The Baby Names Podcast

Last year at this time, we did an episode about Irish Names - and our Irish listeners had quite a laugh at how we Americans pronounced Irish names! So this year we've invited popular Irish radio host and podcast producer Dusty Rhodes to help us with authentic Irish name pronunciation! We looked at the popular names from Ireland from 2019 and picked out the more traditional Irish names that would g...

Everyone has a name! Names are tied to history, culture, family, and identity. Each episode we deep dive into one name subject, report on the latest celebrity baby news, and take questions from our listeners! Subscribe to the Baby Names Podcast so you don't miss an episode. The Baby Names Podcast is hosted by sisters Jennifer Moss and Mallory Moss, founders of BabyNames.com. Hosted on Acast. See a...

Chicago natives Jennifer Moss and Mallory Moss discuss a vast list of Chicago-inspired baby names for parents who want to honor the Windy City. We also report on the latest celebrity baby news and take letters from our listeners. Names mentioned in this episode: Dorothy , Tad , Devery , Addison , Clark , Barack , Lake , Palmer , Astor , Daley , Grant , Lincoln ... and more! View the FULL list of C...

Jennifer and Mallory discuss less-popular alternatives to the top 10 boys and girls names on the BabyNames.com charts . We also discuss highlights from our celebrity baby news, and take name questions from our listeners! Names mentioned in this episode: Laure , Gilles , Karenina , Rosemary , Sigfried , Oleander Lachlan , Eitan , Antoine , Colm , Garrett , Cicely , Odette , Aline , Vignette , Livan...

In this minisode, BabyNames.com founder Jennifer Moss talks about the history of the website, how she and her sister Mallory started The Baby Names Podcast, and what's in store for 2021. BabyNames.com was founded in 1996 and is celebrating our 25th year online. Season 4 of The Baby Names Podcast will begin in February of 2021. Have a question for Jennifer and Mallory? Email us at podcast@babynames...

Our celebrity baby blogger, Kate Fann, joins Jennifer and Mallory in counting down the 5 best celebrity baby names and 5 worst celebrity baby names of the year. We also report on the current celebrity baby news and take letters from our listeners! Names mentioned in this episode: LISTEN and FIND OUT! For the most current celebrity baby news, visit the BabyNames.com Celebrity Blog . Join our Facebo...

The list is out! BabyNames.com has compiled the top most popular names of the year, and Jennifer and Mallory go at it with their opinions and predictions for 2021. We also cover the current celebrity baby news and take listener questions on names and naming! Names mentioned in this episode: Mourade, Darsha , Oliver , Liam , Theodore , Declan , Amelia / Emilia ,  Charlotte , Luna , Wren , Alas...

Jennifer and Mallory discuss the age-old question: Can a name make or break your success in life? We also speak with special guest Abby Sandel from AppellationMountain.net . Abby is a life-long name enthusiast and baby name consultant! Names mentioned in this episode: Koven , Rockland , Touca , Bullseye , Barak , Elvis , Madonna , Kamala , Wisdom , Allure , Halcyon . Visit Abby's site: Appellation...

Jennifer and Mallory discuss names from the Harry Potter series of novels (and movies ) authored by JK Rowling*. We also report on this week's celebrity baby news and take questions from our listeners! Names mentioned in this episode: Yarrow , Caprice , Bruton , Barley, Seraphina , Harry , Ronald , Hermione , Bilius, Draco , Hagrid, Albus , Bellatrix , Cedric , Cornelius , Fleur , Ginevra , Lucius...

Jennifer and Mallory talk all about gaming naming - names from video games and role playing games. Joining us is Matthew Mercer, founding cast member and Dungeon Master of the hit online show, Critical Role, and Lee Perry, former lead designer at Epic Games. Names mentioned in this episode: Tierre, Taius, Piana, Marika, Roshella, Astro, Dino, Lara, Lily, Blade, Exandria, Purvon, Dimble Thaydeen, R...

Sisters Jennifer Moss and Mallory Moss discuss names that were originally dictionary words! Dictionary words have become very trendy for baby names, whether they're flower names, brand names, occupational names, or more! Listen as we discuss this phenomenon, along with the current celebrity baby news, and take questions from our listeners. Names mentioned in this episode: Klaus , Bear , Birdie , M...

This is the second in a two-part episode about Changing Your Name. Jennifer is joined by guest host Kees Wiederspan, social media manager for BabyNames.com and a long-time member of our names community. We speak with Dr. Olivia Danforth about changing your name through the gender transitioning process. Choosing a new name and going by your new, chosen name is a big step when transitioning and can...

The U.S. Social Security top baby names list has dropped for 2019, and Mallory and Jennifer have some opinions! A special between-the-episodes show to discuss the top 1,000 baby names for births in the United States. Some names mentioned in this episode: Liam , Olivia , Dean , Maverick , Piper , Aurelia , Xander , Adonis , Dashiell , Kai -everything, Dixie , Rome , Ximena , Kobe , and more! What d...

This is the first of a two-part episode on Changing your Name. Mallory and Jennifer discuss why a person might want to change their name-first or last-and how to do so. We talk with Dr. Karen Pennesi, linguistic anthropologist at the University of Western Ontario, on name changing pertaining to immigration and cultural assimilation. We also report on the current celebrity baby news and take questi...

Eponym, Aptronym, Cryptonym, Zoonym - Jennifer and Mallory talk names of names and names of everything! With examples and—of course—some differing of opinions. We also catch up on the current celebrity baby news and take listener questions on names and naming. Names mentioned in this episode: Lieux , Luc , Delilah , Ophelia , Nasa , Sirius , Orion , Mason , Birdie , Pagett , Kobe , Orlando ... and...

Jennifer and Mallory discuss the top names from the Twilight Saga and discuss their effect on baby naming for the past fifteen years. Also: the latest celebrity baby news and letters from our listeners! Check out the new book in the Twilight series, Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer. Names mentioned in this episode: Myfanwy , Exavier , Ezio , Prem , Ilene , Bella , Edward , Jacob , Alice , Rosalie ,...

More entertainment names! Jennifer and Mallory discuss names from classic television shows including Leave it to Beaver, I Love Lucy, Bewitched, Gilligan's Island, The Brady Bunch, The Mary Tyler Moore Show...and more! Also: this week's celebrity baby news, Q&A from our listeners and all about the name Karen. Names mentioned in this episode: Jerrika , Buck , Brinkley , Lucy , June , Samantha ,...

Jennifer and Mallory talk about names from the Golden Age of Hollywood. We also report on this week's celebrity baby news and give our opinion on their chosen baby names, and take questions from our listeners! Names mentioned in this episode: Epiphany , Zephryn , Geneva , Azalea , Dempsey ...and more! Have a question for Jennifer and Mallory? Email us at podcast@babynames.com . Join us in our Face...

Jennifer and Mallory talk all about Welsh Names - given names, surnames, and place names! Our special guest is Dr. Sara Louise Wheeler, Welsh Names academic, author, and poet! We also discuss the current celebrity baby news and take questions from our listeners. Names mentioned in this episode: Justice , Blue , Sara , Rhiannon , Harri , Seren , Ffan , Jac , Macsen , Caerwyn , Dilys , Gwenhwyfar ,...

Jennifer and Mallory tabulate and discuss the trending names of 2020 (so far), Elon Musk's new baby boy named X Æ A-12, and take fascinating questions from our listeners on name and naming. Bonus: Irish native Elizabeth McLoughlin helps us with our pronunciation from the Irish Names episode. Names Mentioned in this episode: Thaïs , Thalia , Talia , Darcy , Oliver , Aidan , Ethan , Charlotte , Ava...

Jennifer and Mallory discuss names from the fashion industry: designers, models, and brands! We also gab about the latest celebrity baby news and take questions from you, our listeners! Names mentioned in this episode: Julin, Ariel , Chanel , Prada, Marie-Jeanne, Versailles, Erté , Poiret, Joy , Vivienne , Vionnet, Cavalli, Vera , Carolina , Maybelline , Eugenia , Vogue , Iman , Doutzen , Berit ,...

Jennifer and Mallory discuss names from the Star Trek Universe. The stories behind how the most iconic characters got their names, Star Trek names that you can use for human babies, and some cool names of cast members throughout the years. Names mentioned in this episode: Itziar , Práxedes , Kevyn , Tiberius , Spock , XTMPRSZNTWLFD, Uhura, Kato , Khan , Noonien/Noonian, Geordi , B'Elanna, Chakotay...

Jennifer and Mallory talk all about MIDDLE names: why we have them, the most common middle names, fun middle name stories, and celebs who go by their middle names! Names mentioned in this episode: Akira , Shine , Beena , Kious , George , Rudyard , Rooney , Edsel , Ranger , LaChelle , Faith , Saunsuray, Birdie , Skipper , Goldie . Girls: Marie , Grace , Rose , Ann , Elizabeth , Faith , Mae , Lynn ,...

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Jennifer and Mallory talk all about Irish names, including the history and traditions of Irish naming, Irish name pronunciation, Irish surnames, the top baby names in Ireland, and choose our favorite traditional Irish names. Names mentioned in this episode: Conchobhar (Connor), Medb (Maeve), Fiadh (Fia), Aoife (EEfya), Caoimhe (KEEva), Tadgh (Tayg), Oisín (o-SHEEN), Fionn,...

Many parents are finding it hard to choose a baby name in this day of information overload! Mallory and Jennifer discuss the process and challenges of choosing a name for your child. Do you get stuck in the veto process? Does your partner hate every name you suggest? Do you get too much input from the in-laws? We give you practical naming advice so you can whittle down your names list and agree on...