Discover the World of Names: Top 9 Fascinating and Fun Facts You Never Knew

1. First President, Not First Name

Move over, Beyoncé and Jay-Z: George Washington was rocking the name game way before it was cool! Despite his iconic status, however, research shows that good ol' George's first name hasn't been the most popular baby name throughout the last 500 years.
Source => time.com

2. Michael's Disco Domination

In a time when bell-bottoms ruled the fashion world, and disco fever infected us all, one name reigned supreme in the baby-naming arena: Michael! The serious reveal: Michael was the most popular baby name for boys born in the United States during the 1970s, holding the top spot for the entire decade, with a whopping 707,458 occurrences.
Source => ssa.gov

Dive into the world of ancient Rome and Greece, where aquamarine was the ultimate swimwear accessory, believed to be a mermaid's treasure approved by the sea god Neptune himself! Sailors wore it as protection from storms and drowning. Discover the secrets of this enchanting gemstone.

=> Fun Facts about Birthstones

3. Vikings: Animal and God Namers

Before "Game of Thrones" made family naming a bloodsport, there were the Vikings, who apparently moonlighted as fierce animal and god-namers while they weren't busy discovering the Americas: Vikings often named their children after animals like wolf (Ulf), bear (Bjørn), and serpent (Orm), as well as gods with special powers like Astrid (beautiful and loved) and Frida (peace). As Christianity gained prominence, biblical names found favor, but those original Viking monikers still hold strong today, continuing the legacy of fang-tastic, godly appellations.
Source => en.natmus.dk

4. Iceland's Naming Regulation Spa

In a land of volcanoes, geysers, and Björk, even the naming of children is as regulated as the temperature in a geothermal spa: Icelandic parents must choose a name from an approved list within six months of birth, and any rebellious name ideas need to be submitted to the Personal Names Committee for approval, complete with a fee to cover their decision-making process. No pressure, kiddos!
Source => island.is

5. French Names: Co-ed Couture

Hey there, French baby registry fans - ever played the Name Game with a Gallic twist? Try Louis/Louise, Léo/Léa, or even Clément/Clémence, and voilà: instant co-ed counterparts, like freshly baked baguettes right out of the oven! But wait, there's even more sizzling facts on this français menu: While Arabic names sashay across the French Top 100 catwalk thanks to a stylish Muslim population, you'll also find fashionable French finds like Capucine and Maël strutting their stuff. Just don't try searching for 33,000 approved baby names in the land of croissants and berets - those cheeky parents must waltz around pre-approved lists of monikers like a ballroom dance of proper nomenclature.
Source => nameberry.com

6. Sweden's Strict Naming Laws

Say "Hej" to the Name Police: Sweden enforces strict naming laws which forbid any monikers that may cause discomfort or offense, resulting in possible fines for parents who fail to register an approved name within three months of their child's birth. With the Supreme Court mulling over a couple's choice of "Ford" for their son, and a previous instance of a baby girl "Metallica" only receiving a nod of approval after an appeal, selecting a quirky or traditional name in Sweden might land you in the "Ikea" of name battles.
Source => swedesinthestates.com

7. Sean Connery, the Milkman Spy

Before he was 007, Sir Sean Connery was the Milkman of Her Majesty's Secret Milking Service: Connery, born Thomas Connery, pedaled around the streets of Edinburgh as a St. Cuthbert's Co-operative Society milkman, and later sported a mean football kick for Bonnyrigg Rose and even rejected Manchester United to pursue acting as his ultimate mission.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Eugene: Greek Glory

Hold onto your togas and break out the ouzo, because Eugene is going Greek on us: The name "Eugene" hails from Greece, meaning "noble" or "wellborn" and, although it's not as popular as it once was, it's never been kicked out of the boys' top 1000 club in the US since 1880! These regal bearers include popes, saints, Eugene O'Neill, Eugene Delacroix, Neil Simon's play-acting character, and even a royal Eugenie, who rocks it as one of the Duke and Duchess of York's daughters.
Source => nameberry.com

9. Florida's Force: Luke Skywalkers

May the force be with the Floridians, for they have something unexpected in common with the Jedi Order: Luke is their chosen one! Seriously: Over 101,000 people in the United States share the name Luke with the iconic Star Wars character, with Florida claiming the highest concentration – and mind you, its popularity did not even peak during Star Wars' prime!
Source => ew.com