Posts Updated 15th Feb 2015

Just a couple of updated posts I thought you might want to check out!

First, we answer the question of what one family names a third sibling when their first two sons are named Cooper and Mason.

Also, a few years ago I looked at the names of characters - better known as champions - from the online video game 'League of Legends'. They're constantly adding new playable characters so unfortunately my lists were a little outdated, but that has now been rectified. Some of my favourite additions to their legion of already cool and intriguing names are Braum and Zed for the guys and Kalista and Lissandra for the girls. See what you think - you can check put the full list of the Ladies here and the full list of Gents here.

Quill and Gamora

The 'Guardians of the Galaxy' - Drax (Dave Bautista), Gamora (Zoe Saldana),
Quill "Star Man" (Chris Pratt), Groot (Vin Diesel) & Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper)

You may have seen recently the trailer for the upcoming latest Marvel movie adaptation, 'Guardians of the Galaxy'. It looks like it's going to be a very fun and cheeky almost anti-hero superhero movie (although having not read the comics it's based on, I'm not sure how accurate that actually is). When watching the trailer though, like many of us name enthusiasts I found myself oohing and ahhing at the names just as much as the action and special effects.

And there are some great character names in this! Nebula, Rocket, Drax, Ronan, Taneleer, Meredith, Korath, Rhomann and Yondu - such a great mix of different, "spacey" and futuristic sounding names. But the two that struck me the most were Quill and Gamora, which I think are most like to get a small boost in popularity when this movie is released.

Quill is actually the surname of main character Peter Quill, a.k.a. Star Lord, played by Chris Pratt. Quill (pronounced KWIL) is a pretty cool sounding word name. Its a great name if you love writing. I love that it evokes images of an old fashioned time when people wrote with feather quills and inkwells, yet also feels kind of futuristic. That's possibly because Q names aren't very popular - it's a good example of the "scrabble effect".

This is not the only character named Quill to grace our screens in recent years. One of the 'Twilight' werewolves was Quil Ateara, and Quill was an Australian love interest introduced to the 'Luann' comic strip in 2009. These examples are all males, but Quill feels like it could easily be a unisex name like Quinn. It's never charted for either in the U.S.

There's a few different given meanings for Quill, which include:

• It is an English name meaning 'feather'
• It's a diminutive of Irish name Quillan (pronounced KILL-an) meaning 'lion cub';
• It's an anglicised version of Gaelic surname O'Cuill, meaning 'descendant of Coll'
• It's a diminutive of English occupational name for a scribe or writer, Quiller 

On the other hand, there is very little history behind the name Gamora. It has never charted in the U.S, which isn't to say it is never used as a first name, just that it has never been used more than five times in one year. It seems it is more likely you'll see Gamora as a middle or surname.

Gamora's resemblance to the biblical city of Gomorrah pretty much guarantees that this will never be a widely used name. The tale of the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah means it is permanently associated with unbridled sin, and while Gamora is not spelled the same, phonetically it's far too close for comfort.

Which is a real shame. Gamora both looks and sounds pretty enough to be an attractive name. I was convinced I had heard it before as the name of a planet or star, but it seems that it was largely created for this character by Jim Starlin for her first appearance in 'Strange Tales #180' in 1975.

But if anyone can get a name off the ground it's the beautiful Zoe Saldana, who plays Gamora in 'Guardians of the Galaxy'. She's starting to build a solid reputation playing smart, sexy, brave, dangerous and exotic characters, a winning combination. Zoe has put the names Neytiri and Cataleya on the charts in recent years - perhaps her magic touch will work for Gamora too.

Both have great potential - old world yet futuristic sounding, fresh and spunky. And the movie will likley only help with this perception, especially if it's turns out to be as successful as the promoters are hoping (it's not even out for another five months yet!) What do you think - are Quill and Gamora be your picks for breakout names inspired by 'Guardians of the Galaxy'?

Topher

Photo courtesy of Alison Griffiths

He feels like a somewhat old world, somewhat aristocratic name. I can just picture boys named Topher - or Christopher nicknamed Topher - right at home in an Edwardian castle, or even working the fields outside of one. Yet it's hard to find any evidence that this was ever the case. Seems that this has only become a nickname or given name in fairly modern times.

Topher first came to wider attention via actor Topher Grace. In 1998 a show called "That 70's Show" first aired in the U.S. The show was a hit, and made stars of some of it's main cast members - in particular, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and Topher Grace. Born Christopher John Grace in 1978, he spent a lot of his younger years as a Chris until deciding he wanted something more distinctive. Apparently it's not unusual for boys named Kristoffer (international variant of Christopher) to go by Toffer in Denmark either. But it seems that Topher Graces' fame prompted other Christophers to do the same, as most of the Tophers I can find online are about the same age or younger that Topher Grace. 

Topher may have stayed as simply a quirky nickname alternative to the traditional Chris or even Kip or Kit, but in 2007 Topher first appeared on the U.S SSA charts. It was the year Topher Grace left "That 70's Show" and appeared as villain Venom in the blockbuster "Spider-man 3", and it was given to 13 boys that year. It has appeared again in 2008, 2009, 2011 & 2012, possibly assisted by the appearance of a character by the name of Topher Brink in Joss Whedons' short-lived "Dollhouse". Like many Joss Whedon shows, "Dollhouse" has a somewhat cult-like following, and eccentric-young-genius-with-questionable-morals Topher Brink has struck a chord with many fans, giving this name a bit of geek cred. 

However, it may be a little simplistic to assume that Topher is just a nickname that has managed to make the transition to given name. While it's hard to find records of it as a given name, it does have a history as a surname. Reportedly originating from the area of Thuringia in Germany in early medieval times, spelling variations include Toepfer, Topfer, Toeffer, Toffer, Topper and Topfer. 

This additional aspect makes it slightly harder to determine the exact origin and meaning of this name. As a derivation of Christopher, it would have Greek/Latin origins and mean 'bearer of Christ'. As a surname it is an occupational name, coming from the German Töpfer meaning 'potter'. Chances are you may even have a Potter or variation of Töpfer in your family tree.

I like both Topher Grace and the character Topher Brink, so I can see the attraction of this name. It's currently fresh and "new" feeling, and those who like it think of it as suiting someone who is clever, sweet and gentle but a little off beat and quirky. It may sound similar to tofu or gopher for some, but at least these are not overtly negative or offensive associations. Topher is interesting and current. It's possible that this name is just at the start of a long climb to popularity.

In the Name of the Doctor - But Doctor Who?

The 11 Doctors.......So Far

This week marks the 50^th – yes, 50^th! - anniversary of 'Doctor Who'. 'Doctor Who' is a British sci-fi show with a cult like following world wide. The special 50^th anniversary episode screens on the 23^rd , with rumours and speculation as to what it will contain causing excited anticipation among die hard fans (or Whovians) for months now.

Historically the show didn't have a huge special effects budget like other shows of the genre, and so it was it's unique creativity and imaginative story lines that attracted viewers. The last of his race, the Doctor travels through time and space in the TARDIS (time and relative dimension in space) space ship that is disguised as a blue police box. Part of the reason the show has been able to endure as long as it has is because The Doctor has the ability to regenerate each time he dies, each time providing viewers with a main character who remains essentially the same, but with a different personality and quirky style for each regeneration.

While he travels with many different companions, many of whom are beloved by fans and have received their own spin off shows, the true heart of the show is the Doctor, making the actors who have portrayed him household names. If you're a keen 'Doctor Who' fan, perhaps you may like to honour your child with the name of your favourite Doctor.

William Hartnell (1963-1966)

He was the first, and played the Doctor as an “amiable-yet-tetchy patriarch”. William is an enduring classic – and very popular, currently #5 in the U.S. Meaning 'resolute protection', there are plenty of Williams (and Wills') to inspire parents. Hartnell however has never charted so would be very distinctive, and comes with great short form Hart.

Patrick Troughton (1966-1969)

Thanks to St Patrick's day, Patrick feels very Irish although it's a Latin name. It has never fallen out of the top 200 in the U.S and is currently ranked at #142. It has the benefit of feeling equal parts friendly and warm and equal parts preppy and noble. Patrick Troughton's portrayal of the Doctor was as an endearing “cosmic hobo” version of Charlie Chaplin.

Jon Pertwee (1970-1974)

Born John Devon Roland Pertwee, Jon seems to be a contraction of John and Devon. During Jons' stint as Doctor the character was exiled to Earth, a plot line developed due to budget constraints that made it difficult to create sets of other planets. His scientifically minded Doctor has been described as “an active crusader with a penchant for action and fancy clothes”. The name Jon is much less popular than long form Jonathan or the more traditional spelling of John, but also feels the sleeker and more modern option.

Tom Baker (1974-1981)

Tom Baker is one of the more beloved actors to play the Doctor – his trademark long striped scarf is iconic amongst Whovians. He was the longest serving Doctor, often brooding and aloof but also with an eccentric style and whimsical charm. Tom Baker has delighted fans by leaking that he'll appear in the 50 year anniversary special episode. Tom is a short, friendly feeling name which has consistently ranked in the top 200 in the U.S until 1969, when it began to fall rapidly. Longer form Thomas has never been out of the top 100. Surname/occupational name Baker deceptively feels more current, but is much less popular than Tom. It would be great to see either or both rising through the ranks.

Peter Davison (1981-1984)

At the time, Peter was the youngest actor to play the role (a record now held by Matt Smith), and he embodied a more vulnerable, sensitive and reserved Doctor. The name Peter means 'rock' and is currently at it's lowest ebb in the U.S, ranked at #205 in 2012. Peter is nonetheless an enduring classic and will likely remain in popular use for years to come. While Peter has been in regular use for centuries, surname Davison (meaning David's son) first appeared on the SSA charts in 1980 and is rarely used.

Colin Baker (1984-1986)

No relation to Tom, this Baker's stint as the Doctor was marred with an 18 month hiatus and an insinuation by BBC management that Colin was unpopular with viewers. His Doctor was flamboyant, brash and overbearing. As a name, Colin is a Gaelic name meaning 'pup' and has a steady history of use, slowly climbing for a number of years. Irish actor Colin Farrell has likely been the biggest influence in recent years.

Sylvester McCoy (1987-1989 & 1996)

It's hard to hear Sylvester without thinking of whiskers and tweety birds or the muscled action hero, both seemingly at odds with a name meaning 'wood or forest'. It has been falling in popularity in recent years, eclipsed by the fast rising McCoy in 2010. This Irish name meaning 'fire' is benefiting from a current love of all names Mc, and the positive association with the phrase “the real McCoy”. As the Doctor, Sylvester McCoy was at first somewhat comedic, but later became known as one of the darkest and most manipulative of the Doctors.

Paul McGann (1996)

Another actor with a Mc name, although lacking the panache that McCoy has. While McGann is not a likely choice for a given name, Paul has been in use since ancient times. It means 'small' but the number of influential Pauls to look up to is anything but. Paul has been a steadily popular name and while it has never been in the top ten on the boys SSA list, it has also never been out of the top 200. Although that may change in 2013 if it doesn't start regaining some ground. This Doctor was debonair, with an enthusiasm that hid an old soul.

Christopher Eccleston (2005)

Christopher Eccleston was the actor chosen to bring the Doctor back to television screens in 2005. He embodied an intense yet enigmatic leather-jacket-wearing Doctor. The name Christopher is another well loved classic on this list. In the U.S, he was a top ten name for four decades. The variety of possible nicknames help to keep Christopher feeling current – Chris being a classic choice, Topher a modern feeling one and Kit and Kip funky ones. Although it's hard to imagine this man with the name Kip....

David Tennant (2005-2010)

David Tennant is the actor that most often tops the polls as viewers favourite Doctor, his charismatic, witty and light-hearted portrayal causing his Doctor to be voted the “coolest character on UK television” and winning legions of new fans for the show. Tennant has the makings of a good modern hero name – currently it's associated with just the one, very well known actor. But as a word name it's meaning will probably mean that if parents really want to use it they'll leave it in the middle position. David however suffers no such problem. A Hebrew name meaning 'beloved', David has long been a popular favourite.

Matt Smith (2010-2013)

On this list of popular, classic boys names, Matthew (or Matt) can certainly hold his own. Almost everyone knows a Matt – he's familiar and likeable, like an old friend. Smith has a different feel, a little more mature, preppy and serious. Actor Matt Smith has brought a uniquely youthful exuberance to the role of the Doctor – and helped to make bow ties and fez hats cool.

Peter Capaldi (2014)

We're yet to see what fresh spin this Peter will bring to the role, and speculation is mixed among an audience that has become accustomed to the recent younger Doctors. He may have big shoes to fill, but many feel he is up to the challenge. Maybe in the next few years we'll start to see the name Capaldi pop up in birth announcements if he does the role justice.

Are you a fan of the show? Who is your favourite Doctor, and would you honour them in your child's name? And if (like me) you're one of the millions of people tuning in for the anniversary special, I hope you enjoy it!

Ranger

Armie Hammer stars as 'The Lone Ranger', due out July 2013

I'm loving occupational names at the moment, and I know I'm not the only one. Just look at the top 100 boys names in the US, Australia or the UK and you'll find options such as Mason, Carter, Hunter, Cooper, Archer and Dexter. Overwhelmingly, most of the occupational names that have been adopted for use as given names tend to be hands-on trades, and ones that are quite rare today. On boys they sound masculine but approachable. On the occasions they are bestowed upon girls they are ironic and preppy-cute.

One underused option if you like this style of name is Ranger. French name Ranger (pronounced RAYN-jer) is yet to chart at all in the US for girls. For boys it had been slowly creeping up in use, but it experienced a bit of a spike last year - from #3330 in 2011 to #2780 in 2012. 

One possible reason that it is still relatively underused is because Ranger is still a commonly recognised job. It actually means 'forest guardian'. And whether it be a park/forest ranger like 'Yogi Bear's Ranger Smith, or a law enforcement role such as 'Walker, Texas Ranger', most people have a perception of what "ranger" means. But we encounter so many more Ranger references in everyday life that there is no need for this name to be pigeon holed with a certain image. Other references include:

• Fictional hero 'The Lone Ranger'
• Special Military Units in several countries
• A class of warriors in 'Babylon 5'
• A Generation 1 Elite Guard in the cartoon 'Transformers'
• Sports teams, from baseball to Gaelic football to ice hockey to women's basketball
• Bounty Hunter Carlos "Ranger" Manoso, character in Janet Evanovich's 'Stephanie Plum' novels
• Fictional superhero team the 'Power Rangers'
• Boys scouts and girl guides; and
• Trackers and Warriors from Tolkien's Middle Earth - Aragorn being a prime example

The great thing about these references is that they are almost all positive - there are a lot of heroes and "good guys" in the above list! It's a great name if you want a hero name without actually naming your child Hero. This cool option is likely to spike in use even more after the release of the big screen version of 'The Lone Ranger' later this year. If you love Ranger and want to be ahead of the trend, now is the time to use it.

Literary Persuasions

Love reading and writing? Love the idea of names inspired by this love? But it can be so hard to pick just one iconic writer, book or character that represents your tastes and what it is that you love so much about the world of fiction and prose. If you're someone trying to escape "can't see the forest for the trees" problem, how about some more general literary related names.

Author - if occupational names are in, why not Author? Possibly due to its similarity to Arthur, I could see this working best for a boy. It has in fact been used regularly in America, appearing in the US charts most years up until 1995, when it dropped off the charts not to be seen again. Maybe we feel it would be too much for a child to live up to these days because it is still a common career, whereas the more popular occupational names such as Piper, Hunter, Cooper or Archer are very rare in society today.

Fable - I adore Fable! It would be a great name for either gender. So far it has only charted for girls in America, and only in the recent years of 2008, 2010 and 2011. Each year it was given to fewer than ten babies. Fable is also the name of an action role playing video game, so has the cool advantages of a literary reference, classic feel, modern sound, and video game reference.

Journey - The Heroes Journey is generally accepted as a template for an effective storyline in a fictional tale. It also happens to be the name of a great (some may say legendary) rock band that has won a new generation of fans after their hit 'Don't Stop Believing' became the iconic song of the first season of 'Glee'. Another choice that works well for both genders, it has been gaining in popularity since 1981, and in 2011 was positioned #372 for girls and #2208 for boys.

Legend - OK, I'll admit this is a bit too over the top as a first name. But it makes a fantastic middle, up there with Danger. How cool would it be to say "My middle name is Legend"? Cheesy, yes, but cool. Legend first appeared in the US charts for boys in 1993, closely followed by the girls in 1994, and remains more popular for boys. In 2011 it was ranked #924 for boys, and #8867 for girls. I guess this is one case of a daring name that people are happier to use for boys.

Muse - The Muses of Greek mythology were the goddesses of inspiration for literature, science and the arts. These days, a Muse is a general term used for a person who inspires someone to do great artistic work. It is also the name of an English rock band, who were reportedly inspired by one of the band member's art teacher. They liked that it was short, looked good on a poster and reflected the way the band was formed. It is indeed a one syllable name, and has a unique sound amongst other one syllable names. Muse has only charted for boys, in the years 2005, 2010 and 2011, with parents preferring other versions such as Musetta or Musidora for their daughters.

Myth - Another cool one syllable name option. Unlike other fanciful sounding options here, Myth has never charted. Maybe because it could be hard for young children to pronounce. It does sound suspiciously like Miss with a lisp. Maybe not the most wearable choice here, but it would certainly be different. Mythic or Mythical may feel slightly more usable, but for now it's probably best that these remain middle name territory.

Novella - It might seem like I'm clutching at straws here, but I love the idea of Novella as a name. A novella is a short novel or a long short story (hmmm, is there something wrong with calling something long short?), but is also a Latin name meaning 'new', much like the name Nova. It actually has a long history of use for girls, and used to be a regular in the American charts from the 1880's to the early 1940's. Chances are good you may have a Novella in your family tree, and I think that with Nova on the rise Novella may not be far behind.

Page - It's generally accepted to have an occupational name origin, but taken literally as a page from a book it would be a great literary themed name. Paige is one of my all time favourites and is much more popular than this spelling. But without the "i" it feels a little more masculine, and more wearable for a boy.

Penn - Penn "Lonely Boy" Badgley shot to fame on 'Gossip Girl', and made the name Penn triple in use. Which meant it went from about 10 boys a year being named Penn to about 30 boys a year. This makes it pretty rare, but with the benefit of being recognisable, easy to spell and easy to pronounce. It also feels like one of the gentler 1 syllable boys names if you want simplicity without sharpness. And as we have all heard,  the Penn is mightier than the sword!

Penna - A feminine version of Penn, with the meaning 'feather'. I first saw this rarity on A Baby Name Per Day (now Once Upon A Time Baby Names) last year and it stuck in my head. I think it's pretty, sleek and classic-but-friendly sounding due to it's similarity to names like Jenna. Also a great (and pretty unique) nickname for names like Penelope. It has never appeared on the American charts.

Poet - admittedly not my favourite occupational name, but it does have a certain charm. So far it's preferred use is for girls, with it entering the charts in 2005 for girls but only appearing in 2007 and 2009 for boys. It's still very rare. Like Author, it's a good choice for a occupational name with a difference.

Quest - There aren't many Q names that I'm fond of, but Quest could be one of them. Quest has been in the American charts for boys since 1991. It "peaked" in 1998 when it was given to just 30 boys, and that year was the only year it has appeared in the charts for girls too. I think it could do much better though. It has a modern, almost futuristic sound and could be among the new generation of one syllable names. Quest feels closely related to Journey, and is also an oblique reference to adventure video games where characters often need to complete different quests to advance in the game.

Saga - this word name means a long involved story of heroic achievement, and comes from the Old Norse for 'seeing one'. It's been used rarely in the US, and when it has it's charted only as a girls name. This is influenced by Scandinavian countries, where Saga is a fairly popular name and also the name of a goddess in Norse mythology. A good choice if you want a literary related name with a mythological background and history of use but rare in most countries.

Sonnet - A pretty name that makes me think of love and songbirds. William Shakespeare famously wrote sonnets (a fourteen line poem with a specific rhyming pattern), as did many other famous poets. I've seen nickname Sunny suggested for this one, which is really lovely too. May cause confusion when in English class, but is a sweet name nonetheless. Historically it's only charted for girls, which I guess makes sense. If I'm thinking love and flowers other people probably do too.

Story - This is my favourite on this list, and even more so since I found I have a Story (surname) in my family tree. I also love the idea of Astoria nicknamed Story. It's been seen on boys and girls since the 70's, but it still a long, long way from the top 1000

Wright - sounds like write, but isn't. This surname is derived from Wainwright, which means 'wagon maker'. I love the look and it's preppy feel, and it actually has a long history of use for boys. Unfortunately though it also sounds like right, which could be a little hard to live with. Unless your child is headed for a career in law enforcement perhaps.


Whew! That ran a little longer than I expected, but there are some truly great gems here just begging to be used. I like the idea of these as a middle name theme for siblings perhaps, although some are too nice to be hidden as a middle name. Which ones are your favourites? Would you use them as first or middle names?
 

Cooper & Mason

Occupational names don't have to mean a child has big shoes to fill.
Photo courtesy of GreatInspire.com

A good friend of mine gave birth to her second son last week! Baby Mason joins big brother Cooper, and Cooper looks just as proud as mum and dad - it's so sweet :)

As far as sibsets go, I love Cooper and Mason together. They are very well matched for a few reasons. Both are currently popular in Australia. Cooper is more popular here than in the US, while Mason is a less popular than the US, but here they are both top 20 names. Then of course they are both occupational names. And when so many occupational names end with "er", it's great to see two that match so well for style and popularity, but sound so individual.

Cooper means 'barrel maker' and as mentioned, Cooper is quite popular here in Australia. In 2011 it was positioned #6, which is fairly stable compared to the #7 position it held when this particular Cooper was born a few years ago. It enjoys a similar popularity in our close neighbour New Zealand (#12 in 2012), but is slightly less popular in the US, where it was #82 in 2011. It's also highly popular in Canada and Scotland.

I had a theory for a while that Cooper was getting popular as a name in the southern hemisphere because it is also the name of a popular brewery based in Adelaide South Australia, and it felt that as their beer started selling in the other states it started rising as a baby name. But I now think that is more like a coincidence - it's most likely it just gave it some extra exposure just as occupational names were on the rise (although it possibly helped to get approvals from fathers!). Cooper has also gotten a lot of exposure from other sources such as the Mario Brothers video games (remember the Koopas?), TV and movie characters (both as a last name and a first), singers, NFL players and actors (with Bradley Cooper being my favourite).

I think another aspect that has helped Cooper's popularity is the cool nickname Coop. Coop fits well with  the current rising trend of one syllable, strong sounding boys names. And then there's the super cute "super Cooper". These can more than make up for any "pooper scooper" references you may come across.

Mason has been a little less popular in Australia than Cooper has. He was #27 in 2011, and based on reports from their members, website babycenter.com is predicting that Mason rose in 2012. This was the case for New Zealand, where Mason rose from #15 in 2011 to #5 in 2012. In America, Mason entered the top 100 in 1997 and was already steadily rising when Kourtney Kardashian gave the name Mason to her first born in 2009. This gave the name an extra boost, sending it to #2 in America in 2011. It's also a top 100 name in Canada, England and Scotland.

Like Cooper, it has a great, strong sounding one syllable nickname in Mace. And also like Cooper, we are seeing it crop up in plenty of pop culture references. In particular, there are werewolf characters named Mason on both 'Wizards of Waverly Place' and 'The Vampire Diaries'.

Mason means 'worker in stone' and while it has a fairly unique sound for an occupational name, it has a very similar sound to past favourite Jason. People tend to love the meaning as they equate it with great strength and being a hard worker. It's thought by many to be a caring, smart, strong name for a handsome but modest guy.

It's a little hard to imagine at this point what name you could choose for subsequent children if you wanted to keep an occupational names with different sounds theme. Possible options could include Shepherd, Abbott, Bishop, Page/Paige, Reeve, Smith, Pilot, Poet, or even Wainwright. But then again, I'm not sure any of them have quite the same "current" feel as Cooper and Mason, so a third child might be the time to go down a "currently cool" path rather than surnames.

But that may be getting ahead of things a little bit. Cooper and Mason - a great sibset for any family :)

UPDATE - 15th Feb 2015

It seems we have an answer to the question of what would you name further siblings for Cooper and Mason. The friend that inspired this post gave birth to her third son this week, welcoming Archer into the world!

It's kind of nice to see them sticking with the theme, aptly labelled "medieval job names" by one of their other friends on Facebook. I remember Archer was actually one of the names being considered when she was pregnant with Cooper, so her and her husband have a very consistent taste and style. And they'll definitely have their hands full with three boys!

Faizel

One of the benefits of having a name blog is that suddenly your friends are also keeping their eyes and ears open for interesting names to send your way. This is one of those names - it caught the attention of a friend of mine when he met a Faizel recently, and he thought I might also find it interesting. He was right, as I also hadn't heard this name before.

Faizel (pronounced fah-ee-ZAL) is an Arabic boys name meaning 'judge'.  I think this is most likely  a pre-Islamic name, as apparently pre-Islamic Arabian names often came from vocabulary words for nature or occupations.

It's mainly used in Arabic speaking countries, which is probably why it seems like such a different name to us in Australia. I'm not sure how common it actually is in other countries, so if you know feel free to let me know in the comments below! In America though it has never appeared on the SSA charts, meaning it has never been given to more than 5 children in any one year.

The pronunciation might be a little tricky for those unfamiliar with the name. To see it written down, your first instinct is probably to say FAY-zel. But this is hardly a huge obstacle, and also not that unique these days as people often use unfamiliar names or names with "creative" spelling in order to find a name that is different and stands out. And Faizel would definitely stand out, plus has the benefit of being a "real" name, for those that want something different but with a history.

I personally have a few reservations about this name. I'm not sure I like the meaning, although it could probably be taken a few different ways, some more positive than others. And I would really, really want to pronounce it FAY-zel, mainly because I think it sounds cooler. Plus, Faze would be a pretty cool nickname (Hey, if the character on 'Life, Unexpected' can get away with the nickname Baze, Faze would definitely work). Mmmmmm- maybe Faze would be a cool middle name to add to my list...........

This is something I love when you look at different names. You're not going to love everything. Otherwise how would you ever settle on a name? But keep looking at new and interesting names and it will get the cogs turning, revealing new possibilities with every turn. I may not adore Faizel, but it's definitely got me thinking. Maybe it will get you thinking too - or maybe Faizel is exactly the rare, exotic sounding name you've been looking for.

Forrest

Time for a Halloween inspired name that isn't all about ghosts, vampires, werewolves, zombies and blood. Forrest is a on the list because - well, lots of spooky stories seem to take place in the deep dark forest. Such as Hansel and Gretel being abandoned by their father to wander aimlessly through the woods in search of safety, or Ichabod Crane fleeing from the headless horseman.

Forrest (pronounced FOH-rist) originated as an English surname, and derived from the Old French "de Foresta". The original "de Foresta" means 'of the forest' and similarly, the name Forrest now means 'dweller by the forrest'.

Forrest has been a quiet presence in the US charts. As a boys name, it peaked in 1899 at #175 when it was given to 83 boys, and fairly constantly hovered around the 200th to 400th position for a number of years before peaking again in 1994 when it was given to 1,344 boys, making it #217 that year. Incidentally, the movie 'Forrest Gump' was released that year, and it was also the year when the most girls (all 38 of them) were also given the name Forrest. It's popularity has slowed since then, and in 2004 Forrest slipped out of the top 1000 boys names. It also hasn't been given to a girl since 2002.

This is possibly a name destined for stardom, as there seem to be a high proportion of famous Forrest's for the amount of people  given the name. They include:

• Actor Forest Whittaker,
• Martial Artist Forrest Griffin,
• Actor Forrest Tucker
• Olympic gold medallist hurdler Forrest Smithson
• Newsman Forrest Sawyer
• Football Hall of Famer Forrest Gregg
• Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest
• Basketball coach Forrest "Phog" Allen
• Basketballer Forrest DeBernardi
• Olympic gold medallist hurdler Forrest Smithson
• Pulitzer prize winner (for editorial writing) Forrest W Seymour
• Pulitzer prize winner (for biography/autobiography) Forrest Wilson
• Editor and author Forrest J Ackerman

Whew - quite a list! And all American, so it seems this name is yet to really take off outside the USA.

Forrest is a versatile name - an earthy nature meaning (I love nature names!) but with enough regular use to be a strong, established nature name rather than a 'hippy' nature name. The alternative spelling of Forest feels just a smidgen too woodsy for me personally, but Forrester is another version that is very appealing. It has more of the surname/occupational feel to it that is so hot right now, but is far less popular. Possibly because it's connection to the wealthy Forrester family on  long-running soapie 'The Bold and the Beautiful'. But if Taylor and Brooke can still be hot names despite the show, there's no reason the association should hold Forrester back.

Whether you prefer Forest, Forrest or Forrester, they're all great names. Like the forest they come from, they can feel serene and relaxing, or dark and mysterious - it depends on what you make it.

Hunter

Like the look? Check out www.hunterbaby.com.au

I was having a bit of a play with the Baby Name Genie this evening and was very surprised when it came up with the combo of Hunter Craig when I put in my last name. Surprised, because Craig is my husband's name, so I guess that means the genie thinks his name was a good choice with his last name :) So would I consider actually using this name combination? Long story short - probably not. But Hunter does have a certain charm to it.

I think of Hunter as a boys name, and if you haven't been able to tell by my previous posts I tend to like strong names for boys. Hunter definitely falls into this category, mainly due to the associations people have with the word. Hunter is an English name that means 'one who hunts'. Some are put off the name because they find hunting and by extension the name Hunter to be violent and therefore an undesirable trait or image to be associated with. Yet Hunter remains a very popular name for boys - in 2011 it charted at #54 in America, and #20 in Australia. Which I found a little surprising, as many see Hunter as a very American name, probably due to the larger number of people who enjoy hunting as a pastime in the US.

If you love names in the same 'hunting' vein as Hunter, other options you might also like are Chase (#69 in the US, #68 in Aus), Archer (#447 in the US, #14 in Aus), Ryder (#108 in the US, #46 in Aus), Fisher (#854 in US, uncharted in Aus), or perhaps Arrow (uncharted).

Many characters in movies and TV shows are named Hunter, and in 1984-1991 there was even an American police drama titled 'Hunter'. Famous namesakes include American journalist and author Hunter S Thompson, golfer Hunter Mahan, young country singer Hunter Hayes and actor Hunter Parrish. While thought of as a boys name, another well known Hunter is female - Hunter Tylo, famous for her role as Taylor in 'The Bold and the Beautiful'. It is seeing some use as a girls name, but is yet to appear on the girls charts.

If you like the sound of Hunter but not its popularity or immediate hunting connotations, other options could by Huntington, Huntingden or Huntley (my personal fave). But my one biggest personal  misgiving about using any "Hunt" related names is exactly that. Their nickname is most likely to be Hunt, which could quickly become a similar sounding word starting with C that nobody should ever like to be called. Not likely to be a problem in the schoolyard, but that's not great at any age.

Marshall

6 month old Marshall, courtesy of Aimee Cook Photography

If you're a fan of 'How I Met Your Mother', you'll be familiar with one of the shows main characters, Marshall Eriksen. He's the dorky but lovable gentle giant of the group. I must admit I hadn't given his name much more than a passing thought until I read the recent weekly post by Appellation Mountains' Abby on Nameberry championing the great variety of good boys names out there. She's absolutely right. And so tonight as I watched 'How I Met Your Mother' I noticed it in a new light. I think that Marshall is definitely one of those cool boys names that can often get overlooked.

 Marshall is a French name that means 'caretaker of the horses'. It could fall into several different name categories that are currently in vogue - word names, military names, old school names, occupational names, surnames - but while it is reasonably popular in America (#340 in 2011), it seems the name is yet to catch on in Australia. This is possibly due to a little rule we have here about not being able to give children names that denote rank or nobility (i.e. Duke, Earl and Prince are not options for us). I know I couldn't use Governor or Sheriff, but what about Marshall? I wasn't sure myself, until I found that in 2011 Marshall was indeed given to 3 boys in one of the Australian States, so I guess it's OK.

One of the things I like about Marshall is the contrasting images it can present. If you think of it in terms of law enforcement, it's tough and assertive. But on the other hand, it sounds a lot like marshmallow, so kind of sweet, soft and cuddly. I love names with dual images like this. There are also quite a few cool (and some not so cool) nicknames for Marshall. My personal favourite is Mars. Marsh is also quite popular, which could be good but could also lead to 'swamp' jokes. Or it could turn into Marsha, and that infamously whiny catch cry "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!". At the other end of the spectrum a son with this name could also be expected to know 'Marshall' arts, or declare 'Marshall' Law, both contributing to the tough image of this name. Which brings us back to the Marshmallow that I mentioned it reminding me of earlier as a nickname possibility.

Maybe because it can also be seen as having a softer side, Marshall is also starting to get a bit of attention as a girls name. I guess Marshall would be a great sister for Jessica's Simpson's Maxwell. But hopefully we'll see Marshall left for the boys for a while longer yet!

Great Sibsets - The Halliwells

No, not Gerri Halliwell aka Ginger Spice. The other Halliwells - Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Paige, the magical sisters from the TV series 'Charmed'.

Prue (Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combes), Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) and Paige (Rose McGowan)

For those who haven't heard of this, sibset is baby naming speak for sets of siblings. It seems that these days not only do we want the 'perfect' names for our children, but we want our childrens names to sound like they 'go together' when we do the family roll call :-) I think this combo was one of the first that ever made me think about having an element that links brothers and sisters names together.

Originally, Prue (short for Prudence) Piper and Phoebe were the 'charmed' ones - three sisters destined to be the greatest witches of all time, most powerful when they were together. After Prue's death, it was found that the girls had another half sister, conveniently also with a P name - Paige. So Piper didn't have to change the name of her nightclub (it was called P3). There are three main reasons why I think this worked so well in this instance:

• The show started before the "matching-first-initials" craze was made famous (and let's face it, slightly trashy) by the Duggars and Kardashians.
• There are only four few of them, so it wasn't an overkill and they didn't have to start having similar sounding names (Joshua, Josiah, Johannah and Josie in the same family?!)
• They are all beautiful, 'proper' names. No changing letters to fit a theme (Kortney, Khloe, Jinger?). Here's a closer look at each of them.

Prue - This short form is the only thing that made me notice the beauty of the name Prudence. It's a lovely, old fashioned virtue name, with a cute, spunky nickname. It's not on the rise yet, but might be as the huge success of 'The Hunger Games' has put names such as Rue and Prim (short for Primrose) on the radar for many people. Prue has a similar feel and sound, so may be up for people who love these but want to steer clear of any obvious connections to the franchise.

Piper - Piper is an occupational name which leaped up the charts thanks mainly to this show. It was virtually unheard of at the start of the 1990's, but started to chart a year after the show started. It has steadily climbed since then, with Pyper now seeing some use as a variation. Piper is a fun, happy sounding and spunky name, while still sounding classy, which has likely contributed to it's popularity.

Phoebe - In the 90's, this name was seen on both 'Charmed' and the hugely popular 'Friends'. Already on the rise before this, these shows helped to push Phoebe up the charts. Phoebe has Greek origins - she was once known as the goddess of the moon - and has the beautiful meaning of 'radiant, shining one'. It's one of those names that nothing else sounds similar to. Phoebe is unique and makes people think of a fun loving, warm and caring individual.

Paige - an occupational name, the 'i' makes this an appealing looking name and less like the traditional word page, which conjures up entirely different images. Classy but not snotty sounding, I have a lot of love for Paige. Which I've mentioned before, so I won't bang on about it :-)

Matching first initials may still seem like a bad idea to many - I guess there could be problems with having 3 or 4 different B Smiths at the same school for example. But past those school days, it's a nice link that your children will always have with each other, something special that they share beyond the joy of simply being brothers and sisters.