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Tag Archives: name trends

The Top 50 Names from Baby Center Australia for 2015 (Combined Spellings)

28 Thursday Apr 2016

Posted by A.O. in Name Data

≈ Comments Off on The Top 50 Names from Baby Center Australia for 2015 (Combined Spellings)

Tags

Baby Center Australia, name trends, popular names

GIRLS

  1. Charlotte
  2. Olivia
  3. Amelia
  4. Ava
  5. Sophia
  6. Zoe
  7. Mia
  8. Lily
  9. Isla
  10. Evie
  11. Ruby
  12. Scarlett
  13. Maddison
  14. Sophie
  15. Emily
  16. Chloe
  17. Ella
  18. Ivy
  19. Matilda
  20. Grace
  21. Isabella
  22. Mila
  23. Emma
  24. Isabelle
  25. Layla
  26. Charli
  27. Harper
  28. Sienna
  29. Evelyn
  30. Zara
  31. Aria
  32. Annabelle
  33. Hannah
  34. Abigail
  35. Eva
  36. Willow
  37. Lucy
  38. Georgia
  39. Ellie
  40. Savannah
  41. Alexis
  42. Imogen
  43. Jasmine
  44. Poppy
  45. Piper
  46. Madeline
  47. Maya
  48. Hayley
  49. Mackenzie
  50. Eleanor
BOYS

  1. Oliver
  2. Noah
  3. Jack
  4. Lucas
  5. William
  6. Jackson
  7. James
  8. Max
  9. Charlie
  10. Isaac
  11. Oscar
  12. Xavier
  13. Mason
  14. Harrison
  15. Thomas
  16. Liam
  17. Cooper
  18. Lachlan
  19. Alexander
  20. Hunter
  21. Levi
  22. Logan
  23. Elijah
  24. Ethan
  25. Riley
  26. Jayden
  27. Henry
  28. Archie
  29. Hudson
  30. Connor
  31. Sebastian
  32. Aiden
  33. Jacob
  34. Joshua
  35. Leo
  36. Finn
  37. Lincoln
  38. Luca
  39. Harry
  40. Eli
  41. Ryan
  42. Archer
  43. Jake
  44. Harvey
  45. Hugo
  46. Benjamin
  47. Daniel
  48. Samuel
  49. Patrick
  50. Kai

GIRLS

Fastest Risers
Mila (+23), Ivy (+22), Evie (+18)

Fastest Fallers
Mackenzie (-18), Abigail (-16)

New
Georgia, Savannah, Poppy, Piper, Madeline, Hayley, Eleanor

BOYS

Fastest Risers
Oscar, Levi and Finn (+13)

Fastest Fallers
Samuel (-21), Henry (-18)

New
Connor, Harvey, Hugo, Daniel, Patrick, Kai

Note: Baby Center Australia counts births reported by parents on its site.

The Top 100 Names in the Australian Capital Territory for 2015

13 Wednesday Apr 2016

Posted by A.O. in Name Data

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Tags

name trends, popular names

GIRLS

  1. Charlotte
  2. Ava
  3. Zoe
  4. Olivia
  5. Sophie
  6. Mia
  7. Amelia
  8. Chloe
  9. Emily
  10. Grace
  11. Matilda
  12. Ruby
  13. Zara
  14. Ella
  15. Evelyn
  16. Isla
  17. Abigail
  18. Audrey
  19. Sophia
  20. Evie
  21. Georgia
  22. Scarlett
  23. Madeleine
  24. Mila
  25. Elizabeth
  26. Emma
  27. Hannah
  28. Imogen
  29. Ivy
  30. Alice
  31. Harper
  32. Lily
  33. Violet
  34. Alexis
  35. Annabelle
  36. Aria
  37. Eleanor
  38. Isabelle
  39. Lucy
  40. Isabella
  41. Jasmine
  42. Layla
  43. Sienna
  44. Harriet
  45. Madison
  46. Eve
  47. Jessica
  48. Lillian
  49. Mackenzie
  50. Sofia
  51. April
  52. Elsie
  53. Heidi
  54. Maddison
  55. Phoebe
  56. Poppy
  57. Anna
  58. Ariana
  59. Eva
  60. Hazel
  61. Amelie
  62. Aurora
  63. Eden
  64. Eloise
  65. Holly
  66. Josephine
  67. Lola
  68. Molly
  69. Olive
  70. Paige
  71. Stella
  72. Willow
  73. Ayla
  74. Charlie
  75. Elena
  76. Ellie
  77. Florence
  78. Freya
  79. Gracie
  80. Kate
  81. Lara
  82. Lilly
  83. Maya
  84. Sarah
  85. Aanya
  86. Alexandra
  87. Alicia
  88. Chelsea
  89. Clara
  90. Edith
  91. Hayley
  92. Isabel
  93. Madeline
  94. Penelope
  95. Peyton
  96. Piper
  97. Quinn
  98. Victoria
  99. Zoey
  100. Aaliyah
BOYS

  1. William
  2. Oliver
  3. Jack
  4. James
  5. Alexander
  6. Henry
  7. Lachlan
  8. Thomas
  9. Charlie
  10. Ethan
  11. Oscar
  12. George
  13. Samuel
  14. Benjamin
  15. Liam
  16. Max
  17. Sebastian
  18. Daniel
  19. Archie
  20. Leo
  21. Lucas
  22. Noah
  23. Jacob
  24. Joshua
  25. Harrison
  26. Isaac
  27. Hunter
  28. Mason
  29. Angus
  30. Cooper
  31. Hudson
  32. Logan
  33. Patrick
  34. Hamish
  35. Harry
  36. Ryan
  37. Hugo
  38. Archer
  39. Edward
  40. Eli
  41. Levi
  42. Lewis
  43. Lincoln
  44. Beau
  45. Elijah
  46. Jake
  47. Nicholas
  48. Xavier
  49. Zachary
  50. Aiden
  51. Finn
  52. Jackson
  53. Maxwell
  54. Michael
  55. Muhammad
  56. Arlo
  57. Charles
  58. Jayden
  59. Jesse
  60. Asher
  61. Hayden
  62. Joseph
  63. Luca
  64. Matthew
  65. Tyler
  66. Vincent
  67. Connor
  68. David
  69. Dominic
  70. Dylan
  71. Felix
  72. Flynn
  73. Louis
  74. Spencer
  75. Austin
  76. Blake
  77. Caleb
  78. Christopher
  79. Harvey
  80. Jordan
  81. Mitchell
  82. Nathaniel
  83. Owen
  84. Reuben
  85. Riley
  86. Theodore
  87. Aidan
  88. Arthur
  89. Cameron
  90. Declan
  91. Elliot
  92. Gabriel
  93. Joel
  94. John
  95. Luke
  96. Nathan
  97. Aaron
  98. Adam
  99. Andrew
  100. Ari

GIRLS

Fastest Risers
Madeleine (+78 at least), Mila (+75), Harriet (+57 at least), Eve (+55 at least), Lillian (+53 at least), Hazel (+41 at least), Amelie (+40 at least), Eden (+38 at least), April and Madison (+37)

Fastest Fallers
Claire (-59 at least), Caitlin (-57 at least), Maya (-57), Addison (-45 at least), Willow (-44), Penelope (-39), Bella (-38 at least), Aaliyah (-38), Eliana (-36 at least), Eva (-36)

New
Madeleine, Harriet, Eve, Lillian, Hazel, Amelie, Eden, Lola, Ayla, Charlie, Ellie, Florence, Freya, Gracie, Kate, Aanya, Alicia, Madeline, Peyton, Piper, Quinn, Zoey

Gone
Claire, Caitlin, Addison, Bella, Eliana, Rose, Samantha, Zahra, Anastasia, Bonnie, Alise, Mikayla, Savannah, Alyssa, Annika, Arabella, Emilia, Indiana, Jade, Laura, Leah, Lyla

BOYS

Fastest Risers
Lewis (+52), Arlo (+45 at least), Jesse (+42 at least), Lincoln (+41), Edward (+37), Hudson and Muhammad (+31), Hayden (+30), Dominic (+29), Hunter (+28)

Fastest Fallers
Riley (-57), Blake (-52), Evan (-34 at least), Flynn (-30), Toby (-28 at least), Louis (-28), Bailey (-26 at least), Rafael (-23 at least), Zachary (-21), Cooper (-20)

New
Arlo, Jesse, Spencer, Christopher, Jordan, Nathaniel, Aidan, Cameron, Declan, Gabriel, Joel, John, Luke, Adam, Andrew

Gone
Evan, Toby, Bailey, Rafael, Robert, Sonny, Alex, Jonathan, Julian, Braxton, Chase, Christian, Fletcher, Jaxon

Note: Due to its small population size, the Australian Capital Territory’s Top 100 is its full name data for the year. For the same reason, movement up and down the charts can be very volatile.

The Top 100 Names in New South Wales for 2015

05 Tuesday Apr 2016

Posted by A.O. in Name Data

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Tags

name trends, popular names

GIRLS

  1. Charlotte
  2. Olivia
  3. Mia
  4. Amelia
  5. Ava
  6. Chloe
  7. Emily
  8. Zoe
  9. Grace
  10. Sophia
  11. Sophie
  12. Isabella
  13. Isla
  14. Ruby
  15. Ivy
  16. Ella
  17. Evie
  18. Sienna
  19. Matilda
  20. Scarlett
  21. Harper
  22. Evelyn
  23. Lily
  24. Emma
  25. Georgia
  26. Eva
  27. Lucy
  28. Hannah
  29. Zara
  30. Isabelle
  31. Willow
  32. Abigail
  33. Audrey
  34. Aria
  35. Sofia
  36. Annabelle
  37. Layla
  38. Violet
  39. Mila
  40. Imogen
  41. Sarah
  42. Stella
  43. Piper
  44. Savannah
  45. Elizabeth
  46. Alice
  47. Ellie
  48. Jessica
  49. Maddison
  50. Ariana
  51. Victoria
  52. Mackenzie
  53. Jasmine
  54. Maya
  55. Claire
  56. Eleanor
  57. Madison
  58. Alexis
  59. Phoebe
  60. Indiana
  61. Chelsea
  62. Alyssa
  63. Summer
  64. Eden
  65. Anna
  66. Lara
  67. Hazel
  68. Addison
  69. Madeleine
  70. Penelope
  71. Elsie
  72. Isabel
  73. Poppy
  74. Frankie
  75. Molly
  76. Aisha
  77. Bella
  78. Emilia
  79. Aurora
  80. Lilly
  81. Rose
  82. Ayla
  83. Eloise
  84. Harriet
  85. Leah
  86. Lola
  87. Alexandra
  88. Daisy
  89. Olive
  90. Eliza
  91. Aaliyah
  92. Holly
  93. Lillian
  94. Maryam
  95. Eve
  96. Charlie
  97. Gabriella
  98. Paige
  99. Billie
  100. Madeline
BOYS

  1. Oliver
  2. William
  3. Jack
  4. Noah
  5. James
  6. Thomas
  7. Lucas
  8. Isaac
  9. Ethan
  10. Alexander
  11. Jacob
  12. Lachlan
  13. Samuel
  14. Harrison
  15. Joshua
  16. Henry
  17. Liam
  18. Cooper
  19. Benjamin
  20. Charlie
  21. Mason
  22. Ryan
  23. Max
  24. Leo
  25. Oscar
  26. Harry
  27. Levi
  28. Daniel
  29. Xavier
  30. Logan
  31. Hunter
  32. Jackson
  33. Archie
  34. Sebastian
  35. Hudson
  36. Jayden
  37. George
  38. Elijah
  39. Joseph
  40. Adam
  41. Riley
  42. Edward
  43. Aiden
  44. Michael
  45. Hugo
  46. Ashton
  47. Flynn
  48. Zachary
  49. Archer
  50. Tyler
  51. Matthew
  52. Nate
  53. Lincoln
  54. Luca
  55. Nicholas
  56. Jaxon
  57. Theodore
  58. Eli
  59. Patrick
  60. Beau
  61. Christian
  62. Harvey
  63. Jake
  64. Finn
  65. Austin
  66. Luke
  67. Dylan
  68. Charles
  69. Connor
  70. Jordan
  71. Gabriel
  72. Kai
  73. Muhammad
  74. Blake
  75. Dominic
  76. Chase
  77. Ali
  78. Braxton
  79. Louis
  80. Nathan
  81. Felix
  82. John
  83. Carter
  84. Angus
  85. Caleb
  86. Marcus
  87. Toby
  88. Anthony
  89. Nathaniel
  90. Hayden
  91. Jasper
  92. Arlo
  93. Andrew
  94. Jonathan
  95. Owen
  96. Harley
  97. Ryder
  98. Hamish
  99. Jesse
  100. Maxwell

GIRLS

Fastest Risers
Mackenzie (+40), Eleanor (+26), Aisha (+25 at least), Frankie (+25), Elsie (+24), Ariana (+23), Aurora (+22 at least), Hazel (+22), Piper (+20), Penelope (+18)

Fastest Fallers
Holly (-26), Lola (-24), Paige and Poppy (-23), Hayley (-22 at least), Eloise (-22), Elise (-21 at least), Bella (-20), Jasmine (-19), Aaliyah (-17)

New
Aisha, Aurora, Leah, Daisy, Maryam, Eve, Gabriella, Billie

Gone
Hayley, Elise, Lexi, Amelie, Jade, Natalie, Indie, Samantha

BOYS

Fastest Risers
Theodore (+44 at least), Harvey (+39 at least), Charles (+19), Carter (+18 at least), Lincoln (+17), Ashton (+14), Nathaniel (+12 at least), John and Joseph (+11)

Fastest Fallers
Marcus (-21), Jasper (-19), Bailey (-17 at least), Nicholas (-16), Dylan and Kai (-15), Hamish (-13), Jayden and Max (-12)

New
Theodore, Harvey, Carter, Nathaniel, Arlo, Andrew, Harley

Gone
Bailey, Aaron, David, Christopher, Phoenix, Darcy, Omar

Is This Name Too Short, or Too Unusual?

22 Tuesday Mar 2016

Posted by A.O. in Naming Assistance

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

animal names, choosing baby names, Facebook, honouring, matching names with surnames, middle names, name trends, nature names, nicknames, rare names

fox-wallpaper-11

Tara and Andor are expecting their first child in a few months, and easily thought of plenty of girls names they both liked. However, they only agreed on one boy’s name that they both liked equally and felt was the right fit for them. As it happened, they discovered they were having a boy, and now that one name seems very real.

The one boy’s name they have both agreed on is Fox. Tara admits this possibly wasn’t a good idea, but she mentioned the name to her mother and sister, who were surprised by it and not very impressed.

Her mum thought it sounded “too Mills & Boone”, and was concerned that if their son had red hair (which runs in the family), the name Fox might seem rather cruel. She also didn’t like the connotations of being sly that the word fox has.

Tara’s sister just didn’t like it, as her taste in names is much more traditional. Tara is too sensible to worry overmuch about her family’s reactions, and hopes that they come around once the baby has actually been born (and is a super cute and cuddly grandson and nephew for them).

The main thing that is holding Tara back from committing to the name Fox is that the baby will have a one-syllable occupational surname, such as Clark, and she feels that Fox Clark doesn’t flow particularly well. She also wonders if it might be a bit too unusual, as Fox seems to be gaining popularity as a middle name rather than a first name.

What Tara and Andor would most like in a name is something which isn’t highly popular, and will be suitable for all stages of their son’s life. Tara likes older style names, and both of them love nature names as well. Tara is a teacher, and has ruled out many names too strongly associated with past students.

Andor has an unusual name, and both he and Tara like that it’s out of the ordinary – they both like the name Oliver, nicknamed Ollie, but have ruled it out because it’s the #1 name. Archie is also becoming a name they are seeing too often on other people’s children to keep on their list.

Other names they have thought of are Felix, Arlo, Louis, Banjo, and Sonny. Tara really likes Theodore, nicknamed Teddy or Theo, or just Theo as the full name, but she hasn’t been able to convince Andor. The baby’s middle name will be Steven, which honours a loved family member.

Tara wants to know – is Fox too short for a one-syllable surname, and is it too out there as a first name?

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Last year a mum-to-be wrote in to the blog because she and her husband had agreed on only one name for their daughter – Grace. Because they had a one-syllable surname, like Cooke, she was worried that they couldn’t give their baby girl a short name to match it. When their daughter was born, they decided that Grace was the perfect name for her after all.

Just as I couldn’t see anything horribly wrong with Grace Cooke, I don’t believe Fox Clark is too dreadful. More than that, I actually like it – I enjoy that it has a snappy, brisk sound, like the bark of a fox. I also like the juxtaposition of the two nouns in the name Fox Clark, which is very evocative. The name sounds smart to me – clever and wise, rather than cunning and sly.

I found a young man on Facebook with the name “Fox Clark”, so someone else has used it. I had a very clear picture in my mind as to what someone named Fox Clark would be like, and this man (unsurprisingly!) looked completely different – and yet I at once thought, “Oh yes, he looks exactly right for a Fox Clark”. And I’m sure I could see another Fox Clark, and another, and they would all suit their name in different ways.

As to whether Fox is too unusual a name or not, that comes down to opinion. It’s certainly not a common name, but nature names and animal names are on trend, and so are names for boys ending in an X like Tex or Hendrix. The name Fox is also rising steeply in the UK and US, so I think you can safely assume there are more Foxes being born here too.

You’re right that the name is much more common in the middle, but rising names often start out in middle name territory. Parents like them, but don’t feel bold enough to use such a “different” name in the first position: not yet, anyway. Short names like Fox also appeal as middle names because they sound good with longer first names.

But what you probably wonder is whether other people will think that Fox is too weird, especially after your family’s reaction. The feeling I most get about Fox when I talk to people about it is that it’s a “cool name” – one that’s different, but in an interesting way.

If you look at people’s opinions online, so often they say Fox is a guilty pleasure name: one they wish they were brave enough to use. Sure, you might have a few people who don’t care for the name Fox, or think it’s strange, but I think there will also be some admirers, and secret admirers, out there.

Even your mum’s comment that it’s a “Mills & Boone” name suggests that she thinks it sounds sexy and bad boy. She might not like it, or perhaps thinks it’s inappropriate, but it’s interesting that she immediately connected the name to romance and fantasy. Perhaps when you met Andor, you likewise found his name intriguing: I like that Andor has an unusual name too, so it feels like the start of a family tradition.

Fox is an up and coming name that isn’t widely familiar yet. That’s an attraction for a teacher, for as yet you haven’t had many (perhaps any?) students named Fox to colour the name for you.

That means it doesn’t have an ageless quality but eventually children grow up, and their names inevitably grow with them – at some point, Arlo will be your doctor and Sonny will handle your insurance claim. Once upon a time, Clarence was a “little boy” name that people could no doubt never picture as a lawyer, journalist, or old man in a nursing home.

If you continue to have nagging doubts about naming your son Fox, perhaps you could use it as a nickname. Looking at your name list, you have considered the name Felix, which seems the easiest to turn into a long form of Fox – “His name’s Felix, but we call him Fox for short”. Really, Fox seems like the kind of name where you could choose any name you wanted and add, “… but we call him Fox”.

However, I must say I hope you decide to stick with Fox. It’s a name you both like equally, and the only name you have both agreed on so far, so it just might be the right name for you.

POLL RESULTS

87% of people thought Fox was okay to use with a one-syllable surname. 48% thought it sounded quite good, 21% that it sounded okay, and 18% that it didn’t flow particularly well, but was still usable. However 11% of people thought it was too awkward to be usable, and 2% weren’t sure.

85% of people thought that was Fox wasn’t too weird to be usable as a baby name. 30% thought it was a bit unusual, but that others would soon get used to it. 20% didn’t think it was very unusual as it fits in so well with current trends. 15% said it was too unusual for them to use, but they would find it interesting on someone else’s child. 13% thought it was very unusual, but that was a positive thing as it made the name cool and different. 7% of people didn’t think it was unusual in the least. 11% thought maybe it was too unusual as they couldn’t imagine it on a real person, while 4% were convinced it was an extremely weird name.

The Top 100 Names in Tasmania for 2015

20 Sunday Mar 2016

Posted by A.O. in Name Data

≈ Comments Off on The Top 100 Names in Tasmania for 2015

Tags

name trends, popular names

GIRLS

  1. Charlotte
  2. Ella
  3. Amelia
  4. Mia
  5. Sophie
  6. Matilda
  7. Ruby
  8. Grace
  9. Ivy
  10. Ava
  11. Lucy
  12. Elsie
  13. Evie
  14. Harper
  15. Lily
  16. Lola
  17. Zoe
  18. Willow
  19. Isla
  20. Evelyn
  21. Isabella
  22. Layla
  23. Emily
  24. Chloe
  25. Scarlett
  26. Olivia
  27. Eva
  28. Maddison
  29. Isabelle
  30. Sophia
  31. Annabelle
  32. Phoebe
  33. Imogen
  34. Frankie
  35. Piper
  36. Aria
  37. Eliza
  38. Lilly
  39. Hannah
  40. Stella
  41. Addison
  42. Millie
  43. Eleanor
  44. Chelsea
  45. Harriet
  46. Sienna
  47. Daisy
  48. Ellie
  49. Paige
  50. Heidi
  51. Mila
  52. Audrey
  53. Jasmine
  54. Abigail
  55. Summer
  56. Violet
  57. Poppy
  58. Penelope
  59. Molly
  60. Alexis
  61. Lillian
  62. Freya
  63. Maggie
  64. Estelle
  65. Jessica
  66. Alice
  67. Indiana
  68. Florence
  69. Charli
  70. Rose
  71. Madeleine
  72. Mackenzie
  73. Sofia
  74. Madeline
  75. Maya
  76. Olive
  77. April
  78. Holly
  79. Bella
  80. Madison
  81. Clara
  82. Marli
  83. Billie
  84. Indi
  85. Georgia
  86. Esther
  87. Charlie
  88. Bethany
  89. Amy
  90. Skylah
  91. Lacey
  92. Zara
  93. Kaylee
  94. Pippa
  95. Hazel
  96. Remi
  97. Eden
  98. Caitlyn
  99. Mabel
  100. Jade
BOYS

  1. Oliver
  2. William
  3. Charlie
  4. Jack
  5. Thomas
  6. James
  7. Harrison
  8. Oscar
  9. Henry
  10. Lucas
  11. Max
  12. Leo
  13. Hunter
  14. Hudson
  15. Noah
  16. Alexander
  17. George
  18. Riley
  19. Lachlan
  20. Archie
  21. Toby
  22. Logan
  23. Harry
  24. Nate
  25. Mason
  26. Eli
  27. Cooper
  28. Samuel
  29. Angus
  30. Liam
  31. Hamish
  32. Lincoln
  33. Isaac
  34. Levi
  35. Elijah
  36. Edward
  37. Xavier
  38. Jacob
  39. Blake
  40. Felix
  41. Hugo
  42. Harvey
  43. Joshua
  44. Ethan
  45. Fletcher
  46. Jackson
  47. Spencer
  48. Jesse
  49. Flynn
  50. Jasper
  51. Archer
  52. Connor
  53. Ryan
  54. Luke
  55. Jett
  56. Zachary
  57. Finn
  58. Jaxon
  59. Darcy
  60. Patrick
  61. Arthur
  62. Austin
  63. Seth
  64. Bailey
  65. Joseph
  66. Vincent
  67. Dylan
  68. Theodore
  69. Rory
  70. Tyler
  71. Parker
  72. Caleb
  73. Declan
  74. Beau
  75. Owen
  76. Jake
  77. Lewis
  78. Sebastian
  79. Ollie
  80. Louis
  81. Alex
  82. Benjamin
  83. David
  84. Ryder
  85. Maxwell
  86. Ari
  87. Tyson
  88. Ashton
  89. Matthew
  90. Tom
  91. Charles
  92. Axel
  93. Luca
  94. Zander
  95. Harley
  96. Jayden
  97. Nixon
  98. Rylan
  99. Jax
  100. Bentley

GIRLS

Fastest Risers
Harriet (+87 at least), Paige, (+82 at least), Jasmine (+78 at least), Estelle (+67 at least), Florence (+63 at least), Penelope (+62), Madeleine (+60 at least), Sofia (+58 at least), Ivy (+54), Chelsea (+53)

Fastest Fallers
Sarah (-94 at least), Savannah (-88 at least), Skyla (-83 at least), Elizabeth and Esther (-62), Brooke (-60 at least), Josie (-58 at least), Nevaeh (-57 at least), Bonnie (-56 at least), Zoey (-54 at least)

New
Harriet, Paige, Jasmine, Estelle, Florence, Penelope, Madeleine, Sofia, Charli, Maya, April, Clara, Marli, Indi, Charlie, Bethany, Skylah, Lacey, Zara, Kaylee, Pippa, Remi

Gone
Elizabeth, Savannah, Sarah, Skyla, Tilly, Mikayla, Amber, Brooke, Josie, Nevaeh, Bonnie, Claire, Zoey, Isabel, Taylor, Josephine, Claudia, Anna, Eve, Samantha, Lexi, Eloise

BOYS

Fastest Risers
Luke (+93 at least), Vincent (+81 at least), Theodore (+79 at least), Rory (+78 at least), Parker (+76), Harvey (+70), Ari (+61 at least), Charles (+56 at least), Axel (+55 at least), Nixon (+50 at least)

Fastest Fallers
Chase (-77 at least), Robert (-74 at least), Hayden (-73), Brock (-68 at least), Benjamin (-67), Aiden (-62 at least), Cameron (-58), Nathaniel (-56 at least), Carter (-53 at least), Billy (-47 at least)

New
Harvey, Luke, Vincent, Theodore, Rory, Parker, Louis, Ari, Tyson, Ashton, Matthew, Tom, Charles, Axel, Nixon, Rylan, Jax, Bentley

Gone
Chase, Robert, Hayden, Brock, Cameron, Michael, Christopher, Aiden, Abel, Sonny, Nathaniel, Carter, Reuben, Billy, Hugh, Nicholas, Joel

Note: Because of its small population size, Tasmania’s Top 100 is most of its complete data. For the same reason, movement up and down the chart is extremely volatile.

Is She Over-Thinking Their Baby Names?

19 Saturday Mar 2016

Posted by A.O. in Naming Assistance

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

choosing baby names, name trends, sibsets

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Bianca and Daniel are expecting their second child in a few months, a brother or sister for their son Arlo. They have a name list in place which they are pretty set on, but as the pregnancy progresses, Bianca finds herself thinking them over more and more, until she begins to wonder if she is overthinking them.

They have several possible names for boys selected, including Eli, Ezra, Remy, and Chet. Daniel loves the name Eli, and that’s the name they will probably choose. However, Bianca worries that Arlo and Eli might be too matchy as a sibset. Bianca likes the sound of Ezra with Arlo, but is worried about people’s reactions to it, as she thinks it is very uncommon in Australia.

For girls, they love the name Elke, but now Bianca is starting to worry about spelling and pronunciation issues. Bianca likes the traditional spelling of Elke, but not the traditional pronunciation, which is rather like EL-ka – she prefers EL-kee.

Bianca wonders how most Australians will read the name Elke if they see it written down – as EL-ka, or EL-kee? Should they change the spelling to Elkie to avoid confusion? And does Elkie look okay, and not like a made up name?

Other girl names considered are Nell, Edie, Romy, and Ayla. Nell has been Bianca’s favourite name for many years; Daniel won’t agree to it, however. Bianca also likes Edie, and thinks it might be a better option than Elke. However, Bianca and Daniel have a niece with a name that ends in -die, such as Sadie, and she wonders if Edie and Sadie might be too much alike.

Bianca isn’t quite sure about Romy, but does love its spunkiness. She worries it might sound a bit funny with their surname (which is slightly similar in sound to Google), and Daniel isn’t quite sure about it. Daniel loves the name Ayla, but Bianca isn’t quite as keen, and feels it is too close to Arlo.

Bianca would love some suggestions for more girls’ names, as she isn’t sure about any of their choices. Her favourite girls’ names are short, simple, and sweet – and not too common.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Gee Bianca, I would love to tell you that you’re over-thinking things and to stop worrying about it all. The trouble is that would be very hypocritical, because if I was in your position, I would be thinking and worrying about exactly the same things. Maybe I’m an over-thinker as well (a blog on the subject could very well be a symptom of that).

I can see what you mean about Arlo and Eli – they both start and end with a vowel, and have an L sound in the middle, so they sound a little alike. However, I don’t think they necessarily sound too matchy, and from what I’ve seen, parents who like Arlo often like Eli as well, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there are other brothers named Arlo and Eli out there.

I tend to agree with you that Arlo and Ezra are an awesome match. They sound great together, and have a cool, intelligent vibe that’s rather hip. Ezra isn’t that uncommon in Australia – it’s not popular, but you definitely see it around. It’s already Top 100 in New Zealand, and is rising very steeply in the US and UK, so it feels ready to take off (maybe like Arlo a few years ago?). I can’t promise you will never get any negative reactions to it, but I think overall it might be better received than you think.

However, if Daniel loves the name Eli then it might be hard to get him to change his mind. And I wouldn’t blame him – if I really loved a baby name, and my spouse and I had both agreed on it, I would be a bit miffed if the name was changed to something else. Loving a baby name is something that could trump a name being hipper or making a better match: giving your child a name that you love over all others is a wonderful gift.

So that’s something for you and Daniel to discuss together, but I think either Eli or Ezra would be fine. You can’t go wrong whichever you pick.

I can see that Elke is giving you some problems with spelling and pronunciation, and I’m not really sure which pronunciation is more common in Australia. I often see people spelling the name Elka or Elkah, as if they’re more worried about people trying to put an EE sound on the name. It’s less common for me to see the name spelled Elkie but I have a few times. I don’t think it looks terrible or anything, but to me it looks as if Elkie means “little elk”.

The trouble is that you prefer the Elke spelling, and I can imagine it might grate on you to see your daughter’s name spelled in a way that seems wrong to you. On the other hand, having people sometimes pronounce it EL-ka would no doubt be an annoyance to you.

I must admit that my own prejudices are at work here, because I’m the sort of person who doesn’t mind names with alternative spellings, but balks at ones with alternative pronunciations. I wouldn’t have any problems explaining again and again that it’s Stephen not Steven or Isobel not Isabelle, but would become almost instantly stressed about Louis said like Louie or Emmeline to rhyme with Caroline. In my experience, people are much more likely to not understand or “hear” a pronunciation they’re not familiar with, or even to tell you that “you’re saying it wrong”.

If you decide that Elke is too much of a hassle, I think Edie would be an excellent alternative. It’s a sweet, hip little name, and makes a great match with Arlo. I don’t think a cousin called Sadie or Bridie should be an issue – it’s hard enough trying to co-ordinate sibling names without having to worry about “cousin sets”! However if the cousin is named Addie, that might be just close enough in sound to Edie to cause some mix ups.

I also love Romy as a match with Arlo, and I can’t see anything wrong with Romy Google. I agree it’s very spunky. To me Arlo and Ayla are perhaps a little too much alike – I can see that Daniel really likes vowel-heavy names with a strong L though, but not Alice!

Some other girls’ names that seem like a nice match with Arlo:

Thea – last year blog readers voted Thea and Arlo their favourite baby names from the Name List category. I have to admit, they seem like natural siblings.

Willa – it’s another name with a L sound in it, but less vowel-y. It seems hip to me, but might occasionally be confused with popular Willow.

Nora or Norah – I think Arlo and Nora sound adorable together. I guess another set of parents did too, because when I did a web search for “Arlo + Nora”, I found that Arlo Guthrie has a sister named Nora, a music producer. At least you know it works in real life!

Iris – I love the sweetness of Iris, and how it sounds with Arlo. I wonder if it’s too much like Alice for Daniel?

Sylvie – another sweet name I’m seeing more and more of. It’s another name with an L in the middle. Arlo and Sylvie almost seem characters from an urban fairy tale.

Elva – this vintage name is coming back into fashion. It has an Irish connection, like Arlo, and struck me as a possible alternative to Elke. Etta would also be nice, but I wonder if Arlo and Etta is too much of a musical theme for you – it feels as if the next child has to be Miles or Lulu.

Well Bianca, I don’t know if I’ve helped with your over-thinking, or just given you more things to think about! I think you are pretty much right for boys’ names, having two good choices at least, while I agree that you might need to consider girls’ names a bit longer. Luckily you have a few months to make a final decision.

UPDATE: The baby was a boy, and his name is Ezra!

POLL RESULTS
80% of respondents didn’t think Arlo and Eli were too matchy as brothers. 47% thought they were a bit matchy but still usable, 20% thought they were hardly matchy at all, and 13% thought they weren’t matchy in the least. One-fifth of people were sure that this combination was too matchy, and overall that made 67% of people who leaned towards thinking it was matchy to some extent.

There was a slight majority of people who preferred to say the name Elke as EL-kee, and it didn’t make a huge amount of difference whether you were Australian or not. 59% of Australians said EL-kee, while 41% said EL-ka; 53% of non-Australians said EL-kee, while 47% said EL-ka.

The public’s choice for Arlo’s sibling was Ezra for a boy, which gained 53% of the vote, and Edie for a girl, which got 43% of the vote.

The Top 51 Names in South Australia for 2015

14 Monday Mar 2016

Posted by A.O. in Name Data

≈ Comments Off on The Top 51 Names in South Australia for 2015

Tags

name trends, popular names

GIRLS

  1. Charlotte
  2. Amelia
  3. Olivia
  4. Ava
  5. Scarlett
  6. Sophie
  7. Chloe
  8. Mia
  9. Emily
  10. Grace
  11. Ruby
  12. Ivy
  13. Ella
  14. Evie
  15. Zoe
  16. Harper
  17. Isabella
  18. Lucy
  19. Emma
  20. Isla
  21. Zara
  22. Hannah
  23. Sienna
  24. Matilda
  25. Violet
  26. Eva
  27. Evelyn
  28. Isabelle
  29. Layla
  30. Sophia
  31. Georgia
  32. Lily
  33. Abigail
  34. Willow
  35. Sofia
  36. Ellie
  37. Aria
  38. Maddison
  39. Mila
  40. Imogen
  41. Maya
  42. Annabelle
  43. Jasmine
  44. Piper
  45. Savannah
  46. Alexis
  47. Madison
  48. Alice
  49. Holly
  50. Lilly
  51. Paige
BOYS

  1. Oliver
  2. William
  3. Jack
  4. Noah
  5. Charlie
  6. Lucas
  7. Thomas
  8. Ethan
  9. Liam
  10. James
  11. Lachlan
  12. Henry
  13. Max
  14. Harrison
  15. Riley
  16. Samuel
  17. Hudson
  18. Alexander
  19. Leo
  20. Logan
  21. Archie
  22. Oscar
  23. Harry
  24. Mason
  25. Elijah
  26. Isaac
  27. Jacob
  28. Benjamin
  29. Archer
  30. Sebastian
  31. Levi
  32. Hunter
  33. Tyler
  34. Nate
  35. Xavier
  36. Angus
  37. Cooper
  38. George
  39. Edward
  40. Patrick
  41. Ryan
  42. Daniel
  43. Hamish
  44. Jaxon
  45. Jackson
  46. Joshua
  47. Luca
  48. Connor
  49. Jordan
  50. Eli
  51. Hugo

GIRLS

Fastest Risers
Violet (+26 at least), Evie (+19), Evelyn (+17), Emma (+16), Mila (+12 at least)

Fastest Fallers
Madison (-26), Lily (-16), Imogen (-14), Mackenzie (-13 at least), Sophia (-13)

New
Violet, Mila, Maya, Piper, Paige

Gone
Mackenzie, Addison, Elsie, Poppy

BOYS

Fastest Risers
Elijah (+16), Angus (+15 at least), Nate (+15), Logan (+14), George (+12)

Fastest Fallers
Blake (-20 at least), Jackson (-16), Austin (-14 at least), Jacob (-11), Hunter (-10)

New
Angus, Hamish, Luca, Connor, Eli, Hugo

Gone
Blake, Austin, Lincoln, Ashton, Chase

Cyclone Names for Boys

06 Sunday Mar 2016

Posted by A.O. in Name Themes and Lists

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Anglo-Saxon names, Arabic names, Biblical names, classic names, cyclone names, Egyptian names, english names, famous namesakes, fictional namesakes, germanic names, hebrew names, Irish names, Latin names, locational names, modern classics, mythological names, name history, name meaning, name popularity, name trends, nicknames, Old English names, pen names, popular names, rare names, Roman names, royal names, saints names, Slavic names, stage names, surname names, underused modern classics, unisex names, vintage names

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Dominic
There was a Cyclone Dominic in 1982 and another in 2009; both were quite severe and did significant damage. Dominic is from the Latin name Dominicus, meaning “of the Lord”, and often translated as “belonging to God”. It began as a specifically Christian name, and there are several saints named Dominic. The most famous is the medieval Spanish priest who founded the Dominican Order; he was named after St Dominic of Silos, who answered the prayer of the second St Dominic’s mother that she might become pregnant. As part of that joking folk etymology that religion is so fond of, the Dominicans are said to be named from the Latin for “dog of God” (Domini canis), as a sign of St Dominic’s dogged faithfulness. Dominic has charted since the 1950s, when it debuted at #236. It reached the Top 100 in the 1990s, and has mostly stayed around the bottom quarter of the Top 100, or fallen just below it. Currently it is #88. This is a sleekly handsome modern classic that’s never been highly popular, and comes with the nicknames Dom, Nic, or Nico.

Iggy
Cyclone Iggy was off the coast of Western Australia in 2012: grave fears were held as its power intensified, but by the time it made landfall it had waned considerably. Iggy is traditionally used as a short form of Ignatius, but rocker Iggy Pop (born James Osterberg) took his stage name from his high school band, The Iguanas. Another musical Iggy is Australian rapper Iggy Azalea (born Amethyst Kelly): her stage name Iggy is from her childhood dog, possibly named after Mr Pop. In the Maximum Ride YA series by James Patterson, Iggy is an extremely handsome blind boy whose real name is James Griffiths. This name might feel like “nickname only” territory, but a few people have Iggy as their full legal name. While Ignatius is elegant, Iggy is in-your-face cyberpunk nuttiness, and will appeal to parents wanting something fun and different.

Marcus
Marcus is on the current list of cyclone names. Marcus is a Roman name believed to be derived from Mars, the Roman god of war, and was one of the most popular names in ancient Rome. Famous Romans with the name include the general Marcus Antonius, otherwise known as Mark Antony; the emperor Marcus Aurelius; Marcus Junius Brutus, usually known to us as Brutus, the assassin of Julius Caesar; and the philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero. Marcus has been used as an English name since the Middle Ages, but widely used on the Continent and in Latin America as well. It’s currently popular in Scandinavia, as well as Australia and New Zealand. Marcus is a classic name which has been almost continuously on the charts. It was #190 in the 1900s, and fell to nothing during the 1930s. After that it continued growing and made the Top 100 by the 1970s. Popularity dipped, but it was back again in the 1990s, and peaked at #51 in 2003. It is currently #82. A popular classic never higher than the bottom half of the Top 100, Marcus combines historical gravitas with European style.

Miles
Cyclone Miles was off the coast of Queensland in 1977. Miles is the English form of the Germanic name Milo, whose meaning is unclear. It may be from an ancient Germanic word meaning “mild”, but it has been argued that it is related to those Slavic names meaning “dear, gracious”, such as Mila and Milan. From early on, folk etymology connected it to the Latin word miles, meaning soldier – in Roman comedies, a foolish stock character was Miles Gloriosus, meaning “bragging soldier”. The name has been in use since the Middle Ages, introduced by the Normans, and is often thought of as rather aristocratic. A famous namesake is Miles Coverdale, who was the first person to translate the Bible into English in 1535. Miles has charted since the 1950s, when jazz legend Miles Davis gave the name an injection of cool; it debuted at #323. Since then, the name has increased in popularity, but never become popular, so this is an underused modern classic. It’s around the 100s currently. Rising in both the US and UK, this is a hip choice with a smooth sound.

Oswald
Cyclone Oswald hit Queensland and New South Wales in 2013, causing widespread storms and floods. A natural disaster was declared, and due to the severity of the cyclone, the name Oswald has now been retired. Oswald is an Old English name meaning “godly ruler, divine ruler”. There are two English saints named Oswald; Oswald of Northumbria was an Anglo-Saxon king, and the most powerful ruler in Britain during his time. The name Oswald became less common after the Middle Ages, but was revived in the 19th century as part of the Victorian fascination with ancient British names. Oswald was #75 in the 1900s and left the Top 100 in the 1920s. It left the charts in the 1940s and had unfortunate wartime namesakes – Nazi officer Oswald Pohl, who oversaw the concentration camps, and British Fascist, Sir Oswald Moseley, a friend of Adolf Hitler. In fiction, Oswalds are usually villains or comic characters, but Oswald Bastable from the Treasure Seeker series by E. Nesbit has been claimed as a revolutionary hero name in the Nomad of Time Streams works of Michael Moorcock, and the name is sometimes used in sci fi. A bold vintage choice with a steam punk vibe.

Paddy
Cyclone Paddy was near Cocos Island in May 1981, extremely late in the season. Paddy is an Irish nickname for the name Patrick, or its Irish forms Padraig and Padraic. It was once so commonly used that Paddy became a derogatory term for any Irishman. With such strong immigration from Ireland, the name has a long history in Australia with several famous namesakes, with Paddy either short for Patrick, their full name, or a nickname unrelated to their name. Some examples are: Paddy Hannan, the gold prospector who set off the gold rush in Kalgoorlie; Indigenous artist Paddy Bedford; colourful politician Paddy Crick; Aboriginal elder Paddy Roe; and pioneering bushwalker Paddy Pallin, who founded the chain of outdoor equipment stores. Paddy is also occasionally used as a girl’s name, a variant of Patty; an example is Australian author Paddy O’Reilly. Paddy is around the 500s in Australia, and fits in with the trend for nicknames as full name. Great Irish heritage choice with an Australian flavour.

Rusty
Cyclone Rusty hit the coast of northern Western Australia in 2013. Hurricane-force winds and heavy rain caused flooding and significant damage. Due to the severity of the cyclone, the name Rusty has now been retired. Rusty can be a nickname for either the first name or surname Russell, or a nickname given to someone with red or reddish-brown hair. It is not commonly given as a full name, but after Cyclone Rusty there was a reported increase in the number of baby boys named Rusty, so this is one cyclone at least which influenced local name trends. A rough-and-tumble boyish name in the style of Buster and Sunny: not recommended if your surname is Naylor, Bucket or Lidd.

Seth
Seth is on the current list of cyclone names. In the Old Testament, Seth was the third son of Adam and Eve, born after Abel was murdered by Cain. According to the Bible, Seth was the progenitor of the human race as it exists today, as only his descendants survived the Great Flood. The Bible is coy as to how Seth had children for us to be descended from, but the Apocrypha provides the obvious solution by having him marry his sister. Although the Bible tells us nothing more about Seth, according to tradition he was virtuous and wise; he is regarded as a saint in Christianity, and revered as a prophet in Islam. The name doesn’t seem to have been common for Jews, although in the New Testament the High Priest is said to be the son of a Seth. According to the Bible, the name Seth means “appointed”, to suggest that God appointed Seth as a replacement for Abel. Seth is also the Greek form of the Egyptian god Set, deity of storms and chaos, and murderer of his brother Osiris. The name has a strong New Age resonance due to the supposed chanelled messages of a being named Seth, highly influential to later writers. Seth has been used as an English name at least since the 16th century, and became more common during the 18th. Seth has charted since the 1970s, debuting at #539, and joined the Top 100 in the 2000s. It left the Top 100 in 2014, but cannot be far below it. An Old Testament name that women in particular seem to love as both soft and gentle, and dangerously sexy.

Vance
Cyclone Vance hit Western Australia in 1999, bringing gale-force winds and severe storms, and causing significant damage, particularly in Exmouth. Vance is an English surname that comes from the Old English for “fen”, describing someone who lived near a flat wetlands area or marsh. The surname has a particular association with Scotland, and the Scottish Vances believe their name is Norman, from Vaux in France, meaning “valley”. Vance has been used as a personal name since the 18th century, and was strongly connected with Scotland and Ireland. Vance Drummond was a New Zealand-born officer in the RAAF, much decorated for his gallantry in the Vietnam War. The famous writer Vance Palmer was born Edward, with Vance short for his middle name, Vivian. Not only a great contributor to Australian literature, he and his wife Nettie were part of the social movement that promoted Australian egalitarianism. The indie pop singer Vance Joy’s real name is James Keogh – he took his stage name from a minor character in Peter Carey’s novel Bliss. A vintage name ripe for revival with a strong connection to Australian culture.

Zane
Cyclone Zane was off the coast of Queensland in 2013, but by the time it made landfall it had dissipated to almost nothing. The name Zane was popularised by the American western novelist Zane Grey: he was born Pearl Grey (apparently in tribute to Queen Victoria’s mourning dress, which seems a strange way to name a child, especially a boy). Grey used his middle name Zane for his pen name; it was his mother’s maiden name. The Zanes were a famous American pioneering family, and Zane Grey himself was born in Zanesville, Ohio, named after his ancestor, Ebenezer Zane. The Zanes were descended from Devon Quakers, but the name’s origin is a mystery. It has been claimed that the family had either Danish or Italian ancestry, but neither theory has been proven. Sometimes presumed to be a form of John, as Zane is an unusual short form of Giovanni; it can also be a female name, short for Suzannah or Zuzannah. Zane has charted since the 1970s, debuting at #397 – Zane Grey was still a bestseller then, and another namesake for the era was bodybuilder Frank Zane, multiple Mr Olympia winner. It was in the Top 100 during the 2000s, peaking at #83 in 2005, and is probably around the 100s now. Not at all zany, Zane has become a modern standard conflated with the Arabic name Zain or Zayn, meaning “beauty, grace”.

POLL RESULTS

The public’s favourite names were Dominic, Miles and Seth, while their least favourites were Oswald, Paddy and Rusty.

(Photo is of Australian literary powerhouse, Vance Palmer)

Cyclone Names for Girls

28 Sunday Feb 2016

Posted by A.O. in Name Themes and Lists

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Arabic names, aristocratic names, Biblical names, celebrity baby names, Christmas names, classic names, created names, cyclone names, epithets, European name popularity, famous namesakes, fictional namesakes, French names, germanic names, Greek names, hebrew names, Italian names, literary names, modern classics, mythological names, name history, name meaning, name popularity, name trends, names from television, names of bears, names of mountains, nicknames, retro names, Roman names, royal names, saints names, Scottish names, Spanish names, underused classics

Delilah_Henry_Clive

Summer is cyclone season, and here are ten girls’ names from the official list used to name Australian cyclones. Information on cyclones from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Adele
Cyclone Adele was off the east coast of Australia in 1969. Adele is the Anglicised form of Adèle, the French form of the Germanic name Adela, meaning “noble”, and the basis for familiar English names such as Adelaide, Adeline, and Alice. Adèle has been in use since the Middle Ages, and as with its related names, was a favourite with the nobility; it is still a popular name in France. Adele has been used all over the world, and has recently been placed in the spotlight by the popular British singer. In fact there’s quite a few singers called Adele so it’s a good name for songbirds – there is also an Adele in Johann Strauss II’s operetta Die Fledermaus. Adele was #272 in the 1900s and peaked in the 1940s at #198; it’s never been off the charts, yet never been popular. It’s risen sharply since 2011, when Adele’s second album went to #1, and is probably somewhere in the 100s. Pretty and substantial with a high-profile namesake, there is much to recommend this underused classic, and it might be right for someone like you!

Clara
There have been several cyclones named Clara in the north of Australia. Clara is the feminine form of the Roman name Clarus, meaning “bright, clear, famous”. It was used in ancient Rome, but became well known in the Middle Ages due to St Clare of Assisi, one of the first followers of St Francis of Assisi. She was born Chiara Offreduccio to a noble family, and her Italian name can be translated as Clara or Clare. Clara is familiar throughout the world, and a popular name in Europe. You might think of this as a Christmas name because Clara is the little girl in Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker. A more contemporary fictional namesake is Clara Oswald, companion to Dr Who, played by Jenna Coleman; she also has a Christmas connection. Clara was #57 in the 1900s and left the Top 100 the following decade; it was off the charts by the 1950s. It made a comeback in the 1980s, perhaps because of friend Clara in the Heidi movies and TV shows. Since then it has been climbing steadily, and is probably not far outside the Top 100. A stylish retro name rapidly recapturing its former heights.

Cynthia
Cyclone Cynthia hit the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1967, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. Cynthia is a Greek name meaning “from Mount Cynthus”. Mount Cynthus is in the middle of the island of Delos, and according to Greek mythology the twin deities Apollo and Artemis were born on the mountain. Because of this, Cynthia was an epithet of Artemis, goddess of the moon and hunting. In modern times, Mount Cynthus is a popular tourist destination, offering superb views. Cynthia has been used as an English name since around the 16th century, but was better known in literature. Richard Barnfield wrote a series of sonnets to Cynthia, while Ben Jonson wrote a comedy called Cynthia’s Revels, where the goddess Artemis represents Elizabeth I. The name became much more common in the 18th century, with usage concentrated in America. Cynthia has been almost continually on the charts, making #284 in the 1910s and peaking in the 1940s at #133. It may be around the 500s now; I am seeing more of this underused classic. An elegant literary name from the mountain of the moon goddess: its short form Cindy is coming back into fashion, with Thia another possibility.

Delilah
There was a Cyclone Delilah in 1966 and another in 1988. In the Old Testament, Delilah is the lover of Samson; the Bible implies she is a prostitute or courtesan. Delilah was heavily bribed to discover the source of Samson’s supernatural strength, and through nagging/emotional blackmail, eventually brought him down and betrayed him. Unusually, the Bible never punishes Delilah, but her name became synonomous with treachery and feminine wiles. The name Delilah is said to be from the Hebrew for “poor, weak”, perhaps with connotations of “she who makes weak”, as Delilah sapped Samson’s strength. It can also be translated as “flowering or fruitful vine or branch”, which Bible commentators have tended to associate with sexual availability. However, the name is written to connect it with the word for “night” – layela; Bible writers probably wanted to give the name a feeling of dangerous sensuality. The name was in common use by the 18th century, particularly in the American South, so parents weren’t put off by the Bible story. Its use is rapidly growing in the English-speaking world, and is probably around the 100s, thanks to its similarity to popular Lila. Delightfully pretty and wickedly sexy, it’s a bad girl name celebrated in a slew of popular songs.

Elise
There was a Cyclone Elise in 1966 and another in 1986. Elise is a short form of Elisabeth which has been in use as an independent name since at least the 16th century, and is popular in Europe. A favourite musical association is Beethoven’s Für Elise (“For Elise”), not published until many years after the composer’s death. Who Elise was remains a mystery – there are several possibilities of the time known by this name. One of them was a teenage musical prodigy, and it’s nice to think of this piece being dedicated to a young girl. Elise has charted since the 1960s, debuting at #634, and although it has hovered just below the Top 100 a few times, it’s only once been on it: in 2014, when it made #97. This is an underused modern classic that’s been overtaken by more fashionable names such as Eloise and Elsie. Its spelling variants tend to be confused with those for Alice, making it harder for sweet Elise to be noticed in the data. A good choice for those wanting something contemporary but not trendy.

Ines
Ines was a severe cyclone affecting the north coast of Australia in November 1973, bringing heavy rains and gale force winds; so far, this is the earliest in the season a cyclone has ever hit. Ines is based on Inés, the Spanish form of Agnes, originally used in honour of Saint Agnes. It gained a romantic medieval namesake in Inês de Castro, a noblewoman who had a secret relationship with Peter I of Portugal with tragic results – this story of forbidden love has often been turned into operas and ballets. The name Ines has a long history in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America, and spread early to the English-speaking world. It’s popular in many European countries, including in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, and is most popular in France. This stylish name is being used more often in Australia, where it is known from the daughter of chef Bill Granger. Pronunciations vary, but it’s usually said ee-NEZ or ee-NESS – gentle correction is probably necessary. Sometimes confused with Scottish Innes, but familiarity will make things easier as the number of girls named Ines grows.

Selma
Cyclone Selma hovered around Darwin in December 1974, then changed course and disappeared – a harbinger of rampaging Tracy who would infamously do all the damage later that month. The origin of Selma is unsure. It may be a short form of Anselma, a Germanic name meaning “helmet of God, protection of God”. However, it only came into common use in the 18th century, after the publication of the Ossian poems by James McPherson, where Selma is a royal castle. McPherson created the name from the Scottish Gaelic for “good view”, translated as “beautiful to behold”. Just to confuse things, the name Selima also became known in 18th century Britain, thanks to a mock elegy by Thomas Gray about a cat called Selima who accidentally drowned. It was based on a real life incident: Selima was the pet of Gray’s friend, the writer Horace Walpole. The name – an apparent variant of the Arabic name Salima, meaning “peace” – took off, and Selma may be a variant. Currently popular in Norway and Sweden, this name has gained publicity from actress Selma Blair, and the film Selma, about the Civil Rights marches in Selma, Alabama. Rising in both the US and UK, this would have a real chance if people could forget about Selma Bouvier from The Simpsons.

Vida
Cyclone Vida was off the south west coast of Western Australia in 1975, bringing gale force winds and strong squalls which did about a million dollars worth of damage. The name Vida has several possible origins. It can be a feminine form of the Germanic name Wido, meaning “wood”, or of the Roman name Vitus, meaning “life” (a variant of Vita). In Portuguese and Spanish-speaking countries, it can be understood as a vocabulary name meaning “life”, from the Latin vita. It can also be used as a short form of Davida, a feminine form of David particularly associated with Scotland. In Australia, the name may be known from feminist Vida Goldstein, who campaigned for female suffrage in the late 19th and early 20th century; she was the first woman in the British Empire to stand for election in a national parliament. Her left-wing pacifist views made it almost impossible for her to be elected during World War I, but she was an extremely popular speaker. Vida was #129 in the 1900s, and off the charts by the 1940s. Little seen today, vivacious vintage Vida fits in well with popular names like Olivia and Ava, and seems very usable.

Winnie
Winnie was a severe cyclone that hit the north-west of Australia in 1975, with powerful winds. Winnie is traditionally used as a short form of Winifred, but in practice can be a nickname for anything that sounds similar, such as Wynne, Wilhelmina, Winter, Winsome, Gwendolyn, Guinevere, or Edwina (Appellation Mountain has an article on long forms for Winnie). Jimmy Fallon’s daughter Winnie was named in honour of Lake Winnipesaukee, a favourite holiday spot. A famous male with the name is Winston Churchill, known affectionately by the public as Winnie. Another is Winnie-the-Pooh, from the books by A.A. Milne. Winnie-the-Pooh was a real life teddy, and the first part of his name was after a Canadian bear at London Zoo, named Winnipeg. Of course, Winnie is fabulous as a name all on its own, and has been in common use as an independent name since the 18th century: it was especially associated with Ireland. This sweet and spunky short form is very fashionable, and rising in popularity in both the UK and US.

Zoe
Cyclone Zoe hit the coast at Coolangatta in 1974, causing extensive flooding in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. Zoe is a Greek name meaning “life”. Early Christians chose the name in allusion to life everlasting, and there are two saints and martyrs named Zoe. The name was also traditional for Byzantine Empresses. Greek-speaking Jews used the name to Hellenise the Hebrew name Chava, which also means “life” (its English form is Eve). Zoe came into use in modern times in the 19th century, and was especially associated with France. Zoe had a flurry of activity in the 1920s, when it reached #305; a famous namesake of this era was silent film star Zoe Palmer. It returned in the 1960s at #499; a possible inspiration is Australian actress Zoe Caldwell, who made several international TV appearances in this decade. It was in the Top 100 by the 1980s, and is currently #18 and stable (it is among the most popular names for Jewish baby girls in Australia, so remains a Jewish favourite). Zoe is popular in Europe and the English-speaking world, and this retro name will appeal to parents wanting something long-familiar, yet still faintly exotic.

POLL RESULTS
People’s favourite names were Clara, Zoe and Elise, while their least favourites were Ines, Vida and Selma.

(Painting is Delilah, by Australian artist Henry Clive, 1948; the model is Broadway beauty Beryl Wallace)

The Top Names in Queensland for 2015

21 Sunday Feb 2016

Posted by A.O. in Name Data

≈ Comments Off on The Top Names in Queensland for 2015

Tags

name trends, popular names

GIRLS

  1. Charlotte
  2. Olivia
  3. Amelia
  4. Ava
  5. Mia
  6. Emily
  7. Sophie
  8. Grace
  9. Ella
  10. Ruby
  11. Isabella
  12. Isla
  13. Scarlett
  14. Evie
  15. Chloe
  16. Harper
  17. Matilda
  18. Ivy
  19. Sophia
  20. Willow
  21. Evelyn
  22. Lucy
  23. Georgia
  24. Sienna
  25. Lily
  26. Emma
  27. Layla
  28. Hannah
  29. Zoe
  30. Abigail
  31. Aria
  32. Zara
  33. Mackenzie
  34. Eva
  35. Summer
  36. Alexis
  37. Isabelle
  38. Maddison
  39. Imogen
  40. Alice
  41. Savannah
  42. Mila
  43. Violet
  44. Annabelle
  45. Chelsea
  46. Madison
  47. Piper
  48. Phoebe
  49. Elizabeth
  50. Stella
  51. Audrey
  52. Claire
  53. Jessica
  54. Penelope
  55. Ellie
  56. Peyton
  57. Lilly
  58. Jasmine
  59. Poppy
  60. Hayley
  61. Eloise
  62. Frankie
  63. Addison
  64. Indiana
  65. Aurora
  66. Paige
  67. Bella
  68. Holly
  69. Lola
  70. Sofia
  71. Ariana
  72. Heidi
  73. Ayla
  74. Sarah
  75. Lillian
  76. Eden
  77. Rose
  78. Maya
  79. Charlie
  80. Anna
  81. Harriet
  82. Madeleine
  83. Elsie
  84. Alyssa
  85. Pippa
  86. Brooklyn
  87. Nevaeh
  88. Maggie
  89. Molly
  90. Lara
  91. Faith
  92. Amber
  93. Amity
  94. Josephine
  95. Aaliyah
  96. Eliza
  97. Marley
  98. Marlee
  99. Lyla
  100. Eleanor
BOYS

  1. Oliver
  2. William
  3. Jack
  4. Noah
  5. Thomas
  6. Harrison
  7. Ethan
  8. Cooper
  9. James
  10. Henry
  11. Mason
  12. Hunter
  13. Liam
  14. Lucas
  15. Lachlan
  16. Hudson
  17. Alexander
  18. Levi
  19. Charlie
  20. Samuel
  21. Elijah
  22. Max
  23. Benjamin
  24. Leo
  25. Archie
  26. Riley
  27. Joshua
  28. Harry
  29. Jacob
  30. Oscar
  31. Ryan
  32. Jaxon
  33. Archer
  34. Nate
  35. Jackson
  36. Eli
  37. Lincoln
  38. Xavier
  39. Carter
  40. George
  41. Isaac
  42. Sebastian
  43. Tyler
  44. Flynn
  45. Patrick
  46. Hugo
  47. Connor
  48. Daniel
  49. Finn
  50. Theodore
  51. Ashton
  52. Blake
  53. Matthew
  54. Jake
  55. Michael
  56. Joseph
  57. Braxton
  58. Jayden
  59. Chase
  60. Aiden
  61. Edward
  62. Hayden
  63. Luke
  64. Jordan
  65. Hamish
  66. Luca
  67. Dominic
  68. Harvey
  69. Parker
  70. Austin
  71. Ryder
  72. Beau
  73. Logan
  74. Nicholas
  75. Caleb
  76. Kai
  77. Seth
  78. Darcy
  79. Dylan
  80. Nathaniel
  81. Angus
  82. Zachary
  83. Charles
  84. Jett
  85. Mitchell
  86. Bailey
  87. Lewis
  88. Jax
  89. Owen
  90. Maxwell
  91. Fletcher
  92. Louis
  93. Declan
  94. Spencer
  95. Wyatt
  96. David
  97. Nathan
  98. Jasper
  99. Phoenix
  100. Jesse
  101. Harley

GIRLS

Fastest Risers
Penelope (+39), Aurora (+37 at least), Lola (+30), Frankie (+27), Harriet (+21 at least), Lillian (+20), Claire (+18), Phoebe (+17), Maggie (+14 at least)

Fastest Fallers
Lacey (-30 at least), Molly (-28), Isabel (-25 at least), Eleanor (-23), Indie (-20 at least), Lilly (-20), Jasmine, Maya and Sofia (-16)

New
Aurora, Harriet, Maggie, Faith, Amity, Josephine, Eliza, Marley, Marlee, Lyla

Gone
Lacey, Isabel, Jade, Bonnie, Olive, Skye, Alexandra, Madeline, Gabriella, Indigo

BOYS

Biggest Risers
Darcy (+24 at least), Harvey and Hugo (+22), Jordan (+20), Ashton (+18), Lewis (+15 at least), Jax (+14 at least), Archie, Dominic and Hamish (+14)

Biggest Fallers
David (-20), Kai (-19), Louis (-18), Bailey and Caleb (-15), Toby (-14 at least), Blake and Xavier (-14), Hayden and Jackson (-13)

New
Darcy, Lewis, Jax, Maxwell, Spencer, Wyatt, Jesse

Gone
Toby, Alex, Jaxson, Jai, Tyson, John

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