I’m obsessed w
ith baby names. Freakishly obsessed. In fact, I’d like to name your baby.
Ask my friends. I’m breathlessly giddy when someone asks my opinion on a combination of first and middle names with the surname or the siblings’ names. My heart races just thinking about it.
Thank goodness I write fiction, which means I can legitimately waste time on baby-name sites when I’m creating characters. Although last year I actually published a story about a couple arguing in the hospital over what to name their third boy. I warned you–freakishly obsessed.
So . . . clearly I have a problem. But lucky for you, if you’re expanding your family or naming characters for stories and novels, I’m offering my collection of names as a good starting point.
The names below have stood the test of time. Whose test? MINE! Hey–it’s my blog. What is the “test” based on? Gut feel. That’s all. I like a name or I don’t. But for the purposes of the list below, I tried to provide some sort of logical headings. It should be noted (because I want kudos for my restraint) that I can provide an even longer list of names I think you should avoid, but I’d rather not insult the blogosphere. At least not today.
HOW THE LIST WORKS:
- The headings–my attempt to “explain” my gut reaction to a name–inherently reflect what I value and admire in a name. (aka, you won’t find a category entitled: “names from Jersey Shore”)
- I’ve included more names for girls than boys because I don’t like foofy boys’ names. I could only do so much with my boys’ list.
- If you know me in any capacity (and even if you don’t) please do not resent me for leaving your child’s name off the list. The list is hardly exhaustive. My kids’ names don’t appear on it either! And you know I love those names!
- In general if a name is not on this list, it doesn’t mean I hate the name. It means the name is not among my *favorites.* Or . . . it means I’m hoarding it for myself. Because you never know. I have to save the absolute gems.
- The list is not alphabetical. For reasons of laziness.
NAMES FOR GIRLS
Feminine But Not Flowery: Lydia, Julia, Juliet, Elizabeth, Maya, Mia, Taryn, Caroline, Chelsea, Lindsey, Audrey, Sasha, Layla
Flowery or Cute But in a Way That Works (What do I mean by “works?” I don’t know. It’s subjective. Like I said–gut feel.): Daisy, Phoebe, Libby, Sadie, Lucy, Josie, Lila, Ellie, Ariella, Carly, Emily, April, Abby, Holly, Ivy, Chloe, Ruby
Simple Goodness: Margo, Anna, Annie, Jane, Kate, Lauren, Claire, Allison
Hebrew Names I Love But Didn’t have the Balls to Use for my Girls: Avital, Ayelet, Yael (pronounced YAH-el)
Names I Would Use or Almost Used But are Now Too Close to My Kids’ Names: Danielle, Ilana/Alana/Elana, Eliana, Aliza (pronounced: ah-LEE-za), Eliza (pronounced: eh-LIE-za)
NAMES FOR BOYS
Boy’s Names I Like: Eli, Jack, Seth, Miles, Asher, Daniel, Ethan, Evan, Julian, Ross, Noah, Jared, Gabriel (Gabe), Max, Micah, Nathan, Saul, Zack, Charlie, Drew, Liam, Jake, Simon, Will, Avi, Zev, Ezra, Levi, Judah
So does anyone else collect names? What names would you suggest for my lists that seem to go with the themes? I’m not ashamed to steal ideas!
UPDATE: Soon after I wrote this post, I found out I was pregnant with baby #4. In July 2011, I wrote a follow up called “Help My Husband Name Our Baby.” Why on Earth would I give over naming rights to my husband? You’ll have to read the post to find out!
(Photo credit kaatjeveroort via Flickr)
Nina (@NinaBadzin)
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Welcome! I am a freelance writer living in Minneapolis with my husband and four children. My essays on parenting, social media etiquette, improving my habits, Jewish life and more appear in the Huffington Post, Kveller.com, The Jewish Daily Forward and elsewhere. I'm glad you found your way here!
When I wrote my first novel – through the whole process – I changed every name except two. I use the Social Security website and research top 100 names for around the time I want my character to have been born. Then I never chose the top names, but something on the list. Nothing irks me more than a name out of time – like a Tiffany who’s supposed to be 38, or something like like (no offense meant to any 38-year-old Tiffany’s).
As soon as I found out I was pregnant the first time (whoa, almost 20 years ago) the baby’s name was chosen if he was boy, which I knew he would be, and he was. Took much more trial and tribulation to choose a girl’s name.
Now I’m anguishing over my main character’s ex-husband’s name. And — my real obsession? Choosing last names. That’s tough for me.
Suggestions welcome, Nina. Although I can’t offer you sweet smelling heads or tiny toes to go along with this job!
Amy! I collect last names too. I’m serious! I have entire list for when I’m writing (mostly Jewish ones). Email me the details of the character!! And I LOVE the social security name site. It’s my drug of choice!!!!!!!!
Girl Names for Dad’s: Chastity, Virginity, My Dad Knows Karate
POP!!! You’re hysterical!!!
I just came across your site and am trying to think of a name for baby #2. Big brother is Jack. If it’s a girl we are thinking Isabel (I know it’s popular but we like it), Allie, and Nina (my grandmother’s name).
Any other suggestions?
Boy names are much tougher….Luke/Lucas has always been in the running, Tyler, but we’d really like to come up with some other names. Ruled out henry, william/liam.
Thanks for your input!
Hi! So I’m not just saying this because it’s my name . . . but I’ve loved the name Nina. Feminine but serious enough. Easy to say and spell. Nice and short with no nickname (so goes with Jack).
You know my faves. Regal, strong, and surprisingly not on your list.
They might be on the secret list I’m hoarding. It’s a short list, but you probably know what’s on it since I’ve been telling you the names I love for the past 7 years.
My imaginary third daughter is Juliet. Ellie, Nina and Juliet. Alas she will remain in my imagination. I don’t have an imaginary son…
That’s a great name and I might add it to the list! Hope you don’t mind. Close to Julia but with a twist. And of course I love “Nina!” Actually, I heard a father in Trader Joes calling his little girl Nina. I literally stopped him and said, “Is your daughter’s name Nina?” Then I told him my name is Nina and we spoke for like ten minutes about names and why Nina is a good one–easy to say, easy to spell, feminine, but not flowery, different but not weird!
Well obviously I love the list of “feminine but not flowery” since both of my girls are on your short list! I’m laughing because we’ve had name conversations so frequently. I don’t collect names anymore but I certainly used to. I always wanted to spare my kids the trouble that I went through with an. “Oh, I’ve never heard that name before” name. My boy’s name that I will never get to use is “Ben”. Cute post.
They’re great names, Cym! Your boy’s name too!
I also really like thinking of names. It’s a good thing if you’re a fiction writer, ay?
Jana- I have been on the social security popular names site??? It’s AMAZING.
Love your list Nina! My three kids are on it-Ethan, Daniel and Abby.
All excellent choices, Allison! And your name is on my list too!!! Everyone but the G-man!
If I had been a boy, I was to be named Ethan. Fine now but we are talking about 1943!
Interesting! I wonder how Grandma and Grandpa thought of it?
F-I-N-A-L-L-Y… You write a post about names. I love it! Since I used to work for the #1 baby name author in the country this piece is write up my ally (no pun intended). The two of us have had countless conversations about names and I remember the one last year when we were in your kitchen. I was pregnant and we were discussing girls names and you mentioned how much you adore the name Lauren and little did you know at the time that Lauren was our #1 choice. So, I love that Lauren makes your “Simple Goodness” list. Well, I am looking forward to our name chit chat on Saturday night. Again, L-O-V-E this one!
Ha! Great post. Talking about baby names for women is like men talking about sports – it never gets old!
ALI- I loved when you had that job. Of course we’ll still discuss names. I remember sitting in a restaurant with Nancy and Emily talking about names many moons ago. I really am singularly focused!
Hey, if you like Yael but want something even more usual, I highly recommend Jael.
Sure, you have to explain how it’s pronounced, and for that period in your life where you go by JL instead of Jael to make things easier you still end up getting asked what it stands for, and people think it’s Joel, or Jail, and you have to set them straight, and also there are Superman jokes, but the reward for that is that Jaels are so rare that the first time you hear someone say “Hey Jael” and they’re not talking to you is when a Jael appears on America’s Next Top Model, and you never get lost among the Heathers and/or Jennifers.
When I was in fourth grade I really wanted to be called Liz. It didn’t take.
Jael, I love that you commented on here! I feel like it’s a celebrity visit. EVERYONE- Jael’s novel’s The Kitchen Daughter comes out . . . I don’t know exactly. Jael, when does it come out.
You’ll appreciate that after I had my 2nd daughter, we wrote down the name Yael on the dry erase board and asked several nurses to say it. It was YALE every time. Nixed it. But we grow to love our names, I think. I never liked Nina growing up and now I totally appreciate it!! Jael is a VERY pretty name!
You are so sweet! And I will never turn down an opportunity to mention the book’s release date. It’ll be out on April 12. (I finally get to stop adding “2011″ to that, since it’s finally this year!)
(And BTW, a brilliant idea to have strangers pronounce any name you try.)
I love this Nina….so glad I do not have to obsess anymore over names!! But when it came down to it for me…I literally named my children after their relatives(namesakes)—I didn’t take a letter, or make it a middle name…I took the actual name….I couldn’t possible imagine picking a name with the full 26 letters of the alphabet to choose from!
I think your lists are great!!! Love reading you!
Thanks Cindy! I think it’s beautiful to name after relatives–especially using the actual name. That’s what the Orthodox do! None of that initial for the middle name thing!
When we were adopting our daughter, after having three sons, I so wanted to name my dark-eyed, long-lashed beauty Francesca. My oldest son, Ben, had a little “girlfriend” in Reception (Kindergarten in the UK) by that name. She was olive skinned, raven haired and had the eyes so dark you could swim in them. My Norwegian husband looked at me with a wry smile and said, “Francesca….Erickson?” So Anna it was. A good, multicultural family name on both sides of the tree. I will put in a plug for the boy names- Ben (strong and steady) and Brady (Irish twinkle in your eye energy and wit). Love the lists, especially Lucy. You can’t say the name without smiling.
Your husband hit on something that makes me chuckle with Jewish names . . . when I see something very, very “un-Jewish” matched with something like Schwartzberg. I won’t give examples because I’d get in trouble!
Nina, I love your obsession with names! I just saw the 2010 top baby names from babynames.com and was impressed that all 4 of my parents’ grandsons made the top 12, including Caleb! Harlow and Ashley were not even on the top 100– not surprised about Harlow, but I was surprised about Ashley. My name obsession is that I don’t like nicknames — My parents named me Sandra and never once called me Sandra! I recently went to a doctor’s appointment with Aidan and they called my name, “Sandra”– Based on my insurance card. He later asked me what my name was! He was very confused (and actually, I have to remind myself that is me when they call that name)!
Hi Sandy!!! What a great comment! With research!
I’m SHOCKED about Ashley. Are you sure?????
My mom’s criteria in naming my sister and me was no nicknames. Karen, Lisa, Nina. It does make life a little easier!
2 out of 3…not bad!!! Love it and am surely glad that is someone else out there that is just as obssessed as I am!!!
Love it! Seriously, it is like men talking about sports. I will have to hit you up one day when I’m ready for naming consultation. Great post, Nina (which now that you mention it, is a really wonderful name)!
NANCY– Isn’t it nice when my daily obsessions make for a decent blog post!? Yay!
BEKKI– EVERYONE- please meet my genius friend Bekki who knows everything about everything and helped me pick the perfect middle names for my daughters.
Since I don’t think I will be having anymore I will give up my secret girl name. I LOVE the name Ruby! I know a lot of people probably won’t like it (my husband) but if I had a third girl I would have fought for that name.
I also love boys names for girls.
Oh! I love Ruby too. That should really be on my list. I’ll go back and edit later. As for gender neutral . . . I guess you can see from my list that they’re not my absolute favorites.
Love your taste in names! I have 2 boys, Noah and Jake and they made your list! I think naming your child is the hardest thing to do! You are giving them a name for the rest of their life – and you hope that they like it!
Love it, Nina! There are, for sure, worst pastimes than this. Your lists are lovely and bring me right back to making baby name lists for my kiddos! Ahem, Sappy moment over!
I always liked the name Shachar, but didn’t use it in part because Americans would never be able to pronounce it.
Loved Barak too, but kept hearing kids yell Barak-Marak so opted against that one.
Always been a fan of Dov, Lev, Chaya, Jack, Samantha and a few more.
Me = Tickled that my big boy’s name is here (Asher)
I am obsessed with baby names too, but more in an embodying-the-Jewish-matriarchs kind of way. All my kids’ names have a loooong story behind them. Here’s my littlest one’s, if anyone cares to read.
http://2boychiksand1meidele.blogspot.com/2010/04/back-in-august-when-we-first-found-out.html
Ali- great names!
Galit- Maybe you need one more for one more list!
Jack- Thanks for sharing yours!! Lev is one of the main characters in my newest attempt at a novel. It’s a great name!
Leigh Ann- Going to check it out! I like the matriarch/patriarch names too. Mostly that’s why they’re not on the list. They’re on my hoarding list. Also, I’ve used some already!
I sued to collect names, sort of still do but now I am not the only one making name decisions, ugh, it was easier in my imaginary family:) hahaha. Zelia was on my list forever, Zohar new to many on several accounts but I obviously like the Z’s!!! Lazer I loved the minute I heard, Erez I have loved since I was little and I am obsessed with family names so other I LOVE Emita, Isabel, Sita…I totally tend to the less known side, always loved that at least my pronunciation was a bit different and super envious of Baki’s name always, btw that one is on my list.
I was so bossy on the last three that Bryan insists he gets to name the next IF we have another. We’ll see about that . . .
cute post! I followed you from Scary Mommy.
I keep a list of names on my iphone and add to it every now and then when I come across a name I love. I don’t have kids yet, but I love names and I love making lists. A few that I like that are different: Allegra, Sloane, Chase, and Tyson. My husband will never agree to these names so they will forever be my imaginary.
HI Jamie!! So glad you found me.
My husband had to agree, too, BUT I made the master list. So he had to chose from that specific list. I’m not normally so controlling, but when it comes to names–my favorite past time–I had to take the reigns.
You are a wise woman to say the names you DO like instead of listing those you think people are crazy for giving their kids.
I was happy to see Kate made the list, and although I do not have boys, we named our dog Jack because that was our fave, had Max for a potential name for a son, and I also really liked (though Craig wasn’t so keen) Eli, Ethan, Evan and Noah.
Hi Liz! Thanks for coming to the blog! What “base” are we on now . . .
I actually DID get to name a friends baby years ago: Juliana
And I still love the name.
If Mayer (pronounced My-er) had been a girl I wanted her to be named Ema but I didn’t think it sounded good with Matalon.
And, for a moment, Mayer was going to be named Ben, except that I ended up realizing that my son really should be named for his paternal gfather for many reasons.
P.S. Who is Pop? He IS hysterical
Oh, and there are people names that I would never name a person but would name a dog.
Lulu is one of those names, and I recently realized that it’s perfect for one of my two old dogs so I’m calling her that frequently.
She could also be known as The Dog Formerly Known as April
Hi Vicky! I love when you visit the blog. POP- IS hysterical! He’s a dad-blogger I “met” online when I guest posted for the blogger Scary Mommy back in July. He’s helped me figure out how to use WordPress. I’m forever indebted to him!
Hey there, stopped by from SITS! I love putting names together too, although I haven’t really made lists of them, I prefer to just let them roll about in my head. What’s super-fun is my day job is in HR so I get to see names upon names upon names and there are some I’d for sure love to use!
Have an Extraordinary Day!
Naming babies is one of the most stressful parts of the whole thing for me. So, should I have a forth, I will let you name the child. I think it would make for a great blog post!
Yay! All three of my kids’ names made your list
Um, Nina — why aren’t YOUR kids’ names on your lists? And why not my kids’ names? (Kidding about the latter).
I’m also an obsessor over names. I read baby name books for fun and write lists of my favourites (I could probably write my own book of just my favourites). We’ve got one son, and before he was born, we came up with 5 combinations of first and middle names that we liked…
I love most of the names you have up there (although since I’ve only got one, I have to keep a secret stash as well…) especially Lydia, Audrey and Eliza for girls, and Eli, Asher, Gabriel, Liam, Levi and Judah for boys.
I also adore the name Lucy, but since that is the name of my parents dog…I’m pretty sure it’s out.
My favs are: Abigail, Lillian, Isabella, Moriah and Naomi
and: Caleb, Isaac and Isaiah
SCARY MOMMY- that would be a great crossover post. Like when the Flinstones Meet the Jetsons!
NATALIE- yay!
And thanks for visiting!
JACY- I don’t know why I didn’t put my kids name in there . . . that’s a good question! Maybe to keep it fair and square.
ANGELA- great names! Naomi is my Hebrew name and Isaac is my son’s middle name.
thanks for sharing your good efforts keep it up good going
Neens! Love this! I stand in the shower constantly making up baby names. It’s like an OBSESSION. I have been naming the next one since I was pregnant with Eli. Heehee! Noah Ethan, Eli Hudson and ….. have fun!
Kari- I’ll bet you have lots of girls’ names picked out!
Love the list. It’s so true, I always wonder why people spend so much time naming the children something “super” original when it will probably only send their child into years of therapy because it will always be pronounced wrong or will rhyme with something terrible that they will be teased about for years! I like good strong names that also have a meaning behind them, and even better if the child has a link to the past with the name or at least the letter. I feel honored that both my girls made the list!!
I love this post! I love names, too, especially learning stories behind names. I am forever asking people how they got their names, or why they named their babies so-and-so. And by the way, my son has a Jewish name: Ephraim. (eh-from) No, we’re not Jewish, but I love that it’s an OT name. We’re Orthodox Christian, and there’s a Saint Ephraim that lived in the 300s. So do you have an MFA? I just got mine last year from Murray State University in Kentucky. It’s nice to meet another mom/writer!
PS you can check out my blog at http://theirischronicles.wordpress.com
Found you!
What a beautiful blog. Love the earnest posts. No MFA for me. I majored in Poli Sci and Spanish, but I got a master in English Education and taught middle school and high school English for a few years. I started writing (with actual goals) in January 2007—exactly when my 2nd child was 3 months and I felt an itch to nurture the non-parent side of me.
Well it sounds like you’ve been really successful so far! I’ve had a few poems published here and there, but since I teach full-time (and, like you, have a family), I don’t have as much time to write as I would like. I enjoy your blog and will visit often!