Where Have All the Lisas Gone?
Interesting article about the sociology of baby names. I agree with some of the predictions presented, as they’re right in keeping with the ever-evolving list of baby names I have in my head. (Oh come on: what woman doesn’t keep a little list of baby names in her head?)
Satran claims that the next big trend will be word names. Colors, for example (she just heard of a baby Cerulean), or words that resonate with the parents’ values or professions like Integrity or Story. ”There’s been a street-level thing happening for a while with names like Destiny and Genesis,” she says. ”They weren’t mainstream, but they were there. The tipping point came when Christie Brinkley, who is very visible, named her daughter Sailor because she and her husband liked to sail. Parents are increasingly looking for names that are different and also looking for names with personal meaning. Word names are a natural place to go. It’s virgin territory. Our grandchildren will have names we don’t even think of as names now.”
(via Fussy)
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6 Responses to “Names”
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Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, was published last year.
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Choire
July 11th, 2003 at 12:10 pm
Good. When we’re old, no one will think of us as freaks.
Emily
July 11th, 2003 at 12:54 pm
So what names do you like, Ariel? My little list includes Tristan, Ludivine and Sadie at the moment.
Ariel
July 11th, 2003 at 1:09 pm
Some of my faves include Juniper, Madrona, Manzanita, Cedar, and Phoenix. Note that most of the names have safe nicknames like June, Maddie, and Anita.
nikki
July 11th, 2003 at 1:30 pm
Can you picture…Grandma Tiffany, Grandma Amber, Grandma Britney?
My list: Boys - Bob, Happy and Sawyer Girls - Joey, Tallulah, and Ramona.
donut
July 12th, 2003 at 10:54 am
In what world are word names virgin territory? What about old puritan standards like Prudence, Temperance, Hope, and Faith? Or hippy standards like Sunshine and Rainbow? Or jewels and flowers, which have always been popular?
Anna
July 13th, 2003 at 10:31 am
It is very true that just about every woman keeps a list of baby names in her head. I don’t even want children, and still have a list of daughter’s names; Catherine being my top choice because of the potential for nicknames (Cat, Cate, Catie, Cathy…). Even my husband, who vehemently doesn’t want children, has a favorite: Lucy.