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Overview
Place names: Jamaica, Dakota, Sierra
Surnames for first names: Madison, Harper, Taylor
Names from nature: Lark, Pearl, Sage
Names from mythology: Daphne, Thea, Gareth
10 issues to consider before naming a baby
Concise overview of the most popular name categories
Completely revised horoscopes to predict a baby's talents and tendencies
And much more!
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780307756947 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Random House Publishing Group |
| Publication date: | 11/24/2010 |
| Sold by: | Random House |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 224 |
| File size: | 2 MB |
Read an Excerpt
INTRODUCTION
How We Choose Names
Parents-to-be may be overwhelmed by the responsibility of naming their baby. It is, after all, their first formal act as parents, and subject to the scrutiny of family, friends, and community. A name can proclaim parents’ hopes for their child and how they define themselves as a family. Your personal, religious, and cultural identity can be measured, in part, by the name you give your child. Understanding the importance of the task before them, many parents feel overwhelmed because in our culture there are no guidelines and few traditions concerning the naming of babies. What has been described as your first gift to your child is a personal choice, and is often decided in what may seem to be an arbitrary manner.
Despite the private nature of your decision, you will undoubtedly be subjected to many opinions along the way. Even before Aunt Edna (or another relative) puts in her two cents, you will probably encounter some material on the subject. Popular baby-name books abound. Most are references of a general sort; however, there are also books that recommend celebrity names, names of soap opera characters, and names scientifically measured for professional and personal success. One best-selling book defines every possible subgroup of names, which are cleverly headed and classified according to style. Parents can choose, in menu fashion, which style they aspire to. Most recent on the market is a board game devised for selecting a name, step-by-step.
While a good baby-name reference (like the one you have in your hands) can help guide you in your quest, your final choice remains a personal one. Does the name sound pleasing? Is it meaningful? Does it honor your family? Only you can make these decisions for yourself and your child. So relax, trust your instincts, and savor the joyful process of discovering your child’s name.
What’s in a Name?
For years psychologists have speculated that a person’s first name can somehow influence his or her life. Here are some recent findings on the significance of names.
Feminine Names: A widely published British study seemed to confirm that girls with feminine names like Lucy and Rose did indeed have more girlish personalities. However, this result may have had more to do with the traditional parents who named them. Another study on women with masculine names (Dean, Randy, etc.) revealed that they were no more likely to be unfeminine than women named Deborah or Elizabeth. Yet another study compares the relationship between women’s names and corporate hiring. It contends that, at least in white-collar circles, there is prejudice against sexy names—in other words, a Crystal may be passed over for promotion in favor of an Amanda.
Children and Their Names: New research in this area has debunked a widely accepted theory that academic achievement and “social competence” are linked to the popularity of a child’s name—in other words, that Ashley and Michael would have more friends and be more favorably graded by teachers than their less popularly named peers, such as Agnes and Myron. The researchers concluded that names were “not at all related” to success in these areas. They also found that, in relationships, a person’s name is not an important issue once you get to know him or her well, at which point other characteristics become more influential.
Unusual Names: Several older studies have led us to believe that people with unusual names are more likely to be unpopular or to even show signs of psychosis. More recent research, however, seems to indicate that on written personality tests, unusually named people have the same kinds of personalities as more conventionally named ones. The psychologists who conducted the study stated, “Neither men nor women appear to be at a psychological disadvantage as a result of having an unusual or sexually ambiguous name.” Clearly, more research is indicated in this area—particularly the examination of parents who give their children unusual names.
Some Popular Categories of Names
While this book does not promote baby-naming trends, there are specific name types that might be of interest to list here. At any rate, it might aid your decision-making process by helping you to think in terms of categories of names.
Ethnic Names: Perhaps the most striking aspect of baby naming today is the growing popularity of ethnic names. Many of these names, once considered rare or very unusual, are commonly heard in playgrounds across the country and regularly appear in popular baby-name books.
In an atmosphere of increased ethnic awareness, many families are making their own very strong, personal statement by giving their children names that proclaim their ethnic and cultural identity. Multiculturalism is not just a passing issue, but an indicator of the changing face of America; recent demographics estimate that minorities will constitute half of the total U.S. population by the year 2050.
A related phenomenon is the rise in interracial families, which has also impacted baby naming. The dual ethnicity of this generation is expressed in their colorful names: Tamika O’Shawnessy (African-American/Irish); Keiji Drysdale (Scottish/Japanese American); Pontius Sun Jung (Korean/Mexican/Irish/Chinese). Many baby-name books, including the previous edition of this one, actually warn against combining names of different ethnic groups or cultures. However, contemporary families are defying this outdated notion in increasing numbers.
Foreign-language names are not solely reserved for children of those ethnic groups. Many of these beautiful names are adopted cross-culturally, particularly Hawaiian names, some of which are used so often that they are approaching classic status.
You will find ethnic names scattered throughout this updated edition—there are far too many to list all of them here. If you would like to further your research, there are now available several references devoted to personal names of specific ethnic groups and cultures. Check your local library or bookseller.
Place Names: This is a rich group of names, including both proper names (Boston, India) and descriptive terms (Clifford, Dale). The following list is only a small sampling of possibilities. You can choose the name of a place significant to you, a hometown or state, a foreign place name or term reflecting your ancestral roots, the baby’s birthplace, or even the place where she or he was conceived. Of course, you may also choose a place name simply because it sounds pleasant to you and has a nice meaning. We know of a couple who did just that, plucking a faraway place name from an atlas and bestowing it on their daughter, who, as far as we know, is still pleased with her unique, melodic name.
Girls
Arcadia
Asia
Boston
Caledonia
Catalina
China
Dakota
Elysia
Florida
Glenna
Hadley
India
lona
Jamaica
Jordan
Juniata
Kenya
Kiona
Kyle
Lourdes
Montana
Nara
Nevada
Nila
Oceania
Paris
Savannah
Sevilla
Shannon
Sienna
Tara
Tiberia
Tosca
Whitney
Boys
Brendan
Brett
Cashel
Clifford
Clyde
Dakota
Dale
Dallas
Dean
Denholm
Denver
Granville
Haden
Holland
Hudson
Jordan
Keith
Kent
Kyle
Lane
Lincoln
Marsden
Mead
Montana
Morgan
Nash
Nazareth
Ogden
Ralston
Ramsey
Roman
Shannon
Stanford
Tyrone
Wesley
Surnames: Surnames or family names were traditionally used for boys’ first names, but today they are popular choices for both sexes. Parents may choose to honor the mother’s family by selecting her family name as a first or middle name.
Below is a brief listing of the more popular surnames that can serve as first names for either sex. Family sources can help you in researching your own name, or you can check the reference section of the library, where you should find several volumes on surnames, their origin and meaning.
Blake
Campbell
Carson
Carter
Cassidy
Chaney
Chapin
Grayson
Harper
Kelly
MacKenzie
Madison
Miller
Palmer
Parker
Payton/Peyton
Potter
Quinn
Reed
Riley
Sawyer
Shelby
Sheridan
Taylor
Names from Nature: At first glance, these names may have a “back-to-nature,” retro-seventies connotation for you. But examine the list and you will find many beautiful, melodic names, as well as many classics, such as Todd and Susan (meaning fox and lily, respectively), which you might not have thought of as nature names.
Girls
Acacia
Alyssa
Amber
Ayla
Beryl
Blossom
Brooke
Calandra
Calla
Columbia
Concha
Coral
Doe
Ebony
Eirlys
Gemma
Hamelia
Hana
Ivie/lvy
Jade
Kai
Kleantha
Lani
Lark
Laurel
Leona
Leotie
Lian
Linnea
Luna
Mahina
Margaret
Maris
Marjani
Mavis
Morela
Olivia
Oprah
Pala
Paloma
Pearl
Rosalind
Ruby
Rue
Susan
Tabitha
Ulma
Violet
Willow
Wren
Yuki
Zipporah
Boys
Alder
Barend/Berend
Bertram
Beryl
Birch
Brooks
Buck
Callum/Colm
Cedar
Chayton
Colt
Corbin
Eben
Ferris
Forrest
Frazier
Hart
Hawthorne
Herschel
Hickory
Jaafar
Jasper
Jay
Kai
Lark
Leonard
Marsh
Merle
Merlin
Mesa
Nevada
Oren
Orson
Peregrine
Raven
Ravi
Robin
Sage
Sierra
Silas/Silvano
Sky
Storm
Todd
Verne/Vernon