What If Characters

I was watching tv and a commercial for the new movie starring Daniel Radcliffe came on. What caught my ear about this commercial was the characters' names, especially the girl's name. And that inspired a name post!

Wallace
Wallace is the name of Daniel Radcliffe's character. Wallace is a name that you don't hear now a days. You would have been more likely to hear this back in the 50's or 60's and now it would be considered a grandpa name. I feel like when the name Wallace is used in movies or tv shows it is used on geeks or weird characters, almost as a way to make them more nerdy. In my opinion Wallace is ready for a comeback but it would take a very brave soul. In French Wallace means welshman.

Chantry
Chantry is played by Zoe Kazan in the movie and this is the name that really inspired the post. Until now I have never heard of the name and I had to go look it up to see what the name really was. When I first hear this name I thought it was the name Gentry because both names end in the same sound. I think Chantry is cool and different. It kind of reminds me of Chandler. The meaning of Chantry is singer in French and really that is a great meaning. I always love names with cool meaning.

I have no idea what the movie is about but I do know that I love the names that are picked. It's always nice to hear different names in movies because than I feel like more people will be exposed to them.

Until next time!

xoxo,

"Rare" M Boy Names

I'm back on the "rare" names! After months we are finally off the letter M and next post will be the letter N!

Mack

• Meaning: Son of 
• Origin: English 
• Siblings: Fay and Gus

I think Mack is a really cute name. I had the name Mack on my girl name list about a year ago and now it's on my guilty pleasure list. Mack makes a better nickname than as a full name to me. Some full name options include Macallister, Mackenzie, and Macormic but are not limited to them.

Magnus

• Meaning: Great
• Origin: Latin
• Siblings: Linnea and Ramsay

The first thing I think of when I see Magnus is Matilda. Ms. Honey's father was names Magnus. Now a days you wouldn't meet too many Magnus but it is something you might hear on a grandfather. If you wanted to make a name sound vintage, you can use Magnus as a middle name.

Mahlon (MAY-len)

• Meaning: Sickly
• Origin: Hebrew
• Siblings: Adah and Freeman

Before doing this post I had never heard of Mahlon. I used the pronunciation from the book but at first sight I would say m-uh-lone. I think this is a pretty cool name but the meaning is really bad. If meaning doesn't mean anything to you that it shouldn't be a problem but meaning matters to me so that turns me off.

Marius

• Meaning: Derived from Mars; male
• Origin: Latin
• Siblings: Verena and Rainer

Marius is definitely a rare name. I've never heard it before but I think it's kind of cool. It sounds like Lucius and really reminds me of it. I don't think I would use it.

Merle (MERL)

• Meaning: Blackbird
• Origin: French 
• Siblings: Beryl and Hoyt

Merle sounds like a short form of Merlin, I really feel like it isn't complete and like I should be saying something another sound. I'm not a huge fan.

Merlin

• Meaning: Sea Fortress 
• Origin: Welsh
• Siblings: Ardith and Newton

I think of Merlin the wizard from King Arthur's time. I think that is what most people will think of and is one of the reasons this name is so rare. I really don't see this on a little baby and can't see it making a comeback.

Moe

• Meaning: Short form of Maurice or Morris 
• Origin: English 
• Sibling: Bess and Nat

Moe is one of my favorite nicknames on both a boy and a girl. I think I like it better on a girl because it doesn't sound like an old lady name where as on a boy it sounds like an old man. My favorite full names for the nickname Moe is Moses. I love Moses and love that it's biblical. I've recently started to fall in love with biblical names more.

Montgomery

• Meaning: Gumarih's Hill
• Origin: Norman
• Siblings: Cordelia and Carlyle

I love Montgomery and have it on my middle name list. I wouldn't have the courage to use it as a first name. It's a brave name for me. One of the reasons is because its such a distinct surname.  In the popular show, Pretty Little Liars it is the last name of one of the main characters.

Morris

• Meaning: Variant of Maurice; Dark-skinned
• Origin: English 
• Siblings: Golda and Sherman

Surprisingly enough I really like this name. I don't think I like it enough to use it but enough that it catches my eye. Morris definitely has a vintage feel, something you would find in the top 100 for the 30's or 40's.

Mose

• Meaning: Variant of Moses
• Origin: German
• Siblings: Cleo and Dock

I said a few names before that i love the name Moses and Mose is just like it. Again Mose is a name that I feel like I should be saying another syllable or saying someone's nickname. It looks really cool and complete though.

Murphy

• Meaning: Descendant of Murchadh
• Origin: Irish
• Siblings: Connolly and Miller

Murphy is a great surname that works good as a first or middle name. You really don't see Murphy much. I do have to say that I see it more on a dog than I do on a human. Murphy may be going on my guilty pleasure list.



xoxo,

Summer Birth Announcements

I was looking through some birth announcements for this summer (June '14-August '14) and saw some pretty interesting names. These are all from the state of Alabama (not the state I live in) and are from online.

Girls

Anna Harper

Clara Rose

Kynlee Aleeya

Saoirse Carolina

Briley Jade

Aurora Moon

June Greer

Massalena Cecelia Paityn

Maelynn Arlene

Pepper Elizabeth 

Paislen Faith

Levie Lorraine 

Adeline Eleanor Ruth

Genesis Lillian 

Teddie Leanne

Tessa Rae

Kalaya Cincere

Aimilliana Adiella 

Boys

Spencer Peace

Arthur Lee

Reynolds Crissen

Brooks Edward

Axel Cayn

Remington Jack

Griffin Tate

Leland Everett 

Hayes Garrett

Bo Daniel

Baylen Christopher 

Ransom Sawyer 

Axl Rais

Declan Zane

My favorites combos: Clara Rose, Saoirse Carolina, Aurora Moon, Teddie Leanne, Maelynn Arlene, Brooks Edward, Remington Jack, and Leland Everett

My favorite names on there own: Reynolds, Kalaya, Briley, and Tessa

My favorite guilty pleasure names: Ransom and Massalena

What are your favorites? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,

Golden Girls

Most nights I watch The Middle on Hallmark. It's probably one of my favorite shows that always has me laughing. The show following The Middle is Golden Girls and since I am always too lazy to change the channel I have watched a few episodes. While watching the credits I caught the names of the 4 main actresses and thought they would make a great post.

Beatrice "Bea" Arthur

What caught my action was the nickname Bea. It's really sweet and cute. Bea has a great aging factor and the actress is farther proof of that. The full name Beatrice is such a vintage name that more people are loving. For the past 8 years it has been on the raise in popularity. From 2012 to 2013, it moved up 102 spots.

Betty White

I think the name Betty is my least favorite name of this group. Although I still think it is nice but sounds so old lady chic. Betty is a great nickname for Elizabeth but I think more people are using modern nicknames. Although Betty is a nice nickname I don't think I would like seeing it on a little girl. It would be just too old for her.

Rue McClanahan

I love the name Rue more so as a nickname than as a full name. It's so modern sounding and fun. You can use Ruth, Riley, or really any R name as a full name for Rue. An interesting fact about Rue McClanahan's name is she was born Eddi-Rue after her father and mother, Edward and Rheua-Nell.

Estelle Getty

Estelle is a pretty, princess-y name. There have been princesses named Estelle in the past. I usually don't remember the meanings of names but I know off the top of my head that Estelle means star. The meaning alone makes me think of a stary night and just dark, rich colors. I would definitely use Estelle with the nickname Este in the future.


Photo Credit: http://www.newnownext.com/elaine-stritch-nothing-worse-than-ending-up-like-bea-arthur/03/2014/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0924508/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001516/
http://www.tvland.com/shows/the-golden-girls/bios/estelle-getty

xoxo,

England and Wale's Popular Names

The most popular names in England list came out a few days ago and I couldn't help take a look. I do have to say I much prefer the top 100 names in England than I do the American list. I'm going to do a little analysis of the names.

The top names in England and Wales are Oliver and Amelia. In America, Oliver was ranked at #52 and Amelia was ranked at #17. Both of these names are really fun names and I liked them a lot. Oliver has the fun nickname Ollie and Amelia has the popular nicknames Mia and Milly. I feel like Milly is a really popular and English name.

In America the top names are Noah and Sophia. Noah was ranked at #13 and Sophia was ranked at #15. Sophie is more popular in England and Wales than Sophia but than again I feel like Sophie is more English feeling. Noah and Sophia are names I can see being popular in both countries where as Oliver and Amelia I see being more popular in England and Wales. The list just prove that.

I went through the top 100 list and picked my 10 favorite boy ahems and 10 favorite girl names. The list overall surprised me.

Boys
Jack
England and Wales: #2
America: #40
Jack is such a classic old man name. It is a popular nickname for Jackson a more American name possibly because of President Jackson.

Oscar
England and Wales: #7
America: #178
Oscar is such a sweet vintage name! I love it and would love it to gain more polarity in America. I do think of Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street.

Archie
England and Wales: #16
America: N/A
Archie is another vintage, old man name. It makes a nice nickname and not surprisingly ins't even ranked in the US.

Harrison
England and Wales: #36
America: #161
Harrison is a name that has been gaining popular slowly in America and hasn't move much in England. I think it is a nice name and you can get the vintage, classic nickname Harry.

Sebastian
England and Wales: 38
America: 45
Sebastian is a grand name that I love. It does remind me of the crab from Little Mermaid but that could just be because I'm on a Disney kick lately. Bash is a cute nickname too.

Toby
England and Wales: #45
America: #550
Toby may make some people think of a dog because its a pretty popular dog name but I think it's cute on a little boy. I like it as a nickname for Tobias.

Jenson
England and Wales: #58
America: N/A
Jenson is a cool name. I like it a lot and love that it's not popular in the US. I think more people have heard of it because of the actor Jenson Ackles.

Dexter
England and Wales: #63
America: #380
The first ting I think of when I hear Dexter is the tv show. I still really like the name and I think the x gives it an edge.

Kai
England and Wales: #64
America: #199
I love Kai and it just reminds me of Hawaii and the beach and all things summery. I have been loving it even more lately and am thinking of adding it to my list.

Jude
England and Wales: #72
America: #162
Jude is a sweet name that reminds me of the Beatles even though I'm not a huge fan of them. I like Jude as a nickname for Judah.


Girls
Isla
England and Wales: #5
America: #167
Isla is a short and sweet name. That just screams a little girl with pigtails and Mary Janes. It is definitely more English than it is American.

Poppy
England and Wales: #7
America: N/A
I love Poppy as a nickname and even as a full name. I think its sweet and edgy and even a little modern. The first thing I think of is Poppy Lifton from Gossip Girl.

Evie
England and Wales: #14
America: #559
Evie makes the cutest nickname ever! It has some pretty great first name options like Evelyn and Everly.

Freya
England and Wales: #20
America: #908
This is the first year that Freya was in the top 1000 names for the US but in England and Wales it has been in the top 100 for a few years. I think Freya is a fun, mythological name.

Daisy
England and Wales: #23
America: 198
Daisy is so sweet and girly. It has a nice airy feel to it and is a beautiful flower name.

Millie
England and Wales: #25
America: #598
I love Millie as a nickname. Millie has a vintage feeling and a little bit of a modern feeling depending on what full name you use with it if you use one at all. For me, Millie is like the ultimate English name.

Florence
England and Wales: #29
America: N/A
I'm a nursing student so the first thing I think of when I see Florence is the Florence Nightingale, the first nurse. Call me crazy but I would love to use Florence or another form of it as a middle name because of her.

Maisie
England and Wales: #41
America: N/A
Maisie is a fun, quirky name. It surprises me how popular it is in England and Wales and how unpopular it is in America. I feel like it is more of an American name.

Elsie
England and Wales: #47
America: #395
I love Elsie! I know an old lady with this name and she was so sweet. I think it ages well and has a very old lady chic feel. It'd make a great nickname for Elizabeth/Elisabeth.

Esme
England and Wales: #58
America: #929
Esme is such a princess-y name. I know a lot of people think of Twilight but I feel like Twilight is losing popularity and people won't think of that when they hear Elsie.


I had fun looking at this list and seeing how nice England names are. Look for more post on the blog in the near future!

xoxo,

Name of the Week: Rush

Meaning

Baskey Weaver

Origin

English

Rank

N/A

Middle Names

Rush Alexander

Rush Avery 

Rush Jameson 

Rush Pierre 

Rush Maxwell

Rush Ezra 

Rush Silas 

Rush Elsworth 

Rush Leander

Rush Augustus 

First Names

Mason Rush

Gabriel Rush

Nolan Rush

Sumner Rush

Finnegan Rush

Samuel Rush 

Lucas Rush

Thayer Rush

Dempsey Rush

Owen Rush

Nicknames

Roo 

Famous People Named Rush

Rush Limbaugh (Radio host)

My Thoughts

I think Rush is a really cool name! In my opinion it would make a great nickname and an even better middle name. Now just imagine hearing a birth announcement and seeing the middle name Rush. I would probably squeal in excitement! 

Reason Its Name of the Week

It's a cool name that caught my eye when looking for a boy name for this week. 

xoxo,

Daycare Names

This summer I worked at a daycare that cares for children ages newborn to 11 years old. While I was there I heard some interesting names that caught my ears. I find would love to always work with kids because than you get to hear all the fun names ;).

Girls
Ioliana (I-oll-ee-ah-na)
This little girl was a year old and just so cute! They called her Ioli (it rhymes with cannoli). I went to do research on this name but couldn't find anything! When I search Ioliana. it says it's spelled wrong and wants to spell it like Eliana but they aren't the same name. I think this is a really pretty, princess name with such an adorable nickname.

Mahriya
Although I don't particularly like this spelling of the name, I love the name it's self. One day I had to write this little girl's name down and know there was a y in it but had no clue how she spelled it. I think that is the only problem with this name. Mariah is a name that you are pleasantly surprised to see because its a sweet classic. Mariah is a Latin variant of Maria and Maria means the Lord is my teacher.

Amia (uh-me-uh)
When I first heard this name I thought the teacher's were calling her Mia but that I heard it a second time and heard it was Amia. It's such a nice alternative to the name Mia plus it has the really cute nickname Mimi. Amia means beloved in Hebrew. Last year was the first year that Amia was on the SSA's popularity list and it ranked at #998.

Coralai
You hear the names Coralee and Coraline a lot but you hardly ever hear the name Coralai. Coralai reminds me of a hawaiian girl or a tropical island somewhere. It's such a cute name with a cute nickname Cora or Cory. I like both the Coralai and the Coralei spellings. This is another name I couldn't find anything on.

Isa (EE-sa)
This little girl's full name was Isabella but they pronounced it the Spanish way. In Spanish I's are pronounced like E's. I heard the name first and had such a hard time understanding how it was spelled. I fell in love with the pronunciation. Now the little girl will probably have problems saying it the English way and not the Spanish way. But don't let that stop you from using the name!

Boys
Cowan
This name was love at first sight! I love the spelling and the pronunciation. You may also spell it Cohen, Cowen, and Coen. Cowan/Cowen has not been on the popularity list but Coen and Cohen have. Cohen was #368 in 2013. Coen hasn't been on the list since 2011 and it was ranked at #973 and before that it was only on the list in 2006 at #962. I could see people liking Cowan more because it is said and spelled the same way.

Pierre
Pierre screams French to me. I can see a little boy running around the streets of France wearing overalls and a cute little hat. It's such a strong name and not something I hear very often. This little Pierre was a Jr. (yet another shocker for me!) and at times he was called PJ or Peach. The Peach sounded like that because they just combined the P and J in his nickname. I really love Pierre.

Musa
Musa is a name that I never heard before and don't expect to hear again. I hate to say it but the first thing I thought of when I heard the name was a moose because it sounds exactly like moose but with an a at the end. I still think it is a cool, exotic name that would make a nice middle name.

Warren
Warren is such an old man name and it also reminds me of a superhero. I was pleasantly surprised to hear this name. I did have a problem where I thought they were saying Lauren but they were actually calling him. Warren is a great name that has many different pictures like a business man or a surfer.

Darrell
Darrell is even more old man sounding than Warren. It defiantly something I did not expect to hear on a little boy. Maybe he was named after his grandfather or someone else. Now that would be cool to find out!