In what is fast becoming a Nameberry tradition, we turn our attention to names of the new season. If you're expecting a fall baby, these choices might inspire you.
AUTUMN — Autumn is ironically the hottest season name, the only one in the Top 100 where it's maintained its status for over a decade now. The name Autumn first entered the U.S. Top 1000 in 1969, inspired by the hippie nature names and word names. While it's still attractive, however, it's hardly fresh.
Names from other cultures that provide a newer route to Autumn include the Japanese girls' names Aki and Akiko, the Turkish girls' name Hazan, the Vietnamese Thu, and, in Chinese, Qiu for either girls or boys.
Fall month names are not quite as usable as those of the other seasons.
SEPTEMBER � Why are March, May, August and even January hot while September (along with October, November, and December) is not? Maybe there's something chilly about that "ber" ending. Still, this has an attractive sound and is certainly unusual. The Latin Septimus, which means "seventh son," sounds a bit Harry Potter and is perhaps too redolent of things septic. But Seven (let's forget that September is the ninth month, since we still have November to deal with) has potential.
OCTOBER � An equally unusual month name that gets an extra helping of cool from hipster writers Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida, who chose it for their daughter. Perhaps more attractive are the Latin pair Octavius and especially Octavia, both of which mean (as does October) "eighth." Other Octavius and Octavia variations you might consider: Octavian, Octaviana, Octavienne, the Italian Ottavio or Ottavia, or the nicknames Tavy or Tavia.
NOVEMBER � Certainly as usable as September and October, which is to say, not very unless you're extremely adventurous.
Nature names that summon up an image of fall include tree names, particularly:
ASH (any of the Ash names � Asher, Ashley � relate)
BIRCH
BRANCH
CEDAR
FORREST
HAZEL
JUNIPER
LAUREL
LEAF
LINDEN
OAK
OLIVE (and Oliver and Olivia)
PINE
WILLOW
The following may be a stretch, but other names that mean tree in a less obvious way include:
ADAIR � Scottish and Irish unisex name that relates to oak trees.
CORMAC � This handsome Irish boys' name means "tree trunk," which is close enough.
DAPHNE � Classic name that means laurel tree.
KEZIAH � Beautiful Old Testament name that means cassia tree.
LENNOX � A Scottish name that relates to the elm tree.
NIMA � Middle Eastern favorite, also found as Neema and Neemah, that means margosa tree.
PERRY � Works for both boys and girls and means "pear tree."
ROWAN � A unisex name that's also the name of a tree with red berries and that means "little redhead." Related names include Rowena, Rhonwen, Roan, and Rowney.
Fall's brilliant colors might also provide baby-naming inspiration.
Names that mean red include:
ADAM
CARMINE
CRIMSON
OMAIRA
RADLEY
RORY
RUBY
SCARLETT
If golden is the fall hue you prefer, try:
AURELIA, AURELIO or AURELIUS
CRISANTA
DORY
FLAVIA, FLAVIE or FLAVIUS
ORIEL or ORLA
TAWNY
XANTHE
ZARINA
Even brown, fall's ultimate color, relates to some appealing names:
BAIZE � A French girls' name that means "dark brown"
BRUNO or BRUNA
KIONA � A Native American girls' name that means "brown hills"
ROUX � Unisex and pronounced "roo," this might make a good middle name
SORRELL � Can be spelled with one or two r's and l's
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Nameberry (http://nameberry.com) is a baby-naming site produced by Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz, co-authors of 10 bestselling baby name guides, including the newest, "Beyond Ave and Aiden: The Enlightened Guide to Naming Your Baby."
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(c) 2009, Nameberry.com
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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