I really want to name our soon-to-be daughter after my grandmother or my husband's grandmother. But my husband is not a fan of either name. We finally agreed to go with Lyla, using both of their names as middle names. Is Lyla Clara Melanie too much for a little girl? People keep telling me to just pick one but i'd hate to hurt either side of the family.

- Name Pleaser


You're not alone in wanting your baby's name to do double duty. Lot of parents today want to honor two (or even three or four) relatives with a single name. That's inevitable in this era of smaller families. When you have just one or two grandkids to carry on the traditions of two whole families, those kids' names have to do a lot of heavy lifting.

"I was named Margaret when I was born but have been called Peggy all my life. Where in the world does Peggy become a nickname for Margaret? I hate Margaret."

"Given name = Richard. Where does nickname 'Dick' come from?"

"I've liked the name Katie ever since I was a little girl. We've chosen Caemlyn as a first name and I'd like to use Catie as a nickname. Is this asking for trouble?"


The Name Lady's Recipe For a Modern Nickname: Take first syllable of name. Add -y to taste. Let stand until bored.

My husband and I love the name Agnes for our little girl. I made the huge mistake the other day telling my mother about "our" name and she made a big deal about how much she doesn't like it, and how my dad will "hate" it. I still love it. However, I have spent the last two days on the Internet trying to find alternatives. Nothing like the words from a mother to cause guilt and anxiety. Help!

- C

When you choose a name that goes against the fashion tide, you can expect mixed reactions. How should you react to nasty comments? You can take them to heart and reconsider your name choice. You can ignore them and hold fast to your own opinion. Or you can try to understand where they come from, to prepare an effective response. Let's try to understand your mom's reaction to Agnes.

What do you think of naming our baby boy Hans? We like the classic feel of it and it reflects our heritage, but we're wondering why it is pretty much never used anymore. Unlike other old traditional names, Hans hasn't seemed to make its way back to popularity. While this is something we like (a unique name), we can't help but wonder..."why?"

- Wondering Woman


With so many old-fashioned names making a comeback today, style can seem mysteriously choosy. Why has Emma risen from the ashes but Ida stayed idle? Why hasn't an old favorite like Hans come roaring back to the top the way other old-time names like Caleb and Lucas have?

Can you tell the story of a year in names? According the folks at BabyNameWizard.com, sister site to The Name Lady's own home base, NameCandy.com, their annual Name of the Year competition is a "cultural time capsule."

Site founder Laura Wattenberg and her readers look for names that reflect the times and set the trends. The Name of the Year isn't a popularity contest (look for Isabella to overtake Emma on that front). It's a reflection of the changes 2009 brought, through the window of names.

Here at Name Lady Central we see names of all stripes, from the common and conservative to the wild and woolly.

Most of them, even the woolliest, are chosen with love by well-meaning moms and dads. But a few name trends from the past decade have crossed the line. Here are the Name Lady's picks for the worst name trends of the decade:

Dear Name Lady:

My sister had a baby boy a week ago. She was undecided on a name as she didn't know the gender of the baby ahead of time. She finally decided on a name and made the official announcement to family and friends, but now she's saying she doesn't like her choice. I feel so sorry for my nephew. He needs a name so he can have an identity and personality.

-Aunt of Nameless

You're a good-hearted auntie, but don't trouble yourself feeling sorry for the baby. Instead, feel sorry for the parents. They're the ones fighting through new parent haze with the pressure of choosing a name hanging over them every moment. Your nephew, meanwhile, is paying no mind to the naming problem. He's too engrossed in new hobbies like eating, pooping and learning to focus his eyes.

What's a proper Biblical name for your Christmas baby?

Bible names are a core part of English naming tradition. John and Mary alone once accounted for a quarter of all babies born in England. Yet there's one key name that English baby naming tradition never touched: Jesus.

Dear Name Lady:

I have always loved the names Vesper (for a girl) and Kaspar (for a boy) ... but people laugh when I say them together, and I can see why. They are rare names and they have similar structures. I came upon them at different times but adore them both equally! I've thought of variations but in the end I wouldn't use them, it would take away from what I love about these names. Will I have to wait to see which gender comes first and then say goodbye to the other name?

- V or K?


Vesper and Kaspar are an unusual pair, but your basic dilemma is more common than you might think. Lots of parents fall in love with incompatible names. Choosing Charlie for a boy means you can't name a future girl Charlotte. Tyler means no Taylor, Jack means no Jill, Houston means no Whitney. You may yearn for both, but you have to pick one.