Everyone's a Name Nerd

Sorry, enthusiast

One of the many things I love about names is that they’re fascinating to everyone.

Sure, some of us carry our love for names closer to the surface than others, but we all have a name — and feelings about it. We all know people with names, and have opinions on them. I usually find that with a little encouragement, people are very happy to talk about their views and experiences.

It had been too long since I’d had a proper name chat with someone, in person. But today, on a quiet shift behind the library desk, I got talking with my colleague about writing for Nameberry. Then about what her niece and nephew are called, and why their parents might have chosen those names, and I looked up how popular they are in the area where they live; and how she feels about her name, and which names we see a lot on children in our area, and why parents like them so much, and what she and her partner might use if they had a child, and so on and on…

It was tonic for my soul.

If you, too, have gone too long without a good face-to-face chat about all things namey, I challenge you to have one this week. Tell us in the comments what you learn!

Names in the News

While some celebs are keeping their babies’ names private — no matter how much we’re itching to know what Cardi B named her fourth child — there are a few standouts among the starbaby names that have been revealed.

Blair Lucy isn’t particularly radical, but I like what’s going on with it. The newborn daughter of Jesse Light and Jesse Bongiovi (son of singer Jon Bon Jovi) has a textbook combination of unisex first name + feminine middle name, and it sounds great. And did you spot the connection between Lucy and mom’s last name?

All together now… Whoooaa, they’re living with a Blair 🎵

An opposite combination, but equally effective, is a sweet feminine first name with a gender-crossing middle name: Josie James, born to a sports star couple.

We’ve been watching Pia for a while, and it’s more popular now than ever before (though still well below the Top 1000), gaining more momentum each year. A Married at First Sight Australia baby, Pia May, is only going to help with that.

There’s a baby named Lukacey, and I’ve got to admit… I don’t hate it. It’s based on the cowboy boot brand Lucchese, but with a spelling that’s more intuitive to English speakers, and which looks more namelike, like a mashup of Luka and Kacey. Well, it’s definitely better than naming the baby Ugg.

I’m going to take a firm stand on this one, though: these sibling names are too close for comfort. Especially given their last name.

Cool Things Around the World

• The top names in Italy (for 2024) have landed! Just like in other countries, there’s little change at the top, with Leonardo and Sofia leading the way. In fact, the only names new to the Top 50 are regal Cesare, and Italian-stroke-multinational Luna and Olivia.

• K-Pop names 101: your handy guide to the generations of K-Pop stars, featuring a fun and intriguing mix of Korean and international names.

• We know Bollywood starbabies influence names in North America, so look out for Neer rising in the boys’ charts in the next year or two.

More Fun Stuff

• Adelani in Arizona, Taslin in Texas, and other names disproportionately popular in one state. (For more local favorites, check out our analysis of names trending in the Northeast, Midwest, Southwest, Southeast, and Western States)

• As we enter a new zodiac sign, check out our guide to Sagittarius names

• New to the database: this warm Welsh girl name

• Of course I love the outcome of this baby naming dilemma 🍀