2009 May Archive at Baby Names Made Easy: The Complete Reverse-Dictionary of Baby Names

Monthly Archive for May, 2009

Top Baby Names of 2008 Revealed! See what names made the list (and which didn’t)

Published

on May 9, 2009

. 2 Comments

Social Security has finally revealed its list of Popular Baby Names of 2008. This is one of the most exciting days of the year in the baby name world!

There were some minor shake ups in the Top 10, but nothing to really knock your socks off.

Here’s the list:

TOP 10 BOYS’ NAMES OF 2008

1. Jacob

2. Michael

3. Ethan

4. Joshua

5. Daniel

6. Alexander

7. Anthony

8. William

9. Christopher

10. Matthew

The top five boys’ names of 2008 are identical to the top five in 2007. Alexander is up from number 11 and is the only new edition to the top 10 list. Anthony and William are in the same places there were in last year. Christopher dropped a couple slots from number 6. Finally, Matthew dropped from 9 to 10.

In case you’re curious, Andrew is the name that fell out of the top 10. It didn’t go far though and now sits at number 12.

TOP 10 GIRLS’ NAMES OF 2008

1. Emma

2. Isabella

3. Emily

4. Madison

5. Ava

6. Olivia

7. Sophia

8. Abigail

9. Elizabeth

10. Chloe

Trends in girls’ names tend to change more than boys’ names and we see that reflected in this list. Just barely though — you have to look pretty hard to see it. Only two of the top 10 names are in the same slot they were in last year, while seven from the boy’s list are in identical slots from last year.

The big news is that Emma dethroned Emily as the top name, a slot Emily’s held since 1996. Emily didn’t go far though and came in at number 3. Isabella held steady at 2. Madison and Ava traded spaces at slots 4 and 5. Then Olivia and Sophia traded spaces at slots 6 and 7. Abigail stayed at number 8. Elizabeth jumped one spot to number 9. Finally, we had a newcomer to the top 10 with Chloe, up from 16^th last year.

Hannah is the name that fell out of the top 10 with a drop to 17^th place.

It’s fun every year to see this list and how the popular names change. What do you think about the top 10 list?

What are your thoughts on the new Top 10 list? Post a comment and let us know what you think!

♥ Amanda

Don’t Want to Name your Son “Junior” and Expect Family Drama as a Result? Read These Tips Before you Break the News

Published

Amanda Barden

on May 6, 2009

in Baby Naming Tips

. 3 Comments

What can you do when you anticipate family conflict over what you plan to name your baby?

Babies are supposed to be happiness and joy and all things good. But sometimes, even the best of times bring about stressful situations. I recently heard about a mother who was worried because she knew that her husband’s parents expected their grandson to be named after his dad, grandfather and great-grandfather. She and her husband were struggling because they didn’t want to continue the naming tradition, but they also didn’t want to alienate the grandparents. Tricky indeed!

Here are some ideas for how to handle this sticky situation:

1. BE HONEST, BUT KIND — If you know that a family member is going to be upset that you’re ending a family tradition, a little preparation can go a long way. When you break the news, be ready to share all the reasons why you’re doing so. Keep the conversation positive by focusing on why the name you chose is meaningful for you instead of being critical about the family’s long-standing naming tradition.

2. CREATIVE COMPROMISE — Say the family name is Matthew Henry Smith. You may like the name just fine, but you just don’t want your son to be the fourth family member with an identical name. You could try a few things:

Middle Name — You could use “Matthew” or “Henry” as the middle name. You could even do a double middle name and use both. For example, Noah Matthew Henry Smith.

Different Name, Same Meaning — “Matthew” is a religious name that means “God’s gift.” You could use a different name with a religious meaning to show that you value the meaning and history behind the family name, while still choosing a unique name for your son.

Same Name with a Twist — You could use an International variation of Matthew (Mateo, Mats, Matisse, Matthias) or Henry (Hendrix, Enrique, Enrico, Henrik, Errico).

Switch the Order — Instead of Matthew Henry, maybe you prefer Henry Matthew.

3. REMEMBER, IT’S YOUR BABY — At the end of the day, remember that this is your baby and you can name him whatever you want. Your family should recognize and respect that. If they don’t there might not be anything you can do about it. After all, you can’t please everyone and when it comes to naming your baby, you definitely need to please yourself.

Have you had this problem? If so, let us know how you handled it! Post your comment here.

♥ Amanda

Fiery Picks for Baby Name of the Day

Published

Amanda Barden

on May 3, 2009

in Baby Name of the Week and Celebrity Baby Names

. 0 Comments

Yesterday I went to NERT training — Neighborhood Emergency Response Team. I agreed to do it for work. I learned all about how dangerous fires can be. You didn’t need to tell me that, but I learned a lot anyhow. Here are some of the highlights:

· Call 911 before trying to put out even a small fire by myself (according to the video we watched small fires turn into large fires very fast!) — if it’s safe, it’s OK to try putting out the fire after calling 911

· I should keep a pair of sneakers in my car in case there’s a disaster and I end up needing to walk (heels, cute flats and flip-flops aren’t made for long-distance walking)

· I need to keep at least a five day supply of food and water on hand for my cat (and me, too) in case we need to shelter in place during a disaster

· Triage is NOT for the faint of heart

Next week we’re going to learn about search and rescue and go through a simulated disaster scenario. We’re even going to get to put out an actual fire!

Anyhow, all this fire talk got me thinking about fire as a symbol. Fire can be dangerous, but it’s also essential for survival. It’s a symbol of passion and energy and life. I decided to put this inspiration to good use and to choose these fiery picks for Baby Name of the Day:

GIRLS’ NAME OF THE DAY:

AZARA — Persian for “red, flame”

BOYS’ NAME OF THE DAY:

IGNATIUS — Latin for “fire”

Azara is a beautiful name — unique without being weird or too difficult to spell and pronounce. Ignatius feels very classical — Cate Blanchett chose it last year for one of her sons. What do you think about these names?

Post a comment and let me know how you like these Baby Names of the Day.

♥ Amanda

To Tell or Not to Tell? When to Share Your Unborn Baby’s Name and When to Keep it to Yourself (with bonus naming quiz—see how well you do!)

Published

Amanda Barden

on May 2, 2009

in Baby Naming Tips

. 0 Comments

We’ve all heard this story a hundred times. Soon-to-be-parents have decided on the perfect name for their baby. They tell a relative or friend and the response they get back is lukewarm or even outright negative.

“I knew someone with that name growing up and really hated him!”

“You’re going to name her what?”

“That’s an OK name, but have you ever considered…”

It’s hard to know whether these people are mean, misguided or just lack social skills. Regardless, it puts you in a tough position. Even if you love the name, the negative comments might nag at the back of your mind and cause you to second guess yourself or even change your mind entirely. If you wait until your baby is born to reveal the name, people will be less likely to make a negative comment because they know it’s too late to change your mind. So, if you’re worried that another person’s negative opinions could bother you, it’s probably best to keep your picks to yourself until after the birth.

On the other hand, maybe you don’t have the creative mind of a fourth grader looking for a good joke. If you don’t, you might not be able to spot the pitfalls of some name choices. Read these names and see if you can spot the potential for teasing:

Justin Case
Penelope Inez Garcia
Daphne Velma Jones
Isaiah Penn Daly
Ian Kent Reid
Renee Isabella Parker
Robin Banks

SCROLL DOWN FOR ANSWERS

If you only got one or two of those correct, there might be some benefits to sharing your name choices with someone who has a more juvenile sense of humor.

Whether you decide to tell or not to tell, remember that it’s your baby and you get to choose the name. Don’t be bullied into making a decision you won’t be happy with!

Do you think it’s better to tell or not to tell? Post a comment and let me know!

♥ Amanda

ANSWERS:

Sounds like “just in case”
Initials spell PIG
Daphne and Velma are characters in Scooby Doo
Initials are I.P. Daly or “I pee daily”
Sounds like “Ian can’t read” or “I can’t read”
Initials are R.I.P.
Sounds like “robbing banks”