Same Name, Two Directions {National Backward Day}

I always like to look at the fun and unique national holidays for each month. I like to draw inspiration for name posts and instagram pictures from them.  Today is National Backward Day and as soon as I found that out I had just the idea. I came up with a list of names that are popular or well know and, when spelled backwards, can be a new name.

Alex and Xela

Gem and Meg

Abbe and Ebba

Adela and Aleda

Ari and Ira

Aidan and Nadia

Allen and Nella

Ani and Ina

Ariel and Leira

Aven and Neva

Axel and Lexa

Halie and Eilah

Issac and Cassi

Mara and Aram

Miah and Haim

Miles and Selim

Nala and Alan

Nate and Etan

Noel and Leon

Nova and Avon

Zaid and Diaz

These names can be nice for a set of twins. I only included some of the names that I found. There are a lot more out there. Do you have a favorite set from this list? I think I really like Gem and Meg the best.

My Top 10 Names: Girls {January 2016}

A few days ago I wrote a post about my top 10 boy names. This is so exciting for me because I haven't had a top 10 in a while and its all thanks to my friend Alexia Mae. She asked to feature my top 10 names on her instagram so of course I worked on finishing the list for her. Head over to her instagram to see the beautiful graphic she made, plus all of the fun and amazing names she features daily.

Maisie 

Maisie is a nickname for Margaret. When I first fell in love with the name I was stuck between the name Margaret with the nickname Maisie or just Maisie. I settled on Maisie because I just don't love Margaret as much. I think this name is very English sounding.

Faye

I am not sure when, where, or how I fell in love with the name. Faye is short and sweet. She would do great paired with a long middle one. I haven't found one I like very much. It means fairy in English.

Daphne

Daphne always use to remind me of Scooby Doo, one of my favorite cartoons as a child. It means laurel in greek. My name is Lauren and means laurel as well. Daphne could be a connection to me. And no I didn't know this before I feel in love with the name.

Sally

Sally is the name of my grandmother. Well she was actually Sarah but went by Sally. I had never thought to use her name and had always had plans to use a form of Sarah in the middle name spot to honor her. Over time (and thanks to Alexia Mae's love for the name) I fell in love with the name Sally. Now I just can't get enough of the name.

Primrose

I have a very special connect to the saint, St. Therese, and she uses roses to show that she heard you're prayers. I love the nickname Prim so much and I think Primrose is so whimsical and girly. It means first rose in Latin.

Margot

Margot is another diminutive/nickname of Margaret. I never realized how many nicknames for Margaret I liked until I made my top 10 list! Margot will always remind me of the movie Christmas Vacation.

Georgia

Georgia is such a sweet, southern sounding name. It's a place name with a few nicknames, Gigi, Georgie, and Gia. This name has special meaning to me because my boyfriend and I met/started talking at a Florida Georgia Line concert.

Adelaide

Adelaide sounds so elegant and beautiful. I envision a princess with an adventurous side. My favorite part about the name is the nickname Lady. I am not a fan of the nickname Addie and was shied away from the name until I discovered the nickname Lady. Ada would also be a cute nickname.

Pippa

I first heard the name Pippa after William and Kate got married and we were introduced to Kate Middleton's sister. My thought was how spunky and upbeat the name was. For a really long time I tried to find a name that I loved to use Pippa as a nickname but didn't find anything I liked. I finally settled on Pippa as her own. It doesn't sound like a nickname very much so I was happy.

Iris

Iris is a new name to my list. To be honest I never liked the name before recently but after hearing it over and over I really liked it. This is one of the few flower and I names I like. The name has an unique sound and doesn't end in an A or lee sound like a lot of girl names.


I hope everyone enjoyed learning what my favorite names were. Its so fun to explain why I have a love for a name even though often times there is no reason I love the names. Next up I am going to work on middle names for each of my top 10 girl and boy names.

I have a question for everyone. What would you like to see me blog about? I know I have fallen off the blogging train but I would like to start posting a few times a month if I can. If you have any ideas feel free to comment or email me!

Alexia Mae's Links 

Blog

Instagram

Youtube 

My Top 10 Names: Boys {January 2016}

I was asked by the wonderful Alexia Mae if I would like to be featured on her instagram with my op names. My answer was yes, of course! At the time I had a rough top 10 and had plans on finalizing the list but just kept pushing it off. This became the perfect opportunity to finish my list and show all  of you. You can see the beautiful graphic she made over on her instagram Names Daily. I will also have all of her links down below.

Atlas

Atlas has been my top name for 2 1/2 years now and I don't see it moving anytime soon. I really like the thought of an Atlas being a book of maps and maps being able to take you anywhere you want. In Greek Atlas means not enduring.

Arrow

You will notice that at least half of my top boy names are word names. Arrow is no exception to that. I fell in love with the name after watching the tv show, Arrow. Like many other boy names, this name ends in the O sound making it familiar yet unique.

Shepherd

Shepherd is another name on my list that has been on there for about 2 years now. It has moved down but I still really love it. I get this very calming feel when I hear the name because I associate it with sheep. Shep is such a sweet and simple nickname to me.

Wilder

Wilder is a name new to my top 10 as well as new to the top 1000 list in 2015. I like the hipster feel to it. It is very unique but I can definitely see it raising in the years to come. Wiley would make a cute nickname and is a name/nickname that has been growing on me.

Thatcher

I have always found surnames to be cool but have never found any that I love enough to put on my top 10 list. Thatcher gives me a southern vibe and something that belongs on a sweet little boy. Although Thatcher isn't very popular it still has a familiar and common feel to it. I think in part because it is so similar to Sawyer and Hunter.

Basil

I love word names and I am starting to really love nature names. Basil has a lot of history to it. It was in the top 1000 charts until the 1970s and was all the way up in the 300s in the early 1900s. There are so many famous Basil's, both fictional and nonfictional. I adore this name for the simple sound and the fresh feel I get when I think of the plant.

Ford

My parents are huge Ford fans. They have only and will only drive Ford cars so I will always associate this name with them. I think as a first name Ford is cool and southern feeling. If I do not use this as a first name I would definitely use it as a middle name. Since it is one syllable it will go well with many names.

Rafferty

As you move down my top 10 boy names you will notice that the names will get longer. Rafferty is a name that I liked in 2016. For me, I get a very English feel to the name but that could be because I only one of one Rafferty and he is a little boy living in England. Rafe is a favorite nickname of mine.

Forrester

When I was making my final list I was stuck between having Forest or Forrester as my #9 name. Forrester won because it was longer and had the opportunity to have Forest as a nickname. It also felt more complete to me.

Kavanaugh 

Kavanaugh is a brand new name that I am loving and just added to my list. I wasn't sure which spelling I liked the best; Kavanaugh or Cavanaugh, but went with the K because that is the one I saw around more. As one of the few traditional Irish surnames that does not begin with Mc or O' I really enjoy the uniqueness of it.

Alexia Mae's Links 

Blog

Instagram

Youtube 

Meagan's Winter Baby Name Game

A follower namer, Meagan, has made these fun seasonal baby name games in the past with questions that are focused around whatever season it is. I have always loved these and thought I would bring my answers over to the blog so that all my readers can play if you haven't seen Meagan's video. I will leave all of her links down below after the questions and answers.

1. Name a child boy/girl using December, January, or February as either their first or middle name. Add a first or middle name to go with the name you selected and a nickname if you like. 

February Thea "Febe"

2. Name siblings using the initials WI NT ER. You choose the sexes.

Whittaker Ichabod 

Nella Tempest 

Esmond Ryder 

3. Name boy-girl siblings. Each must have a winter themed first or middle name. (Meagan has some winter name suggestions in her video description) 

Eira Magnolia 

Atlas Snow 

4. What would you name boy/girl twins? Use the initials of those names and select new names for them.

I would name them Ford Sterling and Daphne Anneliese. 

The new names would be Forrester Sage and Delphina Adelaide 

5. Rename yourself using these rules:

Your New First Name:

You can select between the two names for the month you were born

January – January or Garland

February – Winter or Colden

March – Crimson or Frost

April – Scarlett or Rain

May – Snow or Evergreen

June- Star or Hail

July- Holly or Douglas

August – Dove or North

September- Ivy or Shepherd

October – Aspen or Birch

November – Lux or Yule

December – December or Garnet

Choose a middle name with the letter based on the day you were born:

1-5: R

6-10: S

11-15: I

16-20: H

21-25: K

26-31: T

Evergreen Iona

I love all of Meagan's baby name games! She has such great creativity and I think everyone should go over and check out her channel. I invite everyone to play along with this name game. 

Meagan (TulipByAnyName)'s links: 

Youtube

Blog

Instagram