Every year, the Social Security Administration publishes the list of most popular baby names. This has particular interest to the families I work with. I think we need to shake up the list a little. For the past 12 years, Jacob has topped the list as the most popular name for boys. Isabella has been the most popular girls' name for the past two years running. I might have bought into that hype a little. When I found and adopted my little dog this past year, I did name her "Bella". For the first time since 1957, Elvis has left the building...um, the list. It has remained on the top 100 list for 55 straight years, which is astounding. I've never known an Elvis. The top names in 2010 are as follows;
Girls Boys
1. Isabella 1. Jacob
2. Sophia 2. Ethan
3. Emma 3. Michael
4. Olivia 4. Jayden
5. Ava 5. William
Not surprisingly, the names moving up fastest on the lists came from reality shows about teen moms. Maci and Bentley are moving up the list. The most popular girl names all end in the letter "a", indicating a trend toward feminine names. Remember a few years ago, there were many unisex names on both lists. Jayden, Hayden, Aiden, and Braden, are all on the boys' list -- a bit trendy too. Aiden makes the list three times with different spellings, so is more popular than it may seem.
Baby names tend to be cyclical. Michael and William are likely named after older relatives and they cycle through generations. A current trend in names is to be different and yet popular. That's a tough task. That may be why Aiden has so many spellings. I favor simple, easily spelled names that can't be shortened to nicknames. Of course, the best intentions don't always go as planned. I named my youngest son Dylan. That seems simple enough and went well with the names of his siblings, Ryan and Erin. Who knew everyone would try to spell it "Dillon", like Matt Dillon, the sheriff? When I chose the names of my children, there weren't too many with their names around, but it seems that simultaneously everyone had the same idea. My son, Ryan, had 5 other Ryans on his soccer team. It's a good thing he has an easy last name. With Erin, I thought of the Waltons and liked the Irish connection to match our Irish roots. I had never known another girl named Erin. But my daughter does. A bunch of them. Even our neighbor is Erin. So, in trying to be unique and yet not saddle a child with a name that everyone will get wrong, requiring the child to continually correct it, it becomes a balancing act and a difficult one at that.
Studies show that names make a difference in the classroom. Michaels or Deborahs tend to be favored by teachers over Freds or Beulahs. So, keep in mind when you are naming a child that there is more to it than just liking the name. Consider spelling, pronounciation, and popularity. That way, William and Ava won't have an uphill battle.
Showing posts with label baby names. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby names. Show all posts
Friday, May 13, 2011
Monday, August 9, 2010
What's in a Name?
All parents-to-be think about and sometimes obsess about baby names. The social security administration has tracked baby names for decades. Some of the most popular boy names -- Jacob, Ethan, and Michael -- or girl names -- Isabella, Emily, and Emma -- appear on the list time after time. There are some names which are becoming more popular as we speak, such as Mia, Chloe, Jayden, and Noah. There is also a trend by celebrities and others to pick original names -- names that very few others would have, such as Titan, Shiloh, Suri, Apple, Rumer, and Puma. Whether popular or unusual, a child will have to live with the name chosen for them for the rest of their lives -- or at least until they are old enough to change it. A study from the University of Oldenburg (and previous other studies) revealed that from the moment they read a school register, teachers have a pre-conceived notion about the child and unfair prejudices result. And it's not just teachers that have those prejudices. Traditional names are consistently linked to strong performance and good behavior. Non-traditional names are linked to poor performance and bad behavior. It's conceivable that if two children are talking or disrupting the class, the one who has the non-traditional name will be the one accused of causing the problem, regardless of which actually did.
In Germany, the name "Kevin" has a negative connotation. One study participant stated that "Kevin is not a name -- it's a diagnosis". This is how deep the prejudices against certain names run. In another study, children of equal intelligence were taught by the same teachers over a several year period. The performance of African American children with unusual names declined, while the others achieved. If teachers do not believe in the potential of students and give up on them, then their performances will decline. Such prejudices can have a drastic impact on the life and future of a child.
What then, do you think would happen if someone named their child "Lucifer" or "Damien"? What about "Chastity, Satana, or Madonna" for a girl? Unusual and difficult to spell names, specifically African names like Chiamaka, Narkeasha, Jevonte, or blended names like Kenesha, Marquesha, or Jamanda might all be names that would influence others in terms of their opinion of that child. Stereotypes are never good, but we know people tend to stereotype and unusual names could lend to that.
In one study, women with desirable names were considered more physically attractive. In another study, a group of teachers and teachers assistants were asked to grade a number of tests and essays. Unknown to the assessors, they were each marking the same essay under different names. The unconventional names scored much lower across the boards. There is evidence to suggest that children with "made up names" don't do as well at school and don't have as much success. If it is assumed (incorrectly, of course) that a child with an unusual or misspelled name comes from a family that is uneducated, that child may be discriminated against and it may be assumed that the intelligence of that child is lower than that of his or her peers.
When considering names, consider the consequences. You don't have to choose the most popular baby names, but check them out and make sure that they aren't so unusual or difficult to spell that a child will have to defend their name or spell it for everyone from teachers to team captains. The image a name brings forth is important for the success of that child.
Apply a few rules to naming a child; 1) Don't tell people about the name you are considering for your child. Everyone will have an opinion, 2) Choose a name for success, rather than a name for your own edification, 3) Have a few names you like, but wait until you meet the baby before you choose a name.
You can't personally educate everyone in the world about what your special name means. Choose something that automatically has good associations. This will benefit your child.
In Germany, the name "Kevin" has a negative connotation. One study participant stated that "Kevin is not a name -- it's a diagnosis". This is how deep the prejudices against certain names run. In another study, children of equal intelligence were taught by the same teachers over a several year period. The performance of African American children with unusual names declined, while the others achieved. If teachers do not believe in the potential of students and give up on them, then their performances will decline. Such prejudices can have a drastic impact on the life and future of a child.
What then, do you think would happen if someone named their child "Lucifer" or "Damien"? What about "Chastity, Satana, or Madonna" for a girl? Unusual and difficult to spell names, specifically African names like Chiamaka, Narkeasha, Jevonte, or blended names like Kenesha, Marquesha, or Jamanda might all be names that would influence others in terms of their opinion of that child. Stereotypes are never good, but we know people tend to stereotype and unusual names could lend to that.
In one study, women with desirable names were considered more physically attractive. In another study, a group of teachers and teachers assistants were asked to grade a number of tests and essays. Unknown to the assessors, they were each marking the same essay under different names. The unconventional names scored much lower across the boards. There is evidence to suggest that children with "made up names" don't do as well at school and don't have as much success. If it is assumed (incorrectly, of course) that a child with an unusual or misspelled name comes from a family that is uneducated, that child may be discriminated against and it may be assumed that the intelligence of that child is lower than that of his or her peers.
When considering names, consider the consequences. You don't have to choose the most popular baby names, but check them out and make sure that they aren't so unusual or difficult to spell that a child will have to defend their name or spell it for everyone from teachers to team captains. The image a name brings forth is important for the success of that child.
Apply a few rules to naming a child; 1) Don't tell people about the name you are considering for your child. Everyone will have an opinion, 2) Choose a name for success, rather than a name for your own edification, 3) Have a few names you like, but wait until you meet the baby before you choose a name.
You can't personally educate everyone in the world about what your special name means. Choose something that automatically has good associations. This will benefit your child.
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