A Summer Word Cloud

Tomorrow is the start of the school Summer holidays here in the UK and I will be travelling to different places in the country. This sometimes involves a lack of Wifi and so the blog will be going on holiday for most of the Summer. There may be a couple of holiday posts but I am posting this so no-one is alarmed if I don't post for a few weeks. 

So Happy Holidays! I am leaving my readers with a word cloud of childrens' names I found on Instagram. There are names from book-loving families, nature-loving families and families with Pinterest-worthy homes. Some names are ordinary but beautiful, some quite daring. Enjoy!

This is also my 34th post - a milestone for someone who never thought she had the perseverance to write every.single.week for an extended period of time.

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Names

In 2004, Apple Blythe Alison Martin daughter of Gwyneth Paltrow was born. There had been 'celebrity' baby naming before but Apple is the one that everyone remembers. 'Who would name a child after a fruit?' is what people say. Not everyone wants to be as bold but still would like a fruity (or vegetable-themed) name meaning. 

Names meaning vegetable :: Aina, Nana, Nanako.

Names meaning fruit :: Kiri, Minoru, Miyu, Ephraim, Pomona.

 Avalon

 Momoka
 Momoko

Yuuna
Yuzuki 

Linden 

Philomela 

Kyou
Mai 

Airi
Dardan
Perry 

Aeron
Jagoda
Marja 

Cerise
Kirsikka










I was really surprised to see that most most of the names were international. I was expected some names in at least the UK top 100. But because they are word names, it would be weird to have a fruit name in your own language. It would be like naming your child Grapefruit and I really don't think that is going to catch on anytime soon. And the last name of the day - Cicero meaning chickpea in Latin. 

New Surname Names :: H

Inspiration :: Hollis (art by James Hollis)

Halsey

Origin: English

Meaning: Habitation Name

Similar Names: Elsie, Ashley, Hallie.

Hann

Origin: English

Meaning: Variation of a Medieval name

Features: 

Similar Names: Anne, Hannah, Hans.

Harran

Origin: English

Meaning: Nickname for a tall, thin person

Similar Names: Aaron, Hayden, Holden.

Harriot

Origin: French

Meaning: Variation of the name Henri.

Features: A alternative formal version of Harry.

Similar Names: Harriet, Harry, Hetty.

Hart

Origin: English

Meaning: Stag

Features:

Similar Names: 

Hasel

Origin: English

Meaning: Hazel tree

Features: Hazel is seen as such a girl name that Hasel could be a compromise for boys.

Similar Names: Hazel, Rowan, Hayes.

Heikkilä

Origin: Finnish

Meaning: Nickname for Henry

Features: Exotic and pretty.

Helyn

Origin: English

Meaning: Person from Hayling

Features: Familiar sounds. It modernises Helen.

Similar Names: Helen, Ellen, Celyn.

Hendra

Origin: Cornish

Meaning: Habitation name

Features: Sounds heathery and wild.

Similar Names: Alexandra, Henry.

Henley

Origin: English

Meaning: Habitation name

Features: Similar to Henry but with but of expensive flair. Also a place name.

Similar Names: Henderson, Henry.

Hermida

Origin: Spanish

Meaning: Hermit

Features: A Hermione alternative for those who are not a fan of the Harry Potter links.

Similar Names: Hermione.

Herriot

Origin: English and French

Meaning: Variation of Henry

Features: It links to the famous vet James Herriot and could be a good choice for those in the veterinary profession.

Similar Names: Harry, Harriet.

Hilse

Origin: German

Meaning: Lives near a holly tree

Features:

Similar Names: Elise, Elsa.

Halliday

Origin:

Meaning:

Features:

Similar Names:

Hollis

Origin: English

Meaning: Lives near holly trees.

Features: A cool-person name with lots of energy. 

Similar Names: Holly, Holiday, 

Houston

Origin: Scottish

Meaning: Habitation name

Features: Place name, word name and surname name - a hat trick of features.

Similar Names: Camden, Austin.

US vs UK :: 1904

Inspiration :: Herman (art by Nada Herman)

1904 takes us into the 21st Century - Edwardian Britain and a period of change. Again we see more nicknamey names in the US chart for girls. There are two types of boys names I see standing out -the clunky Ronald, Gerald, Clyde and Eugene in both charts and the 'posh' names like Hubert and Percival in the UK charts that have too many connotations for use nowadays.

Names that were in the US chart but not the UK chart in 1904

Names that were in the UK chart but not the US chart in 1904