Archive for the 'Baby Naming Tips' Category

ASK AMANDA: Baby Names that Mean “Miracle”

Published
by
Amanda Barden
on June 19, 2009
in Ask Amanda, Baby Name Suggestions & Lists and Baby Naming Tips
. 1 Comment

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I think a lot of parents-to-be will identify with this week’s Ask Amanda question…

 

Ask Amanda

Q:    I want the definition of the baby name I choose to be really meaningful. I’d like to find a girls’ name that means “miracle.” Do you know of any?

 

A:    There are definitely a few names out there that mean “miracle,” but not a lot. Baby Names Made Easy is organized by what the names mean, so it’s easy to find names with specific definitions. Here are a couple options:

 

HARIKA — Turkish name meaning “miracle”

 

MILAGROS — Filipino name meaning “miracles”

 

 

If neither of these work for you, consider MIRACLE itself. It ranks as the 484th most popular name for girls in 2008, according to Social Security. This means that other people are using it, but it’s not overly common. If MIRACLE is too off-beat as a first name for you, it might be a middle name contender.

 

 

Another option is using a name with a similar meaning to “miracle.” This opens up your choices quite a bit. Here are a few ideas from the Religion & Faith chapter:

 

DOROTHY — English name meaning “God’s gift.” There are tons of interesting variations for this name, like DOROTHEA, DORA, DORALICE, DOLLY, THEA and THEADORA.

 

NATANIA — Hebrew name meaning “given by God.” This is the female version of Nathan.

 

OHANNA — Hebrew name meaning “God’s gift”

 

THEODOSIA — Greek name meaning “giving God”

 

 

There’s also an entire chapter full of names with meanings related to Blessings & Gifts. Some names with meanings you might like are:

 

 

BEATRIX — Latin name meaning “blessed, bringer of joy”

 

DIARRA — African name meaning “gift”

 

ERI — Japanese name meaning “blessed reward”

 

EUDORA — Greek name meaning “good gift”

 

HALLA — African name meaning “surprise gift”

 

MITSUKO — Japanese name meaning “child full of blessings”

NILLA — African name meaning “blessing”

 

 

I hope this gives you some ideas for how to find names with specific meanings—and how to be creative when you’re not finding exactly what you want.

 

Good luck finding a name you love with a meaning you love, too!

 

 

Happy naming,

 

♥  Amanda

 

If you have baby name questions for me, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com. Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

 

 

 

For more information on baby names and their meanings check out

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

 

 

 

 

24 Ways to Name Your Baby After Your Relative Without Naming Your Baby After Your Relative

Published
by
Amanda Barden
on June 16, 2009
in Baby Name Suggestions & Lists, Baby Naming Tips, Celebrity Names, Holiday Baby Names and International Baby Names
. 0 Comments

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You love your Aunt Dorcas and your Grandpa Egbert more than words can say. Unfortunately, their names don’t resonate well to our modern ears. So how do you pay tribute to your favorite relative without using his or her name for your new baby?

 

Here are 24 creative alternatives that will help you choose a name you love in honor of a relative you love:

 

 

1.       FAVORITE FLOWER: Do you always bring your relative a bouquet of flowers when you visit because they’re her favorite? If so, her favorite flower might make a perfect name. Stylish examples include:

 

DAISY, LILY, ROSE

 

 

2.       NAME WITH THE SAME MEANING: Choose a name with the same meaning as your relative’s name. Dorcas means “gazelle” and so does:

 

AYELET, TABITHA, ZEVI

 

 

3.       PLACE WHERE RELATIVE GREW UP: Does your relative have ties to a particular spot on the map? If so, maybe you can turn it into a great name. Consider examples like:

 

CAROLINA, IRELAND, SIENA

 

 

4.       FAVORITE ACTOR/ACTRESS: If your favorite relative has a favorite actor or actress with a name you like, it might work for your baby. These examples have first and last names you could consider:

 

JAMES DEAN, CLARK GABLE, VIVIAN LEIGH

 

 

5.       FAVORITE GEM: If your relative loves a particular precious stone, it might make for a beautiful name. There are a lot of pretty options from this category, including:

 

JADE, OPAL, RUBY

 

 

6.       RELATIVE’S TALENT: Is your relative famous for a particular talent? If so, it could provide you with some name inspiration. For example, if your relative is a wonderful cook known for a particular dish, you might find a name with a related meaning, such as:  

 

Cherry pie: CERISE

Strawberry jam: FRASER

Apricot jam: MORELA

Apple pie: MILOS

 

 

7.       FAVORITE COLOR: Does your relative have a favorite color? If so, you’re in luck because there are some charming color-names, including:

 

INDIGO, SCARLETT, VIOLET

 

 

8.       FAVORITE HOBBY: Is your relative known for a particular hobby? Hobbies can make for interesting and off-beat names, like:

 

FISHER, PAINTER, POET

 

 

9.       FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: Does your relative have a favorite vacation spot? There are a lot of names that have great “location” meanings, including:

 

KAI — “sea”

NEVE— “snow”

RIA — “small river”

 

 

10.   FAVORITE ARTIST: Does your relative have a favorite artist? Consider options like:  

 

GEORGIA O’Keeffe, HENRI Matisse, VINCENT van Gogh

 

 

11.   MONTH RELATIVE WAS BORN: Some months make great names. Maybe the month your favorite relative was born is one of them:

 

APRIL, JUNE, MARCH

 

 

12.   OCCUPATION: What does your favorite relative do for a living? Maybe your child could follow in his or her footsteps. There are many names that have occupation meanings, such as:

 

ASA — “physician”

BAXTER — “baker”

MARINO — “sailor”

 

 

13.   FAVORITE ANIMAL: There are tons of great names with “animal” meanings. For example, if your relative is a birdwatcher, in addition to obvious choices like LARK and ROBIN, there are names like:

 

MARLON — “little hawk”

MERLE — “blackbird”

TORI — “bird”

 

 

14.   FAVORITE HOLIDAY: Your relative’s favorite holiday might make for a unique name. Consider names like:

 

EASTER, NOELLE, VALENTINE

 

 

15.   NAME FROM RELATIVE’S CULTURAL BACKGROUND: Honor your relative’s cultural background (and yours, too) by choosing a name from that culture. For example, if your family has Russian roots, you could consider names like:

 

LILIA, NATALIA, PAVEL

 

 

16.   FAVORITE SEASON: Similar to months, seasons make great names, too. Consider:

 

AUTUMN, SUMMER, WINTER

 

 

17.   FAVORITE SINGER: If your relative has a favorite singer, he or she might have a name you’d like. Some names that would work are (consider first and last names):

 

DEAN MARTIN, ETTA JAMES, JOHNNY CASH

 

 

18.   FAVORITE RELIGIOUS FIGURE: Does your relative have a special connection to a particular religious figure? If your relative is Catholic, some good saint name options are:

 

CELIA, JUDE, PAUL

 

 

19.   PATRIOTIC NAMES FOR VETERANS: If your relative is a veteran, there are several patriotic name choices you can consider, including:

 

QUINN — “leader”

SHAMARA — “battle ready”

WYATT — “strength in battle”

 

 

20.   COMMON TRAIT: Does your relative share a common trait with your new baby (or do you think they will)? Interesting options include:

 

CALLIOPE — “beautiful voice”

CASSIDY — “with curly hair”

ROWAN — “redhead”

 

 

21.   QUALITY YOU’D LIKE YOUR BABY TO INHERIT: You love your favorite relative for a reason and would probably love to see your baby inherit his or her great qualities. What do you love most?

 

CHARITY, FAITH, HOPE

 

 

22.   FAVORITE CHARACTER: What about your relative’s favorite fictional character? If your relative is a Jane Austen fan, you might like:

 

DARCY, ELLIOT, ELIZABETH, EMMA

 

 

23.   FAMILY RELATIONSHIP: Consider naming your baby after the relationship he or she shares with your favorite relative. For example:  

 

OLA — “ancestor”

TIA — “aunt”

ZAIDA — “grandfather”

 

 

24.   FAVORITE CAUSE: Is there a particular cause close to your relative’s heart? If world peace is your relative’s greatest wish, consider names with “peaceful” meanings, like:

 

FREDA, GARETH, HARMONY

 

 

This is a long list of baby name ideas for you to consider, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. You can get as creative as you want while looking for ways to honor your relatives.

 

Do you have good suggestions for other readers? Post a comment and share your idea!  

 

♥  Amanda

 

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

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

 

 

For more information on baby names and their meanings check out

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

 

 

 

What do you do When Mom & Dad Disagree Over Baby Names?

Published
by
Amanda Barden
on May 27, 2009
in Baby Naming Tips
. 0 Comments

It’s no surprise that mom and dad won’t always agree on everything, no two people could. But what do you do when you can’t agree on a name for your baby?

Here are three ideas for how mom and dad can get on the same page about baby names:

1) MAKE TWO LISTS OF NAMES: Mom and dad should separately make a list of names they like — pick your top 10 to 15 names. Then compare lists — if you have something in common, great. If not, be open to the other’s picks and try not to veto anything right away. Try using combinations from each person’s list for first and middle names. Maybe a combination will work as a compromise. If dad likes Archer and mom likes David, then Archer David or David Archer might be the right name for you.

2) DITCH THE NAMES & FOCUS ON MEANING: If you can’t agree on a name, agree on a name meaning. Then go through the names that fit your definition and start your list over together with names that are meaningful for both of you.

3) FAMILY TREE: Pull out your family trees and look for names that show up on both. You might not have come up with the name on your own, but seeing the family history may convince you to change your mind.

These are just a few ideas for how you can handle those sticky name disagreements. Put them to the test and see what happens. I’m sure you will be able to come up with a name that you both love!

♥ Amanda

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

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask 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
by
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

 

 

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
by
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:

 

  1. Justin Case
  2. Penelope Inez Garcia
  3. Daphne Velma Jones
  4. Isaiah Penn Daly
  5. Ian Kent Reid
  6. Renee Isabella Parker
  7. 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:

 

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