Not long ago, an interviewer quizzed me on camera about whether there's such a thing as a "bad" name: one that would mess up a kid's life. He wanted examples. Staring into the lens, I did my best to evade the topic, as I usually do. It's serious business, telling some real-life kid that his name is horrific. And yes, that includes children of celebrities, whose names are routinely put through the wringer of public scorn. I do my best to keep Baby Name Wizard a scorn-free zone.
But are there limits? Can a name be so terrible that it violates fundamental societal standards and demands condemnation? That question is raised by the big baby-naming story of the week. In Southern New Jersey, a supermarket bakery refused to make a personalized birthday cake for a young boy solely because of his name. To the outrage of the boy's parents, Heath and Deboarah Campbell, ShopRite determined that "Happy Birthday, Adolf Hitler!" was inappropriate to render in icing. (The Campbells got their cake at Wal-Mart instead.) The dispute made headlines around the world.
Question: what is remarkable about this story? Is it that a three-year-old American child is named after Hitler? Frankly, I don't think so. In this nation of 300 million people you can find every point of view, including Nazi sympathizers. (While the parents insisted that "a name's a name" and they chose it just because "wanted their children to have unique names," their lifestyle, including another child named JoyceLynn Aryan Nation, makes the situation pretty clear.) Then is the remarkable part that a store censored a birthday cake? Again, I think not. In fact, the same supermarket had turned down a previous order from the Campbells for a swastika cake. To me, the most fascinating part of the story is that the parents seem to expect public sympathy for their birthday cake plight, on the grounds that names should be above censure.
Mrs. Campell complained to a local newspaper reporter that "ShopRite can't even make a cake for a 3-year-old. That's sad." Mr. Campell said "Other kids get their cake. I get a hard time....It's not fair to my children." Both parents insisted they don't expect the names to cause their children any difficulties in life, saying "How can a name be offensive?"
Despite the Campbells' protestations, the mere fact of "namehood" doesn't magically render words inoffensive. If you named your child...er..."%#$@!," you'd have to be prepared to bake your own birthday cakes. Similarly, the names Adolf Hitler and Aryan Nation aren't just names, they're declarations of contempt for broad swaths of your fellow citizens. So yes, they can be offensive. I'll go a step further and suggest that the names disturb us not merely because of the opinions they represent, but because the parents bestowed those names on children who have no say in the matter. By choosing pariah names, the parents set their kids up for a lifetime of conflicts. Age three at the neighborhood ShopRite is likely only the beginning.
Thinking back on the filmmaker in search of "bad" names, it seems I could now give an easy answer: Adolf Hitler is a bad name. But that answer isn't just easy, it's facile; it's a cop-out. If names are "bad" because they're likely to cause children problems, where do you draw the line?
- At Adolf's sister with the innocuous first name and Aryan Nation middle name?
- At their other sister Honszlynn Hinler, apparently a "kreative" fantasia on the name of Nazi Heinrich Himmler?
- At the kind of names that economist David Figlio has found likeliest to get you left back in school?
- At a name that marks you as a foreigner or outsider in your community?
The extreme case everyone agrees on is fine and well. The tough part is inching in from that edge and still knowing where you stand.
The elusive "bad" name
12/18/2008, 10:21AM
Baby Name Wizard Store
Celebrate with personalized baby name products! Custom birth announcements, invitations, bibs, onesies & more.
Start Shopping
Comments
re Fanny: As a Brit living in the US, I am sometimes taken aback and have to remember that the meaning of the word is different here. I read yesterday about "a girl who had hair down to her fanny" and that mental picture was interesting, to say the least!!
I'm really enjoying all the threads right now, but not well enough to type much. Thanks, everyone!
Re Tirzah at 6:08... My brother heard a blip on the radio at noon today that said she had her baby yesterday. But try as he might, he has not been able to find info anywhere!!! to verify that.
New baby report: Keeley Marie
New baby update: Helen Thatcher is apparently being called Thatcher rather than Helen.
I don't get it, but no one asked me!
I should clarify that Keeley Marie is the new babe of a mother at Henry's preschool-not Bristol Palin.
Tirzah, in light of the very recent 'misfortune' (arrest on drug charges) of the Palin-Johnston baby's paternal grandmother, a comedian speculated on MSNBC this evening that the baby might be named Crystal or Methew.
Yes, that was in poor taste. But maybe all the interest in young Bristol and her baby is too?
In her holiday card, my best friend from college announced the birth of her latest great-nephew Phinnias Michael. Great-aunt clearly did not think much of the name. Little Phinnias's mom comes from a large LDS family, so maybe the name owes something to Utah's penchant for unusual names. Phinnias is neither the standard spelling, nor the spelling Julia Roberts used for her little boy's name, so it looks like there was some creativity involved. For the record, I'm on the same wavelength as Great-aunt--Phinnias nms.
J&H's Mom: I *just* spent 15 minutes writing you a nice reply, and hit refresh on my browser, on autopilot. aarrrghhh.
Essentially, I got a severe talking-to from a mom of a Trinity when I made the Matrix comment (this was in 2001, I was 14, the baby was a few months old)- she was extremely offended- and when I tried to explain that I understood the religious meaning too, she informed me that I wasn't a "real Christian" (i.e. not a member of her specific church) so what would I know anyway. The other Trinity I know has parents with...similar views. So I tread wary with these names, but I do not find them personally offensive.
Names like Trinity, Genesis, Heaven and Zion seem to me to be one-dimensional religious/ political statements. Giving your child a name that is a bluntly divisive political or religious statement seems utterly unfair. If these topics would not normally be opened in polite conversation, then *why* give the name to the child? Call your kid Zvi, no one minds. But if you call your kid Zion, that decidedly inflammatory debate is always going to be there, and it's really not fair to demand that people not have an opinion about it. Same goes for the inflexibly violent connotations of Gunner and Gauge (pretty sure those parents aren't trying to conjure up the image of a narrow-gauge railway). For the parents who give their child a political or relgious statement for a name because it "sounds good"- well, bah, their child will not live in a euphonious vacuum. Google it.
I am NOT trying to stir up a religious debate or offend anyone's beliefs. Really, I'm not. I'm just trying to define a bad name in my own context.
I think for *me*, naming after a celeb/politician/famous person early in their career makes for a bad name, particularly if the name is distinctive.
In this vein, I would say "Barack" is a "bad" name (for me), because we don't yet know what his presidency will be like. Naming a child Franklin after either Benjamin F. or FDR seems like a safer bet - we all pretty much know how those two turned out in the end.
On the other hand, a more subtle Michelle (Obama) or George (Bush) gives a child some room if their namesake does something truly atrocious later on.
Maybe this came up in the last thread, but if Adolph Hitler Campbell is cruel, Honzlynn (sp?) Hinler Campbell is moronic. On top of being anti-Semitic white supremacists, these people took kr8tive liberties (apparently) with Heinrich Himmler? When there were plenty of charming Nazi names like Eva and Leni to choose from? (OK, just kidding there).
Maybe the kids will grow up and change their names to things like "Mary Mydadisanidiot Campbell."
To me, "bad" names, beyond those that pay homage to reprehensible figures in history or are just plain narcissistically show-offy, usually manifest in first name-last name combos. I knew a girl called Violetta Pillman and another called Kandi Hart, both awful for different reasons (if Violetta had been named Jennifer, her last name wouldn't have stuck out so badly). Apparently my mom knew a girl called Dora Odorenco (something like that), and the kids teased her because her name sounded like 2 deodorant brands (Yodora Odorono, or something like that). And then there is that game of reversing the first sounds of the two names, so that, say, Britney Spears becomes Spitney Brears. Her classmate Shirley Whitney was teased unmercifully with that one. And I went to school with a R0b3rt Rums3ey, whom the kids called Blobert Bumsey as he was a bit, uh, chubby. I think you have to test-drive names a bit for teasing possibilities.
Jessica- the only Brooks I've met IRL is a girl, and so the name seems very feminine to me. I love it for a girl, and think it can still work for a boy.
Eo- my friend has a granddaughter named Patsy- given name. She is about 5 or so now, and lives in Kansas.
Megan W., I agree with you that it's a bad idea to name a child after a politician early in her or his career, but I'd even argue that it can be a bad idea to name a kid after a politician, period. What if the child grows up to disagree vehemently with that politician's views? I would be furious if my name stood for a political statement that I disagreed with. Like the guy who named his daughter Sarah McCain Palin Ciptak. To me, this is an awful name. It's another example of a parent using his child's name to make a political statement without regard for how this will affect the child. I'm not saying it's a bad idea to name a child something like Sarah in honor of Sarah Palin... Sarah on its own is just fine. But to name a child Sarah Palin lastname or Sarah McCain Palin lastname is a terrible idea, in my opinion.
Oh and here's the article, for any of you who missed this news back in October: http://www.theage.com.au/world/us-election-2008/baby-named-sarah-mccain-...
The guy not only named his daughter Sarah McCain Palin Ciptak, he did it BEHIND HIS WIFE'S BACK. Oy.
The job of a parent is to protect her children. These parents knowingly gave their kids names that have negative connotations, and therefore knowingly put their children in difficult positions for the rest of their lives.
"Adolph" is actually a pretty name, but the entire world has one major association with that name, and these parents obviously knew that. Good parents would never put their kids in that position.
Blythe: I really like your point that we should not use names that bring up topics we wouldn't discuss in polite conversation. I *think* I agree with it and I definitely find it an interesting criterion. But isn't Gunnar an established name in some cultures? One site says it's Scandinavian for warrior... yeah, that's still violent, but I bet we have other names that mean warrior, that are just not as obvious. I don't know if I agree that it's fair to write that one off completely.
As for something like Trinity, sorry... I'm pretty uninformed about Christianity, so are you saying that this name implies a belief in the Holy Trinity? So... does that mean that any name that marks a child as part of a specific religion/belief system is out? Or is it something more than that?
Megan W: That's really interesting what you say about naming after Barack so early in his career. I kind of think though, that no matter what he does, his being the first Black president will be a huge part of his legacy. So I think (and yeah, to be completely honest, I hope) that even if his reputation becomes completely tarnished for something or other in the future, that early significance will still be there... I think...
re: L3ni: A friend of mine is big on naming after pop culture figures--but in a way I think a lot of you would see as tasteful: her son is Tr3nt (I think maybe as in R3znor?), she wants to use W3sley (or W3stley) from The Princ3ss Bride. She was considering Cord3lia from Ann3 of Gr33n Gables. (Sorry, I'm really paranoid my friends will see me talking about their names.) Anyway, so she said they were considering L3nny for a girl (not sure of spelling) after Homer Simpson's friend. My husband and I both immediately said that L3nny on a girl immediately called Riefenstahl to mind. And she and her husband--both college-educated--had no idea who we were talking about. Anyway, we were kind of horrified, although it makes me wonder how many people would make the association.
Re: Leni, this is Heidi Klum's daughter's name. I think for many people (including Heidi obviously) the Nazi link is much more tenuous with this name.
Well, I think the names suck, but defend the parent's right to express their freedom of speech, even if it impacts their children. They can change their names as adults and go by choosen nicknames if they prefer (I know lots of kids called by their nicknames at school by teachers and other faculty as if they6 were their given names).
I agree that the names represent an unpopular point of view, but see nazi-sympathizer names in the same light as naming your kids Concepcion, Assumpta, or Immaculata (and I'm a Catholic). They are expressions of personal beliefs.
Robyn T.
The name that was mentioned as questionable was Gunner,clearly not an established name, not Gunnar which is an old name indeed. Gunnar/Gunther/Guthhere means war band, battle host, not warrior. Many elements in Germanic bithematic names had something to do with battle weapons, etc. (gar=spear, hild=battle, and so forth). These names were not chosen for their meanings, but rather the various elements were recycled from the names of family members of earlier generations. So a Guthhere might have had a grandfather named Guthlac.
Names within families tended to alliterate (think the Duggars!) So the royal family of Wessex generally had names which started with vowels (all vowels alliterate with each other): Aethelstan, Aethelwulf, Aethelred, Alfred, Edward, Edmund, Edgar, Aethelflaed (Lady of the Mercians and daughter of Alfred the Great), and so on. Not all families practiced alliteration. For example, The last Anglo-Saxon king of England, Harold Godwinson's parents were Godwin and Gytha Thorkelsdottir, and his siblings were Sweyn, Tostig,Gyrth, Leofwine, and Edith. Taken together the names demonstrate the mixed Anglo-Saxon/Danish family heritage, but they don't alliterate.
We've discussed pet names on here before, and the different standards that people apply (eg it might be fine to give a pet a very humorous name that would be cruel to give a child). What do people think of calling a pet Adolf Hitler?
OMG think of the teasing a German shepherd named Adolf Hitler would get at the dog park! More seriously, I wouldn't saddle even a puppy with a name like Adolf Hitler. Just stick to Fido.
Your discussion of belief influencing naming reminded me of something, Blythe. We got Banks the gorgeous children's video "The Very First Noel". It's all about the three Wise Men going to Bethlehem, and made me think about my attraction to Christmas names.
I LOVE the names of the Magis-- "Balthazar", "Caspar" and "Melchior". I've mentioned here before if I had just been a bit more adventurous a namer when it came to Banks, I would have more seriously considered "Balthasar/Balthazar". What partly held me back was being unable to think of any appealing nicknames! Now I could probably come up with a few. Does anyone know if Balthazar Getty has a nickname? Unfortunately, he seems like a less-than-admirable character.
But I also like Caspar and even Melchior. Interestingly, in The Very First Noel, the narrator Andy Griffith says the version "Caspar", but I think the Wise Man himself uses the form "Gaspar". (Or reversed-- can't remember). I definitely prefer "Caspar" with a "C", and would use the cute nickname "Cap". In the Laura Ingalls Wilder "Little House" books there is a "Cap Garland" who is a wonderful boy that the Ingalls girls grew up with...
But what about Gunner as an alternate spelling of Gunnar? No? Okay yeah I guess that doesn't make much sense. Maybe out of ignorance?
re: Adolf Hitler the pet: If it's done as a joke I think I would find it somewhat amusing. I imagine it would be kind of embarrassing to share the name in certain groups though. It's a certain kind of twisted humor that doesn't really have wide appeal. Definitely would not do it myself. If it was done like in the Campbell family (i.e. one pet named Adolf Hitler, one named Aryan Nation), I would think that was freaky. Not pet abuse, but I would stay away from the family. On a pet though, it almost seems like it'd have to be a joke.
Eo, I do agree that we've kind of overdone the "bad name" conversation. I think we're all just waiting for Bristol Palin's baby's name and this is keeping us busy in the meantime.
Any name which clearly is a reference to someone famous in whatever vain that may be (good or bad) is a name that should not be given again as there was already someone well-known with that name. So Abraham Lincoln LN, Paris Hilton LN, Ben Rothlisberger(sp) LN, Adolph Hitler LN are ALL bad names. Unless, you of course have some sort of family connection-then they're just in bad taste. Parents should just use a regular name and save their statements for another time and place. This also applies to words that maybe cute or whatever but are mostly just words. (We've had that discussion on a previous thread too)!
Re Brooks: To me it sounds a bit stuffy. Although I will admit the -s are mostly nms.
Baby alert: Another Peyton(b) born locally. That makes 6 now born in the same hospital from Dec 1-18th. WOW, Ethel-Mae anyone?
Emery - I know a one year old girl with the name. It was received well at the time, but a lot of people thought "nail file." I think Emery is definitely in the same style family as Avery and Finley - all traditionally male names that have been recently co-opted into female-trending names in the US.
The matchy-matchy ness of the Harmons choices is pretty unfortunate. Particularly the middle names - ugh! They've said they read a baby name book? Clearly, they didn't pick up the correct one! ;)
O.K.-anyone up for a naming challenge?
I was going to hold off on this, but since some posters are up for something different....
My acquaintance with a Mailee (sounds like Miley et. al) is expecting.
They don't know the gender yet.
She would like to use Samuel for a boy to honor a family member and also because she likes the name. Her husband doesn't like it.
He's Hawaiian, which is how they came up with Mailee. They think it would be nice to have another name with Hawaiian influence, but they have been through every possible one, and there aren't any Hawaiian boys' names they both like.
Other requirements: Mom doesn't want another m; she doesn't want anything too old-fashioned, and it needs to be something that would work with a consonant heavy, S ln.
Personally, I'm having a heck of a time coming up with anything, but if any of you want to try, I'll pass on your suggestions and try to get her to be a little more specific as to her tastes.
Are they willing to consider a wider "Pacific" field than just Hawaiian? There are some striking Maori names. The most prominent Hawaiian name that comes to mind for me is of course "Keanu" which I really like. But given the high visibility of the acting Keanu, it must have already been considered and discarded by them? Other Hawaiian boys' names that seem like a good fit for Maillee-- "Keoni"?
Will also suggest my default "modern", breezy yet substantive name for a boy: "Cai". I've seen it described as the Welsh form of "Gaius"; and indeed, my copy of "Welsh Names for Children" lists it as having been the name of an officer in King Arthur's court, so it has that whole "Camelot" thing. But somewhere I also think I read it has meaning in some Asian languages as well? Anyway, I like it with Maillee.
Actually, I wasn't trying to turn the conversation; just following where the conversation was going! Thought of a nickname for Balthazar, by the way-- "Baz"! But maybe that's too hackneyed, given Baz Luhrmann, et al...
Not to hijack the Mailee's sibling thread, but back to pets for a minute. I know more than one white person with a black cat or dog named after famous black people. A big fat cat named Farrakhan (sp?) and another named Oprah.
Not sure what to think of this--the namers are all very postmodern and smart, but, you know, still white. It's good for a momentary laugh, and then ... something seems wrong with it. Maybe if I saw more white cats named Son of Sam or Martha Stewart...
Beth - I don't think it's horrific, just a little short of tasteful...
My parents' friends always name their dog and cat after opposing generals. They've gone through Lee and Grant, Rommel and Patton, and are now on Hannibal and Skippio. I've always thought this was a cute way to name the pets.
So far no-one has mentioned my particular view on the 'bad' name - the double name.
I'm talking about those such as:
I'm sure there's plenty of others. For me, this is the ultimate in bad naming.
Penny - I don't know if I think it's so bad. It's not something I would do, but I just don't think it's so bad. It seems a little devil-may-care, fun. It's a kinda weird choice, but one can do waaay worse, imho.
I think a bad name (besides the obvious anti-social, in your face, I want my kids to advertise my hate for me names, like A.H.) is hard to come by.
Actually, my fantasy names for future daughters are Nola Viola LN and Estella Adella LN.
LOL Miriam about the dog park. I agree with Beth that it might be funny for a moment, especially to those that are used to that kind of humor from shows like Family Guy. Long term, though, it would be kind of strange and probably embarrassing to the owner.
Blythe,
You remind of someone I once knew who shaved her head (just because she wanted to, not due to a medical issue) but would get upset when people asked her about it. I agree that one should expect comments if one names a child something with strong connotations.
My captcha is Theodore accord.
Oh, Penny-excellent point!
Beth-Yeah, I'd kind of edge away from them at the dog park. I sort of get Oprah, only if I heard it I'd probably assume the owner was one of her legions of devoted fans, rather than someone trying to be ironic. I guess that's a problem the terminally ironic are used to.
Eo-I know Kai was ruled out early on, and I suspect they would veto Keanu. I know mom likes Kona, but dad does not. Interesting question about other cultures....I'll ask.
I quite like Baz, btw. One of the characters on the Clifford cartoon is Baz.
I also love Caspar. My great-uncle was a Kasper, but he always went by Ted.
I'm not sure most people are over the friendly ghost thing, though. What do you think?
Blythe-I largely agree with you, although I might not include all the same names.
It's interesting, though, how many people think of names as, "Just a name."
I know a pair of twins named Temple and Rory. I thought it was such an interesting pair, and I remember being so taken aback when I asked their mom, and she just kind of shrugged and said, "I thought they sounded good I guess."
I'm thinking about some Hawaiian names for boys:
Kai
Kalani
Kale
Kanoa
Kapono
Keahi
Konane
Nahele
These are kind of common, but nice:
Keoki
Keoni
Kimo
Koa
I know you said no "M" names, but I love this one:
Makani
Best of luck!
I've done a quick google and come up with others that are in line with my 'bad' name view:
ugh. You know I can almost (ok, not really) forgive Adolf Hitler Campbell, because he could always just go by Adolf Campbell (unusual in itself, leading to weird looks and comments), but you can't get away with not giving your first and last names.
I've always thought giving such names were mean to kids - but it's become a bit more personal for me lately. My husband's surname is Fernandez... and he thinks it would be cool to call our (yet to exist) son Fernando... oh dear....
btw - never gonna happen!
Penny in Australia - I went to school with a Gregor Mcgregor, and worked with a Rick Rick. I'm pretty sure Mr Rick was actually Richard, and chose to go by Rick. I also knew a Roger Rajaratnan (sp?) at university. I never knew any of them to object to their names.
We have a book upstairs that lists all the people with my surname (Thomson) in it there is a guy who's name appears to be Thomson Thomson. I always thought that was wierd as Thomson isn't a common first name as it is.
There is also a Princess Thomson.
Speaking of naming after famous people, recent birth in the local hospital was Heston. Not sure of gender or reasoning behind the name.
I've always thought that people who use their last name as the first name for a child, ie, William Williams, Peter Peters, or Ramiro Ramirez, were just to lazy to look for something.
Baby Announcement:
Lady from church has a brand new grand daughter this week
baby Mattea Deanna.
Thought it was interesting since it was talked about alot of the last blog. Parents chose Mattea for the meaning Gift of God. They are not Italian, the meaning was special to them because they had a rough pregnancy.
J&H's Mom: Are they looking for a Hawaiian name that will play well outside of Hawai'i? It sounds like their primary concern is sound rather than meaning. Is that right? My husband is Hawaiian and one strategy I was considering is going through his family tree. I think a lot of Hawaiian names might read as feminine to English-speakers because they always (I think) end with vowels. Maybe going for an -o would work better than -a or -i?
On naming after celebrities-- I knew a woman, who must be about 20 now, named Carlin (not sure of the spelling, but that's my guess). I have always wondered if it was for George... that's my only association.
Do you think the name Charlotte will be really date-stamped? I know it's increasing in popularity, but it's an old name. Do old names that become more popular suffer as much as made-up names like Madison? We like this name a lot, but hesitate because of this possible factor. Any advice would be appreciated.
RobynT-I think they'd Like to find a Hawaiian name that would work well elsewhere (we live in Washington state), but they are really open to names from anywhere.
I tossed out a bunch of My favorite names, and she made a face at most of them. She likes Griffin but it's out for family reasons. Samuel would be her first choice if her dh was into it.
Mailee's mn is Luna.
I guess I'd call her taste contemporary but not kre8tive.
She definitely thought some of my choices were too old fashioned.
Oh, I hope not Aybee. But it wouldn't surprise me.
It is possible that "Carlin" was a family name. Canadian tennis champ Carling Bassett was given her mother Susan's maiden name. They were descended from the Carling brewery king, a very famous name in Canada.
J&H's Mom: I'm not sure either. But it does seem that the Casper the Friendly Ghost cartoons are a long time in the past. And he was a benign, admirable little character, wasn't he?
I love the idea of a child being able to tell the story that his name comes from one of the Wise Men of the East! Christmas names hold an endless fascination for me. I would love to name a boy "Noel".
Adore "Noel" on a girl too. I have very strict ideas about that, though. I dislike "Noelle" and even for a girl would give the plain "el" ending. I'm sure that would cause endless confusion, but...
Speaking of double names, I had a college counselor in high school named Tommy Thomas, and a friend has an uncle (or great-uncle, not sure which) named B@rr B@rr. Barr is a family name, and he was a member of two wealthy New York families that have frequently intermarried over the generations. So his mother had an ancestor named B@rr, which was also his father's surname.
Just returned from my niece's first birthday party (my husband's brother's child), and I jotted down the names of the children on the personalized favors that were handed out. These are the children of professional couples in their early to late thirties who live in or around NYC, mostly (but not exclusively) Jewish. I don't have any middle names. All the children, except when specified, are under the age of 4 or 5.
Boys:
Matthew
Alex
Jake
Jack (10 years old)
Girls:
Merritt
Aerin
Audrey
Chloe
Genna
Lucy
Lucy
Jordana
Zoey
Bridget
Natalie
Lauren (8 years old)
And the birthday girl, Sophia M@delyn
Guest mom to Charlotte-
I only know two Charlottes-- one is about 65 and one is abour 80. I personally don't think Charlotte would be as date-stamped as any of the invented names. It is increasing in popularity though.
J&H's mom:
I can't remember if you are looking for only boys names or not. Here are a few (non-Hawaiin) options:
Jesse
Leo
Dylan
Owen
Garrett
Xavier
Tristan
Let me know if I'm anywhere close-- tried to go contemporary not cre8tive..
One more thing:
J&H's mom, it's not Hawaiian, but would your friend consider Asher? The combination of Griffin and Samuel (plus your modern/trendy but not kre8tive designation) brought it to mind.
Guest, you raise a fascinating question. When I was a child, no one would have imagined that the old-fashioned name "Emily" would become the monster hit that it later did. "Charlotte" does have much of the same sweet, strong-but-demure charm.
It's so hard to say if it will go a similar route, thus seeming to be tired and over-used in future decades. I do think traditional names like "Charlotte" have a better chance of weathering over-use than the more recent wonders.
As always, you must go with what you love. Are there any somewhat similar names though, that appeal to you, that are less likely to go mega-popular? I'm thinking of "Charity", for just one example?
Post new comment