Patches of Names

The twenty-first century is the age for creative names. For boys, Kylo is one such prototype. It sounds like a mix of Kyle and Milo. However, that's not the full picture.  Kylo's origins aren't exactly clear. BehindtheName.com suggests it possibly derived from the Latin Caelum, meaning "sky". Abby Sandel on Appellation Mountain claims it came from similar-sounding surnames like Keilo and Kilo.  Despite the name's unclear origins, it is certain that the  Star Wars  franchise launched the name. Kylo Ren, who was born Ben, was the son of Han Solo and Princess Leia.  The Star Wars franchise began in 1977. Two years later, Kylo first appeared in the naming data. However, Kylo did not enter consistent use until this past decade. It went from being given to just eight boys in 2014 to the top 1000 in 2016. Kylo now ranks around the top 450. It also rising in England. This being said, Kylo is becoming a huge hit among parents, whether they love Star Wars  or simply lik

Gothic, or dangerous, names are those with creepy or dangerous connections. For example, the name Scarlett connects to the disease scarlet fever. Likewise, Phoenix connects to a bird that rises from the dead every 500 years.  Apparently, many Gothic names are more popular now than ever before. This makes sense considering our growing secular world. Here are some examples: GIRLS' NAMES: Anastasia Anastasia doesn't just mean "resurrection." It also connects to the Russian princess whose family was executed in 1918. Anastasia was also a saint's name. Despite this, Anastasia is completely new to the top 200.  Coraline Coraline is the titular character of Neil Gailman's horror novel along with the accompanying movie. It sounds old-fashioned even though it never ranked before the 2010s.  Delilah In the Bible, Delilah betrayed the Philistines by cutting the hair of her lover, Samson. It rarely ranked in the top 500 until the twenty-first century. Delilah is now solid

Once upon a time, before the Middle Ages, King Clovis of the Franks got baptized. The baptism was performed by a saint with the modern-sounding name of Remy. The same saint went on to convert many more Franks to Christianity. That's why the name has been used in France for centuries.  As an American feminine name, though, Remy is thoroughly contemporary. The same can be said about the Old French form Remi. Neither spelling appeared in records before the 1960s. The name has been used for American boys as early as the 1910s, though.  Remi entered the top 1000 for girls in 2013 and is now in the 100s. For boys, Remi entered in 2018. Despite this, the gender gap between Remy is more narrow. This makes Remi, overall, a truly unisex choice. In case a child was transgender, a name change might not be necessary.  History and gender aside, there are many other reasons why Remi is bound to hit the top 100 soon. First, it appeals to parents looking for a fresh alternative to Riley. Second, na

Nora is a classic girls' names with Celtic roots. Originally a short form of names like Honora, Nora has been used in Ireland since the Middle Ages. However, it didn't migrate to America until around the nineteenth century. It then ranked in the top 100. After dropping into the 400s, Nora returned to the top of the charts in 2013. It is now more popular than ever before. Alongside being both classic and old-fashioned, Nora has Celtic style via its Irish roots. It also has a smooth and sweet sound. While Nora is most common as a full name, it can be short for longer names like Eleanora.  Whether you're a parent who can't use Nora for certain reasons, you're trying to name Nora's sister, or you're just looking for more names to fall in love with, this list is for you.  Clova Sweet Clova is the name of a Scottish village, giving it Celtic style.  Daphne Daphne is not a classic, but this sweet name has never really been in or out of style.  Enya An anglicization

The nineteenth century marked significant changes in the naming world. Words connecting to plants became given names, especially for girls. In 1900, Rose, Hazel, Myrtle, Daisy, and Olive all ranked within the girls' top 100.  Today, while old-fashioned plant names come back, new plant names are on the rise for boys and girls alike. One of them, Willow, entered the top 100 this past decade. Perhaps some of these contemporary plant names are unisex. Here are some examples: Briar Briar isn't just the name of a thorny bush, but it's also known as the original sleeping beauty.  Rowan This unisex Irish name is also a tree name.  Sage Sage is the name of a spice. That's similar to a plant name, right.    While plenty of rising nature names are unisex, many others are gendered. Yet, they're still tailored. Here are some feminine plant names on the rise: Aspen Aspen has been gradually rising since the 1990s. It's not only a new tree name, but it's also a ski resort i