A Lesson in English

I understand that a lot of parents spell names in a way that is supposed to make them easier to pronounce, or to spell the name like it actually sounds (phonetics), but sometimes the end result is even more confusing. Here are a few examples, but know that there are so many more.

Bradyn #815 Unlike Brayden, #37, Bradyn would sound more like Brad-in, as in Bradley. Without that y after the first three letters, it’s not as intended.

Izayah #816 With the real name Isaiah being spelled with an S, not to mention how easily recognizable Isaiah is, there’s really no need to spell it like this. It comes across sounding more like Iz-ah-yah.

Aaden #797 Why it was necessary to spell it like Aaron, I do not know, considering how hugely popular Aiden is. Then again, there’s Ayden, Aden, Aidyn and Aidan, so why not? Oh, right, because it’s not Aaron.

So, folks, my suggestion is to edit your baby names like you would edit a professional paper, the first step being spelling, the second being comprehension. Would you turn in a paper to your boss that only had phonetics? No. Would your college professor give you a perfect score if he couldn't understand your paper? No. I understand naming a baby is not equal to writing a polished report, but it is similar. You want the finished, polished paper (baby name) you share with those who read (hear/see) it to be understood and well liked. I'm not saying everyone will like your paper (baby name), but at least they will be able to digest it without having issues.

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Galician Baby Names

I grew up on a street that was named an Italian variant of Roger. When I got married and we bought our first house, it turned out to be on Roger Street. Once noting that coincidence, I started searching for other variants of the name. However, female variants turned out to be pretty nonexistent. Save for Roxeria, which I later discovered was the Galician female form, possibly pronounced rohz-AIR-ee-uh. That led me to a few lists of female Galician names, ranging from common to rare. Here is a sampling of names not often heard here in the states... Albina Alda Alma Alodia Aloia Amada Amadora Amalia Amparo Anisia Antia Araceli Aranzazu Artemisa Avelina Azucena Baia Balbina Baltasara Beatriz Benvida Berenice Bieita Branca Braulia Caetana Carola Casilda Casimira Ceferina Celsa Cipriana Cira Clorinda Coralia Cornelia Cosima Davinia Delfina Desideria Dionisia Dominga Dorinda Dorotea Dositea Edelmira Edenia Elba Elvira Emiliana Etelvina ...

Elowen

Elowen is a recent Cornish baby name meaning "elm." It may not take off in America like the last Cornish hit, Jennifer, but it's certainly pretty. She's part of a "linguistic revival," as Appellation Mountain puts it here . Her nickname could be Ellie, Elle or Ella, or a more unusual choice, Wendy. The pronunciation of Elowen is "ell-LOH-en," though most Americans will probably stick with "ELL-oh-wen." Please note that it is not spelled Elowyn. There is a similar name, Eowyn, but if you spell it Elowyn it will no longer be the Cornish name meaning elm tree, just some creative name. Other great Cornish names include Penrose, Chesten (the Cornish form of Christine), Demelza, Denzel, Hammitt, Kerensa/Kerenza, Meraud (very similar to French gem name Emeraude, both meaning emerald, but Meraud is pronounced "meh-row"), Merryn, Morwenna, Tremain, Emblyn, Jory, Massen, Treeve and Cotton. Here's 's a link to a post on Cornish n...

Ancient Germanic Female Deities

Loki and Idun by John Bauer Here is a list of ancient Germanic goddess and personifications. There is some overlap with the goddesses of the Norse pantheon, and I've limited it to those names that I think would wear well today on modern babies. Of the following names, only the following were used in 2016. Sol was given to 91 girls, Ran to 5 girls, Saga to 9 girls, and Beyla to 6 girls. Beyla - as a possible agricultural personification, her name could mean "cow," "bean," or "bee," but she has been associated with bees and mead, so my guess is "bee." However, there's been a proposed connection to the reconstructed Proto-Norse name Baunila, which means "little bean." This is also a Spanish and Italian girls name. Fulla - possibly means "bountiful." Her other name is Volla, which I think is equally accessible as a name. She is a virgin goddess in Old Norse mythology. Gersemi - means "treasure." Sh...

Once Upon a Time Baby Names

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