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Celebrity Baby News: AFL Babies

17 Sunday Apr 2016

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Corey Enright and his wife Renee welcomed their second child on March 18 and have named their son Tex Marley. Tex joins big brother Boh, aged 3; Boh’s birth was featured on the blog, and picture shows Boh and Tex together, from Instagram. Corey plays for the Geelong Cats, and Renee is a fashion stylist and columnist.

Tom Lynch and his partner Courtney welcomed their second child on April 9 and have named their daughter Tayla; Tayla joins big brother Koby, aged 3. Tom has been playing football since 2009 and is currently with the Adelaide Crows.

Mark Ricciuto and his wife Sarah welcomed their sixth child on April 4 and have named their son Tom. Tom joins sisters Rosie and Sophie, and brothers Nick, Joe, and Rocco. Mark played football for the Adelaide Crows from 1993 to 2007, and was also selected to play for the international team. He won numerous awards, including the Brownlow Medal, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011. He currently works as a football commentator for Triple M and Fox Sports.

Celebrity Baby News: Cool Celebrity Baby Names

07 Thursday Apr 2016

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Model and actress Tahyna Tozzi, and her husband, dancer Tristan McManus, welcomed their first child on April 5, and have named their daughter Echo Isolde. Tahyna has been modelling since she was 8 years old, and is best known for playing the role of Perri on Blue Water High. She has been in several films, most notably X-Men Origins: Wolverine. She is the sister of model Cheyenne Tozzi. Tristan is is an award-winning dancer from Ireland best known for his appearances on the US version of Dancing With the Stars, and Strictly Come Dancing in the UK.

Actress Kym Valentine, and her husband, former AFL footballer Trent Croad, welcomed their first child together on April 1 [pictured] and have named their son Phoenix Valentine. Kym has a daughter named Millana from her marriage to singer Fabio Tolli, and Trent has two daughters named Kiera and Sierra from his marriage to Tanya Stewart. Kym is best known for her long-running role as Libby Kennedy on soap opera Neighbours, and Trent played for Hawthorn for almost a decade before retiring in 2010.

Author Sofie Laguna, and her husband, artist Marc McBride, welcomed their son Milo a year ago, a brother for Sonny. Sofie studied law, and worked as an actress before becoming an author and playwright. She has written numerous children’s books and picture books, several plays, and two highly-regarded adult novels: The Eye of the Sheep won the 2015 Miles Franklin Award. Marc is originally from Ireland, and moved to Australia to study design. An award-winning fantasy artist, he is best known for illustrating the Deltora Quest children’s book series.

Artists Vicki Lee and Ted O’Donnell welcomed their daughter Yokie on March 6 last year. Vicki is an artist and designer with her own store, and Ted is a photographer. Vicki became well known to the public as a close friend of celebrity mum Lara Bingle, and gave birth shortly before her. Like her gal pal, Vicki has chosen an unusual name for her baby, which she says means “night rain” (I have seen Yoki translated as a Hopi name meaning “rain”, so perhaps this is the origin).

Fitness model Chontel Duncan, and her husband Sam, welcomed their first child on March 25 and have named their son Jeremiah Thomas, apparently nicknamed Miah. Chontel is a former Miss Universe finalist and fitness trainer who has become an online sensation since documenting her pregnancy on Instagram.

Name News: Bagging Out Bad Baby Names, Baby Boomers Bite the Dust, and Branding Your Baby

22 Wednesday Apr 2015

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Lara Bingle and Sam Worthington’s son Rocket Zot recently got his name hammered in the press. Celebrity mum Chrissie Swan wouldn’t have approved of that, because she believes that nobody deserves to have their baby name rubbished. She had her children’s’ names, Kit and Peggy, criticised, so she knows how horrible it feels. However, even Chrissie draws the line somewhere, and for her it is demonic names. I’ve noticed nobody seems able to say, “All baby names are great”; everyone has a clause in fine print that says, “Except for these obviously terrible names that nobody in their right mind would consider”.

However, while Alissa Warren from Mamamia agrees that bagging out someone’s baby name after the baby is born is not on, she thinks it’s fine to do it before the baby is born (as a warning, I guess). Chrissie would not be on board with that, because her son’s name was called “a nothing name” before his birth, which has damaged her relationship with the friend who shared this pre-natal opinion. Lots of comments on the article, with nearly all of them saying that you can’t be rude about someone’s baby name before the baby is born either, or even if the name hasn’t been decided yet.

They weren’t quite criticised, but certain rare names chosen by Australian parents at Baby Center this year were mentioned on Scoopla. Boys names included Anthem, Basil, Denim, Falcon, Finnick, Guru, Judge, Patch, Ranger, Tiger, Viggo, Zealand, and Zeppelin, while unusual names for girls were Agape, Chia, Elowen, Holiday, Hyacinth, Lark, Neo, Nivea, Posey, Sparrow, Tempest, and Violina. Members voted Moody for boys and Yolo for girls (an acronym for You Only Live Once) as the most unusual names they had heard of.

Of course, people are always fiddling the numbers to “prove” how rare or how common a name is, sometimes with unconvincing results. The Daily Telegraph looked through the data, and found that names like Arya are more often used than “common” Australian names like Kylie and Sharon. Sharon is a common name for women in their fifties – not at all common for newborn babies. Surely no one is surprised to hear there are more new babies named Arya than Sharon?

Same with this article on baby boomer names which are supposedly “dying out”. There’s not many Bruces around, but the numbers have remained pretty stable for the past 15 years, which doesn’t spell death to me. Neil is holding its own, and Ian is a classic which is still in the 200s – not even close to needing palliative care. Sandra hasn’t disappeared from the charts just yet, and classic Helen has been stable for a decade and may even be on the rise. The article is quite right though that even the “dead” names could very well come back one day – one day people will be naming their babies after Great-Grandmother Judith, the same way Elsie and Ruby have been rediscovered.

If you yearn for your own unique baby name, and are dismayed to find that Finnick and Elowen aren’t as one-off as you’d hoped, a Swiss company will custom design you one, for a measly $40 000. They have 14 naming experts, 4 historians, 12 translators, and two trademark attorneys who will work for 100 hours to create a baby name list for you. All elements of the name will have a positive meaning, and they often combine words in a new order, or use vocabulary words that haven’t been used as names before. The trouble is that the company is called Erfolgswelle (it means “wave of success” in German), which doesn’t inspire confidence in their naming abilities.

You can also go the cheapie option, and crowd source your baby name, like north-coast NSW inventor Cedar and his partner Kylie did. Their baby came early, and he was a boy when they were expecting a girl, so they didn’t have any baby names planned. Cedar and his dad had already used crowd funding for their innovative bee hive, so naturally saw crowd sourcing the baby name as an extension. So far, the most popular baby name is Buzz.

And why does your baby need a unique baby name? So they can start building their personal brand, for we are assured that in the future there will be no such things as a CV, and employers will instead be making hiring decisions based on your personal website (preferably with its own .com) and social media strategies. Already nine year-old surfer Winter Vincent has his own Instagram, Facebook and Vimeo, and has attracted sponsors through his charity work and his “amazing name”. And Millie-Belle Diamond is only 14-months old but already earns up to $250 a post on Instagram flogging teeny-size fashion brands. Don’t Winter Vincent and Millie-Belle Diamond already sound like brand names? And they didn’t cost $40 000 or require a crowd to pitch in, so if you want an amazing name to brand your baby, you can do it yourself quite successfully.

(Photo of Millie-Belle Diamond from Instagram)

Celebrity Baby News: Kate Ritchie and Stuart Webb

27 Wednesday Aug 2014

Posted by in Celebrity Baby News

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Actress Kate Ritchie, and her husband Stuart Webb, welcomed their first child on August 17, and recently announced that their daughter’s name is Mae.

Kate began her acting career at the age of 7, and joined the cast of soap opera Home and Away just before her ninth birthday, playing the role of Sally Fletcher. She remained with the show for twenty years, becoming a fan favourite and household name in the process; she won the Gold Logie for most popular personality in 2007 and 2008. In 2008 she began her new career as a radio host, and this year joined the Nova FM drive show with Tim Blackwell and Marty Sheargold; you may recall Tim as a celebrity dad on the blog.

Stuart is a former rugby league player for the St George Illawarra Dragons, and is currently coach at the Helensburgh Tigers. He and Kate were married on the Quamby country estate in Tasmania in 2010.

Late in her pregnancy, Kate posted a list of possible baby names on Instagram that were suggested by some young friends of hers, apparently named Cleo and Ivy. The names for girls were Molly, Lilly, Matilda, Madeline, and Georgina, and for boys William, Hugo, Harry, Joshua, and Lucas. They do seem to have been on the money with an M name, anyway.

Molly was actually the first character that Kate ever played, a little girl in the mini-series Cyclone Tracy.

(Photo of Kate and Stuart from Facebook)

Interview with Kara from The Art of Naming

10 Sunday Aug 2014

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Kara is the bubbly, friendly blogger at The Art of Naming, which she has been regularly maintaining, along with a host of social media, for a year now. Kara genuinely loves helping parents find the perfect name, and as well as personal assistance, she provides name lists, birth announcements, and featured names which includes possible name combinations and sibsets. As you can tell from her photo, Kara is expecting a baby in the near future, and if you read this interview very carefully, you will find out what her name will be.

What is your name?

Kara Yvonne.

Have you ever wished you had a different name?

Yes! I’ve always wanted a different name but I’ve never been able to pinpoint which name would better suit me. Kara fits just fine, I’ve just never liked it or Yvonne. Sorry mom! I would consider changing it if I could find the perfect replacement.

How did you become interested in names?

I was into playing The Sims as a teen, so I began browsing naming sites to choose names for the characters. By seventeen, I was making long name lists for future children (or Sims), and it snowballed from there.

What inspired you to begin a name blog?

Once I discovered that I was somewhat good at forming first and middle name combinations, (or I at least really liked doing so), I began frequenting forums to help parents find the perfect name. Then I decided to focus all of that into one place and help people on my own turf. It’s been over a year since I started the blog and I’ve helped many people, which is why I started it to begin with.

Do you have a favourite post on The Art of Naming?

The only one that comes to mind recently was about the popularity of names and I included my own little confession in there regarding my daughter’s name. I spent a few hours compiling the data for the chart there and the hard work felt worth the time when I finished. I’m a sucker for data and number crunching.

Do you have any other blogs?

I’ve got social media everywhere! Even a secondary blog where I answer questions, just don’t ask how I find the time to keep up with all of them.
Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram.

Do you have a pet peeve in regard to names?

I really dislike a misspelled name. I like names with standard spellings (with a few exceptions) and I like names to have some solid history behind them, and a good meaning. So I guess my pet peeve is made-up names, or those that you have to think about for a few minutes before you attempt to pronounce them.

What are some of your favourite names?

Some of my favourites that I won’t be using include girly names like Magnolia, Freya, Coraline, Esme, Lavinia, Aveline, and Amara. For boys, I like August/Augustus, Benedict, Caspian, Constantine, Dante, Jack, Rafferty, and Silas. I can’t help but love unexpected middle names like Essence, Wintress, Frost, or Marvel.

What names do you dislike?

I really can’t stand some of the more trendy names. The whole –aiden trend, for example. Any name with an unnecessary Y or H inserted in there is a no-no. I also dislike the majority of K names, except for Irish ones like Killian. I think that stems from the dislike of my own name, plus recent trends in pop-culture, like the influx of Kardashians. Don’t get me started on names like Nevaeh. I also am not a huge fan of unisex names.

Are there any names you love, but could never use?

There aren’t any names that I can think of that I could never use, there are only names I was never able to use. I like to believe that in another dimension, I totally used all the names on my guilty pleasure list. The weirder the better! I think we’re stopping at two kids for now so my actual naming days are quite possibly over. Maybe I’ll get some fish.

What are your favourite names in the US Top 100?

Girls: A secret! But third and fourth are Emma and Caroline.
Boys: James… no, Henry.. no, Jack!

What are your favourite names in the rest of the US Top 1000?

Girls: Juliet ….
Boys: Maximus and Vincent.

What are your favourite names that have never charted in the US?

Girls: Amabel.
Boys: Caius?

What is your son’s name?

Maximus Alexander. We chose it for a number of reasons but we also really loved the meaning: ”greatest defender of the people”. We’ve already tasked him with protecting his baby sister and he seems to like the idea, but then again he’s only two.

You’re currently expecting another child – are we allowed to know her name?

She will have a first name and two middle names. The first name is one that we mutually fell in love with and decided on when we first saw an ultrasound picture of her cute little face. The second name is Juliet. And the third name is after my husband’s sister, even though it is extremely popular. I’m sure I’ll reveal it on my page in the next week or two.

What is one thing we don’t know about you?

I am currently in the process of writing a name book. I just need to try a little harder to focus on finishing it. Writer’s block is killer when combined with pregnancy hormones, but I hope to be able to release it in the not-too-distant future! Stay tuned!

What advice would you give someone who was choosing a baby name?

I always encourage people to go with their instincts. If they really love a particular name and can’t get it out of their head, that’s the one. Do not let family or friends influence you. Do not share your names in advance if you can help it so that you can keep them safe: name theft is real! Compromise is difficult between partners but it is totally achievable. Keep your mind open to new name ideas but cling to those you love the most. Sentimental value is always most important; if you have a wonderful reason for loving your name choice, it doesn’t matter at all how popular it is or if someone else has used it. Go for it anyway!

(Picture is a recent photo of Kara, supplied by interviewee)

Interview with Kelli from NameFreak!

27 Sunday Apr 2014

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Kelli Brady is the analytical blogger at NameFreak!, which is a true name nerd’s blog – and of course I mean that in the most complimentary sense possible! There is tons of analysis of American name trends on the blog; I can tell Kelli loves sleuthing through the US data, and is a dedicated list-maker. Kelli has had several name polls on her blog, and for the past couple of years has run Name Madness play offs, where she chooses a wide variety of names on a particular theme, and gets the public to choose their favourite by vote. If you are fascinated by names, but also like to have fun with them, you will love NameFreak!

What is your name?

Kelli Joyce Brady (Brady is a pen name).

How did you become interested in names?

It started when I was maybe seven or eight years old. I remember being obsessed with the names of my friends and my Cabbage Patch Kids, as well as constantly making name lists. The name Samantha was a favourite of mine when I was young because I thought Samantha Joyce (Sammy Jo) would make an awesome name for my future daughter. It’s so fun to know that while her first name changed many times over the years, my daughter’s middle name was never under debate.

What inspired you to begin a name blog?

I started NameFreak! back in 2008 when I was pregnant with my son. I wanted a way to express my passion for names without the limitations of short Facebook status messages. I really only shared the blog with my immediate friends, so it stayed small, and once my son was born, the blog unfortunately fell by the wayside. After I moved to Thailand in 2012, I found myself with a lot of free time. The calling to blog again hit me strongly and I’m so glad it did! I discovered the name blogging community and am now able to share my name passion with a lot more readers!

Do you have a favourite post on NameFreak!?

I love to combine my passions. Being a baseball fan, I love my baseball-inspired name posts. Another passion of mine is Jane Austen, and so the analyses of her novels’ heroes and heroines names are also a favourite. Most of my posts require quite a bit of research, which is another love of mine. My favourite research-oriented post is the study I did on the names of Little Women.

Are there are any other ways to follow you online? 

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. I do not post on Instagram very often, but I love that the naming community has joined the picture universe. I see so much potential there.

What are some of your favourite names?

I love the classics and am so excited when I hear of a baby Edith or George. I drool over the baby name announcements from Britain. I love biblical names as well. I think it’s safe to I say have favourites in almost every category.

What names do you dislike?

I’m not a huge fan of alternative spellings. There are exceptions however … I mean, my name is Kelli and I think it fits me a lot better than Kelly.

Are there any names you love, but could never use?

My guilty pleasure names come from my love of books/movies/baseball. Eowyn is one of my all time favourites. I also love Esme, but would probably avoid it due to the Twilight craze. And how cute would a little girl named Austen be? For boys, I am smitten with Catcher and Brooks.

What are your favourite names in the US Top 100?

Girls: Anna (#35) and Molly (#90)

Boys: Sebastian (#64) and Oliver (#73)

What are your favourite names in the rest of the US Top 1000?

Girls: Paige (#105) and Jane (#340)

Boys: Simon (#255) and Asa (#562)

What are your favourite names that have never charted in the US?

Tamsin (never charted), Elinor (hasn’t charted since 1953), and Linus (hasn’t charted since 1940).

What are your children’s names?

Rachel Joyce and Simon Brent. I explain how we chose their names here.

If you found out you were pregnant right now, what names might you be considering?

I would fight for Tamsin, but would probably lose. I have brought up Jane early on with both of my pregnancies, but have been shot down by my husband each time. Other names would be Josephine, Paige and Anna for girls, and Linus, Asa, James, and Oliver for boys.

What is something we don’t know about you? 

I have not been able to blog as much lately because I am working on a book! It’s basically my biggest research project ever and taking a lot of time to finish, but I hope to have it out as an e-book this summer. Here is something not name-related as well … After growing up without a desire to ever leave the United States, my current count of countries visited is 26. I’ve definitely caught the travel bug!

What advice would you give someone who was choosing a baby name? 

My naming philosophy is simple. Go with what you love, no matter what other people think. Your child will “make” the name. But there definitely needs to be some regard on the part of the parent. Consider this … after the gift of life, your child’s name is the first gift you give them, and one that they carry forever. What a huge, but fun, responsibility! Embrace it!

How Names Express Themselves in Numbers: Using Numerology to Unlock Hidden Information in Your Name

23 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by in Guest Bloggers

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Colourful numbers scattered on white

By Madelyn

Madelyn is a long-time follower of Waltzing More Than Matilda, and today she has a guest post on Numerology. This is a method of examining names through spiritual mathematics, and Madelyn shows you how to calculate and interpret the Expression Number in any name using Numerology. 

Numerology is a vast, ancient subject found in numerous cultures, and is full of mysticism and spirituality. But since this is a name blog, I am going to focus on one aspect that could be useful for expectant parents and name enthusiasts – the Expression Number.

Using modern Numerology, based on the assertion by Pythagoras that all things can be expressed numerically, the Expression Number is obtained by adding your first, middle, and last name (as written on your birth certificate), and reveals your strengths and weaknesses. Each Expression Number describes a specific personality type, and can possibly give you reassurance that you have picked the name, or might be useful in narrowing down your ever-growing name list. Who doesn’t want to know if their child will be a leader, or the brains behind the operation?

Values of Each Letter

1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9

A    B    C    D    E    F    G    H    I

J    K    L    M    N    O    P    Q    R

S    T    U    V    W   X    Y    Z

Let’s do a few examples using the leaders of Australia, England, and the United States: Prime Minister Anthony John Abbott, Prime Minister David William Donald Cameron, and President Barack Hussein Obama II. Remember to always reduce the values of each name to a single digit and to use every name that was recorded on the birth certificate.

ANTHONY   JOHN   ABBOTT

1528657    1685   122622

34=3+4=7  20=2+0=2 15=1+5=6

7 + 2 + 6= 15= 1 + 5=6

DAVID  WILLIAM  DONALD  CAMERON

41494  5933914  465134   3145965

22 34=7 23=5 33=6

22 + 7 + 5 + 6=40=4

BARACK  HUSSEIN  OBAMA  II

219132  8311595  62141   1 1

18=9 32=5 14=5 1 1

9 + 5 + 5 + 1 + 1=21=3

You probably noticed in David Cameron’s name I did not reduce David, a 22, to a 4. If you ever encounter an 11 or 22, do not reduce it, because they have their own meanings separate from 2 and 4, and are often called “Master Numbers.” They are no more special than any other number, but in Numerology’s spiritual philosophy, they are considered elevated. There is a lot of power associated with these numbers, but, as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility.

Now, what does each number mean? Below you will find general associations for each number, but for a better understanding of each personality type, I suggest reading this Numerology website.

  • 1 – leader, independent, original, courageous, stubborn, controlling, self-centered, critical
  • 2 – mediator, diplomatic, cooperative, open-minded, intuitive, pushover, vulnerable
  • 3 – communicator, optimistic, inspiring, creative, unfocused, undisciplined
  • 4 – doer/worker, organized, dedicated, methodical, narrow-minded, workaholic, stubborn
  • 5 – free spirit, visionary, charming, adaptable, critical, haughty, disorganised, undisciplined
  • 6 – teacher/social worker, community-oriented, nurturing/loving, artistic, creative, argumentative, self-righteous
  • 7 – philosopher/genius, analytical, studious, rebellious, moody, non-communicative, fearful, reclusive
  • 8 – manager/executive, commanding, efficient, organized, domineering, oppressive, stubborn
  • 9 – humanitarian, polite, charming, idealistic, arrogant, egotistical, hot-tempered
  • 11 – counsellor/prophet, intuitive, sensitive, empathetic, unrealistic, self-effacing, nervous
  • 22 – dreamer, spiritual, high-minded, powerful, nervous, high strung, dominating

Do the politicians’ expression numbers accurately describe them? Let me know in the comments section if you agree or disagree.

* * * * * * * * * *

To further explore the accuracy of the Expression Number, I like to calculate Expression Numbers for writers or physicists or actors. Just for fun, here is a short list of famous people and their expression numbers. And yes, I put Miley Cyrus in a list with Carl Sagan and Leonardo da Vinci. Probably the only time you’ll ever see that!

Alicia Christian Foster (Jodie Foster) – 3

Carl Edward Sagan – 5

Destiny Hope Cyrus – 1

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson – 7

Guillermo del Toro Gómez – 6

James Marshall Hendrix – 1

Jane Austen – 11

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci – 3

Stephen William Hawking – 5

Vincent Willem van Gogh – 1

* * * * * * * * * *

Since every number is considered significant in Numerology, your first name’s numeric value is important. It is a part of you and the equation, after all. Choosing Jack over Jackson or Sophie over Sophia will make a difference. Take a look at the list of popular names from Australia, England, and the United States with their respective numeric values.

Ava

Abigail

Amelia

Charlotte

Chloe

Elizabeth

Ella

Emily

Emma

Evie

Grace

Isabella

Isla

Jessica

Lily

Madison

Mia

Olivia

Poppy

Ruby

Sofia

Sophia

Sophie

6

5

5

3

7

7

3

1

5

5

7

7

5

3

22

3

5

5

7

3

5

5

9

Aiden

Alexander

Alfie

Charlie

Cooper

Ethan

Harry

Jack

Jackson

Jacob

James

Jaxon

Jayden

Lachlan

Liam

Lucas

Mason

Michael

Noah

Oliver

Riley

Thomas

William

6

3

6

11

9

3

7

7

1

4

3

1

5

6

8

11

8

6

2

9

6

22

7

It is interesting that the boys have three Master Numbers listed above, while the girls have one. I think it would be fun to start looking for more 11’s and 22’s for girls and boys. So far I have found Aatos, April, Byron, Caspar, Catherine, Colorado, David, Evelyn, Florin, Forest, Forrest, Garnet, Jesus, Jordan, Lake, Madelyn, Paloma, Rafaella, Shepherd, and Willem, but I’m sure there are many more. Share if you find any!

* * * * * * * * * *

Whether you believe in Numerology’s mystical aspects or not, I do hope this is at least a fun, new way of looking at names. I love unlocking secret codes to find hidden meanings, so calculating Expression Numbers has become a hobby. I use it to narrow down my lists and find preferred spellings of names. I am by no means an expert on the subject; I’m just a name enthusiast.

Please, if you have any questions or if you think this is a bunch of crazy talk, feel free to comment. Also, if I have made a mathematical error, please point it out. Those numbers are important.

Madelyn was born and raised in San Francisco, California. She lives in North Bay and has two shops on etsy called Eustace Eucalyptus and Bertram Bergamot. She loves alliteration and has been fascinated by words since early childhood. If you would like to see pictures of her life – mostly pinback buttons/badges, her dogs and her cats – you can follow her on Instagram and Twitter. 

Interview with Alexia Mae at Baby Names from the Bible

23 Sunday Mar 2014

Posted by in Blog Reviews

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Interview-PhotoAlexia Mae is the warm and enthusiastic blogger behind Baby Names from the Bible, devoted to all the great names in the Good Book, whether familiar or unusual. I usually allow blog readers to decide which blogger is interviewed, but last month Alexia Mae was kind enough to invite me to be interviewed at Baby Names from the Bible, so this is a return visit – although she would have been chosen next time anyway. Alexia Mae passed her 100th post a month ago, so let’s hope there are many more.

What is your name?

Alexia Mae. I’m the “Dear Abby” of baby names, as Alexia Mae is my pen name.

Have you ever wished you had a different name?

My real one? Oh, yes. It’s not too common a name; it’s only ever made it to #30. But the spelling of it is unique, which catapults it outside the Top 1000 for all time. Add a filler family middle, and the annoyance of people misunderstanding my name, and I begged to be called Alexia as a kid. Fast forward to me needing a pen name … Bob’s your uncle, I had one. Mae is in honour of my grandma. Now that I’m an adult I appreciate my given name more. I was almost a Kasia, which I would have loved, too.

How did you become interested in names?

I blame my name craziness on Shane, my kindergarten crush. He was the ruddy-haired Irish kid with the leather necklace, the dude everyone wanted to be friends with. In a classroom of boring names from the ’80s, Shane stuck out. I suddenly became very aware of people’s names.

When I was thirteen, my mom got pregnant. My brother Aaron and I were close in age, but now I was way older for this new brother, and boy, was I ready to help name the kid! Shot down, but kept on trying. Their choice? Another A name, Andrew. A perfect recipe for my mom to never get our names right. But, after stealing (I mean permanently borrowing) a name book my mom picked up, I came down with full blown name-nuttiness. It’s been downhill ever since.

How did you become interested in biblical names?

That first baby name book I got my hands on happened to be about biblical names. And it was literally four pieces of paper. (Maybe that’s why my parents never got out of the As.) It was small. But it had a big impact. To see the meaning of names, and to be able to go to the Bible and see them used, just blew me away. It was my own “sawdust trail moment” for names. They have proved themselves to be real gems, and have a power in their age and timelessness.

Do you have a favourite baby name book?

The Holy Bible 😉 My email inbox is also swarmed with name people I’m subscribed to, and I rely on Clare’s Scoop for everything else. (That gal needs an award.) [WMTM: She got one! She has a gold ribbon saying her page is one of the most highly-recommended in the Society topic on Scoop].

What inspired you to begin a name blog?

My husband Josiah and I both love the idea of using biblical names for our children. When I was first married I searched for biblical baby name books, and couldn’t find any. Zilch. Zip. Nada. Not even the one that I originally had. Then I began to think about that original name book, and thought it was awfully small compared to the actual Bible. I mean, the Book of Numbers wouldn’t even fit in there, and it’s practically nothing but names.

I kept asking myself, if I can’t find them, who else will? Why is no one celebrating the biblical names I know must exist? So I began logging the names I was coming across for my own use, and I really wanted to share them … and Baby Names from the Bible was born.

Do you have a favourite blog entry on Baby Names from the Bible?

The post that I’m the most proud of is one I wrote a couple of years ago, Why Name Your Baby a Biblical Name? I take a moment to stand on my soap box and talk about why people, even those who aren’t religious, should take another look at baby names from the Bible. Forget about Zerubbabel. How about Junia? Rissah? Ardon? There are names galore for anyone thirsty for a good name.

Are there any other ways to stay in touch with you online?

I’m @NamesDaily on Instagram, and I post names every day, both biblical and not. Instagram has been an amazing experience. I have a growing following of over 2000 people. I’m getting the opportunity first hand to see names that knock your socks off, and some, that well, just don’t. I’m also on YouTube.

Do you have a pet peeve in regard to names?

Yhess. Yoonique namez. If I have to read it more than once to get what name you’re actually trying to say, I’ve got to stand up and get a cup of coffee. It literally makes my skin crawl. Jaycein? I am somebody who has zero adrenaline tolerance for awkwardness in any way, so I have to get up and walk it off. True stuff.

In the name community, I feel sometimes it’s like Eskimos marketing ice to fellow Eskimos who live in the same igloo. I want to find ways to branch out and actually talk to parents who have never even owned a baby name book. I think that’s why I love being on Instagram so much, because it’s exactly that. I enjoy so many people in the baby name community, but I want to find ways to branch out, too. (We need an annual name conference.)

What are some of your favourite names?

Boys: Judah and Josiah, of course. Abel.

Girls: Juniper. Ellowyn. Cassia. Maewyn. I really love Naphtali for a girl, but can’t bring myself to use it because no one would be able to pronounce it or spell it. It’s like Natalie with an F. I’m drawn to biblical names, but I enjoy other names, too.

What names do you dislike?

Delilah. I see the appeal, but I would never use it. The same with Jezebel. That one makes my skin crawl when I hear someone nonchalantly talking about using it. Whether you believe in the Bible or not, the connotation still exists. Jezebel was a murderer, and it would be like naming your child Hitler. I just don’t think you should do it.

What are your favourite names in the US Top 100?

Girls: Biblical – Leah (#33). Other – Harper (#24) and Lillian (#25)

Boys: Biblical – Josiah (#79). Other – Landon (#34)

What are your favourite names in the rest of the US Top 1000?

Margaret (#178) and Judah (#273)

What are your favourite names that don’t currently chart?

Blythe (never charted) and Clive (hasn’t charted since 1935)

What is your son’s name?

Judah David. Our story of Judah’s name is a fun and interesting one, and you can read about it at So There’s This Name ….

If you found out you were pregnant right now, what names would you be considering?

I would be trying to convince Josiah to like Blythe Salomae. We have boys names we like, but like we did with Judah, we’re not telling anyone.

What is something we don’t know about you that you would like to share?

I love the Anne of Green Gables series and have read them probably too much. Tell me Lucy Maud Montgomery wasn’t a name nut. Ludovic Speed? Gilbert ❤ Is this why I love the name Blythe? I will never tell.

What advice would you give someone choosing a baby name?

If you can’t use the one you love, use it anyway. Never, ever settle. Unless it’s Jezebel or Kidneigh Bean, and then I’d say maybe keep looking. Valuable life lessons also apply to names. You are giving your babies the first impression they will have on people. Give them something that makes them proud. Something that makes you proud. And like weak coffee, name regret stinks. I’ll brew down some Starbucks, and you can come over and we can talk more about names!

(Picture shows Alexia Mae with her son Judah; photo supplied by Baby Names from the Bible)