Star Trek: TNG‘s Commander Riker is one of few pop culture references to trendy, modern boys name Ryker.

Following my last post regarding name negativity, I’ve decided to take things a step further by going out of my way to highlight the positives in the names singled out in the aforementioned Deadspin article as evidence that American baby names are “getting even worse.”

The Not-So-Bad series of posts will no doubt feature names you’ve probably balked at before, but let’s keep one thing in mind, here. These aren’t hypothetical names, names from books, or lists of interesting choices – these are names that people out there actually wear. Real people. With feelings.

The first one I’ll cover is a name that’s actually been gaining massively in popularity, and isn’t just a unique selection by one adventurous parent. Ryker is, as far as I’m concerned, a true name of the future with a long Low Country heritage. It’s already nearly inside the US Top 300, after beginning it’s climb from 1000 in just 2003. The name Ryan is commonplace and has been for decades. Tucker, Parker, etc. had their biggest moments in the late-90s and early 2000s, and from those trends modern usage of Ryker was born.

Names (which are merely proper nouns if you want to get technical), are allowed to be invented. Some might think Ryker is a made-up name combining Ryan and those -ker names, but it isn’t even that. Have a Richard in your family tree (and a lot of people do, since it was a Top 5 name in the 1930s and ’40s) that you want to honour with something more modern? Richard forerunner Ricard spread through Europe from Germany and France to The Netherlands, Denmark and beyond, and means “strong power,” from ric (power) + hard (strong, hardy). It derived the Danish surname Ryker/Riker, which means “son of Ricard.”

The base word ric has been interpreted as an early form of rike, a Dutch surname meaning “to be rich” (and arguably, money is power). It, too, has been noted as another possible surname origin of Ryker (though most anglicized to the surname Rich when they arrived in North America). It was the case with Abraham Rycken, an early Dutch settler to New Amsterdam (now New York), whose descendants owned like-named Rikers Island in the East River between Queens and the Bronx until 1884. That year, the family sold the island to the city for $180,000, and it has been used as the metropolis’ main jail complex ever since. But unless you watch shows like Law & Order or CSI: NY, the reference probably goes right by you. And even if you do, there’s no evidence the name is somehow prophetic of a life behind bars.

Trekkers (they hate being called Trekkies – it’s apparently offensive, and offending with names isn’t my style) probably remember Commander Riker, portrayed by Jonathan Frakes, on 1987-94 show Star Trek: The Next Generation (I don’t). But Ryker with a Y, like Ryder with a Y, is far more in use today. You’ve probably met or heard of a little boy named Ryker by now. I have – Ryan Kesler, a forward with the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, welcomed son Ryker in December 2010. The name seems like a clear play on his own moniker, since his daughter, born in 2008, was named Makayla Rylan.

I just don’t see it, what makes Ryker so “bad.” It’s a legitimate surname as a first name, bang on trend, and to my ears pulls off being cool without being in any way obnoxious or trying “too hard.” Plus, it’s got a decent history that many could connect to on a personal level.

(c) AP – Blaer Bjarkardottir, 15, (pictured with her mother, Bjork) is trying to change name laws in her native Iceland, and is willing to take her case to the Supreme Court, if necessary.

Forgive me, but it’s about to get a little opinionated in here. Much has been discussed online over baby name laws the past few days, and I can’t help but weigh in, of course.

Lou at Mer de Noms led me to this fascinating article about a 15-year-old Icelandic girl named Blaer Bjarkardottir. But, since Blaer isn’t on the list of 1,853 accepted names for girls in her native country, all her government forms list her official name as ‘Sturka’ – which means, simply, “girl.” Her mother, Bjork Eidsdottir, picked Icelandic Blaer, which means “light breeze,” inspired by a female Blaer she knew in Iceland in the early 1970s – back when the name had been reportedly acceptable. The priest who baptised Blaer even thought the name acceptable enough, but had to admit his mistake after the fact, negating the legality of the name. Now, Blaer and her mother are suing the Icelandic state for the right to use a name that has a masculine article and was denied by the panel of judges who approve or reject every baby name, or adult name change, in the country. Germany, Denmark, New Zealand, China, and other countries have similar processes, a response to parents who have selected names ranging from Anus to Devil and Number 9 Bus Stop to the @ symbol.

My problem with these committees is how fascist they can seem. Sometimes, the opinion may seem a bit outrageous (as it appears Blaer’s name was at one time perfectly acceptable for girls in Iceland, before the committee was formed). And if not outrageous, the notion that one must be named from an approved list of choices, even if that list is almost 2,000 names long, goes too far. These democratic countries are telling their citizens ‘originality be damned.’ They are telling citizens they must conform to the state’s idea of an acceptable personal identity, and that is fairly fascist. By deciding what names are not worthy they’re perpetuating a culture of superiority, which lends itself to the dreaded playground bullying everyone talks about when names are concerned.

I understand that Number 9 Bus Stop is a bad given name. So are swear words or slang insults. I respect the attempts to keep those names from birth certificates. But I have to wonder what happens when it all goes too far, and firmly believe that our opinions or perceptions of far too many words, or names, make these committees way too arbitrary. Why, for example, is Elvis banned in Sweden? Why is a beautiful name with a ‘masculine article’ banned in Iceland? (Iceland, for the record, also bans all C names from Cara to Curver because there is no C in the Icelandic alphabet, although it’s perfectly acceptable for someone like Bjork to sing and write in English using Roman characters.)

The truth is, most parents choose common names for their children, and even kids named @ or Bus Stop are likely go through life with a nickname, or legally change it to something else when they’re older. Most parents have no interest in naming their child Pooface. Parents who choose the name Satania (which has been denied in Iceland for being too close to Satan) might have good reason that is of no business to the government or citizens whom the name will not affect.

This Deadspin article from months ago broke my heart. It was written by a Dad (and men are usually fans of more traditional fare), which flat out refuses to be in any way open-minded about the possibility that the world isn’t cookie-cutter, or that tastes can evolve. I recognize that studies show people with Krazy name spellings tend to be overlooked for job interviews. But why should the government get to decide whether a name is spelled too strangely or not?

I actually tend to fall into the opinion of desiring to see these name committees disbanded, or reduced to an administrative role and nothing more. A number of parents who select truly offensive names are libertarians who actually do so in response to the existence of said committees. Traditional names are certainly on trend again, but they aren’t for everyone, and it’s no one’s right to decide whether or not a name is legally acceptable considering, as this amazing iVillage article points out, kids will be teased no matter what their name. I may not like the idea of using a name like Berretta to honour a handgun, but I never called for government intervention. And if I met someone with such a name, I wouldn’t bully them for it.

The existence of name-approval committees has been defended because children will be teased for terrible names, and defended because certain names are offensive to others. But my parents taught me to understand that if people have a problem with me, that’s a problem that they have. The same can be said about baby names (and was certainly an admitted part of my bias against Berretta; I think Levi Johnson is a famewhore). So if a name offends you, that problem exists within you, and it’s up to you to get over it, as far as I’m concerned.

(As a result of this post, from the new year going forward, name negativity will be very tough to find on this blog, though it’s always been rare. It just isn’t funny, and it doesn’t make you cool, if you have a biting opinion on something that doesn’t even affect your life on a daily basis. I’ll even offer Levi Johnson a mea culpa, and apologize for judging the middle name he picked as glorifying violence, and going out of his way to put his name in the headlines.)

We can certainly claim that parents choose unique names to bring more attention to themselves, and psychologically the argument has merit, but we could also argue that greater harm is done to the child by the judgmental people around them who think that making fun of, or judging, them for their name is either funny or acceptable. You may think you’re doing a “badly named kid” a service, but one day little Breeze Berretta Johnson will Google her name and she’ll probably resent me. One day, little Hashtag Jameson will Google herself and find out just how stupid the world thinks her mother is. It’s not okay to be on the “superior side” when it comes to someone else’s name.

If you’ve made fun of, or judged, a boy named Sue or a girl named Blitzi, if your kids have done it…don’t you think that you’re the problem, and not the other way around?

(c) Randy Risling/Toronto Star, Jan. 1, 2013: Casey Laforet and girlfriend Jane Maggs with their son Wynn, whose punctuality, and baby name, are especially notable.

There always has to be a ‘first baby,’ born in every city and celebrated for their timeliness every New Year’s Day. This year, the first baby born in Toronto, Canada’s largest city, was a bit of a celebrity bub (well, I certainly enjoy his father’s music, it’s my thing). Not only was he the first baby born in Toronto, but his timing was so impeccable that he arrived at midnight, to the second.

Casey Laforet is one-third of Ontario-based alt-country indie rock band Elliott Brood (pronounced broad), and his girlfriend, screenwriter Jane Maggs, delivered their son, Wynn Christopher Laforet, at the exact moment the great big ball dropped in New York’s Times Square (yes, even Canadians know it’s a new year when the ball drops. We even watch it on time delay on the west coast). Laforet had to cancel his band’s annual New Year’s Eve gig to get Maggs to the hospital.

The couple chose the name from a book of “Rock N Roll Baby Names” that they received as a gift from Maggs’ sister. And while Wynn isn’t the most obvious rock n’ roll name I’ve ever heard, it certainly fits for the musically inclined. Wynn Stewart, born Winford (his mother, Cleo’s, maiden name), was a 20th Century country music singer-songwriter of the ’50s and ’60s, an early influence on country music legends like Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, and alt-country stars from Dwight Yoakum to k.d. lang. Raised primarily in California, Stewart initially balked at the growth of rock n’ roll and his fellow country artists earning crossover success, though by the late-1950s he had stopped fighting the future and released a series of rockabilly singles. But despite making music until his death in 1985, he never achieved mainstream success.

And still within the musical realm, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis is one of America’s most prominent jazz artists, currently serving as the Artistic Director of Jazz at New York’s Lincoln Center. The name is a variant of Winton, and means “friend’s settlement.”

Former NFLer Deion Sanders’ middle name is Luwynn. He also played pro baseball and released a rap album in 1994, which keeps us on the musical track. According to a 1989 Sports Illustrated article, his cousin came up with his names, and it would appear he was meant to be Deon Wynn, but his mother, Connie Knight, told the mag she added the extra letters “because anything else seemed too plain.” Luwynn appears to have been an invention, although Lewin means “dear friend.”

Wynn has multiple possible origins, all of which are valid. As a derivative of Old Welsh gwyn, which means “fair,” it described Anglo-Saxon invaders – Winford, as in Wynn Stewart, is believed to mean “fair lord.” The pre-7th Century Old English word wine, meaning “friend,” became a given name in the Middle Ages, and derived countless modern variations. Wynn could derive from Old Norse hvin, which literally translates to “gorse,” better understood to English audiences as a “prickly person.”

But Wynn as a first name did exist in Old English, the other possible origins notwithstanding (because their presence in surnames no doubt contributes to Wynn’s first name use today). Wynn, or more accurately the runic Ƿynn, means “joy.” The symbol was the forerunner to the modern W, and about a year ago, Nook of Names highlighted beautifully all kinds of feminine names from Anglo-Saxon times that used -wynn, from Ealuwynn (“ale-joy”) to Wulfwynn (“wolf-joy”).

In modern times, we’re more used to seeing the second N dropped, or the Y replaced by the letter E, in names like Bronwyn, Olwyn, or the interesting and Lord of the Rings-esque Elowyn. Bronwyn and Olwyn are both believed to derive from the Welsh gwyn, while Elowyn is believed to be Old English for “elm tree”). Male name Alwyn/Alwin means “friend of elves.” (But may, as per Nook’s post, also be a modernized form of Aelfwynn, meaning “elf joy.”)

As a surname, we’ve seen Wynn on 20th Century vaudeville star Ed Wynn (born Isaiah Edwin Leopold), who starred in his own TV variety program in 1949-50, and appeared in countless films including Mary Poppins, Babes in Toyland, and was the voice of the Mad Hatter in Disney’s animated Alice in Wonderland. A much-loved character actor, he only took up acting on screen at the urging of his actor son Keenan Wynn. Keenan must have liked the spelling of the adopted family surname, because he named one of his daughters Edwyna.

But the most prominent surname bearer today, and an unapologetic influence on the given name, is Las Vegas casino billionaire Steve Wynn, whose surname is plastered over one of the most high-end hotels on the strip (it’s where Prince Harry stays when he wants to make naked headlines).

Back in 2009, Appellation Mountain mentioned a couple in Timmins, Ontario, who were inspired to name their daughter Wynn Victoria after a visit to the gambling and entertainment mecca. While the couple, Ryan and Sonia Taylor, thought the name was more masculine than feminine, they loved the name Ava but saw it swiped by a friend one month before their due date. They still had Wynn in mind, and embraced it.

And they aren’t the first – American actress Wynn Everett recently appeared in a recurring role on HBO’s The Newsroom, and previously appeared on CW’s cult hit Supernatural. In 2009, NBA star Ray Allen and his wife welcomed a son named Wynn Ryder.

Although nothing is absolutely certain about the origin or even the established sex of the name Wynn, what does seem possible is it’s potential for wide appeal. It’s a nickname, could evolve from a family surname, could mean “fair,” “friend,” or “joy,” and is equally at home on boys or girls.

Apart from that, we’re a few years removed now from the whole “WINNING!” debacle, a la Charlie Sheen, so at least that’s one less thing to worry about when it comes to possible associations for playground teasing. What do you think about Wynn? Is it a winner, or not?

I may have failed myself with blogging this year (so many real life changes!) but it’s one of my resolutions for 2013 to be better. Much better. I owe it to myself, because I truly enjoy maintaining this blog. Of little credit to me, my blog’s popularity grew this year with many thanks to the lovely ladies at Nameberry for hosting my political names guest post in the spring, with great appreciation to Abby at Appellation Mountain for highlighting my post on Malala this fall, which proved to be my biggest post of the year, and with ongoing affection for Anna at Waltzing More Than Matilda, whose site continues to be my most consistent referral source, links wise, and she is far and away my top commenter. And of course, I’m grateful to each and every one of you who reads, comments, and shares the posts you love. You guys inspire me, full on, and your support is not taken for granted.

To close out 2011, I compiled my favourite names from overall trends of the year, and though I haven’t blogged as much as I should have, I’ve paid attention in 2012. A few of these names earned posts of their own this year, but many didn’t, so bear with me. And you know the drill – please don’t leave without sharing your own favourites from the past twelve months.

Happy New Year to you and yours, and let’s all look forward to a big year of names in 2013. What traditional names will be bestowed upon the royal baby? Will baby Kimye get a K name? Will Biblical boy names make a comeback or fall even further out of favour? So many questions, so bring it on!

This year’s list of names looks nothing like last year’s (well it might, if you’ve read enough of this blog to catch on to the name biases I try not to have):

- Koa. I love to travel, but this year I only made it to one place – Hawaii. So it seems fitting that the first name on my 2012 year end list is a Hawaiian name-on-fire. Simple enough to feel familiar, yet exotic enough to stand out, nature name Koa, which sounds like Biblically “unfashionable” Noah, kept trending for boys in 2012. Australian marathon swimmer Ky Hurst welcomed a son named Koa in November.

- Aoife. This Irish name, pronounced EE-fah, was bestowed upon the daughter of Irish-born pop singer Una Healy of The Saturdays, and her English rugby star boyfriend Ben Foden in March. It means “beautiful,” and was suggested to the couple by Healy’s father. (Adorable Aoife’s middle name is the Latin name, Belle, which means her parents gave her a name that means “beautiful beauty.”)

I find Irish Gaelic names to be too challenging to use, personally, despite some Irish heritage in my family tree, but this one stood out this year in a crowded pack of selections more easily read by my North American sensibilities. And Healy wasn’t the only celeb to honour her Irish heritage with her baby name – How I Met Your Mother star Alyson Hannigan welcomed her second daughter in May, and named her Keeva Jane (an Americanized spelling of Caoimhe). Alternately pronounced Kev-ah, it means “gentle, beautiful beloved,” the feminine form of Kevin.

(more after the jump)

- Winter. A few years ago, actress Gretchen Mol welcomed a daughter named Winter Morgan, which was a much more easily celebrated name than that which she bestowed upon her son – Ptolemy John. And this year, the name popped up on a couple celebrity baby birth certificates. Swedish DJ Steve Agnello welcomed daughter Winter Rose in April (a little sister for Monday Lily), and in early December, German-Australian model Annelies Seubert welcomed daughter Camille Winter O’Farrell.

Despite (or perhaps because of) living in Canada, I’m not a big fan of winter. In this country, we have a cheesy joke about the weather: Our four seasons are Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, and Construction Detours. And in the dead of winter (like today), the saying feels all too true (especially when my ANZAC friends on Facebook post photos from the beach or the swimming pool, or talk about topping up their tans). But as a noun name, I like Winter, which feels peaceful and pure for it’s connection to cozy nights by a fireplace or a blanket of fresh snow. Summer and Autumn have been shining on birth certificates for decades, but Winter could be on it’s way to joining them in mainstream popularity, and I, for one, think it’s great.

- Alternatives to Isabella, Sebella and Isabetta. When a name gets so popular, it’s often obvious why. Isabella, which is a Spanish variant of Elizabeth, from Hebrew elisheva meaning “consecrated to God,” is universally gorgeous and provides a long list of nicknames to suit any type of girl, from tomboyish Izzy to fanciful Bella. Isabella’s popularity is sky-high, well within the Top 50 (often higher) in countless countries, English-speaking or not, around the world, and that’s because the name is very well loved.

But parents looking for something more original will often resort to alternative spellings or lesser-used variations to set their daughter apart from other kids, and two celeb-introduced (to me) alternatives to Isabella caught my eye this year. In January, Puerto Rican actress Roselyn Sanchez and her actor husband Eric Winter welcomed Sebella Rose. An Americanized spelling of Sabela, it’s an Isabella alternative originating from the Galicia region of northwestern Spain. And in May, Survivor winners Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich surprised us with the birth announcement of their third daughter in three years, Isabetta Rose.

(Etta, too, saw some action this year in different ways, perhaps fittingly following the death of legendary R&B singer Etta James on January 20th – Carson Daly and girlfriend Siri Pinter welcomed daughter Etta Jones in September, the same month Levi Johnson welcomed Breeze Beretta, though it was a gunmaker that inspired him, instead. Australian cellist Tim Nankervis welcomed Mietta Susan in February, and comedian Alex Borstein had daughter Henrietta in October. Maybe old-fashioned Etta, Greek and English for “pearl,” will begin to challenge Ella as the feminine name suffix du jour – Upswing Baby Names thinks it’s possible.)

- Camden. It made a bit of a splash this year, used by Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler and reality TV star Kristin Cavallari in August (Camden Jack), and then just one month later by singer Nick Lachey and TV presenter Vanessa Minnillo (Camden John). It’s not new – it’s a borough in London, a baseball field in Baltimore, and the among the latest surname-names to make the jump for baby boys, but it’s notoriety exploded this year on the heels of these two announcements. I like the associations and think it’s a solid alternative to dated Cameron, which has been somewhat intercepted for girls, even if I’ll never use it, myself. Another modern choice that’s somewhat similar phonetically is Anden, a name I really dug this year.

- In addition to Sebella, I saw quite a few stunning S names that struck my fancy this year. Traditional choices like Sarah and Sadie made room for lesser-used choices like Saskia, Senna, and Sawyer (which is a personal favourite, high on my actual list for both boys and girls). Scarlett, too, had a particularly good year (so did Ruby, perhaps proving that red is the most popular colour choice despite the much-discussed Blue Ivy, though Violet is still going incredibly strong, too). For those counting, Scarlett appeared on no less than 6 celebrity baby birth certificates this year: actress Elise Donovan welcomed Scarlett Avery Bigelow in May, shamed News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks welcomed daughter Scarlett Anne Mary via surrogate in January, comedian Rob Schneider welcomed Miranda Scarlett in November, Texas-based rockers Darren King and Stacy DuPree had daughter Scarlett in October, American reality TV stars Dr. Will Kirby and Erin Brodie had Scarlett Brodie Kirby in September, and Filipina TV presenter Pia Guanio had daughter Scarlet Jenine Mago in August.

Senna made waves in the naming world, it’s small bump in popularity this spring attributed to Cinna, Katniss’ costumer in The Hunger Games. It’s a name that has been in use in Europe for a while, but is beginning to grow on those in the English-speaking world. Lady Davina Windsor, a member of the British royal family, had a daughter named Senna in 2010, and there was an Amazonian vampire named Senna in Breaking Dawn, the last book in the American Twilight series. According to the ladies at Nameberry, Senna was the top trending name in the first half of the year and I simply adore it, even if it’s all but disappeared from mainstream consciousness since (while sound-alike Sienna remains a more popular choice). It’s the name of a flowering herb that’s used as a laxative, but Senna is also Arabic for “brightness.”

Saskia Heller was the name given to the daughter of actress Anne Dudek, born in February (little sister to her son, Akiva). Aussie actress Saskia Burmeister made headlines in May when she welcomed son Jackson Croft. The name is of debatable origin: it could be Dutch for “knife” (and it’s popularity in the Netherlands has been traced to Saskia van Uylenburg, the wife of 17th Century painter, the most important in Dutch history, Rembrandt van Rijn); of German origin meaning “Saxon woman”; of Danish origin meaning “valley of light”; it might even be of Slavic origin and mean “protector of mankind.” With so many possible inspirations to choose from, it’s not hard to find something to like about Saskia.

There’s nothing really new about Sawyer. Since Lost first aired in 2004, it’s been trendy thanks to fan favourite James “Sawyer” Ford, portrayed by Josh Holloway. The character derived his name from the conman who caused his parents’ deaths as a child, and that conman was inspired by Mark Twain’s fictional boy hero, Tom Sawyer. The surname as a first name (Old English for one who saws wood) has been around a lot longer than Lost, and Baby Name Wizard has made the case that Sawyer’s true meaning is that of a submerged tree along the banks of the Mississippi River. If there’s anything really new to say about Sawyer, it’s that it’s becoming distinctly more and more unisex. This year, Today Show correspondent Courtney Hazlett welcomed daughter Sawyer Ruth Marrs in January, while celebrity stylist Anya Sarre welcomed son Sawyer William in July. I love it for both; I don’t think it too feminine or too masculine, and befitting many a wearer.

- Rebel. Not technically a baby name of note (not yet), it’s still a name that got a lot of attention in 2012, thanks to breakout Aussie comic actress Rebel Wilson, who people everywhere have fallen in love with. It’s suitably similar enough to girl’s names like Rachel and Raquel to feel familiar, while being undoubtedly unique. If nothing else, I’ll be interested to see if this noun name bumps up in 2013. Rev names have been trending a while (actor Josh Lucas had son Noah Rev Maurer this June), and Rebel could easily fit for a boy or an edgy baby girl.

So that’s it. If I thought you’d want to read all day long, I would have also included Cyrus, Poppy, and Tucker. But my posts are usually long enough as is.

What names did you love this year?

Uma Thurman’s nearly six-month-old daughter is earning the distinction as 2012′s ‘worst celeb baby name.’

And is there such a thing?

Perhaps the biggest celebrity trend in baby naming this year has been the predisposition NOT to announce baby’s name at all, but over at Fox News, Uma Thurman’s baby daughter’s mouthful of a name is far and away leading a poll for 2012′s Dumbest Celebrity Baby Name. (For the record, I voted for Moroccan Scott Cannon based solely on his inclusion in a 2012 year-end list, when he was born in April of 2011.) Thurman’s daughter, born July 15th of this year to the actress and her Swiss financier boyfriend Arpad Busson – father to Elle MacPherson’s sons Arpad (Flynn) and Aurelius (Cy) – Uma’s third child was named Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence Thurman-Busson, called Luna.

Whoa. Perhaps it’s not just the seven names (eight, with the use of the nickname); it’s also the complex name choices that have people kinda freaking out. And sure, it seems like a lot for one kid to handle and will likely take her some time to learn to spell. But Luna’s father is a Swiss man named Arpad (Arkadina, Altalune), and her mother a US-born Buddhist named Uma (Arusha). These names, though they pointedly chose not to share what, all have meaning to the couple. And sometimes, if you only intend to have one child, you load the birth certificate (if so, this would be Busson’s only girl and he might have a lot of family he wants to honour), knowing that the kid will rarely, if ever, use every single name at once.

Sure, filling out government paperwork is going to be rough (they don’t have near enough room on the forms for names this long), and teachers might always wonder how one gets Luna from Rosalind when going over the class list every September – but a name this long isn’t hurting anyone, in the end.

When William and Kate have their first child, we can likely expect a handful of names. Four given names to honour family, the Prince or Princess of Cambridge designation in the front and back, plus a handful of other selections to honour the principalities, duchys, and extensive family heritage of the British royal family. Everyone in their family is named in much the same way. Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales, also known as William Windsor, William Wales, Prince William of Great Britain and the Commonwealth – it’s hard to keep track. Yet we call him Prince William. We can barely bring ourselves to call the Duchess Catherine over shorter, simpler, more familiar Kate.

Ironically, the use of two middle names is a bit of a growing trend (perhaps in direct correlation with the steadily lowering birth rate in developed countries – less kids means less opportunities to use names you like or wish to use in honour of family and friends). It’s something I’ve considered I’ll likely do when I have kids of my own, but more from a brokerage standpoint with future hubby, so we’d both have a chance to put names on the birth certificate without worrying about compromise apart from the all-important first name (or name the kid will be known as). I don’t plan on having more than two, unless I’m financially able (and emotionally prepared) to adopt and have a full house, so I will also be looking for ways to honour as many people as possible while still trying to keep the name within the limits of government forms.

Alternately, there are plenty of people out there who eschew the middle name entirely. For some, it’s cultural, for others it’s based on simplicity, and for some, like Mariah (no middle name) Carey and her daughter Monroe (no middle name) Cannon, it’s family tradition.

Personally, I don’t think it matters how many names you use, but what do you think? Did Uma go overboard? Where do you stand on name volume?

Stephen Amell stars as Arrow on the CW’s new hit show.

Earlier this week, Las Vegas-based rock musicians Aja Volkman and Dan Reynolds announced the August birth of their daughter, and they named her Arrow Eve. I was intrigued. Unfortunately, in the interview where Aja announced her daughter’s birth, she didn’t explain the name choice, and I wish she had. Certainly, any time a name seems to come from left field, I want to know the story.

And I want to know what you guys think – is this a name of the future, or just another inaccessible celebrity baby name?

Arrow, to be sure, is not a traditional name choice, by a wide margin. But I was struck by its similarity to trendy or traditional selections like Harlow, Arlo, even Aaron or Ari. We know that names that sound like established favourites often rise as viable alternatives to names deemed “too popular.” But perhaps Arrow is too far removed from these other trendy choices. Still, what strikes me most about Arrow is its distinct unisex qualities. While Arrow Eve is a beautiful combination, Arrow would be just as acceptable (or ultimately not) on a baby boy. Indeed, the people of the Internet appear to agree: the majority of online references to the name appear to be for boys.

This fall, the CW debuted their latest superhero serial, Arrow (that would be him, portrayed by Toronto native Stephen Amell, in the photo above). Based on the Green Arrow comics, it’s becoming a bit of a cult hit in North America (and I’ve heard from more than a few people that those abs could be why), which will only serve to bump up the (potential) name in people’s subconscious. Canadian indie rockers Tegan and Sara enjoyed the biggest success of their long careers with their 2009 album Sainthood, which opens with a track called “Arrow” (and is, in my humble opinion, the best track in the set), a play on the legend of Cupid’s Arrow. Listen here.

The name is a noted variation on Spanish male name Arrio, which means “warlike.” And in the wake of culturally significant apocalypse stories The Hunger Games and The Walking Dead, the bow and arrow is enjoying something of a popular resurgence. In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen is victorious with her bow, and in The Walking Dead TV series, beloved character Daryl Dixon is an absolute master with a crossbow. I’m not saying that the weapon is inspiring (and have stated previously that I think weapons make for dubious, negative baby names), but there are reports that enrollment in archery lessons rose in the wake of The Hunger Games‘ success.

But more universal than all of these pop culture references is the symbol itself, signifying direction. It makes this name the latest addition to the ever-growing list of Nouns as Names, which continue to find room on birth certificates as parents search for unique, original names with some sort of meaning. And that meaning differs for many: to some, arrows indicate moving forward, a symbol of progress; to others, an arrow belongs on a road sign, not a birth certificate.

So, what do you think? Arrow – name or not?

In the past week, no name has trended more than Malala – as in 14-year-old Malala Yousufzai, a young Pakistani activist for women’s rights in her native country. Specifically, Yousufzai is a vocal advocate for the rights of Muslim women in Pakistan to receive an education without fear of persecution from the Taliban. Her name began trending worldwide last week, after she was shot in the head by Taliban insurgents on her way to school in Pakistan’s picturesque Swat Valley, and it continues to trend while she fights for her life at a hospital in Birmingham, England.

Young Malala, who at twelve was penning a blog for the BBC and dreams of becoming a doctor, at a young age chose to fight, with words, the very people the world has come to know as terrorists against Judeo-Christianity and femininity. Pakistan awarded her the National Peace Prize last year, when she was just 13. But Malala never seemed like a reluctant hero though she knew the dangers sincerely. At fourteen, I was concerned with boys and boy bands, counting down the years until I could finally leave school behind! I could never, ever hope to have the courage and strength of Malala, for I have never known true struggle – I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth compared to the millions of young women born into societies where people choose not to recognize their human rights so violently.

Malala’s attempted assassination has seemingly awakened a renewed sense of anger towards the Taliban within her native country, but Malala’s story, her impact, and her influence are not yet complete. Today, we dive into a name with little to no popularity beyond the Pakistani-Afghan region west of India, but what a lovely name it is, with such strong and powerful connotations.

Young Malala inherited a name to describe her perfectly – the name Malala is born from this region of the world, and describes a woman so friendly she’s “as sweet as honey.” (Though Malala herself stated that her name means “grief stricken” in one of her BBC blogs.) But more than that, the Pashto name Malala (or Malalai) is a symbol of courage and bravery to the Pashtun people (the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan). In 1880 during the Second Anglo-Afghan War, a woman named Malala of Maiwand despaired over the loss of her father and fiance on the battlefield, on what some sources claim was to be her wedding day. The Pashtun people were losing morale in their fight against British imperialism but Malala, who has been called the Afghan Joan of Arc, held up the Afghan flag to rally her people.

“If you do not fall in the Battle of Maiwand, by Allah, someone is saving you as a symbol of shame,” she said. As a result, men young and old in the region took to the battlefields to push on in the fight against the Brits. Malala joined the charge to battle with renowned Afghan general Ayub Khan but was shot down by the Brits, approximately 18 years old at the time of her death. Instantly martyred, Malala’s countrymen went on to win the Battle of Maiwand, eventually maintaining control of their homeland as British India retreated – although they ceded their foreign affairs to British rule in the Treaty of Gandamak that ended the war. She continues to inspire generations of Afghan people, with many schools and hospitals named in her honour. (Just yesterday, Pakistani officials announced that Yousufzai’s school in the Swat Valley, run by her father, would be renamed in her honour, so it’s certainly something these admired and respected young women have in common.)

And Afghanistan is home to another young woman named Malalai who isn’t afraid to speak out – Afghan activist and former politician Malalai Joya. She was an elected member of the Afghan National Assembly from 2005-07, when she was forced to step down after denouncing the presence of reported war criminals in the Afghan parliament. She remains a vocal critic of President Hamid Karzai’s administration, as well as the administration’s Western supporters – especially the United States. In 2010, Time magazine named her among the 100 most influential people in the world, while the BBC has called her “the bravest woman in Afghanistan.”

Indeed, CNN today has quoted one social activist in Pakistan who reiterates the strength behind Malala and her name. “If Taliban is a mindset, then Malala is a mindset, too. It’s a mindset of educated and empowered women.”

Certain universally acknowledged differences between Western and Islamic customs, beliefs, and culture mean this name is unlikely to trend as a baby name for girls in the English-speaking world, though we may see more of it from people of the Islamic faith now residing in our home countries. And I think it’s valuable to know where the name comes from and what it means to people beyond our realm of understanding. Take these three brave Muslim women as proof that Islam is about more than it’s extremists, which is true for every religion, and proof that women of the West are not alone in their belief in themselves – and our battles, don’t forget, are usually not nearly as perilous.

Romy Schneider

Aside from Rafael, there’s another R name I’ve been seeing a lot of lately – this one for the girls and much more notable in the English-speaking world. Romy has been bestowed on four celebrity babies so far in 2012, a spike in use after languishing in the wings for decades – always well-liked, but never exceptionally popular. Are Romy’s fortunes changing?

The name Romy is of Latin origin, a diminutive of Rosemary, which means “dew of the sea.” The lovely picture brings nature to mind, and retains a refined quality despite it’s nickname origins. Romy is also considered a cousin name to Roma, an Italian name which first found use in the late 19th Century, perhaps en vogue to the ancient city of Rome, named Roma by Evander in his daughter’s honour. Romy has been particularly popular in Germany in the second half of the 20th Century.

Romy be helped by the fact that the name has proven cross-cultural. British artist and filmmaker Sam Taylor-Wood and actor Aaron Johnson got things started in January when they welcomed daughter Romy Hero. French model Julia Restoin Roitfeld, daughter of longtime French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld, welcomed Romy Nicole in New York this May. This summer, Dutch singer and Australian cricketer Ed Cowan both welcomed daughters called Romy, while German-British TV presenter Karen Webb had daughter Romy in October last year.

The recent spike tops another prominent year in 2006, when Italian-American filmmaker Sofia Coppola, French singer Calogero, and British novelist (and Bridget Jones Diaries creator) Helen Fielding all welcomed daughters named Romy, while Matt Lauer’s daughter Romy is almost nine. Filmmaker Rob Reiner and comedian and Seinfeld co-creator Larry David both have teenage daughters named Romy, while Ellen Barkin and Gabriel Byrne, American and Irish actors, have a 20-year-old daughter named Romy Marion.

This celebrity affection for Romy, including three filmmakers, might be down to the allure of German-Austrian French film star Romy Schneider (born Rosemarie Albach). She starred in films including What’s New Pussycat? in the US and Les choses de la vie and Une histoire simple in France. She twice won the Cesar Award, France’s equivalent of the Oscar. But her son David died tragically in 1981 at 14, and she essentially drank herself to death in her grief, suffering fatal cardiac arrest in 1982. Despite the tragedy of Romy Schneider, like Sophia, Ava, or Audrey, the name Romy carries an automatic, favourable sort of affection on behalf of it’s beautiful movie star ambassador. Granted, Schneider is less known in North America than in Europe, but it the name still resonates with numerous nationalities. Americans may liken the name to the late ’90s cult comedy film starring Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, with Oscar winner Sorvino playing Romy.

But despite all the love Romy seems to have going for it, actual use hasn’t translated in large quantities. The name has never been in the US Top 1000 (but parent Rosemary was a roaring favourite in the Jazz Age), and Schneider, whose film career lasted through the 1970s, is regarded as the name’s first notable wearer.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who loves – loves – the name Romy, though I’ve never seriously considered it for a future daughter. What about you? How high (or low) on your list is Romy?

It’s been a bit of a big week for trendiness in baby names. There’s Marissa Mayer, new CEO at Yahoo!, who is crowd-sourcing baby name suggestions for her new son, born Sunday night. This, of course, goes well and truly against most traditional naming advice, which encourages parents to pick alone, because they have to love a name, and live with a name, more than Joe in Accounting or even Granny in Boston. But as one article points out, we are social beings. If we’re willing to share what we ate for breakfast with the universe (coffee and a bagel with cream cheese – you’re welcome), why wouldn’t we want to share one of the most monumental moments, and make others feel connected to our moment, with something as participatory as crowd-sourcing? Would you get family or friends’ suggestions before selecting a name, or would you rather other people stay out of it?

Then, of course, the Food-as-Names trend is back in the spotlight, whether you like it or not, since the announcement of the birth of Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman’s daughter on September 26th. Olive is, granted, among the least polarizing of all the ‘food names’ we’ve seen over the past decade or so, and it’s nothing we haven’t seen before (Sascha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher cornered most of the attention for this one when they had their first daughter five years ago), but it served as a reminder of the long list of Food-as-Names celebs and celeb kids who came before – from Apple Martin to Peaches Geldof and all the little Clementines, to even Maple Bateman, born this February).

While I’d rather not wade into the should you/shouldn’t you debate on the Food-as-Names trend itself, I would like to feature a Food Name that I recently spotted, which may not, at least not at first, look like a Food Name to you at all. Like Olive, Ginger has many layers and is not exclusively a food name, but in the name story, after the jump, which inspired this post, food was distinctly the inspiration behind its use.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. So goes the old adage, which is put to baby naming practice pretty effectively in the case of young Ginger Olympia Georgiades. She’s no celebrity baby, though she kinda has a celeb-baby name. And while I’m not necessarily a huge fan of the Food-as-Names trend, I’ve always said if you’ve got a good reason for using a name, don’t let anyone try to stop you from following your baby-naming heart. That’s what drew me to a name I had previously dismissed as a simple character name from Gilligan’s Island, or a slang term for redheads.

Ginger Georgiades was born in Toronto in July, to parents Vivian Ng (Cantonese) and Andy Georgiades (Greek). She was born on the first day of the London Olympic Games, but her middle name was a done deal before the birth to honour Dad’s heritage, so it was merely a grand coincidence. Ginger, however, was thoroughly considered.

“In the Western world,” Andy explains, “Ginger is viewed as a spice, but in the east it is also considered to have healing powers and is consumed in great amounts by new moms – including Vivian.”

Unfortunately, after the birth of their first child, Rex Oxton (named for the Year of the Ox, in which he was born, from the Chinese Zodiac), the ginger that Vivian was consuming while breastfeeding seems to have made Rex cranky and unsettled, but Andy knew that Vivian would be unable to turn her back on her traditions for their second child. (Indeed, scientists have found that ginger helps treat ovarian cancer.) “It’s something she believes in,” he said. “She’s a traditional person and I respect her heritage. So before the birth I joked a bit, ‘Vivian, eat all the ginger you want, and let’s call her Ginger.’ Given everything that went down with ginger the first time around, I thought rather than it have negative connotations, let’s turn it around and make it something positive.”

Vivian loved the idea; their families were less thrilled. The couple did some ‘crowdsourcing’ with friends and family, all of whom seemed to like the name Rex (named for his family’s travel agency, in operation since 1973), but found with Ginger that “I guess we pushed everybody over the top,” says Andy.

There would have been those who pointed out that ginger was a food, not a name. There would have been those who could think only of Ginger Grant from Gilligan’s Island, the shallow but beautiful redheaded movie star played by Tina Louise. And there would have been those who know ‘ginger’ as a slang term (often deemed borderline racist, at least here) for redheads. But it’s incredibly unlikely that Ginger Georgiades, with her Greek and Chinese heritage, will ever be a redhead without the help of peroxide. The couple admits they considered changing their name choice on account of their families’ reactions, but ultimately had to follow their hearts.

Ginger, which has been noted as a nickname for the likes of Virginia (as in 20th Century film/stage star Ginger Rogers, most famous as Fred Astaire’s dance partner), is a word of Latin origin, meaning “spring-like, flourishing.” English origin notes that ginger means “pep/liveliness,” while the adverb ‘gingerly’ effectively means the opposite, describing actions done slowly and cautiously. But the most universal association is the plant.

And like many a Food Name, it’s bound to help your kid develop a thick skin, if they need one: Ginger Spice, Ginger Snap, Ginger Ale, Gingerbread Man, Gingivitis…the opportunities for kids to be total jerks don’t really stop with this name. It would be remiss not to advise caution with any names that bring to mind so many delicious foods.

What do you think of Ginger, or Food Names in general? Would you crowdsource your baby name?

Maui’s Napili Bay.

Kamakanaalohamaikalani.

The Hawaiian middle name of underwear model Antonio Sabato, Jr.’s one-year-old son Antonio III is a doozy (Jr. got married in Hawaii recently!) To the untrained eye, this 22-letter word is not a name; it’s a purposeful tongue-twister. But Hawaiian words have a tendency to be long, with phrases grouped together like compound words. One word, no matter how long, can often be directly translated into multi-word phrases. Kamakanaalohamaikalani, for example? It means “beloved gift from the heavens.”

Earlier this year I took a trip to Hawaii (and now that it’s officially fall, what better time to reminisce about the warm weather?) While there I learned one very vital piece of information in regards to pronunciation – which Westerners nearly always butcher. In general, for every vowel in a Hawaiian or Polynesian word, it’s the beginning of a new syllable. With that in mind, how does one pronounce Kamakanaalohamaikalani?

That’s easy. It’s Kama-kana-aloha-ma-ee-ka-lani. (Got that?

This rule, naturally, is not mutually exclusive (but when are linguistics ever that simple?) The two i’s in Hawaii, for example, don’t indicate that the 50th US state, the most Westernized region of Polynesia, is pronounced Ha-wa-ee-ee – but rather an indication of how hard one must hit the long e sound at the end of the word. On the islands of Lanai or Kauai, for example, the single i means you hit the end syllable much more sharply. Westerners have taken to calling the islands La-nye or Ka-wye, which is incorrect. English texts also tend to ignore the ‘okina, as in Hawai’i, or the kahakō macron (denoting a long vowel), although these parts of the Hawaiian language contribute to the meaning of a word.

I also learned that every Hawaiian word ends in a vowel – but the letter Y acts solely as a consonant as no words in Hawaiian end in -y. And with only 17 consonants in the Hawaiian alphabet (b, d, f, g, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w, y, z), the words inevitably follow numerous patterns. Long and flowing words that are heavy on vowels generally indicate that they come from this region of the world. The Hawaiian language – with English, the co-official language of the 50th U.S. state though less than 0.1 per cent of Hawaiians are native speakers anymore – is based in Polynesian. The colonial history of the United States on the island of Hawaii has also contributed to a pidgin dialect called Hawaii Creole English, which can be mistaken for neither of the original languages. Nonetheless, linguists worry about the future of the Hawaiian language as English, and lately an injection of some Asian dialects, begin to take over on the islands.

Like any language, the nature of it’s survival through the ages could be in names. Ancient dialects have derived millions of names in use today, regardless of the countless variations or alterations along the way. And our infatuation with Hawaiian names is nothing new – though we do use them sparingly without a connection to the islands of some kind. The top Hawaiian inspired baby names used in the United States in 2011, according to the annual SSA list released in May, were Kai from the boys’ list (at 202), and Leilani from the girls’ (at 204).

Kai means “sea” and has certainly found popular use (but it also claims Scandinavian, Greek, and Welsh origins with different meanings, which probably increases it’s popularity among non-Hawaiian parents and contributes to the Westerniszed one-syllable pronunciation). Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Connelly has a 15-year-old son named Kai, and British soap star Danniella Westbrook’s son Kai is 16. English footballer Wayne and wife Coleen Rooney had son Kai Wayne in November 2008, and another footballer, Dutch star Arjen Robben, welcomed son Kai in February this year. Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber welcomed Samuel Kai in December 2008, British-born former ER star Parminder Nagra had son Kai David Singh in 2009, and German-Australian soap star Ingo Rademacher (General Hospital), who lives in Hawaii, welcomed son Peanut Kai in 2008 (his second son, Pohaku, born last year, has a Hawaiian name that means “stone,” but it’s also used as a transliteration for Peter). Donald Trump Jr. and wife Vanessa had daughter Kai Madison in 2007 (which is also the name of NBA star Vince Carter’s daughter, born in 2005), and American actress Tichina Arnold welcomed daughter Alijah Kai in 2004.  Ryan Phillippe’s daughter with former girlfriend Alexis Knapp is named Kailani (that would be “heavenly sea”) Merizalde, but called Kai. The name is simple and sweet and has been a nickname for trendy choices like Kaya and Kiana (along with Guiana, it’s the Hawaiian form of Diana) for years.

Leilani means “heavenly blossoms,” from lei (“blossoms,” but in Hawaiian culture, the ‘blossoms’ are a literal representation of ‘the children/people’ as well as being actual blossoms) + lani (“heavenly”). Anyone who has been to Hawaii probably knows that you can get someone to meet you at the airport with a lei – the traditional Hawaiian gift of welcome, signifying love and respect for whom it is given. Along with a necklace and a ride to your hotel, the floral pieces are a quintessential part of the Hawaiian experience. In Hawaiian history, they could be made of flowers, seeds, shells, feathers, and even the bones and teeth of animals, and they were exchanged by ancient royal chiefs to signify peace between their tribes. Because of the symbolic gesture of the giving of leis, Leilani has also come to refer to the wearer – a “royal child of Heaven.” Former NFLer Curtis Conway, now married to boxer Laila Ali, has a 13-year-old daughter named Leilani, but ultimately similar, shorter names have proven much more accessible (like Laila, indeed!) to most parents. Some parents might be inspired by the standard “Sweet Leilani,” which has been recorded by Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, and Chris Isaak over the years, though it hasn’t been popularly produced in a while.

Not surprisingly, because of the Americanization of the Hawaiian islands, their Top 5 significantly resembles trends across the country (Noah, Mason, Elijah, Aiden, and Ethan), but names of Hawaiian origin obviously chart significantly higher on the islands. Kai comes in at number 12 on the boys’ state list for 2011, while Leilani sits at 24 on the girls’. Interestingly, while Malia charts at 314 nationwide, below Leilani, it’s number 13 on the state list to rank as the most popular female Hawaiian name on the islands. Popularized of late by the eldest daughter of Hawaiian-born US president Barack Obama, Malia is the Hawaiian form of Mary. (My name in Hawaiian is Apikalia – you can generate yours here!)

Other Hawaiian-inspired choices popular in Hawaii include Keanu (“the coolness,” as in the weather, but meaning and Keanu Reeves association gives the name a couple cool points!) at 66, Kekoa (“the warrior”) at 74 – a cousin to trendy, Hawaiian-inspired Koa, which I’ve covered, Nainoa, which means “the namesakes,” is at 87, with Kaimana (“diamond”) at 93, at Kainoa, meaning “the namesake,” is at 94 on the boys’ list. The similarity of Nainoa and Kainoa is no accident – na or ne is the plural form of ka or ke (the), and inoa is the Hawaiian word for “name.” None of these names crack the US Top 1000.

Hawaiian names in the statewide girls’ list for 2011 included Kailani at 39, Kiana at 45, Anela (“angel”) at 52, and Kalia (the name of a type of tree or sweet potato, it also means “waited for”) at 55. Only Kiana ranks in the US Top 1000, at 628.

Other choices popular in Hawaii include the male name Kanoa (“the commoner,” a reference to Hawaii’s monarchic island history), and female names Mahina (moon), Kalena (the Hawaiian form of Karen, but also a less-used slang term to describe “the lazy one”), Maile (the native plant used to make traditional hula skirts and for use in special leis, and the name of comedian Wayne Brady’s daughter, Maile Masako, 9), Kailea (“joyful sea”), Anuhea (“sweetness” or “cool fragrance”), Naia (possibly from the Hawaiian nai’a meaning “dolphin”), and Nanea (“pleasant, relaxing”).

Celebrities, like Sabato, have sometimes been a little bolder in their Hawaiian name choices, Koa‘s recent celeb popularity notwithstanding. FOX New correspondent Courtney Friel and husband Carter Evans welcomed daughter Cameron Kaiulani in April. Kaiulani was the last Crown Princess of the Hawaiian islands and her name means “the royal sacred one.” Evangeline Lilly and her Hawaiian boyfriend, Norman Kali, welcomed a son named Kahekili, which means “the thunder,” in May 2011. Actress Lisa Bonet’s children with Hawaiian actor Jason Momoa are named Lola Iolani, 5, and Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha, 3. Iolani means “to soar like the hawk,” a variation on Iolana. Nakoa means “the warriors,” while Namakaeha, which is a Momoa family name, may mean “family of millers” as an occupational surname. Manakauapo is another one-word solution to a group of connected phrases, from mana (spirit) + kaua (the rain) + po (dark). Both Lilly and Bonet named their sons for the stormy conditions on the nights their sons were born, and it’s not unlike Hawaiian names to make one feel connected to nature.

Visiting Hawaii, for a start, is to experience a unique piece of the natural world, still pristine despite it’s Americanization. Hawaiian culture, if not the language, still permeates everyday life on the islands of Hawaii. Metallica’s Kirk Hammett has sons named Angel Ray Keala (meaning “the pathway”) and Vincenzo Kainalu (“ocean wave”), though some consider both to be female names – The Walking Dead star Sarah Wayne Callies welcomed daughter Keala in July 2007. Actor Woody Harrelson, who lives in Hawaii, named his third daughter Makani Ravello in 2006. Makani is a Hawaiian unisex nature name meaning “wind.” And in truth, all authentic Hawaiian names were meant to be unisex, even though in Western culture, names ending in vowels are overwhelmingly considered feminine.

And we might like names for other reasons, from other origins, without realizing they have traditional Hawaiian meaning – Leia means “child of Heaven,” Lana means “calm as still waters,” and juxtaposing Alana means “awakening.” Luana means “content, happy” in Hawaiian, while Kalea means “bright,” Kaila means “style,” and Malana means “soothing.” Noa is a variation on Noah, and means “freedom.”

All these names with their beautiful meanings are splendid, but Old Hawaiians were actually encouraged to give their children names like Kukae (“excrement”) – a traditional practice said to help ward off sorcery. If you were born Kealoha (“the love”) but then fell ill in childhood, your 19th Century Hawaiian parents would have thought nothing of changing your name to something Westerners probably deemed offensive, presumably with the thought process that a name with a negative meaning could combat evil spirits. Certain other naming traditions were prevalent, and important, in pre-colonial Hawaii. For example, any names ending in -lani (“heaven”) were reserved only for tribal royalty, with the understanding that they were closer to God than the slave class. And poor Hawaiians never thought themselves above their station, until, of course, Western values were infused on their culture in the mid-1800s.

In 1860, King Kamehameha IV signed The Act to Regulate Names, which required all Hawaiians to be given Christian/English names. The Hawaiian people, who had also traditionally never had surnames, were told that their father’s names would henceforth become the family surname. Traditional Hawaiian names were only permitted as middle names, until the culturally debilitating law was finally repealed in 1967. Of course, most Hawaiians still use Christian or English names for their offspring to this day, but choice is nice!

And while Hawaiians of today tend to stick to the names with beautiful meanings, the typical selections most often familiar with Western cultures, you will find Hawaiians throughout the islands with traditional names that cause tourists to do a double take. My double take? Happened when I met a guy named Pa’a on Kauai. I asked him what it meant and he told me there was no English translation that made sense, but that it, essentially, marked one of the cornerstones of Hawaiian civilization, as in “just being.” Further research finds little, but I did find a translation of “spark of existence” that would line up with his explanation.

And now, a song that is so quintessentially Hawaiian that it plays on repeat almost anywhere on the islands that you go (I’ve had it on repeat while writing this post, so enjoy) – Hawaiian pop star Israel Kamakawawiwo’ole‘s take on “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” which is a classic. Commonly known as Iz, he was immensely popular in Hawaii, and became a national treasure when he died in 1997 at age 38.

What Hawaiian names are on your list?