Author Archive for Amanda Barden

Offside, Red-card and Vuvuzela among baby names registered during 2010 World Cup

I just read an interesting article about baby naming in South Africa during the World Cup. Apparently, there have been a number of babies named after the historic event:

·         Babies named after countries playing in the tournament, like FRANCE, BRAZIL, CAMEROON, ARGENTINA, ENGLAND and DENMARK

·         Babies named after soccer terminology, including OFFSIDE, RED-CARD, JERSEY, SUBSTITUTE, KICK-OFF and HALF-TIME

·         Babies named after soccer positions, such as STRIKER, MIDFIELDER, GOALKEEPER and COACH

·         Babies named after things related to the event itself, like SOCCER CITY, 2010, TICKETS, STADIUM and BALL

·         Babies named after players and coaches, including KAKA and PARREIRA

·         And, perhaps the most noteworthy name of all, the item that typified this World Cup, a baby named…VUVUZELA

Offside, Red-card and Vuvuzela among baby names registered during 2010 World Cup

Romantic Baby Naming Ideas

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Looking for unique baby names? Turn your baby’s name into a romantic affair. Think about all the people, places and events that are important to you as a couple and you just may find the perfect name along the way.

 

Here are 11 romantic baby name ideas:

 

1.       The name of the street where you first lived as a couple

2.       The name of the restaurant where you went on your first date

3.       The city/state/country where you met

4.       The name of the friend who introduced you

5.       The place where you conceived the baby

6.       The name of the singer who sings your song

7.       The name of the place where you or your partner proposed

8.       The name of the site you got married

9.       The place where you went on your honeymoon

10.   The name of the actor/actress who starred in the movie you saw on your first date

11.   The name of the flower you used in your wedding bouquet

 

 CB022172

Any other romantic ideas? Share them with me!

 

Happy naming,

  Amanda

 

 

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If you have baby name questions, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com.

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

 

 

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Follow me on TWITTER to get up-to-the-minute celebrity baby name news, interesting names I come across and so much more! I’m @babynameauthor!

 

 

For more information on baby names and their meanings get your copy of

BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES

 

 

 

Reality TV Names: Big Brother 2010

 

Any Big Brother fans? Tonight is this summer’s premier and it’s always interesting to have a look at the names of the cast members. Previous seasons have brought us memorable names like Memphis, Hardy, Marcellas, Chima and Evil Dick. What does this season have in store?

 

 

FEMALE CONTESTANTS

ANNIE

BRITNEY

KATHY

KRISTEN

MONET

RACHEL

 

 

MALE CONTESTANTS

ANDREW

BRENDON

ENZO

HAYDEN

LANE

MATT

RAGAN

 

 

There are some interesting names here, to be sure – Monet and Ragan top the list. Lane and Enzo are interesting, too. Of course, there are plenty of common popular picks – Brendon, Andrew, Kristen and Matt.

 

I’ll be watching tonight and will be interested to learn how Ragan pronounces his name. Let me know what you think!

 

Happy naming,

  Amanda

 

 

WANT MORE BABY NAME INFO?

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●Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss any future baby name posts

 

 

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HAVE BABY NAME QUESTIONS?

If you have baby name questions, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com.

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

 

 

DO YOU TWEET?

Follow me on TWITTER to get up-to-the-minute celebrity baby name news, interesting names I come across and so much more! I’m @babynameauthor!

 

 

For more information on baby names and their meanings get your copy of

BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES

 

 

 

ASK AMANDA: A Name Like Zane?

 

 

Welcome to ASK AMANDA!!!

 

Ask Amanda

Q:    I just wanted to start out by saying that I love your book! It makes searching for the perfect name fun and a lot less stressful!

My question is regarding the name Zane. I had never heard of that name until a friend of mine used it for her son. I’ve grown to really love that name, but because we’re so close to these friends, I don’t think I should use it.

I’ve tried to find similar names but so far have only come across -Shane, Caine or Payne- none of which are what we’re looking for. Do you know of any similar names or maybe even similar masculine, unique type names like Zane?

Thank you!

A:    I’m so glad you found my book helpful! That’s always so nice to hear.

Zane is definitely a unique name. If you’re really close to the other Zane in your life, I can see why you don’t feel comfortable using it.

There are so many great names out there, I’m sure you’ll find something you love. Here are some ideas for you:

 

Names that sound like Zane

Here are a few names that sound like Zane:

Dane - my favorite on this list

Blaine

Lane - this is also used by girls, but it’s not “girly”

Maine - kind of quirky

 

I think you’re right to steer away from Payne — it sounds like “pain” and that might be a tough association. I do like Cain(e) and Shane though.

 

Names with the same meaning as Zane

Zane is a version of the name John and means “God is gracious.” Maybe another version of John might appeal to you:

Ivan

Sean

Gianni

Evan – my favorite

 

Names that start with “Z”

If you’re looking for other “Z” names you can consider:

Zachariah – a little more unique than Zachary

Zander

Zebedee

Zeke

Zeus

Zedekiah

Zephyr

Zev/Zevi

 

Use Zane as a middle name

It might be too much to use Zane as a first name, but you could probably get away with using it as a middle name.

 

I hope that helps! Good luck to you. Please let me know what you decide.

 

Happy naming,

  Amanda

 

 

WANT MORE BABY NAME INFO?

●Join the free BABY NAMES MADE EASY newsletter list for the latest baby name news and tips from my website

●Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss any future baby name posts

 

 

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF BABY NAMES MADE EASY

Amazon

Kindle

Barnes & Noble

Borders

Indie Bound

 

 

HAVE BABY NAME QUESTIONS?

If you have baby name questions, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com.

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

 

 

DO YOU TWEET?

Follow me on TWITTER to get up-to-the-minute celebrity baby name news, interesting names I come across and so much more! I’m @babynameauthor!

 

 

For more information on baby names and their meanings get your copy of

BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Naming Tip from Amanda Peet

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When you can’t decide between two different names, write both down on separate pieces of paper, put them in a bowl and choose one. Your gut reaction will tell you which name you like better. If you’re excited about your pick, you have your name. If you’re disappointed and want to choose again, the name you didn’t choose is the winner.

 

According to People.com, Amanda Peet and her husband, David Benioff, did a version of this when naming their daughter, Molly June. Amanda and David were torn between two names – Molly June and Maya June. They couldn’t leave the hospital without picking a name, so David wrote the names on pieces of paper and held them behind his back. Amanda chose the paper that said Maya June and was disappointed…so they decided to go with Molly June.

 

I think they made the right choice – Molly June flows a little more smoothly than Maya June. What do you think?

 

SOURCE: People.com

 

Happy naming,

  Amanda

 

 

WANT MORE BABY NAME INFO?

●Join the free BABY NAMES MADE EASY newsletter list for the latest baby name news and tips from my website

●Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss any future baby name posts

 

 

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF BABY NAMES MADE EASY

Amazon

Kindle

Barnes & Noble

Borders

Indie Bound

 

 

HAVE BABY NAME QUESTIONS?

If you have baby name questions, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com.

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

 

 

DO YOU TWEET?

Follow me on TWITTER to get up-to-the-minute celebrity baby name news, interesting names I come across and so much more! I’m @babynameauthor!

 

 

For more information on baby names and their meanings get your copy of

BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES

 

 

 

Next Weeks’ Names: July 5 to July 11

Ferris Wheel (Photo: Yali Shi)

Ferris Wheel (Photo: Yali Shi)

 

 

 

It’s always interesting to see what famous folks were born on certain days – it’s fun trivia, but it can give you some baby name inspiration, too.

 

Here’s my list of Next Weeks’ Names – everyone from princesses to football players to a U.S. President:

 

 

July 5

1670 – Dorothea Sophie of the Palatinate – Duchess of Parma

1755 – Sarah Siddons – British actress

1810 – P.T. Barnum – Circus magnate (The P.T. stands for PHINEAS TAYLOR)

1902 – Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. – American diplomat

1912 – Mack David – American lyricist

1939 – Booker Edgerson – American football player

1950 – Huey Lewis – American musician

1951 – Goose Gossage – American baseball player

1960 – Pruitt Taylor Vince – American actor

1963 – Edie Falco – American actress

1968 – Kenji Ito – Japanese composer

1973 – Róisín Murphy – Irish musician

1975 – Amélie Mauresmo – French tennis player

1984 – Danay Garcia – Cuban actress

 

 

July 6

1747 – John Paul Jones – American naval commander

1781 – Sir Stamford Raffles – British statesman

1782 – Maria Louisa of Spain – Queen of Etruria

1796 – Nicholas I – Tsar of Russia

1868 – Princess Victoria – British royal family

1878 – Eino Leino – Finnish poet

1900 – Frederica Sagor Maas – American playwright

1907 – Frida Kahlo – Mexican painter

1927 – Janet Leigh – American actress

1931 – Della Reese – American singer

1939 – Jet Harris – English bass guitarist

1951 – Geoffrey Rush – Australian actor

1954 – Allyce Beasley – American actress

1987—Caroline Trentini – Brazilian model

 

 

July 7

1207 – Elisabeth of Hungary – Catholic saint

1746 – Guiseppe Piazzi – Italian astronomer

1843 – Camillo Golgi – Italian physician and Nobel laureate

1887 – Marc Chagall – Russian painter

1891 – Virginia Rappe – Silent film actress

1906 – Satchel Paige – American baseball player

1908 – Revilo P. Oliver – American professor  ***Revilo = Oliver backwards***

1915 – Margaret Abigail Walker Alexander – African-American novelist and poet

1921 – Ezzard Charles – American boxer

1922 – Pierre Cardin – French fashion designer

1927 – Doc Severinsen – American composer and musician

1940 – Ringo Starr – member of The Beatles

1942 – Carmen Duncan – Australian actress

1952 – Mando Guerrero – Mexican professional wrestler

1963 – Vonda Shepard – American singer

1968 – Jorja Fox – American actress

1969 – Sylke Otto – German luger

1969 – Cree Summer – American voice actress

1970 – Robia LaMorte – American actress and dancer

1980 – Kaisa Jouhki – Indonesian singer

1983 – Ciara Newell – Irish singer

 

 

July 8

1593 – Artemisia Gentileschi – Italian painter

1792 – Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen – Queen of Bavaria

1851 – Arthur Evans – English archaeologist

1867 – Käthe Kollwitz – German artist

1898 – Melville Ruick – American actor

1908 – Nelson Rockefeller – U.S. Vice President

1923 – Harrison Dillard – American athlete

1926 – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross – Swiss psychiatrist

1945 – Micheline Calmy-Rey – Swiss politician

1948 – Raffi – Canadian children’s entertainer

1949 – Wolfgang Puck – Austrian celebrity chef

1951 – Anjelica Huston – American actress

1952 – Jack Lambert – American football player

1974 – Zhanna Friske – Russian actress and singer

1977 – Milo Ventimiglia

1998 – Jaden Smith – American actor

 

 

July 9

1964 – Ann Radcliffe – English writer

1786 – Sophie Hélène Béatrix – Princess of France

1879 – Ottorino Respighi – Italian composer

1901 – Dame Barbara Cartland – English composer

1911 – Mervyn Peake – British writer and illustrator

1927 – Red Kelly – Canadian ice hockey player

1929 – Lee Hazlewood – American country singer

1933 – Oliver Sacks – British neurologist and author

1936 – June Jordan – American poet, writer and teacher

1942 – Edy Williams – American actress

1955 – Lindsey Graham – American politician

1968 – Lars Gyllenhaal – Swedish author

1974—Sian Berry – British politician

1986 – Kiely Williams – American singer and actress

1995 – Georgie Henley – English actress

 

 

July 10

1682 – Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg – German Lutheran missionary

1711 – Princess Amelia – British royal family

1867 – Prince Maximilian of Baden – Chancellor of Germany

1897 – Jack “Legs” Diamond – American bootlegger

1899 – Heiri Suter – Swiss cyclist

1917 – Hugh Alexander – American baseball player

1920 – Owen Chamberlain – American physicist, Nobel prize laureate

1921 – Eunice Kennedy Shriver – American activist

1929 – Winnie Ewing – Scottish politician

1935 – Tura Satana – American actress

1943 – Arthur Ashe – American tennis player

1947 – Arlo Guthrie – American musician
1958 – Fiona Shaw – Irish actress

1964 – Urban Meyer – American football coach

1965 – Princess Alexia – Princess of Greece and Denmark

1976 – Adrian Grenier – American actor

1977 – Gwendoline Yeo – American actress

 

 

July 11

1366 – Anne of Bohemia – consort of Richard II of England

1603 – Kenelm Digby – English privateer

1751 – Caroline Matilda of Wales – Queen consort of Denmark and Norway

1767 – John Quincy Adams – President of the United States

1895 – Dolly Wilde – English socialite

1899 – E. B. White – American writer – E. B. stands for Elwyn Brooks

1913 – Cordwainer Smith – American writer

1920 – Yul Brynner – Russian-born actor

1925 – Nicolai Gedda – Swedish tenor

1931 – Thurston Harris – American singer

1931 – Tab Hunter – American actor

1949 – Liona Boyd – English-born musician

1953 – Mindy Sterling – American actress

1953 – Bramwell Tovey – English-born conductor and composer

1956 – Sela Ward – American actress

1975 – Riona Hazuki – Japanese actress

1984 – Tanith Belbin – Canadian/American ice dancer

1996 – Adelina Sotnikova – Russian figure skater

 

 

SOURCE: One This Day iPhone app

 

There is some great food for thought in these lists. I enlarged my favorites – though narrowing it down to a handful of names was difficult.

 

Revilo P. Oliver is the most interesting name on the list because Revilo is Oliver spelled backwards. What do you think about quirky names like this?

 

Happy naming,

  Amanda

 

 

WANT MORE BABY NAME INFO?

●Join the free BABY NAMES MADE EASY newsletter list for the latest baby name news and tips from my website

●Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss any future baby name posts

 

 

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF BABY NAMES MADE EASY

Amazon

Kindle

Barnes & Noble

Borders

Indie Bound

 

 

HAVE BABY NAME QUESTIONS?

If you have baby name questions, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com.

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

 

 

DO YOU TWEET?

Follow me on TWITTER to get up-to-the-minute celebrity baby name news, interesting names I come across and so much more! I’m @babynameauthor!

 

 

For more information on baby names and their meanings get your copy of

BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES

 

 

 

Girls’ Names to Watch: 2010 Women’s US Open

Michelle Wie (Photo: Keith Allison)

Michelle Wie (Photo: Keith Allison)

 

 

Most major sporting events are full of boy’s names. Finally, here’s one that’s packed with girls’ names and only girls’ names! If you’re hoping to inspire golf talents in your daughter, maybe a talented namesake would help her along.

 

Here’s a sampling of interesting names from the 2010 Women’s US Open:

 

 

CLASSIC NAMES

ANNA Nordqvist

CHARLOTTE Mayorkas

ELIZABETH Janangelo

HELEN Alfredsson

KATHERINE Hull

LAURA Diaz

SARAH Kemp

VERONICA Felibert

VICTORIA Tanco

 

 

VINTAGE NAMES

CATRIONA Matthew

ESTHER Choe

JULIANA Murcia Ortiz

LOUISE Friberg

LUCY Nunn

MARIANNE Skapnord

MARTHA Nause

MEREDITH Duncan

SOFIE Andersson

 

 

UNISEX NAMES

MORGAN Pressel

TAYLOR Leon

 

 

DOUBLE NAMES

JAYE MARIE Green

 

 

INTERNATIONAL NAMES

AIKO Ueno

ALENA Sharp

BELEN Mozo

CHIE Arimura

GIULIA Sergas

JOOMI Kim

JULIETA Granada

KARINE Icher

MIKA Miyazato

 

 

UNIQUE SPELLINGS

ASHLI Bunch

CHRISTI Cano

GWLADYS Nocera

JULI Inkster

KARRIE Webb

KELLI Shean

MEAGHAN Francella

SUZANN Pettersen

 

 

ONE-OF-A-KIND NAMES

CHELLA Choi

LIZETTE Salas

SHASTA Averyhardt

 

 

NICKNAME NAMES

CANDIE Kung

JILL McGill

LIBBY Smith

MEG Mallon

MINA Harigae

M.J. Hur

SALLY Watson

 

 

TRENDY NAMES

ALLISON Fouch

AMY Yang

BRITTANY Lincicome

CHRISTINA Kim

DANIELLE Kang

GABRIELLA Then

HEATHER Young

JENNIFER Gleason

JESSICA Korda

KAITLIN Drolson

LINDSEY Wright

MICHELLE Wie

NATALIE Gulbis

NICOLE Jeray

PAIGE Mackenzie

SAMANTHA Richale

TIFFANY Joh

WENDY Ward

 

 

SOURCE: http://2010uswomensopen.com/player-list.php

 

  

What are you favorites? I really like CATRIONA and LIZETTE. They’re pretty and unique. I’m torn on the name SHASTA. It has a beautiful sound and calls to mind the lovely Mt. Shasta. Then I’m reminded of Shasta soda. What do you think?

 

 

Happy naming,

  Amanda

 

 

WANT MORE BABY NAME INFO?

●Join the free BABY NAMES MADE EASY newsletter list for the latest baby name news and tips from my website

●Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss any future baby name posts

 

 

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF BABY NAMES MADE EASY

Amazon

Kindle

Barnes & Noble

Borders

Indie Bound

 

 

HAVE BABY NAME QUESTIONS?

If you have baby name questions, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com.

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

 

 

DO YOU TWEET?

Follow me on TWITTER to get up-to-the-minute celebrity baby name news, interesting names I come across and so much more! I’m @babynameauthor!

 

 

For more information on baby names and their meanings get your copy of

BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES

 

 

 

 

Celeb Birth: Cristiano Ronaldo Reveals Secret Newborn

Cristiano Ronaldo (Photo: Ray Booysen)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Photo: Ray Booysen)

 

It’s a boy for soccer phenom Cristiano Ronaldo! Apparently it was a secret that he was expecting—and the baby’s mother is a secret, too.

 

Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed the attention of U.S. soccer fans during this year’s World Cup and is sure to make big news with this announcement. According to the article I read at The Guardian, the mom is a North American and Cristiano will be raising the baby on his own.

 

Here’s the announcement from Cristiano’s Facebook page:

Cristiano Ronaldo It is with great joy and emotion that I inform I have recently become father to a baby boy. As agreed with the baby’s mother, who prefers to have her identity kept confidential, my son will be under my exclusive guardianship. No further information will be provided on this subject and I request everyone to fully respect my right to privacy (and that of the child) at least on issues as personal as these are.” my right to privacy (and that of the child) at least on issues as personal as these are.

 

No word on the baby’s name. Cristiano Jr.? Good luck to the new dad!

 

 

Happy naming,

  Amanda

 

 

WANT MORE BABY NAME INFO?

●Join the free BABY NAMES MADE EASY newsletter list for the latest baby name news and tips from my website

●Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss any future baby name posts

 

 

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF BABY NAMES MADE EASY

Amazon

Kindle

Barnes & Noble

Borders

Indie Bound

 

 

HAVE BABY NAME QUESTIONS?

If you have baby name questions, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com.

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

 

 

DO YOU TWEET?

Follow me on TWITTER to get up-to-the-minute celebrity baby name news, interesting names I come across and so much more! I’m @babynameauthor!

 

 

For more information on baby names and their meanings get your copy of

BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Celeb Birth: COSIMA Times Two

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There’s a new name in the celebrity baby naming world. Believe it or not, there have been two baby Cosimas born in the last few weeks. What are the odds of that?

 

First, a bit about the name Cosima. It’s a Greek name that means “universe, order.” It’s the feminine form of Cosmo. It has the same root as words like cosmos, cosmic and cosmonaut. No surprise, you’ll find the name in the Astronomy chapter of BABY NAMES MADE EASY.

 

 

 

So what celebs chose Cosima?

 

COSIMA #1

First we have Cosima Violet – the daughter of Claudia Schiffer and Matthew Vaughn. She was born on May 14, 2010. Older siblings include Caspar who’s 7 and Clementine who’s 5 ½. Apparently they’re going with the “C” initial theme from mom Claudia’s name. I’ve always wondered how the parent who doesn’t share the initial feels. Any thoughts?

 

Sibset: If I were grading this sibset match, I’d give it an A. Caspar, Clementine and Cosima make a great sibset because the names are a good style match. They all have an antique, classic, yet quirky feel.

 

 

 

COSIMA #2

The second Cosima is the daughter of Sofia Coppola and Thomas Mars. The report I read didn’t give a birth date, but baby Cosima was apparently born in June. The couple have another daughter named Romy who’s 3 ½.

 

Here’s my question. What’s the baby’s last name? Is she Cosima Mars? If so, that’s a very astro-friendly name! Maybe she’s Cosima Coppola – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I really like alliteration. I know not everyone does though. Either way, this is a unique name.

 

Sibset: This is an interesting sibset because the names aren’t really a style match. They’re both a little quirky, so that fits, but Cosima is quite feminine while Romy is a unisex name. What do you think of that?

 

 

SOURCE: US (Cosima #1) and People (Cosima #2)

 

 

IT’S YOUR TURN…

What do you think of the name Cosima?

 

 

 

 

Happy naming,

  Amanda

 

 

WANT MORE BABY NAME INFO?

●Join the free BABY NAMES MADE EASY newsletter list for the latest baby name news and tips from my website

●Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss any future baby name posts

 

 

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF BABY NAMES MADE EASY

Amazon

Kindle

Barnes & Noble

Borders

Indie Bound

 

 

HAVE BABY NAME QUESTIONS?

If you have baby name questions, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com.

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

 

 

DO YOU TWEET?

Follow me on TWITTER to get up-to-the-minute celebrity baby name news, interesting names I come across and so much more! I’m @babynameauthor!

 

 

For more information on baby names and their meanings get your copy of

BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES

 

 

 

 

 

 

The World Cup of Names: International Options for Baby Namers

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More and more parents are choosing International names for their children. Sporting events like the World Cup give us an opportunity to see a bunch of those names in action.

 

Here’s a sampler of some of the names you might want to consider (and a few you probably shouldn’t) along with the county the player represents:

 

COOL NAMES

DARIO Vidosic (Australia)

SERGIO Romero (Argentina)

GUY Ndy (Cameroon)

RODRIGO Millar (Chile)

KOLO Toure (Ivory Coast)

HUGO Lloris (France)

NIKOS Spiropoulos (Greece)

KEIJI Tamada (Japan)

RAFAEL Marquez (Mexico)

DIRK Kuyt (Netherlands)

DEMY de Zeeuw (Netherlands)

TAYE Taiwo (Nigeria)

ROQUE Santa Cruz (Paraguay)

BRUNO Alves (Portugal)

ERIK Jendrisek (Slovakia)

MARKO Suler (Slovenia)

 

VINTAGE NAMES

LIONEL Messi (Argentina)

SEBASTIAN Bassong (Cameroon)

ISMAEL Fuentes (Chile)

HUMBERTO Suazo (Chile)

FABIAN Orellana (Chile)

EMMANUEL Eboue (Ivory Coast)

JESPER Christiansen (Denmark)

EMILE Heskey (England)

GARETH Barry (England)

FLORENT Malouda (France)

CEDRIC Carasso (France)

JEROME Boateng (Germany)

IBRAHIM Ayew (Ghana)

OSCAR Garcia (Honduras)

EDGAR Alvarez (Honduras)

DOMENICO Criscito (Italy)

EFRAIN Juarez (Mexico)

ISRAEL Castro (Mexico)

NIGEL de Jong (Netherlands)

RODOLFO Gamarra (Paraguay)

GERARD Pique (Spain)

IGNACIO Gonzalez (Uruguay)

 

TRADITIONAL NAMES

MICHAEL Beauchamp (Australia)

MARTIN Jorgensen (Denmark)

JAMES Milner (England)

ROBERT Green (England)

PHILIPP Lahm (Germany)

JONATHAN Mensah (Ghana)

ALBERTO Gilardino (Italy)

GREGORY van der Wiel (Netherlands)

VLADIMIR Stojkovic (Serbia)

BERNARD Parker (South Africa)

STEVEN Pienaar (South Africa)

FERNANDO Llorente (Spain)

BENJAMIN Huggel (Switzerland)

WALTER Gargano (Uruguay)

STUART Holden (USA)

CLARENCE Goodson (USA)

 

HARD TO PRONOUNCE NAMES

DIDIER Zokora (Ivory Coast)

DJIBRIL Cisse (France)

MESUT Oezil (France)

PIOTR Trochowski (Germany)

KWADWO Asamoah (Ghana)

GIOURKAS Seitaridis (Greece)

CUAUHTEMOC Blanco (Mexico)

ZDRAVKO Kuzmanovic (Serbia)

NEJC Pecnik (Slovenia)

SIPHIWE Tshabalala (South Africa)

CESC Fabregas (Spain)

 

UNISEX NAMES

ARIEL Garce (Argentina)

JEAN Beausejour (Chile)

ASHLEY Cole (England)

SIDNEY Govou (France)

PATRICE Evra (France)

MORGAN de Sanctis (Italy)

SIMONE Pepe (Italy)

ROBIN van Persie (Netherlands)

JASMIN Handanovic (Slovenia)

JOAN Capdevila (Spain)

 

NICKNAME NAMES

MAXI Rodriquez (Argentina)

TONI Kroos (Germany)

SAMI Khedira (Germany)

SULLEY Muntari (Ghana)

GEORGIE Welcome (Honduras)

JONNY Magallon (Mexico)

TIAGO (Portugal)

PEPE Reina (Spain)

JOZY Altidore (USA)

ROBBIE Findlay (USA)

 

UNIQUE NAMES

GONZALO Higuain (Argentina)

THIAGO Silva (Brazil)

AURELIEN Chedjou (Cameroon)

GAETAN Bong (Cameroon)

YAYA Toure (Ivory Coast)

LEDLEY King (England)

ARNE Friedrich (Germany)

HOLGER Badstuber (Germany)

ASAMOAH Gyan (Ghana)

PRINCE Tagoe (Ghana)

VANGELIS Moras (Greece)

ATHANASIOS Prittas (Greece)

GIANLUIGI Buffon (Italy)

JUSTO Villar (Paraguay)

DRAGAN Mrdja (Serbia)

KORNEL Salata (Slovakia)

ELVEDIN Dzinic (Slovenia)

BRANKO Ilic (Slovenia)

SURPRISE Moriri (South Africa)

TRANQUILLO Barnetta (Switzerland)

EDINSON Cavani (Uruguay)

DaMARCUS Beasley (USA)

HERCULEZ Gomez (USA)

 

STYLISH NAMES

MIKKEL Beckmann (Denmark)

BASTIAN Schweinsteiger (Germany)

CHRISTOS Patsatzoglou (Greece)

LEONARDO Bonucci (Italy)

CRISTIANO Ronaldo (Portugal)

NIKOLA Zigic (Serbia)

MAXIMILIANO Pereira (Uruguay)

 

DOUBLE NAMES

ANDRE PIERRE Gignac (France)

JULIO CESAR Caceres (Paraguay)

JUAN MANUEL Mata (Spain)

 

MODERN NAMES

LANDRY Nguemo (Cameroon)

LEE Addy (Ghana)

HENDRY Thomas (Honduras)

WESLEY Sneijder (Netherlands)

RORY Fallon (New Zealand)

CLINT Dempsey (USA)

 

POPULAR NAMES

NICKLAS Bendtner (Denmark)

LUKAS Podolski (Germany)

ISAAC Vorsah (Ghana)

DOMINIC Adiyiah (Ghana)

GIOVANI dos Santos (Mexico)

RYAN Babel (Netherlands)

LEO Bertos (New Zealand)

AUSTIN Eijde (Nigeria)

LANDON Donovan (USA)

 

SURNAME NAMES

WILSON Palacios (Honduras)

WINSTON (New Zealand)

DICKSON Etuhu (Nigeria)

BROWN Ideye (Nigeria)

NELSON Valdez (Paraguay)

MacBETH Sibaya (South Africa)

GELSON Fernandes (Switzerland)

 

SOURCE: www.fifa.com

 

The most surprising name? Obviously Surprise Moriri. My favorite name though is MacBeth Sibaya. I’m not sure why, but I think it’s quite cool. I’m not recommending it for your baby, but as a name nerd, I love it.

 

What are your favorites?

 

Happy naming,

  Amanda

 

 

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