Some of the most popular baby names of 2014 were Noah, Emma, William, Sophia and Jacob — but there were some, uh, less conventional names too.
According to Nameberry, a total of 1,393 new baby names were coined by imaginative parents around the U.S. To earn a place on the Social Security extended name-popularity list, these new names had to occur at least five times. (Feel free to browse that list, sorted into national and state-specific groups.)
Some of these new names are just spectacularly outrageous — and it’s quite entertaining to think about the fact that more than five sets of parents came up with them independently.
Here are some of our favorite new baby names of 2014, along with our ideas for some potential nicknames:
- Ruckus — This name is basically a portmanteau of the last and first names of Hootie & the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker, so baby Ruckus could be called Hootie, just for fun. He could also be called Wu-Tang in honor of the Wu-Tang Clan’s 1993 song “Bring Da Ruckus.” Either way, this is going to be a kid very well-versed in ’90s music.
- Mickinley — This is a U.S. President’s name, but misspelled. So the appropriate nickname here would obviously be Prezident.
- Sadman — Sadman’s nickname would have to be something like Smiley, just for the irony. Or, his nickname could be inspired by a famous sad man, like Thom Yorke or Napoleon.
- Princecharles — This kid will not have a nickname. You will exclusively refer to him as Princecharles and nothing else. Have some respect.
- Payzley — Payzley is an independent woman. She will choose her own nickname, or wait patiently for the Universe to present a nickname to her.
- Legendary — The five boys all named Legendary will have to duke it out with several Feats of Strength. The winner will get to go by Legendary; the losers will all be called Scott.
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