Name of the Day: Hadrian

The picture to the left is from the one and only time I have ever traveled outside of the United States (a few yards inside the border of Canada doesn’t count.  Neither does Arkansas).

It was a very illuminating trip.  I was able to discover how truly inadequate my education had been.  “England was once part of the Roman Empire?  You’re kidding!”

The entire (but all too brief) two weeks was filled with surprises.  My little frontier-outpost-origin town had not prepared me for the droning spiel of the tour guide informing us that the “new part” of such-and-such cathedral was built in the 1600s.

My head swam; I had no idea that anything tangible could really be that old.  Well, I had known it theoretically, but this was a whole different  experience.

Hadrian’s Wall is even older.  It was apparently built in 122 A.D. to protect the civilized Roman subjects from those wild, naked, blue-painted Picts.  (Didn’t you just love Braveheart?  I know, MAJOR historical inaccuracies … but still.  *sigh*)

Back to the subject:  would Hadrian be usable on a boy of the 21st century?  I think so.  It seems to be less gender-ambiguous than Adrian, not that Adrian’s bad.  Actually, Adrian is also quite workable on a boy.  One of my second-grade students is named Adrian, and he wears it well.  It just kind of flows off the tongue.

I suppose the downside of using Hadrian/Adrian is the closeness in sound to the most popular boy’s names out there right now:  the Aidan Family.  Every boy in the class is going to have a name whose first syllable rhymes with Jay and last syllable ends in -en.

Which is one of the risks of using Hadrian/Adrian.  But the flip side is that these names fit right in with current tastes.  A boy named Hadrian would fit easily into a class full of Haydens and Braedens.  A little Hadrian would also have the benefit of having a legitimate name with a long, interesting history (which is not something I could say for Kayden).

While Hadrian is nowhere to be seen on the Top 1000 names, Adrian is currently #56 on the popularity charts.  Translation:  it is less popular than Elijah and Landon and Isaiah, but it is more popular than Julian and Tristan and Dominic.

from AskOxford
Usual English form of the Latin name Hadrianus ‘man from Hadria’. Hadria was a town in northern Italy, which gave its name to the Adriatic Sea; it is of unknown derivation. The initial H- has always been very volatile. The name was borne by the Roman emperor Publius Aelius Hadrianus, during whose reign (AD 117–38) Hadrian’s Wall was built across northern England. The name was later taken by several early popes, including the only English pope, Nicholas Breakspeare (Adrian IV). It has been particularly popular in the English-speaking world during the past thirty years.

from Behind the Name
From the Roman cognomen Hadrianus, which meant “from Hadria” in Latin. Hadria was a town in northern Italy (it gave its name to the Adriatic Sea). A famous bearer of the name was Publius Aelius Hadrianus, better known as Hadrian, a 2nd-century Roman emperor who built a wall across northern Britain.

from NameBerry
Most parents would find this old Roman name pretentious compared to the more accessible Adrian, but some history buffs just might want to commemorate the enlightened emperor.

from Baby Name Wizard
Adrian
Style:  Antique Charm, Saints, Shakespearean
Sisters and Brothers:  Olivia, Sophia, Mariah, Alexis, Ava, Damian, Dominic, Trevor, Julian, Miles
An old and dignified name, borne by popes and emperors.  Adrian has always been well used in Britain but less so in the U.S., where it used to be confused with the girl’s name Adrienne.  Today, though, the name is both popular and reliably masculine.

Name of the Day: Audrey

Fair warning:  the Name of the Day today is in the Top 50, so if popularity bothers you, be sure to keep this in mind.

Scene:  an unnamed Midwestern university.  Characters:  an unnamed blog writer (we’ll call her Melissa*), smack in the middle of her “skinny phase.”  She is taller than most of the other girls, and she must constantly field well-meant questions concerning anorexia.  She does not appreciate said questions, and she wishes she had a nice figure, rather than the proportions of a telephone pole.

Action.

Melissa is sitting in the living room of her off-campus housing.  All of her housemates are out doing whatever it is well-liked college students do on a Friday night.  She sighs as she nestles further into her beanbag chair.  It’s too quiet, so she turns on the T.V.

The T.V. is fortuitously tuned to the American Movie Classics channel.  “Oh, it’s an old black-and-white movie,” Melissa thinks, with her generation’s prejudice against the creative works of every other generation.  But she watches the movie, which happens to be Roman Holiday.

The heroine of the movie is not one of the blond, voluptuous starlets Melissa had come to expect from the limited exposure she’d had with movies from the 1950s.

In fact, the heroine was tall, skinny, and didn’t have much of a figure at all.

And this, my friends, is how hero worship is born.  Since that night, I — um, I mean Melissa has watched nearly every Audrey Hepburn movie out there.

Okay, Audrey stuck to pretty much the same types of characters for most of her career.  Okay, she didn’t have that great of a singing voice (Julie Andrews fans, give it a rest!  Be honest:  would YOU refuse the part of Eliza Doolittle?).  But, darn it, she was memorable.  Not to mention, she seemed like a genuinely likable person, which is more than we can say for most of the major movie stars out there nowadays.

And I have a hunch that most of the parents using the name Audrey are hoping to evoke some of the same feelings for their own daughter.  Elegance, sweetness, unconventional beauty, altruism, and likability.  Who doesn’t want that for their daughter?

I guess the only question is whether or not Audrey-the-name conveys all of those things.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that the name Audrey is all about Hepburn.  Really, think about it.  It has the unfashionable “dr” cluster, which gives it a heft that people are generally trying to avoid these days.  The name that Audrey originally came from, Etheldred, is so far away from current tastes that it’s almost comical.  Audrey rhymes with “tawdry,” although, granted, people don’t tend to use that word in casual conversation any more.  The saint associated with Audrey is associated with neck tumors.

But … Audrey.  One actress has the power to supersede all of those negative associations.

And isn’t that what we all want?  To be a credit to our name (so to speak)?  I can think of no greater compliment than to have people think of my name (which is NOT Melissa) and smile, years after I am gone.

So if you want to use the name Audrey, even though it’s popular, I think it would be lovely.

*names have been changed to protect the innocent (or slightly embarrassed)

from AskOxford
Much altered form of the Old English girl’s name Ædhelþrydh, derived from ædhel ‘noble’ + þrydh ’strength’. This was the name of a 6th-century saint (normally known by the Latinized form of her name, Etheldreda), who was a particular favourite in the Middle Ages. According to tradition she died from a tumour of the neck, which she bore stoically as a divine punishment for her youthful delight in fine necklaces. The name went into a decline at the end of the Middle Ages, when it came to be considered vulgar, being associated with tawdry, that is, lace and other goods sold at fairs held in her name (the word deriving from a misdivision of Saint Audrey). Shakespeare bestowed it on Touchstone’s comic sweetheart in As You Like It. In the 20th century such associations have largely been forgotten and the name has revived, partly due in the 1950s and 60s to the popularity of the actress Audrey Hepburn (1929–93).

from Behind the Name
Audrey:  Medieval diminutive of ÆÐELÞRYÐ (Etheldred). This was the name of a 7th-century saint, a princess of East Anglia who founded a monastery at Ely. It was also borne by a character in Shakespeare’s comedy ‘As You Like It’ (1599). At the end of the Middle Ages the name became rare due to association with the word tawdry (which was derived from St. Audrey, the name of a fair where cheap lace was sold), but it was revived in the 19th century.
Etheldred:  Derived from the Old English elements æðel “noble” and þryð “strength”.

from NameBerry
Saint’s name rising again thanks to reverence for the eternally radiant Audrey Hepburn. Celebs who have chosen the name include Greg Kinnear, Steve Zahn, and Faith Hill & Tim McGraw.

from Baby Name Wizard
Style:  Timeless
Sisters and Brothers:  Claire, Avery, Kathryn, Caroline, Ava, Clayton, Davis, Raymond, Warren, Jack
Back in the ‘30s, Audrey was a trendy choice alongside kindred spirits Shirley and Beverly.  But Audrey had a cleaner, classic sound that never lost its luster.  Today, it’s a welcome alternative to fading favorites Ashley and Courtney.

Name of the Day: Tobias

Yay, I’ve finally hit my 100th post! Rejoice with me!

A couple of years ago, before I had ever heard of the T.V. show Arrested Development, my husband had suggested the name Tobias.  Now, my husband is not nearly as much of a name nerd as I am — though he is a formidable “word nerd” — so he doesn’t toss out names nearly as often as I do.  Consequently, I payed attention.

“Hmm.  Tobias,” I had thought.  I liked it quite a bit.  It seemed friendly, homey (home-like, not gangsta), and it shortened to an adorable nickname:  Toby.

The name remained on my then-non-corporeal list of possible future baby names for several months.

Then my husband introduced me to the Madness that is Arrested Development.  Specifically, to the Madness that is Tobias Funke (I apologize.  I have a Master’s Degree, and yet I have no clue how to make an umlaut on an Apple computer.  Please mentally insert one over the “u” every time you see the name “Funke.”  Also, it is pronounced FYOON-kay).

Tobias Funke. This one character single handedly blue it for the name Tobias, as far as I was concerned.

I am now unable to think of this name in a vacuum; Tobias will always remain connected to this character in my mind.

But perhaps meeting a real, flesh-and-blood Tobias would help me to get over this.  I don’t think I’ve ever met one in real life.  Maybe it would help if I had another association.

Now, I am neither an analyst nor a therapist, but I suspect that this show will be with us for quite some time.  It was mysteriously canceled, but many, if not all, of the fans rose up with a mighty outcry. 

“Nooooo!  This was one of the only smart comedies out there!  How could it be canceled???”

I guess it wouldn’t be TOO horrible to be associated with this character.  After all, the show was highly inappropriate for school-age children.  So by the time a little Tobias’ peers will have watched this show (assuming it hangs onto its cult status and sticks around for another 15 years), he will presumably be be big enough to beat them up if they taunt him about his name.

Not that I’m condoning this kind of thing.

Ahem.

from AskOxford
Biblical name: Greek form of Hebrew Tobiah ‘God is good’. This name is borne by several characters in the Bible (appearing in the Authorized Version also as Tobijah), but in the Middle Ages it was principally associated with the tale of ‘Tobias and the Angel’. According to the Book of Tobit in the Apocrypha, Tobias, the son of Tobit, a rich and righteous Jew of Nineveh, was lucky enough to acquire the services of the archangel Raphael as a travelling companion on a journey to Ecbatana. He returned wealthy, married, and with a cure for his father’s blindness. A historical St Tobias was martyred (c.315) at Sebaste in Armenia, together with Carterius, Styriacus, Eudoxius, Agapius, and five others.

from Behind the Name
Greek form of TOBIAH. Tobias is the hero of the apocryphal Book of Tobit in the Old Testament. It relates how Tobias, with the help of the archangel Raphael, is able to drive away a demon who has been plaguing Sarah, who subsequently becomes his wife. This story was popular in the Middle Ages, and the name came into occasional use in parts of Europe at that time. In England it became common after the Protestant Reformation.

from NameBerry
Friendly and appealing in an Old Testament/Dickensian kind of way.

from Baby Name Wizard
Style:  Antique Charm, Biblical
Sisters and Brothers:  Carolina, Lydia, Felicity, Amabel, Patience, Jude, Josiah, Caleb, Eli, Jonas
If you’re looking for a rustic aura, Tobias is an absolute winner.  It’s less of a mouthful than Ezekiel or Jedidiah, and the nickname Toby is adorable for a bouncing baby boy.

Name of the Day: Tatiana

*I know, I know:  the picture to the left is of Titania, not Tatiana.  And they’re not related at all.  I just chose it because — well, read on.

Sorry this post is so late.  2:00 is pushing it, even for me.  I really have been up for hours!  It’s just that I get distracted easil … ooh, look, a butterfly!

Speaking of butterflies, I have a student named Tatiana.  (yeah, I know.  Just hang with me for a moment.)  She is truly the only person of any age that I have ever met named Tatiana.  Her name was so unusual — and such a mouthful when I saw it at first — that I asked her if she went by any nicknames.  She thought for a few moments and said, “Sometimes my mom calls me Tat,”  (that was pronounced like Tot, as in Tater Tot.  NOT like the abbreviation for tattoo).

The years have gone by, and this student has been in my class for many of them.  She is now in fifth grade, and I have gotten so used to calling her by her name in full that I can’t imagine shortening it.  Once, a couple of years ago, she came up to me all aglow.  “My name means Queen of the Fairies,” she informed me (and fairies look like butterflies, hence the connection in the previous paragraph.  Never mind … I need some coffee).

I didn’t have the heart to tell her that she was thinking of Titania, and that she had been horribly misinformed.  I just smiled and nodded.  A wise, grown-up nod.  Yes, dear, Queen of the Fairies.

But you and I know better.

Someday that sweet little girl will have a revelation akin to mine on the day that I discovered that my name meant, not “resolute courage,” as I had always thought, but “darkness.”  She will learn that there really is no known meaning for Tatiana, at least not a meaning the way baby name books describe it.  But maybe that will encourage her to find her own meaning in her name.

Possible Nicknames (besides Tater Tot)
Tina
Tanya
Tat
Tia
Anya (my favorite)

Tasha (thanks, Verity!)

from AskOxford
Russian: of early Christian origin. This was the name of various early saints honoured particularly in the Eastern Church. In origin it is a feminine form of Latin Tatianus, a derivative of Tatius, a Roman family name of obscure origin. Titus Tatius was, according to tradition, a king of the Sabines who later shared with Romulus the rule over a united population of Sabines and Latins. The name is now also used in the English-speaking world, though not so commonly as the pet form Tanya.

from Behind the Name
Feminine form of the Roman name Tatianus, a derivative of the Roman name Tatius, which is of unknown meaning. This was the name of a 3rd-century saint who was martyred in Rome under the emperor Alexander Severus. She was especially venerated in Orthodox Christianity, and the name has been common in Russia and Eastern Europe. It was not regularly used in the English-speaking world until the 1980s.

from NameBerry
Long popular in Russia and starting to catch on here, this delicate and feminine name with a touch of the exotic was used for her daughter by Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg.

from Baby Name Wizard
Style:  Lacy and Lissome, Saints, Slavic
Sisters and Brothers:  Anastasia, Natalia, Mariana, Gabriela, Serena, Darius, Fabian, Lukas, Maxim, Dimitri
Tatiana’s a perfect choice for residents of enchanted forests and faerie palaces.  Certainly, this is a serious name — in fact, intensely dignified.  It’s a classic from the early days of Christianity, popular in Russia for hundreds of years.  Its sound, though, is the stuff of daydreams.

Name of the Day: Emmett

“They made curtains, and handkerchiefs, and clothing for the poor

From the one bathing suit that your Grandma Otter wore.”

I realize that I am dating myself (in a non-romantic sense) in a MAJOR way by admitting that Emmett Otter’s Jugband Christmas is my first and dearest association with the name Emmett.  Please tell me I’m not the only one who sat in front of the TV every Christmas as a child, thinking dark thoughts about the Riverbottom Nightmare Band.  I actually did have nightmares about them.

Anyone?  *cricket chirp*  Guess I’m getting old.

I have always liked the name Emmett.  Remember the Back to the Future movies?  Emmett was the real name of Doc Brown.  What a neat character he was!  Everybody loves a crackpot, and the name Emmett was lovable enough to suit him.

I was heartbroken to discover that Emmett is the name of one of the characters in the Twilight books.  Don’t get me wrong; I like the Twilight books.  I admit it:  I stayed up late every time I got the next book.  My husband and I agree that they are laced with crack.

It’s just that Emmett is such an unusual name.  It’s bound to be linked with Twilight, at least for a couple of years, until the movies run their course.  Some of the other names from Twilight, like Bella and Edward, are common enough that there are lots of other associations.

But unless all of your friends are Gen X nerds that cut their teeth on Barbeque, they won’t really have any other strong associations with Emmett than the big cuddly vegetarian vampire.

So the jury’s still out as far as I’m concerned.  Can Emmett can rise above its association with Twilight?  I’m leaning toward “yes;” it’s a great name with a polished feel and an interesting history behind it.  It deserves to be used.  But if it makes you squeamish, maybe wait another couple of years to use it.

from AskOxford
Transferred use of the surname, itself derived from the medieval female given name Emmet, a diminutive form of Emma. It may sometimes be used by parents with Irish connections, in honour of the rebel Robert Emmet (1778–1803), who led a disastrous attempt at rebellion against the English.

from Behind the Name
Emmett:  From an English surname which was derived from a diminutive of the feminine given name EMMA.
Emma:  Originally a short form of Germanic names that began with the element ermen meaning “whole” or “universal”. It was introduced to England by Emma of Normandy, who was the wife both of king Ethelred II (and by him the mother of Edward the Confessor) and later of king Canute. It was also borne by an 11th-century Austrian saint, who is sometimes called Hemma.  After the Norman conquest this name became common in England. It was revived in the 18th century, perhaps in part due to Matthew Prior’s poem ‘Henry and Emma’ (1709). It was also used by Jane Austen for the central character, the matchmaker Emma Woodhouse, in her novel ‘Emma’ (1816).

from NameBerry
Honest and sincere, laid-back and creative, Emmett is on the rise as a male cognate of the megapopular Emma and Emily.

from Baby Name Wizard
Style:  Ladies and Gentlemen, Timeless
Sisters and Brothers:  Clara, Adela, Lillie, Celia, Esther, Reuben, Everett, Leo, Jasper, Ellis
The perfect little gentleman to accompany your little lady.  Lily, Isabel, Olivia, and friends have conquered the playground with their genteel femininity, but male counterparts have been harder to find.  If you want the same sweetness in a neatly masculine form, Emmett is your man.

Name of the Day: Joanna

Yes, my husband and I watched Sweeney Todd this weekend (we got it on BluRay.  Heh).  How could you tell?

Okay, I’ll admit it.  Every time I watch this movie — which isn’t THAT often; not like my cousin, who had a Sweeney Todd birthday party featuring red velvet cake spattered with gore — I get the “Joanna” song stuck in my head.  Not really a bad thing, exactly.  It’s a lovely song.

And Sweeney Todd certainly isn’t the only association Joanna has in popular culture.  I was *this* close to posting a picture of Audrey Hepburn in “Two For The Road” instead.  Now there’s movie that is horribly depressing, with not a single truly likable character in it, while also managing to be really funny and endearing.  It’s similar in some ways to “Revolutionary Road,” but not quite so bleak.  If you decide to rent it (which I highly recommend), be forewarned:  the plot is not at all linear.  It jumps back in forth a lot; but you can track with it a bit easier if you watch Joanna’s hairstyles.

I love that movie, even more than Sweeney Todd.  In fact, I will post a picture.  Isn’t Audrey Hepburn pretty?

Okay, enough about movies.  What about Joanna as a name?

I find it thoroughly likable and unpretentious.  It’s Biblical and a classic, without ever having been in the Top 100.  True, Joanne is starting to get a teensy bit dated.  But I think that Joanna is  different enough to stand on its own, without being weighed down by the Joanne fad of the ’30s (and ’40s, and ’50s…).

J has been a fashionable letter for a long time, and the -a ending helps to keep Joanna sounding current.  And it’s waaay less popular than one would think.  There are lots more little girls named Genesis and Brooklyn and Valeria out there right now.  Wouldn’t a Joanna be refreshing?

Can you feel it? (fast forward to 0:58)

Other Forms (I’m saving Jane & Co. for another day)
Giovanna (jo-VAHN-nah)
Ivana
Joan
Johanna (yo-HAH-nah)
Jonna
Seanna (SHAW-na)

Possible Nicknames
Joni
Joan
Jo
Annie
Jan

from AskOxford
From the Latin form, Io(h)anna, of Greek I{o_}anna, the feminine equivalent of I{o_}annes (see John). In the New Testament, this name is borne by a woman who was one of Jesus’s followers (Luke 8:3; 24:10). She was the wife of the steward of the household of King Herod Antipas. The name was regularly used throughout the Middle Ages in most parts of Europe as a feminine equivalent of John, but in England it has only been in common use as a vernacular given name since the 19th century.

from Behind the Name
Latinized form of Ιωαννα (Ioanna), feminine form of Ioannes (see JOHN). This was the name of a follower of Jesus in the New Testament. In the Middle Ages in England it was used as a Latinized form of Joan, and it became common as an English given name in the 19th century.

from NameBerry
The most usable name in her family, Joanna has been unobtrusively fashionable since the 1980s and continues to be appreciated for its New Testament history and melodious three-syllable sound, though the simpler Anna ranks much higher.

from Baby Name Wizard
Style:  Biblical, Timeless
Sisters and Brothers:  Susanna, Bethany, Andrea, Christina, Rachel, Marcus, Matthew, Derek, Aaron, Christopher
While other female forms of John wax and wane, Joanna remains modest and timeless.  It was a nineteenth-century favorite, held steady through the Joanne-dominated 1950s, and now fits in with soft favorites like Daniela and Adriana.

Name of the Day: Ambrose (and Emrys)

I told you the next boy’s name I wrote about would be slightly over-the-top. 

My first brush with this name was as the surname of a friend of mine from several years ago, with whom I have since lost touch (if you’re out there, Karen Ambrose from St. Charles, I’d like to hear from you!).

I remember thinking, “What an unusual last name she has!  I’ve never heard that before.”

Fast forward a few years.  Melanie’s Name Nerdery is in full blossom, and this name comes up on a message board.

Well, why not?  You can’t ask for a better meaning than “immortal.”  And Ambrose isn’t nearly as musty-sounding as one would think for a name that had its popularity peak in the 1880s.  Maybe that is because it was never hugely popular, even at its peak.

Smooth-sounding boy’s names are in fashion right now, at least more so than they have been in the past.  To the best of my knowledge (and I’ve known a LOT of kids), boys are no longer taunted with, “that’s a girly name!”  I think that’s because there are so many tough guys out there sharing the names Riley and Jayden with many members of the gentler sex.  Glass houses, you know.

If you like Ambrose a lot, but it’s not quiiiiite what you were looking for (or if it’s a bit too “1800s foppish” for you, for some reason), Ambrose has a handsome Welsh twin:  Emrys.  Now here’s a name for you!  Emrys has never ever been on the Top 1000 list in America.  Ever.

And Emrys is the epitome of a tougher-than-it-sounds name.  Think about it.  EM-rees.  I think it sounds like a big, gruff, cuddly Welshman with a bushy red beard.  Or perhaps the dashing raven-haired hero of a faux Celtic romance novel.  I may or may not have gotten this impression from actually reading said faux Celtic romance novel.

Emrys would be a great choice if you like the sound of Rhys (REESE — think John Rhys Davies), but you’d like a bit more substance.

So either way, if you choose Ambrose or Emrys, you’d be choosing a very obscure name that is also workable.  A rare combination.

from AskOxford
Ambrose:  English form of the Late Latin name Ambrosius, from post-classical Greek Ambrosios ‘immortal’. This was borne by various early saints, most notably a 4th-century bishop of Milan. The name has never been common in England, but has enjoyed considerably greater popularity in Roman Catholic Ireland, where the surname Mac Ambrois is Anglicized as McCambridge.
Emrys:  Welsh form of Ambrose, very common in families of Welsh origin in the 20th century.

from Behind the Name
From the Late Latin name Ambrosius, which was derived from the Greek name Αμβροσιος (Ambrosios) meaning “immortal”. Saint Ambrose was a 4th-century theologian and bishop of Milan, who is considered a Doctor of the Church. Due to the saint, the name came into general use in Christian Europe, though it was never particularly common in England.

from NameBerry
Ambrose:  A favorite of British novelists, Ambrose has an air of blooming well-being and upper-class erudition.
Emrys:  If you’re looking for a Welsh name less common than Dylan, Griffin, Evan, or Morgan, you might want to consider this offbeat epithet of the wise wizard Merlin.

from Baby Name Wizard
Style:  English, Ladies and Gentlemen, Saints
Sisters and Brothers:  Augusta, Philomena, Aurelia, Delphia, Eugenie, Rupert, Oswald, Aloysius, Leopold, Armand
Ambrose is like a handlebar mustache, so cheerfully outdated and overblown that it’s actually a lot of fun.  A revival candidate for parents who live on the edge.

Name of the Day: Elizabeth

Contrary to what you may have thought, Xanthe Linnea has not — up to this point — been a name blog.

Not really.

No writer can really claim to be writing a “name blog” until she has written a post on The Name.  To which name am I referring?  The Mother of All Names:  Elizabeth.

And this is probably going to be the Mother of All Blog Posts in my attempt to do it justice (though I don’t think that will be entirely possible), so readers beware!

Everyone knows an Elizabeth.  Think about your school/place of business.  I’ll bet you know at least four or five Elizabeths (or Beths, or Libbies, or Lizes, or Alyssas, or Isabellas, etc.).

The thing is, Elizabeth doesn’t really stick out as being popular.  Elizabeth is a true lady, in the old-fashioned sense of the word:  she never calls attention to herself, and she is able to adapt to any station of life with ease and grace.  (The name, that is.  I don’t claim to speak for the moral fiber of any actual people named Elizabeth, though I am sure they are very nice.)

I have often thought that if, in some parallel universe, my name wasn’t Melanie, I would like to be an Elizabeth (or an Anne.  Yes, I have an unhealthy Tudor fixation.  It stems from the fact that I have the same birthday as Queen Elizabeth I, which I’ve always thought was kind of neat).

Last year’s informal poll of the BNaBBT message board to determine the board’s “favorite name” ended predictably.  Elizabeth was crowned as the winner.

And why not?  Who could ever possibly dislike Elizabeth?  That would be like saying, “I don’t like bread,” for Pete’s sake.  The name Elizabeth is practically as much a part of the English language as the word “the.”  Okay, I exaggerate.  But really, I think it would be very difficult to overestimate Elizabeth.

Because of its long and distinguished history, some people might find Elizabeth to be a tad bland.  They want something a little more unusual and exciting.  I can’t really blame them; unusual and exciting, Elizabeth is not.

But Elizabeth is royal.  Elizabeth is versatile, with new and fresh nicknames for every generation.  Elizabeth is a name that can be molded in a hundred ways to fit the personality of the person bearing it.

And above all, Elizabeth is safe.  I return to that quote from a very wise BNaBBT member:  “Choosing a name for a baby is like picking a tattoo for a sleeping person.”  If you name your baby “Afshideh Bellatrix Dryope” without a very pressing reason, there is a chance — be it ever so small — that she will hate you.

Elizabeth is for parents who want to give their daughter a classic name and yet still leave room for her own personality to grow and develop.  Yes, it may be a bit cliché, but what’s wrong with that?

See, Elizabeth CAN be exotic, if she wants to be.
Alyssa (well, not the best example to lead off with)
Elisheba
Elisabeth
Lisa
Elise
Elisheva
Elspeth
Babette
Beileag
Bethan
Bettina
Ealasaid
Eilish (IE-leesh)
Eliisa
Elisa
Elisabetta
Elisaveta
Erzsebet
Ilsa
Elsa
Isabella (not very exotic these days)
Isabel
Ishbel
Liesl
Lileas
Liliana
Lillian
Lillias
Lisbet
Lisette
Sibeal
Zabel

The Many Faces of Elizabeth
Beth
Betty
Bette
Lillibet
Ellie
Bess
Lisa
Betsy
Eliza
Libby
Elsie
Bessie
Liz
Buffy
Lily
Bella
Belle
Elsa
Izzy
Ibbie
Ilse
Lilo
Isa
Lizzy
Lys
Tetty (I don’t recommend this one)
Lissy
Betta
Elise
Elle

from AskOxford
The spelling of Elizabeth used in the Authorized Version of the New Testament, and in most modern European languages. This was the name of the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:60). Etymologically, the name means ‘God is my oath’, and is therefore identical with Elisheba, the name of the wife of Aaron according to the genealogy at Exodus 6:23. The final element seems to have been altered by association with Hebrew shabbath ‘Sabbath’.

from Behind the Name
From Ελισαβετ (Elisabet), the Greek form of the Hebrew name ’Elisheva’ meaning “my God is an oath” or perhaps “my God is abundance”. The Hebrew form appears in the Old Testament where Elisheba is the wife of Aaron, while the Greek form appears in the New Testament where Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist.  Among Christians, this name was originally more common in Eastern Europe. It was borne in the 12th century by Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, a daughter of King Andrew II who became a Franciscan nun and lived in poverty. In medieval England it was occasionally used in honour of the saint, though the form Isabel (from Provençal and Spanish) was more common. It has been very popular in England since the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century. Famous modern bearers include the British queen Elizabeth II (1926-) and actress Elizabeth Taylor (1932-).

from NameBerry
While Elizabeth, one of the premiere classic girls’ names, is still in the Top 10, there are actually fewer babies getting the name these days. It has so much going for it — rich history, broad appeal, and timeless style — that no matter how many little Lizzies, Elizas, and Beths are out there, you can still make it your own.

from Baby Name Wizard
Style:  Biblical, Timeless
Sisters and Brothers:  Anna, Katherine, Sarah, Julia, Margaret, Joseph, William, Samuel, Edward, Charles
Elizabeth is the chameleon name.  It changes into a remarkable array of nicknames, letting you tweak the style to fit any personality.  This abundance dates back to the days when Elizabeth was such a ubiquitous name in England that many alternatives were needed to tell women apart.  You can feel confident that this classic can handle its ongoing modern popularity with ease.

Name of the Day: Miles

“My pillow’s lovely, soft, and deep,

But I have promises to keep.

And Miles to type before I sleep,

And Miles to type before I sleep.”

Not really — It’s 8:45 in the morning.  I just need a little coffee; I’ll be okay.

The name of the day today is Miles.  It’s been climbing steadily in the popularity charts ever since the mid-70s, but I’m going to talk about it anyway, because I like it.  So there.    (Don’t worry:  the next boy’s name I do will be off the charts entirely.  Just you wait, ‘Enry ‘Iggins.  Bwa ha ha.)

So, Miles.  Before I started reading about this name, I had no idea that this name has been around since back before the Norman Conquest.  I had thought it was just one of those soap-opera names that were all the rage back in the 80s, like Blair or Spencer or Blake.  It kind of has that feel to it, doesn’t it?  Very smooth, slightly preppy.

But no, this is a name with quite a bit of history.  Heck, there was even a Pilgrim with this name on the Mayflower!  You can’t get much more Americana than that.

Not to mention, Miles also comes equipped with the adorable pet form, Milo.  I say “pet form,” because, sadly, there are an awful lot of terriers out there named Milo.  Thank you very much, Jim Carrey.  *insert eyeroll here*

We can’t let this one go to the dogs!  So use the name Miles, and keep Milo for a nickname, and everybody’s happy.

And don’t forget, Miles is also a character from LOST, for those who can keep up with the twisted and tangled plot threads of that show (my husband and I make a credible effort).  He’s not a hugely major character, so he probably won’t be people’s first association with the name Miles.

So go ahead and use Miles.  It gets the Xanthe Linnea Stamp of Approval.

from AskOxford
Of Norman origin but uncertain derivation. Unlike most Norman names, it is, as far as can be ascertained, not derived from any known Old French or Germanic name element. It may be a greatly altered pet form of Michael, which came to be associated with the Latin word miles ’soldier’ because of the military attributes of the archangel Michael. However, the usual Latin form of the name in the Middle Ages was Milo. There is a common Slavonic name element mil ‘grace’, ‘favour’, with which it may possibly have some connection. The name has been modestly popular in England ever since the Norman Conquest. See also Milo and Myles.

from Behind the Name
From the Germanic name Milo, introduced by the Normans to England in the form Miles. The meaning is not known for certain. It is possibly connected to the Slavic name element mil meaning “gracious”, or it could be from a diminutive of MICHAEL. From an early date it was associated with Latin miles “soldier”.

from NameBerry
Jazz great Miles Davis applied a permanent veneer of cool to this confident and polished name; it has been appreciated in particular by celebrity baby namers.

from Baby Name Wizard
Style:  Timeless
Sisters and Brothers:  Phoebe, Helena, Sophie, Lydia, Clare, Simon, Malcolm, Davis, Julian, Graham
Miles is a terrific choice if you’re drawn to “elegant gentleman” names.  It sounds strong, smooth, and unflappable.  In fact, this name has been quietly cool for a thousand years, never too common but never disappearing.  In the U.S., the name is associated with the Mayflower pilgram Miles Standish, which adds a fashionably antique flavor.

Name of the Day: Fiona

I suppose that, strictly speaking, Fiona is not a “real” name.  It did not naturally evolve over thousands of years of linguistic history.  It was made up — in much the same way that Wendy was made up by J. M. Barrie, and Vanessa was made up by Jonathan Swift, and Pamela was made up by Sir Philip Sidney.  Apparently, Fiona started out as a pseudonym for William Sharp, a Scottish writer.

Fair warning, in case  you care about things like that.  I fall somewhere in the middle-but-leaning-toward-the-right, myself.  But that’s another topic for another day.

If you decide to use Fiona, there are a few rules that you should know about.  Every real or fictional person named Fiona needs to either…

1.  have red or blond hair

OR

2.  have green eyes

(Just kidding.  I made up those rules just now, though it seems like nearly every Fiona tends to follow the rules.)

The popularity graph for Fiona is kind of funny looking.  It did not appear on the popularity charts at all for over 100 years, and then it shot up all of a sudden during the 90s-2000s.  But don’t let that deter you; “shot up” is a relative phrase.  The most popular it has ever been was #327, and it has been holding fairly steady for the past few years.  In other words, Hazel and Tatiana are more popular.

I like Fiona because it is similar to Iona, but less musty-sounding.  And it is also less likely to sound like a sentence when used together with a last name, i.e. “Iona Smith.”  “Well, so what, I own a Lexus.”

All in all, Fiona is a nice, pleasant-sounding, even elegant name.  The pop culture references won’t last forever, so don’t worry about your daughter being branded an ogress (isn’t that a funny word?  I’m going to say it again.  Ogress).

from AskOxford
Scottish: Latinate derivative of the Gaelic word fionn ‘white’, ‘fair’. It was first used by James Macpherson (1736–96), author of the Ossianic poems, which were supposedly translations from ancient Gaelic. It was subsequently used as a pen-name by William Sharp (1855–1905), who produced many romantic works under the name of Fiona Macleod. It has since become popular throughout the English-speaking world.

from Behind the Name
Fiona:  Feminine form of FIONN. This name was (first?) used by Scottish poet James Macpherson in his poem ‘Fingal’ (1762).
Fionn:  Means “fair” or “white” in Gaelic. Fionn mac Cumhail was a legendary Irish hero who became all-wise by eating an enchanted salmon. He fought against the giant Fomors with his son Oisín and grandson Oscar.

from NameBerry
Known in the U. S. since the 1954 musical Brigadoon, this late nineteenth-century Scottish invention was given a recent spike in popularity via singer Fiona Apple. Jennie Garth has a daughter named Fiona Eve.

from Baby Name Wizard
Style:  Celtic, English, Lacy and Lissome
Sisters and Brothers:  Dahlia, Maeve, Felicity, Gillian, Camilla, Graham, Rowan, Jude, Malcolm, Griffin
It’s baffling why this British standby didn’t hit the U.S. sooner.  But don’t question, just enjoy:  a romantic knockout with a playful spirit.