Names All Over The Map But There Are No Borders For Some New Parents

Little-known fact: there’s a Montana in Idaho.

An India, too. Several Dakotas, a Cheyenne … even a Heaven.

The Idaho Center for Vital Statistics and Health Policy recently released its compilation of 1994’s most common - and most unusual - names given by proud Idaho parents to their newborn offspring. The 1995 version is expected out later this year.

Among the unusual girls’ names: America, Jewels, Kansas, Liberty, November and Stetson.

For boys: Cougar, Granite, Jericho, Sirmichael, Timber and Yukon.

In Post Falls, Brandy and William Benway spent months considering and discarding names for their baby girl.

“He was coming up with awful names, like Creed, or Bronx,” said Brandy Benway. “He watches too much TV, and he’d pick names out of the credits.”

For every name she came up with, her husband would think of a terrible nickname future classmates would invent.

Finally, they settled on two names: Brooke and Lynn.

Brooklyn.

“We decided to put it together. We just like the sound of the name,” said Benway. Brooklyn Beau Benway now is 16 months old.

In North Idaho, many unusual names are tied to places. In the past two years, babies here have been named India Renae Parke, Dakota Ryan Groves, Cheyenne Dakota Legard, Mary Montana Havens. One Hayden Lake baby was named Heaven Lee Bassett.

The outdoors are big, too. There is an Emerald Skyz Amy, a Winter Meadow Johnson, and a Skye Fate Gena Shell.

Many of the names suggest occupations. It’s easy to envision Durango West Blackford someday becoming a cowboy, and Madison Blues Wortman, although not yet 9 months old, undoubtedly is bound for glory as a musician.

Cotton River Franks, if so inclined, could name a hot dog company after himself, and Chancellor Dean Adams seems primed for a prestigious career in college administration. Harley Pope, once he’s off training wheels, would be a natural as a motorcycle minister.

Some of the names just seem like good combinations. There’s a Rainie Dae Jean McClain, for example, and a Christyna Starr Bright.

In Post Falls, Wendy and Steve Pollock struggled to find a name for their fourth boy. As they toyed with different names, they drove past nearby Chase Road.

Chase Spencer Pollock now is 9 months old.

“We’re chasing him a lot now,” laughed Wendy Pollock.

According to the state report, the most common girls’ names in 1994 were: Jessica, Ashley, Kaitlyn, Brittany and Sarah.

For boys: Jacob, Tyler, Austin, Michael and Zachary.

In Coeur d’Alene, Edward and Cheri Padilla want to give their children names in alphabetical order, like Amy, Brent, Charles, Diane, etc. To save time, they plan to give each child three names.

The first, Alexandria Bryonne Celestial Padilla, was born May 18, 1995.

“We were going through the alphabet, but I didn’t want to have 13 kids, so we figured we’d give her three names.”

The couple hopes to have more children. And if the next one’s a girl, they even have a name picked out: Denouement Ecco Felicity.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo