Designer Baby Names: Fashion-forward names for your child
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
IRIS – Iris + Ivy is another irresistible pair that could work as well for siblings as it does for a clothing line
HANNA – Hanna Anderson has been bringing Scandinavian style to the states for years.
LILLY – Pulitzer, but also appearing in a long list of designers’ names, from Noa Lily to Kit + Lili
LOTUSGRACE – The label’s name is a smoosh, but Lotus Grace might be better worn as two separate names
ORLA – Designer Orla Kiely has been featured everywhere from Fashion Week to your local Target
PETUNIA – As in Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bags
PIPPA – Before she was sister to a princess, her name was part of the kids’ line Pippa + Julie
STELLA – As in mom of four, Stella McCartney
BOYS
BODEN – British brand Boden fits right in with current trends in boys’ names. Even if the clothing weren’t so great, kids would undoubtedly be wearing this one.
CARTER – The classic kids’ clothing line found everywhere, and the name has been a popular choice for boys since the 1990s
GUS – There’s Gus Gus Designs and Suki & Gus, too
HUDSON – The golf-inspired kids’ line Fore! Axel and Hudson matches a pair of appealing names that could work for brothers.
JOAH – That’s not a typo – Joah Love
JOE – From Joe’s Jeans, which now makes denim for every member of the family, including jeggings for newborn baby girls
KAI – The full name of the shoe company is See Kai Run
LEVI – From the iconic American jeans
MARC – Little Marc Jacobs is one of many lines
PAUL – From Paul Frank’s Small Paul line, featuring monkey Julius
RALPH – Ralph Lauren is everywhere, but his name remains in fashion limbo
SID – From British brand Lilly + Sid
SVEN – From Elisabeth’s Nameberry style post on footwear
The names least likely to make your kids sound like a brand? Any spelling of Lily, plus Gus, Paul, and Lulu. None of them are so wedded to a label that they’d be tough to wear.
Have I missed any of your favorites?