The Name Game

One of my favorite pastimes is dreaming up baby names.  I have scrap pieces of paper tucked in hidden drawers and pages of old diaries that are full of names.  Names of my future children.  Usually girl names.  There have been a few gems that have withstood the test of time, but for the most part they came and went.  In elementary school I loved NKOTB and I loved "ney" names (i.e. Britney and Tiffany).   Middle school brought about my first/last/only spiral perm and a new favorite name: Amber.  My favorite names from high school and college, Autumn and Lexis, were all about uber uniqueness (or so I thought).  At the moment I'm into classic, but less common names.

In retrospect the history of my favorite names reflects the history of popular baby names in general.  Alas, I'm a complete follower.

Here are some ideas and resources to find your perfect baby name.  I'm warning you now, this is a long post.

Heritage names - These are family names.  And not just the Jr. versions, but also the names that started way back at the trunk of the family tree.  You probably know the first, middle and last names of your grandparents, your parents and your generation, but what about your grandmother's grandmother's name?  Or your dad's great granduncle's name?  So, figure them out.  Start inquiring of your parents and grandparents.  There is usually one historian in every family, seek him or her out and get the scoop on all the first, middle and last names through the generations.  Middle names and even last names can make especially great name choices because they will be both unique as first names and still sentimental.

Nationality names - These names are traditional within a certain nationality.  If you are Italian-American and your spouse is Italian-American, perhaps you want to celebrate your Italian heritage by choosing a classic Italian name for your first-born.  I found a great website for this search.  At babynames.com you can search names based on nationalities (the "origin" dropdown menu).  Maybe your baby was conceived in Wales and you want to choose a Welsh name or your engagement happened in New Orleans and you want to choose a French name. 

First Letter and Letter Ending names - Choosing a name based on a starting letter is commonplace.  Some parents want to name all of their children with names that begin with the same letter.  Maybe you're a fan of alliteration and want the starting letter of his/her first name to be the same as his/her last name.  Whatever your reasons, searching through names that start with a certain letter (or letters) is fairly easy.  Most baby name books are organized alphabetically.  Here is a resource if you want to pick a name that ends with certain letters, again I'm referring you to babynames.com.  This time use the search prompt "Name Ends With." 

Nicknames - Start with the nickname and find the full name from there.  If you like the name Ella, but want something longer consider Isabella or Marchella.  The website thinkbabynames.com has nickname lists (for boys and girls) that are alphabetized by the nickname and list all the "full" names that are associated with each nickname.  I hadn't a clue that "Bo" was a nickname for William.  It is.  For more girl's nicknames, yeahbaby.com has a list of full names and their nicknames, with each full name having several nicknames.

Names with Meaning - Choosing a name based on a meaning is a lesser explored angle.  Usually people choose a name and cross their fingers that they love the meaning.  If you're having a lot of trouble finding THE name, try the reverse approach.  What is an important characteristic that you hope for your child - wisdom, beauty, strength?  Again with the babynames.com search.  There is a "meaning" search prompt that will automatically consider synonyms and alternative forms of the characteristic (i.e. strong, strength, warrior, etc.). 

Favorite Movie/Book names - Consider the handful of best books that you've read over your lifetime.  The truly memorable stories.  What were the main characters' names?  What were the secondary and discreet characters' names?  What about the author's name?  SparkNotes.com is a great resource to look up character lists and author names.  The same goes for movies and IMDB.com.  I adore the movie Love Actually and have considered (still consider) naming my daughter after one of the characters, Aurelia.  You can also check out the lists of Pop Culture Names on nameberry.com, there is an entire list dedicated to werewolf names...

Historical Names - One of my favorite finds for baby name searches is the Social Security Administration website.  I'm not kidding.  It contains an official list of the top 1,000 first names for every year after 1879. For example, in 1880 the top girl's name was Mary and top boy's name was John.  No surprises there.  Perhaps you're a huge fan of Mad Men, check out the top names from the 1960s.  Look at the top names in the years that your grandparents were born.  Or 1901, the turn of the century Americana names (still Mary and John). 

Rare Names - Again, I refer you to the Social Security Administration website.  If you want a rare gem, scroll down to the bottom of the lists.  In 2009 Mustafa (for boys) and Mireya (for girls) were the 1,000th most popular names.  It's a pretty safe bet that when 2-year-old Mustafa starts preschool in a couple years he'll be the only one in his class.

Not Your Typical Diaper Bag

A great friend (who is also a great, new mother) told me that her diaper bag was one of the best gifts she received at her baby shower.  The gift giver had designed it at 1154 LILL Studio, so it is one-of-a-kind and personally created to fit the mother's taste.  It really is cute.  But for the whole diaper factor, I would totally carry it.

The standard for picking out a diaper bag is no different than any other bag.  Functionality doesn't cancel out aesthetics.  Women don't simultaneously gain a baby and lose a desire to be fashionable.  Realistically, yeah, style probably moves down the list of priorities.  But it doesn't disappear.  Thankfully more big and small designers have started to make diaper bags that are both chic and practical.  Here are a couple diaper bag makers that fit this new design standard.

These Bags By Lora can be completely customized from the pattern, to the number and size of the interior pockets.  Best of all, receive 10% off your purchase by using the coupon code NEXTSTOPBABY 

 Above - interior of bag
Left - exterior of bag

 The bag closes with
two interior magnetic snaps
and an exterior button.

She will also design a matching zip pouch and changing pad

Watermelon Wishes makes these diaper bags in so many gorgeous patterns that I had a lot of trouble choosing which examples to post.  Everything you see can be customized.  

Wall Decals

The word "decal" reminds me of the 1980s.  It makes me think of cereal box prizes.  I have fond memories of stuffing my mitts deep into the corners of a new cereal box and digging out the tiny plastic bag filled with a crappy toy (usually a decal).  All the while my mom inquired (read: yelled) as to whether my hands were clean and my brother protested (read: yelled) because I beat him to the punch.

Decals are no longer just miniature prizes at the bottom of a Lucky Charms box.  They are a big trend in wall decor, and particurly wall decor in children's rooms.  The dynamic shapes and colors are a great way to liven up a nursery or playroom and avoid the process of painting.

While tree decals are the trendy of the trendy right now, this tree decal is something special.  Simple Shapes has designed a tree decal with space to add floating shelves.  The shelves mimic tree branches and allow you to display photos, books or whatever you want (see below).

The floating shelves are NOT included in your purchase
by Simple Shapes

These next decals by ChickadeeVinyl can be worked into any theme.  The "subway art"is so cool and different - a great centerpiece for a modern nursery.  The ABCs could work for a nursery or a playroom.  AND, ChickadeeVinyl is offering FREE SHIPPING to all Next Stop - Baby readers (US only purchases over $20.00) with the coupon code: FSGIVEAWAY311

by Chickadee Vinyl

by Chickadee Vinyl

This giraffe decal by Pink n Blue Baby doubles as art and a growth chart.  In my house growing up we marked new heights with a pencil on the door frame from our kitchen to our dining room.  This option is slightly more classy.

by Pink N Blue Baby

Caption Contest III

This unique image (and product) is courtesy of Franken Toys  


Caption away! (Winner Chosen)

A Dingo Ate My Baby

Good Samaritans

I travel on the NYC subway system almost daily.  It's a crowded, dirty and angry place for the most part.  If you're lucky enough to find a seat next to a smell-free, lean passenger it's a pretty good day.  In contrast, there are several things that can turn the standard (meaning: crappy) train ride into a complete nightmare: "train traffic," a particularly rancid stench and music/performers/preachers when you are trying to read or have a headache.  For me, the hands down worst is a pregnant woman with children, one of which is in a stroller, during rush hour.

It is impossible for a pregnant woman with children and a stroller to seamlessly manuever in and out of a subway cart, much less in and out of a subway station, much less during rush hour.  Inevitably, this woman has put her pregnant self and her children in the hands of the good samaritans of New York City because it's impossible for her to manage alone.  Apparently she believes in the generous spirit of all people, including the notably self-serving New Yorker.  But, at a certain point, her optimism stops being sweet and crosses the line to abusive.

The kids are crying or screaming or throwing their snacks and crayons all over the train.  Plus, they get first dibs to the seats, unless you're souless (which, by the way, accurately characterizes many train riders).  The stroller is bruising every shin in a two foot radius.  And the fact that the woman is pregnant means someone is either giving up a seat for her too or expecting karmic payback within the next 24 hours.  And then there are the stairs in the subway stations.  At least one stranger, sometimes two, must assist with the stroller on the stairs because prego mom should be avoiding heavy lifting and needs free hands to hold the loose children.  Without fail, this chaotic trek to ground level will block, clog and further piss off everyone in the immediate vicinity.

My request to pregnant women and their children who use public transportation: But for true emergencies, don't abuse your fellow citizens during the lowest hour of their day, wait for non-commuter hours to travel.  Please.