The older I get, the more I appreciate Halloween. Although I don’t yet have any children of my own and can’t go trick-or-treating anymore (to be honest, I’m not huge on sweet foods or candy anyway!), I love the whole “Spooky Season” vibe. Why limit enjoyment of horror movies and pumpkin spiced anything to just ..read more

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere like me, you’re probably watching the trees for their change from verdant greens into a vibrant quilt of reds, yellows, and oranges. Unless you live in the uppermost northern environs, chances are you haven’t experienced peak foliage just yet. Every day the landscape grows more beautiful. Truly, fall ..read more

Wow, how time flies! It feels like a month since my last post. I’m in the time of my life where everyone around me in my age cohort is getting married (myself included), which means that nary a weekend isn’t spent at a wedding or planning one. Top that off with an unconventional work schedule ..read more

I’ve sometimes wondered why Campbell isn’t a more popular baby name. By all rights, it should be! Pronounced “Kam-bull” (the ‘p’ is silent), it sounds a lot like the tried and tested names Cameron and Camden. Campbell is the name of one of Scotland’s most historically powerful clans, and many people can find this surname ..read more

Let’s talk about Ottilie. Ottilie is an old German name that’s increasingly popular in the U.K. And although it’s still rather rare in the United States, recent upward trends in both countries lead me to believe Ottilie has what it takes to become the next “it” name for girls. For starters, Ottilie begins with the ..read more

I’ve been thinking about the name Thea lately. Thea is a popular nickname that was only sporadically used as a full standalone name until 2013.* Traditionally, Thea could be short for anything from Dorothea to Theresa. You can pronounce it like the end of Cynthia, or you can pronounce it more like “Tay-uh.” In Ancient Greek, Thea means “goddess.” Armored with a powerful meaning and the short and sweet characteristics of a minimalist moniker, Thea is a wonderful baby name on its own. Classic, it befits a woman or girl of any age. Still, many parents prefer formal versions of nicknames that they ..read more

I don’t just love talking about names – I love name games too! If you’ve been following this blog for the last several months, you’ve probably seen my lists of isogram names. Admittedly, it’s been a few months since I posted the last one…between the newest U.S. baby name popularity rankings and a recent move (seriously, it’s almost two months later and there are still a few boxes!), I haven’t been writing as often or as much as I usually plan. But hey, new data means a new set of names to comb through! Isograms are usually defined as words or names that don’t repeat letters. While there’s a se ..read more

2023 preschools are full with names that are just as comfortable in 1923 and 1893 as they are today. Whether names like Henry and Emma, Theodore and Violet are suddenly refreshing or parents are nostalgic for the past, vintage names are in and they’re here to stay. Even modern names like Evanora often incorporate old-fashioned sounds to present familiarly. Speaking of Evanora, one of those sounds that’s currently on my mind is the feminine “Ora” ending! Ora is a versatile name element. It gives us everything from Nora and Aurora to Zamora and Cleodora. Classic but hip, elegant yet zany, urban ..read more

Summertime means beach time. Whether you enjoy sipping tropical drinks on the shore, catching some waves, or taking in the natural beauty, you probably associate hot, sunny weather with trips to the ocean. Perhaps you prefer hanging out on the banks of a river or diving into a cool, clear lake. As long as you love beaches, it doesn’t matter where you go to enjoy them. And if you take your naming inspiration from the world around you, you’re probably looking for options. In honor of the season, here’s a selection of names inspired by the beach! These maritime monikers are sure to delight. Amph ..read more

Happy 4th of July! Several months ago, I went into my favorite used bookstore and acquired a volume called “Revolutionary Soldiers and Sailors of the Commonwealth of Virginia,” which lists Virginia veterans who received “land bounty warrants” in the late 1700s after the American Revolution’s end. I love genealogical resources like this not just for the historical research potential but for the names! Books like this one are a goldmine for character and baby name inspiration…and to be completely honest, occasional snarking! Because of data limitations in the Social Security Administration birth ..read more