1.) I looked at the 2013 list and focused on the top 50 names, picking three favorite/least favorites per gender.
Least Favorites:
- Jaxon - I really like the name Jackson and the nickname Jack… but Jaxon ruins it for me, and I dislike Jax as well.
- Hunter - I personally could never imagine naming my son this. It just has such violent connotations that I would want my son to be associated with.
- Jayden - The plethora of “Aden” names is tiring. I don’t mind the traditionally Irish Aiden, but Brayden, Caden, and especially Jayden are just not my cup of tea.
- Neveah - It just looks made-up to me, and every time I see it, I can’t help but cringe a little.
- Kaylee - I think the spelling bothers me the most with this one. I don’t think I would mind Kaylie as much… Kaylee just looks very made up, and I cannot see it aging well.
- Aaliyah - This is a tough one, because I do understand the appeal of this spelling… but it just looks like such a mouthful! I would rather see it spelled Alia or Aleah.
Favorites:
- Emma - A true classic!
- Sadie - Another of my favorites. It’s sweet and cute.
- Lily - One of my all time favorites - feminine and sweet!
- Andrew - Another classic! This name has been growing on me lately, and I recently found out that this was one of my mom’s favorite picks for me if I had been a boy! I like the nickname Andy... Drew, not so much. But I think I like just Andrew best.
- Henry - Another of my all time favorite names.
- James - Such a handsome, classic name. I love it. I also really like the nickname Jem - I reminds me of Jem from To Kill a Mockingbird, even though I believe that character’s full name was Jeremy.
2.) G/G: Phoebe and Gemma
B/G: Henry and Phoebe
B/B: Henry and James
3.) I don’t think I would want to change my name… I’m used to it (obviously) and I think it suits me. If I had to pick, however, maybe Natalie? I know that was one of my dad’s favorites for me when my parents were deciding what to name me, and I think it’s pretty and down-to-earth.
4.) This was a challenging one! But I think the winner is: Phoebe, Paige, Patrick, & Percy OR Nina, Natalie, Nolan, & Nathan.
5.) Hmm… I’ve always had a soft spot for Leo, meaning lion.
6.) Grey/Greyson (or Gray/Grayson) & Scarlett
7.) Top 3 Boy Names: Henry, James, Thomas
Top 3 Girl Names: Phoebe, Jane, Gemma
8.) Favorite celebrity baby name for a boy: Ali Larter’s son Theodore Hayes
Favorite celebrity baby name for a girl: Bryce Dallas Howard’s daughter Beatrice Jean
9.) For girls, I really like the name Carmen but can’t use it because a.) I don’t know if it would come off weird if I named my daughter a Spanish name when I’m not Spanish, and b.) I can’t get over the fact that it’s pronounced and spelled lie “car men,” which sounds really masculine. For boys, I would have to say Finn. I really like the name but don’t think I could ever use it… it reminds me of a fish’s fin!
10.) My least favorite names are either “Yooneek” or “made-up” (Neveah being a prime example), or other obscure names that might result in teasing. Pretty much anything that would cause tormenting on the playground or an employer to roll his/her eyes when he sees the name on a resume/job application.
11.) Hmm… baby names based on food/drink are not my favorites normally, but if I had to pick, I would probably choose an herb, like Sage or Rosemary.
12.) June! It’s cute, vintage, and wearable. Plus June is my birth month and favorite month!
13.) Alice
14.) Probably Jack (nickname for John)