The daughter and the Name (your opinions please!)

Parent Cafe
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<p>Of course it “can be true.” Do you actually think that all forms of gender discrimination have somehow been swept away and we no longer have to conern ourselves with the issue? Is the concept of the “glass ceiling” for women merely a myth? Are women welcomed into the highest leadership levels in all parts of our econonmy and government on an equal footing with men? I think an awful of of women would argue that we have not yet achieved this utopia.</p>

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<p>No comment on the ad hominem attack.</p>

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<p>Yardena … from the Hebrew word meaning “descendant” and in variation refers to the Jordan River. </p>

<p>Yardena is still very unusual and rare; uses several same letters as Dreanne but is more euphonious; carries meanings related to her other name that means “River.”</p>

<p>I’m not sure I like it, but your D might.</p>

<p>Or, by going into the name’s meaning (river) you could get to “Brooke.”</p>

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<p>Go pick up a copy in Freakonomics. The author argues (convincingly) that yes, giving your kid an ethnic sounding name will handicap them. And if you try and pick a name that sounds affluent, it probably wont still sound affluent in 15 years. IMO, your best bet is going with a “classic” name from the Bible, history, etc.</p>

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<p>I purposely gave both my children first names that I considered relatively “timeless”. Names that have pretty much enjoyed universal acceptance in this country since, well—forever. S’s name is the same as the world’s very first man (biblically speaking). Someone else followed D’s first name with Ingalls Wilder in another century. I didn’t want trendy names that would easily peg them as having been born in a specific decade (a name like “Kimberly”, for instance). And I didn’t want names that would burden them with the negative preconceptions often associated with “ghetto” names. Likewise, I looked for names least likely to be shortened into something that would invite taunting, or “sounds like” names that do the same.</p>

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<p>When H & I were born in the late 50’s, our names were #1 on the hit parade. His is still widely used, but mine has dropped like a stone. I’d still consider it timeless, as poetsheart has mentioned. D has a timeless name, but while she shares it with some teachers, she has never run across a classmate who shares it. Tons of girls named Nicole, Alexis, Sarah, Gabriella, Jessica, Jennifer, Melissa, Danielle, Megan, Kristen…</p>

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<p>Yep, and some of these names will go out of style and seem very old-fashioned to the next generation. Back when I was in school many of the girls had names like Linda, Sharon, Cheryl, Kathy, Debbie, etc. Very few babies get named these names today. They are quickly on their way to becoming “grandmother names.”</p>

<p>However, some grandmother names come back into fashion and enjoy a second life. For example my own grandmother was named Hannah, but very few of my mother’s generation were, and absolutely no girls my own age had that name. It was strictly an old woman’s name then. Today I must know a dozen young women and girls named Hanna or Hannah. It’s had a nice comeback. Same for several names on the male side. E.g. the only Zachary I knew growing up was Zachary Taylor – who had been dead for over a hundred years. Look at them all now.</p>

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<p>I mentioned this thread to my son, and his response was to ask about her given name. Then he suggested Gia as a poster has already mentioned. Not that our opinions are relevant, as another poster pointed out. Whoever said that it is her name and her choice is right, of course. But I say give the OP a break. We all want what’s best for our kids.</p>

<p>I did solicit advice when naming S. (D was easier proposition.) I loved the name Gabriel, but grandparents hated it. I wasn’t sure about Gabe, and my husband has a slight speech problem that made it difficult, but not impossible, for him to say. Finally, thought the better of it. I gave S choice of this name or Charles, my late father’s name, for a middle name when he was old enough to choose. Earlier, he wanted Thomas the Tank Engine and then Donatello as his middle name. He eventually chose Charles because it honored my father.</p>

<p>As I mentioned earlier, both kids legally dropped the second half of their hyphenated surname. I can’t remember when rules change, but it does become more complicated and expensive to change a name later on.</p>

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<p>I agree-- think of all the Lindas, Barbaras, Kathys and Nancys from our generation, and now-- Sophies, Hannahs and Graces. </p>

<p>My mother has mentioned on several occasions her disappointment that neither I, my sister or brother had named our daughters after her (Wynona). But none of the granddaughters regret it, so its just as well.</p>

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<p>My dad wanted to name me Edith after his mother. I’m glad my mom stood firm and named me after HER mom.</p>

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<p>Girl’s names that I hope never again enjoy any sort of popularity: Mabel, Ethel, Hazel (Julia, how could you?!), Mildred, Agatha, Agnes. Visions of blue haired maiden aunts!</p>

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<p>I have met several students with names from that list, poetsheart, and, interestingly, they are always Hispanic. I have no idea why, but it has changed my image of the names now that I associate them with these dynamic young women.</p>

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<p>I just got here, and didn’t read the whole thread, so please forgive me if I a repeating someone.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t let a 14-year-old choose her name, even under the circumstances.</p>

<p>I’d tell her she can legally change her name when she is 18. I’d expect a more mature and well-considered choice at that time.</p>

<p>In the mean time, if she wanted to try out various nicknames, she could.</p>

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<p>poetsheart-- you can find about half those names (Mildred, Agnes, etc.) among my great aunts and relatives-- though you left out Norma, Alta, Thelma, Lois, Avis… I like these names for their “owners,” but I can’t see them becoming trendy again.</p>

<p>I came very close to being named Martha (with middle name Allen, no less), until a kind neighbor talked my parents out of it. That said, one of my husband’s friends says it’s his favorite girls’ name. I think with some of those names you have to be sort of elegant to carry them off (and I am not).</p>

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<p>All I can say is Harold Bahls</p>

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<p>I never thought Sophie would become trendy again (I also associate it with blue-haired aunts), but it’s one of the hottest girl’s names around. I also know several Martha’s, but they normally go by Marty or some such derivative.</p>

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<p>The comeback of Sophie is interesting. I know of two Chinese nationals who changed their names to Sophie (it sounds a little like their Chinese names) and one who changed her name to Sharon.</p>

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<p>Names that shouldn’t come back: Beulah, Daria or Dariah (sounds too close to diarrhea - kids will make fun of her), Mertle, Orne, Onna, Agatha…</p>

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<p>Madge. I’m waiting for Madge to make a comeback.</p>

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<p>Sophia is the derivation that seems to be the hot name right now - #9 for Sophia versus # 125 for Sophie (still popular) . I can’t tell you how many little girls I have come across named Sophia or Sofia ( a very pretty name, IMO).</p>

<p>Top ten girls names right now (some surprised me): Emily, Emma, Madison (didnt realize this was still popular), Isabella, Ava (didn’t know about this one), Abigail, Olivia, Hannah, Sophia and Samantha.</p>

<p>Top ten boys: Jacob, Michael (was surprised to hear this is still #2), Joshua, Ethan, Matthew, Daniel, Christopher, Andrew, Anthony, William.</p>

<p>Someone mentioned Kimberly being tied to a decade - actually I think of Kimberly as one of the more timeless of the last 50 years (for a girl). It got a foothold in the top 500 by the 1940s, was up to top 30s by the 1950s, was wildly popular throughout the 60s and 70s with mostly top 10 status, stayed hot right through the 80s in the top 20s, ranged from the the 30s-50s in the 90s and is in the 50s and 60s now. There are not that many other girls names where this is the case - Elizabeth, Katharine and Michelle are among these. </p>

<p>Biblical names have always been around, of course, Mary and Sarah are probably among the most consistently popular names of the last 100 years. Mary had number 1 or 2 status from the turn of the 20th century all the way to 1965. It’s out of the top 50 for the first time in over 100 years in just the last five years!</p>

<p>For the original poster: Geena or Joanna came to mind, too.</p>

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<p>I think naming a girl, Bertha, probably constitutes a form of child abuse. Sme with, Ethelbert for a boy.</p>