The authors of The Baby Name Bible (which The Cradle uses for our Baby Name Search) and the creators of the new naming site, nameberry, list their most favorite – and least favorite – celebrity baby names of 2008.
First for the good news. Here are the names which in our opinion had just the right combination of originality, charm, and substance:
Full name Clementine Jane Hawke projects the image of a sweet but strong, prim but pretty heroine of a Victorian novel, and brings to mind the song lyric "Oh my darling" (never mind that her shoes were #9). It was previously the starbaby selection of Cybil Shepherd and Claudia Schiffer.
We applaud this choice that moves beyond the more common Puritan Virtue names like Grace, Hope, and Faith to one that projects an even more righteous image, but is rarely heard in this country. Honorable decision.
The award for best twin names of the year goes to the always inventive but never quite over-the-top serial baby namers, the Jolie-Pitts. Knox continued their tradition of boys’ names ending in "X" (Maddox and Pax), and also has family connections to Brad’s grandfather, as did Vivienne’s middle name, Marcheline, named for Angelina’s mother. Runner-up twin names: Coldplay drummer Will Champion’s lively Juno & Rex.
In the name garden overgrown with Roses and Lillies, Violets and Daisies, it seems fitting that the granddaughter of the late comedian Richard Pryor would have a more exotic flower name. With its languorous feel, it holds intriguing significance in several cultures.
An unusual but sunny day-of-the-week name, inspired by an Australian artist’s patron named Sunday Reed, in tune with other current calendar names like January, May, June and August, as well as the seasonal Winter and Summer. Some people did think it strange that Sunday was born on a Monday.
And this year's losers are:
BRONX MOWGLI
Parents: Ashlee Simpson-Wentz & Pete Wentz
Poor little Bronx got nothing but Bronx cheers when his name was released, especially when paired with the name of the Disneyfied Jungle Book boy. If his parents thought this New York borough name would catch on the way Brooklyn has, they’re in for a big disappointment.
Is he a bulldog? Is he a prizefighter? No, he’s a baby, whose rambunctious name will not do much to encourage his sensitive side. An example of the alarming trend towards giving doggy names (Lucky, Princess) to babies.
It could just as well be Cadence Klover, within the paradigm of using the initial letters "C" and "K" interchangeably, leading to regrettable innovations like Kasey, Kassidy, Karolyn, Kaleb, and Kameron. Fortunately, the trend seems to be waning.
The General Hospital soap star explained that this had been the nickname they used “when he was in mommy.” OK, good luck explaining that to him when he’s six-feet tall and applying to Princeton.
About The Authors
Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz are the coauthors of nine bestselling baby name books, including The Baby Name Bible and the upcoming Cool Irish Names for Babies, published by St. Martin's Press, and the developers of the new baby-naming website nameberry.
About The Authors
