girl baby names // old hollywood

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love baby names. I've always enjoyed reading through lists and lately I have been into watching videos on baby names. Sadly, usually the names are
#1 a family related name or #2 a name I don't really like.

I thought it might be fun to share my own ideas on baby names. Today we'll look at 10 girl names inspired from old Hollywood actresses.

1. Luana 
For 113 years, this name was not on the top 1,000 for precious little girls, according to the US Social Security records. First records began in 1943, but became the most popular in 1947 when 164 girls were given this name.
1940's actress Luana Patten gracefully brought this name to the screen starting as a very young girl. 
Today it is again no longer on the charts.
Considered of Hawaiian origins, Luana is said to mean Enjoyment. 
I personally would love to use this beautiful baby girl name someday!

2. Dale
Dale is most popularly used as a boy name though girls have been given it. One actress was not born with this name but later took it, using it until her death in 2001.
That was 1940's actress, Dale Evans Rogers.
Dale is German and means Valley.
Most popular for girls in 1952, it has since fallen far down the list. Still, I think it could be a very pretty name. How about Dale Elizabeth?

3. Beulah 
Beulah is a beautiful Hebrew word meaning married.

 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shalt thy land any 

more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, 

and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighted in thee, 

and thy land shall be married. 

Isaiah 62:4

Actress Beulah Bondi brought this name to the screen during the 1930's.
It was most popular in 1904 when 983 baby girls were given this name. Today it does not reach the top 1,000.
I love how elegant this name sounds. Beulah Mae anyone?

4. Audrey
This elegant name is one of the more popular names of today. Of English origins, Audrey means Noble Strength.
Between 1900 and 2018, it was most popular in 2017 when 4,808 girls were given it at birth.
Actress Audrey Hepburn was very well known during her acting days and her face is still recognized by many today. 

5. Doris 
In 1929 this name was a huge hit. 16,496 babies were born bearing this name. With Greek origins, Doris is said to mean, Sea.
Actress Doris Day was very popular on the screen during the 1940's and is still active today. During the 1960's and 70's she even had her own TV show, The Doris Day Show.

6. Ginger
A delicious and healthy spice, Ginger can also be used as a unique baby name. A famous dancer and actress brought this name to fame starting as early as the 1920's, Ginger Rogers.
This name was most popular in 1971, but has since dropped in ratings.
Ginger is said to be of English origins meaning reddish orange color.

7. Rita
This name was quite popular starting in the early 1900's all the way to the 1960's, ranking the highest in 1930. Since then it has dropped dramatically low.
Rita Hayworth was a Hollywood actress who began acting in the 1930's. Usually, Rita is a nickname for other names, like Margarita (Rita Hayworth's birth name) but I find it can stand on its own quite well.
Rita is a Spanish name meaning Pearl.

8. Shirley
Not many of us can say we have never heard of the dimpled faced Shirley Temple. Born in 1928, she began her acting and dancing career at the tender age of three.
This name actually has a long history. Originally a surname, or commonly used and thought of as male, it eventually made its way to the feminine side. Charlotte Bronte made it popular for girls when she wrote the novel titled Shirley in 1849.
In the US, it was most popular in 1936.
Shirley in English means bright meadow while in Hebrew it has a meaning of song unto me or I have a song.

9. Maureen
Irish born Maureen O'Hara was born in 1920. She eventually became an American citizen and made many Hollywood pictures, including five with John Wayne.
An Irish name meaning Of the Sea or Bitter, it was most popular in the US during 1948. Today it is far off the charts.

10. Jean
Having been used for both girls and boys through the years, actress Jean Arthur brought the name to the stage during the silent film days before making her way to talkies.
In 1929 it was popular for girls while in 1928 it was popular for boys. Still, more girls than boys have been named Jean through the years.
From the English language Jean means God is Gracious.

What did you think of this list? Any names you like? Or wouldn't use? Learn anything new?

I love researching baby names, reading histories and meanings. Is this something you would be interested in reading more of?
Any other list ideas you'd like me to do?
Let me know!

Baby Name Challenge // T A G

If you know me, you know I love baby names. I always have I guess! In my twenty-two years I have written countless "baby name lists" of names I dreamed/dream of using someday. In fact, I still have the very first "list" I ever wrote in my stash of childhood doodles. I remember sitting at my Grandma's kitchen table with my Auntie Molly and Auntie Wendy as they helped me spell out and write the letters.

Oh the mind of a child.

I seen this tag online (in video form) and thought it would be kinda fun to try out! So, here we go.

R U L E S 

Answer the questions 

Tag three friends to do the same 

1. What are your favorite boy & girl name from the top 100 of the year?

Boy - Gabriel
Gabriel is #33 in the top 100 boy names this year. This name is actually one of my personal favorites for a boy.

Girl - Amelia
Amelia is #10 in the top 100 girl names this year. I have always loved this name and find it so elegant and pretty. If I would actually use this myself, I don't know. But, I love it just the same.

2. What are your least favorite boys and girls name from the top 100 of the year?

Boy - Sebastian
Apparently, Sebastian is #17 in the top 100 boy names. Why? To me it sounds like a little red crab singing "Under the Sea".

Girl - Paisley
Paisley is #39 in the top 100. Not that I think this name isn't nice, it just isn't my style. I prefer more soft and old fashioned, while this has more of a modern feel to it.

3. If you had twins, what would you name them?

Boy & Boy - Gideon and Gabriel
That was easy.

Girl & Girl - Luana and Lucie
This was a little tough. Honestly not sure what I would name twin girls if I ever had them! But, I think it's cute when twins have names beginning with the same letter and I love these two.

Boy & Girl -  Lavinia and David
I couldn't not think of this for the longest time! So I googled it. *hides face* 
These two names came up as male and female versions of the same name. These are also two names I once had on "my baby name list" so figured, why not! 

4. If you could change your name to anything, what would you change it to?

Personally, I love my name. But if I had to change it perhaps I would do something like Katherine.

5. If you had four children, any gender, all with the same letter, what would their names be?

For this question I decided to do two of each. I picked a random letter and found names I liked with it. 

Boy -William

Boy -Wayne

Girl -Willow

Girl - Winter

6. What is your favorite animal inspired name?

I probably would never use these names, but the questions just asked what animal name you liked!

Boy - Hawk

Girl - Fawn

7. What is your favorite color inspired name?

Boy - Blue
I could never name my baby boy, Blue, but I think it's still very cute and unique!

Girl - Lavender

8. What are your top three favorite boys names? 

1. Gideon

2. Gabriel

3. Davy

9. What are your top three favorite girls names?

1. Kate

2. June

3. Colette / Lizette

10. What is your favorite month inspired name?

Boy -

Girl -  June

11. Choose a name from a movie.

Boy - Davy
Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier

Girl -Hettie
Road to Avonlea - TV series

12. Choose a name that is already in your family. 

Boy - Jubal
First cousin.

Girl - Elizabeth
great-great-great-great Grandmother - Nancy Elizabeth
great - Grandmother - Clara Elizabeth
Grandmother - Nancy Elizabeth  
As well as my sister, aunts, and cousins! It's a well used name in my family, but one I find beautiful. 

 13. Choose a name from a book.

Boy - Tell
Sackett by Louis L'Amour

Girl - Marilla / Rilla
Anne of Green Gables & Rilla of Ingelside by L.M. Montgomery

And there you have it! My baby name challenge.

Find any names you like? Dislike? Any surprise you?

I tag:

D A M I N I K A @ Walking in the Sonshine

L A K A Y S H A @  Calico and Lace

E M I L Y @  Living Through Jesus

L I B E R T Y @ The Elegant Cowgirl

Double the Love

Good morning world!

I have been in another one of my "moods" (I have those a lot) and I've found another list of baby names that just seem to "pop" in my mind.
I personally love combined names. Or, "double names". Their just so... something? I don't know what it is about them but I seem to always be attracted to names like Betty-Lou, JulieAnn, and Mary Ellen.
These are a few of my favorites!

1. CoraBeth

2. Emmylou

3. AuraLee

4. LilyDale

5. Sadie-Rose

6. AvaLynn

7. SaraKate

8. BeckyLee

9. Lindy-Jane

10. TildyMae

What style of names do you like?

Baby Boy Names I Love

Boys. Boy names are a lot harder for me to find that just go "Oh! I like that!". I'm not sure why? I suppose because most boy names I like have already been used in my family: Jonathan, Caleb, Casey, Nolan, Laban, Tyrel, Marcus, Josiah, Jubal, Chancy, and Clint, just to name a few! I will try and see if I can find some that are not in my immediate family!
For boys I prefer Biblical or Western names. Which, sadly, are more of a popular type.
(as I mentioned with my girl name list, I want names that are not very common).
I have two boy names picked out that I LOVE but won't be sharing on here! They are for me to know and for you to find out (hopefully, someday LOL).
I'm not sure I would actually use any of these names for myself but I like them still just the same!

1. Adam  
The name Adam has been around since the beginning of time (literally!) but is actually not as common as names like John or Jacob.
I have a great-Uncle by this name and have heard of a few others but I still feel I could use it someday if I wanted.
I think it's quite the masculine kind of name!
Adam means - Man or Of the Earth

2. William
William sounds manly and wise. It was most popular during the 1880's and though it is not as big of a hit today, it is still used.
Nicknames I love for it are "Willie" and "Will". But I am not a fan of the nickname (or name for that matter) Liam.
William means - Strong Willed Warrior

3. Tell
Tell came from a Louis L'Amour character who is ironically named "William Tell". (I know that name is also a man who is a legend in Scotland I believe?) But in the book the character goes by his middle name "Tell". I think it sounds like a quite humble cowboy.
This name is not used very often at all, like ever!
I couldn't find the meaning of the name "Tell" but "Telly"
(which I would never call my son!) means - Best

4. Orrin 
Also another Louis L'Amour character, Orrin is the brother of Tell! This is a old name and is even in the Bible. Although, I believe the spelling is "Oren". I prefer the way Louis L'Amour uses it.
Orrin means - Fair/Pale

5. Everett
Everett has also been used in my family though not as a first name. Now this one I would use!
I wouldn't want it shortened to "Ever" or "Rett" though. Everett is much nicer!
Everett means - Wild boar

6. David
David. A popular name all the way around though most popular during the 1950's.
David is one of the most recognized people of the Bible. With other famous men having his name.
My favorite being David "Davy" Crockett! If I used this name I would call him "Davy" occasionally because I think that name is just as handsome.
David means - Beloved

7. Jedidiah
Jedidiah sounds like a rough and tough mountain man to me! Maybe because there was a mountain man named Jedidiah Smith? It's also been used for hundreds of years but it's actual peak surprisingly was in 2012.
Jedidiah means - Beloved of Jehovah

8. Joseph
Joseph sounds like a good strong name! I'm not a fan of these popular names today that just sound a little "wimpy".
 Joseph means - God shall add

9. Ephraim
This name can be pronounced two separate ways. I've seen a movie where it is pronounced with the long "E" and another where it was pronounced with the short. I myself prefer the long "E" sound.
Ephraim means - Very fruitful

10. Tucket
This is probably the most different from my style of names. I like how it sounds like a pioneer boy or something!  In fact I got it from the book series about "Francis Tucket". A young boy who is kidnapped by Indians during the Oregon Trail days and has many adventures while making his way back home.
I can't find any meanings to this name. People seem to think it doesn't exist!

Well, there are a few boy names I like. What style do you prefer?

Baby Girl Names I Love

Ok, so I love baby names. I can't wait to hear what an expecting couple chooses for their baby and always ponder, "would I use that?".
In fact, I love naming, anything! Whenever we had kittens it was so fun to sit and think of what to name each one. I always chose names that you wouldn't usually hear on an animal like "Sapphire", "Dixie", "Hattie", and "Winnie" just to name a few. (though I always had help choosing the names!)
When Daminika was a year old (making me four) she received a stuffed donkey for her birthday. I named him "Cinnamon" for her and "Cinnamon" he still is!
Liberty also has a stuffed cow/goat (whichever you choose to call it! I was in a hurry, looking for a goat, and grabbed this. Once I got home I realized it was a cow but hey! We can pretend!) which I also helped name. She's now known as "Penelope".
When I was young I would write "books" and my favorite part was naming all the characters.
I thought it would be fun to write down ten names or so for girls that I love!
I won't list what I consider "my" baby names because I would prefer they didn't get used, but these are some I could consider using.

For girls I love anything old, elegant, rare, feminine and pretty. I want names that people have long since stopped (or almost stopped) using but are still a gem to me.

1. Luana
Now "Luana" I do have on "my" baby name list but it is not one of my very top that I have picked out. It is pronounced "Lou-Ah-nuh" and I first heard it from an old actress.
Luana means - Graceful
(I mean, doesn't the name itself just sound graceful?)

2. Alice
I think "Alice" is so pretty. It's simple but very sweet. Some people may think of "Alice in Wonderland" but for me I first heard it from the old movie "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and have always liked it.
Alice means - Of A Noble Kin

3. Beulah
This is actually a word usually used when talking of Heaven or paradise. (My name is a word too! So that may be why I like this one so much). There is even a song titled "Beulah Land".
I think it would make such a pretty little girls name! It is pronounced "B-you-lah"
In Hebrew Beulah means - Married

4. June
June is a common sounding name though it actually is rarely used anymore. It peaked in the 1920's as a hit but has since than gone down. It is, however, used as a nickname today for names such as "Juno" and "Juniper".
I think it's very elegant and cute. I also love the nickname "Junie".
June is a form of the mythical Latin goddess "Juno", who was known as the "goddess of marriage".
Today June is said to mean - Born in June

5. Esme
Now this one is a little different than my usual type of names. Pronounced "Ez-me" it is actually quite popular today! I love that it's short, unique, and elegant. Wouldn't it so pretty for a baby girl like "Esme Mae" or even "Esme Jane"?
Esme means - Love or Loved

6. Katherine
This name. *Sigh*. A name I have always loved, wanted, and thought to be the prettiest of all names. For the longest time I wanted "Katherine Marie" and still would love to! But I know others who also want it and I personally do not want to name my kids anything that I know someone else has. I want something special and different! But, we shall see?
Katherine has always been very popular starting as far back as the 1880's.
A nickname I also love for Katherine is "Kate". I even considered "Kate" as a first name for "my list."
Though I think "Katy" is pretty, I prefer just plain Kate.
Katherine means - Pure

7. Harriet
Harriet is also a name that peaked in the 1880's but is rarely used today. Which is fine by me!
I think it's so pretty, and it even looks elegant.
Nicknames I have heard for Harriet and also love are "Hattie" and "Hettie".
Harriet means - Ruler of the Home or Home Ruler

8. Jane
Yes, I have an aunt named Jane, but I can't help it! I love this name so much I might have to use it!
A feminine form of John, Jane was most popular during the 1940's. I also love "Jane" for a middle name, probably just as much as a first!
A nickname I love for it as well is "Janie". I've even heard of babies having "Janie" as their first name.
Jane means - God is Gracious

9. Julia
Julia. Just the name makes me think of dainty, soft, pretty things. It was most popular during the 1880's but is not so popular today. I fell in love with the name from watching "Summer Magic".
Julia means - Youth

10. Matilda
Now this name I have heard both negative and positive thoughts on. Some find it "the ugliest name ever" and some "pretty and old-fashioned." For me, I find it very pretty! Though, sadly, I know someone who has a little girl named Matilda. So, I personally wouldn't want to use it. But if I didn't it would be on my list!
Also another name popular during the 1880's, a nickname I would use for it would be "Tildy".
Matilda means - Might/Power

Well, there you have it! Some baby girl names I love! One of these days I'll do a list of boys.
What kind do you like?