Kees Andersen (they/them) is a longtime BabyNames.com member and content creator for the site. They first became interested in names when researching for stories they were writing as a young child and it snowballed into a lifelong passion. Kees attended Western Washington University and majored in history, which helped inspire a love of historical names.
Kees resides in Washington state with husband Peyton and two cats Nimue and Caspian. In their spare time they love to travel, read, fawn over their cats, and take photos.
Following the European medieval period, the Renaissance era is considered to be from the 14th or 15th centuries to the 17th. It was a time of cultural, artistic, and political change and was focused on the concepts of rediscovery and progress. → full article
Shakespeare wrote the famous line “What is in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Old Will loved to use unique names and even created some of his own. → full article
Arthurian Legend is made up of a myriad of stories told throughout different eras and languages. These legends have been popular in Wales since before the 11th century CE, but became more popular elsewhere with Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia regum Britanniae written around 1135 CE. → full article
History is one of the best sources of inspiration if you’re looking for names that are uncommon but long established. Saints, an array of people from different eras and cultures, are an especially fun group of historical figures when it comes to their names. → full article
Outer space is a popular source for name inspiration. From constellations to moons, there are so many to choose from! You might have considered the more common Orion or Lyra, but there are some rare choices that are out of this world. → full article
Nordic baby names are on the rise! When it comes to Scandinavian names, people in the United States may still think of Ole or Nils that were common during the era when most immigrants arrived. → full article
Did you know that coffee is the second most popular drink in the world? (If you’re wondering, the first is water.) Coffee has become a natural part of many people’s lives. A daily cup of coffee provides more than just a boost of caffeine, it’s actually is packed with anti-oxidants, and various vitamins including potassium, magnesium, and riboflavin. → full article
Names guaranteed to scare the pants off of you! Spooky names for Halloween and other creepy, crawly times of the year. Although you might not want to choose a spooky name when considering names for your baby, you might want to use these names for gaming, roleplaying, or even a new pet! Which spooky names are your favorite?
Using the Social Security Administration’s Top 1000 and The UK’s Office of National Statistics in England & Wales, we’ve compiled a list of popular Welsh names that are most commonly given to babies and their meanings. Which Welsh names are your favorites?
Autumn is one of the most beautiful times of the year. From Halloween to beautiful changing trees, the fall season is a treasure trove of name inspiration! Here are 100 curated fall names for your baby, from colors to famous witches and more. → full article
Using the Social Security Administration’s Top 1000, data from Ireland’s Central Statistics Office, and our own trending names we’ve compiled a list of 100 popular Irish names that are most commonly given to babies. Which Irish names are your favorites?
French names are always in vogue! Using the Social Security Administration’s Top 1000 and data from France’s National Statistics Institute, we’ve compiled a list of 200 popular French baby names. Which French names are your favorites?
Gender neutral names are more popular than ever and are continuing to trend! Using the Social Security Administration’s Top 1000 and trending names from our own site, we’ve compiled a list of 100 popular gender-neutral baby names. → full article
The medieval period approximately spans from the 5th to late 15th centuries CE, from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the Renaissance and Age of Discovery. Also called the Middle Ages, this era produced many historical figures and events ranging from Charlemagne to the Viking Age. → full article
Summer is one of the most exciting times of the year with its long warm days and fun activities. If you’re searching for a summer themed name, look no further! Here is a compilation of monikers that capture the essence of this beautiful time of year – names with meanings related to warmth, the sun, water, and more! → full article
