What’s Your Naming Style?

“Euro-inspired chic”

“Eclectic British aristocracy”

“Lionhearted yet fun”

“Whimsical and fairytale-esque”

“Frilly, with just enough clunkiness not to swing princess”

These are just a few of the fantastic descriptions our members came up with in this recent thread on the subject of naming styles from the Nameberry Forums.

So, we’re running with the theme for today’s Question of the Week: how would you describe your own naming style, in no more than ten words?

It seems like a simple enough question, but it’s actually a surprisingly difficult one to answer…

So often, our baby name loves are drawn from all over: from famous figures, to family trees, to favorite characters of stage, page and screen. And it’s not at all unusual to have markedly different tastes for girls and boys: just look at famous sibsets like Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka’s twins Harper and Gideon, or Australian actress Rachel Griffiths’ kids Adelaide, Clementine and Banjo.

But nailing down your naming style can actually be extremely helpful, no matter whether you’re dreaming up name combos and sibsets for “one day” babies, or whether you’re down to the wire  for a name for an imminent new arrival. It can help to whittle down your existing list, pick out perfect pairings and sibling sets, and provide a starting point for discovering new names to fall in love with.

So, tell us: is naming style something you keep in mind when building your lists?

Are there any names you love that you wouldn’t use because they feel like outliers next to your other favorites? Or any names you should love… but just don’t?

What’s your favorite style of baby names, on your own kid and/or on someone else’s?

How has your naming style changed over the years? Have you ever had a complete style overhaul?

Share your answers in the comments below, or join the discussion over on our Facebook and Twitter pages!