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
Anya Pascale. i like it. use it. actually, though, i think that Pascale is too cool to be buried as a middle. and regarding your last name, if i noticed that it's french, i'd automatically stress the last syllable. wikipedia tells me that in french the last syllable in a string of words is stressed, not necessarily the last syllable of a word. I've never met anyone named Pascale, or even heard of anyone named that, until i wikied it.
Simon Camille. the risk of sounding feminine is decreased by masculine names that end similarly: Shaquille, Jamil. As long as your last name doesn't start with K (being french, probably not) it should be ok. i see 'sick' and 'suck' in SCK initials.
Brendel looks feminine to me. Brenda + Gretel. Googling shows a surname, and a misspelling of brindle.
Crusoe, not really a fan. Nor of Robinson. I'm more into traditional names (obscure saints, etc).
Tirzah - Not so keen on Crusoe, because it sounds too like Cruising..but how about Carew? I knew a little boy called Carew (siblings Mungo and Sakira) and I liked the name.
Totally agree with Miriam about Livia. Makes me shudder...
yetanotherkate-Livia is okay but did anyone else notice the mn? It's that gender thing again. It may even be a family name (I don't know) but I just can't get behind the switching even in the middle position. Why couldn't they have done Charlene or something to honor the Charles?
Tirzah-Crusoe (2 syl) is along the Sawyer lines. NMS but I could get used to it. My dh's cousin named his kids D@wson(b), S@wyer(b), and @bigail nn Abby.
Re: Logan. I know a 7+ 9 yo. I think it was more popular here during that time period. It goes along with Ryan and Carter type names. Although Ryan still prevails.
Hudson+Brogan's mom-Mattea (I like this sp best) is nice. It would match with your other children's names. It is similar to Makayla and Makenna but not as popular around here.
BTW*Central PA
When I see Brendel, I think of Alfred Brendel the renowned concert pianist... but I doubt that this is a tribute to him.
Hudson & Brogan's mom. I like Mattea a lot - much better than Makenna.
The only association I have with the name is Kathy Mattea (and that's not a bad association at all - just what first popped into my head.)
Also, have you thought about Malia (or alternative spellings)? Its popularity may rise with the Obamas, but I've always liked that name.
Other names that could go with Hudson and Brogan - Dagny, Delaney, Adair, Ainsley . . .
Also, how's this for an Ethel-Mae postulate? Two baby girls born at the local hospital within 7 hours of one another named K@elynn and K@ilyn. Two hours later - a K@yla!
This is a hospital with, I'd say, an average of 4 babies born a day.
Trish: I ALSO have a cousin named Kyle James. He's about 20 now.
Whoever said the problem with Simeon is that it sounds like Simian - I have always thought this!
For Camille as a middle name: Just to put it in starker terms, Simon Camille, to an American, has about the same effect as Simon Catherine. There was some discussion above over whether a baby named Bryan Kathleen is a girl. Most assumed she is, based on the feminine middle name. Just something to keep in mind! I love Anya Pascale though.
Just had our ultrasound today: twin boys! I have NO boy names, so sometime later this week or next I'll have to come up with some criteria to post on this board to get some suggestions.
Jane P-Wow two babies to name how fun! Please let us help in whatever way we can.
Well, I'm officially addicted to the Name Mapper.
We just got our new computer, so this is the first I've been able to use it.
It's absolutely fascinating.
Laura, I do hope you do more on regional naming.
I know we talk about Utah often, but Montana seems to be another real ground zero for names.
Mattea-I don't dislike it, but I just can't separate it from Matteo, so to me it sounds like a Hispanic boy's name.
Hudson& Brogan's mom-Can you remind us what else is on your current short list? I know a lot has been ruled out.
A cousin of mine has a daughter named Livia. She's about 10. I believe it was mostly because they liked the sound and partly because it was similar in sound to a family surname.
I quite like it, and I also like the zippy Liv.
Tirzah-I actually really like Crusoe. It's sort of jaunty and dashing without being obnoxious. Sawyer was our runner-up name for Jack. I'm long over that one, but I'm quite partial to Thatcher.
Congrats, Jane P! Can't wait to help find names for the two little guys.
I actually think Livia is quite pretty, although given the historical references, I might not be inclined to use it. And it's similarity to the very popular Olivia (I know so many girls with this name) would knock it right out for me.
I, too, hear simian for Simeon so prefer Simon. And I agree that Camille could be tough, even with the family connection, so would argue for something that honors Camille without using that exact name.
I definitely remember playground teasing surrounding mns, and how grateful I was to have a "good" mn (Christine) that didn't really lend itself to teasing. My husband wasn't so lucky, being given an uncommon family name.
I knew there were things I was forgetting ...
Tirzah -- I like Crusoe (and my stress is on the first syllable). I think it's got a fresh sound that still fits in with current trends. I do think people would hear Caruso, but that wouldn't kill it for me. Did anyone see The Water Horse? I immediately hear that little boy with his Scots accent saying this name. Love it!
Hudson & Brogan's mom -- I like Mattea and definitely prefer it to Makenna (that was under consideration, right?).
Tirzah: Crusoe strikes me as a little "out there," but something I could get used to. I think most people would definitely associate it with Robinson though.
Br3ndel reminds me of Grendel too. I wonder if that was the intent!
Livia is interesting. I wonder if it's inspired by Liv Tyler... or Lidia...
re: Mattea: I like it but I think I would assume the user was Italian. Seems like feminine version of Mateo. (Italian is right, right? I sometimes get my European countries/cultures/languages mixed up.)
zoerhenne: What if Charles is a surname from the family? Does that change your view? To me, a surname as middle name is standard.
Yes RobynT-If Charles was say the mom's maiden name then yes it makes more sense and does not seem so odd. My apologies if I offended anyone. Still nms though.
Right when I read it I pronounced it like Caruso... lol... but I still like it even pronounced that way.. but it definately shouts Robinson.
Mattea... also I thought Italian. Personally its NMS but it could grow on me. Still love Makenna.. but to me its uncommon.. or must be where I live because I know tons of children and not one Makenna in my circle although there is a Mikaila and a Mackenzie.
Keren, very best of luck on your book. I love it when NE's write fiction, since their characters inevitably have fascinating names...
Jane P, twin boys to name-- what heaven! I do hope you'll be going for more than one middle name apiece too, ha. Can't wait.
Banks was mentioning some little girls in his class were helping him tidy his desk, and I caught the names "Alyssa" and some others and then "Knowlton". Was all excited at this unusual and attractive surname-name used on a girl, till B. informed me that Knowlton is literally her surname-- first name is of the Mackenzie/Makayla/Kaylee ilk...
Tirzah, I meant to comment on "Crusoe". As a stand-alone name, I think you have hit on another winner. Personally, I tend to steer away from names that have too strongly identifiable literary associations-- therefore, I would not use "Atticus", "Keats", "Longfellow", "Holden", "Rossetti", "Poe", etc. I do believe Crusoe would fall in that category.
However, that's just my quirk. The name is strong, sounds well, you suggested some neat nicknames, AND, most importantly, I think it is stylistically consistent with the delightfully off-beat and interesting names you chose for your daughters...
Congratulations, Jane P.! Can't wait to see your shortlist!
Re: Crusoe- did a double take when I saw that, because I'd *just* seen a advert for that show and went hmmm...literary reference, ends in "o", nn Crew, and current pop culture reference...sounds like a winner! I've never ever heard Crusoe mistaken for Caruso, but now that you point it out, it does make sense. I can see something like Atticus and Crusoe as brothers.
Any news about when BNW 2.0 is coming out in print? My original has fallen to bits :)
zoerhenne - you must be on the same wavelength as my husband. That was his next comment on "Danger"
I too think Sully, Fletcher and Scarlett are interesting. Each of the two together without the 3rd would give a different vibe.
A question for the NEs here: What style name is Johanna? A baby at our church was recently given that name and I just can't quite place it stylistically (and I probably won't know the mn until the baptism). Is it old-old, new-old, creative, hanna-with-a-head, or what?
I'm a super novice NE myself, but have begun to delve as my dh and I are expecting to expect.
Zoerhenne- I do like the spelling of Mattea the best also but I would be conserned it would always be mispronounced as Ma-tee-a which I dont care for.
What do you ladies think about the pronounciation of Mattea?
DRDS- Malia I love but I have a close friend with a daughter of this name so its an option but dont really want to use it. Also I'd be conserned it would become very common due to Malia Obama.
J&H mom-
My short list now includes:
Mattea Jo (JoAnna-May)
MaKenna Jo
Morgan Jo
Carys Jo
Which one you like best?
Amy- I agree its better than MaKenna due to the popularity in my area of the name MaKenna.
Re: Livia, I know sisters named Livia and Lizab3th. I guess if they'd had a brother he could've been Liver. :)
Re: Crusoe, I think I put the emphasis on the first syllable, and it's definitely just a 2 syllable name for me.
And I went to high school with a Simeon, and the simian joke was made...a lot...
Hudson and Brogan's mom-
I would pronounce Mattea Ma-tee-a. What is your intended pronunciation?
Of your choices I like Carys.
Hudson & Brogan's Mom--I strongly prefer Mattea to MaKenna. Because it looks Spanish/Italian to me, and because of the singer Kathy Mattea, I would definitely pronounce it ma-TAY-ah. I don't like the more creative spelling of Mataya, which I would pronounce ma-TIE-ah in any event (assuming that it rhymes with Maya). However, it seems to me you will get mispronunciations with most any non-standard name. My daughter's first name is Minna, but at the doctor's office last week she was called "Mynah" (like a mynah bird), "Meena", and "Minny". I mean, come on--how hard is Minna? But there you have it. I still like Carys the best of your choices, but I think Mattea is quite nice, too.
Tirzah--I like Crusoe. I agree with Eo that I might tend to shy away from very identifiable literary figures (it seems maybe too pigeonholing, or something), but if that's not an issue, I think Crusoe has a handsome sound, both different and familiar, and interesting but not out there. Could definitely be a winner.
Simeon also makes me think immediately of simian, so I couldn't use it. I do like Simon a lot, though.
Hudson & Brogan's mom -- I would pronounce Mattea (prefer this spelling) as hyz said, ma-TAY-ah. I still like Carys best, though.
Hudson & Brogan's mom: I would also pronounce it ma-TAY-ah. I think of the actress Drea de Matteo, who I believe is Italian.
On it's own I like Mattea the best of all your choices. I think MaKenna sounds best with the Jo ending, but don't like the name as well.
Of all the names that you have I would pick Carys as being my favorite. I absolutely adore Makenna.. but because of its popularity I would pick Carys.
I think Carys really goes well with Hudson and Brogan.
Reading your posts makes me see Mattea (Ma-tay-uh) with new eyes...
It definately make more sense with the pronunciation you all offer, akin to Matteo.
I think the Ma-tee-uh pronunciation stuck with me becuase I've heard that name (or something similiar) as an Italian first name.
Hudson & Brogan mom: I'd also pronounce it ma-TAY-ah. I love it. Would never have thought of it myself, but think it's just gorgeous. Also, it plays into the Isabella, Francesca Italian girls' names trend without being frilliana.
One caution-- Mattea Jo is nice. Mattea Joanna-May is awkward. Too many "Ma"s and "a"- endings.
Tirzah-- I'm torn on Crusoe. On the one hand, it's got a great, snappy sound, it's offbeat and unique yet easily pronounceable, and has a host of on-trend nicknames, as you pointed out. I'm a big lover of literary pedigrees, as well, so there's that.
But as a literature snob and doctoral student in 18th/19th century Brit lit--I'd be pissed off if someone named their kid that who hadn't read any Defoe. It's probably an unfair, irrational reaction, but there it stands.
SarahC., I have similar questions about the name Johanna. It was my grandmother's name (born around 1915 or so), and for that reason I love it. But when I eventually (I hope) name a daughter after her, I'd rather use Josephine as the homage. Josephine sounds more "quaint" old-fashioned than Johanna.
But I haven't ruled out Johanna, because my husband actually prefers it to Josephine and I think Josephine is far trendier in my neck of the woods (liberal yuppy Brooklyn). My one stumbling block is nicknames. I HATE with a passion the nicknames Jo and Joey for a girl. With Josephine, you can also do Josie, Posey, Fina, and Finny, all of which I like. With Johanna, I think you're stuck with Jo.
I like Johanna--I think it sounds old-fashioned in a slightly offbeat way. And definitely less trendy to my ears than Josephine these days, and much fresher and more interesting than Joanna. I know one woman (30ish) named Johanna, and she always went by JoJo as a kid. It fit her perfectly--she was adorable and petite and spunky and athletic. She had kind of a Soleil Moon Frye/Punky Brewster look going, cute and pretty at the same time. I understand liking the nn Josie better, though. Still, I don't see why Josie couldn't go with Johanna in the old-fashioned way that Maisie goes with Margaret.
Tirzah - I love Crusoe! Great sound and good nn options. Unique yet recognizable. I pronounce it with the 2nd syllable emphasized.
On Logan: I know 1 Logan, a girl with a sister named Evan. Both are college-aged. I definitely prefer these names on boys.
On middle names: I agree that kids will judge middle names. My sister's mn is a masculine surname and she hated it, even though it was our mother's middle name, our grandfather's mn, and on up the family tree... She wanted something more feminine.
christinepearl-That's funny!
Sarah C.-Johanna does not seem creative to me. It seems new-old, classic almost. I like it but it does depend on the pronunciation. If its Jo-anna then its just like the other. If its Jo-hannah with an extra emphasis on that H then it sounds more like a foreign name. Very German/Swedish/Swiss or whatever as if its a meaningful pronunciation because of a relative connection.
Hudson+Brogan's Mom-I think Carys sounds the best with Joanna-MAy from your short list. However, with your other children's names, I think Morgan or Makenna sounds best. Carys is a foreign name to me also. I've seen it around this board quite a bit though so I'm getting used to it.
I pron Mattea as Mah-TAY-uh like the others. I agree with the others that Mataya would be Ma-TYE-ah if I didn't know better although I like the Makayla version better than other spellings.
I also agree Malia is bound to get popular. Have you also considered Talia? I suspect its pron=Tall-ee-a or something close to Tall-ya, but you could do Tah-lee-ah to ryhme with Malia and get away from the M sound too much.
Coll-I like Johanna better than Josephine. Josephine is nice and I like the Josie nn over just Jo myself but it sounds too old-fashioned for me. BTW, there is a little girl nearby who is Josephine called Josie. Josie fits her-Josephine does not.
I also vote for Carys. I this it goes really well with your other names. Plus, I like its meaning.
What's neo-traditionalist? Interestingly, my 2 boys are Jack & Max...ages 6 & 2. My girls are Leia (Lay-uh) and Sadie...ages 4 & newborn. Curious to hear what people's thoughts are on their names as sib-sets??
And, I live in Alaska and I really don't feel like we have way unique names...I do know of 1 other Willow but in my older kids' school classes, the names are fairly classic-- Grace, Robby, Isaac, Faith, Sarah, Luke, Hailey, MIles, Annika, Anika, Maya, Andrew, Eliot...hmmm. I work in the maternity department and I have seen some unusual names, but more along the lines of what I've already posted...very interesting to read though.
As for the Joe noty--my 25 year old brother is Joey; my 10 year old neighbor is Joey, and a friend's 1 year old is Joe...but all are legally Joseph :). Nice name
Does anyone have any insight on Joseph as a girl's name? In the NameVoyager, it's got three pretty distinct peaks around 1885, 1920, and 1980, but then no showing from about 1935 to 1945, and after about 1990. Not sure what the cultural forces were at work there. Just seeing if anyone has any ideas.
cara-I have no idea what neo-traditionalist is. However, I like your children's names as a sibset. I think if I saw Jack, Max, and Sadie I would think to add Grace to it but Leia is nice too. They come across to me as very regular, average, "vanilla" kind of names. Nothing super-surprising or strange or anything. I guess expected for the time period would be another way to describe them. I also not-knowing you would not have assumed you live in ALaska as these names could be from anywhere. They would "fit" just about anywhere. Perfect.
J-Dub: I have no insight on Joseph as a girls name. To me it doesn't work. Maybe its a smush of Joe and Stephanie, or a shortened Josephine or just a tribute to a Joseph. Its weird to me though.
A few days ago I posted recent births and noted 4 Peyton's of various spellings had been born. Well, add 1 more born a few days ago.
SP=Peyton(looks like g)
Ah, yes, the Pe(a)ytons... My cousin is so relieved she had a boy the first go round, as her girl name was Peyton, which she thought would be a one of a kind kinda name.
The Johanna I know is Jo Hanna. I initially liked the name, but had never heard, so just wondered what type of name it may be. I guess it is legit!
Btw, no nicknames on the infant yet. Other babies at my church are Wyatt and Mary.
The Peytons..... I dont know many children but I know three Peytons. One boy & two girls.
My husband and I were discussing the name of Mattea, I ran it by you ladies before my own husband ;-). He likes it more than I had anticipated. He also mentioned wanting to use a strange family name from his side, Jolee. Pronounced like the Angelina Jolie. Though I've never cared for it before I think
Mattea Jolee might just be the ticket.
So :
Mattea Jolee
Carys JoAnna-May / Jolee
Let me know what you ladies think.
On the Peytons...
I figure this group is probably the only place people would appreciate this. When I was in elementary school (I am in my mid-20s now) I used to "make up" names for the short stories/assignments we'd have to write. I say "made up" because two of the names: Payton (she was always a girl in my stories) and Braden, are now big time! When my first childhood acquaintance named her child Braden I thought I must have told her the name-- now of course I realize it is a phenomenon completely separate from my childhood NEing.
Hudson and Brogan's mom-- My vote still goes to Carys. I think it flows more with your boys names.
Hudson & Brogan's mom -- I still prefer Carys, but Mattea Jolee is quite pretty and is a very close second for me.
aybee-I do think your story is cute.
Hudson+Brogan's mom-I love Jolie, I knew a little girl in a day care I worked in once named this. Of course you aren't supposed to pick favorites but she was mine. Anyway, I think Mattea Jolie is a winner. Makenna Jolie doesn't quite flow right for me and Carys Jolie sounds funny to my ears.
Lovetorun - I would avoid initials like ICU! With a U last name many initials could sound like universities though that's not necessarily a bad thing.
I love the name Natalie Joy. I agree with you, I don't like the meaning of Jacob either. How about Gavin, Justin, Adam, or Tobin/Tobias?
Mirnada - Simon Oliver?
And kudos to Laura on the NOTY picks! I'm also not too sure about Cullen but I guess we'll see how it pans out in 10-15 years when these teens are having kids!
About Johanna; my mother's name is Johanna and it's a family name. So definitely not creative, more like a classic. She goes by Anja but people in the family before her have also gone by Annie. We are in Western Europe.
Regarding the name "Joe" - I've just come across the name "Sefi", a form of "Joseph". Does anyone know any Sefis? I think Sefi or Sef is a fresh take on the well-worn Joe.
Disappointed. These were the obvious choices. Twilight is overrated and politics (lets not go there shall we?). Joe the plummer. Ew.
The human fantasy has no boards and bounds indeed and in support of just said you just need to give the once-over the post lying behind. My favorite is quite obvious – I’ll give my voice in this race for Obama, regardless the fact that all candidates from this very list are worthy of our attention and expectations. Let the strongest competitor win!
You might think naming a baby is easy and you would be wrong. There are lots of factors to consider with each one being equally important to the person who is doing the naming.
if to choose from girls names i'd pick up the following: Alexis, Ashley, or Samanth
Man the name Zoran never appears on any lists, I'm crying now haha!
When I hear the name "Joe" I immidietly remember all those Taxas cawboys :)
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