How I Named My Baby

Chef and author Abra Berens and musician Erik Hall set up benchmarks for success in baby naming. They wanted a rare name, something androgynous, and ideally related to nature. Inspiration struck, and they landed on the perfect name for their son: Lark. Abra shares his name story with us.

Allison and Jacob honor loved ones through each of their children's names, but their top girl name, Salem, had no family connections. Until a fateful birthday, that is. We spoke to Allison about Salem's name story.

Kris and Noah Romero choose meaningful names for their children that reflect their family's values and love of hip hop. When they found out they were expecting their fifth child, it was clear his or her name would be Quest. We talk to Noah and Kris about their daughter's name story.

When they found out they were expecting triplets, Jennifer and Jason Edgar were up to the challenge of naming three babies at once. They ultimately landed on Elise Caroline, Jude Joseph, and Lillian Laine, with each baby having an honor name. Jennifer shares the triplets' name story with us.

Lauren and Amir chose the perfect name for their daughter, Jasper Julietta. How could they follow it up, especially when great boy names are so hard to come by? A nod to Dad's Persian heritage and their new hometown in Arizona led to the ideal name for their son: Cyrus Canyon. Lauren shares Cyrus's name story with us.

After three girls, Anna and Ian knew their first — and only — son's name had to be special. They named him Osric Theo Peregrine, a name with ties to history, heritage, and hobbies. Anna gave us all the details when we spoke about Osric's name story.

For North Dakota couple Anna and Mitchell, naming their second daughter was a breeze. They decided on Olive Rebecca — two family names — before they were even pregnant, and kept it secret from the honorees. But what happened when their older daughter, Mara spilled the beans? We talk to Anna about Olive's name story.

Chelle and Chris knew they wanted a word name for their third son, but went into his birth with 1000 names they didn't like very much — hardly a shortlist! After a lucky birth en caul, his name soon became clear — True Luck. Chelle tells us more about True's name story.

Young man with a common name (John) marries young woman with an uncommon name (Beau). She wants to give the children original, uncommon names. He wants conventional names that will fit in on the playground. She thinks that's boring. He won't budge. After 21 years of marriage and name compromises, she names the baby John, in honor of the love of her life, but doesn't know what she is actually going to call him.

The best baby name advice from our readers, including how to choose a name with your partner, looking for a name with meaning, and following your heart.

Mandy and Courtney have a special formula for naming their sons. A masculine name with a girly nickname + a classic name + a tree name = the perfect choice! For their third son, the formula gave them Hollis Benjamin Ash. We speak with Mandy about the process of finding his name.

Sammi and Danny had their daughter's name picked out nine years before they found out they were expecting. It was an unexpected honor name that was meant to be. We talked to Sammi about how she and Danny chose Aria Sloane and her Hebrew name, Amalia Tova.

Allison and Roberto needed a cross-cultural boy name that worked in Spanish and English. Their secret? Look at French baby names. We spoke to Allison about how she and Roberto chose Mercer, and the very funny names their older daughters suggested.

Kristen and Alex knew their son would have the middle name Steele, but what first name is cool enough to go with it? They chose Xander Steele for their son, born in April 2021. We talk to Kristen about the process of naming Xander.

When Allyson and Chris Smith were expecting their third baby, there was only one name on the list — Julian. They named their daughter Julian Belle, a traditionally masculine name that feels perfect for their gender-neutral sibset. We spoke to Allyson about unisex names, family middles, and how she and Chris landed on Julian Belle.

For New York City couple Dara and Cory, naming their son Cade turned into a family affair. We talked to Dara about Jewish naming traditions, showbiz names, and how she and Cory chose the name Cade Bennett for their little boy.

Mary and Mike prioritized family names for their daughter, born on April 8, 2021. They ultimately landed on Elin Francis, a long-loved first name with a bonus family connection and a super significant middle. We spoke with Mary to learn more about the process of naming Elin.

South Bend, Indiana couple Lainie and Jack welcomed their first child, a son named Griffin Leo, in May 2021. We spoke with Lainie about family names, traditions, and how she and Jack chose Griffin's powerful name.

After a long fertility journey, Southern California couple Jessica and Kyle Lopez welcomed a daughter named Gwen Catherine in September of 2020. We spoke with Jessica about spiritual signs, celebrity associations, and the process of naming Gwen.

Sarah and Adam welcomed their second daughter, Cora Birch, in September 2020. We talked to Sarah about family names, popularity, and strategies for winnowing down the shortlist.

Andrea and Dylan named their son Casper Jerome — a name full of religious and familial significance. We spoke to Andrea about their choice and what they're thinking for baby number two — coming soon!

Taylor and Ben Olsen welcomed a son named Morris Oliver in April 2021. We spoke to Taylor about his name story, family names, and those MOO initials.

When Nila Latimore moved to Sweden and married a Swede, she knew her baby would need a Scandinavian name somewhere in the mix. She and her husband Anders eventually settled on Atlas Lucian Vidar, which represents their love of metalcore music, Space, and Swedish heritage all in one.

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.

After naming their daughter after Michael Jordan, Louisville, Kentucky couple Tiffany and Patrick knew they needed to use another legendary basketball player name for their next child. In August of 2020, they welcomed their son Kobe Ali. Here, we talk to Tiffany about their baby name process.