Girls Name: Margaret

Derived from Latin Margarita, which was from Greek μαργαριτης (margarites) meaning "pearl", probably ultimately a borrowing from Sanskrit मञ्यरी (manyari). Saint Margaret, the patron of expectant mothers, was martyred at Antioch in the 4th century. Later legends told of her escape from a dragon, with which she was often depicted in medieval art. The saint was popular during the Middle Ages, and her name has been widely used in the Christian world.

Other saints by this name include a queen of Scotland and a princess of Hungary. It was also borne by Queen Margaret I of Denmark, who united Denmark, Sweden, and Norway in the 14th century. Famous literary bearers include American writer Margaret Mitchell (1900-1949), the author of 'Gone with the Wind', and Canadian writer Margaret Atwood (1939-).

Margaret has been a very popular name, ranking in the top 10 from 1880-1939 in the USA. Today it ranks #169 in the USA and is still common in many countries. Most of the ladies I know named Margaret go by their full name (one is Maggie, another is Mags) and are in their 50s or 60s. 

I quite like the name Margaret, although I do like the French form Margot / Margaux, a bit better. I might consider using Margaret for a daughter, especially if it honored someone, but I like it as a middle name better. The heroine of one of the stories I'm writing is named Margaret Lesley, but her Scottish father calls her Peggy. I like the combos Margaret Ruth, Margaret Jean, Anna Margaret, Sadie Margaret and Helena Margaret.

What do you think of the name Margaret? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?  

Boys Name: Nathaniel

Variant of Nathanael, from the Hebrew name נְתַנְאֵל (Netan'el) meaning "God has given". In the New Testament this is the name of an apostle also known as Bartholomew. It has been regularly used in the English-speaking world since the Protestant Reformation. This has been the most popular spelling, even though the spelling Nathanael is found in most versions of the New Testament. The American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864), author of 'The Scarlet Letter', was a famous bearer of this name. - quoted from Behind The Name

Nathaniel has been common for a long time but has become more popular in recent years. Today it ranks #89 in New Zealand, #94 in the USA and #129 in England and Wales. I've known a few guys named Nathaniel, one I grew up with and most are my age (25-30). Most I know do not go by a nickname or only go by Nate occasionally.

Nathaniel is on my family tree, the name of a great-grandfather (times about five) who was a Quaker and an interesting character. I really like the name and would consider using it for a son. I'd use combo Nathaniel Welcome or something like Nathaniel Henry, Nathaniel Laurence or Nathaniel Job.

What do you think of the name Nathaniel? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?  

Girls Name: Beatrice

Italian form of Beatrix which is probably from Viatrix, a feminine form of the Late Latin name Viator which meant "voyager, traveller". Beatrix was a common name amongst early Christians, and the spelling was altered by association with Latin beatus "blessed". Beatrice Portinari was the woman who was loved by the Italian poet Dante Alighieri. She served as Dante's guide through paradise in his epic poem 'The Divine Comedy' (1321). This was also the name of a character in Shakespeare's play 'Much Ado About Nothing' (1599). - quoted from Behind the Name

Beatrice was quite popular in the early 1900's, ranking as high as #53 in the USA during 1901. Today it ranks #20 in Italy, #45 in Romania, #91 in England and Wales, and #601 in the USA. 

Beatrice was the name of my father's fun-loving great-aunt who he called "Auntie Bea" and my sister's middle name is Beatrix after her. I love Beatrice and Beatrix and would definitely consider using them as middle names. "Auntie Bea" was Beatrice Elena and her mother was Lena Viola so I would consider using Eleanor Beatrice, Elena Beatrice or Lena Beatrice. 

What do you think of the name Beatrice? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?  

Boys Name: Caleb

Most likely related to Hebrew כֶּלֶב (kelev) meaning "dog". An alternate theory connects it to Hebrew כָּל (kal) "whole, all of" and לֵב (lev) "heart". In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the twelve spies sent by Moses into Israel. Of the Israelites who left Egypt with Moses, Caleb and Joshua were the only ones who lived to see the Promised Land.

As an English name, Caleb came into use after the Protestant Reformation. It was common among the Puritans, who introduced it to America in the 17th century. - quoted from Behind the Name

Caleb has always been a fairly popular name although it didn't rank very high until the 1990's when it saw an increase in popularity. To day Caleb ranks #35 in the USA, #31 in Canada, #34 in Northern Ireland, #44 in New Zealand, #65 in Scotland, #83 in Australia and #93 in England and Wales.

I've known several boys named Caleb, mostly in their early 20's but I do know two different families who named their sons Caleb in the last year. I'm not sure I'd use it but I do like it and combos such as Caleb Andrew, Caleb Benjamin, Caleb Joshua and Caleb Daniel.

What do you think of the name Caleb? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with? 

Girls Name: Eleanor

From the Old French form of the Occitan name Aliénor. It was first borne by the influential Eleanor of Aquitaine (12th century), who was the queen of Louis VII, the king of France, and later Henry II, the king of England. She was named Aenor after her mother, and was called by the Occitan phrase alia Aenor "the other AENOR" in order to distinguish her from her mother. Aenor is probably a Latinized form of a Germanic name of unknown meaning. This was the name of the mother of Eleanor of Aquitaine. May also be related to Helen, the English form of the Greek ‘Ελενη (Helene), probably from Greek ‘ελενη (helene) "torch" or "corposant", or possibly related to σεληνη (selene) "moon". 

The popularity of the name Eleanor in England during the Middle Ages was due to the fame of Eleanor of Aquitaine, as well as two queens of the following century: Eleanor of Provence, the wife of Henry III, and Eleanor of Castile, the wife of Edward I. More recently, it was borne by first lady Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962), the wife of American president Franklin Roosevelt. - quoted from Behind The Name

Eleanor started being more popular in the late 1890's and reached #25 in 1920 in the USA, then by the 1940's it went back to being out of the top 100 in the USA. Today Eleanor rates #60 in England and Wales, #78 in the USA, #82 in Australia and #88 in Canada. 

Eleanor is unfortunately not on my family tree but I do love it so much! One of my favorite Jane Austen characters is Eleanor Tilney from Northanger Abbey and I also love Elinor Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility. I also like Eleanor with nickname Lena or Ellie. My favorite combos are Eleanor Mary, Eleanor Sally and Eleanor Amelia. 

What do you think of the name Eleanor? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with? 

Boys Name: Laurence

From the Roman cognomen Laurentius, which meant "from Laurentum". Laurentum was a city in ancient Italy, its name probably deriving from Latin laurus "laurel". Saint Laurence was a 3rd-century deacon and martyr from Rome. According to tradition he was roasted alive on a gridiron because, when ordered to hand over the church's treasures, he presented the sick and poor. Due to the saint's popularity, the name came into general use in the Christian world (in various spellings).

In the Middle Ages this name was common in England, partly because of a second saint by this name, a 7th-century archbishop of Canterbury. Likewise it has been common in Ireland due to the 12th-century Saint Laurence O'Toole (whose real name was Lorcán). Since the 19th century the spelling Lawrence has been more common, especially in America. A famous bearer was the British actor Laurence Olivier (1907-1989). - quoted from Behind The Name

Laurence has never been terribly popular although it is was more common in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The Lawrence spelling has become more popular in the USA and Laurence has become popular French speaking countries for ladies. 

I have a special attachment to this name because my dad's father is named Laurence and as a boy was always called "Laurie" as one of his mother's favorite books was Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. As an artist he often signed his paintings "Laurie Michael" and so I was named after him. I really hope to use Laurence as a middle name, and maybe even as a first name. My favorite combos are Edmund Laurence, Emmett Laurence and Colin Laurence. As a first name I like the combos Laurence Henry, Laurence David and Laurence Michael, all with the nickname Laurie or Loren.

What do you think of the name Laurence? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?    

Girls Name: Amy

English form of the Old French name Amée meaning "beloved" (modern French aimée), a vernacular form of the Latin Amata. As an English name, it was in use in the Middle Ages (though not common) and was revived in the 19th century. - quoted from Behind The Name

Amy has always been fairly common and in the 1970's-1980's it stayed in the top 10 in the USA, ranking as high as #2! Currently it ranks #30 in Ireland, #31 in Netherlands, #40 in Northern Ireland, #42 in Scotland, #77 in Switzerland, #82 in England and Wales and #148 in the USA.

Amy Wilbur Pearce was a great-grandmother on my father's side of the family and I would love to use the name to honor her. Another family spelling of the name was Amey, which I also like. I have a friend who is Amelia, nickname Amy and I'm also a Doctor Who fan so Amelia Pond, often called Amy, is another favorite of mine. So I go back and forth between using Amy as a full name or as a nickname for Amelia.

My favorite Amy combo is Amy Irene but I also like Amy Joyce, Amy Eleanor and Amy Ruth. And as for Amelia combos I like Amelia Joy, Amelia Eleanor, Amelia Ruth and Amelia Irene.

What do you think of the name Amy? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?

Boys Name: Henry

From the Germanic name Heimirich which meant "home ruler", composed of the elements heim "home" and ric "power, ruler". It was later commonly spelled Heinrich, with the spelling altered due to the influence of other Germanic names like Haganrich, in which the first element is hagan "enclosure".

Heinrich was popular among continental royalty, being the name of seven German kings, starting with the 10th-century Henry I the Fowler, and four French kings. In France it was rendered Henri from the Latin form Henricus.

The Normans introduced this name to England, and it was subsequently used by eight kings, ending with the infamous Henry VIII in the 16th century. During the Middle Ages it was generally rendered as Harry or Herry in English pronunciation. Notable bearers include arctic naval explorer Henry Hudson (1570-1611), British novelist Henry James (1843-1916), and American automobile manufacturer Henry Ford (1863-1947). - quoted from Behind The Name

Henry has always been quite common, especially in the 1880's when it ranked as high as #8 in the USA. Currently it ranks #15 in England and Wales, #21 in Australia, #30 in New Zealand, #33 in the USA, #33 in Canada, #51 in  Northern Ireland, #76 in Sweden and #91 in  Ireland.

Henry has been a favorite of mine for a long time. It is on my family tree so I could definitely use it to honor Henry Geer or Henry Buffington while at the same time honoring my favorite Jane Austen hero Henry Tilney from Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. I'd use Henry William, Henry Oliver, Henry Thomas or even Henry Tilney. I'd also use Henry as a middle name as in Callum Henry, Benjamin Henry, Alexander Henry and Miles Henry.

What do you think of the name Henry? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with? 

Girls Name: Noemia

NOÊMIA is the Portuguese form of Naomi. Naomi is from the Hebrew name נָעֳמִי (Na'omiy) meaning "pleasantness". In the Old Testament this is the name of the mother-in-law of Ruth. After the death of her husband, Naomi took the name Mara (see Ruth 1:20). Though long common as a Jewish name, Naomi was not typically used as an English Christian name until after the Protestant Reformation. - quoted from Behind The Name

This is not at all a popular name but I think it's a very beautiful one. The first time I heard it was on a youth pastor's wife and she pronounces it NO-em-EE-uh and she is of Portuguese heritage although she was raised in the Eastern United States. It's odd because at first it was hard to get used to not calling her Naomi, but now when I'm reading the book of Ruth it is difficult not to call Naomi Noemia. I definitely like the sound of Noemia a lot more than Naomi now.

Noemia Rose is pretty as is Noemia Ruth.

What do you think of the name Noemia? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?

Boys Name: Ciaran

Ciaran is a diminutive of Ciar. This was the name of two Irish saints: Saint Ciarán the Elder, the patron of the Kingdom of Munster, and Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, the founder of a monastery in the 6th century. Ciar is derived from Irish ciar meaning "black".

- quoted from Behind The Name

The Ciaran spelling ranks #61 in Ireland and it ranked as high as #28 in 2002. The Kieran spelling is much more popular recently and it rated #206 in England and Wales and #576 in the USA which is quite something.

Ciaran has been a favorite of mine for a long time. I love the Irish spelling versus the Kieran spelling, mostly because of actor Ciarán Hinds and it being closer to my father's name Colin. I'm not sure how it would go over especially since some members of my family would have a harder time spelling and pronouncing it. I'm much less fond of the Kieran spelling, the K just makes it much less appealing to me. 

Ciaran Michael is my favorite combo but I also like Ciaran Henry, Ciaran Oliver, Ciaran Thomas and Ciaran William. I would leave off the line over the second a as in Ciarán.

What do you think of the name Ciaran? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?

Girls Name: Lucy

Lucy is the English form of Lucia, in use since the Middle Ages. Lucia is the feminine form of Lucius. Saint Lucia was a 4th-century martyr from Syracuse. It has been used in the England since the 12th century, usually in the spellings Lucy or Luce. Lucius is a Roman praenomen, or given name, which was derived from Latin lux "light".  - quoted from Behind The Name

Lucy has always been fairly commonly used and currently rated #8 in Scotland, #8 in Northern Ireland, #9 in Ireland, #19 in New Zealand, #30 in England and Wales, #33 in Canada and #62 in the USA. 

I really like the name Lucy, it has great literary connections such as Lucy Pevensie (Narnia books), Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables author), Lucy Snow (Villette by Charlotte Bronte) and Lucy Steele (Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen) among others.

Currently I only know one little girl named Lucie, and that's a nickname for Luciana (pronounced Loo-see-ann-uh). My father also has a cousin who named her daughter Luciana after an Italian grandmother so her name is pronounced loo-chan-uh and she's also called "Lucie". 

I would definitely consider using Lucy as a girls name and would probably pair it with a longer middle name such as Lucy Arabella, Lucy Adelaide, Lucy Margaret or Lucy Emilia. 

What do you think of the name Lucy? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?

Boys Names: Merlin

Form of the Welsh name Myrddin (meaning "sea fortress") used by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his 12th-century Arthurian tales. Writing in Latin, he likely chose the form Merlinus over Merdinus in order to prevent associations with French merde "excrement".

Geoffrey based parts of Merlin's character on Myrddin Wyllt, a semi-legendary madman and prophet who lived in the Caledonian Forest. Other parts of his life were based on that of the historical 5th-century Romano-British military leader Ambrosius Aurelianus. In Geoffrey's version of the tales and later embellishments Merlin is a wizard and counselor for King Arthur. - quoted from Behind The Name

Merlin has never ranked very high on the popularity charts, it currently rated about #408 in France.

I've never met anyone named Merlin although I did know someone who named their Miniature Rough Collie Merlin and it fit him very well! 

I don't think I'd use Merlin for a son but I do rather like it. Merlin Arthur, Merlin James and Merlin Patrick are rather nice combos.

What do you think of the name Merlin? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?

Girls Name: Lena

Scandinavian, German and Polish short form of Helena the Latinate form of Helen, English form of the Greek ‘Ελενη (Helene), probably from Greek ‘ελενη (helene) "torch" or "corposant", or possibly related to σεληνη (selene) "moon". In Greek mythology Helen was the daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose kidnapping by Paris was the cause of the Trojan War. The name was also borne by the 4th-century Saint Helena, mother of the Roman emperor Constantine, who supposedly found the True Cross during a trip to Jerusalem. - quoted from Behind The Name

Lena hasn't ever been super popular in the USA, but in the late 1800's it rated as high as #41, and it is much more popular in other countries. It ranked #1 in Poland, #8 in Austria, #13 in France, #13 in Switzerland and #18 in Belgium. 

I've only heard of one modern Lena, one time when I was a craft store a mom was calling her little girl "Lee-nuh!" and it was quite cute, not sure if it was just a nickname or a full name. 

On my dad's family tree he has a great-grandmother named Lena Viola and she named her daughter Beatrice Elena - lovely names! 

Lena is at the top of my favorites list, right below Amy. I go back and forth trying to decide whether to use it as a full first name or just a nickname for Eleanor. I also can't decide whether to pronounce it LEE-nuh or LAY-nuh. My favorite combos are Lena Sally, Lena Mary, Lena Mercy, Lena Ruth and Lena Viola. I also like Eleanor Sally "Lena", Eleanor Mary "Lena" and Eleanor Joyce "Lena".

What do you think of the name Lena? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?

Boys Name: Edmund

From the Old English elements ead "wealth, fortune" and mund "protection". This was the name of two Anglo-Saxon kings of England. It was also borne by two saints, including a 9th-century king of East Anglia who, according to tradition, was shot to death with arrows after refusing to divide his Christian kingdom with an invading pagan Danish leader. This Old English name remained in use after the Norman conquest (even being used by king Henry III for one of his sons), though it became less common after the 15th century.

Famous bearers of the name include the English poet Edmund Spenser (1552-1599), the German-Czech philosopher Edmund Husserl (1859-1938) and New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary (1919-2008), the first person to climb Mount Everest. - quoted from Behind The Name

In the late 1800's the name Edmund was rated in the top 100 in the USA, France and England and Wales but since then it hasn't been popular at all. I've only known one or two Edmunds, older men, both called Ed. 

Quite awhile ago I wrote a post all about the reasons why Edmund is my favorite boys name. Since then Edmund is still a favorite but Emmett has started to rival it. My favorite Edmund combo is still Edmund Laurence, but I also like Edmund Henry and Edmund Oliver.

What do you think of the name Edmund? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?

Girls Name: Mary

Usual English form of Maria, the Latin form of the New Testament Greek names Μαριαμ (Mariam) and Μαρια (Maria) - the spellings are interchangeable - which were from Hebrew מִרְיָם (Miryam), a name borne by the sister of Moses in the Old Testament. The meaning is not known for certain, but there are several theories including "sea of bitterness", "rebelliousness", and "wished for child". However it was most likely originally an Egyptian name, perhaps derived in part from mry "beloved" or mr "love".

This is the name of several New Testament characters, most importantly Mary the virgin mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene. Due to the Virgin Mary this name has been very popular in the Christian world, though at certain times in some cultures it has been considered too holy for everyday use. In England it has been used since the 12th century, and it has been among the most common feminine names since the 16th century. The Latinized form Maria is also used in English as well as in several other languages.

This name has been borne by two queens of England, as well as a Queen of Scotland, Mary Queen of Scots. Another notable bearer was Mary Shelley (1797-1851), the author of 'Frankenstein'. A famous fictional character by this name is Mary Poppins from the children's books by P. L. Travers. - quoted from Behind The Name

Mary has been hugely popular in past years by today it only ranks #120 in USA, #225 in England and Wales and #77 in Ireland. Most of the Marys I have known have been in their 90s or 80s, then there's some peppered through at my parent's age and I know one girl age 21 with the name. 

My father's grandmother was Mary Frances and I've always loved the name. I really like Mary as a middle name in combos like Julia Mary, Eleanor Mary or Catherine Mary. I also like it as a first name in combos like Mary Frances, Mary Amelia or Mary Joyce. I'd definitely use it to honor my great-grandmother.

What do you think of the name Mary?  

Do you know anyone with this name?   

What other names would you pair it with?

Boys Name: Arthur

The meaning of this name is unknown. It could be derived from the Celtic elements artos "bear" combined with viros "man" or rigos "king". Alternatively it could be related to an obscure Roman family name Artorius. Arthur is the name of the central character in Arthurian legend, a 6th-century king of the Britons who resisted Saxon invaders. He may or may not have been a real person. He first appears in Welsh poems and chronicles (some possibly as early as the 7th century) but his character was not developed until the chronicles of the 12th-century Geoffrey of Monmouth.

The name came into general use in England in the Middle Ages due to the prevalence of Arthurian romances, and it enjoyed a surge of popularity in the 19th century. Famous bearers include German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), mystery author and Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), and science-fiction author Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008).

- quoted from Behind The Name

In recent years Arthur ranked #3 in Belgium, #12 in France, #41 in England and Wales, #41 in Denmark, #72 in Switzerland, #98 in New Zealand, and #306 in the USA. It was much more popular in the 1800's often ranking at #20 or higher. 

My love of this name mostly started with watching the BBC show Merlin where the cast are all younger folks and King Arthur is played by actor Bradley James. 

I'm not sure I would use the name Arthur for a son but I do like it a lot, especially combos Arthur William, Arthur Henry, Arthur Humphrey, Arthur James and Arthur Philip. 

What do you think of the name Arthur? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?

Girls Name: Bethany

From the name of a biblical town, possibly derived from Hebrew בֵּית־תְּאֵנָה (beit-te'enah) meaning "house of figs". In the New Testament the town of Bethany was the home of Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha. It has been in use as a rare given name in the English-speaking world since the 19th century, used primarily by Catholics in honour of Mary of Bethany. In America it became moderately common after the 1950s. - quoted from Behind The Name

In the 1980's it ranked in the late #80s and early #90s in the USA. More recently it has become less popular, ranking #393 in the USA, #89 in England and Wales, #99 in Northern Ireland and #88 in Scotland. 

I've known several Bethanys over the years, most of them are my age or slightly older. One of my good friends is named Bethany and she often gets called Beth which I love! A co-worker recently had a daughter and named her Bethany, her hair is red and that's the first red-haired Bethany that I've known. 

Bethany isn't at the top of my favorites list but it is sweet and I might consider using it for a daughter if my husband liked it, but I'd use the nickname Beth. I actually like Beth as a nickname for Bethany better than as a nickname for Elizabeth. I like the combos Bethany Rose, Bethany Ruth, Bethany Claire, Bethany Leah or Bethany Christine.

What do you think of the name Bethany? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?

Boys Name: Colin

There's two thoughts on the origin of the name Colin. 

Colin (1) - Anglicized form of Cailean or Coilean, both name meaning "whelp, young dog" or "child" in Gaelic. This name is also used as a Scottish form of Columba which means "dove".

Colin (2) - A Medieval English diminutive of Col, a short form of Nicholas a Greek name that means "victory of the people".

- quoted from Behind the Name

The name Colin has become increasingly more popular over the last few years. It ranked #140 in the USA, #65 in Sweden and #60 in Switzerland. It has always been common in England, Scotland and Ireland. 

I have a real love for this name because my father is named Colin. My grandmother (his mother) chose his name because growing up her favorite book was The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgdon Burnett and she loved all things Scottish so all three of her kids were given Scottish names (Colin, Bonnie Jean and Kenneth). It's a name that my parents weren't over fond of but they did name my brother Colin Andrew (he goes by Andy). It's a name I'd love to use one day provided that my brother doesn't use it first (he has first dibs anyway). I like the combos Colin Laurence, Colin Stone, Colin Michael or Colin David. 

What do you think of the name Colin? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?

Girls Name: Greta

Short form of Margareta a cognate of Margaret. A famous bearer of the name Greta was Swedish actress Greta Garbo (1905-1990).
Margaret is derived from Latin Margarita, which was from Greek μαργαριτης (margarites) meaning "pearl", probably ultimately a borrowing from Sanskrit मञ्यरी (manyari). Saint Margaret, the patron of expectant mothers, was martyred at Antioch in the 4th century. Later legends told of her escape from a dragon, with which she was often depicted in medieval art. The saint was popular during the Middle Ages, and her name has been widely used in the Christian world. Other saints by this name include a queen of Scotland and a princess of Hungary. It was also borne by Queen Margaret I of Denmark, who united Denmark, Sweden, and Norway in the 14th century. Famous literary bearers include American writer Margaret Mitchell (1900-1949), the author of 'Gone with the Wind', and Canadian writer Margaret Atwood (1939-). - quoted from Behind The Name entry

Old-fashioned sounding names have revived in recent days but Greta hasn't been as popular as I think it could become. In recent years it has ranked #594 in the USA, #11 in Italy, #22 in Hungary and #68 in Sweden.

Not too long ago I met two little sisters named Greta and Cora. I loved their names and their sweet blond curly heads! Since then Greta has been a favorite of mine. I've loved Gretchen and Gretel and similar sounding names such as Petra for awhile so loving Greta wasn't hard!

I like the combo Greta Lucy and also Greta Lucille, Greta Frances, Greta Ruth, Greta Louise and Greta Irene. Anyway, I love the name Greta and would definitely consider using it for a daughter.


What do you think of the name Greta? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?

Boys Name: Jasper

Means "treasurer" in Persian. This name was traditionally assigned to one of the wise men (also known as the Magi, or three kings) who were said to have visited the newborn Jesus. It has occasionally been used in the English-speaking world since the Middle Ages. The name can also be given in reference to the English word for the gemstone. - quoted from Behind The Name entry

I like that Jasper isn't that popular but it does seem more popular in recent years than it was in the past. In recent years it ranked #218 in the USA, #107 in England and Wales, and it has ranked in the 70's for Canada, Australia and the Netherlands.

My mom really likes this name, and I do like the sound of it. I like it as a middle name or as a first name but I might not use it because I don't have as much attachment to it as I do to other names. Some combos I like are: Elias Jasper, Jasper Michael, Owen Jasper, Henry Jasper and Jasper Thomas.


What do you think of the name Jasper? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?

Girls Name: Sophia

Means "wisdom" in Greek. This was the name of an early, probably mythical, saint who died of grief after her three daughters were martyred. Legends about her probably arose as a result of a medieval misunderstanding of the phrase Hagia Sophia "Holy Wisdom", which was the name of a large basilica in Constantinople. This name was common among continental European royalty during the Middle Ages, and it was popularized in Britain by the German House of Hanover when they inherited the British throne in the 18th century. It was the name of characters in the novels 'Tom Jones' (1749) by Henry Fielding and 'The Vicar of Wakefield' (1766) by Oliver Goldsmith. - quoted from Behind The Name entry

Sophia, Sophie, Sofia and Sofie have been super popular in recent years but I still really love it. In recent years Sophia ranked #3 in the USA and Canada, #6 in Austria, #9 in Northern Ireland and New Zealand and #10 in Scotland.

I've known a few little girls named Sophia. Jane Austen used the name Sophia for a few minor characters in her novels and in film adaptations and audiobook readings it is often pronounced so-FIE-uh which seems to be the British English pronunciation. In Jane Austen's Persuasion the character Sophia Croft is called "Sophy" by her brother.

Because it's so popular I like Sophia better as a middle name as in Eleanor Sophia, Catherine Sophia or Adelaide Sophia. But I do also like the combos Sophia Rose, Sophia Maeve and Sophia Eleanor.

What do you think of the name Sophia? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?

Boys Name: Jack

Derived from Jackin (earlier Jankin), a medieval diminutive of John, the Biblical English form of Iohannes, the Latin form of the Greek name Ιωαννης (Ioannes), itself derived from the Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן (Yochanan) meaning "YAHWEH is gracious" or "God is gracious". This name owes its popularity to two New Testament characters, both highly revered saints. The first is John the Baptist, a Jewish ascetic who was considered the forerunner of Jesus Christ. The second is the apostle John, who is traditionally regarded as the author of the fourth Gospel and Revelation. 
Jack is often regarded as an independent name. During the Middle Ages it was very common, and it became a slang word meaning "man". It was frequently used in fairy tales and nursery rhymes, such as 'Jack and the Beanstalk', 'Little Jack Horner', and 'Jack Sprat'. American writers Jack London (1876-1916) and Jack Kerouac (1922-1969) were two famous bearers of this name. It is also borne by American actor Jack Nicholson (1937-). - quoted from Behind The Name entry

Jack has been popular as an independent first name and in recent years it has ranked #1 in Ireland, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It has also ranked #2 in England and Wales, #2 in New Zealand, #4 in Australia and #41 in the USA.

I prefer it as a full name since John isn't a favorite of mine. I like the combos Jack Kenneth, Jack Alexander, Jack Miles and Jack Oliver.


What do you think of the name Jack? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?

Girls Name: Anna

Form of Channah (or Hannah) used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament. In the Bible Hannah is the Biblical From the Hebrew name חַנָּה (Channah) meaning "favour" or "grace". Hannah is the mother of the prophet Samuel in the Old Testament. As an English name, Hannah was not regularly used until after the Protestant Reformation. The Greek and Latin version Anna, which is used in the New Testament, has traditionally been more common as a Christian name.
Many later Old Testament translations, including the English, use the Hannah spelling instead of Anna. The name appears briefly in the New Testament belonging to a prophetess who recognized Jesus as the Messiah. It was a popular name in the Byzantine Empire from an early date, and in the Middle Ages it became common among Western Christians due to veneration of Saint Anna (usually known as Saint Anne in English), the name traditionally assigned to the mother of the Virgin Mary. In the English-speaking world, this form came into general use in the 18th century, joining Ann and Anne. The name was borne by several Russian royals, including an 18th-century empress of Russia. It was also the name of the main character in Leo Tolstoy's novel 'Anna Karenina' (1877), a woman forced to choose between her son and her lover. - quoted from Behind The Name entry

Anna has always been popular and in recent years it has ranked #35 in the USA, #1 in Austria, #2 in Hungary, #3 in Czech Republic and #5 in Norway. Other forms such as Annie, Anne, Ann and Ana are still super popular. In the Disney film Frozen one of the main characters is Princess Anna, sister of Queen Elsa and in the film her name is pronounced AHN-nah.

I've always liked the name Anna and I've known a few ladies and girls with this name. I once knew a sweet little girl with bright red hair and freckles named Anna and that helped me to really fall in love with it. I like the combo Anna Grace but that would really be like naming a girl "grace, grace". I also like Anna Joy, Anna Margaret, Anna Claire, Anna Ruth, Anna Ruby and Anna Felicity. I do really like the pronunciation AHN-nah but I usually think of that sound as more associated with the Ana spelling.

What do you think of the name Anna? 

 Do you know anyone with this name? 

 What other names would you pair it with?

Boys Name: Douglas

Anglicized form of the Scottish surname Dubhghlas, meaning "dark river" from Gaelic dubh "dark" and glais "water, river". Douglas was originally a river name, which then became a Scottish clan name (belonging to a powerful line of Scottish earls). It has been used as a given name since the 16th century. - quoted from Behind The Name entry

My grandfather and uncle are named Douglas Bruce and both go by the nickname Doug (Dougie when they were boys) and among the family they are known as "Big Doug" and "Little Doug".
I might consider using Douglas as a middle name to honor my grandpa. I like the combos Ciaran Douglas or Callum Douglas.


What do you think of the name Douglas? 

Do you know anyone with this name? 

What other names would you pair it with?

Jane Austen Names & Surnames

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Jane Austen is my favorite authoress and I've been working on a website about the names she uses in her novels and short stories. The photo above is one I made and it has all the first names she used. 

Jane Austen Girls Names: Alice Alicia Amelia Amy Anna Anna-Maria Anne Arabella Augusta Bella Betsy Betty Biddy Caroline Cassandra Catherine Cecilia Charlotte Chlo Clara Cloe Diana Dorothy Eleanor Elfrida Elinor Eliza Elizabeth Eloisa Emma Emily Esther Fanny Flora Frances Frederica Georgiana Hannah Harriet Henrietta Hetty Isabel Isabella Jane Janet Janetta Jemima Jezalinda Julia Kitty Laura Laurina Letitia Lizzy Louisa Lucy Margaret Maria Marianne Marina Martha Mary Matilda Maud Melissa Nancy Nanny Patty Pen Penelope Pistoletta Polly Rebecca Rosa Rose Sally Sarah Selina Sophia Sophy Sukey Susan Susanna

Jane Austen Boys Names: Archibald Arthur Augustus Basil Benjamin Charles Christopher David Dick Edgar Edmund Edward Fitzwilliam Frank Frederic Frederick George Godfrey Gregory Gustavus Harry Henry Humphrey Jack James Jebb Jem John Lewis Ned Peter Philip Rakehelly Ralph Reginald Richard Robert Rodolphus Sam Sidney Stephen Thomas Tom Walter Will William

Jane Austen Surnames: 
Abbot Adams Adby Allen Amyatt Anderson Andrews Arundel Atkinson Aylmer
Baddeley Baldwin Bar Barlow Bates Beard Beaufort Beckford Bennet Benwick Bertram Best Beverley Bickerton Bingley Bird Blake Bragge Braithwaite Brand Brandon Brereton Brigden Brown Brudnell Burgess Burnaby Burton
Campbell Capper Carey Carr Carter Carteret Cartwright Cecil Chamberlayne Chapman Churchill Clarke Clay Clayton Cleveland Clifton Cole Collins Cooper Corydon Courtland Courtenay Coxe Crawford Croft Curtis
Dalrymple Daphne Danvers Darcy Darling Dashwood Davenport Davies Davis Dawson de Bourgh DeCourcy Denham Dennison Denny Devereux Dishonour Dixon Donavan Dowkins Drew Drummond Dudley Dupuis Durrand Dutton
Edgecumbe Edwards Elliot Elliott Ellis Ellison Elton
Fairfax Falknor Ferrars Fisher Fitzgerald Fitzroy Fitzwilliam Flambeau Fletcher Ford Forster Frankland Fraser Frederic Freeman
Gardiner Gibson Gilbert Gill Goddard Goulding Gower Graham Grant Grantley Green Gregory Grey Grierson Griffiths Groom
Haggerston Halifax Hamilton Hampton Hanking Harcourt Harding Harley Harrington Harris Harrison Harville Hawkins Hayter Heely Hemmings Henshawe Hervey Heywood Hill Hillier Hodges Holford Howard Hughes Humbug Hunter Hurst Hutchinson
Ibbotson
Jackson Jefferies Jeffereys Jenkinson Jennings Johnson Jones
Kennet Kickabout King Knightley
Lambe Larkins Lascelles Lee Lesley Lindsay Little Lloyd Long Longtown Lucas Lutterell
Macbeth MacDonald Macduff Mackenzie Maclean Maddison Maddox Manwaring Marlow Marlowe Marshall Martin Matthews Maxwell M'Cartney M'donald Merryweather Metcalfe Middleton Milar Milman Mitchell M'Kay M'Kenzie M'lellan M'Leod Molland Montague Morgan Morland Morley Morris Morton M'Pherson Mullins Musgrove
Nash Newnham Nicholls Norris Norton Noyce
O'Brien Oliver Osborne Otway Owen
Palmer Parker Parry Partridge Percival Perry Philander Phillips Polydore Poole Pope Popgun Postilion Pratt Prescott Price Prince Purvis
Ravenshaw Repton Reynolds Richards Richardson Robertus Robinson Roger Rooke Rose Ross Rushworth Russell
Saddler Sanderson Saunders Scholey Scroggs Serle Sharpe Shaw Sheldon Shepherd Shirley Simpson Skinner Smallridge Smith Smythe Sneyd Spangle Sparks Speed Spicer Stanhope Stanly Staves Steele St.Ives Stokes Stone Stornaway Strephon Stringer Styles Suckling Summers Swithin
Taylor Thorpe Tilney Tomlinson Trent Tupman Turner
Vernon
Walker Wallis Walsh Watson Watts Webb Webster Wentworth Weston Whitaker Whitakers Whitby Wickham Wilcox Wilhelminus Williams Williamson Willis Willoughby Wilmot Wilson Wingfield Woodcock Wright Wykeham
Yates Younge

I've also been working on a list of place names she used but those are harder to gather.

This list is handy for me when I'm trying to decide on a name for a character in a story I'm writing especially since the stories I'm writing now are based in Regency England. I love many of these names and would used names such as Eleanor, Elinor, Jane, Henry and Edmund for a future child. I've also considered naming pets after them and can see myself one day having a cat named Tilney or Willoughby.



Which of these names are your favorites?

Would you consider naming a child or even a pet after a favorite book character?