Family Name News

Family names are appealing to many parents today. These news stories and features look at the latest trends and studies on family names for contemporary babies.

Creative Family Names Honor Loved Ones
Tue Jul 02 2024

Creative Family Names Honor Loved Ones

Modern parents are looking for creative family names to honor their loved ones. How do you find a name that is stylish, unique, and meaningful? We have ten tips in our ultimate guide to creative family names.
Grandpa Names: The Ultimate Guide
Sun Jun 09 2024

Grandpa Names: The Ultimate Guide

Grandpa names — the names that grandchildren call their grandfathers — are more creative than ever before. Bye-bye, Grandpa and hello, Biggie? Zippo? Grady? The choice is yours!
Grandma Names: The Ultimate Guide
Sun May 05 2024

Grandma Names: The Ultimate Guide

Grandma names — the names that grandchildren call their grandmothers — are more creative than ever before. Bye-bye, Grandma and hello, Glamma? Zuzu? Honey? The choice is yours!
Updating Popular 1950s Names
Wed Apr 17 2024

Updating Popular 1950s Names

If you’re looking for ways to update popular 1950s names for a modern baby, the good news is that there is plenty of scope for creativity! You might choose a fresher version of the name or look to meaning or key sounds to find clever ways to reinvent important honor names.
Last Names as First Names: Welcome to the Next Wave
Tue Feb 27 2024

Last Names as First Names: Welcome to the Next Wave

Each generation has its own favorite surname baby names. Meet the next wave of up-and-coming last names, and discover cool, fresh alternatives to the popular choices.
Why You Might Need a Baby Name Backup Plan (or Four)
Sun Jan 28 2024

Why You Might Need a Baby Name Backup Plan (or Four)

Overthinking baby names, obsessing over popularity, changing plans at the last minute...some things haven't changed in 40 years! Guest author Mary McKay recalls the challenges and plot twists of naming her children in the 1980s.
100 Most Common Last Names in the US
Wed Jan 24 2024

100 Most Common Last Names in the US

100 most common last names in the US are collected here, with their origins and meanings. Is yours on the list?
Some Surprising Surnames to Consider
Sun Dec 10 2023

Some Surprising Surnames to Consider

Looking for a stylish surname that's not too popular? Here are some ideas with interesting and unexpected origins.
Family Names Are Getting More Adventurous
Thu Nov 16 2023

Family Names Are Getting More Adventurous

Thanksgiving means family and family names. Here's our ultimate guide to choosing the newest, most creative names with family meaning.
How to Pick the Perfect Multilingual Name
Sun Nov 05 2023

How to Pick the Perfect Multilingual Name

Finding a name that works across languages AND which you love can be a challenge — and an opportunity to tie cultures together. Read our top tips for getting the balance right.
I Named My Son Liam Before It Got Popular
Wed Oct 25 2023

I Named My Son Liam Before It Got Popular

Many parents worry that our favorite name is about to be the Next Big Thing. That's exactly what happened to Kathleen Donohoe and her husband, who named their son Liam shortly before it shot to the top of the charts. Find out why they have no regrets, and how Liam's name fits perfectly into the story of their family.
Unique Twin Names to Inspire
Sat Oct 21 2023

Unique Twin Names to Inspire

Unique twin names can be a challenge to find, but also great fun! Here are some uncommon twin name pairings with subtle connections to inspire you.
Vintage Surname Names Come Back Around
Sat Sep 09 2023

Vintage Surname Names Come Back Around

Vintage surname names? Yes, this modern trend isn't so modern after all. See the top surname names from a century ago, along with unique choices from our secret source.
How to Choose a Grandparent Name You Love
Sun Aug 06 2023

How to Choose a Grandparent Name You Love

Are you more of a Grandma or a Nana? Or perhaps Mimi or Spicy? Our guide to grandparent names is full of ideas — and fun reader stories — from the traditional to the one-of-a-kind.
How to Choose Anagram Names for Large Families
Tue Apr 25 2023

How to Choose Anagram Names for Large Families

The best anagram names for siblings, beyond Heaven and Nevaeh.
Ask the Name Guru: Can I Use an Honor Name Without the Honor?
Tue Oct 19 2021

Ask the Name Guru: Can I Use an Honor Name Without the Honor?

Erin and Michael's favorite name for their baby girl is Nora — coincidentally connected to a grandmother that doesn't make the honoree shortlist. Can they use the name Nora without an association with Grandma? The Name Guru shares her take.
Keeping the Tradition Alive: 150+ Years of Ursula and Mildred
Tue Sep 28 2021

Keeping the Tradition Alive: 150+ Years of Ursula and Mildred

Ursula Amatrudo-Roman is a part of a multi-generational naming tradition, where the women name their daughters after their own mothers. For over a century, these women have been alternately named Ursula and Mildred. Will she continue the tradition for her own daughter?
August Babyberry Names Bring It Home
Mon Sep 06 2021

August Babyberry Names Bring It Home

Strong links to heart, home and heritage run through all of the wonderful names chosen by Nameberry members in August.
Summer Babyberries Born from Nature
Mon Aug 02 2021

Summer Babyberries Born from Nature

Nameberry’s July birth announcements are in, and our members’ beautiful picks over the past month are brimming with natural connections to the earth and sky.
How I Named My Baby: Natalie Mara
Wed May 26 2021

How I Named My Baby: Natalie Mara

Lisa and Gene welcomed a daughter in January 2021 they named Natalie Mara — a meaningful choice that honors heritage and cherished loved ones. We talked to Lisa about naming traditions and the process of naming Natalie.
March Babyberries Welcome the Spring!
Mon Apr 05 2021

March Babyberries Welcome the Spring!

Spring baby names abound in our latest batch of beautiful birth announcements from Nameberry members!
Joyful Names Honor Grandma
Wed Dec 16 2020

Joyful Names Honor Grandma

They want to honor grandma with their new daughter’s name. Except grandma’s name? Gay. Time to reinvent this family name for the twenty-first century, either by meaning, sound, or some combination of both.
Why So Few Girl Juniors?
Mon Nov 30 2020

Why So Few Girl Juniors?

Some of the reasons why so few moms choose to pass their names on to their daughters.
Celebrity Middle Names First
Wed May 13 2020

Celebrity Middle Names First

You might be surprised at how many celebs have swapped their first names for their middles. Another reason to focus on your middle-name choice.
Boy Names Balance the Traditional and New
Wed Apr 15 2020

Boy Names Balance the Traditional and New

She loves rare and unexpected names. He likes to keep it more traditional. Sound familiar? It’s the classic tug-of-war between too-common and too-out-there for this couple. Let’s help them name a brother for Scout Valentine.