In the US, the custom of using traditional names has abated. Beginning with the black subculture in the 1960s, which revived a tradition of inventing names, the of nontraditional names has spread throughout the culture, to the point at which less than half of babies are now given traditional names. And girls are at least ten percent more likely than boys to be given unusual names.
According to a survey of social security data of the past ten years, fashionable girl names now include:
Cameron
Drew
Taylor
Alexis
Dakota
Venice
Sicily
Rio
Troy
What are the popular names now where you live?
Re:to the point at which less than half of babies are now given traditional names.
This is something like "standard tranmissions" in cars... nowdays most cars come with automatic transmission as a "standard option," but "standard transmission" has become a syn. for Manual transmission.
Traditonal names used to mean names associated with the Bible, Christian saints, an few name from Classical greek and roman literture; i.e., Ann/Anne, Sara, Rebecca, (B), Helen, Jocalyn, Livia,(C), Theresa, Margaret, and Christina (CHR).
At the time of the US revolution, Old testiment names were very popular, at other times, Christian (saints) names have been more popular-- I don't know anything about the history of made up names, except, Wendy was a name made up by Barre for Peter Pan, and Heidi was a made up name too, by the author.. so made up names have been around for a while.
-- i think if i were have a kid today, i would like Wyoming as name, for a girl. maybe because, of all the places i have been on this earth, Wyoming struck me as the most beautiful place.
-- i think if i were to have a kid today, i would like Wyoming as name, for a girl. maybe because, of all the places i have been on this earth, Wyoming struck me as the most beautiful place.
Robert Heinlein beat you to it ! In "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" the important woman character is named Wyoming Knott, known at times as Wy or Wyo.
My older son, who will be 5 in a couple of weeks, is named Aidan. When we chose the name, we thought we were picking an unusual name, but one that some people would have heard of. To my amazement, it's unusual for a week to go by without my meeting or hearing of a young boy named Aidan. It's the weirdest thing. I wonder if others here have come across this name more commonly than in the past?
That said, my one-year-old is named Simon - and I have yet to run across a single kid named Simon since his birth, and only one adult, I think. So this doesn't seem to be a matter of my noticing the name of my child more simply because it's more significant to me than before - I honestly had never met an Aidan in my life before my son was born, and now I have met dozens.
My brother claims to have made up the name MaKenna, by changing a name he saw on a resume, when his daughter was born. He now knows more than one MaKenna. In fact it seems to be more and more common as time goes by.
My boss' daughter is named Makena (pronounced as MaKenna probably is), from a Hawaiian word, so your brother can add another to his list.
What does it mean?(Makena)yaknow?
green]What does it mean?(Makena)
I feared you might ask this, and I've been trying to recall. It's got something to do with water and waves (big surprise there, eh?).
I'll send him an e-mail and ask, but I'll be away for a couple of weeks, so you won't get an answer right away.
Query: Why, oh why, did this come out in Times rather than the traditional Arial? I din't do nuffin' to it.
I know so many Simons they all have prefixes to distinguish them from each other: orange Simon, bitter Simon, neighbour Simon, Nome Simon, Si, Sim, and countless more. In my neck of the woods and in my age group it is only surpassed in number by Ben, Dave and Karl. My sister had four girls with the same name as her in her class at school, despite my mother having decided on her name some thirty years previously when she was a little girl herself. I have only ever met one other person with the same name as me, though it sounds like a common name, Sally seems to have dropped out of use.
makena - short "a" = 1. mourning, wailing, lamentation 2. calm, of the sea, atmosphere.
makena - with a long "a" = many, numerous, often, much.
makena wai = place where a stream disappears in the ground.
Source : "Hawaiian Dictionary" by Mary Kawena Pukui and Samuel H. Elbert considered the definitive work.
Aidan is fairly popular over here - I know three. Aaron has become extremely popular recently (last ten years or so)
In my life, I have only met two other males with the same forename (Hilary) as me - one was in the same class at school.
I named my daughter "Rebecca" some thirty-plus years ago, thinking it was unusual - she was one of three in her school year and we have since met hundreds. However, my son was named Samuel, and this is still pretty unusual.
AS with everything else, these things go in fahionable cycles.
I think you're right about the cycles.
When Jonathan (my son to all who do not know me) was baptized he had the ceremony at the same time as four girls - all named Isabelle.
He was very nearly baptized Isabelle too. I interupted the priest just in time.
He started "and I baptize thee Isa-" "no, Father, no" "it's Jonathan" I interupted quickly. And he said "oh, it's the boy"
I was looking for an unusual (but not too unusual) name for son, and settled on Kelson. It's used more often in Canada than here, but at the time ('95) I had never met one. Now of course, I know of three in my state.
It is also the name of a main character in a series of fantasy books, which probably explains things.
As I was also named after a fictional character-Wendy, It seemed appropriate.
My daughter is named Claire, a name which seems to re-surface around here every decade or so.
When the babies in my extended family were named MaKenna, India, and Aurora my Grandmother lamented "Where have all the Marys and Ruths gone? Where do you get these names?" Her son-in-law answered "From the same place Harker and Quinley come from." (her children's names)
Whilst out shopping this morning I encountered a delightful young lady (about three months old) named Daisy.
Her proud father assured me that he knew four other "Daisies," all born this year. It was really refreshing to hear that charming old name again.
in my family, names, and naming conventions are well established. My mother named Nora Veronica, was known as Vera all her life -- Many do not know her legal name is Nora.
her brother was supposed to be Thomas, but at babtism, the godmother said Timothy, and so he was...
With so many hurt feeling in her generation about who got named after who, she decided not one of her children would be named after someone else, and there would be no nick names.
so my siblings are Deirde, Geraldine, Stephen and Margaret, not Dee, or Gerry, or Steve or Peggy.
i followed the same convention, and looked for uncommon names. Benjamin was somewhat successful, Emily less so. my siblings did too, and we have "new names" (unlike many cousins, at a family reunion, calling for Mike, Dennis, and Billy would have resulted in 60% of the males present!)
Most Emily's are 5 to 7 years younger than my daughter is, Emily as a name reaching its peak of popularity (US)in the early 80's.
my name is wonderful-- easy to spell, and everyone thinks its "common" but, actually Helen's are quite rare in the US. Unfortunately, Helen reached peak popularity in 1948, (the only year it made it on to the top 100 names..and then just barely) So i am sometimes thought to be older than i am!
Well, my sons names are Chellis, Emerson, and Lincoln. we don't run into many of any of them!
He started "and I baptize thee Isa-" "no, Father, no" "it's Jonathan" I interupted quickly.
at babtism, the godmother said Timothy, and so he was
Has this force of law? Would belM's son legally have been Isabelle if she hadn't interrupted?
In ireland at that time yes... a baptism record is a legal record.. you can get a passport with a baptism record and or a birth certificate..both are equally valid. (and when i applied for citizenship and a passport some years ago, a baptism certificate was prefered.. since it served as an independent legal document that was not controled by (US) government!-- i also needed a form certifying i was of good character, that needed to by signed by 1) local Police chief, or 2) Parish priest, or 3) superintendant of local School. i chose #3, since at the time i was active in PTA, and knew the local superintendant of the local school district.
also, at the time (circa 1920, and traditionally, as well) the mother did not attend the baptism. (mother's as a rule did not appear in public till at least 10 days after the baby birth) and superstition held that the god parents acted for the parents... that way, the devil/evil spirits wouldn't know were to find the child--all the better for his/her safe keeping!
My husband's name is Lincoln. It's nice because people seldom forget it.
What is the origin of Chellis?
I have a friend from high school & college whose children are *all* named for presidents. The two boys, Jefferson and Jackson, and the girl, Kennedy. Oddly enough, he works in DC now...
And I've yet to meet another Dagny. Although it was a big day when a friend of the family pointed out
Atlas Shrugged. Still haven't read it, though.
And I love Daisy too, Rhuby! One of these days when I have children, that might just work its way into a girl's name: Manya Daisy. Eh, I'll think about it. But flowers are good.
Jumping all over the map here ~ since I saw Hyla's initial post, I've been meaning to bring up Aidan Quinn, the only Aidan I had ever heard of until now! But he's hunky.
In reply to:
What is the origin of Chellis?
it was his great-grandfather's name. unfortunately, we've had no luck finding out any background about it. we do know a woman whose father was named Chellis, but they're pretty far and few between.
When I was in the Navy I had a friend named Elchard. To make matters worse, he was Elchard III. Greatgrandma claimed she read it in a dime novel and liked the sound of it. Family lore had it that greatgrandma needed reading glasses.
Many years ago I read about a guy who was drafted into the Navy during WW II. His name was R. B. Jones. His parents gave him initials only. The Navy recorded his name into their system as R. (only) B. (only) Jones. yep. You guessed it. He went through his entire hitch as Ronly Bonly Jones.
What are the popular names now where you live?
I am constantly hearing Haley, Jordan and McKensie for girls. I'm about SICK of Haley!!! Boys names that seem 'in' right now are Tyler and Parker. I can live with those.
When I had my two daughters over the last three years I wanted traditional and classy - not 'gee, wonder where her parents got THAT name' kind of names. I chose Sara Elizabeth and Emily Grace. It was also important that ______ looked good in the sports pages as _______ Spencer, All-State Shortstop. Never knew a Chloe or a Cybil that could take down a liner off her feet, ya know??
Having sat down and thought about it, the most common girls names (occuring more than three times in one year in one school) in my school years were: Rachel, Jennifer, Aishia, Kelly, Gemma, Catherine (or Kathryn, Catrin etc) and Sunita. The most common boys names were Benjamin, David, Paul (or John-Paul of course) Jamain, Karl, Darren and Ashley. The current fashions amongst my friends and relatives having babies seems to be old 'granddad' names like Jake, Alfie or Sam for the boys and old, generally flower based names for the girls: Lily, Rose or Grace. I suppose these things must come in cycles. Old fashioned names lose the negative connotations they must have once had and become neutral again. Maybe it's just where I'm from in ever class conscious England but names bring up different images and different expectations, no matter how many times those prejudices are shattered (rightly) by meeting people first hand
He started "and I baptize thee Isa-" "no, Father, no" "it's Jonathan" I interupted quickly.
at babtism, the godmother said Timothy, and so he was
Faldage asked...Has this force of law? Would belM's son legally have been Isabelle if she hadn't interrupted?
In Québec, the Catholic stronghold in Canada, he would definitely have been named Isabelle. This until the early 1990's when the laws were changed. Before then, and like OT says, our baptism certificates used to be used for all manner of legal proofs, i.e. getting a passport.
>>I suppose these things must come in cycles. Old fashioned names lose the negative connotations they must have once had and become neutral again.
Ooof, I'm not sure about English names but most old-old French names are definitely not coming back. French names like Boudrias or Hormidas are relegated to the memories of my Granny's generation.
Well, there is always the odd weirdo, like my uncle, who insists on making all his kids sport dated names that nobody can spell - to make them unique you understand (Xavierine - pronounced za-vyay-reene - as an example, has never had her name spelled correctly by anybody )
Lily, Rose or Grace.
My Granny is named Rose-Aimée (beloved Rose). My other grandmother, Mammie, was named Anabelle (beautiful Ana)
Some weeks after Theo ws bon, I needed his birth cert, so I went to the Tri-county Health Dept and filled out a form asking them to sell me a copy of the certificate for Theodore Charles Remington, Jr.
The clerk looked at the form and said, "Oh, sir, you've got the first name spelled wrong." Well, that's one thing a person doesn't do, misspell his own name, so I looked at her blankly.
"I saw this when it went into the computer, and thought it was a strange name, but here's the register." And she pointed at a screen to show me the name "Stheodore Charles Remington, Jr." Immediately I had visions of having to go into court and go to the expense of getting a legal name change. And then I remembered that Peggy had vetted the birth registration form not once but three times because she didn't believe I could resist the urge to name my firstborn male child Theophilus (but that's a YART I won't go back into).
Turns out it was a fat finger problem there at the health department which took about 5 minutes to straighten out.
Whew!
a fat finger problem
Fat finger indeed if it spanned the distance from s to t on the keyboard! More like ham-handed.
re: My Granny is named Rose-Aimée
and my grand daughter is Beatrice Rose.. but some times i hear my son calling her Bea! I think she should be Beatrice Rose.. as a child I was Helen Mary.. except for my best friend grandmother who always insisted on Helen Mary Bernadette Patricia... now day i say "no middle name" and don't use any of them. i even changed my passport, since my first one, as a child, had me as Helen Mary.
My daughter is named Zoe. While growing up in Mexico, many people would ask her to repeat her name. Finally, she solved that problem by standing with one hand on her hip and pointing and shaking her finger saying Zeta-Oh-Eh, Zoe, whenever anyone asked her name. Now there are several young women in their early twenties with the name Zoe running around Mexico. I think we started something. My son's name is Nicolás. There was a character on TV in Cd. Juárez, a clown much like Bozo, whose name was Nico Lico. That was my son's nickname for years. We also called him Nicolás Emiliano Zapata, Emiliano being his legitimate middle name. He used to introduce himself that way when he was young. In his senior year of high school, he took to signing his name that way. He has gone by "Nic" for about 10 years now.
Xavierine - pronounced za-vyay-reene - as an example, has never had her name spelled correctly by anybody
So how is it spelled? Oh, I suppose you can't tell us though, can you?
Xavierine - pronounced za-vyay-reene - as an example, has never had her name spelled correctly by anybody
So how is it spelled? Oh, I suppose you can't tell us though, can you?
Certainement, notre cher ramasseur des poux de tête ist in muy goede form today.
notre cher ramasseur des poux de tête ist in muy goede form today
Eu ne puedo pas resist.
>>Certainement, notre cher ramasseur des poux de tête ist in muy goede form today.
Wow, a trilingual zinger. Merci sjm and
monsieur Faldage.
Certainement, notre cher ramasseur des poux de tête ist in muy goede form today.
Français
Deutsch
Español
Nederlands
English
Would polylingual be a better term, or is there a word that expresses five languages used? Did I miss any?
Français
Deutsch
Español
Nederlands
English
And I added
Portuguesa or
Rätoromanisch (Vallader)
Well, the whole thang is referred to as Europanto, much beloved by Faldage, Hyla, sjm and myself, among others (look out, Esperanto!!)
http://www.quinion.com/words/turnsofphrase/tp-eur2.htm
EuroPanto? It thought that it was a peculiarly English phenomenon. *Sigh*. So here goes ...
Oh, yes it is!
Look out, CapK {i]It's behind you!
>>Oh, yes it is!Oh no it isn't!
Look out, CapK It's behind you!Where?!
We know a song about that one!Now let's have some of you boys and girls up on stage so your parents can oo and aa over how cute you look not singing.
Video cameras ready!
[sigh] indeed.
It was really refreshing to hear that charming old name again.Yep Rhu, I know a baby Daisy (and a baby Sally, dode
). But I reckon "non-traditional" names [in the general sense of names lacking history] aren't ever all that popular in the UK. They tend to be seen as the preserve of celebrities. It's also generally considered that the celebs are welcome to newly-coined names, and that their kids are to be pitied somewhat for having to live with their parents' whimsy and
originality.
Here's a list of the most popular UK baby names in 2001, which for the most part proves my point:
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/general/547642.htmlI notice that my 5-year-old son's name (Joshua/Josh) has climbed right up to number 3 in the chart, and I'll bet my 3-year-old daughter's name (Phoebe) moves further up from number 40 over the next few years. At least in the UK, names certainly do go in cycles, and parents' choices are strongly dictated by the flow whether they realise it or not.
I've always been delighted with my own name, though - Adam. In my entire life I've met less than five or so Adams; I know of a fair few more than that, but it's still less than a dozen. Despite this pretty reasonable level of originality, hardly anybody has ever misspelt my name, and as a bonus it is truly cross-cultural.
People are starting to wake up to the name now, though - I've been called by two mothers (of toddlers) in the last month, which suggests a worrying trend.
Incidentally my second name, and my grandad's first, is - I think - quite a good one: Leon.
Adam ... originality
Hmmm.
>Adam ... originality
Hmmm.Yeah, can't get more original, doc
(or originally sinful?)
Even up, guys, I'm old but I'm still able to take a cane to you.
So sayeth TEd
There's no ... ah ... way you can beat me. I'll take on the lot o' ya. Ju das wait and see.
still able to take a cane to you.
Oohhh! A trio when TEd, Rhuby and moi meet?