Names I've never heard/seen on an actual child...until today!

General Name Discussion
1

I work as a nanny for two small children who attend a private, university-affiliated school in Chicago. The neighborhood is made up of mostly professors and intellectuals, and many of the names I hear are quite lovely. [name]Every[/name] year I wait excitedly for the school fundraiser book to come out so that I can flip through and read the names of all the children, looking for new inspirations for my ever-changing list. Today I came across several names that I’ve either never heard, or that I’ve never seen given to an actual child before.

Boys:

Dallan
[name]Calder[/name]
[name]Connell[/name]
[name]Baylor[/name]
Macabee
Casiel
[name]Berk[/name]
Kepler
[name]Kendrick[/name]
Sageus
[name]Odysseus[/name]

Girls:
[name]Xia[/name]
Sygne
Sonali
[name]Saskia[/name]
[name]Delphi[/name]
[name]Norie[/name]
[name]Ailani[/name]
[name]Zaria[/name]
[name]Smith[/name]
Tessla
Andrada
Albonne
[name]Myla[/name]
Hayla
Hyla

Also, there are a ton of great unique and underused names in this book. I can’t say that I love them all, but I can certainly appreciate most of them!

Boys:
[name]Declan[/name], [name]Sage[/name], [name]Callum[/name], [name]Grover[/name], [name]Indi[/name], [name]Jasper[/name], [name]Cedric[/name], [name]Arlo[/name], [name]Jude[/name], [name]Desmond[/name], [name]Oscar[/name], [name]Davis[/name], [name]Elbert[/name], [name]Horace[/name], [name]Arthur[/name], [name]Ellis[/name], [name]Syd[/name], [name]Lincoln[/name], [name]Andres[/name], [name]Keaton[/name], [name]Malcolm[/name], Taig, Harys, [name]Adler[/name], [name]Ramsey[/name], [name]Nelson[/name], [name]Otto[/name], [name]Leland[/name], [name]Wallace[/name], [name]Walden[/name]

Girls:
[name]Matilda[/name], [name]Ramona[/name], [name]Beatrice[/name], [name]Carys[/name], [name]Celia[/name], [name]Paloma[/name], [name]Mira[/name], [name]Aviva[/name], [name]Isis[/name], [name]Frances[/name], Na’[name]Ama[/name], [name]Amalia[/name], [name]Ariela[/name], [name]Estelle[/name], [name]Gray[/name], [name]Kai[/name], [name]Isolde[/name], [name]Elspeth[/name], [name]Paola[/name], [name]Uma[/name], [name]Chandler[/name], [name]Fionn[/name], [name]Isadora[/name], [name]Adele[/name], [name]Daphne[/name], [name]Elsa[/name], [name]Maeve[/name], [name]Esme[/name], [name]Helena[/name], [name]Anais[/name], [name]Ariadne[/name], [name]Freya[/name], [name]Regina[/name], [name]Berenice[/name], [name]Gladys[/name]

What do you think of these names? Favorites? What new names have you heard/seen recently?

2

I wonder if Kepler and Tessla are siblings?

3

bonnielyn: Nope, not siblings. But that would be fun! Lol

4

Wow, what a list! There are some great names in there! Especially like [name]Calder[/name] and [name]Odysseus[/name] for boys, would never be brave enough to use [name]Odysseus[/name] but still cool. Thanks for sharing!

5

I do know a 2yo [name]Calder[/name] in real life and several [name]Kendricks[/name], but that’s it from your list. [name]Berk[/name] (which I assumed would sound like [name]Burke[/name] when pronounced in English) makes me laugh since it’s awfully similar in sound to the French word meaning, roughly, “yuck.” :smiley:

6

You’re welcome, jtucker :slight_smile: I agree with [name]Calder[/name] and [name]Odysseus[/name]. I love the sound of and history behind [name]Odysseus[/name], but it sure is a large name for a little person! And it doesn’t really have great nickname potential (Oddy? Dissy? Seus?).

zippy: That’s interesting that you know several [name]Kendricks[/name]. I’ve never heard the name, let alone met someone with it! I do have a friend whose last name is [name]Berk[/name], and he is almost exclusively called [name]Berk[/name]. It’s not a terrible first name, but I can’t say I’m a fan.

7

Lots of these are so wonderful, but honestly what got me the most was a little girl named [name]Chandler[/name]! Oh my gosh - I’ve been OBSESSED with [name]Chandler[/name] on a girl since [name]Phoebe[/name]'s brother in Friends named on of his triplets that. I’ve never actually heard it used before!

I also really love-
Macabee (though mainly because of the band)
[name]Grover[/name]
[name]Indi[/name]
[name]Cedric[/name]
[name]Jude[/name]
[name]Oscar[/name]
[name]Lincoln[/name]
[name]Otto[/name]
[name]Wallace[/name]

Tessla
[name]Xia[/name]
[name]Matilda[/name]
[name]Ramona[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name]
[name]Celia[/name]
[name]Paloma[/name]
[name]Amalia[/name]
[name]Estelle[/name]
[name]Isolde[/name]
[name]Uma[/name]
[name]Chandler[/name]
[name]Maeve[/name]
[name]Esme[/name]
[name]Anais[/name]

8

I too am a fan of [name]Chandler[/name] on a girl.

9

Wow, have these people been on Nameberry? :slight_smile:

I have seen [name]Calder[/name], Kepler and [name]Kendrick[/name] in real life (I really like [name]Calder[/name] and am surprised it isn’t more popular–it fits current trends so well.)
And I’m telling you, I’ve thought about putting Macabee/Maccabee on my own list! I probably wouldn’t have the guts to use it as a first name, but there’s something attractive about it, and the association with the uprising of [name]Judah[/name] Maccabee is pretty cool.
I also like [name]Declan[/name], [name]Callum[/name], [name]Jasper[/name], [name]Cedric[/name], [name]Jude[/name], [name]Lincoln[/name], Taig (especially spelled [name]Tadhg[/name]), [name]Matilda[/name], [name]Celia[/name], [name]Frances[/name], [name]Estelle[/name], [name]Elspeth[/name], [name]Uma[/name], [name]Isadora[/name] and [name]Berenice[/name]. Not to say I dislike all the others, but those are the ones that jump out at me.

Thanks for sharing!

10

oliviasarah: I know a 19 year old [name]Chandler[/name] and she wears the name very well. She always gets compliments on it. She is a bit of a tomboy, but I am sure that has nothing to do with her name LOL

auroradawn: I really like [name]Calder[/name], too! I actually know the boy named Macabee, and he is the most adorable thing in the world :slight_smile:

11

I like a lot of these! Especially [name]Calder[/name] and [name]Saskia[/name] from the top list. :slight_smile: I also love [name]Declan[/name], [name]Oscar[/name], [name]Lincoln[/name], [name]Grover[/name], [name]Amalia[/name], [name]Ariela[/name], [name]Daphne[/name], [name]Esme[/name], [name]Helena[/name], [name]Anais[/name], and [name]Ariadne[/name]… Och, I would love to meet a little [name]Ariadne[/name]!

12

Aw - I am so disappointed!

13

Aww!

Also, I overlooked [name]Odysseus[/name] when listing the names I liked. [name]Odysseus[/name] would make an awesome middle name.

14

I am not sure I would use [name]Odysseus[/name] , but I have briefly flirted with Odyssey for a girl