People Finding Baby Name Inspo In Cemeteries And Graduations
Naming a child often brings a mix of excitement and pressure for parents. It’s like deciding the title of a book before even knowing its plot twists. Some people turn to family traditions, celebrities, or fond memories for inspiration. Surprisingly, a new trend has emerged. People are finding baby name ideas in local cemeteries.
Baby Name Inspiration Coming from Local Cemeteries
Haley Brooks Hodge, a soon-to-be mom of four and the creator behind @hodgehouse, recently went viral after suggesting that expectant parents go for a walk through their local cemetery for baby name inspiration. “When cemeteries hold the prettiest names, so you take the family to look for the perfect baby girl name,” Hodge captioned a video of her strolling through Oakdale Cemetery.
In the video, you can see the expecting mother walking through the graveyard with her family, pointing out names on headstones like Bellamy, Cooper (the grave her sister was named after, she notes), Magdalene, Meares, Cape, Staley, Clementine, Nora, Adelaide and Lena. At the end of the video, she includes a whole list of unique standouts, from Lula to Sailor.
In the comments, people shared their favorite names and embraced the concept. “Lisette is SO lovely! And L is my favorite first initial (because cursive L looks amazing on monograms and jewelry),” one user remarked. Another user shared, “My grandma did the same thing for my mom’s name – Alynda. She’s never met another and always gets compliments on how beautiful her name is.”
For those who find the idea unsettling, one commenter offered a different perspective. “Nothing creepy or strange about cemeteries. History lives there, time capsules filled with memories and a past to be rediscovered. Going to find inspiration or for an excursion is beautiful, people deserve to be honored and remembered,” she said.
Some people on TikTok pointed out in the comments that there are superstitions around visiting a graveyard while pregnant. So, they opted for other means of finding baby inspo. Others pointed out that the TikToker assumed Salem and Galloway are people’s names. However, they are place names on the headstones. For instance, Salem, Massachusetts, and Galloway, Scotland. Those names could work as baby names.
Laura Wattenberg, the creator of Namerology, told TODAY.com that cemeteries are rich with historical names and a smart place to look for inspiration.
More Baby Name Inspiration
Another trend has surfaced on social media regarding baby name inspiration and that’s the graduation trend. Some people have been sharing videos of themselves at graduation ceremonies, noting names they like in their phones.
One person shared a video of their friend doing this trend. Some people went to the comments to share their thoughts on the trend. “It’s better than walking the cemeteries like I did [laughing emoji].” Many people were quick to praise the idea, with one person saying, “good idea honestly.” Another person chimed in, saying, “She smart asl for that [crying emoji].”
Trending: Floral, Earthy, And Nature Baby Names
River
According to The Bump magazine, River is a gender-neutral name of English origin that means “a flowing body of water.” Typically, it’s used more for boys but the name seems to be gaining popularity for girls too. In fact, singer Kelly Clarkson named her daughter River Rose. People reported that Clarkson came about the name because River is her mother’s maiden name. “We were outside on our balcony, and we both looked at each other and were like, ‘What about River? That’s kind of cool,’” the singer told the outlet.
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Willow
The name Willow is inspired by the willow tree. The daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinket has the name Willow as does the daughter of Pink and Carey Hart. The name also appears in works from Shakespeare and Harry Potter. According to the Social Security Administration, it ranked as the 81st most popular name for baby girls in 2022, up from 125th in 2010.
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Oakley
Oakley is a gender-neutral name. According to The Bump,. it has English origins and was traditionally used as a last name. They also said that it translates to “meadow of the oak tree.” Mama Natural reported that the name was uncommon until the late 19th century and early 20th century. Someone commented on their report and said “We liked that it couldn’t be shortened and it was gender neutral. It’s also not a very common name.”
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Dahlia
The name Dahlia is a girl’s name of Scandinavian origin, meaning “Dahl’s flower,” according to NameBerry. The flower was named in honor of the pioneering Swedish botanist Andreas Dahl, which means dale. NameOfTheYear.com describes dahlia as a “perennial plant that grows from tuberous roots and produces stunning blooms in a variety of colors and shapes.” The name has also made appearances within pop culture. the name of a character in the 2019 film US. In the film, Dahlia is the doppelganger of Kitty Tyler.
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Briar
Briar is a gender-neutral name of British origins, meaning “thorny bush of wild roses” and “brambles.,” according to The Bump. Apparently, it’s one of the newly popular nature-word names, charting in the U.S. for the first time in 2015 for both genders. Interestingly, Briar-Rose is from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale “Little Briar-Rose” commonly known as Sleeping Beauty. So, it could be a great name for those wanting to capture nature and fairytale vibes.
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Lake
Lake is a gender-neutral name, relating to a body of water. The name Lake dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period and is derived from the Old English word lacu, according to Ancestry.com. It was mainly used as a surname and, over time, became a unique first name. Many people took notice of the name after seeing actress Lake Bell in movies such as “No Strings Attached,” “What Happens in Vegas,” and “Man Up.”
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