Sunday Summary: 3.26.23

It’s officially spring, and that’s the start of busy season.

First there’s the annual release of name popularity data, slated for May 12th this year. (Mark your calendars!)

Then there’s July and August, typically peak season for births in the US.

But for now, it’s still calm, so I took a minute to completely revamp the weekly newsletter.

The all-new Baby Name Hopscotch is a quick read: two names, one piece of advice, and three lists to inspire. Sent every Tuesday, from me to you.

Subscribe here:

Now, back to the name news for this week:

I’ve always liked rare, even extreme names, and I’ve mellowed on them more + more. But I still think Cowboy is a bit much. Even though our acceptance of unusual names is growing, a name like Cowboy is still a lot to live up to. Grace might be clumsy, but she’s one in a crowd. If Cowboy isn’t a swaggering, outdoorsy, athletic kind of kid who lives up to his name? That could be painful.

Of course, it’s worth noting that our nearest + dearest aren’t always up on names. This mom was told that her top names for her baby are just awful. But Arthur and Edith are great names – and they’re both trending. Especially Arthur, which is a solid Top Ten choice in England & Wales. (Since it’s a mumsnet question, I’m assuming the author is British, but my reaction applies pretty much anywhere in the English-speaking world.)

Slate tackles the issue of action hero names. I’ve talked about this question before – why are all action heroes named Jack, James, or John? – but this author adds more nuance to the discussion. In particular: AM readers probably know that J is the most popular first initial for boys in the US, and has been for ages – but this author shows that J names are still over-represented among fictional heroes.

I can’t prove it, but I went five for five. These challenges are so fun!

Do you use two last names on social media so you’re find-able? I don’t, but it’s definitely practical. But will the experience of these women change how we think of ourselves? Or how we use our names in other settings?

Oh, and remember what I said about busy season? The best time to book a call for help with your naming decision is … definitely before your baby is in your arms. (Though I take those calls, too.)