Exclusive: What's in a Name? Amy Adam's baby girl, Aviana Olea
Credit: Kevin Mazur/VF1/WireImage.com
Nameberry.com editors Pamela Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz -- who penned the books Baby Name Bible and Beyond Ava & Aiden-- are blogging for UsMagazine.com about why celebs choose the names they do, and what they mean.
When a pregnant Amy Adams told UsMagazine in January that she tended "to be more attracted to traditional names," it led us to expect something as straightforward as Amy or fiance's name Darren Le Gallo. But when her daughter arrived on May 15, she was given an anything but traditional name.
BLOGS: Read more "What's in a Name?" columns
Aviana Olea is, in fact, a pair of names not to be found in any list of conventional monikers. Aviana, which might be seen as a ultra-feminine, or feminissima, elaboration of the mega-popular Ava, now No. 5 on the recently released Social Security Administration list of most popular girls' names. Given to more than 15,000 babies last year, its starting syllable is related to the Latin word for bird, avis.
In addition to the countless celebs who have chosen Ava for their daughters -- from Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe to Hugh Jackman to Paz Vega -- others have chosen names from the same family. Gossip Girl's Matthew Settle has an Aven, Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn have a daughter named Avery -- which is rapidly growing in popularity -- and Daniel Baldwin stuck to the original Avis.
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Soundwise, Aviana is also a cousin to a whole clan of currently trendy names, including Ariana/Arianna, Adriana, Audriana, Aliana/Eliana and Viviana.
Middle name Olea is an equally intriguing choice. Following through on the Latin theme, it is the name of the genus of evergreen trees that includes the olive. It is also an occasionally used Norwegian and Danish girls' name and is said to be an Old Hebrew word for night or moon.
Tell Us What You Think
14agree with you Heather it was their choice to name her that. though Children don't always keep their fathers last name. for example Sophie Holloway changed her surname to Dahl when she turned 18 and became a model because it's more easily recognized due to her maternal grandfather being author Roald Dahl {Charlie & The Chocolate Factory The Twits and Matilda among others.} right her mother is Roald's oldest surviving daughter Tessa. and at least her middle name isn't after the date she was born like Tessa's older sister Olivia's was right Olivia's middle name was twenty because she was born the 20th of April 1955.
Personally, I love the name. I names my daughter Avalyn, so I can still call her Ava but it's different than the traditional Ava. I love Amy Adams, and I say it's her baby, so whatever she decided is her business. I think the name is beautiful, although I'm not crazy about Olea. But, it is her child :)
congrats kate and I couldn't agree with you more her name is beautiful, I'm not a hater but a loyal fan of Amy's who is so happy she and Darren had a beautiful healthy baby girl. whom they love dearly as any parent should their child/children but some unfortunately don't. and Illigitament isn't written on the birth certificate anymore like is was up until the 1970's just cause it's not an overused name like Sophia or Linda doesn't mean it isn't a gorgeous name for a beautiful little girl
You all who don't like the name or think she is illagetimte CAN ALL SUCK IT. My daughter is due any day now and her name is going to be Avianna. It is a beautiful name, you morons obviously don't realize that.
Aviana isn't illigitament as long as Amy And Darren get married within a year of her birth and her name is beautiful and has special meaning to her proud parents you can't always plan when your going to have children look at Pat Benatar had her & her Husband Neil's youngest daughter at 41 March 12th 1994 and named her Hana Juliana or Audrey Hepburn had her youngest son Luca just before her 41st birthday 8th February 1970 so stop making age and only being engaged an issue as long as Amy and Darren love each-other and their baby girl it's a non issue
"And they give their illigitimate daughter this crap?" go kendra calm down. you're clearly stuck 1940. welcome to 2010. and learn how to spell
just the simple act of being the child of an oscar nominee/winner will get Aviana teased mercillously just ask Nell & Lissy Newman both of their parents had been nominated for an Oscar prior to Nell's birth and their mother had actually won
I love the name. At least they didn't name her after a fruit (apple) or a place (bronx) or just something that's going to get her teased unmercifully (ummm, anyone remember zuma?) What the h*ll is a zuma anyway?
people it's not the 50's anymore Aviana isn't illigitamate as long as her parents marry within a year of her birth and as I said previously I think it's a beautiful name for what I'm sure is a beautiful little girl a child is always a blessing good luck to Amy & Darren in raising that precious little angel
That is a ridiculous name!!
STUPID RETARDS!!! So Mom's name is AMY? And they give their iligitimate daughter this crap? What about being in a movie causes one to name their child with such stupid names? Oh sorry DEB, IT'S SO CUTE, OH YEAH, GOOD FOR YOU! Vomit
OLEA????? it's just tooooooo similar to oleo (butter) - EW!!!
I love the name and in their case I believe Aviana is a nod to Amy's birth place of Aviano Italy and Olea is supposedly a name in Amy's family and it's common to use a family name for a first born child as for example Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward named their first daughter Elinore Teressa after their mothers and Called her Nell I bet Aviana is a little sweetheart and can't wait to see pictures of her
A beautiful name for a beautiful couple! I love them.