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Name-inspired news and notes for your Sunday reading.
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Names are a game of telephone.
They change subtly over time. We make assumptions about the logical spelling or pronunciation. We like them because them because they remind us of another popular name. Or we mishear them entirely, and end up inventing something all new as a result.
That’s true for words and language in general. (This article explains it better, with far more rigor.)
Here are four ways that can impact the names you’re considering for a child now:
- Dominant spellings shift. It’s not a question of right spelling, but right now. Zoey surged past Zoe, but now it’s Zoe on top once more. So all those Elliots mean Elliott is more popular than it appears. And if choosing a name that is easily spelled matters, you might need to avoid Amelia/Emilia or Grayson/Greyson.
- Default nicknames come and go, as do the formal names to which they attach. Elizabeth is never out of style, but Betty has faded while Ellie has surged. Jack is more commonly associated with Jackson than John. So if someone tells you that Daisy’s full name should be Margaret? You can shrug that off. But if you’re frustrated that no one seems to understand why Hank is your son Henry’s nickname? Sorry, but you’ll have to explain that one forever.
- Trends are often bigger than individual names. Fifty years ago, parents named their kids Lily and Luke. But a surge of L names has brought Lucy and Liam, Lyla, Luca, Lorenzo, Lian, Luna, and Lucia – and that’s before we consider names like Eliana and Elio with a strong L sound, but not the first initial L. Even uncommon names like Liana and Leandro can blend in.
- Only rarely is a name’s image fixed. Most names are pretty fluid. Which is good news, because it means that we get to shape others’ perceptions of our names. Think about it: even an uncommon name like Conan can go from muscle-bound Barbarian to witty talk show host in the space of a generation.
Names don’t change all that much, not really. After all, names like Julia and Adrian, William and Edith have more than a millennia of history behind them – often more. And yet, they have changed in many ways, as does our perception of these names.
The good news? That same process will ensure your child’s name shifts and grows across a lifetime, too.
ELSEWHERE ONLINE
Japan cracks down on shiny names. I don’t know enough about Japanese culture to have a fully informed opinion. But here’s the topline: a growing number of parents are choosing names like Nike and Pikachu. They’re called kirakira names – shiny or sparkly. It gets confusing because these families choose Kanji characters to phonetically spell out these very unusual names. That means others won’t automatically know how to read and pronounce such a name. I can see the drawbacks, but I’m not sure I’d ban them …
Influencers and entrepreneurs Lauryn and Michael Bosstick have welcomed a son named Bond. They also share daughter Zaza and son Townes. Kind of love the idea of Bond, and I can see it catching on.
Any thoughts on this list of name-based holidays? It’s widely repeated online, but I cannot figure out the origin. According to the list, Elizabeth, Betty, Libby, and Ellie all have their own, completely separate days … but there’s no mention of Eliza Doolittle Day, so could this list possibly be accurate or complete? I’m thinking no.
Shout-out to Seth Jones! I couldn’t find a full list of every name engraved on the Stanley Cup ever (according to the Hockey Hall of Fame, there are currently 2,263 names, presumably before the 2025 champs are added). But it’s been widely reported that Jones, the Florida Panthers defenseman, is the first person named Seth to be added to the Cup. I’ve always held off on adding most player names to my Ice Hockey Baby Names post, but maybe before the puck drops next season …
UPDATING & THINKING ABOUT
Ivelisse is such a gorgeous choice, but with so many spellings, I feel like it’s never quite solidified into a single name with a real chance to catch on.
Ellington is just plain fun to say, a buttoned-up name with all the creative energy of jazz great Duke.
I think Cricket is fun, upbeat, and surprising wearable. Despite my bug-phobia (what’s the Latin word? I’m afraid to Google it) I can imagine having a daughter called Constance Katharine, Cricket for short.
That’s all for now. As always, thank you for reading and have a great week!
