Just as in England where one finds a lot of Smiths and Browns, and in Wales plenty of Joneses and Evanses, the USA seems to be awash with Bros, Dudes, and Mans.
Unlike most countries, in the USA it's just plain Bro, Dude, or Man. To Europeans it does tend to sound a tad 'familiar', especially when being addressed by a 'cop', but that's how they like it.
Also in the USA, black female babies are given the most wonderfully exotic 'invented' names. It's almost a competition to find the most extravagant names possible. No black girl would ever be named Veronica or Penelope (go on, tell me you know plenty); it has to be ShaNeekar-la, or Da'Quandé, or even Ka'Likatirfrianiqua (yes, really). Boys of course are all called Dude or Bro.
I always enjoy reading the UK's annual list of the year's most popular names. Last year saw Sophia the most favoured girl's name, and Muhammad the most popular for boys. The trend for girls names to end in ie or y has now been replaced by ia.
Of course, many children are named after reality-show celebs, TV presenters, or actors. Names associated with intellectuals have never been popular; I doubt if we'll see a surfeit of Borises or Jacobs.
My sister and I were named after characters from Swallows and Amazons, and no doubt if I'd had a younger sister she would have been named Titty (saved by the bell).
Certain Nordic countries stick to a very limited official list of available 'given names'; Iceland being amongst the most strict. No Icelandic boy is ever called Elvis.
I'm sure you recognise the man in my photo (Elon Musk). You really have to pity that poor baby whose name is X Æ A-12.
47 comments:
I can't believe the names some children are lumbered with, and how many ways can Jayden be spelt?
Iceland has got one thing right.
Is this a post-60's phenomenon? Acid has a lot to answer for!
No Waynes or Chelseees.
I very well recall the US citizen named simply R B Jones (sic). When called upon in later life to fill in forms he constantly had them sent back for the name to be completed. His response was simply to write R(only) B(only) Jones. Unfortunately the forms were often returned with his name as Ronly Bonly Jones.
In my teaching days I came across strange names and confusing names and in a multi racial area often had three Surinders in the same class.
Ronly Bonly is a fine name, one he could have been proud of.
And I bet those 'Surinders' were very attentive pupils.
And what's wrong with my name.... JaydeenayahCeeanothus ?
Looks perfectly normal to me; a good 'Maniac' name.
For all we know, in the privacy of the baby's hearing, Musk might call him Boo Boo.
For the record, Musk has several offspring. The first a perfectly acceptable Nevada Alexander, followed by Griffin and Xavier, Kai, Saxon and Damian. Number Six clearly the X-factor. Though, considering it's a boy, Y might have been more appropriate.
You don't have to go outlandish to blow someone's gasket. My father went ballistic when one of my sisters christened one of her many sons Benito. All poor Benito's grandfather saw was Mussolini writ large. HOW COULD SHE, he cried. Roughly on a par, only worse, than Adolf. What of Spanish boys saddled with Franco, come to think of it? "Call me Frank".
U
Sorry, the X (why?) factor should have read "Number Seven".
U
I almost chose Venice for my daughter. She says she's very happy I changed my mind. (I played safe and went for Katherine. She calls herself Kat.)
I don't think anyone would be crazy enough to name a child Boo Boo!
I think there's a lot to be said for choosing good solid standard names, with maybe one family name thrown into the mix.
I longed for a traditional name. Instead I was lumbered with a fashionable-at-the-time name that is sometimes used by comedy writers for their 'cheap' characters. I much prefer Andi which is a nickname I shared with my Dad.
A lot of rogering might be happening but I doubt that many baby boys are named Roger these days. The Beckhams had nice names - David and Victoria - but they should be arrested for the names they gave to their four children. It's cruel to saddle children with faddish, self-indulgent names.
Its all about being an individual. I do like the trend of old fashioned names. In my larger family there are Rose, Fleur, Florence, Byron, Albert, Iris, Mabel, Olive, Pearl and my favourite Jeremiah. All under the age of 10.
I love the name Jeremiah.
YP, funny you should mention "Roger". For more reasons than one.
Anyway, down my road there is a lovely lovely couple - probably in their late seventies. Totally together in their demeanour, extremely stylish, beautiful to this day. He was the director of a well known theatre outfit in the South of England - an elegant, attractive man with hair as white as white can be. When I met the couple about ten years ago I mistakenly addressed him as Roger. Without hesitation he corrected me, somewhat indignant: "It's Richard". Ever since I have wondered what's wrong with Roger.
U
Andi is a good name; very classy!
Roger seems a perfectly acceptable name to me; I might even adopt it myself.
I'm sure they'll be a return to more classic names; after a period of eccentricities, there's usually a return to 'normality'.
Or Mohammeds
Very biblical.
Names fall in and out of favour. I'm currently teaching a set of twin boys (eight years old) who are named after hockey players. I also have a Jack, a Jackson, and a Jaxson in my class. Being a relatively small rural school, we aren't very multi-cultural. There are some "old fashioned" names in my class: Seth, Emma, Maisie. Probably the two most unusual names are Alaric (boy) and Piper (girl) - both very sweet children. -Jenn
You do understand that bro, dude, and man are not given names, right, and you're just being cute? Or do people in Britain actually name their children Mate, Pal, and Chum? How odd.
The Beckham children have lovely names and there is a perfectly good reason for each name given. David and Victoria are excellent and loving parents and names evolve like everything else. I thing that the remarks that they "should be arrested for the names they gave to their four children" is distasteful and arrogant. To be loving and loved parents is by far the most important thing and these two are faultless.
Listen Dude; do you folk have no sense of humour?
I wonder where the 'Piper' came from?
Still trying to leave comments!
You have!
Balderdash!
Agree with Rachel. Names do evolve. and the Beckhams seem like excellent parents
J
Better than a tosser that thinks roggering is humour.
Google "Honey Boo Boo" prepare yourself for hillybilly central
At a convention I once met a wonderful woman, friendly, witty, fun to be with. Her name was Veronica (the surname was something French)
I told her that her name was beautiful and it was.
Her reply? "My Mama gave me a white girl's name" Black woman from Texas.
I grew up in Canada just after a time of great immigration in the 50's and 60's and once had two "Wolfgang's" in my class! :-) I think that was the most exotic name in a sea of Karens and Susans and Michaels etc.
I made up my oldest daughter's name: Brianna, a combination of two names Brian and Anna. My daughter was 5 when my mother called me excited to discover it was a "real name". She had found it in a baby book. These days there are Briannas all over the place. 40 years ago it was unheard of.
I do know a girl here called Veronique, which I always thought was very chic!
I expect it was quite tricky, post-war, having a name that sounded 'German'. We all know how children can be.
I'm sure I've heard of a Brianna somewhere. My youngest is named William, but was always called Wills. Then Prince Charles starting calling his William 'Wills', and people thought we'd copied him. In fact it was Charles who'd copied us.
My surrogate daughter worked with a girl called Bryony. She called her Brian.
Alaric is from Vampire Diaries and Piper is a name from a tv series called Charmed.
The trouble with names is that people often make assumptions about the person based on the name. There is a lot of research out there on bias based in the name on a resume.
One doesn’t have to look that far to see bias based on names.
Our family friends theory is name your child something simple that you can yell across the garden.
I am happy to read that you are now looking forward to spending some time in the UK. It will be a grand adventure, time with family, and old memories revisited. Then when spring comes to France, you will be back to your beloved gardens.
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