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!

september // photo dump

I love to write, I love to read, but aside from that I like to go back to the mountains. I like to spend time reading wild country. Mountains or desert. 

There's corruption. There's crimes. There's all these things in the cities and all this turbulence and all this confusion and everything. You come back into the mountains. You can walk out there alone. And there is a great stillness around you. You can look out across great distances. Far distant peaks of mountains and clouds and everything and suddenly it smooths out all the wrinkles. You're at peace with the world. It gives you something. Refreshes your whole spirit. Makes you stronger. Makes you a better person. 

I like to go back to the mountains. 

- Louis L'Amour

With every word, Louis L'Amour can describe exactly how I feel. How I ache for the mountains and how I long to go back again. To feel that wind on my cheeks and to "breathe that mountain air". It truly does smooth out the wrinkles. It truly does refresh your soul. 

Yet another month has come to a close. Can you believe it? Already we are nearing the end of a year. (don't panic yet! We still have October, November, and December to get through)

Some  H I G H L I G H T S  from this month:

- my Grandpa, step-Grandma, and aunt flew here for a visit. We spent money lovely days with Grandpa&Sue and a fun breakfast date along with my aunt!

- we rejoiced that the summer heat drifted away. Cool crisp air took its place. 

- we remembered 9/11 

"never forget"

- Sunday outing with family.

- we celebrated our "one year since we became engaged". 

- hung out with an old friend and met her baby girl! 

- seen my Kirsten Jean!

- attended a cousins wedding. 

Now time for a photo dump!

E N J O Y

I bought my first home decor! Beautiful autumn colors.

Auntie Kristi

It was honestly pretty emotional for me to be with my auntie again. It had been nearly eleven years since I had seen her, until we both flew home for our family reunion in August. She is a link to my childhood and a life that has gone by.

I have been doing some experimenting lately with family recipes and converting them to sugar and gluten free. Some haven't been to bad. These are my attempt at Peanut Butter Cookies

Baked sugar cookies for my in-laws

Finally got our wedding photo printed!

Sunday outing with family.

Visiting the hubby while he printed shirts. I even helped a little *flexes muscles*

Meeting my dear friends baby girl, Audra

Shopping! I hadn't had a "girls day" in months. It felt good.

Our "one year since engagement" outing through the woods!

I love you.

Josiah build us a new cabinet and we painted our light fixture and bought new bulbs. I am happy! The light used to be a ugly silver with huge white round bulbs

just because he is to cute on Sunday mornings.

date night!

We stayed up late one night and build this sign as a wedding gift.

great-uncle and cousin

Kirsten Jean. Don't worry, its a cigar.

How was your September?

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

I pray Thee take my hand // P O E T R Y

 

I pray Thee take my hand

I know not where to go

down this road or up the lane

please I ask you, show

guide my steps that I may take 

the ones that You designed 

show me the wondrous light ahead

a path of pure sublime

whither Thou goest I wish to go

please don't leave my side

hold me close and keep me safe

till I reach Jordan's tide 

- Felicity Estola

the difference between here and there // 10 random things

I have been living on (or is it in?) the East Coast for just over four months now. Most days it feels like it has been an eternity. I can't express in words how much I miss home. My mountains. My grass. My blue skies and sweet smelling breeze. The coolness of night and the warmth of day. The vast openness.

Here are a few differences I have personally discovered between two the opposite sides of our country.

1 // It does not cool down at night. 
As it is getting close to summer days, the sun is out more and more. The days are hot and my apartment tends to get very stuffy. To my dismay, it does not cool down in the evenings.
Back home we would gather around a fire with sweatshirts and blankets as the sun began to sink. Here, it cools down some, but nothing like back home. I open my door for my porch at night but it doesn't seem to help very much.

2 // It's muggy. 
Now maybe it's because I am not "acclimated" but, man is it hot and sticky here! The air is literally thick. I can't remember what it's like to step outside and breath in some refreshing air. 

3 // It's buggy. 
So many bugs! It makes me not even want to go outside which is very different from the old me. Before, I lived to spend days outside in the fresh air. Now the very thought just brings to mind miserable nights of scratching at hot and painful bug bites covering my arms and legs.

4 // It rains in the "summer". 
Back home is known for the rain. The dark dreary days and gloomy skies. What people seem to forget is that is our winter months. Instead of snow, we get rain. The summer time is very dry, bright, and hot. Droughts and forest fires are real fears back home. Rain is not common at all during our dry seasons.
Here, one day will be bright sunshine, the night drizzling rain. And when it rains, it gets even muggier. I still have not comprehend that just because its wet and gloomy outside doesn't mean it's cold.

5 // To shop or eat you have to drive in all directions. 
Everything here is spread out all over the place. Back home, town was town. One big spot where everything was. The grocery store. The feed store. Countless restaurants. Gas stations. Coffee shops.
We would make weekly runs to "town".
Here, it's "I'm running to here" or "I am running to there". Not very much is side by side. One place is thirty minutes that direction, while another is thirty minutes this direction.

6 // People leave the house several times a day. 
Before getting a job at 16, it was completely normal to only leave the house twice a week. Friday nights for sauna, and Sunday mornings for church. That was it.
Everyone is always buzzing to and fro here. Stopping at this persons home. Back home. Running to the store. Back home. Picking up pizza. Back home.
If we did that where I came from, we'd be spending an entire tank of gas just to drive from one place to another. You can't just "run" here and back. It's almost an hour in driving time, let alone the time spent where you are going. Days are planned for groceries, rare shopping trips, and gas fillings. There is very little "spontaneous" activities.

7 // the mountains...
I haven't found them yet.

8 // It's hard to find a good cup of coffee. 
Where I come from, we have a coffee shop on every corner. Organic, chain, and one of a kind.
Here, coffee is abundant but only in Dunkin's, which I am not a fan of.

9 // there are a lot of ponds.
Everywhere.

10 // the butter cubes are long and skinny.
That may be the randomness fact you have every heard, but it's true! The butter here comes long and narrow while back home its short and stubby.

Have you ever moved and noticed differences between the two places? Was it hard to adjust?

May God bless you always!