Patches of Names

Girls' names starting with "Ev" have always been around. Think classic Evelyn, literary Evangeline, Greek Evadne, elaborate Evelina, and exotic Evolet. Within the last decade came another all-feminine "Ev" name: Everly.  Everly came from a surname. As with many feminine surname-names, Everly was not in heavy use before the twenty-first century. Perhaps she was not even in consistent use before 2000 despite having its first occurrence in 1944. However, several records popped up for women named Everly born before 1940 on FindaGrave.com. This being said, Everly may have more history than the numbers suggest. The fame of the rock duo, the Everly Brothers, might explain the name's sparing use in the twentieth century.  Either way, Everly is thoroughly modern. She was not in the top 1000 before 2012. Afterward, Everly shot up the charts. Less than ten years later, Everly is in the top 50. Variant Everleigh joined Everly in the top 100 a few years after the dominan

Nature names have been in vogue for girls since the nineteenth century. These names were taken from plants, gemstones, and even the night sky. Most night sky names didn't catch on for girls right away, though; Nova is one such name.  Nova is the term used for a certain type of star. That's not where it begins, however. Nova comes from the Latin term for "new;" such a meaning, obviously, does not just apply to stars. Yet, the term is mainly used for exploding stars.  As described above, Nova has a long history of use. It was first used in small numbers in the late eighteenth century. It became more common at the end of the nineteenth century, but remained rare in the United States. Nova ranked from the mid-1880s to the late 1930s without ever making the top 500. The name spiked in the 1930s in England thanks to British actor Nova Pilbeam. However, Pilbeam had no effect on her name in America.  Having history is not even enough to make a name traditional; it must also h

William has been a masculine classic for centuries. Today, parents are finding new ways to honor relatives with such names. These include using the last four letters of William alone. As implied above, Liam originated as a nickname for Uilliam, the Irish form of William. The full name means "resolute protection." Any parent would want such an encouraging meaning when selecting their child's name.  Liam was first used for five boys in 1947. It took seven years for Liam to enter consistent use. It entered  the top 1000 in 1967 but left shortly afterward. Since entering again in 1974, Liam has been rising in use. It went on to hit the top 100 in 2006 and the top 10 in 2012. Liam has been the most popular boys' name in the United States since 2017.  The name is used in all other English-speaking nations although it is declining. Liam is also a true international name with usage in several South and Central American and European languages. These include the name's orig

Vintage names are more old-fashioned and less common than antique names. They rank below the U.S. Top 500, allowing them to obtain an "old-lady" or "old-man" vibe. If you love old-fashioned names, this list is for you. There are three ways in which a name can qualify as vintage: Revival-Ready Names These names have peaked in the U.S. Top 200 at least 75 years ago and are just starting to feel fresh again. GIRLS' NAMES: Agnes Betty Fern Goldie Ida Lula Nellie Pearl Ramona Winnie BOYS' NAMES: Alfred Clyde Emil Floyd Gilbert Homer Ira Milton Roland Wilbur Names from Other English-Speaking Countries Sometimes, names that were popular in England, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand but never caught on here can sound old-fashioned to American ears. Here are some examples: GIRLS' NAMES: Beryl Dulcie Enid Jemima Lavinia Mavis Nola Prudence Sybil Una BOYS' NAMES: Basil Cedric Enos Fergus Griffith Horatio Jabez Percival Selwyn Watson Famous People from the Past

Now that it's November, Fall is approaching an end. Before it ends, I want to list my ten favorite Fall-inspired names for each gender.  In order to qualify as a Fall-inspired name, a name must: have connections to the season, whether it's a tree name, Fall-inspired color, or a name tied to an Autumn month. Here are some names that are perfect for a child born in the Fall: GIRLS' NAMES: Autumn (#82)-Autumn is the obvious name for a child born in the Fall. It's simply another word for Fall.  Cornelia (unranked)-Its first syllable of "corn" brings to mind the common Fall attraction of corn mazes. Cornelia makes a great alternative to Cora and Amelia. Ember (#193)-Ember connects to campfires, a common Fall event. It's included in September and November as well.  Fawn (unranked)-Tying to a deer and a yellowish tan color, Fawn is perfect of the Fall.  Harvest (unranked)-Harvest sounds like the perfect name for Fall, as in harvesting crops for the Winter. Maple

Antique girls' names feel fresh again. Even if they qualify as timeless classics, they have either gained or are nearing revival status. Because these names now feel part-modern, parents who aren't too fond of "old-fashioned" names will still appreciate these. In order to qualify, a name must: have peaked within the top 100 or 400 at least 80 years ago or less than 20 years ago. have returned to a certain point depending on its last peak: #1-#100: back in top 400 #101-#400: back in top 700 sound slightly old-fashioned. have not always ranked within the top 200. Those who love old names but fear they're too "old" can consider the following names: Olivia (#1) Emma (#2) Ava (#3) Sophia (#4) Isabella (#5) Charlotte (#6) Amelia (#7) Evelyn (#10) Emily (#12) Ella (#13) Luna (#16) Penelope (#22) Chloe (#24) Eleanor (#27) Grace (#28) Nora (#29) Hazel (#33) Lily (#34) Violet (#36) Lillian (#37) Stella (#39) Leah (#44) Lucy (#48) Audrey (#49) Bella (#50) Claire (#

Today I write about the boys' name, Lincoln. ORIGIN AND MEANING: Lincoln is derived from an English surname. The surname, itself, is derived from "Lindum Colonia", the name of an English city. The root words of the place name "lindo" and "colony" combine to mean "lake colony." PRONOUNCIATION: The name is pronounced "ling-kin". USAGE: Lincoln ranked in the top 1000 most years since 1880 though it didn't start rising until the turn of the twenty-first century. Lincoln entered the top 100 in 2013. It has been there ever since, now ranking at #41. FAMOUS PEOPLE: Lincoln Ellsworth (1880-1951), American polar explorer who was a benefactor for the American Museum of Natural History. Lincoln Davenport Chafee (1953-), former U.S. Senator and 74th Governor of Rhode Island. Lincoln Brewster (1971-), American Christian singer and pastor.  Lincoln Riley (1983-), current American football coach at the University of Oklahoma. Lincoln Marshall

Today I write about the girls' name Haven. ORIGIN AND MEANING: Haven is derived from the English word, which, itself, was derived from the Old English "haefen", meaning "safe place". PRONOUNCIATION: The name is pronounced "hay-vin". USAGE: Haven was first used for six girls in 1920 and for five girls in 1931. Haven was registered a few times before 1976, when it began to rise. Haven entered the top 1000 in 1996 and again in 1998. Haven is currently holding steady around the upper 200s and lower 300s. FAMOUS PEOPLE: Haven Denney (1995-), American pair skater who has won many awards. Haven Garner Warren (2011-), daughter of American actress Jessica Alba and film producer Cash Warren. USIBILITY: Haven has such a wonderful meaning and, even better, shows no sign of hitting the top 100 anytime soon. Haven has to be one of my favorite modern names. While most modern names, like Harper and Paisley, rise dramatically, Haven reached the 300s gradually. Haven al

When Margaret Mitchell started writing her bestselling novel, Gone with the Wind , she named her hero Pansy. However, the book publishers suggested she use a more dramatic name. Thus, Mitchell changed her character's name to Scarlett. Where did that come from? According to Nancy's Baby Names, Mitchell often came across the name Katie Scarlett in Irish Literature; Scarlett O'Hara's first name was Katie. Scarlett got her middle name, by which she was called, from her grandmother's maiden name. Mitchell explained it in her novel, but it's easy to miss in the movie, confusing parents into thinking Scarlett was a common Victorian name.  As hinted above, Scarlett began as a surname. However, it doesn't sound like one because it's merely a respelling of the color. Scarlet cloth wasn't always exclusively red, though; during the late Middle Ages, two centuries after Scarlett became a surname for the cloth makers, scarlet became a term for its common red color

In the world of naming, there are vintage revivals such as Hazel and Leo alongside contemporary hits such as Harlow and Legend. Is there an in-between?  This list is inspired by Eleanor "Elea" Nickerson's "Ripe Renovations" list on British Baby Names; renovated (previously called "transparent") names still follow traditional naming practices and have a vintage sound, but they have never been popular (top 100-200 in English-speaking nations), at least until recently, and are much more common today (hence a modern feel). Here are some girls' names that strike the balance between vintage and modern, having old-fashioned charm without ever being popular enough to earn the "old lady" label: Adelina Alba Amelie Annalise Astrid Aurora Ava Beatrix Bella Charlie Coraline Davina Elodie Esme Evangeline Felicity Freya Gemma Imogen Isla Juliet(te) Liberty Lilah Luna Lyla Maeve Magnolia Maisie Margot Marigold Ophelia Orla Pippa Rhea Scarlett Scottie Sy

I created a top 100 list for timeless classic girls' names, but I haven't yet done so for boys' names. There are more evergreen boys' names than there are girls' names, yet not all classic boys' names are. The same rules for girls' names apply here. A name must: have been used or rooted in the ancient or medieval era. have been worn by many people throughout history. feel timeless. Here are 100 timeless boys' names that will never go out of style: Oliver (#3) William (#4) Elijah (#5) James (#6) Benjamin (#7) Alexander (#11) Henry (#12) Jacob (#13) Michael (#14) Daniel (#15) Samuel (#22) Matthew (#23) Joseph (#24) David (#27) John (#28) Julian (#31) Luke (#32) Isaac (#34) Theodore (#36) Gabriel (#37) Anthony (#38) Christopher (#44) Andrew (#46) Thomas (#47) Charles (#51) Nathan (#55) Adrian (#56) Christian (#57) Aaron (#61) Jonathan (#64) Robert (#76) Nicholas (#78) Adam (#90) Vincent (#115) George (#119) Luis (#120) Nathaniel (#123) Zachary (#124) Calvin

In 1986, the film Top Gun hit theaters. The protagonist of the film, Captain Pete Mitchell went by the nickname Maverick. He recently made his name public again in the 2022 sequel: Top Gun: Maverick . Maverick, an English word name meaning "independent," has gotten more popular after the release of Top Gun . However, the name debuted a few decades earlier. It first entered the data in 1957 under influence from the James Garner western TV series Maverick . It entered the top 1000 the next year but left in 1960.  Maverick re-entered the top 1000 in 1994, eight years after Top Gun . It has risen in use since then. The name has been in the top 100 since 2017 and is at its current peak. Maverick has also been popular in Canada and rising in England.  A lot of aspects draw parents towards the name. It is a modern virtue that was once too much for a child to uphold, making this appropriate for our bold naming age. Maverick also has a rustic cowboy vibe that allows it to fit in with

 Today I list the top 100 girls' names starting with "C". Charlotte (#6) Camila (#15) Chloe (#24) Claire (#55) Caroline (#61) Cora (#71) Clara (#95) Charlie (#132) Cecilia (#153) Callie (#180) Catalina (#189) Catherine (#243) Camille (#258) Camilla (#271) Cali (#274) Charlee (#284) Cassidy (#366) Celeste (#374) Camryn (#400) Collins (#406) Cataleya (#410) Carolina (#417) Carmen (#427) Charleigh (#430) Celine (#490) Colette (#496) Cheyenne (#500) Carter (#513) Charli (#520) Christina (#523) Cameron (#544) Chelsea (#545) Cecelia (#546) Cadence (#549) Charley (#551) Carly (#567) Cassandra (#612) Coraline (#626) Chaya (#663) Clementine (#686) Calliope (#705) Clarissa (#744) Cynthia (#748) Crystal (#773) Chanel (#781) Chana (#791) Clare (#800) Celia (#863) Corinne (#888) Casey (#897) Christine (#922) Chandler (#925) Carolyn (#940) Cleo (#967) Cara (unranked) Carla (unranked) Cherish (unranked) Claudia (unranked) Carina (unranked) Chevelle (unranked) Cordelia (unranked) Celina

The 2010s was a golden era for revival names-think Ruby and Cora. Now we look ahead to names that will return to the top 100 during this decade.  GIRLS' NAMES: Ada (#209)-Ada, a sister for Cora and an alternative to Emma, has risen quickly during the last two years. Ada fits in with minimalistic three-letter names like Mia and Zoe. The double-"a" pattern is also stylish. Ada was last popular in the early 1910s and will most likely be back within the next few years. Eliza (#119)-Eliza hasn't topped the charts since the 1880s. Yet, thanks to the popular musical "Hamilton", Eliza will finally return in the 2020s. Eliza fits in with all the "el" names of this day, like Eleanor and Elena, and has the stylish "z" sound of the also old-fashioned name Hazel. Elsie (#247)-Elsie is another "el" name that's due to be revived in the 2020s. Elsie was in the top 100 until the early 1930s and is clearly making its way back to the top. Elsi