Child Development: Baby Names

Names from Common Words

Topend Kids > Development > Baby Names > Common Words

There are many examples of words from our daily lives that are being used as baby names. For many we can readily accept them as a person’s name when used in context, but for others it just does not seem right to call someone after a word that we use every day in another context. Would you call your child ‘bread’ for example?

Days of the Week

In 2008, an Italian couple wanted to call their son Venerdi (which means Friday in Italian). Friday has been used as a name before - it is well known as the name of a character in the book Robinson Crusoe. In Italy, local officials are required to report all unusual names to the government. The whole matter went through the court system, eventually ruling that "Friday" be renamed "Gregory," after the saint whose feast day fell on the boy's birthday. The court reported that the name was "ridiculous or shameful." I don’t know what effect this will have, as the mother was quoted as saying "My son was born Friday, baptized Friday, will call himself Friday, we will call him Friday but when he gets older he will have to sign his name Gregory."

Another weekday name in the news was the child of Australian actress Nicole Kidman and country singer Keith Urban who had a baby girl in 2008 who the called Sunday Rose. The name Sunday itself did not get too much attention, but the child has been amusingly called 'Sunday Roast' by many.

There are other names in this theme. There are many children named after the months of the year, for example: April, May, June, Augustus, Julius, Julia (though the months in some cases have originally been named after a person to start with). Also, there’s the seasons Summer and Autumn. Aussie Rules footballer Andrew Embley named his child Autumn Claire and I am sure there are many more examples. The time of day, such as Midnight and Dawn also crop up as names.

Foodstuffs

When Gweneth Paltrow decided to call her daughter Apple, there was much musing around the world. Another celebrity example is the son of General Hospital actor Ingo Rademacher, named Peanut. However, naming a child after other foodstuff is not unheard of.

The daughter of Bob Geldolf and Paula Yates, Peaches Geldof, is not happy with her name. At age 16 in 2006, she appealed to celebrities to stop giving their children ridiculous names. She said that her own name has made her life hell, which is in full Peaches Honeyblossom Michelle Charlotte Angel Vanessa Geldof. She is one who is authorised to xcomment, as she has three sisters named Fifi Trixabelle, Pixie and Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lilly.

The son of General Hospital actor Ingo Rademacher is Peanut Kai Rademacher.

There is one fruit of a tree which was once popular, and is becoming more common again as baby name - Olive. There are spices such as Ginger and Rosemary, and the name Coco may represent Chocolate for some. Is the name Hazel derived from the Hazel Nut?

Colors

The standard colors of red, green, blue, yellow, black and white have not appeared highly on the name charts, though other color related names have. Indigo, Violet, Ebony, Magenta, Rose and Olive. As always, there is a celebrity example: Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have a baby daughter Violet.

Animals

One of the most well known naimal person name is Tiger Woods, the golf champion. It is not the first time that someone was named after an animal. Other animal names include Buck (male deer). Some names have been derived from animals or the characteristics of animals: Leonardo (Lion). Also, some Native American tribes name children after birds and animals.

In 2009, Lionel Richie's daughter Nicole Richie and partner musician Joel Madden had a baby boy which they called Sparrow James Midnight. Other bird names are Hawke and Robin.

Flowers

Flower names are commonly used for baby names: e.g. Rose, Lily, Violet, Iris, Daisy and Poppy. Iris is also a body part – though I cannot think of another body part is used as a baby name. Wait for it.

Letters of the Alphabet

Among some of the unusual names in recent years registered in NSW, Australia was the name H (pronounced haich). ANy other examples?

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