As Kanye West threatens to name his baby North, the rise and rise of noun names (and it's all thanks to celebrities)

PUBLISHED: 16:24 EST, 25 March 2013 | UPDATED: 16:24 EST, 25 March 2013

Nouns are increasingly being used as baby names, with Kanye West the latest celebrity to show his fondness for the trendy monikers.

The rapper recently joked that he was considering the name North for his firstborn with Kim Kardashian - which would make the child's full name North West.

While the statement was likely a ploy to keep fans guessing, Nameberry reports that nouns are indeed a baby-naming trend these days, with Ridge and Holiday some of the more outlandish choices.

Baby-naming trend: As Kanye West (pictured with girlfriend Kim Kardashian) threatens to name their baby North, website Nameberry looks at the rising popularity of using nouns as names

While North is actually a name that has long been in use, other less conventional nouns are emerging as baby names, thanks to high-profile celebrity offspring.

Noun names come in a variety of themes, like nature-inspired ones including Frost, Wolf and Ridge, and abstract virtue names such as Haven and Passion.

In the latest Nameberry article, Abby Sandel, the blogger behind Appelation Mountain, analyzed the noun names that have appeared most recently in Hollywoo! d gossip blogs and birth announcements.

Jessica Alba set an example when she named her second daughter Haven.

'A word name such as Haven conveys safety and warmth,' explained Pamela Redmond Satran, co-producer of Nameberry. Other names with a similar vibe include Shelter and Harbor.

The actress, 31, is clearly a fan of abstract noun names, as she named her firstborn daughter the more conventional Honor.

Earl and Duke are traditional names inspired by royalty, and fittingly, Donald Trump drew on this theme when called his youngest son Barron, a variation on the increasingly popular Baron.

Abstract noun: Jessica Alba called her second daughter (pictured) Haven. 'A word name such as Haven conveys safety and warmth,' explained Pamela Redmond Satran, co-producer of Nameberry

Noble connotations: Donald and Melania Trump called their youngest son Barron, a variation on the increasingly popular Baron. Other similar names include Duke and Earl

Musical names like Harmony and Melody have long been prevalent. But Lyric - a modern take on this theme - is taking on a life of its own.

Mainly perceived as a girl's name, Lyric was the 325th most popular name in 2011. And actor Jeremy London put a twist on the moniker by calling his son, now six, Lyrik.

Wolf is another name that has seen an increase in prevalence recently. Often a nickname for the more old-fashioned Wolfgang, Wolf 'symbolizes the wild and fierce,' says Ms Satran.

'Haven conveys safety and warmth, while Lyric is musical and Wolf symbolizes the wild and the fierce'

Lost actor Harold Perrineau took a c! ue from p! opular culture when he decided to name his daughter Holiday, a name which Ms Sandel has dubbed 'quirky cool'.

While this name evokes sunshine and warmth, it is also a reference to Breakfast at Tiffany's, as it is Holly Golightly's full name in the novel.

Ms Satran told MailOnline: 'Word names are becoming more popular as parents look for names that are both unusual and carry personal meaning.'

She explained that the names 'move beyond the traditional lexicon of names and can carry more significance than an ancient name that may mean "noble warrior", but who even knows that?'

Alicia Silverstone

Harold Perrineau

Unconventional: Alicia Silverstone, 36 (left) named her son Bear Blu, and Lost actor Harold Perrineau (right) went with the name Holiday for his daughter

Foods have long been used as a source of inspiration for names, with Clementine and Olive some of the more common picks.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin evidently drew on this theme when they famously named their daughter Apple in 2004.

And months - especially May, June and April - have become mainstream, while January is still somewhat of a rarity.

'Noun names just plain work,' Ms Sandel writes. 'They're familiar, easy to spell and pronounce, but many of them are relatively rare. If you're hoping for a name that fits in and stands out, a noun name is a promising choice.'

'Noun names are both unusual and carry personal meaning'

Of course, there are the more outlandish names that seem to be popular solely among the Hollywood elite.

Beyonce's name for her daughter, Blue Ivy, is a unique choice that will most likely not catch on among no! n-celebri! ties.

Alicia Silverstone is also apparently a fan of color names. The Clueless actress, 36, chose to use a misspelled version of the word, naming her son Bear Blu.

According to Ms Satran, nouns are trendy as baby names because of the meanings they convey.

'These names carry those messages directly and clearly,' she explains. 'And for some parents, that's the most important quality.'

THE MOST POPULAR NOUN NAMES

North: North - the name that Kanye West has threatened to call his baby - is a word name that has long been used, albeit very quietly. Sometimes a nickname for Northcliffe or Northcote, it is nature-inspired and not dissimilar from other directional names like West, Weston and Easton.

Baron: A noble word name, Barron is the name of Donald Trump's youngest son. Other similar monikers that evoke royalty include Earl and Duke.

Frost: This name is the personification of cold winter weather. With its surname status and links to the poet Robert Frost, there's more than one reason to consider this crisp nature name.

Lyric: A musical name with Greek roots that is given to several hundred babies a year, appealing to parents who like such other names as Harmony, Melody, and Cadence. Actor Jeremy London gave the name to his son, re-spelled Lyrik.

Haven: Haven is a recently invented safe-harbor name. Jessica Alba has increased its popularity by giving the name to her second daughter, and other possibilities with a similar vibe include Harbor, Shelter, Reef or Bay.

Wolf: Another daring nature name that doubles as a surname. Wolf can be seen as one of the fierce animal names, like Fox and Bear and Puma, with a touch of the werewolf, or it can be viewed as a quieter, Wolf Blitzer kind of name, fairly common in German (where is pronounced Vulf) and Jewish families, sometimes as a short form of Wolfgang.

Ridge: A rugged nature-inspired! name, Ri! dge is gaining popularity as a first name for boys.

Passion: Passion is a modern variation on abstract virtue names like Divine, Glow and Justice.

Holiday: Lost actor Harold Perrineau and his wife Brittany named their third daughter Holiday Grace. Her siblings are called Wynter and Aurora. With ties to Breakfast at Tiffany's - in the book, it is Holly Golightly's full name - and an upbeat sound, Holiday is quirky cool.