What has this world come to?

[Melissa]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_baby_names

We are naming our children after Twilight characters and bad pop stars. How it that meaning full? What are these parents going to tell their children when they ask how they got their names? "Honey I named you after the weird looking pale dude from this really bad movie/book." Or "I named you after a 17 year old who sounds like an old lady who has been smoking for 50 years when she sings."

I may be wrong but I think when children are named they need strong meaningful names that are respectable. I hear some names and I just wonder, "what are people going to think when you turn x years old?"

 

[lauralynne]

I just looked at that article and was thinking the same thing. I feel torn though. Most names come from whatever is popular in that era. I do know a guy named Cullen that is 30+ though.

 

[3CsMommy]

The biggest naming WTF I've gotten came from a previous job. The Greene family had 4 kids: Jade, Sage, Hunter, and Emerald (Emmy for short). We joked that the dog's name must be Blue and they should get a parrot named Olive. And that's the things *adults* think of. I don't want to know what kinds of cruelty playground kids will come up with!

As far as names I'd use, the only one I really like is Autumn because that's when her (potential, in MANY years!) dad and I met. But you're right; I think names should be more than trendy or cool when they're attached to a human being.

 

[cindyv3737]

That is scary and sad.

 

[Riven]

People always have...

My name when I was born.. Nicole Lynn Gaston... reason that's my name.. a song .. Nickelodeon. My mom swears it was my dad's fault ( and I believe her ) People have always named their kids after other things, and will continue to do so.

I picked out the name Hailey long before Eminem came on the scene, but Hailie is his daughter's name and after he hit, it totally blew up. Now I can't go to the store without hearing a million people yelling for my daughter. It really sucks, If I'd have know I'd never have named her that.

More than naming after something popular, I'd rather see unique names. I personally don't like my name, and I've recently decided I would make a great Scarlett, but growing up I always wished my name was Victoria. To me, having the same name as a million other people is worse than having a number, at least then you have something that's your own.

If the article didn't point out that Bella is short for Isabella would you guys have noticed that there was a link? A lot of people wouldn't, which means there might be a link, but might not. Also sometimes it's not necessarily named AFTER something, but that the name is brought to your attention and you like it.

 

[lilchinchilla]

I am happy to say none of that stuff influenced me on what I named my kids.

The only sad thing is right after I named my son Ayden, three months later, there is an Ayden, Jayden, Payden, Cayden, Brayden, Hayden, etc... all over the place. In every class of his, there is at least one or two Ayden's.

Lucky for me, I have a unique name, my mother chucked my great grandfather's name with my aunt's name to make my name... most people never know how to spell it or say it properly. I don't like it personally so go by my middle name instead which I like, is easy to spell and say.

My daughter's name, we thought up four years before she was born, while on vacation in Ireland...and I don't see too many Keira Roisin's around... only met one little girl named Roisin so far around here.

 

[fanofdmb84]

Yep, I gotta say I've heard some names that just make me shake my head.
I know two brothers named Free and Skye....last name Byrd. But, they are both 30-somethings with hippie parents.

I was named after the goddess of the hunt, because my dad eats/breathes/lives for hunting. Blah. I don't care for it simply because I'm SO sick of correcting people's pronunciation of it. I mean really, how hard is it? I get Diane, Deeanne, Daniella, Deana, Donna, and even Brenda (if you can figure that one out let me know).

However, I do think Cullen is better than Apple or some other such nonsense.

 

[BooBoo*TheKiddo*]

Unique names are cool, hehe.
My name isn't unique as others but it has meaning that has nothing to do with someone famous.

3CsMommy, my nieces name is Autumn =) and my youngest nieces middle name is Emma-Ryan

 

[ruoc]

Hubby worked with someone who named their son Bruin, as in Boston Bruins.Huhh.

 

[Melissa]

Im ok with unique names and even names that are brought to your attention by something and you say "Hmm I like that name." But to hear that the names of Twilight characters and a few others that arent so great, are on the rise.. I just dont see how parents are able to look their children in the face with some of these names.

At least they are "normal" I was doing some relief work for Hurricane Katrina and there was a family that presented social security cards for their children to get the relief boxes. The names... no lie.. Gonorrhea and Syphilis. The mother said you say it "GAh-NORA" and Syphilis as you say it. And I said "Oh how pretty, how did you find names like that?" She told me she thought they looked pretty.

I think thats just what she had when she had the girls.

Another name fail.. I used to babysit for a family. Paul(father) Paula(mother) Paulie(son) and Paulette (daughter). The parents loved the idea that their names were the same that they decided to do it with their kids.

 

[Laurie]

Okay Mel first of all I LOVE you, but honestly Stephanie Meyer got her names from old fashioned times Edward, Bella and Cullen are all old world names--she didn't name them something funky like LADY GAGA, Beyonce, Lil Wayne, Apple, or Minnie--to name a few. So I don't find it odd people are naming children after Twilight as I have always loved old world names.

I have the most boring name on the planet--not only am I a Laurie I am Laurie Ann. Go ahead and ask the Laurie, Lori, Lorie's you know what their middle name is and usually it's Ann. B O R I N G. Boring names make for boring people.

And what really upsets me most in life is how they have ruined my very favorite name of all time. I love, love, LoVE the name Dorcas. It's a girl's name, very old, very Australian--yet because some dumba$$es out there decided it would be fun to start calling people dorks there went my name!

And last but not least the name that people have named their children that really annoys me . . . Elvis--sorry folks there can be only one! quit stealing The King's name and naming your kid that! BTW I know Elvis was around before Elvis Presley--still after he was here no one else should have it LOL!

 

[Melissa]

Laurie.. Lol Its not the names themselves. I know they are pretty normal names and have been around FOREVER. Im just a little thrown for the REASON they are popular now. I mean its not like the movie or book is any good.

 

[Laurie]

OOOH Mel you better take cover! You know there are a zillion Twilight fans on this forum LOL!

 

[tunes]

I mean its not like the movie or book is any good.

That would be pretty obvious by the fact that none of the books have sold, nobody lines up the night before to watch the movies when they first open in theaters, and there aren't 1000 different kinds of merchandise in the stores? Seriously, if you don't like the books, don't read them, but I get tired of people hacking on them because they don't contain rabid sex or S&M. They are for TEENS. Nobody forced adults to read them.

There ya go Laurie - I'll step up to the plate.

As far as the names, I see nothing wrong with Edward, Bella (as pointed out, short for Isabella), Jacob (my nephew), etc. In a few years the whole Twilight thing will have gone by the wayside and they will be the same names they always were, and have been used for eons. Just because they happen to be in a book or movie now doesn't make them weird. It just makes them popular again.

 

[Ash]

I'm an "Ashley". It's so boring and bland and there were at least 3-4 in every one of my classes throughout school. I wish I would have been named something different. I think Bella is a beautiful name. I know someone who recently had a daughter and named her baby Isabella, calls her Bella for short. She's never heard of Twilight. While they may be popular because of the series, they are still nice names.. Who cares WHY they are popular.

What irks me is people who name their kids after themselves. If your name is Zolymar, don't name your child Zolymar (true story, people who come into CVS). I had a friend growing up, her name was Maria. Her mom's name? Mary. Her brother and father had the same name too. It's so confusing.

Oh, and giving kids a million middle names or last names. Can someone please explain this to me? I know it's more of an Hispanic thing and I just can't figure it out. It makes it EXTREMELY difficult, especially in the pharmacy. Insurance has their name one way, the doctor has it written on the prescriptions another way, and when they come to pick the scripts up, they give an entirely DIFFERENT last name. OI!

 

[Laurie]

I would never, EVER argue with my internet sister, but I just want to point out that just because a movie has tons of people lined up to see doesn't really make it good--TONS of people lined up to see Deep Throat many years ago and all the controversy surrounding it. I believe The Watchman had people lined up the night before--I thought the movie was horrid, simply horrid (I've never read the graphic novel). I'm not a Twilight fan but I support ANYTHING that gets people to read. Being able to tell a tale on pen and paper as far as I'm concerned is the most wonderful gift of all.

 

[Rebecca]

Okay Mel first of all I LOVE you, but honestly Stephanie Meyer got her names from old fashioned times Edward, Bella and \

People are naming their kids Renesmee after Bella's mutant offspring.

That would be pretty obvious by the fact that none of the books have sold, nobody lines up the night before to watch the movies when they first open in theaters, and there aren't 1000 different kinds of merchandise in the stores? Seriously, if you don't like the books, don't read them, but I get tired of people hacking on them because they don't contain rabid sex or S&M. They are for TEENS. Nobody forced adults to read them.

I don't think high sales make these books good. McDonalds is a huge corporation, but that doesn't mean the food is good or good for you. Twilight is poorly written, and contains pretty twisted depictions of relationships. While I do understand the idea behind don't like, don't read, it is impossible to form a valid opinion on the books before reading them. After reading them, I think it is valid to critique them.

Edit: I forgot to respond to the topic itself, I've always been a fan of traditional names. I actually really like a lot of Biblical names, but I'm not religious enough to use them. Isaiah may be my favorite name of all time.

 

[Peep_erz]

The names themselves aren't weird and it doesn't make it weird that they are popular. Whats weird is the parents who are going "OMG I LOVE EDWARD CULLEN. IM NAMING ALL OF MY CHILDREN THAT!!" Yes there are the normal people who saw or read Twilight and thought "oh wow. Those names sound really pretty" and then named their kid Jacob and Isabella BUT I personally know weirdos that are the first type I described.

My parents were a little influenced by pop culture but they changed it and had another reason for using what they chose. Star Wars was pretty popular and my parents liked Princess Leia's name. My Aunts middle name is Leigha so they used both and changed it up a bit and came up with Leah. My other aunts first name is Christina and they used and changed it for my middle name Christine.

I love my name but no one seems to get it right. Lia, Leigha, Leigh, Leia blah blah blah. I've only met a few people with the same name as mine and all but 1 spell it Leah.

 

[Jeanette]

I very rarely come across anyone named Jeanette.

I get called (in order of most frequent to least frequent)
Janet
Jeanine
Janice

Hello?? How is Jeanette that hard?

I have already thought out my future kids' names.
Nathaniel and Renata
I have always loved Nathaniel (or Nathan or Nate) and Renata is so old fashioned, but not too used even way back when!

 

[Siylvat]

Renata is so old fashioned, but not too used even way back when!

I like the name Renata. That is my cousins name, but everyone calls her Randi.