Mom and the Pie

Tonight were gonna name like it's ... Yep. 1999.
We've lost hours in deep data dives, and to think two years ago when we first fell in love with naming, we didn't even know the website existed.  The SSA data is so interesting to search and sort and analyze and of course predict.  It seems like every week we see ten new instagram accounts, claiming to be just another "in love with names." We've noticed that just like us, people are simply obsessed with all things names. Why? The interest is timeless. While the drive to create content has faded a bit for us, our passion for the subject has not. Not only do we still find new names every single day, there is always a new naming trend, an audience question to ponder or a naming challenge to embark on.

It had been weeks since I (Mom) had logged into Pinterest and upon doing so literally came across four names I'd never ever (ever-ever) heard. It sparked in me a renewed feeling of excitement. This "hobby&qu…

It's obvious that vintage everything is on trend. We were curious to see how names that were popular long ago are doing on the charts today. We wondered when they dropped of the list, which ones are making a comeback, and if there were variations that were keeping the same name vibe alive. We made a video of the Top 50 Names of Girls Circa 1910. Then we did a little data dive to look at how the same names are doing now.

Compared to the Top 10 names from 2018, seven of which end in -a, only Anna, #6 from 1910 ends that popular way. In fact, as you go down the vintage list, it's names like Edna, Thelma, and Martha  that finish with -a, names we don't really see inside the Top 500 today.

Mildred came in at #8 back then. It hung around in the Top 100 until 1945 but continued a steady decline until dropping out of the Top 1000 after 1984. Millie hung around in the 2-300's for a while but also seemed on a slow and steady drop, dipping out of the Top 1000 even earlier, around…

Post by Mom. The Pie is a kiddo, so of course has never viewed the show.

 As a namer I've seen plenty of Game of Thrones inspired baby name lists. Collections of names from the characters on the show. As a viewer who sometimes feels like I shouldn't be, I often wonder, would you really name your baby in honor of the crude, inappropriate, immoral and sometimes just flat out disgusting show?
 I realize it is happening. Khaleesi continues to be a name on the rise, and both Arya and Aria have gone from a spot in the 900's to 119 and 19 respectively.  Even Winter has made leaps on the popularity charts. No doubt due to the ominous threat, "winter is coming."
 I've found my GOT names in another spot~ the credits. For years, I've watched the opening of the show and as a namer, of course,  I closely eye the names of actors, directors, producers and composers looking for names that are new to me and inspiring. Here is a collection of names from Game of Thrones wor…

The names have been revealed! Each May the SSA publishes the top baby names of the year before. We're obsessed with analyzing the list for new trends and confirming our predictions. (Or admitting we were WAY off!) New to the naming world, at this time last year we didn't even know this data existed. What? You can search and sort and look at data going back to the early 1900's? Amazing. We've spent a ton of time sifting through the stats, so here is an analysis of our predictions.

1. Liam isn't going anywhere. Logan is.
  Nailed it! In the Top 10 on both sides, the biggest dip was Logan.

2. Isla cracks the Top 100, significantly.
  Cracked, Yes. Significantly.. not so much. from 103 to 82. Not bad, but it's interesting to note that Isla is doing much better in other countries...Top 10 in Scotland, Top 5 in Australia and we do think it will continue to rise in the US.

3. "W" Nature Names rise as well, think Wren, Willow, Waverly & Winter.
  Wren …

The Social Security Administration will release data from 2018 in May, listing the names given to babies in the United States last year. This is an exciting time for namers, and to think that just over a year ago we didn't know this was a thing. We got super into naming in March of 2018, so we started a youtube channel, spent our time designing instas and pins, and joined a community of namers that we had no idea existed! We use the hashtag #namingbaby and try to keep our finger on the pulse of all things names.
Just about two months into our journey, we saw a tweet about the SSA release and clicked to their website for the first time. Who knew? Some of you, I'm sure. But we were new to naming and the thrill that came with name searches, sorts and data analysis motivated us to explore naming even more. Originally it was all about a youtube channel that offered "no opinions, just names." But the more we got into it, we couldn't resist finding a place to ponder, f…

Brave. Forever. Promise.... Danger? These new wave baby names are bold, ambitious and definitely make a statement. Just when we think we've heard it all, we come across a name announcement, and notice a name we'd not thought of or seen before.


A Bold New Wave of Baby Names for the 21st Century The trend we are noticing we'll call "statement names." Some are adjectives, like a call to action or a philosophy for baby to live by. A mantra, perhaps. Others are virtuous, parents-to-be gifting their child a moniker of positivity. Another noticing in this new wave of naming is the repeated reference to light.
Call to Action Names  Rise  Dream Gravity Coast Rush Journey Riot Vigor Danger Rebellion Prophecy Brave Titan Rock Reverie Forever Nirvana Vice
Virtuous Names Soul Truth Honor Justice Noble Promise Peace Glory
Names of Light Golden  Blaze Glow Beacon Shine

This collection with three themes emerging, seems to encompass a trend in naming. These statement names are b…