I got the best email from a mama the other day! She wrote:

“I just wanted to write and thank you for the part you played in naming our newest arrival. I’ve been reading your blog for several years hoping to someday have a third child but didn’t think it would ever happen. We were surprised to learn last fall that we were expecting again after 10 years, and I was so excited to get your new book to help me name this little one. You mentioned toward the end of the book the possibility of honoring Mary through a child’s initials, and when I saw that one of the options was AVE, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. Our sweet Abigail Violet was born three months ago, and we love that we get to honor Mary in two ways with her name — through both her initials and her middle name.

Again, thank you for the work you do with your blog and your book, both of which have helped us give our precious Abby such a meaningful name.”

How great is that?!! What a hopeful, happy story!! Indeed this family’s last name starts with an E, and I’m so happy that little Abby’s parents found my book helpful in choosing a beautiful name with her with such wonderful Marian connections! I think using Marian initials is such a great way to work Our Lady into a name. I love it!

Congratulations to the whole family, and happy birthday Baby Abigail!!

Abigail Violet, whose middle name and initials (AVE) honor Our Lady (as well as her amazing OL of Guadalupe swaddle from Be A Heart!)

My book, Catholic Baby Names for Girls and Boys: Over 250 Ways to Honor Our Lady (Marian Press, 2018), is available to order from ShopMercy.org and Amazon — perfect for expectant parents, name enthusiasts, and lovers of Our Lady!