What's In A Name?
I could talk about names all day. I’m fascinated with names and why people choose certain names.
It’s a HUGE responsibility giving someone a name, and I don’t think you realize this until you’re pregnant. Or, at least I didn’t.
Just agreeing on a name can be tough. I know everyone has said,
“Yeah, I knew a real jerk named Bob*, we’re not going with Bob*.”
(* Fill in any possible name in the world)
Family names are cool. And old-fashioned names are making a comeback. But they always are, aren’t they? We have a neighbor named Harriet, and her granddaughter is Harriet too, they call her ‘Haddy’. Neighbors down the street gave their 2 kids the same monogram. We have another little neighbor named Jasper (it’s old-fashioned AND a family name, it turns out).
Don’t believe me about old-fashioned names? Check out the Social Security Website! Yes, that Social Security. The Social Security Administration has a part of their website devoted solely to the popularity of names!!!
Jacob and Emma were the winners last year.
You can also look up ‘Popular Names by Birth Year’. And you can look up the popularity of a specific name, and see how it has changed over time! My name, Nicole, peaked in popularity in 1982, with a #6 ranking. It was #947 in 1942.
Does anyone know what the most popular girls’ name in 1950 was? Anyone? Anyone?
Linda! Isn’t that cool?!
As I've gotten older I've realized how people take widely different stances on naming children. My husband thinks that you should know the gender of the person when you see the name written. On the other hand, a mom in a playgroup I was once in, named her daughter Avery, so people wouldn't know her gender by just reading her name on a page.
Looking through lists of names divided by state, or decade, or even most popular twin names, reveals to me how everyone holds different views, likes, dislikes, and values, and that can be reflected in children's names... 'Faith and Hope' are currently #14.
It’s said traditional names do best for people- especially boys…
And remember the rule: unisex boy names can become girl names-
Ashley,
Leslie,
Taylor,
Aubrey.
Then again, if everyone 'followed rules', and went with 'the norm' and didn't get inventive- I'd probably be named Mary (the most popular girl name in 1888) and my husband would be named John (most popular boy name in 1888) whoops, he is named John!
However you choose a name is fine- because that's works for you: family, friend, fictional character, you-just-like-it, only-name-you-can-agree-upon...
Just remember great advice I got from my mother-in-law:
Shout the name out the back door, lots of times.
If you still like it- that’s the name.
When Nicole (currently ranked at #106) isn't here, she's over at BananaBlueberry.
