Confession: I read a lot of baby name blogs. I am. not. pregnant. I just love names. Always have. I bought my first copy of Beyond Jennifer and Jason when I was twelve and furiously highlighted, annotated, and made lists of my favorite names for my progeny.
I still have that book, but I no longer think I’ll bestow the name “Maevyn” on my first-born daughter.
I had to explain this obsession to Will early on so he wouldn’t think I was rushing us along to the next phase in life. Now, he’s completely used to me calling out, “What do you think of the name Bridget?” apropos of nothing.
I kept my name lists to myself for a long time because I thought I was alone in my obsession; that the only other people interested in names had an impending 9-month deadline.
How wrong I was. There are tons of name nerds out there discussing the merits of various monikers. Thank you, internet.
Once I’m comfortable with someone (read: 5 minutes after meeting them), I’m likely to ask my Name Questions.
How did your parents pick your name? Most common answer: in honor of a family member.
What’s your middle name? Most common answers: Marie and Lynn (for my early-80s lady-friends).
What would your name have been if you were the other gender? Most common answer: (crickets). Best answer: A very girly name for my very manly friend. My answer: George Bradford, for the record.
I love learning sibling names, too. It’s interesting to think about how names go together. My mother and her sisters have perfectly-fitting names, if I do say so: Mary, Martha, Rebecca, and Sarah. We tend to think our names go with our siblings regardless as we are so used to hearing them together (“Helena and Kerry” are a wonderful sibling set, for instance).
I also adore hearing name lists from others afflicted with my moniker obsession. So much about your own name (how common it is, how easy to say/spell it is) that flows into your list of favorite names. Everyone loves an armchair psychologist, no?
(Tomorrow, I will discuss my feelings about my own name).
I love how you can pretty much guess a person’s age when seeing their name & knowing when it was popular. As a Kristen, I know that almost every other gal I meet with that name will be a late 70s into mid 80s baby. I also find it fascinating how some names go in and out of style- Amanda, Jennifer- are rarely used anymore- but names that were considered “old fashioned” when we were born- Abigail, Ella- are coming back in style again!
Most of my grandparents/their generation have typical “old-fashioned” names — Wilma, Clarence, Evelyn, Edna, Wilmer, etc. But my great-grandmother, born 1893, was named Amanda.
I’m quickly running through great grandmothers to see if I can think of any “now” names… I have Sarah, Helena, Esther… can’t think of others right now. Perhaps my mom will chime in here in the comments.
I read something recently about someone changing their name from something 1980s (Stephanie) to something more “now”. It is interesting that you hear certain names (Audrey) and know that they are either in preschool or a retirement home!
My middle name is Lyn — but it’s technically short for Evelyn, my grandma’s name.
Renita … the short version is that my parents thought they were making it up by combining the Greek “Irene” and the Spanish suffix -ita and making it mean “little peace”.
Of course, there ARE other Renitas in the world … many of them are black, Indonesian or really old. Renita reached its peak of popularity in the ’40s.
I was almost named Jennifer Rebecca. (oh, 1981.) I don’t know that I ever heard a male name I would’ve gotten as a boy.
My middle name is Marie – I was named for my great grandmother, but her name was Helena Mercedes (that wasn’t a popular car yet and… they were Irish which makes the Mercedes a little odd…). My mother didn’t like Mercedes so I got Marie. Helena the great grandmother had a sister named Mary, so it kind of fit with the family heritage thing.
My mother once told me that she considered Helena Kathleen, which I think is way more exotic. Le sigh.
I love names too! And I am holding closely the names I love for a boy and a girl, just in case.
My mom was 22 when she had me and loved the names Vanessa and Kendal. My dad liked the name Vanessa more. Sounded more Italian. My brothers are named Louis and Dominic. So we definitely have the Italian names!
Names of grandmothers, great grandmothers, great-great grandmothers:
Jane (mimi)
Betty Jane (grandmom)
Janette Sarah (Mimi’s mother (great grandmother))
Esther Ellen (Grandmom’s mother (dito))
Sarah Elizabeth (great-great grandmother)
Mary Arminda (great-great-great grandmother)
I could go on with my grandmother’s siblings – i.e. there was a Mary Lucia that I thought the name flowed so well. There was a Margaret as well.
Thanks, Ma!
I thought Mimi’s mom’s name was Sarah Jeanette. I always invert that name.
Also, I love Arminda (though I think it works better as Rebecca’s middle name).
Hahaha! I love this! I’ve always been very name-obsessed and would write tons of stories when I was little just so I could come up with smashing new name combos
. I love naming EVERYTHING! (stuffed animals, pets, cars, computers, electronics, trees, etc.) – Yeah, it’s bad. And as for the sibling combos. I have sisters named Emily and Amy, and I’ve always thought they were waaaaay to similar – what were my parents thinking?! Ha! Anyway – so nice to “meet” you and find your blog today – always fun finding something in common on the blog waves 
I definitely have examples I can think of where sibling names are too similar… that always confused me. Perhaps the parents liked a certain feel?
On Matthew’s side, historically Lawrence was a very popular first name — they had to start going to middle names and nicknames to differentiate. I understand popular family names but it always seemed a little goofy to me. Thankfully Matthew’s grandpa let the name stop with him and it’s used as a middle name now.
MMMK, I just thought of one I can share (as it’s a celebrity rather than a person I actually know!). Hayley and Hilary Duff. What the eff? Hayley and Hilary are SO similar!
You may be right about mimi’s mom – but you are definitely right about Arminda – that is Rebecca’s middle name
So in June, I met a coworker w/whom I’ve emailed for a year but never met face to face. When I introduced myself, he said, ”So YOU’RE Esther?! I always pictured someone much uhhh…older.” Thanks, dude. Btw, his name was Micah, another solid OT name.
My brother is Micah but he is only 11!
I’ve met 2 girl Micahs so far… I very much prefer it for a boy.
Haha, that’s funny.
I’m glad I have only one Esther and one Helena in my life!
My friend had twins…and named them Brandy Leigh( girl) and Brandon Lee (boy)…. (odd to me..but Oh well….Once you name a baby–the name sort of “fits” them….)
My mom used to say…ALWYAS give a baby a name that you would look good on the door to an office….Something EVERYONE can pronounce and spell. LOL ( hence our names.. Margaret(Peggy) Eileen- James Rollins (III) (Jay-R) and Maureen
( no middle name).( Yes..we ARE just a “little” Irish…
Wow, those twin names are REALLY similar!
Baby names are so fun. Sometimes I think about having more babies just to use all the names I love, and because babies are awesome. My name has no exciting story (family names which I like but you know typical). Both of our boys’ middle names are family (Scott Parker for my dad and Owen chandler for Brian’s grandfather). That leads me to my question….Are you amd will remotely on the same page when it comes to naming your future juniors?? Just curious….it’s a fun process….with Scott we always knew (had it picked out for years) but we went round and round with Owen!
Oh and female family names on my side include Bertha and Harriet and Roberta, if we had or in the future have a daughter we will use brians grandmothers name, Evelyn, for a first ot middle….Bertha just doesn’t suit.
Will and I have some names on the shortlist. His style is pretty classical, so I can tell, generally, before I suggest a name if he will like it or not. That will be a fun little adventure.
Well my name while rare when I was born was a character on KRWP Cincinnati and I am lucky I was not a boy because I would have been Drake Dean which I mean is just bad! I also am a middle name Marie’r and am one of many many in my family so I like it and plan on passing it down if the time ever comes!
I love names (as you know, my dear, because of our Horrid Names list)!
First name = mother’s middle name, because of her maternal aunt’s first name, because of my great-great grandmother’s name. I love that there are so many Theresas in the family!
Middle name = Marie, after my maternal grandfather’s grandmother (was her middle name). It ticks me off that everyone born in the 1980s uses ‘Marie,’ since mine is a genuine name. My mom told me that at one point my folks considered naming me after a paternal great-aunt, Mae. That would’ve been neater, I think, or at least more unusual.
My mom’s one of 9 siblings, all with names that start with ‘C’ and ‘K.’ It’s fun to rattle off, but I prefer a family with one person per initial.
I also think it’s atrociously mean to give a child both a boring, standard, run-of-the-mill first name AND middle name. At least if you name them something cool as a middle name, they could switch to that later in life if they feel the need to not be one of 15 Mikes/Michaels at their school.
Man, I might need to write a post on this as well!
Also, I would have been called Andrew (after my paternal great-great uncle).