Process of Elimination

So, when we tell somebody we're having twins, they usually respond with one of the following three questions:

1. Have you seen "John and Kate Plus 8"?
2. Are they identical twins? (Or, as my confused dentist asked me: "Are they Siamese twins?")
3. Have you picked out names?

We have indeed picked out names -- actually about six months ago -- but we ain't tellin'. Sorry, mom.

When we were picking out names, we checked out the Social Security website, which actually has an interesting list of the most common twin names for 2007:

1. Jacob and Joshua
2. Matthew and Michael
3. Daniel and David
4. Isaac and Isaiah
5. Ella and Emma
6. Madison and Morgan
   

People seem to like the whole same-first-letter thing. However, we decided to avoid the same-first-letter pairs like the plague, along with these other fine categories:

• No names that rhyme with "Umezaki": So alas, no Rocky, no Spockie, no Jaberwocky Umezaki


• No names that become tongue-twisters when paired with Umezaki: So, no Emma Umezaki or Uma Umezaki.


• No rhyming pairs: So Chloe and Zoe, and Anna and Hannah (and Bo-bana) are out.


• No names that are also famous pairs from '80s or '90s TV shows: So no Laverne & Shirley, no Kate & Allie, no Cagney & Lacey, and, alas, no Itchy & Scratchy.

So, that narrows it down a bit for ya. You're welcome, mom.