Thursday, August 22, 2013

What's in a name?

Last night, after reading a pretty interesting article on Huffington Post, this headline caught my eye:  "Will It Make My Daughter Feel Less Special If She Has A Popular Name?"  




I couldn't help but laugh when I started watching the video. Is it really that much of a concern to parents? Maybe it's because I am not a parent, or because I grew up surrounded by other people with my name... but I never felt like I was loved less!  And the whole bit comparing names to making breakfast?!  What was that?!


I understand that naming your child is a big deal, but I feel like there are so many more important things out there to be worrying about when you are becoming a first time parent.  Like, how to get the smell of spit up out of your hair.  Or how to prevent blow-outs.

I mean, I guess if this is the biggest issue you have, then you are doing pretty good.

4 comments:

  1. I can't imagine a kid feeling less loved because they had a popular name. That is crazy!

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  2. I haaaaaate having a common name. Hate it, hate it, hate it, hate it. If I'm in a crowd, I won't turn around if someone says "Jennie!" because odds are there's another Jenn/Jenna/Jenny/Jennifer/Jennica/Gemma that they're talking to.

    I don't feel any less loved because how common my name is (Jennifer Ann Larson....good one, parents), but I have always liked feeling like an individual and I would prefer to stick out of the crowd than get swept away in it. If I had it to do over again, I would probably pick a different name for myself. Yup.

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  3. Sarah always used having a common name to her advantage, in the same way as Jennie above - she never had to answer questions in class because there were always other Sarahs to do it for her!

    I don't think I have an opinion on having a common name - I didn't like my name for a long time, but nothing to do with the fact that there were 3 others in my class with it - just I didn't think it suited me.

    I think though if I knew it was such a common name when I was pregnant, I'd try to go with something else. Like every baby here was named Max or Alfie over the last 4 years - I feel like they get a bit overused, so lose their charm.

    But i bet we will end up with popular names, because you've got to think of them somehow, and hearing someone else with it is the most common way probably!

    Laura x

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  4. Ordinary names mean that you can find a pencil or keychain at a normal store. I was crushed repeatedly as a kid because they never had my name...

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