Monday, December 31, 2012

"New" Names

I'm quite intrigued by the up-and-coming girls' name Nova. I can definitely see the appeal--short & sweet, easy to spell & pronounce, astronomical connections. And, of course, the meaning is quite appropriate for a newborn--"new". Makes me wonder what other 'new' possibilities are out there--surprisingly, only a few established names have 'new' somewhere in their meaning. But, since Nova is simply 'new' in Latin, perhaps we can just use 'new' in other languages? A bit cheesy perhaps, but fun for the new year.

Established names:
Boys:
  • Arata (ah-rah-tah, Japanese)--"new"
  • Athol (ATH-ol, Scottish)--"new Ireland"
  • Navin (nah-VEEN, Hindi)--"new". Also spelled Naveen.
  • Neville (NEV-il, English)--from French, "new town"
  • Xavier (eks-AYV-yer, ZAYV-yer, English)--from Basque, "new house"
Girls:
  • Dagny (DAHG-nee, Scandinavian)--"new day"
  • Signy (SIG-nee, Scandinavian)--"new victory"

Unisex:
  • İlkay (eel-KYE, Turkish)--"new moon"


"new" in other languages:
  • Baru (bah-roo)--Indonesian, Malay
  • Berri (behr-ree)--Basque
  • Jauns (YOWNS)--Latvian
  • Kipya (KEEP-yah)--Swahili
  • Nayā (nuh-YAH)--Hindi [नया], Urdu [نیا]
  • Newydd (NEH-with [th like in 'the'])--Welsh
  • Nový (noh-VEE)--Czech, Slovak
  • Nua (NOO-ah)--Irish
  • Xin (SHEEN)--Chinese [新,dozens of other meanings, depending on the characters]
  • Uusi (OO-see)--Finnish
  • Yeni (YEN-ee)--Turkish

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Bi-cultural Names--Italian/English (boys)

Spelled the same:
  • Aldo--English & Italian, AHL-doh
  • Alonzo--English & Italian, ah-LON-zoh
  • Walter--English, WAHL-ter; Italian, VAHL-tehr


One/two-letter difference:
  • Abel--English, AY-bel; Abele--Italian, ah-BEL-eh
  • Adam--English, AD-am; Adamo--Italian, ah-DAHM-oh
  • Adrian--English, AY-dree-an; Adriano--Italian, ah-dree-AH-noh
  • Albert--English, AL-bert; Alberto--Italian, ahl-BEHR-toh
  • Andrew--English, AN-droo; Andrea--Italian, ahn-DREH-ah
  • Ansel--English, AN-sel: Anselmo--Italian, ahn-SEL-moh
  • Antony--English, AN-toh-nee; Antonio--Italian, ahn-TOH-nyoh
  • Arthur--English, AR-thur; Arturo--Italian, ahr-TOO-roh
  • August--English, AW-gust; Augusto--Italian, ow-GOOS-toh
  • Bartholomew--English, bar-THOL-oh-myoo; Bartolomeo--Italian, BAR-toh-loh-MEH-oh
  • Basil--English, BAZ-il; Basilio--Italian, bah-SEEL-yoh
  • Benjamin--English, BEN-jah-min; Beniamino--Italian, ben-yah-MEE-noh
  • Bernard--English, ber-NARD, BER-nard; Bernardo--Italian, behr-NAR-do
  • Carl--English, KAHRL; Carlo--Italian, KAHR-loh
  • Cecil--English, SES-il; Cecilio--Italian, cheh-CHEEL-yoh
  • Christian--English, KRIS-tyen, KRIS-chen; Cristiano--Italian, krees-TYAH-noh
  • Claude--English, KLAWD; Claudio--Italian, CLOWD-yoh
  • Clement--English, KLEM-ent; Clemente--Italian, kleh-MEN-teh
  • Damian--English, DAY-mee-an; Damiano--Italian, dah-mee-AH-noh
  • Daniel--English, DAN-yel; Daniele--Italian, dah-NYEL-eh
  • David--English, DAY-vid; Davide--Italian, DAH-vee-deh
  • Dominic--English, DOM-in-ik; Domenico--Italian, doh-MEN-ee-koh
  • Edmund--English, ED-mund; Edmondo--Italian, ed-MON-doh
  • Edward--English, ED-ward; Edoardo--Italian, ed-WAHR-doh
  • Ernest--English, UR-nest; Ernesto--Italian, ehr-NES-toh
  • Eugene--English, YOO-jeen; yoo-JEEN; Eugenio--Italian, eh-oo-JEN-yoh
  • Frederick--English, FRED-er-ik; Federico--Italian, feh-deh-REE-koh
  • Ferdinand--English, FER-dih-nand; Ferdinando--Italian, fehr-dee-NAN-doh
  • Gabriel--English, GAY-bree-el; Gabriele--Italian, gah-BRYEL-eh
  • Gerard--English, jer-ARD; Gerardo--Italian, jeh-RAR-doh
  • Gilbert--English, GIL-bert; Gilberto--Italian, jeel-BEHR-toh
  • Gregory--English, GREG-oh-ree; Gregorio--Italian, greg-OR-yoh
  • Harold--English, HEHR-ohld; Aroldo--Italian, ah-ROHL-doh
  • Hubert--English, HYOO-bert; Uberto--Italian, oo-BEHR-toh
  • Hugo--English, HYOO-goh; Ugo--Italian, OO-goh
  • Isaiah--English, eye-ZAY-ah; Isaia--Italian, ee-SYE-ah
  • Jacob--English, JAY-kob; Jacopo--Italian, YAH-koh-poh
  • Leander--English, lee-AN-der; Leandro--Italian, leh-AN-droh
  • Leonard--English, LEN-ard; Leonardo--Italian, leh-oh-NAR-doh
  • Luke--English, LUEK; Luca--Italian, LOO-ka
  • Mark--English, MARK; Marco--Italian, MAR-koh
  • Martin--English, MAR-tin; Martino--Italian, mar-TEE-noh
  • Oliver--English, OL-iv-er; Oliviero--Italian, oh-leev-YEHR-oh
  • Orson--English, OR-son; Orsino--Italian, or-SEE-noh
  • Oswald--English, OZ-wald; Osvaldo--Italian, oz-VAHL-doh
  • Otto--English, OT-toh; Ottone--Italian, ot-TOH-neh
  • Paul--English, PAWL; Paolo--Italian, POW-loh
  • Raymond--English, RAY-mond; Raimondo--Italian, rye-MON-doh
  • Robert--English, ROB-ert; Roberto--Italian, roh-BEHR-toh
  • Roman--English, ROH-man; Romano--Italian, roh-MAHN-oh
  • Samuel--English, SAM-yul; Samuele--Italian, sahm-WEL-eh
  • Sebastian--English, seh-BAS-tyen; Sebastiano--Italian, seh-bahs-TYAHN-oh
  • Simon--English, SYE-mon; Simone--Italian, see-MOH-neh
  • Sylvester--English, sil-VES-ter; Silvestro--Italian, seel-VES-troh
  • Theodore--English, THEE-oh-dor; Teodoro--Italian, teh-oh-DOH-roh
  • Vincent--English, VIN-sent; Vincente--Italian, veen-CHEN-teh


Larger difference, but still recognizable:
  • Alexander--English, al-eks-AN-der; Alessandro--Italian, ah-les-SAHN-droh
  • Ambrose--English, AM-brohz; Ambrogio--Italian, ahm-BROH-joh
  • Benedict--English, BEN-eh-dikt; Benedetto--Italian, behn-eh-DET-toh
  • Bennett--English, BEN-net; Benito--Italian, ben-EE-toh
  • Christopher--English, KRIS-toh-fer; Cristoforo--Italian, krees-TOF-oh-roh
  • Cyril--English, SEER-il; Cirillo--Italian, chee-REEL-loh
  • Francis--English, FRAN-sis; Francesco--Italian, fran-CHES-koh
  • George--English, JORJ; Giorgio--Italian, JOR-joh
  • Hector--English, HEK-tor; Ettore--Italian, ET-toh-reh
  • Henry--English, HEN-ree; Enrico--Italian, en-REE-koh
  • Jasper--English, JAS-per; Gaspare--Italian, GAS-pah-reh
  • Jonathan--English, JON-ah-than; Gionata--Italian, JON-ah-tah
  • Jordan--English, JOR-dan; Giordano--Italian, jor-DAH-noh
  • Joshua--English, JOSH-yoo-ah; Giosuè--Italian, joz-WEH
  • Julian--English, JOO-lee-an; Giuliano--Italian, jool-YAH-noh
  • Justin--English, JUS-tin; Giustino--Italian, joos-TEE-noh
  • Laurence--English, LOR-ents; LAW-rents; Lorenzo--Italian, loh-REN-tsoh
  • Matthew--English, MATH-yoo; Matteo--Italian, mat-TEH-oh
  • Maximilian--English, maks-ih-MIL-yan; Massimiliano--Italian, mahs-see-meel-YAH-noh
  • Michael--English, MYE-kel; Michele--Italian, mee-KEL-eh
  • Nicholas--English, NIK-oh-las; Nicolò--Italian, nee-koh-LOH
  • Philip--English, FIL-ip; Filippo--Italian, fee-LEEP-poh
  • Roland--English, ROH-land; Orlando--Italian, or-LAHN-doh
  • Patrick--English, PAT-rick; Patrizio--Italian, pah-TREE-tsyoh
  • Peter--English, PEE-ter; Pietro--Italian, PYEH-troh
  • Raphael--English, RAF-ay-el; Raffaele--Italian, raf-ah-EL-leh
  • Richard--English, RICH-ard; Riccardo--Italian, reek-KAR-doh
  • Roger--English, ROJ-er; Ruggero--Italian, roo-JEHR-oh
  • Steven--English, STEE-ven; Stefano--Italian, stef-AH-noh
  • Terrence--English, TEHR-rents; Terenzio--Italian, teh-REN-tsyoh
  • Thaddeus--English, THAD-dee-us; Taddeo--Italian, tahd-DEH-oh
  • Thomas--English, TOM-as; Tommaso--Italian, toh-MAH-zoh
  • Timothy--English, TIM-oh-thee; Timoteo--Italian; tee-moh-TEH-oh
  • Ulysses--English, yoo-LIS-seez; Ulisse--Italian, oo-LEES-seh
  • Victor--English, VIK-tor; Vittore--Italian, veet-TOH-reh
  • Xavier--English, eks-AY-vyer; ZAY-vyer; Saverio--Italian, sah-VEHR-yoh

Thursday, December 20, 2012

"Known but Not Common"

Some people like 'unique' names; some prefer solid classics. In my experience, though, most parents are searching for that elusive name that everyone recognizes but no one is using. This can lead two ways--a famous name that few use because it's inextricably linked to one figure; or, even more difficult, a name that is consistently underused. Never super-popular, but never out of style; it's the hardest sort of name to pin down.
But, of course, I have to try anyway, so here are names that have continuously been in the US top 1000 for the past 80 years, but have never broken the top 100 (yet! Asterisks indicate names that are more popular now than they've ever been).

This list has gone through many changes since its publication in 2012; see notes!

Boys:
  • Abel*
  • Abraham
  • Alfredo
  • Alonzo
  • August
  • Avery*
  • Blaine
  • Brooks*
  • Bryant
  • Byron
  • Calvin
  • Clark
  • Clay
  • Clayton
  • Clinton [as of 2015, Clinton is out of the SSA Top 1000]
  • Conrad
  • Cyrus
  • Dallas
  • Damon
  • Davis
  • Dexter
  • Donovan
  • Duncan [as of 2019, Duncan is out of the SSA Top 1000]
  • Edgar
  • Eduardo
  • Elias* [as of 2015, Elias is now in the SSA Top 100]
  • Elliot*
  • Ellis
  • Emmett*
  • Enrique
  • Ernesto
  • Everett* [as of 2018, Everett is in the SSA Top 100]
  • Felipe
  • Felix
  • Francisco
  • Grady*
  • Graham*
  • Grant
  • Guillermo
  • Harley
  • Harrison*
  • Hector
  • Hugh (okay, I cheated here; it did fall from the Top 1000 for one year--2008)
  • Israel
  • Jasper*
  • Jean [as of 2012, Jean is out of the SSA Top 1000]
  • Jefferson
  • Julio
  • Julius
  • Kendall [as of 2019, Kendall is out of the SSA Top 1000]
  • Lane*
  • Lincoln* [as of 2014, Lincoln is now in the SSA Top 100]
  • Malcolm
  • Manuel
  • Marcel
  • Mario
  • Marshall
  • Maurice
  • Miles* [as of 2018, Miles is now in the SSA Top 100]
  • Morgan
  • Moses
  • Nelson
  • Noel
  • Orlando
  • Oscar
  • Pablo
  • Preston
  • Quentin
  • Rafael
  • Ramon
  • Raul
  • Reginald
  • Reid*
  • Ricardo
  • Roderick [as of 2013, Roderick is out of the SSA Top 1000]
  • Roland
  • Roman* [as of 2016, Roman is in the SSA Top 100]
  • Ross [as of 2013, Ross is out of the SSA Top 1000]
  • Ruben
  • Rudy
  • Salvador
  • Saul
  • Sidney [as of 2014, Sidney is out of the SSA Top 1000]
  • Silas* (fell from the Top 1000 for 1967)
  • Simon
  • Solomon
  • Sterling
  • Terrell [as of 2019, Terrell is out of the SSA Top 1000]
  • Thaddeus (fell from the Top 1000 for 2009)
  • Toby
  • Vaughn [as of 2018, Vaughn is out of the SSA Top 1000]
  • Wade 
  • Wilson
  • Winston
  • Zane*

Girls:
  • Adrienne [as of 2019, Adrienne is out of the SSA Top 1000]
  • Alma
  • Aurora* [as of 2015, Aurora is now in the SSA Top 100]
  • Bridget
  • Camille*
  • Carmen
  • Cecilia
  • Celeste
  • Celia
  • Claudia [as of 2019, Claudia is out of the SSA Top 1000]
  • Corinne
  • Daphne (fell from the Top 1000 for 1938)
  • Elisa
  • Elise*
  • Elsa
  • Genevieve
  • Georgia
  • Gwendolyn
  • Helena (fell from the Top 1000 for 1992)
  • Hope
  • Iris
  • Ivy* (fell from the Top 1000 for 1946) [as of 2018, Ivy is now in the SSA Top 100]
  • Joy
  • Juliana (fell from the Top 1000 for 1936)
  • Lena
  • Lucia*
  • Marina
  • Mercedes [as of 2015, Mercedes is out of the SSA Top 1000]
  • Meredith
  • Miriam
  • Nina
  • Nora* [as of 2013, Nora is now in the SSA Top 100]
  • Priscilla
  • Rosa
  • Sonia [as of 2015, Sonia is out of the SSA Top 1000]

(I probably should have expected this, but I'm totally shocked by how much longer the boys' list is than the girls. Holy crap!)