News & features
Feb 21, 2012
Her husband is a IV, and her mother-in-law says baby has to be the V. But this Mom isn’t too keen on following the family naming tradition. Is it possible to break the pattern without declaring war?
Feb 21, 2012
Finding the right name is as important in creating characters and writing a powerful story as it is in real life. Here’s how, and why.
Feb 20, 2012
You’ll find some intriguing new names among this week’s nine newsiest–as for instance Cadet, Six, Rembrandt, and Maple.
Feb 16, 2012
A Black History Month salute to African-American artists, some of whom just happen to have such intriguing names as Romare, Edmonia, and Dox.
Feb 15, 2012
When he likes one kind of name and she likes another, how can they find a baby name they both can love? That’s the challenge in our new Berry Question of the Week.
Feb 14, 2012
Beyonce and Jay-Z made more baby name news this week when they moved to trademark newborn daughter Blue Ivy’s name. What does it mean to trademark a name? And should you trademark yours?
Feb 12, 2012
Names in the news this week celebrate the Grammys, new celebrity picks, and the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens.
Feb 9, 2012
A chorus line of sweet but spunky vintage girls’ names that are now rehearsing for their return to the stage.
Feb 8, 2012
It’s a girl, but can a boyish name work? How about a name once used for a pet cat? Berries, start your baby-naming engines.
Feb 7, 2012
Holden has become a hot baby name 60 years after he was introduced in Catcher in the Rye. What other Salinger names might provide inspiration?
Feb 6, 2012
This week’s names in the news include Superbowl names, a name picked on a Facebook poll, a bloggerbaby, and some upcoming TV character names, plus a surprising future starbaby choice.
Feb 2, 2012
Names of patron saints that could protect your little ice skater or Girl Scout against everything from earaches to sore throats to whooping cough.
Feb 1, 2012
Our guest blogger fell in love so easily the first two times she went looking for baby names. But this time she’s afraid she’s come down with Baby Name Desensitization Disorder. Is there a cure?
Jan 31, 2012
These names are stylish, attractive, distinctive, unusual….but a little bit quiet. And they make great substitutes for your favorite names.
Jan 30, 2012
New names from celebrity birth announcements and from forthcoming films screened at Sundance star as this week’s Nameberry Nine.
Jan 25, 2012
This mom picked a name for her daughter that she thought was unusual, only to start hearing it everywhere. Are her other favorites also destined for superstardom?
Jan 24, 2012
Before she named her son or her characters, novelist Caroline Leavitt cut her teeth naming everything from phones to bras. What it’s really like to be a professional namer.
Jan 23, 2012
Do you prefer a clear-cut boy or girl name like James or Alice, or something more shaded? The debate goes on.
Jan 19, 2012
The Name Police investigate the Golden Globe-winning movies and TV shows for the most likely suspects to succeed.
Jan 18, 2012
Help this mom find a name for her third daughter that fits the pattern set with her first two: It’s got to start with an A, contain certain letters, and honor a relative. Are you up to the challenge?
Jan 17, 2012
Are there really any good unusual boys’ names left in the Bible? You bet. Here, a dozen obscure-yet-usable choices most of us have somehow overlooked for the past several centuries.
Jan 15, 2012
Our January newness theme continues, as these week’s Nameberry Nine gathers the newest name choices from around the web. Dare you go this far?
Jan 10, 2012
We’re all about newness today. Tell us what new names you’ve heard and seen, we’ll tell you ours, plus we want your baby name questions for a brand new Nameberry feature!
Jan 9, 2012
These days, some of the coolest names can be found in the pages of clothing catalogs, as can be seen from these intriguing Rugby Ralph Lauren choices.
Jan 8, 2012
What does a name really mean? Abby Sandel looks beyond etymology to meanings found in family, art, nature, politics, personal values — even colors, ala new starbaby Blue Ivy Carter.