Tag Archive for 'International Baby Names'

Sporty Baby Names: US Open Tennis

Published
by
Amanda Barden
on September 6, 2009
in Baby Name Suggestions & Lists, Baby Names in the News and International Baby Names
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I’m a pretty big tennis fan, so I’ve been really enjoying the US Open for the past few days. Andy Roddick’s loss tonight was a bit of a heartbreak though. I was rooting for him to win the whole thing. Especially after that last Wimbledon match…C’est la vie. There’s always next year…

 

Now I think I’m going to put all my rooting power behind Melanie Oudin. How cool is she? Go Melanie!

 

I try not to miss any good baby name spotting opportunities and the US Open is no exception. I downloaded the US Open iPhone application and read all the player’s names so I could bring you my favorites. One thing I love about these International sporting events is that the names come from all around the world. So much fun!

 

Here is my list — I pulled out the names that I thought were most interesting. Let me know what your favorites are…

 

GIRLS’ NAMES

AKIKA

ALIZE

ALLA

ANGELIQUE

ANNA-LENA

ARANTXA

ARAVANE

ASIA

BETHANIE

BETINA

CATALINA

CHANELLE

COCO

CORINNA

DARIA

DINARA

ESTRELLA

FLAVIA

FRANCESCA

GALINA

GEORGIE

GISELA

HEIDI

JANA

JARMILA

JELENA

JIE

JORGELINA

KAIA

KAROLINA

KIMIKO

KSENIA

LENKA

LIEZEL

LILIA

LUCIE

MAGDA

MAI

MANDY

MATHILDE

NIKOLA

NOEL

PETRA

REGINA

RIZA

ROMINA

ROSSANA

SABINE

SEVERINE

SHAHAR

SINA

SLOANE

SORANA

TAMARINE

TATIANA

TIMEA

TOMOKO

VENUS

VESNA

VITALIA

ZARINA


 

 

 

BOYS’ NAMES

 


BRUNO

CAIO

CARSTEN

CHASE

DEVIN

DUILIO

FELICIANO

FLAVIO

GAEL

GIANCARLO

GILLES

GIOVANNI

GO

GONZALAS

HAREL

INIGO

IVO

JACK

JARKKO

JERZY

JESSE

JOHAN

JOSSELIN

JO-WILFRIED

JULIAN

JUNIOR

LEANDER

LLEYTON

LOVRO

LUKA

MARAT

MARCO

MARIN

MARINKO

MATTHIAS

MAXIMO

NIKALA

NOVAK

OLIVER

OSCAR

RAFAEL

RAINER

RAVEN

RENZO

ROBIN

ROGER

ROKO

RYLER

SANDRO

SANTIAGO

SCOVILLE

SHANE

TIAGO

WESLEY


 

 

Usually when I go through lists of names there are a few that jump out as possible favorites. Today, there’s no contest….I’m really loving the name TAMARINE. So pretty! Plus, it has that coveted quality of being unique without being weird. I’m not sure about nicknames though. I’m trying to think of something other than Tammy. Any ideas?

 

Other names I especially like from the list are SORANA, CATALINA and LILIA. From the boy’s side, I like MATTHAIS (cool alternative to more common Matthew), RAFAEL and MARCO.

 

Hands down the most dedicated, tennis-y name goes to junior player TENNYS Sandgren. With a name like that, there’s a little pressure to do well at a sporting event like the US Open. Good luck, Tennys!

 

As always, I love to hear your thoughts. Let me know what your favorites are — and if you have any cool nicknames for TAMARINE.

 

♥  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

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL BABY NAMES: Popular Scottish Names

Published
by
Amanda Barden
on August 25, 2009
in Baby Name Suggestions & Lists and International Baby Names
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Looking for popular baby names? Looking for European names? You’ve come to the right blog.

 

Parents often look for names with cultural significance for their family and looking at names popular in other countries is a good place to start.

 

Here are the 2008 Top 20 most popular Scottish baby names, or forenames as they’re called in Scotland.

 

 

GIRLS’ NAMES

 

SOPHIE

EMILY

OLIVIA

CHLOE

EMMA

LUCY

AVA

KATIE

ERIN

HANNAH

ELLIE

JESSICA

AMY

ISLA

GRACE

EVA

REBECCA

LEAH

FREYA

HOLLY

 

 

 

BOYS’ NAMES

 

JACK

LEWIS

DANIEL

LIAM

JAMES (tied for 5th)

RYAN (tied for 5th)

CALLUM

LOGAN

MATTHEW

CAMERON

ALEXANDER

AIDEN (tied for 12th)

DYLAN (tied for 12th)

AARON

BEN

KYLE

JAMIE

FINLAY

ADAM

ANDREW

 

SOURCE: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/

 

 

 

These lists don’t look drastically different than the U. S. popular names list. However, one thing I noticed is that all the girls’ names have a decidedly feminine feel to them — no unisex or tomboyish names that are popular here in the U. S., like MADISON, ADDISON, RILEY and TAYLOR.

 

I would say the biggest surprise is on the boys’ list though — LEWIS at #2. LEWIS has a bit of an old-fashioned vibe here in the U. S. LOUIS is the more popular spelling here and it hasn’t been popular since the mid-1950s.  LEWIS hasn’t been popular since the turn of the century. Maybe it’s time for a comeback.

 

CALLUM is a cool name and I can see that catching on here. One of my favorite names has always been KYLE, so I’m glad to see it in the Top 20.

 

Which names do you like best?

 

♥  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

 

 

 

Ancient Roman Baby Names

Published
by
Amanda Barden
on August 4, 2009
in Baby Name Suggestions & Lists
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We can thank Ancient Rome for a lot of cool things like aqueducts, roads and our modern calendar.

 

They also gave us some pretty cool baby names. They say all old things become new again, so maybe it’s time to resurrect one of these ancient baby names. Check these out and let me know what you think.

 

 

 

 

GIRLS’ NAMES

 

ANTONIA

AUGUSTINA

CAMILLA

CASSIA

CORNELIA

DRUSILLA

FELICIA

FLAVIA

FLORENTINA

JULIANA

JUNIA

LIVIA

LIVIANA

LUCIANA

LUCILLA

MARIANA

MARINA

OCTAVIA

PRISCILLA

QUINTINA

ROMANA

SATURNINA

SEVERINA

TACITA

TATIANA

TULLIA

VALENTINA

VALERIA

VARINIA

VITA

VIVIANA

 

From this list, I especially enjoy CAMILLA, LIVIANA, ROMANA (Romy is a cute nickname) and my favorite — JUNIA, at least it’s my favorite today. It’s hard to pick a favorite that sticks because there are so many good options out there.

 

 

BOYS’ NAMES

 

ANTONIUS

AQUILA

AUGUSTUS

CAMILLUS

CASSIUS

CICERO

FELIX

FIDELIS

JULIUS

JUSTUS

LIBERIUS

LIVIUS

LUCIUS

MARCELLUS

OCTAVIUS

OTHO

QUINTUS

RUFUS

SENECA

SEPTIMUS

SERGIUS

SEVERUS

SIDONIUS

TIBERIUS

TITUS

VALERIUS

VARINIUS

VICTORIUS

VITUS

 

 

My picks from the boys’ list are CAMILLUS, TITUS, OCTAVIUS and TIBERIUS (especially if you’re a Star Trek fan). I think VICTORIUS might be a little tough to live up to…is it just me?

 

Which names do you like best?

 

♥  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

 

 

INTERNATIONAL BABY NAMES: ICELAND, Part 2: Boys’ Names

Published
by
Amanda Barden
on June 24, 2009
in Baby Name Suggestions & Lists and International Baby Names
. 3 Comments
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Yesterday we looked at popular names for girls in Iceland and today we’re taking a look at the boys’ names.

 

In case you’re just tuning in or you didn’t read Part 1 because you’re only interested in boys’ names, here’s what you need to know…Iceland keeps track of babies who are given single names and babies who are given double names. A single name is a one-name first name, like ASHLEY Olsen. A double name is a two-name first name, like MARY KATE Olsen.

 

Now that we’re all on the same page…on to the names. These are the 10 most popular single names of boys 0-4 years old in Iceland in 2008:

 

 

TOP 10 ICELANDIC BOY SINGLE BABY NAMES

 

1.      KÁRI

2.      DAGUR

3.      ALEXANDER

4.      GABRÍEL (tie)

4.   TÓMAS (tie)

6.      ÍSAK

7.      DANÍEL (tie)

7.   DAVÍÐ (tie)

9.      BENEDIKT

10. SÖLVI (tie)

10. SINDRI (tie)

10. ARON (tie)

10. STEFÁN (tie)

 

 

We learned yesterday that there are a lot of ties in the Top 10, so we’re not surprised to see 13 baby names in the list of Top 10 most popular baby names…

 

Anyhow, I found some other interesting names in the Top 100 that I wanted to share with you:

 

 

POPULAR ICELANDIC BOY BABY NAMES

 

ANDRI

ATLI

AXEL

BJÖRN

BREKI

EINAR

FROSTI

GUNNAR

HÁKON

HANNES

KJARTAN

MAGNÚS

MATTHÍAS

ORRI

SÆVAR

SVEINN

TRAUSTI

 

 

Just like the girls’ names from yesterday, there are some interesting double names for boys in Iceland. Here are the top 10 double names for boys 0-4 years old in 2008:

 

 

TOP 10 ICELANDIC BOY DOUBLE BABY NAMES

 

1.       SINDRI SNÆR

2.       MIKAEL MÁNI

3.       ANDRI SNÆR

4.       ARON INGI (tie)

4.       GABRÍEL MÁNI (tie)

6.   ARNAR FREYR (tie)

6.   ÍSAK MÁNI (tie)

6.   TÓMAS ORRI (tie)

9.   ALEXANDER MÁNI

10. BJARKI FREYR

 

 

All these cool statistics are courtesy of Statistics Iceland. Go there to read the full list of names! In addition to the lists we’ve talked about here, there are stats on most popular first name in a double name and most popular second name in a double name.

 

What do you think of these Icelandic names? Do you have a favorite? I’m kind of partial to FROSTI, but that could just be the novelty of it. What do you think? Post your opinion.  

 

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

 

♥  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

 

 

INTERNATIONAL BABY NAMES: ICELAND, Part 1: Girls’ Names

Published
by
Amanda Barden
on June 23, 2009
in Baby Name Suggestions & Lists and International Baby Names
. 2 Comments
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If you asked me what the 10 most popular baby names in Iceland are, I couldn’t tell you. Baby naming in Iceland is a little more complex than that.

 

In Iceland, it’s apparently quite common for babies to get a couple first names — referred to as double names in Icelandic statistics. Common enough, in fact, for Iceland to keep separate records for the most popular single names and the most popular double names. What are single and double names? ASHLEY Olsen has a single first name and her twin sister, MARY KATE Olsen has a double first name. Make sense?

 

First, let’s have a look at single names. These are Iceland’s Top 10 most popular single names for girls 0-4 years old in 2008:

 

TOP 10 ICELANDIC GIRL SINGLE BABY NAMES

 

1.      SARA

2.      FREYJA

3.      KATLA

4.      MARÍA

5.      KATRÍN

6.      ELÍSABET

7.      HEKLA (tie)

7.   EMILÍA  (tie)

7.      KRISTÍN  (tie)

10. AUÐUR

 

 

Just like we saw with the Danish names earlier this month, this Top 10 is a mix of names that have a distinct regional feel and names you commonly find in the US — or versions of those names, anyhow.

 

Another thing you’ll notice on all the Icelandic baby name lists is that there are a lot of ties. I’m not sure there’s anything really significant about this, but it comes up a lot so I thought I’d mention it. You’ll see what I mean in a bit.

 

Some other standouts from the top 100 list are:

 

 

POPULAR ICELANDIC GIRL SINGLE BABY NAMES

 

AGNES

ÁRÓRA

ÁSTA

BRÍET

EDDA

ELÍN

EMBLA

HARPA

ÍSOLD

KAMILLA

KARÍTAS

LARA

LILJA

LOVÍSA

NÍNA

RAKEL

SAGA

SELMA

SÓLEY

SÓLLILJA

STEFANÍA

SUNNA

SUNNEVA

TELMA

TINNA

 

 

 

I really like the name SUNNEVA — it’s very pretty! It also has good nickname potential and is very unique (at least here in the United States).

 

Now let’s look at the double names. I’m quite excited over these, by the way. It’s not every day that my inner name nerd and my inner statistics nerd get to meet over a new official list of baby names. It’s a happy day!

 

 

TOP 10 ICELAND GIRL DOUBLE BABY NAMES

 

1.       EVA MARÍA

2.       ANNA MARÍA (tie)

2.       SARA LIND  (tie)

4.   EMILÍA ÓSK

5.   GUÐRÚN LILJA  (tie)

5.   ÍSABELLA SÓL  (tie)

8.   EMILÍA RÓS (tie)

8.   EVA LIND  (tie)

10. ANÍTA ÓSK (tie)

10. BIRTA MARÍA (tie)

10. EMBLA SÓL (tie)

10. RAKEL ÓSK  (tie)

10. THELMA LIND (tie)

 

 

Did I mention there were a lot of ties? The source for all these statistics is Statistics Iceland. Go there if you want to see the full lists.

 

If you have a favorite female Icelandic name, let me know! My pick right now is SUNNEVA.

 

That’s all for today. Tune in tomorrow for the boys’ list! Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss out on any future baby name posts.

 

♥  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

 

 

INTERNATIONAL BABY NAMES: Denmark

Published
by
Amanda Barden
on June 4, 2009
in Baby Name Suggestions & Lists and International Baby Names
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I’m interested in what people name their babies in the US and around the world. This will be the first post of many (though not all in a row!) where I’ll discuss International Baby Names.

 

Tomorrow, June 5th, is Constitution Day in Denmark — a national holiday to commemorate the signing of the Danish constitution. I think that makes this the perfect day to consider popular baby names in Denmark.

 

When I started researching Danish baby names, I ran into a bit of a roadblock finding the information I wanted. Luckily, I found the name and email address of Dorthe Larsen, Senior Head Clerk, Population, Statistics Denmark. She led me to the information I wanted and even translated key parts of the page for me so that I would know what I was reading. Above and beyond the call of duty — thank you, Dorthe!

 

As a result, my favorite name of the week is, officially, DORTHE!

 

So, what information was I looking for? The Top 10 Baby Names in Denmark. Here are the most popular names for 2008:

 

 

TOP 10 GIRL NAMES

 

1.      EMMA

2.      FREJA

3.      CAROLINE

4.      IDA

5.      SOFIE

6.      MATHILDE

7.      ANNA

8.      LAURA

9.      SARA

10. LÆRKE

 

 

TOP 10 BOY NAMES

 

1.      LUCAS

2.      MIKKEL

3.      WILLIAM

4.      OLIVER

5.      NOAH

6.      EMIL

7.      SEBASTIAN

8.      MAGNUS

9.      FREDERIK

10. VICTOR

 

SOURCE: Danmarks Statistik, http://dst.dk/Statistik/Navne/NamesPop.aspx

 

 

The first thing I noticed is that Denmark and the US share the same #1 baby name for girls — Emma. Clearly, Emma is resonating across cultures. I’d say it’s well-deserved because it’s a beautiful name. The #1 US boys’ name is Jacob and that lands at #26 on Denmark’s list.

 

The next thing I noticed is that the baby names on these Top 10 Lists are an interesting mix of names that you can imagine hearing on a playground here in the US, like Noah, and names that have a distinctly international flair, such as Lærke.

 

In my research, I found some other great names that ranked in the Top 50 :

 

 

DANISH GIRL NAMES

 

AMALIE

ASTA

ASTRID

CAMILLA

CELINA

FRIDA

KATRINE

LIVA

MALOU

NAJA

NANNA

NICOLINE

SIGNE

TILDE

 

 

 

DANISH BOY NAMES

 

AKSEL

ANDERS

AUGUST

GUSTAV

HJALTE

JACOB

JEPPE

KASPER

LASSE

MARIUS

MATHIAS

NICKLAS

OSCAR

RASMUS

SIMON

VALDEMAR

VILLADS

 

 

If you want to check out the full Top 50 Most Popular Baby Names in Denmark, go here. If you want to find out how popular a particular name is in Denmark go here (I found out there were 3718 women named Amanda in 2007, but no “Amanda Barden.” Not a huge surprise, I guess.).

 

What’s your favorite Danish name? Post your thoughts! Subscribe to the RSS feed while you’re at it so you don’t miss any future posts.

 

 

♥  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.