Tag Archive for 'baby naming tips'

Nap Your Way to a Better Baby Name

Published

on November 9, 2010

. 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

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

3 Tips for Taking the Stress Out of Baby Naming

Published

Amanda Barden

on October 12, 2010

in Baby Naming Tips

. 0 Comments

BANISH STRESS

Believe me, I know how important names are. I spent so much time thinking about names that I decided to write a book about them. That said, I’ve heard from a lot of stressed out soon-to-be-parents – and even some parents who regretted their name choices months after their babies were born. Yikes!

Pregnant woman

With all these tense vibes floating around, I thought it was time to inject some perspective into the baby naming process. Here are three tips on how to take the stress out of baby naming:

1. NAMES ARE IMPORTANT, BUT NOT THAT IMPORTANT

Will your daughter’s future be irrevocably damaged if you name her Charlotte instead of Caroline? Probably not. Remember, there are tons of terrific names out there. Let go of the idea that you have to find ‘THE ONE’ perfect name. Once you accept that there are several great names that would be equally fantastic, your stress level should shrink.

2. REMEMBER, YOU’RE NOT ALONE

If you’re having trouble deciding on a name, turn to other people for help. Ask family, friends and even strangers what they think. I actually think strangers might be the best sounding board because they’ll give you unbiased opinions and are unlikely to have hidden agendas. Plus, if you don’t like their ideas, who cares? You’ll never see them again anyhow. So the next time you’re on the bus, ask your seatmate what she thinks. You can also email me J

3. YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO PROCRASTINATE

It takes nine months to have a baby. Nine long months. Some days you may think that’s a bad thing, but when it comes to baby naming, it’s a luxury. If you’re stressed because you can’t make a decision, put it aside for a day, a week or even a month. You have the gift of time. Procrastinate freely!

CAVEAT: Don’t want to wait until the very last minute. When the hospital staff starts coming into your room every hour to ask what name you’ve chosen, you may start feeling pressured to make a quick decision. Already having an idea of what name you want to choose will prevent you from making a choice you’ll regret later.

YOUR HEALTHY TIPS

Leave a comment and let other readers know your tips for keeping a healthy perspective while choosing a name. 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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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!

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

Baby Naming Tip from Amanda Peet

Published

Amanda Barden

on July 6, 2010

in Baby Naming Tips, Celebrity Baby Names and Celebrity Birth

. 0 Comments

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

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: Can you suggest some baby names?

Published

Amanda Barden

on April 8, 2010

in Ask Amanda, Baby Name Suggestions & Lists, Baby Naming Tips and Twitter Baby Names

. 1 Comment

Welcome to ASK AMANDA. I have a question from a Twitter follower. Have you found me on Twitter yet?

Ask Amanda

Q: First of all, thanks for the response to my naming inquiry on Twitter (I’m @busylilmonkey).

Secondly, if you have any others to throw into the mix, I’d love to hear them (my husband and I have the hardest time choosing names). I do love Caroline but somehow my husband isn’t as thrilled (plus I have a close friend named Caroline). I also like Maeve because it’s different yet not totally weird; but do you think people would know how to pronounce it or often spell it incorrectly?

My first daughter’s name is Arden, so aiming for something along that vein (not common but not weird). Our last name starts with “B,” but I’m not a big fan of alliteration in names in general, so I’m avoiding B names.

Thanks for any help in advance! AMBER, Marietta, GA

A: Thanks for writing to me. I’m glad you liked my Twitter suggestions.

For everyone’s reference, here’s the tweet in question:

ELODIE MAEVE CAROLINE For more http://ow.ly/1mIPpF Good luck! RT @busylilmonkey: still struggling with baby girl names. Any suggestions?

If you like Caroline, but your husband’s not crazy about it, consider Carolina instead. It’s similar to Caroline, of course, but has a more feminine flair to it. Carolina also sounds a little more unique because it hasn’t been as common as Caroline over the years.

Maeve…will people know how to pronounce and spell it? That’s a good question. I suspect your instincts are correct here and that some people will not. Of course, you run into the same spelling problem with a very familiar name like Caroline. Some people will guess Caroline and others will guess Carolyn.

If you’re still looking for more names, here are ten more baby names to consider that have a similar style to your first daughter’s name, Arden – I left out all “B” options, as requested!

GIRLS’ BABY NAMES

ANNABELLE

DAPHNE

GENEVA

OLIVE

PEYTON

PIPER

RAMONA

SAVANNAH

SYDNEY

WILLA

Calling all readers! Do you have any other baby name suggestions for Amber?

Good luck! Please let me know what name you end up choosing.

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

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!

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

ASK AMANDA: Mom and Dad Disagree on Name for Son

Published

Amanda Barden

on November 6, 2009

in Ask Amanda

. 2 Comments

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Welcome back to ASK AMANDA. Today I’m answering a question for a soon-to-be mom (for the third time) in Canada!

Ask Amanda

Q: I am pregnant with a boy and due in 4-5 weeks…….HELP PLEASE!! I already have two kids and have named them Marcus and Marina. My husband is Italian and we are not agreeing on any names. Our daughter was born and nameless for days because we didn’t agree!! I do not want to repeat this. Our name choice does not have to be an Italian or start with the letter “M,” but I do want it to sound OK when mentioning my other kids names. I tend to prefer short names that are not tongue twisters. I like Darius, Xavier, Jordon, Sidney, Daniel. My husband says NO to all of them. His list is Leonardo (over my dead body!), Alexis, Roman.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. BONNIE, Montreal, Canada

A: Thanks for writing, Bonnie. I understand why you don’t want a repeat of the “nameless baby” saga you went through with your daughter. Sounds stressful!

Since you and your husband aren’t agreeing on any of the names either of you have come up with so far, I think going back to the drawing board is a good idea. It’s important that you both love the name you choose.

So what’s my advice? Stop looking for baby names and start looking for common ground. I studied the names you told me you both liked and the names you picked for your first two children. Here’s the common ground I see so far:

1. You chose names with Latin origins for your first two children — Marcus and Marina. Maybe you can agree to choose a name with a Latin origin for this baby, too. This is nice because it creates a connection between all their names without being too matchy-matchy.

2. For your first two children you chose a masculine name for your son and a feminine name for your daughter. Maybe you can agree to cross unisex names off your list. That way all your children’s names will have the same “style,” which you said is important to you.

3. You told me that you like short names and all your picks have six letters. Two of your husband’s three choices have six or fewer letters, too. It looks like you can also agree to cross names with more than six letters off your list.

Once you agree on some parameters, then you can make a list of names that match your agreed terms.

Here’s a list of names that meet the three criteria above — they have Latin roots, they’re masculine (you said you’re having a boy) and they’re six letters or less:

BARNEY

CASH

DRAKE

FELIX

GUS

JUSTIN

LUCAS

LUCIUS

MILES

MILO

OLIVER

REX

SILAS

TYRONE

VICTOR

VITO

This isn’t an exhaustive list, so if none of these work for you, you can find other names that fall within these three parameters.

If you still can’t find a name, start looking for other things you agree on. For example, the meaning of the name or the letter the name will start with. Any place you have common ground is an opportunity to gather new ideas and cross others off the list.

I hope this helps! Thanks for writing me. I’m sure you’ll find a name you both love. It says a lot that you’re working so hard to choose a name you both agree on — your son will appreciate that someday.

Let me know what you pick. J

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

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!

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

ASK AMANDA: How to Avoid Using the Next Most Popular Name

Published

Amanda Barden

on August 22, 2009

in Ask Amanda, Celebrity Baby Names and Celebrity Names

. 8 Comments

j0440614

I’m back with another edition of ASK AMANDA. This is a topic that I know is on the mind of many soon-to-be-parents!

Ask Amanda

Q: My top baby name list used to include Emma, Jacob and Zachary. All of those names have become really popular now. I still love those names, but I don’t want my baby to have a name that’s too common. How do I avoid picking a name that will end up on the top of the charts?

A: You have really good taste in names. The trouble is that you share that good taste with a lot of other people. Emma, Jacob and Zachary are all great names!

Some parents want to pick popular names, some don’t mind one way or the other, but for those that do … how do you choose a cool baby name that you love while making sure it stays unique?

I don’t offer any guarantees, but here are some tip-offs that a name is on its way to becoming ultra-popular:

1. CELEBRITY NAME

If there’s a new celebrity on the scene with an interesting or unusual name, it’s likely the name will increase in popularity.

Ex: MILEY Cyrus (MILEY wasn’t even on the charts before 2007) and ISLA Fisher (before 2008 ISLA hadn’t been in the Top 1000 since 1908)

It’s also possible that the name will become so closely associated with the celebrity that your baby’s name will always bring to mind that celebrity.

Some celebs are so closely associated with their unique first names that they don’t even need a last name to be recognizable — think PARIS, TIGER, OPRAH and BEYONCE.

2. CELEBRITY BABY NAME

Similar to #1 above, if a celebrity picks an interesting baby name, you can almost guarantee it will become more popular.

Ex: BROOKLYN Beckham created a wave of baby Brooklyns. Interestingly, more for girls than boys. Possibly because the name’s parts — BROOK and LYN — are each more associated with girls’ names.

Now, note that I said interesting baby name, not odd baby name.

Celebrity baby names like KAL-EL Cage and PILOT INSPEKTOR Lee haven’t had a similar impact on parents-to-be because these names are just too off-beat for the average parent — but you didn’t need me to tell you that.

3. CHECK THE NAME’S HISTORY ON THE SOCIAL SECURITY WEBSITE

The Social Security website is a great tool for soon-to-be-parents. You can search names to see how popular they’ve been over the years.

It’s obvious that a name is popular if it’s already in the Top 25 most popular names, but what if it’s not? Are you parents seeking unique names safe then? Not necessarily…

If the name you’re considering wasn’t in the Top 500 list 5years ago, but then debuted at 300, moved up to 100 within a few years and this year is at 60, it’s a good bet that it might be even more popular next year.

Watch out for these fast risers! If a name has been increasing in popularity quickly, even though it hasn’t reached the top of the charts yet, there’s a good chance it will before long.

4. CHECK NAMES FROM POPULAR TV SHOWS, MOVIES AND BOOKS

Remember that scene from Splash starring Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah where Tom’s character tells Daryl’s character than she needs to pick a human name because no one can pronounce her mermaid name? He suggests a few names, including Jennifer, Joanie and Linda. Then she sees the street sign for Madison Avenue and says she wants her name to be Madison. It’s a funny moment in the movie because at that time in our history Madison wasn’t a first name and Tom’s character tells her so!

I suspect a lot of people who saw that movie in 1984 fell in love with the name Madison because it was different and interesting. Now 25 years later the name that wasn’t a name has become quite popular — it hit the Top 10 in 1997 and hasn’t looked back since.

So before you choose a name, have a look and see whether it’s the name of a character in a popular TV show, movie or book.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the name CULLEN grows in popularity now that Stephenie Meyer has used it as the surname for her popular vampire family and the dreamy Edward Cullen in her mega-popular Twilight series.

Is anyone else out there on Team Jacob or is it just me…?

All that said, you can’t completely safeguard yourself from all future popular names.

You could choose the perfect, unique name for your baby this year, but if the rumors are true and the next Sex and the City movie features Carrie and Mr. Big having a baby that they just happen to name the exact same perfect, unique name you chose this year, there isn’t a whole lot you can do — you will be ahead of the curve though for having chosen it first.

Good luck!

♥ 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

ASK AMANDA: Baby Names that Mean “Miracle”

Published

Amanda Barden

on June 19, 2009

in Ask Amanda, Baby Name Suggestions & Lists and Baby Naming Tips

. 2 Comments

j0440406

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 484^th 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

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

ASK AMANDA: Ava is too Popular…Help!

Published

Amanda Barden

on June 12, 2009

in Ask Amanda

. 0 Comments

It’s Friday and that means it’s time for Ask Amanda! A lot of parents-to-be are wondering about name popularity and how it will affect their name choices…

Ask Amanda

Q: My partner and I love the name Ava, but it’s way too popular. Any ideas for what we can do?

A: Ava is a really pretty name and it’s no wonder you (and a lot of other parents) are drawn to it. If it’s gotten too popular for your taste though, here are some ideas for finding another name you like just as much, that isn’t already quite so popular.

First, figure out what it is you like about Ava — maybe you like the meaning (Ava’s origin is Latin and means “like a bird”), the cool “av” sound and letter combination, the “vintage” feel Ava has or maybe it’s a family name. Once you figure out what why you’re drawn to Ava, you’ll be able to come up with alternatives.

For example:

1) MEANING: If you like “like a bird,” then you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of other names with bird-meanings.

Here are a few: ALOUETTE, AYA, COLUMBA, DAYA, DERYN, ELSA, JEMMA, KOKO, LARK, MAVIS, MIRRA, NIGHTENGALE, PALILA, PALOMA, PENELOPE, RAVEN, ROBIN, SORA, TORI, ZIPPORAH

2) “AV” COMBINATION: Ava isn’t the only name to start with the “av” letter combination.

Here are some other options: AVALON, AVASA, AVERY, AVIS, AVIVA, AVRIL

3) VINTAGE VIBE: Earlier this month I wrote a whole post about names that have a vintage feel without feeling out-of-date. Read it here for more ideas.

Some of my favorite “vintage” names are: ADELAIDE, CECILY, CORA, DAISY, ELIZA, HAZEL, IVY, LILA, LUCY, NORA, SADIE, VIOLET, WILLA

4) FAMILY NAME: If Ava is a family name, you can head back to the family tree and look for other names you like. You could also use Ava as a middle name.

Good luck finding a name for your daughter. I’m sure you’ll find a name you both love.

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

Do any of you have good Ava alternatives? Post your suggestions.

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.

ASK AMANDA: Too Many Chloes?

Published

Amanda Barden

on June 5, 2009

in Ask Amanda

. 0 Comments

Ask Amanda: Too Many Chloes?

It’s Friday and that means it’s time for Ask Amanda and a little baby name advice! There’s a good question today that I’m sure a lot of you have thought about…

Ask Amanda

Q: I really like the name Chloe, but I just found out that it’s now one of the Top 10 names for girls. I haven’t heard of any babies named Chloe in my area though. Is it safe to use the name?

A: The Social Security Administration posts national numbers. So it’s possible that your little corner of the world has escaped the Chloe trend. Here’s what you can do— check out the Social Security feature that lets you search name popularity by state and see how popular Chloe is in your state. You might be disappointed if you live in Hawaii because Chloe is actually the number 1 name for 2008 there. But you’re in luck if you live in Connecticut because Chloe is only 29^th.

You can also check Chloe’s popularity more locally — many cities and regions compile their own name popularity statistics. Try your local newspapers, hospitals and Assessor-Records Office for this information. Here’s an example from California’s San Mateo County. The county put out a press release about the most name popular baby names in the county. Chloe came in at #7 in San Mateo County, but it’s #16 statewide, according to Social Security.

What if you do all that research and find out that Chloe isn’t in the top 10 where you live? If it’s really important to you that your daughter have a name that isn’t too common, Chloe might not be the right pick for you. Even if Chloe is not ultra-popular where you live right now, it doesn’t mean it won’t be next year or the year after. Also, what happens if you move or your daughter goes away to college? Being in a new area may increase the chances of her running into other Chloes.

On the other hand, maybe Chloe is your absolute favorite name of all-time ever and you’d be disappointed forever if you didn’t use it — even if it means your daughter may not be the only Chloe in her class. That’s probably not the worst thing in the world.

Still not sure? Consider taking the middle-of-the-road approach and use Chloe as a middle name. It doesn’t really matter how popular your daughter’s middle name is and you’ll get to use your favorite name. Good luck!

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

When is a name too popular to use? Post a comment and let me know what you think!

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.