When a name really does matter...to your wallet

Aug 13th 2008
By Laura Wattenberg

Is naming destiny?  Usually, the answer is no.  Sure, a name can nudge your fate in one direction or another -- like boys named Dennis being more likely to become dentists.  But those effects are tiny in the grand scheme of things, and under each individual's control.  Are there any concrete and immutable effects of names?  Will a girl's life experience actually be different if you name her, say, Isabella instead of Olivia?  Maybe...if you come to Boston.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a one-of-a-kind institution: a "palace" of art, brimming with one woman's extraordinary personal collections and personal vision.  It also has a very personal admission policy.  Anyone named Isabella is admitted free to the museum, forever.  (That might have seemed a small concession in 1903 when the museum first opened to the public; only 96 Isabellas were born in the U.S. that year.  Last year, though, the number was up to 18,874.)  So there's $12 in your pocket for having the right name.  What could be more concrete?

Lots of attractions offer name-based perks as a promotional gimmick.  If your name is George, you can tour George Washington's Mount Vernon estate for free on Washington's birthday.  If baseball is more up your George's alley, head to "Salute to the Babe" night in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where anybody named George (or Herman or Ruth) can cheer on the Fayetteville SwampDogs for free.  Meanwhile over at the Atlanta Motor Speedway's "Joe Momma" night, free admission goes to anyone named Joe who brings his mother.

Those perks, though, are just passing fancies.  The Gardner Museum is legendary for being fixed and unchangeable, and its Isabella offer is no exception.  It's the one and only absolute, reliable name advantage I know of.  Do you know others?  Perhaps a "Thrifty Parent's Guide to Money-Saving Baby Names" is right around the corner!

Comments

301
August 22, 2008 11:12 AM
By Zoerhenne

Stacy-OK, got it.

302
September 12, 2008 11:44 PM
By Guest

I have never posted on here before but did a search for my name and and found this blog.

My name is Fawn. Its actually Fawntane and I go by Fawn. Im 25yrs old and was born and raised in Va. I really like my name, its different and have never met another Fawn. I have heard of it a very few times and a friend of mines mom had a baby and named her Fontaine (which is more like the last name spelling) She like the name as a whole and not just Fawn.

I get a lot of compliments on it as well. Im not sure if people say they like it when they are just really thinking "what an odd/different name" or if they really do like it. It doesnt matter either way, I love it.

My only problem is that my mom wasnt sure how i would like it and used it as my middle name. So instead of Fawntane Renee like I should have been Im Renee Fawntane. Its a bit of a pain in the butt to explain constantly that its my mn but oh well.

It is funny when people say "thanks dear" and dont even notice my name badge and I say back, "actually its Fawn" and point out my name.

303
April 15, 2009 9:56 PM
By bexx08

As Far as the Fawn thing goes, I have a cousin, Fawn, who is a country singer in Tennessee and also runs a horse ranch. Brothers: Noel, Mark, Matthew Sister: Felicia.

When I was in Elementary school, we had "History Month" and if someone with your name did something notable on that day in history, then you got a free pencil. lol.

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.

More information about formatting options

Archives