Hero Names: Baby Harlows, Presleys & Jaggers
By Abby Sandel, Appellation Mountain
Last week, designer Rebecca Minkoff and her actor-director husband Gavin Bellour introduced their new baby, Bowie Lou. Daughter Bowie joins big brother Luca Shai at home.
The new arrival’s name got me thinking: how many high profile parents have chosen baby names borrowed from other celebrities?
Of course, it is possible that the Minkoff-Bellours loved Bowie for another reason – maybe it is a family name, or maybe they’re thinking of folk hero Jim Bowie, who gave his name to the Bowie knife before meeting his end in the Battle of the Alamo. But Bowie inevitably brings to mind legendary musician David Bowie, a shapeshifting rock icon with a reputation for serious style.
Plenty of popular names could be borrowed from a celeb – or then again, mabye not. Dylan isn’t necessarily an homage to Bob, and Holden is more likely to be a literary, Catcher in the Rye-reference than a nod to to Academy Award-winning actor William Holden.
Other names are more clearly tied to a rock’n’roll legend or a star of the silver screen. You’ll find them in kindergartens, and you’ll find them on celebrity birth announcements, too.
Bowie Lou Bellour joins lots of other children with famous parents and an even more famous namesake:
Anniston – Grey’s Anatomy alum Chyler Leigh has three children: Noah, Taelyn, and Anniston. Anniston feels like a mash-up of the classic Ann and the popular Addison, but she owes her star power to Hollywood A-lister Jennifer Aniston, give or take an N.
Cash – Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash has a son who shares a name with another Rock and Roll Hall of Famer – Johnny Cash. The Man in Black has inspired plenty of parents – as of 2013, Cash ranked #243 in the US, and shows no signs of slowing down. Others who have used the name for a son include actor Josh Morrow, as well as country music’s John Rich.
Chaplin – Ever Carradine is part of a Hollywood dynasty. Her father, Robert, as well as uncles David and Keith, and grandfather John have all had successful careers in Tinseltown. So what name did Ever and her partner Cody Brown choose for their daughter in 2010? Chaplin, as in Charlie – one of the most famous actors of all time. It’s a distinctive name.
Gable – My favorite pick of this list comes from funnyman Kevin Nealon (pictured with son Gable). He and wife Susan Yeagley named their son Gable in 2007. In our age of girls called Ava and Audrey, it is good to remember that Hollywood is rich with potential inspiration for boys’ names, too. Clark Gable’s first name might scream Superman to some, but Gable is all Hollywood legend. It’s also an unconventional way to get to friendly nickname Gabe.
Harlow – Nicole Richie and Joel Madden made waves with their daughter’s name in 2008: Harlow Winter Kate. Blond bombshell Jean Harlow was a major star in the 1930s. Today, Jane and even Joanna are more popular feminine forms of John, and I’d bet on Joan to make a comeback before Jean. But Harlow? In our age of Hadley and Harper, Willow and Coco, Harlow fits right in. Ever since little Miss Madden’s arrival, the name has been climbing, up to #540 in 2013.
Jagger – The Rolling Stones are legendary in the world of rock and roll. Not only has the band scored plenty of #1 hits and sold out arenas for decades, Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger” topped charts in 2011. Still, it was something of a surprise when Soleil Moon Frye and Jason Goldberg named their second-born daughter Jagger Joseph Blue. But even if I don’t love Jagger for a girl, it is hard to dismiss the considerable style and swagger of this name.
Lennon – While we’re borrowing from rock icons, let’s talk about John Lennon. Oasis’ Liam Gallagher was way ahead of the trend when he and actress wife Patsy Kensit named their son Lennon Francis in 1999. In this case, the name is clearly a nod to the legendary singer-songwriter – dad is quite the fan. Today, Lennon wouldn’t be a surprise. The name has charted in the boys’ Top 1000 for the past few years, and in 2003, it debuted in the girls’ rankings, too.
Presley – Another early adopter of rock star surname style, supermodel Cindy Crawford and husband Randy Gerber gave the name Presley to their firstborn in 1999. Their Presley is a boy, but this name is far more common for girls. By 2013, Presley ranked #199 in the US – and continues to climb. It’s one-part Elvis, one-part Kaylee–Hailey–Riley.
Monroe – When Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon welcomed twins in 2011, the couple chose personally significant names for their new arrivals. Son Moroccan was named after the room where Nick proposed, while daughter Monroe was named after none other than Marilyn – Mariah’s favorite. Monroe also brings to mind a president and lots of places, but it is the Hollywood star who made this one a rising possibility for girls.
Would you consider using a Hollywood or rock legend name for your child? Which one?