Tag Archive for ‘name meanings’ at Baby Names Made Easy: The Complete Reverse-Dictionary of Baby Names

Tag Archive for 'name meanings'

ASK AMANDA: A Name that Means “Complete”

Published

on February 23, 2010

. 0 Comments

Welcome to a new edition of ASK AMANDA. I have another question from Canada today. A big hello to my readers up north!

Ask Amanda

Q: I am looking for a baby name that means COMPLETE. I am pregnant with our third and last baby and really feel like this one completes our family. So I am looking for a name that means that. Was hoping you would be able to help.

Many thanks. KRISTY, Downsview, ON, Canada

A: This is a great question and one I’m sure many parents who are “completing” their families have considered, as well. I didn’t find a name that means “complete” exactly. I did find a bunch of names that touch on the same sentiment though. Here are my favorites from the names I found:

GIRLS

IRMA – “whole, entire” (also, IRMINA)

NATARA – “deeply rooted”

TERTIA – “third”

TRINITY – “triad”

UNITY – “oneness”

BOYS

KAIROS – “last, entire”

LEVI – “associated, together”

TREY – “three”

XAVIER – “new house”

There is a group of names that mean “powerful household,” which is a nice meaning, too. Some of the names in this group are: HENRIETTA, HARRIET, HARRY and HENRY.

Still looking for more? Read through these chapters of BABY NAMES MADE EASY: Heritage & Family and Numbers & Age. You can also find names with interesting meanings in the Miscellaneous chapter.

Good luck! I know you’ll find a name you love. Let me know what you choose. 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: 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.

BABY NAMES OF THE WEEK: Memorable Names for Memorial Day

Published

Amanda Barden

on May 24, 2009

in Baby Name Suggestions & Lists, Baby Name of the Week, Celebrity Baby Names and Holiday Baby Names

. 0 Comments

In honor of Memorial Day, the Baby Names of the Week are military-themed. When I sat down and actually compiled all the names for Baby Names Made Easy, I remember being surprised at how many names fell into the Military & Patriotism chapter. The boys’ section is longer than the girls’, but there are great names for both.

Here are my picks for the week:

GIRLS’ NAME OF THE WEEK

EVANIA — Irish name meaning “young warrior”

BOYS’ NAME OF THE WEEK

ARCHER — English name meaning “bowman”

CELEBRITY PICKS

There are also quite a few celebrities and celebrity babies whose names fall into this category:

GIRLS’ NAMES

ASHANTI

DAKOTA Fanning

EMILYDeschanel

EMMA Watson

HARLOW Winter Kate Madden (daughter of Nicole Richie and Joel Madden)

MARSMerkaba (daughter of Erykah Badu and Jay Electronica)

MARTINA McBride

SCOUT Willis

TYRA Banks

BOYS’ NAMES

BARRON William Trump (son of Melania and Donald Trump)

BARRYManilow

CEDRIC the Entertainer

CHAD Lowe

DENZIL Washington

GUNNAR Nelson

LANCE Bass

MARKConsuelos

MILOVentimiglia

RIDER Strong

VIGGOMortensen

Happy Memorial Day! Amid the barbecues, movies, trips for ice cream and general holiday spirit take a minute to consider these military-themed names and let me know your favorite. Enjoy your three-day weekend!

♥ 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.

San Diego Family Magazine Review!

Published

Amanda Barden

on May 23, 2009

in Book Reviews and Website Announcements

. 0 Comments

Eileen Cornish, a freelance writer for San Diego Family Magazine, wrote a nice review of Baby Names Made Easy for the magazine’s spring/summer edition.

“I have three sons but I never tire of reading baby name books. In Baby Names Made Easy($15, Simon and Schuster, 2009) author Amanda Elizabeth Barden organizes more than 20,000 traditional to trendy names into categories ranging from Nature to Numbers and Animals to Insects. With more than 40 chapters, the book organizes names by category with meanings or definitions listed after each. Perhaps more people would name their girls Agatha if they knew it meant good and honorable in Greek, or Alma, meaning nourishing and kind in Latin. How about Thaddeus, meaning beloved and adored in Arabic?”

You can check out the whole article here and the other books she reviewed!

♥ 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.

Happy Mother’s Day (plus a few related baby names)

Published

Amanda Barden

on May 10, 2009

in Baby Name Suggestions & Lists and Holiday Baby Names

. 0 Comments

Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms, soon-to-be-moms and most especially Happy Mother’s Day to my mom!

In celebration of motherhood, I’ve decided to highlight some of the names that mean “mother” or, in one case, something pretty similar (see Boys’ section below).

GIRLS’ NAMES

Amlika

Janikaa

Jarita

Maia, Maya

Neith

BOYS’ NAMES

Quigley

Quigley means “on the maternal side” — I was quite excited to find at least one boys’ name I could add to my list.

All these names, and many more, can be found in the Heritage & Family chapter in Baby Names Made Easy. Check it out!

I’m a little undecided about whether “mother” is an odd meaning for a baby’s name or whether it’s a charming tribute to motherhood. What do you think? Post a comment and let me know.

♥ 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

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

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:

Justin Case
Penelope Inez Garcia
Daphne Velma Jones
Isaiah Penn Daly
Ian Kent Reid
Renee Isabella Parker
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:

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

ARBOR DAY — A CELEBRATION OF BABY NAMES!

Published

Amanda Barden

on April 23, 2009

in Baby Name Suggestions & Lists

. 0 Comments

Arbor Day is the day we celebrate babies named after trees. Not officially, of course, but unofficially here on my blog.

There are some celebrities out there named after trees:

Ashton Kutcher
Sylvester Stallone
Estée Lauder
Björk
Burl Ives
Lorenzo Lamas
Lorne Green
Axel Rose
Lief Garrett
Yves Saint Laurent

There’s also a few celebrity babies whose names have tree-meanings:

Hazel, daughter of Julia Roberts & Danny Moder

Evalyne, daughter of Cassidy Black & Dierks Bentley

Oliver, son of Jennifer Lynn Stone & Fred Savage

Oliver, son of Allison & Taylor Hawkins

Olivia, daughter of Joely Fisher & Christopher Duddy

Willow, daughter of Michelle Monaghan & Peter White

If you like the idea of nature names, there are some really great tree names to consider on this Arbor Day. Here is a list of some names whose meanings are related to trees:

GIRL NAMES

Alani, Aspen, Ayla, Chan, Elana, Estée, Geneva, Hazel, Holly, Idra, Kaya, Laurel, Lina, Matsuko, Olivia, Samara, Verena, Willow

BOY NAMES

Ashton, Axel, Barker, Cormac, Derry, Elan, Ellery, Ewan, Hollis, Lennox, Lorenzo, Oakley, Oleander, Oliver, Palmer, Rowan, Silas, Vernon, York

All of these names (and many more!) can be found in the Flowers, Trees & Living Things chapter in my book. Check it out!

Post a comment and let me know about your favorite Arbor Day name! Also, if you can, plant a tree and celebrate Arbor Day the way it was truly intended. Click here for the official Arbor Day website.

♥ Amanda

LONG LIVE THE QUEEN! AND LONG LIVE THE NAME “ELIZABETH,” TOO!

Published

Amanda Barden

on April 21, 2009

in Baby Name Suggestions & Lists

. 0 Comments

Today is Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday, so I say — Long Live the Queen!

I also say Long Live “Elizabeth.” And I’m not just saying that because it’s my middle name. Few names have had as long and popular a life as Elizabeth. Over the last 120 years, it has consistently ranked in the Top 25 Most Popular Girls’ Names (except for 1945 where it ranked 26^th, which is pretty darn close).

Here’s the breakdown of Elizabeth’s popularity according to Social Security:

1888: 3rd
1898: 7th
1908: 7th
1918: 9th
1928: 14th
1938: 17th
1948: 25th
1958: 22nd
1968: 17th
1978: 14th
1988: 10th
1998: 10th
2007: 10th

Those are pretty impressive numbers when you think about it. Most names come in and out of vogue over time, especially girls’ names. Florence, Ethel and Bertha were all in the Top 10 with Elizabeth in the 1890s, but there probably aren’t too many expectant parents out there with any of those names on their short list. So, for one name to still sound attractive to our modern ears is pretty impressive.

Now, that’s all really interesting, but there’s something even more interesting about the name Elizabeth than its enduring popularity. I think what really sets Elizabeth apart from most other names is the staggering number of variations and nicknames it’s generated. Few other names even come close to the number of nicknames Elizabeths have to choose from. Many of these derivatives have even managed to escape pet name territory to become full-fledged names in their own right.

First, you have the obvious nicknames — Eliza, Liz, Beth, Liza — simple shortenings of the full name. Then you have a few slightly more creative shortenings that leave out a letter or so in between — Lizbet and Lizbeth. If you spell Elizabeth with an “s” (Elisabeth) you get Elisa, Lisa, Lisbet and Lisbeth.

Then you have my favorite category of Elizabeth nicknames. The ones you don’t see coming at all — Babette, Bess, Betsy, Bette, Buffy, Tetsie and Tibby. Tetsie’s a personal favorite of mine, but you would probably have needed to be a friend of mine in college to appreciate it yourself. (Hi Tetsie!)

Elizabeth has some really great International variations, too. Here are some of my favorite ones:

FRENCH: Elise
GERMAN: Bettina
ITALIAN: Elisabetta
LATVIAN: Lizina
RUSSIAN: Elsavetta
SCOTTISH: Elsbeth
SPANISH: Isabel, Isabella, Liseta

I’m the sort of person who really likes options in a name — a name that works for an adult or child and has great nickname possibilities. Elizabeth fits that to a tee. I suspect that’s why it’s remained so popular over the years.

Why do you think Elizabeth has been such a favorite for parents? Post a comment and let me know what you think of the name Elizabeth.

♥ Amanda

Celebrity Baby Name Alert: IT’S A BOY FOR KIMBERLY WILLIAMS & BRAD PAISLEY

Published

Amanda Barden

on April 21, 2009

in Celebrity Baby Names

. 0 Comments

Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Brad Paisley welcomed a baby boy on April 17^th. His name is Jasper Warren Paisley. I think Jasper is an interesting pick because it actually has several meanings — it’s Greek for “gemstone,” German for “imperial” and Persian for “treasure master; horserider.”

Check out my book to read more about Jasper (and related name Casper).

Post a comment and let me know what you think of the name Jasper. How do you think it ranks among the other celebrity baby names?

♥ Amanda