Parents seem to be more often doing the same thing as business founders, naming their kids with some sonic relationship to their own names. Beyond deliberate continuation of family names or "Jr." and III, etc., the names now—unconsciously?—often start with the same letter or use the same sounds. E.g., Frank and Joan name their kids Jerry and Felicia.
That's likely the case sometimes but I keep seeing parents choosing a child's name because it FEELS comfortable, without recognizing the resonance with their own, in initial letter, rhyme, or similar sound.
You may be interested in reading what baby-name expert Laura Wattenberg has written about the triumph of “name style” over all other naming trends. For example: the Barbie movie was a huge hit, but few babies are being named Barbie because that name doesn’t fit contemporary style preferences. And although millions of Americans voted for Donald Trump, they aren’t naming their children after him. What parents seem to prize above everything else is “uniqueness,” which of course leads to conformity. https://namerology.com/tag/style/
I've read somewhere — I think in Cordelia Fine's (excellent) "Delusions of Gender" — that a child of either sex is much more likely to share their father's first initial than their mother's. But that was at least fifteen years ago; maybe it's less true today?
Thanks for both these pointers. I have a hairdresser whose last name is Brush. We’ve discussed nominative determinism re her name. She admits to having ideas about hair work at a young age.
When I read about the concept years ago, I thought that perhaps the children with these names thought about these occupations a LOT growing up, as she did.
I agree that we should put fires and heats into the naming barrel to change how we think about them.
Parents seem to be more often doing the same thing as business founders, naming their kids with some sonic relationship to their own names. Beyond deliberate continuation of family names or "Jr." and III, etc., the names now—unconsciously?—often start with the same letter or use the same sounds. E.g., Frank and Joan name their kids Jerry and Felicia.
That's EXplicit egotism!
That's likely the case sometimes but I keep seeing parents choosing a child's name because it FEELS comfortable, without recognizing the resonance with their own, in initial letter, rhyme, or similar sound.
You may be interested in reading what baby-name expert Laura Wattenberg has written about the triumph of “name style” over all other naming trends. For example: the Barbie movie was a huge hit, but few babies are being named Barbie because that name doesn’t fit contemporary style preferences. And although millions of Americans voted for Donald Trump, they aren’t naming their children after him. What parents seem to prize above everything else is “uniqueness,” which of course leads to conformity. https://namerology.com/tag/style/
Fascinating. I hadn't thought about sounds being in fashion but it makes sense.
Then there's the Boomer's legacy (aping the Romantic era): "Be different!"—say we all.
I've read somewhere — I think in Cordelia Fine's (excellent) "Delusions of Gender" — that a child of either sex is much more likely to share their father's first initial than their mother's. But that was at least fifteen years ago; maybe it's less true today?
Alas, baby names are not my forte.
I've known art directors named "Art."
I knew a freelance copywriter named Art Novak. The tagline (which I always liked) on his business card was, "The Art of Copy."
Thanks for both these pointers. I have a hairdresser whose last name is Brush. We’ve discussed nominative determinism re her name. She admits to having ideas about hair work at a young age.
When I read about the concept years ago, I thought that perhaps the children with these names thought about these occupations a LOT growing up, as she did.
I agree that we should put fires and heats into the naming barrel to change how we think about them.