OMG! I didn’t even make it through the article yet, but all I can think of is this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Daniels

As long as the names are NAMES and not brands, it’s fine. I have a Laura, Tom and Jane. If those names become popular, that’s okay with me. They are classic and lovely. It’s all the made up nonsense names that drive me crazy. Such an unfair thing to do to a child. And parents who pick deliberately ugly names because they think it’s somehow cool or ironic are just really selfish. Bertha and Earl will not be thanking them, after a lifetime of teasing and mocking.

Actually, Madeline, it’s Earl’s. And he sooooo rocks it!

I hope you didn’t really name your son Earl. That’s just cruel. And an excellent way to get his resume thrown in the trash. Names matter. They have an enormous impact on your child’s life chances. If you really did name your child Earl (and I hope you didn’t), you limited his chances. For what? You may not like the fact that Earl sounds like a meatheaded chicken farmer, but it does. He probably won’t be thanking you.

Oh, Andrea … we did! Thanks for the cautionary tale, but we’re good. You put too much faith in bad non-studies that conclude names matter. The president of the United States is named Barack Obama, for God’s sake! My meatheaded chicken-farmer is gonna be juuuuuust fine.

I really dislike popular names but then again I hate overly unique names. For example; I know a Princess, Butterscotch, Lord, Casanova, and a Stormy Day. Some names are really out there. I picked Cambria & Gamble.

Oh, I have opinions on names!!

When I got pregnant, my husband and I had already picked our boys’ name, because we both just knew we would have a baby boy. We picked Jude, as in “Hey, Jude,” we thought it was classic, but unique, and music-oriented (Beatles-oriented at that).

BUT, we were having a baby girl. And had no idea what to name her. My husband loved crisp, classic, Alice, where I loved slightly more modern and wayyyy more unique. I wanted Iris or Ramona (as in The Pest). After months of contemplation, we decided on Alicen. It was close to my husband’s beloved Alice, but a little more modern-sounding, and a lot prettier looking when written out.

I got A TON of crap for “misspelling” Alison/Allison/Allyson/Alyson, as we announced our upcoming arrival’s name. I realize how dumb a lot of YOU-neEklee spelled names look. I once knew a girl who decided on the name Jen’nerrikkah Kymberleigh for her daughter. But, eventually I had to learn to ignore the “haters”. Alicen is not a traditional spelling, but it suits my beautiful daughter to a T.

I think that names meld to match the people who own them. I am named Quincy, which is very unique for a caucasian woman. My siblings are named Katey, Matthew, and Samuel. All Top Ten names (Katey and its various spellings, and Matthew were the number one names in their birth year.), I was the out-of-place name. And I am fine with that. It suits me. I just look like a Quincy. My siblings all look like their names as well.

I never got one of those personalized keychains my siblings had. I rarely even find things with a Q monogram. Because not only is it a unique name, Q is a unique initial. BUT I did have the opportunity to tell the story of how I was named to everyone who commented, and I get tons of compliments! I have had three people name a daughter Quinn or Quincy, and tell me that they first considered the name after meeting me.

The point is, the name given at birth becomes part of your child, synonymous with them as time wears on. As long as you, as parents, like the name, believe in the name, and it isn’t totally ludicrous, it will fall into place. Someone will choose to complain about everything (AHEM, ANDREA.) Make the right choice for you and your baby, and ignore the inlaws, friends, aunts, random strangers, etc. who comment out of place.

I never considered Earl as a baby name, but I can picture an adorable toddler Earl. Its growing on me as I type, actually. But I won’t steal it, I promise.

People sometimes tend to think that they are choosing a “unique” name when they choose something like Isabella, Sophia, Emma, etc. because they they don’t know anyone their own age with those names. They don’t realize how popular they have become unles they look them up on the internet or something before settling on them.

Andrea, read Freakonomics on their name study. http://www.freakonomics.com/2009/04/21/winner-loser-and-marijuana-pepsi/ It may help you from saying something as fact, when it’s actually an opinion. I happen to think Earl is cute, and no… my son is not named Earl.

Boy, I am late to this discussion :) When I was about 15 my sister was pregnant with her first child. I wanted to help pick out baby names. If she was having a boy, he was going to be named after the proud father. But, she couldn’t come up with a girls name. I found one I liked, but she blew it off, saying it was strange..lol Well she ended up have a boy, so I got to keep the name. Three years later I was pregnant with my daughter and I named her that name. I couldn’t find it any where on the internet or baby books of that year. I brought her home from the hospital, everyone was there to hear the announcement of my daughters name. When they all found out, they actually really loved, even my sister..Because it fit my daughter s face and personality. Now, 18 yrs later. I hear and see her name for babies for this generation. It has grown quit popular here where I live. Her name is Kyra (Ki-ra) Beth. She absolutely loves her name and has thanked me many times for her name :)

I have to second the point about the popularity of ‘Sophia’ coming out of nowhere, as I am, in fact, a 20-something Sophia myself. To add insult to injury, I’m married to a Jacob. Both names were hardly trendy in the 80′s when our mothers came up with them, so I’m always quite surprised at how often my head turns in recognition at the playground whenever a mother scolds her son or daughter. I remember in 6th grade, everyone was amazed that out of a very large school the only Sophia’s were the three (including myself) in my class. I recall all three mothers were pretty unimpressed at the three of us all ending up in the same class. Thank god my named-in-2010 baby isn’t on the list! Although, if my husband and I’s names are any indication of the way these trends ebb and flow, my daughter might end up on the 2030 list.

You’ll be pleased with your choice until your child wants “personalized” pens, name plates, etc.

My daughter named her daughter “Audrey” after Audrey Hepburn. It suits her … I’m certain she’ll be a theatre buff like her mommy!