Naming By Popular Vote?

Photo Courtesy of
Andrea Green Photography

How about a new way of naming? I was watching television this morning when they reported on a man who had started a website inviting people to help name his daughter. Stories such as this occasionally pop up, with people sometimes turning to social media or the internet. It's almost understandable - the choices can sometimes seem endless and deciding on just one (or two or three names depending on middles) can seem a daunting task.

But if approached with an open mind, it could open your eyes to a lot of new possibilities. Certainly it gives you an idea of how people will react to certain names.

Containing a disclaimer to say that they will make the final decision, this site - www.namemydaughter.com - seems to be a bit of tongue in cheek fun, and maybe even a way to share with the world how excited he is about the impending birth of his daughter. You can vote for your favourite first name and a middle name, or even suggest one if you can't see your picks listed. As of a few minutes ago the front runners were the pretty combination Amelia Mae. Hopefully the end result is just as pretty, as there are some shockers in contention - Pancake, Cthulu, Streetlamp and All-Spark are currently ranked pretty high! You can also add comments to champion your favourites.

It seems to all be a bit of fun, and is worth checking out and adding your advice, or even just to see what outlandish names people have suggested (which I am sure won't make the final cut!).

Creative Names From Cirque Du Soleil

Like your names with a bit of a magical, mystical flair? Then how about taking some inspiration from Cirque Du Soleil, a company for whom magical and mystical is all in a day's work. Below are some of the top picks just from the titles of their shows, although the shows are also rich with great character names if this list gives you a taste for a Cirque du Soleil inspired name.

Alegría

Oh so very close to Allegra, it's almost surprising this hasn't found it's way on to the name charts considering the current love for alternate spellings and embellishments. Both Alegría and Allegra are Italian names meaning 'cheerful, joyous'. The added benefit of this spelling is that it's a nice step away from the medication.

Amaluna

Amaluna is a combination of 'ama', meaning 'mother' and 'luna' meaning moon. Cirque du Soleil chose the name because the moon is associated with femininity. It is indeed filled with feminine mystique. Nickname Luna is a bonus.

Cirque

Pronounced 'surk', this is an option that could work well on either a boy or a girl. It's not that far removed from Circe of Greek Mythology, but comes with much more joyous associations. Clown jokes would be a definite possibility, but on the right person this could seem sophisticated and exotic.

Cortéo

Cortéo is an Italian word meaning 'procession'. Pronounced core-TAY-oh, this could work well on either gender, although I feel it leans more male. It could be the name of a swashbuckling pirate from days of old, or an extra in a futuristic sci-fi movie.

Dralion

Over the past year we have seen an emerging pattern of Leo and Lion related names, so why not Dralion? A little bit dragon, a little bit lion, this one feels distinctly masculine. It's pronounced drah-lee-on and would be a super cool choice.

Ká 

This name may sound like a motor vehicle, but the Ká in this show was the fire that has the dual power to destroy or illuminate. Similar to unisex name Kai, Ká is one of the few names on this list have actually charted previously as a name in the U.S. It's also the stage name of rapper Kaseem Ryan.

Quidam

Names starting with Q tend not to be hugely popular, but as this is pronounced kee-dahm it has more in common with names starting with K, which are much more popular. This show title refers to the main character, said to be “the embodiment of both everyone and no one at the same time... one who cries out, sings and dreams within us all”. I love the romanticism of this notion.

Soleil 

A French name meaning 'sun', Soleil became widely recognisable thanks to the child star of 80's hit 'Punky Brewster', Soleil Moon Frye. However it has remained far from popular in the U.S., meaning it hits the sweet spot of recognisable but underused.

Varekai

Another option that sounds so much like a name it's almost surprising it's not. Varekai (pronounced vah-reh-kye) is a word meaning 'wherever' in Romani. It sounds like it is straight out of a fantasy adventure, very similar to the rising Malachi but with an edgier vibe.

**This post originally appeared on Nameberry**

The New Twilight Names?

Photo courtesy of The Book Diaries

It often feels like 'Twilight' made a huge impact on the naming scene. Isabella and Jacob may have been top ten names before the first book was published, but the series possibly enabled them to hold onto their top positions longer than they may have otherwise. And while Edward seems to be the one anomaly that didn't benefit from the resurgence in attention, the secondary characters in the series certainly did.

As soon as the final movie had been released, critics have been theorising on what will be the next big sensation. And name enthusiasts have been wondering what will replace 'Twilight' for naming inspiration.

One promising contender is the Veronica Roth written 'Divergent' trilogy - 'Divergent', 'Insurgent' and 'Allegiant'. The first movie is due for release in March, starring Shailene Woodley (of George Clooneys' Oscar winner 'The Descendants') and Kate Winslet. But perhaps more importantly, it feels that in many ways the author has managed to tap into a naming style that may prove to be just as inspiring as Stephanie Meyers'.

Beatrice “Tris”

The books are told in the voice of Beatrice “Tris” Prior. As the series is very much about how the characters identify themselves, it's a poignant moment when Beatrice leaves one life behind her and chooses to “remake” her identity with the new name Tris.

There are several ways in which this name and character are reminiscent of Isabella.

1 – The name is a classic beauty

2 – It comes with more than one great nickname option

3 – It's already rising in popularity

4 – She's a strong girl yet quietly reserved girl with a “unique” mind

5 - And it is this that captures the romantic attention of a an aloof but attractive, seemingly unattainable older guy.

Could Beatrice be the next Isabella? I'm sure a lot of Beatrice lovers are hoping it won't, but it has real potential.

Tobias

Tobias is another fantastic classic choice with a familiar nickname, however has been hovering on the charts around the low 500's for a few years now. Exposure from this series may be just the boost this name needs to gain some upward momentum.

Tobias is Beatrice's love interest, and like Beatrice Tobias has turned his back on his old life and is better known by the nickname Four (for reasons unrelated to his name). In fact, very few people in his life know his original name, and revealing his “real” name to Tris signifies the depth of his feelings for her. In many ways, this is a strong character that will likely appeal to many.

Other Worthy Mentions:

Alice, Esme, Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper and Cullen – and even invented name Renesmee – have all experienced a surge in popularity in recent years thanks to 'Twilight'. Luckily, the 'Divergent' supporting characters are also rich with options for parents looking for underused classics begging to be rediscovered.

Albert (Al)

Amity (faction name)

Caleb

Cara

Christina

Eric

Evelyn

Hector

Jeanine

Johanna

Marcus

Marlene

Max

Molly

Myra

Natalie

Peter

Susan

Tori

Uriah

Will

Zeke

**This is an update to the post that originally appeared on Nameberry in August 2013**