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Tag Archives: place names

The Top Ten Girls Names of 2028

20 Sunday May 2012

Posted by A.O. in Your Questions Answered

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

classic names, colour names, famous namesakes, French names, future trends, Google, K.M. Sheard, Laura Wattenberg, name data, name popularity, name trends, Nook of Names, place names, popular culture, popular names, retro names, surname names, The Name Wizard, unisex names, US name trends

A couple of weeks ago as I was checking my stats, I saw that the release of all the 2011 name data had influenced someone to Google me a rather interesting question: What names will be popular in the future? Now if someone had asked me that a year ago, I would have been very much perplexed as how to answer. Even Laura Wattenberg from The Name Wizard suggests that guesswork is pretty much all we have to go on.

However, last October Kay from Nook of Names brought out her Top Ten for 2035, based on the US data. Kay’s method was simple, yet inspired – she looked at where the currently popular names were in 1985, and then found a name which is in a similar position today, in order to extrapolate them to their 2035 position. I thought I’d give her method a go, but also see check to see where each name was a decade previously to see if each name was following a similar trajectory. (I think Kay probably did this too).

I went into it very optimistically, but found it brought me a certain degree of angst, because it’s actually pretty difficult to find two names that follow the exact same path to success. However, I persevered, and found the closest possible matches available. In case you’re wondering why I hit on 2028, it’s because the New South Wales Top 100 goes back to 1995, so I went ahead 17 years from last year’s data. Of course, if you’ve just had a baby, 17 years will see it verging on adulthood – another reason it seemed like a good time period to evaluate.

Now, do I really think this is the New South Wales Top Ten for the year 2028? Well no, that’s just a sensationalist headline designed to grab your attention. Frankly I will be staggered (and slightly scared) if all these names simultaneously turn up in the Top Ten of the same year, let alone in this order! However, based on their current performance, I am tipping most of these names to increase in popularity – in some cases, to dramatically increase.

Current Top Ten

  • Chloe #22 in ’95, and #72 for the 1980s (a steady rise up the Top 100)
  • Ruby #107 for the 1990s, and #560 for the 1980s (a skyrocket from nowhere)
  • Olivia #26 in ’95, and #117 for the 1980s (a steady rise into the Top 100)
  • Isabella #34 in ’95, and #509 for the 1980s (a skyrocket from nowhere)
  • Mia #138 for the 1990s, and #320 for the 1980s (a steep rise)
  • Charlotte #87 in ’95, and #180 for the 1980s (a steady rise into the Top 100)
  • Sophie #25 in ’95, and #74 for the 1980s (a steady rise up the Top 100)
  • Sienna #402 for the 1990s, and barely in use in the 1980s (a new name, climbing exponentially)
  • Ava #466 for the 1990s, and barely in use in the 1980s (a new name, climbing exponentially)
  • Amelia #52 in ’95, and #118 for the 1980s (a steady rise into the Top 100)

FUTURE TOP TEN

1. ABIGAIL

Abigail is currently #27, and ten years ago she was #88. I thought that made her a good match with Chloe. Abigail is already a Top Ten name in the US, and although we’ve been lagging behind, by 2028 I think we’ll be well and truly caught up. I hesitated before nominating Abigail as the #1 name, but it does make sense, because of the rampant popularity of her many short forms.

2. OLIVE

Currently, Olive is probably somewhere in the 120s-130s, and a decade ago she was barely in use. That pattern doesn’t exactly match Ruby’s, but it isn’t too different either. If you’re looking for a meteoric rise to echo that of Ruby, Olive fits the bill better than any other candidate. I also like the idea of Ruby’s replacement being another vintage colour name. Even today, when Ruby is so hugely popular, there are grandparents meeting their new grand-daughter and saying, “But Ruby is an ugly old lady name!”. I predict similar reactions to all the baby Olives who will be born in the future.

3. EVA

Eva is currently #21, and a decade before she was somewhere in the 150s. Her climb has been steeper than Olivia’s, but she’s the best match I could find. That steeper climb may mean she peaks sooner than Olivia, but she’s also a classic name which has never left the charts, which I’m hoping will give her some ballast. She does almost seem like a shorter, snappier form of Olivia.

4. ISLA

Isla is currently #22, and ten years ago she was #445 for the early 2000s. This wasn’t a close enough match to please me, but no matter how I wrestled with the data, Isla was the closest equivalent, and did have a similar zoom up the charts, as well as looking like an updated Isabella. I can’t see any reason why Isla won’t continue to go higher, quite possibly to #1, and both Isabella and Isla have been chosen for royal babies. Of course, a major book and movie series with a main character called Isla wouldn’t hurt either, just for that extra buzz factor.

5. FREYA

Freya is currently around the 130s, and was #269 for the early 2000s. That’s not quite as steep a rise as Mia had, but it’s pretty darn close. Not only do Mia and Freya both have a northern European feel to them, but both are are associated with actresses as well – Mia with Mia Farrow, and Freya with Freya Stafford. I can see Freya doing very well indeed, and can easily picture her going to #1.

6. ELOISE

Eloise is currently #96, and a decade ago she was #140 for the early 2000s. I think that’s a fairly good match with Charlotte, which also went from the 100s into the lower portion of the Top 100 in ten years. Eloise seems a worthy successor to Charlotte, for both are elegant French names which manage to sound both strong and feminine. Eloise isn’t climbing as steeply as Charlotte, so we’ll have to see how far she manages to get in 17 years, but I think she will do well.

7. ZARA

In 2011, Zara was #26, and a decade ago in 2011 she was #83. This seems similar to Sophie’s steady rise from the bottom third of the Top 100 into the Top 20. Both Sophie and Zara have a French origin, with just a touch of the Middle East about them. I’m not sure whether Zara will keep climbing or if she’s peaked already and will begin a gentle decline; however, I have similar doubts about Sophie as well. If you’ve really been paying attention, you will see I could have easily swapped Abigail and Zara around, and after much deliberation, I decided Abigail seemed more likely to go to #1.

8. HAVANA

Now this is the part where my fortune-telling gets really sticky, because in 1995, Sienna was only used about 11 times per year in New South Wales. In other words, she may show up on the data now, but that’s only because of her success – in 1995 she wouldn’t have even been a blip on the radar, and in 1985, she was barely known. That means I had to come up with a name that is still little used, but feels as if it might be going somewhere. I wanted to pick a name similar to Sienna; I wanted a modern name just coming into use, and I hoped to find one that was also a place name. Quite a tall order, but eventually I decided upon Havana. Of course it’s a huge gamble picking a name so far in advance, but Havana seems like a pretty good bet. She’s similar to Heaven, Haven, Ava, Anna, Hannah, Savannah, Vanna and Ivana – in other words, she sound like a whole bunch of familiar words and names while having a very clear identity of her own. She doesn’t look out of place on this hypothetical Top Ten either, as she shares a V sound with Eva and Olive. Sienna only whizzed up the charts after Sienna Miller began her career, but in 17 years, it’s possible that a young model named Havana will be ready to take the world by storm. It could happen.

9. HARLOW

When it came to picking another Ava for the future, although I was looking for a name even rarer than Havana, I really had a much easier time of it. Ava was a name that we gained from America, so I simply went to the US Top 1000 for 1995 and saw where Ava was, then tried to find today’s equivalent. Of course, I was looking for one which was climbing like Ava, and if possible, had a similar feel to it. In 1995, Ava was #737, and ten years earlier, she wasn’t on the Top 1000, but just scraped in the year before. After much internal debate, I decided upon Harlow, which was #621 last year, and not on the Top 1000 in 2001. Although Harlow is climbing far more rapidly than Ava, she seemed the most likely candidate. Like Ava, she is a name redolant of Hollywood glamour, and she has the OH sound found in Eloise, while beginning with H like Havana. She fits on the list. At the moment, Harlow is very little used in Australia, and newspaper articles even discuss the strange unpopularity of Harlow. Like Ava, she may well fly under the radar, until one day we all wake up and suddenly realise Harlow is in the Top 100 and climbing. (Cue parental handwringing).

10. ROSE

Rose is currently #65, and she was #119 for the early 2000s. Not only does this look quite similar to Amelia’s pattern, but both these names are classic, pretty and wholesome. Rose is by no means shooting up the charts, but she is ascending in a calm and ladylike fashion, just like Amelia. Rose doesn’t have all the nickname options that Amelia does, so I’m not sure whether she will be Top 10 by 2028, but I am tipping her to continue rising.

My Tips for Coming Trends

  • OH sounds, as found in Eloise, Harlow and Rose
  • V sounds, as found in Olive, Eva and Havana
  • Short brisk names ending in -A, such as Eva, Isla, Freya and Zara (the new Mias)
  • Stronger influence from the UK than from the US, but with the US influence being far more spectacular in nature (much like today)
  • A nice balance between “old-fashioned names” like Olive and Rose, and modern inventions like Havana and Harlow (just like today).
  • Most popular girl’s names will be definitely feminine, but Harlow may show the potential for unisex names and surname names to break into the Top Ten for girls.

Boys Top Ten for 2028 will be next week!

Googly Gender-Bending: Your Questions on Unisex Names Answered

15 Sunday Apr 2012

Posted by A.O. in Your Questions Answered

≈ 20 Comments

Tags

blog reviews, classic names, famous namesakes, fictional namesakes, French names, Google, hebrew names, Hungarian names, Italian names, Japanese names, Latin names, Mer de Noms, mythological names, name meaning, name popularity, naming laws, nature names, nicknames, Nook of Names, place names, polynesian names, popular culture, surname names, unisex names

You may be expecting a blog review this week, and I hope you are not too disappointed that one isn’t appearing. The truth is, I feel quite burned out in regard to the reviews, and also think that several name blogs are currently in a state of flux. I hope that if I wait a few months, it will give new blogs a chance to catch up, and abandoned ones a chance to resume.

In the meantime, here I am starting yet another Category – this one, Your Questions Answered. I’ve noticed many interesting questions typed into Google, and although they got sent to my blog, alas, they received no answer here. So this is my chance to make good on their requests.

I thought I’d begin with a few of the many enquiries in regard to unisex names, since it is such a popular topic. I think it is worth mentioning that so far, nobody has Googled, “what is a male name I can steal for my daughter so there are no names left for parents of boys to use” or “how can I give my son a feminine name in order to scar him psychologically”, which is how some people seem to imagine the mental workings of the bestowers of unisex names.

The fact that so many people are so frequently searching suggests that far from using a unisex name in a frivolous way, a lot of thought is going into it. In turn, I’ve tried to put a lot of thought into answering them, steering a steady course between a laissez faire “anything goes” attitude, and a shrill denouncement of anyone daring to suggest that any name at all can be unisex.

In doing so, I’ve considered the origin, meaning, history, namesakes, and popularity of a name, both current and past. I’ve tended to go with the theory that surnames are unisex, unless they have a specifically gendered meaning, or are derived from specifically gendered personal names.

One thing I should make clear is that unlike some other countries, Australia has no naming laws in regard to gender. According to legislation, all names are unisex, and you are quite free to name your daughter Matthew or your son Chloe if you wish.

I’m presuming that when people ask if a name is male, female, or unisex, they are asking the community for their opinions on the subject. Of course, my opinions are just that – opinions. Feel free to leave your own opinions!

Note: Popularity of names based on Australian data.

I: BOYS TO GIRLS?

Henry as a girl’s name

At first glance, the idea of Henry as a girl’s name seems utterly potty. Henry is not only Top 100 for boys, but also a classic boy’s name which has charted for males for over a century, and been accepted as such for more than a thousand years. However, I do remember a Famous Five book where there was a female character named Henry – short for Henrietta.

My Verdict: A boy’s name, unless short for Henrietta

Luca as a girl’s name

Luca can be the Italian form of Luke, but also the Hungarian form of Lucia. In the latter case though, it is pronounced LOO-tsa, rather than LOO-ka. Luka seems to have a reasonable history of use as both a male and female name across a range of different cultures. I’d probably lean towards using Luka for a girl instead.

My Verdict: Both a boy and a girl name, but the two names are pronounced differently

Dylan as a girl’s name

Dylan was a Welsh god, so the name’s origins are masculine. Furthermore, Dylan has charted as a boy’s name since the 1960s, but never for girls. You could use the completely unrelated Irish surname Dillon though, which an English speaker would pronounce the same way anyway.

My Verdict: A boy’s name, sometimes used on girls

can Cadel be a girl’s name

It is a variant of Cadell, which for many centuries has been used and accepted as a male name. However, the explorer Francis Cadell has a few places in South Australia named after him – you could always claim Cadell as a place name. Place names based on surnames based on gendered personal names seem to be something of a grey area.

My Verdict: A boy’s name

can Myles be a girl name

In Greek legend, Myles was most definitely a man, and this name has a long history as a male name. However it’s now being used on girls – perhaps it seems like the “correct” form of Miley?

My Verdict: A boy’s name, currently being used on girls

II: GIRLS TO BOYS?

when can Hazel be a boy name?

I guess whenever you feel like using it as such. Hazel is a nature name and a surname, so seems quite unisex, and in fact does have some history as a male name. Having said that, it’s currently rising in popularity as a girl’s name, and has never charted for boys.

My Verdict: Technically unisex, but usage is almost entirely feminine

Can I call my boy Kaia

I think you can, but nobody seems to agree. Kaia seems unisex to me, but nearly everyone insists that it’s feminine. However, the name Kaya definitely is unisex, and worldwide seems to be used by more men than women. It’s used in so many different countries that it’s practically unicultural as well. I think I’d prefer to go with Kaya, although I don’t see why Kaia can’t be a variant of Kaya.

My Verdict: Your choice!

Noa as a boys name

Although Noa is a female name in Hebrew and Japanese, it’s also a Polynesian male name meaning “freedom”. There was a famous rugby league player from Fiji named Noa Nadruku, who played for Australian teams in the 1990s.

My Verdict: Both a boy and a girl name depending on origin

can Starr be a boy’s name?

Sure it can, it’s a surname as well as a place name. In fact, the surname seems to derive from a masculine first name which may mean “ox”, so if anything it’s more male than female. There’s a comic book hero called Starr the Slayer, a barbarian king. He seems pretty blokey.

My Verdict: Unisex, leaning towards male by history and meaning

is Kelly becoming popular as a boys name

Apparently not. It’s still charting as a girl’s name, although slowly declining, and has never charted as a boy’s name. I have seen some boys named Kelly though; it’s rare as a boy’s name, but not unheard of.

My Verdict: Unisex, but usage is almost entirely feminine

III: CONFUSED ON THE ISSUE

is Stacey more common as a boy or girl name

It isn’t common for either sex – currently it’s not on the charts at all. However, when it did chart, it was only as a female name.

My Verdict: Historically, much more common as a girl’s name

can a man’s name be Ashley or it that just a girls name

It can be used for both sexes. Famous Australian men named Ashley include tennis player Ashley Cooper, and swimmer Ashley Callus. It charts as both a male and female name, although as a female name it is still Top 100, and as a male name it is now in rare use. Historically it has been male for longer, but hit a higher peak of popularity as a female name.

My Verdict: Historically more common for boys, but currently more common for girls

Is Remy a boy name or a girl name

It’s based on the Latin name Remigius, so it’s usually a boy name. However, Kay from Nook of Names pointed out that it could just as easily be based on the female form Remigia. In its country of origin, France, Remy is occasionally used as a female name.

My Verdict: Most often a boy name, but can be used as a girl name

is Jade boy or girl

It’s a unisex name. Famous Australian men named Jade include soccer player Jade North and AFL player Jade Rawlings. Famous Australian women named Jade include swimmer Jade Edmistone and singer Jade McRae. Jade has charted for both sexes, but currently it’s Top 100 for girls, and in rare use for boys.

My Verdict: A name for both boys and girls, but much more common for girls

Is Darcy considered a boy or girl name

Ooh good question. Darcy charted as a unisex name from the 1900s to the 1950s, and then in the 1950s it became a male name only. Currently it generally seems to be rising as a female name and declining as a male name.

My Verdict: Originally unisex, and may be returning to that state

(Picture is of Australian androgynous model Andrej Pejic, who successfully models both male and female clothing)

More Eastertide thanks are due to the unisexily named Lou from Mer de Noms, for reblogging Boys Names of Australian Aboriginal Origin! (If you read that carefully, it’s a poem).

Unique Boys Names from Tasmania, 2010

09 Sunday Oct 2011

Posted by A.O. in Name Themes and Lists

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

astronomical names, Australian Aboriginal names, celebrity baby names, created names, Danish names, famous namesakes, fictional namesakes, German names, Greek names, hebrew names, Irish names, Latin names, Maori names, mythological names, name history, name meaning, nature names, Old English names, place names, popular culture, saints names, surname names, Tibetan names, unique names, vocabulary names

This follows on the previous list, Unique Girls Names from Tasmania, 2010. Please read the notes attached to that to see how names were chosen. Although there were fewer unique names for boys, they were much more likely to be genuine names, and not just variant spellings of common names. Whether you like these names or not, it’s nice to know that not everyone calls their children by names from the Top 100. There’s a lot of variety out there once you start looking. (If you are unsure what the animal in the photo is, it is a Tasmanian devil). 

Ambrose

This is the English form of a Latin name derived from the Greek, meaning “immortal”. It is connected linguistically to ambrosia, the food or drink of the gods in mythology, and is said to not only taste delicious, but to have a delightful aroma. In fact, it has been argued that ambrosia means “fragrant”, rather than “immortal”. If ambrosia had any basis in reality, it may be describing a honey product, although another theory is that it refers to the hallucinogenic mushroom, Amanita muscaria. The most famous namesake is probably Saint Ambrose of Milan, a 4th century Doctor of the Church who converted Saint Augustine. Interestingly, according to legend, bees swarmed on Ambrose’s face as a baby, leaving behind a drop of honey; this does seem to link the saint with the mythical ambrosia. An old-fashioned name, this fits in with the antique name revival, and the S/Z-ending for boys names. The meaning, and its associations with divine sweetness, is also hard to resist.

Other Latin names: Adrian, Augustus, Cassius, Ignatius, Maxmilian, Roman, Rufus, Silas, Sylvester

Anakin

This is the name of a Jedi knight in the Star Wars movies, father of Luke and Leia Skywalker, who crossed over to the Dark Side, and went on to become the heavy-breathing evil villain known as Darth Vader. Annikkin Starkiller was the name that George Lucas has originally chosen for Luke Skywalker, and when there was a major plot change and Darth Vader became Luke’s dad, a slight change of spelling meant that Darthy could have Luke’s old name. It’s sometimes claimed that George Lucas took Anakin’s name from his friend, Brtish film director Ken Annakin, but Lucas denies this. Although it’s tempting to give this name all number of foreboding meanings, we should remember it was originally planned as the hero’s name. It wasn’t clear in the beginning what kind of person the protagonist was going to be, and in one version it was an old man, and in another, a woman, so the name predates the character and the plot. Most likely, George Lucas just made it up.

Other sci-fi names: Auron, Draven, Grayson, Jango, Lex, Navi, Neo, Obi, Quillam

Bon

This is the name of the Scottish-born Australian rock musician, Bon Scott, who was the lyricist and lead singer for AC/DC, until his death in 1980, aged 34. AC/DC dedicated their next album, Back in Black, to him, which is the best-selling rock album of all time. Bon Scott is regarded as one of the greatest lead vocalists, has been inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and been honoured in both his home town of Fremantle, Western Australia, and his birthplace of Kirriemuir, Scotland. Bon was born Ronald Belford Scott, and his nickname was given to him in primary school. As there was already a classmate called Ronald, and as Scott had recently emigrated from “Bonnie Scotland”, he was dubbed Bon. The Scottish word bonnie means “beautiful, fair, fine”, and is taken from the French word bon, meaning “good”. Not only honouring a rock legend, this name seems similar to Beau in meaning and origin.

Other celebrity names: Cadel, Cassidy, Denzel, Dre, Elvis, Hammond, Joaquin, Keanu, Leland, Maddox, Makaveli, Orlando, Otis, Sylvain, Tander, Tex, Ziggie Other Scottish names: Dougal, Jock

Clancy

This is from an Irish surname meaning “son of Flannchadh”, with Flannchadh being a Gaelic name meaning “red warrior”. The name is well known in Australia, because of the poem Clancy of The Overflow, by Banjo Paterson; The Overflow is the name of a station where Clancy, a drover, works. It’s based on the true story of Paterson, a lawyer, sending a letter to Thomas Gerald Clancy of The Overflow, and imagining Clancy’s enviable life in the bush, under the “glory of the everlasting stars”. The reply that he received to his letter – “Clancy’s gone to Queensland droving and we don’t know where he are” – delighted Paterson, and was included in the poem. Clancy also appears briefly in The Man from Snowy River, and when that poem was made into a movie, the role of Clancy was played by Jack Thompson. Clancy of the Overflow is a romanticised image of bush life as dreamed of by the city dweller, and probably seems a patriotic choice as a name.

Other Irish names: Fionbharr, Niall, Rafferty, Ronan, Sullivan

Diesel

This is the name for the fuel used in diesel engines, which are named after their inventor, French-born Rudolf Diesel. His German surname is said to be based on a short form of either Matthias or Dietrich. As it sounds quite tough and butch, and has connotations of being able to keep going like a mechanical engine, it’s been a popular nickname or assumed name, for celebrities such as American actor Vin Diesel, Australian rock singer Diesel, American basketball player Shaquille “The Diesel” O’Neill, and AFL player Greg “Diesel” Williams. Diesel is also a popular name for dogs, and with “dog names” for boys in style, Diesel seems very usable. US Olympian softabller, Jennie Finch, called her second son Diesel Dean Daigle, so now it’s a celebrity baby name as well.

Other vocabulary names: Ace, Buddy, Gray, Spike Other car-related names: Holden, Jag

Esmond

An Old English name meaning “gracious protection”, this fell out of use after the Norman Conquest, and became best known as a surname. Thackery’s History of Henry Esmond is a historical novel set in the time of Queen Anne, where the hero spends the whole book in love with his foster-sister and cousin, but marries his foster-mother instead (also his cousin). This surname is part of Australian history, because James Esmond was an Irish-Australian who was one of the first people to find gold during the Victorian goldrush. He was also politically prominent in the miner’s organisation, and commanded a section of miners in the Eureka Stockade rebellion. It’s tempting to wonder if baby Esmond is a descendant of James, or whether the name was chosen in honour of this famous rebel.

Other Old English names: Bede, Edgar, Edwin, Winston

Iluka

This is a small coastal town on the Clarence River in New South Wales, and its name is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning “by the sea”. It is pronounced eye-LOO-ka. Iluka is a popular tourist destination, blessed with beaches and rainforest, and people who live in the chilly southern parts of Australia may enjoy spending their winters here. Maybe the parents of Iluka spent a happy holiday in the town? It’s easy to see the appeal of it as a name, because it is so similiar to the popular Luka, but has a distinctive Australian meaning.

Other place names: Carlisle, Clyde, Griffith, Hamilton, Maitland, Memphis, Meredith, Nelson, Preston, Ripley, Weston, Wilson, Windsor Other Aboriginal names: Wirra

Manuka

This is the name of a small tree or shrub native to New Zealand and south-east Australia – including, of course, Tasmania. It’s scientific name is Leptospermum scoparium, and it’s also called tea tree (not the same tea tree that tea tree oil is made from). The name manuka is Maori, and comes from history, where one of the sea-going canoes that brought the Maoris to New Zealand is said to have been called Mānuka. It’s pronounced mahn-OO-ka. Manuka honey is not only delicious, but recently it’s been discovered to have powerful antibacterial properties, and you can now buy medical-grade manuka honey to apply to wounds. There is a town in Tasmania near Hobart called Tea Tree, which may be named after this useful plant.

Other nature names: Aspen, Brae, Nullah, Reef, Stone, Sunny, Tiger Other Polynesian names: Loti, Kalani, Tavita

Namkha

Meaning “sky, heaven” in Tibetan, a namkha is a yarn or thread cross used in Buddhism as a sacred weaving, used in ritual or placed on an altar. “Thread” is the literal translation of the word tantra, and the threads of the mankha symbolise the warp and weft of time and space. A famous bearer is Tibetan Buddhist teacher, Rigdzin Namkha Gyatso Rinpoche.

Other Asian names: Anshuman, Arjuna, Ba, Dravid, Khan, Omita, Yang, Yasir, Zusong

Shem

One of Noah’s sons in the Old Testament, Shem is Hebrew for “name”. It can refer to someone’s fame and reputation, and also to their essential nature and being. While Noah is one of the most popular boy’s names, the names of his sons, Shem, Ham and Japeth, have had only occasional use. This may be because from early on, these three men were seen as the progenitors of the various races (as that vague and inaccurate word was understood at the time). Different writers have claimed Shem as the source of either the “Semitic” peoples, all Europeans, Germans, Greeks, Persians, or Indians; some texts even say that God made Shem brown skinned, Japeth fair skinned and Ham dark skinned. These ideas on race and ethnicity now look rather embarrassing, or even offensive; at the very least, we know them to be scientifically wrong. In the Bible, Shem is said to be an ancestor of Abram, who founded the Abrahamic religions. The name is pronounced SHAYM, and although uncommon, sounds not unlike familiar names such as Sean, Sheamus and Shane.

Other Biblical names: Abel, Amos, Elihu, Gideon, Hezekiah, Jairus, Jotham, Matthias, Raphael, Simeon

Soren

This is an anglicised form of the Danish name Søren, which is a form of the Roman name family Severinus, derived from the personal name Severus, meaning “stern” in Latin. Certain Harry Potter fans may see this as a way of using the name of grim Potions Master, Professor Snape, without actually calling their son Severus. The name has been used several times in recent popular culture; most notably the vampire Soren in the Underworld films. In the Charlie and Lola books and TV series, Soren Lorensen is little Lola’s imaginary friend. If these namesakes seem a bit lightweight, Søren Kierkegaard was a 19th century philosopher and theologian who has been enormously influential in shaping our ideas of the self and subjectivity. It’s pronounced SOH-ren.

Other Scandinavian names: Anders, Thor

Titan

According to Greek mythology, the Titans were a race of gods that ruled in the legendary Golden Age. They were the Elder Gods who were overthrown by the Olympians; this myth of a “war in heaven”, where one group of gods replaces another, exists in many cultures across Europe and the Middle East. The meaning of their name is uncertain, but is often intepreteted as “to stretch”; the Greek poet Hesiod refers to them as “the Stretchers”, because they stretched out their power. Other scholars believe it comes from the Greek for “white earth, white clay, gypsum”; they believe that this white dust was used in ancient shamanistic rituals, and it is from these almost-forgotten rites that the myth of the Titans grew. The name has been given to a moon of Saturn, and inspired the name of the element, titanium. The Titans, often imagined as gigantic figures, are part of popular culture, and you may find Titans in comic books, science fiction movies, and video games, as well as sports teams – including the Gold Coast Titans. Although the name may seem too big for a little boy, it sounds similar to names such as Tate, Tyrone and Titus.

Other Greek names: Constandinos, Eugene, Leonidas, Orion

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