Monthly Archives: July 2015

Celebrity Baby Names: Sporting Babies

14 Tuesday Jul 2015

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Trainer James Cummings, and his wife Monica, welcomed a daughter named Adeline on June 30 [pictured]. A fourth generation trainer of race horses, James is the grandson of veteran trainer Bart Cummings, and works in partnership with his grandfather. Monica is racing manager at Gooree Park, and the granddaughter of Filipino billionaire Eduardo Cojuangco.

NRL footballer Moses Mbye, and his partner Maddy, welcomed their daughter Mya Kate on July 5 (a strong M theme!). Moses has played for the Canterbury Bulldogs since last year. Of Gambian descent, he is one of the few NRL players with African heritage.

AFL footballer Travis Varcoe, and his partner Kim, recently welcomed a daughter named Franki, a sister for Travis’ stepdaughter Olivia, age 11. Travis played for Geelong for many years, and signed with Collingwood this season; he has also been chosen for the national team and the Indigenous All Stars.

MMA fighter Robert Whittacker welcomed his son Jack at the end of May. Originally from New Zealand, Sydney-based Robert fights in the UFC, and holds the Super Fight Australia Welterweight Belt.

From William to Oliver: Life Cycles of the #1 Boys Names in New South Wales

12 Sunday Jul 2015

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William 1900s and 2009-2013
Was the #1 name of the 1900s (previous history unknown, but in the UK was #1 for the second half of the 19th century). Left the Top 10 in the 1950s, sinking to its lowest level in 1980 at #50. The name began rising after the birth of Prince William in 1982, and reached the Top 10 in 1997 (the year of Princess Diana’s death, putting her eldest son in the public eye). The name went to #1 during William’s courtship of Catherine Middleton, remaining there during the years of their engagement, wedding, and the birth of their first child. Currently #2. William is the overall #1 name of the twentieth century.

John 1910s, 1920s, 1930s and 1940s
Was #2 in the 1900s, and the #1 name of the following four decades (previous history unknown, but in the UK was stable in the Top 10 for the second half of the 19th century). Left the Top 10 in 1972, and the Top 50 in 2001. It reached its lowest level in 2010 at #100, but then rose again. Currently #93. John is the overall #1 boys’ name in Australian history.

Peter 1950s and 1960-1961
Was #64 in the 1900s, and joined the Top 50 in the 1920s. Top 10 by the 1930s, it was the #1 name of the 1950s and the beginning of the 1960s; this correlates with the career highlights of British-Australian actor Peter Finch, who starred in A Town Like Alice and The Shirralee. Left the Top 10 in 1982 and the Top 50 in 1997. Left the Top 100 in 2007. 2011 position was #125.

David 1962-1970
Was #28 in the 1900s, and joined the Top 10 in the 1940s – rise coincides with the 1935 film version of David Copperfield, with Freddie Bartholomew as the young David, and the beginning of actor David Niven’s career. The #1 boys’ name for nine years, David was the overall #1 name of the 1960s. It left the Top 10 in 1990 and the Top 50 in 2004. Currently #92.

Jason 1971-1973
First charted in the 1950s at #290, the decade that the popular Italian film Hercules was released, with Fabrizio Mioni in the role of Jason. Joined the Top 100 in 1964 at #97, the year after the release of classic fantasy film Jason and the Argonauts, starring Todd Armstrong as Jason. Reached the Top 50 in 1966, and the Top 10 in 1970 (it may amuse some readers that Kylie and Jason were #1 in the same year, 1973). Left the Top 10 in 1978, the Top 50 in 1999, and the Top 100 in 2006. 2011 position was #133.

Michael 1974-1981 and 1983
Was #44 in the 1900s and joined the Top 10 in the 1940s. Was #1 for nine years, and the overall #1 boys’ name of the 1970s. It was paired with Michelle, the #1 girls’ name of that decade, making them the most similar boy and girl #1 names until Oliver and Olivia last year. Left the Top 10 in 1997. Currently #46.

Matthew 1982-1987 and 1989-1991
Was #89 in the 1900s, falling to its lowest level in the 1940s at #161. It rose again in the 1950s, and by 1960 was #63. It joined the Top 50 in 1961 and the Top 10 in 1971, spending nine years in total at #1, and was the overall #1 boys’ name of the 1980s. Left the Top 10 in 2006. Currently #44.

Daniel 1988
Was #58 in the 1900s, falling to its lowest level in the 1930s at #116. By the 1940s it had returned to the Top 100, and by 1960 was #72. Joined the Top 50 in 1967, and the Top 10 in 1974. Left the Top 10 in 2007. Currently #25.

Joshua 1992-1996 and 1998-2003
First charted in the 1960s at #283. Joined the Top 100 in 1971 at #78, and was in the Top 50 by 1975. Joined the Top 10 in 1982, spending eleven years in total at #1. Not only the overall #1 boys’ name of the 1990s, it is the longest-serving #1 boys’ name since 1960. Left the Top 10 in 2013. Currently #17.

Jack 1997 and 2004-2008
Was #24 in the 1900s, falling to its lowest level in the 1960s at #277. Rejoined the Top 100 in 1986 at #88 (a year after rocker Ozzie Osbourne welcomed his son Jack) and was in the Top 50 by 1989. Joined the Top 10 in 1994, and spent six years in total at #1, the overall #1 boy’s name of the 2000s. Currently #4.

Oliver 2014
Was #83 in the 1900s, falling to its lowest level in the 1960s at #418. It began rising in the 1970s – surge in popularity corresponds with the 1968 release of the award-winning musical film Oliver!, with Mark Lester as Oliver Twist. Rejoined the Top 100 in 1986 at #100, and was Top 50 by 2000. Joined the Top 10 in 2008, and reached #1 last year.

You only need a quick glance at the post to see how it differs from the one on the #1 girls’ names. For a start, it is much shorter, with just 11 #1 boys’ names as opposed to 18 for girls. And although different types of boys’ names got to the top of the charts, nearly all of them are classic names. Jason and Joshua stand out as the only #1 names which were new to the charts before their rise.

Not only are nine of the names classics that have never left the charts, nine of them were Top 100 names in the 1900s, and six of them were in the Top 50 of the 1900s! That extreme conservatism in popular boys’ names tempts one to look at the 1900s Top 100 to see if any more of the popular names of that era could become future #1 names. Could names such as George, Alexander, Harry, Patrick, Edward, Henry, or Samuel be destined for the top spot?

The main trait that #1 boys’ names tended to share with #1 girls’ names is the speed with which they got into the Top 50 (although this is made more difficult due to the fact so many boys’ name started out already in the Top 50). This would make names such as Hudson and Flynn look like possibilities for future #1 names.

The notable exception to this is Oliver, which took 14 years to get from the bottom half of the Top 100 into the top half. Interestingly, Olivia was the exception amongst the girls, taking 12 years to get into the Top 50 once in the Top 100. Both these names made #1 in 2014, which may be a sign that things are changing.

There was a very definite break in the pattern in the girls’ name, which became evident around the mid-2000s. That there is no such obvious break in the pattern of the boys’ names may mean that boys’ name popularity is so much more conservative than girls that they will continue on as they have done so far – or it may mean that change is just slower coming. It may even have already started. We will just have to wait and see!

POLL RESULTS
People’s favourite #1 boy’s name was William, gaining 21% of the vote, and Jack was very close behind on 20%. The least favourite was Michael, which only one person voted for.

Sailor and Cove

10 Friday Jul 2015

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Multiples
Henry, Rufus and Pearl (Evan, Otto, Felix)

Girls
Aleesha Manahil (Zakriya)
Anais Josefina (William)
Audrey Ardina
Cailin Joy (Harley)
Chloe Helen
Dottie Grace
Emilia Jasmine (Eloise, Michael, Theo, Joshua)
Everley Nicola (Chloe)
Georgia Maisie (Annie, Eliza)
Harriet Patricia
Indigo Mary Hana
Jessica Amy (twins Samantha and Ashley)
Lola Iris (Meg, Hugh, Maeve, Grace)
Lucy Bea
Matilda (Tessa)
Millie Rose
Nila Ann
Olivia Jane
Opal Elizabeth (Eli)
Sailor May Louise

Boys
Ari Jared
Chester Frederick (Poppy, Oscar, Maggie)
Colton Lorrie
Cove Alexander
Edison Archer (Bella)
Hamish Fairfax (William, Isabel)
Jeda Ernest
Jonty Maxwell (Matilda)
Judd Lenny (Rex)
Kerrod Anthony Junior
Lux (Rio, Ari)
Mac Samuel (Harper)
Moss William
Nash Thomas
Nicholas Winston
Orlando MJ
Remington Tieran
Thor Cecil (Owen)
Trace Mitchell
Zaden Roberto

(Photo shows boats on the river at Lane Cove National Park in Sydney)

Celebrity Baby Names: Sporting Babies

08 Wednesday Jul 2015

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Soccer star Melissa Barbieri, and her husband, Geoff Hudson, welcomed their daughter Holly in 2013 [pictured]. Melissa has been a member of the national women’s squad, the Matildas, since 2002, and was captain when Australia won the Asian Cup in 2010. She currently plays for Adelaide in the W-League, and in her first year with the team, won the W-League goal keeper of the year award. She is in training for the World Cup, which will be her fourth.

Basketball coach Sam Woosnam, and her partner Alex Vanrenen, welcomed their daughter Myah on Mother’s Day. A life member of the Women’s National Basketball League, and triple championship player, Sam is currently coach of Kilsyth in the South East Australian Basketball League.

Former athlete Amber Halliday, and her partner Mello Bouwmeester, welcomed their son Monty Rex on June 23. Amber is a three-time world champion in lightweight rowing who competed at the 2004 Olympic Games, before swapping to cycling in 2008. She won the Women’s Tour of New Zealand in 2009, but unfortunately her sporting career was ended after a serious racing accident. She is now a rowing coach and public speaker, as well as studying for her PhD in psychology.

Celebrity Baby News: Egypt and Alexandria

08 Wednesday Jul 2015

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New Zealand-born rapper Fortafy (born Samuel Ratumaitavuki), and his partner Shana Evers, welcomed their daughter Egypt eight months ago [pictured]. Fortafy is an up-and-coming rapper, nightclub promoter, and business marketer who is an Internet sensation. Although very young, Egypt is also a bit of web celebrity, having over 200 000 followers on her Facebook page. Egypt’s parents are sometimes said to be modelling themselves on the Kardashian-Wests, and although they haven’t called their daughter North, they have given her a name from North Africa!

Reality TV contestant Alana Wilkie, and her fiance, footballer Chris Billings, welcomed their daughter Alexandria Rose in early June. Alana was a finalist in the 2010 Miss Universe Australia contest, and also competed on last year’s series of The Bachelor. Chris, who plays Australian rules football in the WAFL, was initially approached by producers to be the bachelor on the show, but turned down the role. The two made a connection after Alana was eliminated.

Name Update: Last Minute Inspiration!

07 Tuesday Jul 2015

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Elizabeth and Thomas were expecting a second child, a sibling for their son. Elizabeth felt that she was sorely lacking baby name inspiration, and wrote in to the blog for help.

While I was able to offer some help on girls’ names, unfortunately I wasn’t much use with boys’ names. Nothing daunted, Elizabeth went right through the entire blog to find a name that she loved, and eventually she hit on it – Bede! However, Thomas didn’t like Bede at all, so it was back to the drawing board.

Elizabeth and Thomas welcomed their second son last June, without having a name picked out for him. There’s nothing like having an actual baby to focus you though, and eventually they put their heads together and called him

PATRICK GEOFFREY “PADDY”,

brother to Xavier.

Congratulations to Elizabeth and Thomas! And this is a nice reminder that even if I fail you, and the blog fails you, and no inspiration strikes, and you can’t agree on any names with your partner, and you don’t get a name list done before the baby is born – you will work it out and find the right name. We all have perfect faith in you.

From Mary to Olivia: Life Cycles of the #1 Girls Names in New South Wales

05 Sunday Jul 2015

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Recently Abby from Appellation Mountain had a great article on the #1 girls names in the United States – such a good idea that I had to steal it! As we don’t have national data stretching back to the turn of the century, I’ve looked at the #1 girls names in New South Wales, since it is the most populous state, and has the best data. Annual data is only available from 1960, so until then the #1 names are for the decade only.

Mary 1900s and 1910s
The #1 name of the 1900s and 1910s (previous history unknown, but in the UK was #1 for the second half of the 19th century). Left the Top 10 in the 1940s, and the Top 100 in 2009. 2011 position was #101. Mary was the overall #1 girls’ name of the twentieth century.

Betty 1920s
Was #276 in the 1900s. Joined the Top 100 in the 1910s at #62 – sudden increase in popularity correlates with matinee idol Betty Blythe starting her film career. Shot up to #1 in the 1920s, the peak era for Blythe. Left the Top 10 in 1940, and the Top 100 in 1950. Left the charts in the 1990s.

Margaret 1930s and 1940s
Was #6 in the 1900s (previous history unknown, but in the UK had been stable in the Top 10 for the second half of the 19th century). Made #1 for both the 1930s and 1940s, coinciding with the early life of Princess Margaret. Left the Top 10 in the 1960s, and the Top 100 in 1970s; Princess Margaret attracted some controversy at this time. Failed to chart in 2010, but in 2011 was #428 – higher than before the drop. Margaret is the overall #1 girls’ name in Australian history.

Susan 1950s
Was #149 in the 1900s. Joined the Top 100 in the 1940s at #14 – sudden increase in popularity correlates with actress Susan Hayward starting her career. The #1 name of the 1950s, the peak of Susan Hayward’s career. Left the Top 10 in the 1970s, and the Top 100 in the 1980s. Although in steady use for many years, it failed to chart in 2011.

Jennifer 1960-62
Joined the charts and Top 100 in the 1930s at #75. Surged in popularity during the 1940s, correlating to career success of actress Jennifer Jones. Was #1 in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Left the Top 10 in 1970, and the Top 50 in 1995. Left the Top 100 in 2005. 2011 position was 260 and stable.

Karen 1963 to 1966
Joined the charts in the 1940s at #104 and the Top 100 in the 1950s at #13. By 1960 it was Top 10, and overall Karen was the most popular girls’ name of the 1960s. Left the Top 10 in 1977, and the Top 50 in 1983, leaving the Top 100 in 1987. Sudden drop in popularity correlates with the death of singer Karen Carpenter from anorexia nervosa, and the death of Karen Ann Quinlan, who had been in a long-term coma after a radical starvation diet. Left the charts in 2009, but made a slight recovery in 2011, ranking #631.

Michelle 1967-72 and 1974-75
First charted in the 1940s at #248 and joined the Top 100 in the 1950s at #52. By 1960 it had reached #18, and was in the Top 10 by 1961. Reached #1 in 1967, when The Beatles song Michelle won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. Michelle reached #1 again in the mid 1970s, the most popular girls’ name of that decade. Left the Top 10 in 1985, the Top 50 in 1995, and the Top 100 in 2003. 2011 position was 233 and stable.

Kylie 1973
Joined the charts and Top 100 in 1965 at #93. Reached the Top 50 in 1968, and the Top 10 in 1970. Left the Top 10 in 1982, but managed to get back into it in 1987, the year of Kylie Minogue’s onscreen wedding to Jason Donovan in soap opera Neighbours. Left the Top 50 in 1989 and the Top 100 in 1990 – sudden fall in popularity correlates with Mary-Anne Fahey appearing as grouchy schoolgirl Kylie Mole in The Comedy Company television show. Left the charts in the late 2000s.

Rebecca 1976 to 1982
Was #179 in the 1900s, and left the charts in the 1930s. Made a comeback in the 1940s at #366, the same decade that Alfred Hitchcock’s film Rebecca was released. Joined the Top 100 in 1966 at #93, and the Top 50 in 1969. Joined the Top 10 in 1972, and was #1 four years later, staying in the top spot for eight years. Left the Top 10 in 1998, and the Top 50 in 2004. Left the Top 100 in 2008 – sudden fall in popularity correlates with actress Rebecca “Bec” Cartright leaving soap opera Home and Away. 2011 position was 188 and stable.

Sarah 1983
Has been on the charts since the 1900s, falling to its lowest level in the 1940s at #284. Began rising in the 1950s, and joined the Top 100 in 1964 at #98. Joined the Top 50 in 1970, and the Top 10 in 1976. Despite only being #1 for one year, Sarah was overall the most popular girls’ name of the 1980s. Left the Top 10 in 2005. Currently #44.

Jessica 1984-97 and 2000-01
Joined the charts in the 1960s at #437; similarity to Jennifer probably a major factor. Joined the Top 100 in 1976 at #97, and the Top 50 in 1979. Joined the Top 10 in 1982, spending thirteen consecutive years at #1 and managing to get there again at the start of the 2000s. Overall Jessica was the most popular girls’ name of the 1990s. Left the Top 10 in 2008. Currently #40.

Emily 1998-99 and 2002-2004
Has been on the charts since the 1900s, falling to its lowest level in the 1950s at #455. Began rising in the 1960s, and joined the Top 100 in 1977 at #77. Joined the Top 50 in 1981, and the Top 10 in 1989. Made #1 twice for a total of five years between 1998 and 2004, and was overall the most popular girls’ name of the 2000s. Currently #6.

Olivia 2005 and 2014
Joined the charts and Top 100 in 1978 at #65, the year that Newton-John starred as as Sandy in the movie Grease. Joined the Top 50 in 1990, and Top 10 in 1998. Currently #1 again, correlating with a busy period for actress Olivia Wilde.

Chloe 2006 and 2011
Joined the charts in the 1970s at #674, the decade when French fashion house Chloé was at its peak. Joined the Top 100 in 1985 at #98, the same year that actress Candice Bergen welcomed a daughter named Chloe. Joined the Top 50 in 1986 – sudden rise in popularity correlates with the birth of Olivia Newton-John’s daughter, Chloe Lattanzi. Joined the Top 10 in 1996 and was #1 ten years later. Made #1 again in 2011, a key year for young actress Chloe Moretz. Currently #7.

Isabella 2007 and 2009-10
Has been on the charts since the 1900s, dropping off in the 1950s and the 1970s. Came back in the 1980s at #499, after actress Isabella Rossellini began her career in American films. Joined the Top 100 in 1993 at #78 and the Top 50 in 1994 – sudden surge in popularity correlates with actress Nicole Kidman welcoming a daughter named Isabella by adoption. Joined the Top 10 in 1998. Reaching #1 in 2007, it was back again in 2009, the year after the first Twilight film, with Kristen Stewart as Isabella “Bella” Swan. Currently #9.

Mia 2008
Joined the charts in the 1960s at #464 for the decade, the era when Maria “Mia” Farrow, daughter of Australian director John Farrow, began her career on soap opera Peyton Place. It joined the Top 100 in 1997 and the Top 50 in 2003 – sudden massive surge in popularity correlates with The Princess Diaries being released on DVD, with Anne Hathaway as Princess Mia. Joined the Top 10 in 2005, and was #1 for one year. Currently #2.

Ruby 2012
Was #21 in the 1900s and left the charts in the 1950s. Came back in the 1980s, at 548, the decade comedian Ruby Wax began her career on British TV. Joined the Top 100 in 1996 at #100, and the Top 50 in 1998 – sudden surge in popularity correlates with Ruby Wax getting her own interview show. Joined the Top 10 in 2010, just after the name Ruby was chosen for a baby on hit drama series, Packed to the Rafters. Two years later it was #1. Currently #8.

Charlotte 2013
Was #96 in the 1900s, and left the charts in the 1940s. Came back in the 1960s at #513, just as actress Charlotte Rampling began her career. Joined the Top 100 in 1989 at #86, and the Top 50 in 1998. Joined the Top 10 in 2003, and was #1 a decade later. Charlotte is currently #3.

What do the #1 names have in common? They include classics and retro names, but many had never appeared on the charts before they began their ascent to the top.

The amount of time it took to go from obscurity to popularity varied. Some leaped straight from nowhere into the Top 100, while others took decades – Mia had around 30 years between appearing on the charts and joining the Top 100. The average was 13 years.

One thing that nearly all the names had in common was the swiftness with which they went from the bottom half of the Top 100 into the Top 50: the average amount of time it took was just four years, and some managed it in a single year. The longest was Olivia, which took 12 years to get into the Top 50.

Once in the Top 10, the longest any names took to reach #1 was ten years. It took them at least two years before they reached the #1 spot, with the fastest being Jessica and Ruby. The average was six years.

Having made #1, names tended to stay in the Top 10 for a while, an average of twelve years. It took Kylie 17 years to finally leave the Top 10 for good, while Jessica was gone in just seven.

After they left the Top 10, most names were fairly quick to depart the Top 100, except Jennifer, which had 35 years of further popularity. Kylie had just three. Most of the names remained in reasonable use, so #1 names don’t usually become horribly dated, unless they become associated with something unpleasant or comical.

Can we draw any inferences for the future? It’s apparent that the nature of the #1 name has changed – the days of one name being at the top for several years are over. The change set in around the mid-2000s, which is when we all became a lot more conscious about name popularity. Since then, it seems as if being #1 is a job-sharing position, with several Top 10 names taking it in turns to wear the crown.

Could other current Top 10 names get to #1? Ava reached the Top 10 in 2008 and Amelia in 2009, so they still have until 2018 and 2019 to make the ten year deadline. However, Sophie joined in 2004, so time has run out – she should have been #1 last year if we accept a ten-year time-frame.

Speed of rising is a predictor of potential #1 success. If we look at names currently rising, Aria and Evelyn look like possibilities for the future, taking just 2 years to go from the bottom of the Top 100 to the Top 50. Harper, Isla and Ivy seem even more likely, as they took only one year.

Maybe that’s making parents of Arias and Islas feel a little nervous, but there’s one thing to remember: out of all the names given to babies in New South Wales since 1900, most didn’t get to #1. In other words, whatever name you love, the odds are on your side that it will never become the most popular name of the year.

POLL RESULTS
People’s favourite #1 girl’s name was Charlotte, gaining 20% of the vote. The least favourite was Michelle, which nobody voted for.

What Would You Call a Brother or Sister to Lucas in an H-Free Zone?

04 Saturday Jul 2015

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Tessa and Patrick are expecting their second child in a few weeks, a sibling for their son Lucas. They already have middle names picked out – Marguerite for a girl, and Philip for a boy. These are both family names, and Lucas has a family name for his middle name too.

Tessa loves lots of names which start with the letter H, but the family surname also begins an H eg Howitt. She thinks names such as Henry Howitt or Hannah Howitt sound very sing-songy and she doesn’t like them at all. This has made choosing baby names a bit more challenging for her.

So far their name lists look like this:

Girls
Gemma (front runner)
Jemima (Tessa loves this name but Patrick doesn’t)
Zoe
Imogen

Boys
Felix (front runner)
Milo
Toby
Charlie
Oscar

Tessa wants to know what people think of their name lists, and if they can suggest any other names they might like that sound nice with Lucas and don’t start with H.

* * * * * * * * * *

Bad luck with the surname issue, which can indeed change what names you decide upon (my husband outlawed anything ending in S or X). Luckily there are 25 other letters in the alphabet, leaving you with plenty of choice.

GIRLS

Gemma
Very pretty (Gemma Marguerite is lovely), and it sounds like a great match with Lucas. It also seems like an excellent compromise for a couple where one person loves the name Jemima and the other doesn’t.

Jemima
I also love this name (so stylish), and feel sad you’re not allowed to use it. I’ve noticed dads often can’t get into the name Jemima.

Zoe
I like Zoe Marguerite a lot, and Lucas and Zoe make for quite a modern-sounding sibset.

Imogen
Imogen and Lucas are wonderful together. Somehow this reminds me of both Gemma and Jemima, so it almost seems like another good compromise choice.

BOYS

Felix
I love this name, and like how it sounds with your surname, and with Lucas. However, if you don’t like alliteration, how do you feel about Felix Philip?

Milo
This actually sounds really good with Lucas, even though Milo is a bit more daring. To me Milo sounds like a very energetic young boy – maybe because you “go and go and go with Milo”, or because his initials would be MPH (miles per hour). Pretty cool.

Toby
You’ve picked another winner as a match with Lucas, because Lucas and Toby just sound brilliant together.

Charlie
Adore this with your surname – it just sounds so breezy, yet competent and trustworthy. Amazingly I couldn’t find any examples of people using it online, so even though it sounds completely normal, it doesn’t appear to be common.

Oscar
I like Oscar Philip as a name combination, and I like that it’s an Irish name, like Patrick’s.

Other Names You Might Like

Annika
Clara
Eloise
Isabel
Romy
Stella

Dexter
Jasper or Casper
Jonah (it means “dove” like Jemima)
Maxwell
Rafe
Rafferty (if Rafe seems too stuttery next to Philip)

These names all seem stylish, yet are simple and fuss-free, which I think might be what you and Patrick are looking for. Although I think you have a nice shortlist already, and with only a few weeks to go, adding more names to the list may not be what you really need at this point.

UPDATE: The baby was a girl, and her name is Gemma!

POLL RESULTS
The public’s clear choice for a girls’ name was Gemma, with 35% of the vote. The top choice for a boy was Toby with 26% of the vote, but Milo and Oscar were close behind, with 24% and 21% of the vote each.

Lilith and Zoryn

03 Friday Jul 2015

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Girls
Anastasia (Jenny, Kay)
Amity Louise
Andi Dawn
Ariah Turangawaewae (Savannah)
Asha Ellen (Ruby, Jorja)
Avalee Rose (Maya)
Bridget Laurel
Clara Elizabeth (Emilia, Hayden)
Elena (Corey, Damon, Adara)
Eliza Scarlett (Amelia)
Estelle Amerie
Faith Patricia
Gabrielle Elise (Isabella, Maddison)
Georgie Marea
Jade Jordanna (Kimberley, Bradley)
Kelsey Adrienne Rachel
Lilith Amanda Freda (Skye, Cade, Paige)
Makayla Ashley (Macauley)
Margot Mary (Rosie)
Millie-Belle Diamond
Olivia Margaret
Phoebe Lily
Poppy Joan
Remi Joy (Tehya)
Roxanne Courtney
Safia Ifet (Lukas)
Scarlett Marion
Sophie Veda
Stella Carmel (Ruby, Charlotte)
Zahli May (Callen, Sienna)

Boys
Alby Edward (Renee, Lillian)
Alyxander Barry Joseph (Aydan, Damyn)
Ari Peter (Isaac)
Benjamin Jo (Ryker, Finley, Jojo)
Caleb Zhe-Yi
Chad Lester
Dustyn Luke (Kody, Tahlia, Deakin)
Easton James (Arabella)
Ethan Weng Ming
Flynn Sydney Maxwell
Freddie Dave (Archie, Larry, Sam)
George Alfred
Grayson Terence John
Harlan Mitchell (Imarni)
Jack Howard Lincoln
Jagger Michael (Cruize)
Jasper Stanley (Alexia, Kallum, Chayse)
Jed Tyson (Sophie)
Jovi Ramon (Blair, Seth, Axel)
Lachlan Neale (Riley, Hudson, Connor, Patrick, Rachel)
Lucas Harvey Raymond (Archer)
Max Erich Graham (Monique, Mikayla)
Nathaniel Ernest
Oliver Henry
Peter Anthony (Will)
Sebastian Philip
Silas Ethan
Theo Hudson (Hunter)
William Thomas Meurant
Zoryn Levi (Corbyn, Bohdi, Tristyn, Soraya)

(Wind farm through fog at Blayney, NSW)

Famous Name: Atlas

01 Wednesday Jul 2015

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Name in the News
A Sydney publisher has put Australia (and the rest of the world) on the map after bringing out the world’s largest atlas. The happily-named Gordon Cheers first dreamed up the atlas 25 years ago, after seeing the huge Klencke Atlas at the British Library, presented to King Charles II in 1660.

The Earth Platinum atlas weighs 150 kg, is 1.8 metres tall and 2.7 metres across when it is open; it is 128 pages long, and each page needs two people to turn it. There are 61 pages of maps compiled by a team of 88 cartographers, showing maps of the continents and oceans, and very detailed regional maps.

As well as a double-page layout of the world’s flags, there are 27 photographic image of famous locations. One of them also broke the record for the world’s largest image in a book – it’s a picture of the Shanghai skyline made from over 12 000 photos. Last year the Earth Platinum atlas was recognised by the International Map Industry Association, and it has also entered the Guinness Book of World Records.

Only 31 copies of the limited edition atlas were produced, each one costing $100 000. One copy belongs to the British Library, who plans to exhibit it for six days each year. Officially launched on June 26, the only copy of Earth Platinum in Australia can be seen at the State Library of New South Wales until July 19.

Name Information
In Greek mythology, Atlas was one of the Titans, the ancient gods who preceded the Olympians, and who were the children and grandchildren of the earth goddess Gaia, and the sky god Uranus. The younger generation of gods, led by Zeus, waged war against their elders, and eventually prevailed, gaining dominion over the world.

Atlas was one of the leaders of the Titans during the war, and was given a special punishment – for all eternity, he was condemned to stand at the western edge of the earth (Gaia) and hold up the heavens (Uranus) on his shoulders, so that the twain should never meet.

Once the sky was able to lie upon the earth each night and mate with her, and from these couplings were born the Titans: now Zeus demanded that Atlas keep them separated forever, so that they could conceive no further gods. In other words, Atlas was to be used as a contraceptive device for deities.

Another tale tells of a giant named Atlas who tried to drive away the hero Perseus, fearing that he would steal the golden apples from Atlas’ garden. For this he was turned to stone by the head of the Medusa, becoming the Atlas Mountains in northern Africa.

This contradicts another story, where the hero Heracles had to fetch the golden apples from Hera’s garden, which was tended by Atlas’ daughters, the nymphs called the Hesperides. Heracles asked Atlas to fetch him the apples, offering to hold the sky up while he ran the errand. Atlas tried to trick Heracles into taking on the job permanently, but Heracles asked Atlas if he could just hold up the sky for a few minutes while he arranged his cloak as padding for his shoulders. Once Atlas took the heavens again, Heracles grabbed the golden apples and hoofed it, leaving Atlas holding the baby.

There is a nicer ending to the story, where Heracles built the Pillars of Hercules, the peaks flanking the Strait of Gibraltar near Spain; one of the pillars is the Rock of Gibraltar. Heracles told Atlas that from now on, the Pillars would hold up the heavens, liberating Atlas from his burdensome task.

It is not certain what the name Atlas means. The Roman poet Virgil translated it as related to “enduring”, possibly because he knew that a local name for the Atlas Mountains was Douris. Etymologists tend to interpret it as meaning “uphold, support”, although the name may actually be pre-Greek. The name of the Atlas Mountains is thought to be derived from a Berber word simply meaning “mountain”.

The Atlantic Ocean is named after Atlas, because it was seen as the western edge of the world. The mythical doomed Atlantis, vaguely located beyond the Pillars of Hercules in the Atlantic Ocean, means “island of Atlas”.

Plato says that the first king of Atlantis was named Atlas (not the Titan, but a son of Poseidon), and some believe that he based him on a legendary North African king named Atlas, a skilled astronomer and inventor of the first celestial globe, which mapped the constellations. The connection with North Africa and the heavens suggests the legendary king was inspired by the Titan.

It was 16th century geographer and cartographer Gerardus Mercator who first used the word atlas to mean a collection of maps, dedicating his own atlas to honour King Atlas, the legendary African astronomer. However, he conflated the king with the Titan Atlas, and even before that it had become traditional to show Atlas holding up the celestial spehere on early maps. Because of the connection with maps, we sometimes think of Atlas as holding up a globe of the world, although it is a puzzle how Atlas could stand on the earth while holding up the world.

Atlas has further connections to the heavens, because it is a star system in the constellation of the Pleiades, which is often called the Seven Sisters. The Titan Atlas was the father of seven sea-nymphs, and after he was sent off to carry the heavens, there was nobody around to take care of his daughters. The girls were pursued by the hunter Orion, so Zeus first turned them into doves, and then into stars so their father might see them in the sky and be comforted.

Another story is that the sisters committed suicide in despair at their father’s fate, and were immortalised as stars. Because astronomy places Atlas in the constellation as well, it seems he truly was liberated by Heracles, and can now be with his daughters for all time, protecting them from Orion, who you may still see pursuing the sisters across the night sky.

One of Saturn’s moons is named Atlas, because it appears to hold up the rings of Saturn, as if carrying them on its shoulders. It was decided that the major moons of Saturn would be given the names of Titans, as Saturn is the Roman name for Cronos, the head of the Titans. The name Atlas has also been given to one of the craters on our own moon (it’s right near Hercules).

Atlas has been used as a personal name since the 18th century, and became more common in the 19th century, especially in the United States. There are quite a few Atlases in Australian records, both male and female, and used as a first and middle name fairly equally.

Atlas made a couple of appearances on the US Top 1000 in the 19th century, and began charting again in 2013; it is currently #646 and rising. Actress Anne Heche welcomed a son Atlas in 2009, which seems to have increased interest in the name. In 2013, 12 baby boys were named Atlas in the UK, the name rising steeply since 2011. There is evidence that the name Atlas is growing in popularity in Australia too, although like the UK, still in rare use.

Atlas is a powerful, indeed a Titanic name, reminding us of famous strongman Charles Atlas. It suggests the brawn to hold up the heavens, and the fortitude to carry a load on his shoulders without complaining. However, not only are mythological names on trend, we are more comfortable now bestowing big names on little babies, and giving them something to aspire to.

And Atlas isn’t just a dumb muscle man – he’s a philosopher king who studied the cosmos, and glittering stars in one of the most familiar of our summer constellations. The name Atlas has also been chosen for several comic book and video game characters, giving it a bit of geek chic.

In short, if you are among the growing number of parents who are drawn to Atlas, you will be getting a strong yet simple name with a mountain of history, a world of legend, and an ocean of science behind it. Not to mention one heck of a lot of geography!

POLL RESULTS
Atlas received a decent approval rating of 65%. 17% of people thought it was too closely associated with the book of maps, but 16% saw it as strong and powerful, and another 16% as cool and different.