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?  

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: 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?

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?

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?

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?

Girls Name: Priscilla

Priscilla is a Roman name, a diminutive of Prisca which is a feminine form of Priscus, a Roman family name which meant "ancient" in Latin. This name appears in the epistles in the New Testament, referring to Priscilla the wife of Aquila.. In Acts in the New Testament Paul lived with Priscilla and her husband Aquila in Corinth for a while. It has been used as an English given name since the Protestant Reformation, being popular with the Puritans. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow used it in his poem 'The Courtship of Miles Standish' (1858). - Quoted from Behind The Name entry

I've known a few people named Priscilla. One young lady I grew up with is called Priscilla (some times called "Priss" by her siblings), my good friend is Priscilla but always goes by Cilla, and an elderly patient I knew was always called Prissy.

I'm not sure I'd use Priscilla for a daughter's name but I do enjoy the combos Priscilla Ruth, Priscilla Miriam and Priscilla Rose.


What do you think of the name Priscilla? 

 Do you know anyone with this name? 

 What other names would you pair it with?

Boys Name: Silas

Probably a short form of Silvanus, an Ancient Roman name derived from Latin silva meaning "wood, forest". Silvanus was the Roman god of forests. Silas is the name of a companion of Saint Paul in the New Testament. Paul refers to him as Silvanus in his epistles, though it is possible that Silas was in fact a Greek form of the Hebrew name Saul (that means "asked for" or "prayed for"). As an English name Silas was not used until after the Protestant Reformation. It was utilized by George Eliot for the title character in her novel 'Silas Marner' (1861). - Quoted from Behind The Name entry

 Silas has never been hugely popular but has gained some popularity in recent years, ranking #137 in the USA.

I've always liked Silas, it is similar in sound to Simon, another favorite of mine. I like to pair it with other Biblical names such as Silas Gideon, Silas Benjamin, Silas Micaiah or Silas Andrew.

What do you think of the name Silas?

Do you know anyone with this name?

What other names would you pair it with?

Zebidah or Beulah?

So you all know I'm a name enthusiast, but even so I don't often name objects (I know my dear laptop should have a name but usually it just goes by "Satellite" which is the type of Toshiba it is). But my parents have always named their vehicles - currently they have a gemstone theme based on the paint color "Emerald" and "Beryl".

My car is similar to this one

So when I was very blessed by a lady in my church giving me her old white Suburu I knew that I had to choose a special name! I wanted a name that means "blessing" or "gift" and because I know her through church I decided that a Biblical name would be best. I had so much fun researching Biblical names and found a few interesting names that I wanted to share!

The first Biblical name that came to my attention was Beulah, and it immediately seemed to suit my new car because she is older but has a distinguished air about her. But although Beulah means "blessed, favored" and has a lovely Biblical uses, it wasn't quite what I was looking for. 

In my searching I stumbled upon the site Biblical-Baby-Names.com, a wonderful resource that has detailed info on so many great names used in the Old and New Testament in their Database. I highly recommend you check out their page!

It was through their webpage that I found the Old Testament female name Zebidah. It not only has the lovely meaning "gift" but was also the name of the wife of good King Josiah. I had fun looking up the verses and finding the various forms which are: Zebudah (used in King James Version), Zebida, Zabia.

Zebidah is the feminine form of the masculine Hebrew name Zabad (other forms: Zabbud, Zabud) which also means "gift".  

"Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left." - 2 Kings 22: 1-2 KJV

"And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah." - 2 Chronicles 25: 34, 36 KJV

Again, similar to my car

So I really like the idea of naming my car Zebidah (maybe with nickname Zeb or Zebbie) but I also love Beulah and think it sort of fits a bit better. Of course the more I talk about Zebidah more I like it! 

What do you think? Which one should I choose?

Don't forget to check out Biblical-Baby-Names.com! 


Your Resident Name Enthusiast,
Miss Laurie :)

Biblical Names for a Boy

A family at church who has used Biblical names for their three children is expecting their fourth child, a boy. The couple have a hard time deciding on names for their children and for that reason they have decided not to tell beforehand what they're considering for names.

There are so many lovely Biblical names and so I decided to play with it a little and think what I might choose to complete this sibset.

Isaiah & Raeann

Isaiah

Jeremiah "J.D."

Naomi

expecting boy in June

Old Testament names:

Aaron

Abel

Abram

Adoniram

Asa

Ephraim

Ezekiel

Ezra

Gideon

Ira

Jared

Joel

Jonah

Josiah

Jubal

Levi

Malachi

Micaiah

Micah

Zachariah

Zebulon

New Testament names:

Matthias

Matthew

Nathanael

Nicodemus

Philemon

Silas

Simon

Thaddeus

Titus

Zacharias

My favorites to go with their other children are:

Ezekiel

Gideon

Malachi

or if they were to use a New Testament name, Matthias, Silas or Titus.

What fun! :)

Nicknames From Novels

Just three nicknames, from novels written and set in Victorian England, which I thought were quite lovely, WDYT?

Nicodemus "Noddy" - from Our Mutual Friend

Dorothea "Dodo" - from Middlemarch
Celia "Kitty" - from Middlemarch
Theresa "Tess" - from Tess of D'Urbevilles

--------------------------------

My Thoughts:

I'm liking Nicodemus more and more, it's rather a guilty pleasure of mine like Solomon and other old Biblical names. Though the nn Nicky is cute it's also rather popular and too connected with Nicholas.

I think Dorothea is just lovely and Dodo is a cute childish nickname, not sure I like it or not.

Celia was prn. seel-ee-uh in the film adaptation instead of seel-yuh. My pastor's wife had family who prn. her name see-lah their from the southern USA so their accents most likely have something to do with it. Kitty just says Katherine to me but it is cute, I recently met an older lady named Kittie and the name suits her perfectly.

I've been liking Tess recently since seeing Tess of D'Urbevilles and her full name was Theresa. I've never been very fond of Theresa / Teresa but Tess and Tessa are rather cute.

So what do you think? Any you like?

My Top 100 Favorite Girls Combos

Reworking my extended favorite girls combos. There are a few in my top 20 that I changed a bit and decided on which Lydia Sadie combo and which Juliana combo.
Without further ado here they are:

1. Amy Joyce Irene
2. Eleanor Mary Frances "Lena"
3. Sally Stone Elizabeth
4. Lena Beatrice Viola
5. Lydia Sadie Hope
6. Catherine Davia
7. Jocelyn Pearl "Jocie"
8. Emma Beatrix Claire
9. Juliana Chloe
10. Phoebe Evangeline
11. Mary Adelaide
12. Leah Crystal
13. Beatrice Elena
14. Marjorie Florence "Marjie"
    
15. Clara Rosemary
16. Leanna June
17. Margaret Fiona "Maggie"
18. Felicity Evelyn "Lissy"
19. Lillias Arabella
20. Jane Isabella
21. Grace Abigail
22. Evangeline Mercy "Evie"
23. Julia Mary
24. Cora Imogen
25. Lily Charlotte
26. Juliet Hermione
27. Stella Iris
28. Alea Ruby
29. Annora May
30. Cassandra Isolde "Cassie"
31. Molly Susannah
32. Margot Eloise
33. Gretchen Helena
34. Annika Dagmar
35. Edith Amelia "Edie"
    
36. Nora Clementine
37. Esme Seraphina
38. Marguerite Solange "Margie"
    
39. Philippa Antonia "Pippa"
40. Ireleigh Paige
41. Aurelia Sonet
42. Eimear Kathleen
43. Matilda Hazel "Matty/Tilly"
44. Georgiana Eve "Georgie"
45. Millicent Sophie "Millie"
46. Liesel Wilhelmina
47. Tabitha Esther "Tibby"
48. Eithne Maeve
49. Ceana Rose (prn. Kenna)
50. Adeline Cecilia
51. Brigid Sorcha "Biddy"
52. Amity Karis
53. Sophia Elinor
54. Maisie Emmeline
55. Verity Ann
56. Charity Ruth
57. Lalage Emilia "Lalla"
58. Isabella Sage "Bella"
    
59. Elinora Mabel
60. Priscilla Opal "Cilla"
    
61. Kirsten Lee "Kirstie"
62. Michael Naomi / Michal Naomi
63. Miriam Dorcas "Miri"
64. Eliana Ophelia
    

Yep, only 64, but I haven't formed any more yet. It's not too important to me to reach 100. It's nice to be able to express my favorite names this far.

Top 100 Favorite Boys Combos

My top 100 favorite boys combos, I've been reworking my extended favorites list and here's what I've come up with:

1. Ciaran Douglas
2. Eamon Laurence
3. Nathaniel Henry Welcome
4. Simon Matteson
5. John Kenneth Crepaux "Jack"
6. Colin Stone
7. Aidan Silas Pearce
8. Jack Michael
9. Henry Buffington-Geer
10. Owen Jasper
11. William Ezra
12. Sebastian Luke
13. Gideon Micaiah
14. Caspian Miles
15. Titus Andrew
16. Ezekiel Peleg "Zeke"
17. Crispin Lee
18. Josiah Abel
19. Nathan Shippee
20. Cianan David
21. Finbar Liam
22. Matthias Oliver
23. Callum Dermot
24. Micah Joel
25. Ian Archibald
26. Tristan Evander
27. Milo Spencer
28. Soren Dominic
29. Cassius Alexander
30. Tobias Griffin
31. Asa Benjamin
32. Skander Willem
33. Dylan Lucas
34. Willoughby James "Will"
35. Roman Frederick
36. Lucian Maxwell
37. Maximilian Lucius "Max"
38. Roderick Theodore "Roddy"
39. Julian Darcy
40. Sinjon Tertius
41. Bartholomew Amos "Ollie"
42. Jonah Gabriel
43. Ronan Bryce
44. Elias Jephthah
45. Amadeus Leopold
46. Elijah Keegan "Eli"
47. Noah Wyatt
48. Oisin Declan
49. Angus Niall
50. Gilbert Tavish "Gibby/Gilly"
51. Andrew Jonathan
52. Jonas Finley
53. Ellis Vaughan
54. Hamish Charles
55. Malachi Jeriah
56. Ewan Trace
57. Jolyon Edmund "Jo/Jolly"
58. Jeremiah Seth
59. Ebenezer Jacob "Eben"
60. Archibald Roger "Archie"
61. Zachariah Jude
62. Brody Rhys

Yes, there's only 62 but it's as far as I've got so far.

What do you think? Any you like?

"I" Love Names!

"I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM!"

I've been hearing a several names starting with the letter I recently. I'm in general not too wild about I names as I gravitate more towards A, E and the constanants (especially C, S, L and J).
But as I hear these names used, weather on people I've met, on TV, or online, I've been thinking of all the names I do like that begin with I. Here's just a sampling:

Boys:

• Ira - I've heard this name on two different men recently and rather like it. We don't see it used much anymore and I think it could gain as much popularity as Isaac or Isaiah have.
• Ike - I met an quirky, off the wall teen boy by this name at camp this summer. His bright eyes and lively personality were totally different than the image I've always had of Ike being a stodgy old farmer or old time politician. I don't think Ike was his real name (probably something like Richard), but it actually suited him and the short spunk of the name came across to me. I now like it as a nickname for Isaac / Isaak and hope to see more of it.
• Irving - a friend's husband is named Clarence Irving, isn't that awful but so totally old-fashioned and charming at the same time? For some reason that even his wife doesn't know, he's always been called Mike. Mikey when he was young and the name just stuck so he's Mike now which really suits him much better! I'm not a big fan of this name but it certainly had a strong sound.
  
• Ian - I've always loved this name and was very pleased to hear it being used more in my social circle, once as a middle name, once as a first name. My friends who I worked with this summer named their first son Ian William last year and he had just turned a year old when I saw them in June. Their last name is Walker and the mother told me that she had seriously considered naming her son Luke Skye! I think it actually would have been cute never mind the Star Wars connection. I really like Ian William and I think they might possibly have chosen a W for his middle name because his paternal grandfather's first name begins with W. Little Ian changed the image of the name a bit for me, from bold handsome Scotsman with unruly dark hair, to a blond haired boy with big ears, bright blue eyes, a big smile and a personality all his own. :)
  

Girls:

• Ivy - I've seen Ivy a couple times this summer. My mom's friends have a little granddaughter named Ivy Dawn who I saw recently, she just turned four. I also admire her cousin's names Peter Ian and Joy Abigail, they're so...normal! :) Ivy is sweet but I always think poisin ivy and an exotic dancer when I hear this name so I tend to prefer Evie to Ivy.
• Isabelle - I know it is popular but it is pretty. A friend just named her 8th child Chloe Isabelle. She had mentioned to me that she liked Isabella because it came from Jane Austen's novels. But when she mentioned the name to her 10-year-old daughter she said "Not Isabella mommy. In books Isabella is always the bad lady!" But she must have liked the name enough to have used Isabelle anyway. I think it's pretty and as a middle name it's nice. By the by I'm liking Chloe more and more now, scary!
  
• India - I heard this name on a Jepordy contestant. In general I dislike this name and Indiana because they are place names. India to me would seem to belong to a forein woman with dark hair, bright eyes and a sense of adventure or to a trendy designer so on this lady the name had an odd appearance as she was 40ish with plain brown hair and nothing very interesting about her, kind of a quiet sort. Funny what people name their kids even if it's unpopular, not at all befitting their lifestyle or especially doesn't suit their child at all!
• Ireleigh - a little girl at church has this name. She's so cute at four with her blond hair and wide blue eyes and ever charming smile and speech inpediment. Her mother said a friend named Leigh had said it was her favorite that she didn't get to use only she spelled it Ireley. So the mother changed the spelling to Ireleigh to honor her friend who suggested it. I think it's cute though it is made up, it sounds pettier than it looks.
  
  
  "So?...what?...no ice cream then?"
  
  

So, some of my favorite I names, most of which I probably won't ever use:

Boys:
Iain
Ioan
Israel
Ignatius
Ichabod (crazy, I know)
Ishmael
Innis

Girls:
Irene (which I might use)
Isolde
Irina
Imogen "Immy"
Imelda "Immy"
Iris
Isabella
Isobel
Iliana
Isla
Ireland (yes, a place name but it's the place I like)

What are your favorite name that begin with the letter I? Have you met or do you know someone with and of these names? How do they like their names? What other I names have you heard recently?

Lydia Sadie

This summer I met a couple little girls named Sadie and one had a sister named Lydia. These are two names I really love, they both have such sweet sounds and that lovely old-fashioned charm (I'm beginning to think I should rename my blog Old-Fashioned Charm!... that gives me "furiously to think" like Hercule Poirot, perhaps a new blog is in order...anyway) .
Not too long ago I was playing a name game on the Behind the Name boards and used the combo Lydia Sadie. I really loved the sound and the combo stuck in my head.

"Oh Lydia, oh Lydia, say, have you met Lydia? Lydia The Tattooed Lady. She has eyes that folks adore so, and a torso even more so. Lydia, oh Lydia, that encyclo-pidia. Oh Lydia The Queen of Tattoo. On her back is The Battle of Waterloo. Beside it, The Wreck of the Hesperus too. And proudly above, waves the red, white, and blue. You can learn a lot from Lydia!

La-la-la...la-la-la. La-la-la...la-la-la."

Jocelyn Sadie is currently on my top 10 because my mom loves Jocelyn and it sort of honors her mom Joyce and Sadie is a nickname/short form of Sarah like my other grandma Sally's name. But I've really wanted to but Sadie as a first name but I keep using it as a middle name!

I like the sound of Lydia Sadie much better than Jocelyn Sadie, the sound and flow just seems to work better. And if I use Sadie as a middle name for Lydia I can use Pearl for Jocelyn maybe. But I also like the sound of Lydia Sadie Pearl and my top four favorite combos all have 3 names except for Lydia Pearl so I really want it to have three names too.

So here are some of my thoughts on middle names for Lydia:

• Lydia Sadie Pearl
• Lydia Sadie Michael / Michal
• Lydia Sadie Claire (which would mean I'd have to change my Emma Claire combo, maybe to Emma Beatrix)
• Lydia Sadie Karis (honors my friend)
• Lydia Sadie Abigail
• Lydia Sadie Grace
• Lydia Sadie Opal
• Lydia Sadie Rose (too plain I think)
• Lydia Sadie Kirsten (honors my sis but too long)
• Lydia Sadie May / Mae (I'm liking May recently, it's actually very pretty, not sure I'd really use it though)
• Lydia Sadie Hope (means I'd have to change Juliana Hope which I am hoping to do in future)
• Lydia Sadie Ruth
• Lydia Sadie Ann (e) (I'm really liking the Ann spelling lately, it's on my family tree too)

"It's Anne with an E!"

Obviously Lydia Sadie is already quite long in sound so I'm trying to pair it with a one or two syllable name.

I'm really hoping Sadie won't become too popular because I like it a lot and now I'm liking it more than Sally! (sorry mom-mom!)

One of the Sadies I met was actually Mercedes but she was called Sadie or maybe they spell it Cede?

I'm also liking Chloe's charm as well but that's too popular so I've got to get that out of my mind! But maybe as a middle name like Juliana Chloe.

So I'm still not sure what Lydia Sadie combo, but I am leaning more towards Lydia Sadie Pearl, Lydia Sadie Hope, or Lydia Sadie Ann.

Any thought, opinions, comments or suggestions are welcome. I know probably no one actually reads my blog yet but if you do I'd love to hear your opinion!

Silas

Silas is a short form of the Romas name Silvanus which is derived from Latin silva "wood, forest". Silvanus was the Roman god of forests. Silvanus appears in the New Testament belonging to one of Saint Paul's companions who was also called Silas.





Several literary characters bear this name including George Elliot's title character Silas Marner, Charles Dicken's Silas Clegg in Our Mutual Friend, and William Dean Howells' protagonist in his classic novel The Rise of Silas Lapham.


Ben Kingsley stars as Silas Marner in BBC's Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe

Authoress Lori Wick has a character by this name in A Song for Silas. And author D.H. Bates's My Uncle Silas was filmed as a BBC TV series in 2000.


Actor Albert Finney stars as My Uncle Silas

I have heared Silas used more often lately at least in my small social circle. It only ranked #346 in America for 2007.
I enjoy the old-fashioned charm of this name (you'll find I use this phrase a lot!) and the strong masculine sound of it. It's lack of use over the years also helps to give is a fresh unused sound.

I first started to like this name a couple years ago when I gained a fad for masculine names ending in -as or -us (such as Jonas, Zacharias, Elias, Josias, Atticus, Titus, Nicholas, Tertius, Septimus, Cassius, Amadeus) .
When I also found it on my family tree I added it to my favorites list. I combined it with names such as William, Abel, Welcome, Ciaran, Andrew, Pearce and Geer. My current favorite Silas combo is Silas Abel but that is subject to change at any time.
Silas is on my short list of names I'd actually use for a son though it currently ranks outside my top ten favorite combos.

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them." -Acts 16:25 KJV

Silas, a handsome name, and despite it's old Biblical connections and literary usage, a fresh choice for parents today.

What are your thoughts on Silas? New and fresh or old and outdated? Used too much or not enough? More likely to me a first name or middle name?