Somersault and Scotland 🤸
Namey news of the week
Some weeks, not much happens in the baby name world. Others — like this one — we discover a truly juicy starbaby name, a country releases new data, and there are all manner of baby name dilemmas to weigh in on.
Wondering about Somersault?
Twenty or even ten years ago, if a celeb used an unusual baby name, we’d be talking about it for evermore. But these days, the pool of names and the number of famous people have grown so wide that I barely bat an eyelid. Cardinal? So original! Locket Romance? Charming. Brother László? It was inevitable.
If Apple Martin were born today, she’d fit right in, and her name would get maybe a tenth of the reaction it did in 2004.
But occasionally, a starbaby name still surprises us, and Somersault Wonder is one. Amid the news of singer Sia splitting with Dan Bernad, it was revealed that this was the name of their daughter, born last year. I’d never ever have considered Somersault as a name, but… I don’t hate it. It’s lively, skilful, uplifting, and it can be shortened to Summer. Like Abby Sandel in her excellent commentary over on Patreon, it’s a shock at first but I think I’ve talked myself into it!
In other celebrity news:
You might think Méi June — comedian John Mulaney’s daughter — is another gimmicky phrase name, but apparently it’s just a coincidence: a name they liked, plus an anglicized honour name they were always going to use. It just goes to show that for some parents, personal meaning weighs more than a slightly odd sound… especially as it’s hiding in the middle name spot.
Last month, British cleaning guru Mrs Hinch welcomed her third son, Vinnie Alan Barker. His brothers are Ronnie and Lennie, showing true commitment to British Grandpa Nickname style.
Meanwhile, Brit entertainers Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright named their daughter after their favourite holiday destination — which is fortunately Palma, and not Bognor Regis.
Actor Madison Brush has a daughter named Emilia Estelle, a sister to Axel, Evie, and Josephine. Estelle is indirectly a tribute to her late brother.
The Top Baby Names in Scotland
National Records of Scotland have released the most popular names of 2024 — with Noah finally taking the top spot for boys, and Olivia reclaiming it for girls.
The fastest-climbing names in 2024 were Eliza, Romy, and Nora; Reggie, Myles, and Callan. I just love the Scottish rankings for their uniqueness —where else in the world would you find Ruairidh and Lachlan, Eilidh and Maeva rubbing along in the Top 100 with more familiar choices?
Matching Siblings
It’s interesting to consider how much you can predict babies’ names from their older siblings. Generally, like Mrs Hinch, parents do often stick to similar sounds, styles, and popularity levels. But there are always exceptions: last week I met brothers, close in age, named Teddy and Odin — definitely a mismatch of cuddliness levels!
Here’s a sibling challenge right up your street, Berries. These parents already have children called Ivy, Oleander (Olly) and Belladonna (Bella). Now they’re expecting triplets! Mum likes Wisteria, Asphodelia, and Anelace - but this is a step too far for dad. What botanical names with nicknames would you give the three new sisters?
Oh, but there’s just one big rule, when it comes to sibling names. Don’t call twins Romeo & Juliet.
Rare Common Names
Finally, a few reminders that a name’s “rarity” is sometimes in the eye of the beholder. For example, I went to school with a boy called Sheridan, so I assumed it was a standard common name. Never met another since, male or female.
Another mum had this experience with Loretta. And yet more, according to the internet, thought Alienne and Glutenia were reasonable names for daughters.
Which names feel common to you, but are actually quite rare? Tell us in the handy box below.
I've met an unusual number of people/kids called Honey, Carys, Tallulah, Amna, Aoife, Nell, Saskia, and Hermione.
For triplet sisters, I'd be thinking Amaryllis (Ami, Ari, Lily), Lavender (Liv), and Celandine (Cece, Andie)
I am 55 years old, and my first name is Saorse, with no “i.” I cannot tell you how many times people say my parents spelled it wrong, especially as Saoirse Ronan has become famous. However, my family is from the Outer Hebrides, where Scottish Gaelic is the language. The two names mean the same thing: “saorse” is “freedom” in Scottish Gaelic just as “saoirse” is in Irish Gaelic. While the name is not common in Scotland, it has been used for baby girls since the days of William Wallace; the Irish version only came into usage during the time of The Troubles in the 1970s. The name feels common to me, as it is a family name. My second name is the “much” more common Eilidh.