A blog all about... names! I've been a "collector" of & obsessed with other people's first names (esp. unique, unusual & uncommon) forever. Read this space for fascinating, fervent, fun (for fellow name nerds): news, facts, commentary & anecdotes on names - the good, bad, ugly & pretty. This is IRN (est. in 2010s via Freewebs) REDUX!
๐บReality show ๐Love ๐Island USA (season 8) has a male cast member with the ๐heartfelt name of ๐Sincere.
Sincere's introduction on ๐Love ๐Island is cute ๐๐พ:
"My name is Sincere. I'm 25 years old and I'm from Cape May, New Jersey. I love my name. I like to be cheesy. I often end my emails or letters, I be like, Sincerely, Sincere."
Ariana Madix (host): "Sincere, I love your name. Do you feel like you live up to your name?"
Sincere is derived from the Latin word sincerus meaning "pure and clean", ๐Nameberry๐ says. "Sincere is associated with being honest, acting from the heart, and feeling deeply - qualities many parents hope their children grow up to possess. Reminiscent of Puritan and Pilgrim name choices, Sincere is a relatively modern virtue name that has been in the US Top 1000 since the 2000s. The name was given to nearly 500 boys in 2023, placing it within the Top 600, and while the name does feel bold, it also fits in besides Chosen, Loyal, and Boone," ๐NB๐ further explains. ๐Sincerecan also be used as a ๐girl's name. Sincere for baby ๐boyscurrently ranks at #631 in US Top 1000.
๐New Jersey is where the most Sinceres live (✔๐Love ๐Island'sSincere is from the state).
I love ๐ the name ๐Sincere. I ๐๐พheard Sincere first as a name in a urban crime ๐ฅfilm character during the ⏪90s. But never as a real first name until recently. I like the duality of the nameSincere ๐คท๐พ♀️ — on one hand by definition it means 'honest' ๐ but... that 'Sin' ๐ start of the name spells trouble (and that seems to be the case with ๐Love ๐Island'sSincere. He's being referred to as a "villain" in the villa due to him making a ๐ fish comment about women ๐ฎ). I see someone named Sincere as someone nice but with a naughty ๐ side. I think it's a really cool ๐ name to give and have. Plus it could be fun for the wearer of ๐Sincere to truly play up either the ๐"good" or ๐"bad" sides — within their genuinely, really great name.
With ๐rapper Drake breaking ๐ฅ the internet ๐ป with the release of his new ๐ฟalbum ๐งIceman plus two ๐ฎsurprise albums — I will be talking about the ๐ผIn My Feelings (aka "Kikido you love me?") ๐คsinger's stage name and middle name: ๐Drake
The ๐ฃpodcaster BobbiAlthoff had Drake on her show for the first time years ago, and a funny ๐ discussion was had on his name (@๐00:35 & @๐27:33):
Can you introduce yourself?
Drake
That's not your name
That is my middle name
That's not your real name
That's my government name, middle name
Why would you go with that? What's your 1st name?
My 1st name is Aubrey
Mmm hmmm. I see why you go with that
I think my mom named me after a lawyer... My mom named me Aubrey a guy's name
Aubrey's not a guy's name
Yes it is
No it's not
Yes it is
Have you ever met a male Aubrey?
Yeah you're looking at him. I met myself
You don't even go by that because that's such a bad name
No that's not true
Why do you go byDrake?
Because it's shorter. People with two syllables are way less successful than people with one sorry...
Do you like when people call you Aubrey?
If it's genuine
๐Aubrey (meaning: ๐ง♂️elf ruler) ๐Drake (meaning: ๐ฒdragon or ๐ฆduck) Graham is hisfull name.
๐Aubreyis a girl's name also. ๐Nameberry๐ says, "Once an exclusively masculine name, Aubrey tipped towards feminine in 1974, and is now given to girls 96% of the time."
๐Drake can also be a girl's name. ๐NB๐ says, "The name Drake peaked for girls at #10056 in 1997."
๐Drake used as a boy's name, is described by ๐Nameberry๐ as a, "simple one-syllable name that has been on the popularity list since the mid-1980s, Drake is most associated today with the single-named rapper (born Aubrey). The name peaked at Number 197 in 2010 and has since been on a slow decline, but it still can be counted among the stylish contemporary boy names starting with D."
In Canada however, Drake's hometown, the name Drake was not on 2025's most popular baby names list — Drake the baby name is at #1458 in popularity as of 2022.
Drake also is a word name, meaning: a small cannon, used especially in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Behind The Name points out, "this name coincides with the unrelated English word drakemeaning male duck."
Drakeas well, is a surname from the: "English surname derived from the Old Norse bynameDrakior the Old English bynameDracaboth meaning "dragon", both via Latin from Greekฮดฯฮฌฮบฯฮฝ (drakon)meaning "dragon, serpent.""
๐California and ๐Hawaii are the US states where the most Drakes reside.
Initially, I was not ๐ ๐พ♀️ a fan of the name ๐Drake. I thought it was a made up ๐คท๐พ♀️ stage name when I first heard of Drake the rapper's name being that. I equated the name Drake usually with the lusty ๐ฅตleads of ๐ฅฑboring ⏪historical ๐romance novels.๐ I used to even often confuse Drake with the name ๐Declan (I don't like❗). Then I found out years later that Drakewas the rapper's real name—his middle however (I like it more than his first name admittedly. ๐๐พ♀️ It can get tricky, not to mix up ๐Aubrey[๐FYI I almost forgot ๐คฆ๐พ♀️: I have a 2nd male cousin named Aubrey ❗ We weren't close soI'm not sure how he spells his name.]with ๐Audrey. ๐ฌ It makes me wonder if his first name was that instead, would he have used Drey as his stage name? ๐ค because it sounds like Drake...) and I thought that was really cool. ๐ As I became a fan of his ๐ถmusic, I started to like the name Drake. Still I'm not the biggest fan of ๐Drake the name as a whole. ๐ ๐Drake may not be one of my absolute favorite names —however it's still a ✔good, ✔strong๐ช, ✔masculine name that I can appreciate. ๐๐พ But I am a big fan ๐ of ๐Drake —being the rapper Drake's name.
Today's ๐Name Of The Day๐ is the name: ๐Atlas— only because it was mentioned in the ⬅previous post๐ on ๐๐Nautas: "Nautusmight combine the appeal of ancient sounding names — such as Augustus, Titus, and Maximus — with the contemporary love for sea-inspired choices — like Ocean, Cove, and Caspian — with the on-trend sounds of names like Knox, Silas, Nash, and Atlas mixed in too."And I've been waiting for the ✔️right time to cover this relatively ✨new name๐ to me ๐๐พ♀️ that I like ๐ฅฐ a lot.
Atlas is a word name first meaning: a bound collection of mapsor a bound volume of charts, plates, or tables illustrating any subject.
Atlas "possibly means 'enduring' from Greek ฯฮปฮฌฯ (tlao) meaning 'to endure,'" Behind The Name says.
Atlasis known in Greek mythology as: "one of the most famous Titans, the son of Iapetus and the Oceanid Asia (or, possibly, Clymene). He was the leader of the Titan rebellion against Zeus, and he got a fitting punishment after the end of the Titanomachy: he was condemned to eternally hold up the sky. Only once, and for a very brief period, he was bereaved of this burden by Heracles. Perseus, probably using Medusa’s head, turned him into the stony Atlas Mountains."
Meaning: bearer of the heavens: "Atlasis one of those names that was previously thought too powerful for a baby boy, who would have to be strong enough to carry the world on his shoulders. Now Atlashas joined the pantheon of Greek and Roman god and goddess names in the realm of possibility, along with Mars, Zeus and Apollo," ๐Nameberry๐ believes.
๐NB๐ calls Atlasan "audacious choice" for a first name and describes it as "one of the fast-rising names on the list in recent years in the USA, jumping from oblivion in 2012 into the Top 500 in 2015, and climbing several hundred places higher since then [it ranks #101๐ in the US Top 1000]. As well as the mythological connection, Atlasis a cool geographical word name – perfect for the child of parents who love traveling or who hail from different parts of the globe."
Atlasis obviously a boy's name originally but can be used for a girl. ๐NB๐ says, "๐Atlasis used for an increasingly significant number of baby girls in the US. And undeniably, it's a name that imparts strength to any child."
๐North Carolina is where the most Atlases reside.
Obviously I love ๐ the name ๐Atlas. I first ๐๐พheard of it from the work of fiction in It Ends With Us (the 2024 ๐ฅmovie version however of the ๐book by ✍Colleen Hoover). I was caught off guard ๐คฏ by a word I hadn't heard since my ๐ซschool days learning social studies — being used as a first name. I think ๐Atlas is areally ๐cool name. I associate an ๐Atlas as a curious, laid back introverted type or a rambunctious, energetic explorer. I sort of like ๐Atlas for a ๐girl... ๐ค but only if a second feminine name is hyphenated (๐Atlas-Isla) along with it or the middle name (๐Atlas Aria) is really girly and used as one name. But I like it most used for a ๐boy's name. ๐Atlascertainly is not a first name I'd ever thought I'd ๐see become so popular. But it's happened and here's to that๐Atlas continues to rise๐ — it's just a great name choice ๐๐พ full of character, ๐heroic and ๐ชstrong.
Benji Madden of the 00s ๐คrock ๐ถband Good Charlotte shared the birth of his third child, a son๐ถ with ๐ฅactress Cameron Diaz — in a ๐cool Instagram ๐ขannouncement with his name as: ๐๐Nautas! ๐
๐๐Nautas is from the Latin root word Nauta and means: "sailor, navigator, voyager, one who embarks on a journey and fears not the unknown."
๐Nameberry๐ further explains๐Nautas is a "nautical name that blends modern and ancient. Likely derived from the Latin nauta, Nautus may be interpreted as meaning "sailor, seafarer, mariner" — though Benji Madden offered the more figurative interpretation when announcing his son's birth. A one of a kind choice, Nautus might combine the appeal of ancient sounding names — such as Augustus, Titus, and Maximus — with the contemporary love for sea-inspired choices — like Ocean, Cove, and Caspian — with the on-trend sounds of names like Knox, Silas, Nash, and Atlas mixed in too. It may also bring to mind the Nautilus, marine cephalopods, known for their large, spiral shells — also used as the name for Captain Nemo's submarine in Jules Verne's classic novel, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."
๐๐Nautas is such a new name, ๐NB๐ only just added the name onto their website seemingly. ๐คฏ
Initially, I thought ๐๐Nautas was a made up name when I first heard it and therefore didn't like it. ๐ But when I saw Madden's post on it my mind changed ๐ค reading the meaning. It's a pretty nice name after all ๐๐พ and I do love๐sea๐ inspired names. My only gripes: I keep thinking it's spelled how it's pronounced:N-a-u-t-u-s ๐คฆ๐พ♀️ and I somehow see nautical + naughty = ๐๐Nautas. ๐
☔๐IRN RATING OF ๐Nautas: ๐ OR ๐๐๐๐๐๐/10
How did Crosby gain an extra 'x' in Maxx? A bio tells the origin of, "Crosby's first name is indicative of just how big he was at birth. He weighed in at 11 pounds, 9 ounces at birth. His mom had already decided on a name for him. He was to be Max. And with his XXL birth size, she made him a Maxx."
That is such a great ๐name ๐story. ๐ค I was never aware that there were Maxs with two 'xx's in their names until now. ๐คฏ ๐Maxx is a variation of ๐Max.Max derives from "the formal"๐Maximilian" — which comes from ๐Maximus: a "Roman family name that was derived from Latin maximus 'greatest.'" Max's rank is pretty great at #175 in the US Top 1000. ๐Nameberry๐ warns:Max has long been among the most popular dog names(Max is #4 for boy๐ dogs๐ถ)." Max also "coincides with the informal word max, short for maximum."
I love ๐ the name ๐Maxx. Now, ๐Max the original is a nice enough, cool ๐ little name (I've always liked the longer ๐Maximilian / ๐Maximillian / ๐Maximillion๐ฐ however) but — the two '✖✖'s are definitely what make Maxx more magnanimous and yes — greater. ๐
๐ญI didn't know a Maxxine with two ✖✖'s existed! ๐ฎ But I love ๐ it! Maxxine a bit more extra & risque than the original, sophisticatedMaxine— which makes it all the more appealing to me. ๐๐พ
☔๐IRN RATING OF ๐Maxx: ๐ OR ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐/10
Today is the 16th anniversary of the ๐King of Pop๐ต Michael Jackson's death (RIP) and to commemorate him, I'll be diving into the name: ๐Jackson!
๐Michael was one of my favorite names since I was a young girl (as Michael Jackson is my favorite music artist since then) but that's no longer the case for personal reasons... ๐ฌ I however love the surname๐Jackson as a first name. It was my top baby name for a boy in the 2010s if I had a son.
The name Jackson is English and means 'son of Jack.' Nameberry names the extensive list of ⭐celebrities who have chosen it for a son (actress Katey Sagal interestingly and her t.v. son have the same name) but swears, "its heyday as a celebrity baby name was at least a decade ago."
Very shockingly, Jackson can actually be used as a girl's name! ๐คฏ Nameberry's writer on the revelation reveals, "No, Jackson is not the latest crazy name the girls are stealing from the boys. Oddly enough, Jackson was given to MORE girls a decade ago than it was last year, probably as a family name or as a tribute to the musicians. But Jackson's extreme popularity as a boys' name has probably made it feel less possible for girls. There have been some extremely popular baby names for girls -- Addison, Madison, Allison -- that originated as patronymics and literally mean "son of." And there's nothing gender-neutral about that."
Name Census reports: in 2023 there were 19 baby girls named Jackson! ๐ฎ I prefer Jackson used traditionally as a boy's name. But I do think it's a pretty creative, modern day spin that girls now have this badass name too. ๐
I'm a big fan of everything about the name ๐Jackson. ๐ฅฐ I also like it can be shortened to just ๐Jack as a nickname, which is another favorite name of mine. I feel Jackson is so popular it will eventually be cemented in the top 20 most popular boy names list SSA highlights. ๐ค๐พ The overly popular, classic name ๐Michael was the 18th most popular boy name in 2024. Jackson being the 35th is catching up nicely ๐๐พand I'm rooting badly for it to ⏩ surpass ๐Michael. ๐๐พ
๐๐Nameberry๐๐ฃForum: "Jackson or Jaxon?"
