Commenter ErinInSoCal had a good idea for a post. She commented on the post asking how much it bothers us to correct a mispronounced name, saying her daughter Beatrix is often called Beatrice, and her daughter’s nickname Bea (BEE-uh) is almost exclusively mispronounced Bee. Then she added: Oh well, she’s turning 18 soon and going off to college, so she has the chance to reinvent her name if need be! (Which, btw Swistle, could be another interesting thread — who started using a different version of their name when they moved/went to college/started a new job?)   Oh, I am SO interested to ..read more

Update on Baby Girl Raiserhöffer: Finding a Name that Works in Germany and the United States ..read more

Commenter Jaida had a fun idea for a post: I wonder if Swistle has ever done a reader poll to see how many readers have difficult-to-pronounce names and how much it bothers them to have to correct people. It seems like something we all worry a lot about as namers but my own experience is that mispronunciation causes a brief moment of embarrassment/correction and then everyone moves on and there is one more person in the world that knows how to pronounce the name (no shade to anyone more affected by it, I just hope it doesn’t prevent someone from using a name they love!)   There are two ..read more

Update on Baby Girl Beach: Finding Balance in a Name ..read more

We’re a French American couple and both like the name Salomé. As accents cannot be printed on most documents, we’re concerned about whether people will be familiar with the name or get it wrong all the time. We’re also wondering the pronunciations we can expect without the accent? Thank you all.   Oh! This is especially fun because I am only slightly familiar with the name: I have never encountered a Salomé in person, or in a way where I would have heard it pronounced (e.g., on a character in a television show). Before I look it up, I will make note of my first guesses. I know it makes ..read more

Update on Baby Girl Bailey, Sister to Oswald and Reuben ..read more

Hello, I just had my baby via emergency c-section at 26 weeks. He came out weighing 1.8 pounds, and we’re taking it day-by-day hoping that he continues to get stronger. We don’t want to leave him without a name for long, but we’re struggling to find something we feel right about. Can you help?? 1. Walsh, or potentially that hyphenated with Stakland 2. Boy 3. We live in the US 4. We are liking the name Kai or Kylo but are slightly wary of the popularity of it due to the association with the Star Wars franchise. Please please help. Stef   I hope you will find yourself able to take the ti ..read more

Hello, dear Swistle! I mentioned to you on Twitter this past fall that I was bereft to not have a baby boy to name Alfred, because I’d just met a three year old named Alfred and was completely charmed. My ovaries said, “What’s that? You’d like another baby? We can arrange for that!” My husband Kevin and I were QUITE surprised to find out we’re expecting again—we definitely thought we were done—but we are also delighted. And now to choose a name for this little one before she arrives in June! Normally I love thinking about and discussing baby names, but I’ve had a lot of other stressors going ..read more

I feel bad sending this email as I know you must be busy, however I’m so clueless after months of fighting it I’ve given in and decided to ask for help with our little girls name. We’re expecting our first little girl in April, and as exited as we are about her she has been the hardest to name so far. Our other two are Oswald Jude ‘Ozzy’ and Reuben Hugh ‘Reu’, their names were so easy to decide but now we can’t even settle on something while I’m 8 months pregnant! The List I liked, but he vetoed… Hermione Sarah-Kate Caroline Scarlett Matilda The Names he liked, I said no to… Alice Clara Merce ..read more

Swistle, I’m a big fan of your blog. I’ve always loved baby names. My mom had a baby when I was 13 and I did so much research and reading. Lots of lists and suggestions. An obsession with baby names was born! But now that I’m pregnant with my first child, due in July, I’m quite overwhelmed. We just found out we’re having a girl, and my husband and I simply can’t agree on THE ONE. We were totally aligned on boy names and had one picked out: Thomas, with my maiden name as the middle. It’s a classic with fun nickname options, sounds good with our surname, and is also a special honor name on my s ..read more