Category: Fun

One of the most unique identifiers of humanity since the beginning of time is the name. The first step to defining or figuring out who you are is in your name, which why most parents take such great care in naming their kids. And also why when people want to reinvent themselves, the first thing they do is change their names.

Initially, female names were meant to express grace and elegance, while male names portrayed character and strength. Sexist much? Yes. But as time went on, especially with the birth of twins, there was a blend between what was considered masculine and feminine. People who wanted male children but got female or vice versa started creating a bridge between male and female names and unisex names were born.

With the new millennials and the rise of the concept of gender fluidness, parents are leaning more and more towards unisex names. Below is the list of the most common unisex names today.

1. Charlie: Everyone knows someone called Charlie. From the famous Charlie Otto Puth, the musician, to Charlie Duncan and Charlie Townseed. The name initially belonged to guys with names like Charles, but eventually got a female version Charlotte. It is of German origin and means free man or free woman. More guys bear Charlie than girls, but it is one of the most popular unisex names.

2. Taylor: The two very famous people rocking that name seems to be the pretty and famous singer Taylor Swift, and football player Lawrence Taylor.

The name Taylor is of both French and English origin, and as you may have already suspected, it means traditional tailor or to cut. It was initially used to refer to people whose occupation was cutting and sewing clothes.

3. Quinn: Anyone who watched the famous American series Homeland, fall in love with the character Quinn. It is a unisex name of Irish and Gaelic origin meaning to give counsel or counsel. Although the name was initially Irish, it got rapidly adopted by the Scottish. Even though the name is unisex, it is used for more girls than guys. We have Quinn Cummings.

4. Alex: The earlier versions of this name was Alexander the Great. And he lived true to his name. Alex means the defender or warrior. We also have Alexandria and Alexis. The name is more favored by boys than girls.

5. Angel: This name exists from the concepts of religion and angels and demons. Although it is now English, it was first derived from the Greek word Angelos and Latin Angelis. More guys bear it and there is Angel Michael and Gabriel in the Bible.

6. Kyle: More boys than girls bear the name Kyle. It is of Gaelic origin meaning straight or narrow and refers to a narrow body of water between two landmasses. The famous movie, Kyle XY with a male character Kyle.

7. Avery: This name is of Old English origin, the type of English that was used in Shakespeare or the first Bible. It means the magical creature, elf and it is gotten from French words like Alfred or Aubrey and ranks one hundred and one in the United States of America. It is used for both baby girls and boys.

8. Riley: Riley’s also another name of Old English origin. It means rye clearing and it is given to more girls than guys. Rye is a grass grown extensively as a grain, a cover crop, and a forage crop. Rye grain is used for flour, bread, beer, crispbread, some whiskeys, some vodkas, and animal fodder. It can also be eaten whole, either as boiled rye berries or by being rolled, similar to rolled oats. (Wikipedia).

9. Parker: Parker was very popular in the 19th century and was given to more boys than girls and it is of old English origin. This was name was used to refer to people who were park keepers. Bearing one is a famous musician Charlie Parker.

10. Blake: Blake is another old English name which means pale or bleak and this was initially given to babies who were born with pale skin. It is a unisex name It is currently very popular in the United States.

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Choosing a baby name is exciting but brain-wracking at the same time. And sometimes, you just can’t make up your mind! There are too many to choose from and too many possibilities. What if your child grows up and hates you for your choice?

It would be easier if you were simply doing this for yourself, but no worries. With a few tips and tricks, choosing a baby name can definitely get easier.

Cadence, Length, and Spelling

You don’t want your child’s name to be a tongue twister (try Rainier Royce Taylor). Don’t make it too long and complicated either to spare her the hassle when filling out forms, and keep the spelling basic (Annah, with an H, can mean a lifetime making corrections). Still, that’s no excuse for being boring so find a middle ground.

Initials and Nicknames

When thinking of a baby name, consider initials and nicknames. Ryan Allen Tonner sounds nice, but your child won’t be happy with those initials later on. Nicknames are also something to consider. If you name your daughter Analiese, she’ll probably pick up Anna or Lizzy. Just make sure the short form is as safe as the long form.

Combinations

You and your partner can spend so much time ping-ponging different names without ever agreeing on something. But if you each have a name you particularly like, why not combine them? Roseanne, Julianna and Lucyanne are interesting examples of combo names.

Cultural Influences

Another idea you can try is a baby name that reflects your culture. For example, Sofia is common among Hispanic communities, but if you’re Hispanic and your partner is American, you can come up with a hybrid to make the name culturally relevant yet easy to pronounce and remember. For example, rather than just Sofia, you can name your baby Sofiabelle.

Positivity

Who wants a name that carries an air of bad vibes? Ted would be neat unless your surname is Bundy. Not that it means anything, technically speaking, but you don’t want your child to grow up with the trauma of always being associated with a notorious murderer. As much as possible, keep your baby’s name in the positive or at least neutral.

Opinions

If you’re thinking of something as common as Jessica or Peter, go listen to your inner voice. But if you’re treading on dangerous waters like Cinnamon or Affinity or Gambit, at least talk to the people closest to you and ask them what they think. Sometimes, you need others to point out a fatal flaw – and hope it won’t have to be your child.

Inspiration

Look everywhere around you. There’s always an inspiration to discover. Love music? Name your baby after your favorite songwriter. Crazy about Martha’s Pasta down the street? Martha’s a beautiful name and it can even start some kind of family ritual when you go there to eat with your daughter.

Personality

Logically speaking, it’s best to choose a name for your baby before delivery. Having to process documents retroactively can indeed be so much trouble. But one disadvantage is the possibility of the chosen name not matching your kid’s personality. It would be ridiculous to hold off naming until your child starts to show some personality, so what do you do? Just go with your best instincts. You will usually be right. If not, just invent a nickname that more perfectly reflects who she is as a person.

Why You Should Take Baby Naming Seriously

At the end of the day, you’ll want to choose a baby name while putting yourself in their shoes. You don’t want them to feel embarrassed about their name or have a hard time getting others to pronounce it. If you think you’d be happy to have the name you’re currently thinking, then perhaps you’re on the right track. If not, then go back to the drawing board and start anew.

Needless to say, our names are very important to us. It tells the world who we are and the things we could become. Hence, as parents, be sure to spend time naming your children carefully, considering how your choices will affect them not only as kids but especially as fully functioning adults in society.

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The main instrument to identify a person is their name. In many cultures, given name and surname are the fundamental ingredients that made up a person’s name. While given names and surnames may have different connotations and significance depending on the locations and culture, there are certain aspects that will always differentiate between the two wherever you go. Given name, a.k.a first name may be any name that is given by the parents. On the other hand, surname, a.k.a family name, is a name shared with other family members, including some relatives.

Dictionary.com defines given name as, “the name given to one, as distinguished from an inherited family name.” Conversely, the site characterizes surname as, “the name that a person has in common with other family members, as distinguished from a given name.”

For example, Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright are two blood siblings that invented the first-ever airplane. Both of them have the same surname, which is Wright. Whereas their given name—Orville and Wilbur—are undoubtedly different.

Origin

Surname

Today’s surnames mostly come from fathers’ surnames that are passed on to their son/daughter. While the father’s wife, or the child’s mother, usually has a different surname, she can choose to drop her original surname—often described as “maiden name”—and change it to her husband’s surname or family name.

The surnames themselves, however, are originally derived from countless roots, including but not limited to:

• Occupation
• Physical appearance
• Social class
• Local environment, and
• Baptismal names

For instance, you may have known people—or maybe yourself—that have Piper, Player, Baker, Turner, or Brewer as their surname. Those surnames are references to the occupations of their ancestors. Other surnames like King, Knight, and Bowman refers to their social class or the military rank.

Hill, Wood, Maple, and Borough are surnames that feature the landscape the originator lived in. Whereas names like Robertson (son of Robert) or Carlsdotter (daughter of Carl) often called baptismal names. The term came from when a father combines his own given names with a suffix like –son or –daughter as a surname to his child at the church.

In the west, surnames didn’t exist until the Middle Age—can be earlier or later in other parts of the world—as people could still identify one another using only their given names. Eventually, as the population grew larger and the communities of people became more interconnected, the need for a more practical way to differentiate people according to their names was becoming more apparent. Thus, the concept of surname or family name was born.

While children usually inherit the surname of the father in the past, nowadays, the practice of the mother’s surname inheritance is also growing, following the women’s emancipation movement. These cases can be found with the “double surname” tradition. For example, an English football player, Trent Alexander-Arnold, has the surnames of both his father (Arnold) and his mother (Alexander) joined. This tradition is more prevalent in Spain-speaking countries.

Given name

In contrast with surname, given name doesn’t have a strict rule so parents can name their child literally however they want. In many cases though, Christian families often use the Bible as the main source for given names. Names like David, Michael, Noah, and Gabriel indicate entities that appear in the Holy Book. In addition, Mohamed, Zain, and Hassan are names that have a connection to Islam.

There are also other ways people can name their children. Some parents decide to name their child after famous public figures. In another case, while most people traditionally name their child, some parents may go with originality and choose or invent an extraordinary name for their child.

Christian name, middle name, and more

There are quite a handful of other terms regarding names that might confuse people. One such term is “Christian name” which is technically the first name or given name. Christian name, however, is a more specific term that refers to the first name given at the baptism ceremony. “Forename” is also another approach of saying the given name.

The middle name, on the other hand, is its own phrase pointing to a portion of one’s personal name. In some cultures, usually placed between the given name and surname, the middle name may be given to a person regardless of whether it’s necessary to further distinguish them from the others.

Summary

Surnames didn’t appear until the Middle Age. The origin of surnames come from one’s ancestor’s either occupation, local environment, or many other sources. Contrarily, a Given name already exists way earlier in the past and is chosen by the parents.

In many countries, people’s name consist of surnames and given names, and both may serve as a person’s primary identifier.

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We as humans want to be that person that’s different but in a unique way. We want a name that sticks out and is more special than the other individual in the room. Back in the days, it was increasingly famous to pick a typical name, fortunately, millennial parents are defying that norm and thinking of progressively one of a kind names. Regardless of whether you name your baby boy after a celebrity, or take a typical name and make it your own, there is no rule set in stone with regards to naming a kid. 

However, everyone wants to give their children that unique name that makes them stand out among their peers. Millenials want to abstain from naming their child the most common/uber-trendy name every other person is going to give their little one.

Picking a name for your child is a genuine strive. Names will, in general, in and out of fashion, yet there’s no precise science to clarify why certain names develop in notoriety at a given time. This requires careful research, you don’t want to end up naming your child after a criminal or after a washed-up celebrity. 

Perhaps, learning some extra information about the name will be of great help to your research. If you are keen on learning 2020s most famous baby boy’s names and it’s meaning, then you don’t need to look any further! 

1. Reese: The name Reese is of Welsh origin. You might be thinking “I know a girl named Reese”. Yes, Reese is a unisex name but it’s set to break into the boys’ top 100. Reese means Fiery, Ardent. Reese is known to be fit, funny, kind and super caring.

1. Tate: It is of Norse origin and it means Cheerful. You can always expect a cheery mood from Tate and a beautiful smile to melt your heart. Tate is known to have amazing eyes, and hair, he is very funny and brightens up your day.

1. Elijah: For the Christian parents looking for a strong baby boy name, Elijah is one of the best. It is a Hebrew name gotten from the Prophet Elijah, a miracle worker and a devoted worshipper of God. It means Yahweh is God.  Elijah is known to be one of the most humble people in the whole world, he is one funny &humorous guy. 

1. Asher: Asher was the eighth son of Jacob in the bible and he was promised a life of blessings and abundance. Asher means Happy, Fortunate, Blessed. It still stands outside the top 1,000. Asher is known to be sweet and extremely kind no matter what he goes through.

1. Theodore: Theodore is one to have many beautiful nicknames. Ted, Teddy, Theo. The name is gotten from the Greek words theos, meaning “God,” and dōron, meaning “gift,” giving Theodore the meaning “God-given” or “gift of God.” Theodore is known to be a nice, sweet, sexy, very odd type of person, that everyone can get along with.

1. Luca: Luca is originally gotten from the name Lucas which is Latin and means Light. Luca is known to be the sweetest guy you will ever meet. He will always be there for you even if he’s at the darkest moment, he will simply put on a smile and support you.

1. Ares: The name Ares was gotten from the god of war, one of the Twelve Olympian gods and the son of Zeus. Ares is known to be excellent at analyzing and learning. They tend to be philosophers and scholars. They are usually quiet and introverted. Ares is known to be is tall and handsome.

1. Kieran: The name is of Irish Origin meaning Dark one, probably due to the dark hair colour they’re known for. Kieran is known to be strong and attractive, with a love for fashion. 

1. Miles: The name Miles is of Greek origin. It means Soldier. Miles is known to always fight for what’s right. He has a real sense of humour. 

1. Easton: The name Easton is of English Origin meaning east-facing place. Easton is known for great personality, and a great friend. He is confident and someone you can approach for advice.

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Out of all the stories, history, and legends surrounding them, one thing is certain of the Irish people. They are one of the oldest and most well-spread nationalities in the world. Due to the famine, war, and poverty that struck Ireland from 1845 to 1852, most of the Irish people emigrated to faraway lands. Today, there are plenty of people who are of Irish descent in Canada, Australia, the United States, and Great Britain. There are also fewer among Mexico, New Zealand, Argentina, and Brazil. It is recorded that more than a million Irish people lost their lives between this period.

So if one wants to trace back really old Irish names, then one would have to go back as early as the Gaelic people names who were believed to be the earliest settlers in Ireland. Historically, however, the oldest Irish names will be traced back to the names of the Irish people that first migrated to the United States and other nations.

According to the Irish Times, one of the oldest recorded Irish family names is Ó Cléirigh. This went with others like O’Neil (there is a whole legend about him and the Queen of England ), O’Brien, O’Sullivan, and O’Connor.

Names with Mac or Mc are still some of the earliest recorded surnames in Ireland. This was when the concepts of surnames were invented and people had to bear two names. So MacTyre meant son of wolf. Or more properly, the son of a man called wolf. Below are some of the oldest recorded Irish names. We have names of Gaelic, Norman, Welsh and Campbro Normal origin. These are just the popular out of the earliest Irish names.

• Tobin: This name first originated from Tipperary, Kilkenny, and later in French-Norman, de St. Aubyn.
• Tyrrell is of Gaelic origin from Westmeath.
• Archbold: The name originated from Anglo-Norman and means brave of heart.
• Archer: Archer was very popular during the medieval war times in Dublin, Kilkenny.
• Ayl(e)ward is from Waterford, and of Anglo-Norman origin.
• Baldwin is also from Waterford – German-Flemish, Baldwyn.
• Barron: is from Waterford and Cambro-Norman origin and is derived from Fitzgerald. Today there is the English Barron.
• Bermingham: was first from the county of Galway, and there were variations like Norman, de Bermingham.
• Blake: We all know Ed Sheeran’s song Galway Girl. The name Blake originated from Galway and is of Welsh origin. Now it is unisex, and we have names like Blake Shelton.
• Darcy is of Anglo-Norman origin.
• Deane is still very popular today and was too in Dublin in the prehistoric Irish.
• Fitzgerald: is of Cambro-Norman origin, and originated from Windsor.
• Fleming is another very old Irish surname.
• Griffin is of both Gaelic and Welsh origin.
• MacAuley or MacAwley originated in both Co Fermanagh branch of MaGuire and Mac Amhlaoibh.
• MacBrennan it means son of Brennan same for MacCasey and
• Mac Fhlannchaidh.
• Cosgrave people from Co Wicklow started naming their kids Cosgrave and later Wexford.
• Ó Colghain started from Co Derry and Co Donegal.
• Dubhchonna also progressed over time as Doheny or Downey and is of early Gaelic origin.
• Ó Dochartaigh, Doherty, or Dougherty, was first adopted by the lords of Inishowen. It is also the name of the famous and movie star and legend, Marilyn Monroe.
• Ó Domhnallain or later Donlan is from Galway.
• MacDonagh – Co Cork – lords of Duhallow and Corran had its early roots in, branch of McDermott and MacCarthy.
• Mac Donnchadha – MacDonnell as you might have rightfully guessed this name is from the Clan of MacDonald.
• Ó Fionn the anglicized version is (O) Finn and it had its roots in Co Sligo, Co Galway, and chiefs of Calry.
• Ó Fionnagáin is now popularly known as Finnegan and has its roots in Galway as well.
• Mac Conghamhma is now anglicized ad Gaffney or Caulfield and originated from both Galway and Fiachrach Aidhne.
• Ó Gallchobhair is now (O) Gallagher and has its roots in Co Donegal and Cenel, Conaill.
• Mac Giolla Riabhaigh is now Gallery (not your phone gallery), MacAreavy of Gray
• The name we know as Gavin was originally Ó Gealbháin from Co Clare.
• Ó Mainnín: now anglicized as Mannion or Manning is from Galway county and of Pictish origin.
• Mac Maghnais or now MacManus is from Maghnais, son of Turlough O’Connor.

Most of the so-called English surnames in the united states today were of Irish origin, but now have eventually come to be regarded as English names. Unfortunately, most of the original spellings and pronunciation have been lost over time.

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