A friends of mine who is due to give birth to a girl later this month recently told me she and her husband had finally agreed on a name for their precious bundle of joy. And that they had made it up.
I braced myself. This could go either way, of course, but in my experience, made up baby names are usually the stuff of nightmares. You smile when you hear them and try not to think of that poor kid's lifetime of explanations, always spelling-after-saying and the puzzled looks they'll get when introducing themselves as Lakynn, Braxlee or Izander in a job interview.
Had my friend suddenly lost the ability to think long-term? My mind raced. She and her husband had come up with it by combining both of their first names, she added. I braced myself a bit more.
Then she told me the name, and I hope the look on my face didn't reveal the intense relief I felt. It wasn't horrible! In fact, it was beautiful! I love it, and I told her so. And I can't recall that ever happening before (for a made-up name, at least). A first for everything, I guess.
Most people are not so, ahem, brave, when choosing a name for their child so they consult baby name books and lists of what's popular.
This year, BabyCenter has come up with a list of the top baby names for 2013, even though the year isn't yet over. I guess all of the December babies (there are two in my house) can take your combination Birthday-Christmas-Hanukkah presents and sit in the corner, because you don't count.
At the top of the list are the usual suspects: Sophia and Jackson. They knocked the 10-year favorites Emma and Aiden from (or near) the top spot. And whether you gravitate to classic names (Olivia, Lily, Noah, Ethan, Jacob) or the as-yet-to-become classics like Zoe, Mason, Liam or Chloe, you'll find plenty of familiar names in the top 20.
Or, you can always wait for the official Top Baby Names of 2013 list published by the Social Security Administration in May. But what fun is that?
Here are the top 20 Baby Names for girls and boys:
Girls Boys
Sophia Jackson
Emma Aiden
Olivia Liam
Isabella Lucas
Mia Noah
Ava Mason
Lily Jayden
Zoe Ethan
Emily Jacob
Chloe Jack
Layla Caden
Madison Logan
Madelyn Benjamin
Abigail Michael
Aubrey Caleb
Charlotte Ryan
Amelia Alexander
Ella Elijah
Kaylee James
Avery William
Find the top 100 at BabyCenter.
Stop in and have some fun in the indoor pool at the Lodge of Des Peres with your little one at this drop-in swim time for kids up to age 6. No pre-registration is needed; Water Waddlers is open to residents and non-residents of Des Peres.
At this free art program for ages 3-6 the focus is on the process of making art rather than the finished product. Dress to get messy!
See the amazing sea lions at the Saint Louis Zoo perform for the crowd and cheer them on from the bleachers as the popular Sea Lion Spring Training Shows return. You'll see these beautiful animals perform flipper walks, ball balancing, Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, lots of splashing and even more surprises!
Daytime Playtime is an open gym for children ages 2-5 where the possibilities for fun and learning (through fun) are endless! Children will participate in activities that build coordination, strength, balance and self-confidence. They'll develop stronger motor skills, social skills, and take part in theme-based creative activities.
This special story is geared to little ones ages 6 months to 2 years with a parent or caregiver. In addition to stories, there will be lap bounces, songs, rhymes and more!