◊◊◊ Malcolm: Featured name ◊◊◊

Malcolm

Gender: M

Origin of Malcolm: Scottish

Meaning of Malcolm: "devotee of St. Colomba"

Malcolm's Popularity in 2009: #602

"Malcolm is a warm and welcoming Scottish appellation that fits into that golden circle of names that are distinctive but not odd. A royal name in Scotland, Malcolm is also a hero name for many via radical civil rights activist Malcolm X. "

"From Scottish Máel Coluim which means "disciple of Saint COLUMBA". This was the name of four kings of Scotland starting in the 10th century, including Malcolm III, who became king after killing Macbeth, the usurper who had murdered his father. The character Malcolm in Shakespeare's tragedy 'Macbeth' (1606) is based on him. Another famous bearer was Malcolm X (1925-1965), an American civil rights leader."

"Gaelic name meaning "follower or devotee of the dove", where the dove is usually St. Columba.
It was a popular name among Scottish nobility, and the first name of black Muslim Minister and Civil Rights leader Malcolm X."


Nicknames & Variations for Malcolm:
Mal, Malcalm, Malcohm, Malcolum, Malcom, Malkolm


My favorite combo: Joshua Malcolm

Sources:
http://www.behindthename.com/name/malcolm
http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/meaning_of_Malcolm.html
http://nameberry.com/babyname/MALCOLM

◊◊◊ Rhiannon: Featured name ◊◊◊

Rhiannon (REE-an-on)

Gender: F

Origin of Rhiannon: Welsh

Meaning of Rhiannon: "divine queen"; "goddess"

"A lovely Welsh name with links to the moon, associated with a 1970s Fleetwood Mac song; especially appropriate for a family with Welsh roots."

"Derived from the old Celtic name Rigantona meaning "great queen". In Welsh mythology Rhiannon was the goddess of fertility and the moon. This name is also borne by a princess in Welsh legends, the wife of Pwyll. As an English name, it became popular due to the Fleetwood Mac song 'Rhiannon' (1976)."

"Rhiannon is the goddess of horses in Welsh mythology. Rhiannon is also the title of a Fleetwood Mac song."

Nicknames & Variations for Rhiannon:
Reanna, Rheanna, Rhianna, Rhianon, Rianna, Riannon, Rianon

My favorite combo: Cassia Rhiannon

Names with similar ratings: Eireann, Agnieszka, Althea, Ilana, Isis, Natasha
Names from nymblar: Teagan, Nia, Tatianna, Olivia, Cameron, Ava, Cayla, Kyara, Carys, Bronwyn, Felicity, Charlotte

Sources:
http://nameberry.com/babyname/RHIANNON
http://www.behindthename.com/name/rhiannon
http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/meaning_of_Rhiannon.html

7 (or 8) Deadly Trends: A Naming Tribute

This is a must-read article about naming don'ts: http://youcantcallitit.com/7-deadly-trends/

Deadly Trends

1) Mc, Mak, or Mac names (McKayla, Makayla, McKenna, Maklynnzey)
2) Surname names (Tanner, Taylor, Parker, Gage)
3) Aiden replacements (Brayden, Xaden, Jaeden, Kayden, Caden etc.)
4) Ella names (Ella, Isabella, Stella, Arabella, Eleanor, Anabelle, Elliot)
5) K instead of C (Karla, Karlee, Karlie, Kasey, Katelyn, Konner, Kaleb,)
6) Y substitution (Shayley, Jayla, Braylin, Rylie, and Myleah)
7) Geolographic names (Abilene, Alabama, America, Aspen, Chelsea, Holland, Hudson (after the river), India, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kingston)
8) Masculine names on girls (Kyle, Tyler, Logan, Elliot, Ryan) <-- This isn't in the article, I added it because it's a pet peeve of mine.

Percent of answers that named this trend as one of the worst 3 (17 total answers):
1) 9%
2) 3%
3) 18%
4) 12%
5) 12%
6) 24%
7) 12%
8) 12%




Note: I'm using the word "sin" in the picture not to imply that these trends are sins, just to go with the title of the article "7 Deadly Trends."

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse... Cute?

Here is an exact quote from a yahoo answers question, as well as a few answers.

Question:

"Okay so I don't plan on using this as a name but don't you think its cute? Maybe not the meaning.....but it sounds cute for a little girl!

The name is- Pestilence. Beside the meaning for one second doesn't it sound cute for a girl??"

Source 1: Horsemen

Source 2: Pestilence

Answers:
"i dont really like it"

"Sorry, but i don't like it. It reminds of Pesticide."

"Actually kinda. But i wouldnt use it."

"Please rethink. Your child will have to go to school with that name. I think it would be difficult for your child.
I am sure you can find one just as creative but not as negative a meaning."

"I don't even know the meaning so that's good for my answer :P
It's alright. I certainly wouldn't ever use it though."


"Yeah I think it's cute but a bit too 'out there' for my liking, I prefer traditional/common names"

"Sounds like a name I'd give an annoying younger sibling, like a variant of pest."
"No. It sounds like a medication."
 
"HAHAHA!
Dude, if you try and forget about the meaning for a second, it actually does sort of a little bit sound like a decent name for a little girl. Then you think about disease and bugs and nastiness and then you wander "What the frick was I thinking?" ♥ "

"It does sound cute.
Im glad your not planning on using it though!! Not exactly the best haha!!!
Its funny how horrible meaning words can have lovely sounds though. I think Chlamydia sounds really nice for a girl. OBVIOUSLY i'd never ever dream in a million years of using it. But it sounds cute!
So does Nemesis!"
 
^note, none of these answers are mine. I omitted my answer, but I'm sure you can guess how I feel about it.

◊◊◊ NotD ◊◊◊ 8/07/2010

Freya Calliope ([ᶜʰᵉˡˢᵉᵃ ˢᵐᶤˡᵉ] ∂єƒєη∂ѕ ηαmεš!™; YA)
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApL1myvom7.rvHz2Dorhbdbsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100807131205AAlQEvl&show=7#profile-info-xlVGKO3aaa
- Flow: 10
-- 2 and then 3 syllables with very different letters/sounds. It flows very well.
- Style: 10
-- Love the history/meaning behind both of these ususual/pretty names.
- Names: 9
-- Never thought I'd find a Calliope combo that I like, but this one is so lovely that I have to love it. It gets a 9 here only because I think there are lots of people who would have pronunciation problems.
- Overall: ♥♥♥♥♥

Sydney Adelaide (♡AshleyVirginia♡; YA)
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlzWqPBT3kzWU4MKLtdsBGvsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100807112931AASSc1m&show=7#profile-info-0LSGgD6oaa
- Flow: 10
- Style: 10
- Names: 9
--  Not sold on the nn Sid, but it may grow on me.
- Overall: ♥♥♥♥

◊◊◊ NotD ◊◊◊ 7/15/2010

Carmen Rosetta (Ronni; YA)
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqNuXI2tkhkXF._7ATqz8g2vDH1G;_ylv=3?qid=20100705181918AALs3Fz
- Flow: 10
- Style: 10
- Names: 10
--- I would have prefered Carmen Rosita to escape the slight "Rosetta Stone" associations, but that is just a minor quibble. It is amazing how much I like this name considering I'm not a Carmen fan.
- Overall: ♥♥♥♥♥

Lillian Ruth / Isaiah David  (babymama24; BNGF)
http://www.babynamegenie.com/community/index.php?showtopic=7252&st=20
- Flow: 10/9
- Style: 10/9
- Names 8/10
--- Lillian is a bit too trendy for me, but I like it a ton more than plain Lily. I'm not fond of Ruth either. Now you are wondering why it is here if I dislike both names, but I just can't get over how beautiful they are together. Isaiah David has two names that I don't see often, and I love the feel of it. It doesn't flow as well as its sister, though.
Overall: ♥♥♥♥♥ / ♥♥♥♥

Miracles do exist... and here's proof

I've always wondered about the wacky "names" people decide to use. Here's one that is new on me: Miracle. I just saw it on Y!A, and it is just so... presumptuous to name your child that. How is it going to look when your precious little girl gets older? Dr. Miracle Johnson, Auntie Miracle, Senator Miracle Smith... pretty terrible. Anyways, I looked up the popularity out of curiosity and found:

 Year - Total births in U.S. - U.S. Rank

2009 - 662 - 463

2008 - 644 - 484

2007 - 689 - 461

2006 - 637 - 482

2005 - 650 - 469

2004 - 603 - 485

2003 - 592 - 489

2002 - 523 - 522

2001 - 523 - 515

2000 - 503 - 524

1999 - 429 - 580

1998 - 366 - 633

1997 - 420 - 556

1996 - 287 - 735

1995 - 225 - 863

There were 662 Miracles born in the U.S. in 2009. That is quite a few miracles.