Celestina

Celestina - she's strong yet feminine and lacy, a beautiful name inspired by the night sky.

I came across Celestina as a 'contestant' on a food network show today, and wondered why I haven't been hearing more about this name lately. I say this because she seems to be a great blend between similarly themed names Nevaeh (the notorious "heaven-spelled-backwards" name), Luna, Nova and Skylar; and more elaborate multi syllable names such as Clementine. Looking at Abby's post on the fastest rising girl names of 2014 in the U.S, both categories are hot property right now. Of the 25 names on her list one fifth of them have four syllables. So if both are gaining popularity right now why isn't a name that blends both getting more attention?

That's kind of hard to say. Perhaps it's just a little bit too frilly next to her counterparts Celeste and Celestine. The French flavoured Celeste has been in the U.S top 1000 since 1881, and is clearly the most popular of the three options. And although Celestine has never been close to the top 1000, she traditionally charts better than Celestina. Maybe Celestina reminds people too much of the popular Christina, which has been slowly dropping in popularity for the past three decades. Or perhaps Celestina just doesn't read as "French" (aka "chic") as Celeste does?

As you may have already surmised, Celestina comes from the Latin word for 'heavenly', which is the meaning of this name. Behind the Name gives three different pronunciations - apparently the Spanish say the-le-STEE-nah, the Italians say che-le-STEE-nah, while the Latin American Spanish pronunciation is se-le-STEE-nah. The latter is the one I would naturally use if I saw it written down without hearing it first, which I suspect would be the case for most people more familiar with the name Celeste.

All of these have a magical, melodic, romantic quality to them though. She feels like a great name for a fantasy princess or fairy. Or maybe a singer if you're a fan of 'Harry Potter' and recall that Celestina Warbeck is a favourite singer of Molly Weasleys. The name was also given to the heroine of an 18th century novel of the same name by English poet Charlotte Turner Smith, which is thought to have inspired Jane Austen to write 'Sense and Sensibility'. Very romantic indeed.

Celestina is a pretty one indeed. Maybe if frilly is not quite your style you'd prefer it as a lovely, surprising middle. Or maybe this one lies firmly in fantasy fairy tale territory for you. But it's a pity that more people are not loving Celestina.

Lambert

The Lambert Family at the heart of the 'Insidious' movies

I found it so much fun finding "Halloween inspired" names that wouldn't necessarily stand out as Halloween names last October that I've decided to do it again this October. This year's first name is Lambert, inspired by the family in the movie 'Insidious' and it's current sequel 'Insidious: Chapter 2'. It's already been released in America (on the suitable spooky Friday 13th September), but is due for a Halloween release here in Australia and so far reviews have been quite positive. If you like horror movies ☺

I love a good surname name, and Lambert fits the bill quite well. Most sources have this as a German name, although I have also seen it attributed as Scandinavian and French. All seem to agree though that Lambert means 'bright land', 'brilliant land', 'famous land' or some variant of these themes, as it comes from the words 'lant' meaning 'land, territory or homeland' and 'berht' meaning 'bright, famous or great'. It seems it was quite popular as a first name in England during the middle ages thanks to a combination of the arrival of Saint Lambert (otherwise known as the Bishop of Maastricht) in England with the Norman conquest, and the number of Dutch immigrants arriving in England during that time.

In the U.S. it has been in almost constant use, appearing on the SSA charts for boys almost every year since 1880. However it has never been very popular at all. The highest number of boys to ever receive this name in a single year was 98 boys in 1919, which in that year positioned it as the 623rd most popular boys name. By contrast, in 2012 only 6 boys were named Lambert, putting it way, way outside the top 1000 at #11,554. It's highly unlikely that a modern day Lambert would meet another one.

What I find interesting is that before I knew of it's origin, I would have mistakenly thought it could be a Scottish name, as it reminds me a lot of names such as Campbell or Coburn. To find out that it's not makes it seem more intriguing, more chameleon like to me. The most often used pronunciation is lam-BERT, although the French pronunciation drops the T so it sounds more like lam-BERR, which also brings quite a different flair to the name.

One potential downside to the name Lambert is a 1952 Disney short cartoon titled 'Lambert the Sheepish Lion'. The cartoon is actually super cute, and Lambert ends up saving the day, but once seen it's really, really hard to get the the song where the little lambs tease him out of your head. I'm sure a young Lambert would hear this song a few times in the schoolyard. Then again, he may like being compared to a lion, especially one who grows up to become a hero. Another cool reference could be singer Adam Lambert. Or if you need more convincing of Lambert's Halloween cred, there's also the 'Highlander' himself, Christopher Lambert; or a female character named Lambert in the original 'Alien' movie.

Lambert could be a great choice, with multi-national roots, a current surname feel and a rarity that is hard to beat - especially if you chose to use it on a girl. Fingers crossed that a child with this name would have an easier childhood than the family in the 'Insidious' movies though!

Model Names

I quite often have a bit of a trawl through the Internet looking for photos to use here on Baby Name Pondering. Usually I end up at a lot of baby photographers blogs. And may I say there are plenty of gorgeous ones out there! But the other day for a bit of a change I was having a look at the website for Women Management, an agency that has offices in New York, Paris and Milan and has had models such as Kate Moss on their books.

Any time I get a chance to see a lot of girls of different nationalities together (such as with the Miss Universe pageant), it's always interesting to look at the vast variety of names you end up with. Names that may be quite common in their country of origin often sound exotic and mysterious when heard in another part of the world. And this was definitely the case with the names of the models currently represented by Women Management, which I have listed below (first names only). Which ones strike your fancy?

Addison

Agnete

Alek
Alex (x2)
Alexa
Alina (x2)
Aline (x2)
Alla
Alyona
Amanda (x2)
Amra
Amy (x2)
Ana
Anais
Anastasia (x2)
Andreea
Angela
Anja
Ann (x2)
Anna (x6)
Annabelle
Annaleise
Anne (x2)
Anne Marie

Anu
Anzhela
Auguste
Auste
Ava
Aygul
Aymeline
Azul
Barbara (x2)
Barbora
Beegee
Behati
Belen
Bregje
Britt
Brittany
Brooke
Bruna
Camilla
Carla
Carmen
Caroline (x2)
Charlotte (x3)
Chelsey
Chiara
Chiharu
Chloe
Chrishell
Clara
Coco
Corinna
Daiane
Dana (x2)
Daphne
Daria
Dasha
Deimante
Denija
Dewi
Diana (x2)
Dioni
Dolores
Donata
Dorte
Doutzen
Edda
Edit
Eeke
Ekaterina
Elcee
Eleanor
Elena (x3)
Eline
Elise
Eliza (x2)
Emely
Emma'Eve
Ewelina
Fabiana
Fei Fei
Felien
Feline
Feruza
Flavia

Fleurance
Frida
Friederike
Gabriela
Geiza
Georgia
Georgina (x2)
Giedre (x2)
Ginta
Guinevere
Hanna
Hannah
Hartje
Heather
Helena
Heloise
Herieth
Hermione
Hirschy
Hristina
Hyun Yi
Ida

Iekeliene
Ieva
Ilda
Ilva
Inga Marie
Inguna
Irina (x4)
Iris (x3)
Isa
Isabel
Isabeli
Isabella (x2)
Isabelle
Iselin
Izabel
Jana
Janneke
Jefimija
Jenna
Jess
Jessica
Jiang Xiao
Jing
Joanna

Johanne
Jordan
Josefien
Jourdan
Julia (x6)
Julie (x2)
Julier
Kadri
Kadriana
Karina
Karolin
Karolina (x2)
Karoline
Kasia
Katarina
Kate
Katharina (x2)
Kati
Katie
Katja
Katrin
Katya (x3)
Kel
Kely

Kika
Kirsi
Klaudia (x2)
Kristina
Kristine (x2)
Kristy
Ksenia
Laia
Lais (x2)
Lakshmi
Lara
Laura (x2)
Lauren
Lea
Leila
Lela
Lian
Liisi
Lina
Line
Lisa
Liwia
Liza (x2)
Lourdes

Luca
Lucie
Lucija
Maaike
Maartje
Maja (x4)
Malaika
Malu
Marcela Boaventura
Mari
Maria (x3)
Mariacarla
Marieke
Marina (x2)
Marique
Marpessa
Marta
Maryana
Masha (x2)
Maxine
Megan
Melissa

Melodie
Merethe
Merie
Michelle
Milagros
Milana
Milica
Milly
Mina
Mirte
Nastya (x3)
Natalia (x4)
Nataliya
Natalya
Natasa
Natasha
Naty
Nikola
Nina
Nyok
Oktawia
Olga
Olja
Paulina (x2)

Pernille
Qiwen
Rachel (x2)
Raniely
Regina
Rezi
Rianne
Ronja
Rosa
Rozanne
Sabina
Sabine
Sabrina
Sam
Sand
Sara (x2)
Sarah (x2)
Sarka
Sasha (x2)
Sheila
Simone
Snejana
Solange

Sophia
Stefanie
Stephanie
Sterling
Stina
Tacie
Talis
Taya
Teresa
Tessa
Thea
Thelma
Timea
Tine Fremo
Toni
Trine
Unni
Vala
Valentina
Valeria (x3)
Valerie (x3)
Valerija
Vanessa

Vendela
Vera
Veranika
Veroni
Veronika
Viivi
Vika (x2)
Viktoria
Viktoriya
Vita
Vlada
Yaya
Ymre
Yulia (x3)
Zamfira
Zhenya
Zo
Zuzanna

Romina

Eva Mendes plays Romina in 'The Place Beyond The Pines', opposite Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper

If you like your girls names to be of the feminine but not frilly persuasion, have you considered Romina?

Romina (pronounced roh-MEEN-ah) is a Latin name meaning 'woman from Rome'. This pretty gem belongs to the same family as other female names Roma, Romelle, Romola, Romella, Romelia and Romilda. However I feel that Romina stands apart from these (with the exception of Roma) as the sleeker, more modern sounding option. Its cool factor may also be set to rise in the near future, as Eva Mendes portrays a character called Romina in the new Ryan Gosling movie 'The Place Beyond the Pines'.

Romina is more likely to be heard amongst Italian and Spanish speakers, but has been a quiet presence on the US charts. It has been stealthily creeping upwards - in 1970 it was ranked #7770, but fast forward to 2011 and it was placed #1577. It's yet to crack the top 1000, but that may be a different story in ten years time.

Some Rominas in the public eye that you may recognise include:

• American born singer/actress Romina Power, and her actress daughter Italian born Romina Carrisi-Power
• Argentinian actress Romina Gaetani
• Austrian concert musician Romina Lischka
• London based Italian born R&B and soul singer Romina Johnson
• Italian Opera Singer Romina Basso
• Italian actress Romina Modello; and 
• Swiss tennis player Romina Oprandi (who interestingly has a mother named Romy, father named Roberto and a brother named Romeo). 

This name also comes with some cute and spunky nicknames. My personal favourite is probably Mina, but Ro is another option, and it's also a great way to get to Romy. Romina is also a nice, subtle way to use a place name. For those of us living outside Italy, Romina is a good option for a sleek, current sounding name with international flair.

Happy Names

Big Laugh courtesy of Zoug Lazo

April is one of my favourite months in Melbourne. In April, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is on! We try to go to a few shows every year - last night we saw musical comedy act Axis of Awesome. Who were indeed pretty awesome. If you haven't already seen them live, I recommend it. Or if you can't wait, they have videos of their best songs on You Tube.

So in honour of April being comedy month here, I thought I'd put together a list of suitably happy names for you. Let me know what your favourites are.


Names with Smile, Smiling or Laughing Meanings

GIRLS                                                        BOYS
Amura (Polynesian)                                                                                          Ahanu (Native American)
Ashi (Indian)                                                                                                    Ataroa (Tahitian)
Basma (Arabic)                                                                                           Basim/Bassam (Arabic/Muslim)
Charusmita (Hindi)                                                                                           Charuhas (Hindi)
Cinthana (Hindi)                                                                                               Darahaas (Hindi)
Devasmitha (Hindi)                                                                                           Hasin (Hindi)
Emi/Emiko (Japanese)                                                                                      Ike (Hebrew)
Erendira (Spanish)                                                                                            Isaac (Hebrew)
Hasika (Sanskrit)                                                                                              Ochi (African)
Koemi (Japanese)                                                                                             Sasmit (Hindi)
Maemi (Japanese)                                                                                             Sekan (Zimbabwean)
Miley (Modern English)                                                                                     Sekaye (African)
Misha (Hindi)                                                                                                   Smeet/Smit (Hindi)
Muskaan (Punjabi)                                                                                           Tabassum (Arabic)
Rissa/Risa (Latin)                                                                                             Teshi (African)
Suniska (Hindi)
Suriya (Afghan)
Tirrike (Aboriginal)

Names with Happy, Merry or Joyful Meanings

GIRLS                                                        BOYS
Ada (English)                                                                                                   Allegro (Italian)
Adana (Phoenician)                                                                                          Asher (Hebrew)
Aida (Arabic)                                                                                                   Ayu (African)
Alair (Latin)                                                                                                      Bledsoe (English)
Aleeza/Aliza (Hebrew)                                                                                      Bligh (English)
Allegra (Italian)                                                                                                 Eudo (Greek)
Bayo (African)                                                                                                  Fahey (English)
Beatrice/Beatrix (Latin)                                                                                     Fane (English)
Beeja (Hindi)                                                                                                    Faraj (Arabic)
Blythe (English)                                                                                               Felix (Latin)
Chara (Greek)                                                                                                  Festus (Latin)
Charmian (Greek)                                                                                             Gaius (Latin)
Desta (Ethiopian)                                                                                              Gale (German)
Eda (German)                                                                                                   Gill (Hebrew)
Etsu/Etsuko (Japanese)                                                                                     Hani (Arabic)
Farrah (Arabic)                                                                                                Happy (English)
Felice/Felicia (Latin)                                                                                         Helgi (Norse)
Felicity (Latin)                                                                                                  Ilario (Italian)
Gay (French)                                                                                                   Hiroki (Japanese)
Geela (Hebrew)                                                                                               Huan (Chinese)
Gilana (Hebrew)                                                                                              Joss (English)
Gioia (Italian)                                                                                                   Kantu (Hindi)
Gwyneth (Welsh)                                                                                             Kasem (Thai)
Halona (Native American)                                                                                Koji (Japanese)
Hana (Arabic)                                                                                                  Lok (Chinese)
Hilary (Latin)                                                                                                 Makarios (Greek)
Huan (Chinese)                                                                                                Mesut (Turkish)
Jovita (Latin)                                                                                                    Naim (Arabic)
Joy (Latin)                                                                                                       Nanda (Sanskrit)
Joyce (French)                                                                                                Noam (Hebrew)
Kay (Greek)                                                                                                   Oron (Hebrew)
Keiko (Japanese)                                                                                            Parvaiz (Persian)
Kishi (Japanese)                                                                                              Pramod (Sanskrit)
Lacey (Latin)                                                                                                   Ranen (Hebrew)
Lara/Larissa (Russian)                                                                                 Ranjit/Ranjeet (Sanskrit)
Leda (Greek)                                                                                                  Sayid (Persian)
Letitia (Latin)                                                                                                   Sealey (English)
Mab (Irish)                                                                                                      Selig/Zelig (German)
Meara (Irish)                                                                                                   Sharma (Sanskrit)
Merry (English)                                                                                               Simha (Hebrew)
Miyuki (Japanese)                                                                                          Soroush (Persian)
Naila (Arabic)                                                                                                 Suman (Sanskrit)
Naima (Arabic)                                                                                               Tate (Norse)
Naomi (Hebrew)                                                                                            Winfred (English)
Nara (Celtic)                                                                                                   Yuki (Japanese)
Olina (Hawaiian)                                                                                             Yukio (Japanese)
Rina (Hebrew)
Sachiko (Japanese)
Seeley (English)
Sharmila (Hindi/Sanskrit)
Simcha (Hebrew)
Surata (Hindi)
Sushila (Sanskrit)
Tatum (Norse)
Trixie (Latin)
Ulani (Hawaiian)
Vaisey (French)
Yukiko (Japanese)
Zemirah (Hebrew)

Clara

New 'Doctor Who' Companion Clara, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman

'Doctor Who' is back on our screens, this time with a new companion Clara Oswin Oswald, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman. They've set the character of Clara up fairly well. Before she actually became the "official" companion, we had already seen two possible "incarnations" of Clara. There's something very intriguing about this character, and I'm looking forward to seeing  where her storyline goes.

The 'Doctor Who' writers have done a good job picking companion names recently. The last female companion - Amelia, nicknamed Amy - was very well named. Amy Pond (played by Karen Gillan) first appeared on the show in April 2010. Amelia was already a fast rising name in many countries, popular in England & Wales, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Wales, Canada, Scotland and America. Amy had however been dropping, so in one clever choice they got a name with almost universal appeal, with a familiar but not over-used nickname.

And for a show that is broadcast in 48 countries, it is important that main characters have names that have a wide appeal, making it easier for viewers to embrace them.

Like Amelia, Clara was (and still is) already on the rise. It's not as popular or common as either Amelia or Amy in the previously mentioned countries, but instead is currently popular in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Spain, Ireland and Canada. This makes it another name that is easily recognisable, warmly familiar and with near universal appeal.

Clara is a charming choice, and this Latin name meaning 'clear, bright, famous' seems to suit the vivacity of the new companion quite well. It is a perfect example of the vintage revival names that are currently trending upwards. My own fondest memories of the name are characters in Enid Blyton books, in particular a short tale called 'Conceited Clara'. It's about a girl who is very vain about her pretty dress and shoes, but learns the values of humility and modesty. And it doesn't get much more quaintly vintage than an Enid Blyton character.

Promo Poster from the 2012
'Doctor Who' Christmas Special

There are also some great famous Claras if you like a name with admirable role models, such as:

• Virgin Saint Clara of Assisi
• Founder of the Red Cross, Clara Barton
• Clara Schumann, pianist and wife of composer Robert Schumann
• Canadian Olympic medallist Clara Hughes
• Clara, the heroine of the ballet 'The Nutcracker'
• Concert singer and Mark Twains' daughter, Clara Clemens; and
• Early movie screen legend and original "It" girl Clara Bow

Many people feel that Clara is the new Clare. It's certainly a very sweet, pretty and elegantly understated name. For some that may mean boring, but I'm betting this new Clara will help inject a bit of spunk and geek chic into Clara's image, and make many people reconsider this gem. Clara could be one to watch over the next couple of years.

2013 Bonds Babies

Cielo - One of this Years Gorgeous Baby Bonds Winners

The 2013 Bonds Baby Search competition has ended, and 17 gorgeous babies and children have been picked to be the new faces of Bonds. Winners were chosen for their bright personalities, cheeky smiles or "a touch of spark". And of course, with 17 winners we have 17 gorgeous names to mull over, so here they are (in alphabetical order):

Annabelle - This is one name whose star is currently on the rise. Thought to be either a combination of Ann/Anna (which is a Hebrew name meaning 'He (God) has favoured me' or a variant of French name Amabel meaning 'lovable', either way this is a lovely name. It's understandable why it's currently gaining in popularity.

Ashton - This is a great unisex option, although it has been far more popular for boys in the last 10 years thanks to Ashton Kutcher. An English name meaning 'ash tree place', this English name has a slightly preppy  but friendly feel to it.

Austin - One of the more popular place names, Austin reached top 10 status in the US in the late 90's but didn't stay there long. Of French and Latin origin, it means 'great, magnificent, venerated'. If you like a more literary spin, change the "i" for "e" and you have one of the most beloved females writers - Jane Austen - but the Austin spelling for now remains far more popular.

Azriel - A Hebrew name meaning 'God is my help', I love the sound of Azriel. Great for either gender, it has a long history of use. However it is also a commonly recognised name for the Angel of Death (also spelled Azrael), and is often depicted in fiction in this role. If this isn't a problem in your eyes, it's a great sounding name.

Bella - As most know, Bella literally means 'beautiful' in Italian/Latin. A pretty, friendly name, and extremely popular when you take into account girls with -belle or -bella names that go by Bella as a nickname. And of course there's that small franchise known as 'Twilight', which helped put Isabella and Bella at the top of everyone's lists. Whether it was your use or avoid list depends on how much it's popularity bothers you.

Charlize - A nice surprise, as this is not a name you see very often. It first appeared on the US charts in 1998 thanks to the popularity of actress Charlize Theron, but peaked in 2004 at #624 and has slowly been dropping off again. It's a feminisation of the Old German name Charles, meaning 'free man'. A lovely, slightly more exotic sounding name than Charlotte if you're looking to honour a Charles in your family tree.

Cielo - This is perhaps my favourite on this list. In Spanish it's pronounced see-EL-oh and means 'heaven', in Italian it's chee-EL-oh meaning 'sky'. It's usually used on girls, and is a pretty but rare choice if you love the sound of an "o" ending, but aren't keen on other favourites such as Cleo, Arlo or Sparrow.

Cohen - A cool sounding name, this is one that comes with a bit of controversy. It is a royal name in the Jewish faith, meaning 'priest', and is therefore felt to be off limits as a given name. Nonetheless, its sound is what has attracted many who are largely unaware of the association, and Cohen is a name on the rise.

Declan - I love Declan, it's such a strong, warm, and masculine name. Declan is a Gaelic name meaning 'full of goodness' or 'man of prayer'. It's also an Irish Saint name. Declan has been getting a lot of exposure as a character name in recent years, appearing on shows such as 'Revenge' and movies such as 'P.S. I Love You', which may have helped to boost its popularity.

Franklin - A surname and presidential name in America, Franklin is an English name meaning 'free land holder' or 'free man'. It is distinguished sounding, but the "frank" in it also makes it feel honest and down-to-earth.

Isabelle - There's something so pretty about this particular spelling. Yes, it's currently super popular, but that's because so many people love the sound of Isabelle. Derived from the name Elizabeth, Isabelle means 'pledged to God'.

Jaydan - Jaydan (or Jayden) is a name that in unpopular with many name aficionado's, mainly because they feel it is too popular (people say they are "over it"), sounds like several other currently popular names (mainly Aiden and Hayden) and sounds made up. Jadon however is a biblical name, meaning 'thankful', while Jaden (chosen by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith to honour Jada)  is a Hebrew name meaning 'God has heard', so technically it's an alternative spelling rather than a made up name. Jaydan has been likened to the Jason of this generation - a familiar, friendly and slightly funky name.

Jaydan - Another 2013 Bonds Baby Winner

Lyla - Lyla contains the double "L" sound which is also contained in popular favourite Lily. Lyla however feels a little less delicate than Lily, while retaining a lovely musical, feminine quality. In Persian it means 'dark haired beauty, night' and in Sanskrit it means 'divine play'.

Mia - I'm assuming this one is pronounced ME-ah, as that is the most common in Australia. Mia has been a top 10 name is Australia, Germany, Norway and America in recent years. It's soft but spunky, pretty, and easily understood in many languages, giving it universal appeal. It's often thought to be a pet form of Maria (meaning 'star of the sea'), but is also Italian for 'my' or 'mine'.

Mya - And I'm assuming this is pronounced MY-ah. Mya is a variant of Greek name Maia, meaning 'great, mother'. It's less popular than Mia, which is to say you'll see it at the top end of the top 100, rather than the top end of the top 10. It has a slightly stronger look to it than Mia, and for me feels like it would be right at home in a sci-fi tale.

Ramsey - In Australia, Ramsey Street is synonymous with 'Neighbours', one of our longest running television soaps. Beyond 'Neighbours', Ramsey is an Old English name meaning 'low lying land' or 'wild garlic island', but is better recognised as a Scottish surname. It feels like a happy, warm name, despite any associations you might have with irritable chef Gordon Ramsay. It's quite an adorable, off the beaten track choice.

Zac - It doesn't get much simpler than Zac. Many Zac's may be Zachary, Zachariah or Issac, or even Zack or Zach, but I love the sleeker look of Zac. This particular spelling has recently been made popular by famous Zacs Efron (actor) and Posen (fashion designer). Zac and its' variants continue to be some of the most popular Z names for boys, and means 'the Lord has remembered'.


So that's the round up for this year. I few themes I've noticed are:

• a lot of these names have meanings involving God, which indicates a trend for not just biblical names, but also names with a spiritual meaning
• a few have the letter "z" - which always seems to make a name feel a little spunkier and cutting edge for some reason
• Belle/Bella names make a few appearances, so it's likely we will see a few more of these types of names rise in popularity before the Belle/Bella trend dies down.

A pretty bunch of names for a group of beautiful children - which names are your favourites?

Taissa

Taissa Farmiga has a lot to smile about

Today I saw the news that Taissa Farmiga will be returning for season three of 'American Horror Story'. She didn't have a role in season two, but I remember seeing her name every week in the opening credits of season one and being intrigued. Mainly because Taissa is a very pretty looking name, but also because I was wondering how it's meant to be pronounced and where it can from.

Taissa pronounces her name as Ta-EE-sa. Her background is Ukrainian American, and she is the younger sister of Vera Farmiga. I loved Vera in 'Up in the Air' with George Clooney, and she is currently starring in the TV show 'Bates Motel' as Norman Bates' mother Norma. Taissa's first acting role was as a younger version of Vera's character in the 2011 movie 'Higher Ground', which was also sister Vera's directorial debut. Taissa also has four movies due out this year, including a role in the upcoming movie 'The Bling Ring' alongside Emma Watson.

Finding information about this name is kind of like tracing a family tree. Taissa is thought to come from the Russian name Taisiya, pronounced tah-EE-see-yah. In turn, Taisiya comes from the Greek name Thais. The meaning of Thais is uncertain, with some sources saying it means 'bandage', some saying 'bond' and some saying 'beloved' (although this may actually be related to similar name Thaiz instead).

Thais was the name of a famous companion (well, technically courtesan) of Alexander the Great in the fourth century BC. However she repented, converted to Christianity and was made a saint. Her saint day is October 8. Saint Thais has inspired and is the subject of a novel by Anatole France, an opera by Jules Bassenet, a play, a film and a statue. Perhaps because of the novel and opera, Thais is quite a popular name in France. It's also well known in Brazil, and in both countries is pronounced tah-EES. 

Thais is also thought to be the origin of the Character Thaisa in Shakespeare's play 'Pericles'. Thaisa (pronounced TAH-ee-sah) is Pericles wife, who appears to die on board a ship during childbirth but actually survived and entered a convent. Perhaps because they both share the same root, it seems that the names Thaisa and Taissa are quite similar, although in pronunciation they differ in their emphasis.

Taissa has quite an international background, and has rarely charted in the US. Admittedly, some people might find it a little hard to pronounce, and be tempted to say it TAY-is-sah or TYE-is-sah, especially since similar looking name Kai is often pronounced KYE or KAY. This would probably be fine, and could open up different nickname possibilities such as Tai. But the original just feels so prettily exotic it'd be a shame to change the pronunciation.

It may be a rare name to most of us currently, but I have a feeling that Taissa Farmiga's star is on the rise - which will mean more and more exposure of this name. It would probably be best to use this one now before she's a household name and everyone will just assume you used it because you love the actress, not simply because Taissa is a gorgeous and distinctive name.

Tarabella

Name inspirations can come when you least expect it - and this beauty I spotted on a personalised number plate in traffic this morning! There are many things that raced through my mind when I saw this, with the uppermost one being that this is a very pretty name.

Tarabella is a quite rare name. It has never charted in America, meaning it has never been given to more than five girls in any one year. And a quick Facebook search shows that while Tarabella is not used as a first name, it has been used as a surname in Italy. However there is no information on its origin or meaning as a surname.

As a first name, Tarabella immediately strikes one as an unusual smoosh name - a combination of the spunky Tara and the sweetly girly Bella. Bella is popularly recognised to be an Italian name meaning 'beautiful'. In recent years it has followed the extremely popular Isabella up the charts, helped largely due to the (Isa)Bella Swan character from 'Twilight'. It's currently particularly popular in Australia, America and Canada, but deceptively is even more popular than the charts tell us, because it would commonly be sued as a popular nickname for many other Bella related names.

Tara on the other hand has a couple of different origins and meanings. In Hindu mythology Tara was an astral  goddess, and her name means 'star'. There is also a goddess named Tara in Buddhist mythology. Said to be the most popular goddess in the Buddhist pantheon, Tara is considered to be the Goddess of Universal Compassion, and she represents virtuous and enlightened activity.

But perhaps the best known origin of Tara is from Irish Gaelic, where Tara means 'hill' or more elaborately 'hill where kings meet'. Ancient Tara was the site of the 'stone of destiny', on which Irish kings lived. It has been theorised that this reference is what author Margaret Mitchell had in mind when she named the famous home of Scarlett O'Hara 'Tara' in her novel 'Gone With The Wind'.

Tara enjoyed a burst of popularity after 'Gone With The Wind' was released as a movie in 1939, first entering the American charts that year. During the 70's and 80's it was a top 100 name in America. It has dropped in popularity recently (#877 in America in 2011) although you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise judging by the popularity of Tara as a character name in TV shows ranging from 'True Blood' to 'Boston Legal' to 'The United States of Tara'.

Tara also does quite well in many other countries, such as Australia, Croatia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Norway and Scotland. There are however some pronunciation variations - personally we pronounce it more like Tarr-aah here in Australia, while on American TV it seems to be pronounced Tah-RAH (or even Teh-RAH). Which I guess raises the question of how one would pronounce Tarabella. Would it be Tarr-aah-bell-ah or Tah-rah-bell-ah?

Pronunciation questions aside, I feel like Tarabella would be a great way to honour a Tara and/or Bella relative. Or to honour a combination of Italian/Indian/Irish heritage, or even a belief in Buddhism or Hinduism. And of course there are the two distinct and beautiful (excuse the pun) possible meanings - 'beautiful star' or 'beautiful hill'. 'Beautiful star' in particular is an almost swoon-worthy meaning.

I can definitely see Tarabella catching on. Maybe you're looking for an alternative to Isabella, but Arabella feels too frilly or vintage for you, or you're worried about it's current rising popularity. Tarabella could be a great way to stand out from the crowd.

Ofelia

Up and coming young actress Ophelia Lovibond

Today's name is inspired by a recent trip to Ikea. You know how everything has a name, and most of those names seem a little strange and crazy if English is the only (or main) language you speak. Well, on this trip I bought a blanket with the name Ofelia, which seemed to suit the light and fluffy white blanket perfectly.

Ofelia (pronounced oh-FEEL-ya) is the Spanish/Italian version of Ophelia, and is mainly used in Spanish speaking countries such as Argentina, Chile, or Mexico. It is also a Portugese name, with the slightly different pronunciation of oh-FEH-lyah (thanks Zeffy!). It means 'who assists or who helps', as the original name derives from the Greek word ofeleia, which has this meaning. Ofelia is also a Saint name, used in memory of Danish Roman Catholic Martyr Saint Ofelia. St Ofelia's name day is recognised in Italy as February the 3rd.

Most people recognise the name Ophelia as the character from Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', written in 1600, although it's first use was reportedly in the poem 'Arcadia', written in the 15th century by Jacopo Sannazaro. Shakespeare's Ophelia was quite a tragic figure. A young noblewoman from Denmark, Ophelia is presented as a potential wife for Hamlet. However she is treated very poorly by Hamlet, and eventually goes insane and drowns herself.

A lot of people have been put off using Ophelia/Ofelia for their daughters due to the tragic demise of Shakespeare's character, and fears of their children being taunted with lewd "I feel 'ya" comments. However these perceptions are wearing off, and examples of people who bear this name include:

• Dr Ofelia Zepeda, American poet and intellectual
• Spanish actress Ofelia Guilmain
• Mexican actress Ofelia Medina
• British actress Ophelia Lovibond
• First mixed race model in America, Ophelia DeVore
• Cousin Ophelia in 'The Addams Family'
• O (short for Ophelia), main character in 2012 movie 'Savages', played by Blake Lively
• Ofelia, main character in Guillermo Del Toro's dark 2006 movie 'Pan's Labyrinth'

I quite like Ofelia/Ophelia. It has a classic, stately feel to it, and cool nickname options Fee, Lia or O add a bit of spunk to it. As you've probably guessed, the Ophelia spelling is currently more popular in America. It's been on the rise in the past couple of years after dropping out of the top 1000 in 1959, and in 2011 was ranked #1864, given to 107 girls. Ofelia on the other hand has actually been a more consistent performer on the charts, lower than Ophelia but with fewer dramatic rises and falls in popularity. It ranked #3368 in America in 2011, given to 48 girls.

I like both variations, and personally feel that Ophelia looks more aristocratic, while Ofelia feels a little more approachable and friendly. So I'd probably lean more towards Ofelia. But maybe that's just me. What do you think?

Happily snuggled up in the Ofelia blanket
Photo courtesy of Lauren Rutherford Photography

Paloma

Paloma Faith

If you're looking for a soft and pretty, classic but different, it's hard to go past Paloma. It has a similar look and feel to the gorgeous Pandora but without the nasty "unleashed all the evils of hell upon the world" connotations.

Paloma (pronounced pah-LOH-mah) is a Spanish name meaning dove. Or pigeon. But I prefer to focus on the dove part, even though I know that a dove is only a white pigeon. The dove is universally recognised as a symbol of peace, and in religious art the Dove symbolises the Holy Spirit, so this could also be an inadvertently spiritual name. Dove itself is also a rising name, so Paloma would also be a nice nod to the currently trendy bird names without feeling dated in ten years time.

I have always felt that Paloma is a pretty name, given to elegant, sophisticated people such as Paloma Picasso (daughter of famous painter Pablo Picasso). However not everyone will have the same first impression of this name. I've seen reactions such as "It sounds like a type of drug or cancer" (you mean melanoma?) to "It sounds like a sandwich meat" (um..I think they're thinking of bologna) to "Sounds like something you should name a horse" (I guess their horse is a palomino). But plenty of other people think it is beautiful and feminine.

Other famous Palomas include:

• Indian actress Paloma Rao,
• Spanish pianist Paloma O'Shea
• Mexican model Paloma Jimenez
• Argentine ballet dancer Paloma Herrera; and
• British Singer and actress Paloma Faith

Which illustrates that Paloma is a name that works well in many countries. In Italy, the feast of Paloma is celebrated on August 15th. Celebrity Salma Hayek chose it as the middle name for her daughter - Valentina Paloma - while 'Ugly Betty' star Ana Ortiz named her daughter Paloma Louise. There are also songs, towns and even a cocktail with the name Paloma.

Paloma is a gentle, polished, feminine name that is familiar to people worldwide, and would be a great choice for your daughter's name.