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All In the Family

kphillipschaplin
By kphillipschaplin
Updated Tue Feb 14 2023
List of family names we like
  1. Edna

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "rejuvenation, delight"

    • Description:

      Edna is one of those names that, until what it seemed like a few minutes ago, felt so terminally frumpy that no one could imagine a parent choosing it for an innocent modern baby girl. But with the great upswing in names honoring ancestral family members, several of them being other four-letter, e-ending names, we wouldn't be so sure.
  2. Eugenia

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Eugene, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "wellborn, noble"

    • Description:

      Eugenia, a name scarcely used at all since the 1980's, is another that flourished a century ago and could be due for a revival.
  3. Francis

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "Frenchman or free man"

    • Description:

      Since this was the name chosen by the late Roman Catholic pope in 2013, Francis has come into the spotlight.
  4. Hallie

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "dweller at the meadow by the manor"

    • Description:

      Hallie -- it rhymes with alley and is not to be confused with Halle or Hailey or Holly -- is one of those comfy nicknamish names that are in favor in these complicated times.
  5. Howard

    • Origin:

      German, English

    • Meaning:

      "high guardian; brave heart"

    • Description:

      Howard, once hugely popular -- in the Top 50 from the 1870s to early 1950s, hitting Number 24 in 1920 -- has been stuck in Dad-Grandad limbo for decades, but is showing some signs of stirring back to life. Along with such formerly-fusty names as George and Harold, Howard may soon feel baby-appropriate, perhaps with the short form Ward, or the clunky-cute Howie.
  6. Marion

    • Origin:

      French derivative of Mary

    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"

    • Description:

      Fun fact: Marion was the birth name of movie star John Wayne. Although commonly thought of as a female name today, it was actually more popular for boys until the late 19th century, and was given to roughly equal numbers of boys and girls throughout the 1970s-2000s.
  7. Minton
    • Oxford

      • Origin:

        English place-name

      • Meaning:

        "from the oxen crossing"

      • Description:

        High-collared and straightlaced, with the deadly "Ox" nickname.
    • Phillips

      • Description:

        Phillips originated as a patronymic surname meaning 'son of Philip' and has transitioned into occasional use as a masculine given name. The name Philip itself comes from Greek elements meaning 'lover of horses.' As a first name, Phillips maintains its connection to this heritage while having a distinctive surname feel that follows the trend of using family names as first names. While not among the most common given names, Phillips has a formal, distinguished quality that appeals to some parents. It offers the friendly nickname options of Phil or Flip, providing versatility. The name connotes stability, tradition, and a certain professional quality that can serve well throughout life.

    • Truett