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Articles by Abby Sandel

Abby Sandel is the creator of the baby name blog Appellation Mountain and mom to Alex and Clio.

Thu Jul 03 2025

All-American Boy Names

American baby names feel rugged and individualistic. They also capture the American spirit in a way that more traditional names might not.
Thu Jun 19 2025

Mermaid Names: Beyond Madison and Ariel

Searching through sources from ancient myth to modern movies, Abby Sandel uncovers a bevy of distinctive mermaid names, from Cleodora to Coralia, Oona to Ocarina.
Fri Apr 12 2024

Ten Secrets to Loving Your Child's Name

Ten secrets to choosing a name you love — and what happens after you've completed your child's birth certificate.
Thu Feb 29 2024

Active Verb Baby Names for Leap Year Babies

There is a whole category of energetic word names for boys that practically leap off the page.
Thu Jan 25 2024

In Defense of Emma and Ethan: Ten Good Reasons to use a Common Name

In case you've dismissed a name because it was super popular, this convincing argument by Appellation Mountain's Abby Sandel might change your mind.
Thu Nov 02 2023

When Should You Share Your Baby’s Name?

At what point did you reveal your baby's name?
Thu Sep 07 2023

Classic Baby Names on the Rise

Even classic baby names come in and out of fashion. The coolest classics of the moment include Eleanor, Theodore, and more.
Thu May 11 2023

Norse Mythology Names: Thor, Odin, Freya & Co.

Presenting a pantheon of powerful Thor-inspired names of Norse gods and goddesses, from Freya to Gunnar, Magnus to Odin.
Wed Dec 01 2021

Name Sage: Honoring Grandma Elaine

There's no question that this baby's name should honor grandma Elaine. But what's the best way to transform this elegant, feminine favorite into a choice for a grandson? The Name Sage has the answers.
Wed Nov 17 2021

Name Sage: How About Ambrose?

Their firstborn is named Henry Nolan. Now he's going to be a big brother, and her favorite name is Ambrose. But ... is it just too much? Or the next traditional name ready for revival?

The Nameberry App is live

Find your perfect baby name together in our app, now available on the App Store and Google Play.

  • Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
  • Names you match on are saved to your shared list
  • Recommendations that learn from you and your partner's picks
  • Invite friends and family to find names you all love
  • Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of name-preference data
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