Want deeper dives into names and naming trends? Join the AM Baby Names Patreon. Sign up for free to follow featured names, or upgrade to unlock more content like the curated list of Antique Girl Names that haven’t come back—yet.
What makes certain names catch our attention? It often feels delightfully random. This week, for me (and maybe for you): Artemis—largely because the recent NASA story felt like the precise narrative we needed. Reeve showed up because of an upcoming production of The Great Gatsby on Broadway. Sometimes a name sticks because of a song on the radio, a person you met at Pilates, or a stray moment of conversation.
As I often say, “to choose a name, you have to hear it first.” That sounds obvious, but it’s also surprising how much chance plays a role. Names drift into the corners of our minds amid the constant noise of modern life—those quiet moments of serendipity that make a particular name feel possible.
On that note: since 2000, 43 girls in the U.S. have been named Serendipity.
ELSEWHERE ONLINE
Can you guess the six names—five boys, one girl—that have never left the U.S. Top 50? There’s a very short list of timeless names that have remained consistently popular. Also notable: only about 70 names have reached the U.S. Top Five over the last century, a surprisingly small number when you think about it. I’ll refresh that list when new data comes out next month.
I read the new novel Yesteryear almost as soon as it was published, and one detail is nagging me: was the youngest child truly called Junebug? The book follows a tradwife influencer who finds herself back in 1855. The author chose evocative names for the children—Clementine, Samuel, Stetson, Jessa, and Junebug—but I’m curious whether Junebug is literal or a nickname for June, Juniper, or something similar.
What is the oldest written girls’ name still in use? Ancient records can surprise you. While the Bible is not the earliest source, some Greek inscriptions dating to around 1275 BCE include names we still recognize today—Alexandra and Theodora appear in those early records.
UPDATING & THINKING ABOUT
Artemis—I couldn’t stop looking skyward this week, and now that the mission has returned safely, the name feels even more resonant.
Noa—often misunderstood yet strikingly suited to our moment.
Reeve—a sharp, strong choice that still flies under the radar.