Email a Friend
Print Article
Choosing a Baby Name
First there was Apple and Rumor, and now there's Knox and Zuma in a string of exotic baby names Hollywood stars like Angelina Jolie and Gwen Stefani have bestowed upon their trend-setting babes. Even parents far removed from the paparazzi spotlight have followed suit - with names like Chase and Destiny replacing John and Mary on neighborhood playgrounds.
Parents have become much more conscious about the power of a name, says Pamela Redmond Satran, co-author of The Baby Name Bible. She points to a heightened awareness of branding, style, and image in our fashion-forward culture that trickles down to the naming process.
Yet what's in vogue one year and out the next is impossible to predict. Old Testament names like Ethan and Noah are in. Virtuous names like Faith and Serenity are in. And flower names like Lily and Violet are in. And let's not forget a whole generation of Olivias and Aidens that has shot up dramatically to the top of the charts - seemingly out of the blue.
"Even though our values might be different and the particular style of name we're choosing might be different, we have a lot of agreement on what sounds pretty," says Laura Wattenberg, author of The Baby Name Wizard. "When people choose a name, we don't realize how much we are influenced by the world around us."
The Days of a Zillion Jennifer's Are Over
Parents today are obsessing about baby names, Wattenberg tells WebMD. "More than ever before, parents seem focused on finding a name that is distinctive - a name that everybody likes and nobody uses," she says.
There's a lot of fear of common names today, she adds. "Jennifer is the boogieman that parents hold out there," she says. "They say, 'I don't want my daughter to be one of three Jennifer's in her class."
In fact, there isn't a single name that matches the popularity of Jennifer anymore. "If you look at the No. 1 girl's name today, it's only a fraction as popular as names of past generations," she says. "So the first thing to remember is that there's no such thing as a name so normal that it's likely to be everywhere."
Desperately Seeking Answers to the Baby Name Riddle
As due dates approach, many expectant parents are busy combing through dozens of name books and web sites. Parents are spending a lot more time and energy on picking a name, says Satran. "Hearing so many more opinions has increased the anxiety level from 20 years ago," she says.
It's really hard to pick a name for your baby, agrees Melanie Davis, vice president of Communications at the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce. "This is the name they are going to be stuck with for the rest of their lives," she says, "and you don't want them to hate you later on in life."
del.icio.us
Topics-
1.
-
2.
-
3.
-
4.
-
5.
-
6.
-
7.
-
8.
-
9.
-
10.
-
11.
-
12.
How Safe Is Baby's Room?
How to create a clean, safe nursery for your baby.
Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy
Keith Eddleman, MD, talks about changes you should make before trying to have a baby.
Truth about Pregnancy Vitamins
