December Baby Names: Helena to Huckleberry
December baby names can be drawn from a whole range of inspirational sources, including but not at all limited to holiday festivities.
December gets its name from the Latin word decem, meaning ten, as it was originally the tenth month of the year. The names Decimus and Decima share the meaning ten. The month of December also has ties to many notable leaders and visionaries, from historical figures such as Rosa Parks to literary characters like Huckleberry Finn. Let’s deck the halls with these wonderful namesakes!
On December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to give up her seat to a white person on the bus. One of the pivotal acts in the Civil Rights Movement, Parks’ arrest ignited the a boycott of city buses and eventually resulted in their desegregation. Rosa is a Latinate form of the flower name Rose and also means pink in several languages. Rose is steadily rising in popularity, making Rosa, currently ranked at Number 672, a lovely alternative. Other notable Rosas include painter Rosa Bonheur and philosopher and activist Rosa Luxemburg. There are Rosas in several video games too.
Quentin Blake, one of the most acclaimed children’s book illustrators, was born on December 16, 1932. A writer, illustrator, and cartoonist, Blake is best known for his delightful drawings for Roald Dahl’s novels, including Matilda. Quentin is a Latin name meaning fifth that was traditionally given to the fifth-born child or one born in the fifth month of the year. There have been several literary Quentins, including Quentin Compson in William Faulkner’s The Sound a__nd the Fury, and Quentin “Q” Jacobsen in John Green’s Paper Towns.
On December 9, 1897 activist and suffragette Marguerite Durand founded La Fronde, a feminist daily newspaper that was run exclusively by women and advocated for women’s rights and equality. Marguerite is the French form of the name Margaret, meaning pearl. In French, Marguerite is also the word for the daisy. Marguerite was a Top 100 name in the early 20th Century, but last year only 88 little girls were named Marguerite in the US. Author and activist Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson.
Famed circus performer Emmett Leo Kelly was born on December 9, 1898. Kelly created the iconic sad clown character “Weary Willie,” based on hobos of the Depression era. Kelly preformed in the films The Greatest Show on Earth and The Clowns. Emmett Leo would make for a great modern name choice. An English masculine form of Emma meaning universal, Emmett is currently at his most popular since 1895, ranking at Number 125. Emmett got a huge boost in popularity in 2009 following the success of the Twilight series.
Author Rumer Godden, who was born on December 10, 1907, wrote more than sixty books, nine of which were made into films, including Black Narcissus and The River. Rumer was Godden’s middle name and had been her grandmother’s maiden name. Bruce Willis and Demi Moore named their now grown daughter Rumer after the novelist. Singer Randy Rogers also has a daughter named Rumer. Though the surname Rumer has a bit of a disputed meaning, it’s not related to the word rumor. Fewer than five girls were named Rumer last year, making it a truly distinctive choice.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was first published on December 19, 1843 and, an instant success, it has never been out of print. Dickens’ holiday tale of Ebenezer Scrooge has been adapted countless times in film, stage, and opera. This makes Charles one of the subtler names for Christmas babies. The timeless French name meaning free man has long been widely popular, never dipping below spot Number 63; it currently ranks at Number 49. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Russell Crowe, and Hugh Laurie are just a few of the celebrities that have chosen this classic for their sons.
Cosmetics entrepreneur Helena Rubinstein was born on December 25, 1872. Rubinstein encouraged women to embrace their own individuality and beauty. Also a philanthropist , she is credited as being one of the first self-made female millionaires. Helena, pronounced HELL-en-a or hell-AYN-a, is a Latinate form of Helen meaning bright and shining light. Currently at Number 516, Helena is just 115 spots below Helen in popularity. Actress Helena Bonham Carter is currently the most prominent bearer of this elegant name.
Historian and author Carter Godwin Woodson was born on December 19, 1875. Woodson is credited with being one of the first scholars of African American history, introducing Black Studies to American colleges, and founding the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Last year, Carter peaked in popularity for both sexes, though it’s way more popular for boys at Number 24 than it is for girls at 520. An English occupational surname, Carter means transporter of goods by cart. Carter is a popular TV character name appearing in a range of shows from The Walking Dead to Gossip Girl.
On December 10, 1909 Selma Lagerlöf became the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Lagerlöf’s work is deeply rooted in folk tales and legends from her home in Sweden, and is also remembered for her children’s book The Wonderful Adventures of Nils. Selma is a rarely used German name derived from Anselma, meaning godly helmet. Though actors Selma Blair and Salma Hayek may make this name feel a bit more wearable, only 87 baby girls were given the name Selma last year.
Mark Twain’s beloved novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn debuted on December 10, 1884. Widely considered one of the greatest American novels, it uses satire to expose racism. In addition to being a well recognized literary name a huckleberry is a type of edible blue-black berry. Only 19 baby boys were named Huckleberry last year. Singer Brad Paisley and actress Kimberly Williams–Paisley have a son named (William) Huckleberry “Huck,” and Man Vs. Wild host Bear Grylls also used the name Huckleberry for his son.