As the year draws to a close we survey the naming landscape and assess what has changed, and what it means -- about names, and about our culture. One message came through loud and clear in this year's reader nominations: 2008 was all about politics. The presidential election dominated the nomination lineup, as it dominated headlines and emotions all year long. (The name Barack would have been a no-brainer choice for Name of the Year, had it not been the 2007 selection.) But there were still many naming stories, as you'll see in our honorees...
Second runner up: Cullen
Our token non-political name makes the grade with a double-hit on two of the year's biggest cultural events. At the Beijing Olympics swimmer Cullen Jones was part of the record-setting U.S. 4x100 Freestyle Relay relay team, and made headlines as one of the first African-American swimming stars. In movie theaters, Edward Cullen was an undead heartthrob. As the teen-vampire sensation Twilight moved from book to screen, countless more adolescent girls added the name Cullen to their future-baby list. In January, Cullen was barely on the radar as a baby name; from now on it's a player.
First runner up: Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper and Trig
When Sarah Palin became the Republican vice presidential nominee, her children's names became a sensation. Much of the country was fascinated, puzzled, even horrified. Yet in places like Alaska and Utah those names aren't so weird at all, and places like Alaska and Utah are often leading indicators of name trends to come. The Palin kids performed a cultural service, making broad swaths of Americans take their first look at the naming revolution that is sweeping our country. If you still think of Jill and Tracy as popular names, it's time for a wake up call. Neither name ranks in the top 1000 for girls, while Essence, Karma, Shyann, Chasity and Armani all do.
And yet, the official 2008 Name of the Year is:
Joe.
That's Average Joe, Joe Blow, a good Joe, say it ain't so Joe...or rather "Amtrak Joe" Biden, Joe Six-Pack and Joe the Plumber.
The use of Joe to refer to the American everyman peaked in the 1920s-50s. The idiomatic use had been dying out in recent years, and when it did pop up the connotation had shifted toward the derisive. The "good Joe" of the '40s, that responsible, hardworking fellow, had morphed into the soft, ineffectual Joe Schmo and Joe Six-Pack. Instead of standing for an anybody, Joe had become a nobody.
Not any more. After the 2008 presidential campaign, Joe has reclaimed its position as the proud baby-name symbol of the American masses. Even Joe Six-Pack has been elevated from couch potato status to icon, as if we measure our national character in 12-ounce servings.
It wouldn't have worked with just any name. Take the case of Joe the Plumber, who became the working-man mascot of the Republican campaign. Imagine, if you will, "Braedyn the Plumber" or "Dakotah the Plumber." Not quite the same punch, eh? The name Joe struck a special chord in part because of its history of standing for the everyman, but also because it hearkened back to an earlier America: the America that actually named its sons Joe.
The popularity of the name Joseph peaked in 1911. That year, America's top 10 boys' names were:
1. John
2. William
3. James
4. George
5. Robert
6. Joseph
7. Charles
8. Frank
9. Edward
10. Thomas
That's a veritable honor roll of "ordinary guy" names. In 1911, they accounted for 21% of boys born. Last year? 4%. Even as Joe returns to its throne as the esteemed everyman, that everyman (as measured by baby names) is getting harder and harder to find.
What's more, the supposed Average Joes themselves -- the small-town blue-collar and farming families celebrated in the campaign as "real America" -- are abandoning the ordinary names the fastest. Check out the name Joseph in the NameMapper. It's still a top-5 name in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, but it's out of the top 35 in rural Iowa, Montana and Vermont.
The real political symbolism of the name Joe was not merely ordinariness, but commonality. Joe represented a shared vision of normality, of a wholesome, small-town America as the nation's cultural baseline. A nation of Joes is easier to wrap your mind around than a nation of Braedyns, Dakotahs, Shyanns, Armanis...and Baracks. But if baby names speak truth, that common Joe is largely a romantic illusion. It's worth contemplating that the self-styled "small-town hockey mom" candidate who celebrated Joe Six-Pack and Joe the Plumber gave her own kids names like Track and Bristol.
So whither Joe the Baby Name? Ironically, the repeated celebration of Joe's ordinariness makes it seem a little more special. It's no longer just one of the crowd of Bobs and Bills, but more of a tough, fun-loving everybloke. That could give Joe a boost among the neo-traditionalists who go for names like Jack and Max (and who may be inclined toward Joes like Biden and Lieberman more than Six-Pack). But in much of the country, Joe is now stronger as a symbol than a name. Braedyn the Plumber's day is nigh.
With best wishes for the naming year to come,
Laura
The 2008 Name Of The Year
12/07/2008, 2:51PM
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Comments
Interesting name in the birth announcements in our local paper: Bryan Kathleen LN. What do you think? My husband thinks it's a boy, but I think it's a girl -- either a new spelling of Brianne or, heaven forbid, is Bryan crossing over to the girls names?!?
Bryan Kathleen must be a girl. I know girls named Ryan and Evan, so Bryan doesn't seem like too much of a stretch.
I'm with Elizabeth T., I think she's a girl. I know 1 yr old girls named Tyler and Ryan, so why not Bryan? It's not my style, but it seems that girls can be named anything (feminine or masculine names) while boys can't.
And I know a six year old girl named Bradley.
Eo - I love the good, undiscovered surname name, too. Townes van Zandt just couldn't have been Joe van Zandt.
Thanks Miriam, I knew you'd come through. However, I still think it sounds better as a girls name.
I also think Bryan Kathleen is a girl, but I'm going to guess they're pronouncing it like Brianne. I wish we could find out somehow!
Mirnada-I agree with others that Camille is a tough one for a boy to pull off-even in the middle.
This might be too clever for your tastes, but could you do Cam or Miles or maybe something like Mills or Miller?
Simon Cameron or Simon Mills or even Simon Cameron Miller all sound like handsome options to my ear.
Otherwise, I root for the solid, handsome James.
As the mom of a "just Jack," I can certainly see the appeal of Joe. I haven't heard of it used on its own yet,though. While I admire its namesakes and meaning, for some reason I've never cared for the longer Joseph.
The one young Joseph we know is in Jack's kindergarten. His family is quite religious (little brother is Matthew).
The interesting thing is that he's definitely a Joseph-not a Joe.
Do we know of babes with Joe as their given name?
Anyone writing a romance? My captcha is Winslow Hotly!
I know it's been said above, but I just want to say again that Camille DOES have a solid history of being used as a male name, and Pascale IS a female name when spelled with the final -e. I think Anya Pascale is stunning, and I believe I've said that before. I think Camille could be tough for an American boy to carry, but since you'd be using it as a middle name, I think it could work. I think the idea of using Cameron or another Cam- name is another nice way to honor a Camille.
Mirnanda (Is that really your name, or is it a typo for Miranda?), Is your husband French? Pascale and Camille make me think so.
I went to collage with a female Brian. She was stunningly beautiful, so no problems there. She liked her name. I think it would have been more of a burden if she had been born plain.
Since I gave both of my girls unisex names, I guess I must have been subconsciously sure that they would be stunningly beautiful. Of course, they are!! ;)
In one of those "Aha!" moments, I've just remembered that my cousin is Kyle James LN (also a common boy first name, like Thomas), and he goes by Jamey. He's in his later 30s. I have a neice named Jamie (age 20), but it's just that- Jamie Marie. Knew a girl named Jaymee (or Jaymie) who is in her 30s now.
And I know I've come across a little girl named Bradlee before. Oh, and a preschool girl whose given name is Joie, pronounced Joey.
Feeling very happy with the choice of Joe as NOTY, as it is definitely my name of the year. I've spent this year writing a novel, in which the main character is called Joe and Joe is in the title too. So definitely my NOTY and hopefully this will bring it luck with the publishers who are looking at it now!
Good luck Keren!
Speaking of unexpected names that crop up in the top 1000, I know someone who volunteers in a kindergarten class--where there are two girls named Unique! The irony makes me laugh!
Anne with an E-- that is classic.
Birth announcment in my area-- Lexus. Couldn't quite believe that one.
Thinking about the name Jaime in all it's variations I work with a Jaime (g), Jaimie (g) and a James who goes by Jamie (b). I find the spelling incredibly confusing and am always afraid I'm going to spell it wrong for one of them!
Anne with an e- I think that's the danger of using names with certain meanings... pretty amusing in this case!
THAT is too funny Ann with an E!
Yes, my husband is Cajun French, and that's why he's really interested in using french names. And yes, a lot of french names vary quite little for girls and boys (Rene/ Renee, Pascal/Pascale, etc.). I think it can be sophisticated and elegant to a certain extent. Camille is a bit of a stretch in the US, though. I could never do it for a first name, but I'm trying to find middle ground with my husband...we'll see how flexible I feel when I'm 9 months pregnant!
Tirzah -- My name is actually Miranda, but a friend typed "Mirnada" often in e-mails, so it became a nickname.
I thought that Anya was so sweet and obviously feminine that a strong, smart (a homage to Pascal the scientist...my husband's a scientist) middle name wouldn't be a problem.
Another thought about Anya Pascale...I think it flows well with the last name, but I have a nagging sense that to make the rhythm work really well, you kind of end up altering the syllable you stress in the last name a little. Normally, one would stress the first syllable, but when you say all three names together, you kind of want to stress the last more. It's slight...the difference between saying CHIFF-o-nade and chiff-o-NADE. Be honest, am I overthinking things now???
Enough procrastinating! Must get some work done!
I know a woman named Jayme - in her 30's I think, and a man named (just) Jamie.
Recent births:
No Josephs. However we must be in a pocket-we have Peyton/Colin (twins g/b), Paiton (g), Payten(b), Peyton(?)
Also had Kyler, Alexandor, Kaniel, Kaleigha(g), Curran, Trenton, Trevor and Lucus amongst others. Kre8ivea'te abounds around here I guess.
Mirnada- I haven't read through everyone else's opinions, so I might be restating others' thoughts, but: I, personally, love the idea of honoring respected relatives, AND I think that very few boys ever ask their buddies what their middle names are. Those two thoughts combined lead me to the opinion that using a beloved family name as a middle name is a wonderful way to honor your family while retaining a lot of freedom to not stress too much about what others will think of it. On that note, I think Simon Audley and Simon Camille are both wonderful names and match your girls' name very well. His friends will just know him as Simon... you and your family will know him as the legacy of your husband's respected relative. Good luck to you and your future children. :)
Aybee--I know a teenage Lexus, totally nms!
Mirnada-- Your choice of Anya Pascale is reminiscent to me of a wonderful couple I know named Katja and Pascal, so I love the sound of your names together!
I know two James (in their 20s) who go by Jamey and Jamie respectively. The spelling Jaime wouldn't be my first choice though, I think too many people would mispronounce it as "Hi-may" (pronounced the Spanish way).
I only know one Joe under the age of 40 though, and in spite of the profusion of small boys with Bible names that I know (Elijah, Isaiah, Malachi, Caleb, Jacob, Solomon, and Samuel to name a few) I don't know any little Josephs. Maybe it's too soon to be trendy yet?
My son's nephew, age 9, is Joseph Isaiah, known as Joey, named for his father Joseph, known as Joe. Doesn't seem odd to me.
I just remembered that in addition to the JAck/Joe sibling pair that I know, I also know a Joseph and a Max sibling pair. Joseph goes by Joseph though not Joe.
Mirnanda, I do want to say ANya PasCALE, rather than ANya PAScale. There are so many French names that have accents on the last syllable, maybe there is another that your husband also likes. Of course, people hardly ever say a person's full name aloud. Usually you just read it.
I love the name Anya, BTW.
mirnada: i think Anya Pascale is great. Not sure about the last name bit... is it cuz the Pascale makes the last name have French emphasis too or something like that?
re: Jamie: I went to school with so many (b. '70s/'80s): J@ymi, J@imee, J@ymie, Jaime, J@meilin. Jaime kind of bothers me, because I think it would be helpful if that was reserved for the Spanish pronunciation but I guess it's not my decision.
I know a couple of little Josephs - one isn't quite 2, the other is 2 or 3 now. My 8 year old daughter has a friend whose name is Joseph but because his father and grandfather are also Joseph, he goes by Jack.
I think Joseph is wonderfully versatile - it can be simple or elegant, common or international.
Simon... I have disliked the name since reading Lord of the Flies in 8th grade and then again in 9th. There is not actually anything wrong with the name but it just has the aura of Lord of the Flies for me. I prefer Simeon.
Camille is hard to pull off for a boy in the States but I like the idea of using Cam.
I like Anya Pascale. I think it sounds smart and snappy. It is a French girl name that doesn't sound too frilly to English-speaking ears ( English-hearing ears? The ears of English speakers.)
I got my high school alumni newsletter today (private Catholic school) & these are the names of recent births, sib names following:
Anna Grace & Charles Edward (twins) - (Lauren)
Laura Ann
Alexandra Jane - (Brooke & Madison)
Lola Grace - (Nicholas)
Ruby
Olivia Clare
Luca Jason - (Isabella Maryanna)
Izaac Christian - (Briella)
Liam Joseph
Logan
Drew F.
Braedon Danger - (Cameron)
sib-set Fletcher, Sully, & Scarlett
My husband and I both had the same thought about Braedon Danger- we can picture him saying "my middle name is Danger. Seriously." Makes me wonder what Cameron's middle name is.
Mirnada - I love Anya Pascale, and to me the slight variation it might cause in your last name would not be enough to turn me off it, unless you had to find a reason to choose between that and another name.
I can see your reasoning about Simon Camille - Simon does have a softness about it, which would be neutralised by a mn like, say, Jack. But it is a totally male name which afaik hasn't been taken over by girls, and as Babies on the Brain says, it's not likely to be used in the playground (the teasing years). But then I'm not one to be put off by public opinion: I'd hate to choose "second best" because of what others might think. For you, it might be more important (and I can totally understand that).
christinepearl-How about Trouble?? LOL
Sully, Fletcher, and Scarlett is awfully interesting also.
christinepearl-Were you here for the whole discussion around the boy with Danger as his second mn?
If not, you must find it in the archives.
Thanks for the list. I was struck by how the sib names all seemed so right.
Is Logan everywhere or is it just me, btw?
Keren-Do keep us posted!
Well, I'm pleased that Cullen made second runner up as I seconded the nomination. At the same time, as the mother of a Cullen, I shudder at what that might mean for his name in the future. Of course, my Cullen is 8 now, so he'll at least be ahead of the crowd. (I also have a teenaged Ethan, much older than the swarm of Ethans we know who are anywhere from 2 to 7. And he loves the fact that his name is in the top ten now. Uniqueness matters a lot more to parents than it does to kids, I think.)
Mirnada- on the subject of boy middle names... they do know each other's middles. I don't know how or why, but in asking my sons (ages 18 and 16), they know their friends' mns, and yes, kids get teased about that name too. Dh experienced it first-hand as a kid, his mn is Morris (his mom's maiden) and he was mercilessly called Morris the Cat (he was born in '64). My sons have told me they appreciate that not only did we not give them "awful" (in their words/minds) first names, but we gave them good mns as well. With some friends, they even know who the mn is for, a grandfather/mother, etc. My younger son thinks it's cool that he and his best friend share the same mn, both named after their maternal grandfather.
Mirnada--I was one of the ones that loved Anya Pascale when you were asking about it before, and I love it still. The chiff-o-NADE effect would probably not put me off, unless it happened to be a pet peeve of yours when people put the wrong emphasis on your LN in general. But just to be clear, which pronunciation do you prefer? Anya Pascale tends to make me want to say Chiff-o-NADE, not CHIFF-o-nade--I'm not sure which you're saying is correct.
I agree that Camille would be a tough one for a boy, and that kids do tend to find out each others' middle names. Audley puts me off for the same reason it does you--how about Auden? Howard, while not great (imho), would probably be less likely to be teasing fodder. I very much like the suggestions of Ward, Miller, Miles, and Milo, though, for middles with Simon ____ "Chiffonade".
Re: Logan--yes, I agree that it's everywhere these days. There's one in Ivy's daycare class, along with Alistair, Calder, Benjamin, Christian, and Christopher.
zoerhenne--that's some list--thanks for sharing. Kyler? Kaniel? What's next? Kryan? Kenjamin? Kalexander? Kyikes. All those Peytons are a bit surprising, too.
hyz-I was thinking the same thing. Maybe Kaydin and Kathaniel(eww could that be a girls name nn Kath?). Also, Kyann(g) and Kogan(b)! LOL it needs to stop! For those of you who like surname-as-FN what do you think of Keaton/Keyton/Keeton/Keetan/Keatin/etc.?
christinepearl: Lord of the Flies! I'd totally forgotten about Simon in that book! The problem with Simeon is that it sounds like simian (i.e. monkey).
re: Logan: I have heard of two: one is about two years old and the other is about seven I think. Oh, also the 7yo has a 6yo sister Sophi@ (or maybe Sophi3).
re: knowing middle names: I agree that kids often know each other's middle names. I remember some kids not wanting to share and stuff. I think it is just one of those playground things where, once you learn what a middle name is, you want to know everyone's. And then in upper grades, maybe kids see each others' on report cards or other official forms.
I know two Kian/Kyans--both boys about a year or two old. One has older brother K@cen. Mom and Dad also start with K.
You should run the Name Mapper on Logan. It's #2 in Alaska and ranks highly in those states bordering Canada.
I know four Logans-- a 20-something man, a 20-something woman,
a 4-year-old boy, and a newborn girl.
The boom I'm seeing, through several friends and relatives in different New England states is Liam.
Could I please get some feedback on this boy name?
Crusoe
Yes, as in Robinson Crusoe. And yes, I got it from a commercial for the new TV show "Crusoe" based on Daniel Defoe's novel. I like the adventurous spirit. It could be the fresher "Sawyer". So what do you think? You could use the nicknames "Crew" or "Cruz/Cruise".
The only thing that trips me up is I keep wanting to put the accent on the second syllable, maybe because I liken it to "Defoe." I believe the accent should be on the first syllable. If you hate it, please say. I have thick skin. :)
Tirzah - I actually like Crusoe, and it fits in with today's names (surname and the punchy o sound ending). However, if you are now or will likely be in the South with a little Crusoe be prepared - we manage to turn it into a three syllable name.
I knew a Logan (g) who would be about 6 now in NY, I wish I could remember her siblings names...
As a side note I also knew a M3mphis (b) and Brooklyn (g) who are probably 4 or 5 now. Before I met them I thought M3mphis would be a girl and Brooklyn a boy, no idea why. It was interesting though as we had an infant room of about 8 or so total.
FYI
Names last month born at my local hospital.
Brendel (b)
Logan x2(b)
MaKayla
Brandon
Xander
Brook
Kailee
Alexandria
Braden x2 (b)
Maria Alynna
John
Nevaeh
April
Jonathan
Blake (f)
Brody
Yeah, I agree, a kid named Crusoe is going to hear "Caruso" a lot. (I've even heard the whole phrase "Robinson Caruso," so apparently some people think they really are homophones.)
Mirnada: I love Anya Pascale as well, and would probably not be concerned about the last name thing. Regarding Simon Camille, I think a name like Camille is much easier to defend when there is a family connection, as in your case. However, kids do tease about middle names and that family connection won't keep a would-be teaser from making fun. At the same time, kids are teased for any number of reasons and while the kid may occasionally be teased about his middle name, I highly doubt it would ever keep him from making friends.
Mojo Jojo: I am one of those "Robinson Caruso" people. I used to think it was spelled that way till I saw it written, because that's how I heard people say it.
Regarding NOTY, I voted for Maverick. I wanted to vote for Joe but couldn't make a good case for it's transformation in my mind. I love Laura's analysis though, and now agree that Joe it is.
Tirzah- I think Crusoe could work. It's a cool tribute name and less expected than Robinson, I think it fits with names like Sawyer, but also names like Hugo.
Hudson & Brogan's mom-
Brendel jumped out at me. Does anyone know where this came from? I can't help but be reminded of Grendel from Beowulf.
Tirzah- I really like Crusoe, and tend to say it with the accent on the 2nd syllable as well. Love the nn Cruz as well.
Aybee-
No idea but that isn't the first time I've seen this name. I live in WY, but other than that no idea.
Tirzah-
Crusoe.....interesting, I think I like it.
I know of 3 Logans. One (boy) has a brother Braeden (not sure of sp) and the second (boy) has a brother Connor. The third is a girl and I think there is a sister Nora (a name, btw, I just can't get enough of).
Also, not sure if we've seen this in discussing "off with their heads" : Livia. From Celebrity Baby Blog:
Actors David Alan Basche and his wife Alysia Reiner are parents after welcoming a baby girl. Daughter Livia Charles Basche was born at 5:14 p.m. on Friday, December 5th in New York City. She weighed 7 lbs and measured 21 inches.
Yetanotherkate-
I know a Livia who'd have to be about 15 by now. I remember mis-hearing when I was told of her birth, and assuming the O.
Another name I've been noticing from time to time is; Mattea, Matea, Mataya.
Ma-tay-uh
meaning- gift from God
What do you ladies think?
I think I like it, maybe even enough to use it. Please help me think this one thru.
Livia is not an acephalous version of Olivia. It is a name that goes back to ancient Rome. The wife of Caesar Augustus and first empress of Rome was Livia Drusilla. Her son Tiberius became emperor, as did her grandson Claudius. The picture of Livia painted by Robert Graves in I, CLaudius is, um, far from flattering. I have wondered whether Livia Soprano, Tony's dreadful mother, was named with Livia Drusilla in mind. I personally would not name a daughter with either of these two women, historical and fictional, as examples. There may well be other reasons to name a daughter Livia of course.
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