2021 Top 10

"It's the most wonderful time of the year!"

Close your eyes and imagine me singing that Christmas song in the beginning of May. That's exactly what's happening this weekend! The Social Security Office released the most popular names for 2021 (the most recent year of data). If you are a namer than you probably have similar feelings as myself. Some people in the name community call this Namer's Christmas and I couldn't agree with them more. 

I've been looking over the data since yesterday and collecting all sorts of fun info. I have lots of posts idea to share but we're going to start with the simple top 10. 

Boys

1. Liam

2. Noah

3. Oliver

4. Elijah

5. James +1

6. William -1

7. Benjamin

8. Lucas

9. Henry

10. Theodore +13 

Girls

1. Olivia

2. Emma

3. Charlotte +1

4. Amelia +2

5. Ava -1

6. Sophia-1

7. Isabella

8. Mia

9. Evelyn

10. Harper 

We have a new comer to the boy's list! Mr. Theodore jumped 13 spots and landed a place in the top 10 knocking Alexander down to #13. I have to say I am very excited for that jump. To me, Theodore is a timeless name that doesn't feel dated. Other than Theodore's jump the boy names stayed relatively the same. In fact, the only other movement was the switch between James and William. 

2021 bought no new names to the girl's top 10. In fact the only movement on the list was in the middle spots. I will say I am excited that Charlotte is inching closer to #1 (even if it was only one spot). I have a feeling we will see her move higher up in the near future. 

Now I have never done this in the past but while I was looking at the top 100 list I noticed something. Jack jumped 10 spots to #11, just shy of the top 10. So then I got to thinking and went to take a look at the number of babies given the names Theodore and Jack (#10 and #11 respectively). Theodore was given to 9,535 boys and Jack was given to 9,504. That means Jack missed the top 10 by just 31 babies. It seems that the difference between #10 and #11 is a couple of hundred babies but I did see a gap as small as just 10 babies. Will Jack make it into the top 10 next year?

Liam

• For the 5th year in a row Liam is the reigning champ! 
• He's been in the top 10 since 2012 and when he jumped into the top 10 he went from #15 to #6. 

Olivia

• Olivia has been #1 now for 3 years running. 
• She has been in the top 10 since 2001
• She has been in the top 1000 every year since 1880

2019 SSA Name List (Finally!)

After nearly 4 months of waiting the brand new 2019 SSA most popular list is out!!!! I am screaming and not going to lie I jumped off the couch so fast I made my mom concerned. Thanks to babynames.com for alerting me to the new list being out. If I'm being honest I did not believe it was really out at all and had to check and double check. A few weeks I ago I checked out of curiosity and had lost hope the list would be making an appearance any time soon. 

So without waiting any longer let's dive in to the much awaited name list starting with he top 19 most popular names. 

Boys

1. Liam

2. Noah

3. Oliver +2

4. William -1

5. Elijah +2

6. James -2

7. Benjamin -1

8. Lucas 

9. Mason

10. Ethan +2

Girls 

1. Olivia +1

2. Emma -1

3. Ava

4. Sophia +1

5. Isabella -1

6. Charlotte

7. Amelia +1

8. Mia -1

9. Harper 

10. Evelyn

Compared to last years list the boy names had move moving and grooving while the girl names only moved a spot if that. Yet when you take a look back at the movements of the top 10 in 2018 you will find that the top 5 girl names did not change at all last year. So in hindsight the girl names did have some big moves. The biggest move is the overtaking of Emma by Olivia for the number 1 spot. 

The only new comer to the top 10 was Ethan. He knocked out Logan. Surprisingly (or maybe not) Ethan last ranked in the top 10 in 2016 at #10 but prior to that Ethan ranked in the top 10 from 2002 to 2016 with his highest ranking being in 2009 and 2010 at #2. 

Let's look at some fun facts for the #1 names for 2019.

Liam

• Has ranked #1 for 3 years now. 
• The name first entered the top 10 in 2012
• The name didn't enter the top 1000 until 1967 

Olivia

• Has been in the #2 spot for the last 5 years
• First entered the top 10 back in 2001 at #10 
• Olivia has ranked in the top 1000 every year since 1880 

So what are your thoughts? Are you shocked the name list is out right now? 

2019 Predictions {Top 10}

We are quickly coming up on the best time of the year for namers. The new SSA name list comes out on Friday. For those that do not know what the SSA name is it is the social secretary list of names popular for each year. Some namers call this the namer's Christmas and I could not agree more. I am so committed to this list release that I requested off from work 7 months ago and will be up with the sun waiting for it. If that doesn't say name obsession I don't know what does!

I will be spending the week working on making predictions for the new list coming out. This will be my fourth year doing this and although I am not the best I find it super fun. Predicting the top 10 name list is something I didn't start until last year. It seems so hard to pick the names and be on point because they don't change as often as the rest of the list. 

Top 2018 List 

Boys

1. Liam

2. Noah

3. William

4. James

5. Oliver

6. Benjamin

7. Elijah

8. Lucas

9. Mason

10. Logan

Girls 

1. Emma

2. Olivia 

3. Ava

4. Isabella

5. Sophia

6. Charlotte

7. Mia

8. Amelia

9. Harper

10. Evelyn

My Predictions for the 2019 top 10

Boys

1. Liam 

2. Noah

3. William

4. Oliver

5. James

6. Benjamin

7. Elijah

8. Lucas 

9. Michael

10. Mason

Girls

1. Emma

2. Olivia

3. Ava

4. Sophia

5. Charlotte

6. Isabella

7. Amelia

8. Harper

9. Mia

10. Elizabeth

The top 4 boy names were unchanged from 2017 to 2018 and I think the top 3 will stay the same but Oliver will gain more popularity this year. I see Logan falling off the top 10 list this year and Michael possibly jumping back on. Michael is my wildcard guess. 

On the girls list the top 3 names did not change so I am keeping it the same for this year. I think Harper will rise up the chart and Evelyn will fall off. Elizabeth is my wildcard this year. 

Stay tune for the list to be release Friday May 8, 2020! 

2018 SSA List!

It's the best day in the naming world. The new SSA most popular name list is out! Sadly I worked a 12 hours shift so I am just now getting the chance to sit down and really look over the name list at near 1030 at night. Granted I did some sister-cousin bounding time right after work but still! I will still be posting my normal yearly posts they will just be a little late this year. But keep your eyes peeled for them this weekend!

Let's spend this time looking at the top 10 names for 2018! 

1. Liam

2. Noah

3. William

4. James 

5. Oliver +4

6. Benjamin 

7. Elijah +1

8. Lucas +3

9. Mason -2

10. Logan -5

1. Emma

2. Olivia

3. Ava

4. Isabella

5. Sophia

6. Charlotte +1

7. Mia -1

8. Amelia

9. Harper +2

10. Evelyn -1 

Compared to last years list there were very few changes to the top 10. Only one name was added for each gender. Lucas replaced Jacob in the top 10 and Harper replaced Abigail. Jacob had been in the top 10 since 1993 and was even #1 for 13 years in the 2000s. Lucas is sitting in the top 10 group for the first time but has been making his steady climb up since 1960s. In 1993 the name popped back into the top 100. 

Abigail entered the top 10 in 2001 and only ever made it as high as #4 for a single year before it floated around close to the bottom of the top 10 list. Harper on the other hand has been making a huge leap towards the top. The name didn't enter the top 1000 until 2004 and made it into the top 100 by 2011. Harper is a repeat offender in the top 10 landing in the #10 spot in 2015 and staying there for 2016 before dropping out again. 

Overall I'm happy with the last but a little shocked we didn't have more movement. I mean the top 5 girl names have not changed! Speaking of the unchanged #1 names here are some fun facts about them. 

Liam 

• Has only been #1 for 2 years
• The name entered the top 10 in 2012 
• The name didn't enter the top 1000 until 1967and has made a semi steady climb up the charts

Emma: 

• Has been #1 for 5 straight years now and was also #1 in 2008
• It first entered the top 10 in 2002 jumping from #13 to #4. Thats 9 whole spots! 
• The name as been around since the start of the top 1000 lists and was in the top 20 for 20 years in the 1900s

So what are your thoughts? Anything you'd like to see? 

2017 SSA List!

Merry Name Christmas!! Yep I'm declaring today the ultimate naming holiday. Who'd be in to petition making today an actual holiday?! For the last few weeks I have been waiting and prepping and waiting and prepping some more. Now that its here I can't contain myself! Last night I couldn't sleep. I rolled around in bed just so excited for today to come! And then this morning I refreshed the SSA name page a million and ten times waiting for the list to get posted. But ITS FINALLY HERE!! Before I get into the whole list I am going to sit down and look over the top 10. Enjoy this excitement for just a little bit. Take it all in.

1. Liam +1
2. Noah -1
3. William
4. James +1
5. Logan +13
6. Benjamin
7. Mason -3
8. Elijah +1
9. Oliver +3
10. Jacob -3

1. Emma
2. Olivia
3. Ava
4. Isabella +1
5. Sophia -1
6. Mia 
7. Charlotte 
8. Amelia +3
9. Evelyn +3
10. Abigail -2

I am so pleasantly surprised at this new list! First there were 2 new boy names and 2 new girl names, all of which I am happy made the list. For the boys Logan jumped 13 (yes 13!) spots into the top 10 and Oliver jumped 3 spots. They knocked out Michael and Ethan. This is the first time since 1943 that Michael is not in the top 10. After 74 years this classical name is not longer in the top 10.

The two girl names that made their ways into the top 10 were Amelia and Evelyn. There was a lot of talk around the name world of Amelia moving into the top 10 and it was right. I'm not sure if anyone would have guessed Evelyn but it is a nice surprise. I think out of both list Evelyn is my favorite move. Because we have 2 new names we had to lose 2. Those were Harper and Emily. Although it wasn't much of a drop, spots 11 and 12 respectively, I'm still a little shocked about Harper. I know Emily has been around for a while but Harper had only spent 2 years in the top 10. I thought for sure she'd move up more this year. 

Noah was knocked from the #1 spot after 4 years while Emma kept her crown for the 4th year in a row. 

Overall, I am happy with the top 10 list. It's nice to see some fresh names. This year may be my favorite top 10 in the last few years. Keep an eye out for more posts about the 2017 SSA list! 

*Bold Names Are Names New To The List*

Other 2017 SSA List Posts

New Top 100 Names
Newbies

Comeback Kids (Back on the Top 1000)

2016 SSA List!

I am finally getting a chance to take a look at the new SSA name list! It been crazy few weeks around here and I'm sad that it's taken me this long to look at it. Its been almost a month since it came out! Right now I am debuting if I want to make any posts around the list. In the post I have but they have all been done within days of the release date. Any posts that I publish would just be dated that you have already seen or have access to. Anyway I wanted to take a loot at the top 10 list right now and then I will decide if I am going to publish anything else.

Boys

1. Noah
2. Liam
3. William +2 
4. Mason -1
5. James +2
6. Benjamin +4
7. Jacob -3
8. Michael +1 
9. Elijah +2
10. Ethan  -4

Girls 

1. Emma
2. Olivia
3. Ava +1
4. Sophia -1
5. Isabella
6. Mia
7. Charlotte +2
8. Abigail -1
9. Emily -1
10. Harper 

Elijah is the only new name to the top 10 list. Because Elijah moved up that means that a name had to move down. Alexander is no longer in the top 10 and moved down to #11. 

Noah has been #1 for since 2013 (4 years) and has been on the top 10 since 2009 (8 years). Emma has been #1 since 2014 (3 years) and in the top 10 since 2002 (15 years!). 

The top 10 list doesn't surprise my very much. I never expect any huge changes with the list. The only year I feel as if I was surprised was when Charlotte made her way onto the top 10 in 2014.

If you have any input into whether I should do my usual new SSA blog posts let me know below!

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 

No Nickname, No Problem! [Boys]

A few days ago I shared with you 10 of my favorite girl names that have no nicknames. Today I am here to share 10 of my favorite boy names that have no nicknames. While making this list I felt like it was easier to make the boy list than the girls. Boys seem to have less nickname options than girls.

Rhett- My first thought when I hear the name Rhett is a little southern boy. It is a name found in the classical book Gone With The Wind. Watch out because the name is showing up in popularity!

Brooks- I am such a sucker for names that end in S. I also love names that seemed to belong in the south. Like Rhett, I always picture a sweet boy dressed in seersucker running around on a farm.

Otto- Otto is a German name that was popular up until the two World Wars. Otto is a palindrome name meaning it can be spelled the same backwards.

Kai- Kai is one of the most popular Hawaiian names out there. This one syllable name was once unheard of but has been climbing the charts since the late 1990s. Its so popular now that most people will know how to pronounce it.

Knox- Knox is a surname turned first name. He ends in the exotic X and sounds like it ends in an S. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie named their son Knox in 2008 causing many people to take notice to it.

Wyatt- I'm a fan of Raising Hope, the tv show, and one it they have a character named Wyatt. Before the show I wasn't too keen on the name but it has really grown on me. It has been a favorite of many people causing it to be all the way up at #34 on the charts.

Sawyer- Sawyer is an occupation name that feels friendly and fresh. Two famous bearers of the name are Tom Sawyer, a classical character, and Diane Sawyer.

Killian- The beings sound (kill) seems to be one of the only reasons people shy away from the name. If the beginning is too harsh for you I suggest the spelling Cillian.

Dean- My cousins named her son Dean about 6 years ago and it was the first time I really noticed the name. Now I love it and would use it as a middle name. I'm also a huge fan of Supernatural so I associate the name with the show.

Forrest- Forrest was on the top 1000 charts from 1900 to 2003. Than it took a 10 year break and came back in 2013. Since them he has been moving up the charts. I adore the name Forrest and love the nature yet unique feel it has.


These are just 10 of my favorite no nickname names. If I wanted to I could go on and on making a list so long you wouldn't want to read it! If you enjoyed this post or the girl's post let me know and I can do more like it!

No Nicknames, No Problem! [Girls]

If you've been around the blog a while than you know I love nicknames. It all stems from not having a nickname growing up so I always say I'm going to name my children with names that have a nickname option. Not everyone wants to give their children nicknames. A lot of parents are on the lookout for names that don't have nicknames or are going with just the nickname (ex: Jenny instead of Jennifer). I thought I would put together a list of names that don't have nicknames.

Blair- Ever since watching and falling in love with the tv show Gossip Girl I have adored the name Blair. She has a more prestigious and girly feel to her. Because it is only one syllable it goes well with a lot of names as a middle name.

Ivy- This is botanical name is great if you want a flower or nature name but don't want something that is too popular. Just be warned that it seems he is slowing moving up the charts and is currently ranked the highest ever.

Pearl- The gemstone of June and a name very popular (top 25) in 1900 needs a comeback. I love the old lady chic feel to it. In the last few years the name has been quickly climbing up the charts.

Summer- There aren't too many two syllable names that don't have any nicknames. Most of the names that have no nicknames are one syllable. Summer has a very airy and light feel to it.

Eve- Eve was the first woman in the Bible and seems to be coming back to style. She fits in with the ever popular Ava and other names like Eva, Evelyn, and Evie.

Ruby- I mentioned Pearl a few names ago and now I have the name Ruby for you. The vibrant gemstone brings about a sassy, yet sweet feel to her. She is all the range in countries like Australia, England, and Ireland. I can see it jumping into the U.S. top 50 very soon.

Sylvie- I have to say this is probably my favorite name on this list. I have Sylvie in my top 3 at the moment. She is a name that is familiar yet different. Her sister name, Sylvia, is in the top 500 yet she isn't even ranked yet.

Haven- Haven is a safe pick for many parents with her simple sound and no nickname option. The name was extremely unheard of until 1996 when it first entered the charts. Because of Jessica Alba naming her daughter Haven in 2011 the name has shot up the charts.

Daisy- Daisy was once used as a nickname for Margaret but since she was used so often its a name that stands one its own most of the time. Daisy is less popular than Lily but not too much that people don't know the name.

Molly- Molly is a classical name is a name that seems to be given to a lot of Irish babies, although it is not of Irish descent. She once started out as a nickname for Molly and now stands perfectly on its own.


These are just 10 of my favorite girls names that have no nickname options. There are so many more out there. I will bring the boy name version to you very shortly.

2014 SSA Top 10 Names

I know that I've been a little MIA lately but I just started my summer break! This break means I actually have time to sit down and write, more importantly I can blog! I'm so excited for this and have ideas just floating around in my head.

The first idea I have for you is on the new SSA top names! I'm so excited that the new list is out and I'm sure if you're a namer as well you're just as excited. I haven't gone into depth with the list but I thought I would focus on the top 10 for now.

Without farther a due here is the top 10 names for 2014!

Boys

1. Noah                                     
2. Liam 
3. Mason
4. Jacob
5. William 
6. Ethan 
7. Michael 
8. Alexander 
9. James 
10. Daniel 

If you're wondering about some stats for the top 10 here are a few. 

• Noah stayed #1 or the second year in a row. 
• Noah has also been in the top 10 since 2009. 
• Jayden fell from the top 10 and was replaced with James. 
• James had the biggest jump moving 4 spots. 

Girls 

1. Emma 
2. Olivia 
3. Sophia 
4. Isabella 
5. Ava
6. Mia 
7. Emily 
8. Abigail 
9. Madison 
10. Charlotte 

And here's a little about the girls.

• Emma knocked Sophia out of her 3 year  #1 spot 
• Emma has been in the top 10 since 2002 (that's 12 years!). She has also been within the top 5 the whole time. 
• Charlotte replaced Elizabeth and knocked her down from #10 to #14

I've only taken a glance at the top 10 for now but I can't wait until I get time to look at all 1000 names! If you have any input on the top names tell me below! 

Talk to you soon! 

xoxo, 

My Top 10 Classical Names

In the past few weeks I have really taken a liking to classic, vintage names. The complete opposite if my usual unique, trendy style. I thought I would tell my readers my top 10 favorite classic names for both gender. These are all names that age well and can be found on many grandparents.

1. Elizabeth

#10 

Meaning: God is my Oath 

Origin: Hebrew 

I did a post on this name earlier in the week. Elizabeth is a name with a ton of nicknames. It is also the name of a saint and a queen. There are just a ton of great associations with Elizabeth. 

2. Nancy

#689 

Meaning: Grace

Origin: Hebrew 

The first thing I think about when I hear the name Nancy is Nancy Drew, the kid detective. Nancy is a really sweet name. I can see it rising in popularity because it is short and ends in the ee sound. 

3. Mary

#121

Meaning: Bitter

Origin: Hebrew

The name of the mother of Jesus, Mary is an innocent name. I love the name even more when it is paired with another name such as Mary Catharine, Mary Kate, or Mary Jane as a first name. In the south I have seen the name Mary paired with a surname such as Mary Carter, Mary Marshall, and Mary Wesley, which is just adorable! 

4. Lydia

#96 

Meaning: From Lydia

Origin: Hebrew 

Lydia makes me think of Beetlejuice right away but I don't think that is bad because I love the movie. Not only is it a name used in film it is also used in literature by Jane Austen in Pride and Prejudice. 

5. Frances

#693 

Meaning: French

Origin: Latin 

I use to hate Frances on a girl but it is a new love of mine. My dad's mother was named Anastasia Frances. Not only did my great grandmother use France's but so did celebrities like Amanda Peet and Jimmy Fallon. My favorite part of this name is the spunky Frankie nickname. 

6. Rosemary

#533 

Meaning: Dew of the Sea

Origin: Latin 

I'm a huge lover of Rose and every one of her variants. Rosemary is a great combination of classic name and perfect if you can't chose between the two. 

7. Marie 

#573 

Meaning: Bitter 

Origin: French 

Marie is a filler middle name but is so refreshing as a first name. You will shock lots of people. It's a great French name without being over the top. 

8. Margaret 

#181

Meaning: Pearl

Origin: Greek

I love Margaret and love all of her nicknames like Maggie, Greta, Marnie, Marey, etc. The meaning is also a huge hit for me because pearls are the jewel for my sorority. Hey you could even call her Pearl as a nickname!

9. Ruth

#329

Meaning: Compassionate Friend

Origin: Hebrew

Ruth is a biblical name and one of the more popular biblical names. I think it is such a short and sweet name with no nicknames. You could use Ruthie. I do love the meaning a ton. 

10. Diana

#270

Meaning: Divine 

Origin: Latin

I can thank a Instagram follower for this. She requested the name and I instantly fell in love with it. Diana is the name of the famous princess as well as Diana Ross. I can;t help but think of an elegant little girl when I see it. 

1. James

#13

Meaning: Supplanter

Origin: Hebrew

I love this name so much that I am talking about it again in less than a month. It has so many different associations from authors to actors to presidents. There also so many nickname options my favorites being Jam and Jem.

2. Edward

#145

Meaning: Wealthy Guardian

Origin: English

Edward is both my dad's middle name and my cousin's first name. I also have some distant uncles named Ed. I'm not a fan of the nicknames Ed and Eddie so I would probably go down the Ward route as a nickname.

3. Charles

#57

Meaning: Free Man

Origin: German

Charles is my dad's, uncle's, and cousin's name. That's a lot of people! I think it is a great name but would use a variant of it because I won't use the actual name of family members. There's a ton of nicknames like Chalie, Charlie, Chal, Chaz, and Chuck.

4. Eugene

#779

Meaning: Well Born

Origin: English

If you know then you know that I love the movie Tangled. In it Flynn Riders real name is Eugene. I have to say that the movie made me love Eugene as much as I do. It really put a handsome face to a often times geeky name.

5. Arthur

#323

Meaning: Unknown; Possibly meaning Bear

Origin: Celtic

Arthur is a name that brings back childhood memories for me. It reminds me of the tv show Arthur with the ant eater. I think the name is do for a comeback and would love to hear it more often. I especially love the nickname Artie for it. 

6. Clarence

#985

Meaning: Bright

Origin: Latin

My love for Clarence comes from a tv show. There is a show on Cartoon Network called Clarence that my little cousins watch all the time. After hearing it so many times I slowly fell in love. Now I wouldn't use it but I am debating putting it on my long list. In my research I found the nickname Clancy and love that so much.

7. Lawrence

#471

Meaning: From Laurentum

Origin: Latin

My full name is Lauren and if I wanted I could use Lawrence as a way to honor myself. I wouldn't though. Lawrence is also a surname and a surname of someone I went to school with. It has some cool nicknames like Law, Ren, and Rencey.

8. Frederick

#492

Meaning: Peaceruler

Origin: German

Frederick is on of those names that just fits perfectly on a cute little old man. It makes me think of Up the movie because the main character is Carl Fredricksen. I'm not a huge fan of Fred as a nickname so I would probably use Red or Rico. 

9. Phillip

#364

Meaning: Lover of Horses

Origin: Greek

I immediately think of Phillip Phillips the singer but it's fine because I love his music. Often times Phillip is used on geeky characters or the smart kid in the class. I can definitely picture this name on a little cowboy. 

10. Rupert

N/A

Meaning: Variant of Robert; Bright Fame

Origin: German

Rupert is a grand name perfect for a king. It might be a little too much for a baby but he will surely grow into it and live up to this regal status. You can find this name floating around the Harry Potter world. 

My Top 10 Girl Names

Hey guys! So I have my top 10 girl names for you today. We are getting closer to the day I started this blog! Monday is the one year!!! Anyway for the girl list it was really hard for me to come up with names. The first 7 names are probably set in stone. The other 3 kind of change. I do love these names. So let’s get started.

1. Olivette- Olivette means olive tree in Latin. Olivette use to be my number 2 name and my number 2 name use to be my number 1 name but I changed them. I like the name Olivia but it is too popular for me so that’s where Olivette came in. I love the nickname Olive for it!
2. Athena- Athena means wise in Greek. I use to have this as my number one name but that changed because I started to like Olivette more. The meaning of Athena is great! That’s something that matters to me. The nickname I would use would be Thena. Also the combo I have for this name is Athena Love.
3. Reed- Reed means red-haired in English. I know this is a boy name but I love it on a girl. I do prefer it as a nickname but I haven’t found any names that I love to use it as a nickname for. I only like this spelling too.
4. Mack- Mack means son of in Gaelic. I know another boy name but I would only use this one as a nickname as with Reed I might use it on its own. I don’t like the names Mackenzie, Makenna, Makayla, or Mckinley so I couldn’t use Mack as a nickname. I do like Maclean, McKay, McKeltie, McClain, Maclynn, Macrae, Mckelina, and McCoy.
5. Philomena- Philomena means powerful love in Greek. I love the name Philomena with the nickname Mena or Pippa. It’s another name that I find grand and strong and very powerful. I heard this name on formspring and hated it at first but now I love it.
6. Holland- Holland means ridge land in English. Holland is the only place name I have in my top 20 or so. I like place names but not enough to put them on my list.  The only problem I have with this name is that I don’t like the nickname Holly.
7. Juniper- Juniper means juniper bush in Latin. I love the sound of this name. The p sounds so nice and strong in the name. Also, I love the nickname June for it or Junie. To me Juniper sounds so summery and girly.
8. Magnolia- Magnolia means Magnol’s flower in Latin. Magnolia is my favorite flower name. I love the sound of it and the spelling. There is actually a street in the place that I go on vacation to every year that is named Magnolia and there is another that is named Juniper! As for nicknames I like Maggie, Nola, and Nolie.
9. Anaxandra- Anaxandra is a Greek name but I don’t know the meaning. I love names with x in them. I first found this name while doing research on Greek name and was like I love this name! it is a great alternative to Alexandra and Anna. I would use the nicknames Anax or Xander (said like Zander).
10. Sailor- Sailor means boat man in American. I’m not sure how I feel in love with this name or where I first saw it but I love this name. It use to be on my guilty pleasure list but I moved it to my regular list because I love it so much. If I really think about it I don’t think I would use it only because I won’t have 10 girls. The nickname I would use would probably be Sail or Sally.

So that is my list I know must people won’t like them but I truly love them. they make me who I am and what I like. Let me know what you think in the comments below. I hope you liked this and bye for now :). 

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/frankvilsack/7956299902/

My Top 10 Boy Names

Hey guys! We are in the middle of my week of Blog Anniversary posts and today I have my top 10 boy names. I realized that I have never done a top ten list and that’s probably because I never had a top 10 until a couple of months ago. At this moment my top 10 is kind of under construction but I do have the list for you. it was easier to do the boy names because my favorite boy names hardly change. I’ll tell you the name, meaning, origin and a little about why I like it. So let’s get started.

1. Theodore- Theodore means divine gift in Greek. Theodore has been my top boy name for months now. I love the way it sounds and that it isn’t too popular or too unpopular. I also love the nickname Theo. I do have a few combos for the name Theodore and they are Theodore Landon, and Theodore Vincent.
2. Amadeus- Amadeus means God’s love in Latin. I’m not sure where I first here this name but some friends I have, have a friend named Amadeus and they always talked about him. I love the nickname Deus or even Day. It sounds so exotic and cool.
3. Thaddeus- Thaddeus means praise in Greek. Not sure where I here this name either but I really like it. It sounds exotic and manly. I can picture it on a baby or on an adult. For this name I have the nickname Thadd.
4. Atlas- Atlas means support, prop in Greek. I first here the name Atlas in the book The Atlas of Love by Laurie Frankel and I fell in love with it. Ever since I read that book I have loved the name. For Atlas I don’t have a nickname but if you have one let me know.
5. Vincenzo- Vincenzo means prevailing in Latin. I first heard the name Vincenzo on Tumblr. It was the boyfriend of a girl I followed on tumblr and she talked a lot about him. They are no getting married and have 2 kids. I also like the name Vincent but it is too popular, I have too many in my family, and I had a bad association with a Vincent to use it. As for nicknames I like Vince, Cenzo or Enzo.
6. Lorenzo- Lorenzo means man from Laurentum in Latin and Italian. I loved this name long before Snooki named her baby this. I even loved the nickname Enzo for it. The usable factor for me has gone down because of that but I still like the name and I still would use it.
7. Atticus- Atticus means from Athens in Latin. I never read To Kill a Mocking Bird so I never heard of the name Atticus and it didn’t make me think any differently about it. I’m not positive where I heard this name but I do know that when I first here it I feel in love. I don’t have a nickname for Atticus beside Atty but that’s too girly for me.
8. Ambrose- Ambrose means immortal in Greek. I first heard this name on Amelia’s videos. I fell in love and have loved it ever since. I think it is a very strong name and has a very nice ring to it. As for a nickname I kind of like Brose or Bro.
9. Ezra- Ezra means helper in Hebrew. I hated the name Ezra! So many people on formspring loved it and were always asking questions about it that I think I feel in love with it. No I like it but not enough for it to be in my top 5. I think Ezzy would be a cute nickname.
10. Francisco- Francisco means from France in Latin. Francesca use to be one of my favorite names but I don’t love it any more. I think that is why I liked Francisco. I don’t like the nicknames Fran or Frank but Cisco is kind of cute.

So that is all of my top 10 names. I seem to like a lot of Greek names and that goes for girl names as feel. I think in general Greek names are very strong and grand sounding names. If you want to see the girl list come back tomorrow. I hope you liked this and don’t forget to comment. Bye for now :)

Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/idnvu2/8133928374/