Onomasticity
For those of us to whom a rose by any other name would NOT smell as sweet.Archive for favorite
Top Boys’ Names
As I said with the girls, this is only a small sample of my favorite names, as the entire list is far too long to include on here. Again, keep in mind that my tastes are very widespread, sometimes strange, and subject to change. Enjoy!
1. Tobias- My all-time favorite boy name. This was the first name, male or female, that I ever really fell in love with. This took place way back in elementary school, when the Animorphs book series was popular. One of the characters, a boy trapped in the body of a hawk, was named Tobias. I’ve loved the name ever since. I don’t think it has ever been a very commonly used name, and yet it doesn’t feel outdated or geezer-ish. Just don’t come near me with the nickname “Toby” – I can’t stand it!
2. Adrian- A lot of people write this off as “too girly,” but I think its very masculine, as it comes from the name Hadrian, as in Hadrian’s Wall. Also, the only Adrian I know is a man, so that sways my opinion. It’s a modern-sounding name with a lot of history behind it perfect for any boy.
3. George- For me, it’s a family name, with at least 10 known Georges floating around my family tree. I’ve heard people say it’s old-fashioned, but it never has been for me, and hey, aren’t old-fashioned names coming back in? I think it would be a great name for any 21st century boy.
4. Elijah/Elias- Both of these names come from the same root, so I am grouping them together. Elijah is more familiar and contemporary-sounding, but I actually prefer the Greek version, Elias (pr. ee-LEE-ahs). It may be hard on American tongues, though, so Elijah is more practical.
5. Liam- Great, strong Irish name that is actually a short for of William, but definitely works as a stand-alone name. It is simple and easy to pronounce, yet not too high on the popularity list, making it a perfect candidate.
6. Phineas- I first heard this name in high school while reading the book A Separate Peace, and instantly loved it. The character went by the nickname Finny, which I think is adorable and could easily be shorted to Finn later in life. One of my trifectas: attractive name, cute nickname, alternative more grown-up nickname.
7. Byron- This is actually my uncle’s name. I’ve always loved it, with its poetic connections and its contemporary feel. I see a namesake in the making, although probably a middle name since I dislike the tradition of naming children after immediate family members.
8. Oliver- There’s just something about this name. It’s quirky, yet has a classic, lyrical feel to it. Since I can’t stand Dickens, I ignore the Oliver Twist connection and continue to adore this name.
9. Wesley- Another name that gets flak for sounding too feminine. I heartily disagree- it’s a surname-name that, despite the -ley ending, has a masculine feel to it. I also love the nickname Wes.
10. Orion- (pr. oh-RIE-in) I love this constellation name for a boy. Though quite an unusual name, it retains a familiar feeling due to its similarity to the very popular Ryan. It stands out from the crowd the way a navy suit does in a sea of black ones- noticeable, but not in-your-face neon.
11. Jasper- Unfortunately, the Twilight craze may have ruined this name. But I liked it a long way before Twilight was even a twinkle in the crazed tweens’ eyes. It has a lot of pizzazz to it while remaining dignified, a quality that is sometimes hard to find in a boy’s name.
12. Sebastian- I think this one has finally detached itself from The Little Mermaid connection, though I would like it either way. I knew a guy with this name who went by “Seabass,” which I thought was very funny. Personally, I like the French nickname Seba, or Bas.
13. Angelo- The popular boys’ name Angel sounds effeminate to me. Angelo has always stood out much more to me and since so many cultures use the version of the name, it would work for any boy.
14. Samson- I’ve always preferred this name over Samuel as a way to get to the nickname Sam. It has a long history and is not, in fact a “surname name.” It comes from the Hebrew Shimson, which is thought to have meant “sun.”
15. Jesse- I really can’t explain why I like this name. It just speaks to me. It has a long history, both good and bad, and is definitely a legit choice for a boy.
16. Felix- I never associated this with Felix the Cat until people started telling me so. I think it is an offbeat and strong name that could work well on a modern boy. And besides, I love cats 🙂 .
Top Girls’ Names
I thought it fitting to start out with some of my own favorite names. Keep in mind that my list (yes, I do have a list- I am that much of a name nerd) extends to over 300 names, so this is just a small sample of my absolute favorites. Also keep in mind that my tastes are very widespread, sometimes strange, and subject to change. 🙂
1. Anastasia- My all-time favorite name, and funnily enough, also a family name. I say it “ah-nah-stah-SEE-ah,” because that is how it is pronounced in Greek and how I grew up saying it. I know “anna-STAY-shuh” is much more popular, but I definitely prefer it this way- it sounds much prettier. If I ever have a daughter, I will name her Anastasia. I like the nickname Tasia (Tah-SEE-ah) for it, but actually the nickname Nastia has kind of grown on me (Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin’s real name is Anastasia). Although it would surely be met with pronunciation problems.
2. Aurora- I have loved this name since I can remember. It’s so beautiful! It means “dawn” in Latin, and is also reminiscent of the Aurora Borealis, the beautiful light phenomenon observed in the North Arctic Circle. A really cute nickname for it is Rory.
3. Rose- Although this is a very common middle name, it is rarely heard as a first name these days. I think it’s gorgeous, and the images it evokes are definitely positive. It’s one of the rare one-syllable names that is decidedly feminine.
4. Eleanor- I gave my “flour baby” way back in 8th grade this stunning, classic name. I love all the history it has, and the many different people and things it brings to mind (i.e. Eleanor of Aquitaine, Eleanor Roosevelt, Elinor in Sense and Sensibility). I like Ellie as a nickname.
5. Ophelia- Though it brings to mind Shakespeare’s tragic character in Hamlet, I find this to be a beautiful name. The Shakespeare connection adds to its mystique. I actually like the Spanish pronunciation, “oh-FEH-lee-ah” better than “oh-FEEL-ee-uh,” but of course that is not practical. I can’t think of any good nicknames for this one.
6. Agnes- Yes, it’s clunky and old-fashioned, but I think it’s definitely ready for a comeback. I kind of like the sound of it, in the way I like the sound of German and Chinese, two of the harshest languages on the planet. I also love the nickname Aggie. The French pronunciation, “ahn-YES,” is beautiful, but again,impractical.
7. Georgia Holly- I don’t usually combine names, but these just seem to fit together so well, in an offbeat kind of way. Georgia has a family connection for me, and Holly is just a name I love. They pair well together, yet the pairing seems fresh and unexpected.
8. Violet- Despite its growing popularity and trendy-ness, I am still in love with this name. It has vintage charm as well as a very direct flower connection that make it absolutely adorable.
9. Phoebe- I’ve loved this ever since I read the book Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech in 7th grade. It’s a timeless and cute name that would age well.
10. Arabella- I guess I’ve fallen victim to the “-bella/-belle” craze. But unlike the extremely overused Isabella/Isabelle/etc, Arabella retains its freshness and hint of Italian flavor. Gorgeous name.
11. Luna- I loved this even before Harry Potter’s Luna Lovegood, but she made me love it even more. It’s a quirky and cute name that would work on a girl of any age without seeming pretentious or trendy.
12. Delilah- Despite the ringing of Tom Jones’ “Why, why, whyyyyy, Delilah?” in my head every time I hear this name, I still love it. It maintains old-school charm but has modern flair, and I love “Lilah” as a nickname.
13. Cordelia- I have no idea why I like this name. Perhaps it’s because it’s so inherently feminine. It isn’t the most attractive-sounding of names, but it has a certain charm and beauty to it. And call me crazy, but I actually think “Cordie” would make an adorable nickname.
14. Isis- Egyptian mythology nerd, here! But seriously, even without the connection to the Egyptian goddess, you have to admit Isis is a beautiful name. It’s very unique without seeming made-up, and with thousands of years of history behind it, it is definitely a great candidate for modern girls.
15. Cassandra- Nothing can ruin this name for me. Not the story of the disbelieve Trojan prophetess of the same name, nor the girl I knew a while back that hated me. I still think this is a beautiful, timeless, feminine-without-frills name. And I love the nickname Cassie, or even Sandra!
16. Melissa Honey- Another of my rare first and middle name combinations. This one requires some explanation. Melissa, a name which I have always loved, means “bee” in Greek. Honey seems to go naturally with it. I’ve recently thought that Honey would make a cute name, but not a wearable one. So I compromised by sticking it in the middle, and it goes perfectly with Melissa! I can just imagine a mother calling her daughter “My little Honey Bee!”
I hope this wasn’t too long and boring. I’ll have my favorite boys’ names up soon! 🙂
Onomasticity 