<p>My husband and I attempted to give our kids names that 1) were not indicative of any particular ethnicity (important to us because we come from different heritages), 2) were reasonably classic, meaning that they had been used for decades, if not longer, and would continue to be used for decades to come.</p>
<p>We succeeded in the first goal but failed in the second. The names we gave our kids in the late 1980s have since crashed dramatically in terms of popularity. So neither of them will be able to lie about their ages and get away with it.</p>
<p>Impressions change, though. It’s all in the context.</p>
<p>Where I live, nobody would think of the store if they heard of a girl named Tiffany. What they would think is “She must be Chinese.” For some reason that I don’t understand – perhaps a resemblance to a Chinese name – Tiffany is one of the most popular girls’ names among Chinese Americans in our area. And since we have a lot of Chinese Americans here, nobody considers the name to be gimmicky or unusual (although people would probably do a double-take if they met a Tiffany who was white or black).</p>
<p>I always wondered about this but never found a way to ask politely. Can someone tell me? In our region, first generation Chinese families tend to give their children English names but each is unique and rather unusual (typically older names that have long lost popularity). Examples would be Florence, Vernice, Priscilla, Kevin, Victor. When you see these unusual but English names on a roster, you know they are Chinese. </p>
<p>I wondered if it is because they go with names that resemble or have something in common with their Asian names, or if they are just nice sounding but random names from an English babyname book (so not necessarily in synch or influenced by cultural waves of popularity).</p>
<p>It is interesting to see what others consider unusual names. Some of the ones listed in this thread are still quite common around here (I know quite a few Kevins, for instance) And someone commented that their children’s names are spelled properly. My name has an unusual spelling to those who are not familiar with Irish names, but it is quite common in Irish American circles, and is considered the proper spelling to us.</p>
<p>We always used our son’s full name when he was young. I am not fond of the practice of calling grown men by the diminutive of their names (is that the right term, I wonder?). So, while Jimmy, Tommy, Benny, Robby, etc are cute for little boys, I didn’t want my adult son to be saddled with same. </p>
<p>My kids have common Biblical, historical kind of male names. Both go by shortened nicknames that could be either male or female. S2’s nickname is a very common shortened version of given name that many adult men use. S1’s is more unusual in the adult man world but not unheard of. I have told him to feel free to start going by given name (which he does use on official documents) or even a more commonly used “adult” version of nickname whenever he chooses. So far (he’s 22), he still likes the nickname and is sticking with it among famliy and friends. I think he likes that it is not one that you hear guys have every day but is not unheard of so it not a “weird” name.</p>
<p>As a teacher of young children, I admit that when we receive our class rolls at the first of the year, we often wonder over what the parents could have been thinking. </p>
<p>As hard as it is to have an unusual name, it also causes problems for a kid to have a common name that the parents have tried to update by spellling it in a really weird way.</p>
<p>vacuum cleaner names…Kirby, Bissell, Oreck ?
Weapon…Magnum?
Disease…Syphilis ? … (actually saw it on birth cerificate when I worked in a hospital!)</p>
<p>Maybe it’s the tendency to be eccentric or a nonconformist that is passed down to the next generation one way or another (nature vs. nurture?). </p>
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<p>Uh-oh, coureur, I think you’ve just referred to 80% of the moms on this board!</p>
<p>I guess I’m displaying my lack of – something – because I like and appreciate unusual names. I did give my own kids traditional names, but that was my H’s doing, mostly. He didn’t like the ones I came up with. Two of my kids have more trendy nicknames, though.</p>
<p>I have a good, solid, out-of-date name (Yes, it made the list…) Was one of the top names for the year I was born. But I have a nice nick-name. Binx. Binx actually means something negative - can’t remember what. Maybe that’s why I’m such a failure.</p>
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<p>Okay, I’ll play.</p>
<p>beverage: Sherry, Brandy
Store: Penney, Rich, Macy, Ross
State: Georgia, Virginia
Scottish clan: Donald, Arthur, Bruce, Cameron</p>
<p>To clarify, being eccentric or nonconformist is not necessarily a bad thing at all and could be a factor that leads to all kind of success in life in certain settings. Different environments can lead to vastly differerent outcomes, though.</p>
<p>Exactly my point. I’m of the same generation, so 80% of the girls in my high school had those kinds of names. But very few baby girls are given those names today.</p>
<p>My own name has not gone out of style because it never was in style - not a unique or eccentric name, just not particularly popular.</p>
<p>My oldest has a name that was somewhat uncommon when she was born (gender neutral at the time), but it’s become more common and familiar for females, although it will likely show its timeframe in later years. Her middle name is classic in case she wants to go with that. The other two have regal, Biblical names and I love them. I hate clever spellings with a raging passion, and my least favorite name in the entire world is “Gianna.” It seems that every third girl on Staten Island is “Gee Ya Na” and it makes me gag. I was amused to see the name Maxwell mentioned in the article. Zooserbaby has a child in his class named Maxwell. Kid is gawky, awkward and has one of those haircuts that make you want to slap the parents. Oh, and did I mention that Maxwell is a girl?</p>
<p>The baby name wizard linked to by Marian is fascinating and has taught me one thing - nearly all “traditional” English names are decreasing in popularity. One hundred and fifty years ago the US population was a lot less diverse. In fact, the only names I could find with strong increases in popularity were traditional Hispanic names like Luz, Maria, Jorge and Jesus. </p>
<p>I couldn’t tell if the original author was using “unpopular” as in “gets a negative response” or as in “chosen less often”.</p>
<p>coureur, I guess my little attempt at humor didn’t translate so well online. Not so much the idea that the names are out of style now (mine definitely is) as your point that they they are all turning into GRANDMA names!!! I thought you might have to duck for cover after that remark. There are some proud (and young) grandmas on this board, I know, but some of us aren’t quite there yet, LOL!</p>
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Binx actually means something negative - can’t remember what. Maybe that’s why I’m such a failure.</p>