Ocea

I've been a regular lurker on the Baby Centre Australia forums since I was pregnant. Of course one of my favourite groups on their site is baby names because it can be a great source of inspiration. When I recently saw this little name being considered I was intrigued. I had never seen it before, and it seemed the reaction to it online was mainly positive (Plus I seem to have an interest in finding great girl's names starting with "O" that aren't super popular Olivia. Don't get me wrong, I love Olivia - it's my own middle name. I just like people to know there are other options). Barely a week later I saw another person mention it, so I mentally filed it away as a likely blog post for later.

And then on Christmas Day my sister gave birth to her second child - a daughter - and lo and behold, they name her Ocea!

Ocea feels like a fantastic fit for their family. We already knew that my sister and her husband were adventurous namers when they named their first daughter Jett, a name usually seen on boys. They live in Queensland and are both surfers, so the water inspired Ocea is a lovely nod to their shared love of the beach. I kind of feel like the sibset of sisters named Jett and Ocea are quite reminiscent of Ryan Reynolds and Blake Livelys' daughters James and Ines. But that's getting a little off topic.

If you're a little confused about how to pronounce this rarity you are not alone. My first instinct was that it is Oh-SEE-ah, but it's actually Oh-Shah, like Ocean but without the N. Which makes sense when you consider that as a name it is thought to be derived from Oceana, a Greek name meaning Ocean or Oceanus, another Greek name meaning 'god of the sea'. In light of this it probably comes as no surprise that the name Ocea means 'Ocean'.

Ocea may seem a little incomplete to some people, but it definitely has its' charms. For one, if you want an uncommon name Ocea fits the bill perfectly. It doesn't appear to be popular in any part of the world. Ocea could be an alternative to those also interested in Asha, but concerned about the popularity of sound-alike boys name Asher. Or concerned about the popularity of Asha itself, or just the proliferation of Ash names in general.

For those worried that their rare name is merely a modern invention, Ocea continues to delight. Although rare she has been in use for a long time - she just managed to crack the US charts (was given to at least 5 girls) in 1895, and again in 1911, 1918 and 1921. So there is history there.

I also personally love the vibe you get from Ocea. It's pretty looking and has a laid back peaceful feel that you often get when you think of the ocean and the beach. The sound of it even brings to mind the rhythm of the waves lapping gently at the shore. She's a good choice for the water lover, surfer, or even just the nature name fan. And she doesn't seem too "girlish" - it's easy to imagine a stylish older woman wearing the name Ocea just as easily as a sweet little girl or precocious teenager.

And as I said, it feels like a great fit for my new little niece, who I'm sure will make it her own in no time. Welcome to the world little Ocea!

Oriantha

This gem is partly inspired by a kick-ass Australian guitarist, and partly by my husband. In that he saw a television interview with Richie Sambora about a new project with his girlfriend Orianthi, and thought I'd really like her name but either mis-heard it or wrote it down wrong as Oriantha. To be honest, I love it whether it's Orianthi, Oriantha or even Orianthe. But since he wrote down Oriantha, let's go with that.

Orianthi is actually the only version that has charted in the U.S to date, debuting in 2015 in position 14,408 after being given to just 7 girls. I'm guessing these were probably inspired by the guitarist. Australian born Orianthi has played with the likes of Michael Jackson and Alice Cooper, so already had quite the name for herself in the music world before starting their current project - named RSO - with Sambora in 2013.

Being the rarity that it is, it's actually quite hard to find reliable information on the origin of the name Oriantha. Orianthi (the guitarist) is of Greek descent, so that gives us a decent clue as to where to start. The Greek "Anthos" means flower, and is the basis of many "flowery" names such as Anthea (meaning 'like a flower'); Calantha (meaning 'lovely flower'); or Evanthe (meaning 'fair flower'). The Ori part is a little less clear. One source claims it comes from the Greek "Oraios" meaning 'beautiful', and hence Oriantha likely means 'beautiful flower'. Or there is the Latin name Oriana, which means 'dawn', or the Greek name Oria which means 'from the mountains'. So you could conjecture that Oriantha possibly means 'flower of dawn' or perhaps 'mountain flower'. Which makes me think that Oriantha is not a name for those who like a concrete, definitive meaning, but is perfect for those that like to take a bit of poetic license with their name meanings, or simply don't mind what the meaning of a name is at all as long as it sounds appealing.

For Oriantha certainly has an appealing ring to it. It has a nice melodic flow, but enough of an exotic edge to stop it from blending into the background. And the O sound is oh-so-hot right now, whether it be at the start of your name (think Olivia); in the middle (like Cora); or the end (as with Willow). Oriantha is a great option if you are after something rare, pretty and cool-but-not-too-trendy.

Lisiantha

Photo Courtesy of Lindsay Wright Photography

Here's another pretty name from the floral world that is rare as hen's teeth. So rare she's never been given to more than 5 girls in any one year in the U.S, and is pretty much unheard of. Yet if blooms with exotic sounding names such as Wisteria, Amaryllis and Amarantha are seen as attractive possibilities, why not Lisiantha?

Lisiantha (pronounced LIZ-ee-an-thah or LISS-ee-an-thah) is a variant spelling of lisianthus. I have to admit to being a bit biased when it comes to this flower - I had lisianthus in my bridal bouquet when I got married, so it has a very sentimental place in my heart. I used two different shades of purple blooms (mixed with ivory roses), but the lisianthus also comes in pink, white and blue. It's also known by its' genus name Eustoma (meaning 'beautiful mouth'), Texas Bluebell, Prairie Gentian or Tulip Gentian.

The word Lisianthus comes from the Greek words lysis, meaning 'dissolution', and anthos, meaning 'flower'. Which seems somewhat ambiguous as a meaning, although popular thought is that this translates as symbolic of an outgoing and divisive nature. Other opinions are that the lisianthus symbolises appreciation; or deeply felt romantic attachment; or even old fashioned values and sentimentality because it often grows wild as a prairie flower.

So why has this pretty bloom been largely overlooked as a name option? It's possibly because the flower itself has not enjoyed the widespread popularity that many other flowers such as the rose has had. Word among growers and florists though is that demand for this flower has been increasing over the past decade, so looks like it may be just a matter of time before lovers of this flower start putting this flower name on birth certificates.

While technically the flower name is Lisianthus, I have a feeling that variants Lisiantha/Lysiantha and Lisianthe/Lysianthe (pronounced LIZ-ee-an-thee) will be the ones to watch. Names ending in "us" tend to be mostly masculine, whereas "a" endings are popularly feminine. They feel like a fresher update of Lisandra, while or the "the" ending makes it feel like an elaboration of names like Ianthe or Xanthe. Both could make great nickname options, with other possibilities being Anthe, Antha, Liss, Lissa, Liz, Lizzie, Ann or the less obvious Sia.

Sia is actually the nickname used by the character Lisianthus in the Japanese series 'Shuffle!' 'Shuffle!' started as a visual novel, and has been adapted into video games, manga and anime. It's a great source for floral naming inspiration, as "all of the characters' names are references to flowers in some way".

Lisiantha would be a charming, different but not weird floral option for a girl today. It feels pretty and feminine; soft and lacy; with just enough spunk to be interesting and refreshing. It's the kind of name that would receive plenty of compliments, and leave people wondering why they haven't heard this name used more often. What do you think - is Lisiantha bursting with unfulfilled potential, or has she remained overlooked and largely ignored for a reason?

My beautiful wedding bouquets with purple lisianthus
Made with love by my mum ☺

Andie

Model Andi Muise

She's cute and peppy, a tomboy nickname that still manages to feel feminine and intelligent. Andie seems to blend in almost effortlessly. You possibly know a few and haven't given it much thought as a name. But if you take a step back and consider it for a moment, you appreciate just how pretty and stylish it is in it's simplicity.

When I think of Andie, my mind immediately goes to Molly Ringwald in 'Pretty In Pink', or the sweet popular cheerleader in 80's favourite 'The Goonies' (OK, the second is actually Andy, but the sound is still there). That leaves me feeling that Andie and her variants are 80's names, but this isn't actually true.

In the U.S, Andi "peaked" recently in 2012 at #1436; Andie in 1995 at #1330; Andee in 1995 at #3423; and Andy in 1959 at #2345. In comparison, for boys Andee has never charted; and Andi and Andie have regularly charted for boys but not as highly as it does for girls. And then of course Andy remains super popular for boys - it hasn't ranked less than #381 since the SSA started reporting on names in 1880.

Let's chalk her popularity in 1995 up to actress Andie MacDowell. Born Rosalie Anderson MacDowell, she was extremely busy in the mid 90's. Perhaps her most memorable role was as Hugh Grants' enchanting love interest in 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'. You don't have to look very far to find plenty more examples since then. On TV we saw character Andie McPhee on 'Dawson's Creek' from 1998 to 2003, played by Meredith Monroe; and from 2007 to 2009 Missy Peregrim played Andi Prendergast on 'Reaper'. In movies Kate Hudson played main character Andie Anderson in 2003's 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days'; 2008 saw Briana Evigan play lead Andie in 'Step Up 2: The Streets'; and Emma Roberts starred as Andi in the family movie 'Hotel for Dogs' in 2009. Real life examples include Phillipine actress Andi Eigenmann, model Andie Arthur, and Victoria Secret model Andi Muise. And the latest Andi to make headlines is Andi Dorfman, current star of 'The Bachelorette' who famously walked out on 'The Bachelor' Juan Pablo Galavis for being selfish, sexist and boring.

Coming from the Greek word Andros, Andie means 'strong, man, manly or warrior'. But really, this could possibly change if you are using Andie as a nickname for a different longer name. So in case you love Andie (or my personal preference, Andi) but want something a little more "substantial" to fall back on, here are some options for you to consider:


The Familiar
Addison
Adrienne
Alexandra/Alessandra/Alexandria
Amanda
Andrea
Brandy
Candace
Candy
Cassandra
Chandler
Chandra
Fernanda
Mandy
Miranda
Randi
Sandra

The Path Less Traveled
Alandra
Amandine

Andie MacDowell

Andelyn
Andina
Andorra
Andra
Andretta
Andromeda
Briandra
Calandra
Celandine
Corisande
Deandra
England
Garland
Holland
Iolande
Ireland
Jacaranda
Jolanda / Yolanda
Landrey
Lavender
Leandra
Liliandil
Lysandra
Mandala
Melisande
Nanda
Orlanda
Pandora
Randa
Ruxandra
Sandira
Scotland
Shanandoah
Thandie
Xandie


What do you think - is Andie able to stand on her own, or would you use a longer name? What impressions do you have of Andie? Or even Andi?

Everett vs Everest

Photo Courtesy of Rachael Spiegel Photography

It's a problem that many namers face at some stage. You love two very, very similar names. You can't use both, but how do you choose one over the other?

I often have this problem when deciding on names to feature on the blog. The particular example that springs to mind is Audra. I was seriously debating between Audrey ( a beautiful classic) and Audra. But Audra (to me) is just that little more spunky, a little more unexpected. So Audra it was. Likewise, I wrote about Bram because I love it. But occasionally I wonder if Bran wouldn't make for the better name. For me it comes down to associations. For Bran there's the cereal, but then there's also Bran Stark from 'Game of Thrones'. But I've read the books and he is admittedly not one of my favourite characters. As a lover of horror though, I love the connection Bram has to Bram Stoker's Dracula. So Bram definitely has the edge for me.

Which brings me to the two subjects of this post. Everett and Everest. These two are very high on my personal list of potential names for possible future sons. They probably are for a lot of people. Yet it's pretty obvious that they are far too similar to use both. So lets compare them head to head in a "Name Battle" I'll include my thoughts, but you may feel differently!


Origin, Meaning & Associations
These could easily be three separate headings, but I often find these things to be so intertwined that it's helpful to consider them together.

Everett - It's an Old English name, from the German Everard meaning 'strong as a wild boar'. It's also a place name with towns named Everett in the US and Canada, and an ice covered mountain range called the Everett Range in Antarctica.

Everest - Unclear. Some say it's of Old English origin, possibly derived from Everett. It's also possibly derived from the French "Evreax", a town name in Normandy that was transferred into use as a surname after the Normans invaded England. Or maybe from the French Evariste, itself a version of the Greek name Evaristus, meaning 'well pleasing'. Then of course there is Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, which cements Everest as both a place and a nature name. Overall, it's origin and meaning may not be definitively certain, but the possibilities are rich.


Famous Namesakes 
Because sometimes it's helpful to know if someone has (or is likely too) put a negative spin on your name. Or if your child will have someone or something to be inspired by.

Everett - Most examples that spring to mind are surnames, or even middle names. Examples of these are aplenty - actors Rupert Everett, Thomas Everett Scott and Darren Everett Criss; former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop etc. First name bearers are a little rarer, such as Former US Senator Everett Dirkson or 'Citizen Kane' actor Everett Sloane. Fictional examples of Everett as a first name are not unusual though, such as George Clooneys character Everett McGill in the movie 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' or Everett Hitch, a gunslinger played by Viggo Mortensen in 'Appaloosa'.

Everest - Can you call a mountain a namesake? Mount Everest was named for Sir George Everest, but not because he discovered it. The name was actually suggested by Sir Andrew Waugh, the then British Surveyor General of India, to honour his predecessor. This was a somewhat controversial move, as it ignored the names already used by the Tibetans and Nepalese, reportedly because their borders were closed to foreigners at the time making it hard to gather local names. Another argument was that since there were many local names, one could not be chosen over the others. George Everest himself objected naming the mountain Everest as it couldn't be written in Hindi or pronounced by the local Indian population.

Want some more recent celebrity buzz? George Lucas and Mellody Hobson named their daughter Everest in August 2013.


Pronunciation & Nicknames
Some people fall in love with a name for it's nicknames. Others aren't too fussed. But if it matters to you....

Everett - Pronounced EV-er-et or Ev-ritt. My personal favourite nickname and reason I first looked at Everett is nickname Rhett (or Rett). It's adorable. There's also Ev, Evie, E, Ever, Eveready. It's also worth noting here that some bearers report that people have trouble pronouncing their name, with the most common misunderstandings being Evert, Evan and - funnily enough - Everest.

Everest - Pronounced EV-eh-rest (although mountain namesake George Everest pronounced it EEV-rist). Possible nicknames include Ev, Evie, E, Ever, Rest, Mountain.


Popularity
Popularity is an point that can divide or decide. Some want a name that is popular because it means it is familiar and well liked, others prefer a name that is rare and will make their child stand out in a crowd.

Everett - Everett is a bit of a throwback name. Peaking at #81 in the U.S in 1906, it's not unusual for people to have a grandfather or great grandfather with the name. It never really got unfashionable as such, as it has never left the top 1000 and it's "low point" was just #647 in 1995. It has bounced back rapidly in recent years though, gaining 25 places in 2013 to attain a position of #189. Which for many equates to well liked but not over-used.

It's also getting fairly regular use for girls, but nowhere near as much as for boys.

Everest - Everest first charted for boys in 1914, and popped up sporadically after that until 1994, when it became a regular on the SSA lists. It has been very slowly climbing in recent years, charting at #2660 in 2013. Everest has also started charting for girls in recent years - but in contrast to the boys, was ranked at #13,515 in 2013.

But perhaps more importantly - have you ever met an Everest?


Feel & Impressions
These are the things that often attract us most strongly to a name. What feelings does it evoke for you? What characteristics or traits do you envision someone with this name having? And do you like those things?

Everett - To me Everett exudes southern charm, without being too syrupy. It's distinguished, but not snobby. The Ever part conveys a sense of reliability and dependability. An Everett seems steady, down to earth - fun and adventurous without being too rash or impulsive.

Everest - I'm a sucker for a name with a nature connection, and this is a good one. Mountains feel earthy and make you think of strength and constancy. Add a bit of snow to their peaks and they are beautiful, majestic. And Mount Everest itself is a symbol of great achievement amongst mountain climbers - dangerous and difficult, but the ultimate challenge. Which makes it something of an aspirational name.


Its a hard choice - for me they're both so charming, slightly preppy, and yet approachable and earthy. If I were looking for a first name, I'd go with Everett. It may be more popular (which I'm not really a fan of personally), but I love that nickname Rhett, and it does hit the middle ground of recognised but not too common. Plus my surname is pretty heavy on the "S"s, so a name with an "S" sound at the end isn't great for everyday use. However for a middle name I'd choose Everest over Everett in a heartbeat. I love the symbolism, and it's just the right degree of unexpected and quirky - qualities that I feel are great for the middle position. And just to clarify, I'm talking in terms of use for a boy. Using Everett for a girl isn't something I'd personally consider, although Everest? Maybe....

How about you - what arguments would you add, and which (if either) would you be more likely to choose?

I'll be making name battles such as this a semi-regular (i.e. one or two a month) feature from now on, so let me know if there are any very similar names you'd like to see go head to head in future posts!

Leto

Often these days we hear a lot of people complaining about how boys names have been hijacked by girls. You might find it surprising then than Leto is actually a name that has - for now at least - gone the other way.

The name Leto has it's origins in Greek mythology. Leto is the daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe, and sister of Asteria. She herself is the mother of twins Apollo and Artemis - the Letoides - with Zeus. Zeus' wife Hera was so enraged to hear of Leto's pregnancy that she hunted her across the Earth and banned her from giving birth on land. Leto sought sanctuary on the island of  Delos to give birth because it wasn't attached to the ocean floor. 

Leto is often depicted with her children, and is known as the goddess of motherhood, a protector of the young. It's also thought she may be a symbol of modesty and womanly demure as she is usually depicted in Greek vase painting as a woman lifting her veil in a gesture of modesty.

The origin and meaning of the name Leto isn't precisely known. One theory is that it has it's origins in the word "lethô" meaning 'to move unseen', which is suggestive of the modesty associated with Leto. Expanding on this is the idea that it's related to "lethe" meaning 'oblivion' and "lotus", the fruit that brings oblivion to those who eat it; hence meaning 'the hidden one'. This seems to be the generally accepted meaning. A third alternative is that it is of the same Lycian origin and "Leda", meaning 'woman or wife'. 

It's kind of surprising then that this name has only ever charted in the U.S for boys. It's Roman counterpart Latona charted regularly for girls from 1956 to 1991, albeit in small numbers each year. Conversely, Leto charted for the first time for boys in 2006 when it was given to just 5 boys, and has only charted a total of four years.

To see why Leto is skewing male, we only have to look to the two best known current examples of the name Leto in use.

The first is Jared Leto (pictured above). You may heave heard that he recently won a best supporting actor Oscar for his role in the Matthew McConaughey movie 'Dallas Buyers Club'. He started acting in 1992 when he was 21, and is also the frontman of rock band '30 Seconds to Mars' with his brother Shannon Leto. Jared Leto definitely gives this name some serious cool points.

If rock star actors don't get you excited though, how about some science fiction cred, courtesy of the world of 'Dune'? Written by Frank Herbert,  'Dune' is considered to be one of the greatest science fiction novels of our time. It was adapted to a movie in 1984, which didn't do so well at the box office but has become a cult favourite. The story is set in the far future, when character Duke Leto Atreides and his family are sent to a sand world to obtain a spice that is essential for interstellar travel. However it is part of a plot to destroy the Duke (played by Jürgen Prochnow) and his family. His son Paul (Kyle MacLachlan) escapes and seeks revenge. 

James McAvoy in 'Children of Dune'

'Dune' was also adapted to a TV mini-series in 2000, with William Hurt playing Duke Leto Atreides, followed by another mini-series based on sequel book 'Children of Dune' in 2003. In this follow up the Duke's son Paul now has twin children - daughter Ghanima and son Leto Atreides II. This young Leto is played by the handsome James McAvoy, which I'm sure helps add to the attraction of the name. Leto continues to be a major character in many of the book sequels. 

While I have to confess to not having read the 'Dune' books, I can see how this character is likely one of the main reasons Leto seems suited for a boy. Dare I say it, it also looks a little more masculine - probably because overwhelmingly, names ending in "O" tend to be male. The pronunciation would probably cause a few problems - some sources say it is LEE-toe, some say LEH-toe. Either is pretty cool though. He's a little less heavy than Cato, a little edgier than Arlo. I could easily see him as a brother to Kaius and Altair; Lux and Nova.

It sometimes surprises me how often it is that when I look into names with a futuristic sci-fi feel, they prove to be ancient gems that have been lying almost dormant until someone re-purposes them and brings them to light. To find out that a modern sounding crush actually has a history and is not necessarily a newly invented name often gives me a little thrill. Leto is one such name. 

Fenris and Leander

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

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

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

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

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

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

Welcome to the world, Fenris Leander!

Photo Courtesy of Kimberly G Photography

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.

Tess

Photo Courtesy of Milk & Honey Photography

"On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, eight maids-a-milking"

Whenever I think of milk maids, I picture an attractive Swiss girl with long blond plaits who loves to yodel. I put this down to some very effective Swiss chocolate advertising on television when I was a child in the 80's. But of course milk maids were an actual thing, and existed in plenty of countries other than Switzerland. A milk maid was a girl or woman who milked cows and then turned that milk into cream, butter and cheese.

There aren't a lot of famous milk maids - probably because it's not particularly glamorous work. But there is one famous milk maid in literature, and that is the main character Tess in Thomas Hardys' 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles'. It is when working as a milkmaid at Talbothays Dairy that Tess makes her best friends, and she and her husband Angel fall in love.

Tess is a name I have been fond of since primary school, when one of my friends was named Tess. Most of my associations with the name are due to her, and for this reason I find it to be a pretty and sweet yet spunky and fun little name. And for some reason I always think of Jemima when I hear this name - Tess and Jemima would be gorgeous as sisters.

This name is thought to have originated as a diminutive of the Greek name Theresa. As Theresa means 'to harvest' or 'harvester', so too does Tess. But although it started as a diminutive, it certainly holds up on it's own these days. There are plenty of characters called Tess in movies, TV and literature. In the U.S it has been a top 1000 name since 1983, although it's position at #997 in 2012 means it looks likely this name will slip out of the top 1000 this year.

Why would this be? Well, there's a slight problem with some words that start with Tess. Say Tess tickles out loud and you'll see what I mean.

However there are also cute nicknames a Tess can use, such as Tessie or Tessa. And if you're not not a fan of Tess as a "formal" name, other suggestions besides Theresa that I've seen include Tesla (my favourite pick), Therese, Contessa, Terry and even Destiny.

Tess is a cute little name, simple and free from fanciful adornments. If you like your names short and pretty why not consider Tess?

Perdix

Photo courtesy of Molly Wassenaar Photography

What do you think when you hear the name Perdix? I'm guessing you're probably not thinking of the Christmas Carol 'The Twelve Days of Christmas', but that is the inspiration for todays' name.

To backtrack a little, I was reading a post at new name blog 'A Blooming Garden of Names' about the name Pyrus. I love this name! It's very rare and a super cool sounding nature name - and this blogger has given it to her son. Pyrus is a genus names for pear trees and shrubs, and one of the reasons she chose Pyrus (besides her love of nature names) was for it's association to 'The Twelve Days of Christmas', as her son was born at this time of the year. So I thought I'd take some inspiration from her and try to get in a name for each of the twelve days of Christmas before Christmas day.

And so back to Perdix. The line that inspired Pyrus is also the inspiration for Perdix - "a partridge in a pear tree". I'm not really a fan of Partridge or Pear as name possibilities, although interestingly, Pear appeared on the U.S SSA lists in 1923 when it was given to 6 girls that year.

Instead I thought I'd look a little into the story of the partridge. Legend (in Greek mythology) goes that the partridge first appeared when Daedalus threw his nephew Perdix off the sacred hill of Minerva (or a tower in many versions) in a jealous fit of rage. His grandmother the goddess Athena saved him mid-fall by turning him into a partridge, and branded Daedalus with the image of a partridge so he would never forget his crime.  It is thought that the bird avoids heights and is mainly a ground dweller because it is still mindful of that ill-fated fall. These origins are also reflected in the large number of partridge genus names that have Perdix in them.

Due to the above story, Perdix (pronounced PER-diks)  is considered a boys name meaning 'partridge'. Some versions give the nephew a different name, and say that Perdix was actually the name of Daedalus' sister, and hence it is a girls name meaning 'sister of Daedalus'. I'm not sure how this explains the fact that so many partridge genus' have Perdix in their name though, so I'm inclined to out more faith in it being a boys name. Really though, you could probably use Perdix for either gender.

This is a good pick if you are looking for a rare, never charted, little known mythological name. Nameberry this week also name Greek names as one of the top 12 naming trends for 2014, so Perdix would be right on trend without getting lost amongst the more popular Greek choices.  And I wouldn't be overly concerned about the dix sound in this name - the Dixons and Dixies of the world show that this needn't be a problem.

What do you think? Is Perdix wearable? I tend to think it could be, or maybe even Perdyx or Perdixx if you like your ends-in-X names to have a little more "oomph" at the end.

Atlas

Photo courtesy of Beth Wade Photography 

For years, Atlas had been somewhat of a sleeper name. Since 1880 it has charted more years than not in the U.S., both for boys and girls. Generally it was given to 10 or so children in the years it appeared. it was ever so slightly on the increase, and then Anne Heche bestowed the name on her second son in 2009. The next year the name Atlas almost doubled in use for boys, and was used in similar numbers again in 2011 and 2012. 2012 also saw Atlas reappear on the charts for girls after a 78 year absence.

It seems Anne simultaneously tapped into a rising trend, managing to both bring attention to the name and give people who were doubting it's suitability as a name the courage to use it.

The name Atlas originated from the Titan from Greek mythology who held the heavens on his shoulders. He is the Titan of astrology and navigation, and often associated with the moon. His name was the basis of the Atlas mountains  in Northwest Africa, The Atlantic Ocean and the legendary island city of Atlantis. In architecture, an atlas is also a name for a support sculpted in the form of a man. Interestingly, the Titan Atlas was not the inspiration behind the common name for a book of maps and charts - that honour went to a king of Mauritania who was said to be skilled in philosophy, mathematics and astronomy and thought to be the inventor of the first celestial globe. It is the celestial globe that the Titan Atlas is most often depicted holding, rather than a world globe.

It is the legend of Atlas that makes this seem like a "heavy" name for a child to bear for many. The idea that a child will be figuratively carrying "the weight of he world on their shoulders" is a deterrent for many, and has probably contributed to it's rare usage. It is possible though to look at this imagery as a positive rather than a negative. It shows a faith that your child will have the strength and fortitude to handle the pressures that life throws their way.

As to what Anne Heche had in mind when she chose the name, it's hard to say. I've heard that when she suggested the name to James Tupper (Anne's partner and Atlas' father) he said "Okay, cool name, but people will totally make fun of you', to which Anne replied "Okay, I'm used to that. Let's name him Atlas!". I'm also guessing though that for a someone born in a town called Aurora, with an alternate persona named Celestia, the name Atlas would have some personal symbolism for her. Plus it helps that it works well with her other mythologically related son, Homer.

I love the name Atlas. It's strong, rare but not too strange, and would be great for people who like mythological and constellation type names. Atlas also feels like a very modern sounding name. Personally I prefer it for a boy, but I can see how it also has the makings of a great girls name. It makes me think of an Amazonian warrior princess. What do you think? Is Atlas too much, or is it just right in today's namescape?

Alyssum

This is one of those sneaky names that has recently popped up in a couple of places. First, I saw it as a minor, blink-and-you'll-miss-them character in the book I'm currently reading, and then I saw it mentioned on a forum. I generally take it as sign that a name is worth a second look when I see such a rare name this way.

The green thumbs out there will be able to tell you right away that Alyssum (pronounced a-LISS-um) is a floral, nature name. Although this name covers over 100 variants of this plant, when I think of alyssum I always remember the "carpet of snow" variety that we had in the front garden when I was a child. I used to love putting it in tiny little posies and selling them for 5c each. Very enterprising for a 6 year old ☺.

This early association makes me think of Alyssum as a delicate, pretty, and cheerful name, yet also vintage feeling. I could imagine an Alyssum just as at home in a county kitchen as a Viennese ball.

There are a couple of different theories as to where the name originated. As a plant name, Alyssum comes from the Greek alyssos, meaning 'curing madness', as it was once used as a remedy for dogs with rabies. As a name for a person, it has also been denoted to mean 'noble', coming from the same roots as Alice, Alicia and Alyssa. Or if you prefer to take it's meaning from the symbolism behind this flower, the flower is said to mean 'beauty'.

The Sweet Alyssum variant is also said to have some magical properties - planted around the house it will deflect spells, or worn on your lapel it will prevent angry encounters. It's scent promotes peaceful energy and spiritual and emotional balance. Which I guess goes with it's charming and cheerful image.

The main objection I've heard to this name is that it reminds people of the word asylum, as in lunatic asylum. Which is a little sad, as the word asylum means shelter and protection from danger so should have a positive connotation, rather than the negative vibe we feel because it is so often paired with lunatic. But if people are OK with Luna, then there is no reason Alyssum should suffer from any problems with this occasional association. Plus, the enduring popularity of Alice, Alicia and Alyssa shows us that other similar sounding names are actually quite well liked, which would be to its advantage.

Alyssum has only seen rare use in the U.S. - since 1880 it has only charted twice, each time given to just 5 girls and the most recent appearance being in 2007. This makes it a perfect alternative if you love floral names but want something a world away from Lily and Rose yet not so exuberant as options like Amaryllis or Magnolia. Alyssum is definitely one pretty name that I could imagine people complimenting often.

'Carpet of Snow' Alyssum

Astley

If you're a fan of 80's music, you probably recognise this name as the surname of singer Rick Astley. His biggest hit was the pop smash 'Never Gonna Give You Up', which was a hit song in 1987. It again made a resurgence in 2007 when the video clip became a You Tube sensation, the subject of an Internet meme known as "Rickrolling". The concept of Rickrolling is that someone would send you a link to a You Tube video reportedly about one subject, but when you clicked on the link it would instead take you to the Rick Astley video clip.

Whether you're a fan of Rick Astley or not though, I find the idea if the name Astley intriguing. It's so similar to perennial favourite Ashley that I'm surprised it hasn't caught on yet. Maybe people have avoided it because it is so closely linked to Rick Astley, or maybe of surname names had been as popular in the 80's as they currently are it would be a different story. But for whatever reason, the only year it has charted in America was in 1993 (the year Rick retired from the music industry) when it was given to just 5 boys.

As it is rare as a first name there is little information about the meaning of Astley. As a surname, it originated as an English place name. Several towns carried this name, which derives from the English words 'est leah' meaning 'east leigh' or 'east meadow'. It came into use as a surname back in the times when people first adopted surnames and it was common practice to identify oneself in relation to where they lived.

Other sources cite an alternative meaning for Astley, saying it is Greek for starry field. This seems less likely than the Old English origin and meaning, simply because although 'asteri' is the Greek work for star, in Greek the word for meadow is 'livadi' and the word for field is 'pedio'. And most names ending in 'Ley' tend to have Old English origins. It's a sweet notion though.

I love the sound of Astley. So far it has only charted for boys, and I can understand why it would be a great name for boys. It's a good alternative for those who like Ashley but baulk at the idea that it has "gone to the girls". I also love it for a girl though - it has that preppy kind of feel that I love in a name, but still retains an almost romantic image. 'Never Gonna Give You Up' would also make a great lullaby to sing to a little Astley to let them know how much they are loved ☺

If you're worried that it is a little too connected to the 80's icon, then perhaps one of its variants such as Astlee, Astlie, Astly, Atley, Asterleigh, Asterley or even Estleia would be more to your taste. I personally love the idea of a little Astley on the playground though. And the 80's are retro cool now - Astley could be a super cool name to have.

Rise of The Golden Girls

'The Golden Girls' - Blanche, Dorothy, Sophia and Rose
played by Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, Estelle Getty and Betty White

You probably remember a show from the eighties called 'The Golden Girls'. 'The Golden Girls' was about four “previously married” women living together in Miami. While they often seemed mismatched, the success of the show lied in the strong bonds of friendship these ladies shared, epitomised by the shows iconic theme song 'Thank You for Being a Friend'.

The show struck a chord with many people, and was extremely popular. The dynamic between the four ladies has often been replicated in movies and shows, and is thought to be the inspiration behind 'Sex and the City' and 'Girls'.

Although the ladies had some great names (on and off screen), while 'The Golden Girls' was airing from 1985 to 1992 people were rather unlikely to want to name their sweet babies after characters in a show about mature ladies, or the actors that played them. They would have seemed a little fusty in a world of Jennifers and Ashleys; Jessicas and Amandas.

But you know a show has started picking up some retro cool cred when you hear teen characters Summer and Anna on hit teen show 'The O.C.' bonding in a bathroom over the fact that one of them has always felt like a Blanche and the other has always identified with Rose. And since retro vintage names are now rising again, there's every reason to believe that the names of both the actors and the characters they played will soon be big on the name charts.

Sophia

Sophia was Dorothy's mother, the oldest of the group and the usually funny voice of reason that could often be relied upon to offer advice. Sophia is a Greek name meaning (quite aptly) 'wisdom'. It's a friendly feeling name that has just that bit more exotic sophistication than it's counterpart Sophie.

Pronounced soh-FEE-ah, this is undeniably the most successful name (currently) on this list. While the show aired she was hardly an unpopular name, and was ranked in the 200's in America. But in 2006 Sophia hit the top 10, and was the number one name for girls in America in 2011 and 2012. She's also a top 100 name if Canada, Austria, Germany, New Zealand, Australia and England, so she has a lot of international appeal.

Estelle

Sophia was played by actress Estelle Getty, Estelle coming from the Latin stella, meaning 'star'. Pronounced eh-STEHL it is most popular in Quebec and has a real charm to it – an almost French feel. Is also has some cute nicknames, such as Telly, Essie, Elle or of course Stella.

Stella itself has been a top 100 name in America since 2010, and E names in general have been getting a lot of attention in recent years. The signs are good that Estelle is a possibility to enter the top 100 itself in coming years. Indeed, in 2012 Estelle re-entered the American top 1000 for the first time since the 60's, as did variant Estella.

Rose

Rose was the bubbly, sweet, naïve optimist of the group. While the others often found her inexperience and outlook on life to be juvenile, they were very protective of her and valued her ability to help them see the good in the world.

Rose has had a long reputation of being a go-to middle name, but it's actually had more use as a first name than this reputation might suggest. Since America started keeping name records in 1880 the lowest it has ever ranked was #391 in 1997. A simple, elegantly beautiful name, Rose has been rising again in recent years.

Betty

While Betty White has had a long and busy career, her portrayal of Rose has earned her a soft spot in many people's hearts. And because she is still quite busy starring in 'Hot in Cleveland', she is arguably the first person people think of when they hear the name Betty. There are of course many other Betty's in pop culture, such as cartoon Betty's from 'The Flintstones', 'Betty Boop' and 'Betty & Veronica', TV's 'Ugly Betty' or pin-up legend Betty Grable to name a few. A little girl named Betty would have plenty of role models to look up to.

The name Betty started as a diminutive of Elizabeth, meaning 'God is my Oath'. She was hugely popular about a century ago – in America she was ranked 2^nd most popular name from 1928 to 1934. I find it hard to imagine her reaching such heights again though – in 2012 she was dropping, ranked at #1578. She might need just a bit longer to gain the same kind of cool factor as her counterparts.

But my favourite thing about Betty, apart from it's cute as a button sound? If you're a fan of the movie 'Clueless', Betty was slang for an attractive stylish and confident girl – or to put it another way, a hot chick.

Dorothy

Dorothy was the dry witted, realistic teacher looking for love. Dorothy has a lot in common with Betty – there are tons of Dorothy;s both fictional and real, and she was also the number 2 name in America for several years. From 1920 to 1927 to be precise – she actually lost her position to Betty.

Unlike Betty though, Dorothy has been on the rise again in recent years, climbing slowly to #922 in 2012. Dorothy is a Greek name meaning 'gift of God' and comes with a slew of possible nicknames such as Dot, Dolly, Dora, Doro, Dodie, Thea, Tia and Dory/Dori which help to give this name a fresher image for todays' parents.

Bea

Bea (born Bernice) Arthur had a very distinctive look, and like her character Dorothy was very witty.

Bea feels like it is often overlooked as a given name, and despite being a fairly consistent presence in the American charts it hasn't been in the top 1000 since 1910. Pronounced Bee, it's much more likely to be used as a nickname for Bernadette, Beatrix or Beatrice. All of these names increased in popularity in 2012 in America, taking Bea with them.

Bea itself derives from Beatrice and hence Beatrix, a Latin name meaning 'she who brings happiness'. It's a short spunky name for people who love one syllable names that you don't hear everyday.

Blanche

Blanche is another great one syllable name that has long been overlooked. It's an old French name meaning 'white', but because it was often used as a nickname for a person with blond hair it is sometimes thought to mean 'blonde'. Pronounced BLANCH, it's most popular in Quebec, where it is ranked #339.

Blanche in 'The Golden Girls' owned the house they lived in, and was the sexually adventurous, man-hungry socialite of the group. She was also somewhat of a southern lady, and together with the character Blanche from Tennessee Williams' 'A Streetcar Named Desire' has given the name a southern belle image.

In America Blanche was a top 100 name until 1920, and a top 1000 name until 1965. In 2012 it was ranked just #11350, which was actually a rise on 2011. How much this name will rise over coming years remains to be seen, but it's perfectly poised to rise with the current love for vintage beauties.

Rue

Rue McClanahan (born Eddi-Rue) plays Blanche. Despite the fact that she was pretty much a household name, her name didn't really catch on and was almost forgotten about. Then came something called 'The Hunger Games', which featured a young heroine named Rue. And we all thought “wow, that's different” forgetting that it was actually a name we were all familiar with.

There is a subtle charm to Rue. In English it is a word meaning 'regret', in French it means 'street' and it's also a herb. So it's equal parts word name, French flavour and calming nature reference.

'The Hunger Games' put Rue back on the American charts in 2010 after a 30 year absence. It was most popular in the first half on the 1900's, but never made it anywhere near the top 1000. In 2012 it was given to 32 girls, the most ever in one year. This might be the highest it gets, but hopefully not. It'd be great to see this sweet name get more use.

I'm going to call these names the “Golden” eight. All of them are great names poised to increase in popularity in 2013. Well, except for Sophia – it's hard to get much higher than #1! Which one is your favourite?

Delta

For many Americans, the name Delta probably feels a little stale, bringing to mind images of actress Delta Burke of the 80's TV series 'Designing Women'. But for Australians, Delta is fresh, synonymous with the young, talented judge of the Australian series of 'The Voice', Delta Goodrem.

Delta Goodrem first became an Australian household name appearing on 'Neighbours' as young aspiring singer Nina in her late teens. The show was a springboard for Delta to release her debut album 'Innocent Eyes', which became the highest selling Australian album ever and gave Delta the record of having five singles from her debut album to reach number 1 on the Australian charts.

Since then Delta has released three more albums and has been the only female judge on both of the Australian seasons of 'The Voice'. And while her personal life has often attracted just as much attention as her professional career, this has never been more true than while she has been on 'The Voice'. A simple change in her hairstyle was the main story in the gossip pages of the 'Herald Sun' Melbourne newspaper two days in a row last week.

But all this does bring a lot of attention to the name Delta. Delta (pronounced DEHL-tah) originates from the Greek alphabet - it is the equivalent of the letter D. It also represents the letter D in the NATO phonetic alphabet, and the symbol for Delta is also a mathematical symbol. But perhaps the closet you can get to a meaning is when it is used as a place name - a delta is a land form at the mouth of a river, which I guess makes Delta and place and a nature name.

Delta is a pretty common word. It appears on cars, companies, sororities, computer games, a radio station, an airline, special police operations in America and Norway, and multiple towns and other locations. The Delta Blues music style also got its name from the Mississippi Delta region it originated from. And yet Delta is by no means a common name. It's not in the top 100 anywhere in the world,and in America in 2012 it was given to just 16 girls, giving it a position of #7486. It was much more popular at the beginning of the 1900's, peaking at #723 in 1893. It is perhaps because of this and the iconic, southern style of the Delta Blues that can leave people feeling that Delta is a laid back, old school southern charm type of name.

Yet Delta has quite a chameleon-like feel to it. I don't think that it will ever be a super popular name. But it's somewhat of an alternative modern classic - a name that could weather the test of time and still look fresh in the future. As Delta Goodrems' popularity increases, people will definitely be giving Delta a second look.

Cestus

As a Gladiator, Spartacus would have used a Cestus

When I first heard this word (pronounced KEHS-tiss) I immediately thought what a great boys name this would make. It has a great sound - reminding me of the upstanding values elicited by Justice, combined with the strong powerful imagery of the bird Kestrel. Looks wise, the C gives it a slightly softer edge. When you add it all up, there's just something quite attractive about Cestus.

I'm almost reluctant then to say where I heard this word. It was on the first episode of 'Deadliest Warrior', and episode when they pitted a Gladiator against an Apache. It's a weapon that was used by Gladiators. It also tends to make appearances in video games such as 'God of War: III' or 'Vindictus' as an optional weapon .

If it sounds Latin, that's because it is. Cestus comes from the Latin verb caedere, meaning 'to strike', and as such cestus means 'striker'. As a weapon, the cestus was an ancient battle glove made of leather strips, but with metal plates, studs or spikes in them for more damage. Kind of like a cross between today's boxing glove and brass knuckles. It's this meaning and weapon association that helps to make me think of this name as a boy's name, rather than a girls name.

Not all sources agree though. Although Cestus has never charted in the US (so it's hard to see how it's most commonly used), several sources on the Internet claim that Cestus is a girls name. I'm unsure if the pronunciation is the same though, as it feels as if it would make more sense as a girls name if pronounced SESS-tuss.

According to these sources, the word has Greek origins and as it means 'belt or girdle', the meaning of the girls name Cestus is 'Aphrodite's girdle'. Greek mythology says that Aphrodite had a magic girdle that was made for her by her husband Hephaestus that made her completely irresistible. Likewise, the Marvel Comics superhero Venus (Aphrodite's Roman name) also had a magic girdle named Cestus. In the comics, Cestus gave the wearer the power to enchant anyone a love slave, and "to neutralize or transform all weapons of war".

Cestus also carries some sci-fi planetary geek cred - both in the 'Star Wars' and the 'Star Trek' franchises. In 'Star Wars' there is a planet called Ord Cestus, usually referred to as just Cestus. In 'Star Trek', Cestus III was also a planet, located in the Cestus system. In the 'Star Trek' universe, the Cestus system was named after the weapon because from space the asteroid belt surrounding it looks like metallic studs against the orange background of the planet.

I'm almost surprised we haven't seen this used as a name more (or in my case, at all). The dual meanings could be the issue - is it a fierce fighting weapon, or a pretty fashion accessory? Personally, I prefer it for a boy, and would likely even consider alternative spellings Kestus or Kestice to help with any confusion over it's pronunciation. None of these three spellings have ever appeared in the SSA charts, so who's to say what's "correct". How would you use it?

Collins

Lily Collins plays Collins in 'The Blind Side'

They're playing 'The Blind Side' on TV tonight. I remember being so touched when I first saw this movie a couple of years ago, and even more so to know that this is based on a real family. Movies like this renew your faith that there are good, kind, generous people in the world. And Sandra Bullock did such a good job of playing the matriarch of the family, Leigh Anne Tuohy, that she won the best actress Oscar that year.

But I'm not going to gush about the movie too much, just about one of the names spotted in the movie. Early in the movie, there's a scene when Leigh Anne arrives at her daughters volleyball game and shouts encouragement to her. I did a bit of a double take, because I had forgotten that the daughters name is Collins. Thanks to the magic of the Internet, I double checked and yes, that is the name of her daughter.

Since Collins' younger brother Sean was named after their father, I thought that perhaps Collins was Leigh Anne's maiden name perhaps. But no, Leigh Anne's maiden name is Roberts, so there went that theory. Nevertheless, I'm guessing that a Collins can be found in their family tree somewhere, especially as it's not particularly unusual to use family surnames as given names in the Southern US States. And fun fact - in the movie, Collins is played by actress Lily Collins. I guess that would have made things easy on set!

This name caught my attention mainly because it sounds more like a preppy boys name at first, and seeing it on a girls made me do a double take. It would definitely get confused with Colin/Collin a lot. But the instant after that thought, I thought it sounded like a spunky (and still a little preppy, which I like) choice for a girl.

Traditionally a surname, Collins fits right in with current unisex surname trends, but has so far gone largely overlooked. It has been modestly used for boys in the US, and occasionally for girls (which increased a lot after 'The Blind Side' was released), but hasn't cracked the top 1000 for boys since 1909. Or ever for girls.

There's a little confusion as to the origin and meaning of Collins. Different sources say that it's:

• an Irish/Gaelic name meaning 'holly'
• a Scottish variant of Colin, meaning 'young creature' or 'pup'
• a shorter variant of the Greek name Nicolas, meaning 'people of victory'. 

If you're using it to honour a family member though, having one definitive meaning doesn't really matter, as it will be what the original owner meant to you that will define what special meaning the name has for you.

While it's not for everyone, I quite like Collins for a boy or a girl. Admittedly if you're using it for a girl you'd probably want a more traditionally feminine middle name to pair with it. And you probably want to avoid it if your last name starts with an S. But for the right person and the right family, Collins could be a real gem.

Argo

I see a lot of movies every year, and one that really stuck in my head in 2012 was 'Argo'. We came close to almost not seeing this one at the cinemas. We had some Gold Class vouchers that we had less than a week to use, and there weren't any seats available for 'Skyfall' (it was in its opening week), so we went to 'Argo' instead. It was a great choice, and I loved it. Ben Affleck did an outstanding job, both with the acting and the directing, and it's great to see him receiving so many accolades at the awards this season. Fingers crossed for the Oscars on Sunday!

I'm sure I can't be the only name enthusiast who walked out of the cinema thinking "you know what, Argo would make a really cool name". I can see it working best for a boy, particularly due to it's "o" ending and due to it's similarity to Arlo. Arlo has been getting quite a bit of attention recently. In 2011 it slipped back into the US top 1000, after an absence of just over 60 years. But for some reason I have found it hard to get on the Arlo train (so to speak), whereas Argo is a name I would love to see more of.

If you haven't seen the movie yet, 'Argo' is the title of the fictional movie used as the cover to get the escapees from the hostage standoff at the American embassy in Tehran out of Iran and on a flight to America. The concept is that it is a science fiction retelling of the Greek mythological hero Jason, whose famous quest was the search for the Golden Fleece. Jason was supported by a group of heroes otherwise known as the Argonauts. This literally meant 'Argo sailors', as their ship was christened Argo for its builder Argus.

Argus/Argos is a Greek name meaning 'vigilant guardian', so as a derivative I would assume that Argo has the same meaning. Argo has only charted four times in the US, and it seems that at the time it was popular there was a company in the US called Argo Electric Vehicle Company. Coincidence maybe, or perhaps naming a child for a luxury car is a phenomenon that is not as new as we like to think.

Argos has never charted, but the original form Argus first charted the same year Argo did (1912) and managed to hang around much longer than the short lived Argo. I'd be interested to know how these names fare in Greece.

While I can see a lot of positives to Argo, it could be said that the name is virtually unusable at the moment as people would only associate it with the movie. But Argo makes me think of that other famous two-syllable, ends in "o", mythology based movie name/title, 'Juno'. 'Juno' hit screens in 2007, and was a massive hit for first time writer Diablo Cody. Juno had charted once in the first half of the 1900's, and was just starting to see some increased (bu still rare) use for both boys and girls when the movie was released. Since 'Juno', use of the name has increased quite a bit for girls, although it has decreased for boys somewhat.

I'm guessing give it a couple of years and we'll start seeing Argo re-appearing in birth announcements. It feels like it could be the next cool hipster/bohemian name, or would feel right at home in a mythological or  "heroic" sibset. And now thanks to the movie, it even has a little sci-fi geek cred. Or maybe it just appeals to you as the little name that could - the movie concept that reportedly helped to rescue a group of innocent people when the odds seemed to be stacked against them.