Television Babies

I always find it interesting what TV characters name their new babies. Do the writers actually take style and popularity (or time period, for historical fiction) into account? Or do they just pick something they think will make for good TV? Actually, I imagine it's a bit of both, depending on the attitude of the show. So, I decided to do a survey of babies born on the most popular and/or award-winning TV shows (according to IMDb & Wikipedia) in recent years.

• Willa (Six Feet Under, 2005)
• Hera (Battlestar Galactica, 2006)
• William "Tuck" (Grey's Anatomy, 2006)
• Lee (The Shield, 2006)
• Gracie (Friday Night Lights, 2007)
• Abel (Sons of Anarchy, 2008)
• Henry (Criminal Minds, 2008)
• Rachel (House, 2008)
• Harrison (Dexter, 2009)
• Lily (Modern Family, 2009)
• Holly (Breaking Bad, 2009)
• Eugene "Gene" (Mad Men, 2009; show setting: 1963)
• Cecelia (The Office [US], 2010)
• Tamsin "Tammy" (Mad Men, 2010; show setting: 1965)
• Sofia (Grey's Anatomy, 2011)
• Zola (Grey's Anatomy, 2011)
• Michael Vincent (Bones, 2011)
• Melody (Doctor Who, 2011)
• Thomas (Sons of Anarchy, 2011)
• Elizabeth (30 Rock, 2011)
• Cassandra (United States of Tara, 2011)
• Philip (The Office [US], 2011)
• Phillip (The Office [US], 2012)
• Kevin (Mad Men, 2012; show setting: 1966)
• Judith (The Walking Dead, 2012)
• Sybil (Downton Abbey, 2012; show setting: 1920)
• George (Downton Abbey, 2012; show setting: 1921)
• Christine (Bones, 2012)
• Derek Bailey "Bailey" (Grey's Anatomy, 2013)
• Fulgencio Joseph "Joe" (Modern Family, 2013)
• Marigold (Downton Abbey, 2013; show setting: 1923)
• Abbijean (Archer, 2014)
• Neal (Once Upon a Time, 2014)
• Sara (Arrow, 2014)
• Frannie (Homeland, 2014)
• Ellis [girl] (Grey's Anatomy, 2015)
• Mateo (Jane the Virgin, 2015)
• Hank (Bones, 2015)
• Michael (Criminal Minds, 2015)

-Iah Can't Think of a Clever Title.

(and I'm fairly certain that did not count)

The -iahs are an interesting bunch. They're mostly Biblical boys' names relating to Yahweh (I could almost call this post 'Names "of God" part 2'), originally pronounced "____-yah-hoo", which somehow became "_____-eye-ah" in English. The few -aiah names, which would have been roughly "eye-ah" in Hebrew, are mostly traditionally said "ay-ah" here.
Anglicization is weird.

Anyway, while most are Biblically masculine [exceptions are noted], a few have started to gain use for girls in modern times.

• Abiah (ah-BYE-ah)--"my father is Yahweh".
• Adaiah (ah-DAY-ah, ah-DYE-ah)--"Yahweh has adorned"
• Ahaziah (ah-haz-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh grasps"
• Ahiah (ah-HYE-ah)--"brother of Yahweh".
• Aiah (AY-ah, EYE-ah)--"hawk"
• Amariah (am-ah-RYE-ah)--"Yahweh has said"
• Amasiah (am-ah-SYE-ah)--"Yahweh bears the load"
• Amaziah (am-ah-ZYE-ah)--"strength of Yahweh"
• Anaiah (an-AY-ah, an-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh answered"
• Ananiah (an-an-EYE-ah)--"covered by Yahweh"
• Aphiah (af-EYE-ah)--poss. "breeze"
• Asaiah (as-AY-ah, as-EYE-ah)--"made by Yahweh"
• Athaiah (ath-AY-ah, ath-EYE-ah)--"helped by Yahweh"
• Athaliah (ath-ah-LYE-ah)--"Yahweh binds" [Biblically unisex]
• Azaliah (as-ah-LYE-ah)--"kept near Yahweh"
• Azaniah (az-an-EYE-ah)--"heard by Yahweh"
• Azariah (az-ah-RYE-ah)--"helped by Yahweh"
• Azaziah (az-ah-ZYE-ah)--"might of Yahweh"
• Baaseiah (bay-ah-SEE-ah)--"made by Yahweh"
• Bariah (bah-RYE-ah)--"fleeing"
• Bedeiah (bed-EE-ah)--"servant of Yahweh"
• Benaiah (ben-AY-ah, ben-EYE-ah)--"built by Yahweh"
• Berachiah (behr-ah-KYE-ah)--"blessing of Yahweh"
• Beraiah (behr-AY-ah, behr-EYE-ah)--"built by Yahweh"
• Beriah (behr-EYE-ah)--"from adversity"
• Besodeiah (bes-oh-DEE-ah)--"counsel of Yahweh"
• Bithiah (bith-EYE-ah)--"daughter of Yahweh" [Biblically feminine, as you can probably guess]
• Chenaniah (ken-an-EYE-ah)--"planted by Yahweh". Also transliterated as Kenaniah.
• Coniah (con-EYE-ah)--"established by Yahweh"
• Delaiah (del-AY-ah, del-EYE-ah)--"lifted up by Yahweh". Also transliterated as Dalaiah.
• Eliah (el-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh is God" [more commonly transliterated as Elijah]
• Gedaliah (ged-ah-LYE-ah)--"greatness of Yahweh"
• Gemariah (gem-ah-RYE-ah)--"accomplishment of Yahweh"
• Giah (GYE-ah)--"fountain" [Biblical place name]
• Habaiah (hab-AY-ah, hab-EYE-ah)--"hidden by Yahweh"
• Hananiah (han-an-EYE-ah)--"favored by Yahweh"
• Harhaiah (har-HAY-ah, har-HYE-ah)--"anger of Yahweh"
• Hasadiah (has-ah-DYE-ah)--"kindness of Yahweh"
• Hashabiah (hash-ah-BYE-ah)--"planning of Yahweh"
• Hazaiah (haz-AY-ah, haz-EYE-ah)--"seen by Yahweh"
• Hezekiah (hez-eh-KYE-ah)--"strength of Yahweh". Also transliterated as Hizkiah.
• Hilkiah (hil-KYE-ah)--"inheritance of Yahweh"
• Hodaviah (hoh-dah-VYE-ah)--"majesty of Yahweh". Also transliterated as Hodaiah.
• Hodiah (hoh-DYE-ah)--"majesty of Yahweh" [Biblically unisex]
• Hoshaiah (hoh-SHAY-ah, hoh-SHYE-ah)--"saved by Yahweh"
• Ibneiah (ib-NEE-ah)--"built up by Yahweh"
• Igdaliah (ig-dah-LYE-ah)--"greatness of Yahweh"
• Iphedeiah (if-ed-EE-ah)--"redeemed by Yahweh"
• Isaiah (eye-ZAY-ah, eye-ZYE-ah)--"salvation of Yahweh". Also transliterated as Jesaiah or Jeshaiah.
• Ishiah (ish-EYE-ah)--"lent by Yahweh". Also transliterated as Isshiah and Jesiah.
• Ishmaiah (ish-MAY-ah, ish-MYE-ah)--"Yahweh hears"
• Ismachiah (is-mah-KYE-ah)--"sustained by Yahweh"
• Izrahiah (iz-rah-HYE-ah)--"Yahweh will shine". Also transliterated as Jezrahiah.
• Jaazaniah (jay-az-an-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh hears". Also transliterated as Jezaniah.
• Jaaziah (jay-ah-ZYE-ah)--"fierceness of Yahweh"
• Jahaziah (jay-hah-ZYE-ah)--"Yahweh sees"
• Jaresiah (jehr-eh-SYE-ah)--poss. "nourished by Yahweh" or "rest of Yahweh". Also transliterated as Jaareshiah.
• Jecoliah (jek-oh-LYE-ah)--"Yahweh is able". Also transliterated as Jechiliah. [Biblically feminine]
• Jeconiah (jek-oh-NYE-ah)--"established by Yahweh"
• Jedaiah (jed-AY-ah, jed-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh knows"
• Jedidiah (jed-id-EYE-ah)--"beloved of Yahweh"
• Jehdeiah (jeh-DEE-ah)--"may Yahweh give joy"
• Jehiah (jeh-HYE-ah)--"Yahweh lives"
• Jekamiah (jek-ah-MYE-ah)--"Yahweh will rise"
• Jeremiah (jehr-eh-MYE-ah)--"Yahweh lifts up"
• Jeriah (jehr-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh instructs"
• Jeziah (jez-EYE-ah)--"sprinkling of Yahweh". Also transliterated as Izziah.
• Joshaviah (josh-ah-VYE-ah)--"set by Jehovah"
• Josiah (joh-SYE-ah)--"founded by Yahweh"
• Josibiah (joh-sib-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh abides"
• Josiphiah (joh-sif-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh adds"
• Kolaiah (koh-LAY-ah, koh-LYE-ah)--"fame of Yahweh"
• Maadiah (may-ah-DYE-ah)--"adornment of Yahweh"
• Mahseiah (mah-SEE-ah)--"refuge of Yahweh" or "work of Yahweh". Also transliterated as Maaseiah.
• Malchiah (mal-KYE-ah)--"Yahweh is king". Also transliterated as Melchiah.
• Mariah (mah-RYE-ah)--form of Mary/Maria [modern; feminine]
• Mattaniah (mat-tan-EYE-ah)--"gift of Yahweh"
• Mattithiah (mat-tith-EYE-ah)--"gift of Yahweh"
• Melatiah (mel-ah-TYE-ah)--"delivered by Yahweh"
• Meraiah (mehr-AY-ah, mehr-EYE-ah)--"rebellion" or "bitterness"
• Micaiah (mye-KAY-ah, mik-EYE-ah)--"who is like Yahweh". Also transliterated as Michaiah. [Biblically unisex]
• Mikneiah (mik-NEE-ah)--"possession of Yahweh"
• Moriah (mor-EYE-ah)--poss. "seen by Yahweh" or "bitterness of Yahweh" [Biblical place name, modernly used as a feminine name]
• Neariah (nee-ah-RYE-ah)--"servant of Yahweh" or "child of Yahweh"
• Nedebiah (ned-eh-BYE-ah)--"moved by Yahweh"
• Nehemiah (nee-heh-MYE-ah)--"Yahweh comforts"
• Neriah (nehr-EYE-ah)--"light of Yahweh". Also transliterated as Neraiah.
• Nethaniah (neth-an-EYE-ah)--"gift of Yahweh"
• Neziah (nez-EYE-ah)--"eminent"
• Noadiah (noh-ad-EYE-ah)--"meeting with Yahweh" [Biblically unisex]
• Obadiah (oh-bah-DYE-ah)--"servant of Yahweh"
• Pelaiah (pel-AY-ah, pel-EYE-ah)--"marvel of Yahweh"
• Pelaliah (pel-ah-LYE-ah)--"Yahweh intercedes"
• Pelatiah (pel-ah-TYE-ah)--"Yahweh delivers"
• Pethahiah (peth-ah-HYE-ah)--"Yahweh sets free"
• Raamiah (ray-ah-MYE-ah)--"thunder of Yahweh"
• Ramiah (rah-MYE-ah)--"exaltation of Yahweh"
• Reaiah (ree-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh has seen"
• Reelaiah (ree-eh-LAY-ah)--"Yahweh makes tremble"
• Rehabiah (ree-hah-BYE-ah)--"Yahweh enlarges"
• Remaliah (rem-ah-LYE-ah)--poss. "Yahweh adorns"
• Rephaiah (ref-AY-ah)--"Yahweh heals"
• Sariah (sah-RYE-ah)--prob. a form of Sarah, Seraiah, or Suraya [modern; feminine]
• Semachiah (sem-ah-KYE-ah)--"Yahweh sustains"
• Seraiah (sehr-AY-ah, sehr-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh prevails"
• Sheariah (shee-ah-RYE-ah)--prob. "Yahweh reckons" or "gate of Yahweh"
• Shebaniah (sheb-ah-EYE-ah)--"prosperity of Yahweh"
• Shecaniah (shek-an-EYE-ah)--"Yahweh dwells". Also transliterated as Shechaniah.
• Shehariah (sheh-hah-RYE-ah)--"Yahweh seeks"
• Shelemiah (shel-eh-MYE-ah)--"friend of Yahweh"
• Shemaiah (sheh-MAY-ah, sheh-MYE-ah)--"Yahweh listens"
• Shemariah (shem-ah-RYE-ah)--"guarded by Yahweh"
• Shephatiah (shef-ah-TYE-ah)--"Yahweh judges"
• Sherebiah (shehr-eh-BYE-ah)--"heat of Yahweh"
• Tebaliah (teb-ah-LYE-ah)--"Yahweh has plunged"
• Tobiah (toh-BYE-ah)--"goodness of Yahweh" [modern English form is Tobias]
• Uriah (yoo-RYE-ah)--"flame of Yahweh"
• Uzziah (uz-ZYE-ah)--"might of Yahweh"
• Vaniah (van-EYE-ah)--unknown, poss. "cast by Yahweh", "praise of Yahweh", or "Yahweh answers"
• Zachariah (zak-ah-RYE-ah)--"Yahweh remembers". Also transliterated as Zechariah.
• Zebadiah (zeb-ah-DYE-ah)--"Yahweh bestows"
• Zedekiah (zed-eh-KYE-ah)--"Yahweh is righteous"
• Zephaniah (zef-an-EYE-ah)--"hidden away by Yahweh"
• Zerahiah (zehr-ah-HYE-ah)--"Yahweh rises"
• Zeruiah (zehr-oo-EYE-ah)--poss. "balsam" or "balm of Yahweh" [Biblically feminine]
• Zibiah (zib-EYE-ah)--"gazelle" [Biblically feminine]

I admit, I didn't think this list would be soooooooooooooo looooooooooooooong. And it's not even complete! Believe it or not, this was trimmed to the ones easiest in English. o.O

Palindromes and Emordnilap-s

Yes, I know, 'emordnilap' isn't technically a word. I'm still going to use it.
I like playing with letters (big surprise, right?), and I was interested to find more palindromic names--we can all name Anna/Ana, Otto, Ava, I'm sure.
And on the related topic of names that are a different name backwards, I could only come up with Aidan/Nadia offhand (well, and Nevaeh/Heaven), but surely there must be others....
(*note: these lists are based on the 2014 SSA name data, so it's quite likely incomplete. Apologies if I've missed any great names. :) )

True Palindromes:

• Ada
• Ala
• Alla
• Ama
• Ana
• Anina
• Anna
• Ara
• Asa
• Ata
• Ava
• Aviva
• Awa
• Aya
• Aza
• Aziza
• Bob
• Ece
• Efe
• Ege
• Elle
• Eve
• Habibah
• Hannah
• Itati
• Layal
• Maham
• Maram
• Nalan
• Naman
• Nan
• Natan
• Nayan
• Neven
• Nitin
• Nivin
• Nosson
• Otto
• Renner
• Sahas

Emordnilap-s:

• Abas / Saba
• Abbe / Ebba
• Abem / Meba
• Adal / Lada
• Adama / Amada
• Adan / Nada
• Adar / Rada
• Addis / Sidda
• Ade / Eda
• Adel / Leda
• Adela / Aleda
• Aden / Neda
• Adi / Ida
• Adia / Aida
• Adil / Lida
• Adila / Alida
• Adin / Nida
• Adir / Rida
• Adna / Anda
• Adya / Ayda
• Afra / Arfa
• Aidah / Hadia
• Aidan / Nadia
• Aidel / Ledia
• Aidin / Nidia
• Aidyn / Nydia
• Aila / Alia
• Ailana / Analia
• Ailen / Nelia
• Aili / Ilia
• Aina / Ania
• Aira / Aria
• Aisa / Asia
• Aissa / Assia
• Aiva / Avia
• Ajak / Kaja
• Ajna / Anja
• Akeem / Meeka
• Akila / Alika
• Akim / Mika
• Akin / Nika
• Akira / Arika
• Akiva / Avika
• Akul / Luka
• Alam / Mala
• Alan / Nala
• Alana / Anala
• Alaya / Ayala
• Aleem / Meela
• Alem / Mela
• Alen / Nela
• Alena / Anela
• Aleyna / Anyela
• Alhan / Nahla
• Ali / Ila
• Alie / Eila
• Alik / Kila
• Alim / Mila
• Alima / Amila
• Alin / Nila
• Alina / Anila
• Alis / Sila
• Allen / Nella
• Alli / Illa
• Alon / Nola
• Alya / Ayla
• Alyan / Nayla
• Alyn / Nyla
• Amaan / Naama
• Amal / Lama
• Amar / Rama
• Ameen / Neema
• Ameer / Reema
• Amer / Rema
• Amias / Saima
• Amin / Nima
• Amir / Rima
• Amor / Roma
• Anael / Leana
• Anah / Hana
• Anaid / Diana
• Anais / Siana
• Anali / Ilana
• Anam / Mana
• Anan / Nana
• Anar / Rana
• Anas / Sana
• Anay / Yana
• Ande / Edna
• Aneel / Leena
• Anel / Lena
• Anele / Elena
• Aneri / Irena
• Ani / Ina
• Anik / Kina
• Anil / Lina
• Anir / Rina
• Anis / Sina
• Anne / Enna
• Anni / Inna
• Anu / Una
• Anuj / Juna
• Anum / Muna
• Arad / Dara
• Arah / Hara
• Aram / Mara
• Aran / Nara
• Aras / Sara
• Arata / Atara
• Arel / Lera
• Ari / Ira
• Arian / Naira
• Arie / Eira
• Arik / Kira
• Armin / Nimra
• Aro / Ora
• Aron / Nora
• Arun / Nura
• Arya / Ayra
• Aryam / Mayra
• Aryan / Nayra
• Aset / Tesa
• Asil / Lisa
• Asim / Misa
• Asir / Risa
• Asli / Ilsa
• Asya / Aysa
• Avan / Nava
• Ave / Eva
• Aveen / Neeva
• Aveer / Reeva
• Avi / Iva
• Avik / Kiva
• Avin / Niva
• Avis / Siva
• Aviv / Viva
• Avon / Nova
• Avram / Marva
• Axel / Lexa
• Ayad / Daya
• Ayah / Haya
• Ayan / Naya
• Ayane / Enaya
• Ayaz / Zaya
• Aydan / Nadya
• Ayman / Namya
• Aymar / Ramya
• Azar / Raza
• Azi / Iza
• Aziz / Ziza
• Bahar / Rahab
• Bayan / Nayab
• Bijan / Najib
• Cam / Mac
• Dale / Elad
• Danah / Hanad
• Dar / Rad
• Dat / Tad
• Dev / Ved
• Eilam / Malie
• Ekin / Nike
• Elah / Hale
• Eliah / Haile
• Eliam / Maile
• Ellen / Nelle
• Eran / Nare
• Erik / Kire
• Esli / Ilse
• Etan / Nate
• Even / Neve
• Flor / Rolf
• Gem / Meg
• Guy / Yug
• Hajar / Rajah
• Halil / Lilah
• Harim / Mirah
• Haron / Norah
• Ian / Nai
• Ilay / Yali
• Ilham / Mahli
• Ilo / Oli
• Iman / Nami
• Inas / Sani
• Iram / Mari
• Iris / Siri
• Isak / Kasi
• Ivan / Navi
• Ivar / Ravi
• Izak / Kazi
• Jet / Tej
• Kedar / Radek
• Kirat / Tarik
• Lean / Nael
• Leon / Noel
• Leor / Roel
• Liav / Vail
• Liban / Nabil
• Lin / Nil
• Maher / Reham
• Mahir / Riham
• Man / Nam
• Manas / Sanam
• Meer / Reem
• Mian / Naim
• Miles / Selim
• Mir / Rim
• Mohan / Nahom
• Nay / Yan
• Nazar / Razan
• Nero / Oren
• Nevin / Niven
• Niles / Selin
• Nilo / Olin
• Omer / Remo
• Qirat / Tariq
• Remus / Sumer
• Rimas / Samir
• Vinay / Yaniv

I also came across another interesting data set--names that (as far as I can tell) have been invented specifically by reversing another name or word. Heaven/Nevaeh and James/Semaj are American English examples, but there seem to be quite a few in Spanish as well.

• Angel / Legna
• Angela / Alegna
• Delia / Ailed
• Heaven / Nevaeh
• Imelda / Adlemi
• Ismael / Leamsi
• James / Semaj
• Janet / Tenaj
• Jesus / Susej
• Kevin / Nivek
• Maria / Airam
• Marisela / Alesiram
• Miriam / Mairim
• Ramon / Nomar
• Robert / Trebor
• Yadira / Ariday