Calling all Name Nerds!

[drfox]

How do you all organize your name lists?

Alphabetical? Theme? Syllable #? ???

I am technolgically challenged and curious how all of you manage your name ideas and lists.

TIA!!

[Mickeywich]

I separate boys and girls and do alphabetically

[shells15]

I use Evernote. I recently posted this on two boards previously. You may find some other ideas on them.
How do you organize your names? and How do you keep track of names you love, like or loathe?

@shells15

I recently posted this on another board, but it is still applicable to what I do today. The only difference I’ve made is adding a Archive section for both boys and girls where I move names I still like but am not considering using into so I still have them on hand.

@shells15

I used to write everything down as I found them, but it was messy and I could never figure out where everything was. Now I use Evernote. I have one notebook divided into Boys Names, Girls Names, Combinations I’m Actually Considering, Notes and Family & Friends Names.

In Boys and Girls Names, I have a template that lets me put meanings, origins, pronunciations, nicknames, notes, combos using that name and alternatives (e.i. I may prefer Eliza, but want to make note of Lisa just in case – both are derivatives of Elizabeth). I also tag these names with Yes, Maybe, No, Nicknames Only and Middle Names. I can move names between the tags as my tastes change.

@shells15

With so many of the same name in our family, it’s hard to remember who is who. I use it to try to not use the same names over again just because they’re family names (I want my kids to have their own names), but there is one exception (and only if my SO wants it too). I also use the family and friend names as a starting point if I want to honor a specific person (i.e. family member named Michael, honor name Micah).

[elanorelle]

I love lists and organization, so, naturally, I apply that love to my names.

I’m assuming you want the serious name-lover details, so here’s how I do it:
First, I use Microsoft OneNote.
In that program, I have a name notebook, containing all of these sections:

• Girl Name Bank (just all my favorites – whenever I seriously fall for a name, I add to the list with its origin and meaning),
• Boy Name Bank (same as girl version)
• Top Names (lists my Top 5, Top 10, Top 20, etc. for both)
• For Consideration (i.e. names I would actually consider using irl, divided into firsts and middles)
• Alphabetical Master List Girls
• Alphabetical Master List Boys
• Safe, Brave, GP Master List Girls (all the names from the master list divided into those three categories)
• Safe, Brave, GP Master List Boys (same as girl version)
• All Girl Combos
• All Boy Combos
• New Crushes (the category for when I’m crushing on a name, but not sure if I love it enough to add it to my list)
• Literary Name Collection (a place to jot down all the names I fall for when I’m reading a book, along with what book I discovered them in.)
• Family Tree
• Misc. Lists (where I keep various categories of lists – helpful when someone on NB is looking for suggestions for, say, Southern names, Greek names, Medieval Names, Nature Names, etc. etc. – literally all various categories by style, era, and whatnot)

And, finally, I keep a backup master list in Google Docs, which is also where I play around with a lot of combos and sibset ideas (because GD has better fonts – haha!).

So, if I haven’t completely overwhelmed you, hope this could help!

[w8src]

Same! I also have a Top 20 section and a Recently Added section for boys and girls.

[futuremama]

I literally don’t lol. I put names randomly in my notes on my phone, all in separate notes. If I’m working on a specific sibset atm, then you’ll usually see several very similar notes near each other.

[midwinter]

So I have just an automatically alphabetized NB list, but I also keep my names on paper. I’m the sort of person who organizes my nonfiction by DDC number, but my list of names is… surprisingly unorganized. I tend to put word names on a separate list from the rest and then hold the two lists side by side when I’m thinking up combos. I also usually separate boy and girl names with unisex names going on both lists (and one positive of having word names on their own list is that so many of them are unisex it saves me a time and paper.) From there I don’t really organize them? It’s just a big mess that sometimes cooperates with me haha.

Really most of my process is on paper because I can visualize names better that way!

[MargotAbeline]

Girl and boys split then those are organised alphabetically. I put the names I would actually use first and then names that I love but are more GP’s or maybe solely for middle names after that x

[Vespertine]

I have an alphabetical spreadsheet with boys, girls, and unisex names each in different color font, and my top faves are highlighted in those different colors instead!

[leafsgirl44]

I tend to split my organization depending on whatever strikes me at the time - currently I have listography, where I’ve got my general loves, and then S/O approved, and a Google spreadsheet with my general loves (need to update though!), their meanings, origins and popularity in the US and UK for 2018 (last year with published data). I also have a legitimate notebook (I have hundreds, in fact) where I tend to write out my favourites at the moment too.

About to try @shells15 suggestion of evernote too though!

[Greyblue]

I use listography which alphabetizes all your lists for you. I keep them in all different lists -feminine, masculine, combos I’m thinking about, favourites, top 100 etc

[tori101]

I separate boys & girls then I do my top names and then the rest by themes

Such a nerd

[SparkleNinja18]

I use the Notes app. I have an iPad and an iPhone so this makes it easier. First, I have the “[name_f]Every[/name_f] boy/girl name I like” list for each, where I went through the NB database and wrote down every name that I liked (except for names unusable because of family members). Then, I have a “[name_m]Long[/name_m] list for boys/girls”, where I’ve narrowed it down to any name I could conceivably see myself using (so taking out ones that are too popular, too close to family members, or just not something I see myself using). From there, I have my short list, which consists of all the names that I make combos for.

I also went through one day and put all my girl names in a Google Sheets so I could look at them statistically. I calculated the average syllable count, average length, and average letter that they started with (to see if I favored one half of the alphabet over the other). I also added meanings and origins.

[EagleEyes]

I separate boys and girls into three lists: combos, single names, and GPs. All of those lists are alphabetized. I keep my very favorite combos (the ones in my user card) in a separate collection in addition to being on my main combos list. I also have an unorganized section where I type new names that I am liking which is kind of a brainstorming area. All of this is on a Google [name_m]Doc[/name_m].

[w8src]

I forgot to mention that I use the Notes app on my phone, which I can easily access on my [name_m]Mac[/name_m]. Also, my “Recently Added” section consists of names that I’ve recently heard of or that have grown on me. I only add names that I personally like/love to my list; I don’t necessarily add every name that I come across.

When I first started my list two years ago this month, I ranked all my names from favorite (GP) to least favorite (somewhat like). After only three months of name collecting, I added so many names to my list that I decided to alphabetically list them, but I also wanted to keep a Top 20 list going. I tend to take a “snapshot in time” of my names list every month or two.

[drfox]

@futuremama that’s what mine is… but not in separate notes, just one giant long list it drives me nuts bc I can never find anything!

[drfox]

@Greyblue @leafsgirl44 - oooh I’ve always wanted to try listography!

[drfox]

@shells15 - I will check those out! Thanks!

[AdrianaRae]

I keep all my lists on the notes section of my Ipad. I organize boys and girls separately by alphabet, and then I have a list of potential combos and sibsets.

[drfox]

@midwinter @leafsgirl44 - I have sooo many name notebooks! I’m definitely old school and agree that there is just something about the tactile sensation of writing things down on paper. I LOVE the idea of holding the lists side by side to create combos. Genius!