04/28/2008

Hi Jennifer!

I really like your BABY NAMES column, because it's very interesting to see other's points of views.

I met a girl, and her name is OLYA. She said she was adopted in Russia as a little girl. You pronounce her name: "OLE YUH." I think the name is beautiful, although I can't seem to find it in your data bases. Is it a form of Olga? I put Olya on my list anyway, but appreciate your generous help.

Thank you!
-Maddie

Dear Maddie,

Olya is a nickname or pet form of the name Olga. Olga means "Holy." I have added it to our database.

Thanks for the kind words!

Sincerely,
Jennifer Moss

04/28/2008

Hi Jennifer

I am not asking you to name my baby but am asking for advice on blending names. My mother is Lynette Eileen and my Husbands mother is Janet Carmel. I do not like any of these names but like the idea of naming after our mothers. I blended the names and came up with Carlene/Carleen but my husband doesn't like it. DO you have any tips on how I can name after people when I don't like the names.

Thanks
Monica

Hi, Monica,

There are many things you can do to honor a relative other than to use a direct blending of two names. You could use initials or names that are similar to their names. You could also look up the meanings, and use a name that means the same thing.

The other thing you can do is use one name for the first name and one for the middle, like Linnea Jane, so you are not combining the names together.

If you do decide to combine them to create a name, make sure it's easy to spell and easy to pronounce! Don't go crazy and end up with something like Lynetamel Carleenamel! :)

Sincerely,
Jennifer

04/28/2008

Hi Jennifer,

My husband and I both like the name Oliver. However, our last name is Palmer. Do you think it is too redundant to have an "er" at the end of the first and last name?
Thanks!

Katie

Dear Katie,

No, I don't think Oliver Palmer sounds redundant. Sometimes a double sound can make a name very recognizable. Now, I wouldn't recommend someone name their son Oliver Toliver... and I'm sure there are some out there, but that name is open to teasing. Oliver Palmer, on the other hand, is memorable and sounds important!

Good luck,
Jennifer

04/28/2008

Hi Jennifer

I wish to name my baby girl OSHIN. Her D.O.B. is 25.11.2007. I heard this name somewhere, but am not sure about the meaning. Can you please help.

Catherine

Hi, Catherine,

Well, if your baby was born last November, doesn't she already have a name?

Ne'ertheless, I'm pretty sure the name OSHIN is just a respelling of the name OCEAN, which means "The Sea."

Thanks for writing,
Jennifer Moss

04/28/2008

Dear Jennifer;

I've looked everywhere for my name and the best I could get is that it's a spin-off of another name.

My name's Amilee and I reckon it's a different form of Amelie. I've always pronounced it Eh-mah-lee though, could I have been mis pronouncing my name my whole life too?

Please help me! It's getting me down not knowing the origin or meaning of my name. Though it's wonderful being original!

Thanks a lot!
Amilee

Dear Amilee,

Most probably your name is a combination of two names: Amy (Ami) and Lee. Did you ask your parents how they chose it? Sometimes if you hear the story of how they found the name (or created it), it gives you some insight into the name itself.

It's very common in the U.S. South to combine names, like Geri Lee, Bobby Rae, etc.

As for the pronunciation--there is no right or wrong. The way YOU pronounce your name is the correct way.

Amilee is a beautiful name! Congratulations.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Moss

04/28/2008

Jennifer,

My husband and I are expecting twin boys. We have their names picked out as Brody Matthew and Finn Jacob. Our only concern is that Matthew is my husbands name and since we are having twins, should we try to incorporate my husbands name into Finn's name as well? We don't want him to feel "left out" in the future, especially if it becomes a tradition to carry on the name of Matthew or such. Your advice would be much appreciated!

Jenna and Matt

Dear Jenna and Matt,

If you are going to incorporate the father's name into one of the twins' names, I would incorporate the mother's name into the other. Obviously you don't want to use Jenna, but something similar like Jenner, Jesse, or Jerrin.

If that doesn't work, then I would definitely choose another middle name for Brody. I wouldn't want to have one child with a name honoring his parents when the other isn't. I suspect you agree, or you wouldn't have asked!

Sincerely,
Jennifer Moss

04/28/2008

Jennifer-

My husband and I (along with our 3-year-old daughter) really like the name Tanner for our baby boy—expected in May; my only issue with the name, however, is that it may be too little boyish—a name that will not grow with him into manhood. Perhaps this is just because Tanner is not a name that was used years ago, thus, there are no adult Tanners out there today?

Regardless, it's still towards the top of our list, but I can't quite give it the definite stamp of approval yet. What are your thoughts on the name Tanner? Too "cutesy" for a man? Can you picture, for instance, an accountant, teacher, or firefighter named Tanner?

Laura


Hi, Laura,

According to the US Social Security stats, the name Tanner was in the top 100 names from the year 1993 to 2000. That means there will be many Tanners out there growing up to be many things.

The name originally is an occupational surname, meaning leather tanner. I, personally, never thought of it as a "cutesy" name, it sounds pretty manly to me!

Hope that helps!
Jennifer Moss