Unique and Unusual Baby Names
Today one of the biggest
trends in naming is choosing a unique name.
Those of us who grew up in the 70's and 80's
undoubtedly knew multiple Jennifers, Amys,
Michaels and Johns, and many parents want
their child to have a more unusual name.
Parents have dusted off old classics, combined
names and altered spellings in the hopes of
saving their child from the fate of being
known throughout their school years as "Amy
with a Y" or "Michael R, the one with brown
hair." So how do you find a name that is
unique and unusual? Here are some suggestions,
along with a few warnings.
1. If you live in the US, look
through the top 100 names from the Social Security lists
for the past few years to get a sense of what names are
currently popular. You may be surprised at just how many
children share a name that sounds fresh and unusual to you.
2. Look for unused classics. Literature
is a great source of names that were once popular but have
since fallen down the charts. Read the names in your family
tree or look at Social Security lists from the early 1900's
and you may just fall in love with a forgotten classic.
3. Anticipate the trends. Right now,
names from the 1900's-1930's are very hot for girls. In
another decade, that will probably move forward to names from
the 1940's and 1950's. Look at those names now and see if any
appeal to you.
4. Create your own name by combining two
family names or altering a name that you love. Be cautious
in this, however, as not all created names sound appealing.
You may want to ask family and friends for opinions before
committing to an invented name.
And now for the
warnings:
1. Keep in mind that names used in popular
television series or films are likely to skyrocket in
popularity, as are names of celebrity children. For
example, the name Ella and its variants have become extremely
popular since a few celebrities used it and it appeared as a
baby's name on the show ER.
2. Beware of creative spellings. While
it's true that Keightl'nne looks very different from Caitlin
or Katelyn, it is still pronounced the same way and is still
ultimately the same name. You may be causing your child a
lifetime of confusion as she attempts to spell her name over
the phone, while she is still one of five or six Caitlins in
her class. 3. Beware of punctuation in names, which could
cause problems when filling out computerized forms.
4. Be careful not to take the hunt for
creative names too far. Imagine the name as your own, or
try the "profession test". Would you wish to be known forever
as Egwene? Can you picture The Honorable Judge Tequila
Mad'y'syn being called to the bench?
5. Above all, remember that what really
matters is finding a name you love, one that grows well with
your child. Even the top names are being given to fewer
and fewer children these days, so if you fall in love with
Emma or Jacob, don't let fears of popularity force you to use
another name you don't really care for.
Copyright 2005
http://StorkNet.com Written by Susan Harkavy for
StorkNet's Baby Names Cubby (http://www.storknet.com/babynames),
a one-stop shop for all things baby names. Visit StorkNet for
support and information related to preconception, pregnancy,
and parenting including childbirth, breastfeeding, pregnancy
loss and more.
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