Friday, October 12th, 2012
According to People, Vanessa and Nick Lachey found their baby’s name on a street sign–Camden was the name of the street where their obstetrician practiced. But they’re not the only ones who found more mundane ways to select their baby’s name. Gwyneth Paltrow famously explained naming her daughter Apple because she thought the name sounded fresh and pure. Jessica Simpson’s daughter was given the traditionally male moniker Maxwell as a nod to fiance Eric Johnson’s middle name and his grandmother’s maiden name. And Nicholas Cage’s inspiration for his son, Kal-el, would be obvious to any comic-book fan–it’s Superman’s Kryptonian name, in case you aren’t quite up on your superhero lore.
The moral of the story? Even celebrities find their names the same way we do, by searching high and low for that one, absolutely perfect name. So keep your eyes and ears peeled as you go through your day. Maybe you’ll find the perfect name when you check out the name tag of your favorite barista at Starbucks, or the name of the park where you like to walk your dog. Maybe (like my parents), you’ll be inspired by a model house you love or a character on a beloved TV show (my brother would have scored the name of one of the Hardy Boys’ girlfriends from the late-70s TV show, had he been a girl). Maybe you’ll find it as you’re pursuing your passions–a favorite fashion designer’s name, the singer in your favorite band, or the name of your yoga studio. Or maybe it’ll just be after someone special who you love–your favorite aunt or your grandfather.
So keep searching for that perfect inspiration! And if you need any help, e-mail me at lamilbrand@gmail.com for a little baby naming guidance.
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Thursday, September 13th, 2012
Camden John Lachey. The couple welcomed their first baby yesterday, and chose white-hot celebrity baby name Camden for their son.
If you’ll remember, Camden was also the name chosen by The Hills’ Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler, QB for the Chicago Bears, just last month.
Camden is a British place name that means “winding valley.” And there are several towns named Camden here in the U.S. (most infamously, the New Jersey city called Camden has the highest violent crime rate per capita in the U.S.). But more memorably, Camden is the name of the historic ballpark used by the Baltimore Orioles.
It’s a top 200 name for boys, and it’s one of those great unisex names that can work for girls as well (though at this point, it’s still more commonly used for boys).
The middle name John is a very traditional, Biblical one, and is also the first name of Nick’s father, giving it even more meaning for the couple. John means “God is gracious,” and is currently in the top 30 names in the U.S., after reigning supreme for centuries. It’s a name with a glorious lineage, from John the Baptist through John Lennon—so odds are, there’s a John out there to honor. It really adds a nice rhythm to the name, given that both Camden and Lachey are two-syllable names.
I think Nick and Vanessa made a lovely name choice, and I’m guessing with the influence of these two young celebrity couples—both Nick and Vanessa and Kristin and Jay—we’ll see a whole slew of Camdens entering kindergarten in about five years from now.
What do you think of the name Camden? Is it a name you’d consider for your son or daughter?
Don’t forget to share your baby-name questions with me—I’d love to hear from you in the comments, or at my e-mail address, lamilbrand (@) gmail.com!
Watch for tips on finding the perfect name for your baby:
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boys' names, camden john, celebrities, celebrity baby names, nick lachey, popular baby names, top baby names, vanessa lachey | Categories:
Baby Name News, Baby Name Stories, Celebrity Baby Names, In Name Only, Must Read, Top Baby Names
