Top 5 and why?

[bornto-fly.livejournal.com]

Just out of curiosity, what are everyone's top 5 names for both genders and why do you like them so much? Are there any in your top 5 that you wouldn't use for a first name - why?


Girls

1. Annelise [nn Annie] - My top name for a girl. I just love the nickname Annie, but I don't like Ann or Anna or Annabelle or any of those and Annie just seems so plain by itself. Annelise is just gorgeous to me, and it has Scandanavian roots, which fits in perfectly with all of the Ottos and Eriks and Knutes on my dad's side of the family.

2. Maren - another name with Scandanavian roots, and I just love the sound of this name for some reason. It's cute without overdoing it, and I can totally see it on a grown woman as well as a little five-year-old with pigtails. It's also one of those names where if she wants to be a girly girl, it fits her, and if she wants to be a tomboy, it doesn't seem out of place like a name like Lily or something would (nothing against the name Lily, I happen to really like it ;))

3. Emily - this has been my favorite name for pretty much forever, and while it sometimes gets replaced as my top name, it's definitely always on my list. I have nothing but positive memories of this name because of the fact that some of my very close friends are named this, and any time I picture myself with a little girl, for some reason, the name Emily is the one that always comes to mind. The only reason I'd be hesitant to use this is that it's SO popular, but I guess that doesn't matter to me and I hope that by the time I have kids in 5-10 years, it's not as insanely popular as it is now.

4. Julianna [nn Jules] - another name that I have loved FOREVER. There's just something so gorgeous about this name and it has really...kind of weird personal meaning to me. I also just adore the nickname Jules for some reason, so that's definitely what I'd call her. If I don't use Julianna, I might use Juliet or Julia instead. Basically any derivitive is beautiful to me, too.

5. Louisa - my love for this name was totally unexpected. I was a volunteer day camp counselor a few summers ago and there was a little girl there who was from England and her name was Louisa and I just adored her. Flash forward to a couple months ago when I saw this on someone's list and I immediately fell for it, probably in part due to the little girl because she was just such a cute kid and the name fit her so well. I might be hesitant to use it because it doesn't have any good nicknames that go along with it, and I don't want to leave my kids without that option if they want it. But, I do love it, so who knows.


Boys

1. Sam - I have an obsession with one-syllable boys' names for some reason. Especially Hebrew names. And Sam is one of my favorites. I have no idea why, but it's just such an awesome name for a little boy IMO, and it fits an adult really well, too.

2. Jake - the attack of the one-syllable Hebrew boys' names strikes again ;). Again, I'm not sure what makes me love this name so much, but I do. The popularity of it might keep me from using it, but I like with Emily, I don't care THAT much, and maybe by the time I have kids, it won't matter.

3. Michael - this is probably my absolute favorite boys' name ever, in part because it's my brother's name and my brother and I are really close and I would love to name my son after him someday. However, the fact that it's my brother's name is also a reason why I would probably not use it as a first name - I'm definitely going to be using it as a middle name, however.

4. Atticus - before anyone says anything, I would *not* use this as a first name. I love it, so much, mostly because of To Kill a Mockingbird and the association I have with it because of that. It's just such an awesome name to me. Like with Michael, though, I'd only use it as a middle name.

5. Luke - Again, it's the one-syllable boys' name thing. Plus, the meaning ("bringer of light") just makes me smile every time I hear it.

Comments

i really don't know if this is my top five. they just popped into my head..

[ifancylust.livejournal.com]

girls:
- lux - ever since the virgin suicides.
- jane - will definitely be used as a middle name. it's my grandma's first name and my middle name.
- bree - i have no idea why i like this so much.
- eloise - ditto.
- dagney - my boyfriend suggested it and it's starting to grow on me.

boys:
- jude - i just love the way it sounds.
- beck[ett] - ditto.
- finley/finn - ditto.
- elliott - as in smith.
- greer - i read this name in an interview with christy turlington years and years ago and loved it. (she said her favorite names were grace, erin & greer. she later named her daughter grace. :] )

[confusedanswers.livejournal.com]

Girls:

Elisabeth (nn; Izzy) My grandmothers first name was Elizabeth, and I have loved it since I found out. I choose to change the spelling because my first girl will be named after her (my grandmother) and one of my cousins already has this name (but she is like 40 yrs older than me.. my da was a late in life baby)...

Jean Again this is a family name that I adore, however I would only use it as a middle name.

Kimberly (nn; Kimmie (and yes, I mean -ie not -y)) This name, for personal reasons, will always hold a special place in my heart.

Catherine This is the middle name of my grandmother, and will be the middle name of my first child. Honestly I have always loved this name, much before I found out it had family roots. I don't think I'd enjoy a child being called Katy or whatever for a nn... not sure what I'd car for as a nn.

Anastacia (nn; Ana, Stasia) This goes to my love for all things Russian. I'd love to have my very own Anastacia... not sure if it will ever happen, but I just adore the name.

Boys:
(this will be easy as my 3 boys I want to have will have these names)

Aleksei (nn; Lexi) My love for all things Russian.. just the strength of the name... (and yes, I liked both names (Aleksei and Anastacia) before I knew who the Romanov's were... but that story of them just strengthens my love for the names.)

Zachary (nn; Zach (no K)) There is a little boy at the daycare I work who has made my associations with the name Zachary so wonderful. I never cared for the name, and now it is in my top 3 names of all times.

Aubrey (nn; Aubey) another family name that I fell in love with from the moment I heard it.. .just wonderful.

Ezekiel (nn; Zeke) I don't know what the draw is to this name... I started using it as a character in a story I was writing when I was about 9 and it has stuck in my mind since then.

Kaelin When I was 5 I declared my first son would be Kaelin James... and dammit he will be! lol. Kaelin is my all time favourite-est name. I don't know where I heard it.. when I was little I would have sworn to you I made it up... but regardless, it has always been and will always be my fave.

[sadblueyes.livejournal.com]

girls:

1. jensen - I love this name. it is my maiden name and i am the last one to pass on the family name. too bad i am a girl. So i want to keep the name somehow, and plan on naming my daughter Jensenno nickname.

2. smith - I love love love this name. i have been obsessed with the name since i met my friends niece. she was the cutest little girl, and i am also totally obsessed with the nn smithy.

3. elliot - same as above, only no nickname.

4. talullah - i love the name. i think something sounds almost whimsical about it. i hear it and it makes me smile. this name i will never use. i hate the nicknames for it, actually i loath the nicknames for it. and the first thing my mom said when she heard the name was "i love that name for a puppy!".

5. hanley - i don't know. heard it, loved it. i don't think i would use it as a first name though.

boys:

1. ikahn - yes, i am aware of the cryatiive spellimg, and the youneek name, but it is for reasons me and the boyfriend have discussed. icon is the name of one of our favorite people, one of the first people we met while we were together. we did not know him well, but he is special to us. (that is the youneek name part). and we are spelling it that way, because my boyfriend is an architect, and his favorite architect is Louis I. Kahn.

2. atlas - love the name, love the meaning. but i would not use this as a first name. i feel like it is too much for one little person to live up to. that, and it was my ex boyfrends middle name. no good to remember him everytime i say my kids name.

3. grayer - i read a book with a main character who had this name. i love it. it is just one of those obsessions. i will never get to use it as a first name. the boyfriend says no way.

4. giovanni - i have loved this name since i was little. but i will never use it, because i am not italian, and neither is my boyfriend. i just don't feel right.

5. armando - it is the boyfriends name, and i would love to keep the tradition, same first name as his daddy, but not the same middle name. i love the name, and the nickname is the greatest. mandito. little armando. perfect.

[decembermalice.livejournal.com]

Top five female names:
Adeline
Annelise
Anastasia
Annabelle
Kaelyn

I also like Jessica a LOT but wouldn't use it due to its popularity with my generation.

Clearly I can't use them all since the 3 in the middle are very similar.

Male names:
Ryan
Tristan (wouldn't use it, seems too feminine.)
Julian (wouldn't use it, not sure why.)
Jayden
Gavin

[sarahrose.livejournal.com]

For some reason, I really love this question. I might make it a "meme" on my journal. And let me just say how hard it is to narrow it down to 5 from my top 10-15, lol.

Anywho...


1. Lorraine (nn: possibly "Lori" but I would prefer not to shorten it) - I just love how it sounds. Sophisticated but young. I love how it looks too!

2. Margaret (nn: Meg is the only one acceptable to me here) - I love how this one looks too. There is something so beautiful about it, and timeless.

3. Channing (nn: none) - This is a namesake for my best friend Jenni in a way. I know, it makes no sense. I was riding with her parents and her mother said "Blah blah, blah Jenni" and I could have sworn I heard "Channing." I really liked it from that moment on. Only recently have I discovered that people actually use it for a girls' name!

4. Eden (nn: none) - Just a beautiful name. The only thing that bothers me about it is that I personally have a hard time spitting it out. I love how I write this one in cursive as well.

5. Jacey (nn: none) - A namesake for the love of my life. It's feminine but powrful and I love how it looks. And the person is so dear to my heart. However, I wouldn't use it if she and I ended up together, lol.


1. Nathaniel (nn: Nate) - I never really liked this name till I watched all 63 episodes of Six Feet Under. I just fell in love with it (and the character).

2. Kane (nn: none) - I like how it sounds and looks. Very smooth to me. I love K's.

3. Kale (nn: none) - Pretty much the same as #2.

4. Korrin (nn: none) - I don't really know how I came up with this one, but I've loved it for many years. I enjoy the double letter in the middle.

5. Zane (nn: none) - A slight homage to my favorite film, and a film/history that changed my life, Titanic (Billy Zane). I just love how it looks, too. Z's are so fiesty! I wouldn't do Zane AND Kane in the same family, though. It depends on mn's and such.

[heure-actuelle.livejournal.com]

giovanni is one of my favorite names but i don't feel right using it because i'm not italian either! ha

[heure-actuelle.livejournal.com]

1. ivy

2. annemarie

3. gwendolyn

4. sierra

5. thalia
--
1. elliot

2. bailey

3. jordan

4. sam

5. giovanni

[sadblueyes.livejournal.com]

lol. it would just be off. i am super white, and the bf is mexican... there is no giovanni there.

[sensualquills.livejournal.com]

Eleanor -- always been my first and favorite name

Marjorie -- it's so 1940s-no one is named marjorie anymore-i love it

Beatriz -- family first/middle name in the family since 1880s. I loooove it.

Janey -- a sweet way to spice up Jane, also one of the first women in my family tree

Susana -- another family first/middle name in the family for generations and i love it


Andrew -- always liked it
Harley -- always liked it
Leander -- always liked it
Trevor -- my cousin's name, which i love
Julian -- always liked it

Hard to choose just 5 names!

[imyourrapunzel.livejournal.com]

Athena - A family friend, she was born when I was around 10 years old and we always had a special bond. I think it's a strong name, it's been on my list for years.
Lulu - I LOVE this name for some reason. I've thought of it as a nickname and the only name I kind of like that would make sense is Luella which I'm not so sure about. My friends think it sounds hillbilly and it would probably sound like that to a lot of people, but I think it sounds playful and can also sound refined. And I like names that I can associate with things, like songs, or characters or people and this one has many.
Elsie - My great grandmother's name and she was a very interesting woman. I like names that were popular at the beginning of the 20th century and this is one of them. I also like Elsa, so I've thought of using Elsie as a nickname.
Helena - I think it's really pretty. I also really like Nelly which I think could be a nickname.
June - It has such a sweet sound to me.

Lyle - I love this name (not sure why), I think of the book Lyle Lyle Crocodile, which I haven't read in a really long time, but I like that association.
Harper - I've always thought this would be a nice last name to have. I like harps. I would use it as a middle name.
Beau - Another middle name, I just like it.
Jonas - This sounds like the name of a person with a dynamic personality, probably my top boy's name.
Benny - Not sure what this would be a nickname for, I just really like it.

[wake-tonight.livejournal.com]

Freya
Raphaela
Ruby
Jane
Clara

Finlay
Luca
Julian
Jude
Rueben

I just think these are beautiful names!

[eleanorgrace.livejournal.com]

James Edward: after my uncle and grandfather, both deceased, and because it's such a traditional [family] name
Robert: also a family name, probably with my last name as a middle name (going on the assumption that I'll have a different last name when I have kids)
William: family name, classic and with lots of nicknames, all of which I like
Peter: a classic (also Isaac, Jacob, Christian for the same reason, but Peter's my favorite of those)
Brighton: for family reasons, but I don't think it fits with the others. I'd use it as a middle name though.

Maureen: a good friend's name, but I love it even without her influence
Bridget: no real reason, just a very pretty but not popular name I like a lot. I really like Irish names that don't necessarily scream "Irish" (as I'm not particularly)--for boys I also like Keegan and Gavin (I guess Gavan is the Irish spelling).
Margaret: traditional and pretty with good nicknames, would fit with the boys names I'm already set on (also a family name)
Louise: family name, and I think it's beautiful
Taylor: I don't think it fits with the traditional feel of the others, but it's from the other side of the family and I do like it. I'm not sure if I'd use it on a boy or a girl, and I also toy with spelling it "Tailor" for a girl, because I think it looks more feminine that way. But then it's both the profession and non-familial. It probably won't come up, as I doubt I'll be having five female children, but something to consider.

[lacuna.livejournal.com]

My cousin's younger son is named Kaelin (or Kaelen - one of the two spellings). I think it must be an anglicised spelling of an Irish name that was probably more like Caolan or something.

[tokossel.livejournal.com]

you have great taste in names, lindsay! i really love louisa too.

my top 5 names:

noa (hebrew, "movement")

anaïs (hebrew, "graceful")

kenza (arabic, "treasure") don't think i would use this because of a girl i went to school with who had this name- she was a bit obnoxious and i wouldn't want to always associate it with her!

soraya (arabic, persian, "beauty of the stars"/"princess")

zia (latin, "grain"; arabic, "light, splendor")


miles (english or latin/disputed meaning, "soldier"?)

talib (arabic, "seeker of truth and knowledge") i wouldn't use this one because some people have said it makes them think of taliban. :( but i love the meaning and i'm a huge fan of talib kweli. :)

taliesin (welsh, "shining brow"). i wouldn't use this either because i think it could be a pain to spell and pronounce. if you couldn't tell by now, i really love the idea of the nickname 'tal' though!

jude (hebrew, "praise") not sure i would use this either, but i think it's sweet. could work for a girl as well.

cheikh/cheikhna (arabic, "wise"/"he who knows"/"term used respectfully for elders") i'd like to use this but as a middle name only, it is my dad's middle name and was his father's first name.

i have a really hard time with boys names!

[xcuore.livejournal.com]

Girls;
Nicea - I just love the sound of it. I dont know how i found this name, but i heared from this community it is something christian:\
Sienna - I LOVE that name ever since i was in Italy in Sienna. (5 years ago for the first time)
Anais - found it from the chanel/cacharel parfum AnaisAnais
Isabeau/Isobel - i love Isabella, but that is so common, so i prefer Isabeau/Isobel
Evi - Ive always loved that name!


Boys;
Nathaniel - I just simply love it
Millau - Love it since i was in the city of Millau in France
Davide - love since i know this italian guy named Davide
Ash - pokemon killed it :\
Noah - just love it

Re: Hard to choose just 5 names!

[ber-waves-of.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine named her baby boy Harper. It totally suits him. I like boy's first names that sound like last names.

[ber-waves-of.livejournal.com]

These are not in top five order, because it's too hard for me to pick number one, two, etc. But here are five names for each gender that I really like:

Girls:
Scarlet
Juliet
Magnolia
Garnet
Pearl

Boys:
Harrison
Beckett
Phillip
Morrison
Garret

[mommy2miles.livejournal.com]

Girls:
Audrey
Lydia
Claire
Ava
Elizabeth (no nickname)

Boys:
Oliver
Logan
William (nn Liam)
Nathan
Lucas

[trivher.livejournal.com]

Girls

Astrid: It's uncommon in the US, some other countries it's pretty popular though. Also it has a Beatles reference with Astrid Kirchherr.

Marian: My grandmother's name, also pretty uncommon.

Fiona: Partly because of So Weird, though I am not Irish (I might be a tiny bit) my husband is partly so thats a plus to him.

Lilliana: With no nickname(s) though a bit popular it's just cool I suppose (dumb reason yes I know)

Natasha: Again no nickname(s) I like the meaning involving Christmas, I am a Christmas baby and for some reason think it would be neat to have a child with a Christmas name. However I would not use if the child actually was a Christmas baby (too cutesy)

Boys

Gideon: Uncommon, doesn't really have nicknames, just sounds strong, a boy can grow with it.

Teagan: Like the poet part of the meaning, I picture a shy, yet covidant child with this name.

Avery: No real reason comes to mind, I suppose my husband would give it a plus because of Avery Brooks (being a Star Trek fan and all).

Ambrose: Totally uncommon, old fashion but God it's just really cool! (once again dumb reason)

Harrison: Sadly with my last name I fear it won't work (Harrison Hicks?) but I really like it. No nicknam(s) though. Mainly because of my favorite Beatle.

[kelkie.livejournal.com]

grayer! love it! it's from "the nanny diaries." although i've come to like grayden better :)

[kelkie.livejournal.com]

i met a kid named kane once, he was cute :)

[jojodancer77.livejournal.com]

My top 5 are....

GIRLS
Willow..it has such a beautiful ring to it.

Arwen..the first time I heard this name I fell in love with it. This is probably my first choice for my daughter.

October..i like that this is not something you would normally hear as a name..but I think it is beautiful.

Quinn..this is a girls name to me, and I like it as a first name.

Eden..I love the innocent sound of this name..very beautiful.

BOYS

Gideon..Dont remember what got me to liking this name, but I love it

Elliot..same as above.

Beckett...sounds like a cute little blonde boy to me...

Deacon...love it..i heard it since its reese witherspoons son..adorable.

Spencer...I like it for both boy and girl..but I just couldnt think of any more boy names i really liked...

Re: i really don't know if this is my top five. they just popped into my head..

[mcmommy.livejournal.com]

I LOVE Lux since that movie too!! :)

And I love Finn. It has been one of my favorite boy names but my husband doesn't like it so I guess we will never have a baby named that. :/

[jessiac.livejournal.com]

I know a girl called Scout, after To Kill a Mockingbird. Technically it's not her first name, but everyone calls her by that name ad she sees it as her first.

[mcmommy.livejournal.com]

Girls:
Natalia - My husband is Italian and it's very authentic Italian sounding.
Miley - From Billy Ray Cyrus' daughter, even though her real name isn't Miley.
Tinsley - Love the way it sounds.
Gracelynn - I kind of made it up myself. I am sure it's someone's name some where, but I have never known anyone named it. I like it because it sounds like Grace Land.
Tallulah - I LOVE IT, my husband not so much so I am sure we will never name a child this.



Boys:
Finn - Love the way it sounds.
Lennox - Love the way it sounds.
Luca (Luke-ah) - NOT Lucas. I heard it a million years ago on The Babysitters Club and I fell in love with it.
Damien - Love the way it sounds, this was my number one choice for another boy, but I am not so sure now since everyone I have mentioned it to says it is a devilish name....??
Carter - LOVE IT.
Holden - Holden Caulfield, Catcher in The Rye.