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.

Dragon Names

It's not unusual for people (especially name lovers) to name their toys. Sometimes the toymakers give us a helping hand and name their toys for us. It's hard to deny that we feel more emotionally connected to something that has a name, so this is probably a clever way to make us more inclined to buy a particular toy, even if we choose to give our own toys a different name.

Despite being an adult, I'm still a sucker for a cute stuffed toy. One brand in particular I love is the Nici brand, after my husband bought me one of their dogs a few years ago (I named him Ralphie because he's just so cute, sweet and innocent looking). Nici have quite a few ranges, but one I'm particularly in love with at the moment is their range of dragons.

All of the Nici dragons have some pretty unusual names, which I'm fairly sure have been invented to sound particularly dragon-ish. They're fiery and macho sounding, reminiscent of the environments in which they live. I'm not sure they'd all make great human names, but they're fun to think about.

Arkaai
Arkaai is a new dragon for 2014, a giant blue sea monster who rules the churning waters. To my ears, it sounds like it is composed of the roar a monster would make (Arrrr!), blended with the word Kai. Kai has different meanings in many languages, but perhaps the most commonly recognised is the Hawaiian (and Japanese) meaning of 'ocean'. There's also the element of 'ark' or 'arka' in there, which is the big ship Noah built to withstand the great flood. So all in all, it feels pretty fitting for a sea monster. Would you use it as a name? Probably not, although drop an "a" and Arkai might be more likely, considering Kai has been on the rise for a few years now.

Arock
Orange with red wings, Arock is the volcano dragon from the land of Magmania. He also has the "Ar" sound, this time combined with Rock, probably because volcanoes are made of rock. I like it's appearance, and the name in theory, but in practice it's a little difficult to get your tongue around.

Dracon
The sinister dragon from Dragonia, he's dark grey with red wings. There's always something about that "drac" sound that feels vaguely sinister and menacing, isn't there? Think Dracula, or Draco Malfoy from 'Harry Potter'. It's not a coincidence - Drac literally means 'devil' in Romanian, and in Latin it means - funnily enough - 'dragon'. Although Dracon sounds kind of "namey", personally I'd stick with Drake if I was going down this path.

Iwan
He is the blue, ball dragon from Dragonia, and has a quite different look to the other dragons. This is an interesting one, as it seems in earlier press releases he was called Ivan, but when the Magmania dragons were released he was definitely referred to as Iwan. Ivan has never been out of the top 400 for boys in the U.S, and also has a lengthy history of rare use for girls. Iwan however has only ever charted once, in the 50's. In Germanic (where the company Nici is based) and Slavic languages Iwan is pronounced EE-van and is a variant of Ivan, which is a form of the name John. Iwan also has a history as a Welsh and Cornish name, being a variant of Euan, Ewan or Owen, but pronounced EU-wan. One famous bearer is Welsh actor Iwan Rheon, of 'Misfits' and 'Game of Thrones' fame. Not sure who he is? Here's a synopsis from someone who may be his biggest fan.

Landogar
The red fire dragon from Dragonia. I'm not sure where this name came from - it seems it may be a breed of dog, or maybe a surname in some countries. Alternatively, if we follow the logic behind most of the other names on this list, it could be a combination of the name Lando with another growling sound. Lando is a diminutive of Orlando or Rolando, names meaning 'famous throughout the land'. Which Landogar would be, as one of the three ruling dragons of Dragonia. It's a bit much for everyday use, but would feel right at home in a video game or fantasy story.

Roorkh
Roorkh is the second new dragon for 2012. Blood red with black wings, he rules the wide sky and rugged lands. Again, it might be my imagination but it seems we have another dragon-like "roor" (or roar) as the basis for this name. It also sounds quite similar to the Irish name Roark, meaning 'illustrious and mighty'. Certainly that would be a good description for such a dragon. I'm not sure about this spelling - I think it was an attempt to distinguish it from the below dragon Thorke. I'd prefer Roark or Roarke, but Roorkh is definitely distinctive and fantasy-like.

Thorke
Thorke is the Green Dragon of Magmania. Besides Iwan, this is the name on the list that I think would work the best on an actual person. It sounds like the kind of name you could expect to see on a daytime soap character. Or maybe a Viking ship. It's likely that Thorke is a variation or Old Norse name Thorkell, or Thor, which mean 'thunder'. Thorke has history as a surname, and is also a character in the Italian comic series 'Dampyr'. That Thorke is a demon of the Black Dimension, giving this name quite a dark edge.

Twindrak
I find it a little disappointing that one of the coolest looking dragons has such an obvious and boring name. Twindrak is a blue, two headed dragon from the land of Magmania. Not too hard to see how they came up with this name. I can't ever see this being used for a person, but I guess stranger things have happened.

Penryn

Every day on my tram ride into work, I pass by a big house with the name Penryn emblazoned on it. But it wasn't until recently that it struck me what a nice name Penryn would make.

Penryn is a real rarity, but feels incredibly name-worthy. Maybe because I've seen Penn and Penna getting some love in recent years. Or maybe because it sounds a little like a vintage-y, fantasy-like substitute for Lauren/Loren. Either way, I can see this working equally well on a person of either gender.

Penryn is in fact a place name in Cornwall, England - a quiet town called Penryn that is located on the Penryn River. It comes from the Cornish Pennrynn, meaning 'promontory' or 'headland'. Which gives it a bit of a nature and water/earth reference. There's also a small town named Penryn in the U.S, or there's Penrhyn Castle in Wales, which is the Welsh spelling of this word. And Penryn is also a technological name, as the code name of a processor sold by Intel from 2007-2011.

Funnily enough, my research into Penryn tells me that I was not the first to think Penryn would be a great name for a character in a science fiction/fantasy story. Author Susan Ee has used it for the name of the central female character in her series known as 'Penryn and the End of Days'. The author relates in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that the inspiration for her name came from an exit sign off the I-80 in California, showing that good inspiration truly can come from anywhere. I like her style - the main male character bears the very cool moniker Raffe.

I haven't read the books myself (having only just found out about them), but the first one titled 'Angelfall' was released in 2011 and has rave reviews on GoodReads, as does the 2013 follow up 'World After'. It may be yet another YA dystopian post apocalyptic series, but I have a real weakness for those, so will definitely have to check them out myself! When I'm finished reading the current 'Dresden Files' book, that is. Seems the author Susan Ee is already in talks with Sam Raimi (!), Rob Tapert and Good Universe to make 'Angelfall' into a film, so we may hear Penryn a lot more in the next few years. Luckily it feels much more wearable than Katniss.

What initially drew me to Penryn is that is feels like a strong, vaguely aristocratic and preppy name. Yet the second syllable lends it some softness too -  I'd assume that it's pronounced PEN-rin. For a girl I could see it being a fresh and spunky alternative to Kathryn, Karen or Lauren; or maybe even Penelope if you're worried about how popular Penelope has become in recent years. Nicknames could be Penny, Pen, Rin or Rynn, the last few of which could also work well for a boy. And wouldn't it be great for a boy? It's like an (even more) stately Henry or Peregrine, and brings to mind names such as August, Jasper, Teague or Riordan, which have a similar vibe.

Penryn has never charted in the U.S, and seems to be quite rare in other parts of the world too. If you can also recognise the charm this name has, Penryn may be the rarity you have been looking for. What do you think? Penryn - Yay or Nay?

Barbarella

Jane Fonda as Barbarella in the movie of the same name has become an iconic image. The character is a young woman who travels among various planets having adventures - often daring, usually sexual. The movie was based on a French science fiction comic book created by Jean-Claude Forest and first published as a serialisation in a French magazine in 1962 before being given its' own comic book in 1964.

'Barbarella' became known as the first adult comic book due to its' sometimes erotic content. It is also lauded as anticipating the sexual revolution by depicting Barbarella as the embodiment of "the modern emancipated woman in the era of sexual liberation". The 1968 movie established Barbarella as the ultimate "space kitten", and actress Jane Fonda as a sex symbol.

The movie inspired 17 parents to name their daughter Barbarella in 1968, and another 8 in 1969, although it hasn't charted in the U.S since. As a name, it may seem a little outlandish, but is extremely close to Barbara, which it is reportedly based on, or possibly an international variant of. Barbara is a Latin name meaning 'foreign woman' which has never been out of the top 1000. She spent three decades in the top 10 in the 30's, 40's and 50's, peaking at number two and kept from reaching number one by the classic Mary. Ella is also thought to mean 'foreign' in Old German, as well as 'entire' or 'goddess'. These meanings seem well suited to a revolutionary heroine from a planet unknown.

Other possibilities for Barbarella's origin is that her name was inspired by the prominent B's and R's also found in French sex symbol Brigitte Bardot's name. Recently there was also character named Barbarella portrayed by Michelle Chong on Singapore TV comedy series 'The Noose', whose back-story is that she is named after a combination of two of her favourite role models - Conan the Barbarian and Cinderella. As both characters were well established before Forest created Barbarella, there is a slight possibility they also influenced him. Although it's more likely that these are connections that could just serve to make this name more appealing to parents who love fantasy, science fiction and fairy tales.

Barbarella is such an iconic character that she has become almost a caricature. For many she treads a fine line between bimbo sex kitten and empowered, feminist role model, making Barbarella in some ways quite a controversial name. There is no doubt that while this is a very feminine and fancifully pretty name, she would be extremely hard to wear.

Shiseido

These days, the lines between given names and brand names are growing ever more blurry. You don't have to look far to see some of the reasons why. For one, plenty of brands names are actually based on the name of the owner or inventor, or for some other reason are derived from already established given names. Think Armani, Wendys, Estee Lauder, Barbie or Reeses, just to name a few. And now that last names as first names have become increasingly popular the scope has widened even further. Then there are brand names that are based on words, particularly from nature or places. Milo, Lynx and Apple may not be common on the playground, but they're not completely unheard of. Yet to some they are just brands of hot drinks, men's deodorant and electronic products.

Then there is a slightly different breed of brand-names-come-baby-names. Those names that are specifically invented as a brand name, and have no origins or use as a given name until after the brand was invented.

That's not to say that these are unusable as names exactly. When you think about it, it's understandable why we would feel attracted to a word we hear every day, especially a word that represents something we admire, respect or aspire to. For example, Lexus brand cars were first introduced to the US in 1989, and the name Lexus subsequently debuted on the U.S SSA charts in 1990 for both girls and boys. Lexus is a name invented by parent company Toyota, loosely meaning "luxury edition cars for the US". You may not be able to afford one of these luxury cars, but that doesn't mean you can't add some of their sophistication and style to your household. In theory.

Shiseido is a name that falls into this latter category.

Shiseido was specifically created for the Shiseido brand. According to the Shiseido website:

"the name Shiseido was taken from a passage in I Ching, the classic Chinese Book of Changes, as it suggests some of the most ancient human wisdom still relevant today.

The last four characters of the Japanese translation (Ban Batsu Shi Sei) means, "Praise the value of the great Earth, which nurtures new life and brings forth new values".

These few syllables encapsulate the philosophy of Shiseido as a company, as a brand, as a citizen of the world".

It's an exotic sounding word with the currently cool "O" ending and quite a beautiful meaning. Plus it has the benefit of associations with youth, beauty and style. Yet it's a name that not many children bear - Shiseido has never appeared in the American charts, possibly because it may be a little hard to wear. Using it as a name would almost overwhelmingly make people think of the brand, so it could be considered a brave and distinctive choice for a daughter. 

Personally, I think that Shiseido falls into a similar category as the name Khaleesi. Both were invented to convey a concept, and weren't originally intended to be used as a given name. Yet both have a cool, lyrical sound; a romantic fantasy-like feel; and possibly represent something empowering to some people. They may even be quite well matched for a pair of sisters. 

Would I use them myself? No. But I can understand why some people would find them attractive and appealing enough to use.

I can't help but feel that the debate around the suitability of invented and brand names as given names is one that we will only see a lot more of in the future. Names are "invented" all the time, often just for their sound. They're not really that much different to those invented for a brand. At least Shiseido was invented to mean something, and something beautiful at that. What do you think - does Shiseido have potential as a name, or not?

Azlynn

Valerie Azlynn 

I wasn't really aware of who Valerie Azlynn was until I saw her last week on 'The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson' (obviously I don't watch her current show 'Sullivan & Son'). While her first name itself is a pretty and underused, during this appearance it was Valerie's surname that stood out to me more, mainly because they specifically discussed it. She chose Azlynn as a re-spelling of her actual last name - Asselin - to get rid of the pesky Ass in her name. It's definitely easy to understand why you wouldn't want to be thought of as that Ass girl when you go for auditions (or even ordinary job interviews).

It also struck me though that Azlynn is the type of name that has a lot of appeal as a first name. It's not too out there or weird, but it's just different enough to stand out in a crowd. The Lynn makes it girly and familiar, while the "Z" gives it a little bit of a cool and modern edge. And it's just the type of name that is popping up on the charts all over the place.

So it shouldn't really be surprising that some people have already cottoned on to this name. In the U.S., Azlynn first charted in 1992, then again in 1997, and it has been present every year since then. In 1992 it was bestowed on just 7 girls. In 2012, 80 baby girls were called Azlynn, so it's a name slowly on the rise. It's highly possible that in 10 years time it will be in the top 1000, at which point we'll all be wondering where this pretty little name came from.

Which is a good question. The best theory is that it is a somewhat phonetic variation of Aislinn. Yes, Aislinn comes from Aisling and is therefore meant to be pronounced Ash-lynn. But it's not hard to see how people would see the spelling Aislinn and think it should be Ays-lynn and then make the short leap to Azlynn. It's almost as if people were inspired by the original to come up with a new name, rather than simply butchering the original. Although I'm sure not everyone will feel the same way!

One possible hiccup to be aware of if choosing this name is pronunciation. Valerie pronounces it AZ-lynn, but I have seen people lean to AYZ-lynn or even As-LAN (like the lion leader of Narnia) at a stretch. The other one is that some people do feel it is "ugly" because it is "made up".

On the other hand though, I've seen it described on different forums as sweet, magical, romantic, feminine and pretty. Plus if we assume that the origin is actually Aislinn then the meaning of Azlynn would be 'fantasy, dream, vision'. Which is just as pretty and fantasy-like as the name itself - an image that most parents would be happy to have associated with their little girl. This could be a great name if you're after something different and modern, but one that is attractive enough people to be on the charts for quite a while to come.

Axis

Photo courtesy of Tammy B Photography

Have you ever come across a name in a book that just feels so perfect as a name that you wonder why it isn't actually used as a name? This is how I feel about Axis.

I first saw Axis as the main male character in the aptly named Sara Douglass fantasy series 'The Axis Trilogy'. He also appears in 'The Wayfarer Redemption' series. Axis starts as a talented soldier, but soon learns that he has a greater destiny to fulfill, and becomes a legendary hero who saves his world.

I like the idea of Axis (pronounced ax-ISS) as a heroic, inspirational name. It is of course a word, which means any line used as a fixed reference for determining the position of a point or series of points, or about which a rotating body such as the Earth turns; or an alliance of two or more nations to coordinate their foreign and military policies. Both are reflective of the characters' role in the series. And if you look at Axis is the light of it being a central line or an anchor of sorts for other points, it could also be said that Axis is somewhat of an inspirational name in a similar way to the name North is an inspirational name.

Axis feels a little bit Axel, a little bit Atlas. But unlike both of those he is not a name steeped in mythology or meaning. Or if you like the idea of Axis but prefer it as a nickname for a more substantial name, it could be a fun option for a young Abraxas/Abraxis, or even Alexis.

Axis would be a very cool, strong and modern-but-not-made-up name. It also has that great "X" factor that is so hot right now. Due to my association with the character I immediately think of this as a boys name, but this could also be a funky spunky girls name. This is possibly because there is also a type of deer known as the axis deer (or the chital deer or spotted deer), and the imagery of the deer always makes me think of strength, grace and agility. It's the grace and agility part that makes deer related names feel well suited to girls (for me, at least).

If you are after a truly rare name, it's hard to find one rarer than Axis - this one has never appeared on the U.S. SSA lists. This could be one fantastic name for the parents willing to take a chance on it.

Malta

Currently I'm reading the first book in 'The Liveship Traders' series by Robin Hobb, and Malta is just one of the great names in the series. She may not be one of the main characters (at least, not yet in the first book), but the understated charm of this name definitely makes it one that sticks in your head.

It's actually almost surprising that this gem doesn't get more use, although possible deterrents could be an association with Maltese dogs, malted milk drinks, or the sweets named maltesers (which, in a completely unrelated note, taste fantastic when mixed with your popcorn at the movies). Yet it's not completely unheard of as a given name in America, charting in 9 separate years, the last instance being in 1970.

Somehow the time feels right for Malta to make a reappearance. Place names are arguably more popular than ever, and Malta is one country name that feels overlooked. The Republic of Malta is a Southern European country in the Mediterranean Sea. Its position has long made it an important strategic location, and at different times has been ruled by the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Spanish, French and British.

This continual change of hands has contributed to the confusion behind the meaning of the name Malta. Its thought that it is possibly from the Phoenician word Malath, meaning 'a haven'. But the more commonly accepted explanation is that it comes from the Greek word Meli meaning 'honey'. The Greeks actually called the island Melite, meaning 'honey-sweet', and from this the Romans called it Melita. Whether it's meaning is 'honey-sweet' or 'haven', either are a lovely meaning for this name.

Malta would be an unusual choice - and a rare one - but would still fit in with the names being used today. Perhaps this overlooked place name is one worth considering.

Reuven

Photo by Elena Karneeva

A few months ago I featured the name Zared, which I first came across in a fantasy novel. Today's name reminds me quite a bit of Zared. By that I means at first glance it looks like a well known name - i.e. Reuben - that has been "jazzed up" a bit with the addition of a lesser used, futuristic sounding letter. But just like Zared, this is not the case with Reuven, and it is actually an old Hebrew name with Biblical connections.

Pronounced ROO-ven, it is actually a variant of Reuben (or Ruben) and like Reuben means 'behold! a son'. He appears in the Old Testament as the eldest son of Jacob and Leah, making him the grandson of Isaac. He was the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This puts him in the company of other sons of Jacob  Asher and Levi, both of which are fairly popular currently.

Unlike Asher (positioned #108 for boys in America in 2012) and Levi (number #55) though, Reuven is very rarely used, positioned at just #4321 in 2012 in America. The better known Reuben is also nowhere near as popular as Asher and Levi, hovering around the bottom end of the top 1000 at #973 in 2012. Reuven is also the only one of these four names that has never charted for girls.

Reuven is also a suburb in Johannesburg, South Africa, but I first came across Reuven in a discussion about favourite literary characters. One poster wrote that their top two picks are Atticus (from Harper Lee's 'To Kill A Mockingbird') and Reuven Malter from Chaim Potok's 'The Chosen'. Having not read 'The Chosen' myself it's hard to comment on the character, except to say that being mentioned in the same breath as Atticus is fairly high praise for most literary fans.

There are two main arguments (that I've seen) against using Reuven as a name. One is that it may seem out of place on a child without any Jewish heritage, although the common feeling is that it isn't too much different from using any Biblical name. The second is one is that you would be constantly correcting people that it's like Reuben, but with a V. However, this slight spelling difference does also come with some advantages.

For many, Reuven is a great alternative to Reuben because it avoids the "rube" nickname. Admittedly, this may only be a concern in America, as I saw this point made in a forum discussion, but being Australian I was not aware of the association. If you're just as in the dark as I was, it's a term for a country bumpkin. You also avoid associations with the sandwich. Again not a huge problem in Australia anyway. And you also avoid your son being given the nickname Ruby, which is currently #106 in America for girls and the #2 girls name in Australia.

I do really like the nickname possibility of Ven, which I feel has a kind of chilled out and zen vibe. I also really like that it is a futuristic/fantasy sounding name that is actually an old, rarely heard name. It's surprising how many names used in fantasy are just that. And it could be a surprisingly good fit with many other names, whether you want a sibset of biblical names or modern sounding names.

Khaleesi

Emilia Clarke plays the Khaleesi Daenerys Targaryen on HBO's 'Game of Thrones'

As a name lover and fan of the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' books, I was pretty excited when I first heard that the books were being adapted to a TV show. And like many others, I couldn't help but wonder how the show - titled 'Game of Thrones' for the small screen - would affect the baby naming landscape.

I think occasionally people would name a child after their favourite character from the books, but of course there are some that a few years ago would seem much more wearable than others. You could easily use Jon, Rob, Ned or Catelyn. Arya, Bran, Sansa, Theon and possibly Tyrion would get some questions, seen as more "out of the box" than outlandish. And then others such as Daenerys, Viserys or Targaryen would seem completely unusable.

But the good thing about being part of a hit TV show is that such names now have a wide audience, and the once "out of the box" names become less questionable, the "unusable" a possibility. Suddenly a wide range of people would know how to pronounce a name that before would have only been recognised by loyal readers.

I had to wonder which 'Game of Thrones' names would capture peoples attention and start appearing in the birth notices. So far Arya has perhaps had the most success. And then a few months ago one popped up in an Australian birth notice that I had not expected to see - Khaleesi.

If you have any knowledge of the books or the show, you'll know that Khaleesi isn't actually a given name, it's a title. It's the closest thing the Dothraki people have to a queen, and Daenerys receives this title when she weds Khal Drogo in the first episode, and is almost always referred to as Khaleesi rather than Daenerys in the show from that point on.

Now, a Khaleesi isn't always a prestigious position. Basically they are a possession of the Khal, and could be treated like dirt if he so wishes. However Daenerys' determination and ability to become respected by her husband and therefore his people is a pivotal plot point, the first proof we see that this young, sometimes frail looking girl is actually a strong, powerful force to be reckoned with. This is further reinforced when she survives fire to hatch her dragons. Although her storyline is set far, far away from the land of Westeros, we see that she has the determination to possibly take Westeros and be a worthy contender for the Iron Throne.

Emilia Clarke enjoys a lighter moment
with Kit Harrington, who plays Jon Snow

I can see why Khaleesi has been picked up as a given name for a child. It's a word that is associated with inner and mental strength, resilience, assertiveness, determination and power. And sound wise, it's quite similar to Kamari, Kymani or Kalani, all of which are listed among the top 100 American unisex names in Nancy's Baby Names book titled 'The Most Popular Unisex Baby Names of 2011'. It has a sound that people find appealing for both boys and girls.

Due to it's connection with the 'Game of Thrones', it has so far been primarily (possibly only) used for girls. In the US it appeared on the charts in 2011 at position #5094, given to 27 girls. Considering the first season of the TV version started that year, I'm interested to see how it fared in 2012 when those results are released next month.

I have to admit I wouldn't have picked it, but so far it seems that Khaleesi is the surprise breakthrough name from the show. What else do you think might race up the charts for 2012 thanks to 'Game of Thrones'?

80's Fantasy Favourites

I grew up in the 80's and have very fond memories of some of the fantasy adventure movies from that decade. Movies such as these were an early introduction to a different style of naming. Sometimes they were a slight twist on an old familiar, other times they seemed fantastical. But one of the great things now is that they remind you of those old favourite movies and bring a smile to your face. Here are 20 of my top picks in alphabetical order:

Atreyu  (The Neverending Story) - This is probably one of my favourites on this list. Pronounced ah-TRAY-yoo, he was the warrior boy of the story. It is thought that the name has both Indian/Hindu origins - where it means 'warrior' - and German origins in the name Atreju, which means 'son of all'. Both are quite apt for this character, who was raised by a village when his parents died. The name is still quite rare, but has slowly been gaining in popularity since the early 1990's. In 2011 it was ranked #1339 in the US.

Aquila (Ladyhawke) - Aquila is traditionally a male Latin name meaning 'eagle', but is more often used as a girls name in America. Pronounced either ah-KEE-la or ah-KWIL-la, it was the name of the land in 'Ladyhawke' and is a pretty but rare name.

Auryn (The Neverending Story) - The Auryn was the name of the amulet Atreyu wore to protect and guide him in his quest. It was also on the cover of the book Bastian was reading 'The Neverending Story' from. This name could go either way, as it sounds similar to girls name Lauren and boys name Oren, and has only recently started appearing on the US charts for both. I love the sound of this - it's kind of like Aura but with the benefit of being more "namey" and less "wordy" feeling.

Bastian (The Neverending Story) - One of the most recognisable names on this list, Bastian comes from the Latin boys name Sebastian, meaning 'from Sebastia'. Actor Jeremy Sisto named his son Bastian Kick in 2012, and while the name is growing in popularity in America, it was still ranked just #2387 in 2011. It's much more popular in Chile, where it is a top 20 name, and Germany and Norway.

Buttercup (The Princess Bride) - A name that would sound at home on one of Jules and Jamie Oliver's offspring, Buttercup is a super-cutesy floral name that have never charted in America, despite being the name of the well loved bride of this tale. Probably better left as a term of endearment.

Cherlindrea (Willow) - Pronounced SHER-lyn-dree-ah, she is the fairy queen of the forest who tells Willow that he has been chosen to save the child who will bring about the downfall of the evil queen. I'm not sure how the writer came upon this name - it's like a mixed bag of Cher, Cheryl, Lyn, Linnea and Andrea all rolled into one. Perhaps a little too fantastical to use, this name has never charted in the US.

Elora and Danan (Willow) - Elora Danan was the child Willow was charged with saving. Either of these names are great - fans will appreciate where you got it from and everyone else will just think they sound great.

Elora is thought to be a variation of the Hebrew name Eliora, meaning 'the Lord is my light', or the Greek Eleanor meaning 'bright, shining one'. It's likely though that the writer - himself a Canadian - got it from the Canadian town Elora. Elora has a long history in the US charts, however the movie has certainly helped to boost it's popularity. Prior to 1988 it charted irregularly, but since 'Willow' was released that year it is a regular on the charts. Understandably so - it's a pretty but not overly frilly choice for a girl.

The characters second name is spelled Danan, but is quite often thought to be Dannan or Dannon. Interestingly, Danan has only ever charted for boys, Dannan only for girls, while Dannon can be seen on boys and girls. The original form is most likely Danann, as in the Irish legend of the Tuatha De Danann, which I only say because Willow uses the word tuatha when he is trying to cast a spell. This would give the name the meaning of 'people of  Dana'. Personally I prefer this name for a boy, with the spelling of Dannon. It reminds me of the strength of a cannon, but without the negative weaponry connotation.

Falkor (The Neverending Story) - Falkor was that fluffy flying white luck dragon in the movie. A very cool name, like Falcon but less "birdy". Falkor (or Fuchur in the original German text) has no accepted origin or meaning, and has never charted in the US.

Isabeau (Ladyhawke) - I love Isabeau, it is such a romantic name. Pronounced IS-ah-bo, it's a variant of Isabel and means 'God is my oath'. It's likely that it's less popular than Isabelle or Isabella variants because although Belle/Bella and Beau all mean 'beautiful', the first two are usually the feminine version while Beau is masculine. Beau is also a term used for a male suitor. Nevertheless, it's a beautiful (no pun intended) name and would be stand out from the Isabels and Isabellas, and ensure that you avoid the nickname Bella. Isabeau entered the US charts in 1987 and has maintained a constant but quiet presence.

Jareth (Labyrinth) - This is one name that would be instantly associated with the movie it comes from. But in a good way - Jareth the Goblin King was played brilliantly by David Bowie, and is iconic within 80's movies.  Inevitably it would be confused a lot with Jared, but it carries a massive cool factor that would probably go a long way towards making up for that. Jareth hit the US charts the same year the movie was released - 1986 - but again has never been super popular.

Kael (Willow) - Like the sound of Kale, but not the less than flattering association with cabbage? Then you may want to spell it Kael. This variation first cracked the US top 1000 in 2006, and was still there in 2011. Kael is a variant of the Gaelic name Kaelen, meaning 'uncertain'. It's also used in 'World of Warcraft' (Kael'Thas Sunstrider) and is generally seen as a name for a dark, strong and forbidding type. I can't help but think that it would make a good name for a love interest in a romance novel. Hmmm, maybe someone should write one featuring lead characters called Isabeau and Kael?

Kira (The Dark Crystal) - Kira is one of those names with many multiple spellings. This is one of the sleeker  versions, and also the one worn by Olivia Newton John in 'Xanadu' and female officer Major Kira on 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'. Each of the variations have different origins and meanings, therefore meanings vary from 'dark' in Gaelic to 'throne' in Persian to 'glitter' in Japanese. Kira has been in the US top 1000 since 1979 - and the top 500 for most of those years - but has been declining slightly in the past few years.

Ludo (Labyrinth) - Also the name of a board game, Ludo was the lovable friendly monster in 'Labyrinth'. It has never charted in America, but did appear as a minor character name in 'Harry Potter'. Ludo is assumed to be a nickname for any number of boys names starting with Lud, such as the German Ludwig or the French Ludovic, both meaning 'famous warrior'. But I see no reason to have a long version name with this one - Ludo could fit in quite well with current hot names Milo and Arlo.

Rylan (The Last Starfighter) - It sounds kind of like Riley and kind of like Ryan, and in this movie it was the name of the people on the planet Rylos, which the star fighter is recruited to protect. Rylan is English in origin, means 'land where rye is grown' and is a top 1000 name in the US for both boys and girls. Which I was surprised to hear. Guess this isn't quite as "undiscovered" as I thought it would be. Makes a good different-but-not-too-different name.

Sorsha (Willow) - I've also seen this one pop up as a hero name in the video game 'Heroes of Might and Magic'. I quite like the sound of it - it's an alternative spelling of the Irish name Sorcha, meaning 'bright, shining'. Sorsha has rarely charted in the US, possibly because the character was nasty for most of the film which might have discouraged parents. It's a great fantasy sounding name though, and you would be extremely unlikely to meet another one if you chose this name.

Tyrian (Dragonslayer) - I personally prefer Tyrion as in the 'Game of Thrones' character, as this spelling brings it just that little closer to looking like tyranny and tyrannical, which aren't exactly positive attributes. Tyrian is also the name of a dark reddish purple that was once prized for it's rarity and ability to become richer with exposure to sunlight, rather than faded. 'Tyrian' is also the name of a video game, or spelled Tirian is the final king of Narnia in CS Lewis' 'The Last Battle'. Both spellings are rare but have charted at least once in America.There is no information on the history or origins of either names - best guess is they might be  variations of Welsh girls name Tirion, meaning 'gentle', which seems a little at odds with it's appearance.

Westley (The Princess Bride) - Looks like Wesley but has more of a cowboy feel to it. Westley is an English name meaning 'western meadow'.  Westley has a long history in the US charts, but is more often outside the top 1000 than in it. Boys names ending in "ley" such as Bentley are pretty popular right now- Westley would be a great choice if you're looking for current sounding but not over-used.

Willow (Willow) - This is by far the most popular name on this list, but 'Willow' would have to be one of my favourite ever movies of 80's, so I couldn't really do this list without including it. Willow was man whose self doubt held him back from being the sorcerer he desperately wanted to be. When he accepts the challenge of protecting Elora Danan he finds the courage to be a truly great sorcerer. Willow is a great unisex name, although far more popular for girls, particularly in the US.

Valerian (Dragonslayer) - Yes, Valerian may be a most often recognised as a herbal remedy for sleeplessness. But it can also be argued that this is a very regal sounding nature name, one that would work for both genders. It has been the name of a Roman emperor and several saints, and is a Latin name meaning 'healthy, strong'. Valerian is a rare name, and likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future.

Did you see your favourite on this list? Would you use a name inspired by your favourite movie? Or maybe you already have......

Narnia

Few things are as magical as that moment when the four Pevensie children first enter Narnia together

Like many avid readers, when it comes to thinking about the names I may someday use for my future children, I think about my favourite books. About the characters that I have loved, those that have inspired me and those that have intrigued me. Or sometimes we turn to an author that has written several books we adore, because it's hard to encapsulate everything we love about their stories with just one character. But in today's naming landscape, we find that we can cast our nets much wider, and that a name doesn't necessarily have to come from a real or fictional person. Names can also come from words - real or fictional.

I know I am not alone in my love of the 'Chronicles of Narnia' books by C.S. Lewis. I remember my excitement when my mother brought me the box set, and suddenly the land of Narnia went from being just 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe' to being seven (yes, SEVEN) whole books! And while some characters such as Lucy, Edmund, Susan, Caspian and even Aslan himself appear in multiple books, there is only one real constant throughout all of them. And that is the enchanting world of Narnia.

So why not Narnia as a possible name? I know I'm not the only one to think of it, as I've seen other people on Nameberry discussing using it as a girls name. Turns out that Narnia made it to the US Social Security popularity lists in 2006, when it was bestowed upon 6 girls. This coincides with the release of the first of the modern movie adaptations - 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe' - in 2005. For me, the movies not only revived fond memories of the books, but also the 1988 BBC production of the books, which I watched on TV as a child. And I dare say that it did the same for many other people, reminding them of the magic and strength of these tales.

It is this feeling of magic, strength and honour that fans think of when they hear the word Narnia, and this is probably the type of feeling that parents who consider this name are aiming for. We all know children are special, and many people try to emphasise this with their choice of name for their child. And Narnia definitely holds a special place in many people's hearts.

So far Narnia has only charted as a girls name - possibly due to it's similarity to Nadia, or because "a" endings most often indicate a feminine name. But there's no reason why it couldn't work on a boy too. That is, if you think it works as a name at all. What do you think? Usable? As a first name, or is it strictly middle name material? Either way, this is one name that would ensure it's wearer is not soon forgotten.

View of the Stone Table in Narnia

League of Legends - The Gents

'League of Legends' Champion Tryndamere - The Barbarian King

Okay, so I'm not sure how many of these would fall into the "gentlemen" category, but it sounds better that "all those other characters that aren't females". This is the follow up the the post I did a couple of weeks ago ago on the ladies of the video game 'League of Legends', and includes the guys and the creatures of what I like to call indeterminate gender. Again, I've profiled my three top picks first, but included the total list for you to choose your own.

Viktor – The Machine Herald 
Many would think of this spelled Victor, but ever since Viktor Krum made an appearance in 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' I much prefer this spelling. It just seems a little tougher and swarthier than Victor, which seems a bit stuffy and boring to me. Which may seem silly considering it is just one letter different. But it's something most of us have felt at some time or another, as evidenced by the rise in alternate spellings of names.

Viktor does in fact come from the Latin Victor, meaning 'champion'. Interestingly, it is a top 5 name in Iceland, a top 20 name in Sweden, and a top 100 name in the Czech Republic and Hungary. In the US it is still far from popular, despite rising quite a bit since the Harry Potter phenomenon started. In 2011 it ranked #1173, while the Victor spelling ranked #142. And was so popular it was given to 5 girls.

Draven – The Glorious Executioner 
I have to admit to forgetting that this name came from 'The Crow', and thinking it was a spin on Raven created for the game. Which was probably how it came to appear in 'The Crow'. As an invented name, it doesn't really have an accepted meaning. Draven is most commonly thought of as a "Gothic" name - somewhat dark and mysterious. I'd also add enigmatic, sophisticated and strong to this name. It's the kind of name I could imagine on a vampire.

The movie 'The Crow' came out in 1994, and that is the first year it started appearing on American children - boys and girls. However it is a top 1000 name for boys - at position #729 in 2011 - while only 8 girls were given this name in the same year. A different but not too unusual name that even people who know nothing about the movie will think is cool.

Ryze – The Rogue Mage 
Some will hate this, because it so obviously looks made up. I like to think of Ryze as a virtuous name for the space age though. The Y and Z make it look as if it is straight out of a futuristic post apocalyptic setting. But said aloud it sounds just like the common word "rise". To "rise above something" could be thought to be just as virtuous as traditional virtue names Clemence, Patience and Temperance, and modern virtue names such as Brave, Honor or True. Maybe Rise or Ryze will be found in a future wave of virtue names.

The Others:

*Aatrox - The Darkin Blade
Alistar – The Minotaur

Amumu – The Sad Mummy

Anivia – The Cryophoenix
*Azir - The Emperor of the Sands

Blitzcrank – The Great Steam Golem

Brand – The Burning Vengeance
*Braum - The Heart of the Freljord

Cho’Gath – The Terror of the Void

Corki – The Daring Bombadier

'League of Legends' Champion
Maokai - The Twisted Treant

Darius – The Hand of Noxus 

Dr Mundo – The Madman of Zaun 

Ezreal – The Prodigal Explorer 

Fiddlesticks – The Harbinger of Doom 

Fizz – The Tidal Trickster

Galio – The Sentinel's Sorrow 

Gangplank – The Saltwater Scourge 

Garen – The Might of Demacia
*Gnar - The Missing Link

Gragas – The Rabble Rouser

Graves – The Outlaw 

Hecarim – The Shadow of War 

Heimerdinger – The Revered Inventor 

Jarvan IV – The Exemplar of Demacia 

Jax – Grandmaster at Arms 

Jayce – The Defender of Tomorrow 

Karthus – The Deathsinger 

Kassadin – The Void Walker 

Kennen – The Heart of the Tempest

Kha’Zix – The Void Reaver

Kog’Maw – The Mouth of the Abyss

Lee Sin – The Blind Monk
*Lucian - The Purifier

Malphite – Shard of the Monolith 

Malzahar – The Prophet of the Void 

Maokai – The Twisted Treant

Master Yi – The Wuju Bladesman 

Mordekaiser – The Master of Metal 

Nasus – The Curator of the Sands 

Nautilus – The Titan of the Depths 

Nocturne – The Eternal Nightmare 

Nunu – The Yeti Rider 

Olaf – The Berserker 

Pantheon – The Artisan of War 

Rammus – The Armordillo

Renekton – The Butcher of the Sands

'League of Legends' Champion
Teemo - The Swift Scout

Rengar – The Pridestalker

Rumble – The Mechanized Menace

Shaco – The Demon Jester 

Shen – Eye of Twilight 

Singed – Mad Chemist 

Sion – The Undead Champion 

Skarner – The Crystal Vanguard

Swain – The Master Tactician 

Talon – The Blade's Shadow 

Taric – The Gem Knight 

Teemo – The Swift Scout
*Thresh - The Chain Warden

Trundle – The Cursed Troll 

Tryndamere – The Barbarian King 

Twisted Fate – The Card Master 

Twitch – The Plague Rat 

Udyr – The Animal Spirit 

Urgot – The Headsman's Pride

Varus – The Arrow of Retribution 

Veigar – The Tiny Master of Evil
*Vel'Koz - The Eye of the Void

Vladimir – The Crimson Reaper 

Volibear – The Thunder's Roar 

Warwick – The Blood Hunter 

Wukong – The Monkey King 

Xerath – The Magus Ascendant

Xin Zhao – The Seneschal of Demacia
*Yasuo - The Unforgiven

Yorick – The Grave Digger
*Zac - The Secret Weapon
*Zed - The Master of Shadows

Ziggs – The Hexplosives Expert 

Zilean – Chronokeeper

*Added 15th Feb 2015

Zared

By panyangitz at deviant art

As you may have been able to tell from some of my previous posts, I'm a bit of a fan of fantasy novels. One of my favourites is Sara Douglass. By a happy coincidence I found out that she was actually born in the same small country town as I was, which I thought was pretty special considering the town had a population of just 1,317 people at the time of the 2006 census. Sara sadly passed away last year of ovarian cancer at the age of 54, but hopefully her books will remain fantasy favourites for generations to come.

I love some of the names she has used in the novels of hers that I have read. I'll no doubt feature more of these in future posts, but today's name is one from The Wayfarer Redemption trilogy. This trilogy contains three books - 'Sinner', 'Pilgrim' and 'Crusader' - and follows on from the The Axis Trilogy. The character of Zared appears in this as an uncle of the hero of our story, although they are roughly the same age. One of the things I found appealing about this character is that the reader is often left questioning whether he is a "good" or "bad" man. Like several of the characters in this book, when a chapter is told from their perspective we see that he honestly believes that his actions are for the best, whereas when shown from another characters perspective we come to question his motives and personality. This adds an extra layer of dimension to a character, and makes them feel more like real people with real weaknesses to the reader.

Zared's name immediately caught my attention as a very cool name. To be honest I was convinced that this was a case of a fantasy writer taking a somewhat common name - in this case Jared - and jazzing it up with a Z to make it sound more fantasy like. Kind of the way I'm semi-convinced some futuristic/fantasy writers add an unnecessary Y, V or X to make names more "interesting".

So I was surprised to find that Zared is actually an old Hebrew name. There is a little contention as to what the name means. Most sources state that it means 'trap' or 'ambush', but I've also seen 'verdant, of strange descent', or that it means 'brook', as there is a brook called Zared (or sometimes Zered) in the Torah. As my name is Brooke, I can't help but be inspired to think that this would be an interesting way to honour any Brook's (or it's variants) in your family. Just a thought.

If you want to name your son Zared (or daughter, if you're feeling super adventurous) I have a feeling that you'd probably get similar reactions to my first ones. Although in my case the end result was "I love it", and if more people thought that there would be more Zared's in the world that there currently are. In the U.S. it first appeared on the charts - i.e. was given to five or more boys - in 1991. It has never been given to more than 9 boys in any one year. Jared meanwhile has been in the top 1000 every year since 1950, and was a top 100 name from 1975 to 2002. Another similar name is Zarek, which has also been a quiet presence since 1991, but each year has been given to about four times as many babies as Zared has been.

Zared has a lot of cool qualities which could potentially make it a very appealing name. It starts with a Z, which is often seen as a trendy "alternative" letter (think Zander rather than Alexander, Zeke rather than Ezekiel). It sounds like the long popular Jared, which is now falling as people look for a fresher alternative. But belying it's modern look and sound, Zared is a name with history and biblical connections. It may take a while, but I like to think we may see more of this name in years to come as more people "discover" it.

Dorothy

The latest Wizard of Oz sequel - called 'Dorothy of Oz' - is due out in 2013
Dorothy will be voiced by 'Glee' star Lea Michele

Dorothy is a special name for me, as it was the name of my paternal grandma. To many people that’s all it is, a “grandma” name, meaning they think it is old fashioned and not cool or spunky enough for a child of today. But as other names once considered as “grandma” names are being dusted off and resurrected, Dorothy may soon be on the rise.

In 1922 when my grandma was born, Dorothy was the second most popular name for girls in America, a position held from 1920 to 1927. Unfortunately there is no data for it’s popularity in Australia at the time, but it’s likely it was somewhat similar. In the U.S., since 1880 it has only been out of the top 1000 a handful of times – in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. While Dorothy is far from a popular name currently, it has always held some attraction to parents.

One of the most famous Dorothy’s of course was Dorothy Gale, the girl with the ruby slippers from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ that every little girl pretends to be at least once. Being such a popular name there are plenty of other examples to look to, such as the characters of Dorothy in ‘The Golden Girls’ or ‘Jerry Maguire’, Dorothy the Dinosaur, or real life examples American figure skater Dorothy Hamill, poet Dorothy Parker, actress Dorothy Dandridge, and writer Dorothy West, to name just a few.

In Australia, it was a different fictional Dorothy that caught our imaginations – pint sized Dot of ‘Dot and the Kangaroo’. The book ‘Dot and the Kangaroo’ was about a five year old girl who gets lost in the Australian bush and is befriended by a kangaroo, amongst other bush animals. The book was written in 1899 by Ethel Pedley and later made into a movie in 1977. The movie was a combination of animation and live action, and spawned eight sequels between 1981 and 1994.

Dot is one of the many cute nickname options for a little Dorothy, with other traditional options being Dottie and Dolly. Incidentally, my grandma went by Dot herself as her family had a cow named Dolly when she was growing up and she didn’t want to go by the same name as a cow (can’t really blame her). Newer nickname options also being used today are Dora, Doro, Dodie, Thea, Tia and Dory/Dori, which help to give Dorothy a fresher, updated image.

The name Dorothy was derived from the Greek name Theadora, another option if you have a Dorothy in the family that you’d like to honour but aren’t keen on the idea of Toto or big green dinosaur references. Both have a beautiful meaning, which has probably contributed to Dorothy’s enduring appeal. Dorothy means ‘gift of God’. And I certainly like to think that’s what my Grandma was.

Name Lore

Photography by Glow Portraits, crown available at etsy

A couple of weeks ago I met a guy called Lor. Yes, that's his real name, not a nickname. The story behind his name as he tells it is that his "hippy" dad was determined to name him Lord Michael. When he went to get the name registered, he was of course told that you can't give a child the name Lord in Australia. Because Australia is part of the Commonwealth and ruled by the Queen we cannot use names that are official titles. So of course his dad just crossed out the "D" and triumphantly handed back the paperwork. And just like that, a baby boy was given the unusual name of Lor Michael. 

This has gotten me to thinking about Lor names in general. I quite like the sound, and one of my first thoughts was that Lore would actually be quite a cool name. It would fit in well with some of the other bookish names such as Story, Fable, Saga and Legend.

But if you like a bit more "substance" (i.e. length) to your names, I'd have to say that my top boys pick is Lorcan and my top girls pick is Lorelei.

Lorcan (pronounced LOHR-can) is an Irish/Gaelic name meaning 'little fierce one'. I think it sounds as if it stepped off the pages of a fantasy novel, and could end up giving Aidan a run for his money if given a chance and the right attention. One of the two most recognised Lorcans is Lorcan Ua Tuathail, an Irish saint who lived from 1128 to 1180. He is the patron saint of Dublin, and was also known as St Laurence O'Toole. The other well known Lorcan is actor Peter O'Toole's son, Lorcan O'Toole (also an actor). Apparently he was going to be given the name Luke, until his father had a dream in which he was told his name should be Lorcan. Lorcan is also dad Peter's second middle name.

Like many other girls (I suspect) I fell in love with the name Lorelei when watching 'The Gilmore Girls'. Before then Lorelei had always seemed like a much to fanciful name, especially considering it's origins. Lorelei (pronounced LOH-re-liy) is derived from the German name Lurlei which is a combination of the words luren (to watch) and lei (a cliff or rock). There is a legend that Lorelei was a beautiful siren who sat upon the rocks and lured sailors to their death, much like the sirens encountered by Odysseus in his journey. Hence the variation Lorelei is said to mean 'alluring temptress'.

While this may have been true of the Lorelei played by Marilyn Monroe in 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes', Lorelei Gilmore and her daughter Lorelei "Rory" made the name seem much warmer, friendlier and down to earth. And infinitely more usable.

Here are a few more names starting with or containing Lor that you might like.

         GIRLS               BOYS        

Annelore                                Bachelor

  Clorinda                               Chancelor

 Clorissa                                 Colorado

  Delora                                   Explorer

Elora                                     Florean

Flora                                     Florent

 Florence                                Florentino

Florinda                                    Florian

Glory                                    Halloran

Lorena                                     Lorand 

Loretta                                    Lorant

   Lori                                      Loretto

Lorice                                        Loric

Lorikeet                                  Lorimer

Lorinda                                    Lorin

  Lorna                                      Loring

Lorraine                                     Lorne

Mallory                                    Lorren

 Melora                                    Lorenzo

Sailor                                      Lorrenz

Saylor                                      Naylor

Taylor                                       Tylor

Valora                                       Valor

Then there are also those that have the Lor sound, such as Laura and Laurence, but that would mean I'd be here all night :) What would be your top Lor names?