Nymbler Trendspotting #2: A History Lesson

The second trend we're going to look at takes us to many different places. The first stop may be your very own town. But before we can go there, we need to go back in time.

When cities and states were being colonized in “The New World,” many places were named after the people founding them or someone close to them. For example, Georgia was named after King George I of Britain. Louisiana was named after King Louis XIV of France. Pennsylvania for its founder, William Penn. And Maryland for Henrietta Maria de Bourbon, wife of Charles I.

Nowadays, we aren’t naming places after our loved ones or our contractors who build our homes. But, we are seeing a little bit of history repeating, only this time, in reverse.

Today we see names such as Brooklyn, Boston and Dallas appearing more and more. With the popularity of Paris Hilton, maybe city names will be the new trend.

If you’re thinking place names might be the way you want to go, Nymbler a few to find out. Get started with our short list: Camden, Trenton, London, Aspen, Austin. And be sure to let us know if your favorite place is missing.

It's time to get (un)inspired

We blog a lot about where to look for baby name inspiration. From football stars to relatives to celebrities, it seems name ideas are everywhere you look.

But what about those times you’re not looking for your baby name muse to put the perfect name in your head? What about those times when you want to knock names out of the running?

To help out with this, we put together a list of un-inspiring situations. It’s those times you’ll want to listen up for names you might want to weed out of your potential name collection.

The New Neighborhood. You just moved in, so the neighbors, and their new baby, swing by with a Jello Mold to welcome you. Listen closely to the name of that little one. It could get plain confusing when Kate comes over to play with your Kate. Or Justin is out back playing ball with your Justin. We’re confused already!

Your Favorite Places. When you’re out at the mall or walking by the local playground, listen up for those names that are shouted out as little ones bounce too far away from mom. “Davis, come here!” “Madison, stay with Mommy!” You can’t change other children’s names, so if you’re seeking a unique name, don’t look for inspiration by the jungle gym.

Your Morning Read. Whether on the train or on the back porch, look at that newspaper. Most newspapers publish birth announcements weekly, so check out who’s who in your hospital’s nursery. (If you can’t find it in the paper, some hospitals have online nurseries you can peek into.)

The Dirty Dog Salon. You may really like the name Roman. Just remember, as a child your spouse had a puppy called Roman. And that four-legged stigma will probably always go right along with the name. Besides when neighbors holler “Lassie!” from the front porch, you don’t want your little one to run to their doorstep.

Where do you look to get uninspired? Old yearbooks? History documentaries? Let us know!

(Also, be sure to check in next week. We’ll be recapping November’s top names. It might be a close race! See if you can predict Nymbler's most popular names.)

Choosing a name is hard work

When you’re planning for a new baby, there are a million things to think about. And while we think choosing a name is one of the most fun parts, it can also seem to be the most daunting.

So, to help make the naming process even more fun, we’ve put together a list of naming tips from around the Nymbler office. Here’s what we’ve come up with so far:

1. The Laundry List: First, brainstorm and think of all the names you like. Make a list. Then, make a separate list of all the names you dislike. Have your partner do the same and compare lists. You may find some common names on each. Or, you may find some difference in opinion that may help you narrow down your choices.

2. Name Tests: We’ve written about the presidential test, the judicial test and the cyber-space test. But don’t limit your baby to just those categories. You never know, your son or daughter could grow up to be a rock star, an astronaut or a journalist for the New York Times. If you only like your favorite name in one of these situations, think twice before pigeonholing your baby into a career.

3. The Full Name: Write it down, say it aloud, yell it across the back yard. If you can imagine yourself sounding like a broken record as you tell your son or daughter to clean their room, then you might have found a winner. Saying the full name will also eliminate problems such as rhyming names or too much alliteration.

4. Take your Time: Who says you have to have your mind made up? You don’t name a puppy without seeing it, so why your baby. Have your list narrowed down and make your decision when you hold your baby for the first time. If the name is right, you’ll feel it.

Do you have name tips you are sticking to? How does a name make it to your “top names list?” Share your name tips with Nymbler.