Monday, August 29, 2016

Taxonymy....nymy? (trees)

Time for some more theoretical fun! Previously I found some songbird and butterfly genera that I thought might make decent human names (many are actually based on given names or surnames anyway), and today's post will feature trees and shrubs :)
(all are genera, unless specified as a common name)


  • Acacia (also common name)
  • Acer
  • Agathis
  • Aloe
  • Annona
  • Aralia
  • Aronia
  • Ash (common name)
  • Aspen (common name)
  • Camellia
  • Canella
  • Carya
  • Cassia
  • Castanea
  • Cedrela
  • Cedrus
  • Ceiba
  • Chione
  • Clethra
  • Cordia
  • Cordyline
  • Corylus
  • Cydonia
  • Cyrilla
  • Daphne
  • Durio
  • Durian (common name)
  • Duranta
  • Erica
  • Erythrina
  • Eugenia
  • Hawthorn (common name)
  • Ilex
  • Inga
  • Kalmia
  • Larix
  • Laurel (common name)
  • Laurus
  • Linden (common name)
  • Lyonia
  • Magnolia (also common name)
  • Melia
  • Meryta
  • Morinda (also common name)
  • Myrica
  • Myrsine
  • Myrtle (common name)
  • Nerium
  • Nolina
  • Nyssa
  • Olea
  • Persea
  • Phoenix
  • Plumeria
  • Ravenea
  • Rhus
  • Robinia
  • Rowan (common name)
  • Sabal
  • Savia
  • Senna (also common name)
  • Serenoa
  • Sophora
  • Suriana
  • Tamarisk (common name)
  • Tamarix
  • Tilia
  • Viburnum (also common name)
  • Willow (common name)

Thursday, August 25, 2016

"Girlish" Boy Names

I did "boyish" girl names, so now I have to do the reverse, of course! Boys have much more diversity when it comes to name endings, but girls do have a higher proportion of names ending in -a, ah, ne, le, th, i, and y. Boys also have the minority of names starting with A, E, P, S, & V, so I'll be looking especially for those. :)
(I do not have room to list all the Biblical -iah names for boys, so just look here if those strike your fancy)

  • Achille (ah-SHEEL, French; ah-KEEL-leh, Italian)--form of Achilles
  • Adlai (AD-lay, AD-lye, [Biblical] Hebrew)
  • Alexei (ah-leks-AY, al-leks-EE, Russian, Ukrainian)--form of Alexis. Other forms include Aleksi (AH-lek-see, Finnish) and Aleksy (AH-lek-see, Polish).
  • Alvah (AL-vah, [Biblical] Hebrew)--poss. "ascending". Also spelled Alva.
  • Alwi (AL-wee, Old English)--prob. "elf battle". Also spelled Alwy
  • Amaury (ah-moh-REE, French)--form of Emmerich/Emery
  • Arkady (ar-KAH-dee, Russian)--also spelled Arkadi or Arkadiy
  • Arne (AHR-neh, Scandinavian, German)--from Germanic, "eagle"
  • Artemiy (ar-TEM-ee, Russian)--from ancient Greek, "of Artemis"
  • Asa (AY-sah, English; ah-sah, Hebrew)--from Biblical Hebrew, prob. "healer"
  • Aulay (AW-lee, Scottish)--form of Olaf
  • Augustine (AW-gus-teen, aw-GUS-tin, English)--from Latin, "great"
  • Braith (BRAYTH, English)--prob. from Old Norse, "broad"
  • Columba (koh-LUM-bah, Latin)--"dove"
  • Conleth (KAHN-leth, Irish)
  • Dara (DAH-rah, Irish)--"oak tree" or "fruitful". Also spelled Darragh. [feminine in other languages]
  • Davi (DAH-vee, Portuguese)--form of David. Another form is Daveth (DAV-eth, Cornish).
  • Éanna (AY-nah, Irish)--also spelled Énna. Anglicized form is Enda
  • Elisha (ee-LYE-shah, [Biblical] Hebrew)--"God is my salvation"
  • Emrys (EM-ris, Welsh)--form of Ambrose
  • Fiachra (FEE-ahk-rah, Irish)--"raven". French form is Fiacre (fee-AH-creh). 
  • Harith (HAH-rith, Arabic)--prob. "cultivator"
  • Heath (HEETH, English)
  • Hirah (HYE-rah, [Biblical] Hebrew)--"splendor"
  • Iorwerth (YOR-werth, Welsh)--"handsome lord". Anglicized as Yorath.
  • Kuisma (KOO-ees-mah, Finnish)--form of Cosmo. Other forms include Cosme (KAHZ-mee, Portuguese; COHM, French) and Kuzma (kooz-MAH, Russian).
  • Lorne (LORN, English)--from Scottish place name
  • Malachy (MAL-ah-kee, Irish)
  • Perry (PEHR-ree, English)--from English "pear tree" or Welsh "son of Harry". Also spelled Parry
  • Pryderi (prid-EHR-ee, Welsh)--prob. "cared for"
  • Rishi (rish-EE, Hindi)--"poet"
  • Savely (sah-VEL-ee, Russian)--form of Sabine. Also spelled Saveliy or Saveli
  • Selby (SEL-bee, English)--from Old Norse, "willow farm"
  • Sindre (SIN-dreh, Scandinavian)--another form is Sindri (SIN-dree)
  • Visti (VEES-tee, Danish)--from Old Norse, "west". Other forms include Vesti (VES-tee, Danish) and Vestri (VES-tree, Old Norse).

Monday, August 22, 2016

"Boyish" Girl Names

Thanks at least partially to Latin, girls are seriously lacking in ending-letter diversity. Girls have the majority of -a, e, y, ah, and i, but all the rest are more common for boys! Some aren't noticeably more common, but many definitely are: -ch, k, b, o, p, c, f, sh, d, m, x......

So, for this post, I thought I'd track down girls' names that have "boyish" endings (with special consideration for names that also have significantly more "boyish" beginning letters as well: W, U, J, & D).

  • Brigid (BRIJ-id, English; BREED, Irish)--also spelled Brid or Brighid
  • Brónach (BROH-nakh, Irish)
  • Callisto (kah-LIS-toh, [ancient] Greek)--"most beautiful" [masculine in Italian]
  • Caridad (kah-ree-DAHD, Spanish)--form of Charity
  • Carmo (KAHR-moh, Portuguese)--from Hebrew, "garden"
  • Cleo (KLEE-oh, English)--from Greek, "glory". Also spelled Clio
  • Dagmar (DAHK-mar, German; DAHG-mar, Scandinavian)--from Germanic, "day maiden"
  • Deitlind (DEET-lint, German)--from Germanic, "gentle people"
  • Derehild (DEHR-eh-hild, Old English)--prob. "precious battle" or "beast battle"
  • Diamanto (dee-ah-MAHN-toh, Greek)--"diamond"
  • Dido (DEE-doh, DYE-doh, Latin)
  • Ellisif (EL-lis-eef, Scandinavian)--form of Elizabeth. Also spelled Elisif or Ellisiv (EL-lis-eev). 
  • Fedelm (FEH-delm, Irish [mythology])--poss. from Old Irish, "constant"
  • Hero (HEER-oh, [ancient] Greek)--Modern form is Iro (EER-oh).
  • Kinborough (KIN-bur-roh, [medieval] English)--"royal fortress"
  • Ingrid (EEN-grid, English, German, Scandinavian)--from Old Norse, "beautiful Ing"
  • Isfrid (EES-frid, Scandinavian)--from Old Norse, poss. "beautiful ice"
  • Jochebed (JAHK-ah-bed, YAHK-ah-bed, [Biblical] Hebrew)--"Yahweh is glory"
  • Jorund (YOHR-oond, Norwegian)--from Old Norse, "horse love" or "chief love"
  • Juno (JOO-noh, Latin)
  • Leto (LEE-toh, [ancient] Greek)--poss. "gentle" or "forgotten"
  • Lilach (lee-LAHKH, Hebrew)--"lilac"
  • Lilias (LIL-ee-as, Scottish)--form of Lily. Also spelled Lillias
  • Liv (LEEV, Scandinavian; LIV, English)--from Old Norse, "protection"
  • Loreto (loh-REH-toh, Italian, Spanish)--prob. from Latin, "laurel"
  • Luned (LIN-ed, Welsh)
  • Nahid (nah-HEED, Persian)--form of Anahita, poss. "pure". Also spelled Naheed
  • Neus (NEH-oos, Catalan)--"snow"
  • Pallas (PAL-las, [ancient] Greek)--poss. "maiden" or "spear". [unisex]
  • Ravid (rah-VEED, Hebrew)--"necklace"
  • Ríonach (REE-ah-nahkh, Irish)--"queen". Feminine of Rían/Ryan.
  • Rocío (roh-SEE-oh, Spanish)--"dew"
  • Rosalind (RAHZ-ah-lind, English)--from Germanic "gentle horse"
  • Rosamund (ROHZ-ah-mund, RAHZ-ah-mund, English)--"horse protection"
  • Solfrid (SOHL-frid, Scandinavian)--"beautiful house" or "beautiful sun"
  • Timo (TEE-moh, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "honored" [masculine in other languages]
  • Turid (TOOR-eed, Norwegian)--from Old Norse, "beautiful Thor"
  • Waltraud (VAHL-trowt, German)--from Germanic, "strong ruler" or "foreign strength"
  • Winifred (WIN-ah-fred, English)--anglicized from Welsh Gwenfrewi "blessed peace"
  • Xeno (KSEN-oh, ZEE-noh, [ancient] Greek)--"foreign"
  • Yanick (YAH-neek, French)--form of John/Jane. Also spelled Yannick. [unisex]

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Word Names, Just the New Ones (boys, 2015)

Because of the sheer number of names, as well as the fact that most are repeats, this year I'm only listing the new word-names on the full SSA list. I've removed imported names (apologies for any I missed), as well as place-names, archaic words, and jargon.
(previous years are here: 2014, 2012)


  • Admire
  • Amazing
  • Arbor
  • Armor
  • Arson
  • Axe
  • Axiom
  • Bam
  • Barker
  • Barney
  • Berry
  • Blase
  • Bliss
  • Bourne
  • Brand
  • Brasher
  • Brit
  • Bronco
  • Bronze
  • Cable
  • Caprice
  • Carper
  • Chantry
  • Charming
  • Clash
  • Cordon
  • Cotter
  • Cub
  • Daric
  • Darnel
  • Day
  • Denari
  • Dragon
  • Dyer
  • Early
  • Emperor
  • Famous
  • Favor
  • Favour
  • Fennec
  • Field
  • Fielder
  • Flex
  • Forester
  • Forever
  • Fowler
  • Frost
  • Galaxy
  • Given
  • Glory
  • God
  • Goliath
  • Guru
  • Harbour
  • Harden
  • Holy
  • Hope
  • Iris
  • Kalif
  • Kasher
  • Knightly
  • Knoll
  • Landers
  • Little
  • Logic
  • Loris
  • Lot
  • Luna
  • Magic
  • Mantra
  • Martial
  • Mayan
  • Meet
  • Mega
  • Moon
  • Nix
  • Oaks
  • Pacer
  • Packer
  • Paddy
  • Parson
  • Pinches
  • Power
  • Precieux
  • Precious
  • Prodigy
  • Quince
  • Real
  • Relic
  • Revere
  • Roam
  • Rondo
  • Savannah
  • Savant
  • Say
  • Solo
  • Son
  • Spence
  • Star
  • Stellar
  • Stoic
  • Success
  • Suede
  • Sun
  • Tab
  • Talion
  • Temple
  • Theory
  • Tracer
  • Tracker
  • Tramel
  • Trooper
  • Turk
  • Tyne
  • Watts
  • Wills
  • Win
  • Zek


Monday, August 15, 2016

Word Names, Just the New Ones (girls, 2015)

Going through last years' word names, it occurred to me that there's really not all that much change year-to-year. So for 2015, I'll only list the ones that didn't show up last year.
(you can still browse last years' list, as well as 2012's)

As usual, I've removed names from other languages (apologies if I missed any), as well as jargon, place-names, and archaic terms (unless they were particularly interesting or amusing).

  • Adorable
  • Alexine
  • Aloe
  • Anthem
  • Any
  • Aviary
  • Bailor
  • Berry
  • Bindi
  • Brave
  • Bray
  • Brightly
  • Cannon
  • Carver
  • Chimere
  • Choice
  • Chosen
  • Chrysanthemum
  • Crew
  • Daleth
  • Diamante
  • Diary
  • Dotty
  • Dreamer
  • Eddy
  • Edelweiss
  • Fairy
  • Faithful
  • Farina
  • Fletcher
  • Ford
  • Forest
  • Garnet
  • Geisha
  • Gene
  • Gift
  • Gold
  • Gunner
  • Happy
  • Hart
  • Haze
  • Horizon
  • Independence
  • Javelin
  • Jet
  • Joule
  • Joules
  • Lolly
  • Lynx
  • Magenta
  • Maleficent
  • Mama
  • Mandolin
  • Marry
  • Marvelous
  • Mays
  • Mercury
  • Mirin
  • Nation
  • Nemesis
  • Nix
  • North
  • Oracle
  • Pace
  • Pagan
  • Peony
  • Petal
  • Pink
  • Pippin
  • Price
  • Psalm
  • Purpose
  • Rally
  • Randy
  • Reality
  • Rehab
  • Reminisce
  • Reveille
  • Righteous
  • Rocky
  • Serendipity
  • Serin
  • Shade
  • Shah
  • Shy
  • Ski
  • Sojourner
  • Starlight
  • Stellar
  • Stoney
  • Success
  • Summit
  • Sylvan
  • Timothy
  • Verbena
  • Virtue
  • Ward
  • Warner
  • Wonder
  • Worthy
  • Zeal
  • Zenith


Friday, August 12, 2016

Popularity by Letter

Okay, this isn't so much a full post as a list I generated while looking for other data. Still thought it was a bit interesting. :)
Here are the most common names by starting and ending letters, and their SSA ranking.

Girls:
  • Ava, #4
  • Brooklyn, #31
  • Charlotte, #9
  • Delilah, #116
  • Emma, #1
  • Faith, #91
  • Grace, #19
  • Harper, #10
  • Isabella, #5
  • Julia, #89
  • Kennedy, #57
  • Lily, #25
  • Mia, #6
  • Natalie, #27
  • Olivia, #2
  • Penelope, #34
  • Quinn, #97
  • Riley, #35
  • Sophia, #3
  • Taylor, #76
  • Unique, #1578
  • Victoria, #20
  • Willow, #111
  • Ximena, #125
  • Yaretzi, #400
  • Zoey, #23

  • Emma, #1
  • Zainab, #938
  • Lyric, #289
  • Holland, #845
  • Charlotte, #9
  • Elif, #3105
  • Blessing, #1296
  • Elizabeth, #13
  • Naomi, #77
  • Semaj, #2986
  • Malak, #1305
  • Abigail, #7
  • Miriam, #294
  • Madison, #11
  • Margo, #1278
  • Zeynep, #3324
  • Lyriq, #3737
  • Harper, #10
  • Genesis, #65
  • Scarlett, #22
  • Emmylou, #2596
  • Liv, #720
  • Willow, #111
  • Phoenix, #453
  • Emily, #8
  • Luz, #957

Boys:
  • Alexander, #8
  • Benjamin, #10
  • Carter, #24
  • Daniel, #12
  • Ethan, #6
  • Finn, #209
  • Gabriel, #22
  • Henry, #29
  • Isaac, #31
  • Jacob, #4
  • Kevin, #79
  • Liam, #2
  • Mason, #3
  • Noah, #1
  • Oliver, #19
  • Parker, #72
  • Quinn, #354
  • Ryan, #39
  • Samuel, #23
  • Thomas, #51
  • Uriel, #568
  • Vincent, #109
  • William, #5
  • Xavier, #90
  • Yusuf, #591
  • Zachary, #88

  • Joshua, #33
  • Jacob, #4
  • Isaac, #31
  • David, #18
  • Luke, #28
  • Yusuf, #591
  • King, #163
  • Noah, #1
  • Levi, #42
  • Taj, #1007
  • Jack, #40
  • Michael, #9
  • Liam, #2
  • Mason, #3
  • Mateo, #85
  • Phillip, #409
  • Tariq, #1656
  • Alexander, #8
  • James, #7
  • Wyatt, #34
  • Beau, #203
  • Aarav, #528
  • Matthew, #15
  • Max, #118
  • Anthony, #25
  • Cruz, #324


Hmm. I've already done most of the uncommon starting letters (D, Q, U, X, Y), but I guess I'll have to put a couple more on the queue, like F and W. 

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name: Ray/Rae

Is it just me, or is everybody using the middle name Ray/Rae right now, for both boys and girls? Although the "cute" factor is probably a big part of it (esp. for girls!), I imagine many have to be honor names as well.
Rachel and Raymond are the usual full forms (and Ray is of course used quite often on its own), but there are a few other ways to get Ray/Rae. :)

Boys:
  • Rafe (RAYF, English)--form of Ralph
  • Rayburn (RAY-burn, English [surname])--from Old English, "deer stream". Also spelled Raeburn.
  • Rayner (RAY-ner, English)--from Germanic, "army advisor"
  • Rayson (RAY-son, English [surname])--"reason"
  • Réamann (RAY-man, Irish)--form of Raymond
  • Reidar (RAY-dar, Swedish)--from Old Norse, "home warrior". Another form is Reier (RAY-er, Swedish).
  • Reijo (RAY-yoh, Finnish)--form of Gregory
  • Reino (RAY-noh, Finnish)--form of Reynold. Other forms include Reynaldo/Reinaldo (ray-NAHL-doh, Spanish, Portuguese) and Reynaud (ray-NOH, French)
  • Rémi (ray-MEE, French)--also spelled Rémy
  • Reynir (RAY-neer, Icelandic)--"rowan tree"

Girls:
  • Areia (ah-RAY-ah, [ancient] Greek)--poss. "prayer", or from the god Ares
  • Dareia (dah-RAY-ah, [ancient] Greek)--feminine of Darius
  • Mireille (mee-RAY, French)--from Occitan "admire". Other forms include Mirèio (mee-REH-oh, Occitan), Mireia (mee-RAY-ah, Catalan, Spanish), and Mireya (mee-RAY-ah, Spanish).
  • Nereida (neh-RAY-dah, Spanish)--from Ancient Greek, "of Nereus"
  • Rayhana (ray-HAH-nah, Arabic)--"basil". Turkish form is Reyhan (ray-HAHN). 
  • Raymonde (ray-MAWND, French)--feminine of Raymond
  • Rayna (RAY-nah, English)--Anglicized from Spanish Reina, "queen", or Yiddish Reina, "pure"
  • Régine (ray-ZHEEN, French)--form of Regina
  • Reida (RAY-dah, Swedish)--from Old Norse, "home"
  • Reija (RAY-yah, Finnish)--feminine of Reijo/Gregory
  • Reynalda (ray-NAHL-dah, Spanish)--feminine of Reynaldo
  • Reynilda (ray-NIL-dah, [medieval] English)--from Old Norse, "battle advisor"
  • Rheia (RAY-ah, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "flow"

Unisex:
  • Rayan (ray-AN, Arabic)--also spelled Rayyan
  • Raven (RAY-ven, English)
  • Reagan (RAY-gen, English)--Anglicized from Irish surname Ó Riagáin, poss. "king" or "impulsive"
  • Wray (RAY, English [surname])--from Old Norse, "nook"