby names?

Lou: Probably boredom! I like to keep my mind occupied, and it seemed a productive enough activity :)

Me: I think it is! Where do you find your baby names at?

Lou: I used to just use the internet, but these days I spend a lot of time flicking through Kay's name book (Llewellyn's Complete Book of Names). It sucks that she stopped blogging (her blog is Nook of Names), but I remain hopeful for a reappearance!

Me: I think I should start looking in books. Do you know anyone in real life that has a formspring/youtube/blog?

Lou: Nope, although I live so close to Elea of British Baby Names that we really should do afternoon tea sometime.

Me: That sounds like fun. We are down to our last 3 questions! Random fact about you?

Lou: I had an argument today over my accent - I come from the midlands and have previously been repeatably been told of my lack of a regional accent, but apparently to southern ears I have the most northern accent going. Be your own judge of that, since you can hear my voice in my videos.

Me: haha :) What did you think of this interview?

Lou: Yeh it was good - it's almost midnight here in England so I can't deny that I'm slightly glad of it's conclusion so I can go to bed (I have a two hour chemistry lecture tomorrow at 9 - eek!). 

Me: awww If I would have known I would have told you we can just finish it tomorrow! :( I'm sorry.   Is there anything else you would like to add?

Lou: Haha, if we did that it would take us forever to finish up :) I don't really have anything else to say, my mind is however currently whirring over the name Bertha :D

Me: haha. Betha hmmm. Thanks for doing the interview. I am so glad you did it.

So that is the interview. I had so much fun doing this interview and to talk to someone whose blog I see as being pretty amazing. I hope you enjoyed the interview and don’t forget to go check her blog out. Bye for now :). 

Photo Credit:  http://loudenoms.co.uk/