Today, Appellation Mountain‘s Abby Sandel, finds some 2013 baby name predictions embedded in this week’s Nameberry 9 newsiest names.

As 2012 faded into 2013, the world welcomed many a new little life.  Re-reading birth announcements, I was struck by something.

None of them received outlandish names, but every one of them seemed nicely creative.

Some are memorable and meaningful choices, while others are mainstream firsts paired with unexpected middles.

Does it speak to an age where we won’t dismiss names as weird?  Have we stopped worrying that our children can’t be district attorneys or heart surgeons if we name them something other than Katherine or James?  Are filler middles really gone for good?

It all adds up to a great year ahead for baby names – whether you’re naming a child or just spending lots of time thinking about what we might name a child.  And that’s before we consider the latest addition to the Kardashian family …

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This week, in her Nameberry Nine round-up of the latest newsy names, Abby Sandel, of Appellation Mountain, looks at recent celebrity and other interesting name sightings. Also, take advantage of our CyberMonday Nameberry ebook special! Buy our ebooks for just $3.99 today only, in our store.

If you’re an avid follower of all things onomastic, chances are you can spot names evolving in real time.  Emily fades, but Amelie rises.  Quick, list a dozen other options for parents who want something like Emily, but a little different.

Easy, right?

It must be surprising – even overwhelming – to those who haven’t been paying such close attention.  Parents often lament, “We thought that Logan (or Ava or Isaiah) was so different, but now we hear it everywhere.”

Stories of grandparents surprised by the next generations’ names abound, too.  Last week, Nameberry explored the Top 10 Names You’re Going to Have to Explain to Grandma, packed with everything from Brooklyn to Ranger to True.  They all sound novel, even bizarre, if the last time you checked everyone was naming their kids Jennifer and Jason – or Lisa and Mark.

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This week, Appellation Mountain‘s Abby Sandel checks the labels on designer kids’ clothes and finds some stylish, sassy name options.

Every year a few kids are named after high-end designers, like Armani and Chanel.  Despite their luxury brand status, the names tend to feel a little forced.  Chances are that a kid destined to graduate from a Dior couture layette to Gucci toddler gear would never wear a name so obvious.

But your kid’s closet or the racks at the local baby boutique could serve as inspiration for a baby name.  Designers aplenty have launched pint-sized versions of their runway-worthy duds.  Equally intriguing are the names of the many labels launched to help us dress our kids in the latest fashions.

Ever since Elisabeth started writing her style column, I’ve been thinking: yes, the stuff is great.  But aren’t those names equally worthy of attention?

GIRLS

AGATHA

ANAIS

ELIANE

FLORENCE

IRIS – Iris + Ivy is another irresistible pair that could work as well for siblings as it does for a clothing line

IVY

HANNA – Hanna Anderson has been bringing Scandinavian style to the states for years.

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