Alma means soul in Spanish

Also the sort-of Hebrew equivalent to "miss" (as in msbelle, that is, not in lacking or longing). It's also a girl's name in Hebrew.

The bible is a wonderful source for horrible names. Looking for those names in it can be almost as much fun as looking for curse words in the dictionary when you're supposed to do your homework.

Spirit and Opportunity, I'm telling you! So gender-neutral.

he says "MOM loves (real name) VERRRRRY MUCH" and then uncontrollable smiles.

Dammit! But he doesn't know I love him very much too! Adorable.

JZ, you've got to let Emmet walk right into it. It's even cuter that way (but it's all pretty cute so far).

You know, I didn't know why good cholesterol was good. I am educated.

Just woke up from migraine nap. I don't want to try moving around, but I'm hungry and the cellphone is making that low battery bleating. Oh, and I have to pee.

Welcome to my minutia.

OK, I go to bed now. BEFORE NILLY! Missy, to bed, now.

But before I do, I must share that I would have been Jonathan, had I been a boy. Which is SO WEIRD to me. Josh would have been Elizabeth. Also weird. I can't imagine my parents with kids with those names.

HA, Nilly. that's great. There are some names that I can't imagine ever giving to a child, but when I meet someone with that name, it just seems so perfect for them. For example, one of my yoga instructor is named Hagar. Not a common name in English, but so perfect for her.

Spirit and Opportunity, I'm telling you! So gender-neutral.

Huh. Interesting. And yet, I say no. Funny how it works like that.

Also, I best go to bed as I am SLEEPYHEAD GIRL. I slept for over 12 hours yesterday (including a nap). And I know I won't best that tonight, but damn I love my sleep. Best get it in while I can.

At least I got an interesting.

Nilly, it's been so like old times to have you around for a while, but I gotta mommy you too!

While I'm at it, Kat, get to bed!

My neighbor's granddaughter is named Hamutal. That's a heavy kids name. There's no diminutive that they can use that I'm aware of.

Chili and Spice.

Bless and Grace.

burdy and purdy.

filene and marshall.

seth and ryan!

Diminutives don't have to be known in advance. They have to be tried out. I vote for Tally.

Man, I really need to get out of bed.

Speaking of not getting out of bed, that Federer/Roddick game was marvellous! My sister and I had to rhapsodise about it on Skype (man, what's a casual shorthand for videoconference? Skype's too brand-specific without being video-specific). Basically, a Federer match in which he wins handily is still great to watch, because he's such an artist. I love Roddick to pieces, but you have to bow to a master in fine form. As the commentators said about Roddick: "He's not playing poorly. He's playing Federer." I have to find a way to watch him play live. And I haven't said that since my Navratilova girlcrush.

Okay, all that had to do with not getting out of bed is that I didn't get out of bed while typing it.

They have to be tried out. I vote for Tally

I like that. I'm taking cues from her Mom and Grandma at the moment. She's in for a ride when she gets to school, that's for sure. The name's Hebrew (Mom & Grandma are both professors of Hebrew) but it won't be completely unknown in our neighborhood.

Her mom's brother got a kick out of the ham jokes when she was first named, though. I admit that I laughed, too.

I wonder how common the name is in Israel.