What is it about picking a name for your baby that is so… difficult???? I remember when I was a child playing with dolls, I had over a dozen different names ready to go at any given moment! The thought of picking baby names seemed so fun! I made a game of it. I was also fully convinced that, when I grew up, I would name my kids something like “Marie-Soleil” or “Réo” (ray-o). (I liked unique names, ok??? Haha)
Welllll fast-forward to adulthood, and suddenly the game became a lot more daunting. Now I had a whole husband to contend with when it came to name picking, and he wasn’t so keen on my choices. (He vetoed Réo right away.) I was also not so keen on some of his choices, so back and forth we went, arguing our way through lists and lists of baby names. Boy names were especially hard. Just when I thought we were finally in agreement, I was reduced to tears when my darling husband, treasure that he is, changed his mind. (How could he play such a mean trick on a soft-hearted, weepy, hormonal pregnant woman?!)
In the end, after spending nearly 9 whole months going to war over baby names, we finally settled on our son’s name just two days before he made his grand arrival. Phew! Just in time.
But the thing is, after spending so much time debating names, I've been left with a funny fascination about the whole process of naming a human. After all, your child will carry this name for the rest of their life! And with so many options out there, it can feel overwhelming to decide on the perfect name. You love this baby. Of course you want to give them the best name possible.
So for today’s blog post, I thought we would explore some popular themes for baby names, and if you're in the process of trying to figure out how to name your precious bundle of joy… maybe one of these will catch your eye!
- Nature-inspired baby names
Here are some of the top contenders:
Willow
River
Autumn
Luna
Ocean
Sky
Phoenix
Meadow
Forrest
Rose
- Vintage baby names
Vintage baby names are timeless and classic, and often have a nostalgic feel to them. Many parents are drawn to these names because they have a sense of history and tradition.
Let's take a look at some top choices:
Eleanor
Henry
Beatrice
Charles
Agatha
Felix
Ruby
Oscar
Adelaide
Augustus
- Names inspired by literature
If you are a book lover like my husband and I, you may want to consider a baby name inspired by your favorite literary works. I know we did!
From classic novels to modern bestsellers, there are endless options to choose from:
Atticus (To Kill a Mockingbird)
Hermione (Harry Potter)
Holden (The Catcher in the Rye)
Scarlett (Gone with the Wind)
Oliver (Oliver Twist)
Lyra (His Dark Materials)
Jane (Jane Eyre)
Gatsby (The Great Gatsby)
Juliet (Romeo and Juliet)
Scout (To Kill a Mockingbird)
- Names with spiritual or cultural significance
Many parents choose names that have a special meaning in their culture or religion. These names often have a strong sense of tradition and history, which is so important to so many of us.
Let's take a look at some options:
Muhammad
Aaliyah
David
Fatima
Noah (we strongly considered this one!)
Miriam
Elijah
Naomi
Sophia
Aaron
- Names inspired by celebrities or pop culture
If you are a fan of a particular celebrity or pop culture phenomenon, a baby name inspired by your favorite star could be fun! These names can be trendy and modern, and often have a unique flair.
Here are a few to consider:
Beyoncé
Ariana
Drake
Khaleesi (Game of Thrones)
Luna (Harry Potter)
Stormi (Kylie Jenner's daughter)
Bodhi (Megan Fox's son)
Blue (Beyoncé's daughter)
Bowie (David Bowie)
Rihanna
Whether you choose a name inspired by nature, literature, culture, or pop culture, the most important thing is that it feels right for you and your family. Take your time, do your research, and trust your instincts. You will find the perfect name for your little one. ♡
Xo