Names from television and movie Westerns sometimes got a lot more adventurous than Josh and Jesse.In fact, Westerns are responsible for reviving scores of antiquated classics that might otherwise have disappeared completely, along with introducing unconventional animal and word names as firsts.Some Western character names from the classic shows and movies...

　　We all know how the media likes to jump on every new ‘weird’ starbaby name, predicting dire consequences down the road for the likes of poor little Moxie CrimeFighter, Pilot Inspektor, Bronx Mowgli, and Apple. Well, only time will tell how these kids will actually meet that particular challenge as...

　　There’s a lively discussion going on over at our message boards on what names have gone out of style and will probably never come back.  On the permanent Out List, by consensus, are: 　　BERTHA 　　BEULAH 　　BRUNHILDA (was this ever in, I mean since the 11th century?) 　　CLORIS 　　DORCAS 　　DORIS 　　EUNICE...

　　It takes at least four generations for names to sound appealing again for babies. The names of today’s moms and dads – names popular from the late sixties through the eighties – are for the most part too familiar to foist upon an innocent newborn.  You’ll find a lot of...

　　The Number One girls’ name of the decade so far is Emily, with about 190,000 babies receiving that name since 2000.  And the top boys’ name is Jacob, given to nearly 229,000 boys this decade. 　　But there are other names that are given to more than twice as many babies...

　　 The economic downturn has affected just about every aspect of American life, and that even extends to baby naming.  We’ve noticed–and I don’t think it’s just among our enlightened readers–a definite change in attitude, away from trendiness and towards more solid, serious names. In other words, frivolousness is out, and...

　　Love a name but fear it’s overused?  Think one name is stylish, yet want something even more stylish? 　　You’re not alone.  Many parents are looking for names that are like those that have been popular and fashionable in recent years….but different.  Something with a similar look and feel, but in...

　　Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and to baby name fanatics that means one thing beyond cards and flowers: that the release date of the latest figures from the Social Security Administration is only a few weeks away. We’ll soon know whether or not Emily and Jacob have finally been overtaken...

　　On Friday the official list of most popular names will be announced, and we’ll find out whether Jacob and Emily will continue their reign or end their long runs as the Number One Names in the U.S. 　　(Plus, everyone who’s entered the Nameberry Mother’s Day Contest will see whether their...

　　The day every baby name addict waits for all year is finally here, as the Social Security Administration released its list of Top 1000 Boy and Girl Names this morning. To many people’s surprise–including a sizable number of our contest entrants–Emma leapfrogged over Isabella–last year’s #2– to become the most...

　　The J names had their day: Jennifer, Jason, Jessica.  Then K was up, and we had lots of Kevins and Kaylas, Kaitlyns and Kyles. 　　What’s next?  It just might be L’s turn. 　　Linda wrote about the delicious La-La names, from Lola to Lila to Lily, that are newly popular.  And...

　　There are some celebrity kids’ names that are immediately embraced by other parents and become instant hits. Take Kingston, for example, the name chosen for personal reasons relating to the city in Jamaica by Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale: it had all the ingredients to make it a success– accessibility,...

　　As reported in the not always reliable Star magazine, Nicole Richie, mother of Harlow Winter Kate, has at the top of her list of names for her baby-to-be Baron, inspired by Donald Trump’s little Barron.  (Her other two published possibilities being Kypher and Martavious, about which I’ll restrain my comments). ...