Saturday, November 25, 2017

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Kelly

Kelly is, of course, a surname-turned-given-name, but since it's been surpassed by Kellan & Kellen for nearly two decades now (and by Kelvin for even longer, although it's been on the decline since the 60s), it's more likely that any male Kellys you meet today are using it as a nickname.

I personally think that Kelly for boys is perfect for a comeback (it's stayed steady for boys for the last several years while dropping for girls, and as of last year was 'only' more popular on new baby girls by a 5:1 ratio--about the same as Taylor, Skyler/Skylar, or Emery), but I bet there are even more options for parents who want a boy Kelly, but want to play it a bit safe.

  • Kelados (KEL-ah-dos, [ancient] Greek)--"roar, shout"
  • Kelaiah (kel-AY-ah, kel-EYE-ah, [Biblical] Hebrew)
  • Kelemen (KEL-eh-men, Hungarian)--form of Clement
  • Keld (KELD, Danish)
  • Kelian (kel-YAWN, French)--from Irish Cillian, poss. "church"
  • Kellen (KEL-len, English)--prob. a shortening of the Scottish surname McKellen ("son of Alan"), or an unusual Anglicization of Irish Caolán, "slender". Also spelled Kellan
  • Keller (KEL-ler, English [surname])--from German, "cellar", or poss. a shortening of Scottish surname MacKeller ("son of Hilary")
  • Kellett (KEL-let, English [surname]--prob. from Old Norse kelda, "spring, well". Also spelled Kellitt
  • Kellner (KEL-ner, English [surname])--prob. occupational surname for a potter (or anyone else who used a kiln). Also spelled Kelner
  • Kelson (KEL-son, English [surname])--prob. Anglicized from Nordic surname Kjellson/Kjeldsen, "son of Kjell/Keld"
  • Kelston (KEL-ston, English [surname])--prob. "calf-farm" or Cealf's farm"
  • Kelvin (KEL-vin, English)--from Scottish river-name, poss. "narrow river"

Thursday, November 2, 2017

Word-Names, All of Them (2016, girls)

You know what we need more of? Word names! I decided to go back to just listing them all again this year, but in order of most-->least common instead of alphabetically.
Also, although I removed imported names that just happened to be spelled like English words, as well as some jargon & archaic words, I left in some more obscure terms--mostly botanical, zoological, or musical--because I found them interesting (did you know kora is a musical instrument or that zander is a fish? I didn't!).

  • Harper (SSA #10, 10733 girls born)
  • Grace
  • Aria
  • Lily
  • Savannah
  • Stella
  • Paisley
  • Violet
  • Hazel
  • Genesis
  • Autumn
  • Aurora
  • Piper
  • Ruby
  • Serenity
  • Luna
  • Willow
  • Faith (SSA #100, 3035 girls born)
  • Ivy
  • Bailey
  • Jade
  • Jasmine
  • Emery
  • Nova
  • Trinity
  • Ariel
  • Melody
  • Rose
  • Molly
  • Iris
  • Daisy
  • Harmony
  • Summer
  • Destiny
  • Parker
  • Sienna
  • Rowan
  • Hope
  • Sawyer
  • Journey
  • Olive
  • Lyric
  • River
  • Jordan
  • Haven
  • Ruth
  • Phoebe
  • Ember
  • Angel
  • Heaven
  • Joy
  • Juniper
  • Sage
  • Felicity
  • Aspen
  • Alexia
  • Amber
  • Cadence
  • Scarlet
  • Miracle
  • Dahlia
  • Carmen
  • Daphne
  • Veronica
  • Rosemary
  • Phoenix
  • Carter
  • Eve
  • Liana
  • Samara
  • Justice
  • Lacey
  • Raven
  • Celeste (SSA #495, 625 girls born)
  • Winter
  • Angelica
  • Magnolia
  • Henley
  • Wren
  • Holly
  • Royalty
  • Liberty
  • Savanna
  • Gloria
  • Pearl
  • Crystal
  • Azalea
  • Bailee
  • Royal
  • Ivory
  • Laurel
  • Collins
  • Kora
  • Marina
  • Mara
  • Meadow
  • Penny
  • Poppy
  • Princess
  • Sky
  • Mavis
  • Mercy
  • Briar
  • Erica
  • Reign
  • Heavenly
  • Hunter
  • Bonnie
  • Jewel
  • Belle
  • Calliope
  • Rhea
  • Cherish
  • Ally
  • Heather
  • Chandler
  • Treasure (SSA #1001, 262 girls born)
  • Mollie
  • Opal
  • Legacy
  • Carina
  • Spencer
  • Sailor
  • Palmer
  • Robin
  • Jenny
  • Shea
  • Temperance
  • Scout
  • Diamond
  • Jubilee
  • August
  • Viola
  • Emerald
  • Drew
  • Honesty
  • Promise
  • Sally
  • Sunny
  • Indie
  • Patience
  • Karma
  • Noel
  • Coral
  • Queen
  • Charity
  • Kyrie
  • Flora
  • Blessing
  • Halo
  • Rowen
  • Clover
  • Nori
  • Sapphire
  • Calla
  • Tesla
  • Amethyst
  • Joey
  • Navy
  • Abbey
  • Loyalty
  • Majesty
  • Pepper
  • Essence
  • Symphony
  • Margarita
  • Jersey
  • Sterling
  • May
  • Carol
  • Dream
  • Althea
  • Stormy
  • Alba
  • Cooper
  • Cattleya
  • Indigo
  • Donna
  • Lacy
  • Zinnia
  • Unique
  • Maple
  • Ester
  • Glory
  • Gentry
  • Tiara
  • Precious
  • Desire
  • Colleen
  • Honor
  • Rebel
  • Echo
  • Love
  • Aura (SSA #1987, 99 girls born) [tie]
  • Lux (SSA #1987, 99 girls born)
  • Rain
  • Empress
  • Terra
  • Marigold
  • Ani
  • Sol
  • Star
  • Lotus
  • Mason
  • Perry
  • Divine
  • Fern
  • Sandy
  • Acacia
  • Lane
  • Storm
  • Ever
  • Nirvana
  • Brook
  • Dawn
  • Mahogany
  • Venus
  • Lavender
  • Ocean
  • Birdie
  • Brandy
  • Eternity
  • Prudence
  • Toby
  • Camellia
  • Miller
  • Serene
  • Hosanna
  • Marguerite
  • Brie
  • Jean
  • Verity
  • Arrow
  • Legend
  • Crimson
  • Maven
  • Timber
  • Story
  • Chase
  • Ebony
  • Harbor
  • Linden
  • Andromeda
  • Grey
  • Sparrow
  • Cassia
  • Denim
  • Lovely
  • Sequoia
  • Amie
  • Charisma
  • Primrose
  • Ginger
  • Lindy
  • Nada
  • Onyx
  • Porter
  • Beautiful
  • Gala
  • Snow
  • Tanner
  • Vesper
  • Dynasty
  • Max
  • Xenia
  • Alaska
  • Madden
  • Rosy
  • Sherry
  • Amen
  • Honey
  • Silver
  • Sunshine
  • Boston
  • Candy
  • Vale
  • Lady
  • Sora
  • Valkyrie
  • Amaryllis
  • Moxie
  • Vail
  • Victory
  • Fay
  • Marly
  • Rogue
  • Chevy
  • Divinity
  • Galilee
  • Gray
  • Truly
  • Arbor
  • Cypress
  • Lake
  • Misty
  • Pandora
  • Passion
  • Pilar
  • Praise
  • Wisdom
  • Adore
  • Amity
  • Shalom
  • Beau
  • Dolly
  • Jasper
  • Seven
  • Zori
  • Bliss
  • Blossom
  • Cedar
  • Cherry
  • Christen
  • Eugenia
  • Lark
  • Delta
  • Jewels
  • Novella
  • Remedy
  • Sincere
  • Goddess
  • Reed
  • Wilder
  • Camelia
  • Valentine
  • Clarity
  • Favour
  • Gabby
  • Lumen
  • Shelly
  • Envy
  • Lamia
  • Messiah
  • Paradise
  • Rue
  • Auburn
  • Bertha
  • Era
  • Heiress
  • Jo
  • Salina
  • Archer
  • Bay
  • Vanity
  • Amour
  • Chance
  • Island
  • Merry
  • Unknown
  • Celestine
  • Kit
  • Lee
  • True
  • Brooks
  • Lira
  • Saffron
  • Unity
  • Mesa
  • Savvy
  • Fanny
  • Loyal
  • Rhythm
  • Aster (SSA #4954, 27 girls born) [7-way tie, Aster - Roman]
  • Atlas
  • Bo
  • Charm
  • Henna
  • Infinity
  • Roman (SSA #4954, 27 girls born)
  • Angelic
  • Azure
  • Cyan
  • Darling
  • Griffin
  • Lemon
  • Lively
  • Paw
  • Senna
  • Camber
  • Chastity
  • Freedom
  • Julienne
  • Maverick
  • Breeze
  • Brogan
  • Forever
  • Georgette
  • Tempest
  • Turner
  • Vita
  • Zowie
  • Aide
  • Alley
  • Carlin
  • Ginny
  • Harvest
  • Lexis
  • Rainy
  • Truth
  • Basil
  • Belladonna
  • Callee
  • Damiana
  • Favor
  • Honour
  • Sari
  • Allee
  • Arietta
  • Beretta
  • Gypsy
  • Lyrical
  • Nana
  • Pacey
  • Ray
  • Rivers
  • Sable
  • Dove
  • Fawn
  • Hero
  • Mora
  • Page
  • Prim
  • Van
  • Zephyr
  • Zeppelin
  • Baker
  • Beaux
  • Kindle
  • Koi
  • Marvel
  • Mica
  • Odyssey
  • Peace
  • Shariah
  • Sibyl
  • Spirit
  • Aerial
  • Ailed
  • Calypso
  • Chapel
  • Cole
  • Galaxy
  • Holiday
  • Jazz
  • Sonny
  • Allure
  • Ambrosia
  • Cannon
  • Caprice
  • Elan
  • Lilac
  • Mercer
  • Nixie
  • Purity
  • Reverie
  • Teal
  • Bless
  • Blue
  • Cicely
  • Contessa
  • Golden
  • Kris
  • Man
  • Mana
  • Marlin
  • Memory
  • Patsy
  • Prairie
  • Roux
  • Sham
  • Torah
  • Abri
  • Diva
  • Garnet
  • Levy
  • Linsey
  • Modesty
  • Noble
  • Rainbow
  • Safari
  • Spring
  • Tucker
  • Valley
  • Breezy
  • Cory
  • Duchess
  • Dusty
  • Gem
  • Jagger
  • Mariposa
  • Pierce
  • Reata
  • Teddy
  • Valor
  • Walker
  • Zamia
  • Analyse
  • Anise
  • Bailie
  • Beauty
  • Blaze
  • Blessed
  • Brier
  • Czarina
  • Dash
  • Epiphany
  • Evergreen
  • Fable
  • Gorgeous
  • Mar
  • Maxima
  • Mazy
  • Melena
  • Nyala
  • Riven
  • Secret
  • Artemisia
  • Benjamin
  • Blessings
  • Cash
  • Conner
  • Dally
  • Davy
  • Decker
  • Fox
  • Graham
  • Henry
  • Providence
  • Reeve
  • Roselle
  • Seraphim
  • Smith
  • Starlet
  • Wells
  • Apple
  • Bijou
  • Chrysanthemum
  • Clary
  • Copper
  • Cricket
  • Destine
  • Fortune
  • Foster
  • Girl
  • Jessamine
  • Maranatha
  • Merlin
  • Miles
  • Nature
  • Pax
  • Rand
  • Roe
  • Shanty
  • Shine
  • Summit
  • Tam
  • Temple
  • Terry
  • Thatcher
  • Axel (SSA #10040, 10 girls born) [20-way tie, Axel - Zeta]
  • Dharma
  • Fairy
  • Kamala
  • Kindred
  • Luxe
  • Merit
  • Missy
  • Olivine
  • Poetry
  • Posy
  • Price
  • Rejoice
  • Riot
  • Roan
  • Sultana
  • Tailor
  • Talon
  • Tawny
  • Zeta (SSA #10040, 10 girls born)
  • Ash
  • Avian
  • Baby
  • Believe
  • Beryl
  • Bray
  • Carver
  • Cashmere
  • Celestial
  • Coda
  • Crista
  • Gardenia
  • Greenly
  • Happiness
  • Haze
  • Holy
  • Honest
  • Innocence
  • Morgen
  • Oasis
  • Omega
  • Parish
  • Pixie
  • Poet
  • Revel
  • Sonnet
  • Soul
  • Storey
  • Aerie
  • Alpha
  • Amazing
  • Ambry
  • Canyon
  • Cayenne
  • Chaise
  • Collier
  • Dean
  • Domino
  • Eyra
  • Fancy
  • Gage
  • Harbour
  • Hart
  • Kestrel
  • Knowledge
  • Lumina
  • Manna
  • Marvelous
  • Medley
  • Meridian
  • Milia
  • Nebula
  • Orchid
  • Rarity
  • Rosary
  • Rye
  • Sacred
  • Shadow
  • Shiny
  • Solace
  • Steely
  • Stone
  • Sunset
  • Theory
  • Tulip
  • Velvet
  • Admire
  • Agape
  • Alee
  • Alyssum
  • Aqua
  • Arena
  • Bennet
  • Carman
  • Channel
  • Cove
  • Dale
  • Day
  • Eider
  • Exodus
  • Faithful
  • Falcon
  • Fantasia
  • Fate
  • Fauna
  • Feather
  • Galena
  • Gracious
  • Horizon
  • Jazzy
  • Jet
  • Jovial
  • Kauri
  • Kitty
  • Knightly
  • Lis
  • Lolly
  • Louie
  • Lucky
  • Madonna
  • Marry
  • Moon
  • Patty
  • Peony
  • Pippin
  • Pretty
  • Reminisce
  • Sailer
  • Shy
  • Siren
  • Sovereign
  • Success
  • Sundae
  • Sunflower
  • Tansy
  • Testimony
  • Trust
  • Winner
  • Ace
  • Alec
  • Angle
  • Bijoux
  • Billy
  • Bravery
  • Brilliance
  • Brindle
  • Briony
  • Bryony
  • Cade
  • Calvary
  • Celesta
  • Chosen
  • Comfort
  • Daily
  • Dory
  • Edelweiss
  • Epic
  • Finely
  • Forest
  • Geisha
  • Hallelujah
  • Harlequin
  • Hyacinth
  • Independence
  • Jay
  • Lyrics
  • Maize
  • Majestic
  • Manning
  • Mars
  • Mayan
  • Mercury
  • Million
  • Mystery
  • Nemesis
  • Peregrine
  • Prosperity
  • Radiance
  • Rhapsody
  • Seraph
  • Serine
  • Sojourner
  • Southern
  • Sparkle
  • Stellar
  • Sway
  • Texas
  • Tomorrow
  • Victorious
  • Ward
  • Windy
  • Adorable (here and below, 5 girls born)
  • Aero
  • Alchemy
  • Alder
  • Aloe
  • Amaranth
  • Artist
  • Aviary
  • Bailor
  • Banner
  • Brightly
  • Caliber
  • Calyx
  • Cameo
  • Canna
  • Cerise
  • Cire
  • Dearie
  • Earth
  • Excel
  • Fisher
  • Flourish
  • Flower
  • Garland
  • Garner
  • Gift
  • Glorious
  • Jacky
  • Jinx
  • Jones
  • Joyful
  • Julep
  • Kaiser
  • Lay
  • Lazuli
  • Lehua
  • Lei
  • Magenta
  • Marshall
  • Mays
  • Melanin
  • Melodia
  • Merely
  • Mini
  • Myna
  • Myrtle
  • Mystic
  • Nation
  • Pace
  • Petal
  • Pristine
  • Psalm
  • Reality
  • Redding
  • Riata
  • Rowdy
  • Rumor
  • Serin
  • Sincerity
  • Ski
  • Snowy
  • Solstice
  • Starling
  • Stoney
  • Tequila
  • Timothy
  • Trillium
  • Victor
  • Whisper
  • Zander
  • Zenith
  • Zing