Hannah Emery
@diana2261.bsky.social
Name consultant, writer, reader, word-lover, sociologist, homeschooling parent of 2. Read more from me at janusnamejourneys.substack.com
Ever been curious about androgynous names? Check out my post here: janusnamejourneys.substack.com/p/names-and-...
Names and Gender: Androgynous Names
What are they? What do they look like? Who's choosing them?
janusnamejourneys.substack.com
June 13, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Ever been curious about androgynous names? Check out my post here: janusnamejourneys.substack.com/p/names-and-...
Ever wondered how name consultants name their own kids? I talk about my first experience in my post this week:
open.substack.com/pub/janusnam...
open.substack.com/pub/janusnam...
Name Stories: Naming My First Kid
A story about how every name journey looks different.
open.substack.com
June 6, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Ever wondered how name consultants name their own kids? I talk about my first experience in my post this week:
open.substack.com/pub/janusnam...
open.substack.com/pub/janusnam...
From the vaults: a 5-year-old article I wrote for @dankoboldt.bsky.social on naming fantasy characters. I'd add some things now but there are some good insights here.
dankoboldt.com/how-to-name-...
dankoboldt.com/how-to-name-...
How to Name Characters in Fantasy - Dan Koboldt
This article on naming characters in fantasy is part of the Science in Sci-fi, Fact in Fantasy blog series. Each week, we tackle one of the cultural, historical, or world-building aspects of fantasy w...
dankoboldt.com
May 30, 2025 at 11:49 PM
From the vaults: a 5-year-old article I wrote for @dankoboldt.bsky.social on naming fantasy characters. I'd add some things now but there are some good insights here.
dankoboldt.com/how-to-name-...
dankoboldt.com/how-to-name-...
Calling all fiction writers--what resources or kinds of suggestions would you find most helpful in a workbook on naming characters?
May 30, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Calling all fiction writers--what resources or kinds of suggestions would you find most helpful in a workbook on naming characters?
Are you a fiction writer? Do you have old character names that haven't necessarily aged super well?
This post is for you. <3 Also, a collab with the fantastic @me-mwai.bsky.social.
open.substack.com/pub/janusnam...
This post is for you. <3 Also, a collab with the fantastic @me-mwai.bsky.social.
open.substack.com/pub/janusnam...
Character Names, and Why They're A Part of Worldbuilding
And why yes, they go through drafts.
open.substack.com
May 30, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Are you a fiction writer? Do you have old character names that haven't necessarily aged super well?
This post is for you. <3 Also, a collab with the fantastic @me-mwai.bsky.social.
open.substack.com/pub/janusnam...
This post is for you. <3 Also, a collab with the fantastic @me-mwai.bsky.social.
open.substack.com/pub/janusnam...
In 1985, the top 5 names were given to about 12% of all kids born in the US. By 2024, that percentage had dropped to about 3%. And 25% of boys & 33% of girls got names from outside the top 1000.
The most popular names are less popular than ever.
janusnamejourneys.substack.com/p/why-name-p...
The most popular names are less popular than ever.
janusnamejourneys.substack.com/p/why-name-p...
Why Popularity Matters Less Than You Think: Part 1
First in a series to celebrate the release of the new US name data this weekend
janusnamejourneys.substack.com
May 30, 2025 at 5:11 AM
In 1985, the top 5 names were given to about 12% of all kids born in the US. By 2024, that percentage had dropped to about 3%. And 25% of boys & 33% of girls got names from outside the top 1000.
The most popular names are less popular than ever.
janusnamejourneys.substack.com/p/why-name-p...
The most popular names are less popular than ever.
janusnamejourneys.substack.com/p/why-name-p...
Curious about how a name consult works? I lay out all the details here. :)
open.substack.com/pub/janusnam...
open.substack.com/pub/janusnam...
Janus Name Journeys: Name Consulting
Now open for business for anyone who's on a name journey.
open.substack.com
May 23, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Curious about how a name consult works? I lay out all the details here. :)
open.substack.com/pub/janusnam...
open.substack.com/pub/janusnam...
Reposted by Hannah Emery
Last year 6 American boys were named Ripper.
May 18, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Last year 6 American boys were named Ripper.
The most androgynous baby name in the US last year: Charlie. Runners-up: Arden, Justice, and Akari.
I've worked with several families who hunted out gender-neutral names that could stick with a child even if the parents guessed wrong on their initial pronouns.
www.nancy.cc/2025/05/16/m...
I've worked with several families who hunted out gender-neutral names that could stick with a child even if the parents guessed wrong on their initial pronouns.
www.nancy.cc/2025/05/16/m...
The most gender-neutral baby names in the U.S. in 2024
In 2024, close to 2,700 names appeared in the U.S. baby name data both as girl names and as boy names. Which of these names were the most gender-neutral overall? To create a useful set of rankings,…
www.nancy.cc
May 19, 2025 at 1:27 AM
The most androgynous baby name in the US last year: Charlie. Runners-up: Arden, Justice, and Akari.
I've worked with several families who hunted out gender-neutral names that could stick with a child even if the parents guessed wrong on their initial pronouns.
www.nancy.cc/2025/05/16/m...
I've worked with several families who hunted out gender-neutral names that could stick with a child even if the parents guessed wrong on their initial pronouns.
www.nancy.cc/2025/05/16/m...
As always, if you're looking for a 900-word deep dive on a name, Abby from Appellation Mountain is the place to go. Check out her musings on new Top 1000 boy name Truce. appellationmountain.net/baby-name-of...
Baby Name of the Day: Truce - Appellation Mountain
The baby name Truce debuted in the US Top 1000 list, a virtue name that came almost out-of-nowhere, but feels just right for our time.
appellationmountain.net
May 19, 2025 at 1:21 AM
As always, if you're looking for a 900-word deep dive on a name, Abby from Appellation Mountain is the place to go. Check out her musings on new Top 1000 boy name Truce. appellationmountain.net/baby-name-of...
@michaelwaters.bsky.social love your article in @theatlantic.com on surname practices.
I've been studying names and naming for over a decade and can confirm--even in v liberal areas where many straight married women keep their birth names, kids still overwhelmingly get "Dad's name."
I've been studying names and naming for over a decade and can confirm--even in v liberal areas where many straight married women keep their birth names, kids still overwhelmingly get "Dad's name."
May 17, 2025 at 2:59 PM
@michaelwaters.bsky.social love your article in @theatlantic.com on surname practices.
I've been studying names and naming for over a decade and can confirm--even in v liberal areas where many straight married women keep their birth names, kids still overwhelmingly get "Dad's name."
I've been studying names and naming for over a decade and can confirm--even in v liberal areas where many straight married women keep their birth names, kids still overwhelmingly get "Dad's name."
Given names are being given to a smaller and smaller percentage of children each year. In "traditional" heterosexual married families, the overwhelming majority of children still get their father's surname. Much higher than the % of wives who change their names.
www.theatlantic.com/family/archi...
www.theatlantic.com/family/archi...
A Patriarchal Tradition That Just Won’t Budge
Straight, married couples in the U.S. still almost always give kids the father’s last name. Why?
www.theatlantic.com
May 17, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Given names are being given to a smaller and smaller percentage of children each year. In "traditional" heterosexual married families, the overwhelming majority of children still get their father's surname. Much higher than the % of wives who change their names.
www.theatlantic.com/family/archi...
www.theatlantic.com/family/archi...
Reposted by Hannah Emery
FYI: Kash Patel and Ted Cruz are also chosen names.
May 9, 2025 at 11:10 AM
FYI: Kash Patel and Ted Cruz are also chosen names.
New post at Janus Name Journeys talking about how chosen names are not new, unusual, or political.
open.substack.com/pub/janusnam...
open.substack.com/pub/janusnam...
Formerly Known as Reginald Dwight: A Few Thoughts on Chosen Names
Papal, regnal, and otherwise.
open.substack.com
May 16, 2025 at 2:13 PM
New post at Janus Name Journeys talking about how chosen names are not new, unusual, or political.
open.substack.com/pub/janusnam...
open.substack.com/pub/janusnam...
It's definitely true that there are differences in the most popular names between blue and red states, but I don't know if it's only to do with trees. Wonder if folk heroine and gunslinger Annie Oakley has anything to do with the name's popularity?
www.npr.org/2025/05/12/n...
www.npr.org/2025/05/12/n...
Oaklee, Oakley, Oakleigh: Parents branch out to oak-based names, especially in red states
Olivia and Liam are the most popular baby names now, but Social Security Administration data shows oak-based names are gaining popularity, particularly in conservative parts of the country.
www.npr.org
May 14, 2025 at 7:37 PM
It's definitely true that there are differences in the most popular names between blue and red states, but I don't know if it's only to do with trees. Wonder if folk heroine and gunslinger Annie Oakley has anything to do with the name's popularity?
www.npr.org/2025/05/12/n...
www.npr.org/2025/05/12/n...
Utah has a new pro hockey team, and they're called the Mammoth.
Not Mammoths. Just Mammoth.
I love the layers of cultural connection to the state, but I feel like the singular is gonna trip them up over and over again. You?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/633...
Not Mammoths. Just Mammoth.
I love the layers of cultural connection to the state, but I feel like the singular is gonna trip them up over and over again. You?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/633...
Utah NHL team picks Mammoth as permanent name: How we got here, and what the new gear looks like
www.nytimes.com
May 13, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Utah has a new pro hockey team, and they're called the Mammoth.
Not Mammoths. Just Mammoth.
I love the layers of cultural connection to the state, but I feel like the singular is gonna trip them up over and over again. You?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/633...
Not Mammoths. Just Mammoth.
I love the layers of cultural connection to the state, but I feel like the singular is gonna trip them up over and over again. You?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/633...
Did you know Yoda's original name was supposed to be... Buffy? #yodathevampireslayer?
www.gamingbible.com/news/tv-and-...
www.gamingbible.com/news/tv-and-...
Star Wars legend Yoda’s original name is not at all what I expected
If George would have had his way, Star Wars' Yoda would be a laughing stock.
www.gamingbible.com
May 13, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Did you know Yoda's original name was supposed to be... Buffy? #yodathevampireslayer?
www.gamingbible.com/news/tv-and-...
www.gamingbible.com/news/tv-and-...
Do you use a chosen name that's different than your birth name? How did you choose it?
May 13, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Do you use a chosen name that's different than your birth name? How did you choose it?