We credit Courtney Cox.  When she named her little girl Coco six years ago, she elevated that quirky Chanel nickname to a classic and made it appropriate for a modern child.

Certainly, there were notable double names before Coco Arquette, even before Chanel, from Zuzu of the petals in It’s A Wonderful Life to Mimi, heroine of the 19th century novel La Boheme.

But at no time have these names been more fashionable than they are today.  Whether given as full names or used as lighthearted nicknames for more serious appellations (my twin nieces Georgia and Louisa, for instance, call each other Gigi and Lulu), double names are worthy of consideration.

Among the possibilities:

Bebe or Bibi – Actress and dancer Bebe Neuwirth, who played Lilith on Cheers, is probably the best-known bearer of this name today, but there’s also author Bebe Moore Campbell, model Bebe Buell, and even (male) Nixon pal Bebe Rebozo.  In Neuwirth’s case, Bebe is a nickname for Beatrice.  Bibi – born Berit – Andersson is a Swedish actress who starred in many Ingmar Bergman films.

Cece – Cece is suddenly a hot baby name thanks to Jim and Pam on The Office, whose fictional baby girl is named Cecelia and called Cece.  CeCe Winans, a gospel singer whose sister’s name is BeBe, is also named Cecilia.

Coco – Little Coco Arquette was so named in honor of the first two letters in mom Courtney Cox’s first and last names.  Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha was born Mikhaila, and fashion great Coco Chanel, who was born Gabrielle, has said her nickname is a shortened version of coquette.  There was also Coco the Clown, though that image is thankfully fading.

Read More

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.

Read More