2011 was another year of wacky celebrity baby names - but what 'outrageous' choices will stars make for 2012's new arrivals?

By Daisy Dumas

Last updated at 10:24 PM on 12th December 2011

While 2011 has been yet another year of kooky celebrity monikers, it's 2012's most highly anticipated new year babies that are already getting name commentators excited.

Perhaps most famous is Beyonce's and Jay-Z's progeny - and, though not due until February, the baby's name is the speculation of experts at Nameberry.com.

Expectations are high - with the invented Jay-Z and highly unusual Beyonce for parents' names, both of which are identifiers enough without surnames attached, Pamela Satran of Nameberry says she thinks 'it'll be something really outrageous.'

It's all in an name: Beyonce, due in February, has name exerts guessing as to what she and husband Jay-Z may choose for their celebaby

Ms Satran told MailOnline: 'I'm curious to see whether they'll invent a new name for their baby. I'm really excited to see what it is.'

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck's son, due in January, is another baby in utero whose name already has those in the know guessing.

Choosing Violet and Seraphina for their two girls, his parents, according to to Ms Satran, 'have proved themselves to be baby naming masters.

'They picked obscure, unknown, old names and we've seen them zoom up the charts over the last five years.'

She says she and colleagues are excited to see what their next choice will be, her best guess for the baby boy something in the same vein: 'I think they'll choose an old name, something surprising, cool and right.'

Whatever it may be, the name is sure to be imitated over and over, she says.

Not long now: A heartily pregnant Jennifer Garner spotted Christmas shopping last week. Experts expect her son's name, like her past name choices, will spark a new trend

An overview of the year's celebrity baby names reveals a motley selection of unusual, often attention-grabbing choices.

Intentional or not, some name combinations have saluted bygone stars. As Ms Satran and colleague Linda Rosenkrantz say: 'Celine Dion appears to have inadvertently saluted stiff 1930’s operetta star Nelson Eddy with the combined names of her twin boys, while Niki Taylor (possibly unknowingly) paid tribute to Rex Harrison, the star of My Fair Lady.'

They have pointed out a mini-me moment, with Mike Myers' son's name choice: 'Mike and Spike? Really? Spike may be a rhyming tribute to his dad, yes, but also - we have to say - more often the name of a snarling bulldog or a Dead End Kid.'

The biggest trend seems to be the laudable search for personal meaning in names. So, where some celebs have delved into family history for inspiration - take 30 Rock's Tina Fey's referencing of her Greek ancestry when deciding upon Penelope Athena, for one - others have looked no further than... their decorative floor rugs for that a-ha moment.

'I like the overall trend of people looking for meaning in names. I'm more supportive of people looking for meaning in family than in rugs'

'Yes, it was room décor that inspired the name of Monroe’s twin brother—specifically the Moroccan-inspired décor of the top tier of Carey's New York apartment, the so-called Moroccan Room in which Cannon proposed,' explains the Nameberry founders.

'I like the overall trend of people looking for meaning in names. I'm more supportive of people looking for meaning in family than in rugs,' said Ms Satran.

Some of the more questionable options from the past year include Mirabella Bunny, daughter of Bryan Adams; and Bear Blu, son of Alicia Silverstone.

A hoard of gender-benders have put new twists on old names, such as Arlo, daughter of Johnny Knoxville and son of Toni Collette, Martha Stewart’s granddaughter Jude, Mariah Carey’s daughter Monroe, and quarterback Peyton Manning’s little girl Mosley Thompson.

Unsurprisingly, it's the more conventional names that have seen uptake among the general public, with Arabella, after Ivanka Trump's daughter, and Flynn, after Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom's son enjoying popularity on the names site.

Then there are some names that only the really physically blessed can pull off.

'Agnes Lark is not a conventionally attractive choice,' says Ms Satran of Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany's daughter.

'I probably wouldn't choose it but if you're Jennifer Connelly and you're sure your child is going to be beautiful, you might.'

'Let’s be honest, the kid is sure to be gorgeous, which will do much for Agnes’s somewhat harsh image,' say the pros.

NAMEBERRY'S CELEBRITY BABY NAMES OF 2011:

Naming rights: Miranda Kerr with baby Flynn - which has become a trending name at Nameberry

The Nelson Eddy Memorial Award goes to: Rex Harrison, son of Niki Taylor.
Newest celebrity gender bender: Arlo, daughter of Johnny Knoxville and son of Toni Collette.
Most mini-me name: Spike, son of Mike Myers.
Best alliterative sibling set: Haven Garner, daughter of Jessica Alba and Cash Warren, baby sister to Honor Marie.
Celebrity baby names most likely to be imitated: Arabella, after Ivanka Trump’s daughter and Flynn, chosen by Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom.
Best roots-inspired choice: Penelope Athena, daughter of 30 Rock star Tina Fey, who has Greek heritage.
Weird starbaby name most likely to become a cute kid name: Bingham (Bing) Hawn, son of Kate Hudson.
Weird starbaby name most likely to remain a weird starbaby name:
Aleph, son of Natalie Portman.
Celebrity baby most likely to beautify her name: Agnes Lark, daughter of Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany.
Softest name chosen by hardest rocker
Willow Sage, daughter of Pink.
Name not to try east of Yellowstone National Park: Bear Blu, son of Alicia Silverstone.
Middle name least likely to be appreciated in adolescence: Mirabella Bunny, daughter of Bryan Adams.
Most bizarre name inspiration: Moroccan Scott, son of Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon.
Baddest-ass family name: Waylon Albert, nicknamed Blackjack, son of Drea de Matteo and Shooter Jennings.
Celebrity baby names most anticipated in 2012: Baby Boy Affleck and Baby Beyonce and Jay-Z.

Source: Nameberry.com

Radiant Beyonce returns to chic maternity wear after creating a buzz with a playful Halloween costume

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 10:11 PM on 1st November 2011

It was back to business for Beyonce today following Halloween festivities in New York last night.

The radiant 30-year-old was spotted arriving at her office this morning in a chic and stylish outfit which included an animal print scarf, red jacket and jeans.

The pregnant singer, who is due in February, topped of the look with an unusual pair of high-heeled boots.

She looked in high spirits after a fun night the previous evening, where she joined friends for Halloween fun.

Glow girl: Beyonce looked radiant as she stepped out in New York today

Stepping out in style: The star wore towering heels with her chic outfit

The Run The World singer donned yellow and black stripes to become an adorable bumble bee.

Teaming her puffed-out gilet with some striking bee-striped heels, Beyonce's eye-catching outfit made her unmissable as she left the Darby restaurant in New York.

The star showed off her toned legs in some very brief black shorts, and completed her outfit with a cute antennae headband.

Beyonce avoided anything clingy to show her changing figure too clearly, having recently sparked questions due to her bump's marked absence from her latest music video, Party.

Creating a buzz: Beyonce looked adorable in a bumble bee costume as she left the Darby restaurant in New York last night

Swarming around: Beyonce's bodyguards kept a close watch on the pregnant star

Not to be outdone, Hilary Duff, who is due to give birth to a baby boy in March, went undercover in a burglar's outfit alongside her husband, NHL star Mike Comrie, last night.

The pair matched their ensembles almost exactly, both wearing black and white striped tops, black trousers, black woolie beanies and painted-on black eye masks.

As a further touch, 24-year-old Hilary carried a brown bag with a large dollar sign drawn onto it.

On the run? Hilary Duff- who is due to give birth to a baby boy in March- looked ready to rob alongside her husband Mike Comrie as they made their way to Halloween party in LA last night

Not entirely in character: The generous pair appeared more in the mood for giving than robbing, and brought a cake along for the guests

She also sported black face paint on her nose and forehead in honour of the occasion.

Meanwhile Jessica Simpson has finally confirmed what everyone's been thinking - she is indeed pregnant.

The 31-year-old reality star has just made an official announcement on her website. She wrote a short message, telling her fans: 'It's true, I am going to be a mummy.'

The former singer, who is engaged to NBA star Eric Johnson, also comically dressed up in a mummy Halloween outfit in a photograph to accompany the announcement, while cradling her bump.

The irony: Pregnant singer Jessica Simpson displays her baby bump dressed as a mummy

Jessica has been at the centre of swirling pregnancy rumours for weeks now - but until today has remained mum.

And mother of two Jennifer Garner plumped for a witches costume, putting on a purple and black hat cape over a black dress which showed off her blossoming baby bump.

Braided hair and oversized sunglasses completed the look as she headed to pick up daughters Seraphina and Violet from school in Los Angeles today.