Brahminy

Photo Courtesy of Unposed Kids

Like many people, I hadn't heard of the name Brahminy (pronounced brah-MUH-nee) before - until I saw it as the name of a newborn twin girl in a 2012 birth announcement. It wasn't love at first sight, but I was very very intrigued. I couldn't quite decide if I liked it or hated it, but it got stuck in my head. And admittedly, I have a track record of eventually falling in love with something that I can't quite decide if it's pretty or ugly. And the more I thought about Brahminy, the more I rolled the name around in my head, the more I realised I was hooked.

A quick Google will show that this is definitely a nature related name. There's a Brahminy sea turtle, Brahminy blind snake, Brahminy Starling (also known as a Brahminy Myna bird), Brahminy Duck and a bird called the Brahminy Kite. The Brahminy Kite is the best known of these. It's a medium sized bird of prey common to tropical Asia and Australia that is primarily a coastal bird - preferring mangrove swamps and estuaries - although can also be seen over forests and along rivers. Australian author Colin Thiele who is best known for the stories 'Storm Boy' and 'Blue Fin' also wrote a story titled 'Brahminy: The Story of a Boy and a Sea Eagle' in 1995.

In many of the areas it inhabits the Brahminy Kite is thought to be a symbol of swift action, precision, elegance and efficiency. It is also said to be a guardian against the occurrence of misfortune. To the Iban of Malaysia, it is better known as the Bird-God of War - its presence is an omen to guide them in major decisions such as warfare and house building. The Malaysian island of Langkawi is also named after this bird. In Indonesia the Brahminy Kite is the official mascot of Jakarta, where it is known as Elang Bondol. And in India it is also one of the contemporary representations of Garuda, the sacred bird of the god Vishnu (another being the Phoenix).

It is this Indian association with Vishnu that it is thought it's name originates from. There the word Brahmin refers to someone from the Hindu priest, artists, teachers and technicians caste (also known as as a varna or pillar of society). The Brahmin priests were engaged in attaining the highest spiritual knowledge, and is responsible for religious rituals. This meaning for Brahmin was later borrowed by writer Oliver Wendell Holmes in 1860 to describe old wealthy New England families of British Protestant heritage to highlight their exclusive, upper class nature and position of power. So to some, Brahminy may feel like it has a bit of an upper crust air to it.

Brahminy has great potential as a name. It's rich with meaning and symbolism, and has a popular sound and rhythm - a three syllable name ending in the "ee" sound. We've seen this pattern many times, in past favourites like Dorothy, Beverly, Tiffany and Stephanie, and in current rising names like Bellamy, Waverley and Avery. Brahminy fits in well alongside these fresh up-and-comers, but unlike them is virtually unheard of. Which makes it a good choice if you want a name that fits in but stands out, that is unique without being made up.

It's airy and light yet feels grounded and substantial - what do you think, does Brahminy have the makings of a great name?

One Syllable Nature Word Names - Colt, Sage & Onyx

There's something undeniably attractive about one syllable names. They're a good option if you want an (almost) nickname proof first name, or want to balance out a long and complicated last name. They can also work some magic in the middle position when you want to create a particular flow between multi-syllable first and last names.

Nature word names are among the most popular single syllable names, especially in the middle. Lee and Rose are two in particular that are perennial middle name favourites. Disney Baby also pegged nature names - and word names - as trends for middle names in 2013.

Choices range from the tried and true to the quirky and rare - and there is definitely a very wide range of them to choose from. My below list is restricted just to nature words, and still comes in at an impressive 160 names long! There are sure to be other great choices that could be added, and if you widen the scope even further to include names with nature related meaning, this list doubles.

One thing is for sure though - even with just one syllable, nature names do not have to be boring!

Bodhi

Photo Courtesy of Mali Workman

If you're a celebrity baby name spotter, you may have noticed that a particular name popped up twice in the past week - Bodhi. On February 12th Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green welcomed second son Bodhi Ransom to the world, while on 17th February Australian actress Theresa Palmer and husband Mark Webber welcomed son Bodhi Rain.

While some may label Bodhi as just another "bizarre name of celebrity offspring", Bodhi has actually become a fairly popular name among celebrities, taking it from a strange once-off name to an on-trend baby name on the upswing. Other than Bodhi Ransom and Bodhi Rain, Oliver Hudson has given his mum Goldie Hawn a grandson named Bodhi Hawn, and actress Amy Brenneman and husband director Brad Silberling have a Bodhi Russell. Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio also chose Bodhi as a middle name for son Luka Bodhi. And Australian celebrity couple Cameron Daddo and Allison Brae bestowed it on their daughter, Bodhi Faith.

Those who have discussed their choice of Bodhi have said that they chose it for it's spiritual meaning. Bodhi (pronounced BO-dee) is best known in the context of Buddhism. although it is also a concept in other Indian philosophies and traditions. Bodhi is the understanding possessed by Buddha regarding the nature of things. The legend is that Buddha achieved enlightenment (or Bodhi) while sitting under a large and very old sacred fig tree located in Bodh Gaya, India. This tree came to be known as the Bodhi tree, a name that is also used for any current trees that are a direct descendant of the original tree. They are planted in close proximity to every Buddhist monastery and a Bodhi tree is recognisable in religious art by its' heart shaped leaves.

The word itself comes from the Sanskrit roots of budh, meaning 'to awake, become aware, notice, know or understand' and bodha meaning 'knowledge or intelligence'. Translated to English Bodhi means "enlightenment" or "awakened".

Bodhi is an interesting name to consider. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the way it sounds, although nickname Bo is quite handsome, and I love the sentiment and symbolism behind this name. It feels like a rather zen name, and I've seen quite a few people say it makes them think of a laid back skater or surfer type dude. This impression may have been influenced by the surfer character named Bodhi played by Patrick Swayze in the 1991 movie 'Point Break', and maybe the appearance of a character called Bodhi in 'The Simpsons', who is a fourth grader interested in surfing.

One thing is for sure, there is plenty of love out there for Bodhi. Nameberry named it as the third fastest rising boy name on their site in 2013. That's for page views, not actual use, although the U.S SSA charts tells us those numbers are reflected in actual use. In 1992 - one year after 'Point Break' - Bodhi appeared on the charts for boys in position #4124. By 2010 it had entered the top 1000, and in 2012 it was positioned at #894. It will be interesting to see how much further it rose in 2013 when those figures are released in May. It's likely that the two recent celebrity births will push it even further in 2014, and may also lead to increased use for girls, which is currently quite rare.

Buddha under the Bodhi Tree

Zaria

Photo Courtesy of Unposed Kids Photography

Today's nature name Zaria was plucked from Waltzing More Than Matilda's debut book 'International Baby Names for Australian Parents', which is full of good ideas even if you're not in Australia.

Zaria has a few possible pronunciations, which include ZAHR-ee-ah (my favourite), ZAHR-yah; or zah-RY-uh. And just as she has multiple pronunciations, she also has multiple origins in Russian/Slavic, Arabic, Swahili and Hebrew.

In Russian Zaria (or Zarya) means 'dawn' or 'sunrise'. It may also have links to the Zorya, who in Slavic mythology are two (or three) guardian goddesses known as the Auroras. They represent the Morning Star and the Evening Star, the third one being the Midnight Star, who is sometimes omitted. They watch over the doomsday hound who would bring on the end of the world if his chain were to break.

This is not the only link Zaria has to Slavic mythology, either. Zaria (separate to the Zorya) is the goddess of beauty, who was known as "the heavenly bride" and associated with the morning. According to Wikipedia, people prayed to her at dawn and thought her to be "the brightest maiden, pure, sublime, honourable". She was also known as a water priestess who protected warriors and was invoked to protect against death in battle.

Another popular belief is that Zaria comes from the Arabic name Zahrah, meaning 'blooming flower'. Similarly, the Swahili name Zahra also means 'flower', giving this name a lovely floral connection that is far less literal than options like Flora or Fleur or the wide range of floral word names like Rose and Lily.

It's also possible that Zaria is a variant of Sarah, a Hebrew name meaning 'princess'; or perhaps Zara, meaning 'radiance'. Which brings us full circle back to the Russian association with sunrise.

Zaria fits in well with todays' namescape - a little less popular than Zara (who feels quite popular in Australia) but without the "dingoes took my baby" association we Australians have with the name Azaria. In the U.S she was positioned at #857 on the charts in 2012, putting her in company with names such as Lara, Sky, Alyvia and Elliot; all of which seem comparatively much more recognised and/or "trendy" at the moment. So she's popular enough to be liked by many, but not so commonly discussed that she feels like she's much more commonly used than she actually is. Anecdotally, much of it's American popularity seems to be amongst African Americans, as a nod to their African heritage via the Nigerian city of Zaria.

I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that Zaria has a beautiful, lovely exotic sound and feel. I love the rich history and varied associations - it even has dual nature meanings! Zaria seems to me to be an understated name that nevertheless makes a statement, and a stylish one at that.

Hadley

A few years ago, I came across this name when watching 'True Blood'. Hadley Hale is main character Sookie's cousin and is also a fairy herself. The name felt so cute and bubbly, yet so intelligent at the same time, I was hooked. I could see her as the introverted bookworm, an outgoing peppy popular girl, a sporty tomboy or a preppy socialite. Is it just me, or does that sound like a description for characters for a new CW show in the vein of 'Pretty Little Liars'?

Hadley is a nature name meaning 'heather field', yet feels quite far removed from 80's darling Heather or even popular 90's girl Hayley.

For some strange, unexplainable reason I always associate Hadley with Harper. And I honestly feel surprised that Harper is the more popular of the two (not that Harper doesn't have it's own brand of fresh, perkiness). Both however appeal to a lot of people - in 2012 Harper was ranked #24 in the U.S and Hadley a not-too-shabby #130. This puts Hadley in a good position of being well liked and popular without feeling over-used.

For some Hadley feels more like a surname or boys name, and they're not wrong. It is Ernest Hemingway's wife Hadley Richardson (born Elizabeth Hadley Richardson) that first put this name on the radar for women. In 1964 Hemingway's memoir 'A Moveable Feast' - capturing his and Hadley's time together in Paris in the 1920's - was published. That was the first year that Hadley appeared on the U.S charts for girls. Prior to that it had only been charting as a boys name, since the early 1900's. Today it still sees use for both genders, but it is overwhelmingly more popular for girls, with only 49 boys receiving this name in the U.S in 2012. This all just adds to the chameleon like versatility of Hadley.

Whether you're inspired by a Heather you want to honour, Hemingway's first wife, a bubbly fairy, or another Hadley (maybe Tony Hadley from 80's New Romantic group Spandau Ballet?), it's hard to go wrong with the charming Hadley. Or maybe you just straight out love the sound of it. I know I do.

Hart

Photo Courtesy of JME Portraits

If you're looking for a nature name inspired by Valentines Day, it's pretty hard to go past Hart. While the sound of it conjures up images of lovehearts, flowers and romance, its' meaning 'stag' brings to mind grace, strength and power.

Hart is an Old English name that is traditionally used for boys. In the US it has never been in the top 1000, but has appeared on the charts (used more than 5 times in a year) more times than not. In 1987 it also appeared on the chart for girls, and it seems a little surprising that this was the only year this has happened.

Hart fits in well alongside other short, sharp names that are favoured as masculine names. It'd be easy to imagine an athlete with this name, or a writer, poet, artist or actor. And thanks to 'Hart of Dixie', a Doctor Hart seems familiar and reasonable too. Hart (and Harte) is also a surname, so could be used to honour a family member with this name.

However for many the imagery of love-hearts (and the likelihood of a lifetime of people misspelling the name) would be enough reason not to use Hart as a first name. In this case Hart would definitely make a great middle name – rare, sentimental sounding, but with a strong meaning.

Or you could go for a Hart related name instead.

Hartley, meaning 'stag meadow' would be a great option. It is right on trend with Hadley (currently #130 for girls and #2510 for boys in the US) and Harley (currently a top 1000 name in America for both boys and girls), but is far less popular, positioned at #1929 for girls and #5526 for boys in 2012. And it comes with plenty of alternate spellings, such as Hartlee, Hartleigh, Hartlea and Hartlie, depending on your personal style.

Other names starting with Hart include Hartigan, Hartinsia, Hartman, Hartwell, Hartnell and Hartwig, but these all feel much harder to use next to the sleek Hart and friendly Hartley.

No matter how you like to show your Hart, I love it as an idea for a baby born on or around Valentines Day. It may seem slightly mushy and sentimental, but then again, isn't that what Valentines Day is all about?

A Song of Ice and Fire

Photo Courtesy of Beloved Photography

Firstly, apologies if you're reading this hoping for a list of names used in the books by George R.R. Martin. Since I'm doing nature names this month, I wanted to do a post on snow inspired names in honour of the Winter Olympics that are currently taking place in Sochi, Russia. But it's a little hard to think of snow and ice at the moment when we are currently experiencing a very hot summer here in Australia, and bush fires are raging across much of the state Victoria which I live in. So I thought why not have a look at my favourite picks from both sides.

Icy Names
Ice and snow means Winter, and for half of the globe it also means many happy holidays such as Christmas, New Years and Valentines Day. There's something special about the image of pure white snow and ice crystals blanketing the land. Like the title of the song 'Winter Wonderland' suggests, it's magical and enchanting, a feeling that many are trying to capture when they choose a wintry name. My personal favourites are:

For a Girl -Eirwen
Pronounced AYR-wen, this Welsh gem literally means 'snow white'. It comes from the words eira meaning 'snow' and gwen meaning 'white, blessed'. The pronunciation is not very intuitive for non Welsh speakers, which is probably why it has never charted in the U.S. I love the look of it though - it reminds me very much of a fairy princess.
Close Contenders - Eira, Frostine,  Neve, Nivea, Tuhina.

For a Boy - Frost
There's something about this sharp one syllable boys name that feels masculine and cool - both figuratively and literally. Not just a word name, Frost also means 'white haired' or 'born in a cold spell'. Although I've heard it mentioned a bit lately, and wintry names seem to be on the rise, this surname turned first name has only appeared on the SSA charts once - in 1916.
Close Contenders - Himesh, Neige, Pyry, Snowden, Tuhin.

Unisex Pick - Winter
It's the ultimate wintry name. It feels like a natural progression from long time popular seasonal names Summer and Autumn, yet feels the most wearable on boys. Possibly because the -er ending puts in in league with occupational names such as Carter, Hunter and Cooper. Currently it's more popular for girls (ranked #772 in 2012 as opposed to #3338 for boys) but given time that may change. It also makes for a great unexpected middle.
Close Contenders - Hima, Nevada, Snow.


Fiery Names
For some, fire can be comforting, conjuring images of snuggling up beside a warm fire with a cup of hot chocolate when it's cold outside. For others it's all about passion and spice - the things we love that make life interesting, fun and exciting. Either way, ever since the cavemen first discovered fire it gets our heart racing and helps to keep us alive. And like ice and snow it can be magical and wondrous. Some great names for your little firecracker include:

For a Girl - Edana
A Gaelic name that is pronounced ee-DAH-na, she's a feminine form of the extremely popular boys name Aiden and means 'fire'. She's rare in the U.S, and feels kind of like a smoosh between Eden and Alana but somehow a little more mysterious and noir feeling. She'll be a great option one day when people are looking to honour dads named Aiden, too.
Close Contenders - Aithne, Celosia, Edana, Fiametta, Lehava, Nandalia, Seraphina.

For a Boy - Brando
There are some great boys names with fire related meanings, but this one has real pizzazz. As an Italian variant of the Old English/Old Norse name Brand it means 'fiery torch' or 'beacon'. This name immediately conjures up thoughts of legendary movie sex symbol Marlon Brando, but that what makes it a handsome,  spunky choice. Brando was given to just 58 boys in the U.S in 2012.
Close Contenders - Aidan, Ashbel, Brando, Egan, Inigo, Kenneth, Keegan, Vulcan.

Unisex Pick -Ash
I have to admit I personally prefer Ash as a nickname on girls and as a given name on boys (thanks for that, Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi). I guess I'm not alone in this as it has consistently charted for boys every year since 1996, but only three times in that same time frame for girls.
I also love that it has dual nature meanings, also being a tree name. Maybe when Willow and Rowan have had their run, and the juggernaut that was Ashley has faded, people will rediscover the sleek simplicity that is Ash.
Close Contenders - Ash, Blaze, Ember, Flame, Kenna, Kimba, MacKenzie, Phoenix.


What are your favourites? Do you prefer the pure enchantment of ice and snow names, or the feisty passion of fire names? And could you make a sibset with these names?

Orchid

Last year it was Emerald, but this year Pantone have declared Radiant Orchid to be the colour of 2014. Pantone describe this colour as being "captivating, magical and enigmatic", which I think would also be a good description for the name Orchid.

It's definitely one of the more exotic blooms, which has perhaps made it feel a little too distinctive and elaborate to use as a name. Particularly when it tends to be the more common, cheerful blooms such as Rose, Lily or Daisy that people think of for flower inspired names. Orchid saw some rare use in the U.S in the 20's, 30's and 40's. However since 1997 it has started appearing regularly on the SSA charts, just in very small numbers. This may have been influenced by American group 'Wild Orchid', which featured Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson before she became a member of 'The Black Eyed Peas'. They released their debut single in 1996 and first album in 1997.

The orchid family is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, and includes vanilla. They can be found pretty much everywhere except glaciers. The name comes from the Greek word Orchis, which has neither a flattering meaning or tale behind it. The Greek myth of Orchis tells us that he was the son of a nymph and a satyr who came upon a festival of Dionysus (also known as Bacchus) in the forest. He drank too much and tried to rape a priestess, so was torn apart as punishment. His father prayed for him to be restored but the gods instead changed him into a flower. The word Orchis literally means 'testicles' so named for the shape of their root.

If you can overlook this, take comfort in the fact that orchids are some of the most beautiful, intricate blooms to be found. Cattleya is a particularly pretty South American variety, thought to be the inspiration behind the name Cataleya made popular by Zoe Saldana in the movie 'Colombiana'. Local varieties are the national symbols of Venezuala, Colombia and Singapore; and the Chinese city of Shaoxing. In ancient Greece orchids were associated with fertility and virility, but after the rise of their popularity in Victorian England they became symbolic of luxury and rare and delicate beauty. Purple orchids, such as the ones that inspired the Pantone colour Radiant Orchid, are thought to be the true queen of flowers, symbolising royalty, admiration and respect.

Of their choice of Radiant Orchid, Pantone have said that:

"Radiant Orchid reaches across the color wheel to intrigue the eye and spark the imagination"

"An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today's society"

"Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm".

Exotic, rare, beautiful, intriguing, captivating, joyful, beguiling and charming. All could be used to describe the name Orchid. A girl with this name would be just as special as this name suggests.

Fenris and Leander

For something a little different, I thought I'd share a birth announcement I saw in Melbourne's 'Herald Sun' newspaper today. It's such a cool and funky way to announce a birth - it definitely hints at the fun personality that the family that chose Fenris Leander for their son must have!

Both Fenris and Leander are animal related names. Fenris is a Norse name, from the mythological giant wolf who is also known as Fenrir. The eldest child of Loki, it was prophesied that he and his family would one day be responsible for the destruction of the world. The Norse gods commissioned a magic chain be made and chained him to a rock, the legend being that on the day of Ragnarok (the end of the world) he will break his chains and take revenge against the gods.

Fenris has only charted in the U.S as a first name in the last two years (2011 & 2012). It's been popularly used in games though, appearing as an elven warrior in 'Dragon Age' and as the homeworld of the Space Wolf Space Marines in 'World of Warcraft' just to name a couple. There is also a Commander Fenris in the 'Star Wars' world - he's an officer in the Rebel Alliance. Something tells me this may have been the inspiration for the birth notice.

Leander (pronounced lee-AN-der) is a Greek name meaning 'lion man'. He also has a mythological connection - legend is that he would swim across the Hellespont to visit his beloved, a priestess of Venus named Hero. Alas, he drowned on one of his swims when overpowered by a storm, which incited Hero to fling herself in the water too.

Unlike Fenris, Leander has seen steady use as a name in the U.S and has charted every year (except one) since 1880, peaking at #326 in 1882. He;s particularly popular in Norway. You'll see this name on warships, towns and cities, a steam locomotive and even an ape on 'Planet of the Apes'. He's a seventh century Spanish saint, a young detective on TV show 'The Wire', a character in video game 'Red Dead Redemption' and many more things.

Admittedly, my previous impressions of these names were that Fenris is cool but hard to wear, and Leander felt a little "soft" for a boy (mainly because it reminds me of the flower oleander and occasionally charts as a girls name too). But I'm adoring them together! This combination flows wonderfully and has just enough fierce edge, but not too much. The wolf and the lion together is quite a powerful image, and 'The Wolf and the Lion' is actually the title of an episode of 'Game of Thrones' if you're a fan of the TV show. Fenris Leander is spunky and cool and rich with meaning.

Welcome to the world, Fenris Leander!

Photo Courtesy of Kimberly G Photography

The Nature of Nature Names

If you're a regular reader here, you've probably heard me say before that I love nature names. People often talk about choosing a name with "meaning", and I feel that nature names have meaning for everyone. They can help to give us a spiritual connection to the world around us, a respect for the power and beauty that surrounds us.

I was watching a show recently about what would happen to the planet if humans just disappeared from Earth tomorrow. The thing that struck me the most was that even with the massive amounts of pollution humans have already generated, and even though the nuclear power plants would meltdown and throw tons of radiation into the atmosphere, given just decades the trees and oceans would clean the atmosphere and plant and animal life would continue. The power of nature is awe-inspiring sometimes.

Normally, when we talk of nature names people think of names like River, Willow and Lily - nature words that are also used as names. But nature names can be so much subtler and more diverse than that. So instead of breaking them down by the usual categories such as trees, flowers, animals, gemstones etc, I thought I'd look at them in a slightly different way.

1. "Straightforward" Nature Word Names
These are the types of names I mentioned above - the names you'll find on any nature names list.

It's great to see how people's opinions of these names have changed over time. Compare for example the names Rose and River. Rose is an enduring classic. Since the first SSA records of 1880 Rose has been a top 500 name in the U.S. You almost forget it's actually a flower name, it's so established as a given name. River however would have been almost unthinkable as a given name in 1880. When it first charted for boys in the 1970's it was a rarity and considered to be a "hippy" name, as many other nature names also were at that time. This opinion would be the popular one for a couple of decades. By 2012 River is far from a rare novelty, charting at #407 for boys and #686 for girls.

In recent years we've seen female characters named both Rose and River on the popular TV show 'Doctor Who', and no one blinks an eye. Our attitudes as to what constitutes a "name" are relaxing, and even the most exotic nature word names are now fair game.


2. Nature Words with Dual Meanings
One of my favourite examples of this is Sage. Yes, it's a herbal nature name, but it also means wise. In addition to those that have "official" second meanings, many plants and stones have a history of associated meanings. For example, Alyssum is a flower name, means 'noble', and symbolises beauty. Ruby symbolises vitality and royalty. The extra meanings and symbolism traditionally attributed to these add an extra depth of meaning to a name. Just like the people they are naming, they have many facets to their personality.


3. "Normal" Names with Nature Meanings
It's like a sneaky little surprise. While people were busy deriding "hippy" names, they were overlooking plenty of "normal" names with nature meanings, such as Daphne (meaning 'laurel'), Paloma (meaning 'dove') or Audra (meaning 'storm'). If you desire a connection to nature but aren't so keen on word names, this might be the path for you.


4. Place and Surnames Derived from Nature
Lots of surnames were taken from the towns where people lived, and many towns were given their names based on the characteristics of the surrounding land. Aren't names with meanings such as 'east meadow', 'people of the riverside forest', 'place on the riverbank' or 'where birches grow' every bit as nature oriented as Meadow, Forest, River or Birch? Then meet Astley, Dresden, Reminton and Berkeley.

This style of nature name opens a lot of possibilities. It also offers more versatility, as they usually combine two or more elements into one. It could be the solution to honouring two loved ones with nature names of their own without necessarily creating a "new"smoosh-hybrid. Plus, they tend to be a bit preppier or "proper" sounding if you want a nature name with a bit more panache.


Whether you like your nature names to be boldly forthright or subtly surprising, the world of nature names is just as rich with choice and variety as nature itself is. In our ever changing world, nature is a constant all powerful force. I can only see them growing more popular. This month I'm all about nature names, so if there's one that you would like to see profiled this February, just let me know in the comments below!