A collection of posts and comments from Sancta Nomina and elsewhere that I think are particularly helpful.
Naming in general
On the popularity of names today not being the same as the popularity of names in the past, and popularity in general:
- THIS! Explains it all: Think You Know Some Popular Baby Names? Think Again (aka, the disappearance of popular names) by Laura Wattenberg (the Baby Name Wizard)
- This great comment from our very own grace
- Even the Top 10 Is Not Necessarily the Kiss of Death by Swistle
- In Defense of Emma and Ethan: Ten Good Reasons to Use a Common Name by Abby at App Mtn
On naming regret:
- Naming regret by me
- An Account of Baby Name Regret by Swistle
On names sounding different in non-American English and American dialects:
- Accents and Names in the Baby Name Wizard discussion forums
- Mary, merry, marry in the Baby Name Wizard discussion forums
- First comment in Pronunciation of Eleanor & usage (pronunciation of “r” in rhotic vs. non-rhotic languages) in the Baby Name Wizard discussion forums
- Pronunciation of Dahlia in the Baby Name Wizard discussion forums
On problematic initials:
- Benedict Arnold or Robert E. Lee? by me (discussion of BJ, BF, BM, BO, BS)
- Baby Boy McScottish by Swistle (re: initials BM)
On creative spelling
- Spelling Counts: 9 Rules for Spelling Baby Names by Abby at App Mtn
- A Name by Any Other Spelling by me at Catholic Mom
Advice to parents expecting their first baby and considering names of a variety of different styles (from a comment on this thread): “Your list combines some fairly distinct styles. If you’re thinking of more children later, perhaps it’d help with naming this child to consider which of these styles is more “you” — not because sibling names absolutely have to match, but because sticking to one category can help mitigate the tyranny of choice.”
The Secret Meaning of Names by Abby at Appellation Mountain (which helped inspire and inform my own article at CatholicMom, Name definitions vs. name meanings)
Dibs on names? Sharing okay? by me (contains links to well-articulated opinions by Swistle, the Name Lady, and the Baby Name Wizard/Laura Wattenberg)
What to Name the Siblings of a Child With a Gender-Neutral Name or With a Name Traditionally Given to the Opposite Sex by Swistle (great general advice within the specific context of what to name the sister of a girl named Micah)
9 Creative Ways to Honor Loved Ones With Your Child’s Name by Abby at App Mtn
When Should You Share Your Baby’s Name? by Abby at Nameberry
In Defense of Nicknames: Ten Reasons to Embrace Nickname-Rich Names by Abby at App Mtn
Catholic naming, specifically
Who Are All Those Saints in the Roman Canon? by Kevin Di Camillo at the National Catholic Register (these saints are also often referred to as those “in the Canon of the Mass” or “in the canon”)