A New Baby Naming Tradition

A lot of parents-to-be I’ve spoken with have told me that they don’t want to follow the tradition of naming their first born son after dad. A few say it’s because they’re not crazy about dad’s name (I’m not sure if the dads know this or not), but most say they don’t like the tradition because they want their son to have a name that’s all his own. No more of this 00289917 living in dad’s shadow – or even great, great granddad’s shadow.

Sounds like a plan. The trouble is that a lot of these parents really love the idea of carrying on a family name tradition. Quite a quandary.

Here’s a baby naming tip from a dad I met at a baby fair a couple months ago. Since most of my interactions are with moms, it’s always a treat to hear from the dads. And this dad had some great advice…Instead of using the same first name, he told me that in his family, the fathers and sons share the same monogram—CMC. He said it’s great because everyone has a unique name, but they also share a cool family connection. I thought this was great advice!

Ditch Junior or Keep Him?

What do you think about Juniors? Is it a great tradition or outdated? You can email me or leave a comment. When you leave your first comment, you’ll need to take a couple seconds to “register.” It’s a way to prevent spammers from clogging up comment sections with off-topic advertisements. Once you do register though, you won’t have to worry about it again and can leave all the comments you want.

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

Hot Baby Name Alert: JAMESON

Published

Amanda Barden

on December 14, 2010

in Hot Baby Name Alert

. 1 Comment

SOON-TO-BE HOT BABY NAME

I wouldn’t call Jameson a hot baby name yet. It ranked #319 in 2009. It’s been on the rise for the last several years though, so watch for it in the future.

Photo Credit: Joe Shlabotnik

Jameson might be getting a celebrity boost, too. Pink recently announced that if she has a boy, she’s naming him Jameson. She said it’s a mix between her dad’s name, James, and her brother’s name, Jason. Jason is also hubby, Carey Hart’s, middle name. Pink also that said she and Carey like whiskey… If it turns out that Pink has a girl, they’ll have to put this name on the backburner.

You can read the whole story at people.com.

THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN?

You can email me or leave a comment. When you leave your first comment, you’ll need to take a couple seconds to “register.” It’s a way to prevent spammers from clogging up comment sections with off-topic advertisements. Once you do register though, you won’t have to worry about it again and can leave all the comments you want.

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

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5 Reason Why the Name Orion Should be More Popular

Published

Amanda Barden

on December 10, 2010

in Baby Name Conversation, Baby Name Suggestions & Lists and Celebrity Baby Names

. 5 Comments

I Love the Name Orion

I’ve always loved the name Orion and am constantly surprised that it isn’t more popular. I’ll admit that the cool kid in my elementary school named Orion may have colored my view of the name initially, but that was years ago…I have 5 timely reasons why more parents should consider the name:

723px-orion_constellation_hevelius

1. Orion has never been a trendy baby name

Parents I talk to are often looking for a name with that perfect balance of familiar, but not too common. Orion fits the bill. Everyone’s heard the name, but not everyone knows an Orion. In fact, the highest Orion has ever ranked on the Social Security charts is in the 500s.

2. Orion is similar to a longtime favorite, but with a twist

The name Ryan has been popular for ages. Orion has a very similar sound, but is a dash more interesting because it’s more unique. That’s saying a lot coming from me because Ryan has always been one of my favorite names—but it’s been the favorite of a lot of other people, too, which is why it might be time to give Orion a chance.

3. Orion has that cool “O” initial

Parents love names with cool initials. “J” and “A” are among the most popular initials these days, but a lot of cool names start with “O,” too. Granted, nowhere near as many names as either “J” or “A,” but there are a few popular ones – Olivia, Owen, Oliver, Oscar, Orlando and Olive. I really think Orion should be on that list.

4. Orion has a cool history

I love that Orion is the name of a popular constellation. Even if you’re not an astronomy buff, this is pretty cool. Plus, it’s one of the few constellations that most people can identify on sight. Names with cool histories are interesting.

5. Mr. Big named his son Orion

In 2009, Chris Noth used Orion for his son. Like it or not, there’s nothing like a celebrity endorsement to add some swagger to a name.

So why isn’t the name Orion more popular? You tell me.

What do you think about Orion?

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

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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!

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Quirky Baby Names

Published

Amanda Barden

on December 8, 2010

in Baby Name Suggestions & Lists

. 0 Comments

Stepping Outside the Baby Name Box

I was at the dentist the other day and one of the people scheduled after me was named Pepper. Pepper! I’m a name collector (obviously) so I absolutely love to come across real life quirky names like Pepper.

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Curious names like Pepper certainly aren’t for everyone and I could come up with a long list of why off-beat names can pose a problem for kids. But that’s not what this blog post is about. This post is a celebration of unusual names! Plus, some people really love them. What’s more, some people really pull them off well. It might be a chicken and the egg thing. Regardless, I think they’re worth some serious consideration (at least every now and then).

I didn’t get a chance to learn the story behind Pepper’s name, but I do have a good name story for you. At a book signing not long ago, a couple told me they had the name Pippi picked out. As in Pippi Longstocking. It turns out that Pippi Longstocking was a childhood hero of one of the parents and when they needed a name for a daughter, Pippi was it. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’d venture to guess that some people will think it’s cute and fun. Plus, she’ll be the only Pippi in her class.

Quirky Baby Names

Here’s a list of some truly quirky baby names:

GIRLS’ BABY NAMES

BABY

BEAUTY

BIRD / BIRDIE

CRICKET

CUPCAKE

DOLLY

FLICKA

KITTY

MERRY

PEPPER

PIPPI

BOYS’ BABY NAMES

BEAR

BUDDY

BUSTER

FOX

HAPPY

JUNIOR

LUCKY

SCORPIO

I have no idea why so many of these names start with the letter B…

What’s Your Favorite Unusual Baby Name?

I would love to collect a few more unique names. Email me your stories or leave a comment. When you leave your first comment, you’ll need to take a couple seconds to “register.” It’s a way to prevent spammers from clogging up comment sections with off-topic advertisements. Once you do register though, you won’t have to worry about it again and can leave all the comments you want J

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF BABY NAMES MADE EASY

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

Check out my Etsy Shop

Cool Kids Go By Nate…?

Published

Amanda Barden

on December 1, 2010

in Baby Name Conversation and My Life

. 9 Comments

Two Friends Disagree on Baby Names

Over the holiday weekend, I was hanging out with a friend and the merits of the name Nathaniel came up. I said I thought it was a cute name and my friend said she didn’t like it. She liked the names Nate or Nathan, but thought Nathaniel was too stuffy. We discussed whether someone who insisted on being called Nathaniel instead of Nate was 42-15495160 taking himself too seriously. I didn’t think so, but my friend thought maybe he was.

In reflection, I see her point. Nathaniel is certainly more formal than Nate. Nate is easy. It rolls off the tongue. Nathaniel is a bit of a mouthful. Plus, Nate is a perfectly cute name. However, I think there are a lot of good reasons to prefer going by a full name instead of a nickname. Maybe you know a bunch of other Nates and using Nathaniel sets you apart. Maybe you really like being formal. Maybe a distinguished name suits your career—Nathaniel would certainly look nice on a business card. I know plenty of people with commonly nicknamed names who prefer to go by the full name—Katherine, Elizabeth, Benjamin instead of Liz, Kate or Ben.

There’s no right answer here, of course, but discussing the merits of particular baby names is always fun. And the debate still rages…when I texted my friend to let her know that our conversation was making my blog, she responded with, “Remember, cool kids go by Nate.”

WARNING: Consider this fair warning to all my family and friends – if you engage me in a baby name debate, it might end up in my blog J I got permission to use the quote though.

Do You Like Formal Names or Casual Names?

Do you prefer to go by a full name instead of a nickname? Are you looking for baby names with cute nicknames? Maybe you’re even bypassing the full name and using the nickname as the given name, like Beth or Charlie. Tell me all about it. You can email me or leave a comment. When you leave your first comment, you’ll need to take a couple seconds to “register.” It’s a way to prevent spammers from clogging up comment sections with off-topic advertisements. Once you do register though, you won’t have to worry about it again and can leave all the comments you want.

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF BABY NAMES MADE EASY

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

Announcing My New Etsy Shop: LetterLuxe

Published

Amanda Barden

on November 30, 2010

in Baby Name Craft Project and Website Announcements

. 0 Comments

Love of Names + Love of Crafts = LetterLuxe

I’ve opened the virtual doors on my new Etsy store, LetterLuxe. I make custom-designed wooden letter sets. You can get a letter set that spells out your baby’s name, an inspirational word, a monogram—anything you’d like! Here are some of my designs:

The Lullaby Theme

The Rainbow Theme

The Hot Cocoa Theme

No-Fuss Hanging

As you can see in the photos, the letters stand easily on their own. They’re also easy to hang on walls. They have a hanging device built into the back that makes them easy to hang onto a wall.

Custom Themes

I love to create custom themes. A mom contacted me because she wanted a letter set to match the Lambs & Ivy nursery collection she’d picked out. It was a safari sports theme and I had a good time picking out the decorations. The final creation was adorable:

The Safari Sports Theme

Another customer wanted the word LOVE in pink and brown glitter for her wedding reception.

The Glitter Theme

Holiday Décor

I’ve also been working on some holiday decorations. These letters look especially nice on mantles.

The Classic Christmas Theme

The Winter Wonderland Theme

See more of my letter sets at my LetterLuxe shop.

Pricing

4 ¾” letters are $8.00/letter

9” letters are $11.00/letter

How to Order

Go to my LetterLuxe shop and purchase the Letter Set with the number of letters you want. During checkout, tell me the letters and theme you want in the Message to Seller section. If you’re looking for something you don’t see, just ask me. Almost anything can be customized! Pink poodles, airplanes, dinosaurs, green plaid, you name it J

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF BABY NAMES MADE EASY

A Riddle from Zachary Levi

Published

Amanda Barden

on November 29, 2010

in Twitter Baby Names

. 0 Comments

Twitter Riddle

Who doesn’t love riddles? Truth be told, I’m not usually very good at figuring them out. What’s black and blue and red all over? I have no idea.

When I read this tweet by Zachary Levi (star of Chuck, one of my fave shows—he also has a fabulous name), I knew I had to save it and share it with you. I might not be great at riddles, but I do love all-things names.

RIDDLE:

RT @mattyms: @ZacharyLevi Brain Teaser. What is something you own, but other people use it more than you do.

ANSWER:

@ZacharyLevi: Your name.

OriginalMessage:

http://twitter.com/ZacharyLevi/status/6473440676552704

PUNCHLINE?

Know any other name jokes? You can email me or leave a comment. When you leave your first comment, you’ll need to take a couple seconds to “register.” It’s a way to prevent spammers from clogging up comment sections with off-topic advertisements. Once you do register though, you won’t have to worry about it again and can leave all the comments you want.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER

If you’re on Twitter, follow me J @babynameauthor

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF BABY NAMES MADE EASY

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 Name Consultation Service Up & Running

Published

Amanda Barden

on November 10, 2010

in Website Announcements

. 0 Comments

Expert Baby Name Advice is at Your Fingertips

Baby naming just got even easier. My baby name consultation service is now up and running.

What I hear over and over from parents-to-be is that choosing a baby name is the hardest part of having a baby. Expert, unbiased advice is just a phone call away. Thirty minute phone consultations are just $50. We can talk about the names on your list or you can get name ideas from me based on the criteria that are important to you.

How does it work? It’s easy:

1. Go to http://www.amandabarden.com/advice

2. Pay for the consultation through PayPal

3. Return the Baby Name Questionnaire I email you

4. Give me three dates and times you’re available to talk by phone

The perfect name is out there! Email me with any questions at amanda@amandabarden.com

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

Nap Your Way to a Better Baby Name

Published

Amanda Barden

on November 9, 2010

in Baby Naming Tips

. 0 Comments

BABY NAMING TROUBLE? SLEEP ON IT

The Brits know a thing or two about choosing stylish baby names. Now they’re sharing some good baby naming advice…Sleep on it! New research out of the UK shows that when people are faced with a tough choice, the ones who put the problem aside and even sleep on it before making a final decision, do the best job. 10221050

Okay, so the research wasn’t about baby naming precisely, but I think it applies. The people in the study were asked to choose the best of four cars based on a variety of pros and cons. The ones who made quick decisions chose worse cars than the ones who put the decision off until the next day. Researchers chalked this up to the subconscious having an opportunity to weigh in and sort out the pros and cons while the decision-maker slept.

There are a lot of parallels between these car choosers and baby namers. Parent after parent I talk to says that choosing a name is the hardest part of having a baby because there are so many factors to consider – Does the name have a good meaning? Does it flow with the last name? Does it fit into family traditions? …just to name a few!

So, what’s my advice to stressed out parents going to be from now on? Take a nap! You can read about the study for yourself here.

This research has another benefit for me – in the future, when I’m busy working and feel the need for a Starbucks break, I won’t feel bad about taking the time – I need to let my subconscious weigh in in order to improve my decision making capability. This research could be dangerous. J

COMMENTS

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

The Facebook Fan Page is Up and Running

Published

Amanda Barden

on November 8, 2010

in Website Announcements

. 0 Comments

BABY NAMES + FACEBOOK = FUN

The Facebook fan page is now up and running. You can easily get my baby naming updates, share them with your friends and get in on the conversation.

Find the fun here.

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

Archive

Baby Name Advice from a Dad

A New Baby Naming Tradition

Ditch Junior or Keep Him?

Hot Baby Name Alert: JAMESON

SOON-TO-BE HOT BABY NAME

THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN?

5 Reason Why the Name Orion Should be More Popular

I Love the Name Orion

What do you think about Orion?

Quirky Baby Names

Stepping Outside the Baby Name Box

Quirky Baby Names

GIRLS’ BABY NAMES

BOYS’ BABY NAMES

What’s Your Favorite Unusual Baby Name?

Cool Kids Go By Nate…?

Two Friends Disagree on Baby Names

Do You Like Formal Names or Casual Names?

Announcing My New Etsy Shop: LetterLuxe

Love of Names + Love of Crafts = LetterLuxe

No-Fuss Hanging

Custom Themes

Holiday Décor

Pricing

How to Order

A Riddle from Zachary Levi

Twitter Riddle

PUNCHLINE?

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER

Baby Name Consultation Service Up & Running

Expert Baby Name Advice is at Your Fingertips

Nap Your Way to a Better Baby Name

BABY NAMING TROUBLE? SLEEP ON IT

COMMENTS

The Facebook Fan Page is Up and Running

BABY NAMES + FACEBOOK = FUN