
A boring blog all about... names! I've been a "collector" of & obsessed with other people's names (esp. unique) forever. Read this space for fascinating, fervent, fun (for fellow name nerds) commentary on first names: the good, bad, ugly & pretty. This is IRN (est. in 2010s via Freewebs) REDUX!
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
All About Alivea

Sunday, July 27, 2025
Meet Kelce Taylor: The baby girl with the name inspired by Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce
๐ถ๐Kelce Taylor made her special name debut at Liberty Hospital in Missouri, her parent(s) obviously huge fans of ๐ค singer Taylor Swift and ๐ football player Travis Kelce.
The big birth announcement has garnered 13k Facebook likes ๐ so far:



Friday, July 25, 2025
People only just realizing Hulk Hogan’s real name
Legendary 1980s ๐ชwrestler Hulk Hogan suddenly died and some social media users are now just finding out Hulk Hogan's real name isn't Hulk Hogan... ๐ฒ but ๐Terry Bollea.
The origin of Hulk Hogan's stage name goes: "It was after appearing on a local talk show in Memphis with TV’s Incredible Hulk, Lou Ferrigno, that he began calling himself Terry “The Hulk” Boulder because he was so much larger than Ferrigno. He first appeared in WWE in 1979 and was named Hulk Hogan by Vincent J. McMahon."
I knew Hulk Hogan was a wrestling name but I figured "Hogan" was still his real first or last name and "Hulk" was fake. ๐คฆ๐พ♀️ Hulk Bollea or Hulk Terry definitely isn't as striking as Hulk Hogan. ๐Hogan however is a real first name (it is Irish for 'youth') and surname.
I actually met a Hogan before. ๐๐พ♀️ He was a bank worker who helped me and I remarked that he had a cool name (at the time), in which he thanked me. No, I didn't ask if he was named after Hulk Hogan, but I assumed. ๐คท๐พ♀️
๐STATS ON THE NAME ๐Hogan:
https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/H/HO/HOGAN/index.html
☔๐IRN RATING OF ๐Hogan: ๐ OR ๐๐/10
Thursday, July 24, 2025
CELEBRITY BABY NAME REVEAL: Aquaman
Influencer Trisha Paytas named her recently first born son: ๐Aquaman! ๐๐
Seriously, as in Aquaman the comic book superhero! ๐ฅ So I like the fact she had the guts to give her baby boy a cool ๐ superhero name but... I have to admit this seems to be a bit too much... ๐ฌ I'm not an Aquaman fan but even if she'd name her son Batman (who I do love) I'd still have a dropped jaw ๐ฎ that there's a baby named after a comic book character! I have to wonder what if she chose a favorite villain (Joker, Magneto etc.) and went with that instead? ๐ค
Paytas on the other hand is a fan of Aquaman clearly. She says on her son's extremely one-of-a-kind name, "I've been wearing Aquaman T-shirts for years, since 2017 when the first Justice League came out. I have gone to so many Comic-Cons for Aquaman. And then I really fell in love when we rewatched Aquaman." Aquaman's name was actually predicted by ๐ถbaby name๐ consultant Morgan Timm! ๐
Aquaman's (that feels so silly to write! ๐) middle name is the Biblical ๐Moses, named after his father Moses Hacmon. Paytas said she considered Moses Jr. as Aquaman's first name. But with her other children, her daughters named ๐Malibu Barbie (adorable!) and ๐Elvis (wow!), Moses as a first name would have probably been too tame. Paytas says she was close to naming her son "Water," since her husband "loves water." "His whole philosophy was, 'We're just water.' I loved it, we should just name the baby Water."
I do like the shortened name or nickname Aquaman's parents could give their son: simply Aqua. One thing for sure, when he starts school, the other children will probably be tickled ๐ to have an ๐Aquaman ๐ in their class!
☔๐IRN RATING OF ๐Aquaman: ๐ OR ๐๐๐/10
Sunday, July 20, 2025
NAME OF THE DAY: Raeanna
The name ๐Raeanna is a "modern coinage possibly inspired by singer Rihanna." ๐ค
Raeanna is obviously a combination of the names ๐Rae and ๐Anna. ""Rae" is derived from the Hebrew name "Rachel," meaning "ewe" or "lamb," while "Anna" is of Hebrew origin and means "grace" or "favor." Therefore, the name Raeanna can be interpreted as "graceful lamb" or "favored lamb.""
However, Raeanna's roots are in the Welsh name ๐Rhiannon, "from the Celtic Rฤซgantonฤ, bearing the lofty endearment “great queen.”” ๐
The states where the most baby girls are named Raeanna are in California and Alaska. According to SSA, as far back as in 1975 Raeanna was given as a name to 7 girls. As of current in 2024, there were 11 girls given the name.
I really like the name ๐Raeanna (but ironically I'm not a huge fan of the names Rae and Anna separately... ๐ค). I like that it's an 'R' name, it sounds really pretty to say, plus I love it's so similar to ๐Rihanna's ๐คฉ iconic name.
⭐FAMOUS & ๐NOTEWORTHY ๐Raeannas:
๐Raeanna Sessegnon ๐ต (TikTok content creator)
๐Raeanna Ruiz (Malefactor)
♂️Masculine Version of ๐Raeanna:
๐RAYAN
๐ญI'm not crazy about this masculine version of Raeanna. ๐ฌ I'd prefer simply Ray (not Rae, that's too feminine looking I feel).
๐STATS ON THE NAME ๐Raeanna:
https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/R/RA/RAEANNA/index.html
☔๐IRN RATING OF ๐Raeanna: ๐ OR ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐/10
Friday, July 18, 2025
CELEBRITY BABY NAME PREDICTION: Rihanna...
Singer Rihanna is expecting her third baby with her partner A$AP Rocky, which may be their first girl ๐ค๐พ — a secret he seemingly spilled in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.
Rihanna (๐Robyn is her first name) and her family (๐Rakim is A$AP's Rocky's real name) all neatly have 'R' names and her daughter or newest son will follow that tradition. "It’s always gonna be an R name. That’s the one thing me and Rocky don’t fight over,” Rihanna says certainly.
If Rihanna is really having a daughter, it will be so interesting to see what name she comes with, as her sons have really wild, cool names: ๐RZA & ๐Riot.
Without further ado, my ๐ถ๐ฝ๐Baby Name Predictions ๐ฒ are...
๐ฅ...
๐Robinette / ๐Robina / ๐Robin
๐Rhiannon
๐Rakia
๐Rebel
๐Rain / ๐Rainbow
๐Reign
๐Royal / ๐Royalty
๐Rhapsody
๐Rhythm
๐Razzle
๐Rev
๐Revolve
๐Real
๐Ritz
๐Riviera
๐Richness
๐Renaissance
๐๐VIBE Magazine did a cute piece 10 Unique “R” Names That Would Be Perfect For Rihanna And A$AP Rocky’s Next Baby
We both guess ✔๐Reign, ✔๐Robin (they think with a 'byn') and ✔๐Rebel (spelled uniquely + an apostrophe) ๐๐พ
I will make a follow up post when the name is announced so stay tuned! ๐
NAME NERD NOTE: How did Jennifer Love Hewitt get her middle name?
Three Siblings Named James
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Embracing Amara Over Embrace
A new mother on Reddit community r/AITA posted: ๐ฃ Am I the a**hole for naming my daughter after a "verb?"
She originally chose the word/verb: ๐Embrace as her daughter's name. She loved Embrace because it was unique and thought it would convey her daughter is loving and open to change. But upon sharing the name idea — she got backlash from family and friends saying Embrace could be 'embarrassing' for her future daughter and it wasn't a good idea.
The mother posted an update on her daughter's name and shared she chose another name instead: ๐Amara.
"After some discussion and advice from my immediate family and some friends, we decided to name our baby girl Amara instead. Everyone seems to love the name (including us ofc) so that's good and we're set on Amara, but if we decide to choose something else we still have until August because my daughter was born on June 13th and our country gives you 60 days to register the baby after its birth."
Hmmm... ๐ค I don't think the mother was the a**hole but her family and friends were. ๐ Yes Embrace isn't a conventional, 'normal' first name but it's not a downright bad, shocking or inappropriate name either. The mother liked Embrace originally. That's all that matters. She settled for Amara and that sucks. ๐ I hope she chose/chooses Embrace as a middle name at least.๐ค๐พ I personally like Embrace over Amara. ๐คท๐พ♀️ It's prettier, softer and I love that it's a word name. I don't like Amara at all (outside of the meaning: 'grace'). ๐ ๐พ♀️
The author of the piece: She Named Her Daughter After A Verb And Her Sister Roasted Her Over It While Pointing Out She's Setting Her Kid Up To Get Bullied asks at the end of the article:
"Have we reached a point where verbs belong on birth certificates?"
Yes! ๐๐พ I don't understand why it's such a big deal when parents want to name their children something out of the norm of a Jane or John. ๐ Everyone loves a classic name, even I do and I even sometimes like 'boring' names. ๐ฑ But there's more than enough names in the world to name a child beyond Olivia and Liam. ๐ Whatever name a parent wants to name their child, no matter how offbeat/strange/unique it is (outside of actual ๐ซillegal names๐) — they should be able to do so without judgement. ๐
Monday, July 14, 2025
NAME OF THE DAY: Paris
Today is Bastille Day ๐ in France, so I will be discussing the very French name: Paris
Paris is the capital city of France. Paris got its name from the Gaulish tribe known as the Parisii.
๐Paris is usually associated with being a girl's name but ๐Paris can be used for boys (actor Pierce Brosnan has a son named Paris) too. Nameberry says in 2004 it was #157 on the most popular baby girl's name list but now it's at #484 as of 2024.
Surprisingly, America is the country with the most babies named Paris, not France — California has the most people named Paris. Interestingly, Paris is often used as a surname 74% of the time.
I think the name ๐Paris is pretty cool ๐ as I really like ๐place names. I like it a little more when used for a girl's name over a boy's name however. But either or, it's a stylish name that oozes well, style, oui? Yes. ๐๐พ
⭐FAMOUS & ๐NOTEWORTHY ๐Parises:
๐Paris Jackson ๐ค๐ (singer/daughter of Michael Jackson)
๐Paris Hilton ๐จ (hotel heiress)
๐Paris ๐ด (mythical Greek figure, the prince of Troy)
๐Paris "Paris Shadows" Vasquez (musician)
๐STATS ON THE NAME ๐Paris:
https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/P/PA/PARIS/index.html
☔๐IRN RATING OF ๐Paris: ๐ OR ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐/10
Sunday, July 13, 2025
NAME OF THE DAY: Harvey
๐Harvey is truly one of those old-fashioned names that seems almost outdated today. Harvey is not surprisingly even in the top 100 and at #244 on the most popular names for boys in 2024. "Harvey previously had a respectable run as a Top 100 name in the US in the late nineteenth and early decades of the twentieth century," Nameberry clarifies. Also adding, "the genial, old-timey name that has been much more popular across the pond in the UK. It was a Top 100 choice in England & Wales from 1997 until 2021, though 2022 saw it fall just slightly."
Harvey is of French origin and means 'battle worthy.' Behind the Name's further exploration of the name explains: "From the Breton given name Haerviu, which meant "battle worthy", from haer "battle" and viu "worthy". This was the name of a 6th-century Breton hermit who is the patron saint of the blind. Settlers from Brittany introduced it to England after the Norman Conquest. During the later Middle Ages it became rare."
Harvey is interesting in that it can be used as a first or surname. Harveys is also the name of a Bristol Cream Sherry. ๐ท Very coolly, there's actually a ๐City of Harvey, in Illinois. However, the states popular in having Harveys reside in: California and North Dakota.
I like the name Harvey because my brother ๐ (and father) has this name! ๐๐พ๐๐พ We both had the same middle school science teacher (at different times) who was named Harvey. My brother said the teacher remarked something to the effect of how their names were "once popular." ๐
Will ๐Harvey will make it back into the most popular baby names list in the future? ๐ค It's definitely a classic name that has stood the test of time. I think eventually it will come full circle and do so. ๐ซ
⭐FAMOUS & ๐NOTEWORTHY ๐HARVEYS:
๐Harvey Weinstein ๐ฅ (film producer)
๐Harvey Keitel ๐ฌ (actor)
๐Harvey Dent aka Two Face ๐ญ (comic book character in Batman)
๐Harvey Levin ๐บ (creator of TMZ)
๐Lee Harvey Oswald (JFK's assassinator)
๐Harvey Milk (politician)
๐Harvey Grant ๐ (former NBA player)
๐Harvey "Ras (X)" Lackey ๐ค๐ (rapper/producer)
๐Harvey ๐ (rabbit character in the film Harvey)
๐Harvey Spencer Stephens ๐๐ฌ (actor from The Omen 1976 movie)
๐Javier "Harvey" Guillen ๐ฌ (actor)
๐Harvey Englehart ๐ฅ (T.V. character on Smoke)
♀️Female Version of ๐HARVEY:
๐HARVA
๐ญI didn't know there was a feminine form of Harvey until now. ๐ฎ Harva looks and sounds exotic to say. I like it. ๐๐พ
๐๐Reddit ๐namenerds๐ค Community Thread: "Harvey as a girl's name?"
https://www.reddit.com/r/namenerds/comments/1d93a21/harvey_as_a_girl_name/
๐๐Nameberry๐๐ฃForum: "Harvey for a Girl"
https://forum.nameberry.com/t/harvey-for-a-girl/287674
๐STATS ON THE NAME ๐Harvey:
https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/H/HA/HARVEY/index.html
☔๐IRN RATING OF ๐Harvey: ๐ OR ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐/10
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
The Origin of How July Was Named After Julius Caesar

♀️Female Version of ๐JULIUS:
๐Julia
๐ญI like the feminine form of Julius. Julianna can be considered a female form of Julius too. I like it a bit more than Julia as I like how Julianna sounds and looks. Even though Julia is a pretty popular name, I've only known one personally. ๐ค
Friday, July 4, 2025
NAME OF THE DAY: America
๐Happy Fourth of July!๐ It's the perfect day to discuss the patriotic name: America
Behind the Name dates the name ๐America tracing back to the 19th century for being used as a first name. Nameberry says on the very uncommon unisex name: "Given to children of both sexes as far back as colonial times, this carries a lot of baggage. However, parents continue to take the risk. Actress America Ferrera may have inspired some families to choose the name. Ferrera's Honduras-born mother shares her unusual name."
America Ferrera made the name America popular as a first name in America. America says on being her mother's namesake, “I’m named after my mother. In Latin America, April 14 is the Day of the Americas, and my mother was born on April 14, so my grandpa named her America.” Growing up she disliked her first name and preferred that people call her by her middle name, ‘Georgine.'
America was #961 in popularity for girls to be name way back in 2015. The two states where there are the most American women named America: Texas and Rhode Island.
I'm a big fan of ๐place names๐ so I think the name ๐America is super interesting and admirable to give/have for a first name. ๐๐พ
⭐FAMOUS & ๐NOTEWORTHY ๐Americas:
๐America Olivo ๐ค/ ๐ฅ(singer / actress)
๐America Sierra ๐ค (singer)
๐America Young ๐ฅ (actress)
♂️Masculine Version of ๐America:
๐Americo
๐ญI like the masculine version of America. I actually knew an Americo! ๐คฏ He was a deacon / instructor at my childhood church. I thought his name was very cool and it's one of those names that always stuck with me because it's that rare.
๐STATS ON THE NAME ๐America:
https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/A/AM/AMERICA/index.html
☔๐IRN RATING OF ๐America: ๐ OR ๐ค๐
๐ค๐/10
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
NAME OF THE DAY: Scarlett
With actress Scarlett Johansson's new movie Jurassic World Rebirth movie out, today I am discussing the fiery name: ๐ฅScarlett
๐Scarlett surprisingly is a surname originally. A Scarlett: "denoted a person who sold or made clothes made of scarlet, a kind of cloth, possibly derived from Persian ุณูุฑูุงุท (saqrelฤแนญ)."
Scarlett Johansson's rise around 2003, is a reason for the rise of of Scarlett given to girls. As of 2024 it's the 27th most popular baby girl name. I'm kind of surprised it's almost in the top 20 list for girls. I thought the unique 'S' girl name that seems to be "everywhere": ๐Sierra, would outshine Scarlett. Sierra is #596 in popularity yet I've met a Sierra before but never a Scarlett. ๐ค California followed by North Carolina is where the most Scarletts reside. I assumed Georgia, as that is where Scarlett Johansson's namesake from the classic film Gone with the Wind was set in.
I think of more than the color scarlet when I think of the name Scarlett. I think of someone whose very alluring... ๐ But Johansson and her sometimes suggestive movie roles are probably to thank for that. ๐๐พ
I'm a fan of the name ๐Scarlett. ๐๐พ๐๐พ ✔I like color names, ✔'S' names and Scarlett is just perfect. ๐
⭐FAMOUS & ๐NOTEWORTHY ๐Scarletts:
๐Scarlett O'Hara ๐ฉ๐ป (fictional character in the book Gone with the Wind)
๐Scarlett O'Connor ๐ฑ๐ป♀️ (T.V. show character on Nashville)
๐Scarlett St. Clair ๐ (author)
๐Scarlett Harris ✍๐ป (writer)
♂️Masculine Version of ๐Scarlett:
๐Scar
๐ญI like the gender neutral form, Scar. It definitely sounds more masculine. It could be a cool name for a boy to have, if used especially because of association with the movie character, Scarface. ๐
๐๐Reddit ๐namenerds๐ค Community Thread: "Spelling help! Scarlet or Scarlett" ❓
https://www.reddit.com/r/namenerds/comments/8tec5x/spelling_help_scarlet_or_scarlett/
๐STATS ON THE NAME ๐Scarlett:
https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SC/SCARLETT/index.html
☔๐IRN RATING OF ๐Scarlett: ๐ OR /10
NAME OF THE DAY: August
Today is the start of August, so I will talk about the month name: ๐ ๐ August . August is not only the eight month of the year in the G...

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Since President Trump's name has been all over the news the weekend I started this blog, I decided to make my first name post on his: Do...
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It's Mother's Day today (Happy Mother's Day! ๐ to all the mothers out there) so I will be talking about mother / daughter names...