Patches of Names

Parents prefer different names in England than they do in America. About half of the popular English names are also common in America. Even more rank lower on American charts. Perhaps some rank below the top 1000. Here are some examples from the English top 200: Alba Alba has a similar old-fashioned feel and sound as rising Alma. Yet, this name also has clunky consonants that are more stylish overseas.  Chester Chester is a vintage name bringing to mind former president Chester A. Arthur. It ranks among the top 100 names in England. Chester sounds a bit too fusty for American parents, though.  Darcy Darcy brings to mind Mr. Darcy from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice . This British literary pick sounds like a sister for Harper and Scarlett. This name ranked in America during the 1960s, but it was never popular enough to feel dated today. Thus, Darcy should be more common here.  Imogen This Shakespearean name from Cymbeline has the sound pattern of Emily and Vivian. Yet, few names

A few years ago, I explained some girls' names that could make the top 100 this decade. Now that I know more about trends, though, I am going to do an update.  Today I will list several girls' names that have generally risen over the last five years and have the ingredients of a top 100 name. This is no guarantee that all these names will become popular, but they most likely will.  Ada Ada was popular a century ago and is coming back today. With so many three-letter girls' names in the top 100, including Ava, Mia, Zoe, and Eva; alongside long "a" names like Hazel and Sadie, Ada easily fits in. Blake Unisex surnames with the long "a" sound, including Avery and Peyton, have been popular lately. Blake is likely to follow.  Blakely Blakely twists the "aylee" name trend of the 2000s. Plus, it elaborates on Blake like Everly elaborates on Eve. It has the creative feel of Kinsley as well.  Cecilia Cecilia has a style similar to that of top 10 picks Ol

In early October of this year, the annual England and Wales name data came out. It listed the top 1000 names for boys and girls born in 2021. I focused on girls' names in a previous post, so today I will talk about boys' names. In the top 10, Noah rose three spots to replace Oliver as the most popular name. Moreover, Henry replaced Jack. Regarding the top 100, six names entered. These are Nathan, Tobias, Rupert, Kai, Brody, and Blake. They replaced Leon, Ibrahim, Jenson, Jayden, Elliott, and Harley. I find it pleasant knowing that a vintage name like Rupert is now popular somewhere among English-speakers. Plus, I am not surprised about Jayden leaving the top 100. I do not predict English data like I do American data, though, so I don't have too many feelings about it. Below, I will list the top 100 boys' names in England and Wales. Next to each name, I will list the American name with the same ranking. Noah-Liam Oliver-Noah George-Oliver Arthur-Elijah Muhammad-James Leo

Olivia, Sophia, and Isabella ranked among the top 10 girls' names for over a decade. Charlotte and Amelia are more recent additions to the top. As with any name, these open doors for more names to become popular. What do Olivia, Sophia, Isabella, Charlotte, and Amelia have in common? They are classic elegancies, long names that feel timeless. These names can be nickname-rich, like Amelia, or feel tied to a common nickname, like Charlotte shortening to Charlie. They can also be formal or lacy in sound.  Despite this, having multiple syllables is not enough for a classic to be elegant. Names like Georgia and Miriam feel a bit too youthful to make this list.  Today I list more classic elegancies that are on the rise for girls. They all rank within the current top 1000. Some could even make the top 10 in the future. Adelaide Adelaide has not risen as much as the other names on this list. However, it still counts as a classic elegancy with a formal sound and a variety of nicknames, incl

Ruby has been an English name since the eighteenth century. It became popular for the first time as part of the Victorian trend for nature names. Ruby was a top 100 name from 1888 to 1945 before hitting its low point at #401 in 1986. Since then, the name has risen again. Ruby has been a top 100 revival since 2013.  While Ruby rarely left the top 400, it feels more vintage than classic in style. Plus, unlike Pearl and Violet, it is an old-fashioned gemstone name that feels bold and tailored. Finally, Ruby's "ee" ending makes it sound like a nickname despite its gemstone roots. This list is for parents who love Ruby but want something less popular, are trying to name Ruby's sister, or for name lovers who simply want more names to love.  Here are some alternatives below the top 100: Belle Vintage Belle sounds like a nickname for Isabelle despite being the French word for "beauty."   Betty Pop culture associations such as Betty Boop give this old-fashioned nickn