G is for...

gestation and glucose testing and, on Baby Name Tuesday, it's for Gabriella and Gustavo. These names come directly from my own extended family and belong to my sweet niece and nephew.

Although I was always under the impression that Gabriella was from some kind of Italian descent, it is actually the feminine form of the Hebrew name Gabriel that means "God gives strength". In the case of our little Gabby, she certainly has shown that she is at least strong willed! The name has consistently grown in popularity over the last 10-15 years and continues to give a strong showing. And, although initially one would think that Gabby may be the only nickname to be given to a Gabriella, shortened versions such as Ella, Brie, Brielle, and Gella are always unique alternatives.

Gustavo is both an Italian and Spanish variant of the name Gustave, a Scandinavian name meaning "royal staff" or "staff of the gods". In Scandinavia it is a royal name with many kings of Sweden bearing the name. The name also has a Germanic variant, Gustav. Although my research didn't produce much else regarding the name and it's meanings, I did find several comments regarding the name. It may not be a wildly popular name in this country, but everyone seems to love it. One of my favorite comments was "It has the same cool, old fashioned ring like Sam and Max, but not totally overused."