Jamie & Jools: Baby namers extraordinaire
Yesterday, Sophie Kihm presented her predictions for many of the forthcoming starbabies. In today’s follow-up, she singles out one of the most intriguing celebrity-couple baby namers, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and wife Jools, for a more in-depth consideration.
If there ever was a celebrity baby name Hall of Fame, Jools and Jamie Oliver would be in it. They have four children named Poppy Honey Rosie, Daisy Boo Pamela, Petal Blossom Rainbow, and Buddy Bear Maurice. And with their oldest child aged 14, it’s safe to say they were using obscure nature names and two middles before it was cool.
Obviously, everyone is very interested to hear what the Olivers will name their fifth (and sadly, last) child. I’m here to give out my top five picks for each gender. Anyone taking bets?
Clover– Clover would be perfect for a fourth daughter, since a fourth leaf makes the sprout extra lucky. Clover is a name that’s waiting to take off. If Jamie and Jools choose it for baby number five, I suspect American and English parents alike will follow suit.
Daffodil– Daffodil has a spunky British feel that definitely fits in with the others. Even though many parents avoid Daffodil because of the nickname Daffy, I could see the Olivers embracing it. Another name for a daffodil, Jonquil, could also be a contender, but that feels slightly formal compared to the other childrens’ names.
Lilac– Lovely Lilac screams “Oliver baby name” to me. Like Poppy, Daisy, and Petal, it’s sweet, youthful, and floral. Lilac is an elusive “on trend, but not trendy” name. The popularity of Lila and Lily give it major style points, but it’s not even in the top 1000. That makes Lilac a spotless choice.
Posey– Each of the Oliver daughters have a P name somewhere in the lineup, so Posey seems like the natural choice for one of baby number five’s names. With the floral tie, I’d say she’s a strong contender for the first name.
Tulip– Tulip is my favorite choice for the Olivers. It’s spunky and unexpected, yet cohesive with the sibling names. Tulip would be a fantastic name to complete the Oliver sibset–go out with a bang!
Basil– Can you get any more British than Basil? It originally came from Greece, but has unshakable English associations. Along with the herb connection and the fact that he would share a first initial with his brother, Basil seems ideal for the fifth Oliver baby.
Huckleberry– Admittedly, Huckleberry seems a bit out of place compared to the other Oliver childrens’ names. It’s a whopping four syllables long, while the rest of them are only two. However, stylistically, Huckleberry is a perfect match. Plus, the nickname Huck feels just right for this sibset.
Robin– It seems like Robin might be coming back into fashion with the boys, so now would be a perfect time for the Olivers to use it–before it becomes mainstream. The nickname Robbie is adorable, and practically the perfect brother name for Buddy.
Sage– Although Sage is used more often for girls (at least in the US), it strikes me as the perfect name for an Oliver boy. Jamie and Jools prefer feminine and casual names for their daughters, and hippie-ish Sage feels more masculine compared to Poppy, Daisy, and Petal. With a link to Jamie‘s profession, and Jools’ love of nature names, Sage could be one to watch.
Wolf– After using Bear in the middle for their son Buddy, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Wolf on the next birth announcement. It may sound a little harsher than Poppy, Daisy, Petal, and Buddy, but calling him Wolfie is instantly softening. And you have to admit, Wolfie sounds pretty cute in that sibset.