I know, I know. It's all election news, all the time these days. You might think baby name land would be a respite. But names are inextricably entwined with the changing world around them, and the political world is part of that. I've talked in the past about the shifting patterns of honoring new presidents with namesakes, and about various names involved with this year's contest. The most obvious name story remains Barack, the name I tabbed as the 2007 Name of the Year. (By the way, a few reporters have come calling looking for babies named after the Democratic nominee. If you're the parent of a bouncing little Barack and would be willing to talk to the press, let me know.)
But I don't expect a huge flood of Baracks, or Johns, or Tracks & Trigs. The name I'm tracking most closely in this election season isn't a name that's born by any of the political players. It's a name--or rather a title--they've attempted to bestow upon themselves. That name is Maverick.
The original Maverick, one Samuel Augustus Maverick (1803-1870), was in fact a political player himself. Maverick was a Texan legislator and a signer of the 1836 Texas Declaration of Independence. The use of his name to mean a self-guided, independent thinker doesn't reflect his political career, though. It refers to his unorthodox ranching habits. As a rancher Maverick never branded his cattle, so any lone, unbranded stray calf was identified as a Maverick.
The name gradually gathered a more romantic image of adventurous daring, with help from Hollywood. The '50s-'60s tv Western "Maverick" presented brothers Bret and Bart Maverick as a pair of bold, brash itinerant gamblers getting into all sorts of exciting scrapes. The 1986 film Top Gun gave us Tom Cruise as "Maverick," the cocky, risk-taking Navy pilot. Is it any surprise that baby names followed suit?
A first handful of young Mavericks was born in the late 1950s, during the heyday of the tv series. A great many more have been born since the mid-1990s, as a wide-open, creative naming culture has made the name a realistic possibility for more parents. Last year Maverick ranked #559 among all U.S. boys' names, representing 453 daring, independent-minded new infants.
But that was last year. When you hear the word Maverick in 2008, you probably hear it in the voice of John McCain or Sarah Palin -- or perhaps in the voice of comedian Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, gettin' "mavericky." Ironically, this word for an independent thinker unbound by ideology is now one of the most partisan terms in politics. Used either in admiration or in satire, it is clearly identified with the Republican ticket.
So what effect will this have on Maverick, the baby name? It's a tough call. The constant media exposure should bring it to more parents' minds. As we've seen with hurricane names, any publicity is usually good publicity if the name is catchy to begin with. The specific political association will probably net out as a wash: some parents will like the connection with McCain-Palin while others will be turned off by it. But a final factor lies with the nature of the name itself, and of the parents who have flocked to it in recent years. Some, I suspect, will simply conclude that the name's unique cachet has been spoiled. What fun is an edgy, creative, adventurous culture statement once it's been adopted by the establishment?
A respectful request: in comments, please try resist the impulse to campaign. Around here, it's all about the names.
Name Spotlight: Election Edition
Comments
The story of the Mavericks made its way onto Canadian public radio last month- a lady in her 90s, either the granddaughter or great-grandaughter of the original Maverick was interviewed on a current affairs show. Super neat lady, sharp as a tack and hilariously funny. As for the name itself, it's got the supremely traditional nickname "Rick" built in, plus a cool letter v- what could be better?!
If one of the candidates (or a spouse, child or prominent commentator...) had only had a "Bo" name. I've seen so many little Boden, Bode and Bowens around it's not funny, but I've done my searching, and only Bode comes up in the SSA (one year in 2006), and there's no particular reason for Boden or Bowen- the only thing I can find is a children's clothing company called Boden, which might be influencing that one. Anyone else seen that one/got any theories?
A little slow of me- but I wonder whether Beau Biden's sudden (inter)national debut might tip the scales towards "Boden" subconsciously?
I actually know a baby boy named Maverick who was born earlier this year.
A geographically distant friend of mine has, I believe, a little Maverick living near her. It won't surprise many to hear my friend lives in Colorado. She adores names like this, at least for boys, although her kids have names that are much more traditional. It's really NMS, though. I just can't get past it sounding like a dog name.
I know a Maverick! It's not his legal name, though, but he's been using it more or less exclusively for a few years.
On the theme of ideas rather than candidate names spawning trends, how about an increase in the use of Hope as a name?
Am I reading the voyager wrong? I looked up the name Maverick, and it looks like the graph goes up to 103 for the year 2007. How do you use the graph to get to the 453 babies that were mentioned in the post?
My neighbours have a son named Maverick. His parents proudly assert that he's named after the Tom Cruise character in Top Gun.
Maverick is seven, and is notoriously ill-behaved. Every so often I hear someone yell, "Maverick, don't do that! Stop it, Maverick! I told you not to do that, Maverick. Why don't you listen? Maverick, why must you always break the rules?"
Obviously there is some sort of irony-deficiency in the family. Either that or naming your child Maverick is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Regardless, I think it's a horrible name.
Well, could always call 'em Rick for short...
re Jan's question about Hope:
I have a friend who just last month adopted an infant, whom she named Hope. Pretty sure my friend is GOP, but I wouldn't be surprised if the word floating around subconciously influenced the choice. In any case, I think it was an excellent choice for a much-longed-for adoptee.
Hi, this is Eo, posting as "Kitt". An "idea" name that has always had an appeal for freedom-minded parents is "Liberty".
It has that rolling, three-syllable sound, and is associated with the high-minded works of the American founders.
Interestingly, I was reading somewhere about a very stylish young English woman, who also sported the name "Liberty". It fits with my penchant for similar names Charity, Verity, et al.
I think it's interesting that the Top Gun Maverick is supposed to be based off of now jailed Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham.
I've known women around my age named both Liberty and Freedom (must have been the Bicentennial?). Liberty goes by Libby and most folks never know her full name; Freedom just uses Freedom, but has to correct people a lot ("no, not Freida, Freedom"). There aren't that many women's names that end in M (Miriam and Shalom come to mind), so I guess people just don't hear the M because they don't expect it.
I did see a Barack in the local hospital's baby arrivals about six weeks ago. Might have been a middle name, though?
I wouldn't be surprised to see the name Bristol enjoy some popularity. It's close to the name Crystal, and I find it appealing even though it's not my naming style.
Laura, what a fascinating post!
I don't think I would have been a huge fan of Maverick as a name anyway, just nms, but I do think that the meaning of the word has totally changed this year. It's interesting how that happens, makes me think of "main street/wall street" though no names there. What about some little Change babies? Haha I doubt it, but you never know!
I know a woman with daughters Honor and Liberty. But Maverick? Ugh...
Maverick: 2 syllables or 3?
(I'm a 3.)
Some of your comments on other politically charged word-names reminded me of this post from a couple of years ago...
http://www.babynamewizard.com/archives/2006/11/born-free
I know of a 1 year old Liberty, and one born a couple months ago. I can't love it. I mean, the meaning of the word itself is of course wonderful, and the sound is fine, but it always comes across as jingoistic to me as a name--even if that's not the parents' intent.
A quick reference back to our conversation about women changing their names at marriage with dubious results--I met a woman today named B@rb R@wls (married name), who pronounced her first name very distinctly and separately from her last. Her pronunciation struck me as odd, then I realized why she did it--otherwise, her name definitely sounds like "Bar Brawls". Poor lady.
Bristol was my first dog's middle name, after the city in England (named by my mom). Yes, our dogs had middle names, lol. Her full name was Royal Bristol, and my mom's other dogs are called Windsor and Scotchie (both as a place name and as a reference to his Scotch-like color). She has a bit of a fascination with the UK, and especially the royals, lol. It's a wonder she didn't name me Elizabeth or Victoria or some such. Anyway, Bristol doesn't seem like such a bad name to me, especially compared to Palin's other picks.
Maverick seems like naming your kid Wilder or Buster or Stryker -- you can't really be too surprised when these boys live up to their names' meanings at the worst possible moments. (Is this genre the male equivalent of "stripper names"?)
I'm starting to kind of like Piper, as little Piper Palin is cute as a button. The only other Piper I've known I wasn't crazy about. It's funny how our perceptions change.
I'm betting Trig and Piper go up.
Both are tend-right for other reasons, and I bet this campaign gives them that "recognition bounce."
I think the other names are a bit too eclectic for most, but who knows...!
As for Maverick, I remember a discussion about this on another name site. It seems to me that the mom to be also wanted to spell it differently. It seems to me that it's a name that appeals not so much to parents determined to be different, but to those who want something that really says, "Cowboy."
A Maverick could easily be brother to a Colt or a Dakota. A while back I posted names we heard at the rodeo. No Mavericks but there were multiple Chances and a Turtle (I assume that one was a nickname-but who knows?!)
I have too much election lingo fatigue to be able to think objectively about how others will view it after November, but it will be fun to see!
On a slightly related note, one of the young actors in Changeling is named Gattlin.
I should hate it, but I kind of like it.
I think that's my suggestion for anyone who needs a "new Maverick."
I know a one year old Maverick, but they spelled it Mavrik. *sigh*
Wow, Kelly, the misspelling just seals it!
I had asked for help naming Calvin's little brother a while back. Just wanted to give you all the update - Duncan was born last Friday and is healthy and beautiful. Thanks for the naming input, everyone!
Sarah S- congratulations on Duncan's arrival. I really like his name!
Maverick (2 syllables, btw) is one of those names on my "I like it" list but not on my "I'd use it for my kid" list. Same with Liberty and Gatlin.
Jumping onto hyz's mom's pet names, I've come across an American girl named Windsor, and I love it. But I'm wondering if it would be poorly received in the UK (or by other NEs) as "too identifiable"...?
As a Texan, I know all about Sam Maverick, and maybe that's why it's always struck me as more "wild west" than Top Gun. I think it's sort of funny that this laudatory term (going your own way, independent-minded, etc.) came out of a rancher's impractical, arrogant practices (NOT rebellious, but just plain bad business). Anyway, up until now I would assume any parents using it were going for a cowboy vibe, but I guess it would be impossible to use now without a political connotation.
I don't like the name (it sounds more like a nickname than a given name to my ears). Possibly a short burst, and then, depending on the outcome of the election, either a fairly quick dropoff or a couple years of mild popularity?
Congratulations, Sarah S.!!! :)
I kinda dig Wilder (a la Laura Ingalls and Thornton)--in fact, both Wilder and Thornton appeared on my very long boy list, but were each nixed early (Wilder for being too "out there" and maybe asking for trouble--kinda like naming you kid "Trouble", lol), and Thornton for the uncomfortable glottal stop in the middle. I could still see Wilder for our next dog, though. I like Maverick for a dog, too (2 syllables).
Oh, and I actually don't mind any of Palin's girls' names--I misspoke earlier--it's Track and Trig that get me. If she doesn't go with Zamboni or Puck for the next (hypothetical) boy, I might suggest Chem, Band, or PhysEd.
Trek or Truck might be nice, too.
sorry. couldn't help it. I'll stop now.
Lol, truck!
I have to say I like Bristol, I don't think I'd use it, but I like it. Piper is cute, but I wonder how it would be to be an adult with that name? Anyone know any adult Pipers? Willow is fine, just nms and I'm not crazy about Willow and Piper together (too matchy for no reason I can define, like our conversation a week or so ago).
Off topic, but just wanted to share this link --
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/42822
Yeah, I know an adult Piper. She works in advertising, which is probably easier that trying to make it as Piper the Financial Planner or something. Still, it's a little cutsie for me.
Adult Piper--Piper Laurie
Liberty--(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valence
Maverick--a contractor who recently took my deposit and disappeared calls himself Maverick (I call him Thief), enough to put me off the name (his real name is Patrick)
New grand-dog--a blue merle Australian Shepherd named Bella, short for Bellicose, because she isn't
New baby expected--a friend of mine with a 3 year old daughter named Elisabeth Adelaide is expecting another girl around January 1, tentative name Rosemary Anne (don't hear of too many Rosemarys these days)
Thank you to everyone for all the thoughtful responses to my query (on the last post) whether Alice, Laurel, and Margaret are dignified, smart, classic names that might help a girl be taken seriously. It was very helpful to hear everyone's opinions whether the names match our baby-naming criteria.
I thought I'd provide a tally of the board's thoughts:
ALICE
*Yes: 13
*No: 1
*1st choice: 3
*2nd choice: 1
LAUREL
*Yes: 6
*No: 8
*1st choice: 5
MARGARET
*Yes: 14
*No: zero
*1st choice: 3
*2nd choice: 4
*3rd choice: 1
People who liked Laurel REALLY liked it, but many people don't think it has the same classic feeling as the other two names. There was little objection to Alice, but not much passion for it, either. There was more enthusiasm for Margaret, especially for its many nickname possibilities, which I doubt we'll use. (We thought we'd call our Isaac "Ike" or "Izzy," but we never do.)
Thanks again, everyone! We've got another ten or 11 weeks before our girl is born, and I'm not in a rush to eliminate any of the three names. With our son, we had three possible names picked out -- Isaac, Jasper, and Guthrie -- and once he was born it turned out we wanted the classic name, not the trendy one or the wacky one.
@J&H's Mom - I agree w/ your thoughts on Gattlin for a boy. "I should hate it, but I kind of like it" - captures my thoughts exactly! It evokes guns & the Wild West for me. Oh so very NMS, but yet it has a certain appeal that I cannot deny.
@hyz - Ditto what you said about liking Wilder. Could be used by parents in a distinctly not-so-funny way though: This is the "Wilder" of my 2 boys. Cringe...
@Sarah S - Congratulations & welcome little Duncan!!
@NAR - Thanks for the update & for changing your screen name! ;)
NAR- Count me in as a fan of Laurel. I really like it paired with Isaac. It sounds fresh and unexpected, but not *too* out there at the same time. It also sounds like it would age well over the years.
Speaking of sibling pairings, I am about to give birth to my first child, a boy we are planning on naming Samuel Robert (Sam). Of course, I am already trying to think of potential sibling names. What names would you think of as a sibling to Sam/Samuel? We are not tied to a biblical theme at all...we just really love the name Sam. :)
@Mello - I like the name Sam. Sibling names could be -
Boys: Alexander, Nicholas, Caleb, Micah, Noah, Joshua, George.
Girls: Elizabeth, Sarah, Anne, Hannah, Rebecca, Mary, Abigail
Hmm... these names all sound like people who could've been alive at the time of the American Revolution.
Mello, we have cousins whose first child is Sam (Samuel), followed by Dan (Daniel) and then Emma.
All the names are traditional, and I like them together.
Following up on an nice name in the celebrity headlines, I discovered this '70's sibset: The sisters of actors River Phoenix and Joaquin Rafael Phoenix are Rain, Liberty (yes, 1976) and Summer. (Hmm, one of these names is not like the others.)
Sarah S-- Congrats! Duncan is a great match for Calvin.
Mello, I think almost anything could be a decent match for Sam. It's a remarkably versatile name these days. For some reason, Daphne is striking me as a nice match today. On the boys side, my cousin has three boys named Sam, Zack, and Ben (the latter two are not my favorites). Sam would be great with old-school biblical names like Solomon or more trendy ones like Jacob or standards like James or John. I think it would sound fine even with a name like Dakota or a name like Hamish.
The only name I'd absolutely ban: Samantha.
My concern with Maverick is that it has a strong, distinct meaning that may weigh heavily on a child, or not fit well... Names like Joy, Desiree, Chastity are also in this category for me. When there's a strong disconnect between a name's commonly understood meaning and the personality of the person bearing it, it has the potential to turn into a joke: Joy the serious, moody girl; Chastity the sexually active; Desiree the introverted prim one. What if you name your son Maverick and he turns out to be sort of a nerdy quiet type? (And don't get me wrong, I love nerdy quiet types.)
Sarah S -- I have long loved Duncan and think it's a super choice with Calvin (another fave)!
Mello -- Congrats on your soon-to-be Sam! A friend of mine has a sib set Sam and Josie (Josephine). I also know a Sam and Emily pair. I prefer the first. I think Sam and Josie are fantastic together.
Hmm Mello-Love Rebecca and Noah as siblings even though they are of the biblical theme. Have to think more on that one?
Re:Maverick-It is very "wild west" and so nms. It ranks with Dakota and Cody as someone upthread also said. I think I would use those more than I would Maverick. BTW, 2 syllables. I say it like Tina and Sarah say it and think of them first when I hear it. I then move to John Wayne or Robert Blake or some actor in a frontier-type movie or Magnum PI type show. In either case they are looking for a free-spirited bloke who has regard for the law yet somehow manages to do things "his way" and they work out. Hope that makes sense w/o being offensive to any.
Okay some more quick thoughts on sibs for Sam since my brain didn't want to let go of it so soon.
Olivia;Bianca;Theresa;Lucy;Michele;Vivienne;Zoe
I think it has to have a strong vowel sound as Sam does not.
Brian;Duncan(thanks Sarah S);Theodore nn Teddy;Phillip;Marshall (along the Maverick line-hmm good or bad??)
Btw, I too know of a Sam(uel) + Emily sib set.
Thanks for all the suggestions on a sibling for Sam so far...please keep them coming!
Coll - I was wondering if Sam would sound odd with more contemporary names, so your comment is really enlightening. Most of my other favorites lean more towards names like Annabel, Penelope, Eliza, Dominic, Calvin, Simon, etc. So it's good to hear that pairing Sam with one of those names wouldn't be too random! Although, there are plenty of traditional/classic names that I really love as well.
LOVE the sugggestions of Josie, Vivienne, and Daphne!
Sarah S. - Calvin and Duncan is a wonderful sibset. Congrats!
kristi- I think Joaquin Phoenix used to be Leaf actually. Don't blame him for changing it!
Valerie - According to IMDB, Joaquin was given the name Joaquin at birth, but as a youngster he changed his name (not legally of course) to Leaf to be more like his siblings.
Mello - I love the suggestions you've gotten so far of Josie/Josephine, Noah, and Alex/Alexander. How about: Charlie/Charles, Ben/Benjamin, David, Eric, Rose, Anna, Clara, Eve, Hazel.
Mello - Forgot to say, I love Annabel. I'll also add one more to the list: Charlotte.
My sister married into a Mexican family. She has chosen a Spanish first name for their future child. This child will also have a Spanish middle name (Mother-in-law's name) and her husband's last name (a common Mexican surname).
I thought it would be nice to have a second middle name that reflected our family's Chinese heritage. The only thing is that nobody speaks Chinese. (We immigrated to the U.S. in the 1800's.) So we are not in the position to give a Chinese name (which is a tricky proposition; I've heard it should only be done by a native Chinese speaker).
So aside from the names China or Asia, can you think of any other English names that would pay homage to our somewhat diluted heritage? I have thought of throwing in her last name, but alas, it is one of the few Chinese surnames that sound British, so it loses some of its impact.
I was thinking maybe Jade or Willow.
Tirzah, what about Mei (or May or Mae)? The wife of a Chinese colleague of mine (both relatively recent immigrants) is named Mei, and that name works in an Anglophone context--easy to pronounce and familiar as a female name.
Post new comment