Canadian Baby Names? Yes!
Posted July 1st, 2009
Today being Canada Day–which is roughly equivalent to the US Independence Day–it seems like a good opportunity to browse through the bilingual Canadian name bank and see what we can find–actually, more unusual–even exotic– names than you might expect. For instance, in the French colonies known as Acadia, there are such boys’ names as:
ALPHE
ELZEAR
EMELIEN
LEONIDE
PACIFIQUE (unisex)
THEDDY
and girls:
EMERISE
LITIAN
MELANEA
VIVINE
POPULARITY
Canada as a whole shares many of the names popular in the US. Across the country the top names are Ava and Ethan, and in some of the individual provinces other #1 names are Emily, Emma, Jacob, Logan, Ryan and William. More disparate choices in the national girls’ Top 20: Maya, Danica and Claire.
The more unique names appear, not surprisingly, in the French-speaking province of Quebec, where the Most Popular list includes:
GIRLS
ARINE
FLORENCE (#4)
LEA (#1)
ROSALIE (#3)
BOYS
CELEBRITIES
Some of the more interesting names of Canadian-born celebs:
ALANIS Morissette
AVRIL Lavigne
COCO Rocha
HAYDEN Christensen
MAVIS Gallant
MIA Kirshner
MORDECAI Richler
NATALIE Appleton
NATASHA Henstridge
NELLY Fertado
PLACE NAMES
And, finally, some Canadian place names that could conceivably morph into people names:
AIRDRIE
ALBERNI
AVOLA
CALGARY
CANSO
CASSAIR
CELISTA
KILLAM
LEDUC
LIARD
LIVELY
MAHONE
MANITOBA
SALLIQ
SAVONA
TRURO
YUKON
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Alanis Morissette, Avril Lavigne, baby name popularity, Boys' Names, Canada place names, Canadian baby names, Canadian celebrities, Canadian celebrity names, Canadian names, Celebrity Names, Celine Dion, Elisha Cuthbert, Estella WArren, ethnic baby names, Evangeline Lilly, exotic baby names, famous names, girl names, Girls' Names, international baby names, Leonard Cohen, Mia Kirshner, name ideas, namesakes, Natasha Henstridge, Nelly Fertado, place names, Popular Canadian names, Shania Twain, Uncategorizedcomments
10 Responses to “Canadian Baby Names? Yes!”
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Nicola Says:
July 1st, 2009 at 11:20 am
I named my younger sister Savona. I thought I had invented it. A combination of our parents names. But then I found out it was a placename in Italy and now I find out it’s a placename in Canada. Very cool.
Abby Says:
July 1st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I adore Avalon – almost enough to have another child, just to tuck it in the middle!
Interesting that’s there’s Oceane and Pacifique … no Atlantique? 
belatrix Says:
July 1st, 2009 at 2:00 pm
My father was of Quebecois descent and I used a name from his ancestors, Rejeanne (Rejean for boys), for one of my daughters. We also have an Archange (female) in the family and I’d love to use it but I don’t think the American tongue can do it justice!
Lauren Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
I absolutely love the name Avril… but my husband won’t go for it because of the Avril Lavigne association. Also love Raphael, Evangeline, Neve.
Sophie Says:
August 15th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
I love love love the name Olivier! Even though it’s less masculine than say, Alex or Jack, I think it sounds so lovely and soft. I also think it’s a great alternative to the ever-popular Oliver. Maybe I’m just biased because I once knew a gorgeous Canadian guy named Olivier…
Namecrazy Says:
February 27th, 2011 at 12:39 am
Wow…I really don’t like most of these names. I like Felix (that’s my bro’s name) and Lennox is cool but I’d have to use it for a girl because when I think Lennox I think Mary Lennox from the secret garden.
Heat Says:
April 26th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
This is a link to the top baby names in my home province of British Columbia: http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca/babynames/baby2010.html
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I love some of those Acadian names! Emerise really intrigues me.