Great Late 2015 Celebrity Baby Names
By Abby Sandel
Celebrity baby names were everywhere during the last few weeks of 2015. Saint West’s arrival dominated headlines, but plenty of other high profile families welcomed babies from Thanksgiving through the New Year.
These birth announcements came too late to be part of our story on the most influential celebrity baby names of 2015, but some of them could have an impact on what we name our children in the coming years.
As is so often the case, the names range from Top 100 favorites to up-and-coming possibilities to whoa, that’s definitely a celebrity baby name. And yet, this is one of those round-ups where every name seems ordinary, too. I wouldn’t be surprised to meet a kiddo called Lawson or Augustus or Quinn, not in Hollywood, Nashville, or here in the Washington DC ‘burbs.
Let’s take a closer look at nine of the most appealing birth announcements from late 2015.
Augustus Juppiter – Billy Corgan is best known as the frontman of legendary 90s band The Smashing Pumpkins. Now the indie rocker has taken on a new role, as father of son Augustus Juppiter with girlfriend Chloe Mendel. It’s a big name, a mix of Roman emperor and Roman god. As for the double-p spelling in the middle? No word from Corgan on why. There is a Smashing Pumpkins song called “Jupiter,” plus the name is spelled Iuppiter in Latin, and Juppiter occurs in some sources.
Owen Lee – From the grand to the straightforward. Actress Shiri Appleby had a big 2015, starting with successful new Lifetime series UNReal and ending with the birth of her second child, Owen Lee. Appleby and her restaurateur husband Jon Shook are also parents to daughter Natalie. They’re solid, Top 100 picks, sure to wear well for children born in the 2010s.
Amory Tristan – Actor Alan Ritchson and wife Catherine welcomed third son Amory in early December. Amory joins brothers Calem and Edan. The names are just a little different, the kind of cool, edgy choices that would be right at home in one of the movie series dad has recently appeared in: The Hunger Games.
Shepherd – Shepherd is an occupational surname name with a spiritual side, and a name that feels just right for a baby born around Christmastime. Singer Kelis gave the name to her first son with her new husband. Kelis and ex-husband Nas are also parents to Knight.
Lawson Brent – Country singer David Nail and wife Catherine welcomed twins in mid-December. They gave their son this fast-rising, versatile surname name – it’s a little bit downhome, a little bit buttoned-up. As for the middle, it’s shared with dad.
Lillian Catherine – The Nails went with Lillian for their daughter’s name. Siblings sharing a first initial can be a tongue twister, but I think it works for Lawson and Lillian, or even Lawson and Lily. Again, the middle name is all in the family.
Jasmine – Dwayne Johnson – also known as The Rock – has welcomed a second daughter. He and ex-wife Dany Garcia are parents to Simone Alexandra. Now Dwayne and girlfriend Lauren Hashian are parents to Jasmine. Jasmine is an interesting pick – worn by a Disney princess, subject to respellings and riffs like Jazmin and Jazlyn. And yet, the original Jasmine still feels like a tailored, even traditional, botanical name.
Francesca Isabella – Celebrity trainer Joey Gonzalez and husband Jonathan Rollo chose a long, lovely name for their new addition. But the most interesting part of this new arrival’s name might be her surname. Her parents combined Gonzalez and Rollo to name their new daughter Francesa Isabella Gonzollo.
Quinn Sophie – Actor Tom Arnold and wife Ashley have welcomed a second child. Daughter Quinn Sophie joins big brother Jax Copeland. The names are an appealing mix of modern favorites with more rooted middles.
Spotted any great names lately?