Baby Name Remorse

Have you ever wanted to change your child's name after they were born? This article has come from the Guardian in the UK and is an interesting read. Check it out here.

What are your thoughts on the issue?

I know! Lets spell it with a Y. Y I can't stand kr8ive spelling

So the most recent example of blatant kr8ive spelling would have to be that of Vanessa Hudgens character in the latest film Band Slam. She is Sa5m, but the 5 is silent. Ok so this is just a movie but things like this happen in real life too.

Most of the people I have come across looking for advice on names really like a name that is currently rather popular like for example Ava, Maddison and don't get me started on all the 'aiden' names out there. They then encounter the problem that their child will inevitably be one of a few in their classes at school. This is probably true however their next move is to try to change the spelling to make the name more unique. this generally involves adding the trendy 'y'.

For example:

Ava = Ayva.

Maddison = Maddyson or Maddysyn.

Aiden = Ayden or Aydyn

Jaiden = Jayden or Jaydyn

Madeline = Madilyne

Jason = Jayson

Miley = Mylee

Have you picked up that the names are still pronounced exactly the same, yes exactly the same. The only difference now is that the child given the name has to spell it for absolutely everyone they meet. Chances are that no matter how may times they spell it they will still end up with the more common spelling.

The bottom line is that alternate spelling do not make a name more unique, they make it more frustrating. Being one of a few is far less frustrating than having to spell your name for everyone. So if you want to use a popular name but are afraid of the popularity why not look for a similar alternative name. Trawling through popularity lists, like those listed in the links of this website, is a great place to find names that you can guarantee aren't hugely common.

August Births

Some people say that there are more births during extreme weather. If that is in fact the case we should see a surge in births this week. Unseasonal heat in the north, great snow falls and extreme cold in the alps and gigantic storms with super fast winds in the south. Weather aside, here are some Aussie births from August from an Aussie blog, accept no imitations! For boys William and Edward have been rather popular this month and for girls Paige has been a name popping up along with the usuals Grace and Rose. There are some people still hanging on to the end of the 'maddison/addison' craze but there are also some gorgeous names.

Enjoy!

Ruby

Autumn

Beth Marie

Hannah Addison

Addison Kaye

Maddison Paige

Maddison Rose

Olivia Ella

Hariette Pop - I'm wondering if this should be Poppy?Misprint perhaps?

Courtney Rae

Claire Eliza

Stephanie Paige

Alyra Jae

Emma Jane

Grace Maree

Lily Margaret Rose

Aliya Isabelle

Olivia Lee

Lexie Rose

Imogen Grace

Paige Helen Sarah

Gabriella Grace

Annalise Hope

Elise Hannah

Mia Phoebe

Lily Charlotte

Lilana Emelia -Joan

Jade Elizabeth

Sarina Lily

Scarlett Isabella Rose

Lenni Alice

Zara Mae

Henrietta Josephine

Emily Rose

Alexander Reuben

Nathan Andre

Jensen Allen

Lucas Adrian

Ambrose Patrick

Nash Harry

William John

Quinlan Ra

Oscar Edward

William Brian Michael

William Samuel

Paul Eric

Nicholas James

Sebastian Allan

Flynn Philip

Kobi Lee

Tyler Hudson

Leroy Joe

Noah Ryan

Bradley Robert

Rylan Michael

Damien James

Hamish Robert

Oliver Bryan

Lachlan Anthony

Liam Phillip

William John Malcolm

Jaiden Harry

Xavier William

Rowan Blair

Scottish Boys for Kate

I had an email from Kate in Melbourne the other day, hi Kate! Kate's little boy is due in September and she wanted some information on Scottish or Scottish sounding boys names.

Some Scottish names, more so the traditional ones, have Gaelic origins and many may also have an anglicized spelling. I'd recommend using an anglicized name to make it easier for the child to move through their life. There is nothing more annoying than having to pronounce your name for absolutely everyone! Several Scottish surnames are also used as first names, most commonly Mackenzie, which is most commonly known as a girls given name now.

Without further ado, here are some of my favourite Scottish boys names:

Alastair

Andrew

Angus

Blane

Boyd

Campbell

Clark

Craig

Dougal

Douglas

Duncan

Ewan

Finley

Fraser

Gavin

Hamish

Kenneth

Lachlan

Logan

Mitchell

Leith

Rory

Ross

Scott

Tavish

Torquil

Wallace

My personal favourites Angus and Hamish are widely used in Australia, so if popularity and common-ness of a name is an issue tread carefully with these two. My other favourite is Tavish, which is not as widely used.

Good luck with your search for the perfect name!

Fantastic Florals

The last several years have seen a revival in many floral names such as Lilly, Rose, Violet and Poppy. Floral names were rather popular throughout England in the later years of the 19th century and as with other classic revivals, florals have been no exception. After all who wouldn't want their daughter's name to remind them of a beautiful garden on a lovely spring's day. With spring around the corner lets investigate some popular and lesser known florals.

Acacia - Part of the scientific name of many plants including our very own Golden Wattle.

Alyssa - A take on the name of beautiful flower Alyssum

Azalea

Blossom

Bluebell - Former Spice Girl Gerri Halliwell named her daughter Bluebell, but that doesn't mean you have to.

Bryony - Whilst not a flower as such, of Greek origins meaning 'climbing plant'.

Calla - From the Calla Lilly.

Camellia

Crisanta - from the chrysanthamum

Dahlia

Daisy

Elodie

Fleur - French for flower

Flora - Perhaps the margerine association has made this unusable but it's still a gorgeous floral.

Flower

Hana - Japanese for flower or try 'Hanako' which in Japanese is 'flower child'.

Heather

Ianthe

Iris

Jasmine - Had some popularity on the 90's but has now cooled off

Jolan

Kalina

Leilani - A Hawaiian floral wreath.

Lilac - A nice change from Lilly or Violet

Lillian

Linnea

Lotus

Marigold - perhaps a great full name for Mary

Pansy

Peony

Petula - another take on Petunia

Poppy

Primrose

Rosa

Rose

Rosalaine

Saffron

Tansy - not related to Pansy. A yellow flower that used to be used in tea. In some places it's considered a pest.

Violet

Yasmin - An alternative to Jasmine

Zahra

Zinnia

See any you like?

Do you Google names?

I know I am not alone in the world of onomastics when I say that I Google new names I discover or like. Really if you were going to give your child a name wouldn't you want to know who else out there has that name? It avoids those moments where you introduce your child and weird thoughts run through people's minds. For example:

Person A: "This is my daughter Marley"

Person B: Thinks: oh like the cute dog in that movie, gee that movie was so sad.

But says: "How lovely"

Person A: "Meet my son Edward"

Person B: " How cool, are you a Twilight fan?"

Person A: "What's Twilight?"

Person B: "Oh sorry, I just thought, because your surname is Collin it sounds like Cullen, Edward Cullen, you know, Twilight, vampires, raaaaaarrrrr???"

Or a situation that happened to some I know who didn't do their research

Person A: "This is my child Jenna"

Person B: Thinks: Jenna, ok, um isn't your last name Jameson, Jenna Jameson, that's a porn star right. But says: "Oh yes, how nice to meet your little girl"

So like most people I make a a habit of Googling names and combinations just to see what else or who else is out there, and yes 'what' was not a misprint.

Recently I came across the name Solveig (sol-vay) and have been rather charmed by it. I'm not sure why I am so fascinated by it because in Australia any Solveig would inadvertently be called Sol-vague which isn't really appealing and I'm not so keen on the nick name Sol or Solly, which seems very masculine to me, even though it (sol) means 'sun' in several languages.

In my quest to find out more about Solveig I Googled the name. It turns out there are many people named Solveig ranging from sportswomen to politicians and a ten year old graffiti artist, who isn't too bad really! I've included one of her pieces below.

Just out of interest there were no hits when I Googled Solveig with my surname.

So I'd like to know, do you Google names? Have you ever found anything that turned you off a name?

XOXO

Births from July

A selection of births from the month of July. It appears the cold has gone to some people's heads, or maybe it was the morphine, or perhaps the influence of Disney kids and Twilight. On another note, when will Grace leave the middle name spot. It still remains as one of the most popular choices in the middle name spot for girls.

Kaitlyn Ella Louise

Myley Lorraine

Rubyann Elizabeth

Charlotte Grace

Hannah Grace

Ella Rose

Georgia Grace

Chelsea Caitlin

Violet Glen-Emma

Chloe Amee Jasmine

Matilda Susie

Henrietta Olive

Bella Rose

Alice Sarah

Kirralee Frances

Gracie Louise

Tiana Amy Lauren

Olivia Shannon

Indigo Rose

Isabelle Maria

Isabella Bronte

Chloe Matilda

Adenia Mary

Lola Isobel

Tamsin Tigerlily

Ava Grace

Archer Preston

Parker Jack

Xavier Dallas

Lachlan Roy

Mackenzie Dudley

Harrison Daniel James

Tyler Kade

Dylan Alexander

Thomas Andrew

Max Andrew

Korbin Mark

Lincoln Terrence

Ronan Vincent

Jayden Cruz

Luke Robert

Ned Reilly

Zach Wayne

Harvey Kevin

Hamish Kevin

Orlando Peter

Archer John

Finn John

Hamish John

Enjoy

XOXO

The Neighbours baby gets a name!

For months we waited for the birth of Bridget and Declan's baby on soapie Neighbours. Finally the baby was born but then we had to wait another week for them to give it a name, only to be rather disappointed. Welcome the newest Neighbours cast member, India. Named aptly after the country because Bridget wants to practice medicine there one day.

Place names as baby names isn't a new trend, in fact most places were actually named after people to begin with.

If you are looking for a place name for your child then look no further than the list below...

Aberdeen - best used on boys. A city in Scotland

Adelaide - A city in Australia named after Queen Adelaide

Africa - unisex

Alexandria - best used for girls, a city in the USA

Brie - often used as a girls name after the famous cheese making region in France.

Chelsea - a girls name and also a well known suburb of London.

Cheyenne - a girls name from a city in the USA, also related to a native American Indian tribe

China - used on girls, rather tacky.

Dakota - made famous by actress Dakota Fanning

Dallas - boys name from the Texan town.

Delancey - a famous New York street.

Devon - A boys name from Britain's Devonshire.

Eden - A girls name from the biblical garden

Florence - centre of the Italian renaissance, think Florence Nightingale.

Geneva - a Swiss city and a modern take on the 80's name Jennifer.

Kenya - a name from the African country.

London - rarely used but is considered a girls name.

Macon - a town in France that would work as a boys name.

Paris - originally a boys name, now more common on girls.

Persia - the former name of Iran.

Philadelphia - the city made famous by Tom Hanks in the film of the same name.

Phoenix - best used on boys, please never name a girl this. A city in the USA

Savannah - A city in Georgia, USA

Siena - A town in italy, commonly used on girls with the spelling Sienna, which means a brown colour.

Sydney - commonly mistaken as Australia's capital, this name was originally used on boys but is more common as a girls name.

Venetia - an ode to the city of Venice, best used on girls.

Take care when selecting a name for your child, remember they have it for life!