TRENDS ✦ Researching the meaning of your chosen name can save lots of recrimination and embarrassment in years to come. Did you know, for Name or shame? example that: Calvin means ‘little bald one’; Obama, ‘crooked’; Cecily,‘blind’ and Leah, ‘weary’? There are ethnic and cultural reasons for doing your homework, WHAT TO CALL BABy… too. We have, for example, a black colleague who cannot for PONDERING WHAT TO CALL YOUR PRECIOUS the life of her understand why NEWBORN? SCARLETT BRADY AND KAREN BEWARE CELEBRITY FADS BABY’S FIRST CALLING CARD she was given the name Bianca. Be wary of celebrity names with their inbuilt One compelling reason to get your child’s name GLASER ARE ON HAND TO HELP shelf life. If you must emulate a celeb, at least right is because it’s destined to appear on their ✦ Think carefully before opting for try and pick one who isn’t likely to end up as business card. Are all the Buddy Bears out the truly original. You may not want tabloid fodder of the year. Seriously, who wants there going to feel comfy at reception or in a common-or-garden name for your to be a Ryan, a Cameron or a Jordan in 2011? the boardroom, and are the next generation little one, but that doesn’t mean hatever name you choose For the hero-obsessed it’s a much safer bet to of Harper Sevens going to be happy anywhere you need give one that is totally for your child, let’s face it, opt for a dead, or better still, a fictional one other than a space station? Fast forward ‘out there’ either. Pharaoh, Crabby, it’s probably going to say as instead. Popular choices include Benjamin or a couple of decades and imagine their name Montayah, Nibbler, Jyqueel and much about you as them for Jessica (as in Rabbit), Holly (Golightly) or through the eyes of a prospective employer. Malteser are just a handful of the theW foreseeable. As parents, we pick names that Angelina (Ballerina). You may be Dizzee or How many Fifi Trixibelle’s or Heavenly monikers the nation’s parents chose resonate with us and we keep our fingers crossed Beyoncé’s number one fan, but chances are Hiraani’s do you know where you work? for their new arrivals last year. that our little treasures will not only grow into 20 years down the line, your child won’t be, so Consider their school days, too: will a Lark Question: how will Wotsit feel when them, but also learn to love our choices. Our it’s a ‘not really’ to those. Celebrities influence Song (Mia Farrow’s daughter) be taken as he announces himself at a check-in parents mostly opted for the familiar and the desk or is called for over a Tannoy? unexceptional, but in today’s global village many Are the next generation of Harper Sevens going of us are looking for something with a bit more ✦ For the hottest baby-naming ‘stand-out’. And as the number of baby-naming to be happy anywhere other than a space station? site, head to nameberry.com. It’s books illustrates, the possibilities are thrillingly a wonder of inspiring possibilities, endless. But remember, while picking names is us all, but needless to say, they don’t always get seriously as a Lara? And are you risking although it’s worth remembering fun, your offspring will often ask you to justify it right (yes, Nicole Richie, mum to Sparrow, playground bullying with a Satchel – that every other mum is probably your choice, so you might like to consider the we mean you). But who’s laughing at Lourdes, Spike Lee, what were you thinking? checking it out too – which is fine, as following before making a final decision. Rocco, Shiloh or Knox now? Indeed names long as you don’t mind your child’s that once sounded pretty wacky are potential ESTABLISHED CHOICES name being in a top fifty list by 2015. playground favourites of the future. For every flamboyant name designed Of course the rich and famous have to jump the queue at an 0123456789 always had a tendency to give their babies X Factor audition, there’s an unconventional names. The fruit brigade, equal amount guaranteed to Novel thoughts headed by one Peaches Geldof, is a case in open more gentrified doors. Be careful about ascribing point. Gwyneth Paltrow gave birth to an Apple When the Middletons chose either physical or personal – apparently because the fruit is sweet and to name their first-born attributes to your children wholesome, plus the actress liked its biblical Catherine Elizabeth could before you know whether connotations. Geri Halliwell also took they have picked anything they possess them. Grace inspiration from the orchard and named her more appealing to the British and Bella are increasingly 0123456789 daughter Bluebell after admiring the spring establishment? Can’t imagine popular names, but their flowers during her pregnancy. ‘But what really William having had much owners have a lot to live clinched it was my mother telling me that the luck introducing a Chantelle up to. As do Angel, Dolly bluebell is increasingly rare, so it’s a precious or a Chardonnay at the Palace and Princess. Knowing flower, which seems just right for my can you? And as for Chelsy how awful this can be for daughter,’ said the singer. Others name – well, even Harry couldn’t youngsters, the brilliant their children in their own image. pull that one off. children’s novelist Coco Arquette’s moniker comes Time-honoured names Jacqueline Wilson writes from the first two letters of mum (like George, Thomas, Emily about the phenomenon in COurteney COx’s first name and or Sophie) can always be her book Cookie: Beauty surname. So, no, nothing to do with reworked for a new Cookson is plain and timid Coco Chanel – or a hot beverage. generation. Think Lulu for and all the super-confident Little Livia girls at school think her investigates what name is ridiculous and else Mummy might tease her horribly… have called her 64 gurgle.com gurgle.com 65 TRENDS Louise, Alfie for Alfred, Trix for Beatrice or Ace for Alastair. There is a good reason why Coming to a playground near you? traditional names have stood the test of time: solid and serious, they are the exact opposite ✦ Lola, Lyra, Landon, Edward, Garrett and Luna – went by their surnames of fashionable and frivolous. We know one Lenore, Lennon and Logan inspired by the plethora of – and what’s not to love mum who fell in love with Matilda and – the most fashionable vampire books currently about a little Smith or Riley? Charlotte, but neither name appeared on her consonant right now is ‘L’. enjoying huge popularity. And it’s not just boys who husband’s top ten. The result? She got her way And as for vowels, nothing are getting in on the act: ✦ Equally hot is the unisex on the birth certificates, but her twin girls are beats ‘O’ – just ask Oliver, trendy surnames for girls surname-turned-first-name known as Tilly and Lottie because that was the Olivia, Otto, Oscar, Ophelia, include Ripley, Blake, phenomenon: Bailey, Fraser, only way to win over dad’s objections. Now and the little Irish lad, Oisin Hayden and Madison. Lennox, Mackenzie and there’s a happy compromise. That said, don’t (pronounced Oo-sheen). Peyton. Using surnames ✦ Noticed how many little go crazy with the spelling. You might think ✦ There are lots of name as Christian names is big boys called Arthur, Harvey Sharlot looks dynamic on the page, but you trends afoot. One of the in many cultures, but it’s and Stanley are suddenly are sentencing her to a lifetime of: ‘that’s spelt biggest is the descent of a relatively new trend in running around? With sisters s-h-a..’. For which Sharlot will not thank you so-called ‘Twilight’ names the UK. It’s easy to see the called Edith, Florence and one bit. Take it from Caryn and Karren. such as Cullen, Carlisle, appeal: back in the day all Martha? Their parents are Carmen, Dante, Emmett, the coolest boys in class part of the retro name-trend. DO SPELL IT OUT While we’re on the subject of spelling, always write out the initials of your child’s full name to make sure they don’t spell something unfortunate. You may, for example, have fallen We know a mum who didn’t take the crucial spelling deeply in love with the names Benedict and Oliver, but if your surname is Gardner you’ll test whose daughter’s initials spell ‘OMG’. Quite. have to go back to the drawing board: no one wants the nickname ‘BOG’. We know a mum who didn’t take this crucial spelling test and whose daughter’s initials spell ‘OMG’. Quite. CLAIRE WHO? Beware of some naming trends. If your name is Melanie, Susan or Tracy, you’ll have met your namesake hundreds of times over: they were Britain’s most popular baby names back in the Seventies. Today’s on-trend equivalents include Olivia, Ruby and Lily for her, and Jack, James and Thomas for him. But however much you like the sound of the name, will your daughter thank you for being one of the eight Chloes in her class? Check with yesterday’s Claire first. Still struggling? FINAL THOUGHT For a truly personalised name that resonates Visit: gurgle.com where with you and your partner you could do a lot you’ll find over 18,000 worse than start a game of word association names to inspire you or inspired by your favourite things: colour? Grey, use the Random Search Blue, Violet; word? Love, Hope, True; Tree? Baby Namer if you really Willow, Blossom, Oak; Heroine? Brontë, can’t make up your mind.